Lawmakers say they plan to revise the law, which requires all visitors \u2014 from birders to mountain bikers \u2014 to pay to enter some state Wildlife Management Areas. <\/p>\n
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Columns of courting midges fly amongst shore birds and waterfowl including a yellow-headed blackbird in the Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management area on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. A hunting or fishing license is now required to access the public land.<\/p>\n
Five question marks. That\u2019s how bewildered a member of Facebook\u2019s SUP Utah group was when someone asked whether a fishing or hunting license was required to navigate a paddleboard on Causey Reservoir in Weber County. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would we need a fishing license to paddleboard?????\u201d Nicky Willis asked. <\/p>\n
The answer is that on Causey Reservoir, which is Forest Service property, you don\u2019t. But on 25 of the state\u2019s Wildlife Management Agencies, including the Causey Wildlife Management Agency, you do. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s not surprising, then, that Willis isn\u2019t the only one who has been confused by a new state law that requires the purchase of a hunting or fishing license to access any of the Wildlife Management Areas<\/a> in Utah\u2019s four most populous counties. Suddenly, photographers and trail runners alike are being told they are trespassing on lands they\u2019ve been roaming for years. <\/p>\n (Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Deer search for food at the Middle Fork Wildlife Management area in Huntsville, Mar. 6, 2023. <\/p>\n The law was implemented as an attempt to generate more funds from users of Wildlife Management Areas for the purchase and management of those lands. But even some of the lawmakers who sponsored the plan say it needs some rehabilitating. They expect to take another look at the law during the next Legislative session. <\/p>\n In the meantime, here\u2019s what you need to know about access changes to Utah\u2019s Wildlife Management Areas. <\/p>\n