R657-28-11. Access to Wildlife Management Areas

(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), in accordance with Subsection 23A-6-405(2)(b), all individuals who are 18 years or older must possess a valid hunting, fishing, or combination license or a digital access permit to enter a wildlife management area, or that portion of a wildlife management area, that is located: (a) within a county of the first and second class after July 1, 2026; (b) within a county of the third and fourth class after July 1, 2027; and (c) within the state after July 1, 2028. (2) The following individuals are exempt from the requirements set by Subsection 23A-6-405(2)(b): (a) individuals who are division employees, volunteers, or contractors hired at the request of the division while participating in the course of their official duties, or invitees of a division hosted or sanctioned event; (b) individuals who are federal land management agency employees while participating in the course of their official duties; (c) individuals on those portions of a wildlife management area which are sovereign and under the management authority of the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands; or (d) individuals on those portions of a wildlife management area which are owned by the United States of America by and through the Utah Mitigation Reclamation Conservation Commission (URMCC), which were purchased as mitigation through the Central Utah Water Project. (3) The division shall develop and maintain an educational video about wildlife management areas. (a) The educational video shall, at a minimum, include: (i) the purpose and history of wildlife management areas; (ii) funding sources used for purchase and maintenance; and (iii) safe and responsible recreation practices. (b) The division may update the content of the educational video as necessary to reflect changes in law, policy, or management needs. (c) The division shall issue a digital access permit to an individual upon: (i) verified completion of the educational video; and (ii) acknowledgment by the individual that access to wildlife management areas may be seasonal and may be subject to closure for wildlife conservation purposes. (d) A digital access permit is valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. (e) A digital access permit shall be: (i) in the individual's possession while on a wildlife management area; and (ii) made available for inspection upon request by an authorized officer. (4) A trail that begins and ends in a location outside a wildlife management area means a trail that is formally designated by the division, and both begins and ends in a location outside of a wildlife management area, which shall include: (a) the portion of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail that runs through Timpanogos Wildlife Management Area; (b) the portion of the Great Western Trail that runs through Timpanogos Wildlife Management Area; (c) the portion of the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail that runs through the East Canyon Wildlife Management Area; (d) the portion of the Pony Express National Historic Trail that runs through the East Canyon Wildlife Management Area and Henefer-Echo Wildlife Management Area; and (e) the portion of the Paiute ATV Trail System that runs through the City Creek Wildlife Management Area, Elbow Ranch Wildlife Management Area, and White Horse Flat Wildlife Management Area. (5) For purposes of Subsection 23A-6-405(4)(e), "limited circumstances that do not compromise the purposes of a wildlife management area" means uses or activities that: (a) do not require a special use permit under Section R657-28-8; (b) are temporary and of short duration; (c) result in minimal or no disturbance to wildlife, habitat, or infrastructure; (d) do not conflict with wildlife management objectives or seasonal protections; and (e) are consistent with the primary purposes of the wildlife management area. (6) The division may accept voluntary contributions from individuals for the benefit of wildlife management areas. (a) Contributions shall: (i) be voluntary and not required for access unless otherwise authorized by statute; (ii) be deposited into the Wildlife Management Area Stewardship Fund; and (iii) be used only for purposes authorized in Section 23A-3-217. (b) The division may: (i) provide opportunities for contributions through licensing systems or online platforms; and (ii) establish suggested contribution amounts. (c) If a person holds a digital access permit and contributes an amount equal to or greater than the Resident Fishing Ages 18-64 (365 Day) license fee for residents or the Nonresident Fishing Age 18 or Older (365 Day) license fee for nonresidents per the fee schedule, the division shall allow the person to fish using the digital access permit until expiration. (7) A person seeking to complete a volunteer service project on a wildlife management area can do so through participation in the Dedicated Hunter Program established under Rule R657-38 or as part of an in-lieu service project as part of compensation established under Subsection R657-28-8(4)(c).