PROPOSED RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 07-07-110.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 232-12-073 Advanced hunter education.
Hearing Location(s): Natural Resources Building, Room 172, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, on October 12 and 13, 2007, at 8 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: On or after November 2-3, 2007.
Submit Written Comments to: Rules Coordinator, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, e-mail preuslmp@dfw.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-2155, by October 11, 2007.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Susan Yeager, TTY (360) 902-2207 or (360) 902-2267.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The current rule on this subject does not allow the department any flexibility in changing the requirements or cost of sharpshooter education, conservationist education, and master hunter education. Additionally, the current rule does not give the department the authority to hold master hunters to the ethical standards the department deems appropriate for such hunters. The proposed amendments to the rule will cure these shortfalls.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The department wants master hunters to be held accountable if these hunters violate fish and wildlife rules and statutes. The department also wants to be able to determine the requirements and cost of the three levels comprising the advanced hunter education program.
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 department of fish and wildlife, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Mik Mikitik, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, (360) 902-8113; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, 1111 Washington Street, Olympia, (360) 902-2373.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These proposals do not impact small businesses.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These proposals do not affect hydraulics.
September 4, 2007
Loreva M. Preuss
Rules Coordinator
OTS-9634.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 02-298, filed 12/13/02,
effective 1/13/03)
WAC 232-12-073
Advanced hunter education.
(1) In order
to provide for additional hunting opportunity, on species, in
areas, or at times when a higher proficiency and demonstrated
skill level is needed for resource protection or public
safety, the department establishes the advanced hunter
education program. Persons who successfully pass the master
hunter level of advanced hunter education are entitled to
exercise the privileges of participation in special hunts
restricted to master hunters. It is unlawful for any person
to participate in a hunt restricted to master hunters if such
person has not successfully passed the advanced hunter
education master hunter course and such person possesses a
valid master hunter identification card while participating in
such a hunt((, and)). It is unlawful to participate in a hunt
restricted to master hunters if the person's master hunter
status has been suspended or revoked. Violation of this
subsection shall be enforced under RCW 77.15.400 (1)(c) for
wild birds, RCW 77.15.410 (1)(b) for big game, and RCW 77.15.430 (1)(b) for wild animals other than big game.
(2) The advanced hunter education program has three
levels, ((with the following proficiency requirements:))
described below. The department will determine the enrollment
fee and prerequisites required for each level. Master hunters
will be required to sign and abide by a code of ethics, in
addition to abiding by all department laws and regulations.
(a) Sharpshooter education: This program emphasizes
marksmanship, with the goal of humanely ((killing)) harvesting
game animals with the least number of shots. ((Successful
graduates of the sharpshooter course must demonstrate above
average shooting skills. The cost of applying for
sharpshooter education is five dollars, and)) On successfully
passing sharpshooter education, each graduate will receive a
certificate of completion and an advanced hunter education
patch.
(b) Conservationist education: This program emphasizes
landowner relations, habitat ((restoration)) improvement, and
land use practices that maximize ((protection for wildlife))
wise resource use. ((Successful graduates of the
conservationist course will have spent a minimum of twelve
hours participating in landowner-sportsman or wildlife-related
projects. The cost of applying for conservationist education
is five dollars, and)) Participants must complete a project to
successfully pass this program. All projects require advance
approval and must meet the minimum criteria established by the
department. On successfully passing conservationist
education, each graduate will receive a certificate of
completion and an advanced hunter education patch.
(c) Master hunter education: In addition to both
sharpshooter and conservationist education, the master hunter
program emphasizes ethical behavior while hunting, a detailed
knowledge of hunting statutes and rules, and specialized
knowledge in how to hunt in damage-control hunts that
successfully remove problem animals while maximizing public
safety. ((Both extensive home study and passing a rigorous
test are prerequisites for achieving the master hunter
graduate status. The cost of applying for master hunter
education is twenty dollars, and)) On successfully passing
master hunter education, each graduate will be issued a
certificate, an advanced hunter education patch, and a master
hunter identification card. The master hunter identification
card is valid for five consecutive years from the date of
issuance. The card will be renewed for an additional five
years if, during the period of validity, the master hunter
education graduate completes ((twelve hours of conservationist
education, consisting of participating in landowner-sportsman
or wildlife-related projects)) further education as determined
by the department.
(3) Master hunters are held to the highest ethical
standards ((while hunting,)) and are expected to respect all
((recreational and trapping)) laws. Accordingly, the master
hunter candidate shall submit a completed criminal history
check, performed at the master hunter's expense, along with
the master hunter's application. Thereafter, should a master
hunter violate ((the trapping or recreational fishing or
hunting)) fish and wildlife laws, trespass laws, or reckless
endangerment laws involving hunting weapons, that person's
master hunter status will be suspended or revoked as provided
in this subsection. The grounds for suspension and revocation
are proof by a preponderance of the evidence that the master
hunter has committed a violation of law. A criminal
conviction is a rebuttable presumption that the violation
occurred. Any person who has master hunter status revoked or
suspended under this subsection has the right to an
administrative hearing to contest the agency action, and such
hearing will be held pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, the
Administrative Procedure Act.
(a) A two-year suspension of master hunter status will be
imposed for any ((hunting or hunting related violation))
conviction of a first-time law violation listed in this
subsection.
(b) A ((five-year suspension)) lifetime revocation of
master hunter status ((and a requirement to retake the master
hunter course)) will be imposed for:
(i) ((Any resulting in a suspension of recreational
hunting or fishing privileges or in a trapping privilege
suspension)) A subsequent conviction of a law violation listed
in this subsection;
(ii) Any violations that involve two or more big game
animals; ((or))
(iii) Any violation that involves twice or more the daily
limit of game or fish((.)); or
(((c) A lifetime revocation of master hunter status will
be imposed for:
(i) Any conviction resulting in a second suspension of
hunting or fishing privileges or in a second trapping
privilege suspension;
(ii))) (iv) Any violation that occurs while the master
hunter's recreational hunting or fishing privileges, trapping
privileges, or master hunter status is suspended((; or
(iii) Any violations that involve three or more big game
animals)).
(c) An advanced hunter education peer review committee will review any ethical violations by master hunters where the behavior does not rise to the level of a violation of law. If the peer review committee decides that an ethical violation is egregious, the department may determine whether to suspend or revoke the violator's master hunter status for a two-year period.
(d) A conviction as used in this section is defined in RCW 77.15.050.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 03-01-077 (Order 02-298), § 232-12-073, filed 12/13/02, effective 1/13/03.]