RAC endorses R657‑42 amendments to give director latitude for disaster relief to hunters

Division staff presented proposed amendments to R657‑42 (natural disaster relief) and explained the rule’s two trigger criteria: (1) more than 50% of hunting opportunities are unavailable and (2) access to more than 50% of public land within the hunt unit has been administratively closed. The amendments would authorize the director, in consultation with leadership, to offer remedies to affected permit holders or units when those thresholds are met.

RAC members questioned the extent of discretion in the remedies and asked whether objective criteria should be narrower. Staff responded that the discretion is intentional because natural disasters vary by timing, location and habitat impact; they referenced the Monroe unit wildfire as an example where varied remedies were appropriate for different hunt seasons. Staff said remedies would be considered by the director and leadership team on a case‑by‑case basis.

Several members said the rule could reduce the need for emergency board meetings and praised the approach as common‑sense; others cautioned that broad discretion could generate many requests for relief and emphasized the need for careful application of criteria.

A motion to approve the amendments was made and passed unanimously.