Waterfowl Change Likely

For Washington sportsmen, rule and regulation changes are as inevitable as the passing seasons.

One significant change for 1996, however, is the likely addition of late summer waterfowl hunting opportunities and perhaps an increased duck bag limit in the fall.

Don Kraege, waterfowl manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife in Olympia, said plans are in the works to offer a Sept. 3-9 Canada goose season in southeast Washington, as well as an expanded hunt in southwest Washington.

Under the proposal, waterfowl hunters would be allowed to hunt Canada geese along the Snake River from Lower Monumental Dam upstream to the Idaho border, including field hunting in all of Asotin, Columbia and Garfield counties and that part of Whitman County south of Highways 26 and 195.

Yet to be determined is whether hunting would be permitted on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands.

Also, because of excellent breeding conditions expected, Kraege said there is a possibility the fall bag limit on ducks could be increased to seven.

Lake Meridian promising

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recently stocked Kent’s Lake Meridian with 9,400 rainbow trout, with almost half being a foot long or larger.

The lake is usually stocked by the traditional fishing opening day in April, but the department held back this year to cut down on fish predation by cormorants. The birds normally leave the area by early May, and the department hopes that the delay will allow for more fishing opportunities for anglers.

, DataTimes