HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1354

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to hound permits.

Brief Description:  Allowing only Washington residents to purchase hound permits.

Sponsors:  Representatives Fuhrman, Basich, Cairnes and McMorris.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  2/7/95, 2/21/95 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Fuhrman, Chairman; Buck, Vice Chairman; Pennington, Vice Chairman; Basich, Ranking Minority Member; Regala, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Beeksma; Cairnes; Elliot; G. Fisher; Jacobsen; Romero; Sheldon; Stevens; B. Thomas and Thompson.

Staff:  Linda Byers (786-7129).

Background:  In Washington, hunters who hunt with hounds must buy a hound permit in addition to a basic hunting license.  Both residents and non-residents pay a fee of $12 for a hound permit, and there are no limits on the number of hound permits which may be sold.  Hunting regulations for various game animals provide for "pursuit only" hound hunting opportunities, where the game animal may be pursued but not killed or injured.  For example, there are pursuit only seasons for black bear and cougar.

With regard to black bear, a hunter must have a transport tag to hunt bear whether hunting with hounds or by other means.  However, a bear tag is not required to pursue black bear during the pursuit only season.

With regard to neighboring states, Idaho offers a maximum of 55 non-resident hound permits.  As a result of a recent ballot measure in Oregon, hound hunting of some game animals is no longer permitted there.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The state Fish and Wildlife Commission may set pursuit only seasons in which only Washington residents may participate.  The number of bear transport tags which the commission issues to non-residents is not to exceed 10 percent of the bear tags issued to residents two years prior.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill allowed only Washington residents to purchase hound permits.  The substitute bill allows the commission to set pursuit only seasons for residents only and establishes a cap on the number of bear tags which may be issued to non-residents.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For (original bill):  The initiative in Oregon has the potential to complicate management of hound hunting in Washington.

Testimony Against (original bill):  It may be better to establish a ceiling or a cap on the number of non-resident hound hunters rather than a total ban.  It would be difficult to do this for the 1995-96 season; most likely it would be for the next season.  Some hound tags need to be available to non-residents.

Testified:  Tedd Orr, Washington State Hound Council; Ed Mahoney, Pacific Coast Hound Club (in favor); Dave Brittell, Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Ron Warren, Tri-County Hound Club.