R657-11-26. Approval to Trap on State Waterfowl Management Areas

  (1)(a) Trapping wildlife, including nonprotected species, on state waterfowl management areas is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the division. Trapping is a property management tool used to protect waterfowl populations and infrastructure improvements found on the property.

  (b) The authorization to trap on state waterfowl management areas shall be provided through a certificate of registration that is awarded to an individual or individuals through a competitive proposal solicitation process.

  (c) On or before October 1 of each year, the division shall publicly notice which state waterfowl management areas are available for proposal by publishing the notice on its website and by publishing a notice in a newspaper of general circulation at least once a week for two consecutive weeks.

  (d) The notification and advertising shall include:

  (i) the deadline for applying for the certificate of registration;

  (ii) the wildlife species authorized for trapping;

  (iii) a general description of the trapping area authorized under the certificate of registration;

  (iv) the desired form of compensation to the division, whether monetary, in-kind, or both;

  (v) the division's management objectives for the state waterfowl management area; and

  (vi) any special considerations or limitations the division will require of the trapper or trappers while they are on the state waterfowl management area.

  (2)(a) Applications must include the following:

  (i) a nonrefundable application fee;

  (ii) the name of the state waterfowl management area being applied for;

  (iii) a description of the applicant's familiarity with the state waterfowl management area being applied for;

  (iv) a list of the individuals who will conduct trapping activities under the certificate of registration;

  (v) a description of each individual's experience trapping and their ability to utilize removal of targeted species to protect waterfowl and wildlife populations and infrastructure found at state waterfowl management areas;

  (vi) the projected number of animals, specifically muskrat, that may be removed via trapping;

  (vii) how the proposal accomplishes the identified management objectives for the waterfowl management area;

  (viii) how the proposal conforms with any special considerations or limitations identified by the division in its public notice; and

  (viii) a bid amount to be paid to the Division in exchange for the authorization to trap on the state waterfowl management area.

  (c) All individuals listed on the application who will conduct trapping activities under the certificate of registration must:

  (i) possess a trap registration license;

  (ii) use traps marked with the owner's trap registration number; and

  (iii) meet all age, proof of hunter education and furharvester requirements, including youth restrictions as provided in Utah Code 23-19-24, 23-19-11 and 23-20-20.

  (d) The bid amount described in Subsection (vi) above may include non-monetary, in-kind contributions.

  (3)(a) Late or incomplete applications may be rejected.

  (b) A separate application must be submitted for each state waterfowl management area the applicant wishes to trap on.

  (c) In the event that there is more than one application for a certain state waterfowl management area, the division will analyze each application and select a successful applicant or applicants whose proposal best accomplishes the division objectives identified in the public notice.

  (4) The selected applicant will be issued a certificate of registration authorizing trapping activities on the state waterfowl management area for a period of up to two years.

  (5) A certificate of registration issued pursuant to this Part may be revoked, suspended, or terminated consistent with the terms of Utah Code 23-19-9 and Utah Admin. Code R657-26.