26-Pound Chinook The Big One On Lake Cda

A 26-pound, 14-ounce chinook salmon, caught by Jerry Sturgis of Coeur d’Alene, was the largest chinook boated during the Big One derby that ended Sunday on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Sturgis, who caught the salmon off Harlow Point in the south end of the lake a week ago, won a boat, motor and trailer valued at $15,000.

Other top winners: Second-Jack Wood, Spokane, 25-pound salmon, 14-foot boat, motor and trailer. Third-Rick Caddy, Wenatchee, 24-pound salmon, 9.9-horsepower engine.

Jeff Smith of the Fins & Feathers shop said 1,100 anglers entered the derby. They caught 16 salmon weighing more than 20 pounds. About 200 were in the 10- to 15-pound bracket.

Fishing was good the first six days, but the chinooks developed lockjaw Saturday and Sunday.

Area turkey hunting on TNN

Spring turkey hunting in Eastern Washington will be featured on a cable television sportsmen’s program on TNN Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Two world champion turkey callers form Georgia join Dan Blatt, the state Fish and Wildlife Department employee who supervised the introduction of wild turkeys to Washington, for the hunt in Ferry, Stevens, Garfield and Columbia counties.

Good news for Idaho waterfowlers

Idaho waterfowl hunters have much to celebrate with longer shooting hours, increased limits, a longer season and legalization of bismuth shot.

Also, the overall duck population is up and Canada geese continue to do well.

“This is the third year in a row that we have seen an increase in duck numbers,” said Gary Will, Idaho Fish and Game waterfowl manager.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission last week increased the daily limit for ducks to six, including no more than one hen mallard, two pintails, two redheads and one canvasback.

The duck season has been lengthened from 69 to 93 days.

Waterfowl shooting hours, which previously started at sunrise, will begin one-half hour before sunup during the upcoming season.

With ducks, northern and eastern Idaho will have a season from Oct. 7 to Jan. 7.

For geese, the season statewide runs from Sept. 30 to Jan. 7. The limit in northern, eastern and southeastern Idaho is four.

Graphic bear video banned

Sponsors of a proposed ballot measure to ban the use of bait and hounds in black bear hunting said their free speech rights were violated last week when Western Idaho Fair officials barred them from showing fairgoers a graphic video of a bear being mauled by hounds.

The Idaho Coalition United for Bears leased a booth at the fair to gather signatures in an effort to put its initiative on the November 1996 ballot.

But after previewing the 6-minute video, fair manager Don Bich said the film was too graphic and not fit for the family audience at the fair.

Sportsmen’s groups are uniting in a campaign to fight the proposed initiative.

“The animal rights movement, if successful, will irreparably harm a proven management system,” said a statement by the Sportsmen’s Heritage Defense Fund. The group includes conservation organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep.

Idaho’s hunting industry provides $400 a year to the state’s economy, the group said.

Washington fishing law changes for kids

If you’re a kid from out of state, the fishing rules have changed in Washington.

A little-known law passed by the recent Washington Legislature requires non-resident children under the age of 15 to purchase a license before they can catch fish in state waters.

Resident kids don’t need a license.

A state Fish and Wildlife Department official said enforcement agents are finding it difficult and embarrassing to enforce the law. Only 15 of the $20 non-resident children’s season licenses have been sold this year, the agency reports.

Canada good season extended by state

The 1995 early Canada goose season in southwest Washington has been extended by the state Fish and Wildlife Commission by three days.

The season will run from Sept. 1-15 due to high breeding levels. The daily bag limit will remain at three geese per day, though hunters may have a total of six geese in their possession at any time.

According to Don Kraege, the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s waterfowl section manager, the Canada goose population levels in Washington are at historic highs.

Hunters do not need a special permit to participate in the early goose season, but do need to obtain a Washington hunting license as well as state and federal duck stamps.

For the season boundaries and other information, consult the 1995 hunting regulation pamphlet.