1. (1) Definitions:

   1. (a) "Hunter with a disability" means a person who has been granted a disability designation and who possesses a valid disabled hunter endorsement issued by the department.
   2. (b) "Disabled hunter endorsement" means an endorsement to a license issued by the department to a person granted a disability designation.
   3. (c) "Designated hunter companion" means a designated person who only assists with that physical function the hunter with a disability is unable to perform, such as stalking, shooting, tracking, retrieving, or the tagging of game birds and game animals.
   4. (d) "Designated hunter companion card" means an identification card issued by the department to a hunter with a disability for use by another person in assisting or acting on the behalf of the hunter with a disability while engaging in hunting activities.
   5. (e) "Accompany" means the hunter with a disability and the designated hunter companion are in the physical presence of each other, not to exceed a 1/4-mile separation. While stalking or shooting an animal, the hunter with a disability and the designated hunter companion must have a form of reliable and direct communication.
2. (2) A designated hunter companion card will be issued to the holder of a disabled hunter endorsement upon purchase of a hunting license.
3. (3) It is unlawful for a hunter with a disability to fail to obtain all required licenses, tags, or stamps before hunting.

4. (4) It is unlawful for a designated hunter companion to assist a hunter with a disability unless the designated hunter companion has the designated hunter companion card on his or her person. A designated hunter companion must have a valid hunting license issued by Washington state or another state.

   1. (a) The designated hunter companion must accompany the hunter with a disability when stalking or shooting game on behalf of the hunter with a disability.
   2. (b) The designated hunter companion does not need to accompany the hunter with a disability while tracking an animal wounded by either hunter, or while tagging or retrieving a downed animal on behalf of the hunter with a disability.

5. (5) It is unlawful for the hunter with a disability or the designated hunter companion to fail to:

   1. (a) Immediately cut, notch, or date any required tag upon harvesting a game bird or animal; and
   2. (b) Affix the tag to the carcass of the game bird or animal as soon as reasonably possible after killing the game.
6. (6) Game birds or game animals killed, tagged or retrieved by a designated hunter companion on behalf of a hunter with a disability do not count against the designated hunter companion's bag or possession limit.

7. (7) It is unlawful for a hunter with a disability to possess a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, or shoot from a motor vehicle, unless the hunter with a disability has been issued a special use permit from the department, and:

   1. (a) The vehicle is stopped, the vehicle is removed from the maintained portion of the roadway, and the motor is turned off; and
   2. (b) A valid blue disabled hunter "shooting from a vehicle" identification placard must be displayed and visible.
8. (8) It is unlawful for a hunter with a disability to utilize a crossbow in archery or muzzleloader season, unless the hunter with a disability has been issued a special use permit from the department.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 25-17-008 (Order 25-12), s 220-413-140, filed 8/7/25, effective 9/7/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.32.237, 77.32.238, and 77.32.400. WSR 18-16-074 (Order 18-162), § 220-413-140, filed 7/30/18, effective 8/30/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.020, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-17-109, § 220-413-140, filed 8/21/17, effective 9/21/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-413-140, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.047, 77.12.150, 77.12.240, 77.12.800, 77.32.090, and 77.32.155. WSR 16-12-087, § 232-12-828, filed 5/31/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.240, and 77.32.070. WSR 14-10-019 (Order 14-95), § 232-12-828, filed 4/25/14, effective 5/26/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047, 77.12.020, 77.12.570, 77.12.210, 77.12.150, 77.12.240. WSR 09-09-083 (Order 09-53), § 232-12-828, filed 4/15/09, effective 5/16/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 07-04-087, § 232-12-828, filed 2/6/07, effective 3/9/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047 and 77.12.020. WSR 04-11-036 (Order 04-98), § 232-12-828, filed 5/12/04, effective 6/12/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. WSR 03-10-040 (Order 03-85), § 232-12-828, filed 4/30/03, effective 5/31/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.32.237. WSR 96-03-084 (Order 96-07), § 232-12-828, filed 1/18/96, effective 2/18/96.]