wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 1325 > Original Bill
The definitions in this section apply throughout this title or rules adopted under this title unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Angling gear" means a line attached to a rod and reel capable of being held in hand while landing the fish or a handheld line operated without rod or reel.
"Bag limit" means the maximum number of game animals, game birds, or game fish which may be taken, caught, killed, or possessed by a person, as specified by rule of the commission for a particular period of time, or as to size, sex, or species.
"Building" means a private domicile, garage, barn, or public or commercial building.
"Closed area" means a place where the hunting of some or all species of wild animals or wild birds is prohibited.
"Closed season" means all times, manners of taking, and places or waters other than those established by rule of the commission as an open season. "Closed season" also means all hunting, fishing, taking, or possession of game animals, game birds, game fish, food fish, or shellfish that do not conform to the special restrictions or physical descriptions established by rule of the commission as an open season or that have not otherwise been deemed legal to hunt, fish, take, harvest, or possess by rule of the commission as an open season.
"Closed waters" means all or part of a lake, river, stream, or other body of water, where fishing or harvesting is prohibited.
"Commercial" means related to or connected with buying, selling, or bartering.
"Commission" means the state fish and wildlife commission.
"Concurrent waters of the Columbia river" means those waters of the Columbia river that coincide with the Washington-Oregon state boundary.
"Contraband" means any property that is unlawful to produce or possess.
"Covered animal species" means any species of elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, lion, leopard, cheetah, pangolin, marine turtle, shark, or ray either: (a) Listed in appendix I or appendix II of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild flora and fauna; or (b) listed as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable on the international union for conservation of nature and natural resources red list of threatened species.
"Covered animal species part or product" means any item that contains, or is wholly or partially made from, any covered animal species.
"Deleterious exotic wildlife" means species of the animal kingdom not native to Washington and designated as dangerous to the environment or wildlife of the state.
"Department" means the department of fish and wildlife.
"Director" means the director of fish and wildlife.
"Distribute" or "distribution" means either a change in possession for consideration or a change in legal ownership.
"Endangered species" means wildlife designated by the commission as seriously threatened with extinction.
"Ex officio fish and wildlife officer" means:
A commissioned officer of a municipal, county, or state agency having as its primary function the enforcement of criminal laws in general, while the officer is acting in the respective jurisdiction of that agency;
An officer or special agent commissioned by one of the following: The national marine fisheries service; the Washington state parks and recreation commission; the United States fish and wildlife service; the Washington state department of natural resources; the United States forest service; or the United States parks service, if the agent or officer is in the respective jurisdiction of the primary commissioning agency and is acting under a mutual law enforcement assistance agreement between the department and the primary commissioning agency;
A commissioned fish and wildlife peace officer from another state who meets the training standards set by the Washington state criminal justice training commission pursuant to RCW 10.93.090, 43.101.080, and 43.101.200, and who is acting under a mutual law enforcement assistance agreement between the department and the primary commissioning agency; or
A Washington state tribal police officer who successfully completes the requirements set forth under RCW 43.101.157, is employed by a tribal nation that has complied with RCW 10.92.020(2) (a) and (b), and is acting under a mutual law enforcement assistance agreement between the department and the tribal government.
"Fish" includes all species classified as game fish or food fish by statute or rule, as well as all finfish not currently classified as food fish or game fish if such species exist in state waters. The term "fish" includes all stages of development and the bodily parts of fish species.
"To fish" and its derivatives means an effort to kill, injure, harass, harvest, or capture a fish or shellfish.
"Fish and wildlife officer" means a person appointed and commissioned by the director, with authority to enforce this title and rules adopted pursuant to this title, and other statutes as prescribed by the legislature. Fish and wildlife officer includes a person commissioned before June 11, 1998, as a wildlife agent or a fisheries patrol officer.
"Fish broker" means a person who facilitates the sale or purchase of raw or frozen fish or shellfish on a fee or commission basis, without assuming title to the fish or shellfish.
"Fish dealer" means a person who engages in any activity that triggers the need to obtain a fish dealer license under RCW 77.65.280.
"Fishery" means the taking of one or more particular species of fish or shellfish with particular gear in a particular geographical area.
"Food, food waste, or other substance" includes human and pet food or other waste or garbage that could attract large wild carnivores.
"Fresh water" means all waters not defined as salt water including, but not limited to, rivers upstream of the river mouth, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.
"Fur-bearing animals" means game animals that shall not be trapped except as authorized by the commission.
"Fur dealer" means a person who purchases, receives, or resells raw furs for commercial purposes.
"Game animals" means wild animals that shall not be hunted except as authorized by the commission.
"Game birds" means wild birds that shall not be hunted except as authorized by the commission.
"Game farm" means property on which wildlife is held, confined, propagated, hatched, fed, or otherwise raised for commercial purposes, trade, or gift. The term "game farm" does not include publicly owned facilities.
"Game reserve" means a closed area where hunting for all wild animals and wild birds is prohibited.
"To hunt" and its derivatives means an effort to kill, injure, harass, harvest, or capture a wild animal or wild bird.
"Illegal items" means those items unlawful to be possessed.
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"Intentionally feed, attempt to feed, or attract" means to purposefully or knowingly provide, leave, or place in, on, or about any land or building any food, food waste, or other substance that attracts or could attract large wild carnivores to that land or building.
"Intentionally feed, attempt to feed, or attract" does not include keeping food, food waste, or other substance in an enclosed garbage receptacle or other enclosed container unless specifically directed by a fish and wildlife officer or animal control authority to secure the receptacle or container in another manner.
"Large wild carnivore" includes wild bear, cougar, and wolf.
"License year" means the period of time for which a recreational license is valid. The license year begins April 1st, and ends March 31st.
"Limited-entry license" means a license subject to a license limitation program established in chapter 77.70 RCW.
"Limited fish seller" means a licensed commercial fisher who sells his or her fish or shellfish to anyone other than a wholesale fish buyer thereby triggering the need to obtain a limited fish seller endorsement under RCW 77.65.510.
"Money" means all currency, script, personal checks, money orders, or other negotiable instruments.
"Natural person" means a human being.
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"Negligently feed, attempt to feed, or attract" means to provide, leave, or place in, on, or about any land or building any food, food waste, or other substance that attracts or could attract large wild carnivores to that land or building, without the awareness that a reasonable person in the same situation would have with regard to the likelihood that the food, food waste, or other substance could attract large wild carnivores to the land or building.
"Negligently feed, attempt to feed, or attract" does not include keeping food, food waste, or other substance in an enclosed garbage receptacle or other enclosed container unless specifically directed by a fish and wildlife officer or animal control authority to secure the receptacle or container in another manner.
"Nonresident" means a person who has not fulfilled the qualifications of a resident.
"Offshore waters" means marine waters of the Pacific Ocean outside the territorial boundaries of the state, including the marine waters of other states and countries.
"Open season" means those times, manners of taking, and places or waters established by rule of the commission for the lawful hunting, fishing, taking, or possession of game animals, game birds, game fish, food fish, or shellfish that conform to the special restrictions or physical descriptions established by rule of the commission or that have otherwise been deemed legal to hunt, fish, take, or possess by rule of the commission. "Open season" includes the first and last days of the established time.
"Owner" means the person in whom is vested the ownership dominion, or title of the property.
"Person" means and includes an individual; a corporation; a public or private entity or organization; a local, state, or federal agency; all business organizations, including corporations and partnerships; or a group of two or more individuals acting with a common purpose whether acting in an individual, representative, or official capacity.
"Personal property" or "property" includes both corporeal and incorporeal personal property and includes, among other property, contraband and money.
"Personal use" means for the private use of the individual taking the fish or shellfish and not for sale or barter.
"Predatory birds" means wild birds that may be hunted throughout the year as authorized by the commission.
"To process" and its derivatives mean preparing or preserving fish, wildlife, or shellfish.
"Protected wildlife" means wildlife designated by the commission that shall not be hunted or fished.
"Raffle" means an activity in which tickets bearing an individual number are sold for not more than twenty-five dollars each and in which a permit or permits are awarded to hunt or for access to hunt big game animals or wild turkeys on the basis of a drawing from the tickets by the person or persons conducting the raffle.
"Resident" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 77.08.075.
"Salt water" means those marine waters seaward of river mouths.
"Seaweed" means marine aquatic plant species that are dependent upon the marine aquatic or tidal environment, and exist in either an attached or free floating form, and includes but is not limited to marine aquatic plants in the classes Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, and Rhodophyta.
"Senior" means a person seventy years old or older.
"Shark fin" means a raw, dried, or otherwise processed detached fin or tail of a shark.
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"Shark fin derivative product" means any product intended for use by humans or animals that is derived in whole or in part from shark fins or shark fin cartilage.
"Shark fin derivative product" does not include a drug approved by the United States food and drug administration and available by prescription only or medical device or vaccine approved by the United States food and drug administration.
"Shellfish" means those species of marine and freshwater invertebrates that have been classified and that shall not be taken or possessed except as authorized by rule of the commission. The term "shellfish" includes all stages of development and the bodily parts of shellfish species.
"State waters" means all marine waters and fresh waters within ordinary high water lines and within the territorial boundaries of the state.
"To take" and its derivatives means to kill, injure, harvest, or capture a fish, shellfish, wild animal, bird, or seaweed.
"Taxidermist" means a person who, for commercial purposes, creates lifelike representations of fish and wildlife using fish and wildlife parts and various supporting structures.
"Trafficking" means offering, attempting to engage, or engaging in sale, barter, or purchase of fish, shellfish, wildlife, or deleterious exotic wildlife.
"To trap" and its derivatives means a method of hunting using devices to capture wild animals or wild birds.
"Unclaimed" means that no owner of the property has been identified or has requested, in writing, the release of the property to themselves nor has the owner of the property designated an individual to receive the property or paid the required postage to effect delivery of the property.
"Unclassified wildlife" means wildlife existing in Washington in a wild state that have not been classified as big game, game animals, game birds, predatory birds, protected wildlife, endangered wildlife, or deleterious exotic wildlife.
"To waste" or "to be wasted" means to allow any edible portion of any game bird, food fish, game fish, shellfish, or big game animal other than cougar to be rendered unfit for human consumption, or to fail to retrieve edible portions of such a game bird, food fish, game fish, shellfish, or big game animal other than cougar from the field. For purposes of this chapter, edible portions of game birds must include, at a minimum, the breast meat of those birds. Entrails, including the heart and liver, of any wildlife species are not considered edible.
"Wholesale fish buyer" means a person who engages in any fish buying or selling activity that triggers the need to obtain a wholesale fish buyer endorsement under RCW 77.65.340.
"Wild animals" means those species of the class Mammalia whose members exist in Washington in a wild state. The term "wild animal" does not include feral domestic mammals or old world rats and mice of the family Muridae of the order Rodentia.
"Wild birds" means those species of the class Aves whose members exist in Washington in a wild state.
"Wildlife" means all species of the animal kingdom whose members exist in Washington in a wild state. This includes but is not limited to mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. The term "wildlife" does not include feral domestic mammals, old world rats and mice of the family Muridae of the order Rodentia, or those fish, shellfish, and marine invertebrates classified as food fish or shellfish by the director. The term "wildlife" includes all stages of development and the bodily parts of wildlife members.
"Wildlife meat cutter" means a person who packs, cuts, processes, or stores wildlife for consumption for another for commercial purposes.
"Youth" means a person fifteen years old for fishing and under sixteen years old for hunting.
"Fishing guide" means a person who provides or offers to provide sport fishing guide services to persons who are engaged in personal use fisheries on or along state waters.
"Sport fishing guide services" means an individual or company providing assistance to a client to fish or to attempt to fish, for compensation or with the intent to receive compensation, by either accompanying or physically directing the client, or both, in personal use fishing activities during any part of a trip on or along state waters.
The following acts are infractions and may be cited and civil penalties imposed as provided under chapter 7.84 RCW, to include detentions for a reasonable period and investigations as provided in RCW 7.84.030. The civil provisions of this section are cumulative and nonexclusive and do not affect any criminal prosecution or investigatory authority over criminal offenses:
Fishing and shellfishing infractions:
Barbed hooks: Fishing for personal use with barbed hooks in violation of any department rule.
Catch recording: Failing to immediately record a catch of fish or shellfish on a catch record card as required by RCW 77.32.430 or department rule.
Catch reporting: Failing to return a catch record card to the department as required by department rule.
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(A) Fails to have in the person's possession the license or the catch record card required by chapter 77.32 RCW for such an activity; or
(B) Violates any department rule regarding seasons, closed areas, closed times, or any other rule addressing the manner or method of fishing for fish or shellfish and the violation involves:
(I) Salmon or steelhead;
(II) Sturgeon;
(III) Game fish;
(IV) Food fish;
(V) Shellfish;
(VI) Unclassified fish or shellfish;
(VII) Waste of food fish, game fish or shellfish.
ii. (d)(i)(B) of this subsection does not apply to use of a net to take fish under RCW 77.15.580 or unlawful recreational fishing in the first degree under RCW 77.15.370.
e. Seaweed: Taking, possessing, or harvesting less than two times the daily possession limit of seaweed:
i. While the person is not in possession of the license required by chapter 77.32 RCW; or
ii. In violation of any rule of the department or the department of natural resources regarding seasons, closed areas, closed times, or any other rule addressing the manner or method of taking, possessing, or harvesting of seaweed.
Small game hunting infractions:
A person engages in an activity defined by chapter 77.32 RCW while not having in the person's possession or having failed to purchase the hunting license or tag required by that chapter, not including big game.
Eggs or nests: Maliciously, and without permit authorization, destroying, taking, or harming the eggs or active nests of a wild bird not classified as endangered or protected. For purposes of this subsection, "active nests" means nests that contain eggs or fledglings.
Hunting for wildlife not classified as big game and the person violates any department rule regarding seasons, closed areas, closed times, or any other rule defining the method or manner of hunting or taking wildlife and the violation involves:
Unclassified wildlife;
Small game;
Furbearers;
Game birds;
Wild birds;
Wild animals;
Waste of small game.
Trapping, taxidermy, fur dealing, and wildlife meat cutting infractions:
Recordkeeping and reporting: If a person is a taxidermist, fur dealer, or wildlife meat cutter who is processing, holding, or storing wildlife for commercial purposes, failing to:
Maintain records as required by department rule; or
Report information from these records as required by department rule.
Trapper's report: Failing to report trapping activity as required by department rule.
Limited fish seller infraction: Failure of a holder of a limited fish seller endorsement to satisfy the food safety requirements to consumers under RCW 77.65.510(2).
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Invasive species management infractions:
Out-of-state certification: Entering Washington in possession of an aquatic conveyance that does not meet certificate of inspection requirements as provided under RCW 77.135.100;
Clean and drain requirements: Possessing an aquatic conveyance that does not meet clean and drain requirements under RCW 77.135.110;
Clean and drain orders: Possessing an aquatic conveyance and failing to obey a clean and drain order under RCW 77.135.110 or 77.135.120; and
Aquatic invasive species prevention permit requirements: Failing to possess a valid aquatic invasive species prevention permit as required under RCW 77.135.210, 77.135.220, or 77.135.230.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in both RCW 77.08.010 and 77.135.010 apply throughout this subsection (5).
Big game hunting:
A person hunts for big game while not having in the person's possession the hunting license or tag required under this title.
A person hunts for big game species of deer, elk, black bear, or cougar and the person violates any department rule regarding seasons, closed areas, closed times, or any other department rule defining the method or manner of hunting or taking these big game species. This subsection (6)(b) does not apply to protected, threatened, or endangered big game as identified under RCW 77.12.020.
A violation of this subsection carries a mandatory fine of $500, not including statutory assessments added pursuant to RCW 3.62.090.
General hunting:
A person carries, transports, conveys, possesses, or controls a rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle, except as allowed by department rule, and the rifle or shotgun contains live shells or cartridges in the attached or internal magazine.
A person discharges a firearm from or across the maintained portion of a public highway.
A person fails to properly notch a transport tag as required by department rule.
Hydraulic activities:
A person operates a motor vehicle as defined in RCW 46.04.320 in the wetted portion of a streambed other than at an established ford.
A person, in violation of a department rule, constructs by hand, without the use of tools or equipment, a rock dam or similar structure that could impede the movement of fish life, as defined by department rule.
Department licensed guides:
Failing to display department registration stickers as required by chapter 77.65 RCW or a department rule.
Failing to initiate, complete, or submit guide logbooks as required by department rule.
Fishing guide or charter boat operator infractions:
It is an infraction for a person who is licensed and acting as a fishing guide or charter boat operator to:
Aid in the commission of any infraction under subsection (1) of this section by a client; or
Permit the commission of any infraction under subsection (1) of this section by a client that the fishing guide or charter boat operator knows or reasonably believes is being or will be committed without:
(A) Attempting to prevent the infraction, short of using force; and
(B) Reporting the infraction.
b. A person acting as a fishing guide or charter boat operator may be found to have committed an infraction under (a)(i) or (ii) of this subsection regardless of whether the client was issued an infraction for the underlying violation.
Other infractions:
Contests: Unlawfully conducting, holding, or sponsoring a hunting contest, a fishing contest involving game fish, or a competitive field trial using live wildlife.
Other rules: Violating any other department rule that is designated by rule as an infraction.
Posting signs: Posting signs preventing hunting or fishing on any land not owned or leased by the person doing the posting, or without the permission of the person who owns, leases, or controls the land posted.
Department permits: Except as provided in RCW 77.15.750, using a department permit issued by the department, and the person:
Violates any terms or conditions of the permit;
Violates any department rule applicable to the issuance or use of permits; or
Violates any commercial use or activity permits, noncommercial use or activity permits, or parking permits.
This subsection does not apply to discover pass, vehicle access pass, or day-use permit requirements or penalties pursuant to RCW 79A.80.080.
A person is guilty of unlawful trafficking in fish, shellfish, or wildlife in the second degree if the person traffics in fish, shellfish, seaweed, or wildlife with a wholesale value of less than $250 and:
The fish, shellfish, or wildlife is classified as game, food fish, shellfish, game fish, or protected wildlife and the trafficking is not authorized by statute or department rule;
The fish, shellfish, or wildlife is unclassified and the trafficking violates any department rule; or
The seaweed is trafficked in violation of any department rule.
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A person is guilty of unlawful trafficking in fish, shellfish, or wildlife in the first degree if the person commits the act described by subsection (1) of this section and:
The fish, shellfish, or wildlife has a value of two hundred fifty dollars or more; or
The fish, shellfish, or wildlife is designated as an endangered species or deleterious exotic wildlife and such trafficking is not authorized by any statute or department rule.
For purposes of this subsection (2), whenever any series of transactions that constitute unlawful trafficking would, when considered separately, constitute unlawful trafficking in the second degree due to the value of the fish, shellfish, or wildlife, and the series of transactions are part of a common scheme or plan, then the transactions may be aggregated in one count and the sum of the value of all the transactions considered when determining the degree of unlawful trafficking involved.
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Unlawful trafficking in fish, shellfish, or wildlife in the second degree is a class C felony.
Unlawful trafficking in fish, shellfish, or wildlife in the first degree is a class B felony.
A person is guilty of unlawful transportation of fish or wildlife in the second degree if the person:
Knowingly imports, moves within the state, or exports fish, shellfish, or wildlife in violation of any department rule governing the transportation or movement of fish, shellfish, or wildlife and the transportation does not involve big game, endangered fish or wildlife, deleterious exotic wildlife, or fish, shellfish, or wildlife having a value greater than $250; or
Possesses but fails to affix and notch a big game transport tag as required by department rule.
A person is guilty of unlawful transportation of fish or wildlife in the first degree if the person:
Knowingly imports, moves within the state, or exports fish, shellfish, or wildlife in violation of any department rule governing the transportation or movement of fish, shellfish, or wildlife and the transportation involves big game, endangered fish or wildlife, deleterious exotic wildlife, or fish, shellfish, or wildlife with a value of $250 or more; or
Knowingly transports shellfish, shellstock, or equipment used in commercial culturing, taking, handling, or processing shellfish without a permit required by authority of this title.
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Unlawful transportation of fish or wildlife in the second degree is a misdemeanor.
Unlawful transportation of fish or wildlife in the first degree is a gross misdemeanor.
This section does not apply to invasive species.
A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of big game in the second degree if the person:
big game and, whether or not the person takes or possesses big game, the person has not purchased the appropriate license, permit, or tags required under this title;
b. Takes or possesses big game, but does not have in the person's possession the licenses, tags, or permits required under this title;
c. Takes or possesses big game and violates any department rule regarding seasons, bag or possession limits, closed areas including game reserves, closed times, or any other rule governing the hunting, taking, or possession of deer, elk, cougar, and black bear;
d. Hunts for big game and, whether or not the person takes or possesses big game, the person does not have in the person's possession the licenses, tags, or permits required under this title; and the act occurs within two years of the date of a prior committed finding of any big game hunting infraction under RCW 77.15.160(6); or
e. Violates any department rule regarding seasons, bag or possession limits, closed areas including game reserves, closed times, or any other rule governing the hunting, taking, or possession of big game species other than deer, elk, cougar, or black bear.
A person is guilty of unlawful hunting of big game in the first degree if the person commits the act described in subsection (1) of this section and:
The person hunts for, takes, or possesses three or more big game animals within the same course of events; or
The act occurs within five years of the date of a prior conviction under this title involving unlawful hunting, killing, possessing, or taking big game.
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Unlawful hunting of big game in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor. Upon conviction of an offense involving killing or possession of big game taken during a closed season, closed area, without the proper license, tag, or permit using an unlawful method, or in excess of the bag or possession limit, the department shall revoke all of the person's hunting licenses and tags and order a suspension of the person's hunting privileges for two years. Courts shall impose the mandatory penalty requirements of RCW 77.15.420.
Unlawful hunting of big game in the first degree is a class C felony. Upon conviction, the department shall revoke all of the person's hunting licenses or tags and order the person's hunting privileges suspended for 10 years. Courts shall impose the mandatory penalty requirements of RCW 77.15.420.
For the purposes of this section, "same course of events" means within one 72 hour period, or a common scheme or plan of a series of acts that are unlawful under subsection (1) of this section.
A person is guilty of unlawful possession of a loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle, as defined in RCW 46.04.320, or upon an off-road vehicle, as defined in RCW 46.04.365, if:
The person carries, transports, conveys, possesses, or controls a rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle, or upon an off-road vehicle, except as allowed by department rule; and
The rifle or shotgun contains a shell or cartridge in the chamber, or is a muzzle-loading firearm that is loaded and capped or primed.
A person is guilty of unlawful use of a loaded firearm if:
The person negligently discharges a firearm from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway; or
The person discharges a firearm from within a moving motor vehicle or from upon a moving off-road vehicle.
Unlawful possession of a loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle or upon an off-road vehicle, and unlawful use of a loaded firearm are misdemeanors.
This section does not apply if the person:
Is a law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm and is on duty within the officer's respective jurisdiction;
Has been granted a disability designation as provided by RCW 77.32.237 and complies with all rules of the department concerning hunting by persons with disabilities; or
Discharges the rifle or shotgun from upon a nonmoving motor vehicle, as long as the engine is turned off and the motor vehicle is not parked on or beside the maintained portion of a public road, except as authorized by the commission by rule. This subsection (4)(c) does not apply to off-road vehicles, which are unlawful to use for hunting under RCW 46.09.480, unless the person has a department permit issued under RCW 77.32.237.
For purposes of subsection (1) of this section, a rifle or shotgun shall not be considered loaded if the detachable clip or magazine is not inserted in or attached to the rifle or shotgun.