It is a goose hunting weekend

Tomorrow and Sunday, Sept. 14 and 15 are the days of the 2013 September goose hunting season in Goose Management Areas 4 and 5. The limit is thee per day and six in possession and this is for Canada geese only.

Take advantage of this special season to score some local geese.

Youth season next weekend

The youth season, Sept. 21 and 22, for hunters under 16 years old and who must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old who is not hunting, will be open for ducks, coot, geese, pheasant, California quail along with Chukar and Huns.

This is a great chance to get the youth into the field. Don't miss the opportunity.

Continuing seasons

The mourning dove season continues through Sept. 30 with a daily limit of 10 and a possession limit of 20.

The forest grouse season continues through Dec. 31.

Archery and muzzleloader deer and elk season continue to turn on and off during September.

WDFW eases fire restrictions on lands east of Cascades

Fish and Wildlife is easing fire restrictions on all agency-managed lands in eastern Washington, where recent rains have reduced the risk of wildfires.

Restrictions on the following activities, enacted Aug. 8 in response to extreme fire danger, are no longer in effect: Smoking outside an enclosed vehicle;Target shooting outside designated shooting ranges, except on the Wenas Wildlife Area, where a temporary rule prohibits the activity through Sept. 30; Use of welding equipment, chainsaws, and other equipment powered by combustion engines; Operating a motor vehicle off developed roads.

Clay Sprague, Fish and Wildlife land manager, said the department's action is consistent with changes in fire rules approved this week by the state Department of Natural Resources, which provides fire protection for many state wildlife areas.

Fish and Wildlife emphasized that while some restrictions have been lifted, the ban on campfires remains in effect east of the Cascade Mountains, where hot weather is predicted across the region.

Although these changes reflect an easing of fire danger in eastern Washington, campers and others heading outdoors are urged to be extremely cautious in any activity that could spark a wildfire.

Fish and Wildlife eased all fire restrictions on its lands in western Washington on Aug. 15, when wetter, cooler weather reduced fire danger.

Group to meet about Columbia River chinook salmon harvest, allocation

A seven-member citizen working group organized by Washington and Oregon departments of fish and wildlife will meet to review spring chinook harvest and allocation at a public meeting in The Dalles, Ore., on Monday, Sept. 16.

The working group is tasked with reviewing how the management guideline for upriver spring chinook is currently shared among recreational fisheries downstream and upstream of Bonneville Dam, including outcomes of recent years' seasons. The workgroup will also discuss management approaches and allocation for the future.  

The group is comprised of three representatives from below Bonneville Dam, two from Bonneville Dam to the Washington/Oregon border, and two from the Snake River.

The meeting will take place at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum at 5000 Discovery Drive in The Dalles, Ore., and will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A brief public comment period is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Fishing rule change as of Sept. 6: Extend upper boundary of Wenatchee River summer chinook fishery

Anglers will be able to fish for and retain adipose fin clipped summer chinook salmon, adult or jack, in an additional section of the Wenatchee River from Sept. 7 through Sept. 30, 2013. The area open is the Wenatchee River from the Highway 2 Bridge in Leavenworth upstream to the Icicle River Road Bridge.

Reason for action: Hatchery summer chinook returns to the Wenatchee River are predicted to be in excess of spawning escapement needs.  Opening this additional section will provide expanded opportunity for anglers to harvest these hatchery fish.  The population is not listed under the Endangered Species Act. The majority of spring chinook and bull trout will have migrated to the upper Wenatchee River, and few steelhead will remain in the mainstem.

The daily limit of four adipose fin clipped summer chinook may be retained on the Wenatchee River, of which only two may be adult hatchery chinook. Selective gear rules and night closure are in effect.  In addition, boats with motors are prohibited on the Wenatchee River, per Chelan County Ordinance 7.20.190, "Motorboat Restrictions."

Also, anglers must have a current Washington fishing license as well as a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement.  Revenue from the CRSSE supports salmon or steelhead seasons on many rivers in the Columbia River system, including enforcing fishery regulations and monitoring the upper Columbia River steelhead fisheries.   The endorsement has generated more than $1 million annually for WDFW to maintain and increase fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River basin.

Snake River hatchery fall chinook salmon fishery will open Sept. 1

Starting Sept. 1, anglers will be able to catch and keep hatchery fall   chinook salmon on the Snake River.

State fishery managers are predicting another strong return of upriver bright chinook salmon to the Snake River this year and have expanded the daily catch limit to include three adult hatchery chinook, plus six hatchery jack chinook under 24 inches in length.

Anglers may also catch and keep up to three hatchery steelhead, but must stop fishing for the day for both hatchery chinook and steelhead once they have taken their three-fish steelhead limit. The retention season for hatchery steelhead on the Snake River opened on Jun. 16 this year.

Barbless hooks are required, and any salmon or steelhead not marked as a hatchery fish by a clipped adipose fin must be released, along with any chinook salmon under 12 inches.

The fishery will be open seven days a week and will extend from beneath the southbound lanes of the Highway 12 Bridge near Pasco upriver to the Oregon state line, approximately seven miles upstream of the mouth of the Grande Ronde River.

This fishing opportunity for hatchery chinook salmon is a bonus for anglers during the traditionally productive Snake River steelhead fishery.

Although the retention fishery for chinook could close earlier based on assessments of the run size and catch goals, it is expected to extend through Oct. 31.

Retention of hatchery chinook won't increase impacts to fish protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, so long as anglers release wild chinook as required. Of the 434,600 upriver bright chinook salmon projected to enter the Columbia River this year, 31,600 are wild fall chinook bound for the Snake River.

For that reason, anglers are reminded to identify their catch before they remove it from the water. State law prohibits removing chinook salmon or steelhead from the water unless they are retained as part of the daily catch limit.

Angler comments requested

Now is your chance to comment on proposed angling rule changes. Read on.

Fish and Wildlife will accept public comments through Oct. 31 on proposed changes to the state's sportfishing rules.

The two September public meetings have been held, as of yesterday. However, to review and comment on the proposed rules, visit Fish and Wildlife's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/.

The public also will have an opportunity to provide testimony on the proposed rule changes during the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission's November meeting in Olympia. Specific day and time to be announced.

The commission, which sets policy for WDFW, is scheduled to vote on the final sportfishing rules package during a meeting in December.

Fish and Wildlife is recommending three sportfishing rule proposals that would:

Liberalize the daily limit for walleye to 16 fish on the waters of the San Poil River inundated by Lake Roosevelt, the San Poil Arm, to decrease the overabundant walleye population and to align regulations with those for Lake Roosevelt.

Dennis note: Lake Roosevelt now has a limit of 16 walleye with no size restriction. Anyone had any luck on the lake?

Re-organize WAC 232-28-619, "Washington food fish and game fish-Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules," into multiple rules based on geographical area. The current rule is over 300 pages long. Proposed modifications to the rule include making technical changes, corrections, and updates to language and restructuring provisions under an outline format for accuracy, clarity, and transparency for the public.