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RAC adopts variance rule changes to help hunters affected by natural disasters
Summary
The RAC approved amendments clarifying when hunters or units are considered 'substantially precluded' by natural disasters, allowing case-by-case relief (for example, return of points or other remedies) when access or opportunity is lost due to wildfire, flood, or other events.
The Central Region Advisory Committee voted to accept amendments to the Division’s natural-disaster (variance) rule that clarify how and when hunters or units qualify as "substantially precluded" by events such as wildfire or other disasters.
Lindy, division staff presenting the rule change, told the RAC that the rule uses a flexible definition of "substantially precluded" that considers hunting opportunity rather than raw unit acreage. "If you have more than one hunt day, then you've had opportunity to be out there to harvest an animal," Lindy said, explaining the guidance used in prior practice; she noted the rule language is intentionally broad to allow staff to assess each event’s unique impacts. RAC members asked about the one-day standard, access metrics (for example, when 50% of hunting opportunity is unavailable), and how the rule would be applied to sensitive units that concentrate hunting on a small portion of the unit. Lindy said the Monroe wildfire this summer prompted the change and that this is the first time in her career the division faced such a large-scale access loss.
RAC members supported giving staff discretion to address exceptional circumstances—such as hunters injured or forced to leave their hunt—and to avoid strict, mechanical denial of relief when events are rare. The RAC approved the proposed amendments as presented; the division said it will apply the rule flexibly and report on requests and outcomes.
