R657-34-3. Information Gathering

(1) Prior to making a request to the Wildlife Board to close an area to hunting, the political subdivision shall hold a public hearing within its boundaries for the purpose of disclosing the proposed ordinance or policy and gathering public comment.

(2) The political subdivision shall compile a written summary of the hearing, including the date of the hearing, number of persons in attendance, and public comment.

(3) At least 45 days prior to the Wildlife Board meeting in which the request for a hunting closure shall be made, the political subdivision shall submit the following information to the director of the division:

(a) a draft copy of the proposed ordinance or policy;

(b) a plat map showing the boundaries of the area in which the political subdivision is requesting the closure and the boundaries of the political subdivision;

(c) the safety reasons for the proposed closure; and

(d) the written summary of the public hearing as required in Subsection (2).

(4) The purpose of this section is to provide sufficient information to allow the division to conduct a technical evaluation of the impacts the closure may have on division objectives, administrative rules, game depredation, wildlife management, and public interests.

(5) As the division conducts a technical evaluation of the impacts the closure may have regarding public interests, the division shall gather information and broad input from the appropriate regional advisory councils and the officials of the pertinent political subdivision.