Master Hunter applicants should begin study now

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

Anyone wishing to get a head start during 2013 on becoming a certified master hunter in 2014 is advised to do the following:

Start working on your volunteer hours by helping with specific projects listed on the MHPP 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. Written proof of volunteer work done during calendar year 2013 must be retained and submitted during 2014. 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. Specific volunteer hour requirements for certification are subject to change.

About half of the questions on the 100 question written examination that must be passed by MHPP applicants came directly from the Fish and Wildlife Hunter Education Student Manual and from Fish and Wildlife Hunting Regulation Pamphlets. Study all these materials in detail. The Hunter Education Student Manual Study Guide can be found on the Fish and Wildlife website under hunting and then hunter education.

Review MHPP background materials posted on the MHPP webpage.

Attend a Crime Observation and Reporting Training (CORT) session and keep your training certificate. Upcoming CORT classes can be found on the following website: www.eyesinthewoods.org. Becoming a certified witness to help curb poaching of our fish and wildlife resources is recommended whether you pursue being a member of the MHPP or not.

To become a certified Master Hunter, each applicant is required to: Demonstrate proficiency with a bow, handgun, muzzleloader, rifle, shotgun shooting shot, shotgun shooting slugs, or crossbow. Also, provide at least 20 hours of volunteer service on a project benefiting state wildlife resources.

Plus, attend Crime Observation and Reporting Training (C.O.R.T.); Receive a score of at least 80 percent on a written examination, based on provided independent-study materials; Sign an agreement to abide by the Master Hunter Code of Ethics and submit to and pass a law enforcement background check.

If you and/or your hunting buddies are interested in applying to become a master hunter, feel free to contact me with questions about the program.

Razor clam dig starts Nov. 30 on exceptional low evening tides

State fishery managers have approved an evening razor-clam dig on ocean beaches starting tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 30, and running for eight days on the lowest tides so far this season.

Fish and Wildlife approved the dig after marine toxin tests showed the clams on those beaches are safe to eat.

"We've had some great digs so far this season, but this one could be truly exceptional," said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. "If the weather cooperates, most diggers should be able to get their limit in record time."

Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.

Ayres said the best digging typically occurs one to two hours before low tide, noting that no digging is allowed at any beach before noon. Check the Fish and Wildlife website for the beaches and low tide times.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2013-14 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.

Fish Black Friday for big rainbows stocked in eight western Washington lakes

Dennis note: Yes this is a great idea, but what about us, you know, the anglers on the eastside?

Rather spend the day after Thanksgiving fishing for big rainbow trout than shopping for holiday discounts?

Starting today, Nov. 29, anglers will find thousands of "holiday specials" during a seasonal Black Friday trout fishing opportunity at eight lakes in western Washington.

To prepare for the post-holiday event, Fish and Wildlife will plant 2,000 rainbow trout into each of the six southwest Washington lakes. Those rainbow trout average 1? pounds apiece.

The eight lakes scheduled to receive fish are: Battleground Lake and Klineline Pond in Clark County; Kress Lake in Cowlitz County; Fort Borst Park Pond and South Lewis County Park Pond in Lewis County; Rowland Lake in Klickitat County; Leland Lake in Jefferson County; Spencer Lake in Mason County.

The lakes in Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis and Klickitat counties will be closed to fishing Nov. 25-28, when they will be stocked with hefty trout from the Mossyrock and Goldendale fish hatcheries. The lakes in Jefferson and Mason counties will remain open to fishing during fish stocking.

Twenty five other lakes in the Puget Sound area have already been stocked with about 60,000 large rainbow trout. A list of those lakes, most of which were stocked in October, is available at http://1.usa.gov/1gusSdq.

Fish and Wildlife has stocked plenty of trout in several lakes throughout western Washington, so anglers should continue to find good fishing during the holiday season, according to Fish and Wildlife.

Dennis note: Yes, but what about us?

Hunting Activity Reporting

Beginning on the first day of the hunting season through January 31, 2014, hunters must report their hunting activity for each special permit acquired and each deer, elk, bear, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and turkey tag purchased in 2013.