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Board adopts rule giving director authority to grant hunter and unit relief after natural disasters
Summary
The board approved amendments to R657‑42 to allow the Division director to provide relief (point reinstatement, extensions) to hunters or affected units after natural disasters, based on criteria and internal review, without emergency board convening.
The Wildlife Board adopted amendments to R657‑42 on Dec. 4 that give the division director authority to offer relief to permit holders or an entire unit when natural disasters (for example, wildfire) materially interfere with the hunt experience.
Lindy Varney explained the proposed rule creates two distinct relief paths: one for individual hunters (for example, those whose homes are affected by out‑of‑state disasters) and one for units where habitat or animal distribution has been impacted. The rule would allow the director to grant options such as reinstating points, extending seasons, or offering other remedies without calling an emergency board meeting.
Lindy described recent emergency action on the Monroe unit after a fire: roughly half of eligible hunters were offered relief options and about 41% chose to reclaim their points. Director Peck said the rule is intended to allow the division to act compassionately while retaining review criteria; the division maintains an internal committee to review individual cases and follows outlined criteria in the rule.
Board action: Regional racks unanimously supported the amendments and the board passed the rule change unanimously. The division will apply the criteria outlined in the rule when evaluating future disaster impacts and will document decisions through internal review.
