63DH8
06-27-2005, 05:20 PM
I saw on the news where Washington State reconizes nuria as a destructive non-native animal. I emailed the Washington State Game and Wildlife to see if there is a hunting season for nutria. This is what I got as a reply.
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There is no formal definition of "varmint" in Washington. Unclassified animals can be taken year-round with legal methods by persons with a hunting license. Because the list would be fairly long and cumbersome, there is no list of unclassified species (thus the name). Nutria is unclassified. The WDFW is asking that you report nutria sightings at 360-466-4345 ext. 266. Squirrels, unless they are a protected species, are unclassified. Therefore, hunters must be aware of species that are protected in one way or another (game animals, sensitive, threatened, endangered, etc.). Lists of candidate, sensitive, threatened, and endangered species are located on the agency web site at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/diversty/soc/adv_search.htm . A list of protected wildlife is located in the big game hunting pamphlet.
Regulations regarding unclassified species are somewhat difficult to bring together because of the way WA laws are based and written. Essentially, WA laws and rules are based on the premise that if something is not prohibited, then it is legal. For example, there is a prohibition against using a crossbow to hunt any wildlife so that is not lawful for unclassified wildlife. However, the prohibition on hunting at night (outside of official hunting hours) only applies to game species, so unclassified wildlife species can be hunted at night under some conditions - there are restrictions on hunting wildlife at night during Sep-Nov or when an area is open to hunting deer or elk with a center-fire rifle.
In general, unclassified wildlife can be taken year-round with lawful methods and a valid license. It is probably a good idea to check with the local agent in the area you plan to hunt to make sure your planned activity is okay.
Most of the general regulations are contained within the big game and small game pamphlets. If you want to look into specifics, the statutes (RCW - Revised Code of Washington) and rules (WAC - Washington Administrative Code) are accessible on-line through Access Washington at http://www1.leg.wa.gov/LawsAndAgencyRules/ .
Most wildlife statutes are found in RCW Title 77. Most rules regarding wildlife and hunting are in WAC Title 232.
As for obtaining a Washington hunting license, if you were born after January 1, 1972, you must show proof of completing a hunter safety course.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Customer Service
Wildlife Program
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The short form of this is,
1. It's open season on Nutria with no bag limit.
2. You can hunt them at night.
3. Get permission to hunt on private property.
4. WDFW is asking that you report nutria sightings at 360-466-4345 ext. 266
5. Contact the local game and wildlife agent in the area you plan to hunt to make sure your planned activity is okay.
__________________
###################################
There is no formal definition of "varmint" in Washington. Unclassified animals can be taken year-round with legal methods by persons with a hunting license. Because the list would be fairly long and cumbersome, there is no list of unclassified species (thus the name). Nutria is unclassified. The WDFW is asking that you report nutria sightings at 360-466-4345 ext. 266. Squirrels, unless they are a protected species, are unclassified. Therefore, hunters must be aware of species that are protected in one way or another (game animals, sensitive, threatened, endangered, etc.). Lists of candidate, sensitive, threatened, and endangered species are located on the agency web site at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/diversty/soc/adv_search.htm . A list of protected wildlife is located in the big game hunting pamphlet.
Regulations regarding unclassified species are somewhat difficult to bring together because of the way WA laws are based and written. Essentially, WA laws and rules are based on the premise that if something is not prohibited, then it is legal. For example, there is a prohibition against using a crossbow to hunt any wildlife so that is not lawful for unclassified wildlife. However, the prohibition on hunting at night (outside of official hunting hours) only applies to game species, so unclassified wildlife species can be hunted at night under some conditions - there are restrictions on hunting wildlife at night during Sep-Nov or when an area is open to hunting deer or elk with a center-fire rifle.
In general, unclassified wildlife can be taken year-round with lawful methods and a valid license. It is probably a good idea to check with the local agent in the area you plan to hunt to make sure your planned activity is okay.
Most of the general regulations are contained within the big game and small game pamphlets. If you want to look into specifics, the statutes (RCW - Revised Code of Washington) and rules (WAC - Washington Administrative Code) are accessible on-line through Access Washington at http://www1.leg.wa.gov/LawsAndAgencyRules/ .
Most wildlife statutes are found in RCW Title 77. Most rules regarding wildlife and hunting are in WAC Title 232.
As for obtaining a Washington hunting license, if you were born after January 1, 1972, you must show proof of completing a hunter safety course.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Customer Service
Wildlife Program
###############################
The short form of this is,
1. It's open season on Nutria with no bag limit.
2. You can hunt them at night.
3. Get permission to hunt on private property.
4. WDFW is asking that you report nutria sightings at 360-466-4345 ext. 266
5. Contact the local game and wildlife agent in the area you plan to hunt to make sure your planned activity is okay.
__________________