Washington Commission Approves Various Changes for Hunting Seasons

By Ammoland Editor Joe Evans

OLYMPIA, Wash. -(Ammoland.com)- The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved steps to reduce the spread of elk hoof disease among other actions at a meeting Aug. 4-5 in Olympia.

The commission is a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Commissioners adopted a measure requiring hunters to remove and leave behind the hooves of any elk harvested in six game management units in an effort to reduce the spread of elk hoof disease, a debilitating bacterial disease.

WDFW already requires these precautions in many management units in southwest Washington. Beginning this fall, those hunting in game management units 633 and 636 in Mason County, and 407, 418, 437, and 454 in north Puget Sound also will need to take the preventative steps.

The commission also voted to modify regulations for auction, raffle or special incentive permits for hunting elk. The changes clarify where permit holders can hunt and which animals can be legally hunted.

In other business, commissioners agreed with wildlife managers’ recommendations to …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand