Title 77 — Title 77 FISH AND WILDLIFE

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…

The director may issue permits to members of the Wanapum band of Indians to take salmon and other freshwater food fish for ceremonial and subsistence purposes. The department shall establish the areas in which the permits are valid and shall regulate the times for and manner of t…

The commission may prohibit the introduction, transportation or transplanting of fish, shellfish, organisms, material, or other equipment which in the commission's judgment may transmit any disease or pests affecting fish or shellfish.[ 2001 c 253 s 22; 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 s 16 (R…

A person other than the United States, an Indian tribe recognized as such by the federal government, the state, a subdivision of the state, or a municipal corporation or an agency of such a unit of government shall not release salmon or steelhead trout into the public waters of t…

The director has the authority, subject to the processes and limitation outlined in chapter 79.100 RCW, to store, strip, use, auction, sell, salvage, scrap, or dispose of an abandoned or derelict vessel found on or above publicly or privately owned aquatic lands within the jurisd…

(1) The director shall establish a wildlife rehabilitation program to help support the critical role licensed wildlife rehabilitators play in protecting the public by capturing, testing for disease, and caring for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife in Washington state. The dire…

The department must develop a process for renewing wildlife rehabilitation licenses. All wildlife rehabilitation licenses issued by the department prior to January 1, 2006, must be renewed by January 1, 2010. The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.[…

The wildlife rehabilitation account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from moneys directed to the account from RCW 46.68.435 must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used onl…

(1) The fish and wildlife equipment revolving account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. The department must reimburse the account for all moneys expended from the account. Reimbursements may be made with moneys appropriated to the department or from other moneys o…

Upon filing a certificate with the commissioner of public lands that shows that lands will be used for public shooting grounds by the department, the lands shall be withdrawn from sale or lease and then may be used as public shooting grounds under control of the department. The c…

Tidelands granted to the department to be used as public shooting grounds shall revert to the state if used for another purpose. The department shall certify the reversion to the commissioner of public lands who shall then supervise and control the lands as provided in Title 79 R…

The commission may adopt rules regarding the use of the tidelands as shooting grounds.[ 1980 c 78 s 127; 1955 c 36 s 77.40.060. Prior: 1941 c 190 s 4; Rem. Supp. 1941 s 7993-9. Formerly RCW 77.40.060.]Notes:Effective date—Intent, construction—Savings—Severability—1980 c 78: See n…

The commission shall establish the qualifications and conditions for issuing a game farm license. The director shall adopt rules governing the operation of game farms. Private sector cultured aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020 are exempt from regulation under this secti…

A licensed game farmer may purchase, sell, give away, or dispose of the eggs of game birds or game fish lawfully possessed as provided by rule of the director.[ 1987 c 506 s 50; 1980 c 78 s 99; 1955 c 36 s 77.28.070. Prior: 1947 c 275 s 87; Rem. Supp. 1947 s 5992-96. Formerly RCW…

Wildlife given away, sold, or transferred by a licensed game farmer shall have attached to each wildlife member, package, or container, a tag, seal, or invoice as required by rule of the director. Private sector cultured aquatic products as defined in RCW 15.85.020 are exempt fro…

A common carrier may transport wildlife shipped by a licensed game farmer if the wildlife is tagged, sealed, or invoiced as provided in RCW 77.12.590. Packages containing wildlife shall have affixed to them tags or labels showing the name of the licensee and the consignee. For pu…

The purposes of RCW 77.12.610 through 77.12.630 are to facilitate the department's gathering of biological data for managing wildlife, fish, and shellfish resources of this state and to protect these resources by assuring compliance with Title 77 RCW, and rules adopted thereunder…

The department is authorized to require hunters and fishers occupying a motor vehicle approaching or entering a check station to stop and produce for inspection: (1) Any wildlife, fish, shellfish, or seaweed in their possession; (2) licenses, permits, tags, stamps, or catch recor…

The powers conferred by RCW 77.12.610 through 77.12.630 are in addition to all other powers conferred by law upon the department. Nothing in RCW 77.12.610 through 77.12.630 shall be construed to prohibit the department from operating wildlife information stations at which persons…

The department shall cooperate with other local, state, and federal agencies and governments to protect bald eagles and their essential habitats through existing governmental programs, including but not limited to:(1) The natural heritage program managed by the department of natu…

The department, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, shall adopt and enforce necessary rules defining the extent and boundaries of habitat buffer zones for bald eagles. Rules shall take into account the need for variation of the extent of the zone from case to case, and the need…

(1) Beginning July 1, 2011, the department, after soliciting recommendations from the public, shall select the design for the *migratory bird stamp.(2) All revenue derived from the sale of migratory bird license validations or stamps by the department to any person hunting waterf…

(1) The director is responsible for the selection of the annual *migratory bird stamp design. The department shall create collector art prints and related artwork, utilizing the same design. The administration, sale, distribution, and other matters relating to the prints and sale…

(1) The department is directed to develop and implement a rockfish research and stock assessment program. Using funds from the rockfish research account created in subsection (2) of this section, the department must conduct Puget Sound basin and coastal surveys with new and exist…

If the population of southern resident orcas reaches a threshold of 70 individuals or fewer, the department must provide a report to the legislature within one year of the threshold being met, consistent with RCW 43.01.036, that includes a study of how mandatory 1,000-yard setbac…

For the purposes of establishing a season or bag limit restriction on Canada goose hunting, the commission shall not consider leg length or bill length of dusky Canada geese (Branta canadensis occidentalis).[ 2000 c 107 s 259; 1998 c 190 s 119; 1996 c 207 s 3; 1987 c 506 s 59; 19…