[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6600649,"mediaKeyId","3028474-f7e9abe0448ac61d5aae8162fc6e097e","parentId",3028474,"title","Southern RAC scales back Beaver West permit increase after public outcry; votes 10–1 on split allocation","audioSeconds",4131,"startMs",2607000,"endMs",6738000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028474-f7e9abe0448ac61d5aae8162fc6e097e&start=2607&end=6738","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028474-f7e9abe0448ac61d5aae8162fc6e097e/thumbnail_2607000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6600649/Utah/Southern-RAC-scales-back-Beaver-West-permit-increase-after-public-outcry-votes-101-on-split-allocation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600649-1bb5b00fe31218eff2a83c5a497497f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672948&Signature=Bxi2OL-es4-oKX9bEk1KbkZgbYCYvyf2QZhWOtbevqqYckhw3ryGdhk3Y8zdOzIYIP9So5v7Zru85~qLIu1swkiZjxdRAAwPA6IWEnHGeFYDY0wCfbF3clmTtJ6VdtC05KItq4D7ZXBUFcdO4BkrPW249ytOsgrs2eUQgmqT4MwrppVNaedBL5uaHOl7ephpjslto-Grnp6xvJlFfpHGOl3Fu9L7IanE9vXgPanbBxpcB5LL9ONSADIFGncIg51~zwEi~LpOKdzthdVzPUn8uexmBZvhmvHhs8ezNntgkLZNTeoCYljpe3FDHGPD35fs3LfeZbIxajt2nwDThGrbGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-17T00:35:14.627Z","article","CEDAR CITY, Utah — After lengthy public comment and debate, the Southern Region Advisory Council on April 15 adjusted proposed deer permit allocations for the Beaver hunting unit and approved the larger deer-permit package with specific exceptions.

The council voted 10–1 to split the Beaver unit’s permits between West and East in a measure that will set 350 general-season permits for Beaver West and 1,600 for Beaver East (combined total of 1,950). Council members said the change was intended to be more conservative than the division’s original recommendation for a larger single-side increase and to respond to strong local opposition to the scale of the proposed West-side increase.

Why it matters: Deer permit numbers shape hunter opportunity and influence buck-to-doe ratios that the division uses to meet statewide management objectives. Locals and RAC members warned that a large single-year jump in permits on the West side could overharvest a population that many residents said has not recovered from past declines.

Division presentation and rationale
Mike, the division biologist for the Beaver unit, described the data used to set permit levels: decades of classification data (November–December field counts), collar-survival data and harvest records. He said the overall Beaver population estimate is about 10,000 deer and that the West side had historically accounted for roughly a third of classification samples. The divisions recommendation had aimed to reflect rebounding populations after earlier deep cuts in permit numbers years ago.

Local reaction and public comment
Public comment was overwhelmingly opposed to the original recommended increase for Beaver West. Local residents and sportsmen described decades of declining numbers on the West side, referenced severe fires and droughts, and urged a more cautious approach. Several speakers, including Curtis Barney of Panguitch and Paul Marshall of Minersville, said they had not seen enough deer in recent years to support the higher permit count and urged the RAC to reduce the proposed increase. Sportsmens groups and other stakeholders proposed alternative figures; Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife suggested a 500-permit ceiling for Beaver West, while some locals urged as few as 350.

Council deliberations and votes
Tammy moved to set Beaver West at 350 permits and Beaver East at 1,600 (leaving the rest of the units total allocation at a smaller net increase). Bryant seconded the motion. The motion passed 10–1, with Brooklyn casting the lone vote against.

Later the council considered the remainder of the deer-permit recommendations across the region. Bridal (a council member) proposed approving the rest of the divisions recommendations with one exception: no increases on limited-entry San Juan and Fillmore Oak Creek units. The motion to approve the remainder of recommendations with those exceptions passed 10–1.

Clarifying details and constraints
- The Beaver unit had approximate total permit levels of 1,800 in the previous year; the split approved represents a modest net increase overall compared with the divisions original proposal.
- The Beaver West change will be monitored: the division uses collar and classification data, harvest reports and winter observations to inform future adjustments. Several council members asked the division to be prepared for rapid adjustments if on-the-ground data show overharvest or unexpected impacts.

Quotes from the meeting
\"When I made the recommendation, it's difficult. Right? Because the unit's splitting and we have never collected data at that level,\" Mike said of the challenge of dividing permits between East and West. \"I looked at my classification data... the West number made about a third of my sample. And so that was how I split out permits.\"

One resident, Curtis Barney, said: \"Adding all these tags in such an open area is deer suicide. Just when a deer gets over one ridge, there'll be other hunters waiting.\"

Next steps and context
The councils votes will be reflected in the regions recommendations to the statewide wildlife board. The board will take final action at its May meeting. RAC members and public speakers emphasized close monitoring of the Beaver units for the coming season and urged continued communication between landowners, division biologists and hunters.

Ending note
The decision reflects a compromise between Division biologists statistical recommendations and local concerns after a sustained, sometimes emotional public comment period. Council members said they expect to revisit permit numbers as new data come in.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DWR RAC Meeting - Southern Region 04/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","After lengthy public comment and debate, the Southern Region Advisory Council on April 15 adjusted proposed deer permit allocations for the Beaver hunting unit and approved the larger deer-permit package with specific exceptions.","taxTitle","Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Government Divisions, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",7888,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6600653,"Southern RAC approves changes to big-game rule including eased limits on importing antlered skulls; CWD concerns remain",126,1527000,1653000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028474-f7e9abe0448ac61d5aae8162fc6e097e&start=1527&end=1653","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028474-f7e9abe0448ac61d5aae8162fc6e097e/thumbnail_1527000.jpg","/articles/6600653/Utah/Southern-RAC-approves-changes-to-big-game-rule-including-eased-limits-on-importing-antlered-skulls-CWD-concerns-remain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600653-6ea352ace9bc4edc519a85824a80d784/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672948&Signature=CVxihKcNVxG6e2dSW7WvrJJnpZSYHJHBgzL8MXzDnma5oU0o5tExGqfZCaBlYHIRLEx14cy72JPxfAB5k4oc0rRzusDsS5ykdqSSUmXf0mVBEo4m4PwrV-dprdrvz23fJ65-zHvwZUKaBGDjS2qGBBN1vE4DCal~rbxTcw9TZ3Bis7SCO~OHC-Jcrx5qb-NGjQykdtlmDVoZuI4HH9lsVLKPhS9MM0PIMZcLSTHK4b78QzlhoAJdI5fF4-o-luB1X2Qn27DLd~B5qIY-pHZu36PLEJYDrSACcWPLWWwtEntZzcgOaFRZgOTALS53hISG~BZA9amXjWVKyMwDRaNEVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CEDAR CITY, Utah — The Southern Region Advisory Council approved changes to Utah’s big-game rule R657-5 on April 15, voting 9–2 to adopt a package of amendments that include a firm Feb. 15 deadline for mandatory harvest reporting, clarifications about youth privileges on restricted-rifle hunts and a rollback of the prohibition on importing antlered skulls from states where chronic wasting disease (CWD) is present.

The rule changes were presented to the council by Dax, the division’s big-game coordinator, who described the importation change as a response to low compliance and requests from hunters who want to bring complete skulls for European-style mounts. “We’re recommending walking that back just a tiny bit to allow for the importation of a head — a skull with the brain material still in it,” Dax said, adding that the division judged the practice a low risk because most heads taken to Utah are sent to taxidermists rather than discarded outdoors.

Why it matters: CWD is a fatal, long-lived prion disease that persists in the environment and has been a focal point of statewide wildlife management. The council’s vote effectively permits antlered skulls containing brain or spinal tissue to be returned to Utah from states with CWD, while other parts of the rule package aim to improve data available to biologists (earlier reporting) and clarify who may hunt additional general-season hunts after drawing restricted-rifle permits.

Division explanation and public input
Dax told the council the change followed enforcement observations showing “pretty poor compliance” at a highway checkpoint where skulls were being transported, and that many hunters reported they were unaware of the prior restriction. A regional supervisor said the division received four online comments on the agenda item — all in favor — including written support from the mayor and the town council in Alton, where the division is proposing antlerless harvest opportunity as part of a local depredation and fence-repair agreement.

Concerns from council members and public
Several council members and public commenters raised technical and disease-risk questions. Bart, a council member, asked whether taxidermists had any required disposal procedures for brain tissue; Dax acknowledged there are currently no specific measures for taxidermists. “We don’t,” Dax said when asked whether disposal measures were in place.

Mike, who questioned the change and who opposed the final motion, argued that relaxing the ban makes little sense while the division declines to move live deer because of disease risk. “We don’t accept a lot of things. This shouldn’t be one of them,” Mike said after the vote, saying the rule change “feels like accepting it” rather than preventing risk.

Council action and vote
After discussion and public comment, a motion to approve the proposed R657-5 amendments as presented was made by Tammy and seconded by Berlin. The council approved the package 9–2; Bart and Mike recorded the opposing votes.

What the rule changes say (summary)
- Mandatory harvest reporting: A firm reporting deadline of Feb. 15 was added in most hunts (a 30-day window or Feb. 15, whichever is earliest) so biologists have timely data for recommendations.
- Youth and restricted-rifle clarification: If a youth draws a restricted-rifle hunt on a unit, the rule now clarifies they may hunt other applicable general-season hunts on that unit, aligning restricted-rifle youth privileges with those for any-legal-weapon youth permits.
- Antlered skull importation: The division will allow importation of an antlered skull (including brain material) from states with CWD under the amended rule; the division said it views the risk as low because taxidermists typically handle skulls rather than hunters discarding brain matter outdoors.

What remains unresolved
Council members repeatedly asked what measures will prevent brain or tissue from entering the environment after taxidermists receive skulls. Dax acknowledged taxidermist disposal is an open question and said the division prefers education over strict regulation at this time. Members opposing the change said that stance is insufficient to guard against spread of CWD.

Next steps
The Southern Region Advisory Council approved the amendments during its April 15 meeting in Cedar City. The changes will be included as the division’s rule package going forward in the administrative process.

Ending note
Supporters said the amendments improve data collection and clarify youth hunt access; opponents warned about unresolved pathways for CWD and urged stronger controls or monitoring for taxidermist and carcass-handling practices.","The Southern Region Advisory Council approved changes to Utah’s big-game rule R657-5 on April 15, voting 9–2 to adopt a package of amendments that include a firm Feb. 15 deadline for mandatory harvest reporting, clarifications about youth privileges on restricted-rifle hunts and a rollback of the prohibition on importing antlered skulls from states with chronic wasting disease (CWD).","actionData","errors"]

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Southern RAC scales back Beaver West permit increase after public outcry; votes 10–1 on split allocation

Southern RAC approves changes to big-game rule including eased limits on importing antlered skulls; CWD concerns remain