S-0806.3  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5560

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senators Roach, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Hale and Long

Read first time 01/26/95.  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; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

(c) 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;

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

(e) Eliminate spike bull elk only general elk hunting season requirement currently in effect for Colockum and Yakima areas of eastern Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995.

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