SALT LAKE CITY – During the 2024 legislative session a bill gave the Utah Wildlife Board the authority to make a few updates to shed hunting in Utah. The updates include the option to establish a season for recreational antler or horn gathering for both residents and non-residents and designating rules regarding the commercial gathering and selling of shed antlers.
DWR is asking for input for gathering sheds in Utah.
The meeting for the Northern Utah area will be held Wednesday April 10, at 6 p.m. at the Weber County Commission Chambers at 2380 Washington Blvd. #240 in Ogden.
The DWR formed a committee of people with diverse backgrounds to be stakeholders and examine shed antler gathering in Utah. Under the new legislation, the Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing the following changes:
- No seasonal closures for Utah residents regarding shed antler gathering.
- A seasonal closure for non-residents that runs from May 1 to Dec. 31 each year.
- Continuing to require the ethics course for residents and non-residents, and requiring it for any antler gathering between Jan. 1 and May 31 each year. The completion certificate must be carried (either digitally or physically) by the individual while gathering shed antlers.
- Allowing for emergency closures of antler gathering that are triggered by emergency winter feeding. Any closures for shed hunting would be statewide. The only exception for this would be on private land if the shed antlers were interfering with normal agricultural practices.
- Requiring a certification of registration for commercial antler buyers (an individual or entity that purchases shed antlers or shed horns for the purpose of reselling them for financial gain).
- Clarifying the legality of antler markets (allowing people to modify and resell the antler if the antler was obtained legally).
- A season for non-residents that runs from May 1 to Dec. 31 each year.
The public meetings for the recommendations can either be viewed virtually or attended in person. Interested people can view the biologists’ presentations before the meetings and share your feedback about them on the DWR website. The presentations can also be found on the DWR YouTube channel, but comments can only be submitted through the forms on the DWR website.
Public comments submitted within the online-comment timeframes listed below will be shared with the RAC and wildlife board members at each respective meeting. Members of the public can choose to either watch the meetings online or attend them in person. If you wish to comment during the meeting, you must attend in person. Online comments will only be accepted until the deadlines listed below.
Other meetings dates and times listed below:
- Central Utah RAC meeting: April 11 at 6 p.m. at the DWR Springville Office at 1115 N. Main St. in Springville. (Online comments must be submitted by April 4 at 11:59 p.m.)
- Southern Utah RAC meeting: April 16 at 6 p.m. in the Cedar Breaks room of the Sharwan Smith Student Center at Southern Utah University at 351 W. University Blvd. in Cedar City. (Online comments must be submitted by April 10 at 11:59 p.m.)
- Southeastern Utah RAC meeting: April 17 at 6 p.m. at the John Wesley Powell Museum at 1765 E. Main St. in Green River. (Online comments must be submitted by April 10 at 11:59 p.m.)
- Northeastern Utah RAC meeting: April 18 at 6 p.m. at the DWR Vernal Office at 318 N. Vernal Ave. (Online comments must be submitted by April 10 at 11:59 p.m.)
- Utah Wildlife Board meeting: May 2 at 9 a.m. at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center at 1157 South Waterfowl Way in Farmington. (Online comments must be submitted by April 25 at 11:59 p.m.)