Title: An act relating to deer and elk hunting.

Brief Description: Concerning a multiple season big game permit.

Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen, Swecker, Oke, Doumit, Hargrove and Rasmussen; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 1/27/05, 2/23/05 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Oke, Ranking Minority Member; Fraser, Hargrove, Spanel and Swecker.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senator Morton.

Staff: Curt Gavigan (786-7437)

Background: A big game license is required to hunt for big game, such as deer, elk, bear, and cougar. Several different big game combination packages are available. Each license package authorizes the hunting of specific species. The fee for a big game license depends on the combination package selected. Each big game license includes one transport tag for the species listed in the package chosen.

Annual big game combination, package four, allows the holder, at the time the permit is purchased, to choose to hunt either elk or deer. The fee for this license is thirty-six dollars for residents, three hundred sixty dollars for nonresidents, and eighteen dollars for youth.

Summary of Bill: The Department of Fish and Wildlife may, by rule, offer permits to hunt deer or elk during more than one general season under a multiple season big game permit. Only one deer or elk may be harvested annually under such permits. The fee for a multiple season big game permit is one hundred fifty dollars for residents and one thousand five hundred dollars for nonresidents.

A multiple season big game permit is considered a special permit, requiring payment of an application fee of five dollars for residents, fifty dollars for nonresidents, and three dollars for youth to enter a drawing for the chance to purchase a permit.

Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute bill requires that all revenue from the sale of multiple season big game permits be deposited in a separate account within the state wildlife fund to be used only for big game management.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: A multiple season big game permit would both generate much needed revenue for the Department and meet hunters' desire to hunt during multiple seasons.

Testimony Against: A multiple season big game permit would serve only as a revenue generator for the Department. The high cost of the permit would allow those with more money hunting opportunities not available to others.

Who Testified: PRO: Eric Torrison, Pheasants Forever; Steve Pozzanghera, Department of Fish and Wildlife; Ed Owens, Hunters Heritage Council, Dave Ware, Department of Fish and Wildlife.
CON: Martin Keilwitz, Western Washington Wildlife Council.