PROPOSED RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 04-01-187.
Title of Rule: WAC 232-28-272 2003-2004, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006 Black bear and cougar hunting seasons and regulations.
Purpose: To amend WAC 232-28-272 2003-2004, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006 Black bear and cougar hunting seasons and regulations.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.047.
Summary: The recommended change corrects calendar date errors for the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 black bear seasons.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Provides consistent hunting season dates for black bear.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Dave Brittell, Assistant Director, Natural Resources Building, Olympia, (360) 902-2504; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, Assistant Director, Natural Resources Building, 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: The rule establishes hunting seasons for black bear and cougar. The purpose of the recommended change is to correct calendar date errors. The anticipated effect of the recommendation is a stable statewide bear population.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Provides consistent hunting season dates for black bear.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These rules regulate recreational hunters and do not directly regulate small business.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. Not hydraulics rules.
Hearing Location: Red Lion Hotel "At the Park," 303 West North River Drive, Spokane, WA 99201, phone (509) 326-8000, on April 2-3, 2004, at 8:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Susan Yeager by March 29, 2004, TDD (360) 902-2207 or (360) 902-2267.
Submit Written Comments to: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Attn: Wildlife Program April Meeting Public Comments, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, fax (360) 902-2162, by March 12, 2004.
Date of Intended Adoption: April 2, 2004.
February 18, 2004
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator
Fall Black Bear Seasons:
2003 Black bear seasons:
| Black Bear Management Unit | Season | Hunt Area |
| Coastal | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530, 601, 602, 603, 607-621, 636-651, 658-663, 672-684 |
| Puget Sound | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 407, 410, 454, 624, 627, 633, 652, 666, 667 |
| North Cascades | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 418-450, 460 |
| South Cascades | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 466, 485, 505, 510-520, 524, 550-574, 653, 654 |
| Okanogan | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 203, 209-243 |
| East Cascades | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 244-247, 249-251, 328, 329-371, 382, 578, 588 |
| Northeastern A | Sept. 2 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 101-117 |
| Northeastern B | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 121-130, 204 |
| Blue Mountains | Sept. 2 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 145-154, 162-186 |
| Columbia Basin | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260-290, 371-381 |
| West Side PLWMAs | July 15 - Nov. 15 | PLWMAs 401, 600 |
| Long Island | Sept. 2 - Nov. 15 | GMU 699 |
| Black Bear Management Unit | Season | Hunt Area |
| Coastal | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530, 601, 602, 603, 607-621, 636-651, 658-663, 672-684 |
| Puget Sound | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 407, 410, 454, 624, 627, 633, 652, 666, 667 |
| North Cascades | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 418-450, 460 |
| South Cascades | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 466, 485, 505, 510-520, 524, 550-574, 653, 654 |
| Okanogan | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 203, 209-243 |
| East Cascades | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 244-247, 249-251, 328, 329-371, 382, 578, 588 |
| Northeastern A | Sept. (( |
GMUs 101-117 |
| Northeastern B | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 121-130, 204 |
| Blue Mountains | Sept. 7 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 145-154, 162-186 |
| Columbia Basin | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260-290, 371-381 |
| West Side PLWMAs | July 15 - Nov. 15 | PLWMAs 401, 600 |
| Long Island | Sept. 7 - Nov. 15 | GMU 699 |
| Black Bear Management Unit | Season | Hunt Area |
| Coastal | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530, 601, 602, 603, 607-621, 636-651, 658-663, 672-684 |
| Puget Sound | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 407, 410, 454, 624, 627, 633, 652, 666, 667 |
| North Cascades | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 418-450, 460 |
| South Cascades | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 466, 485, 505, 510-520, 524, 550-574, 653, 654 |
| Okanogan | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 203, 209-243 |
| East Cascades | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 244-247, 249-251, 328, 329-371, 382, 578, 588 |
| Northeastern A | Sept. (( |
GMUs 101-117 |
| Northeastern B | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 121-130, 204 |
| Blue Mountains | Sept. 6 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 145-154, 162-186 |
| Columbia Basin | Aug. 1 - Nov. 15 | GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260-290, 371-381 |
| West Side PLWMAs | July 15 - Nov. 15 | PLWMAs 401, 600 |
| Long Island | Sept. 6 - Nov. 15 | GMU 699 |
Bag Limit: Two (2) black bear per annual hunting season only one of which may be taken in Eastern Washington.
Area Restriction: Special deer permit required to hunt black
bear in GMU 485.
Spring Permit Black Bear Seasons:
Permit quotas for each license year:
| Hunt Name | Permit Hunt Boundary | Permit Level | |
| Blue Creek | GMU 154 | 15 | |
| Dayton | GMU 162 | 15 | |
| Tucannon | GMU 166 | 10 | |
| Wenaha | GMU 169 | 30 | |
| Mt. View | GMU 172 | 15 | |
| Lick Creek | GMU 175 | 15 | |
| Grande Ronde | GMU 186 | 5 | |
Bag Limit: One (1) black bear per black bear special permit
season.
Permit Season: April 15 - May 31. Permits are valid for the
license year they are issued.
Requirements for Spring and Fall Black Bear Seasons:
License Required: A valid big game hunting license, which
includes black bear as a species option, is required to hunt
black bear. One black bear transport tag is included with a
big game hunting license that has black bear as a species
option. A second black bear transport tag must be purchased
to take a second bear.
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.
Submitting Bear Teeth: Successful bear hunters must submit
the black bear premolar tooth located behind the canine tooth
of the upper jaw.
Cougar Seasons:
Seasons for each license year, 2003-2005:
| Cougar
Management Unit |
Season | Hunt Area |
| Coastal | Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 | GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530, 601-621, 636-651, 658-663, 672-684, 699 |
| Puget Sound | Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 | GMUs 407, 410, 454, 624-633, 652, 666 |
| North Cascades |
Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 | GMUs 418, 426, 437, 448, 450, 460, 466, 485 |
| South Cascades |
Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 | GMUs 505, 510-520, 524, 550-574, 653, 654, 667 |
| East Cascades North |
Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 | GMUs 203, 209-247, 249-251, 328, 329, 334-340 |
| East Cascades South | Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 | GMUs 342-368, 382, 578, 588 |
| Northeastern | Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 | GMUs 101-133, 204 |
| Blue Mountains |
Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 | GMUs 145-154, 162-186 |
| Columbia Basin |
Aug. 1 - Mar. 15 | GMUs 136-142, 248, 254-290, 330, 371, 372, 381 |
Requirements for Cougar Seasons:
License Required: A valid big game hunting license which
includes cougar as a species option is required to hunt
cougar.
Bag Limit: Two (2) cougar per license year excluding public
safety cougar removals. It is unlawful to kill or possess
spotted cougar kittens or adult cougars accompanied by spotted
kittens.
Area Restriction: Special deer permit required to hunt cougar
in GMU 485.
Tag Information: One cougar transport tag is included with a
big game license that has cougar as a species option. A
second cougar transport tag must be purchased to take a second
cougar.
Hunting Method: Hunters may use any lawful big game modern
firearm, archery, or muzzleloader equipment for hunting
cougar. The use of hounds to hunt cougar is prohibited except
during a public safety cougar removal.
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.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 03-13-047 (Order 03-129), § 232-28-272, filed 6/12/03, effective 7/13/03; 01-20-011 (Order 01-198), § 232-28-272, filed 9/20/01, effective 10/21/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.020, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. 01-10-048 (Order 01-69), § 232-28-272, filed 4/26/01, effective 5/27/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 00-21-038 (Order 00-215), § 232-28-272, filed 10/12/00, effective 11/12/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.010, 77.12.020, 77.12.770, 77.12.780. 00-11-137 (Order 00-50), § 232-28-272, filed 5/23/00, effective 6/23/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 99-01-138 (Order 98-249), § 232-28-272, filed 12/22/98, effective 1/22/99; 98-10-008 (Order 98-57), § 232-28-272, filed 4/22/98, effective 5/23/98.]