Title 77, FISH AND WILDLIFE

(1) All recreational and commercial licenses, permits, tags, stamps, and raffle tickets shall be issued under the authority of the commission. The commission shall adopt rules for the issuance of licenses, permits, tags, stamps, and raffle tickets, and for the collection, payment…

(1) Applicants for a license, permit, tag, or stamp shall furnish the information required by the director. However, the director may not require the purchaser of a razor clam license under RCW 77.32.520 to provide any personal information except for proof of residency. The commi…

The commission may adopt rules pertaining to the form, period of validity, use, possession, and display of licenses, permits, tags, stamps, and raffle tickets required by this chapter. This authority extends to the issuance of electronic licenses, permits, tags, stamps, and catch…

(1)(a) When purchasing any hunting license, persons under the age of 18 shall present certification of completion of a course of instruction in the safe handling of firearms, safety, conservation, and sporting/hunting behavior. All persons purchasing any hunting license for the f…

The commission shall enhance the fish, shellfish, and wildlife-related recreational opportunities for a person with a disability. The commission shall authorize the director to grant a disability designation to a person with a disability who meets eligibility criteria established…

A scientific permit allows the holder to collect for research or display food fish, game fish, shellfish, and wildlife, including avian nests and eggs as required in RCW 77.32.010, under conditions prescribed by the director. Before a permit is issued, the applicant shall demonst…

Except as authorized in RCW 77.32.565, licenses, permits, tags, and stamps required by this chapter and raffle tickets authorized under this chapter shall not be transferred. [ 2008 c 10 s 3; 2001 c 253 s 51; 2000 c 107 s 269; 1998 c 191 s 22; 1996 c 101 s 12; 1995 c 116 s 5; 198…

The director shall by rule establish the conditions and fees for issuance of duplicate licenses, rebates, permits, tags, and stamps required by this chapter. The fee for duplicate licenses, rebates, permits, tags, and stamps, except catch record cards, may not exceed the actual c…

(1) The correct licenses and tags are required to hunt deer, elk, black bear, cougar, sheep, mountain goat, moose, or wild turkey except as provided in RCW 77.32.450. (2) Persons who kill deer, elk, bear, cougar, mountain goat, sheep, moose, or wild turkey shall immediately valid…

In addition to a small game hunting license, a supplemental migratory bird permit is required to hunt for migratory birds. The migratory bird permit is required for all persons 16 years of age or older. Furthermore, a migratory bird authorization is required for all persons to hu…

(1) A special hunting season permit is required to hunt in each special season. (2) Persons may apply for special hunting season permits as provided by rule of the commission. (3) Persons may apply for multiple season hunting season permits as provided by rule of the commission. …

In concurrent waters of the Columbia river and in Washington coastal territorial waters from the Oregon-Washington boundary to a point five nautical miles north, an Oregon angling license comparable to the Washington personal use fishing license is valid if Oregon recognizes as v…

(1) Catch record card information is necessary for proper management of the state's food fish and game fish species and shellfish resources. Catch record card administration shall be under rules adopted by the commission. Except as provided in this section, there is no charge for…

Enhancement programs receive revenue using a percentage rate applied to the fee of each eligible license and deposited within each dedicated account as follows: (1) Six and eight-tenths percent of all freshwater and combination fishing licenses, including temporary combination fi…

(1) A big game hunting license is required to hunt for big game. A big game license allows the holder to hunt for forest grouse, unclassified wildlife, and the individual species identified within a specific big game combination license package. Each big game license includes one…

(1) A small game hunting license is required to hunt for all classified wild animals and wild birds, except big game. A small game license also allows the holder to hunt for unclassified wildlife. (2)(a) In addition to a small game license, a turkey tag is required to hunt for tu…

(1) A personal use saltwater, freshwater, combination, or temporary license is required for all persons 16 years of age or older to fish for or possess fish taken for personal use from state waters or offshore waters. (a) A combination license allows the holder to fish for or pos…

(1) Upon written application, a combination fishing license shall be issued at the reduced rate of $6.90 and all hunting licenses shall be issued at the reduced rate of a youth hunting license fee for the following individuals: (a) A resident 65 years old or older who has a quali…

In order to simplify fishing license requirements in transition areas between salt water and fresh water, the commission may adopt rules designating specific waters where either a fresh water or a salt water license is valid. [ 1998 c 191 s 41.] Notes: Effective date—1998 c 191: …

(1) A personal use shellfish and seaweed license is required for all persons other than residents or nonresidents under 16 years of age to fish for, take, dig for, or possess seaweed or shellfish, including razor clams, for personal use from state waters or offshore waters includ…

The director shall administer rules adopted by the commission governing the time, place, and manner of holding hunting and fishing contests and competitive field trials involving live wildlife for hunting dogs. The department shall prohibit contests and field trials that are not …

(1) The commission in consultation with the director may authorize hunting of big game animals and wild turkeys through auction. The department may conduct the auction for the hunt or contract with a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization to conduct the auction for the hunt…

If a private entity has a private lands wildlife management area agreement in effect with the department, the commission may authorize the private entity to conduct raffles for access to hunt for big game animals and wild turkeys to meet the conditions of the agreement. The priva…

A person shall not promote, conduct, hold, or sponsor a contest for the hunting or fishing of wildlife or a competitive field trial involving live wildlife for hunting dogs without first obtaining a hunting or fishing contest permit. Contests and field trials shall be held in acc…

A property owner, lessee, or tenant may remove a trap placed on the owner's, lessee's, or tenant's posted or fenced property by a trapper. Trappers shall attach to the chain of their traps or devices a legible metal tag with either the department identification number of the trap…

(1) A group fishing permit allows a group of individuals to fish, and harvest shellfish, without individual licenses or the payment of individual license fees. The department must also provide, without charge, any applicable catch record cards. (2) The director must issue a group…

(1) In addition to the fees authorized in this chapter, the department shall include a surcharge to fund biotoxin testing and monitoring by the department of health of beaches used for recreational shellfishing, and to fund monitoring by the Olympic region harmful algal bloom pro…

(1) The department may sell watchable wildlife decals. Proceeds from the sale of the decal must be deposited into the limited fish and wildlife account created in RCW 77.12.170(1) and must be dedicated to the support of the department's watchable wildlife activities. The departme…

(1) In order to facilitate hunting and fishing opportunities for a terminally ill person, the director may provide any licenses, tags, permits, stamps, and other fees without charge including transaction and dealer fees. (2) The director may accept special permits or other specia…

(1) In order to effectively manage wildlife in areas or at times when a higher proficiency and demonstrated skill level are needed for resource protection or public safety, the department establishes the master hunter permit program. The master hunter permit program emphasizes sa…

(1) A western Washington pheasant license is required to hunt for pheasant in western Washington. (2) The license is available as a season option, a youth full season option, or a three-day option. [ 2025 c 328 s 15; 2009 c 333 s 73.] Notes: Effective date—2025 c 328: See note fo…

(1) The department shall permit the release of wild beavers on public and private lands with agreement from the property owner. (2) The department may limit the release of wild beavers to areas of the state where: (a) There is a low probability of released beavers becoming a nuis…

(1) In order to facilitate hunting and fishing opportunities for Washington state resident veterans who are eligible for reduced fishing and hunting license fees, based on a service-related disability, under RCW 77.32.480, the department may accept donations from the public so th…

Recreational fishing fee table LICENSE TYPES RESIDENT NONRESIDENT RESIDENT SENIOR YOUTH RCW Annual freshwater license $34.50 $103.50 $6.90 ---- 77.32.470 Annual saltwater license $35.19 $72.45 $7.59 ---- 77.32.470 Annual shellfish/seaweed license $13.80 $37.26 $6.90 ---- 77.32.52…

Hunting fee table LICENSE TYPES RESIDENT NONRESIDENT RESIDENT SENIOR YOUTH RCW Big game Deer+elk+bear+cougar license $117.30 $1,076.40 $39.88 $55.20 77.32.450 Deer+elk+bear+cougar license w/discounted small game license $144.90 $1,197.84 $49.27 $66.24 77.32.450/ 77.32.460 Deer+el…

(1) The commission may adopt rules to create and sell combination licenses for all hunting and fishing activities at or below a fee equal to the total cost of the individual license contained within any combination. This includes, but is not limited to, discounts for seniors and …