WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov LAND LINE NEWS NOTES
September 2011
Land Line
Some hunters may need the new Discover Pass
With some hunting seasons getting underway in the month of September, and scouting activity picking up for opportunities later this fall, Washington hunters who use state owned and managed land need to know where the new Discover Pass is needed.
The Discover Pass is a vehicle access pass for nearly 7 million acres of Washington state recreation lands managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Washington State Parks and Recreation (State Parks).
Purchase of a Washington big game or small game hunting license, or a Western Washington pheasant permit, includes a free vehicle access pass to the nearly one million acres of WDFW lands, which can be found by county and wildlife area at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/ . This WDFW vehicle access pass is not valid on State Park or DNR lands.
Hunting is allowed on more than two million acres of state trust lands managed by DNR, but hunters will need the Discover Pass to park on the larger,developed blocks of state land, identified by signs and on maps and lists available at
www.dnr.wa.gov/recreation .
Hunters do not need a Discover Pass to hunt on the scattered small parcels (less than 1,000-acres) of undeveloped DNR-managed land, mostly in the southeastern part of the state.
Hunting is not allowed on Washington state park lands.
Purchase of a Discover Pass helps keep all of these state recreation lands available by funding maintenance of hiking trails, trailheads, campgrounds and garbage collection, providing security, and addressing vandalism .
An annual pass costs $30, or $35 with transaction and dealer fees if purchased at a license dealer, by phone or online. A one-day pass costs $10, or $11.50 with transaction and dealer fees if purchased at a license dealer, by phone or online.
For more information about the Discover Pass, including how to purchase it, where it's required, and what exemptions apply, see
www.discoverpass.wa.gov .
