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

     Purpose: The current rule on this subject is unclear regarding tagging requirements for black bear and cougar. This amendment will clarify the tagging requirements for these animals.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-12-061 (Amending Order 97-168, filed 8/25/97, effective 9/25/97).

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 07-09-089 on April 18, 2007.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: August 4, 2007.

Susan Yeager

for Jerry Gutzwiler, Chair

Fish and Wildlife Commission

OTS-9666.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 97-168, filed 8/25/97, effective 9/25/97)

WAC 232-12-061   Tagging requirements.   It is unlawful for a person who kills a big game animal or turkey to fail to immediately cut out and completely remove from ((their)) his or her tag the designated notches corresponding to the day and month of the kill for that species((, except for black bear or cougar, where for purposes of achieving species harvest management goals,)) (unless the tagging requirement is specifically exempted by the fish and wildlife commission ((determines that tags are not required for these two big game animals. A person who kills such animal or bird, shall))), and to fail to immediately attach ((their)) his or her notched tag to the carcass of such animal or bird. That tag must remain attached to the carcass while it is being transported and must remain with the wildlife during the period of retention of the edible parts.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 97-18-020 (Order 97-168), § 232-12-061, filed 8/25/97, effective 9/25/97; 81-22-002 (Order 174), § 232-12-061, filed 10/22/81; 81-12-029 (Order 165), § 232-12-061, filed 6/1/81. Formerly WAC 232-12-160.]

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