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9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This resolution recognizes the importance of hunting and fishing to Utah's heritage and
12 economy, and recommends that the Division of Wildlife Resources and the Wildlife
13 Board continue to protect the state's authority to regulate the uses of ammunition that
14 contain lead.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This resolution:
17 ▸ identifies the importance of hunting and fishing to Utah's heritage and economy,
18 and highlights the importance of protecting the state's authority in overseeing and
19 preserving this pastime; and
20 ▸ recommends that the Division of Wildlife Resources and the Wildlife Board take all
21 necessary efforts to ensure the citizens of the state of Utah may continue to use
22 ammunition containing lead, notwithstanding limited instances of valid federal
23 oversight.
24 Special Clauses:
25 None
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27 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
28 WHEREAS, hunting and fishing are important elements of Utah's heritage and tradition
29 of outdoor recreation;
30 WHEREAS, hunting and fishing provide valuable income to local businesses and
31 contribute millions of dollars each year to Utah's economy;
32 WHEREAS, notwithstanding limited instances of valid federal oversight, the state of
33 Utah, through the Division of Wildlife Resources and the Wildlife Board, exercises regulatory
34 authority over wildlife, hunting, fishing, and trapping activities in the state;
35 WHEREAS, like all states in the nation, Utah prescribes to the tenets of the North
36 American Model of Wildlife Conservation;
37 WHEREAS, in doing so, wildlife management, hunting, and fishing in Utah are
38 supported primarily by sportsmen's dollars generated through the sale of hunting and fishing
39 licenses and permits, and by federal excise taxes generated by the sale of equipment used for
40 hunting, fishing, and trapping;
41 WHEREAS, Utah is recognized as one of the best places to hunt and fish in the United
42 States;
43 WHEREAS, many who participate in the sport of hunting have grown accustomed to
44 using various types of ammunition that contain lead;
45 WHEREAS, Utah should maintain its current practice of enforcing the federally
46 required use of steel shot ammunition when hunting for waterfowl species or when hunting in
47 areas where waterfowl species are susceptible to lead toxicity through ingestion;
48 WHEREAS, when hunting species other than waterfowl in Utah, it is important for
49 hunters to retain the ability to choose whether or not they use ammunition containing lead;
50 WHEREAS, in many instances, the varieties of lawful ammunition used for hunting
51 activities are determined by the Division of Wildlife Resources and the Wildlife Board; and
52 WHEREAS, protecting this state's existing authority to regulate the use of ammunition
53 containing lead will encourage participation in hunting activities, preserve an important part of
54 Utah's heritage, and support Utah's economy:
55 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
56 Governor concurring therein, recommends that the Division of Wildlife Resources and the
57 Wildlife Board continue exploring and advancing programs and initiatives that expand public
58 participation in hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-related recreational activities.
59 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor identify that the
60 use of ammunition containing lead is a historical practice that is important to many hunters.
61 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor recommend that
62 the Division of Wildlife Resources and the Wildlife Board continue managing the wildlife
63 resources of the state of Utah consistent with the tenets of the North American Model of
64 Wildlife Conservation by, among other things, minimizing unnecessary restrictions on the use
65 of ammunition that contains lead, except where reasonable and required by federal law.
66 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor oppose any
67 unreasonable expansions of federal prohibitions on the use of ammunition containing lead.
68 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be delivered to the
69 Division of Wildlife Resources and the Wildlife Board.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel