WAC 220-412-100  Landowner hunting permits

Purpose of the proposal and its anticipated effects:

The proposed amendments to this WAC section address one landowner, the Centralia Mine. The primary purpose of this proposal is to move away from narrow harvest seasons that require annual adjustments to WAC 220-412-100 to broader season timeframes based on the landowner’s staff availability. Additionally, due to the landscape conditions, the landowner’s insurance requires that hunters only use rifles when hunting on the mine lands. The proposed change also adds this requirement not previously addressed in the rule.

Reasons supporting proposal:

This proposal, if adopted, would allow greater flexibility for the landowner and the hunters selected for special permits to schedule their hunt dates with the Centralia Mine staff. The current short seasons make it challenging for schedules to align, and some hunters lose their opportunity to hunt. Under federal mine safety rules, access to the Centralia mine requires extensive safety training unless trained personnel escort the permitted individuals. Mine employees volunteer their time to take the hunters on the mine to hunt, and their availability is limited. Centralia Mine is private land, a closed area, and access privileges are otherwise not open for hunting. This extended season will allow the hunters selected for a special permit on this land to have better chances of a successful hunt. The other permit change requires that hunters use only rifles when hunting on mine lands due to landscape conditions.

Please comment on each specific proposed amendment below:

1. Modification of the Centralia Mine elk hunt dates as listed below:

1. Senior Only, Antlerless from September 3-11 to proposed dates of September 1 - October 15. This change will lengthen the hunting season.
2. Disabled Only, Antlerless from September 17-25 to proposed dates of September 1 - October 15. This change will lengthen the hunting season.
3. Youth Only, Any Bull from October 1-9 to proposed dates of September 1 - October 15. This change will lengthen the hunting season.

2. Addition of the weapon requirement on Centralia Mine lands to meet the requirements of the landowner’s insurance policy and to protect hunter’s safety.