Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 288
Action: Close salmon fishing in all waters of the Big Quilcene River Effective date: Aug.16, 2015, until further notice. Species affected: Salmon. Location: All waters of the Big Quilcene River from the mouth to Highway 101. Reason for action: Flows in the Big Quilcene River are at less than half of average, water temperatures are elevated, and a large return of Endangered Species Act-listed summer chum is forecast to enter the river beginning in August. These conditions are not conducive to an... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have appointed five new members to the Teanaway Community Forest Advisory Committee to help the agencies implement the recently created forest management plan. The committee played a key role in helping the agencies develop the management plan, which was published in June and will continue to advise the agencies on operations within the forest. The committee, which retains 15 of its original members,... Full story
OLYMPIA — With a record number of ducks counted on the northern breeding grounds, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved migratory waterfowl hunting seasons for this fall and winter during a public meeting in Olympia Aug. 7-8. The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), also discussed the implementation of the Statewide Steelhead Management Plan and a report that outlines management actions d... Full story
Action: Closes the Newaukum River and all tributaries Effective Dates: Aug. 11, 2015, until further notice Species affected: All species Location: Newaukum River (Lewis Co.) and all tributaries Reason for action: Low waters are reducing the available holding habitat for spring chinook and concentrating them into fewer and smaller pools. This in turn makes them more vulnerable to fishing pressure. Increased water temperatures and higher potential encounter rates subject these fish to stress,... Full story
OLYMPIA - A popular fishing pier owned by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on the Seattle waterfront will be closed during the city's annual Hempfest event this weekend. Pier 86 in Centennial Park will close at 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 13, and will reopen to the public Monday, Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. Russell Link, regional WDFW wildlife manager, said the department will temporarily close Pier 86 on the recommendation of the event's producer, who expressed concerns about public safety... Full story
OLYMPIA - State wildlife managers are seeking public comments on updates to the State Wildlife Action Plan, which identifies 268 fish and wildlife species with the greatest conservation needs in Washington state. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) invites comments through Sept. 11 on the plan, which also describes the key risks to those species and conservation measures designed to ensure their long-term survival. The draft plan is available on the department's website at... Full story
Action: Lake Wenatchee closes for sockeye salmon fishing. Effective date/time: Aug. 16, 2015, one hour after official sunset. Species affected: Sockeye salmon Location: Lake Wenatchee (Chelan Co.) Reason for action: Spring chinook listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and destined for the spawning grounds in the tributaries of the upper Wenatchee River are seeking refuge in the colder waters of Lake Wenatchee. While sufficient numbers of harvestable sockeye remain... Full story
OLYMPIA - Anglers will be allowed to retain two chinook salmon daily beginning Saturday, Aug. 15, in ocean waters off Westport (Marine Area 2), state fishery managers announced today. In addition, anglers can keep one chinook per day while fishing off Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) for two days, Aug. 14 and 15. Anglers off Westport were previously limited to one chinook as part of a two-salmon daily limit to ensure that the fishery would remain open for the entire season, said Doug Milward, ocean... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is extending until Aug. 31 the public comment period for selecting Puget Sound rivers where hatchery steelhead will not be released by the department. The original comment period was scheduled to end today. WDFW will accept comments online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/steelhead/gene_bank/ . Rivers under consideration are listed on that webpage. Wild steelhead management zones or "gene banks" are one of a number of... Full story
OLYMPIA - A groundbreaking celebration is scheduled June 30 to mark the start of a two-year construction project in the Skagit River Delta that will support salmon recovery, protect farmland, and improve access to a popular bird-watching destination. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is sponsoring the event, which will begin at 1 p.m. at the Fir Island Farm Reserve unit of the Skagit Wildlife Area. Following a brief ceremony, WDFW project manager Jenna Friebel will lead a... Full story
Action: Reopens Lake Tapps to fishing. Effective dates: June 20, 2015. Species affected: All fish. Location: Lake Tapps (Pierce County). Reason for action: Water levels are high enough to allow safe access to the lake. Information contact: Tara Livingood, WDFW area fish biologist, (360) 628-4223.... Full story
Action: Close to fishing the Sol Duc River from 200 feet downstream of the hatchery outfall creek upstream to the concrete pump station at the Sol Duc Hatchery. Effective Dates: June 18, 2015, until further notice. Species affected: All species Location: Sol Duc River, from 200 feet downstream of the Sol Duc Hatchery outfall creek upstream to the concrete pump station at the Sol Duc Hatchery. Reason for action: Low water is causing a delay in migration past the hatchery, resulting in greater... Full story
VANCOUVER, Wash. - State fishery managers have scheduled a public meeting Thursday (June 25) in Vancouver to discuss changes in the way the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is managing this year's return of hatchery steelhead to the Kalama River. The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at WDFW's Region 5 office at 2108 Grand Blvd. With summer-run steelhead now moving into the river in increasing numbers, fishery managers are taking action to reduce the number of hatchery... Full story
OLYMPIA - The arrival of hot, dry weather, combined with drought conditions, has prompted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to restrict fires and other activities effective immediately on agency-managed lands in eastern Washington. Clay Sprague, manager of the WDFW Lands Division, said the department is taking steps to reduce fire risk in its wildlife areas and access areas several weeks earlier than it did last year. The emergency order now in effect prohibits: " Fires or ca... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a new management policy designed to restore depleted runs of wild, natural-origin chinook salmon in Willapa Bay during a public meeting June 12-13 in Olympia. The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the Governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), also approved several land transactions and a proposal to reopen fisheries for some flatfish in portions of two bays in Hood Canal. Developed over... Full story
OLYMPIA—While major hunting seasons are closed in summer, hunter education courses continue to run throughout the state. Now is the time to enroll in hunter education and avoid the autumn rush, said David Whipple, hunter education division manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “As fall hunting seasons draw near, seats in these courses fill quickly,” Whipple said. “Hunters who complete the course this summer will be ready to take to the field in the fall.” All hunte... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public input on the selection of at least three Puget Sound rivers where hatchery steelhead would not be released by the department in an additional effort to conserve wild fish. WDFW will designate at least one wild steelhead management zone or "gene bank" in each of three Puget Sound regions: Hood Canal and Strait of Juan de Fuca; Central and South Puget Sound; North Puget Sound (North Cascades rivers). Studies have... Full story
OLYMPIA - State fishery managers are taking steps to protect fish that are affected by drought conditions, and are asking anglers to do their part as well. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has restricted some fishing opportunities and will need to restrict others. In addition, the department will likely release some hatchery fish early and transport salmon and steelhead that are unable to make it upstream to spawning grounds. This year's low snowpack and warm weather have... Full story
OLYMPIA - Eighteen lucky hunters will have an opportunity to hunt for deer this fall on the 6,000-acre Charles and Mary Eder unit of the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area in northeastern Okanogan County. Hunters can submit an application for the "limited-entry" deer hunt on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/scotchcreek/ or by contacting the WDFW northcentral region office at (509) 754-4624 or headquarters at (360) 902-2515. The... Full story
OLYMPIA – State fishery managers have stocked King County’s Morton Lake with trout months ahead of schedule due to drought conditions. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recently released the 1,500 rainbow trout, averaging one pound each, into Morton Lake near Kent. Typically, WDFW stocks the lake in October. This year’s drought, however, has reduced water flows at the department’s Soos Creek Hatchery, to levels that won’t support holding these trout until October. “While th... Full story
OLYMPIA – For the past year, wildlife biologists at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have been preparing for the summer grazing season when wolves are most likely to encounter livestock in eastern Washington. Stationed from Okanogan to the Blue Mountains, a team of “wildlife conflict” specialists has been working with ranchers to help them protect their livestock, while field biologists capture and fit wolves with radio-collars to improve state monitoring efforts. That... Full story
Master Hunters and area landowners are invited to attend a meeting July 31 in Ellensburg to discuss a recent boundary change and other issues in Elk Area 3911, located near Ellensburg in Kittitas County. Hosted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Master Hunter Advisory Group, the meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Central Washington University Student Union Building, Room 210 (Theater). The meeting will focus on the new northeastern boundary of Elk Area... Full story
Master Hunters and area landowners are invited to attend a meeting July 31 in Ellensburg to discuss a recent boundary change and other issues in Elk Area 3911, located near Ellensburg in Kittitas County. Hosted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Master Hunter Advisory Group, the meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Central Washington University Student Union Building, Room 210 (Theater). The meeting will focus on the new northeastern boundary of Elk Area... Full story
OLYMPIA – Kelly Flaherty of Priest River, Idaho, has set a new state record for the largest tiger trout caught in Washington, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed today. The 53-year-old angler caught the 18.49-pound fish measuring 32.5 inches on Cinco de Mayo, May 5, while bait fishing with a worm and egg at Bonaparte Lake, near Tonasket in Okanogan County. “The fish skyrocketed out of the water,” said Flaherty, who was fishing from a boat launch. “As soon as I hooke... Full story
Action: The portion of Marine Area 7 South that is west of Point Colville is reopening for eight days of recreational shrimp fishing. The portion of Marine Area 7 South that is east of Point Colville will remain closed to shrimp fishing. Effective date: 4:30 a.m. July 21 through 10 p.m. July 28, 2015. Species affected: All shrimp species including spot shrimp. Location: Marine Area 7 South: west of a line projected due south from Point Colville on Lopez Island. This open area includes the... Full story
