Committee approves WMA bill with amendment to allow livestock retrieval
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Summary
Lawmakers approved as a committee bill proposed amendments intended to reduce recreational impacts on wildlife management areas (WMAs) by boosting education, enabling targeted donations and organized stewardship; an amendment clarifying access to recover livestock on adjacent grazing lands was added and accepted.
The Natural Resource interim committee approved draft amendments intended to clarify public use and stewardship of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), add voluntary donation and stewardship mechanisms, and expand targeted visitor education.
Representative Shallenberger, the bill sponsor, told the committee WMAs range from small parcels to properties larger than 50,000 acres and serve varied purposes such as waterfowl habitat, wintering grounds for big game and other specialized wildlife needs. He said multiple WMAs sit adjacent to neighborhoods and public trails, and that recreational use has increased conflicts, illegal trails and illegal dumping in some areas. “If we can help educate people on what a WMA is and what makes it unique … that’s a win,” the sponsor said.
Major elements: the draft would require or enable the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) to publish short educational materials (including QR-linked videos) describing a WMA’s purpose and seasonal restrictions; it would allow voluntary, tax-deductible donations designated to specific WMAs and establish mechanisms for organized volunteer stewardship (trail work, cleanups) in partnership with nonprofits and local governments. Presenters said DWR already uses QR codes for some boating/OHV programs and that voluntary donations could be directed to particular WMAs for projects such as trail maintenance or habitat protection.
Amendment and vote: Representative Chu moved a narrowly worded amendment to ensure that a person may access a wildlife management area without completing any new educational requirements when necessary to recover livestock that entered the WMA from adjacent grazing lands. The sponsor and DWR described the change as “friendly.” The committee approved the bill as amended and directed sponsors to prepare committee-bill language for the session.
Public input: speakers from local trail alliances, youth cycling groups, and Superintendents’ representatives supported the education and stewardship aspects, saying many non‑hunter recreation users want to help maintain WMAs but previously lacked clear pathways to do so.
Ending: The committee unanimously recommended the amended bill as a committee bill; sponsors and DWR said they will continue outreach during the interim.
