No. 40585 (Amendment): Rule R58-20. Domesticated Elk Hunting Parks

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 40585
Filed: 07/05/2016 04:24:10 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The rule has been changed in order to help keep an accurate account of domestic elk numbers.

Summary of the rule or change:

The rule requires that hunting parks remove all elk from the hunting area by December 31 of each year.

Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Title 4, Chapter 39

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is little to no additional cost. Legislation appropriated money to the program in 2016 that will help pay for a full-time employee that as part of their duties will be to inspect records and facilities.

local governments:

No cost or savings to local government, as this program is not regulated by anyone other than the state Department of Agriculture and Food.

small businesses:

There maybe a small additional compliance costs to the elk hunting parks in the form of manpower to make sure that all elk are brought in prior to December 31. However, this cost will be offset by savings of a controlled breeding season, less escapes of domestic elk, and inventory correctness in the spring, by knowing exactly how many are on the facility.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There should be no effect on costs or savings to any other entity. This rule is only pertinent to the elk industry and has no effect to cost or savings on the elk industry.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There maybe a small additional compliance costs to the elk hunting parks in the form of manpower to make sure that all elk are brought in prior to December 31. However, this cost will be offset by savings of a controlled breeding season, less escapes of domestic elk, and inventory correctness in the spring by knowing exactly how many are on the facility.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The costs associated with compliance to this rule are outweighed by the benefits. This rule will help producers know how many animals they have and prevent the escape of the animals.

LuAnn Adams, Commissioner

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Office of Administrative Rules, or at:

Agriculture and Food
Animal Industry
350 N REDWOOD RD
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84116-3034

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Kathleen Mathews at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7103, by FAX at 801-538-7126, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]
• Cody James at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7166, by FAX at 801-538-7169, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]
• Scott Ericson at the above address, by phone at 801-538-7102, by FAX at 801-538-7126, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

08/31/2016

This rule may become effective on:

09/07/2016

Authorized by:

LuAnn Adams, Commissioner

RULE TEXT

R58. Agriculture and Food, Animal Industry.

R58-20. Domesticated Elk Hunting Parks.

R58-20-1. Authority and Purpose.

In accordance with the Domesticated Elk Act, and the provisions of Section 4-39-106, Utah Code, this rule specifies:

(i) procedures for obtaining domesticated elk facility licenses,

(ii) requirements for operating those facilities,

(iii) standards for disposal/removal of animals within those facilities, and

(iv) health standards and requirements in such facilities.

 

R58-20-2. Definitions.

In addition to terms used in Section 4-39-102, and R58-18-2:

(1) "Division" means the Division of Animal Industry, in the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

(2) "Domestic elk" means any elk which is born inside of, and has spent its entire life in captivity, and is the offspring of domestic elk.

(3) "Elk farm" means a place where domestic elk are raised, bred and sold within the practice of normal or typical ranching operations.

(4) "Hunting Park" means a place where domestic elk are harvested through normal or typical hunting methods.

(5) "Isolation Facility" means a confined area where selected elk can be secured, contained and isolated from all other elk or livestock.

(6) "Secure Enclosure" means a perimeter fence or barrier that is constructed and maintained in accordance with Section 4-39-201 and will prevent domestic elk from escaping into the wild or the ingress of big game wildlife into the facility.

 

R58-20-3. Application and Licensing Process.

(1) Pursuant to Section 4-39-203, Utah Code, the owner of each facility that is involved in the hunting of domestic elk must first fill out and complete a separate elk hunting park application which shall be submitted to the Division for approval.

(2) In addition to the application, a general plot plan should be submitted showing the location of the proposed hunting park in conjunction with roads, town, etc. in the immediate area.

(3) A facility number shall be assigned to an elk hunting park at the time a completed application is received at the Department of Agriculture and Food building.

(4) A complete facility inspection and approval shall be conducted prior to the issuing of a license or entry of elk to any facility. This inspection shall be made by an approved Department of Agriculture and Food employee and Division of Wildlife Resources employee. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to request this inspection at least 72 hours in advance.

(5) Upon receipt of an application, inspection and approval of the facility, completion of the facility approval form, and receipt of the license fee, a license will be issued.

(6) All licenses for hunting parks expire on July 1 in the year following the year of issuance.

(7) No domestic elk shall be allowed to enter a hunting park until a license is issued by the division and received by the applicant.

 

R58-20-4. License Renewal.

(1) All laws found in Section 4-39-205 and rules found in R58-18-4 pursuant to the renewal of elk farms are applicable to elk hunting parks.

 

R58-20-5. Facilities.

(1) Fencing requirements established by Section 4-39-201 of the Utah Code are applicable to both domestic elk farms and hunting parks.

(2) A hunting park for domesticated elk may be no smaller than 600 fenced contiguous acres, with sufficient trees, rocks, hills and natural habitat, etc. to provide cover for the animals. Hunting park owners intending to operate facilities larger than 5,000 acres must obtain prior written approval of the Elk Advisory Council, following studies, reviews or assessments, etc., which the Council may deem necessary to undertake, in order to make an informed decision.

(3) There shall be notices posted on the outside fence and spaced a minimum of every 100 yards, to notify the public that the land area is a private hunting park.

(4) Each location of a licensed facility with separate perimeter fences must have its own separate loading facility.

(5) To be licensed, the park must include a handling and isolation facility which can be accessed and operated with reasonable ease for identification and disease control purposes. An exception to this rule may be granted in cases where there is a licensed farm owned by the same individual within 50 miles of the hunting park which can be accessed in a reasonably short period of time.

 

R58-20-6. Records.

(1) All laws and rules set forth in Sections 4-39-206 and R58-18-6 apply to hunting parks.

 

R58-20-7. Genetic Purity.

(1) All laws and rules found in Sections 4-39-301 and R58-18-7 pursuant to genetic purity are applicable to hunting parks.

 

R58-20-8. Acquisition of Elk.

(1) All laws and rules found in Sections 4-39-302, 4-39-303, R58-18-8 and R58-18-11 pursuant to importation or acquisition of domestic elk are applicable to hunting parks.

 

R58-20-9. Identification.

(1) All laws and regulations provided in Sections 4-39-304 and R58-18-9 governing individual animal identification are applicable in hunting parks.

 

R58-20-10. Inspections.

(1) All hunting park facilities must be inspected yearly within 60 days before a license or the renewal of an existing license is issued. It is the responsibility of the applicant to arrange for an appointment with the department for such inspection, giving the department ample time to respond to such a request.

(2) All elk must be inspected for inventory purposes within a reasonable timely period before a license renewal can be issued.

(a) All elk must be removed from hunting grounds by harvest or recapture by December 31 of each year to ensure conclusive inventory.

(3) All live domestic elk must be brand inspected prior to entering or leaving the park.

(4) Any elk purchased or brought into the facility from an out-of-state source shall be inspected upon arrival at a licensed hunting park before being released into an area inhabited by other domestic elk.

(5) A Utah Brand Inspection Certificate shall accompany any shipment of live elk into or out of the hunting park including those which move from facility to facility within Utah.

(6) A Domestic Elk Harvest Permit must be filled out by the park owner at the time of harvest. One copy of the permit shall be sent to the division office, one copy shall go to the hunter and one copy shall be kept on file at the facility. Validated tags must be attached to the carcass and the antlers prior to leaving the park and remain affixed during transportation to residence, meat processor, taxidermist, etc.

(7) Pursuant to Section 4-39-207, agricultural inspectors may, at any reasonable time during regular business hours, have free and unimpeded access to inspect all facilities, animals and records where domestic elk are kept.

 

R58-20-11. Health Rules.

(1) All laws and rules found in Sections 4-39-107, R58-18-11 and R58-18-12 pursuant to animal health are applicable to hunting parks.

 

R58-20-12. Meat.

(1) The selling of domestic elk meat obtained from a licensed hunting park will not be allowed and:

(a) Must be consumed by either the hunter or park owner or their immediate family members, regular employees or guests, or the meat shall be:

(b) Donated as a charitable food item in compliance with Section 4-34-2 of the Utah Agriculture Code.

 

R58-20-13. Dissolution of an Elk Hunting Park.

(1) Before an elk hunting park can be dissolved all elk must be removed from the premises.

(2) Any abandoned elk will be removed by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food using lethal means.

(a) Carcasses will be disposed of by either disposal in an approved landfill, incineration, or donated as a charitable food item in compliance with Section 4-34-2 of the Utah Agriculture Code.

(b) Costs for removal of abandoned elk will be charged to the owner of the elk hunting park.

 

R58-20-14. Liability.

(1) All laws found in Section 4-39-401 concerning the escape of domesticated elk are applicable to hunting parks.

(2) A hunting park owner shall remove all wild big game animals prior to enclosing the park. If wild big game animals are found within the park after it has been licensed, the owner shall notify the Division of Wildlife Resources within 48 hours. A cooperative removal program may be designed by the parties involved to remove the animals.

(3) No person(s) may hunt domestic elk in an approved park without first being issued written permission to do so from the owner. The approval document shall be in the hunter's possession during hunting times. Hunting hours will be from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

(4) In accordance with the state's governmental immunity act, as found in Section 63G-7-101, et seq., the granting of a hunting park license or the imposing of a requirement to gain an owner's permission does not attach any liability to the state for any accident, mishap or injury that occurs on, adjacent to, or in connection with the hunting park.

 

KEY: inspections, elk, hunting parks

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [December 19, 2011]2016

Notice of Continuation: January 17, 2014

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 4-39-106

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