S-3826               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4585

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Owen and Pullen

Read first time 1/16/86 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to game hunters; amending RCW 77.16.310; adding new sections to chapter 77.16 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 127, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. as last amended by section 4, chapter 310, Laws of 1981 and RCW 77.16.310 are each amended to read as follows:

           It is unlawful to purchase, obtain, or possess or to attempt to purchase or obtain a license, permit, or tag required by this title:

           (1) By using false information; or

           (2) After notice of the revocation or forfeiture of an existing license, permit, or tag, except that a person may purchase a license that does not grant the  privilege that was revoked; or

           (3) In excess of one license, permit, tag, stamp, or punchcard for a license year except as authorized by RCW 77.32.256 or other law or rule of the commission; or

(4) By purchasing such license, permit, or tag with no intent to hunt, but only to reduce the number of licenses, permits, or tags available to hunters.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 77.16 RCW to read as follows:

          It is unlawful for any person to wilfully discharge firearms, fireworks, horns, whistles, or other noise-making devices on department or public lands for the specific purpose of frightening or stampeding game prior to, or during, a legally established hunting season.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 77.16 RCW to read as follows:

          It is unlawful for any person to vandalize established waterfowl hunting blinds in an attempt to make them unusable.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 77.16 RCW to read as follows:

          It is unlawful to bait or attempt to lure game away from an area, or drive game away, to prevent their being hunted during a legally established hunting season.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 77.16 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Any person who attempts to harass, interfere with, or intimidate a licensed hunter in the field during a legally established hunting season is subject to arrest and citation.

          (2) Game commission agents, sheriffs or sheriff's deputies, Washington state patrol officers, or other duly authorized law enforcement officers may issue citations, or make arrests, to enforce this section.

          (3) Violation of this section is punishable by a fine not to exceed fifteen hundred dollars or imprisonment for a period of not more than six months, or both.

          (4) No person shall be charged under this section:

          (a) When he or she interferes with any person engaged in hunting outside of legally established hunting seasons; or

          (b) When preventing, or attempting to prevent the injury or killing of a protected wildlife species, as defined by this title; or

          (c) When preventing, or attempting to prevent unauthorized trespass on private property; or

          (d) When defending oneself or another person from bodily harm, or property damage, by a person attempting to prevent hunting in a legally established hunting season.