H-3736.3 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2497
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By Representatives Alexander, Clements, DeBolt, Regala, Pennington, Anderson and Hatfield
Read first time 01/14/98. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to maintaining and rebuilding elk populations in Washington; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that: (1) Certain Washington elk populations are at risk due to habitat changes and to increased hunting pressures; (2) different cultural perspectives toward hunting, different tribal and nontribal regulations and enforcement procedures, and different views regarding treaty hunting rights have contributed to tensions between tribal and nontribal elk hunters and between elk hunters and residents of areas where elk are hunted; (3) while they bring different perspectives to the hunt, tribal and nontribal elk hunters share a common interest in working to maintain and rebuild elk populations in order to ensure that there will continue to be elk hunting opportunities; and (4) a combination of policies and discussions to cultivate this common interest could yield ways to reduce the tensions and maintain and rebuild the elk populations.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The department of fish and wildlife shall:
(a) Establish more accurate annual population estimates for Washington's elk herds, particularly those herds in areas where conservation restrictions have been imposed in recent history;
(b) Determine as accurately as possible annual elk mortality from all sources, including the number of elk taken by all hunters and by poachers;
(c) Delineate changes in historic elk ranges along with anticipated habitat changes in the future and projected impacts to elk populations and herd health;
(d) Design hunting rules and enforcement strategies that simultaneously honor treaty hunting rights and recognize the mutual benefit to both tribal and nontribal hunters of preserving and enhancing elk populations;
(e) Identify avenues that citizens who live near hunting areas can use to express their concerns and report incidents regarding the taking of elk, especially during hunting seasons;
(f) Identify existing elk research and enhancement efforts underway in the state by federal, state, and local governments, tribes, and private foundations and opportunities for possible cooperative efforts to maintain and rebuild elk populations in the future;
(g) Identify the resources needed to implement these various measures and possible funding sources; and
(h) Initiate other efforts the department of fish and wildlife feels it should undertake in order to gain a better understanding about elk hunting and Washington's elk populations.
(2) The department of fish and wildlife shall invite federally recognized Indian tribes with treaty hunting rights to participate in a series of discussions on Washington's elk populations and elk management issues. Through these discussions, the department shall work with the tribal representatives to identify strategies to honor treaty hunting rights and to maintain and rebuild the elk populations. In establishing a format for these discussions, the department shall provide opportunities for nontribal elk hunters, residents near areas where elk hunting takes place, and other interested parties to express their concerns and contribute their constructive suggestions.
(3) The department of fish and wildlife shall report on the status of subsections (1) and (2) of this section to the legislature by December 1, 1998.
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