Summary of proposed rule
The rule proposal seeks to maintain a sustainable cougar hunting season. The rule proposal sets a “cap” on the number of cougars that may be harvested or otherwise taken per year per population management unit and sets the cougar hunting season to start on September 1 and end on March 31 each year. The rule proposal also eliminates the allowance for harvesting a second cougar within the same license year statewide.
Scope and rationale for proposed rule
This rule proposal is responding to and supporting a rule petition (PDF) that the Fish and Wildlife Commission accepted on December 15, 2023. The petition requests that the department revisit the topic of cougar hunting seasons and a previous rule that was adopted in 2020.The rule proposal amends WAC 220-415-100 based on the rule petition.
Documents
- CR-103P – filed as WSR 24-16-056 on
CR-103P supplemental documents
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
The rule making for this proposal is exempt from SEPA under WAC 197-11-835(6).
For more information
Staff Contact: Heather Bonagofski at Heather.Bonagofksi@dfw.wa.gov
Public comments
To view comments on the public engagement page for this rule making proposal, please visit the https://publicinput.com/2024cougarseasonsetting
This comment period is closed.