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RAC approves changes to outfitters, guides and spotters rule; removes some insurance and federal‑permit application requirements
Summary
The council approved amendments that shift some application requirements, remove a strict requirement that federal land use permits be submitted with state applications, move yearly renewal dates, and opened discussion about liability and an undefined "standards and ethics" phrase.
The RAC voted unanimously to accept amendments to the outfitters, guides and spotters rule after DWR staff agreed to remove or clarify several application provisions and to shift renewal timing to avoid forcing renewals during hunt seasons.
Chad Vetridge, Major over the Law Enforcement section, told the RAC staff propose moving the COR (certificate of registration) renewal from Dec. 31 to March 31 so renewals do not occur during active hunt seasons. He also said staff would revise a requirement that applicants must hold all necessary federal permits at application time; DWR will accept applicants and require that the applicant obtain federal land‑use permits from agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service before working on federal lands, but the federal permit need not be attached to the state application at submission.
Vetridge said DWR also received public comments about workers' compensation and liability insurance language in the application; many guides are 1099 contractors and the division will either clarify or remove the language to avoid unintended consequences for independent contractors. RAC members and multiple public commenters pressed the division to define the phrase "generally accepted standards and ethics of the profession," which appears in the rule text; staff said it was suggested by legal counsel but not currently defined and might be difficult to enforce without clearer definition.
Public commenters including Tim Pilling, a licensed guide/outfitter, urged the RAC to avoid structures that limit outfitters’ ability to hire contract guides on short notice and said the rule should not create obstacles that would require outfitter employers to carry worker insurance for 1099 contractors.
RAC discussion led to a motion by Avery and second by Steve to remove the requirement that a federal land permit be included at time of application and to eliminate the workers' compensation paragraph (section 72‑3‑2e) from the application requirements. The motion passed unanimously.
Staff said guides and spotters will still be required to affiliate with at least one outfitter to receive a COR, but after paying the guide fee once, a guide may affiliate with multiple outfitters without paying the guide fee again. DWR officers in the field will expect to see CORs and affiliation information when contacting guides and outfitters.
