The RAC reviewed proposed amendments to Rule R657-42 on natural disaster relief for hunters. Division staff (Lindy) explained the application process will be available on the division website and that applicants must return physical tags within a 30-day grace period tied to the rule. "It would still be on our website, the application… You still have to get your physical tag into us just like every other surrender," Lindy said.

RAC members asked who decides how relief is applied and how the division will ensure consistent treatment. Lindy explained that unit-wide relief would be authorized by the division director after consultation with leadership and biologists and would apply to all hunters for a species on that unit; individual relief could be granted in cases where a single hunter is affected. "The portion of the rule is… if the whole unit meets these criteria, then every hunter with that species tag that it's affected would get that relief," Lindy said.

Members urged transparent, consistent thresholds for applying relief and raised concerns about the volume of petitions during large disasters. Division staff said they will use objective criteria where possible and coordinate internally before offering unit-wide relief. The RAC moved to adopt the division’s recommendation; the motion passed unanimously.