$50 Bounty on coyotes?

Info below is all I know...

New laws to control predators

Frequently asked questions

Our offices have received many phone calls and questions about Utah's new laws to control coyotes and other predators. This page addresses the most common questions. Please keep in mind that this information is subject to change and may be updated at any time. We encourage you to check back on a regular basis for the latest updates.

What predator-related legislation passed in 2012?
The Utah Legislature passed two predator-related bills in 2012. The first bill, Predator Control Funding (Senate Bill 87), adds a $5 fee to all Utah big game hunting permits. The money will fund a program to control populations of predatory animals that endanger the health of Utah's non-predatory wildlife.

The second bill, Mule Deer Protection Act (Senate Bill 245), allocates general funding to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources ($500,000) and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food ($250,000). The legislation directs our agencies to work together — and with other government entities — to administer programs that reduce and control coyote populations, particularly in areas where predation of mule deer occurs.

When did the new laws go into effect?
Governor Gary Herbert signed both bills into law on March 17, and the funding will be available on July 1, 2012.

When will the $5 fee be added to the cost of big game permits?
The $5 fee for predator control will be added to all big game permits, starting with the 2012 antlerless permits and any remaining big game permits sold after July 1, 2012.

How will the new predator-control program work?
We are working with sportsmen, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and USDA-Wildlife Services to coordinate and implement an effective predator-control program. Our goal is to develop a program that will target coyotes (and other predators) in the right places — and at the right times of year — to reduce the impact they have on mule deer populations. As soon as the program details are finalized, we will send out a news release and post the information on our website.

Do these new laws raise the coyote bounty to $50?
The laws themselves do not increase the bounties that counties pay for coyotes. The new predator-control program may include an increased bounty on coyotes, but details have not yet been finalized. For now, bounty amounts remain unchanged in counties that offer coyote-bounty programs.

http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/hunting/hunting-information/762

I just found that same info on the DWR website. I wonder why the news stations reported it as an increase in the bounty amount, when the DWR's statement says it doesn't?????

well I can say it was proposed as a bounty increase and the $5 was proposed as a way to help the state recoop some of that expense. but it seems the DWR has other plans now.

"Shags1" wrote:I wonder why the news stations reported it as an increase in the bounty amount, when the DWR's statement says it doesn't?????

POLITIICAL AGENDA.

Pure and simple. "Look at what we are doing to help our deer herds." Well kind of in a round about way.

To me it has a smell of SFW on it.

Do they have a problem getting people to hunt coyotes out there? If you put a bounty on them here you wouldnt be able to find one. Everybody and their dog already chases them year round out here.

"bigtime9" wrote:Do they have a problem getting people to hunt coyotes out there? If you put a bounty on them here you wouldnt be able to find one. Everybody and their dog already chases them year round out here.

No they don't have a problem getting people to hunt dogs out here this whole thing is the latest band wangon attempt to save the mule deer herds. Certain people come in talking big saying that they have the latest and greatest plans and that they have fixed everything but when you look into it the truth is far from what we were told.

Funny how that works isn't it?

Understand completely, sounds to me like maybe that money would be better served improving habitat.

To me it has a smell of SFW on it.

It had everything to do with them. I went the Sportsman's show this year and in the SFW mag, they have an article in it how they are proposing to law makers the bounty increase. I also asked one of the local members here, how much money they threw at politicians, and he said he didn't know the amount, but he knew it was a boat load.

"bigtime9" wrote:Do they have a problem getting people to hunt coyotes out there? If you put a bounty on them here you wouldnt be able to find one. Everybody and their dog already chases them year round out here.

AGREED!!!!

"bigtime9" wrote:Understand completely, sounds to me like maybe that money would be better served improving habitat.

Another interesting and good point. Instead of bribing law makers, put it to work in some other way.

I am glad to say that there are habitat projects going on all over the state but people are not willing to wait the years that it takes for the improvment to have an effect.

Yeah, the bill's wording was changed last minute before passing. It was indeed initially intended for bounties, but due to political "correctness and logistics", it became a more targeted coyote control effort. More than likely there will not be a 50 bounty for those of us who chase the dogs. Instead, the Division will interview and allow certain tiers of hunters to kill the yotes in targeted areas and targeted times. These hunters will have to be approved and may even be under contract when all is said and done. My guess would be the lions share of the money will be spent with aerial gunning of the critters during fawning and when the yotes are most vulnerable to reduction in numbers. Will it help? Doubt it but it might. Could the money be better spent on other projects such as finding out exactly why our fawns are dieing before they make it through their first year? Yep. Will be interesting to see how things turn out.

"stillhunterman" wrote:Yeah, the bill's wording was changed last minute before passing. It was indeed initially intended for bounties, but due to political "correctness and logistics", it became a more targeted coyote control effort. More than likely there will not be a 50 bounty for those of us who chase the dogs. Instead, the Division will interview and allow certain tiers of hunters to kill the yotes in targeted areas and targeted times. These hunters will have to be approved and may even be under contract when all is said and done. My guess would be the lions share of the money will be spent with aerial gunning of the critters during fawning and when the yotes are most vulnerable to reduction in numbers. Will it help? Doubt it but it might. Could the money be better spent on other projects such as finding out exactly why our fawns are dieing before they make it through their first year? Yep. Will be interesting to see how things turn out.

Well that's interesting. Knowing what I know about the SFW involvement in this, wouldn't it be wild to see a few of their "select" few hunters chosen under contract to collect the big bounty? JMO

At least they're past the "it's lion and bear killing all the deer fawns, let's wipe em out" phase. But all in all it's pretty sad how much control the Sportsmen for the Wealthy really have!!

I heard that a guy turned in over 50 Coyotes in Cedar the other day and collected $50 apiece on them. It looks like a pretty simple online test and application form to get in on it.

http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/hunting/hunting-information/892-questions-about-utahs-predator-control-program.html

I think for 2012 they have enough money to pay for 16,000 Coyotes @ $50 per head. Here is a quote from the DWR website.

"""The DWR expects to have enough funding to provide reimbursement for all coyotes. However, a finite amount of money has been""" appropriated. If reimbursements deplete all of the funds, the program will be suspended unless alternative funding is found or until the next fiscal year. Notices will be posted online if the program has to be suspended for any reason.