Natural Resources

Wildlife Resources

Rule 9: Taking Migratory Game Birds - Waterfowl, Snipe, Coot, American Crow, Band-Tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, White-Winged Dove, and Sandhill Crane

Effective Date: 06/23/2026

Admin. Code Reference: R657-9

Rule Type: Current Rule

NOTICE OF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE

TYPE OF FILING: Amendment

Rule or section number:

R657-9

Filing ID: 57938

Agency Information

1. Title catchline:

Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources

Building:

DNR Complex

Street address:

1594 W North Temple

City, state:

Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Mailing address:

PO Box 146301

City, state and zip:

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301

Contact persons:

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Staci Coons

801-450-3093

stacicoons@utah.gov

Please address questions regarding information on this notice to the persons listed above.

General Information

2. Rule or section catchline:

R657-9. Taking Migratory Game Birds - Waterfowl, Snipe, Coot, American Crow, Band-Tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, White-Winged Dove, and Sandhill Crane

3. Are any changes in this filing because of state legislative action?

Changes are because of legislative action.

If yes, any bill number and session:

HB 30 (2026 General Session) HB 111 (2026 General Session)

4. Purpose of the new rule or reason for the change:

This rule is being amended pursuant to Regional Advisory Council and Wildlife Board meetings conducted annually for taking public input and reviewing the Division of Wildlife Resources' (DWR) rule pursuant to taking Migratory Game Birds.

5. Summary of the new rule or change:

The proposed amendments to this rule:

1) add Goshen Bay as a WMA as directed during the 2026 General Session; and

2) revise 600 feet to 300 feet as directed during the 2026 General Session.

Fiscal Information

6. Provide an estimate and written explanation of the aggregate anticipated cost or savings to:

A. State budget:

The amendments to Rule R657-9 are administrative in nature, DWR has determined that these changes can be initiated within the current workload and resources of the DWR, therefore, the DWR does not believe that these amendments would create a cost or savings impact to the state budget or the DWR's budget since the changes will not increase workload and can be carried out with existing budget.

B. Local governments:

Local governments are not directly or indirectly impacted by these proposed amendments because this rule does not create a situation requiring services from local governments.

C. Small businesses ("small business" means a business employing 1-49 persons):

The proposed rule amendments will not directly impact small businesses because a service is not required of them.

D. Non-small businesses ("non-small business" means a business employing 50 or more persons):

The proposed rule amendments will not directly impact non-small businesses because a service is not required of them.

E. Persons other than small businesses, non-small businesses, state, or local government entities ("person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or public or private organization of any character other than an agency):

The proposed rule amendments do not have the potential to impact other persons that hunt migratory game birds in Utah, nor is a service required of them.

F. Compliance costs for affected persons:

DWR has determined that this amendment may not create additional costs for those individuals wishing to hunt migratory game birds in Utah because it simply expands an existing criteria.

G. Regulatory Impact Summary Table (This table includes only fiscal impacts the agency was able to measure. If the agency could not estimate an impact, it is excluded from this table but described in boxes A through F.)

Regulatory Impact Summary Table

Fiscal Cost

FY2026

FY2027

FY2028

FY2029

FY2030

State Budget

Local Governments

Small Businesses

Non-Small Businesses

Other Persons

Total Fiscal Cost

Fiscal Benefits

FY2026

FY2027

FY2028

FY2029

FY2030

State Budget

Local Governments

Small Businesses

Non-Small Businesses

Other Persons

Total Fiscal Benefits

Net Fiscal Benefits

H. Department head comments on fiscal impact and approval of regulatory impact analysis:

After conducting a thorough analysis, it was determined that this proposed rule amendment will not result in a measurable fiscal impact to businesses.

The Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, Joel Ferry, has reviewed and approved this fiscal analysis.

Citation Information

7. Provide citations to the statutory authority for the rule. If there is also a federal requirement for the rule, provide a citation to that requirement:

Section 23A-2-304

Section 23A-2-305

Public Notice Information

9. The public may submit written or oral comments to the agency identified in box 1.

A. Comments will be accepted until:

06/16/2026

10. This rule change MAY become effective on:

06/23/2026

NOTE: The date above is the date the agency anticipates making the rule or its changes effective. It is NOT the effective date.

Agency Authorization Information

Agency head or

designee and title:

Riley Peck, Director

Date:

04/30/2026

R657. Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources.

R657-9. Taking Migratory Game Birds - Waterfowl, Snipe, Coot, American Crow, Band-Tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, White-Winged Dove, and Sandhill Crane.

R657-9-1. Purpose and Authority.

(1) Under authority of Sections 23A-2-304 and 23A-2-305, and in accordance with 50 CFR 20, 50 CFR 32.64 and 50 CFR 27.21, 2004 edition, which is incorporated by reference, the Wildlife Board has established this rule for taking certain migratory game birds.

(2) Specific dates, areas, limits, requirements and other administrative details which may change annually are published in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking certain migratory game birds.

R657-9-2. Definitions.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined in Section 23A-1-101.

(2) In addition:

(a) "Bait" means shelled, shucked or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt or other feed that lures, attracts or entices birds.

(b) "Baiting" means the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of salt, grain, or other feed that could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory games birds to, on, or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them.

(d) "Daily Bag Limit" means the maximum number of migratory game birds of a single species or combination, aggregate, of species permitted to be taken by one person in any one day during the open season in any one specified geographic area for which a daily bag limit is prescribed.

(e) "Dark geese" means the following species: cackling, Canada, and brant.

(f) "Light geese" means the following species: snow, blue and Ross'.

(g) "Live decoys" means tame or captive ducks, geese or other live birds.

(h) "Migratory game bird" means waterfowl, snipe, coot, American crow, band-tailed pigeon, mourning dove, white-winged dove, and Sandhill crane.

(i) "Off-highway vehicle" means any motor vehicle designed for or capable of travel over unimproved terrain.

(j) "Permanent waterfowl blind" means any waterfowl blind that is left unattended overnight and that is not a portable structure capable of immediate relocation.

(k) "Possession limit" the maximum number of migratory game birds of a single species or a combination of species permitted to be possessed by any one person when lawfully taken in the United States in any one specified geographic area for which a possession limit is prescribed.

(l) "Retrieval Zone" means areas adjacent to rest areas where game retrieval is allowed but hunting is restricted.

(m) "Sinkbox" means any type of low floating device, having a depression, affording the hunter a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water.

(n) "Snipe" means the following species: common, Jack, pin-tailed, solitary, Swinhoe's and Wilson's snipe.

(o) "Transport" means to ship, export, import or receive or deliver for shipment.

(p) "Waterfowl" means ducks, mergansers, geese and tundra swans.

(q) "Waterfowl blind" means any manufactured place of concealment, including boats, rafts, tents, excavated pits, or similar structures, which have been designed to partially or completely conceal a person while hunting waterfowl.

(r) "Waterfowl Management Area" means the same as a Wildlife Management Area as defined in Subsection 23A-6-101(3), including the following properties owned or managed by the division primarily for the conservation, production, or recreational harvest of ducks, mergansers, geese, tundra swans, and other waterfowl:

(i) Bear River Bay;

(ii) Bicknell Bottoms;

(iii) BlackHawk;

(iv) Blue Lake;

(v) Brown's Park;

(vi) Clear Lake;

(vii) Desert Lake;

(viii) Farmington Bay;

(ix) Fitzgerald;

(x) [Harold Crane]Goshen Bay;

(xi) Harold Crane;

(xii) Howard Slough;

([xii]xiii) Locomotive Springs;

([xiii]xiv) Mallard Springs;

([xiv]xv) Manti Meadows;

([xv]xvi) Mills Meadows;

([xvi]xvii) Ogden Bay;

([xvii]xviii) Powell Slough;

([xviii]xviv) Provo River Delta;

([xix]xx) Public Shooting Grounds;

([xx]xxi) Redmond Marsh;

([xxi]xxii) Rock Island;

([xxii]xxiii) Salt Creek;

([xxiii]xxiv) Stewart Lake;

([xxiv]xxv) Timpie Springs;

[(xxv) Topaz;

](xxvi) Topaz;

(xxvii) Warm Springs; and

([xxvii]xxviii) Willard Spur.

R657-9-32. Rest Areas and No Shooting Areas.

(1) A person may only access and use state waterfowl management areas in accordance with state and federal law, state administrative code, and proclamations of the Wildlife Board.

(2)(a) The division may establish portions of state waterfowl management areas as "rest areas" for wildlife that are closed to the public and trespass of any kind is prohibited.

(b) In addition to any areas identified in the proclamation of the Wildlife Board for taking waterfowl, snipe, and coot, the following areas are designated as rest areas:

(i) that portion of Clear Lake Waterfowl Management Area known as Spring Lake;

(ii) that portion of Desert Lake Waterfowl Management Area known as Desert Lake;

(iii) that portion of Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management Area that lies above and adjacent to the Hull Lake Diversion Dike known as Duck Lake;

(iv) that portion of Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area known as Rest Lake;

(v) that portion of Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area that lies in the northwest quarter of unit one; and

(iv) that portion of Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area known as North Bachman and extending north to the Unit one dike road and east to the spillways of South run road.

(c) Maps of all rest areas will be available at division offices, on the division's website, and to the extent necessary, marked with signage at each rest area.

(3)(a) The division may establish portions of state waterfowl management areas as "No Shooting Areas" where the discharge of weapons for the purposes of hunting is prohibited.

(b) No Shooting Areas remain open to the public for other lawful activities.

(c) In addition to any areas identified in the proclamation of the Wildlife Board for taking waterfowl, snipe, and coot, the following areas are No Shooting Areas:

(i) all of Antelope Island, including all areas within 600 feet of the upland vegetative line or other clearly defined high-water mark;

(ii) within 600 feet of the north and south side of the center line of Antelope Island causeway;

(iii) within [600]300 feet of all structures found at Brown's Park Waterfowl Management Area;

(iv) the following portions of Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area:

(A) within 600 feet of the Headquarters;

(B) within 600 feet of dikes and roads accessible by motorized vehicles;

(D) within the 300 foot retrieval zone around the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area rest area;

(v) within the 200 foot retrieval zone extending east from the southeast signed and posted corner of Rest Lake at Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area north to the intersection with Salt Creek bypass canal and signed and posted northeast corner of Rest Lake;

(vi) the following portions of Provo River Delta Wildlife Management Area:

(A) within 600 feet of Lakeview Parkway;

(B) within 600 feet of Boat Harbor Drive;

(D) within 600 feet of the Provo River Delta trail;

(vii) within [600]300 feet of the headquarters area of Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area;

(viii) within the boundaries of all State Parks except those designated open by appropriate signage as provided in Section R651-614-4;

(ix) within 1/3 of a mile of the Great Salt Lake Marina;

(x) below the high-water mark of Gunnison Bend Reservoir and its inflow upstream to the Southerland Bridge, Millard County;

(xi) any property within the boundary of the Salt Lake International Airport; and

(xii) any property within the boundaries of federal migratory bird refuges, unless hunting waterfowl specifically authorized by the federal government.

(4) The division reserves the right to manage division lands and regulate its use consistent with Section 23A-6-404 and Rule R657-28.

KEY: wildlife, birds, migratory birds, waterfowl

Date of Last Change: 2026[October 22, 2025]

Notice of Continuation: July 2, 2021

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 23A-2-304; 23A-2-305; 50 CFR part 20

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