Wraskely Wrabbits predating our damn garden... law question.

[Clumber]

Anyone happen to know either the law itself or where I can find the law regarding taking predating rabbits on my own property?  Can I just step into my yard and begin the process for Hasenfeffer stew, or do I need to go get some sort of predation permit first?

Before the smartasses reply, this would be in my front yard which is sort of in the direct line of sight with our new neighbors we don't know yet.  If it was in our huge backyard acre where we keep the cover high to train our dogs... well than I wouldn't need to even ask the question.  We practice with our bows in the backyard all the time.


We had figured that if we set up the new veggie gardens in front by the walkway to our house, the rabbits wouldn't be stupid enough to come that close... after all at any given time there will be 1 to 6 "feather and fur" huntin' dogs out there and our ECS is a confirmed rabbit hunter.  Apparently there is no way to overestimate the stupidity of nature's own buffet table entree'  ... these rabbits are DUMB.  *censored* I am really enjoying our fresh veggies, and we did not plant them for bigfooted, flea-covered, cotton-tailed, pellet-pooping, hopping stupid critters.  MY YUMMIES DANGIT!!!

[ICEMAN]

I would answer, but I am a smartass and don't want to offend you.

[carpsniperg2]

call fish and wildlife and ask them. but i know what i would do

[Clumber]

No worries,  I am also a smartass and was just trying to say "yes I know that I would be best off just taking care of the MoFos, but this is in direct line of sight with new neighbors that I don't know.  I would just like to know which side of the law I would be on if I used Mr. Veggie-eating-cottontail as an archery target.

Also, the only way to offend me is to say something mean about my spouse or my dogs that isn't true.  I can give you a long list of mean and true things you could say about them, but true won't offend me.  heh 

I would answer, but I am a smartass and don't want to offend you.

[Axle]

There is a WAC that allows us to get rid of them due to predation. I will see if I can find it but I know there are folks here that know it by heart.

[Axle]

CP posted it in another thread. Here it is.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,50368.msg624492.html#msg624492

(3) Killing wildlife causing damage or killing wildlife to
prevent private property damage.
(a) Unclassified wildlife, predatory birds (as defined in RCW
77.12.020), and eastern gray squirrels may be killed with the
express permission of the property owner at any time, to prevent
private property damage on private real property.
(b) Subject to subsection (7) of this section, the following
list of wildlife species may be killed with the express permission
of the owner, when causing damage to private property: Raccoon,
fox, bobcat, beaver, muskrat, mink, river otter, weasel, hare, and
cottontail rabbits.

Proposed WAC 232-36-050

[Clumber]

Thank you Axle!  A batrillion thanks yous in fact!!  I am going to just print that section out and leave it handy... just in case....  Then get a stewpot a'boiling.  Wouldn't it be sweet irony to have some Hasenfeffer Stew made up with some of the very veggies Mr. Lagomorph was trying to steal?  MmmmMmMHmmm good!

here bunny bunny bunny.... heRRRRRRRE bunny bunny bunny!

[overunder12]

you also need to check with your local municipality regarding legality of discharging firearm or other projectile. Imo best bet is to get an email from your local police dept or city manager's office so you have something to wave in the face of the cops when they are called =p

[Huntbear]

Thank you Axle!  A batrillion thanks yous in fact!!  I am going to just print that section out and leave it handy... just in case....  Then get a stewpot a'boiling.  Wouldn't it be sweet irony to have some Hasenfeffer Stew made up with some of the very veggies Mr. Lagomorph was trying to steal?  MmmmMmMHmmm good!

here bunny bunny bunny.... heRRRRRRRE bunny bunny bunny!

Just remember, you have to give yourself permission first.   

[trippledigitss]

So at the bottom of the WAC section where it says "proposed" - does that mean its not codified as law yet or what? I'm confused can I kill the damn things if they are getting into and ruining stuff or not?

About 10 days ago I called WDFW about some raccoons in our backyard that had been getting into my boys' treehouse and climbing on the cage of their pet rabbit and they said I couldnt shoot them because they werent in season. They said I'd have to trap them or hire a trapper to catch & euthanize them. I said "wait a minute - you said I couldnt shoot them out of season but I can trap them and kill them?" My wife wanted me to trap them and turn them loose in the woods but the lady at WDFW says 'if you trap them you have to euthanize them, thats the law' - man that seems stupid that you can trap & kill them out of season but not shoot them? I am in unincorporated Sno Co in a No Shooting zone - not that any of my neighbors would mind - but 'legally' I couldnt shoot anyway.

[Axle]

My wife wanted me to trap them and turn them loose in the woods but the lady at WDFW says 'if you trap them you have to euthanize them, thats the law'

Trapping them and turning them lose is not a good idea. You will make them another person's problem and that is not kind.

I know that Oregon had a law stating you had to euthanize them after trapping them but I was unaware of Washington's law that stated that. I would love to see that one. Anyone have reference to it?

[trippledigitss]

My wife wanted me to trap them and turn them loose in the woods but the lady at WDFW says 'if you trap them you have to euthanize them, thats the law'

Trapping them and turning them lose is not a good idea. You will make them another person's problem and that is not kind.

I know that Oregon had a law stating you had to euthanize them after trapping them but I was unaware of Washington's law that stated that. I would love to see that one. Anyone have reference to it?

Oh, I wasnt too thrilled about the idea of renting/buying traps myself and driving the stinky rodents out to the hills but where I was thinking about dropping them off is nowhere near anyone's house at all. It was a momma with 3 little babies and you know wives and their...."but they are too cute too kill..." BS! Kinda the same thing I hear about all the damn rabbits around our place too.... Anyway, the coons moved on after about a week so it saved me the trouble!

[FC]

Now might be a good time to meet your new neighbors and find out how they feel about shooting nuisance animals with an air rifle and whether or not they like rabbit stew made with fresh veggies.

[Hunter Dug]

OK this is what I do.  First go get a 25 foot retractable dog leash from your local pet store the kind that you lock at certain distances, and push the button and they auto retract, set up a lawn chair about 25 five feet away from the hunting ground " garden area "  put a slip loop on the end of the dog leash, oh yeah a six er or a suitcase of beer, and wait vewy vewy still. You can bait them with some of your yummies if you want. Let the little monster hop into the loop.  Know this is very important, you have to set the hook " loop " and hit the retrieve button while your pumping that monster in.  Oh yeah a bucket to throw them in to make them stop squealing.  This can also be done from a distance with a fishing pole and a indicator like a piece of yarn to tell you when there in the strike zone.  I have found that you wound them some times with fishing line, so I went to the thicker cord on the dog leash.  Boy it is fun.     

[Skyvalhunter]