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Advisory committee approves two CWMU variances to allow later elk hunts, requires public access and notification
Summary
The CMU Advisory Committee voted unanimously to approve two variances allowing later bull-elk hunting dates on cooperative wildlife management units, attaching a requirement that those later dates be made available to and publicized for public hunters.
The CMU Advisory Committee voted unanimously to approve two variances allowing later bull-elk hunting dates on private Cooperative Wildlife Management Units, with the condition that public hunters be offered and notified of those later dates.
The recommendation to extend the late-season variance for the Blackhawk CWMU on the Manti unit was presented by Brad Crompton, the biologist who oversees Blackhawk. "They're asking to extend that to December 15," Crompton told the committee, describing the unit as one that "funnels most of the bull elk" into privately owned canyons late in the season and already carries a November 30 variance.
The committee debated access for public hunters and how the later window would be administered. Committee member Mike (last name not specified) moved to approve the Blackhawk variance "with the stipulation that the public hunter be allowed and educated on what the operator feels like are the best hunt dates." The motion was seconded and the committee chair called the question; members voted "aye" and the motion passed unanimously.
A second variance for the Miller Creek (central Manti) drainage was presented as a similar request. Biologists said Miller Creek also funnels elk late in the season and already has a November 30 extension; the request was to allow a December 15 variance for the following hunting season because the petition did not meet the administrative deadline to take effect this fall. An operator on that unit reported the current allotment is about "91, 92" tags. Committee members amended the motion for the Miller Creek variance to include the same caveat about informing the public, the amendment was seconded, and the committee approved that variance unanimously as well.
Why it matters: the committee emphasized the extension is intended to improve public hunting opportunity, not to create private-only advantages. Multiple committee members and staff stressed that the rule requires public access during any authorized bull-elk-season extension; one committee member cited the rule language that "public hunters must be provided the opportunity to hunt five full days during the extension." Committee discussion also covered how operators communicate dates to public hunters (website postings, direct contact, HuntPlanner) and the logistics of balancing private guided hunts with public opportunities.
What the committee directed next: biologists and operators agreed to document how the later dates will be offered to the public and to publish those windows when hunts are listed. The Miller Creek variance will follow the normal administrative timeline and would take effect next season if the board process is complete.
Provenance: transcript excerpts supporting this article include the initial presentation of the Blackhawk request and Crompton's summary (topic introduction segment) and the motion, second and vote passages (final segments).
