Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 226 - 250 of 288
Effective dates and Locations: Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) May 30 through June 12 - Open seven days per week, 2 salmon daily limit. Release wild chinook and all coho. Minimum size for chinook is 24 inches. June 13 until further notice: Daily limit of 2 salmon, of which not more than one may be a chinook salmon, release wild coho. Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores) May 30 through June 12 - Open seven days per week, 2 salmon daily limit. Release wild chinook and all coho. Minimum size for chinook... Full story
Species affected: Chinook salmon. Effective date: May 12, 2015, one hour after official sunset. Locations: C) Below Lower Granite Dam: Snake River from the south shore boat launch (Ilia Boat Launch) across to the mouth of Almota Creek upstream about four miles to the restricted fishing area below Lower Granite Dam. D) Clarkston: Snake River from the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River (just upstream from West Evans Road on the south shore) upstream about 3.5 miles... Full story
YAKIMA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has extended the deadline through May 25 to register for a Hunter Education Jamboree. The jamboree, scheduled June 6-7 in Yakima County, offers prospective hunters who have completed online hunter education coursework an opportunity to complete field skills requirements. The original registration deadline was set to expire May 15. Field skills requirements include a review of the online course content, including safety, firearms,... Full story
Action: Closes retention of sturgeon in The Dalles Pool sport fishery. Effective dates: May 14, 2015 until further notice. Species affected: White sturgeon Location: The Columbia River and tributaries from The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam (The Dalles Reservoir). Reason for action: The harvest guideline of 100 fish is expected to be reached. Other information: Catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon will continue to be allowed. The Dalles Pool spawning sanctuary is in place. The area from... Full story
SPOKANE - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) public access site at Newman Lake in eastern Spokane County will be closed June 2-4 to allow treatment of the lake with herbicide to control Eurasian milfoil and other aquatic invasive weeds. The Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District, under permit from the Washington Department of Ecology, has hired Aqua Technex to treat milfoil infestations on about 25 acres throughout the 1,200-acre lake with 2-4-D (dichlorophenoxyacetic acid,... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to take action on proposed changes to state hunting rules for deer, elk, upland birds and other game species at a public meeting April 9-10 in Tumwater. Proposals for the 2015 hunting season include adding two days to the modern firearms season for mule deer, shifting to a later start for the archery elk season and doubling the amount of spring bear permits available in northeast Washington. Proposed changes are available for... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will reopen two boat launches and nearly 20 miles of the remaining shoreline above the Wanapum reservoir to public use April 1, when water levels will be restored to normal levels. Sunland Estates and Yo Yo Rock boat ramps near Vantage were among dozens of recreational sites closed to public access over the past year after the Grant County Public Utility District lowered water levels 26 feet to repair a fractured spillway at... Full story
Action: Opens Cases Pond to fishing by juvenile anglers (under 15 years of age). Effective dates: April 11 through April 19, 2015. Species affected: All game fish. Location: Cases Pond (Pacific County) Reasons for action: The opener will allow additional fishing opportunity for young anglers on Cases Pond during spring break for local school districts. Cases Pond is an "Opening Day" lake regulated for juvenile anglers only. Cases Pond will re-open Saturday, April 25, 2015. Other information:... Full story
OLYMPIA -Trout fishing in Washington hits full speed April 25, when several hundred lowland lakes - stocked with millions of fish - open for a six-month season. Anglers have already been taking advantage of good spring fishing opportunities on year-round lakes, but the fourth Saturday in April marks the traditional start of the lowland lakes fishing season. Hundreds of thousands of anglers are expected to turn out for the big day, said Jim Unsworth, director of the Washington Department of Fish... Full story
OLYMPIA – Recreational spot shrimp fishing will open May 2 in Puget Sound under seasons announced today by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). This year’s Puget Sound shrimp fishing seasons are similar to those in 2014, although quotas will be lower in some areas, said Mark O’Toole, a shellfish biologist for WDFW. “Last year, we had better fishing and a higher turnout than anticipated in the Tacoma-Vashon Island area and Elliott Bay, resulting in quota overages,” O’Toole s... Full story
Effective date: April 13 through June 15, 2015. Species affected: Spring chinook, steelhead and shad. Action #1: Allows only hand-casted lines to be used. Area: Mainstem Columbia River on the Washington shore from Tower Island power lines (approximately 6 miles below The Dalles Dam) downstream to Bonneville Dam Restrictions: Washington shore only: When the mainstem Columbia River from the Tower Island powerlines (located approximately 6 miles below The Dalles Dam) downstream to Bonneville Dam... Full story
VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking volunteers to help conduct a survey designed to determine the proportion of elk in southwest Washington with hoof disease. Scheduled for March and April, the survey is part of a broad-based effort by the department to understand and manage the crippling disease that has spread through the region’s elk population in recent years. To assess the prevalence of the disease in area herds, WDFW will send teams of “ci... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will accept public comments on proposed changes to the protective status of Steller sea lions and tufted puffins at a meeting scheduled Feb. 6-7 in Olympia. Also at the two-day meeting, the commission will discuss draft options for a new policy to address conservation and fishery objectives for Willapa Bay salmon fisheries. The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and... Full story
SEATTLE - The former owner of a shellfish company based in Jefferson County was sentenced today to 5½ years in prison after a poaching investigation by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) proved he and his employees had stolen millions of oysters and clams off Washington beaches. Rodney Allan Clark, 50, former owner of G&R Quality Seafood in Quilcene, pleaded guilty in King County Superior Court to 17 counts of trafficking in stolen property and one count of reckless... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public input on proposed recommendations for the 2015-17 hunting seasons. Through Feb. 24, WDFW will accept written comments from the public to help finalize proposed hunting rules and regulations for 2015-17 hunting seasons. To review and comment on the proposals, visit the department’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/ . The hunting season proposals, which were developed after ext... Full story
OLYMPIA – Razor clam diggers can count on an eight-day opener beginning Feb. 15 and start planning trips to Washington’s beaches in March, state shellfish managers said today. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the upcoming dig, which runs Feb. 15-22, after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat. Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, said the best digging typically occurs one to two hours before low tide. No digging is allowed at any beach bef... Full story
OLYMPIA - Nine members have been added to the committee that advises the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on wolf recovery and management. Their appointments, for two-year terms that run through 2016, bring the Wolf Advisory Group's membership to 18. WDFW Director Jim Unsworth said the new members will bring diverse personal and professional backgrounds to the group that makes recommendations to guide the department's implementation of the state's Wolf Conservation and Managemen... Full story
OLYMPIA - The recreational fishery in Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) will close to salmon fishing at the end of the day Feb. 15. Fishery managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) made the decision after evaluating catch rates for the area, said Ron Warren, policy lead for WDFW's fish program. "We're thrilled that anglers have done so well fishing in the San Juans over the last several weeks," Warren said. "This step, similar to the previous actions we've taken, is bei... Full story
OLYMPIA – Hunters may now purchase and submit applications for a 2015 spring black bear hunting permit, applicable to specific areas of western and eastern Washington. To be eligible for a permit, hunters must purchase and submit an application to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) by midnight Feb. 28. A drawing will be held in mid-March for 383 permits in western Washington and 314 permits for hunts east of the Cascade Range. Permit winners will receive notification in the m... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking updated information about 17 wildlife species as part of a review of native wildlife populations listed by the state as endangered, threatened or sensitive. WDFW will accept public comments through Feb. 11, 2016, on the 17 species, which include the bald eagle, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and Mazama pocket gopher. A full list of the species is available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conserv... Full story
OLYMPIA – A wolf that had become habituated to humans, and could cause problems if left in the wild, was captured yesterday (Feb. 11) by state wildlife officials in northeast Washington and placed in a western Washington wolf sanctuary. The adult female wolf, the last known member of the Ruby Creek pack, was captured near the community of Ione in Pend Oreille County where she had spent months living near people, domestic dogs and livestock. Dave Ware, wolf policy lead for the Washington Departme... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is taking public input on a status review of the brown pelican that recommends removing the bird from the state endangered species list. The document is available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01693/ and public comments will be accepted through May 15. WDFW staff members will present the review and their recommendation to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor, later in... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking nominations through Feb. 27 for membership on its Cowlitz River Advisory Group. The ad hoc group generally meets about four times a year to develop recommendations designed to support sustainable fishing opportunities on the Cowlitz River, while conserving wild native runs. "We want a diverse group of individuals to promote sustainable fisheries that meet our recovery and conservation goals," said Jim Scott, who... Full story
Reason for action: Water levels in the lake have been drawn down and fish are concentrated in small pools. Leaving the lake open would be detrimental to the fish communities in these small pools. The lake is being closed to prevent excessive harvest of the fish in the lake and to improve the quality of the fishery after the lake refills. The lake will re-open once lake levels are sufficient to sustain a fishery.... Full story
OLYMPIA - Fisheries managers are seeking public comments through April 1 on a state proposal to reopen recreational fishing for flounder, sole and other flatfish - except halibut - in Quilcene Bay and the northern portion of Dabob Bay in Hood Canal. To review and comment on the proposal, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/flatfish/ . The public also can provide input at a meeting scheduled March 19 in Port Townsend. Und... Full story
