‘A Man Who Made A Difference In The Columbia Basin, Washington’: Remembering Mike Meseberg
The fishing, hunting and conservation community has lost a passionate advocate and a very good man. Mike Meseberg, the longtime co-owner of MarDon Resort at Eastern Washington’s Potholes Reservoir, passed away at home with his family around him on December 26th.
3-day Skagit County Brant Goose Hunt A Go
After last year’s closure and 2022’s brief hunt, waterfowlers will get a chance to pursue brant geese in Skagit County for three days this month, thanks to just enough birds turning up in WDFW’s bay count.
WA Senators Propose Enshrining Hunting, Fishing As Constitutional Rights
As comment wraps up later this week on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission’s controversial Conservation Policy ahead of a late January vote, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Olympia has introduced a bill that could help enshrine hunting and fishing as constitutional rights.
WDFW, Tribes Boost Chum Salmon Egg Collection On Nooksack
WDFW reports that fisheries comanagers have taken their efforts to rebuild chum salmon runs to another North Sound basin.
3 Cow Elk Killed And Wasted Near Hermiston
Oregon wildlife troopers are looking for information on the killing and wasting of three cow elk found near Cold Springs Reservoir late last week.
ODFW Commission To Meet On Recruiting New Director
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, January 12, to talk about recruiting a new ODFW director, following the announcement that Curt Melcher will retire soon, and will take public comment.
Final Mule Deer Plan Rewrite Webinar Talks Human Impacts, Poaching, Monitoring
An ODFW webinar series on the rewrite of Oregon’s mule deer management plan will wrap up next Tuesday, January 9, with a focus on the final chapters, which cover population monitoring, poaching and anthropogenic impacts.
Fundraiser To Protect Washington Hunting, Wildlife Management Next Week
The Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is holding a public fundraiser in Centralia next week as it battles Governor Jay Inslee and trends on the state Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Comanagers Agree On Skagit-Sauk Wild Steelhead Forecast
State and tribal comanagers have agreed to a Skagit-Sauk wild winter steelhead forecast of 5,215 fish, an almost carbon-copy of last season’s prediction for the big North Cascades rivers.
Next Round Of Washington Razor Clam Digs A Go; Jan. 9-15
Washington shellfish managers announce that the next set of razor clam digs on the coast will begin January 9.
Bonneville, The Dalles Keeper Sturgeon Fishery To Close
With the high participation and catch rates filling the guideline, Columbia River managers closed sturgeon retention on the Bonneville and The Dalles Pools after just two days of fishing.
Melcher To Retire As ODFW Director
ODFW announces that Curt Melcher, its director since 2014, will retire on April 1 and that recruitment for new head of the agency will begin soon.
$27 Million Awarded For Springer, Winter-run Restoration In Willamette
NMFS details how $27 million in federal funding will be spent to restore habitat for ESA-listed spring Chinook and winter steelhead and provide other benefits in Oregon’s Willamette Basin.
Petition Calls For Closing OlyPen Winter Steelhead Fishing Thru Mid-Feb.
Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission is being petitioned to close the early portion of the Olympic Peninsula’s 2023-24 steelhead season.
2024 OR Longleader Rockfish Limit 12; Cabezon Closed Till July 1
The new year brings a reminder from ODFW that for the 2024 season, the longleader rockfish limit increases to 12 a day and cabezon are off limits to harvest till July 1.
2023 Northwest Fish And Wildlife Year In Review
At the end of every year I take a look back at the Northwest fish and wildlife stories that made news, and 2023 did not disappoint.