Pheasant Club To Meet

The Spokane Chapter of Pheasants Forever will meet tonight at Cavanaugh’s 4th Ave at 7:30 to reorganize its dwindling member list, enroll new members and to discuss future conservation projects in the Spokane region.

The original Spokane Chapter formed in 1989. Tonight’s meeting, assisted by David Lockwood, Pheasants Forever western field representative, hopes to kickstart the Spokane Chapter into one of Washington’s largest and most active of the state’s 10 chapters.

In seven years, these chapters have participated in more than 1,000 projects which improved more than 24,000 acres of upland bird habitat in Washington.

New licenses required

Washington steelhead anglers must purchase a 1996 game fish license and steelhead license beginning Jan. 1, because of a law passed last year by the Legislature to consolidate licenses.

The free 1995-96 steelhead catch record card will remain valid until April 30, 1996. In previous years, both the catch record cards and steelhead licenses were valid until April 30, 1996, but this year, steelhead anglers will lose four months on their licenses so the Department of Fish and Wildlife can issue a consolidated license document covering fishing and hunting.

New licenses will be valid from Jan. to Dec. 31.

“Fishers and hunters wanted the convenience of one license document,” explained Bruce Crawford, director of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Management Services Program.

“We were able to provide that. However, steelhead fishers will have to purchase new licenses four months early this one time.”

An adult resident steelhead license costs $18 and an adult resident game fish license costs an additional $17. However, steelhead anglers can get a $5 credit from these prices when they turn in a steelhead catch record card to a licensed dealer by June 1.

Steelhead limits set

The spring Idaho steelhead season will open on Jan. 1 with the following bag limits:

On the Snake and Salmon rivers, the limit will be two fish per day and 10 per season. On the Clearwater river, it will be two fish per day and four per season.

An Idaho steelhead angler may keep a total of 10 steelhead for the spring season, four of which may be caught from the Clearwater river.

Idaho anglers who fish several rivers during the spring steelhead season may keep a total of 10 fish.

Public comments welcome

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public management suggestions for the state’s cougar population.

Comments should be sent to Michelle Tirhi at the Department of Fish and Wildlife; 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501. Or call (306) 902-2361.

, DataTimes