Are trail cameras legal in Utah? Yes, however, there is one exception. Recently the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources published an official trail camera law. This law can be found in Utah’s 2022 Big Game Field Regulations guide book, on page 19. The law officially states that trail cameras cannot be used for the taking or aid in the taking of big game in Utah from July 31 to December 31. (Official law below, updated May 5, 2022)
With this new law, it is good to establish that it does not ban trail cameras outright. You can still use trail cameras in Utah between July 31 and December 31. So if you see a trail camera while you are out and about, make sure to leave them where they are as they could be set up legally. If you are found with someone’s trail camera in your possession you can be prosecuted as a thief. If you suspect a certain trail camera you have found is being used illegally, you can contact a conservation officer and give them the coordinates for where the camera is located.
If you set up trail cameras in between July 31 and December 31, make sure to put your name and phone number on your trail camera. This will help you get your trail cameras back if the Division of Wildlife confiscates your trail camera. Also, because a lot of people believe this law bans trail cameras outright, many people may try to act as police and “confiscate” your trial camera. This can be prevented by buying trail camera security boxes.
Another way to catch potential thieves is by putting multiple trail cameras up in an area that can see each other. Often times people do not see all of your trail cameras, and if someone decides to take one of your cameras, you have a backup to continue to get pictures of animals as well as pictures or videos of the person who took your trail camera. So are trail cameras legal in Utah? Yes, if you are not using them to hunt big game mountain lions, or bears between July 31 and December 31.