GARNET WILSON
Herald Outdoor Writer
Recent Stories
Two hunting plans seeking public input
Fish and Wildlife is requesting input from the public about two hunting plans. Although these seem confusing at first, they are important and your input will help. Read on.
Triploids planted for Father's Day fishing
Fish and Wildlife are stocking 10,000 one-and-a half pound triploid rainbow trout in 20 lakes before this weekend, Father's Day weekend.
Free fishing weekend tomorrow and Sunday
Hey folks, this is a great chance to take the family to a local lake for two days of fun. Park Lake would be a good choice. Let the kids fish, run and play while Mom and Dad relax. Then make lunch on the camp stove or make sandwiches. Even if the adults don't have a fishing license, they can still fish this weekend. Read on.
Walleye fishing hot on Potholes Reservoir
We have been monitoring the boats coming in from fishing on Potholes Reservoir. Our vantage point is the Potholes State Park boat launch.
Several end dates approach
We are approaching deadlines and season ending dates as spring progresses. The first, and most important for some hunters, is the May 22 deadline for applying for special fall hunting permits for deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep and turkey.
Lowland lake opener results
The Lowland Lake fishing opener results are as follows: Warden Lake, number of anglers checked 91, with total number of fish kept 383 and number of fish released 154, making the average number of fish caught per angler at 5.9 and the average number of fish kept per angler at 4.2. The Blue Lake numbers are 74, 234, 32, 3.6 and 3.2.
Lowland lake opener tomorrow
Ready, set, cast. The annual Lowland lake opening day of fishing is tomorrow. Perhaps the most popular areas, oh, we should say one of the most popular areas will be the Sun Lakes area of Blue and Park lakes.
Annual MLIRD Kid's Fishing Derby tomorrow, April 12
The Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District will host the Fifth Annual Kid's Fishing Derby at Connelly Park tomorrow, April 12, for youth ages 5 through 14. Weinstein Beverage and Pepsi also sponsor the event.
April is busy month for outdoor activities
April is the month for spring hunting and fishing. Turkey and trout and walleye and camping should all or in part be on your agenda. Read on.
Time to purchase a fishing license
Pull your fishing and hunting license out of your wallet and note the ending date. It will be 03/31/2014. This means it is time to purchase a new license.
Record runs of Columbia River chinook, coho forecast
Did you hear we can expect a record run of salmon and steelhead this year? This news is exciting enough to get every salmon and steelhead angler checking their tackle. Read on.
Access restricted behind Wanapum Dam
The water behind Wanapum Dam is lower than since the building of the dam. This means the area is unsafe. We have heard of one person becoming stuck in sand/mud up to the waist. Take a trip to view this historical event, but stay above normal high-water level. Read on.
Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting in Moses Lake
First fishing opener tomorrow
Ready, set...go. Tomorrow is the first day of this year's fishing season openers, known as the March 1 opener. The lakes involved include: The three Caliche lakes, Martha, Cascade, Crystal, Cup, Dot, Dusty, George, Nunnally, Quincy, and Spring lakes are all listed as opening on March 1. The most popular will be Martha.
March 1 openers in sight
We are lucky in the Columbia Basin to have lakes and streams open to fishing 365 days a year. We also have lakes which are open only during part of the year. The first opener will take place a week from tomorrow and is known as the March 1 opener.
Robin makes appearance, then disappears
Our neighbor, Bill McKinney, called last weekend.
Last week of hunting seasons and to submit hunter reports
The hunting seasons are at an end this Sunday with the duck, snipe, coot and goose season ending on Jan. 26.
Winter weather conditions strange
OK, what's with the weather these days? Strange is a good word. In the low to mid-40s during the day and just below freezing at night is not encouraging for ice anglers. At least we had a taste of ice fishing for a few days, but this was not long enough for those who would enjoy a few more days on the ice.
Hunting seasons winding down
Hunter reports due
Reminder: Hunters who purchased tags for black bear, deer, elk or turkey are reminded that reports on their hunting activities are due by Jan. 31 for each 2013 license, permit or tag purchased.
Cougar season to close Dec. 31 in some areas of the state
Cougar hunting remains open through March 31 in some areas of the state. Now, through a new cougar hunting plan, Game Management Units will close, depending upon how many cougars have been killed in some areas. A hunter heading into the Great Outdoors in search of cougar or those who may encounter a cougar while hunting other animals, should check with Fish and Wildlife before stepping out the front door. Read on.
Results of duck rape cause for study
OK, at the University of Washington Burke Museum the term used is forced copulation, but in reality the act is duck rape. Read on.
The last week for Christmas shopping
This is the last of a three-part series about outdoor-related Christmas shopping.
Master Hunter open enrollment begins Jan. 1
Fish and Wildlife will accept applications for its Master Hunter Permit Program from Jan. 1 through Feb. 15, 2014. The program is designed to promote safe, lawful and ethical hunting and to strengthen Washington's hunting heritage and conservation ethic.
Hunting seasons continue
Various deer and elk hunts continue. Also the duck, coot and snipe seasons continue, along with the goose season.
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.
Hunting seasons continue
If the number of shotgun blasts heard around the Columbia Basin is any indication, hunters are getting opportunities to bag birds. Opportunities is the correct word, because just because a hunter pulls the trigger doesn't mean a bird hits the ground.
Late fall turkey season begins next Wednesday
This hunt is another great chance for mentors to take less experienced hunters into the field. Inexperienced hunters include youth, but also older hunters who are also beginners. They could be 25, 37, 52 or older, but haven't spent much time in the field. Read on.
Is the new dock producing?
We have a new fishing dock at Blue Heron Park, what many of us know as The State Park. We have seen a few people on the dock, some even fishing, but have not received a report of anyone catching fish.
Fish and Wildlife expects good elk harvest
OK, so the elk hunters are in the field trying to find the large critters. Fish and wildlife was predicting a great year for elk hunters, but as of this writing, no word has reached this desk about success rate.
Pheasant season begins tomorrow
There are two opening seasons this weekend. First the duck, coot and snipe seasons reopen on Saturday, Oct. 19, after being closed for two days. Second, the pheasant season opens tomorrow and will remain open until Jan.12.
Hunting seasons continue
People are getting serious about hunting. There are several open now and others are about to open and still others are set to open in a couple of weeks.
Youth hunting seasons tomorrow and Sunday
Tomorrow and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22, is the youth hunting season for several bird species, including ducks, coot, geese, pheasant, California quail along with Chukar and Huns.
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.
Angler comments requested
Now is your chance to comment on proposed angling rule changes. Read on.
Basin Meats donates to cause
Doug Horn, the new owner of Basin Meats, donated 500 ground meat bags to the Moses Lake Food Bank to use when salvaging wild game. Volunteers respond to Fish and Wildlife request to help salvage any big game animal, but usually deer.
Turkey seasons cause double take
Noticed in the Washington State Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons pamphlet and also Washington's 2013 Big Game hunting Seasons and Regulations: Turkey:
Migratory waterfowl seasons set
The Fish and Wildlife Commission recently established the 2013-2014 migratory waterfowl seasons.
Raffle hunt results are now available
Those who purchased raffle tickets for the many raffle hunts can check the results on the Fish and Wildlife website. Once on the site, click on hunting, then special permits and raffles, then, on the right side of the page, click on check my raffle results. You will need to enter a Wild ID number and your results will appear.
Wolf impact on big game herds discussed
Recently representatives from Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, along with Dave Ware, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, discussed the impacts wolves have had on deer, elk and other big game animals in Idaho and Montana.
Parhams retire from Basin Meats
Raffle permit hunt deadline Monday
Here is a chance to do a bit of gambling. The raffle permit hunt ticket purchase deadline is Monday July 15. There are many categories or hunts to select and there is no limit as to the number of tickets a person may purchase.
Hot weather, fire danger top concerns
Confusing words clarified by Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Earlier this year I asked for clarification about the use of deer and elk tags during the master hunter special permit hunts, along with the master hunter 3911 and 3912 hunts. After weeks or months of working on the matter, Fish and Wildlife has offered the following explanation.
Results of special permit drawings available
The message was four sentences long, but powerful: "The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife special permit drawings for 2013 have been conducted. To view your drawing results, visit the WDFW website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wa/specialhuntlookup.
Volunteers gather to trap, band geese
Free fishing dominates weekend
Family opportunities tomorrow, next weekend
The annual Kids Fishing Day will take place tomorrow, June 1, at Cascade Park. At this point there are still openings for all sessions. This means it is possible for those parents who have not registered their children to still have their children participate. However, it may take more of an effort at this point.
Kids Fishing Day a week from tomorrow
The annual Kids Fishing Day will take place a week from tomorrow, June 1, at Cascade Park. The Moses Lake Park and Recreation Department is helping to organize the event. Although they ask registrations be complete by close of business today, it is possible to register until all times are full.
Special hunting permit applications deadline next Wednesday, May 22
The deadline is near, don't dawdle, dally or otherwise delay in deciding which hunting permits you desire to submit. Read on.