Utah’s 45-day legislative session adjourned sine die on Friday, March 3. Adjourned sine die means the legislative session is completed and not returning. This year, the legislature passed the following sportsmen bills.
HB 237 amends the mentor hunting program to allow the minor of a deceased immediate family member who drew a permit to use that permit as long as they are accompanied by another adult family member. HB 237 unanimously passed the House and Senate and is waiting for the Governor’s consideration.
HB 341 authorizes the Division of Wildlife Resources (division) to provide for the purchase of an electronic duck stamp on the division’s website and recognizes the electronic stamp for 45 days while waiting for the physical duck stamp to arrive. HB 341 unanimously passed the House and Senate and is waiting for the Governor’s consideration.
HB 469 creates an air rifle hunting season, creates a specific hunting and trapping season for cougars, and creates the Wildlife Land and Water Acquisition program and process for purchasing land. HB 469 received opposition in both the House and Senate but was passed and is waiting for the Governor’s consideration.
Even though the 2023 legislative session is over the Sportsmen’s Alliance will continue to monitor activities in Utah as you never know when issues that sportsmen need to be aware of may pop up.
As always, you can check www.sportsmensalliance.org and follow us on social media for breaking updates. Sportsmen throughout the Beehive State must stay actively involved to defend our hunting, fishing, and trapping heritage for present and future generations to enjoy. Working together, we cannot lose!
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.