WSR 21-02-015
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 20-270—Filed December 28, 2020, 10:09 a.m., effective January 28, 2021]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The proposed amendments are to align season dates, adjust permit numbers where needed, and clarify information about biological samples collected from harvested bears through a pelt check-in process conducted by department staff.
Staff recommendation:
Standardize season dates.
Clarify language associated with spring bear check-in.
Reduce permit numbers on the Long Beach hunt by two.
Remove Weyerhaeuser-Columbia timber lands from the North Skagit hunt area because they are not allowing access.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-415-080.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.020.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 20-20-098 on October 5, 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: December 28, 2020.
Larry Carpenter, Chair
Fish and Wildlife Commission
OTS-2647.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-22-061, filed 11/5/19, effective 12/6/19)
WAC 220-415-080((2020))2021 Spring black bear special permits.
It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions of this section. A violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.410, 77.15.245, or 77.15.280, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
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 Dates
Sherman
GMU 101 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.
50
 
April ((1))15 - June 15
Kelly Hill
GMU 105 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.
50
 
April ((1))15 - June 15
Douglas
GMU 108 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.
40
 
April ((1))15 - June 15
Aladdin
GMU 111 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.
50
 
April ((1))15 - June 15
49 Degrees North
GMU 117 Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.
100
 
April ((1))15 - June 15
Huckleberry
GMU 121
100
 
April ((1))15 - June 15
Blue Creek
GMU 154
18
 
April 15 - June 15
Dayton
GMU 162
18
 
April 15 - June 15
Tucannon
GMU 166
5
 
April 15 - June 15
Wenaha
GMU 169
60
 
April 15 - June 15
Mt. View
GMU 172
24
 
April 15 - June 15
Lick Creek
GMU 175
18
 
April 15 - June 15
Peola
GMU 178
5
 
April 15 - June 15
Couse
GMU 181
5
 
April 15 - June 15
Grande Ronde
GMU 186
5
 
April 15 - June 15
Kitsap
GMU 627
5
 
April 15 - ((May 31))June 15
Mason
GMU 633
5
 
April 15 - ((May 31))June 15
Bear River
GMU 681
20
 
April 15 - ((May 31))June 15
Long Beach
GMU 684
((12))10
 
April 15 - ((May 31))June 15
North Skagit
That portion of GMU 418 that is designated as the hunt area by DNR, Sierra Pacific, ((Weyerhaeuser-Columbia Timber Lands,)) and Grandy Lake Timber company. Note: Mandatory bear identification test required.
30
 
April 15 - June 15
Copalis
GMU 642, 648, and 638 (excluding U.S. Forest Service lands).
50
 
April 15 - June 15
Bag Limit: One black bear per black bear special permit season.
License Required: A valid big game hunting license, which includes black bear as a species option, is required to apply for a spring black bear special permit. 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.
Other Requirements: Hunters that are selected to hunt in GMUs located in grizzly bear recovery areas, as identified by the department, must successfully complete the annual WDFW online bear identification test with a passing score (80% or higher) or carry proof that they have passed an equivalent test from another state. The WDFW test may be taken repeatedly until a passing score is achieved. All hunters must carry proof of passing a bear identification test while hunting in the GMUs identified by the department.
Harvest Check, Submitting Biological Samples and Bear Teeth: All successful bear hunters must validate (notch) their bear tag consistent with WAC 220-413-020, notify the department within 72 hours of kill (excluding legal state holidays), provide the hunter's name, date and location of kill, and sex of animal. The unfrozen raw pelt, with evidence of sex attached, and the first premolar must be presented to an authorized department employee for ((sealing))inspection within 5 days of notification of kill. All permit hunters must comply with harvest reporting and submission of biological samples as described above. Failure to comply with the submission of biological samples is a misdemeanor pursuant to RCW 77.15.280.