The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources is proposing changes to waterfowl hunting in 2021. Place, date and date are not specified Photo courtesy of DWR, St. George News
ST. GEORGE –Following the passage of a new wildlife law during the 2021 legislature, the Department of Wildlife Resources in Utah is recommending some changes to waterfowling, as well as a few other points, and soliciting feedback from the public.
The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources is proposing changes to waterfowl hunting in 2021. Place, date and date are not specified Photo courtesy of DWR, St. George News
Wildlife Modifications, known as HB 295 and signed into law in Utah during the 2021 legislature, prohibit commercial hunt guides and outfitters from using PWR-owned waterfowl management areas without a permit. The new law also prohibits the construction of new blinds in waterfowl management areas and empowers the Utah Wildlife Board to establish rules for the creation and management of waterfowl management areas.
According to a press release issued by the DWR based on this law and feedback from a recent public survey, the DWR recommends the following changes for waterfowl hunting in 2021:
- Establish regulations that prohibit leadership in areas related to waterfowl management
- Create a permit process that guides can use waterfowl management areas to access other non-PWR areas
- Prohibition of building new permanent blinds in waterfowl management areas
- Adding Duchesne County to Uintah County’s Sandhill Crane Hunting Area
- Determine the use of dogs, types of fire (including the use of unleaded ammunition), and the use of firearms in the Utah Lake Wetland Preserve
Blair Stringham, DWR coordinator for migratory birds, said in the press release that these waterfowl management areas provide high quality hunting areas.
“We want to give the public the opportunity to use these areas,” he said. “Some of these suggestions are designed to help reduce the crowd and ensure a better experience for the public.”
The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources is proposing changes to waterfowl hunting in 2021. Place, date and date are not specified Photo courtesy of DWR, St. George News
other changes
During the pandemic, then-Governor Gary Herbert issued an executive order that would allow all public comment meetings to be held electronically. As COVID-19 cases decrease in Utah and more meetings are held again in person, the DWR is proposing a rule change to allow flexibility in creating new minutes for its public meetings, the press release said. This change enables a hybrid approach of electronic and face-to-face meetings.
Ashley Green, deputy director of the DWR, said in the press release that adjusting the virtual meeting format over the past year has seen added flexibility and efficiency.
“We also understand the importance of being personally present at our meetings and making comments,” said Green. “We hope that by combining these two approaches with all of our future public meetings, we will bring more people into the public eye.”
give feedback
While the new hybrid approach to public meetings is proposed, the current meetings on these proposals are only held virtually. You can view the biologists’ presentations and share your feedback on them here on the DWR website. The presentations can also be viewed on the DWR YouTube channel. However, comments can only be submitted using the forms on the DWR website.
The public comment deadline for each of the five Regional Advisory Council meetings and the Utah Wildlife Board meeting opened on May 4th. Public comments submitted within the online comment deadlines set out below will be communicated to Council and Wildlife Board members at their respective meetings.
While members of the public can view a livestream of each of the council meetings and the Utah Wildlife Board meeting, public comments will not be accepted during these electronic meetings.
The electronic meetings take place on the following dates and times:
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