RAC, Board meeting agendas, materials & minutes

Proposed changes to waterfowl and migratory game bird hunting for 2025-27

Jason Jones
Migratory Game Bird & Falconry Programs Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 — Introduction
• 0:20 — North American duck breeding populations
• 1:06 — Breeding waterfowl habitat conditions
• 1:38 — Swan and goose breeding populations
• 2:14 — Waterfowl population modeling
• 3:17 — Three-year guidebook cycle and waterfowl seasons
• 8:16 — Migratory bird program
• 9:02 — Rule change: migratory game birds
• 10:34 — American crow
• 11:15 — Band-tailed pigeons
• 11:27 — Mourning/white-winged doves
• 11:41 — Sandhill crane
• 12:24 — Falconry
• 13:18 — Rule changes

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-6.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-9.

Proposed falconry rule changes for 2024-25

Jason Jones
Migratory Game Bird & Falconry Programs Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-20.

Black bear proposals for 2025

Darren DeBloois
Game Mammals Program Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 — Introduction
• 0:11 — Overview
• 0:40 — 2024 season summary, including population, harvest and depredation trends
• 5:24 — 2025 seasons that allow use of dogs
• 6:29 — 2025 seasons that allow use of bait
• 6:42 — Fall spot and stalk opportunities
• 8:03 — Permit recommendations
• 12:09 — Rule changes

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Review the black bear permit and quota recommendations for 2025-27.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-33.

Recommended cougar rule amendments for 2025

Darren DeBloois
Game Mammals Program Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-10.

Furbearer recommendations for 2025-26

Darren DeBloois
Game Mammals Program Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-11.

Predator control incentives for 2025

Devri Tanner
Wildlife Biologist
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-64.

Shed Antler Gathering Committee update

Rusty Robinson
Once-in-a-Lifetime Species Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.

West Desert Complex deer and elk unit plans

Jason Robinson
Wildlife Biologist
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed West Desert Complex deer unit management plan.
• Read the proposed West Desert Complex elk unit management plan.

Utah mule deer statewide management plan, 2025–30

Dax Mangus
Big Game Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 — Introduction and about the mule deer statewide management plan
• 1:16 — Plan revision process, committee and contributors
• 6:30 — Public deer hunting survey
• 9:04 — Plan structure
• 10:51 — Species biology and history in Utah
• 13:20 — Population management
• 14:11 — "Top-down" vs. "bottom-up"
• 16:24 — Predator management policy and plans
• 21:48 — Sustainable harvest
• 24:37 — Buck-to-doe ratio changes
• 32:45 — General-season units at 18-20 bucks per 100 does
• 33:57 — General-season units at 15-17 bucks per 100 does
• 34:34 — Unit boundary changes
• 36:41 — Limited and premium limited-entry units
• 38:23 — CWD management plan
• 40:46 — Recommended study and research strategies
• 41:36 — Other plan changes

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed mule deer statewide management plan.

Utah deer hunt strategies research proposal

Kent Hersey
Big Game Projects Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 — Introduction and background
• 2:57 — Hunt strategy research proposal
• 4:57 — Study goals and objectives
• 6:53 — Monitoring biological data
• 8:30 — Monitoring social data
• 9:39 — Implementation
• 11:02 — Rule changes needed

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the memorandum about the proposed amendments to Administrative Rule R657-5.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-5.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-6.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-9.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-10.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-11.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-33.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-54.

Recommended Utah big game season dates for 2025–27

Dax Mangus
Big Game Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 — Introduction and multiyear season dates
• 2:08 — Season dates shift example
• 3:16 — General-season deer hunt dates
• 4:50 — Limited-entry deer hunt dates
• 6:43 — General-season elk hunt dates
• 9:59 — Limited-entry elk hunt dates
• 13:26 — Limited-entry buck pronghorn dates
• 14:08 — New elk hunts
• 16:42 — New deer hunts
• 18:22 — Discontinued deer hunts
• 18:45 — New limited-entry deer hunts
• 19:47 — New CWD area hunts with mandatory sample submission
• 20:48 — Deer boundary adjustment
• 22:03 — Restricted weapon deer hunts
• 22:42 — Antler point restrictions
• 23:12 — New pronghorn hunts
• 23:30 — Learn more

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Review the recommended big game hunt season dates for 2025–27.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Beaver, East general-season buck deer unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Beaver, West general-season buck deer unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Cedar/Stansbury general-season buck deer unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the East Canyon limited-entry bull elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Henry Mtns, Little Rockies limited-entry buck deer unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the La Sal, Castle Valley CWD limited-entry buck deer unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the La Sal, Moab Valley CWD limited-entry buck deer unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Morgan-South Rich limited-entry bull elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Oquirrh/Tintic general-season buck deer unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the San Juan, Mancos Mesa limited-entry buck deer unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Thousand Lakes limited-entry buck deer unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Uintah Basin Extended Archery general-season deer and elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Uintah Basin Private Lands general-season any bull elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the West Desert, Swasey general-season buck deer unit.

Proposed once-in-a-lifetime hunts for 2025–27

Rusty Robinson
Once-in-a-Lifetime Species Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 — Introduction and multiyear hunts
• 1:05 — Bighorn sheep hunts
• 7:20 — Bison hunts
• 9:14 — Moose hunts

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Review the proposed once-in-a-lifetime hunt season dates for 2025–27.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Box Elder unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Escalante, East unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Escalante, West unit.

Recommended changes to youth hunting and deer hunting applications

Lindy Varney
Wildlife Licensing Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 — Introduction
• 0:35 — Youth deer hunt applicants
• 1:35 — DWR recommendations
• 3:11 — History and opportunity
• 3:43 — DWR recommendations

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-62.

CWMU and LOA recommendations for 2025

Chad Wilson
Private Lands Public Wildlife Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 — Introduction and purpose
• 1:16 — 2025 CWMU recommendations, applications and permit changes
• 4:30 — Northern Region
• 6:28 — Southern Region
• 6:52 — Northeastern Region
• 7:08 — Central Region
• 7:41 — Southeastern Region
• 9:30 — CWMUs with public land
• 14:12 — CWMU trade lands map
• 14:48 — LOA program and renewals

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• View the list of CWMUs.
• View the list of CWMU renewals.
• View the list of new CWMUs.
• View the list of CWMUs that have changed.
• View the list of deer CWMUs.
• View the list of elk CWMUs.
• View the list of moose CWMUs.
• View the list of pronghorn CWMUs.
• View the list of turkey CWMUs.
• View the list of cow elk harvest CWMUs.
• View the list of all CWMU permits.

Strawberry Reservoir response to illegal walleye introduction

Alan Ward
Strawberry Reservoir Project Leader
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Proposed changes to Utah's fishing regulations in 2025

Trina Hedrick
Coldwater Sportfish Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 — Introduction
• 0:12 — Overview
• 2:04 — Deer Creek Reservoir
• 2:32 — Provo River Delta
• 3:13 — Stansbury Lake
• 3:52 — Pelican Lake
• 4:44 — Strawberry River
• 5:29 — Flaming Gorge Reservoir
• 11:37 — Willard Bay Reservoir
• 12:06 — Cutler Reservoir
• 12:32 — Echo Reservoir
• 13:07 — Pond at Poulter Preserve
• 13:56 — Recapture Reservoir
• 14:27 — Manning Meadow Reservoir
• 15:09 — Barney Lake
• 15:37 — Gunlock Reservoir and Quail Creek Reservoir bass
• 16:12 — Gunlock Reservoir black crappie
• 16:40 — Sand Hollow Reservoir
• 17:11 — Mill Meadow Reservoir
• 17:37 — Six Rods while ice fishing
• 18:21 — Spearfishing
• 20:38 — Setline regulations
• 21:32 — Bowfishing: air guns for taking carp
• 22:04 — Bonus brook trout limit
• 22:34 — New community fisheries
• 23:16 — Harvest of prohibited species
• 24:01 — Looking ahead

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-13.

Recommended changes to DWR valuation of real property interests (Administrative Rule R657-61)

Chelsea Duke
Wildlife Lands Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-61.

Cougar information for 2024

Darren DeBloois
Game Mammals Program Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Review the presentation slides.

Recommended changes to CWMUs (Rule R657-37)

Chad Wilson
Private Lands Public Wildlife Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 — Overview
• 1:52 — Acreage changes
• 2:55 — Over-objective units
• 5:26 — Harvest objective
• 8:02 — Non-contiguous lands
• 9:12 — Trade lands
• 11:56 — Advisory committee
• 15:34 — Other proposed changes

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-37.

Proposed changes to Conservation and Sportsman Permits (Rule R657-41)

Covy Jones
Wildlife Section Chief
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-41.

Juab Valley WMA Habitat Management Plan

Mark Farmer
Habitat Program Manager
Central Region
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the proposed Juab Valley WMA Habitat Management Plan.