1     
TARGET SHOOTING REGULATIONS

2     
2022 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen L. Whyte

5     
Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill addresses the regulation of target shooting in wildlife management areas.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms; and
13          ▸     authorizes the Division of Wildlife Resources to close a wildlife management area
14     to target shooting in certain circumstances and with certain conditions.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          None
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     ENACTS:
21          23-21-2.6, Utah Code Annotated 1953
22     

23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 23-21-2.6 is enacted to read:
25          23-21-2.6. Target shooting prohibitions.
26          (1) As used in this section:
27          (a) "County sheriff" means the individual holding the office of county sheriff in the
28     portion of a wildlife management area where target shooting will be, or is, prohibited under this
29     section.

30          (b) "Director" means the director of the Division of Wildlife Resources.
31          (c) "Extremely hazardous" means categorized as "extreme" under a nationally
32     recognized standard for rating fire danger.
33          (2) Subject to Subsections (3) and (4), the division may prohibit the use of firearms for
34     target shooting within all or part of a wildlife management area if the director finds, and the
35     county sheriff agrees, that conditions in that portion of the wildlife management area are
36     extremely hazardous.
37          (3) A prohibition under this section:
38          (a) shall undergo a formal review by the director and the county sheriff every 14 days;
39          (b) may not prohibit an individual from legally possessing a firearm or lawfully
40     participating in a hunt; and
41          (c) may only remain in place for as long as extremely hazardous conditions exist in the
42     area that is subject to the prohibition.
43          (4) The director and the county sheriff shall:
44          (a) via a written document, agree to the terms of a prohibition under this section,
45     including:
46          (i) the exact area where target shooting is prohibited; and
47          (ii) the date when the prohibition becomes effective; and
48          (b) comply with Subsection (4)(a) at each formal review under Subsection (3)(a).