Prime time for hunter ed; Idaho offers combo class

HUNTING – Summer is prime time for new hunters to enroll in hunter education classes in Idaho and Washington. State wildlife officials say prospective hunters to procrastinate can find fall classes full or in conflict with fall school and sports schedules.

Hunter ed enrollment options details are on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Idaho Fish and Game Department websites.

To make the best use of time, Idaho Fish and Game offers combo classes that satisfy the state’s requirement for hunter education in both rifle and archery hunting for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1975.

Independent study or online classes are available in both states and must be concluded by scheduling a required field day with a certified instructor.

“An instructor-led course is considered the best option for youth ages 9 to 14, and for individuals having minimal hunting experience,” said Phil Cooper, Idaho Fish and Game educator in Coeur d’Alene.

The Panhandle Region is offering a daytime class that starts June 19 and meets four consecutive days, 8 a.m.-noon. “These dates do not conflict with school or homework, so this class is very popular and will fill up fast,” Cooper said Tuesday.

Coeur d’Alene field days for online students are held the second Saturday of the month. The next one is scheduled for July 8.

Utah wildlife director tapped for federal post

WILDLIFE – Greg Sheehan, director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Service for nearly five years, has been named acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced Monday.

Sheehan has more than 25 years of experience with the State of Utah working in wildlife and natural resource management.

Technically he was appointed to a newly created deputy director position, according to an Interior media release. A lifelong hunter and angler, Sheehan will begin managing an agency of 9,000 people at facilities across the country in mid-June and will serve as the acting director until a director is nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the 150 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System of more than 560 National Wildlife Refuges and thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. Under its fisheries program, FWS operates 70 National Fish Hatcheries, 65 fishery resource offices and 86 ecological services field stations.

States target invasives with boat inspections

INVASIVES – Montana is getting serious about its new boat inspection program to curb the introduction of aquatic invasive species to its lakes and streams.

Idaho also has mandatory boat inspection stations and Washington has several including a part-time station on Interstate 90 near the state line.

Montana’s check stations are just popping up this season. To make the new watercraft inspection rules clear, the state Fish Wildlife & Parks officials sent out this Q&A for boaters who might be confused about the requirements.

Q. Are you bringing your boat into Montana from out of state?

A. You need to be inspected prior to launching.

Q. Are you crossing the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin?

A. You need to be inspected prior to launching.

Q. Are you encountering an open inspection station?

A. If you have a watercraft with you, you must stop and get inspected.

To make inspections faster in all states, follow the basic procedures they’re emphasizing for aquatic invasive species deterrence boiled down to four words: “Clean, Drain, and Dry.”

Blackfeet restrict boats on reservation waters

FISHING – Blackfeet tribal leaders have reopened four reservation waters to motorized boats after approving new regulations in response to the threat of aquatic invasive mussels.

Motorized boats are allowed only in St. Mary, Duck, Mission and Four Horn lakes, the Flathead Beacon reports.

Boats with ballast tanks, or live wells, are prohibited on all waters.

Felt sole wading boots are also prohibited.

Non-motorized boats, such as kayaks and canoes, are allowed in all bodies of water.

All boats are required to receive an official inspection before launching into a lake or river on the reservation.

Tribal leaders had closed all reservation waters in November after the invasive mussels were discovered in the state. The mussels had been found in Tiber Reservoir and are suspected at Canyon Ferry Reservoir.