WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT — New sport fishing rules, a major land acquisition in Asotin County, spring bear seasons, and hunting season proposals are on the agenda for the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting March 1 in Moses Lake.

The meeting, to be held at the Moses Lake Civic Center, 401 S Balsam in Moses Lake, will begin at 8 a.m. with a public input session.

Specific March 1 commission agenda topics include:

• Director’s report.
• Sportfishing rule proposals.
• Land transactions.
• Wildlife crossing project on Interstate 90.
• Hunting seasons and regulations for spring bear, small game, and special permit seasons for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, elk and deer.
• Importation of dead nonresident wildlife.
• Lighted nocks for archery equipment.

The land transaction discussions include Phase 2 of multi-year effort to acquire 12,000 acres of the wildlife-friendly 4-O Land and Livestock property along the Grande Ronde River in the Grouse Flat Unit of the Blue Mountains Wildlife Area.

In January 2012, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife made the initial purchase of 2,200 acres in the Mountain View area.

The second-phase purchase, if approved by the commission, would include spending just over $3 million for 1,613 acres adjoining the Phase 1 property to be managed as additions to the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area, which is under the umbrella of the Blue Mountains Wildlife Area.

• Click on the document attached below for details and maps on the 4-0 Ranch acquisition phases.

Documents:

PUBLIC LANDS — Be sure to check ahead for possible fire restriction before setting out for a hunting or camping trip this weekend. Closures are in effect in some areas as fires continue to burn in the absense of fall rains that normally would have wet the landscape by now.

A vast tract of state land including the Colockum area and Stemilt basin are closed to hunting and other recreation due to danger from the Table Mountain Complex fires.

Sgt. Kent Sisson of Chelan County Emergency Management said fire personnel are in the process of posting information boards in the area and signs alerting hunters and other recreators. Fires, including campfires, are also prohibited until further notice.

NO GREENUP COULD IMPACT BIG GAME

The lack of September rain has left big-game without a “fall green-up,” the sprouting of green vegetation in the warm “Indian Summer”  after a September rain shower. This greenup is very important to game putting on fat for fall.

The green-up or lack of it factors into their winter survival.

Keep your fingers crossed.

PUBLIC LANDS — Citing extreme fire danger in Eastern Washington, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has just issued emergency restrictions — including a restrictions on target shooting, smoking and open fires —  for all state wildlife lands.

Many of these restrictions already are in place on national forests.

Read on for the details.

PUBLIC LANDS – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife unveiled a new web page this week that details a wish list of private properties the state is aiming to purchase to preserve fish and wildlife habitat.

The site includes a virtual tour of 21 proposed land acquisition projects that could take years to complete.

One proposal for Spokane County seeks $1.85 million to purchase 920 acres on Mica Peak adjacent to Inland Empire Paper Co. land to prevent subdividing and fragmenting wildlife habitat protected by adjacent Inland Empire Paper Co. land.

Some of the proposals cover more than 10,000 acres at costs of more than $8 million, including areas in Douglas County, Benton County and a group of areas along the Grande Ronde River in Asotin County.

The agency relies on state and federal grants and help from non-profit groups for most of its acquisitions.

 Among the top grant sources are the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“We abuse land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us.

“When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”

― Aldo Leopold