PERMANENT RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: To expand the benefit of the spring seasons in northeastern Washington, the department is increasing permit levels and season length. The anticipated effect is a slight increase in total harvest and reduced bear nuisance activity.
For westside spring bear hunts, the department is recommending increasing the season length in the Kapowsin Tree Farm unit from April 15-May 15 to April 15-June 15, based on discussions with the landowners. There is a slight anticipated increase to the number of hunter days.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The objectives for spring bear hunting seasons are to reduce timber damage by bears (western Washington), reduce nuisance bear activity (northeastern Washington), and to divert harvest away from adult females and toward adult males (southeastern Washington).
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-286.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 11-03-089 on January 19, 2011.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version:
• In the spring bear hunt table, for Sherman, Kelly
Hill, Aladdin, 49 Degrees North, and Huckleberry
hunts, the permit level was increased to 25. In the
Douglas hunt, the permit level was increased to 20.
These changes address nuisance complaints regarding
bears in the spring. The increased permit level
will likely have no significant effects to the bear
population status.
• In the spring bear hunt table, for the Kapowsin
hunt, the closing date was changed from May 15 to
June 15. The reason for this change was to address
bear damage to trees throughout the entire damage
season, which continues through mid-June. The
increased permit level will likely have no
significant effects to the bear population status.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 8, 2011.
Miranda Wecker, Chair
Fish and Wildlife Commission
OTS-3867.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Orders 10-94 and 10-94A, filed
4/30/10 and 12/30/10, effective 5/31/10 and 1/30/11)
WAC 232-28-286
2010, 2011, and 2012 Spring black bear
seasons and regulations.
It is unlawful to fail to comply
with the provisions below. Violators may be punished under
RCW 77.15.410, 77.15.245, and 77.15.280 (1)(c).
Who may apply: Anyone with a valid Washington big game
license, which includes black bear as a species option.
Hunt areas, permit levels, and season dates for each license
year:
| Hunt name | Hunt area | Permits | Season datesb |
| Sherman | GMU 101 | (( |
(( |
| Kelly Hill | GMU 105 | (( |
(( |
| Douglas | GMU 108 | (( |
(( |
| Aladdin | GMU 111 | (( |
(( |
| 49 Degrees North | GMU 117 | (( |
(( |
| Huckleberry | GMU 121 | (( |
(( |
| Blue Creek | GMU 154 | 15 | April 15 - May 31 |
| Dayton | GMU 162 | 15 | April 15 - May 31 |
| Tucannon | GMU 166 | 5 | April 15 - May 31 |
| Wenaha | GMU 169 | 45 | April 15 - June 15 |
| Mt. View | GMU 172 | 15 | April 15 - May 31 |
| Lick Creek | GMU 175 | 15 | April 15 – May 31 |
| Couse | GMU 181 | 4 | April 15 - May 31 |
| Grande Ronde | GMU 186 | 5 | April 15 - May 31 |
| North Skagit | That portion of GMU 418 that is designated as the hunt area by DNR, Sierra Pacific, and Grandy Lake Timber company. | 20 | April 15 - May 31 |
| Monroe | That portion of GMU 448 that is designated as the hunt area by DNR, Green Crow, and Longview Timber Lands. | 25 | April 15 - May 31 |
| Copalisa | That portion of GMU 642 that is designated as the hunt area by Rayonier Timber Company. | 100 | April 15 - June 15 |
| Kapowsina | That portion of GMUs 653 and/or 654 that is designated as the hunt area by Hancock Forest Management and International Forestry. | 150 | April 15 - (( |
| Lincolna | That portion of GMU 501 that is designated as the hunt area by participating commercial timber landowners. | 75 | April 15 - June 15 |
| aSpring black bear hunting seasons under this area constitute a pilot program to reduce black bear damage to trees. | |||
| bPermits are valid for the license year they are issued. | |||
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.
Hunting method: Hunters may use any lawful big game modern
firearm, archery, or muzzleloader equipment for hunting black
bear. The use of dogs or bait to hunt black bear is
prohibited statewide.
Submitting bear teeth: Successful bear hunters must submit
the black bear premolar located behind the canine tooth of the
upper jaw.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020, 77.12.570, 77.12.210, 77.12.150, 77.12.240, 77.32.070, and 77.32.530. 10-10-061 and 11-02-044 (Orders 10-94 and 10-94A), § 232-28-286, filed 4/30/10 and 12/30/10, effective 5/31/10 and 1/30/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020. 09-09-082 (Order 09-52), § 232-28-286, filed 4/15/09, effective 6/16/09; 08-01-052 (Order 07-292), § 232-28-286, filed 12/13/07, effective 1/13/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 07-01-049 (Order 06-300), § 232-28-286, filed 12/14/06, effective 1/14/07; 06-11-030 (Order 06-90), § 232-28-286, filed 5/8/06, effective 6/16/06.]