(1) Rules pertaining to all archery:
(a) It is unlawful for any person to carry or have in his possession any firearm while in the field archery hunting, during an archery season specified for that area, except for modern handguns carried for personal protection if that person possesses a concealed pistol license as defined by RCW
9.41.070. Modern handguns cannot be used to hunt big game or dispatch wounded big game during an archery, big game hunting season.
(b) It is unlawful to have any electrical equipment or electric device(s) attached to the bow or arrow while hunting.
(c) It is unlawful to shoot a bow and arrow from a vehicle or from, across or along the maintained portion of a public highway, except persons with a disabled hunter permit may shoot from a vehicle if the hunter is in compliance with WAC
232-12-828.
(d) It is unlawful to use any device secured to or supported by the bow for the purpose of maintaining the bow at full draw or in a firing position, except persons with an archery special use permit may hunt game birds or game animals using a device that stabilizes and holds a long bow, recurve bow, or compound bow at a full draw, and may use a mechanical or electrical release.
(e) It is unlawful to hunt wildlife with a crossbow, except in designated areas. However, disabled hunter permittees in possession of a crossbow special use permit may hunt with a crossbow in any season that allows archery equipment.
(f) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with any arrow or bolt that does not have a sharp broadhead, and the broadhead blade or blades are less than seven-eighths inch wide.
(g) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a broadhead blade unless the broadhead is unbarbed and completely closed at the back end of the blade or blades by a smooth, unbroken surface starting at maximum blade width forming a smooth line toward the feather end of the shaft and such line does not angle toward the point.
(h) It is unlawful to hunt wildlife with any bow or crossbow equipped with a scope. Except hunters with disabilities who meet the definition of being visually impaired in WAC
232-12-828 may receive a special use permit that would allow the use of scopes or other visual aids. A disabled hunter permit holder in possession of a special use permit that allows the use of a scope or visual aid may hunt game birds or game animals during archery seasons.
(2) Rules pertaining to long bow, recurve bow and compound bow archery:
(a) It is unlawful for any person to hunt big game animals with a bow that possesses less than 40 pounds of pull measured at twenty-eight inches or less draw length.
(b) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with any arrow measuring less than 20 inches in length or weighing less than 6 grains per pound of draw weight with a minimum arrow weight of 300 grains.
(3) Rules pertaining to crossbows:
(a) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a crossbow with a draw weight less than 125 pounds, a limb width less than 24 inches, a draw length less than 14 inches, and a working trigger safety.
(b) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with any arrow or bolt measuring less than 16 inches in length and weighing less than 350 grains.
(c) It is unlawful to hunt game animals or game birds with a crossbow that weighs more than 15 pounds.
(4) Archery special use permits:
(a) An archery special use permit is available to a person who possesses a valid disabled hunter permit. An archery special use permit application must be signed by a physician stating that the person's disability is permanent and the person has a loss of use of one or both upper extremities, has a significant limitation in the use of an upper extremity, or has a permanent physical limitation, which loss or limitation substantially impairs the ability to safely hold, grasp or shoot a long bow, recurve bow or compound bow. The loss or limitation may be the result of, but not limited to, amputation, paralysis, diagnosed disease, or birth defect. The approved archery special use permit must be in the physical possession of the person while using adaptive archery equipment as described in subsection (1)(d) of this section to hunt game birds or game animals.
(b) A crossbow special use permit is available to a person who meets the requirements for an archery special use permit and is unable to use adaptive archery equipment. Adaptive equipment includes, but is not limited to: Cocking devices that hold the bow at full draw; trigger mechanisms that may be released by mouth, or chin, or hand supporting the bow; and devices that assist in supporting the bow. Information describing types of adaptive equipment will be provided to physicians for their assessment of the applicant's ability to utilize adaptive archery equipment. Muscle weakness, impaired range of motion, or unilateral hand weakness disability, of both hands or both arms or both sides of the upper extremity, may result in an inability to use adaptive archery equipment. Standard tests approved by the American Medical Association may be conducted to assess a person's abilities.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020, 77.12.570, 77.12.210, 77.12.150, 77.12.240. 09-09-083 (Order 09-53), § 232-12-054, filed 4/15/09, effective 5/16/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 06-11-032 (Order 06-92), § 232-12-054, filed 5/8/06, effective 6/8/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.12.020. 04-11-036 (Order 04-98), § 232-12-054, filed 5/12/04, effective 6/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 03-13-047 (Order 03-129), § 232-12-054, filed 6/12/03, effective 7/13/03; 01-17-068 (Order 01-167), § 232-12-054, filed 8/15/01, effective 9/15/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.010, 77.12.020, 77.12.770, 77.12.780. 00-11-137 (Order 00-50), § 232-12-054, filed 5/23/00, effective 6/23/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 90-03-092 (Order 427), § 232-12-054, filed 1/24/90, effective 2/24/90; 88-13-012 (Order 310), § 232-12-054, filed 6/6/88; 81-12-029 (Order 165), § 232-12-054, filed 6/1/81. Formerly WAC 232-12-140.]