Washington Administrative Code

"Authorized" when used in the context of authorized employee, authorized department personnel, authorized representative of the department, and terms of similar character, shall be defined as any person employed by the department and performing department activities, or any other…

For purposes of all rules of the commission, Eastern and Western Washington are defined as:Eastern Washington - All lands lying east of the Cascade Crest Trail and east of the Big White Salmon River in Klickitat County.Western Washington - All lands lying west of the Cascade Cres…

"Extenuating circumstances" for purposes of this title mean circumstances that lessen the seriousness or magnitude of an act, and which are to be considered in determining if an individual is to be granted extraordinary relief. Such personal characteristics as age, education, fis…

"In a wild state," when used to describe a population of animals, means the population is naturally reproducing within the state.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), amended and recodified as § 220-200-0…

For purposes of establishing and maintaining residency in order to purchase and use a Washington state resident commercial or recreational hunting or fishing license, a resident license that is issued to a valid resident of Washington state remains valid for the remainder of the …

Unless otherwise defined, any reference to the mouths of rivers or streams shall be construed to include those waters of any river or stream, including sloughs and tributaries, upstream and inside of a line projected between the outermost uplands at the mouth. The term "outermost…

All times referred to in any order or regulation shall be Pacific Standard Time, except that during the period from the first Sunday in April through the last Sunday in October all times referred to shall be Pacific Daylight Time.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77…

Protected wildlife are designated into three subcategories: Threatened, sensitive, and other.(1) Threatened species are any wildlife species native to the state of Washington that are likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout a significant portion of th…

(1) It is unlawful to offer for sale, sell, purchase, or barter edible parts of wild animals or game birds. It is unlawful to offer for sale, sell, purchase, or barter edible parts of game fish, except pursuant to RCW 77.65.480.(2) It is unlawful to offer for sale, sell, purchase…

It is unlawful to possess wildlife taken during the open season by another unless it is accompanied by a statement which shows the name, address, hunting, fishing or other license or permit number and signature of the taker, the date, county and game management unit where taken.[…

Pursuant to RCW 77.32.565 the director is authorized to provide special hunting opportunities for terminally ill persons. The director may establish criteria for application and award of these special opportunities.(1) The director is authorized to receive special permits from do…

It is unlawful for any person, group, corporation, association, or governmental entity to plant or release any food fish into the waters of the state of Washington without first obtaining a permit from the department. The department may not issue a permit unless the following tim…

(1) The following definitions apply to this section:(a) "Collect" means to take control or to attempt to take control of fish, shellfish, wildlife, or the nests of birds. Collect does not include transitory holding of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates solely for identificati…

The following definitions apply to WAC 220-200-170 through 220-200-240:(1) "Person with a disability" for purposes of eligibility under disability designation means a person who has a permanent physical disability or permanent developmental disability which substantially impairs …

(1) A special use permit issued by the department sets forth terms and conditions determined by the director to allow for reasonable accommodations for persons granted disability designation.(2) The following terms and conditions apply to all special use permits:(a) A special use…

(1) The department may suspend a person's special use permit for the following reasons and corresponding lengths of time:(a) Upon conviction or any outcome in criminal court whereby a person voluntarily enters into a disposition that continues or defers the case for dismissal upo…

(1) A person meeting the definition of "person with a disability" under WAC 220-200-160, and who submits the required application properly completed and certified, shall be granted a disability designation by the department.(2) If a person submits fraudulent information to the de…

(1) A crossbow special use permit issued by the department allows a person with a disability, meeting the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, to utilize a crossbow device during archery or muzzleloader season with the corresponding license and transport tag. The permi…

(1) A scope special use permit issued by the department allows a person who is blind or visually impaired, and who meets the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, to utilize a scope device during archery or muzzleloader season, with the corresponding license and transpo…

(1) A person with a disability who meets the requirements of subsection (2) of this section is eligible for a special use permit to operate their hunting device from within a motorized vehicle in accordance with WAC 220-413-140.(2) A disabled hunter "shooting from a vehicle" iden…

(1) A person with a disability who meets the requirements of subsection (2) of this section is eligible for a special use permit to utilize alternate casting gear in fly fishing only waters or seasons in accordance with WAC 220-305-120.(2) An "alternate casting gear" special use …

(1) In addition to the specific criteria provided elsewhere in this chapter, the department may issue an accessibility special use permit to a person with a disability, as defined in WAC 220-200-160(1), who:(a) Has applied for, received, and maintains a disability designation in …

Unless otherwise provided, the following definitions apply to this chapter:(1) "Blind" means no vision or vision with corrective lenses so defective as to prevent the performance of ordinary activities for which eyesight is essential.(2) "License year" is defined as April 1st thr…

A recreational license is a valid internet transaction number, a valid electronic license, or a valid paper license issued by the department under chapter 77.32 RCW.With the exception of razor clam licenses and one-day charter boat or guide operator stamp licenses, to be valid, a…

It is unlawful for any person required to have a recreational license to take or possess fish, shellfish, seaweed, or wildlife for personal use without having in physical possession a valid license or a valid internet or telephone authorization number.[Statutory Authority: RCW 77…

(1) The age at the time of purchase determines the license necessary for the recreational activity.(2) Youth hunters who turn 16 years of age during the license year may use a previously purchased youth hunting license during the remainder of the license year, but are required to…

(1) A purchaser of a resident fishing or hunting license is required to be a resident of the state of Washington, and pursuant to RCW 77.08.010(38), must have maintained a permanent place of abode within the state for at least ninety days immediately preceding application for a l…

(1) The annual fish Washington license includes the following:(a) Annual combination recreational freshwater, saltwater, and shellfish license;(b) A Puget Sound Dungeness Crab endorsement; and(c) A two-pole endorsement.(2) Effective July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, the fe…

There is hereby created a combination temporary fishing and shellfish license that is valid for one, two, or three consecutive days and allows the holder to fish for and possess fish and shellfish taken from state and offshore waters. [Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.01…

(1) There is hereby created combination deer hunting licenses that allow the holder to hunt deer for the purposes described below. A person purchasing any big game license that includes deer may purchase a reduced rate combination license as follows:(a) If a hunter is drawn for a…

(1) There is hereby created combination elk hunting licenses that allow the holder to hunt elk for the purposes described below. A person purchasing any big game license that includes elk may purchase a reduced rate combination as follows:(a) Master hunters must purchase a master…

The annual Get Outdoors license combines fishing, shellfishing, and hunting privileges.(1) The Get Outdoors licenses include the following:(a) Annual combination recreational freshwater, saltwater, and shellfish license;(b) Two-pole endorsement;(c) Puget Sound Dungeness crab endo…

When a recreational license is sold at a discount or when it is part of a package of licenses created after January 1, 2017, and sold at a price less than the total value of each individual license product, the funds from the sale of a license or package of licenses are distribut…

(1) For purposes of this section:(a) "Refund" means the return of money received for a license, stamp, tag, or permit purchase. Refunds may be made by license dealers or the Olympia office of the department.(b) "Replacement" means reissuing the same species and weapon type of tra…

On a temporary fishing or hunting license, the validation date is the first date on which a licensee may hunt or fish and the temporary license expires at midnight of the day after the validation date for temporary fishing licenses and at midnight of the second day after the vali…

Request for replacement of licenses, permits, tags, stamps or catch record cards required by chapter 77.32 RCW, which have been lost, mutilated, or stolen, must be made by the licensee.Duplicate licenses, permits, tags, stamps and catch record cards may be issued at department of…

(1) The cost of a duplicate license document is seven dollars, plus the automated licensing system processing fee and dealer fee, unless the cost of all licenses on the original license document was less than seven dollars, then the license document cost is the same as the origin…

All license sales by the department, and by department contract vendors in the case of nonsalmon delivery licenses, are subject to the following provisions.(1) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this section:(a) "Collection procedures" means sending a payment on dema…

(1) A person may, from a vessel or other floating device, fish for game fish, food fish, unclassified fish, and shellfish, unless otherwise prohibited, from Pacific Ocean waters within three miles of the Washington coast from Leadbetter Point to the Washington-Oregon boundary, an…

Anglers who possess a valid two-pole endorsement may fish with two lines in all lakes and ponds open to fishing, with the following exceptions:Water BodyCounty Para-juvenile LakeAdams Headgate PondAsotin Columbia Park PondBenton Blackbird Island PondChelan Aldwell LakeClallam Bea…

Recreational license dealers are to issue a fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit with the first annual recreational or trapping license sold, except for shellfish-seaweed licenses. If the fish and wildlife lands vehicle use permit is not issued because the license is voided…

(1) There is established a watchable wildlife program. The minimum amount to participate in the watchable wildlife program is $30.00 per license year, which includes both the license dealer cost and the automated transaction fee.(2) Applications to participate in the watchable wi…

In the following described waters, it is lawful to fish for food fish and gamefish with a personal use freshwater license, saltwater license, or combination license:(1) Those waters of the Columbia River downstream from a line between Rocky Point on the Washington shore and Tongu…

For a catch record card to be valid:(1) The angler must have in physical possession the appropriate license and catch record card for the area in which the angler is participating, if a license and/or a catch record card is required. (2) The catch record card must contain the per…

Anglers 15 years of age and older must purchase and have a valid Columbia River endorsement in their possession to fish for salmon or steelhead in the following waters:(1) In the mainstem Columbia River from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line to Chief Joseph Dam;(2) Deep River (Wa…

(1) Contest defined: By definition, a fishing contest exists when 6 or more licensed persons fish competitively and determine winners, regardless of prize value.(2) Application:(a) Fishing contest permit applications should be submitted to the department by July 1 of each year fo…

The Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June is declared to be free fishing weekend in Washington. On this weekend a fishing license is not required for any person, regardless of age or residency, to fish for or possess fish for which a catch record card is not requ…

(1) The department is authorized to create a special donation program for resident disabled veterans who meet the eligibility criteria set forth in RCW 77.32.480 (1)(a) or (b).(2) Funds donated by the public will be deposited into a disabled veterans donation fund account. On a f…

(1) The director may contract with persons, firms or corporations as license dealers in such numbers as deemed necessary for the purpose of issuing licenses, permits, tags, stamps and catch record cards.(2) License dealers must have a permanent place of business with regular busi…

A recreational license dealer must, at the time of sale of a two-consecutive-day combination fishing or three-consecutive-day small game license, write the validation date in ink on the license document, or for automated licenses, attach the validation sticker containing the vali…