Official WDFW Rulings

[KillBilly]

August 25, 2009

Jerrod Lile
Trophy Taker, Inc
Montana

Dear Jerrod:

Thank you for inquiring about the legality of your Shuttle T-Lock and Terminal T-Lock broadheads for hunting big game in Washington State.   

The broadhead rules adopted by our state’s fish and wildlife commission require a cutting diameter no less than seven-eighths inch wide, a blade completely closed at the back end of the blade by a smooth, unbroken surface starting at the maximum blade width forming a smooth line toward the feather end of the shaft, and such line not angling towards the point.  Based on the pictures you provided it appears that your broadheads meet all of our described criteria. 

Please feel free to share a copy of this letter with your vendors and anybody else who may have questions about the legality of these broadheads for hunting big game in Washington State. 

Sincerely,



Mik Mikitik
Hunter Education Division

cc:   Lt. Crown
   Sgt. Anderson

[KillBilly]

September 9, 2009

Subject: RE: Legal Broadheads

Thanks for your e-mail asking for a definitive agency ruling on G5
Montec broadheads.

The technical elements of our current administrative law require "....a
smooth, unbroken surface ...and such line does not angle towards the
point."  Although any curved surface will angle from its maximum width
slightly toward the point, the ultimate question is whether the design
creates a broadhead which is barbed.  Clearly, this broadhead is not
barbed.

The Montec broadheads--if all designs are similar--meet the spirit of
our current administrative law and are approved for big game hunting in
Washington State.

Mik Mikitik
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Enforcement Program
Hunter Education Division

[KillBilly]

Wildthing (DFW) to me
show details 8:17 AM
   
Reply

Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding the recently amended archery regulation now authorizing bowhunters with a valid concealed pistol license to carry a sidearm while archery hunting.  Your e-mail has been forwarded to me for a response.

 Please be advised that the chief of our enforcement program has no authority to mandate any hunting rules or regulations.  The chief—along with all of our Fish and Wildlife Officers—is responsible for enforcing hunting laws and rules, not making them.

 RCW 9.41.060(, Exceptions to restrictions on carrying firearms, authorizes an exception to the restriction on carrying firearms for “…any person engaging in a lawful outdoor recreational activity such as hunting, fishing, camping….”  The operative word to pay attention to is “lawful.”  Bowhunters in Washington State are regulated by rules promulgated by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.  Those rules are specific to bowhunters who choose to purchase a Washington State license to hunt big game with archery tackle.  The commission has delegated authority from the legislature to adopt rules governing the time, place and manner of lawful hunting activity.  Those rules can be as restrictive or as relaxed as they deem appropriate to the species huntedThe commission has always been concerned about the potential for individual bowhunters to use a sidearm to unlawfully kill big game.  Knowing that individuals with concealed pistol licenses (CPL) are thoroughly vetted through a criminal background history check, the commission has a high level of confidence that CPL holders will not wish to jeopardize their license.  There is no such assurance with the general hunter who does not possess a CPL.

 You should also know that representatives of the bowhunting community—not WDFW staff—are the ones that proposed this regulation to the Fish and Wildlife Commission and they are the ones that sought to distinguish between CPL holders and non-CPL holding archers.

 
Mik Mikitik

Department of Fish and Wildlife

Enforcement Program

Hunter Education Division

(360) 902-8408

[KillBilly]

                                                                    State of Washington
                                                          DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

                      Mailing Address: 600 Capitol Way N • Olympia, WA  98501-1091 • (360) 902-2200, TDD (360) 902-2207
                       Main Office Location: Natural Resources Building  • 1111 Washington Street SE • Olympia, WA



January 21, 2010

Wac’Em Archery Products LLC
P.O. Box 388
Springville, Utah  84663-0388

Dear Wac ‘Em Staff:

Thank you for inquiring about the legality of your three and four-blade broadhead designs for hunting big game in Washington State.   

The broadhead rules adopted by our state’s fish and wildlife commission require a cutting diameter no less than seven-eighths inch wide, a blade completely closed at the back end of the blade by a smooth, unbroken surface starting at the maximum blade width forming a smooth line toward the feather end of the shaft, and such line not angling towards the point.  Based on the samples you provided the broadheads clearly meet the intent of our described criteria. 

Please feel free to share a copy of this letter with your vendors and anybody else who may have questions about the legality of these broadheads for hunting big game in Washington State. 

Sincerely,



Mik Mikitik
Hunter Education Division

cc:   Lt. Crown
   Sgt. Anderson