Hunting 2011

Washington state’s first general hunting-fishing license fee increase in a decade kicked in at the beginning of September. Procrastinators are spending more money if they purchase their licenses after that date, although a few license fees decreased.

Eastern Washington hunters heading into the field this fall shouldn’t expect dramatic changes from last year’s game populations. Here’s the general trend from state survey information, some of which is still being gathered.

Washington’s new Discover Pass, required on vehicles accessing most state lands, might impact some sportsmen even though they get a parking permit when they buy their hunting and fishing licenses. The Discover Pass, created by the 2011 Washington Legislature, is generally required for vehicle access to state lands, including state parks, campgrounds, boat launches, trailheads and wildlife areas.

The last good barometer Snake River region hunters have had on the hatching success of upland birds has ended. Idaho Fish and Game biologists will no longer conduct aerial chukar surveys, the agency has announced. The agency has conducted annual chukar surveys since the mid-1980s primarily to provide a “forecast” for the upcoming season. The data were not biological data used to set seasons, officials said in a news release.

Deer hunters in one of Washington’s top white-tailed deer areas will be restricted to shooting whitetail bucks with four or more points on one side of their antlers. The antler point restriction debuts this season in northeastern Washington Game Management Units 117 (49 Degrees North) and 121 (Huckleberry).

Starting this season, hunters are required to use nontoxic shot in their ammunition while hunting any type of birds at 29 pheasant release sites in Eastern Washington. The nontoxic shot rule has been in effect at refuges and release sites for several years in Western Washington.