If you’ve ever hit a deer while driving through Utah’s mountain roads, you might wonder what happens next. Can you legally take that animal home? The answer isn’t as simple as you might think.
In Utah, you can legally salvage deer and elk that have been killed in vehicle collisions, but you must follow specific rules and obtain the proper permits. The state has clear laws about roadkill laws in Utah that determine which animals you can take, how to report the incident, and what documentation you need. Breaking these rules can result in fines and even jail time.
Understanding these regulations protects you from legal trouble and helps wildlife officials track animal populations across the state. Utah has made the process easier in recent years by creating an app to report roadkill and simplifying the permit system.
Whether you’re interested in salvaging meat to feed your family or just want to know your legal responsibilities after hitting an animal, knowing the rules keeps you on the right side of the law.
Is It Legal To Take Roadkill In Utah?
Yes, it is legal to take roadkill in Utah, but you must follow specific rules. You cannot deliberately hit an animal with your vehicle. That remains illegal under state law.
Required Steps Before Taking Roadkill
You must contact wildlife authorities before removing any animal from the roadway. The highway patrol can connect you with the Division of Wildlife Resources, and they will issue you a permit number for the meat.
What You Can and Cannot Take
There are restrictions on what parts you can collect. You are not allowed to pick up antlers that are still attached to the skull plate. If you find a dead animal with antlers, you need to call the DWR to request an investigation.
Reporting Requirements
Even if you plan to take the animal home, you should report it through the Utah Roadkill Reporter app. This app uses GPS tracking to collect data on where vehicle collisions with animals happen most often.
Why These Laws Exist
These rules help wildlife officials track animal populations and identify dangerous road sections. They also prevent people from illegally hunting animals and claiming they were roadkill. By requiring permits and reports, the state maintains better control over wildlife management while still allowing you to salvage usable meat from accidental collisions.
How To Claim Roadkill In Utah
If you want to claim roadkill in Utah, you need to contact law enforcement first. Call your local highway patrol or county dispatch when you find a dead animal you want to keep.
The claim process works like this:
- Contact the Utah Highway Patrol or local authorities immediately
- Provide the location and type of animal
- Receive a permit number over the phone from the Division of Wildlife Resources
- Keep this permit number as proof of legal possession
You cannot just pick up roadkill without this permit. The meat must be fresh and safe to eat. Diseased or badly damaged animals should not be claimed for consumption.
Important things to remember:
- Always get proper authorization before removing any animal
- Document the permit number you receive
- Only claim animals that are in good condition
- Report the incident even if you don’t want to keep the animal
You should still report dead animals through the Utah Roadkill Reporter app even if you plan to claim them. This helps wildlife officials track animal deaths on roads.
If you think an animal was killed illegally by a poacher rather than by a vehicle, contact the Division of Wildlife Resources directly. These cases need special attention and investigation. Never assume you can claim an animal that might be connected to illegal hunting activity.
What Animals Can You Salvage In Utah
In Utah, you can legally take home and eat an animal that you have killed with your car. The state permits roadkill salvage, but specific rules apply to which animals you can collect.
You can salvage big game animals like deer, elk, and moose if you hit them with your vehicle. When you want to keep a big game animal you struck, you need to contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. An officer will respond and may issue you a salvage tag that allows you to legally possess the animal.
Protected and game animals require proper documentation. You cannot simply pick up any dead animal without following the correct procedures. The DWR officer who responds to your call will determine if you can keep the animal based on the circumstances.
Smaller animals and non-game species have fewer restrictions. However, you should still report wildlife-vehicle collisions through the Utah Roadkill Reporter app to help the state track these incidents.
You must be the person who hit the animal to claim it legally. You cannot drive around collecting roadkill that other drivers struck. This rule prevents people from intentionally hitting animals or taking advantage of the salvage system.
The laws focus on animals you accidentally hit during normal driving. You face potential penalties if authorities suspect you intentionally struck an animal to harvest it. Always report the collision promptly and wait for official authorization before taking any big game animal home.
Penalties For Illegal Roadkill Possession In Utah
If you take roadkill without following proper procedures in Utah, you could face serious legal consequences. The state treats illegally possessing wildlife as a violation of wildlife protection laws.
Utah’s restitution values for protected wildlife set specific minimum amounts based on the type of animal. If you’re caught with deer roadkill without proper authorization, the court can order you to pay $400 per animal. For elk, that amount jumps to $750 per animal.
Larger animals carry even higher penalties. You could owe $1,000 for bear, moose, or bighorn sheep. The fines go beyond just restitution too.
Common penalty amounts include:
- Deer: $400 minimum restitution
- Elk: $750 minimum restitution
- Moose or Bear: $1,000 minimum restitution
- Game birds (excluding turkey, swan, crane): $15 minimum restitution
The court can also impose criminal fines and penalties on top of restitution payments. These payments go to the Division of Wildlife Resources to fund anti-poaching programs and wildlife law enforcement training.
Your hunting licenses, permits, and tags may be suspended or revoked as an additional consequence. The judgment creates a legal lien against you, just like any other civil court judgment.
Courts have some flexibility to set restitution amounts higher or lower than the suggested minimums. However, if a judge goes below the minimum values, they must put their reasoning in the court record.
