Title 77 — Title 77 FISH AND WILDLIFE
28 chapters · 644 sections in this title.
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…
RCW 77.15.780 Disposition of judicially forfeited seized property.
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When seized property, other than fish, shellfish, and wildlife, is judicially forfeited to the department, the department may: (1) Retain it for official use unless the property is required to be destroyed; (2) upon application by any law enforcement agency of the state, release …
RCW 77.15.790 Negligently feeding, attempting to feed, or attracting large wild carnivores to land or a building—Infraction.
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(1) A person may not negligently feed or attempt to feed large wild carnivores or negligently attract large wild carnivores to land or a building.(2) If a fish and wildlife officer, ex officio fish and wildlife officer, or animal control authority, as defined in RCW 16.30.010, ha…
RCW 77.15.792 Intentionally feeding or attempting to feed large wild carnivores or intentionally attracting large wild carnivores to land or a building—Penalty.
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(1) A person may not intentionally feed or attempt to feed large wild carnivores or intentionally attract large wild carnivores to land or a building.(2) A person who intentionally feeds, attempts to feed, or attracts large wild carnivores to land or a building is guilty of a mis…
RCW 77.15.800 Engaging in wildlife rehabilitation without a permit—Penalty.
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(1)(a) A person is guilty of engaging in wildlife rehabilitation without a permit if the person captures, transports, treats, feeds, houses, conditions, or trains injured, diseased, oiled, or abandoned wildlife without department authority for temporary actions or a wildlife reha…
RCW 77.15.803 Inspection of aquatic conveyance.
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(1) Based upon reasonable suspicion that a person possesses an aquatic conveyance that has not been cleaned and drained or carries or contains aquatic invasive species in violation of this title, fish and wildlife officers or ex officio fish and wildlife officers may temporarily …
RCW 77.15.805 Violation of an invasive species law—Warrant.
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(1) Upon a showing of probable cause that there has been a violation of an invasive species law of the state of Washington, or upon a showing of probable cause to believe that evidence of such a violation may be found at a place, a court must issue a search warrant or arrest warr…
RCW 77.15.807 Invasive species in or on water body or property—Warrant.
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(1) Upon a showing of probable cause that a water body or property has an invasive species in or on it, and the owner refuses permission to allow inspection of the water body or property, a court in the county in which the water body or property is located may, upon the request o…
RCW 77.15.809 Unlawful use of invasive species in the second degree—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of invasive species in the second degree if the person:(a) Fails to stop at a mandatory check station or to return to the mandatory check station for inspection if directed to do so by a fish and wildlife officer or ex officio fish and wildl…
RCW 77.15.811 Unlawful use of invasive species in the first degree—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of invasive species in the first degree if the person:(a) Traffics or introduces on or into a water body or property a prohibited level 1 or level 2 species without department authorization, a permit, or as otherwise provided by rule; or(b) …
RCW 77.15.813 Unlawfully engaging in fishing guide activity—Penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawfully engaging in fishing guide activity if the person holds a game fish guide license issued under RCW 77.65.480 or has a license issued under RCW 77.65.010 to operate a charter boat or act as a food fish guide, and the person:(a) Fails to perform …
RCW 77.15.815 Unlawfully engaging in commercial whale watching—Penalty.
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(1) This section applies only to persons and activities defined in RCW 77.65.615, including commercial whale watching and paddle tours.(2) A person is guilty of unlawfully engaging in commercial whale watching in the second degree if the person conducts commercial whale watching …
RCW 77.15.900 Short title.
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This chapter may be known and cited as the fish and wildlife enforcement code.[ 1998 c 190 s 126.]
RCW 77.18.050 Planting privately produced trout.
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The legislature finds that it is beneficial to improve opportunities for trout fishing in order to satisfy the public's demand for recreational fishing during a time of declining opportunities to catch anadromous salmon and steelhead trout.Fish farmers can produce trout in a trip…
RCW 77.18.060 Determination of appropriate waters.
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The fish and wildlife commission in consultation with the department is authorized to determine which waters of the state are appropriate for this use. In making this determination, the commission shall seek geographic distribution to assure opportunity to fishers statewide.The c…
RCW 77.32.007 "Special hunting season" defined.
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For the purposes of this chapter "special hunting season" means a hunting season established by rule of the commission for the purpose of taking specified wildlife under a special hunting permit.[ 1984 c 240 s 8.]
RCW 77.32.010 Recreational license required—Activities—Pass or permit for parking.
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(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or department rule, a recreational license issued by the director is required to hunt, fish, or take wildlife or seaweed. A hunting license is not required for bullfrogs.(2) A pass or permit issued under RCW 79A.80.020, 79A.80.030,…
RCW 77.32.014 Licenses, tags, and stamps—Revocation/privileges suspended for noncompliance with support order.
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Licenses, tags, and stamps issued pursuant to this chapter shall be revoked and the privileges suspended for any period in which a person is certified by the department of social and health services or a court of competent jurisdiction as a person in noncompliance with a support …
RCW 77.32.025 Establishment of times and places for family fishing with no license or catch record card—Authorized.
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Notwithstanding RCW 77.32.010, the commission may adopt rules designating times and places for the purposes of family fishing days when licenses and catch record cards are not required to fish or to harvest shellfish.[ 1998 c 191 s 9; 1996 c 20 s 2; 1987 c 506 s 103.]Notes:Effect…
RCW 77.32.050 Recreational and commercial licenses, permits, tags, stamps, and raffle tickets issued by authorized officials—Rules—Fees.
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(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…
RCW 77.32.070 Information required from license applicants—Reports on taking/effort to harvest fish, shellfish, and wildlife—Administrative penalty.
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(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…
RCW 77.32.090 Licenses, permits, tags, stamps, and raffle tickets—Rules for form, display, procedures—Authority.
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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…
RCW 77.32.155 Hunter education training program—Certificate—Deferral—Adoption of rules—Fee—One-time discount.
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(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…
RCW 77.32.237 Enhancing the fish, shellfish, and wildlife-related recreational opportunities for a person with a disability—Disability designation—Rule-making authority.
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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…
RCW 77.32.240 Scientific permit—Procedures—Penalties—Fees.
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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…
RCW 77.32.250 Licenses nontransferable.
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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; 1981…
RCW 77.32.256 Duplicate licenses, rebates, permits, tags, and stamps—Fees.
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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…
RCW 77.32.320 Required licenses, tags—Transport tags for game.
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(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 valida…