The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced Friday the opening of a public comment period on new rules and regulations proposed for the upcoming hunting season as part of its annual process.
The comment period began Wednesday, Feb. 5, and will end sometime in March. The end dates vary depending on each rule proposal.
Among the new rules is a statewide deer, elk and moose feeding ban, which WDFW says is aimed at limiting the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). This includes a ban on baiting deer, elk and moose while hunting. A state environmental policy act (SEPA) determination is being issued for the ban, which adds an additional rule process and more ways to comment, change or block the policy.
Cases of chronic wasting disease, which is fatal to any deer, elk or moose that contracts it, was confirmed among the state's wildlife population in 2024.
Updates were proposed for 2025 black bear, cougar, deer, elk and waterfowl general hunting seasons and 2025 special permit opportunities for deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goats.
The rest of the changes include multi-season tags for certain federally-recognized tribes that have agreements with WDFW and clarification around some special closures, firearm restrictions and deer areas.
Full descriptions of all policy changes are available on the WDFW website at https://tinyurl.com/34ynu9bs.
Members of the public can submit comments or testimony online, over email, by phone or mail. It is also possible to register to provide live testimony at the public hearings held for each proposal.
WDFW Director Kelly Susewind is responsible for the decision-making process on all proposals except those concerning black bear and cougar hunting and will announce his policy decisions in late March.
The WDFW Commission is scheduled to decide on changes to black bear and cougar hunting in April.
