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Board approves HB30 implementation for Wildlife Management Areas; asks staff to track donations and explore access‑fee options
Summary
Following a 2026 legislative change, the board approved rules to implement a phased statewide rollout of a digital access permit for Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs); the board directed staff to track voluntary donations and report on whether the donation model meets WMA maintenance needs and pursue follow‑up with the legislature if necessary.
The Utah Wildlife Board approved a rule package on June 11 to implement House Bill 30’s phased requirement for either a hunting or fishing license or a digital access permit (after viewing an educational video) to access specified Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).
Chelsea Duke explained the three‑year rollout: the first cohort (30 WMAs, largely in class‑1 and class‑2 counties) is already covered by earlier law; July 1 expands requirements, and the program will eventually cover about 150 WMAs statewide. The division adjusted language after legal review to avoid a non‑resident workaround: to fish under a digital access permit, a resident must donate an amount equal to a resident 365‑day fishing license and a non‑resident must donate the non‑resident license price if they want fishing privileges associated with the digital permit.
Duke told the board the legislative timetable was set in statute and the division could not change the phased schedule unilaterally. Several board members and rack chairs asked the division to report how many people take the free training and how many make donations, and to pursue options with the legislative liaison if voluntary donations do not cover increased maintenance costs on WMAs. The board voted unanimously to adopt the rule package and placed an action‑log item directing staff to compile an annual accounting of donations, usage and maintenance costs and to report back.
Board members emphasized clear public explanation that buying a hunting or fishing license supports federal wildlife restoration (Pittman‑Robertson/Dingell‑Johnson) funding streams used to buy and maintain WMAs and encouraged the division to work with legislators on a longer‑term funding fix if donations fall short.
