Stumping in Wa

[snowplow]

Just curious for you guys in Wa, is stumping allowed? I know it sounds stupid, but walking around the woods with a bow and arrow during whatever season (our especially out of season) seems like a good way to get hassled or ticketed for poaching. I know small game heads and a traditional bow should be a good indication your not a poacher, but I have heard some very surprising stories.

Is there anything I need to know? What about squirrel hunting in Wa? I thought I read somewhere that all species not covered in the hunting regs were fair game with no limit?

Thanks for the insight guys!

[timbermoose]

I Grew up in Washington, we used to go stumping all the time. Had a few CO's stop us and question what we were doing. Always used blunts in the off season, wich as you know is the majority of the year. Ain't been there for 7+ years now. Check the regs a few times, I seem to find new information every time I re-read them. If you had broadheads, then I think it would be a case of "he thinks this, and you say that" situation. I lived up in the upper skagit county, all the CO's knew my family and usually let us be.  

Note; regardless what activity your doing in the woods, if you get an uneducated, hothead, out to prove himself, punk CO, your probably going to have a badish day. But, educate them if you can.

[jsweka]

Are there any "varmits" that are in season year round?  If so, just carry your hunting license with you and you should be clear as you can always say you are hunting them if a warden questions your intentions.

Here in PA, there is no closed season on coyotes and they are the only animal that can be hunted on Sundays (crows can be hunted on Sundays during some times of the year).  So broadheads, field points, blunts, or judos and a valid hunting license and I am legally hunting coyotes anytime I'm in the woods with a bow.

[Charlie3]

The game warden in Moses Lake was a complete jerk when I ran into him afield. He left me alone but gave the two guys I was with alot of crap for the heinous crime of...gasp...parking on the road instead of the parking lot 2 miles away while loading hounds. I called the dept of wildlife and asked what I should do to avoid harassment if I chose to go back and hunt coyotes at night, and they told me to simply call ahead and tell them what I was up to so they didn't jump to conclusions when they saw spotlights and heard rifle shots. All that to say, give them a call.

[elkken]

Lots of public land and timber company land in WA. You can stump shoot to your hearts content. Get a copy of the game regs for what small game you can shoot or call WA Fish & Game. You will need a small game hunting license to shoot critters but nothing required for stumping. Some species of squirrels are protected.

[TSchirm]

As elkken said, it is legal to stump shoot in WA, there are no regulations against it.  I work for WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife as a  Habitat Biologist, but was a game warden in WA and WY for over 15 years.  (Moved and changed jobs due to a family situation). Since I have been a biologist for the last 15 years, I talked to a game warden friend of mine before adding to this thread. He is an excellent officer and very fair.  We both had the same ideas on this.
   A couple things to remember and think about. What would a reasonable person think you are doing? This is the basis I always used in dealing with situations. If they are not familiar with traditional bowhunters, can you articulate what you are doing in such a way as to ease any possible suspicion? Does your gear support what you are doing?  In other words, for example, stumping with mostly broadheads in your quiver would raise suspicion.  Remember, game wardens are human too.  There are good ones and a few not so good ones.  Most are reasonable, especially if the person that they are contacting is reasonable.
It would be wise to have your hunting license with you if there is a small game season open.

All species not listed in the hunting regulations ARE NOT fair game.  Actually most are protected.   You can hunt fox squirrels year round because they are not native wildlife in WA, but many of the ground squirrels are protected.  It would be wise to call your regional WDFW office and get a list of protected wildlife, and also to contact your local game warden and talk to him or her about stumping, so they understand what you are doing.  

With all these words,  guess I can't claim just my 3 cents worth, but maybe a dimes worth.

[snowplow]

Cool thanks guys. Not sure about varmints around here. I think crows are listed in the game regs as open year round. I'll have to check.

[snowplow]

I forgot to mention that I hunt on a private timber company, but wardens are there as well.

[snowplow]

Thanks Tom I think I must have slipped my replies right past yours. That's excellent advice, I'll do that!

[elkken]

Crows have a season and it is listed in the game regs. You can shoot them any time if they are considered depredating ( being a pest or causing damage ) I shoot them in the spring around my place when they are stalking smaller birds nests and eating eggs and baby birds. I believe the season starts in the fall and ends in mid March. You can shoot starlings year around.

[Blackhawk]

Get a hunting license and hunt coyotes year round.  I believe either small game or big game license will work.

With all the pistol and rifle plinking that goes on in the Nat'l forests, I doubt shooting blunts with a bow would be much of an issue...and I doubt everyone of them has a hunting license either.

[TSchirm]

If you want to check out protected wildlife, Google WAC (Washington Administrative Code) 232-12-011.  It shows most small mammals are protected.  
Also almost all birds are protected as well.  You can legally take: starlings, house sparrows (make sure you know your sparrows as there are many species of sparrows that are protected), rock doves (pigeons), and crows during the established season, (except as elkken pointed out about depredating crows).

[Tim in Wa.]

seems like if all you have is field points they would not think you are hunting.Could be wrong

[snowplow]

Thanks a lot guys

[Charlie3]

Don't assume you will get a free pass because your equipment does not match what they are accusing you of. We would hunt rabbits with beagles in February and still get accused of hunting geese out of season, only because the area had geese in it. Never mind that we had a dozen rabbits in our bag, 5 beagles on the ground trailing them, 20 and 28 guages with 7 1/2 shot, this idiot would still give us crap. All because NOBODY hunts rabbits with beagles in WA, except us. If you are doing something unusual EXPECT to be harassed. I do not break game laws but have learned to just stay in the woods until you see the game warden's truck leave. Best case scenario, they will check all your crap and question you for 30 minutes (not desirable), worst-case scenario is you will get a citation for something you are not doing (highly undesirable haha), good luck with the judge when it comes to state officer's word against yours.

So yeah, if you're in an area that the game warden frequents (I call them speed traps...and if you are stumping in the offseason they will be happy to cite you because things are much slower for them at that time), make sure you are on your P's and Q's.