Bill To Add Hunting, Fishing To WA Constitution Heard, Plus Other Oly Legislation To Watch
A legislative hearing on holding a public vote to amend Washington’s state constitution to enshrine the rights to hunt, fish and trap attracted a lot of attention this afternoon in Olympia, one of a baker’s dozen worth of bills to watch over the coming weeks.
Colville Tribes To Donate Up To 15 Wolves For Colorado Reintro
Colorado wildlife officials say they’ve reached an agreement with the Colville Tribes of Northcentral Washington to acquire up to 15 wolves next winter for the Centennial State’s voter-mandated reintroduction effort.
Late January Razor Clam Dig Approved For Washington Coast
WDFW has greenlighted January 22-28 evening razor clam digs on Washington’s South Coast.
Farm Bureaus Abruptly Cancel ‘Walleye Jackpot’ On Snake
Two Northwest agriculture-oriented organizations announced this week that they planned to hold a “Farmers for Salmon: Walleye Jackpot” in mid-March on the Snake, then just as abruptly cancelled it today.
Skagit, Sauk To Open February 3 For Wild Steelhead
Sections of the upper Skagit and lower Sauk Rivers will open for catch-and-release wild steelhead fishing starting February 3, with season running Saturdays through Wednesdays through April 17.
Inslee Orders WDFW To Begin Rulemaking On Wolf-livestock Regulations. Again
Governor Jay Inslee is butting into Washington predator management yet again, yet again around wolf-livestock conflict management, and it may do nothing but further chill the atmosphere around an already-polarizing species otherwise doing just fine in the state.
WDFW Holding Pre-North of Falcon Meeting For Puget Sound Salmon Anglers
WDFW will recap 2023’s Puget Sound salmon fisheries and the outlook for 2024’s at a late January virtual meeting that comes about a month before the kickoff of the annual North of Falcon season-setting process.
‘Similar’ Columbia Fall Chinook Run Expected In 2024
“Fall Chinook returns should be similar to 2023 returns with the exception of BPH stock,” the DFWs posted late last month.
WDFW To Talk 2025, 2026 Coastal Bottomfish Seasons At Jan. 17 Meeting
With the Pacific Fishery Management Council considering bottomfish harvest levels for 2025-26 seasons, WDFW is looking for feedback from ocean anglers “on potential management measures to keep the catch within Washington’s recreational harvest guidelines.”
‘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.