Briefly

Bighorn tag back with state raffle

A single bighorn sheep hunting permit was issued to the winner of a state raffle for the Blackbutte, Wenaha and Tucannon areas this year, marking the first season for wild sheep in that region since disease decimated the herds in 1995-1996.

Previous to that virulent outbreak of bacterial pneumonia, the Blackbutte herd near Joseph Creek was known for producing record-book rams that attracted a bid of $100,000 when Washington first started offering a permit for auction in 1993 to raise funds for bighorn management.

The herds has built up again to about 150 bighorns, including a few trophy-class rams, said Pat Fowler, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist in Walla Walla.

“But they don’t seem to be able to totally recover,” he said. “One year we have a good lamb crop and the next year they start dying in July from pneumonia. A lot of money is being spent on disease research. We need to get answer to it.”

Reporting fines

Starting this year, Washington hunters face $10 penalties if they neglect to file the mandatory hunter reports following their season for deer, elk, black bear and turkeys.

The Washington Legislature approve the penalties to encourage more hunters to file their reports each year before Jan. 31. Wildlife managers use the reports as they set seasons for the following year.

Reports can be filed by phone at (877) 945-3492 or on the Internet at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov. You’ll need your WILD ID number to make the report.

New home for RMEF

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is moving into a spectacular new headquarters and museum in Missoula, with a grand opening scheduled for November.

The Elk Country Visitor Center is being finished right off the Interstate 90 Reserve Street Exit on the west side of town. The center has hands-on exhibits and activities geared to families and macho hunters alike, including elk bugling games and a theater.

And as usual, the organization continues to schedule fund-raising banquets sponsored by local chapters in the Inland Northwest to raise money for wildlife conservation.

For schedules and updates, check the Web at www.rmef.org.

Calling a fowl

Waterfowling seminars and more are scheduled around the goose- and duck-calling competition Saturday and Sunday at the Sportsman’s Warehouse in Spokane Valley. Info: 891-1900.

Areas open to hunting

Looking for a place to hunt?

Hunters can get a good start by surveying the 800,000 of Wildlife Recreation areas and other lands managed for wildlife habitat in various areas of the state by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department.

Washington has 65 Wildlife Areas, with 46 east of the Cascades.

About 26 of the wildlife areas are specifically geared to waterfowl, mostly in the Columbia Basin. Big-game habitat is the emphasis on 25 of the areas statewide.

More information about the areas is available on the Web at http://wdfw.wa.gov.

Goat tags rare

Mountain goats are almost as rare as mountain goat hunters in Washington and Idaho.

Wildlife managers estimate that Washington has 3,000 to 4,000 mountain goats scattered around the highest, rockiest terrain in the state. That’s down from an estimated 9,000 in 1960. Goat numbers have been intentionally reduced in areas such as Olympic National Park, where the species, which is not native to that area, was damaging native flora.

However, state biologists are not quite sure why goat numbers are declining in other areas, such as the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Washington offered only 17 hunting permits for mountain goats this year.

In Idaho, mountain goats seem to be holding their own. The state issued 57 goat-hunting permits this year.

Clearwater Forest info

With the end of the summer tourist season, the Clearwater National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Orofino has resumed regular fall business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, to better accommodate hunters, the office will also be open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 and Saturday, Oct. 8.

The office served as a visitor center seven days a week from the Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, serving thousands of visitors who traveled through or stopped to explore the area plus offering expanded hours for local residents looking for maps and firewood cutting permits.

If you’re still bringing in your winter’s wood supply and need a firewood cutting permit, or if you’d like information to help you scout for hunting season, be sure to stop by the office located along U.S. Highway 12, or call 208-476-8267.

Boating secret

Hunters and anglers are two of the highest risk groups for dying in boating accidents, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Waterfowl hunters heading out in the cold water and darkness, often wearing jackets stuffed with heavy ammunition, are sitting ducks, so to speak, for drowning.

Do a safety check on your boat before opening day, and wear lifejackets while aboard.

Report poaching

Anyone who witnesses or has information about any fish and game violation is encouraged to contact local sheriff’s offices or call special hotlines for game violations:

Idaho: (800) 632-5999.

Washington: (800) 477-6224.

Rewards are offered for information leading to convictions in many cases.

De-skunking a dog

Here’s a recipe for treating a dog that’s been sprayed by a skunk. It’s worth gold if the dog has to ride home in the same cab as the driver.

Mix one quart of hydrogen peroxide with cup of baking soda and one teaspoon of liquid soap.

Apply the mixture to the dog, keeping away from its eyes. Put the dog on a leash and take it for a walk upwind of your least favorite neighbors. Leave the mixture on the dog for at least five minutes before rinsing.

Then breathe easy.

Wyoming changes

Wyoming has started a program this year that will improve the chances for longtime nonresident hunters to draw elk, deer and antelope licenses in highly coveted hunt areas.

For the first time ever, nonresident applicants have the opportunity to apply for preference points, which increase the odds for people who come up empty-handed in the license drawings year after year by giving them a better chance the following year.

Nonresidents also can buy the points.