H.B. 329

1

AGE AMENDMENTS FOR HUNTING BIG GAME
2 2006 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Curtis Oda
5 Senate Sponsor: Thomas V. Hatch
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill changes the age requirement for hunting big game.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . changes the age requirement to hunt big game from 14 to 12;
13 . prohibits a person under the age of 14 from obtaining certain permits;
14 . clarifies the meaning of verbal communication for adult supervision; and
15 . makes technical changes.
16 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 23-19-22, as last amended by Chapter 259, Laws of Utah 1995
23 23-20-20, as last amended by Chapter 131, Laws of Utah 1988
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 23-19-22 is amended to read:
27 23-19-22. Big game hunting permit.

28 (1) A person [14] who is at least 12 years [of age or older] old, upon paying the fee
29 prescribed by the Wildlife Board, may receive a permit to hunt big game as provided by rules
30 of the Wildlife Board.
31 (2) A person [13] who is 11 years [of age] old may obtain a permit to hunt big game if
32 that person's [14th] 12th birthday falls within the calendar year for which the permit is issued.
33 (3) (a) Except as provided by Subsection (3)(b), a person who is younger than 14 years
34 old may not obtain the following types of permit to hunt big game:
35 (i) premium limited entry;
36 (ii) limited entry;
37 (iii) once-in-a-lifetime; and
38 (iv) cooperative wildlife management unit.
39 (b) A person who is 13 years old may obtain a type of permit listed in Subsection (3)(a)
40 if that person's 14th birthday falls within the calendar year for which the permit is issued.
41 [(3)] (4) One dollar of each big game permit fee collected from a resident shall be used
42 for the hunter education program as provided in Section 23-19-17 .
43 Section 2. Section 23-20-20 is amended to read:
44 23-20-20. Children accompanied by adults while hunting with weapon.
45 (1) As used in this section[, "accompanied"]:
46 (a) "Accompanied" means at a distance within which visual and verbal communication
47 is maintained for the purposes of advising and assisting.
48 (b) (i) "Electronic device" means a mechanism powered by electricity that allows
49 communication between two or more people.
50 (ii) "Electronic device" includes a mobile telephone or two-way radio.
51 (c) "Verbal communication" means the conveyance of information through speech that
52 does not involve an electronic device.
53 (2) A person [under the age of] younger than 14 years old who is hunting with any
54 weapon must be accompanied by [his]:
55 (a) the person's parent or legal guardian[,]; or [other]
56 (b) a responsible person [of the age of] who is at least 21 years [or older and] old and
57 who is approved by [his] the person's parent or guardian[, while hunting with any weapon].
58 (3) A person [of at least 14 years of age and under] younger than 16 years [of age] old

59 who is hunting big game with any weapon must be accompanied by [his]:
60 (a) the person's parent or legal guardian[,]; or [other]
61 (b) a responsible person [of the age of] who is at least 21 years [or older and] old and
62 who is approved by [his] the person's parent or guardian[, while hunting big game with any
63 weapon].
64 (4) A person [of] who is at least 14 years [of age and under] old but younger than 16
65 years [of age] old must be accompanied by a person [of the age of] at least 21 years [or older]
66 old while hunting wildlife, other than big game, with any weapon.
67 [(5) A person under the age of 12 years is not permitted to hunt for protected wildlife
68 except as provided by rules of the Wildlife Board.]




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-24-06 11:00 AM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel