S-4153.1                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 6184

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1994 Regular Session

By Senators Amondson, Hargrove, Newhouse, L. Smith, Haugen and M. Rasmussen

Read first time 01/17/94.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Revising provisions relating to deer and elk hunting.

          AN ACT Relating to game management; amending RCW 77.04.055; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  RCW 77.04.055 and 1993 sp.s. c 2 s 62 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) In establishing policies to preserve, protect, and perpetuate wildlife, game fish, and wildlife and game fish habitat, the commission shall meet annually with the governor to:

          (a) Review and prescribe basic goals and objectives related to those policies; and

          (b) Review the performance of the department in implementing game fish and wildlife policies.

          The commission shall maximize game fish, hunting, and outdoor recreational opportunities compatible with healthy and diverse fish and wildlife populations.

          (2) The commission shall establish hunting, trapping, and fishing seasons and prescribe the time, place, manner, and methods that may be used to harvest or enjoy game fish and wildlife.  In so doing the commission shall:

(a) Not prescribe a penalty or discriminatory conditions for those who may be eligible for a special sex elk or deer permit application;

(b) Allow all hunters a minimum of two Saturdays and two Sundays for the general elk and deer hunting season;

(c) Authorize the general elk hunt for a maximum of two continuous weeks for each of the following groups in the order indicated to commence no earlier than the first Thursday in November following the state general election:  Modern firearm hunters; archery hunters; and muzzleloader hunters;

(d) Establish uniform controls for special either-sex harvest of elk and deer so that all hunter groups, modern, archery and muzzleloader, in all areas come under the same requirements for the taking of does, fawns, cows, calves, or either-sex permits;

(e) Prohibit the hunting of elk from September 1 through October 15 to avoid the disruption of their mating cycle; and

(f) Require elk and deer hunters under the age of eighteen years to mandatorily wear "hunter orange" and make it optional for those over eighteen years of age.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1994.

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