Northern Region presents updated East Canyon WMA habitat plan; seasonal closures extended

Melissa Early, habitat manager for the Northern Region, presented the updated East Canyon Wildlife Management Area habitat management plan and the committee’s work to incorporate the 2024 Golden Hills parcel acquisition. The plan covers 5,846 acres (with 261 acres in Summit County) and lists core goals to protect big‑game winter range, limit browse damage on adjacent private lands and provide wildlife‑related public access.

The presentation identified the parcel acquisition process and funding partners: the Utah Legislature provided $8.5 million toward acquisition and state parks and the Division of Wildlife Resources each contributed matching funds, with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation contributing $1.3 million to DWR’s share. Early said the Golden Hills addition added roughly 2,600 acres to the WMA and that the state parks parcel totals about 689 acres.

Early highlighted habitat types (juniper and mountain shrub, aspen stands at higher elevation, riparian seeps and springs), recent telemetry collar results showing migration corridors linking East Canyon to the Echo Junction area, and wildlife counts that vary seasonally. She said winter use can range from roughly 150 to 500 deer and 400 to 500 elk in typical winters, with resident elk numbers around 60 to 100. The plan notes the 2022–23 winter ‘‘80% die‑off’’ event for deer in the region and calls out chronic wasting disease detection in the unit in 2021.

A major management change the committee adopted is an extension of the seasonal winter closure: the WMA will close through May 1 across most of the unit to reduce disturbance to big game; an eastern portion of the WMA with sage‑grouse habitat will remain closed to June 15. Council members asked whether turkey hunting could be accommodated where birds use habitat; staff responded they would clarify access language and work with the wildlife section to describe exceptions for turkey hunters where appropriate. The council accepted the presentation and staff asked for written comments within two weeks to finalize plan language.

The plan is framed by Utah Code 23A‑6‑301 and Division administrative rules requiring a habitat plan for each WMA; staff noted the update replaces a 2015 plan and that the WMA operates under standard seasonal restrictions to protect winter range. Next procedural steps include incorporating written council feedback and returning any substantive edits for final administrative action.

The presentation concluded with staff commitments to clarify turkey‑hunt access in the plan text and to provide a map of the adopted trail and travel management approach for the Golden Hills parcel.