12-12-006

WSR 12-12-006

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[ Order 12-90 -- Filed May 23, 2012, 5:31 p.m. , effective June 23, 2012 ]

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

     Purpose: WAC 232-28-286 2013, 2014, and 2015 Spring black bear seasons and regulations, this rule is intended to reduce tree damage by bears; to disperse harvest geographically and reduce female harvest; and to reduce nuisance and damage activity, while maintaining long-term sustainable populations.

     WAC 232-28-288 2012-2014 Fall black bear hunting seasons and regulations, this rule provides recreational harvest opportunities for black bear, while maintaining long-term sustainable populations.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-28-286 and 232-28-288.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 12-04-098 on February 1, 2012.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: WAC 232-28-286 2013, 2014, and 2015 Spring black bear seasons and regulations.

     Changes, if any, from the text of the proposed rule and reasons for difference:

?	Change permit levels for the 49 Degrees North hunt and the Huckleberry hunt from 25 to 50. This change was made at the request of the fish and wildlife commission to provide additional recreational opportunity, while attempting to address depredation on deer.
?	For the Monroe hunt, delete Green Crow as a participating landowner and add Campbell Group. The reason is Campbell Group purchased Green Crow lands.

WAC 232-28-288 2012-2014 Fall black bear hunting seasons and regulations.

     Changes, if any, from the text of the proposed rule and reasons for difference:

?	For the South Cascades Black Bear Management Unit, change opening day to Aug. 15 for 2012, 2013, and 2014. Though population status indicators suggest the need for a slight reduction in bear harvest, bear harvest declined following season reductions in 2009-2011, and it may take a couple more years for the population indicators to reflect the population response to those reductions. Therefore, the agency is reinstating status quo seasons for this unit. Additionally, Aug. 15 was chosen to simplify the season dates by using a constant date rather than a calendar date change every year.
?	Change the opening day in the Okanogan and Northeastern B Black Bear Management Units from Aug. 18, 2012, Aug. 17, 2013, and Aug. 16, 2014 to Aug. 15, 2012, Aug. 15, 2013, and Aug. 15, 2014. The reason for the change is to simplify the season closure dates to a constant date rather than a calendar date change every year. There is no biological impact.
?	For the Northeastern A black bear management unit, change opening day to Sept. 1 for 2012-2014 seasons. This changes bear season in the unit back to status quo. The reason for this change is the population status indicators suggest the need for a slight reduction in bear harvest; however, bear harvest declined following season reductions in 2009-2011, and it may take a couple more years for the population indicators to reflect the population response to those reductions.

     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 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 2, 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: April 14, 2012.

Miranda Wecker, Chair

Fish and Wildlife Commission

OTS-4584.3

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 11-167, filed 7/22/11, effective 8/22/11)

WAC 232-28-286   ((2010, 2011)) 2013, 2014, and ((2012)) 2015 Spring black bear seasons and regulations.   It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions below. Violators may be punished under RCW 77.15.410, 77.15.245, and 77.15.280 (1)(c).

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:

Hunt Name	Hunt Area	Permits		Season Datesb
Sherman	GMU 101	25		April 1 - June 15
Kelly Hill	GMU 105	25		April 1 - June 15
Douglas	GMU 108	20		April 1 - June 15
Aladdin	GMU 111	25		April 1 - June 15
49 Degrees North	GMU 117	((25)) 50		April 1 - June 15
Huckleberry	GMU 121	((25)) 50		April 1 - June 15
Blue Creek	GMU 154	15		April 15 - May 31
Dayton	GMU 162	15		April 15 - May 31
Tucannon	GMU 166	5		April 15 - May 31
Wenaha	GMU 169	45		April 15 - June 15
Mt. View	GMU 172	15		April 15 - May 31
Lick Creek	GMU 175	15		April 15 ? May 31
Couse	GMU 181	4		April 15 - May 31
Grande Ronde	GMU 186	5		April 15 - May 31
North Skagit	That portion of GMU 418 that is designated as the hunt area by DNR, Sierra Pacific, and Grandy Lake Timber company.	20		April 15 - May 31
Monroe	That portion of GMU 448 that is designated as the hunt area by DNR, ((Green Crow)) Campbell Group, and Longview Timber Lands.	25		April 15 - May 31
Copalisa	That portion of GMU 642 that is designated as the hunt area by Rayonier Timber Company.	100		April 15 - June 15
Kapowsina	That portion of GMUs 653 and/or 654 that is designated as the hunt area by Hancock Forest Management and International Forestry.	150		April 15 - June 15
Lincolna	That portion of GMU 501 that is designated as the hunt area by participating commercial timber landowners.	75		April 15 - June 15
aSpring black bear hunting seasons under this area constitute a pilot program to reduce black bear damage to trees.
bPermits are valid for the license year they are issued.

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.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 11-16-015 (Order 11-167), § 232-28-286, filed 7/22/11, effective 8/22/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020, 77.12.570, 77.12.210, 77.12.150, 77.12.240, 77.32.070, and 77.32.530. 10-10-061 and 11-02-044 (Orders 10-94 and 10-94A), § 232-28-286, filed 4/30/10 and 12/30/10, effective 5/31/10 and 1/30/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020. 09-09-082 (Order 09-52), § 232-28-286, filed 4/15/09, effective 6/16/09; 08-01-052 (Order 07-292), § 232-28-286, filed 12/13/07, effective 1/13/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 07-01-049 (Order 06-300), § 232-28-286, filed 12/14/06, effective 1/14/07; 06-11-030 (Order 06-90), § 232-28-286, filed 5/8/06, effective 6/16/06.]

OTS-4585.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 10-94, filed 4/30/10, effective 5/31/10)

WAC 232-28-288   ((2010-2011)) 2012-2014 Fall black bear hunting seasons and regulations.   It is unlawful to fail to comply with the provisions below. Violators may be punished under RCW 77.15.410, 77.15.245, and 77.15.280 (1)(c).

Black Bear Management Unit	Season	Hunt Area
Coastal	Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530, 601, 602, 603, 607-621, 636-651, 658-663, 672-684
Puget Sound	Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMUs 407, 410, 454, 624, 627, 633, 652, 666, 667
North Cascades	Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMUs 418-450, 460
South Cascades	Aug. ((14)) 15 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Aug. ((13)) 15 -Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Aug. 15 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMUs 466, 485, 503, 505, 510-520, 524, 550-574, 653, 654
Okanogan	Aug. ((14)) 15 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Aug. ((13)) 15 -Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Aug. 15 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMUs 203, 209-243
East Cascades	Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMUs 244-247, 249-251, 328, 329-368, 382, 388, 578
Northeastern A	Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMUs 101-121, 204
Northeastern B	Aug. ((14)) 15 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Aug. ((13)) 15 -Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Aug. 15 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMUs 124-130
Blue Mountains	Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMUs 145-154, 162-186
Columbia Basin	Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260-290, 371-381
Long Island	Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2010)) 2012 Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, ((2011)) 2013 Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, 2014	GMU 699

Bag Limit: Two (2) black bear per annual hunting season, only one of which may be taken in Eastern Washington.

Area Restriction: Special deer permit required to hunt black bear in GMU 485.

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. A second black bear transport tag must be purchased to take a second bear.

Hunting Method: Hunters may use any lawful big game modern firearm, archery, or muzzleloader equipment for hunting black bear. The use of hounds and bait to hunt black bear is prohibited statewide.

Submitting Bear Teeth: Successful bear hunters must submit the black bear premolar tooth located behind the canine tooth of the upper jaw.

[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. 10-10-061 (Order 10-94), § 232-28-288, filed 4/30/10, effective 5/31/10.]