Spring hunting in sights

Just when hunters were ready to put the rifles and shotguns away, more hunting seasons are on the horizon.

Spring bear hunt applications

Hunters may now purchase and submit applications for a 2016 spring black bear hunting permit, applicable to specific areas of western and eastern Washington. Hunters must purchase and submit an application to Fish and Wildlife by midnight Feb. 29 to be eligible for a permit.

A drawing will be held in mid-March for 345 permits in western Washington and 509 permits for hunts east of the Cascade Range. Permit winners will receive notification in the mail no later than March 31.

To apply for a permit, hunters must purchase a special permit application and a 2016 hunting license that includes bear as a species option. Hunting licenses, bear transport tags and bear permit applications may be purchased: Online at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/, by phone at (866) 246-9453 or at any license vendor in the state.

Spring turkey

We haven’t seen the 2016 spring turkey hunting pamphlet yet, but if the season holds true to past years, it will range from April 15 through May 31.

Razor clam dig scheduled at Long Beach

There are Columbia Basin residents who enjoy digging razor clams. Now you can enjoy a month-long dig. Read on.

Razor clam diggers can look forward to more than a month of razor clam digging opportunities at Long Beach. Fish and Wildlife approved the dig, which runs from yesterday, Feb. 4, through March 10, at Long Beach after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat. All other beaches remain closed to recreational razor clam digging.

The department approved this extended opening due to the abundance of clams available at Long Beach.

The dig at Long Beach is on evening tides. No digging will be allowed before noon any day. Diggers should check tide charts before heading out, since tides of one foot or above aren’t conducive to digging.

For the best digging conditions, diggers are advised to plan their trips to the beach when the evening low tides are less than one foot. Diggers should monitor WDFW’s main razor clam webpage for any potential changes to the Long Beach opening.

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.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2015-16 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.

Comments on land acquisition proposals

Fish and Wildlife is inviting public comment through Feb. 12 on 10 proposals to acquire land for fish and wildlife habitat and public recreation.

Proposed acquisitions include lands in Walla Walla, Snohomish, Lincoln, Kittitas, Klickitat, Grays Harbor, Thurston and Pacific counties. Information on the properties is available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/acquisitions/. The webpage also includes information on previous land acquisition projects.