Hunting Access Policy and Related Laws on Park City Municipal Corporation Owned Property

Park City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) owns and manages approximately 10,000 acres in and adjacent to Park City. These properties are home to hundreds of miles of passive recreational trails and critical wildlife habitat. 

As a policy, City Council, as the property owner, restricts access for the purpose of hunting on all city-owned property without prior written permission. A map of PCMC owned lands is available here.

PCMC has posted City-owned property in a manner that provides reasonable notice of such prohibition. Additionally, PCMC has constructed fences and/or orange markings, demarcating the property boundaries.

The DWR regulates hunting activity through Title 23 of the Utah Code and Title R657 of the Utah Administrative Code. Through the Utah Wildlife Board, the DWR has primary authority to manage protected wildlife and regulate hunting in the State of Utah.

Notwithstanding, the following provisions of the Utah Code (Titles 23 and 76), Park City Municipal Code, Summit County Code and Wasatch County Code of Ordinances apply and will be enforced for this area:

• Criminal Trespass Utah Criminal Code prohibits entering or remaining on property to which notice against entry is given by personal communication, fencing or posted signs. In many areas, Park City, Summit County and Basin Recreation have posted signs on open space property they own that restrict access to the properties for the purpose of hunting. Members of the public can be cited for criminal trespass if they are found hunting on the posted properties. A person hunting in compliance with applicable state laws is still subject to criminal trespass statutes. See Utah Code § 76-6-206. Violation is a class B misdemeanor.

• Taking Protected Wildlife While Trespassing Utah Wildlife Resources Code prohibits hunting and fishing on privately owned property without landowner permission when the property is appropriately noticed against trespass. See Utah Code § 23-20-3.5 and § 23-20-14. Violation is a class B misdemeanor.

• Discharge of Firearm From a Highway or Within 600 Feet of a Residence Utah Criminal Code prohibits the discharge of a firearm or dangerous weapon from a vehicle, from, upon or across a highway, or within 600 feet of a house, dwelling or any other building (without written permission from the owner or person in charge of the affected property). See Utah Code § 76-10-508. Violation is a class B misdemeanor.

• Discharge of a Firearm within Park City Limits Park City Municipal Code § 8-6-1 prohibits the discharge of firearms within the corporate limits of Park City except where legally permitted, such as a regularly licensed shooting gallery, the Park City police target range, or at a regularly organized gun club shooting range. Violation is a class B misdemeanor.

Individuals who enter PCMC, Summit County or Basin Recreation open space for the purpose of hunting on that property can be charged with Criminal Trespass. Individuals who discharge a firearm in restricted areas can be criminally charged. Individuals who access Summit County or Basin Recreation open space property for the purpose of hunting on that property can also be charged with a class B misdemeanor. Class B misdemeanors are punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The ordinances and laws that restrict hunting access on PCMC, Summit County, and Basin Recreation properties do not prohibit a person from hiking across the property to access adjacent public or private land open to hunting. However, if an individual is crossing the property with a firearm, muzzleloader or archery equipment to access an adjacent property for hunting, the following restrictions apply:

• The firearm may not have ammunition in the chamber or magazine.
• The muzzleloader may not be charged with powder or a ball.
• The archery equipment may not have an arrow knocked.

For more information associated with these policies or to answer questions you may have, you can contact the Park City Trails & Open Space Department at 435-615-5001 or trails@parkcity.org