PROPOSED RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 04-10-081.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amend WAC 232-28-341 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 Small game seasons..
Hearing Location(s): Embassy Suites, 20610 44th Avenue West, Lynnwood, WA 98036, (425) 775-2500, on August 6-7, 2004, at 8:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: August 6, 2004.
Submit Written Comments to: Attn: Wildlife Program Commission Meeting Public Comments, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, e-mail Wildthing@dfw.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-2612, by Friday, July 16, 2004.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Susan Yeager by August 2, 2004, TTY (360) 902-2207 or (360) 902-2267.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: This rule accommodates a new cougar-hunting season with the use of dogs (hound hunting). This proposal is designed to improve public safety while maintaining viable cougar populations.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The 2004 legislature passed a bill requiring the Fish and Wildlife Commission to establish a cougar-hunting season with the aid of dogs. The proposed regulations and changes are designed to provide the hound-hunting season for cougars while improving the department's ability to manage the harvest composition and the population of cougars.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.047.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Dave Brittell, Natural Resources Building, Olympia, (360) 902-2504; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, Natural Resources Building, Olympia, (360) 902-2932.
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.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Not hydraulics rules.
June 23, 2004
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator
HOUND HUNTING DURING DEER AND ELK HUNTING SEASONS
It is unlawful to hunt any wildlife at night or wild animals
with dogs (hounds) during the months of September, October, or
November in any area open to a center-fire rifle deer or elk
season. The use of hounds to hunt black bear, cougar (EXCEPT
by public safety cougar removal permit or a commission
authorized hound permit), and bobcat is prohibited year
around.
BOBCAT
Bag and Possession Limits: No Limit
OPEN SEASON: Statewide
Sept. 2, 2003 - Mar. 15, 2004; Sept. 7, 2004 - Mar. 15, 2005;
Sept. 6, 2005 - Mar. 15, 2006.
RACCOON
Bag and Possession Limits: No Limit
OPEN SEASON: Statewide, except CLOSED on Long Island within
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge.
Sept. 2, 2003 - Mar. 15, 2004; Sept. 7, 2004 - Mar. 15, 2005;
Sept. 6, 2005 - Mar. 15, 2006.
FOX
Bag and Possession Limits: No Limit
OPEN SEASON: Statewide, except CLOSED within the exterior
boundaries of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Okanogan, Wenatchee,
and Gifford Pinchot National Forests and GMUs 407 and 410.
Sept. 2, 2003 - Mar. 15, 2004; Sept. 7, 2004 - Mar. 15, 2005;
Sept. 6, 2005 - Mar. 15, 2006.
COYOTE
Bag and Possession Limits: No Limit
OPEN SEASON: Statewide, year around except CLOSED from September
15 to November 30 in the Pasayten Wilderness, GMUs 426 and
450, and those portions of GMUs 218, 245, and 448 within the
external boundaries of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Okanogan,
and Wenatchee National Forests. However, coyote may only be
killed and/or pursued with hounds during the following period:
Sept. 2, 2003 - Mar. 15, 2004; Sept. 7, 2004 - Mar. 15, 2005;
Sept. 6, 2005 - Mar. 15, 2006; except coyote may be hunted
year around with hounds in Grant, Adams, Benton, and Franklin
counties.
FOREST GROUSE (BLUE, RUFFED, AND SPRUCE)
Bag and Possession Limits: Three (3) grouse per day, with a
total of nine (9) grouse in possession at any time; straight
or mixed bag.
Statewide: Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2003; Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2004;
Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2005.
PTARMIGAN, SAGE, AND SHARP-TAILED GROUSE
Season closed statewide.
EASTERN WASHINGTON
RING-NECKED PHEASANT
Bag and Possession Limits: Three (3) cock pheasants per day,
with a total of fifteen (15) cock pheasants in possession at
any time.
Youth Season: Sept. 20 and 21, 2003; Sept. 18 and 19, 2004;
Sept. 17 and 18, 2005. Open only to youth hunters accompanied
by an adult at least 18 years old.
Regular Season: Oct. 18 - Dec. 31, 2003; Oct. 23 - Dec. 31,
2004; Oct. 22 - Dec. 31, 2005.
CHUKAR
Bag and Possession Limits: Six (6) chukar per day, with a
total of eighteen (18) chukar in possession at any time.
Youth Season: Sept. 20 and 21, 2003; Sept. 18 and 19, 2004;
Sept. 17 and 18, 2005. Open only to youth hunters accompanied
by an adult at least 18 years old.
Regular Season: Oct. 4, 2003 - Jan. 19, 2004; Oct. 2, 2004 - Jan. 17, 2005; Oct. 1, 2005 - Jan. 16, 2006
GRAY (HUNGARIAN) PARTRIDGE
Bag and Possession Limits: Six (6) gray partridges per day,
with a total of eighteen (18) gray partridges in possession at
any time.
Youth Season: Sept. 20 and 21, 2003; Sept. 18 and 19, 2004;
Sept. 17 and 18, 2005. Open only to youth hunters accompanied
by an adult at least 18 years old.
Regular Season: Oct. 4, 2003 - Jan. 19, 2004; Oct. 2, 2004 - Jan. 17, 2005; Oct. 1, 2005 - Jan. 16, 2006.
MOUNTAIN QUAIL
Season closed throughout Eastern Washington.
CALIFORNIA (VALLEY) QUAIL AND NORTHERN BOBWHITE
Bag and Possession Limits: Ten (10) quail per day, with a
total of thirty (30) quail in possession at any time, straight
or mixed bag.
Youth Season: Sept. 20 and 21, 2003; Sept. 18 and 19, 2004;
Sept. 17 and 18, 2005. Open only to youth hunters accompanied
by an adult at least 18 years old.
Regular Season: Oct. 4, 2003 - Jan. 19, 2004; Oct. 2, 2004 - Jan. 17, 2005; Oct. 1, 2005 - Jan. 16, 2006.
Yakama Indian Reservation: The 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06
Upland bird seasons within the Yakama Indian Reservation shall
be the same as the season established by the Yakama Indian
Nation.
Colville Indian Reservation: The 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06
upland bird seasons within the Colville Indian Reservation
shall be the same as the season established by the Colville
Indian Tribe.
WESTERN WASHINGTON
RING-NECKED PHEASANT
Bag and Possession Limits: Two (2) pheasants of either sex
per day, with a total of fifteen (15) pheasants in possession
at any time.
Youth Season: Sept. 20 and 21, 2003; Sept. 18 and 19, 2004;
Sept. 17 and 18, 2005. Open only to youth hunters accompanied
by an adult at least 18 years old.
Hunters 65 years of age or older: Sept. 22-26, 2003; Sept.
20-24, 2004; Sept. 19-23, 2005
Regular Season: Sept. 27 - Nov. 30, 2003; Sept. 25 - Nov. 30,
2004; Sept. 24 - Nov. 30, 2005. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; except
Dungeness Recreation Area Site (Clallam County) starting Oct.
4, 2003; Oct. 2, 2004; Oct. 1, 2005.
Extended Season: Dec. 1 - Dec. 15, 2003; Dec. 1 - Dec. 15,
2004; Dec. 1-15, 2005. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. only on the following
release sites: Belfair, Fort Lewis, Kosmos, Lincoln Creek,
Scatter Creek, and Skookumchuck. Pheasants will not be
released during the extended season.
A Western Washington Pheasant Permit is required to hunt
pheasant in Western Washington, in addition to a current small
game hunting license. Pheasant kills must be recorded. Upon
taking a pheasant, the holder of a Western Washington Pheasant
Permit must immediately enter on the corresponding space the
date and location of kill.
There are three options available:
(1) Full Season Option: Allows the harvest of eight (8)
pheasants.
(2) Youth Option: Allows the harvest of eight (8) pheasants by youth hunters.
(3) 3-Day Option: Allows the harvest of four (4) pheasants harvested over three consecutive days.
Every person possessing a Western Washington Pheasant Permit
must by December 31, return the permit to the department of
fish and wildlife. The number of permits purchased per year
is not limited.
A hunter shall select one valid option at the time they
purchase their Western Washington Pheasant Permit. It is
unlawful to purchase an additional permit until the pheasants
allowed on the current permit are taken.
Special Restriction: Western Washington pheasant hunters must
choose to hunt on either odd-numbered or even-numbered weekend
days from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. at all units of Lake Terrell,
Tennant Lake, Snoqualmie, Skagit, Skookumchuck, and Scatter
Creek Wildlife Areas, all hunting sites on Whidbey Island, and
at the Dungeness Recreation Area, and must indicate their
choice on the Western Washington Pheasant Permit by choosing
"odd" or "even." Hunters who select the three day option,
hunters 65 years of age or older, and youth hunters may hunt
during either weekend day morning. Youth hunters must be
accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old who must have an
appropriately marked pheasant permit if hunting.
MOUNTAIN QUAIL
Bag and Possession Limits: Two (2) mountain quail per day,
with a total of four (4) mountain quail in possession at any
time.
Season: Oct. 4 - Nov. 30, 2003; Oct. 2 - Nov. 30, 2004; Oct.
1 - Nov. 30, 2005.
CALIFORNIA (VALLEY) QUAIL AND NORTHERN BOBWHITE
Bag and Possession Limits: Ten (10) California (valley) quail
or northern bobwhite per day, with a total of thirty (30)
California (valley) quail or northern bobwhite in possession
at any time, straight or mixed bag.
Season: Oct. 4 - Nov. 30, 2003; Oct. 2 - Nov. 30, 2004; Oct.
1 - Nov. 30, 2005.
WILD TURKEY
Youth Season:
Gobblers and turkeys with visible beards only.
Statewide: April 10-11, 2004; April 9-10, 2005; April 8-9,
2006 in the following GMUs ONLY: 101, 113, 117, 130, 133, 139,
145-154, 166, 175, 186, 204, 215, 218, 242, 245, 249-251, 269,
328, 329, 346, 352, 360-368, 382, 506, 554, 556, 568, 574,
588, 633, 651, 660-666.
Spring Season:
Gobblers and turkeys with visible beards only.
Statewide: April 15 - May 15, 2004; April 15 - May 15, 2005;
April 15 - May 15, 2006.
Fall Season:
Either sex.
Open to all hunters with a valid turkey tag: GMUs 105-124.
Sept. 25 - Oct. 1, 2004; Sept. 24 - Sept. 30, 2005.
Permit Only: GMUs 101, 133, 145-186, 382, 568-588. Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2003; Sept. 25 - Oct. 1, 2004; Sept. 24 - Sept. 30,
2005.
| Permit Area | Number of Permits | |
| GMU 101 | 250 | |
| GMU 124 | 100 | |
| GMU 133 | 150 | |
| GMUs 145-186 | 50 | |
| GMUs 382, 568-588 | 75 | |
Bag and Possession Limit: Only two (2) turkeys may be killed
in Eastern Washington per year, except only one (1) may be
killed in Chelan, Kittitas, or Yakima counties; and one (1)
per year in Western Washington, except two (2) may be killed
in Klickitat County. The season limit is three (3) birds per
year.
Fall Season Bag and Possession Limit: One (1) turkey during
the fall hunting season.
Hunting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset during
spring and fall seasons.
SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR WILD TURKEY:
1. Turkey season is open for shotgun and bow-and-arrow hunting
only.
2. A turkey tag is required for hunting turkey.
3. It is unlawful to use dogs to hunt turkeys.
4. It is unlawful to bait game birds.
BIRD DOG TRAINING SEASON
Wild upland game birds may be pursued during the dog-training
season, but may not be killed except during established
hunting seasons. A small game license is required to train
dogs on wild game birds. A small game license and a Western
Washington Pheasant Permit is required to train dogs on
pheasants in Western Washington. Captive raised game birds
may be released and killed during dog training if proof of
lawful acquisition (invoices) are in possession and the birds
are appropriately marked (WAC 232-12-271) (WAC 232-12-044).
Aug. 1, 2003 - Mar. 31, 2004; Aug. 1, 2004 - Mar. 31, 2005;
Aug. 1, 2005 - Mar. 31, 2006. Only youth and seniors may
train dogs during their respective seasons on designated
Western Washington pheasant release sites.
Bird dog training may be conducted year around on areas posted
for bird dog training on portions of: Region One - Espanola
(T24N, R40E, E 1/2 of section 16); Region Three - South L.T.
Murray Wildlife Area; Region Four - Skagit Wildlife Area, Lake
Terrell Wildlife Area, and Snoqualmie Wildlife Area; Region
Five - Shillapoo/Vancouver Lake Wildlife Area; Region Six - Scatter Creek Wildlife Area, Fort Lewis Military Base.
HIP REQUIREMENTS:
All hunters age 16 and over of migratory game birds (duck,
goose, coot, snipe, mourning dove) are required to complete a
Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey at a license dealer,
and possess a Washington Migratory Bird validation as evidence
of compliance with this requirement when hunting migratory
game birds. Youth hunters are required to complete a HIP
survey, and possess a free Washington Youth Migratory Bird
validation as evidence of compliance with this requirement
when hunting migratory game birds.
CANADA GOOSE SEPTEMBER SEASON
Bag and Possession Limits: Western Washington, except Cowlitz
and Wahkiakum counties and that part of Clark County north of
the Washougal River: Five (5) Canada geese per day with a
total of ten (10) in possession at any time. Remainder of the
state: Three (3) Canada geese per day with a total of six (6)
in possession at any time.
Western Washington: Sept. 6-11, 2003; Sept. 11-15, 2004;
Sept. 10-15, 2005. EXCEPT Pacific and Grays Harbor counties:
Sept. 1-15, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
Eastern Washington: Sept. 6-7, 2003; Sept. 11-12, 2004; Sept.
10-11, 2005.
BAND-TAILED PIGEON
Sept. 15-23, 2003, 2004, 2005.
Daily Bag Limit: 2 band-tailed pigeons.
Possession Limit: 4 band-tailed pigeons.
WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED TO HUNT BAND-TAILED PIGEONS.
All persons hunting band-tailed pigeons in this season are
required to obtain a written authorization and harvest report
from the Washington department of fish and wildlife.
Application forms must be delivered to a department office no
later than August 25 or postmarked on or before August 25 in
order for applicants to be mailed an authorization before the
season starts. Immediately after taking a band-tailed pigeon
into possession, hunters must record in ink the information
required on the harvest report. By September 30, hunters must
return the harvest report to the Washington department of fish
and wildlife, or report harvest information on the
department's internet reporting system. Hunters failing to
comply with reporting requirements will be ineligible to
participate in the following band-tailed pigeon season.
MOURNING DOVE
Bag and Possession Limits: Ten (10) mourning doves per day
with a total of twenty (20) mourning doves in possession at
any time.
Statewide: Sept. 1-15, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
COTTONTAIL AND SNOWSHOE HARE (OR WASHINGTON HARE)
Bag and Possession Limits: Five (5) cottontails or snowshoe
hares per day, with a total of fifteen (15) in possession at
any time, straight or mixed bag.
Statewide: Sept. 1, 2003 - Mar. 15, 2004; Sept. 1, 2004 - Mar. 15, 2005; Sept. 1, 2005 - Mar. 15, 2006.
JACKRABBIT
Closed season statewide.
CROWS
Bag and Possession Limits: No Limit
Statewide: Oct. 1, 2003 - Jan. 31, 2004; Oct. 1, 2004 - Jan.
31, 2005; Oct. 1, 2005 - Jan. 31, 2006.
FALCONRY SEASONS
UPLAND GAME BIRD AND FOREST GROUSE - FALCONRY
Daily Bag Limit: Two (2) pheasants (either sex), six (6)
partridge, five (5) California (valley) quail or northern
bobwhite, two (2) mountain quail (in Western Washington only),
and three (3) forest grouse (blue, ruffed, spruce) per day.
Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.
Statewide: Aug. 1, 2003 - Mar. 15, 2004; Aug. 1, 2004 - Mar.
15, 2005; Aug. 1, 2005 - Mar. 15, 2006.
MOURNING DOVE - FALCONRY
Daily Bag Limit: Three (3) mourning doves per day straight
bag or mixed bag with snipe, coots, ducks, and geese during
established seasons.
Possession limit is twice the daily limit.
Statewide: Sept. 1-15 and Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2003; Sept. 1-15
and Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2004; Sept. 1-15 and Oct. 1 - Dec. 31,
2005.
COTTONTAIL AND SNOWSHOE HARE - FALCONRY
Daily Bag Limit: Five (5) cottontails or snowshoe hares per
day, straight or mixed bag.
Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.
Statewide: Aug. 1, 2003 - Mar. 15, 2004; Aug. 1, 2004 - Mar.
15, 2005; Aug. 1, 2005 - Mar. 15, 2006.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.12.020. 04-11-036 (Order 04-98), § 232-28-341, filed 5/12/04, effective 6/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 03-16-087 (Order 03-175), § 232-28-341, filed 8/5/03, effective 9/5/03; 03-13-047 (Order 03-129), § 232-28-341, filed 6/12/03, effective 7/13/03.]