Fishing Kids day is tomorrow

This is the perfect weekend for family fun. First attend the Fishing Kids event at Cascade Park. The cost is $5, but this is a minimal amount for the benefits received by the participants ages 5 through 14. Each angler will be entitled to a two-fish limit, a photo with their catch and they will be allowed to keep their rod and reel, which is donated by Zebco.

The event will take place tomorrow, June 9, from 8 a.m. to noon. There will be four flights; each beginning at 8, 9 10 and 11 a.m. As of this writing there are 67, 91, 67 and 51 respectively signed up for each flight. However each flight has a top size of 125, so this means the numbers are well down from past years. In years past the flights have been filled to capacity and sometimes overflowing.

Folks, this is a great way to introduce youth to the sport of fishing. Don't miss or pass up this opportunity. Call the Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Department at 764-3805. If this is read after closing time for the city office, you might try to show up at the event, as a walk on, to see if they have an opening on a certain flight. However, you must be aware all of the slots may be filled.

Museum open house

After the fishing event, the family would do well to head to Ephrata for the Grant County Historical Society Museum open house. This will begin after the Sage-N-Sun Festival parade is completed.

Inside the museum grounds are the main museum building and several outbuildings known as the village. The buildings are historic and have been restored to their original condition.

Again folks, this is a super opportunity for the family to learn a bit more about Grant County History.

Free Fishing Weekend June 9 and 10

Fishing Kids, a tour of the museum, but this doesn't complete the opportunities of this weekend. This is also Free Fishing Weekend in Washington State.

On June 9 and 10, this Saturday and Sunday, 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 this 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.

OK folks, this is another opportunity not to be ignored. This weekend the parents will be able to fish without a license, so picture this scenario.

This family of four has so far participated in the Fishing Kids event and has visited the Grant County Historical Society Museum in Ephrata on Saturday.

On Sunday they fix a picnic lunch and head to Sun Lakes State Park. They fish from the dock at Park Lake or travel to Deep Lake and fish from the bank. No matter where they end up at noon, a lunch of sandwiches and fruit is prepared and fishing continues throughout the afternoon.

This completes a weekend of memories which will last a lifetime. Again, don't miss or pass up this opportunity.

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 at dclay@atnet.net or 762-5158.

Tentative 2012 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 or 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 in 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.

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.