WAC 232-28-515   Trapping seasons and regulations.  Trapping Regulations


To be issued your first Washington State trapping license an individual must pass the Washington State trapper education exam.


It is unlawful to: Trap for wild animals before October 1, and after March 15, in western Washington, except that owners of, or persons legally controlling a property (or their designee) may trap unclassified wild animals that are causing damage or depredating on said property.


It is unlawful to: Place traps or establish drowning wires and weights prior to 7:00 a.m. on the opening date of the trapping season. All opening and closing season dates are inclusive.


Trapping Seasons:


General Western Washington Trapping Seasons (Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom counties):

SPECIES	OPENING DATE	CLOSING DATE
Bobcat	November 18, 2006 November 17, 2007 November 15, 2008	February 28, 2007, 2008, and 2009
Beaver, River Otter, Red Fox, Weasel, Marten, Mink, Muskrat, and Raccoon	November 1, 2006, 2007, and 2008	March 31, 2007, 2008, and 2009

Exceptions to General Western Washington Trapping Seasons:


Game Management Unit 522 (Loo-wit) (Cowlitz and Skamania counties) is closed to all trapping.


Island County

The red fox season is closed.


Lewis County

Green River drainage, above and including Miners Creek drainage, is closed to all trapping except for bobcat and coyote.


Skagit and Whatcom counties

Ross Lake National Recreation Area is closed to all trapping. Red fox season is closed, except within the boundaries of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan National Forests.


Skamania County

The following areas are closed to all trapping, except for bobcat and coyote: Muddy River drainage, above and including Bean Creek drainage; Pine Creek drainage above USFS Road 83; and Green River drainage, above and including Miners Creek drainage.


General Eastern Washington Trapping Seasons (Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima counties):

SPECIES		OPENING DATE	CLOSING DATE
Bobcat		November 18, 2006 November 17, 2007 November 15, 2008		February 28, 2007, 2008, and 2009
Badger, Beaver, Mink, Muskrat, Raccoon, Red Fox, Weasel, Marten, River Otter (Season Bag Limit is 6 River Otter in Eastern Washington)		November 1, 2006, 2007, and 2008		March 31, 2007, 2008, and 2009

Exceptions to General Eastern Washington Trapping Seasons:


River otter trapping season is closed in all Eastern Washington counties, except that it is open in Chelan, Ferry, Klickitat, Kittitas, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, and Yakima counties, as well as in the Snake and Walla Walla River drainages.


Chelan County

Beaver season is closed in Swakane and Mud Creek drainages.


Columbia County

Trapping is not allowed on the Umatilla Tribes Rainwater Wildlife Area in Columbia County, as per their management plan.


Kittitas County

Beaver season is closed in the following drainages: North fork of Tarpiscan Creek and Umtanum Creek.


Urban Trapping Areas: Special Regulations and Trap Restrictions


The following described areas are closed to the taking of classified furbearing animals, and coyote, opossum, nutria, and skunk, by the use of body-gripping or kill traps except by permit under WAC 232-12-141.


Thurston County, within the established city limits (including county islands) of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater.


Within Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties: Beginning at the confluence of Snohomish River and Puget Sound; east up Snohomish River to Interstate 5 (I-5); south on I-5 to Interstate 405 (I-405); south on I-405 to I-5; south on I-5 to Pioneer Way; east on Pioneer Way to Waller Road; south on Waller Road to SR 512; west on SR 512 to Highway 7; south on Highway 7 and Highway 507 to Pierce County line; north on Pierce County line to Puget Sound; north along coast to mouth of Snohomish River and point of beginning.


Licensed trappers must comply with reporting requirements in WAC 232-12-134.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 06-17-095 (Order 06-196), § 232-28-515, filed 8/15/06, effective 9/15/06; 06-11-032 (Order 06-92), § 232-28-515, filed 5/8/06, effective 6/8/06; 04-17-061 (Order 04-207), § 232-28-515, filed 8/11/04, effective 9/11/04; 03-13-047 (Order 03-129), § 232-28-515, filed 6/12/03, effective 7/13/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040, 77.12.020, 77.32.070, 77.32.530. 01-10-048 (Order 01-69), § 232-28-515, filed 4/26/01, effective 5/27/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 00-20-032 (Order 00-197), § 232-28-515, filed 9/27/00, effective 10/28/00; 98-01-208 (Order 97-252), § 232-28-515, filed 12/23/97, effective 1/23/98.]