Seasons To Be Set

Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission will adopt fall waterfowl seasons and regulations at a public meeting Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Ellensburg Inn-Best Western.

Other scheduled business includes amending the boundaries of the Sprague Lake game reserve and consideration of “hunter orange” clothing requirements.

Most states require that hunters in certain seasons wear a minimum amount of fluorescent orange, or “hunter orange” clothing. The requirement has been credited with dramatic nationwide reductions in the number of hunting accidents related to firearms in the past 15 years.

However, the way the rule is set up in Washington was challenged last year.

A Grays Harbor county court judge ruled the state Fish and Wildlife Commission has no authority to set hunter orange requirements.

The recent Washington Legislature refused to pass a law specifically giving the commission that authority.

, DataTimes