1. A. The Department shall refund the fee paid for a big game permit-tag, nonpermit-tag, or limited-entry tag when an eligible person as identified under subsection (B) requests a refund at any time during the time period in which the tag is valid. To request a refund, the eligible person shall submit to the Department:

   1. 1. The tag for which the refund is requested,
   2. 2. The big game tag refund form, and
   3. 3. Proof of order or special assignment as identified under subsection (C).
   4. 4. A person requesting a refund under this Section shall certify the information provided on the big game tag refund form is true and accurate;
   5. 5. The big game tag refund form is available from any Department office and on the Department’s website.

2. B. Under A.R.S. § 17-332, persons eligible for a refund are limited to:

   1. 1. A person who is ordered to leave Arizona as an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces;
   2. 2. A peace officer assigned to special duty; or
   3. 3. A professional firefighter who is a member of a state, federal, tribal, city, town, county, district or private fire department and who is assigned to special duty.

3. C. An eligible person requesting a refund shall provide the following as applicable:

   1. 1. For an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, an official order or letter.
   2. 2. For a peace officer assigned to special duty, an official letter of assignment to special duty showing evidence of assignment status during the time period in which the big game tag is valid.
   3. 3. For a professional firefighter who is a member of a state, federal, tribal, city, town, county, district or private fire department and who is assigned to special duty, an official letter of assignment to special duty showing evidence of assignment status during the time period in which the big game tag is valid.
   4. 4. All information and documentation provided by the applicant is subject to Department verification.
4. D. For subsections (C)(1), (2), and (3), the official order or letter, as applicable, shall provide the eligible person’s name and the dates of the assignment.
5. E. When an eligible person submits a request for a refund for a big game hunt permit-tag awarded through a computer draw, the Department shall reinstate any expended bonus points for a successful Hunt Permit-tag Application and award the bonus point the person would have accrued had the person been unsuccessful in the computer draw for the refunded big game tag.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 29 A.A.R. 2196 (September 22, 2023), with an immediate effective date of September 1, 2023 (Supp. 23-3).