(1) When a person is adjudged guilty of illegal taking, illegal possession, or wanton destruction of protected wildlife, other than a trophy animal, the court may order the defendant to pay restitution:

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Terms Used In Utah Code 23A-5-312

  • Certificate of registration: means a paper-based or electronic document issued under this title, or a rule or proclamation of the Wildlife Board granting authority to engage in activities not covered by a license, permit, or tag. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Division: means the Division of Wildlife Resources. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Endangered: means wildlife designated as endangered according to Section 3 of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Game: means wildlife normally pursued, caught, or taken by sporting means for human use. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Permit: means a paper-based or electronic document that grants authority to engage in specified activities under this title or a rule or proclamation of the Wildlife Board. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Person: means an individual, association, partnership, government agency, corporation, or an agent of the individual, association, partnership, government agency, or corporation. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Possession: means actual or constructive possession. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Protected wildlife: means wildlife, except as provided in Subsection (43)(b). See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Tag: means a card, label, or other paper-based or electronic means of identification used to document harvest of protected wildlife. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Threatened: means wildlife designated as threatened pursuant to Section 3 of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Trophy animal: means an animal described as follows:
         (57)(a) deer - a buck with an outside antler measurement of 24 inches or greater;
         (57)(b) elk - a bull with six points on at least one side;
         (57)(c) bighorn, desert, or rocky mountain sheep - a ram with a curl exceeding half curl;
         (57)(d) moose - a bull with at least one antler exceeding five inches in length;
         (57)(e) mountain goat - a male or female;
         (57)(f) pronghorn antelope - a buck with horns exceeding 14 inches; or
         (57)(g) bison - a bull. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
  • Wildlife: means :
         (61)(a) crustaceans, including brine shrimp and crayfish;
         (61)(b) mollusks; and
         (61)(c) vertebrate animals living in nature, except feral animals. See Utah Code 23A-1-101
     (1)(a) as set forth in Subsection (2); or
     (1)(b) in a greater or lesser amount than the amount established in Subsection (2).
(2) Suggested minimum restitution values for protected wildlife are as follows:

     (2)(a) $1,500 per animal for:

          (2)(a)(i) bison;
          (2)(a)(ii) bighorn sheep;
          (2)(a)(iii) rocky mountain goat;
          (2)(a)(iv) moose;
          (2)(a)(v) bear;
          (2)(a)(vi) peregrine falcon;
          (2)(a)(vii) bald eagle; or
          (2)(a)(viii) endangered species;
     (2)(b) $1,250 per animal for:

          (2)(b)(i) elk; or
          (2)(b)(ii) threatened species;
     (2)(c) $750 per animal for:

          (2)(c)(i) golden eagle;
          (2)(c)(ii) river otter; or
          (2)(c)(iii) gila monster;
     (2)(d) $600 per animal for:

          (2)(d)(i) pronghorn antelope; or
          (2)(d)(ii) deer;
     (2)(e) $525 per animal for:

          (2)(e)(i) cougar; or
          (2)(e)(ii) bobcat;
     (2)(f) $150 per animal for:

          (2)(f)(i) swan;
          (2)(f)(ii) sandhill crane;
          (2)(f)(iii) turkey;
          (2)(f)(iv) pelican;
          (2)(f)(v) loon;
          (2)(f)(vi) egrets;
          (2)(f)(vii) herons;
          (2)(f)(viii) raptors, except those that are threatened or endangered;
          (2)(f)(ix) Utah milk snake; or
          (2)(f)(x) Utah mountain king snake;
     (2)(g) $150 per horn;
     (2)(h) $53 per animal for furbearers, except:

          (2)(h)(i) bobcat;
          (2)(h)(ii) river otter; and
          (2)(h)(iii) threatened or endangered species;
     (2)(i) $38 per animal for trout, char, salmon, grayling, tiger muskellunge, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and wiper;
     (2)(j) $30 per pound of antler or shed antler;
     (2)(k) $23 per animal for game birds, except:

          (2)(k)(i) turkey;
          (2)(k)(ii) swan; and
          (2)(k)(iii) sandhill crane;
     (2)(l) $15 per animal for game fish not listed in Subsection (2)(i);
     (2)(m) $12 per pound dry weight of processed brine shrimp including eggs; and
     (2)(n) $8 per animal for protected wildlife not listed.
(3) If the court finds that restitution is inappropriate or if the value imposed is less than the suggested minimum value as provided in Subsection (2), the court shall make the reasons for the decision part of the court record.
(4)

     (4)(a) The court shall order a person convicted of a third degree felony under Subsection 23A-5-311(2)(a)(ii) to pay restitution in accordance with Subsection (4)(b).
     (4)(b) The minimum restitution value for a trophy animal is as follows:

          (4)(b)(i) $45,000 per animal for bighorn, desert, or rocky mountain sheep;
          (4)(b)(ii) $12,000 per animal for deer;
          (4)(b)(iii) $12,000 per animal for elk;
          (4)(b)(iv) $9,000 per animal for moose or mountain goat;
          (4)(b)(v) $9,000 per animal for bison; and
          (4)(b)(vi) $3,000 per animal for pronghorn antelope.
(5) Restitution paid under Subsection (4) shall be remitted to the division and deposited in the Wildlife Resources Account.
(6) The division shall use restitution money for activities and programs to help stop poaching, including:

     (6)(a) educational programs on wildlife crime prevention;
     (6)(b) acquisition and development of wildlife crime detection equipment;
     (6)(c) operation and maintenance of anti-poaching projects; and
     (6)(d) wildlife law enforcement training.
(7) If restitution is required, restitution shall be in addition to:

     (7)(a) a fine or penalty imposed for a violation of this title; and
     (7)(b) a remedial action taken to revoke or suspend a person’s license, permit, tag, or certificate of registration.
(8) A judgment imposed under this section constitutes a lien when recorded in the judgment docket and shall have the same effect and is subject to the same rules as a judgment for money in a civil action.

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