Migratory waterfowl seasons set

The Fish and Wildlife Commission recently established the 2013-2014 migratory waterfowl seasons.

The general duck season will be open for 107 days, Oct. 12 through 16 and from Oct. 19 through Jan. 26. A special youth hunting weekend will take place Sept. 21 and 22. Wildlife Program staff members said surveys in the Pacific Flyway show duck populations are near long-term averages, while goose populations are generally at or above management goals.

Wolf news

The Fish and Wildlife Commission also took public testimony on several proposed amendments to wildlife interaction rules that are designed to implement actions by the 2013 Legislature and to ensure the Fish and Wildlife administrative rules are consistent with the department's 2011 Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.

The amendments include a proposal that would make permanent an emergency rule adopted earlier this year, which permits ranchers, farmers and other pet and livestock owners in the eastern third of the state to kill a wolf that is attacking their animals. The commission will accept written public comments through Friday, Sept. 20, and is scheduled to adopt the regulations later in the fall.

Monitoring wildfires

The website noted in a recent CBH wildfire story is excellent. It not only provides air quality info, but displays the outline of each wildfire. The site is www.wasmoke.blogspot.com/

In addition, be careful with any type of fire, even your gas campstove.

Colockum Tarps Fire

It sounds as if the firefighters are getting a handle on the Colockum Tarps Fire, which is due west of Quincy and across the Columbia River. Areas of smoke were visible, a spot of rising smoke where and another there, while driving to Soap Lake the other day in the morning. In the afternoon the entire Colockum hillside was obscured by smoke.

This event leads to the question about the displacement of the animals, mainly deer and elk. Last year the land directly south of Wenatchee had an influx of elk causing damage to orchards. Will elk and deer cause problems in the Wenatchee and Ellensburg area because of the Colockum fire? Stay tuned.

Master hunter open enrollment period

The next open enrollment period for the Master Hunter Permit Program will begin Jan. 1, 2014 and remain open through Feb. 15, 2014.

This is a chance to get a head start on some of the requirements.

The first is to begin working on your volunteer hours by helping with specific projects listed on the master hunter webpage or by obtaining approval from appropriate Fish and Wildlife field staff for work meeting the criteria listed on the Conservation Projects section of the webpage. A minimum of 20 hours are required to be certified.

Written proof of volunteer work done during calendar year 2013 must be kept. On a one-time basis, your volunteer time, even though put in during 2013, will be accepted if you apply for certification during the 2014 open enrollment period.

Questions about this process can be directed toward me at 762-5158.