House debates bowhunter safety bill that would let Wildlife Board require certification

The Utah House considered HB 56, a bill sponsored to permit the Wildlife Board to require successful completion of a bowhunter safety course before issuing certain archery permits. The sponsor, Representative Veil Hanson, said the change would improve safety by allowing the Board discretion—most likely for big-game hunts such as elk and deer.

Floor members raised several questions. Some said the state’s existing hunter education materials already address bowhunting in the hunter education manual and urged caution about adding new licensing or training requirements. One member asked whether the bill responded to specific accidents or fatalities; the sponsor said the Bow Hunters Association expressed concern about hunters who lack any hunter safety certification. Another representative drew attention to a fiscal note and urged members to read it and consider potential costs in a tight budget year.

Supporters said the bill was permissive: the Wildlife Board “may” require certification, giving the board discretion to limit requirements to situations where the training is necessary. Opponents argued bowhunting is often a solitary and lower-risk activity relative to rifle hunting and worried about needless burdens on hunters. The transcript records committee-level vote info (committee reported 13 yes, 1 no), and floor voting was opened on the measure during the session.

The floor discussion left several details to the Wildlife Board’s rulemaking—members debated how and when the Board would apply the authority and what specific licenses might require certification. The House record shows committee support and floor consideration; final chamber outcome in the provided excerpt is not a full roll-call tally in the transcript excerpt.