BILL REQ. #:  H-3348.1 

Read first time 01/11/2006.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to the use of dogs to pursue injured wildlife; and amending RCW 77.32.450 and 77.15.240.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 77.32.450 and 2005 c 140 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A big game hunting license is required to hunt for big game. A big game license allows the holder to hunt for forest grouse, unclassified wildlife, and the individual species identified within a specific big game combination license package. Each big game license includes one transport tag for each species purchased in that package. A hunter may not purchase more than one license for each big game species except as authorized by rule of the commission. The fees for annual big game combination packages are as follows:
     (a) Big game number 1: Deer, elk, bear, and cougar. The fee for this license is sixty-six dollars for residents, six hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents, and thirty-three dollars for youth.
     (b) Big game number 2: Deer and elk. The fee for this license is fifty-six dollars for residents, five hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents, and twenty-eight dollars for youth.
     (c) Big game number 3: Deer or elk, bear, and cougar. At the time of purchase, the holder must identify either deer or elk. The fee for this license is forty-six dollars for residents, four hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents, and twenty-three dollars for youth.
     (d) Big game number 4: Deer or elk. At the time of purchase, the holder must identify either deer or elk. The fee for this license is thirty-six dollars for residents, three hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents, and eighteen dollars for youth.
     (e) Big game number 5: Bear and cougar. The fee for this license is twenty dollars for residents, two hundred dollars for nonresidents, and ten dollars for youth.
     (2) In the event that the commission authorizes a two animal big game limit, the fees for the second animal are as follows:
     (a) Elk: The fee is twenty dollars for residents, two hundred dollars for nonresidents, and ten dollars for youth.
     (b) Deer: The fee is twenty dollars for residents, two hundred dollars for nonresidents, and ten dollars for youth.
     (c) Bear: The fee is ten dollars for residents, one hundred dollars for nonresidents, and five dollars for youth.
     (d) Cougar: The fee is ten dollars for residents, one hundred dollars for nonresidents, and five dollars for youth.
     (3) In the event that the commission authorizes a special permit hunt for goat, sheep, or moose, the permit fees are as follows:
     (a) Mountain goat: The fee is one hundred dollars for residents, one thousand dollars for nonresidents, and fifty dollars for youth.
     (b) Sheep: The fee is one hundred dollars for residents, one thousand dollars for nonresidents, and fifty dollars for youth.
     (c) Moose: The fee is one hundred dollars for residents, one thousand dollars for nonresidents, and fifty dollars for youth.
     (4) Multiple season big game permit: The commission may, by rule, offer permits for hunters to hunt deer or elk during more than one general season. Only one deer or elk may be harvested annually under a multiple season big game permit. The fee is one hundred fifty dollars for residents and one thousand five hundred dollars for nonresidents.
     (5) Authorization to hunt the species set out under subsection (3)(a) through (c) of this section or in multiple seasons as set out in subsection (4) of this section is by special permit issued under RCW 77.32.370.
     (6) The commission may adopt rules to reduce the price of a license or eliminate the transportation tag requirements concerning bear or cougar when necessary to meet harvest objectives.
     (7) Individuals possessing a valid big game hunting license issued under this section may use a leashed dog or dogs to track a deer or elk injured by the individual possessing the license. Dogs may not be utilized by the hunter prior to the deer or elk sustaining an injury. The department may adopt rules specifying additional responsibilities for hunters opting to track injured deer or elk with leashed dogs.

Sec. 2   RCW 77.15.240 and 1998 c 190 s 30 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except for leashed dogs used under RCW 77.32.450(7), a person is guilty of unlawful use of dogs if the person:
     (a) Negligently fails to prevent a dog under the person's control from pursuing or injuring deer, elk, or an animal classified as endangered under this title;
     (b) Uses the dog to hunt deer or elk; or
     (c) During the closed season for a species of game animal or game bird, negligently fails to prevent the dog from pursuing such animal or destroying the nest of a game bird.
     (2) Unlawful use of dogs is a misdemeanor. A dog that is the basis for a violation of this section may be declared a public nuisance.