Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 77 Fish And Wildlife (Formerly: Game And Game Fish) - Chapter 77.12 Powers And Duties

77.12.010 Limitation on prohibiting fishing with bait or artificial lures
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 ...

77.12.020 Wildlife to be classified
(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. ...

77.12.031 Llamas and alpacas
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 ...

77.12.035 Protection of grizzly bears -- Limitation on transplantation or introduction -- Negotiations with federal and state agencies
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 ...

77.12.037 Acquisition, use, and management of property -- Condemnation -- When authorized
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 ...

77.12.038 Notification requirements
Actions under this chapter are subject to the notification requirements of RCW 43.17.400.[2007 c 62 § 8.]Notes: Finding -- Intent -- Severability -- 2007 c ...

77.12.039 Acceptance of funds or property for damage claims or conservation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife resources
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, ...

77.12.043 Contracts and agreements for propagation of fish or shellfish
(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 ...

77.12.045 Territorial authority of commission -- Adoption of federal regulations and rules of fisheries commissions and compacts
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 ...

77.12.047 Scope of commission's authority to adopt rules -- Application to private tideland owners or lessees of the state
(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 ...

77.12.065 Wildlife viewing tourism
The department shall manage wildlife programs in a manner that provides for public opportunities to view wildlife and supports wildlife viewing tourism without impairing the ...

77.12.068 Dissemination of information about RCW 77.15.740 and responsible wildlife viewing
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 ...

77.12.071 Sampling of fish, wildlife, or shellfish by department employees
(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 ...

77.12.140 Acquisition or sale of wildlife
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 ...

77.12.150 Game seasons -- Opening and closing -- Special hunt
(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, ...

77.12.152 Commission may designate fishing areas
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 ...

77.12.154 Right of entry -- Aircraft operated by department
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 ...

77.12.170 State wildlife account -- Deposits
(1) There is established in the state treasury the state wildlife account which consists of moneys received from: (a) Rentals or concessions of the department; ...

77.12.177 Disposition of moneys collected -- Proceeds from sale of food fish or shellfish -- Unanticipated receipts
(1) Except as provided in this title, state and county officers receiving the following moneys shall deposit them in the state general fund: (a) The ...

77.12.184 Deposit of moneys from various activities -- Production of regulation booklets
(1) The department shall deposit all moneys received from the following activities into the *state wildlife fund: (a) The sale of interpretive, recreational, historical, educational, ...

77.12.190 Diversion of wildlife fund moneys prohibited
Moneys in the *state wildlife fund may be used only for the purposes of this title, including the payment of principal and interest on bonds ...

77.12.201 Counties may elect to receive an amount in lieu of taxes -- County to record collections for violations of law or rules -- Deposit
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, ...

77.12.203 In lieu payments authorized -- Procedure -- Game lands defined
(1) Notwithstanding RCW 84.36.010 or other statutes to the contrary, the director shall pay by April 30th of each year on game lands in each ...

77.12.204 Grazing lands -- Fish and wildlife goals -- Implementation
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 ...

77.12.210 Department property -- Management, sale
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, ...

77.12.220 Acquisition or transfer of property
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 ...

77.12.230 Local assessments against department property
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 ...

77.12.240 Authority to take wildlife -- Disposition
The director may authorize the removal or killing of wildlife that is destroying or injuring property, or when it is necessary for wildlife management or ...

77.12.260 Agreements to prevent damage to private property
The director may make written agreements to prevent damage to private property by wildlife. The department may furnish money, material, or labor under these agreements.[1987 ...

77.12.262 Fish and wildlife officers compensation insurance -- Medical aid
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 ...

77.12.264 Fish and wildlife officers -- Relieved from active duty when injured -- Compensation
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 ...

77.12.275 Agreements with department of defense
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 ...

77.12.285 Agreements with United States to protect Columbia River fish -- Fish cultural stations and protective devices
(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, ...

77.12.315 Dogs harassing deer and elk -- Declaration of emergency -- Taking dogs into custody or destroying -- Immunity
If the director determines that a severe problem exists in an area of the state because deer and elk are being pursued, harassed, attacked or ...

77.12.320 Agreements for purposes related to fish, shellfish, and wildlife -- Acceptance of compensation, gifts, grants
(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, ...

77.12.323 Special wildlife account -- Investments
(1) There is established in the *state wildlife fund a special wildlife account. Moneys received under RCW 77.12.320 as now or hereafter amended as compensation ...

77.12.325 Cooperation with Oregon to assure yields of Columbia river fish, shellfish, and wildlife
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 ...

77.12.330 Exclusive fishing waters for youths
The commission may establish by rule exclusive fishing waters for minors within specified ages.[1980 c 78 § 53; 1955 c 36 § 77.12.330. Prior: 1947 ...

77.12.360 Withdrawal of state land from lease -- Compensation
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 ...

77.12.370 Withdrawal of state land from lease -- County procedures, approval, hearing
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 ...

77.12.380 Withdrawal of state land from lease -- Actions by commissioner of public lands
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. ...

77.12.390 Withdrawal of state land from lease -- Payment
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 ...

77.12.420 Improvement of conditions for growth of game fish
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 ...

77.12.451 Director may take or sell fish or shellfish -- Restrictions on sale of salmon
(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 ...

77.12.453 Salmon fishing by Wanapum (Sokulk) Indians
The director may issue permits to members of the Wanapum band of Indians to take salmon for ceremonial and subsistence purposes. The department shall establish ...

77.12.455 Prevention and suppression of diseases and pests
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 ...

77.12.459 Release and recapture of salmon or steelhead prohibited
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 ...

77.12.465 Abandoned or derelict vessels
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 ...

77.12.467 Wildlife rehabilitation program -- Requirements to receive funding -- Reports accounting for all expenditures of state funds -- Permitted expenditures -- Adoption of rules
(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, ...

77.12.469 Renewal of wildlife rehabilitation licenses -- Adoption of rules
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 ...

77.12.471 Wildlife rehabilitation account
The wildlife rehabilitation account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from moneys directed to the account from RCW 46.16.606 must be deposited into ...

77.12.540 Public shooting grounds -- Effect of filing -- Use for booming
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 ...

77.12.550 Tidelands used as public shooting grounds -- Diversion
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 ...

77.12.560 Tidelands used as public shooting grounds -- Rules
The commission may adopt rules regarding the use of the tidelands as shooting grounds.[1980 c 78 § 127; 1955 c 36 § 77.40.060. Prior: 1941 ...

77.12.570 Game farm licenses -- Rules -- Exemption
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. ...

77.12.580 Game farms -- Authority to dispose of eggs
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 ...

77.12.590 Game farms -- Tagging of products -- Exemption
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 ...

77.12.600 Game farms -- Shipping of wildlife -- Exemption
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. ...

77.12.605 Whidbey Island game farm -- Sale of property
(1) The department shall endeavor to sell the property known as Whidbey Island game farm, Island county. (2) If the sale takes place one year ...

77.12.610 Check stations -- Purpose
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 ...

77.12.620 Check stations -- Stopping for inspection
The department is authorized to require hunters and fishermen occupying a motor vehicle approaching or entering a check station to stop and produce for inspection: ...

77.12.630 Check stations -- Other inspections, powers
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 ...

77.12.650 Protection of bald eagles and their habitats -- Cooperation required
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, ...

77.12.655 Habitat buffer zones for bald eagles -- Rules
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 ...

77.12.670 Migratory bird stamp/migratory bird license validations -- Deposit and use of revenues
(1) The migratory bird stamp to be produced by the department shall use the design as provided by the migratory waterfowl art committee. (2) All ...

77.12.680 Migratory waterfowl art committee -- Membership -- Terms -- Vacancies -- Chairman -- Review of expenditures -- Compensation
(1) There is created the migratory waterfowl art committee which shall be composed of nine members. (2)(a) The committee shall consist of one member appointed ...

77.12.690 Migratory waterfowl art committee -- Duties -- Deposit and use of funds -- Audits
The migratory waterfowl art committee is responsible for the selection of the annual migratory bird stamp design and shall provide the design to the department. ...

77.12.702 Rockfish research and stock assessment program -- Report to the legislature -- Rockfish research account
(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 ...

77.12.710 Game fish production -- Double by year 2000
The legislature hereby directs the department to determine the feasibility and cost of doubling the statewide game fish production by the year 2000. The department ...

77.12.722 Canada goose hunting -- Season or bag limit restriction
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 ...

77.12.755 Ranked inventory of fish passage barriers
In coordination with the department of natural resources and lead entity groups, the department must establish a ranked inventory of fish passage barriers on land ...

77.12.760 Steelhead trout fishery
Steelhead trout shall be managed solely as a recreational fishery for non-Indian fishermen under the rule-setting authority of the fish and wildlife commission. Commercial non-Indian ...

77.12.765 Tilton and Cowlitz rivers -- Proposals to reinstate salmon and steelhead
The director shall develop proposals to reinstate the natural salmon and steelhead trout fish runs in the Tilton and upper Cowlitz rivers in accordance with ...

77.12.790 Eastern Washington pheasant enhancement program -- Purpose
There is created within the department the eastern Washington pheasant enhancement program. The purpose of the program is to improve the harvest of pheasants by ...

77.12.800 Pheasant hunting -- Opportunities for juvenile hunters
The commission must establish special pheasant hunting opportunities for juvenile hunters in eastern Washington for the 1998 season and future seasons.[1997 c 422 § 3.]Notes: ...

77.12.810 Small game hunting license -- Disposition of fee
As provided in RCW 77.32.440, a portion of each small game hunting license fee shall be deposited in the eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account created ...

77.12.820 Eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account -- Created -- Use of moneys
The eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts under RCW 77.12.810 must be deposited in the ...

77.12.850 Definitions
The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 77.12.850 through 77.12.860 unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Salmon" means all species of the genus ...

77.12.852 Washington salmon stamp program -- Creation
(1) The Washington salmon stamp program is created in the department. The purpose of the program is the creation of a stamp that will portray ...

77.12.854 Washington junior salmon stamp program -- Creation
(1) The Washington junior salmon stamp program is created in the department. The purpose of the program is the creation of a stamp that will ...

77.12.856 Salmon stamp selection committee -- Creation
The salmon stamp selection committee is created. The committee is comprised of five individuals selected by the governor who will judge and select the winning ...

77.12.858 Deposit of receipts -- Expenditures
All receipts from the salmon stamp program created under RCW 77.12.850 through 77.12.860 must be deposited into the regional fisheries enhancement salmonid recovery account created ...

77.12.860 Stamp design -- Department's rule-making authority
The department is granted the authority to establish by rule the method for selecting appropriate designs for the Washington salmon stamp program and Washington junior ...

77.12.865 Derelict fishing gear -- Guidelines for removal and disposal
(1) As used in this section and RCW 77.12.870, "derelict fishing gear" includes lost or abandoned fishing nets, fishing lines, crab pots, shrimp pots, and ...

77.12.870 Derelict fishing gear database
(1) The department, in consultation with the Northwest straits commission, the department of natural resources, and other interested parties, must create and maintain a database ...

77.12.875 Prohibited aquatic animal species -- Infested state waters
(1) The commission may designate by rule state waters as infested if the director determines that these waters contain a prohibited aquatic animal species. (2) ...

77.12.878 Infested waters -- Rapid response plan
(1) The director shall create a rapid response plan in cooperation with the aquatic nuisance species committee and its member agencies that describes actions to ...

77.12.879 Aquatic invasive species prevention account -- Aquatic invasive species prevention program for recreational and commercial watercraft -- Enforcement program -- Check stations -- Training -- Report to the legislature
(1) The aquatic invasive species prevention account is created in the state treasury. Moneys directed to the account from RCW 88.02.050 must be deposited in ...

77.12.880 Wildlife program management
The department shall manage wildlife programs in a manner that provides for public opportunities to view wildlife and supports nature-based and wildlife viewing tourism without ...

77.12.882 Aquatic invasive species -- Inspection of recreational and commercial watercraft -- Rules -- Signage
(1) The department shall adopt rules governing how and when the owners of recreational and commercial watercraft may request an inspection of the watercraft for ...

77.12.885 Reported predatory wildlife interactions -- Web site posting
The department shall post on its internet web site all reported predatory wildlife interactions, including reported human safety confrontations or sightings as well as the ...