Colockum elk winter range closures subject of Jan. 6 meeting

Fish and Wildlife staff will discuss Colockum elk herd research

and current elk winter-range closures at a public meeting Jan. 6 in

Ellensburg.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m., at the Hal Holmes Center, 209

N. Ruby St.

Fish and Wildlife staff will discuss Colockum elk herd research and current elk winter-range closures at a public meeting Jan. 6 in Ellensburg.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m., at the Hal Holmes Center, 209 N. Ruby St.

For the past three years about 44,000 acres of the Whiskey Dick and Quilomene wildlife areas, northwest of Vantage, have been closed to motor vehicles from February through April to protect wintering elk from disturbance.

Late winter and early spring recreational use of the area has increased over the past decade, causing elk to abandon their winter range on these wildlife areas as early as mid-February. These animals need to stay on winter range well into April to stay nourished and maintain the health of the herd.

When elk leave wildlife areas and move to adjacent private land, they compete with cattle for forage and damage crops and stock fences. Fish and Wildlife research on elk use of the area began in 2008 when six adult female elk were captured and equipped with Global Positioning System devices to track their movements.

Since then a total of 105 elk have been equipped with tracking devices and currently 46 elk are being tracked. The study will continue until May 2012. Research results will help wildlife biologists assess how closing elk winter range to motor vehicles affects seasonal elk movement.

Fish and Wildlife has worked with local partners to manage wintering elk through the Kittitas Big Game Management Roundtable, which includes Kittitas Field and Stream Club, Kittitas County Cattlemen's Association, Wenatchee Sportsmen, Kittitas Audubon, citizen advisory groups for local wildlife areas and others.

From Anton Jones of Darrell & Dad's Family Guide Service Manson:

Both of our winter fisheries produced wonderfully during the reporting period. Fishing on the Upper Columbia for Steelhead with a jig and bobber has been great. Fishing on Rufus Woods for triploids is excellent.

For Steelhead, fish baited jigs under slip bobbers baited with pink shrimp. The depth that we hung those jigs varied from as shallow as 3 feet to as deep as 28 feet. We like Worden's Maxi-Jigs or Mack's Glo-Getters. Baiting those jigs with shrimp that has been cured in Red Pautzke's Fire Cure has worked well.

At Rufus, try trolling flies. Put an action disk by wiggle fin in front of something with marabou in its tail. If you can't get bit trolling, go to the pens and fish some Pautzke's Fire Bait in rainbow either off the bottom with a slip sinker rig or from the top with a jig and bobber.

Your fishing tip of the week is about line management when jig and bobber fishing for metal heads. We spool our spinning reels up with super braid to reduce stretch and so we can see the line floating on the surface of the water. Keeping that slack line to a minimum, so you can immediately set the hook when the bobber goes down is the key to success. Also, the bobber should be straight up and down to indicate a natural drift.

The safety tip of the week is to use a milk crate to stabilize your propane tank when using a 20-pound tank to fuel your heater in a boat. It minimizes the tipping hazard, so you can stay warm and not set your gear on fire.

Contact Anton at 509-687-0709 or toll-free 866-360-1523

New organization

From Cindy Carpenter:

"We are starting a new organization, which is in the start-up mode. HAMS 'Hunters and Anglers Memories Society.'

"Our Purpose: To provide a free dream hunt or fishing trip to children who have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses and also handicapped children.

"To give those with a passion for hunting and fishing an opportunity to give to others and also share the common joy and experience of hunting and fishing with these special children and their families.

"To foster faith, fun and fellowship among hunters and fishermen in Washington and all of America.

"To protect and provide the rights of all Americans, so they can enjoy our wonderful outdoors.

"To use this opportunity of giving to build the interest and awareness about hunting in the great state of Washington."

"As we move forward into this next hunting season, 2011, we are looking for volunteers to help become involved and help in a variety of ways. We are currently in need of a logo, we are working on a Web site and we are looking for an accountant who would be willing to do some charity work for us.

Of course, one of our largest hurtles will be securing property for the youth to hunt. Let us know if you have time or property to volunteer to this cause.

We have lots to do but together we will be able to spread the joy and excitement of hunting and fishing.

Contact Cindy at 509-431-1604.

Hunting report deadline Jan. 10

Jan. 10 is the deadline for hunters to file reports about this year's hunting activities for black bear, deer, elk, or turkey to Fish and Wildlife. If a hunter meets the deadline, they have a chance to win one of nine 2011 special hunting permits.

Those who meet the deadline will be included in a drawing for five deer permits and four elk permits in various areas of the state. Those permits will be valid from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2011.

To qualify for the drawing, hunters must submit a report for each black bear, deer, elk, or turkey tag they purchased in 2010.

All hunters, whether successful or not, are required to submit hunting reports for those species by Jan. 31.

This all sounds great and we will comply, but it is interesting for Fish and Wildlife to drop the hammer in the next sentence with a threat. Failure to meet the deadline can result in a $10 fine, payable before a hunter can purchase a 2011 license.

These annual hunting reports are an important source of information for managing the resource and developing future hunting seasons. We agree and file our reports on time, correctly and truthfully.

New this year, Fish and Wildlife is requiring hunters to file separate reports for general-season hunting activities and for special-permit hunts for deer, elk, black bear and turkey. That change will give game managers more information about hunters' success during both kinds of seasons.

Whether reporting online or over the phone, hunters should follow the prompts until they receive a confirmation number for each report.

General cougar season

The general cougar season for any weapon will continue through March 31, 2011 in several GMUs, through Dec. 31 in others and through Nov. 30 in still others. Again it is imperative hunters study the pamphlet.

Seeking nominations for Inland Fish Policy Advisory Group

Fish and Wildlife is seeking nominations through Dec. 31 for membership on the Inland Fish Policy Advisory Group. Up to 20 qualified individuals will be chosen to serve on the advisory group for 2011 and 2012. Those selected will provide guidance to Fish and Wildlife on statewide issues related to management of inland fish species, such as rainbow trout, bass and kokanee.

Advisors should have a broad interest in inland fish management and the ability to communicate effectively with large segments of the public.

The advisory group meets approximately three times each year and advisors are asked to comment on written materials throughout the year. They serve for a term of two years and can be reappointed. Appointments become effective February 1, 2011. Current members are encouraged to reapply. Advisors do not receive direct compensation for their work.

Any group or individual can submit a nomination, and self-nominations are also accepted. Nominees do not need to be affiliated with an organized group. Nominations must include the following information: The nominee's name, address and telephone number; the nominee's affiliations, if any; the name, address and telephone number of any organization submitting a nomination; experience, including the type of experience, and any species or areas of interest, as well as references.