April 11, 2014 meeting transcript

Natural Resources Building 
1111 Washington St SE
Olympia WA 98501 
First Floor, Room 172

FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

8:30 A.M.

1. Call to Order

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  1. Commissioners' Discussion
  2. Meeting Minute Approval
8:45 A.M.

2. Open Public Input

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The Commission is a direct link between 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.

9:15 A.M.

3. Director's Report 

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The Director will brief the Commission on various items.

 

- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (2 Mb)

10:30 A.M.

4. Proposed Land Transactions - Briefing, Public Hearing and Decision

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The Commission will consider approval of various land transactions recommended by the Department for the protection of critical fish and wildlife habitat, enhancement of public recreation opportunities.

 

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (3 Mb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (4 Mb)

Staff Report: Dan Budd, Real Estate Section Manager, Wildlife Program

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

10:50 A.M.

5. Lands 20/20 - Briefing

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Department staff will brief the commission on an additional project approved through the 2013 Lands 20/20 process and provide clarification regarding the Mt. View proposal presented in March; the Department will seek funding for projects approved in the Lands 20/20 process.

 

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (75 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (2 Mb)

Staff Report: Clay Sprague, Lands Division Manager, Wildlife Program

11:05 A.M.

6. Recreational Licenses, Tag, Permit and Stamp Refunds - Decision

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Department staff will request that the Commission approve proposed amendments to the requirements for tag replacement, exchanges or refunds; reduction in cost of the multi-season permit and second deer tag and inclusion of a damage or master hunter tag to improve collection of harvest data.  

Amend: WAC 220-55-040, 220-55-172, 220-55-174

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (675 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (616 Kb)

Staff Report: Dave Ware, Game Division Manager

11:20 A.M.

7. Small Game Seasons and Regulations - Decision

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Department staff will request that the Commission approve the small game seasons and regulations.

Amend: WAC 232-28-342

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (728 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (359 Kb)

Staff Report:  Don Kraege, Waterfowl Section Manager, Wildlife Program

11:30 A.M.

8. Landowner Hunting Permits - Decision

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Department staff will request that the Commission approve adjustments to permit levels and hunt dates in accordance with landowner needs and recreational goals.

Amend: WAC 232-28-296

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (728 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (736 Kb)

Staff Report:  Brian Calkins, Small Game/Hunter Access Section Manager

11:40 A.M.

9. Hunting Restrictions - Decision

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Department staff will request that the Commission approve the amendment of WAC 232-12-242 to include restrictions regarding hunting at night and the use of dogs during modern firearm deer and elk seasons that were inadvertently deleted during technical clean-up and reorganizing of several wildlife rules.

Amend: WAC 232-12-242

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (669 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (490 Kb)

Staff Report:  Brian Calkins, Small Game/Hunter Access Section Manager

11:50 A.M.

10. Deer and Elk Areas, and Special Closures and Firearm Restriction Areas - Decision

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Department staff will request that the Commission approve the deer and elk areas and GMU boundary regulations.

Amend: WAC 232-28-248, WAC 232-28-337, WAC 232-28-624

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (783 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (3 Mb)

Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program

1:00 P.M.

11. Deer General Seasons and Special Permit Regulations - Decision

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Department staff will request that the Commission approve the deer general and special permit seasons and regulations.

Amend: WAC 232-28-357 and WAC 232-28-359

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (1 Mb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (375 Kb)

Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program

1:15 P.M.

12. Elk General Seasons and Special Permit Regulations - Decision

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Department staff will request that the Commission approve the elk general and special permit seasons and regulations.

Amend: WAC 232-28-358 and WAC 232-28-360

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (1 Mb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (3 Mb)

Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program

1:35 P.M.

13. Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat and Moose  Seasons and Permit Quotas - Decision

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Department staff will request that the Commission approve the bighorn sheep, mountain goat and moose seasons and regulations.

Amend: WAC 232-28-273, WAC 232-28-283, WAC 232-28-622, WAC 232-28-623

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (781 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (3 Mb)

Staff Report: Rich Harris, Ph.D., Special Species Section Manager, Wildlife Program

1:50 P.M.

14. Hunters with Disabilities - Decision

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Department staff will request that the Commission approve the proposed amendments to increase the Department's ability to issue special use permits to make needed modifications for hunters with disabilities.

Amend: WAC 232-12-047, 232-12-051, 232-12-054
Approve: WAC 232-12-819, 232-12-825, 232-12-828

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (730 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (3 Mb)

Staff Report:  Dave Ware, Game Division Manager

2:30 P.M.

15. Periodic Status Reviews - Briefing

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Department staff will provide the Commission with a briefing on periodic status reviews from the Diversity Division.

 

- Summary (PDF)- PDF Format (73 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (1 Mb)

Staff Report: Penny Becker, Ph.D., Listing and Recovery Section Manager

3:00 P.M.

16. Tribal Hunting Overview - Briefing

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Department staff will provide an overview of tribal hunting, including important case law related to off-reservation hunting, the Department's approach to coordinating with tribes, and an overview of various agreements the Department has with Tribes.

 

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (2 Mb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (631 Kb)

Staff Report: Nate Pamplin, Assistant Director, Wildlife Program

4:30 P.M.RECESS

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014

8:30 A.M.

17. Open Public Input

Download MP3 File [19.5 MB]

The Commission is a direct link between 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.

9:00 A.M.

18. Results of the 2013 Puget Sound Dungeness Crab Fishery - Briefing

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Department staff will provide a briefing summarizing the performance and harvest of both commercial and recreational fisheries during the 2013 season and regulation compliance data collected by enforcement and fishery management staff as required in Policy C-3609.

 

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (18 Kb) 
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (4 Mb)

Staff Report:  Rich Childers, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager and Mike Cenci, Deputy Chief of Enforcement

10:00 A.M.

19. Results of the 2013 Puget Sound Shrimp Fishery - Briefing

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Department staff will provide a briefing summarizing for each management region the performance and harvest of both commercial and recreational fisheries during the 2013 season as required by Policy C-3610.

 

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (16 Kb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (1 Mb)

Staff Report:  Rich Childers, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager

10:45 A.M.

20. Puget Sound Smelt Fishery Regulation Proposals - Briefing and Public Hearing

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Department staff will brief the Commission on an evaluation of the recreational and commercial smelt fishing regulations in Puget Sound to determine whether enough protective measures are in place to conserve the population.

 

- Summary (PDF) - PDF Format (10 Mb)
- Presentation (PDF) - PDF Format (701 Kb)

Staff Report:  Craig Burley, Fish Management Division Manager and Dayv Lowry Ph.D., Research Scientist, Fish Program

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

12:00 P.M.

21. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief 

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The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.

12:15 P.M.ADJOURN

Contact the Fish and Wildlife Commission Office for further information: 
Phone 360-902-2267 
Email: commission@dfw.wa.gov