Section R657-37-9 - Permit Allocation(1) The division shall issue CWMU permits for hunting big game or turkey to permittees: (a) qualifying through a drawing conducted for the general public as defined in Subsection R657-37-2(2)(c); or(b) named by the landowner association member or landowner association operator.(2) CWMU landowners, presidents, operators, and their spouses and dependent children cannot apply for CWMU permits specific to their CWMU that are offered in the public drawing.(3) A landowner association member or landowner association operator shall be issued vouchers that may be used to purchase hunting permits from division offices.(4)(a) The Wildlife Board may establish the maximum number of permits that may be issued per acre, except as provided in Subsection (4)(b).(b) In accordance with Section 23A-7-204, a CWMU unit shall issue one buck deer permit or less per every 320 acres to be eligible to receive buck deer permits.(c) The division and the landowner association operator must, in accordance with Subsection (4), determine: (i) the total number of permits to be issued for the CWMU; and(ii) the number of permits that may be offered by the landowner association to the general public as defined in Subsection R657-37-2(2)(c).(d) In determining the total number of permits allocated under Subsection (4)(a), the division will consider: (i) acreage and habitat conditions on the CWMU;(ii) management objectives of the CWMU and surrounding wildlife management units;(iii) classification and survey data;(iv) depredation and nuisance conflicts; and(v) other factors that may influence hunt quality and the division's ability to meet wildlife management objectives.(e) A CWMU may only offer a management buck permit for a public hunter if that CWMU lies entirely within a wildlife management unit that also offers management buck hunts.(5) The Wildlife Board shall increase the number of permits or hunting opportunities made available to the general public to reflect the proportion of public lands to private lands within the CWMU. (a) Trade lands may be used to provide additional hunting opportunities to the general public.(b) Proposed trade lands will be evaluated by a division biologist and another division employee to verify comparable habitat and equity compared to the public land in the CWMU.(c) Proposed trade lands will be presented to the CWMU advisory committee before they are included in the CWMU and at each renewal.(d) The CWMU advisory committee's recommendation will be presented to the Wildlife Board.(e) Trade lands will be made open for big game hunting and for no other purposes.(f) Trade lands must be posted as trade lands open to the public for big game hunting.(g) Distance from the CWMU should be considered when recommending trade lands.(h) CWMUs will ensure the DWR trade lands map is accurate.(i) Trade lands will have clear boundaries.(j) Justifications for the trade lands will be published before CWMU Advisory Committee Meetings and RAC meetings.(k) Trade lands cannot be used to get additional landowner permits based on species.(l) Trade lands must be owned by a landowner in the CWMU.(6)(a) Big game permits may be allocated using an option from:(i) Table 1 for moose and pronghorn; or(ii) Table 2 for elk and deer.(b)(i) Over the term of the certificate of registration, and at all times during its term, at least 40% of the total permits for bull moose and buck pronghorn and at least 60% of the antlerless moose and antlerless pronghorn permits will be allocated to the public and distributed via the public drawing.(ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(i) and Tables 1 and 2, if the proportion of permits allocated to the public over consecutive certificate of registration terms substantially deviates from that identified in Subsection (b)(i), the Wildlife Board may approve a modified permit distribution scheme that fairly allocates public and private permits.(c) At least one buck deer or bull elk permit or at least 10% of the bucks or bulls permits, whichever is greater, must be made available to the general public through the big game drawing process.(d) If a CWMU is under acreage but greater than 90% of the acreage required, and is formed after July 1, 2024 the CWMU will give an additional permit for each species to the public draw.(e) Permits may not be issued for spike bull elk.(f) Turkey permits shall be allocated in a ratio of 50% to the CWMU and 50% to the general public, with the public receiving the extra permit when there is an odd number of total permits. Table 1 Moose and Pronghorn |
Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit's Share | Bucks/Bulls | Does/Antlerless |
Option 1 | 60% | 40% |
Public's Share | Bucks/Bulls | Does/Antlerless |
Option 1 | 40% | 60% |
Table 2 Elk and Deer |
Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit's share | Bucks/Bulls | Antlerless |
Option 1 | 90% | 0% |
Option 2 | 85% | 25% |
Option 3 | 80% | 40% |
Option 4 | 75% | 50% |
Public's Share | | |
Option 1 | 10% | 100% |
Option 2 | 15% | 75% |
Option 3 | 20% | 60% |
Option4 | 25% | 50% |
(7)(a) The landowner association member or landowner association operator must meet antlerless harvest objectives established in the CWMU Management Plan under Subsection R657-37-4(3)(a)(ii).(b) Failure to meet antlerless harvest objectives based on a three-year average may result in discipline under Section R657-37-15.(8)(a) A landowner association member or landowner association operator must provide access free of charge to any person who has received a CWMU permit through the general public big game or turkey drawings and at least one companion, except as provided in Section 23A-7-209.(b) If the CWMU does not provide guiding services, the CWMU will provide free access for up to four guests, provided the guests stay at a distance where visual and verbal communication are maintained with the permit holder.(9) If the division and the landowner association member disagree on the number of permits to be issued, the number of permits allocated, or the method of take, the Wildlife Board shall make the determination based on the biological needs of the big game or turkey populations, including available forage, depredation, and other mitigating factors.(10) A CWMU permit entitles the holder to hunt the species and sex of big game or turkey specified on the permit and only in accordance with the certificate of registration and the rules and proclamations of the Wildlife Board.(11) Vouchers for antlerless permits may be designated by a landowner association member to any eligible person as provided in Rule R657-5 and the proclamation of the Wildlife Board for taking big game, and Rule R657-42.(13)(a) A complete list of the current CWMUs, and number of big game or turkey permits available for public drawing shall be published in the respective proclamations of the Wildlife Board for taking big game or turkey.(b) The division reserves the right to list approved CWMUs in the proclamations of the Wildlife Board for taking big game or turkey. The division may unilaterally decline to list a CWMU in the proclamation where the unit is under investigation for wildlife violations, a portion of the property comprising the CWMU is transferred to a new owner, or any other condition or circumstance that calls into question the CWMUs ability or willingness to allow a meaningful hunting opportunity to the public permit holders that would otherwise draw out on the public permits.(c) CWMUs will ensure the information on the hunt planner is accurate by March 1 before the opening of the public draw.Utah Admin. Code R657-37-9
Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2016-5, effective 2/8/2016Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2019-16, effective 7/22/2019Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2020-13, effective 6/22/2020Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2023-14, effective 7/11/2023Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2023-16, effective 8/10/2023Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2024-17, effective 8/21/2024