HB 1838 would authorize the use of bait for the spring bear hunting season. Under the bill the following regulations would apply:
An applicant for a bait station permit must already hold:
(i) A valid big game hunting license issued under RCW 77.32.450 that includes black bear as a species option;
(ii)Any necessary transport tag required under this title; and
(iii) A special hunting season permit that allows the holder to hunt for black bear in a spring damage control hunt authorized by the department.
(c) A bait station permit may be purchased only from the department's Olympia office. The fee for a bait station permit is ten dollars.
(d) A separate bait station permit is required for each individual bait station.
(e) The bait station permit number must be attached to each bait station so that the bait station permit number is visible.
(f)A bait station permit is valid fifteen days before the opening day of the spring damage control hunt and expires five days after the end of the spring damage control hunt.
(g)A bait station authorized under this section must:
(i) Be established no earlier than fifteen days before the opening day of the associated spring damage control hunt;
(ii) Not include any device, barrel, box, or other container holding bait attached to a tree, excluding a standing dead tree, fallen tree, or stump, in a way that damages or may cause damage to the tree during mounting, use, or removal of the device, barrel, box, or other container;
(iii) Be secured so as to be easily removable at the close of the spring damage control hunt or the conclusion of the hunt if a black bear is taken; and
(iv) Be a single metal or plastic barrel not larger than fifty-five gallons, a wooden box, or made from natural materials found on the site.
(h) A bait station authorized under this section must be removed and the area returned as close to its natural condition as possible by removing all bait containers, nonconsumed bait, and any material used to conceal the hunter's observation location at the conclusion of the hunt if a black bear is taken or no later than five days after the close of the spring damage control hunt, whichever is earlier.
(i) Bait may include additives such as honey, molasses, jam, jelly, or a similar substance and those additives may be placed in and around the bait station. Additionally, any bait used to attract black bear must:
(i) Consist of natural or commercially processed meats, vegetables, fruits, or grains;
(ii) Not contain any metal, plastic, paper, styrofoam, glass, or any other substance that may harm or injure an animal feeding from the bait station;
(iii) Be free of any commercial wrapper before being placed in the bait container or the area around the bait container; and
(iv)Not include any cooking oil or grease.
(j)A bait station must be located:
(i) No closer than fifty yards from any natural body of water or natural running stream, creek, or river;
(ii)At least one hundred yards from any public or private traveled road, regardless of surface or use, and any established hiking, horseback riding, bicycle, or other off-road vehicle use trail; and
(iii) No closer than five hundred yards from any private residence or commercial structure.
(k) A bait station illegally placed on private property may be removed by the property owner and the director may revoke the holder's bait station permit.
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1838.pdf