Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of fish and wildlife (department) is considering changes to recreational hunting and chronic wasting disease (CWD) related rules for the 2025 hunting season.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department needs to clarify and amend rules to either expand or decrease recreational hunting opportunities, while maintaining sustainable game populations. In addition, the department must develop recreational hunting rules that make allowances for the emergency rule filed on July 11, 2024, that increased special hunt permits by 738 and decreased mountain goat raffle permits to zero for the 2024-25 hunting season. Furthermore, the department needs to establish permanent rules to reduce the spread of CWD in the cervid populations.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Migratory birds are also regulated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and coordination is managed through the Pacific Flyway. State regulations are designed to fit within the parameters of USFWS regulations guidelines.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Eric Gardner, 1111 Washington Street S.E., WA 98504, phone 855-925-2801, project code 10845, fax 360-902-2349, TTY 1-800-833-6388 or 711, email 2025huntingregulationscr101@publicinput.com, website https://publicinput.com/2025huntingregulationscr101; or Heather Bonagofski, fax 360-902-2349, TTY 1-800-833-6388 or 711, email heather.bonagofski@dfw.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Assistance for language translation, alternate format, or reasonable accommodation, contact Title VI/ADA compliance coordinator, phone 360-902-2349, TTY 1-800-833-6388 or 711, email Title6@dfw.wa.gov. For more information, see https://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation.