Title 77 — Title 77 FISH AND WILDLIFE
28 chapters · 644 sections in this title.
RCW 77.15.370 Unlawful recreational fishing in the first degree—Penalty—Criminal wildlife penalty assessment.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful recreational fishing in the first degree if:(a) The person takes or possesses two times or more than the bag limit or possession limit of fish or shellfish allowed by any rule of the director or commission setting the amount of food fish, game f…
RCW 77.15.380 Unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree if the person fishes for fish or shellfish and, whether or not the person possesses fish or shellfish, the person has not purchased the appropriate fishing or shellfishing license and catch record card i…
RCW 77.15.382 Unlawful use of shellfish gear for personal use purposes—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of the unlawful use of shellfish gear for personal use purposes if the person:(a) Takes, fishes for, or possesses crab, shrimp, or crawfish for personal use purposes with shellfish gear that is constructed or altered in a manner that violates any rule of th…
RCW 77.15.390 Seaweed—Unlawful taking—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful taking of seaweed if the person takes or possesses seaweed and:(a) The person has not purchased a personal use shellfish and seaweed license issued to Washington residents or nonresidents under chapter 77.32 RCW; or(b) The person takes or posses…
RCW 77.15.395 Hunter safety—Visible clothing requirement—Penalty.
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(1) For the purpose of hunter safety, the commission must adopt rules determining the times and manner when a person hunting must wear either fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing or both. The rules must allow a person hunting to wear either fluorescent orange or fluore…
RCW 77.15.400 Unlawful hunting of wild birds—Violation of a rule requiring nontoxic shot—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of wild birds in the second degree if the person hunts for wild birds and, whether or not the person possesses wild birds, the person has not purchased the appropriate hunting license, tags, stamps, and permits issued to Washington resid…
RCW 77.15.410 Unlawful hunting of big game—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of big game in the second degree if the person:(a) Hunts for big game and, whether or not the person takes or possesses big game, the person has not purchased the appropriate license, permit, or tags required under this title;(b) Takes o…
RCW 77.15.420 Illegally taken or possessed wildlife—Criminal wildlife penalty assessed.
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(1) If an adult offender is convicted of violating RCW 77.15.410 and that violation results in the death of wildlife listed in this section, the court shall require payment of the following amounts for each animal taken or possessed. This shall be a criminal wildlife penalty asse…
RCW 77.15.425 Fish and wildlife enforcement reward account.
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The fish and wildlife enforcement reward account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Deposits to the account include: Receipts from fish and shellfish overages as a result of a department enforcement action; fees for hunter education deferral applications; fees for …
RCW 77.15.430 Unlawful hunting of wild animals—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of wild animals in the second degree if the person hunts for wild animals not classified as big game and, whether or not the person possesses the wild animals, the person has not purchased the appropriate hunting license issued to Washin…
RCW 77.15.435 Unlawful hunting on, retrieving hunted wildlife from, or collecting wildlife parts from the property of another—Defense—Penalty—Forfeiture and disposition of wildlife.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawfully hunting on, retrieving hunted wildlife from, or collecting wildlife parts from the property of another if the person knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or on the premises of another for the purpose of:(a) Hunting for wildlife;(b) Retrie…
RCW 77.15.440 Weapons, traps, or dogs on game reserves—Unlawful use—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of weapons, traps, or dogs on game reserves if:(a) The person uses firearms, other hunting weapons, or traps on a game reserve; or(b) The person negligently allows a dog upon a game reserve.(2) This section does not apply to persons on a pub…
RCW 77.15.450 Spotlighting big game—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of spotlighting big game in the second degree if the person hunts big game with the aid of a spotlight, other artificial light, or night vision equipment while in possession or control of a firearm, bow and arrow, or cross bow. For purposes of this section,…
RCW 77.15.460 Loaded rifle or shotgun in vehicle—Unlawful use or possession—Unlawful use of a loaded firearm—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful possession of a loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle, as defined in RCW 46.04.320, or upon an off-road vehicle, as defined in RCW 46.04.365, if:(a) The person carries, transports, conveys, possesses, or controls a rifle or shotgun in a mot…
RCW 77.15.470 Wildlife check stations or field inspections—Unlawful avoidance—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawfully avoiding wildlife check stations or field inspections if the person fails to:(a) Obey check station signs;(b) Stop and report at a check station if directed to do so by a uniformed fish and wildlife officer or if directed by an ex officio fish…
RCW 77.15.480 Certain devices declared public nuisances.
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Articles or devices unlawfully used, possessed, or maintained for taking, harassing, attracting, or decoying wildlife, fish, and shellfish are public nuisances. If necessary, fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may seize, abate, or destroy these p…
RCW 77.15.500 Commercial fishing without a license—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of commercial fishing without a license in the second degree if the person fishes for, takes, or delivers fish or shellfish while acting for commercial purposes and:(a) The person does not hold a fishery license or delivery license under chapter 77.65 RCW f…
RCW 77.15.510 Acting as a game fish guide, food fish guide, or chartering without a license—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of acting as a game fish guide, food fish guide, or chartering without a license if:(a) The person operates a charter boat and does not hold the charter boat license required for the food fish taken;(b) The person acts as a food fish guide and does not hold…
RCW 77.15.520 Commercial fishing—Unlawful gear or methods—Penalty.
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(1) Except for actions involving shellfish gear punishable under RCW 77.15.522, a person is guilty of commercial fishing using unlawful gear or methods if the person acts for commercial purposes and takes or fishes for any fish or shellfish using any gear or method in violation o…
RCW 77.15.522 Unlawful use of shellfish gear for commercial purposes—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of the unlawful use of shellfish gear for commercial purposes if the person:(a) Takes, fishes for, or possesses crab, shrimp, or crawfish for commercial purposes with shellfish gear that is constructed or altered in a manner that violates any rule of the co…
RCW 77.15.530 Unlawful use of a nondesignated vessel—Penalty.
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(1) A person who holds a fishery license required by chapter 77.65 RCW, or who holds an operator's license and is designated as an alternate operator on a fishery license required by chapter 77.65 RCW, is guilty of unlawful use of a nondesignated vessel if the person takes, fishe…
RCW 77.15.540 Unlawful use of a commercial fishery license—Penalty.
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(1) A person who holds a fishery license required by chapter 77.65 RCW, or who holds an operator's license and is designated as an alternate operator on a fishery license required by chapter 77.65 RCW, is guilty of unlawful use of a commercial fishery license if the person:(a) Do…
RCW 77.15.550 Violation of commercial fishing area or time—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of violating commercial fishing area or time in the second degree if the person acts for commercial purposes and takes, fishes for, possesses, delivers, or receives fish or shellfish:(a) At a time not authorized by statute or rule;(b) From an area that was …
RCW 77.15.552 Qualifying commercial fishing violations.
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(1) If a person is convicted of two or more qualifying commercial fishing violations within a three-year period, the person's privileges to participate in the commercial fishery to which the violations applied may be suspended by the director for up to one year. A commercial fish…
RCW 77.15.554 License suspension review committee.
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(1) The license suspension review committee is created. The license suspension review committee may only hear appeals from commercial fishers who have had a license revoked or suspended pursuant to RCW 77.15.552.(2)(a) The license suspension review committee is composed of five v…
RCW 77.15.565 Wholesale fish buyer a limited fish seller—Accounting of commercial harvest—Penalties.
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Since violation of the rules of the department relating to the accounting of the commercial harvest of fish and shellfish results in damage to the resources of the state, liability for damage to fish and shellfish resources is imposed on a wholesale fish buyer or a limited fish s…
RCW 77.15.568 Secondary commercial fish receiver's failure to account for commercial harvest—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of a secondary commercial fish receiver's failure to account for commercial harvest if:(a) The person sells fish or shellfish at retail, stores, holds, or processes fish or shellfish in exchange for valuable consideration, or brokers or ships fish or shellf…
RCW 77.15.570 Participation of non-Indians in Indian fishery forbidden—Exceptions, definitions, penalty.
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(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, it is unlawful for a person who is not a treaty Indian fisher to participate in the taking of fish or shellfish in a treaty Indian fishery, or to be on board a vessel, or associated equipment, operating in a treaty Indian …
RCW 77.15.580 Unlawful use of net to take fish—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a net to take fish in the second degree if the person:(a) Lays, sets, uses, or controls a net or other device or equipment capable of taking fish from the waters of this state, except if the person has a valid license for such fishing gea…
RCW 77.15.590 Commercial fishing vessel—Unlawful use for recreational or charter fishing—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a commercial fishing vessel, except as may be authorized by rule of the commission, for recreational or charter fishing if the person uses, operates, or controls a vessel on the same day for both:(a) Charter or recreational fishing; and(b…
RCW 77.15.600 Engaging in commercial wildlife activity without a license—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of engaging in commercial wildlife activity without a license if the person:(a) Deals in raw furs for commercial purposes and does not hold a fur dealer license required by chapter 77.65 RCW; or(b) Practices taxidermy for commercial purposes and does not ho…
RCW 77.15.610 Unlawful use of a commercial wildlife license—Penalty.
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(1) A person who holds a fur dealer's license or taxidermy license is guilty of unlawful use of a commercial wildlife license if the person fails to purchase and have in the person's possession the required license while engaged in fur buying or practicing taxidermy for commercia…
RCW 77.15.620 Engaging in fish dealing activity without a license—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of engaging in fish dealing activity without a license in the second degree if the activity involves fish or shellfish worth less than two hundred fifty dollars and the person:(a) Engages in any fish dealing activity requiring a fish dealer license under RC…
RCW 77.15.630 Unlawful fish and shellfish catch accounting—Penalty.
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(1) A person licensed as a commercial fisher, wholesale fish buyer, or limited fish seller, or a person not so licensed but acting in such a capacity, is guilty of unlawful fish and shellfish catch accounting in the second degree if he or she receives or delivers for commercial p…
RCW 77.15.640 Unlawful wholesale fish buying and dealing—Penalty.
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(1) A person who holds a fish dealer license required by RCW 77.65.280, a wholesale fish buyer endorsement required by RCW 77.65.340, or a limited fish seller endorsement under RCW 77.65.510 is guilty of unlawful wholesale fish buying and dealing if the person:(a) Fails to posses…
RCW 77.15.650 Unlawful purchase or use of a license—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful purchase or use of a license in the second degree if the person buys, holds, uses, displays, transfers, or obtains any license, tag, permit, or approval required by this title and the person:(a) Uses false information to buy, hold, use, display,…
RCW 77.15.660 Unlawful use of scientific permit—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a scientific permit if the permit issued by the director is for big game or big game parts, and the person:(a) Violates any terms or conditions of the scientific permit;(b) Buys or sells big game or big game parts that were taken or acqui…
RCW 77.15.670 Suspension of department privileges—Violation—Penalty—Violations of child support-based suspensions.
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(1) A person is guilty of violating a suspension of department privileges in the second degree if the person engages in any activity that is licensed by the department and the person's privileges to engage in that activity were revoked or suspended by any court or the department.…
RCW 77.15.675 Hunting while intoxicated—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of hunting while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs if the person hunts wild animals or wild birds while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.(2) Hunting while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs is a gross mi…
RCW 77.15.680 Department authority to suspend privileges—Form and procedure.
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(1) If any crime in this chapter is punishable by a suspension of privileges, then the department shall issue an order that specifies the privileges suspended and period when such suspension shall begin and end. The department has no authority to issue licenses, permits, tags, or…
RCW 77.15.690 Department authority to revoke licenses.
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(1) Upon any conviction of any violation of this chapter, the department may revoke any license, tag, or stamp, or other permit involved in the violation or held by the person convicted, in addition to other penalties provided by law.(2) If the department orders that a license, t…
RCW 77.15.700 Grounds for department revocation and suspension of recreational license—Appeal.
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(1) The department shall revoke a person's recreational license or licenses and suspend a person's recreational license privileges in the following circumstances:(a) Upon conviction, if directed by statute for an offense.(b) Upon conviction, failure to appear at a hearing to cont…
RCW 77.15.710 Conviction for assault—Revocation of licenses and suspension of privileges.
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(1) The commission shall revoke all hunting, fishing, or other licenses issued under this title and order a ten-year suspension of all privileges extended under the authority of the department of a person convicted of assault on a fish and wildlife officer, ex officio officer, em…
RCW 77.15.720 Discharge of firearm, bow, or crossbow while hunting—In a manner that injures a person or that kills or causes substantial bodily harm to livestock—Suspension of hunting privileges—Appeal.
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(1)(a) If a person discharges a firearm, bow, or crossbow while hunting and in a manner that injures, or that a reasonable person would believe is likely to injure, another person, the director shall revoke all of the shooter's hunting licenses and suspend all hunting privileges …
RCW 77.15.730 Wildlife violator compact citations and convictions.
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(1) Upon receipt of a report of failure to comply with the terms of a citation issued for a recreational violation from the licensing authority of a state that is a party to the wildlife violator compact under RCW 77.75.070, the department shall suspend the violator's recreationa…
RCW 77.15.732 Citations from wildlife violator compact party state—Failure to comply.
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(1) Upon receipt of a report of failure to comply with the terms of a citation from the licensing authority of a state that is a party to the wildlife violator compact under RCW 77.75.070, the department shall suspend the violator's license privileges under this title until satis…
RCW 77.15.740 Protection of southern resident orca—Unlawful activities—Penalty—Signage—Outreach and education—Duties of commercial whale watching vessel.
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(1) Beginning January 1, 2025, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, it is unlawful for a person to:(a) Cause a vessel or other object to approach, in any manner, within 1,000 yards of a southern resident orca;(b) Position a vessel to be in the path of a southern …
RCW 77.15.750 Unlawful use of a department permit—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a department permit if the person:(a) Violates any terms or conditions of the permit issued by the department or the director; or(b) Violates any rule of the commission or the director applicable to the requirement for, issuance of, or us…
RCW 77.15.760 Suspension of a master hunter permit—Appeal hearing.
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(1) The department may suspend a person's master hunter permit for the following reasons and corresponding lengths of time:(a) If the person pays the required fine or is found to have committed an infraction under this chapter or the department's rules, the department shall suspe…
RCW 77.15.770 Unlawful trade in shark fins—Penalty.
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(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person is guilty of unlawful trade in shark fins in the second degree if:(a) The person sells, offers for sale, purchases, offers to purchase, or otherwise exchanges a shark fin or shark fin derivative product for commercial pur…