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RAC backs four CWMU public‑land variance requests after biologist review and trade‑land negotiations
Summary
The council recommended approval of four CWMU requests to include public lands (two renewals, two new) after staff described how trade lands or private access would be provided in return. Members emphasized clearer signage and biologist evaluations to ensure public benefit.
The RAC recommended approval of four big‑game cooperative wildlife management unit (CWMU) public‑land variance requests, two renewals and two new inclusions, after DWR staff and biologists described the public benefits and trade‑land arrangements.
Chad Wilson said the division’s recommendation is to approve four requests that previously went through CWMU advisory committees. DWR staff explained that public‑land inclusion is offset by public benefits such as added bridal (private) lands opened for public access or additional public permits tied to the trade‑land arrangement. The division noted a recent rule change requiring trade lands to be posted on the ground and on maps; staff said those postings should begin this fall.
Box Elder District Biologist Daniel Sli described the Ingham Peak (Ingham Peak) request in detail: the CWMU takes in some public sections that are considered the best habitat on the mountain but offers seven and a half sections of trade land and other private lands in exchange. He said that while in some cases the public parcel included is higher quality habitat, the division’s biologists judged the total package equitable because the trade lands opened significant acreage for public hunting across multiple species. Sli said the unit will be posted and that the CWMU made compromises to leave certain prime deer habitat open to public hunting.
RAC members reiterated longstanding concerns about including accessible public lands in CWMUs; several members said they prefer public land be left out unless it is landlocked, but a number also praised the improved explanations of public benefit and the expansion of trade lands to cover multiple species rather than only the CWMU’s target species. The RAC motion to accept the division proposals passed unanimously.
Public comments received during the online comment period were mixed, with some respondents opposing public‑land inclusion and others supporting the specific CWMUs. The division noted it will post trade‑land boundaries on the ground and on online maps and that public questions about signs should be reported to get corrected promptly.
