Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024
(1)
(a) Except as provided in Subsection
R657-33-3(1)(b)
and Subsection (2), bear may be pursued only by persons who have obtained a
bear pursuit permit.
(b) The bear
pursuit permit does not allow a person to:
(i) kill a bear; or
(ii) pursue bear for compensation.
(c) A person may pursue bear for
compensation only as provided in Subsection (2).
(d) To obtain a bear pursuit permit, a person
must possess a Utah hunting or combination license.
(2)
(a) A
person may pursue bear on public lands for compensation, provided the dog
handler:
(i) receives compensation from a
client or customer to pursue bear;
(ii) is a licensed hunting guide or outfitter
under Title 58, Chapter 79, Hunting Guides and Outfitters Licensing Act and
authorized to pursue bear;
(iii)
possesses on their person the Utah hunting guide or outfitter
license;
(iv) possesses on their
person all permits and authorizations required by the applicable public lands
managing authority to pursue bear for compensation; and
(v) is accompanied by the client or customer
at all times during pursuit.
(b) A person may pursue bear on private lands
for compensation, provided the dog handler:
(i) receives compensation from a client or
customer to pursue bear;
(ii) is
accompanied by the client or customer at all times during pursuit;
and
(iii) possesses on their person
written permission from all private landowners on whose property pursuit takes
place.
(c) A person who
is an employee or agent of the Division of Wildlife Services may pursue bear on
public lands and private lands while acting within the scope of their
employment.
(3) A
pursuit permit is not required to pursue bear if the individual satisfies the
requirements in Subsection (2).
(4)
(a) A person pursuing bear for compensation
under Subsections (2)(a) and (2)(b) shall comply with all other requirements
and restrictions in statute, rule and the guidebooks of the Wildlife Board
regulating the pursuit and take of bear.
(b) Any violation of, or failure to comply
with Title 23, Wildlife Resources Code, this rule, or the guidebooks of the
Wildlife Board may be grounds for suspension of the privilege to pursue bear
for compensation under this subsection, as determined by a division hearing
officer.
(5) Except as
provided in Subsection (6), a bear pursuit permit authorizes the holder to
pursue bear with dogs on any unit open to pursuing bear during the seasons and
under the conditions prescribed by the Wildlife Board in guidebook.
(6) The Wildlife Board may establish or
designate in the guidebook restricted pursuit units as determined necessary or
convenient to better manage wildlife resources, including to protect wildlife,
curtail over-utilization of resources, reduce conflict with other recreational
activities, reduce conflict with private and public land activities, and
protect wildlife habitat.
(a) Bear may not be
pursued on a restricted pursuit unit unless the dog handler:
(i) possesses a pursuit permit issued for the
particular restricted pursuit unit;
(ii) possesses or is accompanied by a person
who possesses a limited entry or harvest objective bear permit allowing the use
of dogs, and the pursuit occurs within the area and during the season
established by the respective permit; or
(iii) is engaged in pursuit for compensation
as provided in Subsection (2), and pursuit occurs within the area and during
the season established for the:
(A) paying
client's limited entry or harvest objective bear permit allowing the use of
dogs; or
(B) restricted pursuit
unit.
(b) A
pursuit permit issued for a restricted pursuit unit authorizes the holder to
pursue bear on:
(i) the particular restricted
pursuit unit for which the permit is issued; and
(ii) any other bear pursuit unit not
designated as a restricted pursuit unit.
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (6)(a)(i),
when two or more dog owners are in the field pursuing bear together, only one
must possess a restricted pursuit unit permit, provided the dog owners
accompany the person possessing the restricted pursuit unit permit at all
times.
(i) A dog handler pursuing bear on a
restricted pursuit unit may leave the pursuit permit holder to retrieve dogs
that separate from the pack, provided the dog handler;
(A) takes reasonable steps to keep the pack
together before and during pursuit;
(B) separates from the pursuit permit holder
exclusively to retrieve stray dogs and does not attempt to actively pursue bear
during the retrieval process; and
(C) immediately releases any bear
incidentally treed or held at bay by the stray dogs.
(ii) Maximum number of dogs in the field and
pack sizes described in Section
R657-33-12 remain
applicable, even if there are multiple dog owners in the same hunting
party.
(7)
Pursuit permits may be obtained at division offices, through the internet and
at license agents.
(a) The division may
distribute pursuit permits for restricted pursuit units:
(i) through its offices, license agents, or
online resources on a first-come, first-served basis; or
(ii) through a random drawing.
(8) A person may not:
(a) take or pursue a female bear with
cubs;
(b) repeatedly pursue, chase,
tree, corner or hold at bay the same bear during the same day; or
(c) individually or in combination with
another person, use more than eight dogs in the field to pursue a bear during
the summer pursuit season as established by the Wildlife Board in the
guidebook.
(9) If
eligible, a person who has obtained a bear pursuit permit may also obtain a
limited entry or harvest objective bear permit.
(10) Season dates, closed areas and bear
pursuit permit areas are published in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for
taking and pursuing bear.
