Field reports: Hunt could go to pot in Blue Mountains

HUNTING – Elk hunters heading to the Blue Mountains are being warned to stay off the grass.

Enforcement agents this summer busted a 25,000-plant growing operation in the Eckler Unit of the Blues Mountains southeast of Dayton, according to the Tri-Cities Herald.

Hikers who use trails are not likely to see the hidden plots of the illegal product. But hunters who often bushwhack to find game are more likely to stumble into plots, where trouble could occur.

Another bust occurred in Clackamas County, Ore., followed by a late August bust on plants totaling $25 million occurred on private timberlands in Northeast Oregon, the second of the year in Wallowa County.

Rich Landers

Researchers plot grizzly’s long swim

WILDLIFE – A young female grizzly bear fitted with a satellite collar for more than a year embarked on several lengthy swims across portions of Flathead Lake, wildlife officials in Montana said.

Sometimes the bear was in the water for 8-12 hours at a time, according to an Associated Press story.

Rick Mace with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said the 4-year-old grizzly made the swims after being captured on the west side of the lake near Flathead Lake Lutheran Camp late last summer.

Mace said the bear was fitted with the satellite collar she wore from June 2010 to earlier this month when it automatically dropped off as planned.

Associated Press

Sportsmen offer reward for off-road vehicle abuse

PUBLIC LANDS – The national Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 aimed at stopping lawbreakers who disturb public land, water and wildlife on motor vehicles such as ATVs.

“All-terrain vehicles are popular and powerful tools, with a valid place on our national forests,” said Jim Akenson, executive director. “However, these tools are too often abused, impacting habitat and hunting opportunities.”

For several years, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has offered a reward to tipsters in Montana who have reported people driving behind gates, vandalizing the land or harassing wildlife on all-terrain vehicles. The BHA board broadened the scope of the reward to include other northwestern states.

“We need motorized access to our public lands, but at the same time we need habitat totally separate from the noise and disturbance that comes with motor vehicles,” Akenson said. “When people drive behind closed gates, shoot from vehicles or trespass on private land, it gives all hunters a black eye. We need to police our own ranks.”

Rich Landers

Controversial plan cuts halibut limits

FISHING – Federal fisheries managers should weigh the economic impact before approving a Pacific halibut allocation plan that could reduce the number of fish caught by sport anglers on charter boats, according to Alaska lawmakers concerned about proposed changes.

The halibut allocation plan proposed by the National Marine Fisheries Service could cut the bag limit for charter boat anglers from two to one halibut. Rep. Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, said that could have a tremendous impact on Alaska coastal communities that depend on tourism connected to sport fishing.

Halibut decisions ultimately are governed by a treaty with Canada though a joint commission.

Fishery officials say halibut numbers in southeast Alaska and the central Gulf of Alaska has seen a steep decline for several years. The proposed catch-sharing plan is designed to preventing overharvesting of halibut.

Charter operators say commercial fishermen already receive the lion’s share of available halibut.

Associated Press