The Utah Wildlife Board approved multiple rule changes and permit actions in a recent meeting, according to a summary presented to the Northeastern Regional Advisory Council in August 2025. The board approved rule updates on surrenders and variances, sportsman draw and group applications, tagging requirements, CWMU additional cow permits, 19 drought bison permits on the Henry Mountains and advisory committee membership.

Why it matters: The board’s rule changes and permit actions alter how licenses, tagging and management actions will be implemented across the state and inform how the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) will apply those rules in the region.

Nathan Crapo, filling in for Eric Major, read the board actions to the RAC and stressed the board’s role: “The wildlife board, not the RAC, is charged with setting wildlife policy for our state,” he said. The board report said a motion to approve recommended rule changes on surrenders and variances was made by Justin Oliver, seconded by Kent Johnson and passed unanimously. A motion on sportsman draw and group application changes was made by Bob Christiansen, seconded by Chris Robinson, and passed unanimously.

On tagging requirements, the board approved the division’s recommendation with the addition of a fourth photo as evidence; that motion was made by Paula Richmond, seconded by Bob Christiansen and passed unanimously. The board approved additional CWMU cow permits in a motion by Kent Johnson, seconded by Paula Richmond; that action passed with four in favor and two recusals (Ryan Fouts and Chris Robinson), according to the report read to the RAC.

The board also moved to approve 19 additional drought bison permits for the Henry Mountains; that motion was made by Chris Robinson, seconded by Justin Oliver and passed unanimously. Finally, the board approved the membership of Gary Webb on the CWMU advisory committee in a motion by Kent Johnson, seconded by Chris Robinson; that motion passed unanimously.

Discussion vs. decision: The RAC session recorded the board’s formal actions as reported, but did not itself take separate votes on those board items. The board motions and vote tallies above reflect the board meeting actions as presented to the RAC. The RAC did not modify or rehear these board motions during its meeting.

Background: The DWR submits board actions and rule recommendations to the RAC for regional input and for RAC members to relay public feedback to the board. The motions listed were presented as outcomes from a board meeting on 08/21/2025 in Farmington, Utah, as read at the RAC session.

What’s next: These adopted rule changes and permits will be implemented by the division per the board direction; specific implementation dates and administrative details were not specified in the RAC report.