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Northeast RAC adopts WMA license exemptions and clarifies scope after new state law
Summary
Following House Bill 309, the RAC approved rule language to define exemptions for wildlife management areas and added an exemption for federal land-management employees acting in their official duties.
The Northeast Region Regional Advisory Council unanimously approved rule language to implement exemptions to wildlife management area (WMA) license requirements after the passage of House Bill 309, which went into effect May 7.
House Bill 309 requires a valid hunting, fishing or combination license to enter certain wildlife management areas in class 1 and 2 counties; the RAC’s rulemaking narrow scope lets the Wildlife Board define only specific exemptions and educational uses. Chelsea Duke, presenting the rule, told the council the statute limits the Wildlife Board’s authority to “define purposes of what is meant to be expressly exempt and what constitutes an educational program or visitor center.”
During discussion council members and staff noted community concerns: mountain-bike groups that do trail work on WMAs but may not hold hunting licenses; groups that lead youth rides; and birdwatchers and other nonconsumptive users who may come from out of state. Duke said the law does not authorize a separate nonconsumptive WMA pass that would generate federal match dollars; that limitation was cited as a reason the Division cannot create a new “WMA day pass.”
The RAC added a rule exemption clarifying that federal land-management employees are exempt from the license requirement while conducting official duties. The council also discussed volunteer and contractor exemptions; staff described a proposed exemption for “Division employees, volunteers, contractors, and invitees” while carrying out official duties and said the Division issues special-use permits in some instances for organized youth mountain-biking events.
Councilmember Natasha Hadden moved to accept the rule changes as presented and to add the federal employee exemption; the motion passed unanimously.
Staff emphasized that the rule implements state law rather than creating new licensing mandates and that counties and local partners should expect the Division to continue outreach to clarify who must hold licenses to access WMAs.
