Field reports: Panel considers hunting proposals

WILDLIFE –The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will vote on proposals affecting hunters Friday and Saturday in Olympia. Among them:

• Restricting hunters to shooting only whitetail bucks with four or more antler points on one side in Units 117 and 121.

• Authorizing landowner hunting permits to increase access for deer and elk hunters on private lands in Asotin County.

• Increasing spring black bear hunting seasons and permits in western and northeast Washington.

• Adjusting moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat hunting permit levels.

• Simplifying game-management unit boundary descriptions for deer and elk hunting.

• Adjusting elk and deer general seasons and special-permit levels, in response to population increases or declines. Antlerless white-tailed deer hunting would affected in northeast units while maintaining opportunities for youth, senior and disabled hunters.

Rich Landers

Elk group grants boost state projects

OUTFUND – Elk research at Mt. St. Helens and habitat improvements on four national forests and other public lands in Washington are among projects selected for 2011 grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Projects on the East Side include weed control and prescribed-burn habitat improvement projects set for Asotin County as well as the Cottonwood Creek area of Stevens County and along Sullivan Creek in Pend Oreille County.

The grants total $156,380 with an impact on up to 100,000 acres, RMEF said. Grants usually are leveraged with money from agencies for more benefits on the ground.

Rich Landers

Roosevelt offers discount permits

NATIONAL PARKS – Season boat-launch permits for Lake Roosevelt cost $30 if purchased by April 30. After that, the cost increases to $40.

A seven-day $6 permit is available at launches.

Federal Golden Age, Golden Access and Interagency Senior or Access Pass cardholders get 50 percent off fees.

Info: National Park Service, 1008 Crest Dr., Coulee Dam, WA, 99116, telephone   (509) 633-9441, extension 110.

Rich Landers

Clinics offered

FLY FISHING – Oregon guide Tom Larimer will present a free steelhead fly-fishing tactics clinic Friday, 6 p.m., at Silver Bow Fly Shop in Spokane Valley.

Spey-casting clinics also will be taught by Larimer:

• Intro to Spey Casting on Saturday morning. Cost: $50.

• Advanced Spey Casting, Saturday afternoon. $50.

Preregister, including the free clinic: 924-9998.