The Utah Wildlife Board, at its meeting in January, approved season dates and a few updates to furbearer species along with increasing the Predator Control Program bounty for coyotes. Cougar hunters will see slight changes this year. Three areas were closed for beaver harvest, as well, while two other areas will reopen this year.

The board approved season dates and permits for the 2025-26 furbearer species, including for bobcat, beaver, mink, marten, badger, gray fox, kit fox, ringtail, spotted skunk and weasel.

Updates approved for cougar hunting include:

— Allowing the sale of “green” cougar pelts, meaning that the hide does not need to be tanned first before selling it, and the sale of claws if they are still attached to the hide.

— Allowing the use of rimfire cartridges and ammunition to harvest cougars caught in traps.

This change will not allow the use of these firearms and ammunition to harvest cougars that are not constrained in traps. In 2012, the Utah Legislature approved two predator-related bills, which helped create the Predator Control Program. This program is designed to control populations of predatory animals that endanger the health of Utah’s nonpredatory wildlife, such as deer or other big game. The incentive, or bounty, for coyotes was set at $50 for each documented harvested coyote.

The incentive for coyotes is now increased to $100, but only in areas classified as crucial and substantial mule deer habitat. The incentive remains $50 in other areas. In order to allow hunters to maintain the quality of the coyote pelt, the board also approved removing the ear and pelt check-in requirement, allowing for alternative ways to prevent duplicate submissions of coyotes, such as removing both premolar teeth or keeping the jaw.

Also, 2025 is the first year of the next three-year bear management cycle. The board approved the following rule changes:

— Allowing the use of a metal container to hold bait during seasons where bait is legal. The maximum size of the container cannot exceed 55 gallons and may not be used in areas designated as wilderness by federal land-management agencies. The container must also be removed within 72 hours of harvest or the end of the season.

— Allowing anyone who draws a multi-season bear permit to hunt any open harvest objective seasons on the unit they draw, in addition to the limited-entry seasons. The board also voted to not have the multi-season permits count against the harvest-objective quotas if a permit holder harvests during the harvest-objective season.