Public can comment on 1997-99 hunting seasons on Friday and Saturday

SPOKANE -- The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will take public comment on the state's proposed 1997-99 hunting seasons when it meets here Friday and Saturday.

The public meeting is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday in the Glacier Rooms at Cavanaugh's Fourth Avenue, 110 E. 4th Ave. Friday's meeting is scheduled to recess at 6 p.m. The public meeting resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Department briefings on general deer and bear hunting proposals will occur Friday. Hunting seasons for other species, including general elk and permit elk and deer, will be discussed on Saturday.

Major changes being considered include:

• Statewide spike bull elk only hunting, with branched-antler bulls by permit only

• Landowner damage hunt permits for deer and elk

• Consolidated modern firearm deer hunting seasons

• Longer bear hunting seasons and increased bag limits

• Longer general (non-permit cougar) hunting seasons

• Earlier Canada goose seasons to address damage problems

The commission will take public comment and vote on the 1997-99 hunting seasons and rules at its Dec. 6-7 meeting in Bellingham.

On Friday the Commission also will be briefed on Private Lands Wildlife Management Areas (Champion on the westside, Wilson Creek on the eastside), and amendments to Game Management Unit and Special Game Area boundary descriptions.