Staff briefs commission on draft Game Management Plan, notes 65 SEPA comments and living‑document approach

Summary

Agency staff presented a final draft of the 17‑chapter Game Management Plan on Jan. 9, describing it as a guidance document (not a rule) that will guide future rulemaking. Staff said the SEPA comment period was extended to 60 days, produced 65 distinct comments, and that adoption is expected to be considered in February.

Agency game-division staff presented the draft Game Management Plan (GMP) to the commission on Jan. 9, describing a multi-year drafting process, the public engagement record and next procedural steps ahead of a potential February adoption vote.

"This is a guidance document for management of hunted species," said Anis Ade, game division manager, during a presentation that summarized the plan’s history, structure and public comments. Ade said the draft contains 17 chapters and is roughly 275 pages, and that it does not itself set seasons, bag limits or methods — those remain the subject of rulemaking and season-setting processes.

Ade said staff completed an internal draft in December 2024, circulated it to tribes and advisory groups, and proceeded through a SEPA checklist process. The public comment period was opened July 7, extended…

Staff briefs commission on draft Game Management Plan, notes 65 SEPA comments and living‑document approach

Summary

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