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Board approves changes to surrender and variance rules; tightens paperwork deadlines and removes COVID clause
Summary
The Wildlife Board voted unanimously to align refund treatment for short-notice surrendered permits, shorten medical paperwork windows and remove COVID-19 as an explicit variance reason from specified rules (R6557-42 and R657-57).
The Utah Wildlife Board unanimously approved administrative changes to two rules covering permit surrenders and hunt variances (R6557-42 and R657-57) to speed processing and align treatment of short-notice surrenders.
Division presenter Lindy Barney summarized the package, saying the changes "align those rules so that they also qualify for the refund so they're treated equally as of our other hunters" when draw results are released fewer than 30 days before a hunt. Barney told the board the Division also proposes shortening the time to submit medical-surrender paperwork from 90 days to 30 days and to reduce the variance application window from 120 days after a hunt to 30 days.
Barney said the Division is adding a court-order or subpoena as an acceptable reason for a variance (for example, if a required court appearance occurs during a hunt) and removing an explicit COVID-19 qualification from the variance rule because the Division's variance rule already covers medical and emergent circumstances.
Board discussion focused on whether the shorter windows are fair for hunters facing medical emergencies. Lindy said staff and law enforcement will work with hunters in documented exceptional circumstances and that existing communication channels allow for flexibility when people are incapacitated.
The motion: Justin Oliver moved to accept the recommended changes; Kent Johnson seconded. Chair Gary Nelson called the voice vote and the motion passed unanimously.
Implementation and next steps: The Division will revise rule language to reflect the approved changes and publish guidance explaining the new deadlines and documentation requirements.
