Help shape future hunting seasons at seven meetings around the state

OLYMPIA - Hunters and other members of the public will have an opportunity to help shape future hunting seasons at a series of public "open house" meetings planned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) over the next few weeks.

Those meetings, scheduled in seven cities from Bellingham to Spokane Valley, are an important part of the process in developing hunting seasons and associated hunting regulations for 2009-11, said Dave Ware, WDFW game manager.

"We want to hear what people think about proposals currently under consideration, as well as others they may have to offer," Ware said. "The "open house" format of these meetings will allow participants to speak directly to wildlife managers about the issues of greatest concern to them."

WDFW will consider comments received at the meetings in developing a final set of recommendations for 2009-11 hunting seasons for adoption by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, he said.

The seven meetings are scheduled to run from 7-9 p.m. on the following dates in these cities:

• Bellingham - Aug. 25, Broadway Hall, 1300 Broadway

• Aberdeen - Aug. 26, Log Pavilion at Morrison Riverfront Park, 1401 Sargent Blvd.
• Tacoma - Aug. 27, Landmark Convention Center, 47 Saint Helens Ave.
• Vancouver, Wash. - Aug. 28, Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way
• Wenatchee - Sept. 2, Confluence Technology Center, 285 Technology Center Way
• Spokane Valley - Sept. 3, Mirabeau Park Hotel & Convention Center, North 1100 Sullivan Rd.
• Pasco - Sept. 4, TRAC Center, 6600 Burden Blvd.

All seven of the meetings will focus on local hunting issues as well as statewide issues, such as non-toxic shot restrictions, shooting hours, muzzleloader seasons and possible changes to permit drawings. Many of those issues were included in an online opinion survey conducted through mid-July by WDFW to gauge public interest in various alternatives, Ware said.

"Results of the online survey were used to shape the various alternatives that will be available for comment at the upcoming meetings," Ware said. "We want everyone interested in future hunting seasons to have an opportunity to comment before we move forward with any proposals."

Additional information on the process for developing hunting seasons for 2009-11 is posted on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/index.htm.