WSR 97-06-116
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
(Wildlife)
[Filed March 5, 1997, 10:27 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 97-01-111.
Title of Rule: To amend WAC 232-28-240 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 Deer and bear hunting seasons and regulations.
Purpose: To amend the deer seasons in northeast Washington to prevent an overlap between modern firearm deer and elk seasons.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.020, 77.12.030, 77.12.040, or 77.32.220.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.020, 77.12.030, 77.12.040, or 77.32.220.
Summary: This issue was brought to commission attention before the pamphlet was printed. The correction was made in the pamphlet, but now the edit must be made in the WAC.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: To correct oversight in previous adoption.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Dave Brittell, Assistant Director, Wildlife Management Program, Olympia, (360) 902-2504; and Enforcement: Ron Swatfigure, Acting Assistant Director, Enforcement Program, Olympia, (360) 902-2927.
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: The proposed rule will prevent an overlap of modern firearm deer and elk seasons.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: See above.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These rules do not affect small business.
Section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, does not apply to this rule adoption.
Hearing Location: Longview Elks Lodge, 1265 12th Avenue, Longview, WA 98632, on April 18-19, 1997, at 8:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Debbie Nelson by April 1, 1997, TDD (360) 902-2207, or (360) 902-2267.
Submit Written Comments to: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Evan Jacoby, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, FAX (360) 902-2930, by April 4, 1997.
Date of Intended Adoption: April 19, 1997.
March 5, 1997
Evan Jacoby
Legal Counsel
AMENDATORY SECTION [(Amending Order 97-30, filed 2/27/97)]
WAC 232-28-240 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 Deer and bear hunting
seasons and regulations.
deer
Bag Limit: One (1) deer per hunter during an annual (July 1-March 31)
hunting season. The Fish and Wildlife Commission may authorize two doe
permits for damage areas. Any multiple doe permits will be identified
by special permit.
Hunting Method: Hunters must select one of the hunting methods (modern
firearm, archery, muzzleloader).
Buck Deer Seasons: Open only to the taking of male deer with visible
antlers (buck fawns illegal).
Definition: Visible antler is a horn-like growth projecting above the
hairline.
Branched Antler Restriction GMUs: applies to all hunters during any open season!
Buck deer taken in these GMUs must meet minimum antler point
requirements. Minimum antler point requirements are antler points on one
side only. Antler points include eye guards but all antler points must
be at least one inch long. The following GMUs have 2 or 3 point minimum
requirements on buck deer taken.
2 Point GMUs: 437, 478, 558, 574, 578, 582, 588, 636, 681, and GMU 485
(by permit only).
3 Point GMUs: Mule Deer and Blacktail Deer in all 100, 200, 300 units
and GMU 450; Whitetail Deer in GMUs 127, 130, 133, 136, 139, 142, 145,
149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 169, 172, 175, 178, 181, 186, 203, and 231.
Modern Firearm Deer Seasons
Tag Required: Deer hunter must have a current, valid, unaltered,
unnotched modern firearm deer tag on his/her person.
Hunting Method: Modern firearm deer tag hunters may use rifle, handgun,
shotgun, bow or muzzleloader, but only during modern firearm seasons.
High Buck Hunt
Tag Required: Deer hunter must have a current, valid, unaltered,
unnotched modern firearm deer tag on his/her person.
[Open Style:Columns Off]
GMUs 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
203, 301, 302, 450 Sept. 15-25 Sept. 15-25 Sept. 15-25 3 pt. min.
Deer Areas 010,
040, 060 Sept. 15-25 Sept. 15-25 Sept. 15-25 3 pt. min.
General Modern Firearm Deer Seasons
Tag Required: Deer hunter must have a current, valid, unaltered,
unnotched modern firearm deer tag on his/her person.
GMUs 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
Eastern
All of eastern Oct. 11-19 Oct. 17-25 Oct. 16-24 Mule Deer and
Washington Blacktail Deer
except closed 3 Pt. Min. in
in GMUs 157, all open units
242, 290, 329, in GMUs 100, 200,
330, 342, and 300; 3 Pt. Min. or
371. Antlerless in GMU
281.
GMUs 101-142 Oct. 11-((28)) (24) Oct. 17-((28)) (30) Oct.16-((28)) (29) Whitetail buck only*
except 3 pt. min. in
GMUs 127-142.
Western
407-684. Oct.11-31 Oct. 17-31 Oct. 16-31 Buck only except
Closed in either sex in GMUs
GMU 522. Permit 410, and 564;
only in GMU 485. and 2 pt. min. in
GMUs 437, 478,
558, 574, 578, 582,
588, 636, and 681;
and 3 pt. min. in.
GMU 450.
*Hunters meeting the requirements of disabled, senior or youth may hunt
antlerless whitetail during the general buck season in GMUs 105-142.
Late Buck Season
Tag Required: Deer hunter must have a current, valid, unaltered,
unnotched modern firearm deer tag on his/her person.
GMUs 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
105-124 Nov. ((7))3-23 Nov. ((7))9-22 Nov. ((7))8-21 Whitetail buck only
127-142 Nov. ((7))3-23 Nov. ((7))9-22 Nov. ((7))8-21 Whitetail buck only,
3 pt. min.
All 400, 500, & 600 Nov. 20-23 Nov. 19-22 Nov. 18-21 Buck only except 2
Except closed in: pt. min. in GMUs
GMUs 418, 426, 478, 558, 636,
437, 448, 450, and 681 and either
485, 522, 574 sex in GMUs 410
578, 582, and and 564
588.
Archery Deer Seasons
Tag Required: Deer hunter must have a current valid, unaltered,
unnotched archery deer tag on his/her person.
Special Notes: Archery tag holders can only hunt with archery equipment
during archery seasons.
Early Archery
GMUs 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
All 100, 200, 300 Sept. 1-5 Sept. 1-7 Sept. 1-6 Mule Deer and
GMUs except closed Blacktail Deer-3
in GMUs 157, 203, pt. min. in all
301, 302 and permit open units;
only in GMUs 242, Whitetail Deer-
290, 329, 330, 342, buck only except
and 371 3 pt. min. in
GMUs 127-186,
and 231.
All 100, 200, 300 Sept. 6-15 Sept. 8-15 Sept. 7-15 Mule Deer and
GMUs except closed Blacktail Deer-3
in GMUs 157, 203, pt. min. or
301, 302 and permit antlerless in all
only in GMUs 242, open 100, 200,
290, 329, 330, 342, and 300 units;
and 371 Whitetail Deer-
either sex except
3 pt. min. or
antlerless GMUs
127-186, and 231.
All 100, 200, 300 Sept. 16-30 Sept. 16-30 Sept. 16-30 Whitetail only,
GMUs except closed either sex except
in GMU 157 and 3 pt. min. or
permit only in GMUs antlerless in
242, 290, 329, 330, GMUs 127, 130,
342, and 371 133, 136, 139,
142, 145, 149,
154, 162, 163,
166, 169, 172,
175, 178, 181,
186, and 231.
All 400, 500, 600* Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-30 Either sex, except
GMUs except closed 2 pt. min. or
in GMUs 450, 485, antlerless in
and 522 GMUs 437, 478,
558, 574, 578,
582, 588, 636,
and 681.
GMUs 203, 301, 302, Sept. 15-30 Sept. 15-30 Sept. 15-30 3 pt. min. or
450, and Deer Areas antlerless
010, 040, 060
Bow Area 802 Sept. 2-30 Sept. 1-30 Sept. 1-30 Either sex
* Bangor Submarine Base within GMU 627 is open for archers with
disabilities by permit from the Navy. For information on this hunt, call
Tom Jones at (360) 396-5097. Special Restrictions: Must be U.S.
citizen, and hunting is open on weekends only.
Late Archery
GMUs 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
101 Nov. 10-Dec. 15 Nov. 10-Dec. 15 Nov. 10-Dec. 15 Whitetail only,
either sex
105, 117, 121, 124 Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 Whitetail only,
either sex
127, 145, 178 Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 3 pt. min. or
antlerless
209, 215, 233, 272, Nov. 26-Dec. 8 Nov. 25-Dec. 8 Nov. 24-Dec. 8 Mule Deer and
300, 316, 346, 352, Blacktail Deer-
364 3 pt. min. or
antlerless;
Whitetail Deer-
either sex
558, 582, 588, 636, Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 2 pt. min or
681 antlerless
460, 466, 510, 513, Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 Either sex
516, 520, 524, 530,
556, 560, 572, 601,
607, 612, 615, 618,
638, 648, 673
450 Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 3 pt. min
Bow Areas 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
802 Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 Either sex
806, 807 Nov. 26-Dec. 8 Nov. 25-Dec. 8 Nov. 24-Dec. 8 Mule deer
and Blacktail
deer - 3 pt. min.
or antlerless
Extended Late Archery
GMUs 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
407, 410, 454, 484, Nov. 26-Dec. 31 Nov. 25-Dec. 31 Nov. 24-Dec. 31 Either sex
505, 506, 564, 568,
603, 624, 627, 642,
660, 663, 666, 667,
672
437 Nov. 26-Dec. 31 Nov. 25-Dec. 31 Nov. 24-Dec. 31 2 pt. min. or
antlerless
Muzzleloader Deer Seasons
Tag Required: Deer hunter must have a current, valid, unaltered,
unnotched muzzleloader deer tag on his/her person.
Hunting Method: Muzzleloader only.
Special Notes: Muzzleloader tag holders can only hunt during
muzzleloader seasons and must hunt with muzzleloader equipment.
Muzzleloader deer tag holders may apply for all either sex, antlerless
only, and branched antler deer special hunting permits except on Private
Lands Wildlife Management Area 201.
High Buck Hunt
GMUs 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
203, 301, 302, 450 Sept. 15-25 Sept. 15-25 Sept. 15-25 3 pt. min.
Deer Areas 010,
040, 060 Sept. 15-25 Sept. 15-25 Sept. 15-25 3 pt. min.
Early Muzzleloader
GMUs 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
109, 117, 209, 300, Oct. 4-10 Oct. 10-16 Oct. 9-15 Mule Deer and
304, 316, 336, 352, Blacktail Deer-
360, 407, 410, 520, 3 pt. min.;
530, 564, 568, 603, Whitetail Deer-
612, 624, 672 any buck
407, 410, 520, 530, Oct. 4-10 Oct. 10-16 Oct. 9-15 Buck only
564, 568, 603, 612,
624, 672
454, 484 and 666 Oct. 4-10 Oct. 10-16 Oct. 9-15 Either sex
Late Muzzleloader
GMUs 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
113 Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 Whitetail,
buck only
((136,)) 139, 172, Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 Whitetail, 3 pt.
181 min.
130, 136 Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 3 pt. min. or
Antlerless
410, 501, 504, 564, Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 Either sex
651, 666, 684
478 Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 2 pt. min.
550, 582, 602, Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 15 Buck only
633
578 Nov. 26-Dec. 8 Nov. 25-Dec. 8 Nov. 24-Dec. 8 2 pt. min.
Muzzleloader Area
925 Dec. 1-31 Dec. 1-31 Dec. 1-31 Antlerless only
926 Nov. 26-Dec. 15 Nov. 25-Dec. 15 Nov. 24-Dec. 8 Either sex
Firearm Restricted Deer Hunts Open To All Deer Hunters
Tag Required: Deer hunter must have a current, valid, unaltered,
unnotched modern firearm, archery or muzzleloader deer tag on his/her
person.
Hunting Method: Must use weapon in compliance with tag. Firearm
restrictions apply in some GMUs.
Weapon
GMUs Permitted 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Legal Deer
410 Archery, Oct. 11-31 Oct. 17-31 Oct. 16-31 Either sex
Shotgun,
Muzzleloader
564 Archery, Nov. 26-Dec. 31 Nov. 25-Dec. 31 Nov. 24-Dec. 31 Either sex
Shotgun,
Muzzleloader
627* Archery, Oct. 11-31 Oct. 17-31 Oct. 16-31 Either sex
Shotgun,
Muzzleloader
Deer Area
062** Archery, Sept. 1-Dec. 31 Sept. 1-Dec. 31 Sept. 1-Dec. 31 Either sex
Shotgun,
Muzzleloader
*Only that portion of GMU 627 (Kitsap) on Vashon and Maury Islands.
**Restricted Access: Indian Island.
Private Lands Wildlife Management Opportunities
Champion (PLWMA 401) Kapowsin Tree Farm
Hunting Method 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Special Restrictions
Archery Sept. 1-12 Sept. 1-11 Sept. 1-10 either sex
Sept. 28-Oct. 9 Sept. 28-Oct. 9 Sept. 28-Oct. 9 either sex
Modern Firearm
General Oct. 11-26 Oct. 10-25 Oct. 9-24 2 pt. min.
Muzzleloader Nov. 26-Dec. 7 Nov. 25-Dec. 6 Nov. 24-Dec. 5 Antlerless
only
Merrill and Ring (PLWMA 600) Pysht Tree Farm
Hunting Method 1997 Dates 1998 Dates 1999 Dates Special Restrictions
Archery Sept. 15-30 Sept. 15-30 Sept. 15-30 Antlerless only:
North Unit 600A -
Either sex: South
Unit 600B
Nov. 26-Dec. 31 Nov. 25-Dec. 31 Nov. 24-Dec. 31 Antlerless only:
North Unit
600A - Either sex:
South Unit 600B
Modern Firearm Oct. 11-31 Oct. 17-31 Oct. 16-31 Buck only; South
Unit 600B
Nov. 20-23 Nov. 19-22 Nov. 18-21 Buck only; South
Unit 600B
Muzzleloader Oct. 1-9 Oct. 1-9 Oct. 1-9 Antlerless only:
North Unit
600A - Buck
only: South
Unit 600B
[Open Style:Columns On]
black bear
Bag Limit: One (1) black bear. Except if a damage bear tag is purchased
and a damage season is hunted, then two (2) black bear may be taken.
License and Tag Requirements: A valid hunting license and unaltered,
unnotched bear tag(s) are required to hunt black bear.
Bear Tag Information: A hunter may purchase one (1) damage bear tag and
one (1) general bear tag. A damage bear tag allows a hunter to take one
(1) bear during the damage season in a damage area, but is not valid
during the general season. A general bear tag may be used in a damage
season and during the general season to take one (1) bear.
Tag Sale Deadline: Damage bear tags must be purchased, and are only
valid prior to August 1, 1997. General bear tags must be purchased by
midnight of the day preceding modern firearm deer season opener. Actual
dates are: Oct. 10, 1997; Oct. 16, 1998; Oct. 15, 1999.
Use of Bait and Hounds: The use of bait and hounds for hunting black
bear is prohibited state-wide.
black bear seasons
Damage:
July 15-31, 1997; July 15-31, 1998; July 15-31, 1999 in PLWMAs 401 and
600, and in GMUs 454, 484, 501, 505, 506, 520, 530, 564, 568, 601, 603,
615, 627, 642, 648, and 667. Also in GMUs 558 and 572 except closed on
the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and on Washington Department of
Natural Resource lands.
General:
Eastern Washington
Aug. 1-Nov. 6, 1997; Aug. 1-Nov. 6, 1998; Aug. 1-Nov. 6, 1999.
Western Washington
Aug. 1-Nov. 13, 1997; Aug. 1-Nov. 12, 1998; Aug. 1-Nov. 11, 1999, except
Sept. 2-Nov. 13, 1997; Sept. 8-Nov. 12, 1998; and Sept. 7-Nov. 11, 1999
in Bow Area 802. closed in GMUs 485 and 522.
tooth submittal
Bear: Each hunter who takes a bear must submit the small premolar tooth
behind the canine tooth of upper or lower jaw for age determination.
Tooth envelopes are available from Department of Fish and Wildlife
regional offices.
report cards
Each successful hunter must fill out and return a Game Harvest Report
Card to the Department of Fish and Wildlife within ten days after taking
a deer or bear.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 97-06-047 (Order 97-30), 232-28-240, filed 2/27/97, effective 3/30/97; 96-18-051 (Order 96-133), 232-28-240, filed 8/29/96, effective 9/29/96; 96-15-102, 232-28-240, filed
7/22/96, effective 8/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.010 and
77.12.040. 96-04-027, 232-28-240, filed 2/1/96, effective 3/3/96.
Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 95-03-031 (Order 94-142), 232-28-240, filed 1/10/95, effective 2/10/95; 94-21-069 (Orders 94-76 and 94-131), 232-28-240, filed 10/17/94, effective 11/17/94; 94-11-046 (Order
654), 232-28-240, filed 5/10/94, effective 6/10/94.]
Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above
was supplied by the code reviser's office.
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.
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.