Why Utah wants to ban night vision devices and some surveillance cameras during hunting season

SALT LAKE CITY – Technology has changed the hunt in many ways, for good and bad.

It’s easier to access information and find places to hunt, but there are technological advancements that Utah wildlife officials and many hunters in Utah believe could cross the line. . At this point, the Utah Division of Wildlife on Wednesday said it wanted to ban the use of night vision devices and change the use of surveillance cameras during peak hunting season, all the more so. that both become more affordable and more popular.

These two proposed rules highlight a few other hunting rule changes that the Utah Wildlife Council will vote on next month.

Under one of the proposed changes, hunters would not be allowed to use a night vision device to locate or attempt to locate big game – from 48 hours before a big game hunt in an area, until 48 hours after the end of a big game hunt in this area.

“The pad on each side is just to prevent finding an animal just before the hunt begins or using it to locate an animal after the hunt,” said Covy Jones, big game coordinator for the Wildlife Division. from Utah, in a video about the proposed changes.

“We just want everyone to be on the same footing during the hunt,” he said.

The division defines a night vision device as anything that enhances visible and non-visible light, such as thermal imaging devices, infrared imaging devices, or electronic devices that enhance the spectrum of visible and non-visible light.

Another rule change prohibits the use of surveillance camera image transmission between July 31 and January 31, which includes the big game hunting season. Jones said surveillance cameras can still be placed statewide, but the state will begin a “non-use season.”

During this time, people cannot use a track camera to locate or attempt to locate big game. The division defines trail cameras as any device unhooked or manually operated by a person used to capture images, video or location data of wildlife using heat or motion to trigger the device.

It would also be illegal to sell, distribute or store footage from a transmitting trail camera for harvesting use or aid in the harvesting of any large game. Division officials said people who use surveillance cameras on private land to monitor intruders, or who have “active farms,” ​​can still use them for these purposes between July 31 and January 31. . Cities that are part of the Urban Deer program can, too. However, it would be illegal to use these cameras to hunt big game, per the rule change recommendation.

Both devices are seen as defying the limits of hunting ethics, Jones explained. He added that this wasn’t much of a problem before, but both have become more popular as equipment prices have fallen in recent years.

The division emailed a poll on possible hunting change proposals to a random group of hunters in Utah earlier this year. More than a third of hunters responded and this data was used to help shape official change proposals.

“Usually the feeling is that the use (of night vision devices) is not fair hunting, and there is a strong feeling that the animal needs a chance – and just hunting doesn. ‘is just that,’ Jones said.

About 62% of the more than 2,000 people polled also said they objected to the use of real-time surveillance camera image transmission during hunting season, according to the division.

The division also proposed other hunting changes, such as requiring buffalo hunters to read an article on shot placement, also due to ethical concerns. Another change would remove the requirement to wear hunter orange during the general season for all bull archery hunts that straddle the general season for all young bull hunts. Young hunters would still be required to wear orange.

The full list of recommended changes for hunting and fishing is available here. All proposed changes will be reviewed and voted on by the Utah Wildlife Board on September 30.

Division officials said they started accepting public comments on the proposed changes on Monday. Public comments can be left on the Utah Wildlife Division website. The online comment period ends on September 23 at 11:59 p.m.

There are also several regional meetings where people can give their opinion on the plans:

• The Central Utah Regional Advisory Council is meeting on August 31 at 6 p.m. at the Springville office of DWR, 1115 N. Main St. in Springville.
• The Northern Utah Regional Advisory Council meets on September 1 at 6 p.m. in the Weber County Committee Chambers of DWR, 2380 Washington Blvd., Ssuite # 240 in Ogden.
• The Southern Utah Regional Advisory Council is meeting on September 7 at 6 p.m. at the Richfield City complex of the Department of Natural Resources (2031 Industrial Park Road.
• The Southeastern Utah Regional Advisory Council meets on September 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the John Wesley Powell Museum, 1765 E. Main St. in Green River.
• The Northeastern Utah Regional Advisory Council is meeting on September 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the DWR Vernal Office, 318 N. Vernal Ave.

People can also provide feedback at the Utah Wildlife Council meeting where the vote will take place. The meeting is scheduled for September 30 at 9 am in the Department of Natural Resources building, 1594 W. North Temple in Salt Lake City.