Administrative rule R657-23

Utah Hunter Education and Furharvester Education Programs

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R657-23-1. Purpose and Authority.

Under authority of Sections 23A-4-1001, 23A-4-1002, 23A-4-1005, 23A-4-1003 and 23A-4-1006, this rule provides the criteria and standards for:

(1) hunter education student and instructor training;

(2) recognizing other jurisdiction's hunter education courses as approved courses in Utah;

(3) verifying an individual's completion of an approved hunter education course; and

(4) furharvester education student training.

R657-23-2. Definitions.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined in Section 23A-1-101.

(2) In addition:

(a) "Blue Card" means the certificate of completion issued by the division for having passed a division-approved hunter education course.

(b) "Certificate of completion" means a card, certificate, or other document issued by the wildlife agency of a state, province, or country verifying successful completion of an approved hunter education or furharvester education course in that jurisdiction.

(c) "Division-approved furharvester education course" means any furharvester education course that:

(i) is offered through the division as an online education course, followed by successful completion of a mandatory field day exercise;

(ii) is offered through the division as an instructor-led education course; or

(iv) is offered by another state or country and completion of the course qualifies a person to receive a resident furbearer license or its equivalent in the state, province, or country in which the furharvester education course is offered.

(d) "Division-approved hunter education course" means any hunter education course that:

(i) is offered through the division as an online hunter education course, followed by successful completion of a mandatory field day exercise;

(ii) is offered through the division as an instructor-led hunter education course;

(iii) is offered by another state or country and meets International Hunter Education Association — USA minimum standards; or

(iv) is offered by another state or country and completion of the course qualifies a person to receive a resident hunting license in the state, province, or country in which the hunter education course is offered.

(e) "Education Registration Certificate" means a document purchased from the division that is valid for 365 days from date of purchase which is required to sign up for and graduate from a hunter education or furharvester education course.

(f) "Field day" means an instructor-led practical exercise with a certified hunter education or furharvester education instructor as prescribed by this rule and the Utah Hunter Education Program administration.

(g) "Trainer" means an individual or entity certified by the division to train hunter education instructors and furharvester education instructors.

(h) "Instructor" means a volunteer instructor or division employee who has been approved by the division to teach the hunter education program or furharvester education program to students.

(i) "Student" means a person who is registered in a hunter education or furharvester education course being taught by a certified instructor.

R657-23-3. Hunter Education Required.

(1)(a) To obtain a hunting license, any person born after December 31, 1965, must present proof of successfully completing a division-approved hunter education course.

(b) A person may take a hunter education course offered by the division as provided in Subsection (2), or (3).

(2) Completion of an instructor-led hunter education course requires students to:

(a) purchase a hunter education registration certificate from a Division authorized licensed vendor;

(b) attend the instructor-led course;

(c) behave in a safe and responsible manner in class;

(d) obtain a passing score of at least 75% on a written exam; and

(e) participate in a live fire exercise demonstrating safe firearms handling.

(3) Completion of the online hunter education course requires students to:

(a) purchase a hunter education registration certificate from a Division authorized licensed vendor.

(b) pre-register for the field day;

(c) successfully complete the online hunter education course and provide documentation of completion to the hunter education instructor prior to participating in a field day;

(d) participate in a field day;

(e) behave in a safe and responsible manner while attending the field day;

(f) obtain a passing score of at least 75% on a written exam; and

(g) participate in a live fire exercise demonstrating safe firearms handling.

(4) The division will issue a Blue Card to each individual who successfully completes a division-approved hunter education course.

(5) The Hunter Education Registration Certificate becomes a valid hunting license upon validation of course completion by a certified hunter education instructor.

(6) A member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty, reserve duty, or having veteran status, or a member of the Utah National Guard is exempt from the live fire exercise required in Subsections 2 and 3 above if they can provide their active or reserve status Military identification card or valid documentation of veteran status to the hunter education instructor prior to the live fire exercise.

(7) The division shall accept other states, provinces, and countries criteria and qualifications for their respective courses which:

(a) meet or exceed the International Hunter Education Association-USA hunter education standards; or

(b) completion of the course qualifies a person to receive a resident hunting license in the state, province, or country in which the hunter education course is offered.

R657-23-4. Verifying Completion of an Approved Hunter Education Course.

(1) At the time of applying for a license or permit, the applicant shall:

(a) have a valid hunter education number recorded on the division's customer database;

(b) provide the division with a Certificate of Completion indicating the hunter education number and state or country of issuance; or

(c) certify via a sworn statement that the applicant has completed a division-approved hunter education course.

(2) The division may research an individual's hunter education records in order to verify completion of a division-approved hunter education course.

(3) The division may require those individuals satisfying the hunter education requirement by completing the sworn statement to obtain a Blue Card after verification that they have completed a division-approved hunter education course.

(4)(a) If a Blue Card is lost or destroyed, a person may apply by mail or in person at a division office to obtain a duplicate Blue Card. The person must complete an affidavit and request a records search.

(b) Upon verification of completion of the hunter education course, the division may issue the person a duplicate Blue Card.

(5) For the purpose of issuing a hunting license, the division may, upon request, provide verification to another state's wildlife agency that a resident or former resident of Utah has met the Utah hunter education requirements.

(6) The division may charge a fee for the services provided in Subsections (2), (3), and (4).

(7)(a) A license or permit that is obtained by an individual who is unable to verify completion of a division-approved hunter education course is invalid.

(b) Any person whose records cannot be found or who cannot be verified as having completed a hunter education course must take a division-approved hunter education course in order to obtain a hunting license or permit.

R657-23-5. Hunter Education Instructor Training.

(1) A person must be 21 years of age or older to become a certified hunter education instructor.

(2) Completion of a hunter education instructor course requires a person to:

(a) Complete the Division's instructor training course.

(b) Pass a criminal background check assessing suitability to work with children under the age of 18 years and to serve as an instructor;

(c) Attend a training course conducted by a trainer;

(d) Obtain a passing score of at least 75% on a written exam; and

(e) Participate in a live fire exercise or a range safety training course.

(3) The division shall issue a hunter education instructor card to each individual who successfully completes the hunter education instructor course.

R657-23-6. Furharvester Education.

(1)(a) To obtain a resident furbearer license, any person born after December 31, 1984, must present proof of successfully completing a division-approved furharvester education course.

(b) A person may take a furharvester education course offered by the division as provided in Subsection (3), or (4).

(2) At the time of applying for a furbearer license or permit, the applicant shall:

(a) have a valid furharvester education number recorded on the division's customer database;

(b) provide the division with a Certificate of Completion indicating the furharvester education number and state or country of issuance; or

(c) certify via a sworn statement that the applicant has completed a division-approved furharvester education course.

(3) Completion of an instructor-led furharvester education course requires students to:

(a) purchase a furharvester education registration certificate from a Division authorized licensed vendor;

(b) attend the instructor-led course;

(c) behave in a safe and responsible manner in class;

(d) obtain a passing score of at least 75% on a written exam; and

(e) participate in a furharvester field day.

(4) Completion of the online furharvester education course requires students to:

(a) purchase a furharvester education registration certificate from a Division authorized licensed vendor;

(b) pre-register for the field day;

(c) successfully complete the online furharvester education course and provide documentation of completion to the furharvester education instructor prior to participating in a field day;

(d) participate in a furharvester field day;

(e) behave in a safe and responsible manner while attending the field day; and

(f) obtain a passing score of at least 75% on a written exam.

(5) The division will issue a certificate of completion each individual who successfully completes a division-approved furharvester education course.