Hunting in the Salt Lake City Wasatch Front Watershed

As the largest property owner with primary agency management and maintenance responsibility in City Creek and Parleys Canyons, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities has several City Watershed Policies and Regulations that apply to hunting in these areas.

• State Hunting Rules
• City Watershed Hunting Policies
• City Creek Canyon Hunting Permits

State Hunting Rules

Hunters within the City Watershed must have a valid State hunting license and tag, and must comply with the appropriate Hunting Proclamation issued by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Special Utah hunting restrictions that apply to the Watershed areas include the following (Utah R657-5-13):

• Hunting with firearms is prohibited in all of Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyons, and the area of Parleys Canyon south of I-80. These areas are open to archery hunting as specified in the Proclamation.
• Big game hunting is not allowed within one-half mile of Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon or within the Town of Alta boundaries in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
• Hunting with handgun, muzzleloader, of shotgun firing slug, or rifles is prohibited within one mile of any cabin, house or other building, or any park area facilities, including buildings, camp or picnic sites, overlooks, or golf courses.
• Hunting with archery equipment or shotguns or is prohibited within one-quarter mile of the aforesaid areas.
• Discharge of firearms is prohibited from, upon or across highways. Big game hunting or discharge a shotgun or archery equipment is not allowed within 600 feet of roads.

City Watershed Hunting Policies

Areas with special City Watershed Management hunting restrictions include City Creek Canyon and all of Parleys Canyon and its side drainages.

• Camping is not allowed in City Creek Canyon. The only public camping allowed in Parleys Canyon is at the Affleck Park Campground off SR-65 towards Big Mountain Pass.
  
• Horses, and off road vehicles (ORV), including motorcycles, are prohibited in City Watershed areas.
  
• Hunting with or discharge of black powder muzzleloaders is not allowed in City Creek or Parleys Canyons.
  
• Archery hunting is allowed in Parleys and City Creek Canyons.
  
• Hunters are encouraged to clean and dress animals outside the Watershed. If disposing of entrails outside the watershed is not possible, hunters must clean and bury the remains 6-inches deep and a minimum of 300 feet from any stream of seasonal drainage channel.
  
• Parleys Canyon special permits. In the event a hunter downs an elk or moose in remote area within the Parleys Watershed, a one day use permit for a single horse or ORV may be obtained from City Watershed for removal of the animal. Non-motorized deer carts or wagons do not require a permit. Travel off trail with any human powered or motorized vehicle is prohibited.
  

City Creek Canyon Hunting Permits

City Creek Canyon lies within the corporate limits of Salt Lake City and is a City designated Nature Preserve. The City regulates hunting and all recreational activity within the Canyon.

• City Creek deer hunting permit applications will be accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m September 22nd through September 26th, 2003 at Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, 1530 South West Temple Street.
  
• Hunters in City Creek Canyon must have in their possession 1) an approved Salt Lake City Watershed Permit, 2) a Utah Big Game License, and 3) a Northern Region General Deer Hunting Permit.
  
• Watershed permit applications must include individual’s Utah Big Game License number and license plate number for the vehicle they will be using to access the canyon. Incomplete or illegible applications will not be accepted.
  
• No more than 150 hunting entrance permits are issued for City Creek Canyon. A lottery is held if more than 150 applications are received. A maximum of four (4) permit applications may be attached together to guarantee group access.
  
• Permits will be mailed to successful applicants at the address listed on the permit. A list of permit holders will be posted at the Public Utilities the week of October 6th.
  
• Hunters with valid City Creek Hunting Permits will be allowed vehicle access into the canyon from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day during the hunt (normal odd/even day canyon vehicles restrictions do not apply to hunters with valid Watershed permits).
  
• Hunting is not allowed below North Fork of City Creek (picnic area #23), which is located about 1 mile above the water treatment plant.
  
• Questions may be directed to Salt Lake City Watershed Management (801.483.6705).