PROPOSED RULES
FISH AND WILDLIFE
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-02-096.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 232-28-515 Trapping seasons and regulations.
Hearing Location(s): Comfort Inn and Conference Center, 1620 74th Avenue S.W., Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 596-9100, on April 7-8, 2006, at 8:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: April 7, 2006.
Submit Written Comments to: Attn: Wildlife Program Commission Meeting Public Comments, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, e-mail Wildthing@dfw.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-2162, by Monday, March 24, 2006.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Nancy Burkhart by April 5, 2006, TTY (360) 902-2207 or (360) 902-2267.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: This 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.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Calendar date changes to establish 2006-2008 furbearer trapping seasons and bag limits.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.047.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Washington fish and wildlife commission, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Dave Brittell, Natural Resources Building, Olympia, (360) 902-2504; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, Natural Resources Building, Olympia, (360) 902-2932.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These rules regulate recreational hunters and do not directly regulate small business.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Not hydraulics rules.
March 1, 2006
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 | (( November 20, 2004 November 19, 2005)) November 18, 2006 November 17, 2007 November 15, 2008 |
(( February 28, 2005 February 28, 2006)) February 28, 2007, 2008, and 2009 |
| Beaver, River Otter, Red Fox, Weasel, Marten, Mink, Muskrat, and Raccoon | (( November 1, 2004 November 1, 2005)) November 1, 2006, 2007, and 2008 |
(( March 31, 2005 March 31, 2006)) March 31, 2007, 2008, & 2009 |
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 | |
| Bobcat | (( November 20, 2004 November 19, 2005)) November 18, 2006 November 17, 2007 November 15, 2008 |
(( February 28, 2005 February 28, 2006)) February 28, 2007, 2008, and 2009 |
|
| Badger, Beaver,
Mink, Muskrat,
Raccoon, Red
Fox, Weasel,
Marten, River
Otter (Season Bag Limit is 6 River Otter in Eastern Washington) |
(( November 1, 2004 November 1, 2005)) November 1, 2006, 2007, and 2008 |
(( March 31, 2005 March 31, 2006)) March 31, 2007, 2008, and 2009 |
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 77.12.047. 04-17-061 (Order 04-207), § 232-28-515, filed 8/11/04, effective 9/11/04; 03-13-047 (Order 03-129), § 232-28-515, filed 6/12/03, effective 7/13/03. 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.]
Reviser's note: RCW 34.05.395 requires the use of underlining and deletion marks to indicate amendments to existing rules. The rule published above varies from its predecessor in certain respects not indicated by the use of these markings.