RAC, Board meeting agendas, materials & minutes

Proposed changes to the "taking big game" rule

Dax Mangus
Big Game Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the proposed changes to Administrative Rule R657-5.

Buck deer permit recommendations for 2025

Dax Mangus
Big Game Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 – What drives deer populations in Utah?
• 4:47 – Post-season buck-to-doe ratios
• 7:59 – Statewide plan changes
• 9:41 – Buck permit recommendations
• 10:59 – Implications of new buck-to-doe ratios
• 14:36 – Data-driven automatic permit adjustment
• 16:07 – General-season deer recommendations
• 20:05 – Permits at various buck-to-doe ratios
• 21:22 – General-season deer permit summary
• 21:44 – Limited-entry recommended buck deer permits
• 23:43 – Limited-entry, late-season muzzleloader deer hunts
• 25:23 – Limited-entry and private lands late-season deer hunt recommendations
• 27:14 – Other limited-entry buck deer recommendations
• 28:40 – Informational permit summary
• 29:25 – Informational

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• View the buck deer permit recommendations for 2025.

Once-in-a-lifetime species permit recommendations for 2025

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

Segments

• 0:00 – Introduction
• 0:11 – Bighorn sheep permits
• 1:06 – Desert bighorn sheep permits
• 3:11 – Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permits
• 5:12 – Moose permits
• 7:12 – Mountain goat permits
• 8:31 – Bison permits

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• View the once-in-a-lifetime species permit recommendations for 2025.

Bull elk permit recommendations for 2025

Dax Mangus
Big Game Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 – Introduction
• 0:08 – General-season elk
• 1:49 – Limited-entry elk age objectives
• 6:53 – Other limited-entry elk hunts
• 7:58 – Limited-entry late archery hunts
• 8:27 – September archery hunts and HAMSS hunts
• 9:08 – Other limited-entry elk hunts
• 10:17 – Total limited-entry elk permits

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• View the bull elk permit recommendations for 2025.

Buck pronghorn permit recommendations for 2025

Dax Mangus
Big Game Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• View the buck pronghorn permit recommendations for 2025.

Antlerless permit recommendations for 2025

Dax Mangus
Big Game Coordinator
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 – Introduction
• 0:07 – Issuing antlerless permits
• 1:22 – Antlerless deer permit recommendations
• 2:16 – Antlerless deer permits
• 5:11 – Antlerless elk permit recommendations
• 6:06 – Overview of permit types
• 14:01 – Doe pronghorn permit recommendations
• 16:00 – Ewe bighorn sheep and antlerless moose

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• View the antlerless deer permit recommendations for 2025.
• View the antlerless elk permit recommendations for 2025.
• View the private-lands-only antlerless elk permit recommendations for 2025.
• View the antlerless doe pronghorn permit recommendations for 2025.

Maps

• View the boundary recommendation for the Box Elder, Sawtooth antlerless elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the East Canyon, East antlerless elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the La Sal, La Sal Mtns-North antlerless elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Manti, Ferron-Nelson Mtn antlerless elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Monroe antlerless elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Mt Dutton, Deep Creek antlerless elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the North Slope, Three Corners antlerless elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Ogden, North antlerless elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Panguitch Lake antlerless elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Parker Mtn/Plateau doe pronghorn unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Parker Mtn, Highlands doe pronghorn unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Parker Mtn, Plains doe pronghorn unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Wasatch Mtns, Box Elder Peak antlerless elk unit.
• View the boundary recommendation for the Wasatch Mtns, Salt Lake-Timpanogos antlerless moose unit.

CWMU antlerless permit recommendations for 2025

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

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• View the CWMU antlerless permit recommendations for 2025.

Recommended changes to the landowner permits rule

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

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the recommended changes to Administrative Rule R657-43.

Recommended changes to the Wildlife Expo permits rule

Covy Jones
Wildlife Section Chief
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the memorandum.
• Read the recommended changes to Administrative Rule R657-55.

Little Montes Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan

Tory Mathis
Habitat Restoration Biologist
Northeastern Region
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the proposed Little Montes Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan.

Willow Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan

Tom Platero
Impact Analysis Biologist
Northeastern Region
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the proposed Willow Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan.

Upper San Rafael WMA Habitat Management Plan

Colton Taylor
Impact Analysis Biologist
Southeastern Region
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the proposed Upper San Rafael WMA Habitat Management Plan.

Cinnamon Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan

Melissa Early
Habitat Manager
Northern Region
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 – Introduction
• 0:17 – A closer look at a WMA
• 1:07 – Funding
• 1:52 – WMA habitat management plan
• 3:03 – WMA habitat condition
• 4:39 – Goals and objectives
• 4:58 – Species that need conservation help
• 5:37 – Game species on the WMA
• 6:42 – Key habitats on the WMA
• 7:08 – Utah big game range trend studies
• 7:38 – Habitat projects on the WMA
• 8:43 – Signage on the WMA
• 9:38 – Easements on the WMA
• 10:33 – Roads on the WMA
• 11:48 – Livestock grazing
• 12:17 – Targeted grazing on the WMA
• 12:47 – Camping trailers
• 14:13 – Ongoing habitat work

Documents

• Read the proposed Cinnamon Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan.

Swan Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan

Zach Oman
Habitat Biologist
Northern Region
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the proposed Swan Creek WMA Habitat Management Plan.

Timpanogos WMA Habitat Management Plan

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

Segments

• 0:00 – Introduction
• 0:33 – General information
• 0:53 – Purpose of WMA ownership
• 1:14 – Trails on the WMA
• 2:18 – Wildlife species on the WMA
• 3:02 – Habitat characteristics
• 4:53 – Habitat management plans
• 6:19 – WMA management issues
• 6:47 – Management goals and objectives
• 7:02 – Habitat management strategies
• 8:08 – Access management plan
• 8:38 – Public access issues
• 9:03 – Access plan: roads and trails

Documents

• Read the proposed Timpanogos WMA Habitat Management Plan.

Spencer Fork WMA Habitat Management Plan

Josee Seamons
Impact Analysis Biologist
Central Region
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Documents

• Read the proposed Spencer Fork WMA Habitat Management Plan.

South Sanpete Valley WMAs Habitat Management Plan

Robert Edgel
Habitat Restoration Biologist
Central Region
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Segments

• 0:00 – Introduction
• 0:34 – South Sanpete Valley WMAs
• 1:03 – Purpose of WMA ownership
• 1:18 – Wildlife species on the WMA
• 1:32 – Habitat characteristics
• 2:18 – Habitat management plans
• 3:08 – Management issues
• 3:38 – Management plan goals and objectives
• 4:03 – Habitat management strategies
• 4:58 – Access management plan
• 5:37 – Public access issues
• 6:09 – Sharing the plan with the public
• 7:39 – Access plan
• 10:32 – Additional WMA access maps

Documents

• Read the proposed South Sanpete Valley WMAs Habitat Management Plan.

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.