January 13, 2008 in Outdoors

Field Reports: Anglers rewarded at Roosevelt

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Twenty-four anglers recently received a total of $1,100 in gift certificates for turning in tags that help Eastern Washington University researchers study trout in Lake Roosevelt.

The research, funded by the Bonneville Power Administration, has helped biologists and hatchery staffers manage the fishery.

In previous years, the study found that anglers catch triploid (sterile) hatchery rainbows at the same rate they catch traditional hatchery fish (diploids). Based on that data, all trout stocked in Roosevelt are Spokane stock triploids, which grow faster and bigger since they put no energy into reproducing, researchers say.

This year, the only tagged fish were native redband rainbows, in order to study whether they perform as well in the reservoir as the Spokane stock triploids.

From April to October, 536 tags were returned. Winning anglers, all from Washington, ranged from Spokane to Everett. Info: www.lrf.org.

Rich Landers

SNOWMOBILING

Rescuers recruit

Priest Lake Search and Rescue is trying to recruit and train more snowmobilers for backcountry evacuations.

A meeting is set for Friday, 7 p.m., at the Sheriff’s substation in Coolin.

Info: Mike Sudnikovich, (208) 443-2628.

Rich Landers

HUNTING

Elk bowhunting scrutinized

Archery hunting of elk in 31 central and eastern Montana hunting districts would be limited this fall under a proposal state wildlife commissioners advanced last month.

Areas affected by the proposal, which will be up for public comment at 44 meetings to be held statewide this winter, include the Missouri River Breaks, a place Commissioner Shane Colton said supports “the last greatest public elk herd in the United States.”

Supporters of the effort to limit archery hunting said it would help control hunter crowding, and provide some equity between archers and gun hunters.

Some hunting districts now have much more liberal opportunities for archers than for hunters with guns.

“If I have to draw a permit, why don’t archers have to draw a permit?” asked Vito Quatero of Bozeman.

Many urged the commission to study the proposal, saying statewide meetings are not the proper forum for evaluating it.

Associated Press

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