Wildlife board adopts Taking Big Game rule amendments; asks staff to study aerial hunting and retrieval

The Utah Wildlife Board on May 1 approved amendments to the Taking Big Game rule and unanimously asked staff to add the use of aerial equipment for hunting and retrieval to the board's action log for further review.

The board voted to adopt the proposed changes to the Taking Big Game rule, then discussed public comment about the use of aircraft and drones in remote areas. "We made a change to the aerial hunting portion of our taking big game rule a few years back, where, essentially, you just can't hunt big game the same day you fly," Dax, the division's Big Game coordinator, told the board. He said the division does not currently recommend further rule changes in this cycle but will add guidance to the Big Game field regulations guidebook and may return with language later.

A public commenter, Tim Billings, described seeing increased activity involving fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and drones. "There's a lot of activity out there in remote areas where people are using fixed wing and helicopters to retrieve and hunt for wildlife, which is allowed now in the proclamation," Billings said. He told the board he and regional staff have been collecting information and urging that federal land-use rules also be considered.

Board members and staff flagged overlapping authority issues. Director Riley Peck said the division does not regulate FAA or federal land management agency permitting, and cautioned hunters about landing aircraft on national forest or BLM lands without the appropriate federal permits. Dax noted the division wants hunters to avoid inadvertent violations and will provide references to the relevant FAA and land-management rules in guidance materials.

After discussion the board voted unanimously to place a formal action-log item directing staff to develop further analysis and recommendations on the use of aerial equipment for access or game retrieval, including drones, helicopters and fixed-wing operations. Bryce Thurgood moved the action-log motion; Kent Johnson seconded. The board later approved the Taking Big Game rule amendments as presented; the main motion was moved by Kent Johnson and seconded by Bryce Thurgood.

The division said the change to guidance will emphasize that the current rule prohibits hunting big game the same day a person flies into an area, and will add references to federal agency requirements and FAA rules where appropriate. Staff said they have no immediate regulatory recommendation this cycle but will keep the issue "on the radar."