Application submitted for Fish and Wildlife to kill sea lions
By GARNET WILSON AND DENNIS L. CLAY
Herald Columnists
Fish and Wildlife and other partners have submitted an expanded application to lethally remove California and Steller sea lions preying on threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead runs in the Columbia River and its tributaries.
The impacts come at a time when many Chinook salmon runs are already at historic lows. Predator management is a key part of a multi-faceted effort to restore salmon and steelhead populations in the Pacific Northwest.
Fish and Wildlife and its partners have taken steps to deter California sea lions in the Columbia River basin for more than a decade, but non-lethal measures have proven largely ineffective, driving animals away for only short periods. These hazing measures appear similarly ineffective against Steller sea lions.
If approved, Fish and Wildlife expects to begin humanely removing animals under the terms of the expanded application beginning in 2020.
Dennis note: Well, it’s about time. This removal process should have started years ago. So now, when the Chinook salmon runs are at an all-time low, someone feels we should take action to remove sea lions. Shame on those who have delayed this process. Now the application should be expediated to save the salmon.
Hunter education Necessary
Yes, this info has been in this column before, but hunter education is necessary for some hunters to participate in the upcoming hunting seasons. Consider this a kick-in-the-pants to wake up parents or other individuals to schedule a hunter education class.
Plan now for hunter education
All individuals born after Jan. 1, 1972 must show proof of hunter education certification before purchasing their first Washington hunting license.
If you already have a valid hunter education training certificate, just show it to a license vendor to purchase a hunting license. Hunter education training certificates can be from Washington or another state. Please note that an out-of-state license is not the same as a hunter education certificate.
There is no minimum age required to enroll in hunter education, but instructors may require a parent or guardian to attend all classes if students are under 12 years of age.
There are classes planned for Quincy and Moses Lake in the next few months. Go to the Fish and Wildlife website for class dates.
Another way
Deferral is another way. Read on.
Hunter education deferral program
There is another way to hunt this year, even if hunter education is not completed: The hunter education deferral program. The hunter education deferral program allows a one-year, once-in-a-lifetime deferral of hunter education training for individuals new to hunting who are accompanied by an experienced hunter. Deferred hunter applicants must: Be at least 10 years old and must not have failed a hunter education course in the last 12 months. Accompanying, licensed hunters must: Be over the age of 18, be a Washington-licensed hunter while accompanying the deferred hunter, have held a valid Washington hunting license for the last three years. Also: Supervise only one deferred hunter to provide maximum supervision to the deferred hunter and enhance safety, plus, remain close enough to the deferred hunter to have uninterrupted, unaided visual and auditory communication with the deferred hunter while hunting.