Trap-check time might be lengthened to seven days

After a trapper sets a trap to catch a coyote, when should he be required to visit the trap again to see if he caught anything?

Coyotes are among the animals that might be affected by a change to Utah's trapping laws.

That's a question you can help answer at a series of public meetings.

Currently, trappers in Utah must check all of their foothold traps within 48 hours of setting them. Lethal traps, such as neck snares, must be checked once every 96 hours.

An idea that's being proposed would lengthen both of those times to seven days.

Members of Utah's Central Regional Advisory Council have asked the Utah Wildlife Board to lengthen the times. At the board's Dec. 2 meeting, members of the board directed the Division of Wildlife Resources to take the idea to the public.

More information about the proposed change is available at go.usa.gov/1nL — (PDF format).

Share your thoughts

After reviewing the proposal at go.usa.gov/1nL — (PDF format), you can share your thoughts about the possible change with members of your Regional Advisory Council one of two ways. (RAC chairmen will share the input they receive with members of the Utah Wildlife Board when the board meets in Salt Lake City on Jan. 4.):

RAC meetings

You can attend your upcoming RAC meeting. Dates, times and locations are as follows:

• Southern Region
  Dec. 7, 7 p.m.
  Beaver High School
  195 E. Center St., Beaver

• Southeastern Region
  Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m.
  John Wesley Powell Museum
  1765 E. Main St., Green River

• Northeastern Region
  Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m.
  Bingham Entrepreneurship and Energy Research Center
  320 N. Aggie Blvd. (2000 W.), Vernal

• Central Region
  Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m.
  Provo City Council Chambers
  351 W. Center Street, Provo

• Northern Region
  Dec. 15, 6 p.m.
  Brigham City Community Center
  24 N. 300 W., Brigham City

E-mail

You can also provide your comments to your RAC via e-mail. E-mail addresses for your RAC members are available at wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings.

The group each RAC member represents (sportsman, non-consumptive, etc.) is listed under each person's e-mail address. You should direct your e-mail to the people on the RAC who represent your interest.