Washington § 77.15.435 - Unlawful hunting on, retrieving hunted wildlife from, or collecting wildlife parts from the property of another — Defense — Penalty — Forfeiture and disposition of wildlife.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 77.15.435 — Unlawful hunting on, retrieving hunted wildlife from, or collecting wildlife parts from the property of another — Defense — Penalty — Forfeiture and disposition of wildlife., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 77.15.435. Unlawful hunting on, retrieving hunted wildlife from, or collecting wildlife parts from the property of another — Defense — Penalty — Forfeiture and disposition of wildlife.

(1) A person is guilty of unlawfully hunting on, retrieving hunted wildlife from, or collecting wildlife parts from the property of another if the person knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or on the premises of another for the purpose of:

(a) Hunting for wildlife;

(b) Retrieving hunted wildlife; or

(2) In any prosecution under this section, it is a defense that:

(a) The premises were at the time open to members of the public for the purpose of hunting, and the actor complied with all lawful conditions imposed on access to or remaining on the premises;

(b) The actor reasonably believed that the owner of the premises, or other person empowered to license access to the premises, would have licensed him or her to enter or remain on the premises for the purpose of hunting, retrieving hunted wildlife, or collecting wildlife parts;

(d) The actor, after making all reasonable attempts to contact the owner of the premises, entered the premises to retrieve the hunted wildlife for the sole purpose of avoiding a violation of the prohibition on the waste of fish and wildlife as provided in RCW 77.15.170. The defense in this subsection only applies to the retrieval of hunted wildlife and not to the actual act of hunting itself or the collecting of wildlife parts.

(3) Unlawfully hunting on, retrieving hunted wildlife from, or collecting wildlife parts from the property of another is a misdemeanor.

(4) If a person unlawfully hunts and kills wildlife, or retrieves hunted wildlife that he or she has killed, on the property of another, then, upon conviction under this section, the department shall revoke all hunting licenses and tags and order a suspension of the person's hunting privileges for two years. This subsection does not apply to a person convicted under this section for unlawfully collecting wildlife parts from the property of another.

(5) Any wildlife or wildlife parts that are unlawfully hunted on, retrieved, or collected from the property of another must be seized by fish and wildlife officers. Forfeiture and disposition of the wildlife or wildlife parts is pursuant to RCW 77.15.100.

[ 2015 c 154 s 1; 2012 c 176 s 11.]

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Washington § 77.15.435

What does Revised Code of Washington § 77.15.435 cover?

Section 77.15.435 ("Unlawful hunting on, retrieving hunted wildlife from, or collecting wildlife parts from the property of another — Defense — Penalty — Forfeiture and disposition of wildlife.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Washington § 77.15.435?

A common citation format is "Revised Code of Washington § 77.15.435" (Washington). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Washington law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Washington official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Washington attorney.

How does Washington § 77.15.435 apply to my situation?

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Sources & Verification

Official text of § 77.15.435 at the Washington source

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Washington.