R657-11-9. Trapping Devices

  (1) Any foothold traps used to take a furbearer, coyote, or raccoon must have spacers on the jaws which leave an opening of at least 3/16 of an inch when the jaws are closed, except;

  (a) rubber-padded jaw traps,

  (b) traps with jaw spreads less than 4.25 inches, and

  (c) traps that are completely submerged under water when set.

  (2)(a) Any cable devices (i.e snares), used to take a furbearer, coyote, or raccoon, except those set in water or with a loop size less than 3 inches in diameter, must be equipped with a breakaway lock device that will release when any force greater than 300 lbs. is applied to the loop.

  (b) Breakaway cable devices must be fastened to an immovable object solidly secured to the ground.

  (c) The use of drags is prohibited.

  (3) On the middle section of the Provo River, between Jordanelle Dam and Deer Creek Reservoir, the Green River, between Flaming Gorge Dam and the Utah Colorado state line; the Colorado River, between the Utah Colorado state line and Lake Powell; and the Escalante River, between Escalante and Lake Powell, trapping for a furbearer, coyote, or raccoon within 600 yards of either side of these rivers, including their tributaries from the confluences upstream 1/2 mile, is restricted to the following devices:

  (a) Nonlethal-set foot hold traps with a jaw spread less than 5 1/8 inches, and nonlethal-set padded foot hold traps. Drowning sets with these traps are prohibited.

  (b) Body-gripping, killing-type traps with body-gripping area less than 30 square inches.

  (c) Nonlethal dry land cable devices equipped with a stop-lock device that prevents it from closing to less than a six-inch diameter.

  (d) Size 330, body-gripping, killing-type traps modified by replacing the standard V-trigger assembly with one top side parallel trigger assembly, with the trigger placed within one inch of the side, or butted against the vertical turn in the Canadian bend.

  (4) A person may not disturb or remove any trapping device, except:

  (a) the owner of the trapping device;

  (b) peace officers in the performance of their duties;

  (c) the landowner where the trapping device is set;

  (d) the owner of a domestic pet caught in the device may disturb the device to remove the domestic pet; or.

  (e) as provided in Subsection (6).

  (5) A person may not kill or remove wildlife caught in any trapping device, except:

  (a) the owner of the trapping device who possesses the permit, license, tag, or legal authorization required for the species that is captured;

  (b) a peace officer in the performance of their duties;

  (c) as provided in Subsection (6); or

  (d) as provided in R657-11-11.

  (6)(a) A person, other than the owner, may possess, set, disturb or remove a trapping device; or temporarily possess, kill or remove wildlife caught in a trapping device provided:

  (i) the trapping device is appropriately marked with the owner's trap registration number;

  (ii) the person possesses a valid furbearer license and appropriate permits or tags when working with furbearer sets;

  (iii) the person's trap registration license or furbearer license are neither denied nor suspended; and

  (iv) the person has obtained written authorization from the owner of the trapping device with the following information printed on the authorization in permanent ink:

  (A) date written authorization was obtained;

  (B) name, address, and phone number of the owner;

  (C) owner's trap registration number;

  (D) the name of the individual being given authorization; and

  (E) signature of owner.

  (b) Nothing in Subsection (6)(a) authorizes a person to use the owner's trap registration license, furbearer license, permit or tag.

  (7) The owner of any trapping device providing written authorization to another person under Subsection (6) may be criminally liable and civilly responsible under Section 23-19-9 for any violations of Title 23, this rule, or applicable guidebooks resulting from the use of the trapping device by the authorized person.

  (8) The owner of any trapping device providing written authorization to another person under Subsection (6) must keep a record of all persons obtaining written authorization and furnish a copy of the record upon request from a conservation officer.

  (9)(a) A person may not set any trapping device on posted private property without the landowner's or lessee's written permission.

  (b) Wildlife officers should be informed as soon as possible of any illegally set trapping devices.

  (10) Peace officers in the performance of their duties may seize all trapping devices and wildlife used or held in violation of this rule.

  (11) Except as provided in Subsection (6), a person may not possess any trapping device that is not permanently marked or tagged with that person's trap registration number while setting, checking, or moving a trapping device targeting a furbearer, coyote, or raccoon.

  (12) All trapping devices used to take a furbearer, coyote, or raccoon must be checked and animals removed at least once every 48 hours, except;

  (a) killing traps striking dorso-ventrally;

  (b) drowning sets; and

  (c) lethal cable devices that are set to capture on the neck, that have a nonrelaxing lock, without a stop, and are anchored to an immoveable object; which must be checked every 96 hours.

  (13)(a) A person may not remove from a trapping device and thereafter transport or possess:

  (i) live protected wildlife; or

  (ii) a live coyote or raccoon in violation of Section 4-23-111.

  (b) Any live animal found in a trapping device must be:

  (i) euthanized and removed from the device by the trapper within the 48-hour trap check period in R657-11-9(12); or

  (ii) released immediately by the trapper unharmed.

  (14) The trapping restrictions in Subsections (1), (2), and (3) do not apply to a trapping device set within 600 feet of a building or structure occupied or utilized by humans or domestic livestock, provided the trapping device is set:

  (a) to capture a coyote or raccoon; and

  (b) with the landowner's or lessee's permission.