The Southeastern Regional Advisory Council voted to accept the Division of Wildlife Resources’ proposed 2025–2027 hunt table and season-date revisions after extended discussion focused on Henry Mountain bison management and hunt timing.

Sam Robertson, Cache-Ogden district biologist, presented the package and answered technical questions. Wade (region coordinator) summarized bison metrics, saying the adult population is about 368 and the post-season population objective is 325: “Right now … the adult population is at 368; after these hunts … based upon past harvest success, we expect the population to be at 280.” That post-season estimate underpinned the Division’s recommendation to add a new hunt and to allocate drought permits this year (19 additional drought permits were cited by staff).

Council members raised access and road-closure concerns for Henry Mountain hunt areas, the potential for overcrowding if cow hunts are run concurrently, and worries about shortening a late archery hunt. Several procedural motions were considered: a proposal to run cow hunts concurrently failed (3 yes, 5 no), and a separate motion to swap dates with the archery hunt also failed (2 yes, 6 no). A boundary-change motion related to an elk/bison unit passed unanimously earlier in the discussion.

After debate the RAC adopted the hunt-table changes “as presented” by recorded vote, 7–1. The roll call during the final vote listed Trish Hedine, Matt Farnsworth, Charles Fisher, Daniel Luke, Brad Richmond, Steve, Jake and Cash among participants; the motion passed by the recorded tally shown at the meeting.

The Division said next steps include setting permit numbers for future years and monitoring drought and population trends; staff emphasized flexibility to adjust permits if drought conditions improve or decline.