Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 288
OLYMPIA – Anglers, commercial fishers and others interested in Washington state salmon fisheries can get a preview of this year's salmon returns and potential fishing seasons during a public meeting March 1 in Olympia. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will present initial forecasts – compiled by state and tribal biologists – of 2016 salmon returns. The meeting is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington Street S.E.,... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public comments on proposed recommendations for the 2016-17 hunting seasons. Through Feb. 25, WDFW will accept written comments from the public to help finalize hunting rules and regulations proposed for the upcoming hunting seasons. The proposals and comment forms are posted on the department’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/hunting_regulations/ Most of the proposals address changes in special per... Full story
OLYMPIA – Razor clam diggers can count on openings beginning Feb. 19 at Copalis and Mocrocks beaches, state shellfish managers announced today. Additionally, Long Beach remains open to clam digging on afternoon or evening tides through March 10. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved a two-day opening (Feb. 19 and 20) at Copalis and three days of digging (Feb. 19-21) at Mocrocks on evening tides after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat. Dan Ayres, WDFW co... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to take action on the protective status of four wildlife species at a public meeting Feb. 26-27 in Olympia. The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will convene in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building at 1111 Washington St. SE in Olympia. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. both days. An agenda for the meeting is available a... Full story
OLYMPIA – State wildlife managers are seeking public input on their recommendations to keep killer whales and streaked horned larks on Washington’s endangered species list. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) periodically reviews the status of protected species in the state. The public can comment through March 27, 2016, on the listing recommendations and recently updated status reports for killer whales and streaked horned larks. The draft review for killer whales is available... Full story
For Washingtonians, the start of the new year is a great time to hunt for waterfowl, fish for steelhead, and enjoy the annual spectacle of bald eagles, snow geese, elk, big-horn sheep and other wintering wildlife. But weather is an important consideration. Preparation is essential for any outdoor activity, especially in winter. Check the weather conditions, river conditions and road conditions – and let people know where you’re going before heading out. Those hardy souls that do head out... Full story
OLYMPIA – Recreational spot shrimp fishing in Puget Sound will open Saturday, May 14 – one week later than usual, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today. Shellfish managers are delaying the popular shrimp fishery until May 14 due to the extremely low tides that are expected to occur midday on the first Saturday in May, which traditionally marks the start of the season throughout Puget Sound. Low tides of this magnitude will render many boat ramps around Puget Sou... Full story
It’s the most common forest feline that we never get a chance to see -- the bobcat (Lynx rufus). My chance came on a drizzly morning in late October on a hike near Skykomish. We drove up the long, gravel road to an empty trailhead, complaining about the rain and missing the spectacular view. But a hike in the rain meant solitude in the Wild Sky Wilderness, so we donned raincoats and loaded backpacks with camp stoves, trail mix and packets of tea. We went up the steep trail, chatting while our d... Full story
OLYMPIA – The public will have an opportunity to comment on salmon and sturgeon management on the lower Columbia River during a meeting of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission scheduled Jan. 22-23 in Vancouver, Wash. The commission, which sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will also receive a briefing and accept public comments on the status of four protected species: the northern spotted owl, snowy plover, western gray squirrel and greater s... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has begun distributing $8.2 million in funding for 12 local projects designed to protect and restore the natural shorelines around Puget Sound. Project sponsors include local governments, tribes and non-profit organizations from Hood Canal to the Snohomish River Delta who applied for funding through two competitive grant programs administered by the department. Funding distributed by WDFW through those programs comes from a c... Full story
OLYMPIA – Clam diggers will have an opportunity to dig for razor clams on Copalis Beach over the Christmas holiday if the next marine toxin test confirms the clams are safe to eat, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today. The dig is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 24, 25 and 26 at Copalis Beach on evening tides. No other state beach will be open to digging those three days. State shellfish managers emphasized the Copalis dig hinges on results from the next marine t... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is again delaying the commercial Dungeness crab fishery on a small section of Washington’s southern coast. The decision was made in coordination with shellfish managers from Oregon and California, where commercial Dungeness fisheries also remain closed. Although test results in crab from Washington’s southern coast show the crab are safe to eat, results from California and sections of Oregon indicate elevated levels of domoic acid,... Full story
OLYMPIA – Biologists today released seven fishers into Washington’s south Cascades mountains, where the reclusive, cat-sized mammal hasn’t been seen for more than 70 years. The fisher is one of the larger members of the weasel family, which includes otters, badgers and wolverines. Fishers were eliminated from Washington by the mid-1900s through over-trapping and have been listed as a state-endangered species since 1998. Today’s reintroduction was made possible through collaboration between... Full story
The birds you watch in your backyard this winter can be part of scientific data bases that count on you counting them. The longest running such count in the world is the 116th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC), and you can still get in on one of Washington’s 40-some official counts scheduled between Dec. 14, 2015 and Jan. 5, 2016. The CBC provides critical data on bird population trend, and tens of thousands of participants throughout the Americas know that it’s also a lot of fun. The... Full story
Action: Opens the North and South Forks of the Newaukum River. Effective Dates: Immediately. Species affected: All species. Location: Newaukum River – North and South Forks (Lewis County). Reason for action: Cooler weather and recent precipitation have increased flows in these tributaries eliminating the need for the drought-related fishing closures adopted in August. Information contact: Mike Scharpf, District Fish Biologist, 360-249-1205. Fishers must have a current Washington fishing l... Full story
Action: Lifts closures in the Yakima Basin. Effective date: Immediately. Species affected: All game fish (trout, whitefish, etc.). Locations: Ahtanum Creek, including the North Fork and Middle Fork Little Naches River Teanaway River, including the West, Middle and North forks Reason for action: Cooler weather and recent precipitation have increased flows in these tributaries eliminating the need for the drought-related fishing closures adopted in mid-July. Additional Information: The fishing sea... Full story
Action: Closes the following areas to salmon fishing: (1) Snohomish River (Snohomish County): From the mouth (Burlington Northern Railroad bridges) of the Snohomish River upstream to the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers. (2) Skykomish River: From the mouth upstream to the confluence of the North and South Forks. (3) Snoqualmie River: From the mouth upstream to Snoqualmie Falls. (4) Wallace River: From the mouth upstream to 200 feet above the water intake for the salmon... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is expanding its search for areas of Puget Sound where surf smelt, Pacific sand lance and other forage fish go to spawn. Over the past year, teams surveyed more than 1,000 sites on public and private beaches in south Sound to find evidence of spawning activity. Those surveys found forage fish eggs in locations and at times where these fish previously hadn’t been documented, said Phillip Dionne, WDFW research scientist. “Forage fish... Full story
Action: Fishing for chum salmon opens in Marine Area 10, with a daily limit of 2. Effective Date: 12:01 a.m., Oct. 28, 2015 through Jan. 31, 2016. Species affected: Chum salmon Location: Marine Area 10 within Puget Sound. Reason for action: Following the emergency closure of Marine Area 10 to all salmon fishing on Oct. 19 (due to estimated total encounters of chinook salmon reaching the allowable limits for the area), WDFW biologists have continued to assess the most recent monitoring data from... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is accepting letters of interest through Nov. 30 for membership on its Master Hunter Advisory Group (MHAG). The group, which represents master hunters statewide, advises WDFW on issues and opportunities affecting master hunters and the Master Hunter Permit Program (MHPP). Five volunteer positions will be opening on the 15-member group in April. The five appointed members will serve three-year terms. All appointees must retain t... Full story
OLYMPIA – Starting Nov. 1, anglers will be restricted to one hatchery-reared adult coho salmon per day as part of their catch limit on several tributaries to the lower Columbia River. Poor returns of coho salmon prompted state fishery managers to reduce the daily limit to one hatchery adult coho – down from six – to preserve fish for state hatchery propagation and restoration programs. Waters affected by the new limit include the Deep, Grays, Elochoman, Cowlitz, Toutle, Green, Tilton, Cispu... Full story
OLYMPIA – Anglers fishing for salmon in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) will be allowed to keep chum only beginning Nov. 1, state fishery managers announced today. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) had scheduled an opening for hatchery chinook salmon to begin Sunday, Nov. 1, but has postponed that season to protect a large number of juvenile chinook in those waters. “We’re seeing more young chinook out there than we’ve seen in over a decade,” said Ron Warren, WDFW fisheries... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider approving revisions to rules addressing sources of conflict between people and wildlife, such as wildlife damaging crops or harming livestock, at a meeting Nov. 13-14 in Olympia. The commission also will hold a public meeting on Puget Sound and Washington coast sportfishing rule proposals and consider land transactions in Asotin and Cowlitz counties. The commission, a nine-member panel that sets policy for the Washington D... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today enacted an emergency rule to restore cougar harvest rates to 12-16 percent throughout the state for the remainder of the 2015-16 hunting season. WDFW took the action in response to direction from Gov. Jay Inslee. Last month the governor said the state Fish and Wildlife Commission erred in April when it amended the proposed state hunting rules by increasing the harvest rate to 17-21 percent of the estimated cougar population wi... Full story
Action: The following Grays Harbor tributaries are open for salmon and gamefish fishing: Humptulips River (Grays Harbor County): From the downstream edge of Reynvanns Bar up to Hwy 101 Bridge. Salmon daily limit is 2. Release wild coho. Release all chinook beginning Nov. 16, 2015. Wishkah River (Grays Harbor County): From West Wishkah Road Bridge to the Wishkah Rearing Ponds. Salmon daily limit is 2. Release all salmon except chum and hatchery coho. Satsop River (Grays Harbor/Mason counties):... Full story
