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I took the online mussel awareness test last night.
One of the questions concerned which watercraft required the permit.
The answer was;
IF IT FLOATS IT NEEDS TO HAVE A PERMIT!
Is this new this year?
How will the DNR be able to make sure that every float tube, inner tube, raft, pontoon and even air mattress that goes on any water in Utah has the permit?
Look at all the river floaters on the Weber every summer.
Not trying to cause trouble but this is a huge can of worms. [pun intended]
So as I understand it, be sure that you fill out a permit if you float on anything on any Utah water this year.
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[#0000FF]That has been the law for at least 3 years. I take the test and print out copies both for my vehicle and to keep under plastic in my tube.
Never have been checked.
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So do I. I assume that they have checked my vehicle dash copy - and I hear they are going to crack down on that this year (word to the wise). But never afloat.
Of course, I've only had my license checked once in my 30 years here, either.
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I've been checked every year at least once.
You guys must look more honest and law abiding than I do.[blush]
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I must look shady as well because I get stopped often when I am either loading or unloading my kayak. Not complaining though, I know I am in compliance and the officers that talked to me are always very cool.
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Good.
They all need to pay $10 a year for the privilege of being on the water!
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[quote TubeDude][#0000ff] I take the test and print out copies both for my vehicle and to keep under plastic in my tube.
Never have been checked.
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[quote RockyRaab]So do I. I assume that they have checked my vehicle dash copy - [/quote]
I think tuberduder has been checked more often than he realizes.
Like many, I have never been checked "out on the water". However I have watched both Park Service personnel as well as UDWR personnel look at the dash in my truck as well as other vehicles in different parking areas. This includes "prmitive" parking areas away from the boat ramps too. I have also had a "friendly reminder" placed on my windshield on one occasion at Minersville when I failed to put my vehicle copy on the dash. I have also been asked at the boat ramp when pulling my boat out of the water if I have a copy in the boat.
I have always kept a copy in my truck, my boat, my pontoon, and my float tube.
I'm sure that this will continue to get more and more strict.
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[#0000FF] I am sure my vehicle has been checked multiple times. I see the ranger trucks patrolling the parking areas. But I wonder if they always know when a vehicle without a trailer has been parked by someone with a floating device other than a boat.
My statement was mainly about never being checked on the water...even for a license. I did get hailed and checked by a park ranger one time, while on the water, but only for having a floatation device. And I did have it to show.
The opposite (and laughable) situation happened on a trip with a boater. He put his park pass and invasive species form on the dashboard of his truck before we launched. But when we returned there was a notice under his windshield...right on top of his paperwork below. When we drove up to the park fee booth on the way out and showed them the pass and certificate they accused us of failing to display it and only bringing it out later. But it ended well.
I have encountered quite a few DWR biologists on various fishing excursions...and even a few COs. But whether I look perpetually compliant or too stupid to try to get away with anything I have never been asked to show my fishing license.
I understand and empathize/sympathize with the DWR officers. They have vast (half vast) areas to supervise...with numerous fishing and hunting areas to oversee for potential violators. On any given day...at any given venue...there are countless violations that never get seen or cited. That has led to a proliferation of happy harvesters who know the odds and continue to fish without licenses and to transgress slot and possession limits. And,  ly, when we witness some of those incidents we are often without cell service...or there is little or no followup when reported later...even with license plate numbers, etc. The COs cover lots of miles and work long hours but really have a thankless job and one that has more responsibility than reward.
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I guess I just don't get the continual gripes heard over and over on these fishing forums surround the infrequent requesting to show your fishing license.
How many times have you been pulled over by a state trooper ONLY to be asked to show your license? Don't they usually ask for this after you have been observed doing something else wrong (speeding)? Why should fishing be any different??
I just don't believe that license violations are the primary focus (obviously) of our LEO's. And, I don't believe they should be. There are plenty of other more important issues happening that they should be focusing on than walking around asking every angler they see to show their license.
Now -- I do think that we're going to see more focus on mussel compliance. maybe they'll ask you for your license when they inspect your flotilla for mussels?
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[#0000FF]No gripe here. Just an observation.
But, just as with the troopers on the highway, checking the license is usually only the first step in processing a violator for some other infraction...like having cutts inside the slot at Strawberry...or over limits of any species on any water. Far too much of that going on.
I can assure you that I never exceed the wakeless speed limits inside harbors...or anywhere else.
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I must just be lucky (or is it unlucky) because I have had my fishing license checked at least 20 times in the last few years. I have had it checked numerous times on Strawberry (several times while I was fishing from my boat and even more times while ice fishing). Checked while ice fishing at Bear Lake. Checked at Huntington Reservoir and I was even checked at Red Creek Lake, when the officer had to walk way out on the ice and we were the only ones fishing up there at the time. In a couple instances the primary purpose of them checking seemed to be to make sure I was only fishing with one rod (this was before two rods were allowed) but in all of the others the primary purpose seemed to be to make sure that I had a valid fishing license. In all of the cases (except for one) I didn't mind and was glad that they were checking. In the one instance the officer tried to accuse me of spotting him on the hillside before he wandered over and that I had reeled up an extra rod (which I had not done).
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That might be the key, right there. I'd bet that they almost always check us out with glass and if there's nothing suspicious, they ignore us. Now, "suspicious" could mean any number of things from minor to felony-level. Everybody here would fall into the "minor" category, I'm sure.
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Almost all of the times I have been checked the officer or officers move from angler to angler and check everyone. Unless all of us are doing something suspicious they are just checking everyone they find to check.
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I think it all depends on objectives and circumstances. I have had numerous "contacts" with CO's. Sometimes they ask, sometimes they don't.
I just don't understand when people complain that they "were not checked", insinuating that a CO may not have done his / her job as thoroughly as should have been done. Chances are really good that they were checked -- but just not in the way that they expected.
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Where is the test online, can you rirect me or supply a link.
Thank you
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Just google Utah mussel aware boater program
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Thanks, I have started the test.
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Passed the test and printed forms, I like to launch my pontoon at the Charleston end, it is closed now for launching, but will it reopen or is there not enough personnel to man it this year?
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I make 5 copies of the certificate, fold them in half length-wise so they fit nicely in the jockey boxes, and have them laminated. I keep one in each boat (3) and each vehicle (2). I guess I'd better put one in my tube also, thanks for the reminder.
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