WDFW to Conduct Controlled Burns in Northcentral and Northeast Washington

 
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) plans to conduct controlled burns starting next month on parts of two wildlife areas in northeast and northcentral Washington to reduce wildfire risks and enhance wildlife habitat.

Depending on weather conditions, controlled burns could be conducted as early as Sept. 1 on parts of WDFW's Sherman Creek Wildlife Area on the west side of Lake Roosevelt in northeastern Ferry County and at the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in northcentral Okanogan County.

After recent wildfires in Washington, WDFW Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Manager Dale Swedberg acknowledges that burning now may seem counterintuitive to some people.

"In fact, it's more important now than ever," he said. "Controlled burns reduce fuel loads and the risk of catastrophic, high-intensity wildfires that can destroy wildlife habitat. It's not a question of whether we'll have fires on these lands in the future, but whether they're controlled. The low-intensity burning in a controlled fire can also improve forage and other habitat for deer, moose, black bear, forest grouse and many other wildlife species."

Swedberg said the controlled burns will be coordinated by WDFW's fire project manager Tom Leuschen, a former U.S. Forest Service fire manager. The fires are permitted by the Washington Department of Natural Resources only when daily conditions are safe and fires are monitored constantly until they are out.

The controlled burns - planned for September and October - will cover about 600 total acres, and will be conducted on parcels ranging from 15 acres to several hundred acres. Other burns will be conducted in coming spring and fall seasons.

"Where there's fire, there's smoke," Leuschen said. "We will be working to minimize impacts, but smoke could make its way into some communities near these burns."

Those towns include Kettle Falls and Colville near Sherman Creek, as well as Loomis and Conconully near Sinlahekin. Signs will be posted on the wildlife areas to alert recreationists about the projects. Motorists should use caution and watch for personnel, fire equipment, and smoke on the roads in the vicinity of the burns.

Swedberg noted that the department did not receive any complaints regarding smoke or disturbance from machinery in the Sinlahekin Valley last year when controlled burns on grasslands and timber thinning slash were conducted under the Sinlahekin's ongoing Ecosystem Restoration Project.

Leuschen is coordinating resources with other agencies in the area to assist with the burning and is using private contractors with bulldozers and other equipment from local communities.

"We've been working closely with private, county, state and federal land managers to promote the use of prescribed fires, in a coordinated effort on all lands, to improve wildlife habitat and reduce wildfire fuels," Swedberg said. "This year we're extending our effort to Sherman Creek."

Oregon DFW Opens Fishing Equipment Libraries for Kids

 

August 21, 2012

Kids can now borrow fishing equipment for up to two weeks from four lending libraries along the Oregon coast.

NEWPORT, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is making it easier than ever for kids 17 years of age and younger to discover the joy of fishing.
ODFW recently opened equipment lending libraries at four locations along the Oregon coast where kids have access to everything they need to get started in recreational fishing. Each library is stocked with rods and reels that can be checked out for up to two weeks, plus starter tackle kits that are the kids’ to keep. Each library also has five practice poles that are designed for indoor or outdoor casting practice by younger anglers. These poles are outfitted with rubber casting plugs that are used to reel in plastic fish that are also available at the fishing libraries.
The libraries are also stocked with free informational materials including the ODFW publication Easy Angling Oregon as well as Oregon Sport Fishing Regulation books, Oregon’s common salmon and trout identification cards, and instructions on how to clean and keep your catch. Funding for the new lending libraries was provided by ODFW’s Salmon and Trout Advisory Committee.
“We don’t want the lack of equipment to be a barrier to any child who wants to go fishing,” said Christine Clapp, ODFW fish biologist in Newport. “I hope these youth fishing libraries will help recruit a new generation of anglers and inspire kids and their parents to get outside.”
Youth fishing equipment libraries are located at the following locations:

• Driftwood Library, 801 SW Hwy 101 #201, Lincoln City, 541-996-2277
• Newport Recreation Center, 25 Southeast Avery Street, Newport, 541-265-7783
• Neighbors for Kids, 634 SE Hwy 101, Depoe Bay, 541-765-8990
• Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program, 441 Highway 101 (Yachats Commons), Yachats, 541-547-4599

Clapp recommends that persons interested in borrowing equipment from one of the fishing equipment libraries call ahead for hours and availability. First time participants must be registered by a parent or guardian with a valid driver’s license, state issued identification card or library card. Equipment check-out to pre-registered youth can be done without the accompaniment of a parent or guardian.
As a reminder, children under the age of 14 do not need an angling license to go fishing in Oregon. However, youth 14-17 years of age must have a valid juvenile fishing license, which can be purchased for $9 from any ODFW agent. For more information call Christine Clapp at 541-265-8306 ext. 253.

Oregon Offers Free Youth Upland Bird Hunts

Sign up online for free youth upland bird hunts

August 13, 2012

Meagan Jansen of Tigard with a pheasant she got at last year’s EE Wilson Wildlife Area youth pheasant hunt. -Photo by ODFW-

SALEM, Ore.—Youth hunters (age 17 and under) can sign up for free upland bird hunts taking place at 12 locations across the state in September.
To register, sign up online, at a license sales agent, or at an ODFW office that sells licenses. (Two of the locations, Fern Ridge and Ladd Marsh wildlife areas, don’t require advance registration.) The hunts are free, though youth hunters need a valid hunting license ($14.50) and upland game bird validation ($8.50) to hunt. Only youth already certified in hunter education are eligible to participate.
New this year, registration is through the license sales system rather than by phone and opens in early August rather than Sept. 2, which should give kids and their families more time to plan. Call the numbers listed with each hunt below if you need more information about a particular hunt.
To sign up online, do the following:

• Go to the license sales page.
• Enter the Hunter/Angler ID (ODFW ID#), last name and Date of Birth of the youth hunter. (If the youth hunter has never purchased an ODFW document, choose “New Customer” under the “Hunter/Angler ID#” drop down arrow.)
• Select green “Register for a Class” tab.
• Verify your customer information.
• Select Youth Upland Hunt tab.
• Select hunt of choice.
• Continue through the checkout process.. It is not necessary to bring the receipt to the youth pheasant hunt.

ODFW and partners stock pheasants at these special hunts that give youth a head start on regular hunting seasons. Quail and dove can also be hunted. All regular bag limits apply. (Bag limits will be listed in the 2012-13 Oregon Game Bird Regulations available later in August.)
Most clinics begin with a free shotgun skills training session and have trained hunting dogs and their handlers available to accompany participants at the event.
An adult 21 years of age or older must accompany the youth to supervise but not hunt. Both hunter and supervisor must wear a hunter orange hat, eye protection and a hunter orange vest—equipment provided by ODFW to anyone that doesn’t have it. Hunters need to check in and out of the hunt. Only federally-approved, non-toxic shot is acceptable for use in many places; see pages 22-23 of the 2012-13 Oregon Game Bird Regulations (available later in August) for more information.
While most areas have a hunt both Saturday and Sunday, youth hunters may only sign up for one hunt. They are welcome to hunt stand by on the other day.

• Baker City – Sept. 8, 9. Call 541-963-2138 for more information.
• Corvallis (Monmouth), EE Wilson Wildlife Area, Sept. 15, 16, 22, 23. Call tel. 541-745-5334 for more information.
• Eugene (Fern Ridge Wildlife Area): Sept. 8, 9. No advance registration needed, hunters can begin checking in at 6:30 a.m. at check station in Nielsen Rd parking lot. Call 541-935-2591 for more information.
• Irrigon (Umatilla County): Sept. 22, 23. Call 541-276-2344 for more information.
• John Day: Sept. 15, 16. Call 541-575-1167 for more information.
• Klamath Falls (Klamath Wildlife Area): Sept. 8, 9. Call 541-883-5732 for more information.
• La Grande (Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area): Sept. 15, 16. No advanced registrations needed, just check in at HQ, 59116 Pierce Rd. Check in opens 7 a.m. and hunting hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Medford/White City: Denman Wildlife Area: Sept. 15, 16. Call tel. 541-826-8774 for more information.
• Madras (Willow Creek): Sept. 15, 16. Call tel. 541-447-5111 for more information.
• Ontario: Sept. 8, 9. Call tel. 541-889-6975 for more information.
• Portland (Sauvie Island Wildlife Area): Sept. 15, 16. Call tel. 503-621-3488 for more information.
• Mid-Columbia (White River Wildlife Area, Tygh Valley): Sept. 8, 9. Call tel. 541-296-4628 for more information.

Oregon Weekender Report

Learn to fish, hunt, crab or clam
See the ODFW Outdoors Program calendar and
sign up for a class that interests you.
Time for tuna
Tuna fishing off the Oregon coast continues to
be good with fish just 18-20 miles out on some
 parts of the coast. Charters are available through
several different ports.

Fall chinook opens Aug. 1
On both the Columbia and coastal rivers. The fishing will start really picking up later in August and we’re anticipating strong returns. See the special regulations for coastal rivers on the Coast Fall Salmon Seasons page.
Fire restrictions and access
Be sure to check for any fire restrictions before you go afield. Oregon Dept of Forestry has a list of fire restrictions and closures online and InciWeb has information about current fires.

Oregon DFW Recreation Report

                                                 Hunting, Fishing, Wildlife Viewing

July 3, 2012

Quillback Rockfish - Photo by Bob Swingle, ODFW -

Answer the call of the sea
As in salmon, tuna and rockfish. Ocean coho opened July 1 and while the season has started a little slow, we’ve been getting reports of good fishing for rockfish and tuna.
Miss the May 15 deadline? You can still purchase a preference point
New this year, preference points are on sale from July 1-Nov. 30. Hunters that did not apply for a controlled hunt or purchase a pt saver by May 15 are eligible. Find out more
Choices for summer time fishing
In many parts of the state, the cool start to the summer means trout fishing continues to be pretty good at the same time warm water fishing is picking up. Decisions, decisions. Check out the zone reports for details.
Summer Wildlife Viewing
Find out where to see wildlife near you whether you are at home or on vacation. ODFW’s Wildlife Viewing Map features 235 great places to see wildlife in the state. Learn where tidepooling is good and where to see bighorn sheep and blue herons!