Section 232-12-828. Hunting of game birds and animals by persons with a disability.

(1) Definitions:

(a) "Hunter with a disability" means a person with a permanent disability who possesses a disabled hunter permit issued by the department.

(b) "Disabled hunter permit" means a permit, card, or endorsement to a license issued by the department to any person with a permanent disability who applies to the department and presents such evidence as the director may require showing that the applicant is a person with a qualifying disability.

(i) Upon approval of the application, the department will issue a vehicle identification placard.

(ii) A designated hunter companion card will be issued to the holder of a disabled hunter permit along with the issuance of a hunting license.

(c) "Designated hunter companion" means a person who assists or acts on behalf of a hunter with a disability in the stalking, shooting, tracking, retrieving, or tagging of game birds and game animals.

(d) "Designated hunter companion card" means an identification card issued by the department to a hunter with a disability for use by another person in assisting or acting on the behalf of the hunter with a disability while engaging in hunting activities.

(e) "Accompany" means the hunter with a disability and the designated hunter companion are in the physical presence of each other, not to exceed a 1/4-mile separation. While stalking or shooting an animal, the hunter with a disability and the designated hunter companion must have a form of reliable and direct communication.

(2) It is unlawful for a hunter with a disability to fail to obtain all required licenses, tags, or stamps before hunting.

(3) It is unlawful for a designated hunter companion to assist a hunter with a disability unless the designated hunter companion has the designated hunter companion card on his or her person. A designated hunter companion must have a valid hunting license issued by Washington state or another state.

(a) The designated hunter companion must accompany the hunter with a disability when stalking or shooting game on behalf of the hunter with a disability.

(b) The designated hunter companion does not need to accompany the hunter with a disability while tracking an animal wounded by either hunter, or while tagging or retrieving a downed animal on behalf of the hunter with a disability.

(4) It is unlawful for the hunter with a disability or the designated hunter companion to fail to:

(a) Immediately cut, notch, or date any required tag upon harvesting a game bird or animal; and

(b) Affix the tag to the carcass of the game bird or animal as soon as reasonably possible after killing the game.

(5) A violation of subsection (2), (3), or (4) of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.400, 77.15.410, 77.15.430, or 77.15.750 or other statutes under chapter 77.15 RCW depending on the circumstances of the violation.

(6) Game birds or game animals killed, tagged or retrieved by a designated hunter companion on behalf of a hunter with a disability do not count against the designated hunter companion's bag or possession limit.

(7) It is unlawful for a hunter with a disability to possess a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, or shoot from a motor vehicle, unless the vehicle is stopped, the vehicle is removed from the maintained portion of the roadway, and the motor is turned off. A disabled hunter vehicle identification placard must be displayed and visible.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, 77.12.240, 77.12.800, 77.32.090, and 77.32.155. WSR 16-12-087, § 232-12-828, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.240, and 77.32.070. WSR 14-10-019 (Order 14-95), § 232-12-828, filed 4/25/14, effective 5/26/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020, 77.12.570, 77.12.210, 77.12.150, 77.12.240. WSR 09-09-083 (Order 09-53), § 232-12-828, filed 4/15/09, effective 5/16/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 07-04-087, § 232-12-828, filed 2/6/07, effective 3/9/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.12.020. WSR 04-11-036 (Order 04-98), § 232-12-828, filed 5/12/04, effective 6/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 03-10-040 (Order 03-85), § 232-12-828, filed 4/30/03, effective 5/31/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.32.237. WSR 96-03-084 (Order 96-07), § 232-12-828, filed 1/18/96, effective 2/18/96.]

RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, 77.12.240, 77.12.800, 77.32.090, and 77.32.155. WSR 16-12-087, § 232-12-828, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.240, and 77.32.070. WSR 14-10-019 (Order 14-95), § 232-12-828, filed 4/25/14, effective 5/26/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020, 77.12.570, 77.12.210, 77.12.150, 77.12.240. WSR 09-09-083 (Order 09-53), § 232-12-828, filed 4/15/09, effective 5/16/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 07-04-087, § 232-12-828, filed 2/6/07, effective 3/9/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.12.020. WSR 04-11-036 (Order 04-98), § 232-12-828, filed 5/12/04, effective 6/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 03-10-040 (Order 03-85), § 232-12-828, filed 4/30/03, effective 5/31/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.32.237. WSR 96-03-084 (Order 96-07), § 232-12-828, filed 1/18/96, effective 2/18/96.