WSR 97-06-051

PERMANENT RULES

FISH AND WILDLIFE

COMMISSION

(Wildlife)

[Order 97-33--Filed February 27, 1997, 3:03 p.m.]

Date of Adoption: December 7, 1996.

Purpose: To amend WAC 232-28-249 1997-98 Special species hunting seasons and regulations.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-249.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.040.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 96-21-157 on October 23, 1996.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: The adopted version of WAC 232-28-249 differs from the proposed version filed with the code reviser in the following specifics:

1. In Moose Unit 3, GMU 117 replaced GMU 118 and the hunt was named 49 Degrees North.

2. In Moose Unit 5, the name Three Forks was changed to Threeforks.

3. Mountain Sheep Units 8 and 11 were deleted from 1997 hunting seasons.

4. The opening date of cougar state-wide general season was changed from September 2, 1997, to August 1, 1997.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

December 30, 1996

Lisa Pelly

for Mitchell S. Johnson

Chairman

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 96-04-027, filed 2/1/96, effective 3/3/96)

WAC 232-28-249 ((1996-97)) 1997-98 Special species hunting seasons and regulations.

permit quotas: ((1996)) 1997 Permit quotas are unknown at this time. ((Permit)) Quotas for ((1996)) 1997 may be greater or less than last year depending on winter survival.

moose

Permit Season: Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, ((1996)) 1997, both dates inclusive.

Who May Apply: Anyone with a valid ((1996)) 1997 Washington hunting license. Only one moose permit will be issued during an individual's lifetime.

Bag Limit: One moose of either sex.

Moose Unit 1

GMU 113 (Selkirk Mtns.)

Moose Unit 2

GMU 124 (Mount Spokane)

Moose Unit 3

GMU ((118)) 117 (49 Degrees North)

((Moose Unit 4

GMU 119))

Moose Unit 5

GMU ((111)) 109 (Threeforks)

Moose Unit 6

GMUs 127, 130 (Hangman)

mountain sheep (bighorn)

Permit Seasons: Separate seasons are indicated for each bighorn sheep hunt.

Who May Apply: Anyone with a valid ((1996)) 1997 Washington hunting license; except those who drew a bighorn permit previously in Washington State.

Bag Limit For Permit Holders: One bighorn ram.

Any Legal Weapon

Sheep Unit 2

Vulcan Mountain

Permit Season: Sept. 15-Oct. ((11)) 10, both dates inclusive.

Sheep Unit 3

Tucannon River

Permit Season: Sept. 15-Oct. ((11)) 10, both dates inclusive.

Sheep Unit 4

Selah Butte

Permit Season: Sept. 15-Oct. 10, both dates inclusive.

Sheep Unit 5

Umtanum

Permit Season: Sept. 15-Oct. ((11)) 10, both dates inclusive.

Sheep Unit 7

Clemon Mountain

Permit Season: Sept. 15-Oct. ((11)) 10, both dates inclusive.

((Sheep Unit 8

Mountainview

Permit Season: Sept. 15-Oct. 11, both dates inclusive.

Sheep Unit 9

Blackbutte

Permit Season: Sept. 15-Oct. 11, both dates inclusive.))

Sheep Unit 10

Mt. Hull

Permit Season: Sept. 15-Oct. ((11)) 10, both dates inclusive.

((Sheep Unit 11

Wenaha Wilderness

Permit Season: Sept. 15-Oct. 11, both dates inclusive.))

Sheep Unit 12

Lincoln Cliffs

Permit Season: Sept. 15-Oct. 10, both dates inclusive.

mountain goat:

Permit Season: Sept. ((14)) 13-Oct. 31, ((1996)) 1997, both dates inclusive, in all goat hunts. Permit hunters may start hunting September 1 with archery equipment.

Who May Apply: Anyone with a valid ((1996)) 1997 Washington hunting license.

Bag Limit: One (1) adult goat of either sex with horns four (4) inches or longer. The Department of Fish and Wildlife urges hunters to refrain from shooting nannies with kids.

((Any Legal Weapon))

Goat Units

Goat Unit 2-1

Mount Chopaka

Goat Unit 2-2

Methow

Goat Unit 3-6

Naches Pass

Goat Unit 3-7

Bumping River

Goat Unit 3-9

Tieton River

Goat Unit 3-10

Blazed Ridge

Goat Unit 3-11

Kachess Ridge

Goat Unit 4-8

East Ross Lake

Goat Unit 4-9

Jack Mountain

Goat Unit 4-32

Foss River

Goat Unit 4-34

Pratt River

Goat Unit 5-2

Tatoosh

Goat Unit 5-4

Goat Rocks

((Muzzleloading Goat Hunts

Goat Unit 3-8

Bumping River

Archery Goat Hunts

Goat Unit 4-38

Corral Pass

Goat Unit 5-3

Smith Creek

Goat Unit 6-2

Quilcene River*))

Goat Unit 6-3

Hamma Hamma River

((*Permits may or may not be available for this unit.

native cats))

cougar

A valid hunting license ((is)) and unaltered, unnotched cougar tag are required to hunt (((including pursuit seasons) native cats)) cougar. ((A hound stamp is required for all hunters if dogs are used to hunt any native cats.)) Cougar transport tags may be purchased at all department of fish and wildlife license dealerships or offices ((and must be in possession while hunting cougar)).

((cougar

Eastern Washington Pursuit-Only Season (Cougar may not be killed or injured.): Sept. 4-30 and Nov. 27, 1996-Jan. 31, 1997, except Nov. 27, 1996-Feb. 28, 1997, in Cougar Units 5 and 6. Note: Closed to hound hunting in Walla Walla and Columbia counties outside of Umatilla National Forest Sept. 4-Oct. 11, 1996.

Western Washington Pursuit-Only Season (cougar may not be killed or injured): Sept. 1-30 and Nov. 27, 1996-Feb. 28, 1997. General Cougar Season (Cougar may be killed. No special permit required. A valid cougar transport tag is required to hunt cougar.): Oct. 12-Nov. 10, 1996.

Eastern Washington Permit Season (Permit required. Cougar may be killed by permit holders only.): Nov. 27, 1996-Jan. 31, 1997, except Nov. 27, 1996-Feb. 28, 1997 in Cougar Units 5 and 6. Note: Closed to hound hunting in Walla Walla and Columbia counties outside of Umatilla National Forest Sept. 4-Oct. 11, 1996.

Western Washington Permit Season (Permit required. Cougar may be killed by permit holders only.): Nov. 27, 1996-Feb. 28, 1997.

Who May Apply: Anyone with a valid 1996 Washington hunting license may submit one special permit application for cougar. Successful cougar applicants must purchase a cougar tag before hunting cougar.

Bag Limit: One (1) cougar during the 1996-97 hunting season except that it is unlawful to kill or possess spotted cougar kittens or adult cougar accompanied by spotted kittens.

Hunt No. Unit Description

9001 1 Pend Oreille

9002 2 Colville

9003 3 Republic

9004 4 Spokane

9005 5 Blue Mountains

9006 6 Wenaha

9007 7 Okanogan

9008 8 Chelan

9009 9 Yakima

9010 10 Nooksack

9011 11 Skagit

9012 12 Snoqualmie

9013 13 North Olympic

Peninsula

9014 14 South Olympic

Peninsula

9015 15 Rainier

9016 16 South Puget Sound

9017 17 Cowlitz

9018 18 Skamania

9019 19 Pacific

lynx

Season closed statewide.))

Use of Hounds: The use of hounds for hunting cougar is prohibited state-wide.

Bag Limit: One (1) cougar during the 1997-98 hunting season except that it is unlawful to kill or possess spotted cougar kittens or adult cougar accompanied by spotted kittens.

General Season: State-wide, August 1, 1997-March 15, 1998, except closed in GMUs 157, 485, and 522.

Report Cards: Each successful cougar hunter must fill out and return a game harvest report card to the Department of Fish and Wildlife within 10 days after taking a cougar.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.010 and 77.12.040. 96-04-027, 232-28-249, filed 2/1/96, effective 3/3/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 95-03-039 (Order 94-151), 232-28-249, filed 1/10/95, effective 2/10/95.]