{"id":15369,"date":"2014-07-11T05:10:50","date_gmt":"2014-07-11T11:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=15369"},"modified":"2026-02-02T07:41:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T13:41:28","slug":"help-stop-the-utah-crow-hunt-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/07\/11\/help-stop-the-utah-crow-hunt-part-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Help Stop the Utah Crow Hunt – Part II – UPDATE: The Utah Wildlife Board foolishly approved a Crow Hunt for Utah"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CallingCalling Crow<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Stop<\/a><\/p>\n

UPDATE: The Utah Wildlife Board foolishly approved a Crow Hunt for Utah<\/span><\/h1>\n

This is a follow up on my post from yesterday titled “Help Stop the Utah Crow Hunt<\/a>” and deals with the codes of the Division of Wildlife Resources and Wildlife Board. I have\u00a0made bold the\u00a0sections of this code that I feel need to be addressed or that I have questions about.<\/p>\n

Utah Code – Title 23 – Chapter 14 – Division of Wildlife Resources and Wildlife Board<\/a><\/p>\n

23-14-3. Powers of division to determine facts — Policy-making powers of Wildlife Board<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

(1) The Division of Wildlife Resources may determine the facts relevant to the wildlife resources of this state.<\/p>\n

(2) (a) Upon a determination of these facts, the Wildlife Board shall establish the policies best designed to accomplish the purposes and fulfill the intent of all laws pertaining to wildlife and the preservation, protection, conservation, perpetuation, introduction, and management of wildlife<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

(b) In establishing policy, the Wildlife Board shall:<\/p>\n

(i) recognize that wildlife and its habitat are an essential part of a healthy, productive environment<\/strong>;
\n(ii) recognize the impact of wildlife on man, his economic activities, private property rights, and local economies;
\n(iii) seek to balance the habitat requirements of wildlife with the social and economic activities of man;
\n(iv) recognize the social and economic values of wildlife, including fishing, hunting, and other uses; and<\/strong>
\n(v) seek to maintain wildlife on a sustainable basis.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(c)
\n(i) The Wildlife Board shall consider the recommendations of the regional advisory councils established in Section 23-14-2.6.
\n(ii) If a regional advisory council recommends a position or action to the Wildlife Board, and the Wildlife Board rejects the recommendation, the Wildlife Board shall provide a written explanation to the regional advisory council.<\/p>\n

(3) No authority conferred upon the Wildlife Board by this title shall supersede the administrative authority of the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources or the director of the Division of Wildlife Resources.<\/p>\n

Amended by Chapter 211, 1995 General Session<\/p>\n

I have added my own thoughts and notations\u00a0below the items I highlighted above by making them bold.<\/strong><\/p>\n

23-14-3. Powers of division to determine facts<\/span> — Policy-making powers of Wildlife Board:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Where are the facts? Where is the science? Where is the data that a study would provide?<\/p>\n

(2) (a) Upon a determination of these facts:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What facts? No facts were presented, the information shared so far has\u00a0been anecdotal. No official complaints of depredation have been addressed that include names, dates and how much damage was done to the crop. Was it ten peaches or\u00a0100? Failure to disclose that information makes the alleged depredation appear to be nothing more the hearsay.<\/p>\n

Wildlife Board shall establish the policies best designed to accomplish the purposes and fulfill the intent of all laws pertaining to wildlife and the preservation, protection, conservation, perpetuation, introduction, and management of wildlife:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

What policies were best designed by the Wildlife Board to accomplish the preservation, protection, conservation, perpetuation and management of Utah’s crow population when there have been no scientific studies done on the crow population, counts of nesting birds, nestlings that survive and fledge? Does the Wildlife Board understand that in Utah we have resident and migratory crows that are only here during a few weeks in winter? That the number of crows we see swells when those migratory birds are here. That during the proposed hunting dates resident crows will be the only crows around because the large flocks of\u00a0migratory crows don’t arrive until after the first season closes?<\/p>\n

(i) recognize that wildlife and its habitat are an essential part of a healthy, productive environment;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Crows; much the same as any other bird species, are an essential part of a healthy, productive environment. In addition they are carrion eaters which helps to clean up the environment.<\/p>\n

(iv) recognize the social and economic values of wildlife, including fishing, hunting, and other uses; and:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Has the Wildlife Board fully recognized the social and economic value of bird watching, photography, wildlife watching and how all bird species fit into those values including the American Crow?<\/p>\n

(v) seek to maintain wildlife on a sustainable basis.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

How can this board seek to maintain crows on a sustainable basis when there are no studies that give an official number for the crow population, for the number of nests in Utah, the number of eggs in the nest and the number of young that survive? How can they say the number of crows is increasing without those studies? How much the crow population has increased in Utah at this point is merely an uninformed assumption or worse yet, a guess.<\/p>\n

We need facts, data, studies and science not misinformation, assumptions and vagueness about alleged crop and livestock depredation complaints.<\/p>\n

There are 71.1 million wildlife watchers in the U.S. who spend $55 billion dollars each year in the pursuit of wildlife activities. A portion of those wildlife watchers\u00a0are people from out of state and country who come to Utah to view and photograph birds including our crows. And they spend money which in turn helps the economy.<\/p>\n

The members of the Utah Wildlife Board should be aware that the number of wildlife watchers, birders, nature photographers, cyclists, hikers and people in general who enjoy and participate in outdoor activities are\u00a0increasing and that our voices count and will get stronger as our numbers rise.<\/p>\n

So far we have not seen the science, the data or the actual complaints about crows. Perhaps it is time for the Utah Wildlife Board to “be on the right side of history” and make informed decisions<\/span> now about hunting crows in Utah instead of basing them on non-scientific assumptions, guesses and hearsay.<\/p>\n

I think we should expect more from the Utah Wildlife Board than that.<\/p>\n

UPDATE: The Utah Wildlife Board foolishly approved a Crow Hunt for Utah<\/span><\/h1>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Utah residents who want to comment but can not attend the hearing scheduled for July 29, 2014 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Department of Natural Resources Auditorium please send your comments to Staci Coons; UDWR Wildlife Coordinator,\u00a0by email at stacicoons@utah.gov<\/a>, by phone\u00a0at 801-538-4718 or by\u00a0FAX at 801-538-4709. Please indicate that you are a Utah resident.<\/p>\n

Out of state viewers who want to let the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources know how you feel about the Utah Crow Hunt why not contact them and let them know how you feel about this unethical hunt at DWRcomment@utah.gov<\/span><\/span><\/a>. Let them know you will spend your money elsewhere.<\/p>\n

See more of my crow and corvid photos here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is a follow up on my post from yesterday titled “Help Stop the Utah Crow Hunt” and deals with the codes of the Division of Wildlife Resources and Wildlife Board.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":132379,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,439],"tags":[4021,4471,4083,4260,5970,1051,4035,2605,102,4032],"class_list":["post-15369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-fish-crows","tag-bird-photography","tag-bird-watching","tag-birding","tag-corvus-ossifragus","tag-crow","tag-crows","tag-nature-photography","tag-utah-crow-hunt","tag-wildlife","tag-wildlife-photography"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/fish-crow-calling-florida-mia-mcpherson-9150.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-3ZT","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15350,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/07\/10\/help-stop-the-utah-crow-hunt\/","url_meta":{"origin":15369,"position":0},"title":"Help Stop the Utah Crow Hunt – UPDATE: The Utah Wildlife Board foolishly approved a Crow Hunt for Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 10, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"If the proposed crow hunt isn't stopped Common Ravens; fully protected under the MBTA, will almost certainly be killed this coming September because of mistaken identity.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fish Crow at Fort De Soto with nesting materials, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/fish-crow-nesting-material-mia-mcpherson-4166.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/fish-crow-nesting-material-mia-mcpherson-4166.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/fish-crow-nesting-material-mia-mcpherson-4166.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/fish-crow-nesting-material-mia-mcpherson-4166.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15748,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/09\/01\/sunrise-from-another-place-and-time\/","url_meta":{"origin":15369,"position":1},"title":"Sunrise From Another Place And Time","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The reason Utah got uglier is that today Crow hunting killing season begins for the first time in the state so the day is already off on a bad start.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Multicolored sunrise with Black Skimmers at Fort De Soto, Florida","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/fort-de-soto-pastel-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-1057.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/fort-de-soto-pastel-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-1057.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/fort-de-soto-pastel-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-1057.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/fort-de-soto-pastel-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-1057.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56011,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/02\/10\/american-crows-on-ice-and-snow\/","url_meta":{"origin":15369,"position":2},"title":"American Crows On Ice And Snow","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"At the end of January I had a few opportunities to photograph some American Crows in nice light on snow and ice at Farmington Bay WMA. I jumped at the opportunity of course.","rel":"","context":"In "American Crows"","block_context":{"text":"American Crows","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/jays\/american-crows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Calling American Crow on snow, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/american-crow-ice-and-snow-mia-mcpherson-8063.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/american-crow-ice-and-snow-mia-mcpherson-8063.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/american-crow-ice-and-snow-mia-mcpherson-8063.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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