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RAC adds advisory language to new landowner permit rule after lengthy debate; motion passes 6‑3
Summary
RAC members debated implementing House Bill 202's landowner permit provision and voted 6‑3 to add advisory language encouraging that private‑land antlerless permits be opened to public draw when population estimates exceed objectives.
The RAC discussed a recently enacted legislative change (House Bill 202) that authorizes the division to award up to two “pull‑out” vouchers to qualifying landowners owning contiguous acreage thresholds. The bill gives the division rule‑making authority to set criteria by which those vouchers are awarded. Division staff presented draft rule language that would set those criteria (contiguous acres, habitat quality, prior contributions to wildlife, willingness to help manage to objectives, wildlife convictions) and said allocation decisions would be made by the division on a case‑by‑case basis.
RAC members pressed for tighter public benefit safeguards because the vouchers represent limited public hunting opportunity being converted to privately allocated vouchers. Several RAC members framed the change as a significant augmentation of limited‑entry pull‑out permits (the group noted there are more than 3,500 limited‑entry pull‑out permits statewide in 2025) and asked for public transparency and, where possible, public access opportunities tied to voucher issuance.
One motion proposed adding a requirement that, when division staff determine a landowner voucher is necessary to manage an over‑objective population, at least part of that allocation should be opened to a public draw. The language — adding the words “open to the public draw” to the rule criterion that mentions willingness to manage to objectives by private antlerless harvest — was moved by Josh, seconded by Scott, and passed 6‑3 after roll call. Division staff clarified the statute vests final allocation authority in the division and that the rule is intended to provide discretionary criteria; allocations will be reviewed every three years per code.
The RAC recorded concerns about the potential for the program to shift substantial hunting opportunities off the public draw and asked the division to include reporting on the numbers and units where vouchers are issued. Division staff said they will publish unit‑level counts (not individual names) and will convene a CWU advisory committee in May/June to review specific CWMs/CWUs that are over objective and discuss remedial options, including CWMU harvest commitments.
