Division staff presented proposed revisions to hunt tables and season structures covering drought-response permits, archery/extended-archery adjustments and a proposed archery bison hunt. RAC members raised concerns about shifting pressure, access to private land and whether adding a hunt in drought-affected areas would push animals into less-accessible terrain.

A RAC member moved to recommend the table but only if archery hunters were given equal time next year (the motion sought to redistribute season days so archery hunters would have a similar opportunity to rifle hunters). After discussion the motion failed; the chair announced the motion failed and recorded the count. A new motion to recommend the hunt table as submitted was moved, seconded and then passed as presented.

On operational details, staff said the drought-response extra hunts were added to provide more options in areas suffering drought impacts; permit numbers would be revisited in subsequent cycles. Division staff also noted that the director has authority to close hunts in emergency situations for public-safety or animal-welfare reasons.

The RAC recorded votes on the motions but did not change the table at this meeting beyond recommending the division’s submission to the wildlife board. The division will coordinate implementation details (dates, permit counts and access) with biologists and affected landowners after the RAC recommendation.