Hunting Guide 2013

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October 9, 2013 |

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HUNTING GUIDE

Hunting prospects for Eastern Washington NEWPORT – October is by far the single biggest hunting month of the year in the eastern region of Washington, with different season openers every weekend.

Oct. 1 marked the beginning of moose hunting, all by special permits in Game Management Units (GMUs) of the northeast and central districts of this region only. A total of 130 moose hunting permit holders are afield this month and next, most with an opportunity for a bull or a cow, but some are eligible for antlerless-only moose.

Oct. 5 was the start of quail and chukar and gray partridge hunt, and it should be good throughout the region. Northeast district spring conditions were conducive to good quail production, so hunting should be average or better. Central district

brood numbers for both quail and gray partridge look good, although some of the best quail habitat is in and around towns, and some of the best gray partridge habitat is on private agricultural fields where permission to access the land is key.

Southeast district chukar hunting should again be good in the breaks of the Snake River, especially in Asotin County.

Oct. 12 is the opening of modern firearm deer hunting season, and whitetail prospects in particular are good. The highest densities of white-tailed deer in the region are the northeast district’s valleys and foothill benches, especially the farm-forest mosaic in GMUs 105,108,117, and 121. Whitetail hunters are reminded that a fourantler-point minimum restriction

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remains in place for GMUs 117 and 121. Central district deer counts show whitetail numbers stable to increasing, with ample opportunity to harvest legal bucks.

WDFW white-tailed deer researcher Woody Myers asks successful antlerless whitetail hunters (youth, seniors, disabled, special permit holders, and late season archers) in GMUs 117, 121, and 124 to collect the heart, kidneys, reproductive tract, liver sample, and a tooth from harvested deer, and deposit them, with information about the date and location of harvest, at one of several drop-off locations in the region.

The WDFW regional office is located at 2315 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley; WDFW northeast district office at 755 S. Main St., Colville; Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge headquarters at 1310 Bear Creek Rd., east of

Colville; and weekend hunter check stations on Highway 2 near Chattaroy and Highway 395 near Deer Park.

Analysis of the collected organs will help determine the nutritional and reproductive health of the deer, Myers explained. Hunters providing a complete set of usable samples will be entered into a drawing for gift cards at local sporting goods retailers.

Mule deer are in good densities in the southeast district, especially on private lands where range and agricultural cropland come together.

Although there’s some whitetail hunting in the riparian areas of the southeast district, mule deer harvest is far greater there. The central district’s mule deer numbers appear to be stable to increasing in GMUs 130-142. Northeast district mule deer numbers are highest in GMU 101; they are far lower east of

the Columbia River.

Oct. 12 is also the opening of waterfowl hunting, although most of the region depends on late season migrant ducks and geese from Canada for best hunting opportunities. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer property along the Snake River in the southeast district provides excellent access once those birds come in. Local production throughout the region is limited, although the Pend Oreille River Valley in the northeast district can be decent for local birds.

Oct. 19 is the start of pheasant hunting and the prospects are optimistic for most of the region.

Northeast district spring conditions

were conducive to production, so average or better hunting can be expected.

The central district also appears to have good numbers of over-wintered birds and decent production.

The southeast district’s prospects are a little more unknown because June rains and a hot, dry summer may have affected pheasant chick hatches and survival.

Some farm-raised rooster pheasants will also be available from time to time throughout the three-month season at release sites described in the Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement See PROSPECTS, 2B

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| October 9, 2013

HUNTING GUIDE

Washington State Licenses

Deer season opens in October in most of Idaho BOISE – The regular deer season opens Oct. 10 in most regions of Idaho.

In some areas, a regular deer tag allows hunters to take either mule deer or white-tailed deer.

A white-tailed deer tag allows a hunter to take only a white-tail.

Many areas across the state also offer antlerless youth hunt opportunities, but check the 2013 big game rules brochure carefully for the areas where youth hunts are open.

To hunt deer in Idaho during

the regular season, a hunter must have valid 2013 Idaho hunting license and a deer tag.

Fish and Game law enforcement officials ask that hunters report any poaching or suspicious activities they encounter or hear about while hunting.

Most serious poaching cases are cracked and won only with the help of ordinary Idaho residents, hunters or others who report crimes.

Hunters with information about a wildlife crime may call

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the Citizens Against Poaching hot-line at 1-800-632-5999, 24 hours a day. Callers may remain anonymous. Or they may call the nearest Fish and Game office or local law enforcement.

Hunters also are encouraged to pick up a free copy of Idaho Fish and Game’s backcountry game meat care guide. The guide has helpful tips to ensure proper handling of game to avoid wasting the meat. The guide is available at Fish and Game offices and license vendors.

PROSPECTS | From Page 1

Program webpage. Non-toxic shot is required for all upland bird hunting on all pheasant release sites statewide to protect other wildlife species including waterfowl and raptors.

Oct. 26 marks the opening of modern firearm elk hunting, most of which occurs in the southeast district’s Blue Mountains where elk herds are stable, thanks to good calf production and survival, and excellent yearling bull survival.

The rugged country in the Blues, however, makes hunting a challenge, and general season hunters are limited to spike-only bulls, with branch-antlered bulls only by special permit. Most central district elk are on private land near Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, southwest of Spokane, so securing access is key; special permit hunts on the refuge itself address habitat damage caused by elk. Northeast district elk are scattered at relatively low densities, and are most abundant in GMUs 113 and 117.

In addition to these hunting openers, other seasons that started earlier continue. General season fall wild turkey hunting runs through Oct. 11 in most units in the region where the big birds are plentiful. Black bear hunting continues through Nov. 15. Forest grouse and early season cougar hunting continue through the end of the year. Rabbit, hare, raccoon, fox and bobcat hunting continue through March 15, 2014.

For more specific information about hunting opportunities in the

region’s three districts, see Hunting Prospects.

Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) campfire bans have been lifted, thanks to cooler, wetter weather. But conditions in many parts of the region are still relatively dry, leaving brush hard to sneak through during a hunt.

Most hunting in this region is on private lands and WDFW staff work with landowners to provide access in a number of different programs, including this year’s new “Hunt by Reservation” system; check out options on the Private Lands Access webpage.

WDFW enforcement officers remind hunters to know and play by the rules. The most common violations involve valid licensing and properly tagging harvested animals; wearing the required minimum of 400 square inches of fluorescent orange above the waist; no loaded weapons in or on any kind of motor vehicle; shooting within hunting hours (listed

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in rules pamphlets); trespass on private lands; use of motor vehicles behind road closures; and use of helmets when operating off-road vehicles.

All rules are online in the hunting season and regulation pamphlets WDFW officers in the northeast district also note hunters must know their legal target because there are several endangered species that cannot be hunted and killed, including wolves, grizzly bears, and caribou.

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HUNTING GUIDE

October 9, 2013 |

3b

Should be good hunting year NEWPORT – Pend Oreille County is part of WDFW’s District 1, including Ferry and Stevens counties, encompassing seven game management units (GMUs) including 101 (Sherman), 105 (Kelly Hill), 108 (Douglas), 111 (Alladin), 113 (Selkirk), 117 (49 Degrees North) and 121 (Huckleberry).

The following are descriptions of various hunting season prospects in District 1, as described by WDFW assistant district wildlife biologist Annemarie Prince.

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Hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of fluorescent orange above the waist.

Stay safe in Washington forests NEWPORT – Fall hunting seasons are fast approaching in the Inland Northwest and with that comes the opening of general hunting seasons. Rules and regulations are listed in the hunting pamphlets, available at local dealerships and online at http://wdfw. wa.gov/hunting/regulations/.

Contact Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife if you have any questions about a regulation or a hunting law.

Local Fish and Wildlife Officers would like to remind hunters of some of the rules to be aware of during the 2013-14 hunting seasons. Listed below are some of the most common areas of concern where violation rates appear to be increasing: • All hunting activities require that licenses and/or tags are purchased and carried with the hunter while in the field. Wildlife

that requires tagging must have the tags notched (month and date completely removed) and immediately attached to the carcass.

• Hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of Fluorescent Orange above the waist.

• No loaded weapons in/on a motor vehicle (includes ORVs).

• Hunting hours are printed in the big game and bird hunting regulation pamphlets. The closing hours are different for big game and bird hunting.

• Know where you are hunting and gain permission to hunt on private lands.

• Be aware of road closure areas where motorized vehicles are prohibited.

• Helmets are required to be worn when operating an ORV. • In Northeastern Washington there are several endangered species that cannot be hunted and

killed, including wolves, grizzly bears, and caribou. Know your target.

There is a four-point minimum for white-tailed Bucks in Units 117 and 121. Consult the 2013 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet.

A vehicle access permit or Discover Pass is required to be displayed for each vehicle entering a WDFW Access or Wildlife area. This permit is to be clearly displayed. These permits can be purchased at local retailers that sell hunting and fishing licenses or online at https://fishhunt.dfw. wa.gov/.

Purchasers of hunting and fishing licenses will continue to receive one Vehicle Use Permit with the purchase of a license. If people use other Washington State recSee SAFE, 4B

Upland birds: The spring of 2013 within District 1 seemed to be conducive in precipitation and temperature for reasonable survival of nest broods of gallinaceous game birds, including forest grouse, turkeys and quail. Therefore, all fall hunting season for these birds is expected to be average or better.

Waterfowl: With a moderate winter and enough precipitation to fill most of the ponds and sloughs in northeastern Washington, waterfowl nest production should be good this year. Most waterfowl hunting in District 1 is concentrated in the

Pend Oreille River Valley, including the river itself from Newport downstream to about River Bend and Ruby.

velopment of the Selkirk Elk Herd Management Plan.

Drawing a special permit within the quality buck deer and bull elk

Deer: The 2013 season will be the third season in which a four-point minimum antler restriction is in place for white-tailed deer within Game Management Units 117 and 121. Any antlered buck is legal for white-tailed deer in the other five GMUs of District 1 during the general seasons. For mule deer, the general three-point minimum on antlered bucks continues districtwide. One of the best opportunities for Youth, Senior, and Disabled modern firearm hunters to take a white-tailed deer, is the 4-day period from Oct. 17-20. During this time, these hunters can take either an antlerless white-tailed deer or a legal buck.

See hunting, 4b

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Elk: The 2013 hunting season will be the second in which only antlered bull elk are legal in the general seasons for all GMUs in District 1.

Antlerless elk may still be taken, but only by hunters with special permits. This rule came about by hunter-group request through de-

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| October 9, 2013

HUNTING GUIDE SAFE |

hunting | From Page 3b

categories is the ultimate hunting opportunity for Washington big game hunters and that maxim certainly applies in District 1. The best advice to most hunters who come here is to hunt the general deer and elk season opportunistically, but keep applying for special permit hunts and accruing bonus points, so that someday you may draw a moose or quality deer permit and already know the country for planning your big hunt.

Cougar: A total of 24 cougars were taken in the general hunt for cougars in District 1 (GMUs 101-121) during the 2012 hunting season, which was the highest harvest of cougars for any district in the state. In recent years, the use of dogs to hunt cougars has become generally prohibited. Consequently, in 2011 WDFW made substantial changes to the season. This recently developed season structure is based upon years of accumulated scientific information, including cougar population dynamics, home ranges, social structure, mortality

causes and mortality rates. With the appropriate licenses and tags, you can hunt cougar from September through December using any weapon. Starting Jan. 1, hunt areas (GMUs) where the harvest guideline is met or exceeded may be closed. If you want to hunt cougars after Jan. 1, you need to call the cougar hotline at 866-3644868 or go online to wdfw.wa.gov/ hunting/cougar to determine if the season is still open.

Black bear: District 1 typically supports the highest black bear harvest in the state and WDFW biologists expect ample opportunities to harvest

a black bear again this year. The fall general season in the district started Sept. 1 and the best success is often early in the season when the huckleberry crop is being targeted by bears.

There is also a spring season on black bears, however, that is by special permit drawing only.

Hunters should be aware that northeastern and north-central Washington supports a small population of grizzly bears, which are protected by state and federal law. The WDFW strongly encourages all black bear hunters to take on online identification quiz at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/ bear_cougar/bear/index.html.

From Page 3b

reation areas such as State Parks or Department of Natural Resource property, they will need to purchase a Discover Pass. The fine for not displaying a Discover Pass or Vehicle Access Pass is $99. If you observe any hunting related violations, contact the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s dispatch at 509-447-3151 (911 for emergencies), WDFW WILDCOMM dispatch at 877-933-9847 or the Regional Office in Spokane at 509-892-1001, and request a

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Fish and Wildlife Officer. You can also text your poaching/violation tips. Enter WDFWTIP (a space)

and the report. Send your text to: 847411 (TIP411). These reports are completely anonymous.

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