Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024
(1) The division
may issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a domestic sheep
operation allowing for the removal of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep or desert
bighorn sheep found to have physical contact with domestic sheep.
(2) If a domestic sheep grazing operation
wishes to acquire a certificate of registration, it must submit an application
to the division.
(3) In evaluating
the application, the division may consider:
(a) the size and location of the domestic
sheep operation;
(b) past efforts
to maintain spatial separation between wild and domestic sheep;
(c) the ability of state officials to respond
to potential commingling events in a timely manner;
(d) future plans to improve spatial
separation between wild and domestic sheep;
(e) historical disease status of the wild
sheep population; and
(f)
management priorities for the wild sheep population.
(4) The division may deny an application for
a certificate of registration if, in the opinion of the division, there are
other means available to respond to a commingling event.
(5) The division shall require any
certificate of registration holder to comply with the following provisions:
(a) the grazing operation shall immediately
notify the division if a wild bighorn sheep is found within 1 mile of any
domestic sheep;
(b) the grazing
operation shall utilize all reasonable means to notify the division of the
threatened commingling event before undertaking any lethal removal
action;
(c) a wild bighorn sheep
may only be lethally removed if it is within 1 mile of a domestic
sheep;
(d) the grazing operation
will inform the division within 24 hours of a lethal removal effort, or as soon
as practical thereafter, considering access and logistic limitations;
(e) all lethally removed wild bighorn sheep
will be field-dressed and preserved in a manner so as to allow donation for
human consumption;
(f) the entire
carcass of each lethally removed bighorn sheep shall be relinquished to
division personnel, including intact head, horns and cape; and
(g) only legal weapons identified in Rule
R657-5 may be used in lethal removal activities.
(6)
(a)
Owners, employees, and immediate family members may be named as authorized
individuals to act under the authority of a certificate of
registration.
(b) Any individual
acting under the authority of a certificate of registration must be
specifically named on the certificate of registration.
(7)
(a) The
division may establish a term for the validity of a certificate of
registration.
(b) The division may
revoke a certificate of registration where the certificate of registration
holder, an individual named on the certificate, or someone acting under their
direct authority violated this rule, the Wildlife Resources Code, or the
certificate of registration.
(8) The procedures and rules governing any
adverse action taken by the division or the Wildlife Board against a
certificate of registration or an application for certificate of registration
are set forth in Rule R657-2.
