State takes preventative step

Hunters will not be allowed to bring unprocessed big-game meat harvested in certain states back into Washington this fall under rules enacted last weekend by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to help prevent the introduction of chronic wasting disease into the state.

Starting Sept. 1, hunters will be allowed to import only boned out or processed meat from deer and elk taken in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska and Saskatchewan.

Hides and capes will be allowed if heads are not attached; skulls and antlers will be allowed if all soft tissue is removed or finished by a taxidermist.

In other action Friday and Saturday in Lynwood, the commission:

•Adopted a statewide duck season, Oct. 16-20, and Oct. 23-Jan. 30, with pintail and canvasback hunting closed Oct. 23-Dec. 6. The special youth waterfowling weekend is Sept. 18-19.

•Set the goose season opener for Oct. 16, with a daily bag limit of four Canada geese. Other dates and daily bag limits vary and will be published in a regulations pamphlet later this month.

•Opened goose hunting on a 30-mile stretch of the Snake River behind Ice Harbor Dam.

•Abolished the 933-acre Moxee Game Reserve and created the 491-acre Snipes Game Reserve, both in Yakima County.

Panhandle Forest leads trips

The Panhandle National Forests is leading field trips to help the public understand how the current process to revise forest management plans affects projects “on the ground.”

Field trips, which run all day to about 4 p.m., are scheduled as follows:

•Saturday — Meet 9 a.m. at Bonners Ferry District Office. Destination: Boulder/Katka area. Main topics: vegetation management and access.

•Aug. 21 — Meet 9 a.m. at Fernan District Office or 10:30 at Wallace office. Destination: Silver Valley Fuels Reduction projects. Main topics: access, recreation, and fuels reduction.

•Aug. 25 — Meet 9 a.m. at Priest Lake District Office. Destination: Kalispell Creek watershed. Main topics: aquatics and wildlife restoration and vegetation.

•Aug. 28 — Meet 9 a.m. at Sandpoint District Office. Destination: Pack Saddle Mountain. Main topics: access, recreation, roadless areas and vegetation.

•Sept. 11. Meet 8 a.m. at St. Maries District Office. Destination: Upper Joe/ Mallard Larkins area Main topics: roadless areas, proposed wilderness, access and fires.

People planning to attend a field trip should contact forest planning coordinator Jodi Kramer, (208) 765-7235 or e-mail to jodikramer@fs.fed.us.

Bring your own lunch and water, walking shoes and appropriate clothing.

Meeting for Idaho waterfowlers

Idaho waterfowl hunters are being given a chance to speak up on fall hunting proposals before seasons are set later this month.

Oregon and Washington have adopted seasons using the entire 105-day framework allowed this year by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game, however, will survey hunter attitudes toward shorter seasons during a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at 2750 Kathleen Ave. in Coeur d’Alene.

Federal guidelines for the upcoming duck season allow for a long season similar to recent years. However, many local duck hunters have questioned the liberal season when duck populations seem to be low for the regional flyway, said Phil Cooper, department spokesman.

“The Federal framework is based on nationwide duck populations,” said department biologist Dave Spicer, noting that much of western Canada and the western U.S. are still suffering from a drought that has reduced duck numbers in recent years.

The department is asking hunters to consider three options:

•A full 105-day season from Oct. 2-Jan. 14

•An 84-day season with an early start, Oct. 2-Dec. 24.

•An 84-day season with a late start, Oct. 9-Dec. 31.

Sportsmen can weigh in with their preference for the upcoming season by attending the meeting or by visiting the Fish and Game Web site at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov through Aug. 17th.

Campfires restricted

As August marches on, land management agencies are getting more nervous about the dangers of wild fire. Until significant rain falls, expect to see more and more campfire restrictions on public lands.

On Monday, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced a temporary ban on open fires on 800,000 acres of the state’s wildlife areas and water access sites.

The ban includes campfires, except in iron or concrete fire pits provided in campgrounds.

Check conditions by calling the Washington Department of Natural Resources toll-free fire information line, 800-323-BURN, or by checking county-by-county on DNR fire information Web site, www.dnr.wa.gov/fire/index/html.