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RAC approves outfitters, guides and spotters rule with federal‑permit clarification
Summary
Following public comments and agency review, the Central Region RAC unanimously recommended rule amendments implementing a legislative mandate for outfitters, guides, and spotters, and added a clarified clause requiring compliance with federal land‑use permits.
The Central Region Advisory Council voted unanimously May 13 to recommend rule amendments for outfitters, guides and spotters that implement a legislative mandate and clarify how state and federal permitting interact.
Chad Betridge of the Division of Wildlife Resources presented the revisions and said they stem from direction in state law. Betridge noted several substantive edits after public comment: moving a renewal deadline to March 31 (to avoid mid‑hunt renewals), and rewording application language so federal special‑use permits remain the responsibility of applicants and federal land managers. "We're okay with striking that [federal permits] and just making sure that federal land permits are held," Betridge said; later he said the division would reword the section to clarify applicants must comply with federal land‑management agency requirements.
Why it matters: the legislation required the division to adopt rules for licensing and oversight of outfitters, guides and compensated spotters. Industry commenters raised concerns about insurance, workers‑compensation, subcontractors and conflicts with federal permitting; the RAC discussed those points at length. Betridge told members the rule was written to protect employees and clients while allowing flexibility for independent contractors and multi‑employer arrangements.
Public feedback and amendment: online and in‑person comments were split; the meeting log shows a weighted average of 1.8 (on a 5‑point scale) from five online respondents, and public attendees argued the division risked overreach and potential conflicts with federal regulations. RAC members sought clearer language about federal special‑use permits and agreed to add rewording to section 2(d) so applicants understand a state registration does not substitute for federal authorization. The RAC motion approved the rule package with that rewording.
Next steps: the RAC will forward the amended rule language to the wildlife board. Betridge said the division will continue technical discussions with the Forest Service and the Utah Outfitters and Guides Association to refine implementation details, such as how subcontractors register and how mid‑hunt staffing changes are handled.
