Washington's 2010 Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations

License and Tag Violations
You may NOT:
Buy, possess, or attempt to obtain any
license, tag, or permit by using false
information; or if your license, tag, etc...
has been revoked or the privilege has been
suspended.
Purchase or possess more than one of each
license or tag, permit, or stamp during the
same year, unless it is a legally obtained
duplicate or authorized by the Fish and
Wildlife Commission.
Transfer, loan to, or borrow from another
person any license, tag, permit, or stamp.
Purchase or possess a resident license from
another state, if hunting as a resident in
Washington State.
There is no excuse for
careless firearms handling.
There is no way to call
back a bullet!
Common Violations
To avoid the most common violations:
Have valid and appropriate licenses, tags,
and permits on your person when you hunt.
Don't have a loaded shotgun or rifle in or on
a motor driven vehicle.
Immediately and completely remove the tag
notches that indicate the month and day the
animal was killed.
Immediately attach your appropriate tag to
the animal you've killed.
Violations and Penalties
Firearm Laws
Aliens and felons may not possess firearms
(RCWs 9.41.040 and 9.41.170).
Loaded Firearms in a Vehicle
It is illegal to carry, convey, transport, possess,
or control a loaded shotgun or rifle in or on any
motor vehicle. A rifle or shotgun containing shells
or cartridges in either the chamber or magazine, or
a muzzleloading firearm that is loaded and capped
or primed is considered loaded.
License Suspensions and
Property Forfeiture
Washington State’s Fish and Wildlife Enforcement
Code (Revised Code of Washington Chapter
77.15) requires the mandatory suspension of a
person’s hunting privileges if a person is convicted
of one of the following violations:
Assaulting a Fish and Wildlife Enforcement
Officer or an employee or agent of the
Department performing official duties.
Unlawful hunting of big game.
First degree waste of fish and wildlife.
Harvesting endangered fish or wildlife.
Hunting big game with an artificial light or
spotlight.
Violating the prohibition on hunting bear with
bait or the limitations on using dogs to hunt
bear, cougar, bobcat, or lynx.
Unlawfully purchasing or using a license.
Committing a crime that involves a willful or
wanton disregard for conservation of wildlife.
Shooting another person or domestic
livestock while hunting.
In addition, repeat offenders will receive a
mandatory two-year suspension of all fishing and
hunting privileges. A repeat offender is any person
with two strikes within ten years for big game
hunting violations and three strikes within ten
years for all other recreational hunting and fishing
violations. The law treats an uncontested notice of
infraction, a bail forfeiture (payment of the fine on
a citation), or a guilty plea as a conviction that will
be counted.
You will permanently lose your fishing and hunting
privileges if you hunt or fish on a suspended
license or demonstrate a willful or wanton
disregard for the conservation of fish or wildlife.
The privilege to hunt or fish in Washington will also
be revoked if notice of a suspension is received
from another state whose suspensions Washington
has agreed to honor. Similarly, Washington will
report the issuance of a suspension in this state to
other states.
Property that is used to violate any fishing and
hunting regulations, or that is held with the
intention of committing a violation, may be seized
for evidence and may ultimately be forfeited to the
state.
Criminal Wildlife Penalty Assessment
In addition to criminal penalties, courts assess a
criminal wildlife penalty for conviction of illegally
killing or possessing: deer, elk, bear, or cougar -
$2,000; moose, antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain
goat, or any endangered species - $4,000; trophy
deer (four or more antler points on both sides,
not including eye guards), or elk (five or more
antler points on both sides, not including eye
guards) - $6,000; and mountain caribou, grizzly
bear, or trophy mountain sheep (3/4 curl or better)
- $12,000.
Unlawful Possession of Firearms
Washington State Law, RCW 9.41.040, states:
“A person, whether an adult or juvenile, is guilty of the crime of unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree, if the person owns, has in his or her
possession, or has in his or her control any firearm after having previously been convicted in this state or elsewhere of any serious offense as defined in this
chapter.” Have you previously been convicted in this state or elsewhere of a crime which may affect your privilege to carry a firearm? If you have been convicted
of one of the offenses as defined in Chapter 9.41 RCW and are found in possession of a firearm while hunting you may be subject to arrest. If you are in doubt,
seek appropriate legal counsel. Possession rights may in some cases be restored per Chapter 9.41 RCW.
Aiding and Assisting
It is unlawful to aid or assist anyone in the commission of a game law violation.
1. Do Not Trespass - The state of Washington has strict laws prohibiting trespass on private land. Owners are not required to post their land.
2. Littering - You may NOT place or leave litter on any land, either public or private, which is not your own.
3. Traps - It is illegal to take a wild animal from another person’s trap without permission or to damage, remove, or destroy a trap. Exception: A trap may be
removed by the property owner.
4. Driving Vehicles on WDFW Lands - You may NOT operate a motor-driven vehicle on lands owned, controlled, or managed by the WDFW, except as
authorized. Off-road travel on Department lands is usually prohibited.
Report your hunting activity for for Big Game & Turkey by calling toll free 1-877-945-3492 or online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov. 69
GENERAL
INfORMATION