Want To Help Decide Wildlife Policy In Utah? Now’s Your Chance!

The Utah Wildlife Board, which makes key decisions about hunting, fishing, and wildlife management in the state, has four open positions, and residents with an interest in wildlife are encouraged to apply. The terms for these positions begin in August 2025 and will replace current board members Randy Dearth, Wade Heaton, Bret Selman, and Bryce Thurgood. Any Utah resident can submit an application, though final appointments are made by the governor.

“To serve on the board, you need to have a strong interest in wildlife and wildlife management in Utah,” Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Wildlife Board Coordinator Staci Coons said in a press release. “You also need to be committed to serving and representing the people of Utah.”

The DWR has divided the state into five regions, and state law mandates that each region have at least one representative on the board. The open positions include one representative from the Northeastern Region, one from the Northern Region, and two at-large positions that can be filled by individuals from any region.

Three of the new appointees will serve six-year terms, while the individual replacing Bryce Thurgood will serve for eight years—completing the remaining two years of Thurgood’s term before beginning a full six-year term.

The application period opened on Jan. 1 and closes on March 31 at 5 p.m. The fourth position, which became available on March 4, allows previously submitted applications from the Northern Region to be considered for the eight-year term without requiring reapplication.

Board members attend public Wildlife Regional Advisory Council meetings in their regions, as well as six statewide wildlife board meetings annually in Farmington. These positions are unpaid, and members do not become employees of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

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Applications are reviewed by the Utah Wildlife Board Nominating Committee, which selects candidates for interviews and submits recommendations to the governor for final selection. More information about the board and application details can be found on the DWR website.