ALERT: Utah bill introduced to ban big game baiting and regulate trail camera use

HB 295 recently introduced in Utah

Brady Miller
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Utah trail camera and baiting bill introduced 1

There are a lot of bills that have shown up in the past few weeks. A new one that just popped up on February 2 is HB 295 in Utah that was introduced by Casey Snider. See the full text of the bill here.

Hb 295 screenshot

Screenshot from part of the Utah House Bill 295.


There are two areas that big game hunters will be most interested in.

Hb 295 Summary

  • Prohibits the use of trail cameras at certain times and with certain exceptions

  • Prohibits big game baiting

23-13-20. Trail Cameras.

According to the bill,

(2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), it is unlawful for a person to place, maintain, or use a trail camera or similar device: (a) at any time during the period beginning August 1 and ending December 31 of each year; (b) at any time during the period beginning July 1 and ending December 31 of each year if the trail camera or similar device wirelessly transmits or is capable of wirelessly transmitting images, videos, or location data of wildlife; or (c) at any time, if the placement, maintenance, or use of the trail camera or similar device prevents wildlife from accessing, or alters the manner in which wildlife accesses, a spring, water source, or artificial basin that collects water or is designed and constructed to collect water.(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to:(a) a person who is acting within the scope of the person's official duties if:(i) the person is an employee or authorized agent of the state, a political subdivision of the state, or the federal government; and(ii) the person clearly marks each trail camera or similar device to indicate ownership;(b) a person who places, maintains, or uses a trail camera or similar device with the division's approval; or(c) a person who places, maintains, or uses a trail camera on private property with the landowner's permission.

23-16-11. Big Game Baiting Prohibited.

(1) As used in this section:(a) (i) "Bait" means intentionally placing food or nutrient substances to manipulate the behavior of wildlife for the purpose of taking or attempting to take big game.(ii) "Bait" does not include:(A) the use of a chemical as an attractant or mask; or(B) the use of salt, mineral blocks, or other commonly used types of livestock substances for normal agricultural purposes.(b) "Baited area" means all land within a 50-yard radius of the site where bait is placed, including the site where bait is placed.(2) Unless authorized by a certificate of registration, it is unlawful to:(a) bait big game between August 1 and January 31 of each year;(b) take big game in a baited area; or(c) take big game that has been lured to or is traveling from a baited area.(3) The division may issue a certificate of registration to allow for the baiting of big game if the division determines that baiting is necessary to alleviate substantial big game depredation on cultivated crops.


What Can You Do?

Submit your thoughts on this Utah bill to Casey Snider who introduced the bill at csnider@le.utah.gov, also the contact information for the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee and the Utah Wildlife Board can be found below.

Contact Information For HB 295

Name

Casey Snider(Bill Sponsor)

Phone

435-890-3383

Email

csnider@le.utah.gov

Name

Phone

Email

Casey Snider(Bill Sponsor)

435-890-3383

csnider@le.utah.gov

Utah House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee Contact Information

Name

Keven Stratton (R)

Title

Chair

Email

kstratton@le.utah.gov

Name

Casey Snider (R)

Title

Vice Chair

Email

csnider@le.utah.gov

Name

Carl Albrecht (R)

Title

Member

Email

carlalbrecht@le.utah.gov

Name

Gay Lynn Bennion (D)

Title

Member

Email

glbennion@le.utah.gov

Name

Joel Briscoe (D)

Title

Member

Email

jbriscoe@le.utah.gov

Name

Scott Chew (R)

Title

Member

Email

scottchew@le.utah.gov

Name

Stephen Handy (R)

Title

Member

Email

stevehandy@le.utah.gov

Name

Timothy Hawkes (R)

Title

Member

Email

thawkes@le.utah.gov

Name

Michael Kohler (R)

Title

Member

Email

mkohler@le.utah.gov

Name

Phil Lyman (R)

Title

Member

Email

plyman@le.utah.gov

Name

Douglas Sagers (R)

Title

Member

Email

dougsagers@le.utah.gov

Name

Micke Schultz (R)

Title

Member

Email

mikeschultz@le.utah.gov

Name

Rex Shipp (R)

Title

Member

Email

rshipp@le.utah.gov

Name

Christine Watkins (R)

Title

Member

Email

christinewatkins@le.utah.gov

Name

Title

Email

Keven Stratton (R)

Chair

kstratton@le.utah.gov

Casey Snider (R)

Vice Chair

csnider@le.utah.gov

Carl Albrecht (R)

Member

carlalbrecht@le.utah.gov

Gay Lynn Bennion (D)

Member

glbennion@le.utah.gov

Joel Briscoe (D)

Member

jbriscoe@le.utah.gov

Scott Chew (R)

Member

scottchew@le.utah.gov

Stephen Handy (R)

Member

stevehandy@le.utah.gov

Timothy Hawkes (R)

Member

thawkes@le.utah.gov

Michael Kohler (R)

Member

mkohler@le.utah.gov

Phil Lyman (R)

Member

plyman@le.utah.gov

Douglas Sagers (R)

Member

dougsagers@le.utah.gov

Micke Schultz (R)

Member

mikeschultz@le.utah.gov

Rex Shipp (R)

Member

rshipp@le.utah.gov

Christine Watkins (R)

Member

christinewatkins@le.utah.gov

Copy and paste section for Utah House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee:

kstratton@le.utah.gov, csnider@le.utah.gov, carlalbrecht@le.utah.gov, glbennion@le.utah.gov,jbriscoe@le.utah.gov, scottchew@le.utah.gov, stevehandy@le.utah.gov, thawkes@le.utah.gov,mkohler@le.utah.gov, plyman@le.utah.gov, dougsagers@le.utah.gov, mikeschultz@le.utah.gov,rshipp@le.utah.gov, christinewatkins@le.utah.gov

Utah Wildlife Board Contact Information

Name

Byron Bateman - Chair

Region

Northern Region

Email

brbateman@comcast.net

Name

Kevin Albrecht - Vice Chair

Region

Southeastern Region

Email

kevin.albrecht75@gmail.com

Name

Rory Reynolds - Executive Secretary

Region

Interim DWR Director

Email

roryreynolds@utah.gov

Name

Staci Coons

Region

Board Liaison

Email

stacicoons@utah.gov

Name

Karl Hirst

Region

Central Region

Email

karl.hirstwb17@gmail.com

Name

Donnie Hunter

Region

Southern Region

Email

sade@netutah.com

Name

Wade Heaton

Region

Southern Region

Email

wadeheaton2@gmail.com

Name

Randy Dearth

Region

Northeastern Region

Email

rdearthwildlife@gmail.com

Name

Bret Selman

Region

Northern Region

Email

bretselmanwb@yahoo.com

Name

Region

Email

Byron Bateman - Chair

Northern Region

brbateman@comcast.net

Kevin Albrecht - Vice Chair

Southeastern Region

kevin.albrecht75@gmail.com

Rory Reynolds - Executive Secretary

Interim DWR Director

roryreynolds@utah.gov

Staci Coons

Board Liaison

stacicoons@utah.gov

Karl Hirst

Central Region

karl.hirstwb17@gmail.com

Donnie Hunter

Southern Region

sade@netutah.com

Wade Heaton

Southern Region

wadeheaton2@gmail.com

Randy Dearth

Northeastern Region

rdearthwildlife@gmail.com

Bret Selman

Northern Region

bretselmanwb@yahoo.com

Copy and paste section for Utah Wildlife Board:

csnider@le.utah.gov, brbateman@comcast.net, kevin.albrecht75@gmail.com, roryreynolds@utah.gov,stacicoons@utah.gov, karl.hirstwb17@gmail.com, sade@netutah.com, wadeheaton2@gmail.com, rdearthwildlife@gmail.com, bretselmanwb@yahoo.com

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