FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2495

                         C 109 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Allowing holders of big and small game hunting licenses to hunt unclassified wildlife.

Sponsors:  Representatives Pennington and Benson; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife.

House Committee on Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation

Background:

Unclassified wildlife includes, but is not limited to, animals such as: coyote, opossum, vole, and nonnative squirrel.  Unclassified wildlife does not include any animal currently defined as a game animal or as protected wildlife.

Prior to the merger of the enforcement provisions of the fisheries code and the wildlife code, anyone possessing a hunting license could legally take unclassified wildlife.  The merger of these provisions created separate small game and big game hunting licenses.  Persons with a small game license are allowed to hunt unclassified wildlife, while holders of a big game license may not.

Summary of Bill:

Persons holding a big game license may hunt unclassified wildlife.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate3512

Effective:June 8, 2000