Posts Tagged ‘hunting’

Washington State DNR Releases Final Recreation Plan For Ahtanum State Forest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2010

DNR, Citizen Group Work To Improve Recreation Opportunities And Access

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today released a recreation plan for the Ahtanum State Forest, a 76,000-acre block of forested state trust land about 20 miles west of Yakima.

The Ahtanum State Forest is a popular year-round recreation area for visitors from both sides of the Cascade Mountains. Over the years, the area has experienced increased use from a variety of recreation activities including off-road vehicle riding, hiking, hunting, and horseback riding.

“This plan provides the foundation for creating safe, sustainable, and enjoyable recreation opportunities in the Ahtanum State Forest,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “The strength of the plan lies in the collaborative efforts of citizens representing diverse recreation interests who helped develop a vision for the forest.”

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Gifts for Outdoor Enthusiasts Offer Months of Enjoyment (Washington)

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

December 8, 2009
Contact: WDFW Licensing, (360) 902-2464

Olympia, WA – Gift shopping for a fish or wildlife enthusiast? The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) offers a variety of items for outdoor buffs on any gift list.

Shoppers can purchase recreational licenses and permits online, by telephone or at independent license vendors statewide. Applications for wildlife-themed license plates also are available online.

An annual resident adult freshwater fishing license is $26; a saltwater fishing license is $24.20; a shellfish/seaweed license is $14; and a combination fishing license is $48.20.

Resident hunting licenses vary with package options, ranging from a small-game license at $38 to a deer/elk/cougar/bear combination license for $81.20. Transaction and dealer fees are included in the price.

Fishing and hunting license fees include vehicle-use permits for access to 800,000 acres of wildlife lands in 32 wildlife areas and more than 600 water-access sites throughout Washington. Vehicle-use permits for access to these areas also can be purchased separately from recreational licenses for $14.

All annual licenses and permits are valid from April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011.

WDFW licenses and permits can be purchased on a secure Internet site at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/ , or by calling 1-866-246-9453. Recreational licenses and permits also can be bought at hundreds of license vendors throughout the state. Vendor locations are listed at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lic/vendors/vendors.htm . Shoppers will need the license holder’s WILD identification number, name and date of birth to purchase a fishing or hunting license.

Applications for wildlife-related license plate backgrounds or personalized plates for motor vehicles also are on-line at http://wdfw.wa.gov/license_plates/ . License plate background options include images of a bald eagle, killer whale, elk, mule deer or black bear. The wildlife-themed license plates cost $40.

Personalized license plate inscriptions, with a choice of up to seven letters or numbers not already in use, can be purchased for $49.75. A personalized license plate combined with any of Washington’s themed backgrounds is available for $89.75. These prices are in addition to standard vehicle-licensing fees. Proceeds from personalized and wildlife-themed license plates go to endangered-species recovery, habitat restoration and wildlife-management and protection programs.

Other WDFW products for holiday gift-giving include:

• Tickets for WDFW’s quarterly drawings for a lifetime of hunting and fishing privileges. Tickets are $7.05 for state residents and $13.59 for non-residents and are valid for all drawings within 365 days of purchase. For ordering information, see https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/
• Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary information on landscaping, supplemental feeding, nest boxes and other ways of creating year-round habitat for birds and other wildlife. The information packet costs $5. For ordering information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/backyard/
• WDFW wildlife books-”Living with Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest,” a 392-page guide to living and dealing with a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and “Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest,” a 320-page guide including specialty gardens for butterflies and hummingbirds, ponds and waterways, nest boxes and feeders and more. Each book costs $28 (including tax, postage and handling), and can be ordered at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/books_link.htm .

Visit the WDFW News Release Archive at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/

State DNR to hold public meeting on Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 6, 2009

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on a draft recreation plan for the Reiter Foothills Forest.
Reiter Foothills Forest is a popular recreation area located in eastern Snohomish County near Gold Bar and Index.

When: Wednesday, November 18, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: The Commons, Monroe High School, 17001 Tester Rd., Monroe

In 2007, the Washington State Legislature recognized the challenges of managing recreational use at Reiter Foothills Forest and funded DNR’s development of a sustainable recreation plan. For the past two years, DNR has worked with a diverse group of stakeholders – including citizens, user groups, representatives from conservation groups, and local officials – to create a recreation plan that identifies long-term recreation uses and addresses problems in the area.

In addition to Reiter Foothills Forest, DNR is also doing sustainable recreation planning for two other forest areas in Washington State: Ahtanum State Forest near Yakima and the western portion of the Yacolt Burn State Forest, north of Washougal.

DNR will release the draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan on its web site on Tuesday, November 10. DNR is requesting feedback from the public about the findings and recommendations in this plan. In conjunction with the public review of the plan, DNR is also conducting an official State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process. The public comment period runs from November 10 through December 4.

For more information about the meeting, contact Candace Johnson, 360-854-2803 or candace.johnson@dnr.wa.gov .

The public can provide all written comments about the Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan or the SEPA environmental analysis to:

Washington State Department of Natural Resources
SEPA Center
PO Box 47105
Olympia, WA 98504
sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov

Recreation On DNR-Managed Lands
DNR manages more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, aquatic, agricultural, conservation and urban lands. Most recreation on these lands takes place in the 2.2 million acres of forests that DNR manages as state trust lands. By law, state trust lands are managed to produce income for schools, universities, prisons, state mental hospitals, community colleges, local services in many counties, and the state’s general fund. State trust lands are also managed to provide fish and wildlife habitat and educational and recreational opportunities.
DNR-managed lands provide 1,100 miles of trails, 143 recreation sites, and a variety of landscapes throughout Washington State. Recreational opportunities include hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, camping, motorized vehicle riding, mountain biking, and boating.

DNR’s main recreation focus is to provide trails, trailhead facilities, and a primitive experience in a natural setting.

Media Contact: Toni Droscher, Recreation Program Communications Manager, 360-902-1523 or toni.droscher@dnr.wa.gov .

Enjoy Fall at a National Wildlife Refuge

For Release on August 4, 2009

Contacts:
Vanessa Kauffman, 703-358-2138, vanessa_kauffman@fws.gov
Martha Nudel, 703-358-1858, martha_nudel@fws.gov

Enjoy Fall at a National Wildlife Refuge

A world of seasonal wonders awaits you this fall at a National Wildlife Refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the world?s premier system of public lands and waters
set aside to conserve America?s fish, wildlife and plants. There is a National Wildlife Refuge within an hour?s drive of most major cities.

Premier Hunting Experiences Accessible?

Where is the closest National Wildlife Refuge that offers turkey hunting for people with disabilities?

You don?t need to guess or start phoning names on a long list. A new National Wildlife Refuge System interactive Web site, Your Guide to Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges, (http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting) provides
hunters with an easy search mechanism to find a refuge by special interest, such as game species (i.e. deer, waterfowl, big game), zip code, youth or special needs (i.e. universally accessible), or using any combination of
topics. You can also search by a refuge name or state name.

More than 2 million hunters visit National Wildlife Refuges each year. Hunting, within specified limits, is permitted on more than 300 refuges. Of these, 43, including Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland and
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona offer accessible turkey hunting; 97 refuges offer youth hunts.

While definitions of hunting categories vary by refuge and state, migratory bird hunting generally includes ducks and geese. Small game hunting includes animals, such as rabbit, squirrel and raccoon. Big game hunting may cover animals like elk, moose and bear.

Refuge hunts are carefully managed to give hunters a quality experience according to four guiding principles: manage wildlife populations consistent with approved management plans; promote visitor understanding and appreciation for America?s natural wildlife resources; provide quality recreational and educational experiences; and minimize conflicts with visitors participating in other wildlife-dependent recreational activities.

The instructive Web site offers additional information and includes tips to hunters, facts on archery hunting, special stories about hunting in Alaska and becoming a more effective waterfowl hunter. In addition, information on state hunting licenses is provided. For those who wish to bring the guide with them; it is available as a downloadable publication organized by state.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and
trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Burley Mountain to Mt St Helens Tour 10.13.07

Each time I venture to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in the South Cascades of Washington state, I am simply amazed at the beauty of the country. In this region, not only are you are surrounded by four major peaks of the Cascade Mountains (Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood), there is an extensive variety of terrain ranging from deep valleys and canyons to exposed buttes and cliffs, alpine meadows to old growth forests, and of course, the Mt. St. Helens blast zone. I could easily spend days or even weeks just exploring the region.

With that in mind, I decided to host a Backroad Drivers Northwest tour in the area just south of Randle, Washington. This region is an area which I am fairly familiar with having spent a lot of time hunting, camping and exploring with my father while growing up. The tour would follow one of my favorite routes in the area, Forest Road 77 from the Burley Mountain Lookout along the ridge past Pinto Rock and Mosquito Meadows. From Mosquito Meadows, we would would take FS 99 to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint at Mt. St. Helens and follow FS 26 back to Randle.
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Sportsmen United for Sensible Mining

National Hunting and Fishing Day is an appropriate occasion for considering a legacy of a different kind - an unfortunate legacy that continues to negatively impact American hunting and fishing and that calls the future of our sport into question. More than a century of hard rock mining on America's public lands has left its mark on fish and wildlife populations. The TRCP is working to correct the problem, and we urge sportsmen to join in an effort to reform the 1872 Mining Law.

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New Pacific Northwest Outdoors Forum Launched – PNWoutdoors.net

Just launched is a new forum at http://www.pnwoutdoors.net for all of you to discuss and share your favorite Pacific Northwest outdoor activities. Discuss and plan trips. Discuss outdoor activities including wheeling, camping, hiking, snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking and more. I'll be adding more categories as the forum takes shape.

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