HB 202: Private Landowner Big Game Revisions - Utah

Amended 2/21/2025 16:02:845 → Substitute #1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from a standard legislative document to a substitute version with updated formatting and numbering. The substantive policy content regarding private landowner hunting vouchers remains largely the same, though some specific hunting equipment rules were modified.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on private landowner hunting vouchers for bull elk in Utah, with no change to the overall applicability or target audience.

TECHNICAL

The bill was converted from an amended version to a substitute version with updated formatting, including new page headers and different line numbering.

The original version included a second section (23A-7-213) regarding reduced acreage elk cooperative wildlife management units, which was removed in this substitute version.

REQUIREMENT

Subsection (5)(b) was changed to allow voucher holders to use archery equipment starting from the archery season date and convert to any legal weapon between September 1 and October 31, replacing the previous requirement to use only one type of legal weapon throughout the hunt.

DEFINITION

The formatting of the definitions section was updated, with 'Applicant' definition split into two distinct subsections (i) and (ii) for clarity.

Amended Excerpts 2/21/2025 16:02:845 → Amended 2/21/2025 16:02:845 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill replaces an outdated section of Utah's hunting regulations with a new framework for private landowner hunting vouchers. The changes establish clear eligibility criteria, define how vouchers are allocated based on land size, and create a streamlined application process for landowners seeking to hunt on their own property.

Scope change

The bill shifts from a general reference to cooperative wildlife management units to a specific private landowner voucher program with defined acreage thresholds and allocation percentages.

ELIGIBILITY

New definition of 'Applicant' for private landowner draws, requiring ownership of 640-8,999 contiguous acres in limited entry elk units.

Establishes voucher allocation percentages: 50% for landowners with 4,000-8,999 acres and 50% for those with 640-3,999 acres.

Clarifies that landowners in reduced acreage elk cooperative wildlife management units cannot participate in the private landowner draw program.

REQUIREMENT

Creates a formal application process requiring proof of ownership, acreage verification, and habitat suitability assessment.

TIMELINE

Removed the May 7, 2025 cutoff date that previously exempted certain cooperative wildlife management units from new regulations.

DEFINITION

Added new terms including 'block' (640 contiguous acres), 'voucher' (authorization to purchase bull elk permit), and exclusions for cooperative units.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/21/2025 16:02:845 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This amendment clarifies and extends exemptions for cooperative wildlife management units and landowners associations from certain private landowner hunting voucher provisions. It adds a new section allowing the Wildlife Board to issue certificates for reduced acreage cooperative units and modifies existing sections to exclude units that received registration before May 7, 2025, ensuring these groups aren't subject to the new landowner draw requirements.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was narrowed to exclude cooperative wildlife management units and landowners associations that were already registered before May 7, 2025, and to add a new category for reduced acreage cooperative units.

SCOPE

Added a new section (23A-7-213) allowing the Wildlife Board to issue certificates of registration for reduced acreage elk cooperative wildlife management units effective May 7, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified Section 23A-4-711 to exclude cooperative wildlife management units that received a certificate of registration before May 7, 2025 from the landowner voucher program.

Modified Section 23A-4-712 to exclude landowners that were members of a landowners association on May 7, 2025 from the additional voucher provisions.

Modified Section 23A-4-712 to exclude land or landowners that have the option of joining or are in a cooperative wildlife management unit that received registration before May 7, 2025 from the additional voucher provisions.

Substitute #3 → Substitute #4 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision primarily updates formatting and terminology in the long title section, changing 'addresses the redeeming of a voucher' to 'addresses receipt of other vouchers' and adding 'addresses landowners associations' to the highlighted provisions. The substantive policy content regarding landowner voucher eligibility, acreage thresholds, and voucher allocation remains unchanged from the previous version.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on private landowner hunting voucher programs for bull elk, with no changes to applicability or target audience.

TECHNICAL

Updated the highlighted provisions list to change 'addresses the redeeming of a voucher' to 'addresses receipt of other vouchers' and added 'addresses landowners associations' as a new provision.

Changed the Utah Code Sections Affected list to add 23A-4-712 alongside 23A-4-711, though the actual text of 23A-4-712 is not included in this substitute version.

Updated the reference in Subsection (2)(e)(ii) from 'established by the Wildlife Board by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3' to 'established by the Wildlife Board in accordance with Section 23A-4-712'.

Changed the effective date reference from 'May 7, 2025' to '02-27 09:29' in the header information, indicating this is a newer version of the bill.

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision adds a new definition excluding applicants who participate in reduced acreage cooperative wildlife management units from the standard landowner draw, and adds two new code sections to create and regulate reduced acreage elk cooperative wildlife management units. The change clarifies eligibility criteria to prevent overlap between different hunting programs and establishes a new program for smaller landowners.

Scope change

The bill now affects two Utah Code sections (23A-4-711 and 23A-7-213) instead of one, expanding its scope to include a new cooperative wildlife management unit program for reduced acreage landowners.

DEFINITION

Added new definition in 23A-4-711(1)(a)(ii) excluding persons who are landowners or landowner associations under reduced acreage elk cooperative wildlife management units from standard applicant status.

SCOPE

Added new Utah Code section 23A-7-213 to create reduced acreage elk cooperative wildlife management units.

Added provisions addressing limits placed on reduced acreage elk cooperative wildlife management units.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated bill title and highlighted provisions to reflect the new cooperative wildlife management unit program and its limits.

TECHNICAL

Changed Senate Sponsor name from 'LONG TITLE' to 'Evan J. Vickers' and updated bill version from Substitute #2 to Substitute #3.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision reorganizes the voucher allocation process for private landowners by splitting the 5% of permits into two equal categories based on land ownership size, adds specific rules for handling odd numbers of vouchers, and clarifies allocation priorities for smaller landowners. The changes aim to ensure fairer distribution of hunting opportunities between large and small landowners while maintaining the overall eligibility requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on private landowner hunting vouchers, but the allocation mechanism has been expanded to explicitly differentiate between landowners with 4,000-8,999 acres and those with 640-3,999 acres.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the voucher allocation from a single pool to a 50/50 split between applicants with 4,000-8,999 acres and those with 640-3,999 acres.

Added a provision requiring that if only one voucher is available, it must go to applicants with 640-3,999 acres of land.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific rules for allocating odd numbers of vouchers, alternating between the two landowner categories based on whether the year ends in an odd or even number.

Removed the automatic annual voucher guarantee for large landowners (4,000-8,999 acres) that was present in the original version, replacing it with the new allocation system.

Introduced → Enrolled · 7 edits · Mar 20, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was revised to clarify eligibility requirements, add a new section for private landowner vouchers, and update administrative procedures. The changes include new definitions for 'voucher' and 'applicant', revised acreage thresholds, and added provisions for landowners associations and voucher allocation methods.

Scope change

The bill now includes a new section 23A-4-712 for landowners associations and modifies the voucher allocation process to include specific acreage-based distribution rules.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'voucher' as an authorization issued by the division that entitles a person to purchase a bull elk permit valid for private land submitted in the application.

Changed 'Applicant' definition to require submission of an application to the division rather than approval of huntable bull elk by a biologist.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed applicant eligibility from requiring biologist approval of huntable bull elk to requiring division approval of property capable of harboring bull elk during the hunting season.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirement that multiple applicants may not submit applications for the same block, and the division may reject all applications if more than one is received for a single block.

Added new allocation rules requiring 50% of vouchers to go to applicants with 4,000-8,999 acres and 50% to applicants with 640-3,999 acres, with odd-number voucher distribution alternating by year.

Added requirement that division must verify property submitted in applications is capable of harboring bull elk during the hunting season.

SCOPE

Added new section 23A-4-712 for landowners associations and modified eligibility to exclude private land within landowners association programs.

Private Landowner Big Game Revisions

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