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House approves lowering hunting age thresholds: small game minimum eliminated, big‑game age reduced to 12
Summary
The House passed two related hunting bills: HB328 eliminates a minimum age for small‑game hunting contingent on supervision and safety course; HB329 reduces big‑game minimum from 14 to 12. Both bills were referred to the Senate.
The Utah House approved two measures adjusting youth hunting ages and referred both to the Senate after recorded floor votes. Representative Curtis Oda, sponsor of both bills, said HB328 "simply eliminates the minimum age on small game hunting" while preserving safety requirements, and that HB329 would reduce the big‑game minimum age from 14 to 12 "to align with most Western states."
On HB328, sponsors and supporters emphasized mandatory hunter‑safety course completion, a requirement that a licensed adult be present within visual and audible range without electronic devices, and endorsements from wildlife organizations and regional advisory councils. Representative Oda said the bill preserves parental discretion and requires the hunter to pass both written and shooting tests; the division of wildlife confirmed the examination would not be simplified for younger hunters.
House members asked detailed questions about testing for very young applicants, whether family members can serve as guardians for under‑14 hunters, and the effect of adding younger hunters on limited entry permits. The sponsor said 12‑ and 13‑year‑olds would be restricted from limited‑entry or once‑in‑a‑lifetime hunts and explained the cooperative wildlife management unit (CWMU) process for private‑land permits.
After debate HB328 passed 59–5. HB329, which would lower the age for big‑game hunting from 14 to 12, drew similar discussion about permit competition and conservation; HB329 passed 41–26. Both bills will proceed to the Senate for further consideration.
