Purpose: To adopt WAC 232-28-272 1998-99, 1999-2000 Black bear and cougar hunting seasons and regulations.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 232-28-240 [repealed in WSR 98-10-019].

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.040.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 98-05-095 on February 18, 1998.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: The adopted version of WAC 232-28-272 1998-99 and 1999-2000 Black bear and cougar hunting seasons and regulations, differs from the proposed version filed with the code reviser in the following specifics:

1. Add to item (2) the following underlined text:

(2) General Season in Western Washington: August 1-November 15, 1998 and August 1-November 14, 1999, except July 15-November 15, 1998 and July 15-November 14, 1999 on PLWMAs 401 and 600 and on Long Island where the seasons are September 1-November 15, 1998 and September 1-November 14, 1999.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.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 232-28-272  1998-99 and 1999-2000 Black bear and cougar hunting seasons and regulations

Black Bear Seasons:

(1) General Season in Eastern Washington: August 1-November 8, 1998 and August 1-November 7, 1999, except September 8-November 8, 1998 and September 7-November 7, 1999 in that part of GMU 113 north of the line beginning at the mouth of Mill Creek on the Pend Oreille River; E along Mill Creek to Le Clerc Creek Rd.; N on Le Clerc Creek Rd. to USFS Rd. 1200; E on USFS Rd. 1200 to Pyramid Pass (Colville NF\ID Panhandle NF boundary); E on USFS Rd. 312 to USFS Rd. 658; N on USFS Rd. 658 to USFS Rd. 219; E on USFS Rd. 219 to the state line.

(2) General Season in Western Washington: August 1-November 15, 1998 and August 1-November 14, 1999, except July 15-November 15, 1998 and July 15-November 14, 1999 on PLWMAs 401 and 600 and on Long Island where the seasons are September 1-November 15, 1998 and September 1-November 14, 1999.

License and Tag(s) Required: A valid hunting license and valid species tag(s) are required to hunt black bear.

Bag Limit: Two (2) black bear per annual hunting season.

Tag Information: To take one (1) bear a hunter must purchase either a damage bear tag or a general bear tag. To take two (2) bears a hunter must purchase both a damage bear tag and a general bear tag. A damage bear tag is valid only in western Washington, and in GMUs 304, 306, 308, and 316 in eastern Washington. A general bear tag is valid statewide.

Hunting Method: Hunters may use any lawful big game modern firearm, archery, or muzzleloader equipment for hunting black bear. The use of hounds and bait to hunt black bear is prohibited statewide.

GMUs Closed to Bear Hunting: 157 (Mill Creek Watershed), 485 (Green River), and 522 (Loo-wit).

Harvest Report Cards: All hunters that purchase black bear transport tag(s) are required to fill out and return their black bear harvest report card(s). Successful hunters must complete the report card(s) and return within 10 days after taking an animal. Unsuccessful hunters are required to complete and return their report card(s) within 10 days after the close of the bear season.

Submitting Bear Teeth: Successful bear hunters must submit the black bear premolar tooth located behind the canine tooth of the upper jaw.

Cougar Season:

General Statewide Season: August 1, 1998-March 15, 1999 and August 1, 1999-March 15, 2000.

License and Tag(s) Required: A valid hunting license and valid species tag are required to hunt cougar.

Bag Limit: One (1) cougar may be taken during the annual hunting season. It is unlawful to kill or possess spotted cougar kittens or adult cougars accompanied by spotted kittens.

Hunting Method: Hunters may use any lawful big game modern firearm, archery, or muzzleloader equipment for hunting cougar. Cougar may also be hunted with a .22 caliber centerfire rifle with a mushrooming or expanding type bullet weighing greater than 50 grains. The use of hounds to hunt cougar is prohibited statewide.

GMUs Closed to Cougar Hunting: 157 (Mill Creek Watershed), 485 (Green River), and 522 (Loo-wit).

Harvest Report Cards: All hunters that purchase a cougar transport tag are required to fill out and return their cougar harvest report card. Successful hunters must complete the report card and return within 10 days after taking an animal. Unsuccessful hunters are required to complete and return their report card within 10 days after the close of the cougar season.

Cougar Pelt Sealing: Any person who takes a cougar must notify the department within 72 hours of kill (excluding legal state holidays) and provide the hunter's name, date and location of kill, and sex of animal. The raw pelt of a cougar must be sealed by an authorized department employee within five days of the notification of kill. Any person who takes a cougar must present the cougar skull, in such a manner that teeth and biological samples can be extracted, to an authorized department employee at the time of sealing.

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