Washington Administrative Code › Title 220 - Fish and Wildlife, Department of › DEPARTMENT LANDS › Chapter 220-500 - Department lands-General rules › Section 220-500-140 - Firearms and target practicing

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) The
				department may designate or restrict locations, times, and manner for
				recreational target shooting upon department land, consistent with resource
				management concerns, management agreements or requirements, recreational use
				compatibility, or public safety concerns.
(2) Persons must not recreationally target
				shoot on department land except as provided by this section.
(3) Department land is open to recreational
				target shooting under the conditions set forth in this section, unless closed
				or otherwise restricted by this section or by any department-posted signage or
				notice.
(a) Notwithstanding the allowances by
				this section, recreational target shooting is only permitted where a reasonable
				person, in consideration of all attendant circumstances, would believe the area
				between the person and the target, and the area beyond the target, is free of
				risk to person, animals, or property.
(b) Unless otherwise posted, recreational
				target shooting is only allowed one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour
				after sunset.
(c) Recreational
				target shooting using:
* Firearms firing single projectile ammunition of .17 caliber
				  or greater or shot equal to or greater than BB; or
* Compressed gas or air guns capable of shooting any
				  projectile at over eight hundred feet per second, is permitted only:
(i) On department-designated recreational
				target shooting areas and in compliance with posted regulations; or
(ii) In other areas containing an earthen
				backstop, as defined (reference to definitions), which must be utilized while
				target shooting. A backstop is not required while using shotguns discharging
				shot smaller than size BB. Targets must be placed in front of and within eight
				feet of the backstop, and the person must be shooting at the lower half of the
				backstop.
(d)
				Recreational target shooting using:
* Archery equipment, crossbows, air bows; or
* Shotguns discharging shot smaller than size BB, is
				  permitted:
(i) On department-designated
				recreational target shooting areas and in compliance with posted regulations;
				or
(ii) In other areas consistent
				with (a) of this subsection.
(e) Recreational target shooting is
				specifically prohibited:
(i) On, from, at,
				along, across, or down:
(A) Any
				department-designated or department-developed water access site or boat launch,
				and associated parking area;
(B)
				Any road as defined in WAC
				220-500-020;
(C) Any utility line, utility poles, or light
				posts;
(D) Any
				department-designated trail;
(E)
				Any water body or stream.
(ii) Within five hundred feet of the
				following (when not utilizing a department-designated recreational target
				shooting area):
(A) Residences, businesses,
				and/or other buildings or structures, including port-a-potties, etc.;
(B) Power stations, cell phone towers,
				utility poles, light posts, wind turbines, or other public utility
				structures;
(C)
				Campgrounds;
(D) Viewing platforms
				or structures;
(iii) In
				other areas posted by the department as restricted from shooting.