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RAC approves new Dolores Triangle black-bear unit, adds 10 permits
Summary
The Southern Region RAC voted 8–1 to carve a Dolores Triangle bear hunt unit out of the LaSalle unit and add 10 permits (2 spring, 6 summer, 2 fall) to increase hunter opportunity; debate centered on whether the change was opportunity-driven or based on population data.
The RAC approved an action to divide the LaSalle black-bear unit and create a separate Dolores Triangle unit, increasing total permits in the LaSalle area by 10. Staff said the 10 permits would be allocated as two spring, six summer and two fall tags for the new unit, with the stated rationale of adding hunter opportunity where harvest is currently concentrated outside the triangle.
During discussion members asked whether the change had a population-rationale or was intended solely to increase opportunity. Staff responded that the recommendation is driven primarily by opportunity — the highest concentration of bear harvest is south of the proposed carve-out — and that the new unit aims to direct hunting effort to the carved-out portion rather than change overall permit levels across LaSalle.
Public comment included one in-person statement supporting the recommendation from Kevin Norman of Sportsmen for Wildlife (SFW). The RAC then voted; the motion passed 8–1 with Bart Bautista recorded as opposed.
Ending: The unit change was approved by the RAC and will be forwarded to the Wildlife Board for final consideration. The record indicates the decision was framed as increasing hunter opportunity rather than responding to a demonstrated population change.
