16-04-2006, 10:10 AM
Commission approves new hunting rules for 2006-08
By Staff
Elk hunters will have one more day for the modern firearms season this fall under rules adopted last weekend by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
The commission also added 30 antlerless special-hunt permits in the Mount St. Helens area in response to reports of malnourished elk there and expanded hunting seasons for wild turkeys.
The new hunting rules, which take effect this year, reflect the overall health and stability of the state's game animals, Ron Ozment of Cathlamet, who chairs the nine-member citizen commission, said in a news release.
"Hunters and state biologists alike are telling us that most game populations are stable or increasing after nearly a decade of mild winters," Ozment said.
WDFW wildlife managers submitted the three-year hunting plan for the commission's consideration after a 14-month process that elicited responses from 5,000 citizens across the state. Several preliminary proposals -- including those calling for expanded spike-only elk areas and three-point white-tailed deer units were dropped.
Changes in hunting seasons approved by the commission include:
• Deer: The general hunting season for mule deer in north central Washington will be reduced from 14 to nine days, although late-season special-hunt permits will be increased to provide late-season buck-hunting opportunities in the area. In Klickitat County, the black-tailed deer season in the Grayback game management unit will be reduced to 14 days and a three-point minimum buck regulation was put in its place to increase buck survival. • Elk: The general modern firearm elk-hunting season in western Washington was increased from nine to 10 days and 30 special-hunt permits were added in the Mount St. Helens area to address concerns about the area's ability to sustain the size of the local elk herd.
Modern firearms permits were increased from 25 to 30 for the Margaret B hunt. Muzzleloader permits were increased from 10 to 15 for the Margaret D hunt.
In the Toutle game unit, modern firearms permits were increased from 35 to 50 in the Toutle B hunt and muzzleloader permits went from 10 to 15 in the Toutle D hunt.
• Wild turkey: With wild turkey populations on the rise, the commission increased the annual bag limit to five birds in eastern Washington and expanded hunting seasons throughout the state. Only three birds may be taken during the spring season.
• Pheasant: No changes were made in the opening dates for general seasons in eastern or western Washington. The eastern Washington season will continue to start the week after opening day of the modern firearm season for deer.
• Black bear and cougar: The Copalis game management unit and several units in northeast Washington were added to a permit-only spring bear hunt. No significant changes were made in cougar-hunting rules.
The commission also adopted several measures affecting the type of hunting equipment hunters can use in the field. One action by the commission will expand restrictions on the use of electronic decoys and calls to turkey and deer hunters. On the other hand, state rules will no longer restrict the degree to which "let-off" technology makes it easier to draw a compound bow used in hunting.
Mvh
Kim
Jeg er ikke fejlfri,men det er så tæt på at det skræmmer mig.
By Staff
Elk hunters will have one more day for the modern firearms season this fall under rules adopted last weekend by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
The commission also added 30 antlerless special-hunt permits in the Mount St. Helens area in response to reports of malnourished elk there and expanded hunting seasons for wild turkeys.
The new hunting rules, which take effect this year, reflect the overall health and stability of the state's game animals, Ron Ozment of Cathlamet, who chairs the nine-member citizen commission, said in a news release.
"Hunters and state biologists alike are telling us that most game populations are stable or increasing after nearly a decade of mild winters," Ozment said.
WDFW wildlife managers submitted the three-year hunting plan for the commission's consideration after a 14-month process that elicited responses from 5,000 citizens across the state. Several preliminary proposals -- including those calling for expanded spike-only elk areas and three-point white-tailed deer units were dropped.
Changes in hunting seasons approved by the commission include:
• Deer: The general hunting season for mule deer in north central Washington will be reduced from 14 to nine days, although late-season special-hunt permits will be increased to provide late-season buck-hunting opportunities in the area. In Klickitat County, the black-tailed deer season in the Grayback game management unit will be reduced to 14 days and a three-point minimum buck regulation was put in its place to increase buck survival. • Elk: The general modern firearm elk-hunting season in western Washington was increased from nine to 10 days and 30 special-hunt permits were added in the Mount St. Helens area to address concerns about the area's ability to sustain the size of the local elk herd.
Modern firearms permits were increased from 25 to 30 for the Margaret B hunt. Muzzleloader permits were increased from 10 to 15 for the Margaret D hunt.
In the Toutle game unit, modern firearms permits were increased from 35 to 50 in the Toutle B hunt and muzzleloader permits went from 10 to 15 in the Toutle D hunt.
• Wild turkey: With wild turkey populations on the rise, the commission increased the annual bag limit to five birds in eastern Washington and expanded hunting seasons throughout the state. Only three birds may be taken during the spring season.
• Pheasant: No changes were made in the opening dates for general seasons in eastern or western Washington. The eastern Washington season will continue to start the week after opening day of the modern firearm season for deer.
• Black bear and cougar: The Copalis game management unit and several units in northeast Washington were added to a permit-only spring bear hunt. No significant changes were made in cougar-hunting rules.
The commission also adopted several measures affecting the type of hunting equipment hunters can use in the field. One action by the commission will expand restrictions on the use of electronic decoys and calls to turkey and deer hunters. On the other hand, state rules will no longer restrict the degree to which "let-off" technology makes it easier to draw a compound bow used in hunting.
Mvh
Kim
Jeg er ikke fejlfri,men det er så tæt på at det skræmmer mig.