SITLA is currently accepting bids to sell their Tabby Mountain block. This block is a 28,400 acre parcel that provides high quality wildlife habitat, crucial migratory corridors for big game, and valuable wildlife-related recreation for Utah's public. If the block is sold into private ownership, UDWR's capacity to manage wildlife on the block would be greatly reduced, the public would most likely lose their ability to access and recreate on the block, and much of the valuable habitats would be divided up and developed into ranchettes. This block is adjacent to UDWR's Tabby Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) which winters thousands of mule deer and elk annually. The Tabby Block is the "land bridge" that connects these crucial DWR-owned winter ranges to the high elevation summering grounds on national forest lands to the north and west. Acquiring the block would preserve all of the habitat needs and annual life cycle requirements for big game, Greater sage grouse, and a host of other species and keep them in public ownership and managed by UDWR. Currently, SITLA allows public hunting and angling access to the Block through an access fee agreement that UDWR's pays to SITLA annually. This agreement does not preclude SITLA from leasing and/or selling the block so the hunting and angling access is not guaranteed into the future. Acquiring the block would guarantee hunting and angling access to the public in perpetuity.

The objectives are to acquire all of the Tabby Mountain Block in fee simple estate, and then to begin managing the entire area in the best way possible for sustaining wildlife benefits and related public access on the enlarged Tabby Mountain WMA.

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This acquisition will accomplish strategies outlined in the statewide elk and Mule deer management plans, unit plans for elk and mule deer, and the Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025. Some of the specific strategies that would be met include: Statewide Mule Deer Plan: Habitat Goal: Conserve, improve, and restore mule deer habitat throughout the state with emphasis on crucial ranges. Habitat Objective 1: Maintain mule deer habitat throughout the state by protecting and enhancing existing crucial habitats and mitigating for losses due to natural and human impacts. f. Acquire thru fee title and conservation easements additional crucial mule deer habitats to offset loss of habitat due to human encroachment. Statewide Elk Plan: Population Objective 2: Foster support among stakeholders for Utah's elk management program. B. Habitat Acquisition and Restoration a) Identify and support the acquisition of property (fee title or conservation easements) from willing sellers that would better accommodate current population numbers or allow for increased elk populations. Unit plan for WMU 17 Wasatch Mountains for mule deer and elk: Work toward long-term habitat protection and preservation through the use of agreements with land management agencies and local governments, and through the use of conservation easements on private lands.

Acquiring this block would allow UDWR to work with FFSL and other restoration partners to plan and implement fuels reduction projects in the aspen/conifer zones and other vegetation management actions that will reduce hazardous fuels and improve watershed conditions.

If acquired, UDWR will work with other DNR sister agencies to develop and management plan that will include fuels reduction strategies, habitat improvements, grazing management, recreation management, and other natural resource management issues that would improve water quality and quantity not only the block but also adjacent UDWR and national forest lands.

No NEPA or cultural resource compliance will be required for this acquisition. However, UDWR will comply with all NEPA and/or cultural resource compliance issues as specific restoration proposals are developed in separate proposals in future years.

DWR has worked with SITLA on completion of a property appraisal and appraisal review and will hire a title and escrow company to handle all of the closing details of the acquisition. DWR is currently working with the Utah legislature and conservation partners to raise the funding needed to acquire the Tabby block.

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Utah Legislature; Utah DNR; Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands; Utah Division of Parks and Recreation; MDF; SFW; RMEF.

The Tabby Block, once acquired, will be managed by UDWR as a Wildlife Management Area including preserving crucial wildlife habitats, proactive forest management and stewardship, hunting and angling access; and important wildlife migration corridors.

Timber harvest, livestock grazing, public recreation will all be values that this acquisition will protect and perpetuate into the future. UDWR will use these tools, and others, to manage the block for high functioning wildlife habitat.

12/03/2018

05/01/2019

2019

Sale was cancelled.

SITLA cancelled the sale offering for the Tabby Mountain property and retained ownership. Acquisition was cancelled.

SITLA will continue to manage the property as they have in the past for the immediate future. DWR will continue to pay an annual sportsmen access payment to SITLA which includes access to the Tabby Mountain parcel.