Title 77 — Title 77 FISH AND WILDLIFE

The commission shall not adopt rules that categorically prohibit fishing with bait or artificial lures in streams, rivers, beaver ponds, and lakes except that the commission may adopt rules and regulations restricting fishing methods upon a determination by the director that an i…

(1) The director shall investigate the habits and distribution of the various species of wildlife native to or adaptable to the habitats of the state. The commission shall determine whether a species should be managed by the department and, if so, classify it under this section.(…

The authority of the department does not extend to preventing, controlling, or suppressing diseases in llamas or alpacas or to controlling the movement or sale of llamas or alpacas.This section shall not be construed as granting or denying authority to the department to prevent, …

The commission shall protect grizzly bears and develop management programs on publicly owned lands that will encourage the natural regeneration of grizzly bears in areas with suitable habitat. Grizzly bears shall not be transplanted or introduced into the state. Only grizzly bear…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6003-S.SL) ***The commission may acquire by gift, easement, purchase, lease, or condemnation lands, buildings, water rights, rights-of-way, or other necessary property, and construct and maintain necessary facilities for purposes consistent with this t…

Actions under this chapter are subject to the notification requirements of RCW 43.17.400.[ 2007 c 62 s 8.]Notes:Finding—Intent—Severability—2007 c 62: See notes following RCW 43.17.400.

The director may accept money or real property from persons under conditions requiring the use of the property or money for the protection, rehabilitation, preservation, or conservation of the state wildlife, fish, and shellfish resources, or in settlement of claims for damages t…

(1) The director may enter into contracts and agreements with a person to secure fish or shellfish or for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities for the propagation of fish or shellfish.(2) The director may enter into contracts and agreements to procure from p…

Consistent with federal law, the commission's authority extends to all areas and waters within the territorial boundaries of the state, to the offshore waters, and to the concurrent waters of the Columbia river.Consistent with federal law, the commission's authority extends to fi…

(1) The commission may adopt, amend, or repeal rules as follows:(a) Specifying the times when the taking of wildlife, fish, or shellfish is lawful or unlawful.(b) Specifying the areas and waters in which the taking and possession of wildlife, fish, or shellfish is lawful or unlaw…

(1) The department must implement practices necessary to maintain pollinator habitat on department-owned and managed agricultural and grazing lands where practicable.(2) The department must evaluate various restoration techniques with the goal of improving habitat for native poll…

The department and the state parks and recreation commission shall disseminate information about RCW 77.15.740, whale and wildlife viewing guidelines, and other responsible wildlife viewing messages to educate Washington's citizens on how to reduce the risk of disturbing southern…

(1) Department employees, in carrying out their duties under this title on public lands or state waters, may:(a) Collect samples of tissue, fluids, or other bodily parts of fish, wildlife, or shellfish; or(b) Board vessels in state waters engaged in commercial and recreational ha…

The fish and wildlife federal lands revolving account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the proceeds of good neighbor agreements as defined in RCW 79.02.010 and implemented by the department of fish and wildlife and all legislative transfers, gif…

(1) The commission shall adopt by rule a process and criteria to select persons who may act as agents of the state for the purpose of using one or more dogs to hunt or pursue black bear, cougar, or bobcat to protect livestock, domestic animals, private property, or the public saf…

The commission shall adopt rules to liberalize bag limits for bass, walleye, and channel catfish in all anadromous waters of the state in order to reduce the predation risk to salmon smolts.[ 2019 c 290 s 2.]Notes:Finding—Intent—2019 c 290: "(1) The legislature finds that the pop…

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Nonprofit organization" means any:(i) Organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3)) and exempt fro…

The director, acting in a manner not inconsistent with criteria established by the commission, may obtain by purchase, gift, or exchange and may sell or transfer wildlife and their eggs for stocking, research, or propagation.[ 1987 c 506 s 23; 1980 c 78 s 28; 1955 c 36 s 77.12.14…

(1) By emergency rule only, and in accordance with criteria established by the commission, the director may close or shorten a season for game animals, game birds, or game fish, and after a season has been closed or shortened, may reopen it and reestablish bag limits on game anim…

The commission may designate the boundaries of fishing areas by driving piling or by establishing monuments or by description of landmarks or section lines and directional headings.[ 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 s 14 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 …

The director, fish and wildlife officers, ex officio fish and wildlife officers, and department employees may enter upon any land or waters and remain there while performing their duties without liability for trespass.It is lawful for aircraft operated by the department to land a…

(1) There is established in the state treasury the limited fish and wildlife account which consists of moneys received from:(a) Fees for personalized vehicle, Wild on Washington, and Endangered Wildlife license plates, Washington's Wildlife license plate collection, and Washingto…

(1) Except as provided in this title, state and county officers receiving the following moneys shall deposit them in the fish, wildlife, and conservation account:(a) The sale of commercial licenses required under this title; and(b) Moneys received for damages to fish, shellfish, …

(1) The department shall deposit all moneys received from the following activities into the fish, wildlife, and conservation account created in RCW 77.12.170(3):(a) The sale of interpretive, recreational, historical, educational, and informational literature and materials;(b) The…

Moneys in the limited fish and wildlife account and fish, wildlife, and conservation account created in RCW 77.12.170 may be used only for the purposes of this title, including the payment of principal and interest on bonds issued for capital projects.[ 2020 c 148 s 8; 2009 c 333…

The legislative authority of a county may elect, by giving written notice to the director and the treasurer prior to January 1st of any year, to obtain for the following year an amount in lieu of real property taxes on game lands as provided in RCW 77.12.203. Upon the election, t…

(1) Notwithstanding RCW 84.36.010 or other statutes to the contrary, the state treasurer, on behalf of the department, must distribute to counties by April 30th of each year on game lands, regardless of acreage, in each county, if requested by an election under RCW 77.12.201, an …

The department of fish and wildlife shall implement practices necessary to meet the standards developed under *RCW 79.01.295 on agency-owned and managed agricultural and grazing lands. The standards may be modified on a site-specific basis as necessary and as determined by the de…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6003-S.SL) ***The director shall maintain and manage real or personal property owned, leased, or held by the department and shall control the construction of buildings, structures, and improvements in or on the property. The director may adopt rules fo…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6003-S.SL) ***For purposes of this title, the commission may make agreements to obtain real or personal property or to transfer or convey property held by the state to the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities, units of local government of…

The director may pay lawful local improvement district assessments for projects that may benefit wildlife or wildlife-oriented recreation made against lands held by the state for department purposes. The payments may be made from money appropriated from the fish, wildlife, and co…

(1) Before entering into any contract for the construction of or replacement of any bridge on department controlled land, the director must consider whether to require the installation of informational signs that address the hazards of diving or jumping off the bridge as part of …

(1) The department may authorize the removal or killing of wildlife that is destroying or injuring property, or when it is necessary for wildlife management or research.(2) The department shall dispose of wildlife taken or possessed by them under this title in the manner determin…

The director shall provide compensation insurance for fish and wildlife officers, insuring these employees against injury or death in the performance of enforcement duties not covered under the workers' compensation act of the state. The beneficiaries and the compensation and ben…

The director shall relieve from active duty fish and wildlife officers who are injured in the performance of their official duties to such an extent as to be incapable of active service. While relieved from active duty, the employees shall receive one-half of their salary less an…

(1) The department must provide notice and hold a public hearing prior to department personnel relocating or introducing any wolves, coyotes, lynx, bobcats, and animals defined as big game in RCW 77.08.030, where the action is intended for population enhancement.(2)(a) The notice…

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the legislature designates Washington State University college of veterinary medicine as the state lead in developing a program to monitor and assess causes of and potential solutions for elk hoof dise…

The commission may negotiate agreements with the United States department of defense to coordinate fishing in state waters over which the department of defense has assumed control.[ 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 s 7 (Referendum Bill No. 45, approved November 7, 1995); 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 s …

(1) The commission may enter into agreements with and receive funds from the United States for the construction, maintenance, and operation of fish cultural stations, laboratories, and devices in the Columbia river basin for improvement of feeding and spawning conditions for fish…

(1) The commission may make agreements with persons, political subdivisions of this state, or the United States or its agencies or instrumentalities, regarding fish, shellfish, and wildlife-oriented recreation and the propagation, protection, conservation, and control of fish, sh…

(1) There is established in the state treasury a special wildlife account. Moneys received under RCW 77.12.320 as now or hereafter amended as compensation for wildlife losses shall be deposited in the state treasury to be credited to the special wildlife account.(2) The state tre…

The commission may cooperate with the Oregon fish and wildlife commission in the adoption of rules to ensure an annual yield of fish, shellfish, and wildlife on the Columbia river and to prevent the taking of fish, shellfish, and wildlife at places or times that might endanger fi…

The commission may establish by rule exclusive fishing waters for minors within specified ages.[ 1980 c 78 s 53; 1955 c 36 s 77.12.330. Prior: 1947 c 275 s 38; Rem. Supp. 1947 s 5992-48.]Notes:Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980 c 78: See notes following…

Upon written request of the department, the department of natural resources may withdraw from lease state-owned lands described in the request. The request shall bear the endorsement of the county legislative authority if the lands were acquired under *RCW 76.12.030 or 76.12.080.…

Prior to the forwarding of a request needing endorsement under RCW 77.12.360, the director shall present the request to the legislative authority of the county in which the lands are located for its approval. The legislative authority, before acting on the request, may call a pub…

Upon receipt of a request under RCW 77.12.360, the commissioner of public lands shall determine if the withdrawal would benefit the people of the state. If the withdrawal would be beneficial, the commissioner shall have the lands appraised for their lease value. Before withdrawal…

Upon receipt of a voucher under RCW 77.12.380, the commissioner of public lands shall withdraw the lands from lease. The commissioner shall forward the voucher to the state treasurer, who shall draw a warrant against the fish, wildlife, and conservation account created in RCW 77.…

The department shall implement conflict mitigation guidelines that distinguish between wolf recovery regions, identified in the 2011 wolf conservation and management plan, that are at or above the regional recovery objective and wolf recovery regions that are below the regional r…

The director may spend moneys to improve natural growing conditions for fish by constructing fishways, installing screens, and removing obstructions to migratory fish. The eradication of undesirable fish shall be authorized by the commission. The director may enter into cooperati…

(1) The director may take or remove any species of fish or shellfish from the waters or beaches of the state.(2) The director may sell food fish or shellfish caught or taken during department test fishing operations.(3) The director shall not sell inedible salmon for human consum…