Rules pamphlet corrections

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued corrections for the recently published 2008-09 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet.

Corrections pertaining to waters in this region include:

•Page 77 – Boulder Creek (Okanogan Co.) and tributaries.

Correction: The season runs June 1-Oct. 31.

•Page 82 – Columbia River from Wells Dam to Chief Joseph Dam.

Correction: The July 16-Aug. 31 salmon fishery is open from Wells Dam to the Highway 17 Bridge at Bridgeport.

•Page 91 – Big Tiffany Lake (Okanogan Co.).

Correction: Eastern brook trout do not count as part of the trout daily limit.

•Page 99 – Sullivan Lake.

Correction: The daily limit for trout is two.

Info: (360) 902-2700; http://wdfw.wa.gov.

Rich Landers

BIG GAME

Winter still taking its toll

While most adult mule deer does being monitored by Idaho Fish and Game survived the winter, only about 30 percent of the fawns survived, statewide surveys show.

That indicates mule deer numbers will remain about the same this fall, but yearling buck numbers will drop significantly in most areas.

The 30 percent statewide fawn survival tied 2005-06 as the poorest rate since Idaho began monitoring fawns in 1998-99, officials said last week.

A dry summer, followed by deep snow and delayed spring greenup contributed to higher than normal April and May fawn mortality.

Lowest fawn survival was 8 percent in the Palisades area.

Idaho Fish and Game

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

Colorado hammers license evaders

Suddenly, the price of gas seems relatively cheap to 12 Coloradans who pleaded guilty to felony charges of registering their recreational vehicles in Montana to avoid Colorado state taxes.

The Colorado Department of Revenue said last week that 122 RV owners have been billed a total of $2.7 million for unpaid sales taxes, penalties and interest.

Colorado officials said that several states have problems with high-priced RVs being registered in Montana because the state doesn’t have sales taxes on motor vehicles and has low registration fees. A recreational vehicle can cost as much as $1 million.

Associated Press

STATE LANDS

DNR dedicates Naneum forest

A new state forest between Yakima and Ellensburg created this winter by land exchanges with a private timber company will be dedicated Saturday, Department of Natural Resources officials say.

The ceremony opening the 71,000-acre Naneum Ridge state forest will start at 1 p.m. at Walter Flats, 20 miles north of Ellensburg.

Negotiated over the past two years, the exchange netted 61,000 acres of new state trust land on the east slopes of the Cascades. An agreement traded 20,970 acres of state trust lands scattered in mostly small parcels across 15 counties for 82,548 acres of mostly forested land belonging to Western Pacific Timber.

Much of the land had been mingled in a checkerboard pattern with DNR trust land.

“This area is right in the heart of migratory routes and spring and fall range for both the Yakima and Colockum elk herds,” said Rance Block of the Elk Foundation.

“Blocking up large sections like this is essential to wisely managing these lands and preventing more fragmentation of the landscape by residential and other development,” said Bill Robinson of The Nature Conservancy Washington.

Rich Landers

NATIONAL FORESTS

Call before planning trip

The ravages of winter are still affecting recreation access on national forests. For example, a massive snow and debris slide just before the Memorial Day weekend closed roads and campgrounds in the upper Icicle Valley about 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth.

The main Icicle Road No. 7600, leading to some popular campgrounds and trailheads for the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, could be closed for months.

Damage assessments may not begin until late June. However, access to the wilderness is still open via Eightmile Road.

Officials from most forests recommend calling in advance to ranger stations on weekdays for advice on access restrictions before planning a visit.

Rich Landers