WSR 97-14-099
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
(Wildlife)
[Filed July 2, 1997, 9:42 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 97-10-028.
Title of Rule: To adopt WAC 232-28-515 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 Trapping seasons and regulations.
Purpose: To adopt WAC 232-28-515 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 Trapping seasons and regulations, for furbearing animals are established to provide recreational opportunity and to address nuisance and damage problems.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.040.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.040.
Summary: The new section of the WAC establishes trapping seasons and regulations for the period from 1997 to 1999.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Recreational opportunity and nuisance and damage response.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Dave Brittell, Assistant Director, Wildlife Management, Olympia, (360) 902-2504; and Enforcement: Ron Swatfigure, Assistant Director, Enforcement, Olympia, (360) 902-2932.
Name of Proponent: Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: See Purpose above. Seasons currently provide recreational opportunity for, and damage relief from, an estimated six hundred trappers state-wide.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: See above.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This rule does not affect small business.
Section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, does not apply to this rule adoption.
Hearing Location: Red Lion Inn, 802 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352, on August 8-9, 1997, at 8:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Debbie Nelson by July 25, 1997, TDD (360) 902-2207, or (360) 902-2267.
Submit Written Comments to: Evan Jacoby, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, FAX (360) 902-2942.
Date of Intended Adoption: August 8, 1997.
July 2, 1997
Dave Brittell
NEW SECTION
WAC 232-28-515 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 Trapping seasons and
regulations
Trapping Regulations
To be issued your first Washington State trapping license an individual
must pass the Washington State trapper education exam.
A trapping license will only be issued to a trapper that has returned the
mandatory trapper report of catch postmarked on or before April 10 of the
previous year. A trapper that fails to submit a report of catch must
wait one year before purchasing another trapping license. False reports
will be considered the same as failure to return the catch report.
It is unlawful to: Trap for wild animals before October 1, and after
March 15, in western Washington, except that owners of, or persons
legally controlling a property (or their designee) may trap unclassified
wild animals that are causing damage or depredating on said property.
It is unlawful to: Place traps or establish drowning wires and weights
prior to 7:00 a.m. on the opening date of the trapping season. All
opening and closing season dates are inclusive.
Trapping Seasons:
General Western Washington Trapping Seasons (Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz,
Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific,
Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum
counties):
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[Open Style:Columns On]
Exceptions to General Western Washington Trapping Seasons:
Cowlitz County
Game Management Unit 522 (Loo-wit) is closed to all trapping.
Island County
The red fox season is closed.
Lewis County
Green River, above the confluence of Elk Creek, is closed to all trapping
except for bobcat, and coyote. Game Management Unit 522 (Loo-wit) is
closed to all trapping.
Skagit County
The Ross Lake National Recreation Area is closed to all trapping. The
red fox season is closed in Skagit County, except within the exterior
boundaries of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
Skamania County
Smith Creek, Bean Creek, and Clearwater Creek, above USFS 83 Road on Pine
Creek, and above the confluence of Bean Creek on the Muddy River are
closed to all trapping except for bobcat and coyote. Game Management
Unit 522 (Loo-wit) is closed to all trapping.
Whatcom County
The Ross Lake National Recreation Area is closed to all trapping. The
red fox season is closed in Whatcom County, except within the exterior
boundaries of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, and Okanogan National Forests.
General Eastern Washington Trapping Seasons (Adams, Asotin, Benton,
Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas,
Klickitat, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman,
and Yakima counties):
[Open Style:Columns Off]
[Open Style:Columns On]
Exceptions to General Eastern Washington Trapping Seasons:
The river otter trapping season is closed in all Eastern Washington
counties, except that it is open in Chelan, Ferry, Klickitat, Kittitas,
Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties, as well as
in the Snake and Walla Walla Rivers and their tributaries.
Chelan County
The beaver season is closed in Swakane and Mudd Creek.
Kittitas County
The beaver season is closed in the north fork of Tarpiscan Creek, and the
Umtanum Creek drainage.
Urban Trapping Areas: Special Regulations and Trap Restrictions
The following described areas are closed to the taking of classified
furbearing animals, and coyote, opossum, nutria, and skunk, by the use
of foot-hold, kill, or snare traps except muskrat and mink may be taken
with a number one and one-half foot-hold drowning set or a 110 instant
kill trap during lawful trapping seasons as established by the Fish and
Wildlife Commission. In these areas all traps or devices, not capable
of killing the animal must be checked and the animal removed within 24
hours.
Thurston County, within the established city limits (including county
islands) of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater.
Within Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties. Beginning at the confluence
of the Snohomish River and the Puget Sound; then east up the Snohomish
River to Interstate 5 (I-5); then south on I-5 to Interstate 405 (I-405);
then south on I-405 to I-5; then south on I-5 to its junction with
Pioneer Way; then east along Pioneer Way to Waller Road; then south along
Waller Road to SR 512; then west along SR 512 to ((I-5; then north and
west)) Highway 7; then south on Highway 7 to Highway 507 to the Pierce
County line to Puget Sound; then north along the coast to the mouth of
the Snohomish River and point of beginning.
Exceptions to General Eastern Washington Trapping Seasons:
The river otter trapping season is closed in all Eastern Washington
counties, except that it is open in Chelan, Ferry, Klickitat, Kittitas,
Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties, as well as
in the Snake and Walla Walla Rivers and their tributaries.
Chelan County
The beaver season is closed in Swakane and Mudd Creek.
Kittitas County
The beaver season is closed in the north fork of Tarpiscan Creek, and the
Umtanum Creek drainage.
Urban Trapping Areas: Special Regulations and Trap Restrictions
The following described areas are closed to the taking of classified
furbearing animals, and coyote, opossum, nutria, and skunk, by the use
of foot-hold, kill, or snare traps except muskrat and mink may be taken
with a number one and one-half foot-hold drowning set or a 110 instant
kill trap during lawful trapping seasons as established by the Fish and
Wildlife Commission. In these areas all traps or devices, not capable
of killing the animal must be checked and the animal removed within 24
hours.
Thurston County, within the established city limits (including county
islands) of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater.
Within Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties. Beginning at the confluence
of the Snohomish River and the Puget Sound; then east up the Snohomish
River to Interstate 5 (I-5); then south on I-5 to Interstate 405 (I-405);
then south on I-405 to I-5; then south on I-5 to its junction with
Pioneer Way; then east along Pioneer Way to Waller Road; then south along
Waller Road to SR 512; then west along SR 512 to ((I-5; then north and
west)) Highway 7; then south on Highway 7 to Highway 507 to the Pierce
County line to Puget Sound; then north along the coast to the mouth of
the Snohomish River and point of beginning.
[]
Reviser's note: The unnecessary deletion marks and underscoring in
the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears
in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.