1. (1) A person may not waste or permit to be wasted protected wildlife or a part of protected wildlife except as otherwise provided:

   1. (a) in this title;
   2. (b) by rule made by the Wildlife Board under this title and in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; or
   3. (c) by an order or proclamation.
2. (2) A person who violates this section is subject to the penalty provided in Section 23A-5-301 except as provided in Subsection (3).

3. (3)

   1. (a) A licensed hunter who legally kills a big game animal, but abandons the big game animal is subject to a class A misdemeanor.

   2. (b) A big game animal is considered abandoned if the licensed hunter acts knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly, and:

      1. (i) the big game animal is not tagged as required by Section 23A-4-709;
      2. (ii) the big game animal is wasted;
      3. (iii) the licensed hunter continues to hunt the same species while exercising the benefits of the issued tag; or
      4. (iv) no attempt or minimal attempt is made to salvage the big game animal.

Amended by Chapter 347, 2024 General Session