Field Reports: Big demand for overnight shelters

Overnight accommodations are hot commodities in the few Washington State Parks that offer them.

“The Quartz Mountain Lookout, the only overnight facility in Mount Spokane State Park, once again filled most of its summer and many of its fall vacancies within a few days after reservations were accepted starting March 1, park officials said.

For info on remaining days, call 238-4258.

“New this year, yurts can be rented at Seaquest State Park within walking distance of the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. Each yurt is 16 feet in diameter by 10 feet high and furnished with a queen-size futon, bunk bed, small end table and heater. Yurts may be reserved year-round, cost $45 plus tax per night and sleep six.

To reserve a state park cabin or yurt, call (888) 226-7688.

Info: www.parks.wa.gov/rentalplaces.

Rich Landers

HUNTING

Good year for elk hunters

The success rate for Idaho elk hunters was 19.5 percent in 2006 as sportsmen had another banner harvest across the state.

Washington, which generally records an overall elk hunter success rate under 10 percent, has not released figures for 2006.

Idaho hunters shot 20,257 elk in 2006, down slightly from 21,520 in 2005 and 20,925 in 2004.

The statewide elk population remains at about 125,000, and has been stable over the past six or seven years, big-game manager Brad Compton recently told the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.

Hunters also shot about 22,000 white-tailed deer of a population estimated at about 200,000, and about 30,000 mule deer of a population estimated at about 300,000 statewide, and they killed 1,525 pronghorns in 2006.

Idaho Fish and Game sold a total of 240,000 various tags to 134,000 resident and 25,000 nonresident hunters. Department officials got back 184,500 harvest reports on those tags.

Staff and wire reports

FISHING

Snaggers rile anglers

Some desperate anglers have been resorting to illegal snagging on steelhead on the North Fork and South Fork of the Clearwater River, Idaho Fish and Game Department officials say.

“It really makes ethical anglers mad to see snagging,” one angler said.

Steelhead become vulnerable to snagging as they move into shallow waters toward spawning time. Fishing regulations in Idaho and Washington prohibit intentional snagging of fish or keeping fish that are accidentally snagged.

Snagging is defined as taking a fish with a hook or lure in ways other than enticing a fish to strike and become hooked in its mouth or jaw, department officials say. In other words, the fish must do the striking, not the angler.

Report snaggers, along with descriptions and license plate numbers, to the Idaho poaching hotline, (800) 632-5999.

Rich Landers

SNOWMOBILING

Snowmobiling plan a go

The U.S. Forest Service intends to carry out a disputed plan that specifies where and when snowmobiles may travel in the Flathead National Forest.

The winter motorized recreation plan six years in the making was the subject of six unsuccessful appeals.

The plan allows snowmobiles on about 787,000 acres, or 91 percent of the forest trails and terrain historically open to them, the Forest Service said.

The general snowmobile season will be Dec. 1-March 31 with an extended season on 52,400 acres.

Snowmobile advocates’ appealed with concerns about restrictions. Snowmobile critics also appealed, saying season extensions violate previous forest planning terms intended to protecting grizzly bears.

Associated Press

BIRDWATCHING

Weeds in the seeds

Birdseed may be a treat for birds, but some of it may contain seeds of noxious or invasive weeds bad for crops and natural habitats.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is asking the Legislature for the authority to test and set content standards for birdseed mixes.

Oregon State University researchers found that a batch of commercial birdseed purchased at a Corvallis grocery store included 14 weed species.

Cleaning up around a feeder won’t solve the problem because bad seed can also travel by air.

“Not all the seed that goes into the beak is digested. Some of those seeds, including weed seeds, are hard to digest and pass right through,” says Dan Hilburn, plant division administrator at the Agriculture Department.

Associated Press

CONSERVATION

Groups hold fundraisers

Friends of Turnbull will support environmental education at Turnbull Wildlife Refuge with a fundraising auction April 15 at the Northern Quest Casino, 100 N. Hayford Rd., in Airway Heights.

Hors d’oeuvres will be served and a loud auction will follow a silent auction, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

More than 8,000 children a year take advantage of the refuge educational programs.

Buy tickets in advance by April 6. Telephone (509) 487-3358 or (509) 235-2760.

The Lands Council will hold its 12th annual banquet and auction on April 13 at Northern Quest Casino. Dinner, $50.

Reservations required. Info: (509) 838-4912.

Rich Landers