Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Landowner Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews CWMU antlerless recommendations and urges closer oversight of CWMs over objectives
Summary
RAC reviewed CWMU antlerless recommendations, noted increases in public antlerless allocations and pressed for stronger oversight of CWMUs that fall short of harvest commitments; the RAC asked the division to convene advisory review meetings.
The RAC reviewed recommended antlerless allocations for Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (CWMUs). Division staff noted several units are meeting or exceeding population objectives and that antlerless recommendations are designed to use hunting as a population management tool where necessary.
Multiple RAC members and attendees said CWMUs that commit to harvest or habitat actions but fail to meet their commitments should face stronger oversight. Division staff explained the amended CWMU policy includes metrics that trigger review — multi‑year thresholds and harvest minima — and that staff will convene a CWU advisory committee in May/June to review CWMs and discuss enforcement or remedial measures.
The RAC asked the division to increase transparency by reporting unit‑level harvest and CWMU performance metrics and to consider reallocating antlerless opportunity where public lands are producing the majority of elk and private lands concentrate animals off public access. The RAC voted to accept the CWMU antlerless recommendations as presented.
