Remedies for Preventing Damage to Cultivated Crops, Fences and Irrigation Equipment, and Livestock Forage

1. Herding and Hazing - DWR personnel herd the offending animals away from the site of damage. Shot shells, firecrackers, rockets, cracker shells, rubber bullets, propane cannons and other scare devices are used to move animals from the damage site. Your assistance, if you desire, may also be enlisted, and scare devices may be issued to you, providing the appropriate release form is signed.
2. Temporary or Permanent Fencing - Fences may be provided to eliminate depredating animals from specific sites. Permanent fencing is the preferred method for protecting stored crops, such as stacked hay, and commercial orchards. Temporary fencing may be provided as a stop-gap measure to prevent damage until conditions warrant or allow for installation of a permanent fence. See here for more information on fencing.
3. Removal of animals from the site - The DWR director may authorize the removal of big game animals when they are causing actual damage. Removal may occur by killing. If conditions warrant, it is desirable that removal be accomplished by sportsmen through hunts scheduled by the Wildlife Board or personnel. Another option is to issue kill permits to you. This option is explained in paragraph #4 entitled "Issuing Mitigation Permits to the Landowner."
4. Issuing Mitigation Permits to the Landowner - With your agreement, permits are issued to you to remove the offending animals during a general or special season hunt authorized by the Wildlife Board. The procedures are as follows:

• Mitigation Permits are issued free to you or your designees, (no more than 2 family members, 2 employees or a combination of you and a designee).
• Mitigation permits for once-in-a-lifetime species may not be available due to high values of the species.
• You may retain up to 5 deer, 5 pronghorn, and 2 elk for personal use. If additional animals are killed, those must be turned over to the DWR. Reasonable care must be taken to prevent spoilage.
• Mitigation permits do not affect eligibility for other big game hunts.
• Only antlerless animals may be taken, unless the DWR director expressly approves antlered animals. Permits for antlered animals using "livestock forage" (open range) are issued only through the provisions provided in Rule R657-43.
  
• Hunt dates are specified by DWR between the Wildlife Board authorized dates of August 1 - December 31 for deer and pronghorn; August 1 - January 31 for elk. Exact dates are specified in order to target animals actually causing damage.
• Shooting hours, shooting from vehicles, tagging, etc. are governed by the DWR rules and Wildlife Code.
• Hunter education is required if born after December 31, 1965.
• The permit must be signed by the hunter.

    5.   Issuing Mitigation Permit "Vouchers" - Depredating big game may be removed 

          from the property through sport hunting. The hunting aspect mitigates the damage                       by generating revenue for you through the sale of a voucher. The following applies:

• Vouchers are issued to you*, and you may subsequently give or sell it to a hunter. In order to obtain a hunting permit, the hunter must redeem the voucher at a DWR office for the normal permit fee and a $5 handling fee.
• Mitigation permits for once-in-a-lifetime species may not be available due to high values of the species.
• Only antlerless animals may be taken, unless the DWR director expressly approves antlered animals. Permits and vouchers for antlered animals using "livestock forage" (open range) are issued only through the provisions provided in Rule R657-43.
• Antlerless permits on rangeland shall not exceed 10% of the animals on private land, and may not exceed 20 vouchers or a combination of vouchers and mitigation permits.
• A redeemed voucher does effect the hunters eligibility for other antlerless hunts - see the Big Game Guide Book.
• The permit purchased through a voucher is legal only on your private land.
• Hunt dates are specified by DWR between the Wildlife Board authorized dates of August 1-December 31 for deer and pronghorn; August 1-January 31 for elk. Exact dates are specified in order to target animals actually causing damage.
• Shooting hours, shooting from vehicles, tagging, etc. are governed by DWR rules and Wildlife Code.

          *Mitigation Permit Vouchers may be issued to an association of landowners that have 

           met the application requirements as outlined in rule.

     6.   Depredation Hunter Pool Authorization Hunt - The DWR may conduct public

           hunts to remove and discourage use by animals doing damage. DWR will establish

           hunt boundaries that may include public as well as private land.

• If successful in the hunter pool drawing, hunters purchase permits at the Regional Office where the hunt occurs.
• Hunts are for antlerless animals unless the DWR director approves antlered animals.
• Hunting dates are specified by the DWR between August 1-December 31 for deer and pronghorn, and August 1-January 31 for elk. Exact dates are selected to target animals actually doing damage.

REPORTING BIG GAME DAMAGE

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DISCOVERING DAMAGE, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DWR OFFICE. Once your complaint is received, the DWR has 72 hours to investigate the damage and initiate actions to remedy the situation. The exact course of action will depend on factors, like the type of damage, the big game species and number of animals involved, and the time of year. The DWR will offer a solution to the damage incident in the form of a "Mitigation Plan" which you may accept or reject. If you accept the plan, you should do so by signing in the appropriate place in the plan. Although you may accept the mitigation plan, you may revoke it, but you must request the DWR to take action anew. The request starts a new 72-hour time frame.

Types of Damage DWR Addresses

The DWR investigates and addresses big game depredation involving agricultural production. The agricultural property must be oriented toward commercial gain on land that is "Greenbelt" eligible and includes damage to:

1. Cultivated Crops on Cleared and Planted Private Land (including crop residues having forage value for livestock);
2. Fences on Private Land;
3. Irrigation Equipment on Private Land; or
   
4. Livestock Forage on Private Land
   

Big Game Definitions

Big game are defined as:

• Mule Deer
• Rocky Mountain Elk
• Pronghorn Antelope
• Shiras Moose
• Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
• Desert Bighorn Sheep
• Bison
• Rocky Mountain Goat
  

Big Game Depredation Laws and Rules

The Utah Legislature has enacted laws addressing big game damage on private lands. The Utah Wildlife board and the UDWR have adopted rules and policies which carry-out the intent of the legislature in implementing damage laws.
This blog summarizes the big game depredation laws, rules, policies and administrative procedures followed by the UDWR. As with any summary, many details are left out and generalizations made. If you have questions after reading this blog and need further help, please contact a UDWR office in your area.

Introduction

Private ownership of land and public ownership of wildlife are basic to the American way of life. Both principles are firmly established in American law and tradition. Our forefathers made conscious, deliberate decisions that individuals should have the right to acquire, control and use land. At the same time, the public ownership, use and control of wildlife inhabiting both private and public lands was preserved. These latter values were entrusted to the state to manage wildlife on behalf of all of the people.
Wildlife inhabiting private lands in Utah are dependent upon critical resources provided by these lands, but in many cases, their presence results in conflict with other private-land uses and can lead to economic loss for the landowner.
Wildlife managers must balance the interests of private landowners and the public while, at the same time, meeting the biological needs of wildlife. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) attempts to address these needs, in part, by addressing depredation caused by big game on private lands.