Fish and Wildlife Commission
Meeting Minutes & Agendas
Audio Transcripts
| Meetings of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission are tape-recorded. Portions of the recordings are excerpted below for the relevant agenda items. The commission also maintains complete recordings of all meetings. |
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
March 18-19, 2016
Moses Lake Civic Center
401 S Balsam Moses Lake, Washington 98837
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016
| 8:00 AM | 1. Call to Order Download MP3 File [2.9 MB]
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| 8:15 AM | 2. Open Public Input Download MP3 File [10.9 MB] The Commission is a direct link between the citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting.NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda. |
| 8:45 AM | 3. Director's Report Download MP3 File [12.7 MB] The Director will brief the Commission on various items.- Director's Report - PDF Format 168 Kb) |
| 9:15 AM | 4. Conservation and Sustainable Fisheries Plan - Briefing Download MP3 File [24.4 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on actions taken in the lower Columbia River to implement the Hatchery and Fishery Reform Policy C-3619.- Summary - PDF Format (494 Kb) Staff Report: Cindy Le Fleur, Region 5 Fish Program Manager and Pat Frazier, Region 5 Policy Coordinator |
| 10:15 AM | 5. Hunter Education Deferrals - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [8.8 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on the hunter education deferral process and seek approval to amend WAC 232-12-228 in an effort to improve rule clarity and enhance customer service.- Summary - PDF Format (27 Kb) Staff Report: Dave Whipple, Hunter Education Division Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only |
| 10:35 AM | 6. Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations and Closures - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [11.9 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on the proposed updates and amendments to migratory bird hunting seasons and regulations and on an amendment to the boundary description of a closure on the Snake River.- Summary - PDF Format (31 Kb) Staff Report: Don Kraege, Waterfowl Section Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only |
| 11:05 AM | 7. Small Game Seasons- Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [3.8 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed dates, bag limits, and other rules for small game and other wildlife hunting.- Summary - PDF Format (25 Kb) Staff Report: Mick Cope, Game Division Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) |
| 11:20 AM | 8. Bighorn Sheep Special Permits - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [3.8 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to bighorn sheep permit levels and opportunities.- Summary - PDF Format (27 Kb) Staff Report: Rich Harris, Ph.D., Special Species Section Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) |
| 11:40 AM | 9. Auction Tags and Landowner Hunting Permits - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [8.9 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on new auction opportunities and calendar date adjustments to the landowner hunting permit seasons for 2016.- Summary - PDF Format (28 Kb) Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager and Rich Harris, Ph.D., Special Species Section Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) |
| 1:00 PM | 10. Deer Areas, Elk Areas, Special Closures and Firearm Restriction Areas, and Hunting by persons with a Disability - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [8.7 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to deer and elk area descriptions, firearm restrictions in Grays Harbor County, and conditions under which hunters with disabilities may shoot from a vehicle.- Summary - PDF Format (28 Kb) Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) |
| 1:20 PM | 11. Possession and Importation Dead Wildlife and Transport of Elk Hooves - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [12.6 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to legally salvage road killed deer and elk, restrict importation and retention of dead nonresident wildlife from Michigan due to chronic wasting disease, and allow the legal transport of elk hooves to facilitate Treponema associated hoof disease research.- Summary - PDF Format (26 Kb) Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) |
| 2:05 PM | 12. Baiting of Deer and Elk - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [43.8 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on three alternate proposals regarding the baiting of deer and elk.- Summary - PDF Format (29 Kb) Staff Report: Mick Cope, Game Division Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) |
| 3:20 PM | 13. Deer General and Special Permit Seasons and Regulations - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [23.1 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on deer general seasons and definitions, and special permits.- Summary - PDF Format (25 Kb) Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) |
| 4:05 PM | 14. Elk General and Special Permit Seasons and Regulations - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [8.2 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on elk general seasons and definitions, and special permits.- Summary - PDF Format (25 Kb) Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) |
| 4:35 PM | 15. Initiative I-1401 - Protection of at Risk Species of Extinction - Briefing Download MP3 File [8.7 MB] I-1401 was designed to protect species at risk of extinction around the world and in the U.S. The initiative makes it illegal to buy, sell, trade or give away most products made from those and other endangered species. The department will need to request supplemental appropriations to enforce this initiative.- Summary - PDF Format (123 Kb) |
| 5:05 PM | Recess |
SATURDAY, March 19, 2016
| 8:00 AM | 16. Open Public Input Download MP3 File [12.0 MB] The Commission is a direct link between the citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting.NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda. |
| 8:30 AM | 17. Predator-Prey Management - Briefing Download MP3 File [22.4 MB] Department staff will provide the Commission with an overview of the complex issues related to predator/prey management in Washington. This briefing will focus on predator/prey issues concerning deer, elk, moose, and big horn sheep populations and how the Department is implementing objectives outlined in the 2015-2021 Game Management Plan.- Summary - PDF Format (22 Kb) Staff Report: Mick Cope, Game Division Manager |
| 9:15 AM | 18. Spring Black Bear Season - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [2.4 MB] Staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to spring black bear hunting seasons to address damage and wildlife conflict issues.- Summary - PDF Format (25 Kb) Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Carnivore Section Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) |
| 9:30 AM | 19. Cougar Biology Overview - Briefing Download MP3 File [27.9 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on the research, biology, and ecology associated with the cougar harvest management objectives published in the 2015-2021 Game Management Plan.- Summary - PDF Format (21 Kb) Staff Report: Rich Beausoleil, Wildlife Biologist |
| 10:45 AM | 20. Cougar Hunting Seasons and Regulations - Briefing and Public Hearing Download MP3 File [17.0 MB] Department staff will brief the Commission on cougar harvest and human-cougar conflict trends, and how these topics are incorporated into the Department's cougar management strategies. The Commission will also be briefed on the proposed 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 cougar hunting seasons and regulations.- Summary - PDF Format (30 Kb) Staff Report: Anis Aoude, Carnivore Section Manager PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) |
| 12:15 PM | 21. Annual Wolf Management Report - Briefing Download MP3 File [32.7 MB] Department staff will provide the Commission with an annual briefing regarding the wolf plan implementation from 2015.- Summary - PDF Format (86 Kb) Staff Report: Donny Martorello, Ph.D., Wolf Policy Lead |
| 1:15 PM | 22. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief Download MP3 File [0.5 MB] The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published. |
| 1:30 PM | Adjourn |
Contact the Fish and Wildlife Commission Office for further information:
Phone 360-902-2267
Email: commission@dfw.wa.gov
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