R657-44-3. Damage to Cultivated Crops, Fences, or Irrigation Equipment by Big Game Animals

  (1) If big game animals are damaging cultivated crops on cleared and planted land, or fences or irrigation equipment on private land, the landowner or lessee shall immediately, upon discovery of big game damage, request that the division take action by notifying a division representative in the appropriate regional office pursuant to Section 23-16-3(1).

  (2) Notification may be made:

  (a) orally to expedite a field investigation; or

  (b) in writing to a division representative in the appropriate division regional office.

  (3)(a) The regional supervisor or division representative shall contact the landowner or lessee within 72 hours after receiving notification to determine the nature of the damage and take appropriate action for the extent of the damage experienced or expected during the damage incident period.

  (b) The division shall consider the big game population management objectives as established in the wildlife unit management plan approved by the Wildlife Board.

  (c) Division action shall include:

  (i) removing the big game animals causing depredation; or

  (ii) implementing a depredation mitigation plan pursuant to Sections 23-16-3(2)(b) through 23-16-3(2)(f) and approved in writing by the landowner or lessee.

  (4)(a) The division mitigation plan may incorporate any of the following measures:

  (i) sending a division representative onto the premises to control or remove the big game animals, including:

  (A) herding;

  (B) capture and relocation;

  (C) temporary or permanent fencing; or

  (D) removal, as authorized by the division director or the division director's designee;

  (ii) recommending to the Wildlife Board an antlerless big game hunt in the next big game season framework;

  (iii) scheduling a depredation hunter pool hunt in accordance with Sections R657-44-7, R657-44-8, or R657-44-9;

  (iv) issuing mitigation permits to the landowner or lessee for the harvest of big game animals causing depredation during a general or special season hunt authorized by the Wildlife Board, of which:

  (A) the hunting area for big game animals may include a buffer zone established by the division that surrounds, or is adjacent to, the lands where depredation is occurring;

  (B) the landowner or lessee may designate an immediate family member or employee to receive mitigation permits;

  (C) a person may receive no more than five antlerless deer permits, five doe pronghorn permits, and two antlerless elk permits per mitigation plan;

  (D) each qualified recipient of a mitigation permit will receive from the division a Mitigation Permit Hunting License that satisfies the hunting license requirements in R657-44-11(c) to obtain the mitigation permit.

  (E) the Mitigation Permit Hunting License does not authorize the holder to hunt small game; nor does it qualify the holder to apply for or obtain a cougar, bear, turkey, or other big game permit.

  (v) issuing big game mitigation permit vouchers for use on the landowner's or lessee's private land during a general or special hunt authorized by the Wildlife Board of which:

  (A) mitigation permit vouchers for antlerless deer may authorize the take of one or two deer as determined by the division;

  (B) mitigation permit vouchers for pronghorn may authorize the take of one or two doe pronghorn as determined by the division;

  (C) the division may not issue mitigation permit vouchers for moose, bison, bighorn sheep, or mountain goat; and

  (D) the hunting area for big game animals may include a buffer zone established by the division that surrounds, or is adjacent to, the landowner's or lessee's private lands where depredation is occurring.

  (b) The mitigation plan may describe how the division will assess and compensate for damage pursuant to Section 23-16-4.

  (c) The landowner or lessee and the division may agree upon a combination of mitigation measures to be used pursuant to Subsections (4)(a)(i) through (4)(a)(v), including a damage payment or a description of how the division will assess and compensate the landowner or lessee under Section 23-16-4 for damage to cultivated crops, fences, or irrigation equipment.

  (d) The agreement pursuant to Subsection (4)(c) must be made before a claim for damage is filed and the mitigation measures are taken.

  (5) Vouchers may be issued in accordance with Subsection (4)(a)(v) to:

  (a) the landowner or lessee; or

  (b) a landowner association that:

  (i) applies in writing to the division;

  (ii) provides a map of the association lands;

  (iii) provides signatures of the landowners in the association; and

  (iv) designates an association representative to act as liaison with the division.

  (6) In determining appropriate mitigation, the division shall consider the landowner's or lessee's revenue pursuant to Subsections 23-16-3(2)(f) and 23-16-4(3)(b).

  (7) Mitigation permits or vouchers may be withheld from persons who have violated this rule, any other wildlife rule, the Wildlife Resources Code, or are otherwise ineligible to receive a permit.

  (8)(a) The options provided in Subsections (4)(a)(i) through (4)(a)(v) are for antlerless animals only.

  (b) Deer and pronghorn hunts may be August 1 through December 31, and elk hunts may be August 1 through January 31.

  (9)(a) The division director may approve mitigation permits or mitigation permit vouchers issued for antlered animals.

  (b) A mitigation permit may be issued to the landowner or lessee or a qualifying individual designated by the landowner or lessee to take big game for personal use, provided the division and the landowner or lessee desires the animals to be permanently removed.

  (c) A mitigation permit voucher may be issued to the landowner or lessee, provided:

  (i)(A) the division determines that the big game animals in the geographic area significantly contribute to the wildlife management units;

  (B) the landowner or lessee agrees to perpetuate the animals on their land; and

  (C) the damage, or expected damage, to the landowner's or lessee's cleared and planted land equals or exceeds the expected value of the mitigation permit voucher on that private land within the wildlife unit; or

  (ii)(A) the big game damage occurs on the landowner's or lessee's cleared and planted land;

  (B) the division and the affected landowner or lessee desire the animals to be permanently removed; and

  (C) the damage, or expected damage, to the cleared and planted land equals or exceeds the expected value of the mitigation permit voucher on that private land within the wildlife unit.

  (d) The hunting area for a mitigation permit or permit voucher issued under this subsection includes the landowner's or lessee's cleared and planted land where the depredation occurs and may include a buffer zone established by the division that surrounds, or is adjacent to, that land.

  (10)(a) If the landowner or lessee and the division are unable to agree on the assessed damage, they shall designate a third party pursuant to Subsection 23-16-4(3)(d).

  (b) Additional compensation may be paid above the value of any mitigation permits or vouchers granted to the landowner or lessee if the damage exceeds the value of the mitigation permits or vouchers.

  (11)(a) The landowner or lessee may revoke approval of the mitigation plan agreed to pursuant to Subsection (4)(c).

  (b) If the landowner or lessee revokes the mitigation plan, the landowner or lessee must request that the division take action pursuant to Section 23-16-3(1)(a).

  (c) Any subsequent request for action shall start a new 72-hour time limit as specified in Section 23-16-3(2)(a).

  (12) The expiration of the damage incident period does not preclude the landowner or lessee from making future claims.

  (13) The division may enter into a conservation lease with the landowner or lessee of private land pursuant to Section 23-16-3(5).