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Board approves rule enabling cooperative agreements with landowners to enhance big game and turkeys; pilots, reporting required
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Summary
The board approved a new rule authorizing targeted cooperative agreements with landowners to enhance big-game and turkey populations. The division will run pilot projects in two regions, commit to annual reporting during the pilot, and develop a policy clarifying implementation details.
The Utah Wildlife Board approved a new rule authorizing the Division of Wildlife Resources to enter into cooperative agreements with landowners to enhance populations of big game and wild turkey.
Division staff said the rule is intended to enable targeted, population-level pilot projects — initially in the Northeastern and Southern regions — where the division would approach landowners to negotiate site-specific agreements rather than operate a broad open-application program. The board discussed safeguards, including fiscal oversight and an annual reporting commitment during the pilot years.
Staff explained the rule will be paired with a policy to guide field staff on valuation, eligibility and oversight. The motion to accept the rule included an amendment to require annual reporting to the board; the motion passed unanimously after RACs recommended reporting during the rule’s first years.
Board members said transparency and fiscal safeguards are important given that agreements may involve payments or non-cash compensation to landowners; staff said details will be captured in the agreements and subject to public-record rules where appropriate.
