steve garrett
Well-known member
this is for the utah members and I know there are quite a few. I was wondering if night hunting with spot lights is legal in this state, and if so have you had any success
night hunting in utah???
- Thread starter steve garrett
- Start date
Moose57
New member
Night hunting (spotlighting) IS legal in Utah. However, state law says it is up to the individual counties to decide if they want to allow it in their county. The best thing to do would be to contact the county sheriff in the county you want to hunt in and ask what their policy is on night hunting (spotlighting). If you get any info, please share it here. I have spotlighted before and had success. However, I'm not sure if it was legal where I was or not. So I won't tell you where I was at the time.
If you do get some good info, positive or negative, please post it in the night hunting forum.
Paul
If you do get some good info, positive or negative, please post it in the night hunting forum.
Paul
SaltCityJeff
New member
Randy,
Tell them about that book you told me about that you can get from Gallensons, that goes over the T & C's of spot light hunting, as well as counties that allow it. You and I and scattergunner had this very same conversation a few weeks back. From what we have gathered, most of the northern counties do not allow spot light hunting. Emery, was one county we discovered did allow spot light hunting.
Jeff
Tell them about that book you told me about that you can get from Gallensons, that goes over the T & C's of spot light hunting, as well as counties that allow it. You and I and scattergunner had this very same conversation a few weeks back. From what we have gathered, most of the northern counties do not allow spot light hunting. Emery, was one county we discovered did allow spot light hunting.
Jeff
scattergunner
New member
Box Elder County is a big fat negatory, like Coldnosed correctly stated. I personally am not aware of any northern Utah county that allows it, unless the laws have changed recently. You can pretty much draw a line along the southern border of Tooele County, Utah County, and up along the eastern borders of Wasatch and Summit counties and rule out every county north and west of the line.
I still haven't gotten that book yet. It's just that Gallenson's is two whole blocks away from my office... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Actually, my wife has somehow placed a device on my person that causes my wallet to self-destruct, should I walk in the doors of that place without her knowledge. Thus destroying any and all monies contained therein, even the plastic monies, as well as starting one heck of an arse fire! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
edit:typed east when I meant west.
I still haven't gotten that book yet. It's just that Gallenson's is two whole blocks away from my office... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Actually, my wife has somehow placed a device on my person that causes my wallet to self-destruct, should I walk in the doors of that place without her knowledge. Thus destroying any and all monies contained therein, even the plastic monies, as well as starting one heck of an arse fire! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
edit:typed east when I meant west.
scattergunner
New member
BTW, Flaming Gorge is in Daggett County. The Sheriff's Office is located in the thriving metropolis of Manila. Can't remember what the verdict is there as far as yea or nay to night hunting. I won't be buying the book anytime soon as I just put in my app. for bobcat tags and a furbearer license. This will unfortunately drain the allotted hunting related funds, which my wife and CFO /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif 
has seen fit to grant me at this time.
has seen fit to grant me at this time.Varmint Sniper
New member
It seems most areas are open, nut youv have to obtain a permit. Here in Juab a permit costs about 5 dollars and its good for a year. But I do know it is illegal to spotlight during big game hunts. I guess now that the Muley season has passed its a big 10 4.
steve garrett
Well-known member
I could see where a bunch of red necks with guns and a spot light would prolly be a bad idea, and that is prolly the scenerio the most of the law enforcement are picturing in their head when someone asks about this sort of thing. My dad just bought some property up near scofield, does anyone know if the price, scofield area is off limits to spot light hunting. There are some places in tooele county especially off the pony express trail where I would be real tempted to use a spot light anyways, these areas are a 1000 miles from nowhere, in fact as about as nowhere as I have ever been, but I suspect these areas are heavily called and prolly have some educated coyotes
RanUtah
New member
Box Elder - At the time of publishing, Box Elder was a yes and you needed a permit. However, just like these guys have said in which I have personally experianced that Box Elder county is currently is a no spot lighting county.
Daggett - In the author's inquiry into Daggett county they did not respond. The best source to obtain information about spotlighting that county would be the county sheriff.
Daggett - In the author's inquiry into Daggett county they did not respond. The best source to obtain information about spotlighting that county would be the county sheriff.
scattergunner
New member
Steve,
Scofield Resevoir itself is in Carbon County, I don't know what their rule regarding the matter is, but a call to the Sherrif in Price would clear that up, I'm sure. But, Scofield is right in the corner of Carbon County, you wouldn't have to travel too far and you'd be in either Utah or San Pete county pretty darn quick. I know for a fact that Utah County is a no, but not sure about San Pete. Find out which county your property lies in and call the corresponding Sherrif. Don't assume anything based on which county you "think" you are in. The legal documents provided when the property was purchased should clear that up for you, if it's a question.
Scofield Resevoir itself is in Carbon County, I don't know what their rule regarding the matter is, but a call to the Sherrif in Price would clear that up, I'm sure. But, Scofield is right in the corner of Carbon County, you wouldn't have to travel too far and you'd be in either Utah or San Pete county pretty darn quick. I know for a fact that Utah County is a no, but not sure about San Pete. Find out which county your property lies in and call the corresponding Sherrif. Don't assume anything based on which county you "think" you are in. The legal documents provided when the property was purchased should clear that up for you, if it's a question.
scattergunner
New member
I guess I'm going to have to go buy that dang book! I just tried to find out the laws regarding this for Uinta County, as I'll be hunting there soon, and got the major run-around!
I first called the good folks at the Uinta County Sheriff's Office. They were very nice, but didn't provide much in the way of information. They, the gal I spoke to at any rate, stated they didn't know what the county regulation was regarding the matter, but would transfer me over the the commissioner's office and take down my name and phone number and have a deputy call me regarding the matter. This she did, and I eagerly awaited my chance to resolve the issue with someone at the commissioner's office.
The folks I spoke with at the commissioner's office were equally as polite and accommodating, but alas, were not aware of any regulation or law on the matter and suggested I speak with DWR. I explained that it was my understanding that the state allowed it, but gave the final word to the counties to create their own regulations. To which they suggested I speak with someone at the county attorney's office and wished me good luck in this undertaking.
Well, it was deja vu all over again. They were also unaware of any county law on the matter. And the gentleman I spoke with skimmed through some of the code book with me during the course of our conversation. When it seemed we had exhausted the limits of this gentelman's resources on the subject, he suggested I call DWR. I stated that I think I knew what they were going to tell me, but hey, at this point it couldn't hurt.
I called the DWR office for the northeast region, in Vernal and spoke with a "representitive" who also didn't have any hard facts on the issue to point to, but lacked some of the politeness and decency I had experienced heretofore in my wild goose chase. I stated that I understood that coyotes were not managed by the DWR, but thought they might know the law concerning spotlighting for them in Uintah County. The DWR gal replied, "You cannot discharge a loaded firearm (not sure how you'd discharge an unloaded firearm, but oh well...) from a vehicle in the state of Utah. I replied that I was aware of that and that we had no intentions of doing such. Just wanted to use lights and guns to take coyotes after sundown. She stated "You can't spotlight ANY animal in the State of Utah." I was not aware of this so I posed my question again, only re-worded slightly. I was again told that the use of artificial light in hunting was unlawful. Now, I remembered reading that with the words "game animals" inserted into the statement, but never came across anything that specifically forbade the use of artificial light in taking non-game, non-protected animals, such as coyotes and red fox.
I could tell this gal was in no mood to discuss matters, had branded me in her mind as some idiot red-neck determined to bend if not break all the game laws I could, and was not about to reconsider her position as to either of the two aformentioned issues.
So, I guess I better save my pennies for yet something else... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I first called the good folks at the Uinta County Sheriff's Office. They were very nice, but didn't provide much in the way of information. They, the gal I spoke to at any rate, stated they didn't know what the county regulation was regarding the matter, but would transfer me over the the commissioner's office and take down my name and phone number and have a deputy call me regarding the matter. This she did, and I eagerly awaited my chance to resolve the issue with someone at the commissioner's office.
The folks I spoke with at the commissioner's office were equally as polite and accommodating, but alas, were not aware of any regulation or law on the matter and suggested I speak with DWR. I explained that it was my understanding that the state allowed it, but gave the final word to the counties to create their own regulations. To which they suggested I speak with someone at the county attorney's office and wished me good luck in this undertaking.
Well, it was deja vu all over again. They were also unaware of any county law on the matter. And the gentleman I spoke with skimmed through some of the code book with me during the course of our conversation. When it seemed we had exhausted the limits of this gentelman's resources on the subject, he suggested I call DWR. I stated that I think I knew what they were going to tell me, but hey, at this point it couldn't hurt.
I called the DWR office for the northeast region, in Vernal and spoke with a "representitive" who also didn't have any hard facts on the issue to point to, but lacked some of the politeness and decency I had experienced heretofore in my wild goose chase. I stated that I understood that coyotes were not managed by the DWR, but thought they might know the law concerning spotlighting for them in Uintah County. The DWR gal replied, "You cannot discharge a loaded firearm (not sure how you'd discharge an unloaded firearm, but oh well...) from a vehicle in the state of Utah. I replied that I was aware of that and that we had no intentions of doing such. Just wanted to use lights and guns to take coyotes after sundown. She stated "You can't spotlight ANY animal in the State of Utah." I was not aware of this so I posed my question again, only re-worded slightly. I was again told that the use of artificial light in hunting was unlawful. Now, I remembered reading that with the words "game animals" inserted into the statement, but never came across anything that specifically forbade the use of artificial light in taking non-game, non-protected animals, such as coyotes and red fox.
I could tell this gal was in no mood to discuss matters, had branded me in her mind as some idiot red-neck determined to bend if not break all the game laws I could, and was not about to reconsider her position as to either of the two aformentioned issues.
So, I guess I better save my pennies for yet something else... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
shotgun willy
New member
scattergunner, talking to the gal if she is not a warden is a big mistake. on oct 14 i called fish and game and did as you did. the lady was a little curt to say the least. i did not have a new proclamation so i ask her if quail season opened on the 15th. her reply was yes it does and she rushed me off the phone. luckly i stopped by a local gun shop and got a proclamation. well she was right it did open on the 15, not of october but november. i could just see myself trying to explain to a warden why i was the only one in the state shooting quail. i did have a back up plan as i record all phone calls to fish and game.
sw
sw