[Order 20-199—Filed September 21, 2020, 12:29 p.m., effective October 22, 2020]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: As stated in the CR-102, there are two proposals related to hunting contests. The first excludes from hunting contests those species that do not have bag limits. The second makes it illegal to participate in a hunting contest that is not permitted by the department. The purpose of both of these proposals are to address concerns that some of our public have raised about people holding contests without a permit and the fact that these contests promote killing large numbers of those species that do not have a bag limit which can be perceived negatively by some members of the public.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-412-110 Hunting contests and 220-413-060 Hunting restrictions.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 71.12.047, 77.32.050, and 77.32.525.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 20-13-008 [20-13-088] on June 16, 2020.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: September 11, 2020.

Larry M. Carpenter, Chair

Washington Department of

Fish and Wildlife Commission

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-05-112, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17)

WAC 220-412-110Hunting contests.

A person wishing to hold a hunting contest must comply with the following provisions:

(1) Only organizations filed with the state of Washington as a nonprofit corporation may apply for a hunting contest permit.

(2) Hunting contest permit applications shall be submitted to the department 30 days prior to the date for which the contest is proposed.

(3) Applications must include the permit fee required by ((RCW 77.32.211))the department. The fee will be returned if the permit is denied.

(4) Contests ((are restricted to the species approved on the permit))involving unclassified and classified wildlife species without a bag limit are prohibited and will not be permitted.

(5) Total value of prizes per contest shall not exceed $2000.

(6) Entry fees or requests for donations are prohibited.

(7) It is unlawful to fail to comply with the conditions of a hunting contest permit.

Hunting contests which may adversely affect wildlife resources will be denied.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-05-112, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17)

WAC 220-413-060Hunting restrictions.

(1) It is unlawful to hunt wildlife during any modern firearm deer or elk season with any firearm 240 caliber or larger, or containing slugs or buckshot, unless the hunter has a valid license, permits and tags for modern firearm deer or elk seasons are in his or her possession.

(a) This subsection does not apply to people hunting bear, cougar, mountain goat, mountain sheep, or turkey.

(b) A violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.410 or 77.15.430, depending on the circumstances of the violation.

(2)(a) It is unlawful to hunt any wildlife at night or wild animals, except rabbits and hares, with dogs (hounds) during the month of October or November during the dates established for eastern and western Washington modern firearm deer or elk general seasons. During the modern firearm deer and elk general seasons the hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. A violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.430, Unlawful hunting of wild animals—Penalty.

(b) It is unlawful to use hounds to hunt black bear, cougar (EXCEPT as pursuant to RCW 77.15.245), coyote, and bobcat year-round. A violation of this subsection is punishable under RCW 77.15.410, Unlawful hunting of big game—Penalty, or RCW 77.15.430, depending on the circumstances of the violation.

(3) It is unlawful to participate in a hunting contest for which no permit has been issued by the department. A violation of this subsection is punishable as an infraction under RCW 77.15.160 (6)(b).