Field Reports

WILDLIFE

State elk range closed

About a fourth of the 12,000-acre Wooten Wildlife Area in southeast Washington’s Columbia County has been temporarily closed to all uses to help prevent disturbing elk and moving them onto surrounding private agricultural lands.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the access closure last week on the Cummings Creek drainage and Abel’s Ridge on the eastern part of the wildlife area. The closure will be in effect until April 10.

“Up to 200 elk have been disturbed or harassed enough to move through the fence and on to surrounding private land where they trample crops and cause other problems,” said Pat Fowler, department wildlife biologist.

Rich Landers

MOUNT SPOKANE STATE PARK

Summit road still closed

Although it looks somewhat like spring on Mount Spokane, the summit road remains closed because of ice and soft roadbeds, said Steve Christensen, state park manager.

The $5 day pass parking fee will go into effect May 2 and the summit road likely will be opened somewhat later in May, he said.

Reservations for overnights in the fire lookout cabin that’s being set up on Quartz Mountain should be available by mid-summer, he said.

Rich Landers

WILDLIFE

Mountain quail released

Nearly 150 mountain quail that had been captured in southwestern Oregon were re-introduced last weekend to former strongholds, with half going to the Asotin Creek area of southeastern Washington and half to the Craig Mountain area of Idaho.

The three states are working with the University of Idaho to monitor the birds and study their survival.

Mountain quail, which are slightly larger than the California quail commonly found in the Spokane area, thrived in portions of the Snake River canyon country until around the 1960s.

A combination of habitat changes apparently crippled the populations. Hunting seasons on the species were closed in this region in the 1980s, but the populations have never recovered.

Rich Landers

FLY FISHING

Youth fishing academy

The Washington Council of Trout Unlimited is taking applications for its second annual Northwest Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy, June 20-25 on Hicks Lake at the Gwinwood Conference Grounds in Lacey.

The program will select 24 youths, ages 14-18, who show an interest in conservation, natural resource stewardship, and fly fishing.

To apply, send an essay indicating applicant’s desire to attend and the expectations hoped to be gained.

Applications must be received by April 15. Cost, including meals and lodging, is $275. Fly fishing rods, reels, and fly-tying equipment will be made available. To inquire about the academy, volunteer, contribute, or to sponsor a youth, contact Dick Nye, (360) 491-9227 or e-mail 2005academy@comcast.net.

Rich Landers

PRIEST LAKE STATE PARK

Reservations pondered

The Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation is seeking public comment on a proposal to require reservations at Priest Lake State Park’s Lionhead Campground.

Requiring reservations and allowing larger RV’s are among the suggestions the public has submitted as the park revises its master plan for the first time since 1988, said Larry Townsend, park manager.

Proposals also call for a new day use area, camper cabins and a hike-bike-ski-in yurt system along with more trails.

“We held two open houses to present the plan to the public and appreciated those that showed up, but the turn-out was light,” Townsend said.

To review the preliminary Lionhead plans and make comments, contact Priest Lake State Park, (208) 443-2200, or the North Region Service Center in Coeur d’Alene at (208) 769-1511.

Rich Landers

HUNTING

Bill would allow limits

Western members of Congress are sponsoring legislation that would allow states to limit nonresident hunting and fishing licenses.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials said the bill would help preserve the state’s right to regulate hunting within its borders.

The measure was prompted by a 2002 ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said Arizona’s law allotting just 10 percent of bull elk and antlered-deer hunting tags to nonresidents was an act of “overt discrimination.”

Wyoming and Nevada’s nonresident caps also are being contested, and sportsmen and officials across the West are closely following developments.

“We are not going to give control to the federal government of one of Wyoming’s most important assets,” said Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., a sponsor.

The bill was drafted by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. Enzi joined Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont.; Ted Stevens, R-Alaska; John Ensign, R-Nev.; and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., as co-sponsors.

The bill would protect the traditional authority of the states to regulate hunting and fishing and allow states to continue distinguishing between residents and nonresidents when issuing hunting and fishing licenses, Enzi said.

Associated Press