Northeast RAC approves 2026 deer permit recommendations after debate on drought and model transparency

The Northeast Region Regional Advisory Council voted to accept the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ 2026 deer permit recommendations after a lengthy presentation and public comment session.

Mike Whittle, the division’s new big game program coordinator, told the RAC that biologists use three core inputs—herd composition from November/December classifications, survival data from GPS‑collared animals, and harvest reporting—to estimate post‑hunt population size and set permit numbers. “Our biologists… have three main data inputs,” Whittle said, and he emphasized adult doe survival as a primary driver: “If you’re at 85% adult doe survival or above, you’re probably growing your herd.” He also described how staff project forward assumptions about survival and apply expected hunter success to set permits to meet buck‑to‑doe objectives.

RAC members and members of the public pressed the division on how drought and summer nutrition are integrated into those forecasts and on transparency of unit‑level modeling. Staff said biologists can input predicted survival changes into models but that some uncertainty will remain until after the next winter. Several RAC members urged the division to provide concise, unit‑level writeups explaining the data and assumptions used for every unit’s recommendation; Whittle and other staff volunteered to compile brief explanatory paragraphs and to meet with interested stakeholders for deeper walkthroughs.

Public commenters expressed sharp disagreement with some of the increases. An electronic commenter argued that a roughly 6,000‑tag statewide increase (as presented in the packet) was ill‑timed given a multiyear drought: “I just think it’s crazy to do a 6,000 increase on mule deer,” the commenter said. Kevin Norman of SFW, speaking for his organization, said SFW generally supported the division’s recommendations but asked for caution on specific units affected by recent fires.

RAC discussion focused on whether increasing permits to reduce elevated buck‑to‑doe ratios is the correct tactic during drought. Division staff and several RAC members cited recent peer‑reviewed work and local classification data suggesting very high buck densities can reduce fawn recruitment, which supports targeted reductions in buck tags in some units. Other members urged a more cautious approach; one RAC member said it would be reasonable to “pump the brakes” and reassess after more seasonal data.

Ultimately the RAC moved to accept the deer permit recommendations as presented. The transcript records a voice vote and the chair’s announcement that the motion passed; no full roll‑call tally is in the record. The division said it will continue to monitor conditions this summer and can return in August to adjust antlerless (cow) permits if drought effects require additional action.

The RAC next moved on to separate but related big‑game permit items including bison, elk and pronghorn recommendations.