Division details CWMU and landowner permit changes; RAC approves acreage and permit adjustments
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Summary
Staff clarified multiple CWMU (Conservation and Wildlife Management Unit) and landowner permit changes — including a reduction of roughly 28,814 acres at one CWMU and permit adjustments at Blackhawk, Indian Head and Patmos Ridge — and the RAC approved the recommendations unanimously.
Darren DuBois presented CWMU and landowner permit recommendations, noting significant acreage and permit changes at several units. He said the Salt Wells CWMU will drop roughly 28,814 acres and that the reduced CWMU still qualifies for pronghorn permits on a smaller footprint. DuBois also noted that two bear CWMUs will drop elk from their CWMU offerings.
Questions focused on why specific CWMUs were changing permits. DuBois explained the Blackhawk change adds one private buck tag to compensate for public acres included in the CWMU where the core acreage falls below the minimum under the new rule. Staff said Indian Head is increasing bull elk permits back to prior levels after earlier reductions, while Patmos Ridge changes are structured as donated/reciprocal hunts for disabled hunters under the reciprocal-program provisions.
RAC members raised rule-based questions about which provisions allow reciprocal or donated hunts; staff read the five allowed reasons from the rule and confirmed Patmos Ridge qualifies under the donated-hunt/reciprocal exception. The RAC voted to approve the CWMU and landowner permit recommendations.
Division staff said they will follow up to ensure the public packet and future presentations clearly state the rule reasons behind permit changes.