Hunting and Fishing: General elk hunt starting tomorrow

Most of them are already in place and more are sure to be erected. Elk camps is the focus of this week's hunting scene. If you have the time and a four-wheel drive vehicle, consider a drive over Colockum Pass next week.

There will be camp after camp in place for elk hunters. Most of these camp welcome visitors for a tour. There will be basic camps and elaborate camps, but all will be interesting.

Good luck elk hunters.

Comments on new draft Game Management Plan welcomed

A new version of the draft 2015-21 Game Management Plan for Washington state will be available for public comment for one month, as of last Friday.

Fish and Wildlife will consider comments on the revised plan received through Nov. 17, before recommending a final plan for adoption by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.

The revised final draft, available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/game/2015/, is designed to guide the state's game-management policy over the next six years.

Dave Ware, WDFW game manager, said the revised plan includes a number of changes proposed by the public during the initial 30-day comment period and during a public hearing held Aug. 8 by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. Key issues addressed by those changes include predator/prey relationships, deer and elk predation, and wolf, cougar and bear management, he said.

"These changes were significant enough that we wanted to give the public another chance to comment on the plan before we recommend it to the commission," Ware said.

The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for WDFW, is scheduled to consider adoption of the plan during a public meeting in December.

Fish and Wildlife seeks candidates for Wolf Advisory Group

Fish and Wildlife is seeking candidates to serve for the next two years on the committee that advises the department on wolf recovery and management.

WDFW Director Phil Anderson will appoint up to 12 Washington state residents to the Wolf Advisory Group, which makes recommendations to guide the department's implementation of the 2011 state Wolf Conservation and Management Plan (see: http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/mgmt_plan.html ).

Fish and Wildlife formed the advisory group in 2013 with nine members, who represent the interests of ranchers, wolf advocates, and hunters. The current members' terms expire Dec. 31, and Anderson said they are encouraged to re-apply if they wish to continue. The new appointees' terms will run through December 2016.

"Wolf recovery and management raises challenging issues and concerns, and the group's advice and counsel has been - and will continue to be - extremely helpful," Anderson said.

WDFW may expand the group to as many as 12 members to ensure it reflects a wide range of perspectives on how the state can achieve the goals of the wolf plan. Anderson said the department will accept applications from interested citizens and nominations from organizations that wish to be represented.

Anderson said members should be available for meetings beginning as early as January 2015. The group holds at least four one-day meetings per year, and special meetings are sometimes conducted to address emerging issues. Upon request, advisory group members will be reimbursed by WDFW for travel expenses to attend meetings.

"We hear from people and organizations around the country that have strong views on wolf management, but we established this advisory group to represent the perspectives of Washingtonians," said Anderson. "People and groups based in this state are in the best position to understand and work toward what is best for wolves and wolf management in Washington."

Applications must be submitted in writing and address the following items:

The applicant or nominee's name, address, telephone number, and email address;

People or groups making nominations must also submit their own names and contact information.