interesting that WA doesn't seem to have an RCW that specifically addresses this, other states are easy to find.
Washington seems to leave it to the discretion of the police and the courts if there was intent or not. It's a matter of charging for unlawful take, or not to charge, depeding on the circumstances. I could be completely out in left field though.
Thanks to the OP for putting me on this RCW hunt
Utah for example:
R657-63-3. Self Defense.
(1) A person is legally justified in killing or seriously injuring a threatening wild animal when the person reasonably believes such action is necessary to protect them self, another person, or a domestic animal against an imminent attack by the wild animal that will likely result in severe bodily injury or death to the victim.
(2)(a) In determining imminence or reasonableness under Subsection (1), the trier of fact may consider, but is not limited to, any of the following factors:
(i) the nature of the danger;
(ii) the immediacy of the danger;
(iii) the probability that the threatening wild animal will attack;
(iv) the probability that the attack will result in death or serious bodily injury;
(v) the ability to safely avoid the danger;
(vi) the fault of the person in creating the encounter; and
(vii) any previous pattern of aggressive or threatening behavior by the individual wild animal which was known to the person claiming self defense.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a), a person who is legally located or traveling in a place where attacked or approached by a threatening wild animal is not required to retreat.
(c) In all cases involving a reasonably plausible assertion of self defense, it is presumed the life and safety of a human being is paramount to the life or safety of a wild animal.
(3)(a) A person shall notify the division within 12 hours after killing or wounding a wild animal under Subsection (1).
(b) No wild animal killed pursuant to Subsection (1) or the parts thereof may be removed from the site, repositioned, retained, sold, or transferred without written authorization from the division. (4)(a) A person is not legally justified in killing or seriously injuring a threatening wild animal under the circumstances specified in Subsection (1) if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly provokes or attracts the wild animal into a situation in which it is probable it will threaten the person, another person, or a domestic animal. (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (4)(a), a person lawfully pursuing a cougar or bear with dogs may seriously injure or kill that cougar or bear when they reasonably believe such action is necessary to protect them self or another person against an imminent attack that will likely result in severe bodily injury or death.
(5) A person that kills or seriously injures a wild animal that enters a home, tent, camper, or other permanent or temporary living structure occupied by a person is presumed to have acted reasonably and had a reasonable fear the wild animal's entry presented an imminent threat of severe bodily injury or death to an occupant of the structure, provided the intruding wild animal is:
(a) reasonably perceived as an animal physically capable of causing severe bodily injury or death to a human being; and
(b) killed or injured while attempting to enter, entering, or occupying the involved structure.
