Fox Hunting at Night in WA?

[luvmystang67]

So, if I read through the small game regs... here are some notable pieces of text in the "Other Small Game Seasons".  What I'm getting at, is I don't see where fox hunting would be disallowed at night.  Can someone point me to what I might be missing?

Looking at Raccoon:
Has the season, and in exceptions it says Dogs may be used to hunt raccoon, EXCEPT it is unlawful to hunt with dogs during the months of October or November during the dates established for modern firearm deer and elk general seasons in eastern and western Washington. It doesn't say anything about night hunting here.

Then in the section below it says: It is unlawful to hunt bobcat and raccoon at night during modern firearm deer or elk general seasons that occur in October and November in eastern and western Washington.

Which implies that it is legal at other times, but it never explicitly states it.

If you look at bobcat, same thing.  It says GMUs and time periods where night hunting is illegal, but never says that it is otherwise legal, this is just implied.

Coyote is the only one that explicitly says they can be hunted at night.

They post this general note in the "Night Hunting" section, but it only addresses Big Game and Coyotes, which a Fox is not:
Hunting big game with the aid of an artificial light, spotlight, or night vision equipment is prohibited. Night vision equipment includes electronic light amplification devices, thermal  imaging devices, and other comparable equipment used to enhance night vision. Coyote may be hunted at night with lights year round, EXCEPT it is unlawful to hunt coyote at night during modern firearm deer or elk general seasons that occur in October and November in eastern and western Washington.

I went further to look at the RCWs, but it just flatly says WAC 220-413-060 Hunting restrictions. The purpose of this rule change is to clarify it is unlawful to hunt any wildlife at night and that it is unlawful to hunt wild animals, except rabbits and hares, with hounds during established modern firearm general deer and elk seasons during the months of October and November.

It doesn't even mention Coyotes, Raccoons and Bobcat...

[highcountry_hunter]

Better to beg for forgiveness…


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[millerwheeler]

Tagging along

[Humptulips]

You might want to look at WAC 220-416-020
" The following tables show the lawful hunting hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset) for big game animals, rabbits, hares, fox, and forest grouse"
 followed by the tables
I don't believe you can hunt fox at night. You can racoon and bobcat with the exception of the Lynx recovery zones.
Also Cascade Red Fox are protected.

[luvmystang67]

You might want to look at WAC 220-416-020
" The following tables show the lawful hunting hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset) for big game animals, rabbits, hares, fox, and forest grouse"
 followed by the tables
I don't believe you can hunt fox at night. You can racoon and bobcat with the exception of the Lynx recovery zones.
Also Cascade Red Fox are protected.

Thanks for this.  In the pamphlet it only says this: 2023-2024 Official Hunting Hours for Game Animals and Forest Grouse*, but the only asterisk says * These are lawful hunting hours for migratory game birds (duck, goose, coot, snipe, mourning dove, and band-tailed pigeon); upland birds (pheasant, quail, partridge); and turkey during established seasons.

I actually searched for that WAC and couldn't find it.  It is the only place I see that mentioned anywhere.  Elsewhere it says big game.  Appreciate the note, it is not really stated appropriately for ANY of the animals except Coyote in the game regs.

[Britt-dog]

You might want to look at WAC 220-416-020
" The following tables show the lawful hunting hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset) for big game animals, rabbits, hares, fox, and forest grouse"
 followed by the tables
I don't believe you can hunt fox at night. You can racoon and bobcat with the exception of the Lynx recovery zones.
Also Cascade Red Fox are protected.

Thanks for this.  In the pamphlet it only says this: 2023-2024 Official Hunting Hours for Game Animals and Forest Grouse*, but the only asterisk says * These are lawful hunting hours for migratory game birds (duck, goose, coot, snipe, mourning dove, and band-tailed pigeon); upland birds (pheasant, quail, partridge); and turkey during established seasons.

I actually searched for that WAC and couldn't find it.  It is the only place I see that mentioned anywhere.  Elsewhere it says big game.  Appreciate the note, it is not really stated appropriately for ANY of the animals except Coyote in the game regs.

Humptulip's quote of the WAC is correct. However its funny that fox is not mentioned under night hunting restrictions on page 40 of the migratory bird and small game pamphlet, nor is it  mentioned on page 64, official hunting hours. Seems this is a discrepancy and one would surmise night time fox hunting is legal if you only read the regulation pamphlet.

The WAC is law, and WDFW officers are not known for their discretion in such matters. act accordingly.

[pianoman9701]

Better to beg for forgiveness…


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You don't get much forgiveness on a hunting violation. Better to ask and get a name.