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State wildlife official outlines HB30 access changes for WMAs and a proposal to limit lethal cougar traps
Summary
A state wildlife official told the lands council that House Bill 30 will phase in digital-access permits for Wildlife Management Areas and that the department plans to restrict use of lethal traps (snares) for cougar harvest on public lands, while preserving exceptions for livestock protection.
A state wildlife official briefed the Emery County Public Lands Council on two items that will affect public access and wildlife management: changes from House Bill 30 affecting access to some Wildlife Management Areas, and a departmental proposal to restrict lethal traps used to harvest cougars.
The official said HB30 (legislative changes enacted over the last two sessions) phases in a requirement that people entering certain WMAs hold a hunting or fishing license or obtain a free digital access permit after watching an online educational video. Under the current schedule explained in the meeting, class 1 and 2 counties will face the requirement first (effective in July of the nearer year mentioned); class 3 and 4 counties will follow a year later. The official noted Carbon County’s classification uncertainty and emphasized that, under current law, the requirement would extend statewide (including Emery County) by 07/01/2028 unless the legislature amends the schedule.
On predator management, the official described a proposal under the RAC (Regional Advisory Council) process to restrict lethal traps (snares) for cougar harvest on public lands. The proposed rule would preserve lethal trapping for producers, contractors or government agents who require snares to protect livestock, but would generally bar the public from using lethal traps to remove cougars. The official cited last year’s harvest data noting few cougars were removed using lethal traps statewide.
The agency also updated the council about mule-deer outreach (field tours and evening meetings in May, including a May 14 event in Price and a May 12 meeting in Monticello) and habitat work in the Fuller Bottom WMA to move a road away from river-bottom camping areas to reduce chronic impacts.
Council members asked whether the digital-access video and permit were available online; staff said the online permit tool and video had some availability issues that the department was addressing. The official urged council members and residents to review the agency’s RAC agenda and to participate in upcoming meetings and comment windows.
