The state Fish and Wildlife Commission is expected to vote on a package of sportfishing rule changes for 2012-13 during its meetings Friday and Saturday in Olympia. The commission also is expected to increase the number of multiple season hunting permits issued each year.
The commission on Saturday is slated to adopt 18 sportfishing rules, which were developed with public input and discussed at the commission’s December and January meetings.
The proposals include closing steelhead fisheries earlier in a number of rivers in the Puget Sound area. Another proposal would change opening day of the lowland lake fishing season from the last Saturday in April to the fourth Saturday in April. For three of the next seven years, there will be five Saturdays in April. This proposal would open fishing one weekend earlier in years where there is a fifth Saturday in April.
All the proposed changes are posted at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals.
Hunting permits: On Friday afternoon, the commission is scheduled to vote on an increase in the number of multiple season hunting permits issued each year.
Since 2006, the department has conducted annual drawings for multiple-season hunting permits, which allow a certain number of hunters to participate in all general hunting seasons for deer and elk. Without the special permit, hunters must choose among archery, muzzleloader or modern firearm seasons.
The agency has proposed increasing the number of deer permits from 4,000 currently to 8,500, and the number of elk permits from 850 to 1,250. State wildlife managers told the commission in January that increasing permit levels will expand hunting opportunities without posing a risk to deer and elk populations.
Other items: The commission also is scheduled to receive briefings on the 2011 Puget Sound recreational and commercial crab fishing seasons, changes to the recreational clam and oyster seasons on Puget Sound beaches, the Colockum elk herd and the inland fish stocking strategy and marketing plan.
When: Starting at 8:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Room 172, Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Olympia
Agenda: A complete agenda is available at wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html.
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