Southeastern RAC endorses 2026 big-game permit slate, trims Wasatch moose to one tag in 7–1 vote

The Southeastern Regional Advisory Council in Green River on Thursday approved the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ recommended 2026 big‑game permit packages and related hunt structures, while voting 7–1 to reduce the Wasatch antlerless moose allocation to a single permit.

The council heard an informational presentation from Big Game Program Coordinator Mike Bridal on the data behind permit-setting, including three primary inputs used in the agency’s population models: herd composition (buck:doe:fawn ratios), survival from GPS‑collared animals, and harvest data. "So the first in this first item is informational because these are the permit numbers that were under a 20% change from the previous year," Bridal said, explaining that changes smaller than that threshold are treated as informational but still presented for RAC input.

That 20% rule shaped much of the discussion: staff and RAC members debated local conditions such as Oak Creek’s post‑fire winter range limitations and the Book Cliffs’ rising buck:doe ratios, which staff said warranted increases in some permit allocations. "The reason that we recommended an increase was simply because it was over the buck to ratio objective," Bridal told the RAC when asked about Oak Creek.

Biologists also briefed the group on disease and mortality monitoring. Ian, a field biologist, said recent chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling from Castle Valley and Moab hunts found 11 bucks taken in Castle Valley and three in Moab; three of the 14 sampled bucks were CWD‑positive, a rate he described as consistent with during‑season sampling on those units.

Public and RAC comments ranged from support for the division’s recommendations to concerns about allocation mechanics. Troy Justenson of Sports Fish and Wildlife said his group generally supported the proposals but urged the RAC to preserve the intended difficulty of some once‑in‑a‑lifetime archery hunts. Cash Stallings, representing the public at large, criticized the broader point‑draw system: "A point program . . . is nothing more or less than a Ponzi scheme," he said, arguing that long‑time point holders do not receive guaranteed outcomes under current rules.

On moose, staff reported an opportunistic tally of reported mortalities (about 30 reported in recent weeks) and urged caution. A motion by a RAC member to keep the moose hunt on the books but reduce the Wasatch antlerless permit number to one passed 7–1 after individual roll‑call votes; Charlie Fisher cast the sole dissenting vote.

Other items were approved without recorded opposition. Charlie Fisher moved to approve the deer permit recommendations as presented and Brad Richmond seconded; the council approved the deer package by roll call. The RAC also approved once‑in‑a‑lifetime allocations, pullout and limited‑entry adjustments, pronghorn recommendations and CWMU permit proposals in separate motions during the meeting.

Why it matters: Permit numbers determine the number of hunter opportunities and shape long‑term herd objectives such as average age and buck:doe ratios. The RAC’s recommendations feed to the wildlife board, which has authority to set final policy and may adjust proposals before adoption.

Next steps: Most recommendations will go to the wildlife board for consideration. Staff said the statewide deer management plan includes a scheduled mid‑plan review this fall, and the division will continue to monitor survival, harvest and disease signals and may return with adjustments if conditions change.

Vote details: The RAC recorded unanimous approval for most permit packages; the Wasatch moose adjustment passed 7–1 (individual roll call recorded in the meeting transcript).