DWR issues reminder after 14 people cited for trespassing wildlife and waterfowl areas

After 14 people were cited for trespassing on wildlife and waterfowl management areas in northern Utah, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources issued a reminder for people to adhere to the seasonal closures in those specific areas. Photo: DWR.

SALT LAKE CITY — After 14 people were cited for trespassing on wildlife and waterfowl management areas in northern Utah, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources issued a reminder for people to adhere to the seasonal closures in those specific areas.

Wildlife management areas and waterfowl management areas have been established to help minimize and mitigate wildlife depredation on private property, and are vital to providing important winter ranges and feeding grounds for many wildlife species, including big game. These lands are purchased and managed by utilizing the money generated by fishing and hunting license sales.

A majority of the wildlife management areas in northern Utah are closed annually from Jan. 1 until the second Saturday in April. Waterfowl management areas in northern Utah are closed until Aug. 1. Several wildlife management areas in central Utah are closed to vehicle traffic (including ATVs) from Dec. 1 to April 30. Signs are posted at the WMA entrances with details of their closures.

Recently, DWR conservation officers issued 14 citations at various northern Utah wildlife management areas during the closures, which ended on Saturday. Seven of the citations were issued to people target shooting at the Henefer-Echo WMA during the closure, but typically the majority of the citations result from people trespassing on the properties while hiking or biking. DWR officers in central Utah are also investigating a case of individuals driving ATVs on a WMA during the closure.

Each of the closed wildlife management areas provide critical winter range habitat for mule deer. From January to mid-April is the most critical time of the year for deer in Utah. In addition to being weak after a long winter, deer are transitioning from eating a diet of browse (brush and twigs) to eating mostly green grasses. It takes time for their delicate digestive system to make the switch, and the deer aren’t receiving much nutrition from the food they’re eating.

“Combine a lack of nutrition with being weak after a long winter, and it’s easy to see how critical it is that people not cause the deer added stress,” DWR Lt. David Beveridge said. “If you spook an animal and cause it to run, the animal has to use up fat reserves and energy that it needs to make it through the winter.”

Spring is also a critical time for ducks, geese and other birds that migrate through Utah this time of year. Many of the birds stop at Utah’s wetland areas — many of which are waterfowl management areas — to rest and feed before continuing their migration north. Some of the birds stay in Utah to nest and raise their young. These areas are closed during this time of year to help protect the nesting and migration birds.

In 2020, only 17 citations were issued for trespassing on northern Utah WMAs during the closure. Last year, that number more than tripled as 67 citations were issued from Jan. 1 to April 10 for trespassing on northern Utah WMAs.