Tentative goose banding project scheduled

Received from Fish and Wildlife Waterfowl Specialist Mikal Moore yesterday:

Hey goose wranglers! After talking to our local biologists, there will be an abbreviated schedule of goose banding this season. Our tentative schedule for the 1st week is as follows:

June 12th: Tri-Cities, Kid's Fishing Pond, Columbia Park, Kennewick. Point of contact: Mike Livingston (Michael.Livingston@dfw.wa.gov) and 509-545-2201.

June 13th: Yakima, Selah Park and Ride (gas station off Firing Center Rd). Point of contact: Jeff Bernatowicz (Jeff.Bernatowicz@dfw.wa.gov) and 509-457-9304.

June 14th: Moses Lake and Coulee City, 302 W. Broadway, Lakefront Bar and Grill parking lot. Small motorboats or kayaks would be useful. Point of contact: Rich Finger: (Richard.Finger@dfw.wa.gov) 509-754-4624.

June 15th: Sprague Lake, Sprague Lake Resort. Please bring a motorboat or kayak if you are able. Point of contact: Rich Finger (Richard.Finger@dfw.wa.gov) and 754-4624.

Spokane will not be conducting goose banding this year. We are still deciding on whether Wenatchee will participate.

While most of you are experienced goose banders by now, just a suggestion to bring old clothes, pocket knife, long sleeves, water/snack and maybe a little hand sanitizer. Please bring your own Master Hunter volunteer paperwork if you need proof of service. If you are bringing a boat or kayak, you must provide a PFD for everyone on board.

Unfortunately my last day of work will be June 8th, so I will not be able to help this year. In my stead, Warren Becker will be providing logistical support, shuttling the panels, goose bands, and Wonder Bread from site to site. After the 8th, if you have any questions, please contact either the biologist in charge of your banding location or Warren atbeckerwarren@hotmail.com or 503-477-2241.

It's been fun working with all of you, and I'll particularly miss the goose roundup. In my new incarnation, I'll be a turkey biologist working for the National Wild Turkey Federation in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, so perhaps our paths will cross again.

Kindest regards, Mikal.

Folks, this is a fun project. Dennis has participated on several goose roundups. This is a good chance for Master Hunters to work some of the required volunteer hours.

But it is a fun project for all but the youngest people and it makes for a great family event. We have seen youngsters carrying geese which are almost as large as the youth.

Notice, no times are given for the beginning of each roundup and we hesitate to give the date. These both are subject to change from day to day. If you are interested in participating, please call or e-mail the contact person, so they can contact you in case of a change in date or time.

Also notice Mikal is leaving us. We wish her the best and know NWTF is lucky to be receiving her as an employee.

Free Fishing Weekend June 9 and 10

On June 9 and 10 no license will be required to fish or gather shellfish in any waters open to fishing in Washington state. Also, neither a vehicle use permit nor a Discover Pass will be required that weekend to park at any of the 600 water-access sites maintained by Fish and Wildlife.

While no licenses are required on Free Fishing Weekend, other rules such as season closures, size limits and bag limits will still be in effect. For example, no crab fishing will be allowed in Puget Sound during Free Fishing Weekend, because no areas will be open for crabbing at that time.

In addition, all anglers will be required to complete a catch record card for any salmon, steelhead, sturgeon or halibut they catch that weekend. Catch record cards and the fishing rules pamphlet are available free at hundreds of sporting goods stores and other license dealers throughout the state.

Fish and Wildlife to stock 5,000 triploid trout in 14 lakes

State crews will be stocking 5,000 triploid trout in 14 lakes in the state just before Father's Day weekend, June 16 and 17. Trouble is none of those lakes are in Grant County.

What's the reasoning for this non-Grant County happening?

Alfalfa needed for pygmy rabbit project

The following was received from James A Chandler, Wildlife Volunteer Program Manager for Fish and Wildlife:

"Hi Dennis, I am trying to help Penny Becker, the person working on the project, find a local farm that could supply two bales of fresh alfalfa a week for the next three months.

"The alfalfa needs to be as fresh as possible, still green and moist, with leaves on. She's willing to pay for it. Do you have anyone in mind?"

How about it alfalfa farmers, anyone willing to work with Penny? Send me a note at: dclay@atnet.net or give me a call at: 762-5158.

Rock doves

The rock dove, rock pigeon or just pigeon is common in the Columbia Basin. These birds hang around farms and grow in numbers to be a nuisance.

I have a friend who considers these pesky pests to be a culinary delight. The two of us would like to help landowners, who have too many of these birds, get rid of a few.

Contact me by the means listed in the alfalfa story.

Raffle permit hunts

Besides the special hunt permits, hunters may apply for raffle permit hunts. These hunts are a way to raise money for the species which the hunter applies.

Fish and Wildlife states: "Proceeds from the sale of single-species raffle tickets will be used for the management and benefit of that species. Proceeds from the sale of multiple-species raffle tickets will be used for general game management."

This is a great way to raise money. There is no limit on the number of tickets a person may purchase. The person buying one ticket may win or the person buying 100 tickets may win. As with any raffle, the more tickets a person purchases, the better her chances to win.

An example of a hunt includes a three-deer raffle where the winner may harvest one additional buck black-tailed deer, an additional mule and an additional white-tailed deer. The season is Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. A ticket costs $6.

Another example is a mule deer hunt in any Game management unit open to mule deer hunting, entitling the hunter to one additional buck mule deer. The hunt dates and ticket cost are the same.

There are raffle hunts for black-tailed deer, white-tailed deer, elk sheep and goat. An interesting raffle-hunt species is moose. The hunt dates are the same, the hunt is open in any open moose unit, two permits are available and the tag allows the hunter one moose of either sex.

Deadline to purchase raffle tickets is July 13.

More from Fish and Wildlife:

Parts of Yakima River open to spring chinook

Beginning May 16, the lower Yakima River opened to fishing for hatchery spring chinook from the Interstate 182 Bridge in Richland to the Grant Avenue Bridge in Prosser.

Last Saturday the salmon fishery expanded to the upper Yakima River from the Interstate 82 Bridge at Union Gap to the railroad bridge below Roza Dam.

The lower river is expected to remain open through June 30, while fishing in the upper section will likely continue through July 31. Fishery managers are predicting a return of approximately 5,000 adult hatchery chinook to the Yakima River.

Anglers will have a daily limit of two adipose-fin-clipped hatchery chinook. All wild salmon, identifiable by an intact adipose fin, must be released unharmed and must not be removed from the water prior to release. The same is true for all steelhead.

Anglers are required to use single-point, barbless hooks with a hook gap from point to shank of 3/4 inch or less when fishing for salmon. Use of bait is allowed.

To participate in the fishery, anglers must possess a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement, along with a valid fishing license. Anglers also have the option of purchasing a two-pole endorsement to fish with two poles during the fishery.

Anglers who have hooked a spring chinook may be approached by a scientific technician as they reel in the fish. If it's a wild fish with an intact adipose fin, the technician will offer to assist in unhooking and releasing it after tagging it and recording information on the fish.

The technicians will also be fishing to catch fish for the study and will release all fish they catch once they have been tagged. At the end of the spawning season, survival rates for all spring chinook that have been tagged and released will be compared against a control group of fish that have not been hooked by anglers.