I scanned this discussion and think there are some misconceptions about this bill and the program it's proposing. The focus is primarily on the mentoring process.
I think people are getting confused about lines 54-60 in
S.B. 61, which are unrelated to this proposal. We agree:
the original permit recipient must be able to accompany the youth into the field.
Depending on how the details work out, the adult mentor would likely be allowed to give a youth either a limited-entry or once-in-a-lifetime big game hunting permit.
If this bill becomes a law, the Utah Wildlife Board will obtain public comment on the program before deciding exactly how it will work. (So the public will definitely have a chance to weigh in via the RAC process.)
Board members will then set the rules needed to implement the program and determine which permits are eligible. No matter the type of permit, the adult mentor may not receive any form of compensation for allowing the youth to use it.
To take advantage of this opportunity, the mentor must also:
?Obtain prior approval from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
?Be willing to forfeit applicable bonus or preference points and incur the appropriate waiting period
?Accompany the youth in the field throughout the hunt
An eligible youth must be:
?Younger than 18 years old
?A Utah resident
?The child, grandchild, stepchild or legal ward of the permit holder
This bill also allows eligible adults to give a permit to ? and mentor ? unrelated youth who are suffering from life-threatening medical conditions.
Many of the scenarios discussed earlier in this thread just won't play out in light of the pre-approval and mentoring requirements.
For those who are interested, the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment committee discussed this bill during a hearing last Thursday. You can
listen to the discussion, which might shed some more light on this proposed program.
Amy Canning
Communications Specialist
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
