Utah Admin. Code R657-5-8 - Rifles, Shotguns, Airguns, and Crossbows
(1) A rifle used to hunt big game must:
(a) fire centerfire cartridges and expanding
bullets; and
(b) have no attachment
capable of electronic function, other than illuminated
reticles.
(2) A shotgun
used to hunt big game must:
(a) be 20 gauge
or larger;
(b) fire only 00 or
larger buckshot or slug ammunition; and
(c) have no attachment capable of electronic
function, other than illuminated reticles.
(3) An airgun used to hunt big game must:
(a) be pneumatically powered;
(b) be pressurized solely through a separate
charging device; and
(c) may only
fire a bolt or arrow:
(i) with a fixed or
expandable broadhead at least 7/8 inch wide at its widest position;
and
(ii) traveling no less than 400
feet per second at the muzzle; and
(d) have no attachment capable of electronic
function, other than illuminated reticles.
(4) A crossbow used to hunt big game must
have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds and a positive mechanical safety
mechanism.
(b) A crossbow arrow or bolt used
to hunt big game must have:
(i) fixed
broadheads that are at least 7/8 inch wide at the widest point; or
(ii) expandable, mechanical broadheads that
are at least 7/8 inch wide at the widest point when the broadhead is in the
open position; and
(iii) no
electronic function other than an illuminated nock.
(c) Unless otherwise authorized by the
division through a certificate of registration, it is unlawful for any person
to:
(i) hunt big game with a crossbow or
airgun during a big game archery hunt;
(ii) carry a cocked crossbow containing an
arrow or a bolt while in or on any motorized vehicle on a public highway or
other public right-of-way; or
(iii)
hunt any protected wildlife with a crossbow utilizing a bolt that has any
chemical, explosive, or electronic device attached.
(5) A crossbow used to hunt big
game may have a telescopic sight only during an any weapon hunt but no other
attachment capable of electronic function, other than illuminated
reticles.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
(1) A rifle used to hunt big game must:
(a) fire centerfire cartridges and expanding bullets; and
(b) have no attachment capable of electronic function, other than illuminated reticles.
(2) A shotgun used to hunt big game must:
(a) be 20 gauge or larger;
(b) fire only 00 or larger buckshot or slug ammunition; and
(c) have no attachment capable of electronic function, other than illuminated reticles.
(3) An airgun used to hunt big game must:
(a) be pneumatically powered;
(b) be pressurized solely through a separate charging device; and
(c) may only fire a bolt or arrow:
(i) with a fixed or expandable broadhead at least 7/8 inch wide at its widest position; and
(ii) traveling no less than 400 feet per second at the muzzle; and
(d) have no attachment capable of electronic function, other than illuminated reticles.
(4) A crossbow used to hunt big game must have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds and a positive mechanical safety mechanism.
(b) A crossbow arrow or bolt used to hunt big game must have:
(i) fixed broadheads that are at least 7/8 inch wide at the widest point; or
(ii) expandable, mechanical broadheads that are at least 7/8 inch wide at the widest point when the broadhead is in the open position; and
(iii) no electronic function other than an illuminated nock.
(c) Unless otherwise authorized by the division through a certificate of registration, it is unlawful for any person to:
(i) hunt big game with a crossbow or airgun during a big game archery hunt;
(ii) carry a cocked crossbow containing an arrow or a bolt while in or on any motorized vehicle on a public highway or other public right-of-way; or
(iii) hunt any protected wildlife with a crossbow utilizing a bolt that has any chemical, explosive, or electronic device attached.
(5) A crossbow used to hunt big game may have a telescopic sight only during an any weapon hunt but no other attachment capable of electronic function, other than illuminated reticles.