In 2021 the representative from Cache county, Casey Snider, has proposed a bill targeting a few different areas. Those being baiting big game, trail camera seasons, and waterfowl management areas.
( This bill has been updated and passed in Utah. The updated law reads that the wildlife board in Utah is required to make laws that regulate the use of trail cameras. We assume these laws will not go into effect until 2022 and that they will follow the guidelines of the original bill which is to introduce a trail camera season that starts on January 1st and ends on August 1st. For updates on this law click the button below!)
Currently in Utah, the only regulations for trail cameras are they cannot be screwed or nailed to trees that are on public ground and it is required to get permission from landowners before setting up cameras on private property.
The new laws would establish a trail camera season that would begin January 1st of every year and end August 1st. This does not affect trail cameras posted on private property. Trail cameras can be posted on private property year round. ( This has been updated. The law has now been reformed to give Utah’s wildlife board the ability to make laws concerning trail cameras)
According to Cassey
In the Facebook group, Bowhunters of Utah , Casey Snider said this concerning the bill HB 295 which he is the advocate for “HB 295(Long Post) For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Casey Snider and I am the author of HB 295. I’d like to share some of my thoughts on this bill, but I’d first like to thank all of you for the passion in this debate. That passion is the only way our sport continues. So whether you agree or disagree with my bill I appreciate you for caring.
First off I love hunting, fishing, and trapping and pursue all of those activities almost exclusively on public lands. I hunt elk on general units because I’m 15 years and waiting on my limited entry chance, deer when I’m lucky enough to actually draw a tag, and waterfowl on state WMAs, one of which I created in law, the Willard Spur WMA. I’m worried about the long term attacks on our sport which is why I ran the constitutional right to hunt and fish bill last year.
Thanks to our efforts that’s now enshrined in the state constitution. I am the chair of the Hunting and Fishing Caucus in the Utah legislature and also serve on the northern RAC. I also use trail cams, have hauled mineral onto public land for elk, and have legally killed deer over bait. There are portions of our sport that need addressing from time to time and sometimes the look in the mirror is the hardest. Last spring the division began talking to me about making some changes in two areas, trail cameras and baiting. My first response to them was to have it go through the RAC as that is how the majority of these changes have always been handled. After researching it this year the Divison returned and indicated they did not have the legal authority to engage on cameras at all and that the baiting issue was difficult based on what happened in the RAC the year prior.
I was already working on a bill trying to resolve some issues for waterfowl hunting and said I would be willing to start this conversation as part of a broader hunting ethics bill. This has resulted in HB 295I knew then and see now that this was going to be a difficult debate for many of us. But I fundamentally believe if we don’t police ourselves decisions will be made for us not with us. Cameras have gotten out of hand. Any of you who hunt public land know that. There isn’t a speck of water anywhere that doesn’t have at least a half dozen cameras on it. Many have dozens. These animals are documented 24/7. We know everything about them. And for those who argue they don’t work, why are some people running hundreds? They do work and they work to undermine the fundamentals of fair chase. I know not everyone uses that many and some only have a few such as myself but something needs to change.
So I have proposed a season similar to Nevada. Not a ban but a season, which ends two weeks before the hunt. You can run all the cameras you want from Jan 1 to July 31 and then we give the animals we hunt a chance. Baiting is the second part of this. The term killing fish in a barrel comes to mind. It’s not hunting to habituate an animal to a bait bile and then shoot it. That’s killing. The animals don’t have a chance. I think all of us as sportsmen and women know that. I’m not pointing fingers. I’ve done it myself. But I think we have to be better
. The final part of this bill has to do with managing waterfowl guiding on public land. It’s unregulated to the disadvantage of the average hunter. It’s wrong. So my bill hopefully checks that so public hunting areas are not abused for personal financial gain. I appreciate all those who have called or emailed. I’ve tried to respond as best I can. I’ve spoken with many on the phone. I also believe this bill is not perfect. I’m in ongoing discussions with many hunters, industry representatives, and sportsman’s groups on how to make it better. At the end of the day I don’t know how it will end up, but I fundamentally believe we have to do something on these issues. If anyone would like to discuss further my email is csnider@le.Utah.gov and my phone is 435-770-4081 Casey” (Cassey Snider 2021).
What We Think
We personally think that regulating trail cameras will do more harm than good. We are currently aware of people that use trail cameras because they do not have the time to scout the way that Cassey Snider would like. These people use these trail cameras merely to put meat on their families’ tables. Trail cameras are not only used by hunters. Trail cameras are also used by people who simply enjoy watching animals.
Also, according to what Utah lawmakers have said the amount of deer harvested every year should be on the rise because of the ease of the hunt. Rather the amount of deer that are harvested every year is trending down. This means that hunting is hardly affected by trail cameras. If anything they are assisting in letting the younger bucks grow older and allowing the removal of the older deer. As the graph shows it’s getting harder to find and kill a deer even with trail cameras.
Trail cameras have little to no impact on an environment. Trail cameras make it so those who are not as experienced hunters can track animals without scaring them away. This has the possibility of making them run until they are exhausted and die from said exhaustion. It even has the potential to relocate these animals to areas that they are not familiar with. This would make it more possible for starvation or dehydration.
Trail Cameras are also used for trapping and can be incredibly helpful. Click the trapping with trail cameras button below to see how it can help!
Farmers and Trail Cameras
Farmers use trail cameras heavily to help keep their livestock safe from predators. Click below for more information about that.
Click below to read this bill and track its progress.
If you feel like this is a mistake for Utah and its wildlife, please click below to sign the petition to stop this bill from being passed.
Refferance list
Bowhunters of Utah, (2021) , Casey Snider, https://www.facebook.com/groups/40552002858
Division of Wildlife Resources, (2021), https://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/main-hunting-page/big-game/big-game-harvest-data.html