Billingsley of Moses Coulee named Landowner of Year by Fish and Wildlife Commission

RICHLAND -- Dave Billingsley of the Moses Coulee area was named 1996 Landowner of the Year by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission at their meeting here today.

Billingsley was honored for his wildlife habitat improvement work and hunter access on his 20,000 acres in the Moses Coulee area of Douglas and Grant counties over the past 28 years.

As a cooperator in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Upland Wildlife Restoration Program, Billingsley has helped improve habitat for mule deer and upland birds. He has enrolled 18,000 acres in WDFW's Feel-Free-To-Hunt program and 2,000 acres in the Hunt-By-Written-Permission program.

Billingsley also cooperated with WDFW in feeding deer on his property during severe conditions last winter, which helped reduce area damage claims.

WDFW director Bern Shanks told Billingsley "private landowners like you are critical to wildlife and its habitat and hunter access, and we appreciate what you've done."

Commission chair Lisa Pelly said "We need hundreds more like you!"