S-68                  _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5157

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Owen, Pullen, Warnke, Metcalf, Garrett, Barr and Deccio

Read first time 1/16/87 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to hunting; and amending RCW 77.12.040.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 77.12.040, chapter 36, Laws of 1955 as last amended by section 3, chapter 240, Laws of 1984 and RCW 77.12.040 are each amended to read as follows:

          The commission shall adopt, amend, or repeal, and enforce reasonable rules prohibiting or governing the time, place, and manner of taking or possessing game animals, game birds, or game fish.  In its regulation of the manner of taking game animals, the commission shall not prohibit the carrying of hand guns for protection while hunting.  The commission shall not authorize the use of crossbows for the taking of game animals.  The commission may specify the quantities, species, sex, and size of game animals, game birds, or game fish that may be taken or possessed.  The director may adopt emergency rules under RCW 77.12.150.

          The commission may establish by rule game reserves and closed areas where hunting for wild animals or wild birds may be prohibited and closed waters where fishing for game fish may be prohibited.