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DWR unveils pilot to pay landowners to protect deer/turkey habitat; RAC approves annual reporting
Summary
DWR proposed a pilot program to enter cooperative agreements paying landowners to retain spring forage or otherwise support deer/turkey populations; RAC members and agricultural groups supported testing the approach and asked for annual reporting back to the regions.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources proposed a pilot cooperative‑agreements program allowing the division to approach landowners and negotiate payments or in‑kind arrangements to reduce depredation and improve winter/spring survival for deer and turkey. Under the pilot, DWR would identify priority sites and negotiate terms (for example, delaying the first cutting of a field so deer can use it in spring); the division said funding options under consideration include federal Pittman‑Robertson funds plus partner contributions and that each agreement would be codified in a contract with specific performance terms.
Public and industry commenters — including representatives from the Utah Farm Bureau and sportsmen’s organizations — expressed support for a proactive, collaborative approach and said the program could be a win for landowners, hunters and wildlife if carefully designed. RAC members requested clarity around public access conditions and insisted project designs avoid creating resident, feeder herds that could produce localized carrying‑capacity issues.
The RAC approved the cooperative‑agreements rule recommendation and asked the division to provide annual reports on program outcomes. DWR said the pilot would be adaptive and include safeguards to respect private‑land investments while testing whether proactive incentives reduce depredation and improve overall herd resilience.
