HUNTING – Proposals to restrict the use of bait for hunting were tabled by the state Fish and Wildlife Commission today, April 10, but the panel adopted a slate of hunting changes including elimination of a four-point buck rule in Northeastern Washington.

Many of the rules approved by the commission at the Tumwater meeting will expand hunting opportunities. Among them:

• Adding two days to the modern firearm season for mule deer. 
• Adding more opportunity for antlerless whitetail hunting in northeastern Washington, notably for youth, senior and disabled hunters.
• Shifting archery elk season to start the Saturday after Labor Day to provide hunting in cooler weather. 
• Doubling the amount of spring bear permits in northeast Washington.
• Allowing elk hunters using muzzleloaders to hunt in more game management units.
• Increasing moose permits to 170 from 136 in the northeast part of the state, where moose populations are near an all-time high.

The commission did not adopt a controversial proposal to restrict the use of bait when hunting for deer and elk, even though neighboring states such as Idaho already prohibit baiting. The panel directed the Department of Fish and Wildlife to work up new options for consideration next year.

The new rules will be in the 2015 Big Game Hunting pamphlet to be published this spring and online here.

Here's more information on some of the actions taken today from WDFW public information officer Craig Bartlett:

• Two more days for modern-firearm mule deer season:  At hunters’ request, WDFW evaluated harvest levels and hunter-participation rates and agreed to propose two additional days of hunting. Those extra days will be added to the end of the season.
• Later start for archery elk season:  Several years ago, the season was moved to early September, raising concerns about wildfire closures and meat-handling safety in late summer. Under the new rules, the season will start the Saturday after Labor Day and run for 13 days.
• More GMUs for early muzzleloader elk season:  Historically, fewer game management units (GMUs) have been open to elk hunters using muzzleloaders than to other groups. Under the new rules, 27 more GMUs will be open to muzzleloaders.
• Moose permits will rise in northeast:  With moose populations in northeastern Washington near an all-time high, we can make more tags available. Moose permit areas have also changed, creating even more hunting opportunities. 
• More antlerless whitetail hunting in northeast:  Antlerless deer opportunities in northeastern Washington were dramatically reduced in recent years by the effects of some hard winters. Many of those hunting opportunities are being restored now that the herds are showing signs of recovery.
• Maximizing multi-season deer permits: To make the most of multi-season deer permits, the Commission has authorized WDFW to sell permits that were not picked up by raffle drawing winners. These “left over” permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis after Aug.1 to hunters whose names were not drawn.
• Extended hunting seasons for cougar: The cougar harvest in most areas of the state never reaches the guidelines set in the Game Management Plan. This year’s hunting seasons will be extended into April to increase hunting opportunities wherever possible. However, hunters should be sure to check the hotline, because the late season is still subject to closure based on harvest results and the harvest guidelines.