Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: This rule amendment removes Game Management Unit (GMU) 186 and adds GMU 175 to the hunt area for the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep raffle hunt. This action was taken due to the decline in the number of mature rams in GMU 186 and the disease outbreak in GMU 175, which has several mature rams. The expected result of this action is to reduce the bighorn ram harvest in GMU 186 and increase it in GMU 175. Reducing the number of rams in GMU 175 may also be helpful in terms of reducing the number of potentially wandering rams spreading the disease.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-283.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, 77.32.530.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 12-13-105 on June 20, 2012.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: October 6, 2012.

Miranda Wecker, Chair

Fish and Wildlife Commission

OTS-4835.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 10-10, filed 1/13/10, effective 2/13/10)

WAC 232-28-283   Big game and wild turkey auction, raffle, and special incentive permits.  

AUCTION PERMITS

(1) BLACK-TAILED DEER AUCTION PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Those GMUs open to black-tailed deer hunting EXCEPT GMU 485 and those GMUs closed to black-tailed deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Weapon type: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One additional any buck black-tailed deer.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(2) MULE DEER AUCTION PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Those GMUs open to mule deer hunting EXCEPT those GMUs closed to mule deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Weapon type: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One additional any buck mule deer.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(3) WHITE-TAILED DEER AUCTION PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Those GMUs open to white-tailed deer hunting EXCEPT those GMUs closed to white-tailed deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Weapon type: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One additional any buck white-tailed deer.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(4) WESTSIDE ELK AUCTION PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Western Washington EXCEPT GMU 485, those GMUs closed to elk hunting, and those GMUs not opened to branch antlered bull elk hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Weapon type: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One additional any bull elk.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(5) EASTSIDE ELK AUCTION PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Eastern Washington EXCEPT GMU 157, those GMUs closed to elk hunting, and those GMUs not opened to branch antlered bull elk hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Weapon type: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One additional any bull elk.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(6) CALIFORNIA BIGHORN SHEEP AUCTION PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Any open sheep unit with two or more ram permits during the respective license year, EXCEPT sheep units in Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin, or Pend Oreille counties are not open.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One California bighorn ram.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(7) MOOSE AUCTION PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Any open moose unit.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One moose of either sex.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(8) MOUNTAIN GOAT AUCTION PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Any open goat unit with two or more permits during the respective license year.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One mountain goat of either sex.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

RAFFLE PERMITS

(9) BLACK-TAILED DEER RAFFLE PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Those GMUs open to black-tailed deer hunting EXCEPT GMU 485 and those GMUs closed to deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One additional any buck black-tailed deer.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(10) MULE DEER RAFFLE PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Those GMUs open to mule deer hunting EXCEPT those GMUs closed to mule deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One additional any buck mule deer.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(11) WHITE-TAILED DEER RAFFLE PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Those GMUs open to white-tailed deer hunting EXCEPT those GMUs closed to white-tailed deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One additional any buck white-tailed deer.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(12) WESTSIDE ELK RAFFLE PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Western Washington EXCEPT GMU 485, those GMUs closed to elk hunting, and those GMUs not open to branch antlered bull elk hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One additional any bull elk.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(13) EASTSIDE ELK RAFFLE PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Eastern Washington EXCEPT GMU 157, those GMUs closed to elk hunting, and those GMUs not opened to branch antlered bull elk hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One additional any bull elk.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(14) CALIFORNIA BIGHORN SHEEP RAFFLE PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Any open bighorn sheep unit with two or more ram permits during the respective license year, EXCEPT sheep units in Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin, or Pend Oreille counties are not open.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One California bighorn ram.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(15) MOOSE RAFFLE PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Any open moose unit.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One moose of either sex.

Number of permit hunters selected: 2

(16) MOUNTAIN GOAT RAFFLE PERMIT

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Any open goat unit with two or more permits during the respective license year.

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Bag limit: One mountain goat of either sex.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(17) TURKEY RAFFLE PERMIT

Season dates: April 1 - May 31 and September 1 - December 31

Hunt Area: Statewide.

Weapon: Archery or shotgun only.

Bag limit: Three additional wild turkeys, but not to exceed more than one turkey in Western Washington or two turkeys in Eastern Washington.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(18) ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP RAFFLE PERMIT

Bag limit: One Rocky Mountain bighorn ram.

Hunt Area: GMUs 113, 175, 181((, 186)).

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(19) THREE-DEER RAFFLE PERMIT

Bag limit: One additional any buck black-tailed deer, one additional any buck mule deer, and one additional any buck white-tailed deer; total harvest not to exceed three animals.

Hunt Area: For black-tailed deer, those GMUs open to black-tailed deer hunting EXCEPT GMU 485 and those GMUs closed to deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission. For mule deer, those GMUs open to mule deer hunting EXCEPT those GMUs closed to mule deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission. For white-tailed deer, those GMUs open to white-tailed deer hunting EXCEPT those GMUs closed to white-tailed deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(20) NORTHEAST WASHINGTON BIG GAME RAFFLE PERMIT

Bag limit: Permit hunter may harvest three of six possible species. Species that may be harvested under this permit include: One additional any buck white-tailed deer, one additional any bull elk, one any bull moose, one additional any legal cougar, one additional any legal black bear, and one additional any legal turkey (gobbler and turkey with visible beard ONLY); total harvest not to exceed three animals.

Hunt Area: GMUs 101-124.

Season dates: September 1 - December 31 for white-tailed deer, elk, and moose. April 15 - May 31 and September 1 - December 31 for black bear. September 1 - March 31 for cougar. April 15 - May 31 for turkey

Weapon: Any legal weapon EXCEPT archery and shotgun only for turkey.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(21) SOUTH-CENTRAL WASHINGTON BIG GAME RAFFLE PERMIT

Bag limit: One additional any bull elk, one additional any buck deer, and one California bighorn sheep ram; total harvest not to exceed three animals.

Hunt Area: For elk, any 300 or 500 series GMU EXCEPT those GMUs closed to elk hunting and those GMUs not open to branch antlered bull elk hunting by the fish and wildlife commission. For deer, any 300 or 500 series GMU EXCEPT those GMUs closed to deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission. For California bighorn sheep, those bighorn sheep hunt areas south of Interstate 90 and west of Interstate 82 open to bighorn sheep hunting by the fish and wildlife commission with two or more permits during the respective license year.

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(22) SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON BIG GAME RAFFLE PERMIT

Bag limit: Permit hunter may harvest four of five possible species. Species that may be harvested under this permit include: One additional any buck white-tailed deer, one additional any buck mule deer, one additional any bull elk, one additional any legal cougar, and one additional any legal black bear; total harvest not to exceed four animals.

Hunt Area: GMUs 139-154 and 162-186.

Season dates: September 1 - December 31 for white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk. April 15 - June 15 and September 1 - December 31 for black bear. September 1 - March 31 for cougar

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

(23) NORTH-CENTRAL WASHINGTON BIG GAME RAFFLE PERMIT

Bag limit: Permit hunter may harvest three of five possible species. Species that may be harvested under this permit include: One additional any buck white-tailed deer, one additional any buck mule deer, one any ram California bighorn sheep, one additional any legal cougar, and one additional any legal black bear; total harvest not to exceed three animals.

Hunt Area: For white-tailed deer, mule deer, cougar, and black bear, any 200 series GMU EXCEPT those GMUs closed to deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission. For California bighorn sheep, those bighorn sheep hunt areas in Chelan or Okanogan counties open to bighorn sheep hunting by the fish and wildlife commission with two or more permits during the respective license year.

Season dates: September 1 - December 31 for white-tailed deer, mule deer, and California bighorn sheep. April 15 - May 15 and September 1 - December 31 for black bear. September 1 - March 31 for cougar

Weapon: Any legal weapon.

Number of permit hunters selected: 1

SPECIAL INCENTIVE PERMITS

(24) WESTERN WASHINGTON ELK INCENTIVE PERMITS

Hunt Area: Western Washington EXCEPT GMUs 418, 485, 522, and those GMUs closed to elk hunting or closed to branch antlered bull elk hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Weapon: Any legal weapon, EXCEPT must use archery equipment during archery seasons and muzzleloader equipment during muzzleloader seasons.

Bag limit: One additional elk.

Number of permit hunters selected: 2

(25) EASTERN WASHINGTON ELK INCENTIVE PERMITS

Hunt Area: Eastern Washington EXCEPT GMU 157 and those GMUs closed to elk hunting or closed to branch antlered bull elk hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Weapon: Any legal weapon, EXCEPT must use archery equipment during archery seasons and muzzleloader equipment during muzzleloader seasons.

Bag limit: One additional elk.

Number of permit hunters selected: 2

(26) DEER INCENTIVE PERMITS

Hunt Area: Statewide, for use in any area open to general or permit hunting seasons EXCEPT GMUs 157, 418, 485, 522, and those GMUs closed to deer hunting by the fish and wildlife commission.

Season dates: September 1 - December 31

Weapon: Any legal weapon, EXCEPT must use archery equipment during archery seasons and muzzleloader equipment during muzzleloader seasons and any legal weapon at other times if there are no firearm restrictions.

Bag limit: One additional any deer.

Number of permit hunters selected: 5

PERMIT ISSUANCE PROCEDURE

(27) Auction permits: The director will select a conservation organization(s) to conduct annual auction(s). Selection of the conservation organizations will be based on criteria adopted by the Washington department of fish and wildlife. Big game and wild turkey auctions shall be conducted consistent with WAC 232-28-292.

(28) Raffle permits: Raffle permits will be issued to individuals selected through a Washington department of fish and wildlife drawing or the director may select a conservation organization(s) to conduct annual raffles. Selection of a conservation organization will be based on criteria adopted by the Washington department of fish and wildlife. Big game and wild turkey raffles shall be conducted consistent with WAC 232-28-290.

(29) Special incentive permits: Hunters will be entered into a drawing for special deer and elk incentive permits for prompt reporting of hunting activity in compliance with WAC 232-28-299.

(30) For permit hunts where the permittee may harvest multiple species, the permittee must select the species he/she wants to hunt within fourteen days of notification of being selected.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION AND REQUIREMENTS:

(31) Permittee shall contact the appropriate regional office of the department of fish and wildlife when entering the designated hunt area or entering the region to hunt outside the general season.

(32) The permittee may be accompanied by others; however, only the permittee is allowed to carry a legal weapon or harvest an animal.

(33) Any attempt by members of the permittee's party to herd or drive wildlife is prohibited.

(34) If requested by the department, the permittee is required to direct department officials to the site of the kill.

(35) The permit is valid during the hunting season dates for the year issued.

(36) The permittee will present the head and carcass of the bighorn sheep killed to any department office within seventy-two hours of date of kill.

(37) The permittee must abide by all local, state, and federal regulations including firearm restriction areas and area closures.

(38) Hunters awarded the special incentive permit will be required to send the appropriate license fee to the department of fish and wildlife headquarters in Olympia. The department will issue the license and transport tag and send it to the special incentive permit winner.

(39) Permit hunters awarded a cougar permit may only use dogs in GMUs that have a cougar season open to dog use (WAC 232-28-285).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020, 77.12.570, 77.12.210, 77.12.150, and 77.12.240. 10-03-041 (Order 10-10), § 232-28-283, filed 1/13/10, effective 2/13/10.]