The Northeastern Region Advisory Council on Aug. 7 recommended changes to surrender and variance rules (R657‑24 and R657‑57) that Division staff said will align refunds, shorten the medical‑surrender paperwork window, and add and remove qualifying events for permit variances.

Division staff told the RAC the proposed changes address recurring eligibility problems and administrative gaps the Division has encountered when hunters surrender permits or apply for variances after a season. The RAC voted unanimously to recommend the proposed changes.

Key changes described by the Division include aligning refund language so hunters who surrender permits when draw results are posted less than 30 days before a hunt would qualify for a refund “minus 25” (the transcript used the wording “minus 25” without specifying units), and reducing the allowed period for submitting medical documentation for a medical surrender from 90 days to 30 days. Staff said the shorter window is intended to reduce late submissions and eligibility issues that leave cases unresolved for long periods.

For variance requests, staff said they want to shorten the current 120‑day application window (120 days was described in the rule as ‘‘a hundred and 20 days after your season ends’’) because that long period has created loopholes and opportunities for abuse. The Division proposed adding a court order or subpoena that substantially precludes a hunter from participating as a qualifying event for a variance, and removing COVID‑19 specific personal‑health language from qualifying events because the Division will continue to handle medical surrenders under the general medical provisions.

RAC members asked about practical impacts of the shortened medical paperwork window, since physician appointments can take weeks to schedule; staff responded they commonly work with hunters who are already in contact and often have seen a clinician at the time the surrender is requested, but said the Division needs firmer deadlines to resolve cases in a timely way. Staff also reported that medical surrenders total roughly 100 permits (big‑game only) in a typical year and that surrendered permits make up about 17% of all surrendered permits overall — figures staff supplied in response to RAC questions.

The RAC moved and unanimously recommended the Division’s proposed edits to the rules. The recommendation will go to the wildlife board for consideration; staff emphasized the RAC recommendation is not a final rule adoption.

Division staff said they will finalize rule language and present it to the wildlife board; the Division will continue to accept medical surrenders under existing practice until the board and rule‑filing process complete.

Speakers and materials at the meeting included the Division’s written draft and an oral presentation explaining the intended administrative clarifications. The RAC asked staff to consider flexibility for unusual scheduling circumstances and to include clear public instructions about the new 30‑day documentation requirement if the board adopts the change.