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Wildlife staff summarizes 2025 bills affecting WMA access, permits and funding
Summary
Division of Wildlife Resources legislative liaison Justin Shannon briefed the board on bills from the 2025 legislative session that change how wildlife management areas are managed, modify permit rules for landowners and outfitters, and create new funding for species protection.
Deputy Director Justin Shannon told the Wildlife Resources work session on April 8 that the Division of Wildlife Resources tracked a slate of bills this year changing access and management of wildlife lands, the formula for special permits, new enforcement authority for guides and outfitters, and a new stable funding stream for species protection.
Why it matters: The bills change who may permanently close certain roads on wildlife management areas, broaden landowner voucher rules for elk permits, authorize DWR regulation of guides and outfitters and raise some nonresident fees to support land acquisition — measures that affect public access, permit markets and conservation funding.
Shannon summarized the items his office followed and the changes staff expect to implement. He said HB 103 directs the mapping of all roads on wildlife management areas and creates a process that requires county consent for permanent road closures on WMAs. "This bill said that all roads on wildlife management areas need to be mapped," Shannon said, noting the mapping will guide future decisions about…
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