WSR 17-19-088 PERMANENT RULES DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE [Order 17-253—Filed September 19, 2017, 10:09 a.m., effective October 20, 2017] Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing. Purpose: The proposal is intended to establish harvest guidelines for twenty-one spring bear hunts around the state during 2018 hunting season. The proposal will: (1) Remove the 2017 season regulations from the current rule; (2) extend the season ending date to June 15 for GMUs 154, 162, 166, 169, 172, 175, 181, and 186; and (3) remove the Monroe hunt area. The anticipated effects include mitigation of nuisance and damage activity while providing distributed recreational hunting opportunities within harvest management levels described in the 2015-2021 game management plan prepared by the department. Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-415-080. Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.12.240, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, and 77.32.070. Adopted under notice filed as WSR 17-13-132 on June 21, 2017. Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Change: Reduce the number of permits offered in the Long Beach hunt, GMU 684, from twenty permits to twelve permits.
Rationale: The department has determined that damage occurrences have diminished and thereby hunting pressure can be reduced in this hunt area.
Change: Add GMUs 638 and 648 (excluding U.S. Forest Service lands) to the Copalis hunt.
Rationale: This adjustment will distribute hunting pressure across areas where damage mitigation and distribution of harvest is needed. Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 18, 2017. Brad Smith, Chair Fish and Wildlife Commission
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 17-05-112, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17)
WAC 220-415-080 ((2017 and)) 2018 Spring black bear seasons and regulations.
It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions of this section. A violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.410, 77.15.245, or 77.15.280, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
Who May Apply: Anyone with a valid Washington big game license, which includes black bear as a species option.
Hunt Areas, Permit Levels, and Season Dates for Each License Year:
Bag Limit: One black bear per black bear special permit season.
License Required: A valid big game hunting license, which includes black bear as a species option, is required to hunt black bear. One black bear transport tag is included with a big game hunting license that has black bear as a species option.
Hunting Method: Hunters may use any lawful big game modern firearm, archery, or muzzleloader equipment for hunting black bear. The use of dogs or bait to hunt black bear is prohibited statewide.
Submitting Bear Teeth: Successful bear hunters must submit the black bear premolar located behind the canine tooth of the upper jaw.
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