Hunting 2012, September 27, 2012

SPECIAL SECTION I SEPT. 27

Record year in store for region’s waterfowlers PAGES 6-7 Cow hunts curbed for elk seasons PAGES 2-3 Tim Pipkin of Kellogg calls in Canada geese while Gunner, a yellow Lab, tracks the incoming flock along the lower Coeur d’Alene River.

Rich Landers photo

Page 2

The Spokesman-Review

Thursday, September 27, 2012

HUNTING 2012

Idaho goes bulls-only

Blues up; northeast elk take may drop

Panhandle cow elk hunt nixed “Last year we shortened the cow hunting to three days in some areas and it was the first year ever there was not a he 2012 season will go down in history as the first general cow elk season in all nine Panhandle units,” Hayden year the Idaho Panhandle said. has not offered a general “This year we polled antlerless elk hunt somewhere sportsmen and they agreed in the region. with us that, given the survey Even bowhunters are data in most of the region, we prohibited from targeting a cow elk in the Panhandle Zone need to do all we can to protect cows and this year. calves.”

This gameIn addition to changing decision Follow Rich eliminating the was made by the Landers on cow hunt to Idaho Fish and Twitter for increase elk Game Department news, updates numbers, the state with the support @sroutside aims to reduce the of hunters because number of of declining calfcow survival, said Jim Hayden, predators with several other rule changes: department regional wildlife manager in Coeur d’Alene.

G Wolf hunting and Predation by wolves, trapping seasons have been cougars and bears appears to lengthened and the number of be a major factor prompting wolf tags a person can the change, he said. purchase per calendar year has “Hunters surveyed in been increased to five.

March supported going to a G Black bear limits were more conservative bull-only increased to two per season in season,” Hayden said. Hunting units 2, 6, 7 and 9 and seasons for bulls ought to be at least as were increased in some areas. good as last year, he said.

G Mountain lion season was For years, North Idaho has increased by about eight weeks been distinguished among the in some areas, including units very few places in the country 6, 7 and 9, bringing them in in which a hunter with an line with most of the state. over-the-counter tag could “We had been seeing target an antlerless elk. The mountain lion harvest increase distinction was borne from the in recent years, which is an rugged terrain, thick forests indication that we may have and a prolific elk herd. been under-harvesting them The five-to-seven days of and populations were antlerless elk hunting allowed growing,” Hayden said. during the longer general The first sure signs of season was a priority for problems with the elk herd vacations, as hunters focused surfaced two years ago in on getting meat, if not a bull, surveys showing a decline in for their season’s effort. calf survival, notably in units 7 Stories by Rich Landers

richl@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5508

T

RICH LANDERS richl@spokesman.com

Antlerless elk are getting more protection in Idaho and Washington hunting seasons this year to help boost production of calves next spring.

and 9, Hayden said.

“That was the yellow caution signal. The red flag went up last year when the ratios dropped substantially even in a year with a mild winter. Now we’re seeing the problem in portions of units 1 and 4. It’s a trend.

“Logically, we’re looking at predation. No surprise, the areas with the most wolves seem to have the biggest problems.”

Controlled cow hunts While the general cow elk hunt has been eliminated this year in the Idaho Panhandle, some controlled hunts are still being held for hunters who drew tags.

The controlled hunts are offered in portions of units 1, 2, 3 and 5, but the numbers of permits for each area is only 10-15 percent of what has been offered in previous seasons.

Northeastern Washington has gained stature among elk hunters in recent years, with the 2011 elk harvest exceeding the general season take in the fabled Blue Mountains.

But that’s likely to change this year.

For the first time, general-season elk hunters will be restricted to shooting only antlered bull elk throughout Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties. The change includes hunts for modern rifle and muzzleloaders as well as late-season archery.

Antlerless elk generally are only fair game for hunters with special permits.

After vigorous debates at public meetings last year, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said a majority of hunters favored a retreat from the general-season cow elk hunting that had been offered in some units for the Selkirk elk herd.

The area has always been a tough hunt for sportsmen who weren’t locally connected to the elk hot spots. Overall, northeastern Washington hunters have less than a 5 percent chance of filling a general elk tag. Multipleseason tag holder success jumps to around 19 percent.

Blue Mountains elk surveys suggest that yearling survival has improved. That’s good news, since general-season See WASH. ELK, K3

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Page 3

HUNTING 2012

Cougar hunt altered

Elk seasons Eastern Wash.

Archery: Sept. 4-16 Muzzleloader: Oct. 6-12; late seasons vary Any weapon: Oct. 27 –Nov. 4 in most areas

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5508

Cougar hunting seasons have been liberalized in Eastern Washington for the 2012 season as the Department of Fish and Wildlife reacts to an apparent increase in cougar populations.

“The changes stem from our research and partly to what we’re hearing from local hunters,” said Kevin Robinette, regional wildlife manager in Spokane.

“They just didn’t think they were making a dent in the cougar population.”

Idaho has liberalized cougar hunting this year, too.

“The tradeoff is that cougar hunting regulations are more complicated,” Robinette said. “Hunters will have to read the rules to know the zones.”

Instead of quotas on the number of cougars that can be killed in a zone, the state has set “targets” that can be changed up or down depending on how many males or females are taken.

North Idaho

Archery: Aug. 30 in most Panhandle areas; closing varies Any weapon: Hunts start Oct. 10 or Oct. 25 Muzzleloader: Nov. 20-Dec. 1

WASH. ELK

Continued from K2

hunters can target only spike bulls in the steep, rugged mountains of Asotin, Columbia, Garfield and Walla Walla counties.

Hunters who draw special tags for bull or cow hunts in the Blues have excellent success rates.

Far Eastern Washington’s top elk hunting areas with good public access are units 113 and 117 in northeastern Washington and units 162, and 178 in the Blues.

The region’s most productive general-season elk hunting is in the units of Spokane, Lincoln and Whitman counties, where general-season success rates are around 13 percent. But most of the hunting is on private land and access can be difficult for the average hunter.

Indeed, “any elk” seasons continue to be offered for

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Hunters who draw Blue Mountains bull elk permits are likely to bag a trophy.

hunters in some of these units, including Mount Spokane Unit 124.

Permit hunts authorized since 2010 in Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge have flushed some elk out of their former sanctuary, improving hunting success for hunters with access to

private land surrounding the refuge.

However, some of the elk have moved out to form more permanent herds in the farming areas and scablands farther west and southwest. Elk have been seen on the Bureau of Land Management’s

Telford area ranging to Creston this summer and a group was seeb between Fishtrap and Sprague lakes. More established herds roam near Tyler and Benge, according to Howard Ferguson, a state wildlife biologist in Spokane.

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Page 4

The Spokesman-Review

Thursday, September 27, 2012

HUNTING 2012

Details dictate hunts for East Side deer

By Rich Landers

Deer seasons

richl@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5508

Associated Press

Following a mild winter, deer hunters throughout Idaho can expect to see more small bucks this season.

Meat bucks plentiful Yearlings up; whitetails expand Staff and wire reports

eer hunters should find improved hunting for mule deer in their Idaho strongholds this year, but the pendulum is swinging in favor of whitetails.

The 2011 harvest of white-tailed deer eclipsed the mule deer harvest for the first time since 1995.

Panhandle-Clearwater areas continue to be hot spots, but whitetails are found in 73 of the state’s hunting units with general hunts for whitetails in 69 of those units.

Whitetail hunters have more liberal seasons, with hunt options through Dec. 9 if they’re willing to travel around the state.

Overall, Idaho’s big game populations are doing slightly better than last year after setbacks from a tough winter in 2010-11. A tough

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To put last year’s harvest in perspective, deer hunters in 1981 killed about 50,000 deer– 40,000 were mule deer and 10,000 were whitetails.

But Toby Boudreau, Idaho Fish and Game’s deer and elk coordinator, said mule deer populations can double in as little as three years under the right conditions.

“The neat thing about Idaho is in any general unit you have the chance to take a great mule deer,” he said.

Hunters with a general winter has a big impact on Idaho deer tag can the number of young bucks shoot whitetails during the next year. Those young October, but to hunt bucks account for a large the November rut they percentage of the deer must buy a whitetail killed by hunters. tag, which limits to But last winter was killing only a whiterelatively mild, giving most tailed deer that season. deer herds a chance to bounce back.

Idaho’s 118,639 licensed as they spread throughout deer hunters killed 41,739 the state while mule deer deer last year. Generalharvests have declined. season hunters had a respectable 33 percent success rate.

Whitetails accounted for a greater share of the Join Us harvest: 20,959 whitetails Today! vs. 20,780 mule deer. Mule deer harvests dropped by 3,557 in 2011 compared The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council with 2010.

Idaho hunters in 2010 Leaders in volunteer conservation for more than 50 years. killed 44,328 deer – 24,337 The largest, independent wildlife organization in the state of Washington. mules, 19,031 whitetails.

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Eastern Washington hunters should find decent numbers of deer in the fields and forests this fall, according to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reports. However, pay attention to the details.

For the second year, northeastern Washington whitetail hunters will be restricted to shooting only bucks with four or more points on one antler in units 117 and 121.

Any antlered whitetail is legal to hunt in much of Eastern Washington, except in units south of Spokane, which have 3-point minimums.

Mule deer hunters generally have a three-point minimum to follow.

The rule: check the regulations specific to the area you’ll be hunting.

Antlerless whitetail opportunities have been reduced in recent years for Senior, youth and disabled hunters, but they still have “any deer” opportunities Oct. 13-26 in Unit 124 and Oct. 18-21 in units 101, 105, 108, 111 and 113.

This group of hunters

Eastern Wash.

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Page 5

HUNTING 2012

Fires char habitat BLM areas, Joseph Creek blackened Wild fires have blackened the prospects for hunting this season in specific areas of Washington and Idaho.

Weeks of rainless hot weather in August and September forced state and federal land managers to issue numerous restrictions.

Wild fires drove some early buck hunt hopefuls out of Wenatchee National Forest areas

this month.

At about the same time, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced fire restrictions – no open fires, smoking or even target shooting – on all state wildlife areas until fire danger subsides.

BLM’s fire restrictions were supported by the region’s private landowners after the Apache Pass Fire spread over 24,531 acres south of Creston. The fire erupted during lightning storms on Sept. 9.

Apache Pass Fire, Sept. 2012

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Coffee Pot Lake

SOURCE: WDFW

Grande Ronde R.

Seven Springs Dairy Road

OREGON

Coffee Pot Road

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richl@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5508

Burned areas

Lightning fires charred parts of the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Cache Creek Fire, Aug. 2012 Area and BLM land near Coffee Pot Lake, and the Chief Anatone Joseph Wildlife Area near the I DA H O 129 WAS H. Grande Ronde River. eR ak Sn

By Rich Landers

The fire charred 1,069 acres of the Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area, including some important habitat for sage and sharp-tailed grouse.

Considering that’s just 5 percent of the 21,000-acre (Swanson Lakes) Wildlife Area, “That’s not too bad,” said Juli Anderson, area manager for the WDFW. “It burned fast and patchy leaving islands of unburned areas surrounded by burned areas that should green up nicely with new grass and fabulous wildflowers next year.”

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Harder hit was the adjacent Twin Lakes area, where about 7,000 acres of U.S. Bureau of Land Management land was blackened.

Deer hunting in that area isn’t likely to be too good this year, Anderson said.

Farther south, the Cache Creek Fire along

the Snake River, while mostly in Oregon, burned more than 5,300 acres of the 14,000-acre Chief Joseph Wildlife Area in Asotin County south of the Grande Ronde River.

The Joseph Creek area took the brunt of the flames and will be fruitless for most hunting this season, said Bob Dice, area manager.

About four miles of the Green Gulch Road, which is usually open for motorized hunter use Oct. 1-Nov. 30, will remain closed this year.

“I’m leaving the gate locked because the soils up there are very fragile and erodible after the burn,” he said. “Hunters can still go up there, but they won’t be able to drive.”

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Page 6

The Spokesman-Review

Thursday, September 27, 2012

HUNTIN

Region’s waterfowl hunters gear Ducks, geese flourished in wet spring

were high enough to allow for a two-day Canada goose season in September.

Although mild weather last winter rospects are ducky for delayed the arrival of the northern waterfowlers across North ducks, the statewide harvest was America this season.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service still 12 percent higher than in 2010.

Waterfowl counts in Alaska and preliminary report on North American breeding ducks estimates northern Alberta both had big a record population of 48.6 million, increases this year as well as southern Alberta, which is another up from 45.6 million last year – 43 important area to the Pacific Flyway. percent above the 1955 to 2010 Last year, production in those places long-term average. was down in the 20-30 percent Ducks had a record production year in Washington last year and the range, but has bounced back.

Here’s a summary of North good news didn’t end there.

America breeding ground “It looks like another good year population surveys by the U.S. Fish for waterfowl,” said Don Kraege, and Wildlife Service. state Fish and Wildlife waterfowl Mallard: totaled 10.6 million manager. “We have higher numbers ducks, a 15 percent increase over last again this year, so it could be year and a 39 percent increase over another record year.”

Geese are on the upswing, too. For the long-term average.

Widgeon: increased 3 percent the first time since 2008, goose populations in Eastern Washington from last year, but remains 17 percent below the long-term average.

Teal: green-winged and blue-winged: numbered 3.5 million and 9.2 million, 20 percent and 3 percent, respectively, above last year – both above long-term averages by 74 percent and 94 percent.

Gadwall: increased 10 percent above last year’s estimate, and 96 percent above the long-term average.

Pintail: numbered 3.5 million, RICH LANDERS richl@spokesman.com down 22 percent from last year’s Waterfowl retrievers should get a estimate, and 14 percent below the Idaho waterfowlers chose to start their 2012 season later than usual to add more days to the end of the seas good workout this season. long-term average.

By Rich Landers

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

N 2012 NG

rring up for record year Idaho delays opening of duck season

By Rich Landers

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hile duck and goose populations are in good shape for Inland Northwest hunters this season, Idaho Panhandle waterfowlers will have to wait an extra week for opening day.

Both the youth hunt and the general duck and goose seasons will open later than in the past based on Idaho surveys indicating hunters preferred late-season hunting.

The youth waterfowl season for hunters 15 and younger is set for Saturday-Sunday. Goose, duck, coot and snipe are all open this weekend.

The first phase of the general waterfowl season opens the following weekend in a tiny portion of the state, but not in North Idaho. Waterfowl areas numbers have been changed.

The Panhandle Region, which has been in Area 1 in the past, is now in Area 2: G Area 1 includes the Fort Hall Indian Reservation and adjacent areas in southeastern Idaho.

G Area 2, which includes the rest of the state, opens for general waterfowling on Oct. 13.

“This is a tradeoff hunters preferred in a random survey we did last year,” said Jim Hayden, Idaho Fish and Game Department regional wildlife manager in Coeur d’Alene.

Early October provides the best hunting for locally produced waterfowl, and especially for wood ducks and teal that depart the region

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Wood ducks will have an extra week to get out of North Idaho before waterfowl season opens.

Waterfowl seasons Eastern Washington Youth hunt: Sept. 22-23 Ducks: Oct. 13-17 and Oct. 20-Jan. 27 Geese: Oct. 13-Jan. 27, with exceptions by area.

North Idaho Youth hunt: Saturday-Sunday Ducks: Oct. 13-Jan. 25 Geese: Oct. 13-Jan. 25

early, Hayden acknowledged.

“When we asked waterfowlers, the overwhelming response was to devote more of the allotted season days to the late end of the season.”

The daily limit for Idaho waterfowlers is seven ducks, which may include no more than one canvasback, two pintails, two redheads or two mallard hens. Goose hunters are allowed four dark geese.

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Spokesman-Review

HUNTING 2012

IN BRIEF

Torsten Kjellstrand photo

Bird dogs should be ready and eager for the report of a gun.

Bird dog savvy dog accustomed to being around other dogs.

G “Leave it” – A command Here’s a wake-up call for every field dog should know in upland bird hunters, not a order to prevent it from getting day too soon: “It takes six to eight weeks into something harmful, such as to get your dog into shape for snakes, poison bait or drinking hunting season,” said gun dog stagnant water that could hold expert Jim Closson of Boise. giardia. (Always have fresh water for your dogs.)

“Be sure to introduce the G Retrieving – Dogs should dogs to the birds that you go through retriever program to will be hunting,” said fetch and bring a bird to hand.

Closson. “I once met an owner who only trained with Some trainers recommend pigeons. His dog was great at starting with bumpers, advancing to frozen birds, then retrieving pigeons but he fresh-killed birds and finally live, would not pick up any other banded birds to make sure the bird.” dog has a soft mouth.

Here’s the rest of a Most important – be preseason checklist for sure the dog’s completely hunters with a canine gun-sure. Introduce gunfire at a companion: distance while the dog is at a G Veterinary care – Bring vaccinations up to date, treat for heightened level of confidence and gradually, over days, work parasites. the sound closer to the dog, G Identification – Consider microchips or tattoos, but at the always while it is doing something fun or absorbing. very least be sure the dog is Taking your dog to a trap fitted with a collar that includes a range and tying him to the contact name plate riveted in bumper of a truck and shooting place. all around him is not a good way G Obedience – Dogs to introduce it to guns. should be well trained to Do this right the first time or respond to off-leash commands your dog could be gun-shy for under distractions. good.

G Conditioning – Dogs A proven way is to begin by (and hunters) need to be having your dog chase some walking and running to build clipped-wing or Velcro-winged stamina and condition feet well pigeons. Once its confidence is in advance of opening day. high, introduce a small-caliber G Swimming – Believe it or gun like .22 starter pistol at a not, some dogs need to learn how to swim. Even water-loving distance of 100 yards. retrievers need to get plenty of Done correctly, a hunting dog preseason swim conditioning. will love the sight and sound of a G Socialization – Get the shotgun.

Staff and wire reports

hunter harvest, says Rich Finger, Washington Fish and Wildlife From staff and wire reports Department biologist.

“We’re starting with five crude but effective blinds to see how Disabled hunters hunters respond to them,” Finger sign up for access said, noting that staff is building ACCESS – Qualified applicants the blinds with surplus materials.

Brochures at the “register to have until Sunday to sign up in a hunt” access area will show blind drawing for special access to locations and ask hunter not to hunting areas through the Coeur move them. d’Alene River Ranger District’s Hunters with Disabilities Program.

Disabled hunters must sign up in Discover Pass person at either the Forest Service’s Silver Valley Office, (208) required by DNR 783-2363, in Smelterville or Fernan STATE LANDS – Office, (208) 664-2318, in Coeur Washington’s Discover Pass is d’Alene. required on vehicles accessing Applicants must present a most state-managed lands.

Disabled Persons Motor Vehicle The Vehicle Access Pass that Hunting Permit (orange card), a comes with a hunting or fishing valid Idaho Disabled Hunting license is valid only on state lands License and a big game tag when and access sites managed by the signing up.

Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Forest Service is allowing The Discover Pass is required motorized access for hunters with for access to state parks and lands disabilities during the general elk managed by the Department of season, Oct. 10-31, in two areas: Natural Resources. The Discover Pass, available where hunting G Clover-Haystack Mountain, licenses are sold, also is valid for Roads 6544, 6545 and 944. access to WDFW wildlife lands.

G Idaho Gulch, Road 1505.

The drawing will be Monday.

Sandpoint Ranger District New report required also has two areas open for disabled hunters. Applications for WATERFOWL – The opening day hunts must be Washington Fish and Wildlife submitted by noon on Friday.

Commission this year approved a Info: (208) 263-5111. $10 penalty for failing to report the harvest of several specific waterfowl species.

Use non-toxic shot Hunters who fail to report their at pheasant release sites harvest of brant sea ducks in BIRDS – Hunters are required Western Washington and snow goose in Goose Management Area 1 to use non-toxic shot in their will face a $10 fine that will be ammunition while hunting any type of birds at 29 pheasant release imposed when they apply for a 2013 special migratory bird hunting sites in Eastern Washington. authorization.

The first of three scheduled The $10 penalty is designed to releases of pen-raised pheasants increase the number of reports occurred last week in advance of needed for waterfowl the Youth Upland Bird Hunt. management.

Hunters reported that plenty of birds survived for the debut of the early seniors-only pheasant season Check for CWD needed that started Monday and runs on returning game through Friday.

DISEASES – Washington Blinds set at Winchester hunters returning with game from Wyoming or 16 others states, as Regulated Access Area well as the Canadian provinces of DUCKS – Five duck blinds are Alberta and Saskatchewan, must being built in choice hunting spots have the meat and trophies properly processed to prevent on the Winchester Regulated possible spread of Chronic Wasting Access Area southwest of Moses disease.

Lake to give hunters destinations, The requirements are in place to spread out pressure and improve

reduce the risk of spreading CWD into Washington, where no cases of the disease have been confirmed.

While CWD is a fatal illness in deer and elk, there have been no confirmed cases of CWD being transmitted to humans or passed to domestic animals or livestock.

Details are on page 93 of Washington’s Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules Pamphlet.

Hunter participation increased from 2006 SURVEYS – Numbers of anglers and hunters in the U.S. population increased in recent years.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 38 percent of all Americans 16 years of age and older participated in wildlife-related recreation in 2011.

That’s an increase of 2.6 million participants from the previous National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation conducted in 2006.

Recreational fishing increased by 11 percent and hunting was up 9 percent, reversing a trend over previous surveys showing a 10 percent decline in hunting participation between 1996 and 2006.

The 2011 survey reports a corresponding increase in hunting equipment expenditures, which are up 29 percent from 2006.

Pot crops up in hunt areas around region PUBLIC LANDS – Illegal marijuana plots have cropped up on public lands in recent years, posing danger to hunters who might stumble into areas that might be watched by armed guards or even boobytrapped.

National forest police in Washington, Idaho and Oregon advise hunters to be aware of clues that they’re in the vicinity of a pot grow. Watch for game trails that suddenly widen, thick walls of cut brush blocking a path, the smell of cooking food, lots of PVC piping and the most obvious indicator – the smell of marijuana.

Officials ask hunters to make a GPS note of the location if they encounter such things, but otherwise to just leave – and call their local sheriff when they get home.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Page 9

HUNTING 2012

Washington’s wolf central Northeastern Washington is home to eight of the state’s 12 confirmed or suspected wolf packs.

The concentration has had a compounding impact on the region’s big game. Not only are most of the wolves living on the region’s not-so prosperous deer and elk herds, but Washington Fish and Wildlife managers have been hamstrung in being able to monitor the situation.

“With one of our biologists working virtually full time all summer dealing with the Wedge Pack that’s been attacking cattle (in northern Stevens County), a lot of the deer and elk population survey work just isn’t getting done in northeast Washington this year,” said Madonna Luers, Fish and Wildlife Department spokeswoman.

Wolves alter field for hunts

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5508

While Idaho sportsmen will be hunting for wolves again this season, hunters in both Idaho and Washington will be hunting with wolves in the area.

Either way, wolves have changed the playing field for hunters in the Inland Northwest.

Wolves tend to make elk and other game more wary, nervous and linked more to cover and rugged terrain than to open spaces.

Grouse hunters, as well as cougar hunters, using hounds must be especially wary as they hunt where wolves roam. Wolves are hard-wired to attack other canines, including coyotes, to eliminate competition in their territory.

Bowhunters should carry bear spray or a sidearm where allowed in case a wolf or bear responds at close range to an elk or deer call. In most cases, a wolf can be scared

away, experts say. But having handy defense will make the situation much more comfortable.

Idaho Fish and Game officials encourage hunters pursuing other big game to purchase Idaho wolf tags so they can take advantage of wolf sightings incidental to their other hunts. Tags cost $11.50 for residents and $31.75 for nonresidents.

Idaho aims to reduce its wolf population by another several hundred to about 520 wolves through regulated hunting and trapping. Although pro-wolf groups say a sustainable wolf population needs higher numbers, that figure is five-times higher than the 150 wolves called for in Idaho’s federally approved management plan.

Wolves are still protected by state endangered species rules in Washington. Most of the confirmed packs are in the northeast corner, but wolves have been seen for years in the Blue Mountains.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL HUNTERS Written permission is required to hunt at Puget Sound Energy’s

Lower Snake River Wind Facility during the 2012-2013 hunting season.

The wind facility is located within portions of Game Management Units (GMU) 149 Prescott and 163 Marengo in Garfield County, WA

For safety reasons, hunting within the Lower Snake River Wind Facility is by written permission only.

Maps and special access rules are available at: PSE.COM/LOWERSNAKERIVER

To obtain written permission: t Register online at PSE.com t Visit Deadman Creek Outfitters 1581 Lower Deadman Creek Rd. Pomeroy, WA To verify store hours call 509-566-7079 or visit www.deadmanc.com

For more information, contact PSE’s Anne Walsh at 509-382-2043

Page 10

Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Spokesman-Review

HUNTING 2012

Rules of the off-road Tools help OHVers know where they can ride legally

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5508

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5508

TVs can drive public land managers crazy during hunting season.

“We are most concerned with instances where a hunter drives off trail to scout for game or retrieve game,” said Andy Brunelle, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. “One set of tracks through the brush or in a meadow can invite others to do the same, and the impacts add up, damaging vegetation and causing soil erosion into streams.”

About 70 percent of the 240,000 people who hunt in Idaho (residents and non-residents) during the fall seasons are using motorbikes or ATVs to access their hunting areas, according to a state and federal survey.

With that many wheels on the ground, the potential is high for damage to public land, wildlife populations and the quality of the hunt for all sportsmen.

A person can be cited for being in a closed area even if it’s not signed, Forest Service officials said.

Under the Forest Service’s National Travel Rule, “it’s incumbent on the user to know if the trail is open or closed” regardless if the trail is signed appropriately, forest officials said. That’s because people have been known to shoot signs full of bullet holes, remove signs or vandalize them.

Staying in bounds can be especially confusing for hunters because some off-highway vehicle rules change during hunting seasons, and hunters are often on a mixture of federal, state and private lands with differing rules.

Here’s where to verify where off-highway vehicle use is allowed: G U.S. Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps for the national forest where you plan to hunt. Printed maps are available from ranger district offices, Fish and Game offices, and some are available at stayontrails.com.

G BLM travel maps, available at BLM offices. See a list at stayontrails.com/blmTravel.

G Idaho Fish and Game Big Game Rules Booklet (pages 79-80) lists OHV restrictions

Surplus tags available for nonresidents

A

Richard Gummersall photo

Hunters should safely store their guns on their ATVs before traveling.

in 31 specific hunting units.

G Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation has an online map database for researching OHV trails and checking whether they are open during hunting season at trails.idaho.gov. The maps also segregate which motorized trails are open to which vehicles because some trails are

open to motorcycle, but closed to ATVs and UTVs. Jon Heggen, enforcement chief for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, also encourages OHV users to be sensitive that some people may be hunting on foot in the same area where OHVers are riding their trail machines.

Tips for hunters on OHVs Stay on designated trails. Cross-country riding is illegal on most Forest Service and BLM lands because it is destructive to the environment.

Shooting game from an OHV is illegal, although hunters with a disabled permit are exempt from this rule.

Utility Terrain Vehicles wider than 50 inches are not allowed on ATV trails or singletrack trails. UTVs wider than 50 inches should travel on dirt roads or two-track roads that are open during hunting season.

OHVs should be parked when a hunter needs to leave a trail or road to retrieve a big game animal on public lands.

OHV safety course required for youths A new Idaho law requires youths who do not have a driver’s license to take a free safety course before they ride OHVs on forest roads. Kids under age 18 are required to wear a helmet when riding on or driving an OHV.

Idaho and Montana still have an unusually good supply of nonresident big-game tags available for the 2012 seasons.

Sales of nonresident deer and elk tags have steadily declined in each state since 2008, when the economy tanked at the same time nonresident license fees were increased by legislators or initiatives.

For the second time in 30 years, Montana has a surplus of nonresident big-game combo licenses – tags that used to sell out by March 15.

Montana is still holding about 600 unsold big-game combo licenses (from a 17,000 quota), 1,800 elk combo licenses and 1,500 deer combo licenses. Idaho also is far from reaching most of its nonresident big-game license quotas.

“We normally get a spike in nonresident sales in September and even October, especially from Washington state,” said Ron Aasheim, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman in Helena.

Meanwhile, both states are trying to get out the message that they still have tremendous hunting opportunities.

For example, despite the impact of weather and wolves, Montana wildlife officials say elk populations in 70 percent of the state’s hunting units are at or above management objectives.

“In this economy, buying patterns have changed,” said Idaho’s licensing supervisor Craig Wiedmeier. “A lot more hunters wait to the last minute before making the decision to buy a license. It’s like they know they want to hunt in Idaho, but they want to be sure they can make it.”

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Page 11

HUNTING 2012

Casts can add a blast to hunting

Some hunters barred from area

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5508

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com, (509) 459-5508

iversified sportsmen can be conflicted during fall hunting season, since it’s also one of the best times for fishing.

Tuna are migrating past the Washington Coast. Salmon are streaming into Columbia and Snake River tributaries.

Steelhead are high-tailing over dams to wintering areas. Crowds have left the Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe rivers even though the cutthroat fishing is as supreme.

Fish in high mountain lakes are feeding as though winter is just around the corner, because it is.

The “cast and blast” trip is the way to go for hunters who want to do it all.

Here are a few examples of memorable rod and gun trips I’ve had over the years.

G River of many returns: Chukar hunting mixed with steelheading on the Salmon River or smallmouth bassing on the Snake are classic cast and blast trips – by raft or jet boat -- that that have lured me to book numerous trips with Idaho rafting companies over the years.

G High buck bonus: A fly rod in the saddle bag on a horse-packing trip into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness got a workout during Washington’s High Buck Hunt.

The bucks were elusive, but the cutthroats at the end of several trails were eager to take flies during the afternoon lulls.

G Ducky for trout: After shooting a limit of ducks on opening day along the Colville River one year, I noticed trout

D

RICH LANDERS richl@spokesman.com

The Grande Ronde, Snake and Salmon rivers offer classic opportunities for combo fishing-hunting trips.

An Asotin County ranch purchased by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife last winter is open to public walk-in access this year with the exception of some big-game hunters.

Deer and elk hunters are allowed on the newly-acquired addition to the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area only if they drew a “4-O Ranch” special hunting permit.

“The restriction is an effort to provide highquality hunting opportunities and was something the rancher wanted as a condition for sale of the property,” said Madonna Luers, agency spokeswoman.

The 2,180-acre 4-O Ranch parcel was purchased in January. It brings the wildlife area total to 14,055 acres.

The ranch is within Game Management Unit 172. But neither GMU 172 permit holders nor general-season deer and

elk hunters are allowed to hunt the parcel this year.

Small game, turkey, cougar and bear hunting, plus fishing and wildlife viewing, is allowed on a 4-O area, but hunting deer or elk without the 4-O permit is not allowed.

The 4-O Ranch parcel of the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area lies along two miles of the Grande Ronde River and north along Cougar Creek.

Many of the new property lines have been identified with “Wildlife Area” signs.

rising in the stream. While my partner worked on his duck limit, I caught three rainbows on a No. 14 Parachute Adams.

G Perfect mix: Weekends of steelheading and chukar hunting on the Snake or Grande Ronde rivers have gone together better than beer and brats.

G Castaway: I didn’t bring any fishing gear during a multi-day bird hunt with friends near the Snake River one year when my dog came up sore-footed and needed a day off. Instead of bagging a good camp with good friends, I stayed in the canyon and booked a guided day-trip on the Clearwater River. Nobody in camp argued with my decision at dinner time!

G Grousing angler: Grouse hunting goes hand in hand with fishing at some of the timber-country lakes from the Okanogan country east into Idaho.

Memorable trips include an overnighter to Pettit Lake in Pend Oreille County, where I hunted ruffs in the morning. In the afternoon, I’d give the dog a break on his pillow in the canoe while I paddled and cast for trout. Pettit and many timber country lakes are open through Oct. 31.

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Page 12

Thursday, September 27, 2012

The Spokesman-Review

2012 Hunting Seasons September - December Eastern Washington

DEER

October Dates White Tailed Deer Oct. 13-26 Oct. 13-21

Modern Firearm

Mule Deer

101-124-373 Any Buck

101–154, 162–186, 203–284, 328, 330–368, 372, 379d, 381 3 pt. min.

373d, 382, 388 3 pt. min

November White Tailed Deer

Nov 10-19

White Tailed Deer

Nov 10-Dec 15 101 Any Deer

Modern Firearm Late Archery

Mule Deer Late Archery

ELK

Nov 21-30 Nov 21-Dec 8 Nov 20-Dec 8 Nov 21-Dec 8 Dec 9-31

BEAR

209, 215, 233, 243, 250 3 pt. min.

346, 352, 364, 388, Deer Area 3682 3 pt. min.

145, 163, 178 3 pt. min. or antlerless 272, 278d, 373d 3 pt. min. or antlerless

Deer Area 1021 Anterless only

101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117d, 121, 204 Any bull 145–154, 149d, 162–186, 249, 336–368 Spike bull 251, 328, 329, 334, 335 True spike bull

Oct 27- Nov 4 Oct 27- Nov 4

124–142, 372*, 382, 388 Any elk

Dates

Northeastern A

Sept 1- Nov 15 Aug 15- Nov 15 Sept 1 - Nov 15 Aug 1 - Nov 15 Aug 14 - Nov 15 Nov 1- Nov 15

GMUs 101-121, 204

Okanogan East Cascades

GMUs 124-130 GMUs 145-154, 162-186 GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260-290, 371-381 GMUs 203, 209-243 GMUs 244-247, 249-251, 328, 329-368, 382, 388, 578

M/T

STARTING AT AT STARTING

31/1050QR-15/6

MONEY BACK

3-PLY SIDEWALL GUARANTEE ALL SEASON ALL DESIGN SEASON

PERFORMANCE AGGRESSIVE TREAD DESIGN

TREAD DESIGN MAY VARY

for EvATV TIRES BATTERIES A Battery ery Need!

HOW OLD IS AVERAGE BATTERY LIFE PER REGION

Huge selection of styles including Knobby’s, Chevrons, Paddle and much more. thousands of tires in stock, plus wheels and batteries for ATV’s

FOR CARS & TRUCKS

BETTER TRACTION! SEE YOUR LOCAL SMOOTHER RIDE LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER IMPROVED BRAKING! FOR DETAILS ON SIPING!

DOWNTOWN 747-8052 SOUTHHILL 535-4066 N. DIVISION 467-5107 W. FRANCIS 326-4993

VALLEY 534-0564 VERADALE 922-5710 U-CITY 924-7037 NW BLVD. 327-4417

HAYDEN 208-762-8030 RATHDRUM 208-687-3160 DEER PARK 276-2009 CHENEY 235-5700

POST FALLS 208-773-1566 COEURD’ALENE 208-765-8505 AIRWAY HEIGHTS 244-7002

* Please see your 2012 Washington BIG Game regulations for complete seasons and regulations.

YOUR BATTERY?

4-6 YEARS 4-5 YEARS 3-4 YEARS 2-3 YEARS

TIRE SIPING

Master Hunters Only: 127, 130 Antlerless only

Black Bear Blue Mountains Columbia Basin

Your size in stock, call for size & price

203, 209–248, 250, 254–290, 373d, 379, 381 Any elk

Hunt Area

Northeastern B

RUGGED TRACTION DESIGN

Units-Legal Elk

Oct. 27- Nov 4

Dec 9-31

27/8.50QR/14/6

105, 108, 111, 113, 124 Any buck 117, 121 4 pt. min

Nov 25-Dec 15 105, 108, 124 Any deer Nov 25-Dec 15 127 3 pt. min. or antlerless Nov 20-Dec 8 145, 163, 178 3 pt. min. or antlerless Nov 21-Dec 8 272, 278d, 373d 3 pt. min. or antlerless Deer Area 1021 Antlerless only Dec. 9-31

October/November Dates Modern Firearm

STARTING AT

203-284,328, 330368,372 127-154, 162-186 Any Buck/3pt 379,381 Any Buck

Oct. 13-26

OPEN COUNTRY ON SALE!

Units/Legal Deer

Oct. 13-26

Modern Firearm

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