2012–13 waterfowl & bobcat season rules might be similar to last year.

You can read all of the Division of Wildlife Resources' recommendations for the seasons on the Web (PDF format). Here's a quick summary:

DWR biologists are recommending 4,600 hunting and trapping permits for Utah's upcoming bobcat season.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

• Duck and goose hunters could enjoy another long 107-day waterfowl season and another seven duck daily bag limit.
  • Allowing hunters to hunt scaup ducks for the entire season, and to have up to seven scaup in their daily bag limit, is the only change biologists are recommending. Within the next few weeks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should let the DWR know if the scaup changes can occur.
  • A plan to guide the management of DWR waterfowl management areas along the eastern shore of Great Salt Lake will also be discussed at meetings in the DWR's Northern and Central regions.

• Utah's bobcat trapping and hunting season would mirror last season:
  • A total of 4,600 permits would be offered.
  • No trapper or hunter could obtain more than three permits.
  • The season would run from Nov. 28, 2012 to Feb. 3, 2013.

Learn more, share your ideas

After you've reviewed the ideas (PDF format), you can let your Regional Advisory Council members know your thoughts by attending your upcoming RAC meeting or by sending an email to them.

RAC chairmen will share the input they receive with members of the Utah Wildlife Board. The board will meet in Salt Lake City on Aug. 16 to approve rules for Utah's waterfowl and bobcat seasons.

Dates, times and locations for the RAC meetings are as follows:

• Southern Region
  July 31, 7 p.m.
  Beaver High School, 195 E. Center St.
  Beaver

• Southeastern Region
  Aug. 1, 6:30 p.m.
  Grand Center, 182 N. 500 W.
  Moab

• Northeastern Region
  Aug. 2, 6:30 p.m.
  DWR Northeastern Region Office
  318 N. Vernal Ave.
  Vernal

• Central Region
  Aug. 7, 6:30 p.m.
  Springville Public Library
  45 S. Main St.
  Springville

• Northern Region
  Aug. 8<, 6 p.m.
  Brigham City Community Center, 24 N. 300 W.
  Brigham City

Email

You can also provide your comments to your RAC via email. The group each RAC member represents (sportsman, non-consumptive, etc.) is listed under each person's email address. You should direct your email to the people on the RAC who represent your interest.