Meeting Recap | Public safety in the islands during hunting season

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

This week, San Juan County Council Chair Jane Fuller hosted a community meeting on Lopez Island to discuss public safety measures during the hunting season with Federal, State, and County officials. During the meeting, speakers from the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), San Juan County Land Bank, Sheriff’s Office, and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office talked about their involvement and safety tips.

Meeting Recap 

Amy Vira, San Juan County’s Prosecuting Attorney, discussed the distinctions between regulating County and State / Federal lands. In her update, Vira reiterated that the hunting accident on Lopez Island in 2023 was the result of a series of unlikely events – the details of which are private and up to the family to share.

Eric Peter, San Juan County Sheriff, recounted the response to the 2023 hunting accident. Multiple agencies contributed to a lengthy and thorough investigation, leading to the conclusion that it was a tragic accident. Since the accident, the Sheriff’s Office continues to share educational information about hunting and gun safety in the islands.

Jennifer Maurstad, WDFW Regional Captain, spoke to her oversight of WDFW’s ‘Region 4’ which spans from King County to the Canadian border. This region includes 150 fish and wildlife officers who provide training and education, enforce hunting regulations, and assist in investigations. Maurstad noted that rifles are not allowed on WDFW land in San Juan County. This year, WDFW has released 20 less permits on Lopez, and may be reducing further to prevent crowding.

Kurt Licence, a WDFW Wildlife Biologist, reiterated that public safety is a priority during hunting season. As a biologist, Licence shared how hunting supports the local environment – controlling animal populations, reducing the risk of ticks and Lyme Disease, and funding conservation and education efforts. Licence noted that many hunters deeply value the act of hunting and that hunters provide valuable data and insights to the health of local populations.

On WDFW lands, legal hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. WDFW plans to host a booth at Watmough Bay in mid-October and mid-November to provide orange hunting vests during hunting season.

Brie Chartier, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Monument Manager, shared BLM’s approach to safety during hunting season. She noted that BLM does not manage the game (which is under the purview of the state), but BLM does manage recreation infrastructure. In conjunction with WDFW, BLM properties on Lopez Island plan to host a booth at trailheads to distribute vests, properly register hunters, and help educate hikers. Chartier noted that she is open to public suggestions and input.

Lincoln Borman, San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Director, noted that there are two Land Bank properties open to hunting – Mt. Grant on San Juan Island and Lopez Hill on Lopez Island. Existing management plans for Lopez Hill allow deer hunting only during the first season from September through the end of October. Hunting on Land Bank properties requires written permission, vests, knowledge of trail maps, and additional education. Hunting regulations are posted at preserve entrances.

Feedback from Community Members in Attendance

The meeting was attended by a combination of residents, some who expressed their strong sentiments regarding the concerns they have for public safety on public lands during the hunting season, and the desire for more to be done to educate and inform the public of when and where hunting is allowed on Lopez Island. Others expressed the view that hunting on public lands should be allowed for a reduced amount of time each year, and not in September which is still a very busy time for tourists visiting the island. There were also community members in attendance who engage in recreational hunting on the island on both public and private lands who do not want to see a reduction in the public lands where hunters can recreate.

A key takeaway from this public meeting is that there is a need for more communication on this subject, involving community members and the federal, state, and county authorities with responsibilities for managing hunting in the San Juan Islands. The need for better information and education for the public, both hunters and non-hunters, about hunting and public safety in the islands is an area where more work needs to be done, particularly given the population densities in the San Juan Islands.

Other Hunting Consideration in San Juan County 

Many land management agencies located in San Juan County coordinate messaging and education, research and management, and project development as part of the Terrestrial Managers Group and the Stewardship Network.

If you are a hiker during hunting season, many agencies recommend acting like you are in bear country – be visible, make noise, hike in groups, and do not go out in early or late hours.  

• Hunting is regulated by the State via WDFW, which is tasked with “responsibly preserving, protecting, and perpetuating wildlife in the State, while maximizing hunting opportunities for all residents.” Visit the WDFW website to learn more about hunting in the State of Washington: https://wdfw.wa.gov/.
• San Juan County Code (9.08) outlines weapons and hunting restrictions in San Juan County.
• Hunting at Land Bank Preserves (Lopez Hill and Mount Grant) is limited to Black-tail deer only between September 1st to October 31st. Find hunting information on Land Bank preserves here.   
• Hunting is not allowed in Washington State Parks.
• The Bureau of Land Management regulates hunting on BLM lands.
• San Juan County Sheriff’s Office Safe Shooting Tips