Purpose: To amend WAC 232-12-047 Unlawful firearms for hunting.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-12-047.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.040.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 98-05-094 on February 18, 1998.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: The adopted version of WAC 232-12-047 Unlawful firearms for hunting, differs from the proposed version filed with the code reviser in the following specifics:

1. Item 6 language changed to end "… may be used to hunt deer, bear, and cougar.".

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

April 20, 1998

Lisa Pelly, Chair

Fish and Wildlife Commission

WAC 232-12-047  Unlawful firearms for hunting. It is unlawful to hunt any big game with:

(1) A fully automatic firearm.

(2) A handgun that does not meet the following criteria:

(a) For deer, bear, or cougar

(i) Be a minimum of .24 caliber;

(ii) Have a minimum barrel length of 4 inches, per manufacturer's specification; and

(iii) Fire a centerfire cartridge which uses a mushrooming or expanding type bullet that develops a minimum of 500 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards.

(b) For all other big game species:

(i) Be a minimum of .24 caliber;

(ii) Have a minimum barrel length of 4 inches, per manufacturer's specification; and

(iii) Fire a centerfire cartridge which uses a mushrooming or expanding type bullet that develops a minimum of 750 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards.

(3) A rifle with a bore diameter less than .240 of an inch (6mm), or barrel length less than 16 inches, except that cougar may be hunted with a .22 caliber centerfire rifle.

(4) A rifle cartridge with a bullet weighing less than 85 grains, or that develops less than 900 foot pounds of energy at 100 yds, except that cougar may be hunted with a rifle cartridge with a mushrooming or expanding type bullet weighing greater than 50 grains.

(5) A rifle cartridge containing a bullet other than a mushrooming or expanding type designed for big game hunting.

(6) A shotgun, provided that a 20 gauge, or larger shotgun, using shells loaded with slugs or buckshot size #1 or larger, may be used to hunt deer, ((and)) bear, and cougar.

(7) A muzzle-loader that does not meet the definition as provided in WAC 232-12-051.

It is unlawful to hunt game birds with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells.

It is unlawful to hunt game birds or game animals, except bullfrogs, in a manner other than with a firearm, a bow and arrow, or by falconry.

It is unlawful to hunt game animals or game birds with a shotgun larger than 10 gauge.

It is unlawful to hunt game birds with a rifle or pistol, with the exception of blue grouse, spruce grouse and ruffed grouse.

It is unlawful to hunt wildlife with a crossbow.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 90-14-108 (Order 449), § 232-12-047, filed 7/5/90, effective 8/5/90; 83-01-006 (Order 198), § 232-12-047, filed 12/2/82; 82-04-034 (Order 177), § 232-12-047, filed 1/28/82; 81-22-002 (Order 174), § 232-12-047, filed 10/22/81; 81-12-029 (Order 165), § 232-12-047, filed 6/1/81. Formerly WAC 232-12-130.]

Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.