Administrative rule R657-67

Utah Hunter Mentoring Program

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R657-67-1. Purpose and Authority.

Under the authority of Sections 23A-2-201, 23A-2-102, 23A-2-305, 23A-2-304, 23A-4-201 and 23A-4-710, this rule creates a Hunting Mentor program that will increase hunting opportunities for Utah families and provides the procedures under which a minor child may share the permit of another to take protected wildlife.

R657-67-2. Definitions.

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

(2) "Hunting Mentor" means a Resident or Nonresident individual possessing a valid permit issued by the Division to take protected wildlife in Utah and who is 21 years of age or older at the time of application for the Mentor Program.

(3) "Qualifying Minor" means a Utah Resident or Nonresident who is under 18 at the time of application for the Mentor Program and who is otherwise eligible to lawfully hunt.

(4) "Wildlife document" means a permit to hunt protected wildlife or Division-issued authorization to share such a permit.

R657-67-3. Requirements for Sharing Permits.

(1) A Hunting Mentor may lawfully share a permit with a Qualifying Minor, and a Qualifying Minor may lawfully take protected wildlife authorized by the Hunting Mentor's permit, if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) The Qualifying Minor has successfully completed a Hunter's Education Program recognized by the Division and possesses a Utah Hunter's Education number;

(b) The Hunting Mentor receives prior written approval by the Division authorizing the sharing of the permit;

(c) The Hunting Mentor receives no form of compensation or remuneration for sharing the permit with the Qualifying Minor;

(d) The Hunting Mentor accompanies the Qualifying Minor while hunting at a distance where the Hunting Mentor can communicate in person with the Qualifying Minor by voice or hand signals;

(e) The Hunting Mentor provides advice, assistance, and mentoring on sportsman ethics, techniques, and safety to the Qualifying Minor; and

(f) Both the Hunting Mentor and the Qualifying Minor otherwise comply with all laws, rules, and regulations governing the taking of protected wildlife as authorized by the permit.

(2) A Qualifying Minor does not need to possess a valid hunting or combination license to participate in the mentor program.

(3) A Hunting Mentor may name up to four individuals to mentor under a single permit.

(4)(a) A Qualifying Minor may only share one permit for each species and sex of protected wildlife per hunt year.

(b) A bobcat permit may only be shared under the Mentor Program if permit quotas are capped under the Bobcat Management Plan.

(c) A Qualifying Minor may not share a swan or sandhill crane permit possessed by a Hunting Mentor.

(5)(a) A Qualifying Minor may simultaneously possess a permit and share a permit for the same species and sex of protected wildlife.

(b) A Qualifying Minor simultaneously possessing a permit and an authorization to share a permit for the same species and sex of protected wildlife may harvest under both wildlife documents.

R657-67-4. Administrative Process for Sharing Permits.

(1) The Hunting Mentor shall submit a complete application for participation in the Mentor Program and receive the Division's written authorization before sharing a permit.

(2) A complete application for the Mentor Program includes the following:

(a) A handling fee as established by the Utah Legislature;

(b) The Permit Number that is to be shared;

(c) A physically identifying description of the Qualifying Minors;

(d) Each Qualifying Minor's hunter education number;

(e) Written authorization from the Qualifying Minor's parent or legal guardian approving their participation in the hunting activity; and

(f) any wildlife documents that must be surrendered to qualify for the Hunter Mentoring Program.

(3) If a Qualifying Minor must surrender a wildlife document to qualify for the Mentor Program, that surrender must be done before or at the time of their application to the Utah Hunter Mentoring Program as described in Section R657-67-6.

(4) If a Hunting Mentor wishes to change the Qualifying Minor with whom they share their permit, they must:

(a) Surrender the authorization issued to the Qualifying Minor by the Division;

(b) Reapply with the Division to have a new Qualifying Minor participate in the Mentor Program in the same manner as described in this section.

(5) If the Hunting Mentor dies before the hunt authorized under this section, the Qualified Minor may use the permit pursuant to Section 23A-4-710.

R657-67-5. Sharing the Permit in the Field.

(1) While in the field, the Qualifying Minor must possess the Division-issued authorization to share in the use of the Hunting Mentor's permit.

(2) A Hunting Mentor may only mentor one Qualifying Minor in the field at a time.

(3) Only one Qualifying Minor and the Hunting Mentor may carry a legal weapon in the field.

(4) Protected wildlife taken by a Qualifying Minor shall be tagged with the Hunting Mentor's permit in the same manner as if the Hunting Mentor was the individual taking the animal.

(5) Take limitations and bag limits apply based upon the permit issued, and the issuance of written authorization to share the permit does not confer additional rights to take protected wildlife.

R657-67-6. Variances, Surrenders, Refunds, Special Accommodations, and Administrative Details.

(1) The surrender of a wildlife document shall generally be in accordance with R657-42-4.

(2) Notwithstanding R657-42-4, a Qualifying Minor may surrender a wildlife document in their possession as part of their application to participate in the Hunter Mentoring Program, consistent with the following:

(a) the timeframe for a Qualifying Minor to surrender a permit is defined in this Section;

(b) A Qualifying Minor may surrender a wildlife document obtained as part of a group application and have their bonus points or preference points reinstated and waiting period waived without requiring all group members to also surrender their permits; and

(c) A Qualifying Minor who wishes to surrender a wildlife document after the opening day of that hunt may only do so if:

(i) they did not hunt under the authorization of that wildlife document; and

(ii) their legal guardian submits a signed affidavit certifying that the Qualifying Minor did not hunt under that wildlife document.

(4) All variances, refunds, and accommodations for people with disabilities shall be based on the type of permit that is shared and the individual using the wildlife document.

(5) All bonus points, reference points, and waiting periods shall be assessed to the Hunting Mentor.