R657-12. Hunting and Fishing Accommodations for People With Disabilities

(1) obtain a certificate of registration for taking wildlife from a vehicle;

(2) obtain a fishing license as authorized under Section 23-19-36(1);

(3) obtain a certificate of registration to participate in companion hunting;

(4) obtain a certificate of registration to receive a limited entry season extension;

(5) obtain a certificate of registration to receive a general deer or elk season extension;

(6) obtain a certificate of registration to hunt with a crossbow or draw-lock; or

(7) obtain a certificate of registration to use telescopic sights on a weapon when otherwise prohibited.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined in Section 23-13-2.

(2) In addition:

(a) "Blind" means the person:

(i) has no more than 20/200 visual acuity in the better eye when corrected; or

(ii) has, in the case of better than 20/200 central vision, a restriction of the field of vision in the better eye which subtends an angle of the field of vision no greater than 20 degrees.

(b) "Crutch" means any mobility aid or assistive technology device, including a cane, crutch, walker, long or short braces, or other prosthetic or orthotic device which aids in mobility.

(c) "Draw-lock" means a mechanical device used to hold and support the draw weight of a conventional or compound bow at any increment of draw until released by the archer using a trigger mechanism attached to the device.

(d) "Loss of either or both lower extremities" means the permanent loss of use or the physical loss of one or both legs or a part of either or both legs which materially impedes a person's mobility.

(e) "Telescopic sights" means an optical or electronic sighting system that magnifies the natural field of vision beyond 1X and is used to aim a firearm, bow or crossbow.

(f) "Upper extremity disabled" means a person who has a permanent physical impairment due to injury or disease, congenital or acquired, which renders the person so severely disabled as to be physically unable to use a legal hunting weapon or fishing device.

(1) A resident may receive a free fishing license under Section 23-19-36(1) by providing evidence the person is blind, paraplegic, or otherwise permanently disabled so as to be permanently confined to a wheelchair or the use of crutches, or who has lost either or both lower extremities.

(2) A person may obtain this license at any division office.

(3) The division shall accept the following as evidence of disability:

(a) obvious physical impediment;

(b) use of any mobility device described in Section R657-12-2(b);

(c) a signed statement by a licensed ophthalmologist, optometrist, or a physician verifying the person is blind as defined under Section R657-12-2(a); or

(d) a signed statement by a licensed physician verifying the person is paraplegic, or otherwise permanently disabled so as to be permanently confined to a wheelchair or the use of crutches, or has lost either or both lower extremities.

(1) A person who is paraplegic, or otherwise permanently disabled so as to be permanently confined to a wheelchair or the use of crutches, or who has lost either or both lower extremities, and who possesses a valid license or permit to hunt protected wildlife may receive a certificate of registration to take protected wildlife from a vehicle pursuant to Section 23-20-12.

(2)(a) Applicants for the certificate of registration must provide evidence of disability as provided in Subsections R657-12-3(3)(a), (b), or (d).

(b) Certificates of registration may be renewed annually.

(3) Wildlife may be taken from a vehicle under the following conditions:

(a) Only those persons with a valid hunting license or permit and a certificate of registration allowing them to hunt from a vehicle may discharge a firearm or bow from, within, or upon any motorized terrestrial vehicle;

(b) Shooting from a vehicle on or across any established roadway is prohibited;

(c)(i) Firearms must be carried in an unloaded condition, and a round may not be placed in the firearm until the act of firing begins, except as authorized in Title 53, Chapter 5, Part 7 of the Utah Code; and

(ii) Arrows must remain in the quiver until the act of shooting begins; and

(d) Certificate of registration holders must be accompanied by, and hunt with, a person who is physically capable of assisting the certificate of registration holder in recovering wildlife.

(4) Certificate holders must comply with all other laws and rules pertaining to hunting wildlife, including state, federal, and local laws regulating or restricting the use of motorized vehicles.

(1) A person may take protected wildlife for a person who is blind, upper extremity disabled or quadriplegic provided the blind, upper extremity disabled or quadriplegic person:

(a) satisfies hunter education requirements as provided in Section 23-19-11 and Rule R657-23;

(b) possesses the appropriate license, permit and tag;

(c) obtains a Certificate of Registration from the division authorizing the companion to take protected wildlife for the blind, upper extremity disabled or quadriplegic person; and

(d) is accompanied by a companion who has satisfied the hunter education requirements provided in Section 23-19-11 and Rule R657-23.

(2) A person who is blind may obtain a Certificate of Registration from the Division by submitting a signed statement by a licensed ophthalmologist, optometrist or physician verifying that the applicant is blind as defined in Section R657-12-2(2)(a).

(3)(a) A person who is upper extremity disabled or quadriplegic may obtain a Certificate of Registration from the division upon submitting evidence of the disability.

(b) The division shall accept the following as evidence of an applicant's disability:

(i) obvious physical disability demonstrating the applicant is quadriplegic or upper extremity disabled as defined in Section R657-12-2(2)(d); or

(ii) a signed statement by a licensed physician verifying that the applicant is quadriplegic or upper extremity disabled as defined in Section R657-12-2(2)(d).

(4) The hunting or fishing companion must be accompanied by the blind, upper extremity disabled or quadriplegic person at all times while hunting or fishing, at the time of take, and while transporting the protected wildlife.

(1) A person may obtain a Certificate of Registration from a division office requesting an extension of 30 days for any limited entry hunt, provided the person requesting the extension:

(a) is blind, quadriplegic, upper extremity disabled, paraplegic, or otherwise permanently disabled so as to be permanently confined to a wheelchair or the use of crutches, or who has lost either or both lower extremities;

(b) satisfies the hunter education requirements as provided in Section 23-19-11 and Rule R657-23; and

(c) obtains the appropriate license, permit, and tag.

(2) The division shall not issue a Certificate of Registration for a 30-day extension on any limited entry hunt where the extension will violate federal law.

(3) The division shall accept the following as evidence of disability:

(a) obvious physical impediment;

(b) use of any mobility device described in Section R657-12-2(2)(b);

(c) a signed statement by a licensed ophthalmologist, optometrist, or a physician verifying the person is blind as defined under Section R657-12-2(2)(a); or

(d) a signed statement by a licensed physician verifying the person is quadriplegic, upper extremity disabled as defined under Section R657-12-2(2)(d), paraplegic, or otherwise permanently disabled so as to be permanently confined to a wheelchair or the use of crutches, or has lost either or both lower extremities.

(1) A person may obtain a Certificate of Registration from a division office to hunt an extended general deer or elk season as provided in Subsection (2), provided the person requesting the extension:

(a) is blind, quadriplegic, upper extremity disabled, paraplegic, or otherwise permanently disabled so as to be permanently confined to a wheelchair or the use of crutches, or who has lost either or both lower extremities;

(b) satisfies the hunter education requirements as provided in Section 23-19-11 and Rule R657-23; and

(c) obtains the appropriate license, permit and tag.

(2)(a) The extended general deer season may occur five days prior to the general season deer hunt date published in the proclamation of the Wildlife Board for taking big game.

(b) The extended general spike bull elk season may occur five days after the general season spike bull elk hunt published in the proclamation of the Wildlife Board for taking big game.

(c) The extended general any bull elk season may occur concurrently with the general youth any bull elk hunt published in the proclamation of the Wildlife Board for taking big game.

(3) The division shall accept the following as evidence of disability:

(a) obvious physical impediment;

(b) use of any mobility device described in Section R657-12-2(2)(b);

(c) a signed statement by a licensed ophthalmologist, optometrist, or a physician verifying the person is blind as defined under Section R657-12-2(2)(a); or

(d) a signed statement by a licensed physician verifying the person is quadriplegic, upper extremity disabled as defined under Section R657-12-2(2)(d), paraplegic, or otherwise permanently disabled so as to be permanently confined to a wheelchair or the use of crutches, or has lost either or both lower extremities.

(1)(a) A person who has a permanent physical impairment due to injury or disease, congenital or acquired, which renders the person so severely disabled as to be unable to use conventional archery equipment may receive a certificate of registration to use a crossbow or draw-lock to hunt big game, cougar, bear, turkey, waterfowl or small game during the respective archery or any weapon hunting seasons as provided in the applicable proclamations of the Wildlife Board for taking protected wildlife.

(b) The division shall accept the following as evidence of eligibility to use a crossbow or draw-lock:

(i) obvious physical disability, as provided in Subsection (1)(a), demonstrating the applicant is eligible to use a crossbow or draw-lock; or

(ii) provides a physician's statement confirming the disability as defined in Subsection (1)(a).

(2)(a) Any crossbow used to hunt big game, cougar, bear, turkey, waterfowl or small game must have:

(i) a stock that is at least 18 inches long;

(ii) a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds for big game, bear and cougar, or 60 pounds for turkey, waterfowl and small game;

(iii) a draw length that is at least 18 inches from the front of the crossbow to the back of the string in a cocked position; and

(iv) a positive safety mechanism.

(b) Arrows or bolts used must be:

(i) at least 18 inches long; and

(ii) must have a broadhead with two or more sharp cutting edges that cannot pass through a 7/8 inch ring for big game, cougar, bear or turkey.

(3) The following equipment or devices may not be used:

(a) arrows with chemically treated or explosive arrowheads;

(b) a bow with an attached electronic range finding device; or

(c) a bow with an attached telescopic sight, except as provided in R657-12-9.

(4) Arrows or bolts carried in or on a vehicle where a person is riding must be in an arrow quiver or a closed case.

(5) A drawn and cocked crossbow or bow with a draw-lock may not be carried in or on a vehicle.

(6) Conventional bows equipped with a draw-lock and used to hunt big game must conform with the minimum draw weights, and arrow and broadhead restrictions contained in R657-5.

(1) A person who has a permanent vision impairment leaving them with worse than 20/40 corrected visual acuity in the better eye may receive a Certificate of Registration to use telescopic sights; if in the professional opinion of the eye care provider telescopic sights will sufficiently mitigate the effects of the disability to enable the person to:

(a) adequately discern between lawful and unlawful wildlife species and species genders; and

(b) safely discharge a firearm or bow in the field.

(2) A person with a qualified vision impairment may obtain a Certificate of Registration from the Division to use telescopic sights by submitting a signed statement by a licensed ophthalmologist, optometrist or physician verifying that:

(a) the applicant has a permanent vision impairment resulting in worse than 20/40 corrected visual acuity in the better eye; and

(b) telescopic sights will sufficiently mitigate the effects of the vision impairment to enable the applicant to:

(i) adequately discern between lawful and unlawful wildlife species and species genders; and

(ii) safely discharge a firearm or bow in the field.