Wolf meeting set in Ellensburg Aug. 29

The number of wolf packs in Washington State is increasing, we know this as reported by Fish and Wildlife. So what are we going to do about it? The wolf plan continues to be formulated and we trust a wolf hunting season will eventually be established. Read on.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission will discuss the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan recommended by state wildlife managers at a special meeting in Ellensburg on Monday, Aug. 29.

The special meeting, which includes time for public comment on the plan, is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Quality Inn and Conference Center, 1700 Canyon Road, Ellensburg.

Check the scheduled agenda for the meeting at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html. The period for public comment will take place after 1 p.m.

Two other special meetings on the recommended wolf plan are scheduled Oct. 6 and Nov. 3 in Olympia, a day prior to previously scheduled commission meetings.

From Rod Hammons of R & R Guide Service in Brewster:

The fishing at Brewster is now a little bit better with a few fish being caught the last three days but it is far from even being fair fishing. We were lucky last Thursday and Friday limiting the boat on salmon and putting a few walleye in the boat as well. This is not the norm of recent fishing trips, as we just happened to be in the right spot at the right time.

The bite is in the morning here and is pretty much over with by 9 a.m. There are still good numbers of fish coming over Wells Dam and the Okanogan River is finally starting to warm up, so this should improve a little, but don't get your hopes up for a normal year. It ain't going to happen.

Also, the fish are small with most being around 5 to 15 pounds, the big fish must still be shooting up the river towards our area.

The area below Wells Dam is really slow also with most of the fish being caught in the afternoon and evening. However they are larger fish than at Brewster.

Triploids

The easy fishing is over for the triploids washed over Chief Joseph Dam as people have really been pounding them at Bridgeport and you will have to work at it to get your fish.

Contact Rod at 509-733-1343.

DU banquet Sept. 8

DU holds several fundraising banquets in the greater Columbia Basin each year. The next one is scheduled for Sept. 8 at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

The last day to buy tickets is September 3. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Contact Dick at 762-9027 and Troy at 989-3536

License fees increase Sept. 1

Fishing and hunting license fees will increase on Sept. 1. Well, not all, but some will. Check the Fish and Wildlife website or check your favorite license dealer.

Fish and Wildlife says this is the first increase in more than 10 years, so we shouldn't gripe too much, as it wouldn't do any good anyway.

The trick this year is to purchase your appropriate licenses and tags before the first of next month.

Here's the relevant info from Fish and Wildlife:

Starting Sept. 1, the base cost of most Washington hunting and fishing licenses will increase. This is the first general recreational license fee increase in more than a decade.

The 2011 Legislature approved the new fees to help meet rising costs and a shortfall in revenue for managing hunting, fishing and the fish and wildlife populations which are the focus of those activities.

Not all license fees will increase, and some will decline, including those for youth, seniors and persons with disabilities.

The list of new fees is lengthy, but here is a sampling of the new and old costs for resident of Washington State: Fee now for deer, elk, bear and cougar tag: $81.20, after Sept. 1: $93.50; small game license now: $38, after Sept. 1: $38.50; First turkey tag now: $17.50, after Sept. 1: $15.40. Fee now for freshwater license: $24, after Sept. 1: $27.50; combination fishing license now: $48.20, after Sept. 1: $52.25; two-pole endorsement now: $24.50, after Sept. 1: $14.30.

Fish and Wildlife maintains the current status of maintaining fishing and hunting opportunity and makes it possible for the department to fulfill its dual mission of conserving species while providing sustainable fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation across the state.

The new fees are expected to generate about $8 million annually for activities that support hunting and recreational fishing, according to Fish and Wildlife.

Recreational license and permit revenue is used to manage fisheries and hunting seasons, produce trout and steelhead for recreational fisheries, enforce regulations, monitor fish and game populations and help maintain wildlife lands.

Revenues from the license fee increase will replace a temporary 10 percent license sale surcharge that expired in June and will fill a projected deficit in the account that funds fishing and hunting activities.

With everything going up in price at this time in history, a license fee increase is to be expected. We have found out without the license fee increase, major cuts in hunting and fishing seasons and opportunities would need to take place.

Fishing and hunting contribute more than $1.4 billion a year to the state's economy, benefiting local communities, small business owners and the people they employ, says Fish and Wildlife. Maintaining fishing and hunting opportunity is vital to Washington's economy and quality of life.

Waterfowl seasons set

Fish and Wildlife has approved the 2011-12 waterfowl hunting seasons that are similar to those adopted last year during a meeting Aug. 5-6.

Under the waterfowl hunting package, the statewide duck hunting season will be open from Oct. 15-19 and from Oct. 22-Jan. 29. A special youth hunting weekend also is scheduled for Sept. 24-25.

Special limits for hen mallard, pintail, redhead, scaup, canvasback, goldeneye, harlequin, scoter and long-tailed duck will remain the same.

Goose hunting seasons vary by management areas across the state, but most open Oct. 15 and run through January 2012.

The goose and duck hunting seasons approved by the commission, which sets policy for the Fish and Wildlife, are based on state and federal waterfowl population estimates and guidelines. According to those estimates, most waterfowl populations throughout North America are at or above historically high levels.

No Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery this year

The return of sockeye salmon to Lake Wenatchee is not strong enough to allow a recreational fishery in the lake this year, according to Fish and Wildlife.

Although more than 185,000 sockeye have passed Bonneville Dam, only about 14,000 of them are expected to enter Lake Wenatchee. This is well short of the 23,000-fish goal for spawning escapement in the lake.

This will be disappointing news for anglers, especially since the lake has opened for sockeye fishing for the past three years.

The overall run of sockeye to the Columbia River has been relatively high, most of these fish appear to be headed for the Okanogan River and on into Canada.

Sockeye runs are expected to improve in the years ahead.

Cougar hunting regulations amended

The Fish and Wildlife Commission approved amendments to cougar hunting regulations recently.

The commission amended cougar hunting regulations in six counties in eastern Washington, where a pilot project authorizing cougar hunting with the aid of dogs was not extended by the Legislature this year.

The amendment increases cougar hunting opportunities without the aid of dogs in Klickitat, Chelan, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties to continue to meet management objectives in those areas.

In addition, the commission modified the criteria for determining when cougars are removed to address public concerns about pet and livestock depredation and personal safety. The change allows for cougar removals when complaints confirmed by Fish and Wildlife staff in a given game management unit exceed the five-year average.