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Comments sought of hunting rule changes

DOUG HUDDLE; FOR THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Published: Feb. 8, 2013 at 1:00 a.m. PST
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Further expansion of spring black bear hunting opportunities in Northwest Washington to cope with ongoing damage to trees on managed forest lands is captured in one of 17 proposed changes to the 2013 Washington hunting regulations.

Written contributions of opinion pro or con on any or all of the recommendations can be submitted to the department until Friday, Feb. 15, for submission to the fish and wildlife commission.

The nine-member panel will take more oral and written testimony on the changes at its March Moses Lake session and then make final decisions yea or nay on the modifications at its April adoption meeting in Olympia.

SALMON PREDICTIONS UNVEILED

It's a month later than has been the custom but the salmon run forecast meeting, which starts the public phase of the North of Falcon process culminating in the setting of treaty and non-treaty salmon fishing seasons, is set for Friday, March 1, in Olympia.

On the first day of March we'll know if state and tribal fish managers think there will be enough humpies coming back to the Nooksack to allow a fishing season to happen this summer.

ADVISE THE GAME WARDENS

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) also is seeking nominees through Thursday, Feb. 28, for five positions on its enforcement advisory group.

COMING SUNDAY

For more details on the 2013 hunting regs changes, a rundown on the North of Falcon schedule and how to apply to advise the watchers, plus more fishing and hunting news, read Sunday's Outdoors Column.

Doug Huddle, The Bellingham Herald's outdoors correspondent, since 1983, has written a weekly fishing and hunting column that now appears Sundays. Read his blog and contact him at pblogs.belinghamherald.com/outdoors.

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