Field reports: Boulder-White Clouds monument, poacher sentenced, Grand Coulee geology tour, Steamboat Rock accessible fishing pier
PUBLIC LAND – Groups have added about 21,000 acres to a proposed national monument in central Idaho, to include petrified sequoia trees.
The Idaho Conservation League, Wilderness Society and others want the Obama administration to create the monument in the Boulder-White Clouds.
The additional acres include Malm Gulch, an area containing petrified trees and managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The area increases the proposed monument to 591,905 acres.
5 years, $24,000 fine for deer poacher
WILDLIFE – The Omak man who posted a photo of himself in a T-shirt reading “Damn I’m Good” while hoisting the severed head of one of many trophy Okanogan County bucks he poached in a two-year killing spree was sentenced last week to five years in jail and more than $24,000 in fines.
Garret V.J. Elsberg, 25, pled guilty to eight counts of unlawful hunting of big game and other charges.
“These were the most flagrant acts of poaching in my 25 years as a game warden,” said Jim Brown, former Washington Fish and Wildlife police officer.
Hunting regulations pamphlets published
HUNTING – Washington’s new 2014 Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations pamphlet has been published.
The month-long special permit application period ends May 22 for deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep and wild turkey.
Upper Grand Coulee geology tour set
EXPLORING – A day-long bus tour with expert geologists to explore the origins of spectacular Washington canyons is set for May 10, sponsored by the Ice Age Floods Institute.
Preregister: 235-4251, lindakl@centurytel.net.
On May 9, geologist Gene Kiver will present a free pre-trip lecture on the formation of Grand Coulee at 7 p.m. in the JFK Library at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.
Accessible fishing pier at Steamboat Rock
FISHING – A new ADA-accessible fishing pier has been installed at Steamboat Rock State Park near Electric City.
The 12-year, $60,000 project was spearheaded by Rotary Club of Grand Coulee Dam working with State Parks and a number of other organizations.
Hunters missed shot at trophy bighorn
CRITTERS – A massive bighorn sheep that died of natural causes and was later found by Alberta wildlife officials could be a world record, the Missoula-based Boone and Crockett Club says.
Alberta biologists speculate the bighorn died in early summer 2013 at age 10 1/2.
Preliminary measurements indicate the horns will exceed the world record of 208 3/8 taken by a hunter – also in Alberta – in 2000.
Boone and Crockett records include found trophies as part of the club’s mission to monitor trophy game as a barometer of wildlife management and conservation success.