Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 251 - 275 of 288
VANCOUVER, Wash. - State managers of the Grays River Hatchery are well on their way to replacing 600,000 coho salmon fry lost after a water supply line failed during a heavy rainstorm last week. On Monday (Jan. 12), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) received 90,000 excess coho eggs from the Cascade Hatchery, operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife near Bonneville Dam. Yesterday, the WDFW hatchery took delivery of 351,000 eyed coho eggs from the Eagle Creek Hatc... Full story
Animal Planet's new documentary series 'Rugged Justice' follows Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) police as they patrol mountains, coasts and city streets, protecting natural resources and serving the people of Washington. The six-episode series premieres Sunday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m. on Animal Planet. "Our participation in the series provides an opportunity for WDFW's Law Enforcement Program to promote the department and the dedicated professionals that carry out our mission... Full story
OLYMPIA – State fishery managers have given the OK for a second razor clam dig this month, this one scheduled from Jan. 17 through Jan. 24 on evening tides at various ocean beaches. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the eight-day dig after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat. Low afternoon tides the first few days will allow diggers to hit the beaches in daylight, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. The best digging typically occurs one to... Full story
OLYMPIA - State wildlife managers are seeking public comment on the protective status for tufted puffins and Steller sea lions. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has recommended listing tufted puffins on the state's endangered species list and removing Steller sea lions from the state's threatened species list. The public has two opportunities to provide comments on WDFW's recommendations. Written comments can be submitted through Jan. 23. A public hearing also is scheduled... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is accepting public comments on digging days, catch limits and other management options for the upcoming razor clam season. Suggestions for the 2014-15 season, which is tentatively set to begin the second week of October, can be sent by email to razorclams@dfw.wa.gov or by postal mail to: Razor Clams, 48 Devonshire Road, Montesano, WA 98563. An overview of the just completed 2014 coastwide razor clam stock assessment and a look b... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking members of the sport fishing community to serve on a committee that oversees the Puget Sound Recreational Fisheries Enhancement program. People interested in serving on the 10-member Puget Sound Recreational Fisheries Enhancement Oversight Committee have through Oct. 15 to apply. The committee was created in 2003 by the Legislature to advise WDFW’s director on all aspects of the fisheries enhancement program. Key res... Full story
SPOKANE – Saturday, Sept. 27, marks the final event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in Okanogan County. Concurrent with National Hunting and Fishing Day and National Public Lands Day, the event at Sinlahekin headquarters features a “Mule Deer Dash” fun run/walk through the wildlife area at 10 a.m., a fishing workshop at 1 p.m., and a hunting workshop at 2 p.m. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will also host a hunting, fishing and publi... Full story
OLYMPIA - State wildlife managers are seeking help from hunters and the general public in monitoring the spread of hoof disease among elk in 10 counties in southwest Washington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) asks that anyone who spots an elk with hoof deformities in the area that is limping or dead report their observations at wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/hoof_disease/. A map on that website shows the department's primary focus of interest. Sandra Jonker, WDFW... Full story
Action: The portion of Marine Area 7 South that is west of Point Colville is reopening for six days of recreational spot shrimp fishing. The portion of Marine Area 7 South that is east of Point Colville will remain closed to spot shrimp fishing. Effective date: July 29 through Aug. 3, 2014 Species affected: All shrimp species Location: Marine Area 7 South lies west of a line projected due south from Point Colville on Lopez Island. This open area includes the Iceberg Point and Salmon Bank shrimp...
Action: Anglers will be able to fish for and retain adipose fin-clipped adult and jack summer chinook salmon in the lower mainstem Entiat River beginning July 25, 2014. Effective date: July 25 through Sept. 30, 2014. Location: Upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge near the mouth of the Entiat River to the upper Roaring Creek Road Bridge, immediately downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery. Daily limit: Two hatchery chinook salmon, (adult or jack) minimum size 12 inches. Anglers... Full story
Actions: Daily limit 6 salmon, up to three (3) may be adult salmon. Once the daily limit of adult salmon is retained, anglers may not continue to fish for any species for the remainder of the day. The Columbia River between the Highway 395 Bridge and the Old Hanford townsite wooden powerline towers is open to fishing for salmon through Oct. 31, 2014. Fishing with two poles is permitted from the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco to Priest Rapids Dam if the angler possesses a two-pole license endorsemen...
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 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 deadlin...
Action: Open the closed waters section on Rufus Woods Lake to recreational fishing. Effective Date: April 15, 2014 until further notice. Species affected: All species Location: From Grand Coulee Dam downstream to the State Route 155 Bridge. Reason for action: Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, this section of Rufus Woods Lake was closed to public access and recreational fishing for security purposes. Public access has recently been restored, and recreational fishing will now be permitted. T... Full story
OLYMPIA - Washington's remarkable razor clam season continues as state shellfish managers plan to add digs in late-April and early May. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced a tentative schedule of new digs in light of updated harvest estimates that show a sufficient number of clams to support the additional openings. "This has been a great year for razor clams," said Dan Ayres, WDFW shellfish manager. "Clams this year have been bigger than average and abundant enough t... Full story
Trout fishing is off and running at hundreds of lakes across the state, as spring chinook salmon continue to push into fishing areas higher and higher up the Columbia River Basin. In marine waters, fishing seasons for spot shrimp and halibut are set to open on various dates this month, when more razor-clam digs will be scheduled on coastal beaches. With new fishing opportunities opening throughout the state, May is a great time to go fishing, said Joe Hymer, a fish biologist for the Washington...
OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission amended several state wildlife interaction rules, including those addressing conflicts between wolves and livestock, during a public meeting today (Oct. 4) in Olympia. The amendments approved by the commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), are more consistent with Washington's Wolf Conservation and Management plan and implement 2013 legislation. Those... Full story
OLYMPIA -- The tidal waters of Hood Canal will reclaim 32 acres of former salt marsh when a dike is partially breached at the mouth of the Union River near Belfair, completing a joint habitat-restoration project by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group. The dike has been in place since the early 20th century and will be breached in two locations later this month in the Union River tidelands. Two walking bridges spanning the dike will be... Full story
OLYMPIA - The sport fishery for chinook salmon in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) will close at the end of the day Sunday (Aug. 18), when state fishery managers anticipate the annual catch guideline for that area will be met. Exceptions are Sinclair inlet and five fishing piers within the marine area, where anglers can continue to catch chinook salmon as part of their daily limit. Those piers include Elliott Bay Fishing Pier at Terminal 86, Seacrest Pier, Waterman Pier, Bremerton Boardwalk,... Full story
OLYMPIA - Anglers will soon have an opportunity to catch large trout this summer in Beaver Lake near Issaquah, thanks to the release of about 1,200 hatchery rainbows averaging about one pound each. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is scheduled to release the fish Aug. 20. To facilitate fish planting, the agency will close the Beaver Lake access site at sunset on Aug. 19 and reopen the site at sunrise on Aug. 21. Beaver Lake, however, will remain open to fishing while the acc... Full story
OLYMPIA - Washington's razor clam season will get off to an early start this year with an evening dig at Twin Harbors beach set for Sept. 19-23. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the dig after marine toxin tests confirmed the clams on those two beaches are safe to eat. Although the department is still developing the digging schedule for fall, state fishery managers saw no reason to delay approving a dig at Twin Harbors, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish... Full story
OLYMPIA - More upriver fall chinook salmon are returning to the Columbia River than any time in the past 75 years, so Washington and Oregon fishery managers are expanding sport fishing options below Bonneville Dam beginning Sept. 13. Scrapping a previous rule that would have closed the chinook fishery that day in a portion of the lower river, both states adopted new regulations that: Allow anglers to continue fishing for chinook salmon through the end of the year in all areas of the mainstem... Full story
OLYMPIA - Residents of northcentral Washington will have an opportunity to discuss fish and wildlife issues with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Phil Anderson and regional staff in a roundtable-style meeting Sept. 26 in Brewster. The 12th annual public roundtable is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia Cove Recreation building, located at 508 W. Cliff Ave. in Brewster on the Okanogan-Douglas county line. "This is a great opportunity for people interested... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is easing fire restrictions on all agency-managed lands in eastern Washington, where recent rains have reduced the risk of wildfires. Restrictions on the following activities - enacted Aug. 8 in response to extreme fire danger - are no longer in effect: Smoking outside an enclosed vehicle. Target shooting outside designated shooting ranges, except on the Wenas Wildlife Area, where a temporary rule prohibits the activity through... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission extended protections for giant Pacific octopuses in Puget Sound today by prohibiting the recreational harvest of the species at seven popular scuba diving sites from Whidbey Island to Tacoma. The commission, a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the Governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), also adopted 2013-14 hunting seasons for migratory waterfowl and approved several land acquisitions designed... Full story
OLYMPIA - The recreational chinook salmon fishery in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) will close to the retention of all chinook salmon at the end of the day on Aug. 4 due to anticipated meeting of the season harvest guidelines in that area. Meanwhile, the chinook salmon daily limit in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) will be reduced to one (1) chinook in an effort to extend the season through the month of August. Salmon fishing remains open in Marine Area 9 for coho and pink salmon; all chinoo... Full story
