SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6262

              As Passed Senate, February 7, 1996

Title:  An act relating to transport tags for game.

Brief Description:  Providing for the management of cougar population levels.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Morton, Rasmussen, Roach, Swecker, Hochstatter, Prince and Schow).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources:  1/25/96, 1/30/96 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 2/7/96, 48-1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6262 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Drew, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, Hargrove, Haugen, Morton, Oke, Owen, Snyder, Strannigan and Swecker.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  Cougar populations are above appropriate management levels in several levels of the state.  The Department of Fish and Wildlife is presently developing a cougar management program environmental impact statement.  The harvest of cougars has generally been by specially authorized hunting with hounds and by hunting by individuals after obtaining a cougar tag.  The commission does not have the authority to have a controlled hunt and issue tags after the cougars have been harvested.

Summary of Bill:  The Fish and Wildlife Commission may authorize the purchase of cougar transport tags subsequent to harvest without hounds and can stipulate conditions for their validation and use.  The commission is to review cougar management regularly.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  With increasing cougar populations, additional control methods are needed and this would be a very valuable tool for the commission.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ed Manary, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (pro).