Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Committee

HB 2557

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Simplifying the hunting seasons and regulations pamphlet published by the department of fish and wildlife.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to publish hunting seasons and regulations in the form of a two-sided highway map.

Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) manages hunting in the state. Specifically, the WDFW has the authority to determine the time and place where hunting may lawfully occur and the manner of hunting that is allowed. Prior to the merger of the Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife in 1993, the Department of Game (and later the Department of Wildlife) was responsible for adopting hunting regulations, among several other duties.

Summary of Bill:

Each hunting season, the Department of Fish and Wildlife must publish the hunting seasons and regulations in the form of a one-page document with a Washington state highway map on one side, and the hunting seasons and regulations, by species, on the other side. In addition to cities, towns, and county boundaries, the highway map must include a variety of other geographic information including boundaries for federal land, Indian reservations, and game management unit boundaries. The document may also include any other information that would help hunters in the field understand and abide by hunting regulations. Legislative intent is expressed to model the document after a similar type document published by the Department of Game in 1969.