Anyone is Sammamish -Issaquah with deer problems

[Bob33]

From: Preuss, Lori (DFW)
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 5:03 PM
Subject: RE: hunting access question

 
  RCW 9.41.300(2)(a) says,

(2) Cities, towns, counties, and other municipalities may enact laws and ordinances:
(a) Restricting the discharge of firearms in any portion of their respective jurisdictions where there is a reasonable likelihood that humans, domestic animals, or property will be jeopardized. Such laws and ordinances shall not abridge the right of the individual guaranteed by Article I, section 24 of the state Constitution to bear arms in defense of self or others.

No municipalities may prohibit hunting within city limits.  Only WDFW has the authority to regulate hunting.  However, as stated above, a municipality can restrict the discharge of firearms within city limits (or a portion thereof) if they can show there is a reasonable likelihood that the discharge of firearms in these areas will jeopardize the safety of humans, domestic animals, or property.

Sammamish does not have the legal authority to prohibit hunting on the undeveloped DNR land.  But they can prohibit the discharge of firearms there if they can make the showing required in RCW 9.41.300(2)(a).

I hope this answers your questions.   Let me know if you have other questions.

 

Lori Preuss, WSBA #33045

WDFW Criminal Justice Liaison &

Administrative Regulations Coordinator

Lori.preuss@dfw.wa.gov

[highmuley]

I have 8 or so different bucks in my yard, in issaquah. Biggest being a 3x4. I'm having a hard time NOT popping one. We normally hunt the Eastside. Lots of deer out here though.

[jessie88]

They prefer to hit them with the cars instead of giving permission to hunt. Last fall I watched a 5x5 huge buck in different backyards the entire summer and somebody hit it with the car by the Pine Lake Park in October. Such a waste.
The rule changed this year, in Unit 454 you can hunt any deer.

the rule for 454 is still any buck for modern season.  its always been any deer for archery. 

[nicz]

Highmuley I have a multiseason tag and I hunt mostly during archery season. Are the bucks stil on your property?

[highmuley]

Highmuley I have a multiseason tag and I hunt mostly during archery season. Are the bucks stil on your property?

They've been hit and miss the last month or so. Mostly does. We've been seeing more coyotes, Bob cats and cougar lately.

[nicz]

Can I get your permission to hunt a doe?

[ShadowHunter]

Bob, I appreciate the additional info.  A little background so you'll understand where I'm coming from with this.  I was born and raised in what would later become the city of Sammamish.  I lived there for almost 60 years before I pulled the plug and moved to the "dry side".  I and my hunting partners have always hunted over on this side, one of those partners still lives in Sammamish.  He sees deer and often bucks on his property all the time.  When we are done hunting mulies over here, blacktails are still open over there and almost every year he calls me to tell me about the big bucks standing around  just waiting to get arrowed.  He won't do it because of this "law" and the fact that he's sent me at least 3 links to newspaper articles about bowhunters prosecuted under this law over the years, all were on private property.   

The letter from the dept. you posted was obviously in response to a specific incident or case.  Without knowing (and I don't "need" to know) the question, these lines "seem" to contradict  each other.
 
"No municipalities may prohibit hunting within city limits.  Only WDFW has the authority to regulate hunting."     
"Sammamish does not have the legal authority to prohibit hunting on the undeveloped DNR land."

If "only" the dept has that authority, it shouldn't matter who's land it is, as long as one has permission to be on it if it's not your own.  Do you know where this undeveloped DNR land is?  I don't know of any DNR land "in" Sammamish.

The RCW cited is in reference to firearms.  I took a quick look at the WAC's and RCW's to see if there was something to back-up this claim: " No municipalities may prohibit hunting within city limits.  Only WDFW has the authority to regulate hunting."  and found nothing.  Can you, or anybody else help me out here?

I guess more to the point, if the above is true, why are they getting away with it???

[nicz]

There is a city ordinance that prohibits hunting on public land. On private property you can hunt with the owner's permission and only with bow and arrow. (see article 3) GMU 454 is part of the firearm restriction area so you can't discharge a firearm. This is my interpretation of the ordinance and the rules. If somebody knows otherwise let me know. I've heard of people prosecuted, it looks like they killed a deer in Beaver lake park a few years ago.
I would check with the local authorities before going hunting though.

https://www.sammamish.us/files/ordinance/991.pdf

[bigtex]

There will soon be less DNR land in the area. DNR is in the process of transferring their Preston area lands to King County. Once this is done it will be county land (park) and off limits to hunting.

[Special T]

So that DNR section atop of the hill in Preston  will be a King County Park?  I got a buddy who will be less than thrilled.

[colersu22]

http://www.valleyrecord.com/news/382380471.html

Here is a link with what lot was transferred.

[Special T]

Thx for the link 35 archers isn't the land I was thinking about

[highmuley]

Can I get your permission to hunt a doe?

Dont think momma would appreciate it. Shes fond of our backyard blacktails. I appreciate you asking though.

[nicz]

Back to eastern Wa then:)

[ShadowHunter]

Nicz, thanks for the info, I'll let my buddy know he can hunt those bucks on his property!