Section 232-28-248. Special closures and firearm restriction areas.

(1) RESTRICTED HUNTING AREAS.

It is unlawful to hunt in the following restricted hunting areas unless otherwise provided:

(a) Parker Lake (GMU 117, Pend Oreille County): All lands south of Ruby Creek Road (USFS Road 2489), north of Tacoma Creek Road (USFS Road 2389), and west of Bonneville Power Administration power lines are designated as "CLOSED AREA" to hunting wild animals and wild birds year-round except for special hunts adopted by the fish and wildlife commission. The Parker Lake closure provides a protected area for the U.S. Air Force Military Survival Training Program.

(b) Columbia River: The Columbia River, all islands except privately owned, in the river, the Benton County shoreline below the high water mark, Central Hanford Department of Energy property, and any peninsula originating on the Benton County shoreline, between Vernita Bridge on Highway 24 downstream to the Richland city limits are designated as a "CLOSED AREA" to hunting wild animals and wild birds except waterfowl hunting is open below the high water mark between the old Hanford townsite power line crossing (wooden towers) in Section 24, T 13 N, R 27 E, and the Richland city limits.

(c) Green River (GMU 485): Except for special permit hunters, who may also take a black bear and/or cougar with the appropriate license/tag options, all lands within GMU 485 are designated as a "CLOSED AREA" to hunting big game year-round. During the general westside elk season and general and late deer seasons, all lands within GMU 485 year-round are also designated as a "CLOSED AREA" to hunting all wild animals, including wild birds, year-round. The city of Tacoma enforces trespass within GMU 485 year-round on lands owned or controlled by the city.

(d) McNeil Island (part of GMU 652): Closed to hunting all wild animals, including wild birds, year-round.

(e) Loo-wit (GMU 522): Closed to hunting and trapping, except for elk hunting by special permit holders during established seasons and in designated areas.

(2) A violation of subsection (1) of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.400, 77.15.410, or 77.15.430, depending on the species hunted.

(3) CLOSED BIG GAME HUNTING AREAS.

It is unlawful to hunt big game in the following closed areas, unless otherwise specified:

(a) Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, and Wahkiakum counties: Closed to hunting for Columbian whitetail deer.

(b) Cathlamet: Except for special permits issued by the department for nonendangered deer and elk, this area is closed to all deer and elk hunting to protect the Columbian whitetail deer. This area's boundaries are described as:

Beginning in the town of Skamokawa; then east along SR 4 to Risk Road; then south and east along Risk Road to Foster Road; then south along the Foster Road to the Elochoman River; then upstream along the Elochoman River to Elochoman Valley Road (old SR 407); then west along the Elochoman Valley Road to SR 4; then east along SR 4 to SR 409; then south along SR 409 to the Cathlamet Channel of the Columbia River; then east along the north shore of the Cathlamet Channel to Cape Horn; then south in the Columbia River to the state line; then west along the state line to a point directly south of the mouth of Skamokawa Creek; then north on Skamokawa Creek to SR 4 and the point of beginning.

(c) Walla Walla Mill Creek Watershed (GMU 157): All lands in the Mill Creek Watershed are designated as a "CLOSED AREA" to hunting all wild animals, including wild birds. The only exception is for deer or elk hunting by holders of GMU-157 special deer or elk permits during the established open season. These permit holders must have a U.S. Forest Service permit to enter the hunt area, and the area is closed to motorized vehicles. No entry into the Mill Creek Watershed is allowed at other times.

(d) Westport: Closed to hunting all big game animals on the part of Westport Peninsula lying north of State Highway 105 from the Elk River Bridge west end and the Schafer Island Road to the ocean beach.

(e) Cottonwood and Howard islands (GMU 564): Closed to all deer hunting.

(4) A violation of subsection (3) of this section is a gross misdemeanor or a class C felony punishable under RCW 77.15.410, depending on the circumstances of the violation.

(5) FIREARM RESTRICTION AREAS.

(a) It is unlawful to hunt wildlife in the following firearm restriction areas with centerfire or rimfire rifles, or to fail to comply with additional firearm restrictions, except as established below:

(b) Archery tag holders may only hunt during established archery seasons with archery equipment as defined under WAC 232-12-054.

(c) Muzzleloader tag holders may only hunt during established muzzleloader seasons with muzzleloader equipment or archery equipment as defined by department rule.

(d) Modern firearm tag holders may hunt during established modern firearm seasons with bows and arrows; crossbows; muzzleloaders; revolver-type handguns; semiautomatic handguns of .40 (10 mm) caliber or larger; or shotguns, so long as the equipment and ammunition complies with department rules.

(6) A violation of subsection (5) of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.400, 77.15.410, or 77.15.430, depending on the species hunted.

[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, § 232-28-248, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, and 77.12.240. WSR 15-10-059 (Order 15-98), § 232-28-248, filed 4/30/15, effective 5/31/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.240, and 77.32.070. WSR 14-10-019 (Order 14-95), § 232-28-248, filed 4/25/14, effective 5/26/14; WSR 13-11-078 (Order 13-94), § 232-28-248, filed 5/16/13, effective 6/16/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020, 77.12.570, 77.12.210, 77.12.150, 77.12.240, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. WSR 10-10-061 (Order 10-94), § 232-28-248, filed 4/30/10, effective 5/31/10. 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), § 232-28-248, filed 4/15/09, effective 5/16/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 06-11-032 (Order 06-92), § 232-28-248, filed 5/8/06, effective 6/8/06; WSR 06-02-063 (Order 05-271), § 232-28-248, filed 1/3/06, effective 2/3/06; WSR 05-11-022 (Order 05-89), § 232-28-248, filed 5/10/05, effective 6/10/05; WSR 05-02-046 (Order 04-327), § 232-28-248, filed 1/3/05, effective 2/3/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.12.020. WSR 04-11-036 (Order 04-98), § 232-28-248, filed 5/12/04, effective 6/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 03-13-047 (Order 03-129), § 232-28-248, filed 6/12/03, effective 7/13/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.655, 77.12.020. WSR 02-11-069 (Order 02-98), § 232-28-248, filed 5/10/02, effective 6/10/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.020, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. WSR 01-10-048 (Order 01-69), § 232-28-248, filed 4/26/01, effective 5/27/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.010, 77.12.020, 77.12.770, 77.12.780. WSR 00-11-137 (Order 00-50), § 232-28-248, filed 5/23/00, effective 6/23/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. WSR 99-10-102 (Order 99-40), § 232-28-248, filed 5/5/99, effective 6/5/99; WSR 98-10-018 (Order 98-54), § 232-28-248, filed 4/22/98, effective 5/23/98; WSR 97-06-052 (Order 97-32), § 232-28-248, filed 2/27/97, effective 3/30/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.010 and 77.12.040. WSR 96-04-027, § 232-28-248, filed 2/1/96, effective 3/3/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. WSR 95-11-036, § 232-28-248, filed 5/10/95, effective 6/10/95; WSR 95-03-038 (Order 94-150), § 232-28-248, filed 1/10/95, effective 2/10/95.]

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, § 232-28-248, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, and 77.12.240. WSR 15-10-059 (Order 15-98), § 232-28-248, filed 4/30/15, effective 5/31/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.240, and 77.32.070. WSR 14-10-019 (Order 14-95), § 232-28-248, filed 4/25/14, effective 5/26/14; WSR 13-11-078 (Order 13-94), § 232-28-248, filed 5/16/13, effective 6/16/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020, 77.12.570, 77.12.210, 77.12.150, 77.12.240, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. WSR 10-10-061 (Order 10-94), § 232-28-248, filed 4/30/10, effective 5/31/10. 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), § 232-28-248, filed 4/15/09, effective 5/16/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 06-11-032 (Order 06-92), § 232-28-248, filed 5/8/06, effective 6/8/06; WSR 06-02-063 (Order 05-271), § 232-28-248, filed 1/3/06, effective 2/3/06; WSR 05-11-022 (Order 05-89), § 232-28-248, filed 5/10/05, effective 6/10/05; WSR 05-02-046 (Order 04-327), § 232-28-248, filed 1/3/05, effective 2/3/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.12.020. WSR 04-11-036 (Order 04-98), § 232-28-248, filed 5/12/04, effective 6/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 03-13-047 (Order 03-129), § 232-28-248, filed 6/12/03, effective 7/13/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.655, 77.12.020. WSR 02-11-069 (Order 02-98), § 232-28-248, filed 5/10/02, effective 6/10/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.020, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. WSR 01-10-048 (Order 01-69), § 232-28-248, filed 4/26/01, effective 5/27/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.010, 77.12.020, 77.12.770, 77.12.780. WSR 00-11-137 (Order 00-50), § 232-28-248, filed 5/23/00, effective 6/23/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. WSR 99-10-102 (Order 99-40), § 232-28-248, filed 5/5/99, effective 6/5/99; WSR 98-10-018 (Order 98-54), § 232-28-248, filed 4/22/98, effective 5/23/98; WSR 97-06-052 (Order 97-32), § 232-28-248, filed 2/27/97, effective 3/30/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.010 and 77.12.040. WSR 96-04-027, § 232-28-248, filed 2/1/96, effective 3/3/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. WSR 95-11-036, § 232-28-248, filed 5/10/95, effective 6/10/95; WSR 95-03-038 (Order 94-150), § 232-28-248, filed 1/10/95, effective 2/10/95.

Rules

232-12-054,