Original Notice.

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 00-01-142.

Purpose: To amend WAC 232-28-273 Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat seasons and permit quotas.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.040.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.12.040.

Summary: The amendment provides language changes in permit quotas for moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat. The proposed changes are to eliminate the Mt. Spokane either sex moose hunt and create a new antlerless only hunt in the same area, eliminate goat hunting in two of the thirteen goat management units, and eliminate sheep hunting in two of the nine sheep management units.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: Moose surveys in the Mt. Spokane area (GMU 124) indicate that the bull:cow ratio is about 24:100 and is below the desired management level of 50 to 55:100. The proposed change in moose permits would shift the sex ratio toward the desired level.

Bighorn sheep abundance continues to decline in the Vulcan Mt. area (Sheep Unit 2) due to a recent disease (muscle-worm) outbreak. Similarly, sheep abundance is declining in the Tucannon River area (Sheep Unit 3) due to mite infestation. Suspending harvest in Vulcan Mt. and Tucannon River is recommended.

In goat units 4-8 and 4-32, the % kids (3-year average) has dropped below management guidelines and the number of goats seen/hunter-day is critically low. Reliable information on goat abundance and survival is lacking. Eliminating harvest in these areas is recommended.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Dave Brittell, Assistant Director, Wildlife Program, Olympia, (360) 902-2504; and Enforcement: Bruce Bjork, Assistant Director, Enforcement, Olympia, (360) 902-2932.

Name of Proponent: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, governmental.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The rule provides limited entry, permit seasons for moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat. The purpose of the proposed changes, is to provide recreational hunter opportunity when consistent with the biological status of the species. The anticipated effects of the changes are a shift in the Mt. Spokane moose sex ratio and an increase in bighorn sheep and mountain goat survival in the closed areas.

Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: See above.

No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This rule does not affect small business.

Section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, does not apply to this rule adoption. This rule is not related to the hydraulics code.

Hearing Location: Yakima Convention Center, 10 North 8th Street, Yakima, WA, on April 7-8, 2000, at 8:00 a.m.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Debbie Nelson by March 31, 2000, TDD (360) 902-2207, or (360) 902-2267.

Submit Written Comments to: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Dave Brittell, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091, fax (360) 902-2162, by March 31, 2000.

Date of Intended Adoption: April 7, 2000.

March 1, 2000

Evan Jacoby

Rules Coordinator

((1999)) 2000 Moose Permit Hunts

Who May Apply: Anyone may apply; EXCEPT those who drew a moose permit previously in Washington State. Only one moose permit will be issued during an individual's lifetime (waived for Mt. Spokane youth hunt).

Bag Limit: One moose of either sex, EXCEPT antlerless only for the Mt. Spokane ((Youth)) Hunt((.)) and the Mt. Spokane Youth Hunt.

Hunt Name	Permit Season	Permit Hunt Boundary Description	Special Restrictions	((1999)) 2000 Permits
Selkirk Mtns.	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 113	Any Legal Weapon	15
Mt. Spokane	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 124	Any Legal Weapon	((10)) 15
Mt. Spokane Youth Only*	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 124	Any Legal Weapon	5
49 Degrees North	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 117	Any Legal Weapon	13
Three Forks	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 109	Any Legal Weapon	4
Hangman	Oct. 1-Nov. 30	GMU 127, 130	Any Legal Weapon	2

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

((1999)) 2000 Mountain Sheep (Bighorn) Permit Hunts

Who May Apply: Anyone may apply; EXCEPT those who drew a bighorn permit previously in Washington State. Only one bighorn sheep permit will be issued during an individual's lifetime.

Bag Limit: One bighorn ram.

Hunt Name	Permit Season	Permit Hunt Boundary Description	Special Restrictions	((1999)) 2000 Permits
((Vulcan Mountain))	((Sept. 15-Oct. 10))	((Sheep Unit 2))	((Any Legal Weapon))	((1))
((Tucannon River))	((Sept. 15-Oct. 10))	((Sheep Unit 3))	((Any Legal Weapon))	((1))
Selah Butte	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 4	Any Legal Weapon	2
Umtanum	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 5	Any Legal Weapon	3
Cleman Mountain	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 7	Any Legal Weapon	3
Mt. Hull	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 10	Any Legal Weapon	1
Lincoln Cliffs	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 12	Any Legal Weapon	1
Quilomene	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 13	Any Legal Weapon	3
Swakane	Sept. 15-Oct. 10	Sheep Unit 14	Any Legal Weapon	1

Mountain (Bighorn) Sheep Units:

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

((Sheep Unit 3 Tucannon River: Permit Area: The Tucannon River drainage in Columbia and Garfield counties.))

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

Sheep Unit 13 Quilomene: Permit Area: GMU((s)) 329 ((and 330.))

Sheep Unit 14 Swakane: Permit Area: GMU ((316)) 250.

((1999)) 2000 Mountain Goat Permit Hunts

Who May Apply: Anyone may apply((.)); EXCEPT those who drew a 1999 mountain goat permit in Washington state. As of 1999, only one mountain goat permit will be issued during an individuals lifetime.

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	((1999)) 2000 Permits
Methow	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 2-2	Any Legal Weapon	5
Naches Pass	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 3-6	Any Legal Weapon	3
Bumping River	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 3-7	Any Legal Weapon	2
Tieton River	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 3-9	Any Legal Weapon	3
Blazed Ridge	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 3-10	Any Legal Weapon	6
Kachess Ridge	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 3-11	Any Legal Weapon	1
((East Ross Lake))	((Sept. 15-Oct. 31))	((Goat Unit 4-8))	((Any Legal Weapon))	((1))
Jack Mountain	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 4-9	Any Legal Weapon	1
((Foss River))	((Sept. 15-Oct. 31))	((Goat Unit 4-32))	((Any Legal Weapon))	((2))
Corral Pass	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 4-38	Any Legal Weapon	2
Tatoosh	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 5-2	Any Legal Weapon	5
Smith Creek	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 5-3	Any Legal Weapon	3
Goat Rocks	Sept. 15-Oct. 31	Goat Unit 5-4	Any Legal Weapon	7

Mountain Goat Units:

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: Yakima County within the following described boundary: Beginning at White Pass and the Pacific Crest Trail; then north to Forest Trail 980; then north to USFS Road 18; then north to State Highway 410; then east to State Highway 12; then west along State Highway 12 and back to point of beginning; 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 Yakima 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.

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 4-8 East Ross Lake: Permit Area: Whatcom County within the following described boundary: Beginning at the point the U.S.-Canada boundary meets the east boundary of North Cascades National Park; then south along the park boundary to Stetattle Creek; then south down Stetattle Creek to Gorge Lake; then southwest along Gorge Lake to State Highway 20; then east and north along State Highway 20 to Ross Dam; then north along the east shoreline of Ross Lake (Note: Exclude Ruby Arm) to Devil's Creek; then east up Devil's Creek to a tributary extending south to ridge line between Jerry Lakes and a pinnacle of Jack Mountain (7,292 ft. elevation); continue south over this ridge line into the Crater Creek Basin and Crater Creek; then down Crater Creek to its confluence with Ruby Creek; then east up Ruby Creek to Granite Creek; then continue east up Granite to the Cascades Summit; then north along the Cascades Summit to the U.S.-Canada boundary; then west along the Canadian line to the east boundary of North Cascades National Park and the point of beginning. (Notice: Jack Mountain not included in Goat Unit 4-8, East Ross Lake. See description for Goat Unit 4-9, Jack Mountain.)))

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 4-32 Foss River: Permit Area: King and Snohomish counties within the following described boundary: Beginning at intersection of U.S. Highway 2 and the King County line at Stevens Pass; then south along the King County line to the headwaters of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River near Dutch Miller Gap; then west and south down said river to the confluence with the Dingford Creek; then north and east up said creek to its headwaters intersection with USFS Trail 1005; then north up said trail to Little Myrtle Lake; then west and north to Marlene Lake (approximately 4 miles); then north down the stream outlet from Marlene Lake to the junction with USFS Trail 1002 near Dorothy Lake; then north along said trail to the junction with the East Fork Miller River headwaters; then north down said river to the confluence with the South Fork Skykomish River; then east up said river to the junction with U.S. Highway 2; then east along said highway to the point of beginning.))

Goat Unit 4-34 Pratt River: Permit Area: King County within the following described boundary: Beginning at the point where the Weyerhaeuser Mainline Truck Road intersects the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River (near the confluence of the North Fork and Snoqualmie Rivers); then northeast up the Middle Fork Snoqualmie to its headwaters near Dutch Miller Gap at the King County line; then south along the King County line to Snoqualmie Pass and the intersection with Interstate 90; then west along Interstate 90 to the point nearest the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River (approximately one mile east of North Bend); then north and east up the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and to the point of beginning. Except closed: Snoqualmie Mountain and the watersheds of Denny Creek and South Fork of the Snoqualmie above Denny Creek.

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 77.12.040.      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.]

Reviser's note: The bracketed material preceding the section above was supplied by the code reviser's office.

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