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Southwest Washington
Wildlife Reports
November
12, 2008
Region
5 Wildlife Areas
Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area: Duck Lake Unit, Unlawful Posting: Wildlife
Area Manager Calkins spent a day researching boundaries and hiking into the
Duck Lake Unit in the LaCenter Bottoms, a satellite of the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife
Area, due to a waterfowl hunter's call who had encountered No Trespassing signs
there. For the public, the unit is only accessible by boating up the East Fork
of the Lewis River and then walking across undeveloped County Park property.
With permission of Parks staff, Calkins was able to drive in part way then walk
into the site and located three no trespassing/no hunting signs, which were
removed. He also used GPS coordinates to place WDFW property boundary signs
on trees near the NE and SE property corners. Due to the small size (40 acres)
and difficult access, this unit does not receive a lot of public use but offers
good waterfowl hunting opportunities for those who go the extra mile to get
there. The unit is also extremely difficult to traverse, with dense reed canary
grass to walk through interspersed with old drainage canals with soft bottoms.
Of particular note, users of the site should pay special care when walking near
the canals as old collapsed beaver and nutria dens are common. Calkins saw many
of these but also fell into several that were covered with matted vegetation.
An interesting note on wildlife using the site is the number of snipe present
of which he saw at least 30.
Klickitat Wildlife Area HCP Activities: Manager VanLeuven participated in the HCP activities assessment for all the units in the Klickitat Wildlife Area with the HCP staff from Olympia.
Outreach: Manager VanLeuven was interviewed by KLCK 1400 am radio in Goldendale for a 20 minute radio program highlighting the Klickitat Wildlife Area.
Game
Management Division
Elk Season: District Biologist Anderson reports very poor hunter success
in the South Cascades GMU's, including Lewis River, Siouxon, Wind River, and
West Klickitat for this year*s modern elk season. Large numbers of hunters were
out on opening weekend but few elk were harvested. Mid-week snow levels improved
hunting opportunity but hunters still reported very little sign. 22 elk have
been reported taken so far in units surrounding the Trout Lake/Mt Adams area.
During previous seasons the reported harvest would normally be closer to 75-80
elk.
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| The
opening day of SW Washington goose season was very successful with over
80 geese checked at the Vancouver and Woodland check stations. |
SW Washington Goose season: The goose season in area 2A began this weekend in Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, and Clark Counties. The opening day was very successful with over 80 geese checked at the Vancouver and Woodland check stations. Most of the geese taken were Cacklers and large numbers of Cackler flocks have been observed in SW Washington. Hunters are reminded that they need to record all geese taken, not just Canada geese, and present them at a check station prior to 6:00 pm. Check station employees will examine the birds and identify subspecies of geese. If a Dusky Canada goose is taken the hunter will have his permit to hunt in Area 2A and 2B invalidated. The season will extend into late January on selected days. Hunters should review the regulations for this hunt on page 19 of the 2008-2009 Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons pamphlet.
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