Game Damage Hunts
Steve Dauma, Fish and Wildlife Lieutenant

Revised Code of Washington 77.36.005 (2) states, “...(T)he state recognizes the importance of commercial agricultural and horticultural crop production and the value of healthy deer and elk populations, which can damage such crops. The legislature further finds that damage prevention is key to maintaining healthy deer and elk populations, wildlife-related recreational opportunities, and commercially productive agricultural and horticultural crops, and that state, participants in wildlife recreation, and private landowners and tenants share the responsibility for damage prevention. Toward this end, the legislature encourages landowners and tenants to contribute through their land management practices to healthy wildlife populations and to provide access for related recreation. It is in the best interests of the state for the department of fish and wildlife to respond quickly to wildlife damage complaints and to work with these landowners and tenants to minimize and/or prevent damages and conflicts while maintaining deer and elk populations for enjoyment by all citizens of the state.”

In keeping with this finding of the Washington State Legislature, WDFW staff, mainly enforcement officers devote considerable effort to addressing conflicts that arise between the citizens of the state and deer and elk. This activity includes a broad range of activities from providing advice or herding and hazing efforts to investigating and approving payment of claims for damage to commercial crops.

During calendar year 2000, 56 claims were submitted asking for $101,444 in payment for damages. During the 2001 calendar year, the number of claims rose to 64, a modest 14% increase over the previous year. However, the amount of damages claimed increased by nearly 450% to $558,463. Of that amount, $322,952 was paid. Clearly, when herding and hazing efforts are ineffective in abating a damage situation, methods other than paying damages are needed.

Recognizing the necessity for other alternatives, the Legislature granted to the Department of Fish and Wildlife the authority to remove or kill wildlife that is destroying or injuring property. (Revised Code of Washington 77.12.240) Relying upon that authority, the Department of Fish and Wildlife instituted other tools having the goal of removing the deer or elk that are causing damage. These damage hunts are applied in a cooperative effort with the Department resource managers and are given consideration in the various herd management plans.

There are five types of damage hunts – damage control permit hunts, kill permits, landowner preference permits, hot spot hunts, and landowner damage access permits. The different hunts are necessary for the Department to have the flexibility to respond to the differing circumstances of each damage situation. Any single hunt type may not be effective for every damage situation.

Damage Control Permit Hunts
Damage control permit hunts are established under the structure of special permit hunts and published in the big game hunting seasons and rules pamphlet. Any hunter having a license and transport tag may apply. Since the hunt occurs on private property, permittees may not be familiar with the area and may have difficulty obtaining access. Not all of the property owners in the permit area may allow access. These hunts are generally limited to antlerless deer or elk.

Due to the lag time between the occurrence of the damage and the opening of the season, the landowner may continue to experience damage. By the time the permit season opens, the problem animals may not be present.

This type of damage hunt could not be used in damage areas of very limited acreage. Because of the potential for ongoing damage, the landowner may still file a claim for payment of game damage. Also, this type of hunt does not lend itself to emergent damage situations.

Kill Permits
A kill permit may be issued to the owner or tenant of real property who is experiencing damage of any type and other alternatives have been ineffective. The Department during any time of the year may authorize these permits. The permit targets specific animals that are causing the damage and are generally limited to one or two animals.

The usefulness of these permits may be limited. The small number of animals removed may not alleviate the damage. Damage caused by a large number of deer or elk or occurring on larger acreages would likely not be impacted under a kill permit. Some people may be unwilling or unable to kill an animal. For qualifying damage, the landowner may still file a claim for payment of game damage. Since the animal killed cannot be retained by the permittee, timely care and disposition of the carcass may be problematic.

Landowner Preference Permits
For damage to a commercial crop, the landowner may be issued a preference permit. This permit enables the landowner to kill an antlerless deer or elk on the property that is experiencing the damage. This privilege may also be extended to an immediate family member. The permittee is not required to have a hunting license or transport tag and may retain the animal for personal use. Like the kill permit, the specific animal(s) causing the damage are targeted.

While the use of the permit would not resolve a major damage situation, the retention of the animal may be perceived by the landowner as compensation for the loss experienced. Even though the damage must be verified by a Fish and Wildlife Officer, the use of a landowner preference permit may be perceived as a loss of license revenue and of recreational opportunity.

The permit is very specific in that it targets only those animals causing damage, only on the property where the damage is occurring, and during the time the damage is ongoing. These permits are not available for use during April, May, and June.

Hot Spot Hunts
Hot spot hunts may be conducted when there are recurring complaints of damage caused by deer or elk that are received from several landowners in a locale. Participants are drawn from the most current list available of unsuccessful permit deer or elk applicants from the nearest permit unit and must have a hunting license and valid deer or elk transport tag. Hot spot hunts may not be conducted during April, May, or June.

Hot spot hunts are structured to target problem animals on private property where damage is occurring and in close proximity to the time during which damage is occurring. The success of a hot spot hunt may avert claims for payment of deer or elk damage, however, there is nothing that would prevent a landowner from applying for payment for damages experienced.

Hot spot hunts may result in a significant workload for Fish and Wildlife Officers. Due to the difficulty in defining and identifying hunt area boundaries and private property boundaries, officers may end up essentially guiding permittees. An additional issue may be directing permittees to the current location of targeted animals. Even the identification and contact of eligible hunters may be very time consuming.

Landowner Damage Access Permits
The final type of damage hunt is the landowner damage access permit. Damage to commercial crops must be occurring and the damage must be verified. A landowner waives the right to apply for payment for game damage upon acceptance of these permits. Typically, a landowner receives a specific number of permits and transfers each permit to a licensed hunter of his/her choosing. The total number of permits for deer and for elk per year is established in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC 232-12-266).

Landowner damage access permits direct hunting pressure on the animals causing the damage on the property where the damage is occurring and while the damage is being done. Access to private property and identification of the hunt area are not problematic since the landowner selects the hunters. The landowner has the right to require the return of the permit if a hunter is not successful or causes any problems for the landowner.

The landowner who receives these permits may not sell the permits. However, he/she may charge a fee for access to his/her property. The ability to charge a fee for access to private property extends to any landowner at any time or during any season.

Damage hunts are just other tools available to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to be used in an effort to respond to wildlife damage complaints. They provide flexibility and recreational opportunity. They serve a critical function of reducing the state’s liability for paying for damage cause by deer and elk. They are not a solution of every damage situation.