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Board approves deer permit package after heated Oak Creek discussion and orders mid‑plan review
Summary
After regional advisory reports and public comments raised concerns about tag increases on the Oak Creek unit, the Wildlife Board approved the Division’s 2026 deer permit recommendations and voted to add Oak Creek to the mule‑deer mid‑plan review for possible premium limited‑entry status.
The Wildlife Board approved the Division of Wildlife’s 2026 deer permit recommendations after a prolonged discussion focusing on the Oak Creek unit.
Background and numbers: Division staff described the 20% automatic‑adjustment rule that triggers board consideration for larger year‑to‑year changes. Public commenters and landowner groups said local tag allocation has climbed sharply in some places: Andy Monroe, president of the Old Creek Landowners Association, said the Oak Creek area’s total tags rose from 37 in 2016 to a proposed 81 for 2026 while the unit population estimate fell (he cited an estimate near 1,000). Monroe urged the board to delay permit increases until the mule‑deer mid‑plan review and consider moving Oak Creek to premium limited‑entry status.
Division response and technical context: Big game coordinator Mike Wardle and the unit biologist explained that changes to forage, including a 2012 fire, altered nutrition and winter range and that antler quality and age structure are influenced mainly by age and nutrition more than permit counts. Wardle said the unit remains within long‑term plan objectives and that buck:doe and age metrics supported the division’s recommendations. RÁ chairs across regions reported their votes (some unanimous, some split) and summarized local reportbacks.
Board action: The board unanimously approved a motion to add Oak Creek as an agenda item to the mule‑deer mid‑plan review so the committee can examine premium‑unit designation. The board then voted unanimously to accept the remainder of the division’s deer permit recommendations as presented.
Why it matters: The Oak Creek exchange crystallized a recurring tension between opportunity and quality — how to balance more tags and hunter access with preserving older age classes and trophy quality. The mid‑plan review will revisit objectives, public outreach and any reclassification proposals.
What’s next: The board asked staff to prepare Oak Creek materials for the mid‑plan review and to consider accessible public summaries (example unit writeups) that explain how permit numbers are derived and where to find data online.
