Today, April 4, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources released a press release for the April 2023 RAC proposals. Note: there are several changes presented and there is an online public comment period available or you can attend one of the meetings. There's a lot of information presented in the 2023 recommendations, so be sure to watch each video, read the supplemental information, and send in your comments.
I've watched the majority of these proposals and read through the documents, and I feel like there's a lot of great information to soak up in these proposals.
Topics Include:
Buck deer permit recommendations for 2023
Once-in-a-lifetime permit recommendations for 2023
Bull elk permit recommendations for 2023
Buck antelope permit recommendations for 2023
Antlerless permit recommendations for 2023
CWMU antlerless permit recommendations for 2023
CWMU rule change
Changes to the "Taking Big Game" rule
Technology and hunting recommendations for 2023
According to the press release, "The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing changes to several rules, and is requesting the public's feedback. Over the next month, each of Utah's five Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) will meet to discuss these proposals and submit recommendations to the Utah Wildlife Board. The Utah Wildlife Board will then vote on the proposals. If you would like to give feedback on any of the Division's proposals, you may do so electronically, using the feedback form below, or you may attend a RAC or Board meeting in person."
Meeting schedule and online comment deadlines
Until the respective deadlines shown below, you may submit online comments to either the DWR region you are involved with (see a map of the DWR's management regions) or to the Utah Wildlife Board. Watch the meeting livestreams at these links:
Northern Utah RAC meeting: April 12 at 6 p.m. at the Weber County Commission Chambers at 2380 Washington Blvd. #240 in Ogden. (Online comments must be submitted by April 10 at 11:59 p.m.)
Central Utah RAC meeting: April 13 at 6 p.m. in the Wildlife Resources Conference Room (DWR Springville Office) at 1115 N. Main St. in Springville. (Online comments must be submitted by April 10 at 11:59 p.m.)
Southern Utah RAC meeting: April 18 at 6 p.m. in the Cedar Breaks room of the Sharwan Smith Student Center at Southern Utah University at 351 W. University Blvd. in Cedar City. (Online comments must be submitted by April 13 at 11:59 p.m.)
Southeastern Utah RAC meeting: April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the John Wesley Powell Museum at 1765 E. Main St. in Green River. (Online comments must be submitted by April 13 at 11:59 p.m.)
Northeastern Utah RAC meeting: April 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Wildlife Resources Conference Room (DWR Vernal Office) at 318 N. Vernal Ave. in Vernal. (Online comments must be submitted by April 13 at 11:59 p.m.)
Utah Wildlife Board meeting: May 4 at 9 a.m. at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center at 1157 S. Waterfowl Way in Farmington. (Online comments must be submitted by April 25 at 11:59 p.m.)
Submit your comments online here
UDWR Proposals
1. buck Deer Permit Recommendations for 2023
Dax MangusBig Game CoordinatorUtah Division of Wildlife Resources
Documents:
Read the memorandum.
Review the buck deer permit recommendations.
2. Once-in-a-lifetime Permit Recommendations for 2023
Rusty RobinsonOnce-in-a-Lifetime Species CoordinatorUtah Division of Wildlife Resources
Documents:
Read the memorandum.
Review the once-in-a-lifetime permit recommendations.
3. Bull Elk Permit Recommendations for 2023
Dax MangusBig Game CoordinatorUtah Division of Wildlife Resources
Documents:
Read the memorandum.
Review the bull elk permit recommendations.
4. Buck Pronghorn Permit Recommendations for 2023
Dax MangusBig Game CoordinatorUtah Division of Wildlife Resources
Documents:
Read the memorandum.
Review the buck pronghorn permit recommendations.
5. Antlerless Permit Recommendations for 2023
Dax MangusBig Game CoordinatorUtah Division of Wildlife Resources
Documents:
Read the memorandum.
Review the antlerless permit recommendations.
View the boundary recommendation for the Fillmore, Fillmore City unit.
View the boundary recommendation for the South Slope, Ashley Valley unit.
6. Cwmu Antlerless Permit Recommendations for 2023
Chad WilsonPrivate Lands Public Wildlife CoordinatorUtah Division of Wildlife Resources
Documents:
Read the memorandum.
View the CWMU all antlerless permits table.
View the CWMU antlerless permits renewals table.
View the CWMU antlerless deer permits table.
View the CWMU antlerless elk permits table.
View the CWMU antlerless pronghorn permits table.
7. Cwmu Rule Change
Chad WilsonPrivate Lands Public Wildlife CoordinatorUtah Division of Wildlife Resources
Documents:
Read the proposed rule change.
8. Changes to the "Takin" Big Game" Rule
Dax MangusBig Game CoordinatorUtah Division of Wildlife Resources
Documents:
Read the memorandum.
9. Technology and Hunting Recommendations for 2023
Derrick EwellWildlife BiologistNortheastern RegionUtah Division of Wildlife Resources
Documents:
Read the memorandum.
Read the technology recommendations for 2023.
13 Comments
Benjamin Griffith
4/12/2023, 9:27:55 PM
I'm seeing they now allow straight walled rifles in the HAMS type hunts, but see no mention if they can NOT have scopes like the rest of everything? did I miss that?
Tim McChesney
4/10/2023, 10:56:31 PM
Is there anyway to find out which types of General buck deer permits they will be cutting with these proposed cuts? Will it be an even number of Archery, Rifle, Muzzleloader they will be decreasing per each unit? Trying to figure out how much this will change draw odds for general archery buck permits.
andrew bickers
4/10/2023, 8:04:27 PM
I might have missed it, but I cannot see any reference to the Late Archery hunts on their document?