Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-02-096.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 232-28-273 2005 Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat seasons and permit quotas.

     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 2006 seasons and permit quotas for moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. The purpose of the rule is to maximize recreational hunting opportunities for these species while meeting the population and recreational objectives for each herd as indicated in the game management plan.

     The proposed changes include: Establishing a rocky mountain bighorn sheep permit in the Blue Mountains; and minor statewide permit level changes for moose (+4 permits), bighorn sheep (+7 permits), and mountain goats (-1 permits).

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: Recommended adjustments are based on maximizing recreational hunting opportunities while meeting population objectives for each species as indicated in the game management plan.

     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

((2005)) Moose Permit Hunts

    
Who May Apply: Anyone may apply; EXCEPT those who harvested a moose previously in Washington state. An individual may only harvest one moose during their lifetime (except waived for antlerless only hunts and raffle and auction hunts).

Bag Limit: One moose of either sex, EXCEPT antlerless only for the 49 Degrees North B persons with disabilities hunt, Hangman B Hunt, Mt. Spokane B Hunt and the Mt. Spokane Youth Hunt.

Weapon Restrictions: Permit holders may use any legal weapon.

Hunt Name	Permit Season	Permit Hunt Boundary Description	Special Restrictions	((2005)) Permits
Kettle Range	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	((GMU)) GMUs 101, 105	Any Moose	1
Selkirk Mtns.	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 113	Any Moose	20
Mt. Spokane A	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 124((,)) east of Hwy 395	Any Moose	10
Mt. Spokane B	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 124((,)) east of Hwy 395	Antlerless Only	12
Mt. Spokane Youth Onlya	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 124((,)) east of Hwy 395	Antlerless Only	8
49 Degrees North A	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 117	Any Moose	22
49 Degrees North Bb	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 117	Antlerless Only	3
Three Forks	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMUs 108, 111	Any Moose	((6)) 8
Hangman A	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	((GMU)) GMUs 127, 130	Any Moose	5
Hangman B	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	((GMU)) GMUs 127, 130	Antlerless Only	((3)) 5
Huckleberry Range	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	((GMU)) GMUs 121, 124 west of Hwy 395	Any Moose	6

^aApplicants must be eligible to purchase a youth moose permit application. Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult during the hunt.

^bApplicants must possess a Disabled Hunter Permit.

((2005 Mountain ))Bighorn Sheep (((Bighorn))) Permit Hunts

Who May Apply: Anyone may apply; EXCEPT those who harvested a bighorn sheep previously in Washington state. An individual may only harvest one bighorn sheep during their lifetime. (Except waived for raffle and auction hunts.)

Bag Limit: One bighorn ram.    

    

Hunt Name	Permit Season	Permit Hunt Boundary Description	Special Restrictions	((2005)) Permits
Vulcan Mountain	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 2	Any Legal Weapon	1
((Umtanum/))Selah Butte ((A))	((Sept. 15-Oct. 2)) Nov. 7-30	Sheep Unit 4 ((and 5))	Any Legal Weapon	((4)) 5
Umtanum((/Selah Butte B))	((Nov. 7-30)) Sep. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit ((4 and)) 5	Any Legal Weapon	((3)) 5
Cleman Mountain A	Sept. 15-Oct. 2	Sheep Unit 7	Any Legal Weapon	5
Cleman Mountain B	Nov. 7-30	Sheep Unit 7	Any Legal Weapon	((4)) 5
Mt. Hull	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 10	Any Legal Weapon	((1)) 2
Wenaha	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 11	Any Legal Weapon	1
Lincoln Cliffs	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 12	Any Legal Weapon	1
Quilomene A	Sept. 15-Oct. 2	Sheep Unit 13	Any Legal Weapon	3
Quilomene B	Nov. 7-30	Sheep Unit 13	Any Legal Weapon	2
Swakane	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 14	Any Legal Weapon	1
Tieton	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 15	Any Legal Weapon	((2)) 3
Manson	Nov. 7-30	Sheep Unit 16	Any Legal Weapon	2

((Mountain (Bighorn))) Bighorn Sheep Units:

Sheep Unit 2 Vulcan Mountain: Permit Area: Ferry County north of the Kettle River near Curlew.

Sheep Unit 4 Selah Butte: Permit Area: That part of Yakima and Kittitas counties between Ellensburg and Yakima east of the Yakima River and north of Selah Creek, west of Interstate 82 and south of Interstate 90.

Sheep Unit 5 Umtanum: Permit Area: Those portions of Yakima and Kittitas counties west of the Yakima River, north of Wenas Creek, and east of USFS Road 1701 to Manastash Lake and its drainage; south and east along the South Fork Manastash Creek to Manastash Creek and the Yakima River.

Sheep Unit 7 Cleman Mountain: Permit Area: That part of Yakima County south of Wenas Creek and east of USFS Road 1701, north of Highway 410 and Highway 12 and west of the Yakima River.

Sheep Unit 10 Mt. Hull: Permit Area: That part of Okanogan County within the following described boundary: Beginning at Oroville; then south along U.S. Highway 97 to the Swanson's Mill Road (old Mt. Hull Road) near Lake Andrews; then east to the Dry Gulch Road; then north to the Oroville-Toroda Creek Road (Molson Grade Road); then west to Oroville and the point of beginning.

Sheep Unit 11 Wenaha Wilderness: Permit Area: That part of GMU 169 within Crooked Creek drainage.

    
Sheep Unit 12 Lincoln Cliffs: Permit Area: That part of Lincoln County north of Highway 2.

Sheep Unit 13 Quilomene: Permit Area: ((GMU)) GMUs 329, 330, and 251 south of Colockum Creek.

Sheep Unit 14 Swakane: Permit Area: GMU 250.

Sheep Unit 15 Tieton: Permit Area: GMU 360.

Sheep Unit 16 Manson: Permit Area: GMU 243.

2005 Mountain Goat Permit Hunts

Who May Apply: Anyone may apply; except those who harvested a mountain goat in Washington state after 1998. An individual may only harvest one mountain goat during their lifetime, except for those who harvested a goat prior to 1999. (Except waived for raffle and auction hunts.)

Bag Limit: One (1) adult goat of either sex with horns four (4) inches or longer. WDFW urges hunters to refrain from shooting nannies with kids. Permit hunters may start hunting Sept. 1 with archery equipment.

Hunt Name	Permit Season	Permit Hunt Boundary Description	Special Restrictions	((2005)) Permits
Chelan North	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 2-1	Any Legal Weapon	1
Methow	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 2-2	Any Legal Weapon	2
Naches Pass/Corral Pass	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat ((Unit)) Units 3-6, 4-38	Any Legal Weapon	2
Bumping River	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 3-7	Any Legal Weapon	2
Blazed Ridge	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 3-10	Any Legal Weapon	2
Kachess Ridge	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 3-11	Any Legal Weapon	0
Jack Mountain	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 4-9	Any Legal Weapon	0
Tatoosh	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 5-2	Any Legal Weapon	1
Smith Creek	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 5-3	Any Legal Weapon	1
Goat Rocks/Tieton River	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Units 3-9, 5-4	Any Legal Weapon	((6)) 5

Mountain Goat Units:

Goat Unit 2-1 Chelan N. (Chelan County): Permit Area: Beginning at the mouth of Fish Creek on Lake Chelan (Moore Point); then northeast up Fish Creek and USFS trail 1259 to the Sawtooth crest near Deephole Spring; then southeast along the Sawtooth crest, which separates Chelan and Okanogan County, to Horsethief Basin and the headwaters of Safety Harbor Creek; then south along Safety Harbor Creek to Lake Chelan, then northwest along the north shore of Lake Chelan to the mouth of Fish Creek at Moore Point and the point of beginning.

Goat Unit 2-2 Methow Area: Permit Area: Okanogan County within the following described boundary: Beginning at the Town of Twisp, westerly along the Twisp River Road (County Road 4440) to Roads End; west up the Twisp Pass Trail 432 to Twisp Pass and the Okanogan County line; northerly along the Okanogan County line through Washington Pass to Harts Pass; southeast down Harts Pass (Road 5400) to Lost River; then along the Lost River-Mazama Road to Mazama; then southwest to State Highway 20; then southeasterly along State Highway 20 to Twisp and the point of beginning.

Goat Unit 3-6 Naches Pass: Permit Area: Yakima and Kittitas counties within the following described boundary: Beginning at Chinook Pass; then north along the Pacific Crest Trail to Naches Pass; then east to USFS Road 19 and continuing to State Highway 410; then west along State Highway 410 to Chinook Pass and point of beginning.

Goat Unit 3-7 Bumping River: Permit Area: GMU 356((; EXCEPT Timberwolf Mountain, which is closed)).

Goat Unit 3-9 Tieton River: Permit Area: ((Yakima County within the following described boundary: Beginning at White Pass and Pacific Crest Trail; then south to the Yakama Indian Reservation Boundary; then east to USFS Jeep Trail 1137; then west to USFS Road 1070-578 Spur; then west to Road 1000; then north to USFS Road 12; then north to State Highway 12; then west on State Highway 12 to point of beginning)) GMU 364.

Goat Unit 3-10 Blazed Ridge: Permit Area: Kittitas and Yakima counties within the following described boundary: Beginning at the mouth of Cabin Creek on the Yakima River; then west along Cabin Creek to the headwaters near Snowshoe Butte; then south along the Cascade Crest separating the Green and Yakima river drainage to Pyramid Peak; then southeast along the North Fork, Little Naches, and Naches River to the Yakima River; then north along the Yakima River to the mouth of Cabin Creek and point of beginning.

Goat Unit 3-11 Kachess Ridge: Permit Area: Kittitas County within the following described boundary: Beginning at the mouth of the Kachess River on the Yakima River; then north along the Kachess River and Kachess Lake to USFS Road 4600; then east on USFS Road 4600 to the Cle Elum River; then south along the Cle Elum River and Lake Cle Elum to the Yakima River; then northwest along the Yakima River to the mouth of the Kachess River and point of beginning.

Goat Unit 4-9 Jack Mountain: Permit Area: Whatcom County within the following described boundary: Beginning at the confluence of Ruby Creek and Crater Creek; then north up Crater Creek to the ridge line between Jerry Lakes and a pinnacle of Jack Mountain (7,292 ft. elevation); continue due north to Devil's Creek; then west down Devil's Creek to Ross Lake; then south along the east shoreline of Ross Lake to Ruby Arm; then easterly up Ruby Arm and Ruby Creek to the confluence of Crater Creek and the point of beginning.

Goat Unit 4-38 Corral Pass: Permit Area: Pierce County within the following described boundary: Beginning where Goat Creek intersects the Corral Pass Road; then southeast up Goat Creek to the Cascade Crest; then north along the Crest to USFS Trail 1188; then northwest along said trail to USFS Trail 1176; then north along said trail to Corral Pass; then west along Corral Pass Road to its intersection with Goat Creek and the point of beginning.

Goat Unit 5-2 Tatoosh: Permit Area: Lewis County within the following described boundary: Beginning at the junction of the southern Mount Rainier National Park Boundary and State Highway 123; then south along State Highway 123 to U.S. Highway 12; then southwest along said highway to Skate Creek Road (USFS Road 52); then northwest along said road to the junction of Morse Creek Road (old road to Longmire Campground); then north along said road to the Mount Rainier National Park Boundary; then east along the southern park boundary to the point of beginning.

Goat Unit 5-3 Smith Creek: Permit area: Lewis County within the following described boundary: Beginning at the Town of Randle; then east along U.S. Highway 12 to USFS Road 21; then southeast along USFS Road 21 to USFS Road 22; then northeast and northwest along USFS Road 22 to USFS Road 23; then east and northwest on USFS Road 23 to USFS Road 25; then north along USFS Road 25 to Randle and point of beginning.

Goat Unit 5-4 Goat Rocks: Permit Area: Lewis County south of the White Pass Highway (U.S. Highway 12) and east of the Johnson Creek Road (USFS Road 1302).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 05-11-022 (Order 05-89), § 232-28-273, filed 5/10/05, effective 6/10/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.12.020. 04-11-036 (Order 04-98), § 232-28-273, filed 5/12/04, effective 6/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 03-13-047 (Order 03-129), § 232-28-273, filed 6/12/03, effective 7/13/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.655, 77.12.020. 02-11-069 (Order 02-98), § 232-28-273, filed 5/10/02, effective 6/10/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.020, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. 01-10-048 (Order 01-69), § 232-28-273, filed 4/26/01, effective 5/27/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.010, 77.12.020, 77.12.770, 77.12.780. 00-11-137 (Order 00-50), § 232-28-273, filed 5/23/00, effective 6/23/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 99-10-102 (Order 99-40), § 232-28-273, filed 5/5/99, effective 6/5/99; 98-10-005 (Order 98-58), § 232-28-273, filed 4/22/98, effective 5/23/98.]

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