1. (1) An owner or operator of a lawfully permitted commercial poultry or gamebird facility that locates wild turkeys within the infection zone of their facility must immediately notify the division.
2. (2) Upon division confirmation that there are wild turkeys within the infection zone of a commercial poultry or gamebird facility, the owner or operator may apply for a certificate of registration under Section R657-3-11 authorizing lethal removal of the wild turkeys.
3. (3) As a condition of receiving a certificate of registration, the division may, in cooperation with the Utah Department of Agriculture, identify modifications or improvements to the commercial poultry or gamebird facility, or infection zone.
4. (4) Only the owner or operator, their employees, their immediate family members, may be authorized to lethally remove turkeys from a commercial poultry or gamebird facility, or infection zone.

5. (5) Wild turkey may only be taken with:

   1. (a) archery equipment, including a draw-lock, or a crossbow using broadhead tipped arrows or bolts;
   2. (b) a shotgun, firing shot sizes BB and smaller diameter; or
   3. (c) a rimfire or centerfire firearm.

6. (6) Any individual authorized to act under a certificate of registration must:

   1. (a) have passed a division authorized hunter education course;
   2. (b) be eligible to legally possess and handle a firearm; and
   3. (c) not be under an active suspension or revocation of any hunting privileges.

7. (7) The certificate of registration for removal of wild turkeys from a commercial poultry or gamebird facility or infection zone shall identify:

   1. (a) the name of the contact information for the commercial poultry or gamebird facility;
   2. (b) the number of wild turkeys to be lethally removed;
   3. (c) the names of the individuals authorized to act under the certificate of registration;
   4. (d) the dates authorized for lethal removal;
   5. (e) the specified infection zones where wild turkeys may be removed;
   6. (f) the reporting date for which the division must receive confirmation that all wild turkeys have been removed from the commercial poultry or gamebird facility or infection zone; and
   7. (g) directions to the certificate of registration holder regarding carcass delivery to the division for disease sampling and any other provisions outlined in the certificate of registration.
8. (8) Neither the certificate of registration holder nor any individual acting under its authority may commercialize any wildlife or their parts removed from a commercial poultry or gamebird facility or infection zones.

KEY: wildlife, turkey, depredation

Date of Last Change: November 4, 2024

Notice of Continuation: September 30, 2024

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 23A-8-302; 23A-12-201