Hunting license/hunter education question

[SeaWalker]

So per WDFW's newly adopted rule regarding who can purchase a hunting license, I think that I now have to take a hunter safety class to be able to purchase a 2010 hunting license.  I'm looking for some opinions to verify if this is correct or not.

I was born in 1975.
I have purchased a hunting license every year from 1993 to 2009
I have never take a hunter safety class.

Here is the language from the June 9, 2009 news release

"The commission also adopted a rule change clarifying identification requirements for those purchasing hunting licenses. Under the new rule, which goes into effect July 10, past Washington state hunting licenses may no longer be used as identification to obtain a new license from a dealer.

People eligible to purchase hunting licenses must either be listed as current license holders with a valid hunter education certificate number in the department’s licensing data system, show they were born before Jan. 1, 1972, or present a hunter-education certificate showing they completed a WDFW-approved hunter education course. Washington also accepts hunter education certificates issued by other states and provinces as proof of successful completion of an approved hunter education course."

I need to get this figured out in time to take the class to get my special hunt permit applications in if I need to.  But, it's a major inconvenience so if I don't have to I'd rather not.

Thanks

[Grizzly95]

Have you ever taken the course here or any other state? I would assume since you have purchased a license for that length of time that you have or by some reason they have found you exempt. But we all know what assume means.

[huntnphool]

Not sure how you got one to begin with but yes you will need to take the course.

[Bob33]

It reads clearly to me.

"People eligible to purchase hunting licenses must either be listed as current license holders with a valid hunter education certificate number in the department’s licensing data system, show they were born before Jan. 1, 1972, or present a hunter-education certificate showing they completed a WDFW-approved hunter education course.

Do you have a valid hunter education certification number in the system?
Were you born before 1/1/72?
Can you present a hunter-education certification showing you completed a WDFW approved HE course?

If you answered no to all three then you can't buy a license.

Sign up now for a HE class early in 2010.  You'll be done well in advance of next year's permit drawings.

[h2ofowlr]

I would take hunters ed.  You might pick up a few things.  It is a good course that I think everyone should take.

[Grizzly95]

I would take hunters ed.  You might pick up a few things.  It is a good course that I think everyone should take.

Agreed, I wish it was a standard course taught to people. Or at least a firearm safety course, for people that don't necessarily hunt.

[SeaWalker]

Yeah it seems pretty clear to me too but I thought I would look for another opinion before making arraingments for the class.

It's a bizzare rule change.  I've purchased a hunting license for 17 consecutive years.  Harvested 4 differfent species of big game, can't count the small game, upland birds, waterfowl etc., that i've taken (all in Washington) and I now have to take the class.  At the same time my wife, born in 1971, has never hunted, isn't interested in beginning to hunt, but could go buy a license tomorrow.  Or, someone my age that took the class in say in 1985, but lost interest and never pursued hunting over the past quarter century, could also buy a license tomorrow.

I'll sack it up and do what needs to be done and hopefully I can add something positive to the other people in the class from my experiences.  But, I'm not the dude the state needs to be worried about being safe out there.

[Grizzly95]

Or the fact that anyone over 21 can apply for a concealed permit and never have to take a course of prove they know how to handle a pistol. I know more requirements would piss some people off, but would help ensure safe practice.

[NWHydroprint]

Here is the rule change. You still won"t have to take hunters Ed if you are in the system apparently what was happening is people were saying they had bought one in the past but there was no record of it in the computer.

 Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: The purpose of this rule change is to minimize confusion and avoid possible mistakes by license vendors. Prior to this rule change, subsection (4) authorized an individual who has a Washington hunting license from a preceding year to show the license and purchase a subsequent license even if the initial license was not issued in compliance with the hunter education training requirements. This proposal will allow individuals to purchase a Washington hunting license only if they have a hunter education certificate or are identified as previous Washington hunters in the current license data system
     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 232-12-227.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.12.047.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 09-03-111 on January 21, 2009.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: June 5, 2009.

Miranda Wecker, Chair


Fish and Wildlife Commission


OTS-2149.2


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 97-22-003, filed 10/23/97, effective 11/23/97)

WAC 232-12-227   Hunter education training program requirements.   (1) The director may designate a state coordinator for the purpose of administering the hunter education program. The state coordinator shall be responsible for the certification of volunteer instructors and the development of instructional materials, training aids, operating policies and procedures necessary to comply with the provisions of this section and RCW 77.32.155.

     (2) It is unlawful for any person born after January 1, 1972, to obtain an initial hunting license in the state of Washington without having completed a department-approved course involving at least ten hours of instruction in conservation, safety and sportsmanship.

     (3) Upon satisfactory completion of these requirements, each student shall be issued a certificate of accreditation signed by an authorized instructor or the state coordinator.

     (4) It is unlawful for a license dealer to issue a hunting license for a person born after January 1, 1972, unless a hunter education certificate ((or a Washington hunting license for a preceding year issued to said person)) is presented at the time of purchase. This subsection does not apply to individuals listed in the department's licensing data base system with a valid hunter education certificate number.


[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040 and 77.32.155. 97-22-003, § 232-12-227, filed 10/23/97, effective 11/23/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 95-02-070 (Order 94-146), § 232-12-227, filed 1/4/95, effective 1/4/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.32.050 and 77.32.070. 90-19-087 (Order 458), § 232-12-227, filed 9/18/90, effective 10/19/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.32.155. 85-16-004 (Order 260), § 232-12-227, filed 7/25/85. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 81-12-029 (Order 165), § 232-12-227, filed 6/1/81. Formerly WAC 232-12-500.]

[bobcat]

How were you able to purchase a hunting license in 1993 at the age of 18 with no hunter education certificate

[billythekidrock]

How were you able to purchase a hunting license in 1993 at the age of 18 with no hunter education certificate

I was wondering the same thing.

[bobcat]

I do know of a guy who bought a hunting license without having taken hunter education. He knew the clerk at the store and he talked her into selling the license to him without any proof of hunter's ed.

[Bob33]

https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wdfw/faqs_hunter_ed.html

Do I need to take a Hunter Education course before hunting in Washington?

Washington State law requires all individuals born after 1 January 1972 to show proof of basic hunter education training before purchasing a hunting license. There are no exceptions to the law. "

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.32.155
"(1)(a) When purchasing any hunting license, persons under the age of eighteen shall present certification of completion of a course of instruction of at least ten hours in the safe handling of firearms, safety, conservation, and sportsmanship."

[Birdguy]

I seem to remember there was a gap time in the rule change where if you had purchased a hunting license (being over 18 did not require the course at the time) and could show it when you purchased your new license you did not need the class. The rule was instituted to get all NEW hunters through a hunters education class. I have friends who fall into this category as well. I believe you would have to be born between 1072 and 1975 or 76 and bought hunting licenses for the year of 92-93 or something real close to that to make it with out the class. I do not remember when the 1972 date was put in place but I think it was 1993-4 timeframe.

[SeaWalker]

How were you able to purchase a hunting license in 1993 at the age of 18 with no hunter education certificate

I just headed for college at WSU and wanted to hunt so I went to Walmart or Fred Meyer and bought a Remington 870 and a license.  Been buying a license every year since.  Of course I got into big game hunting shortly after beginning hunting and now I need to protect my interest and point accrual in permit applications by not getting stonewalled trying to buy a license next spring.

NWhydroprints post is interesting.  Looks like I need to go directly to WDFW to figure this out.  It's along the lines of what I had heard but that won't get me far.

How soon can I purchase a 2010 license?  That'll be the best way to know for sure.