PROPOSED RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 03-02-102.
Purpose: Amend WAC 232-28-515 Trapping seasons and regulations.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.047.
Summary: The recommended change is status quo trapping seasons with calendar date changes only. Clarification is also recommended on trapping seasons in Columbia County on tribal lands.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Furbearer populations appear to be stable to increasing.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Dave Brittell, Assistant Director, Natural Resources Building, Olympia, (360) 902-2504; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, Assistant Director, Natural Resources Building, Olympia, (360) 902-2932.
Name of Proponent: Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: Rule establishes trapping seasons and bag limits for furbearer species. The purpose is to maximize trapping opportunity consistent with population objectives. The anticipated effect is status quo seasons with sustainable furbearer populations.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Calendar date changes to establish 2003-2005 furbearer trapping seasons and bag limits. Clarifies trapping regulations in Columbia County.
A small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.
2. Professional Services Required for Compliance: None
3. Costs of Compliance, Including Costs of Equipment, Supplies, Labor, and Increased Administrative Costs: None.
4. Will Compliance Cost Businesses to Lose Sales or Revenue? No.
5. Comparison of Costs for the 10% of Businesses That Are the Largest Businesses Required to Comply with the Proposed rule: No additional costs.
6. Steps Taken by Agency to Reduce the Costs of the Rule on Small Businesses: No costs to small businesses.
7. Description of How the Agency Will Involve Small Businesses in Rule Development: All small businesses have an opportunity to comment on rule development through written and oral comment periods.
8. List of Industries Required to Comply with this Rule: All licensed trappers that trap furbearers for fur commerce.
A copy of the statement may be obtained by writing to Wildlife Program, Attn: Dave Brittell, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. Not hydraulics rules.
Hearing Location: Moses Lake Convention Center, 1475 Nelson Road, Moses Lake, WA 98837, on April 11-12, 2003, at 8:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Susan Yeager by April 7, 2003, TDD (360) 902-2207 or (360) 902-2267.
Submit Written Comments to: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Attn: Dave Brittell, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, fax (360) 902-2162, by March 25, 2003.
Date of Intended Adoption: April 11, 2003.
March 5, 2003
Evan Jacoby
Rules Coordinator
To be issued your first Washington State trapping license an
individual must pass the Washington State trapper education
exam.
A trapping license will only be issued to a trapper that has
returned the mandatory trapper report of catch postmarked on
or before April 10 of the previous year. A trapper that fails
to submit a report of catch must wait one year before
purchasing another trapping license. False reports will be
considered the same as failure to return the catch report.
It is unlawful to: Trap for wild animals before October 1,
and after March 15, in western Washington, except that owners
of, or persons legally controlling a property (or their
designee) may trap unclassified wild animals that are causing
damage or depredating on said property.
It is unlawful to: Place traps or establish drowning wires
and weights prior to 7:00 a.m. on the opening date of the
trapping season. All opening and closing season dates are
inclusive.
Trapping Seasons:
General Western Washington Trapping Seasons (Clallam, Clark,
Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis,
Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish,
Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom counties):
| SPECIES | OPENING DATE | CLOSING DATE |
| Bobcat, Red Fox, and Weasel | (( November 17, 2001 November 16, 2002)) November 15, 2003 November 20, 2004 November 19, 2005 |
(( February 15, 2002 February 15, 2003)) February 15, 2004 February 15, 2005 February 15, 2006 |
| Marten, Mink, Muskrat, and Raccoon | (( November 17, 2001 November 16, 2002)) November 15, 2003 November 20, 2004 November 19, 2005 |
(( January 31, 2002 January 31, 2003)) January 31, 2004 January 31, 2005 January 31, 2006 |
| Beaver and River Otter | (( December 8, 2001 December 14, 2002)) December 13, 2003 December 11, 2004 December 10, 2005 |
(( February 15, 2002 February 15, 2003)) February 15, 2004 February 15, 2005 February 15, 2006 |
Game Management Unit 522 (Loo-wit) (Cowlitz and Skamania
counties) is closed to all trapping.
Island County
The red fox season is closed.
Lewis County
Green River drainage, above and including Miners Creek drainage, is closed to all trapping except for bobcat and coyote.
Skagit and Whatcom counties
Ross Lake National Recreation Area is closed to all trapping. Red fox season is closed, except within the boundaries of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan National Forests.
Skamania County
The following areas are closed to all trapping, except for bobcat and coyote: Muddy River drainage, above and including Bean Creek drainage; Pine Creek drainage above USFS Road 83; and Green River drainage, above and including Miners Creek drainage.
General Eastern Washington Trapping Seasons (Adams, Asotin,
Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield,
Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille,
Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima counties):
| SPECIES | OPENING DATE | CLOSING DATE | |||
| Badger, Beaver, Bobcat, Mink, Muskrat, Raccoon, Red Fox, and Weasel | (( November 10, 2001 November 9, 2002)) November 8, 2003 November 13, 2004 November 12, 2005 |
(( February 28, 2002 February 28, 2003)) February 28, 2004 February 28, 2005 February 28, 2006 |
|||
| Marten | (( December 15, 2001 December 15, 2002)) December 15, 2003 December 15, 2004 December 15, 2005 |
(( January 31, 2002 January 31, 2003)) January 31, 2004 January 31, 2005 January 31, 2006 |
|||
| River Otter (Season Bag Limit is 6 River Otter in Eastern Washington) |
(( November 10, 2001 November 9, 2002)) November 8, 2003 November 13, 2004 November 12, 2005 |
(( February 28, 2002 February 28, 2003)) February 28, 2004 February 28, 2005 February 28, 2006 |
River otter trapping season is closed in all Eastern
Washington counties, except that it is open in Chelan, Ferry,
Klickitat, Kittitas, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens,
and Yakima counties, as well as in the Snake and Walla Walla
River drainages.
Chelan County
Beaver season is closed in Swakane and Mudd Creek drainages.
Columbia County
Trapping is not allowed on the Umatilla Tribes Rainwater Wildlife Area in Columbia County, as per their management plan.
Kittitas County
Beaver season is closed in the following drainages: North fork of Tarpiscan Creek and Umtanum Creek.
Urban Trapping Areas: Special Regulations and Trap
Restrictions
The following described areas are closed to the taking of
classified furbearing animals, and coyote, opossum, nutria,
and skunk, by the use of body-gripping or kill traps except by
permit under WAC 232-12-141.
Thurston County, within the established city limits (including
county islands) of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater.
Within Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties: Beginning at the
confluence of Snohomish River and Puget Sound; east up
Snohomish River to Interstate 5 (I-5); south on I-5 to
Interstate 405 (I-405); south on I-405 to I-5; south on I-5 to
Pioneer Way; east on Pioneer Way to Waller Road; south on
Waller Road to SR 512; west on SR 512 to Highway 7; south on
Highway 7 and Highway 507 to Pierce County line; north on
Pierce County line to Puget Sound; north along coast to mouth
of Snohomish River and point of beginning.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.020, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. 01-10-048 (Order 01-69), § 232-28-515, filed 4/26/01, effective 5/27/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 00-20-032 (Order 00-197), § 232-28-515, filed 9/27/00, effective 10/28/00; 98-01-208 (Order 97-252), § 232-28-515, filed 12/23/97, effective 1/23/98.]