Here is a recap of the open areas for steelhead and salmon

The salmon fishing season has been extended on the Columbia

River from Wells Dam to the Highway 173 Bridge in Brewster, through

Oct. 15.

Here is a recap of the open areas for steelhead and salmon

The salmon fishing season has been extended on the Columbia River from Wells Dam to the Highway 173 Bridge in Brewster, through Oct. 15

The daily limit is six salmon. The minimum size is 12 inches. Up to three adult chinook may be retained of which only one may be a wild adult. All Coho salmon must be released. Also, selective gear rules are in effect, except bait is allowed and night closure is in effect.

In addition to going after salmon, the steelhead-fishing season is now open on the upper Columbia, Wenatchee, Entiat and Methow rivers.

Anglers fishing the upper Columbia, Wenatchee, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen rivers will have a daily limit of four adipose fin-clipped hatchery steelhead.

On all rivers, anglers may keep only hatchery steelhead measuring at least 20 inches in length. Steelhead with an intact adipose fin must be immediately released unharmed and must not be removed from the water. A valid fishing license and a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement is mandatory.

Anglers will be required to retain any legal hatchery steelhead they catch until the daily limit is reached. After they have reached their daily limit, anglers must stop fishing for steelhead.

Comments on rule

proposals accepted through Oct. 2

Fish and Wildlife is accepting public comments through Oct. 2 on state sportfishing rules proposed for 2011-12.

The 17 rule proposals, which would affect various recreational fisheries around the state, are available on WDFW's Web site at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/.

As a cost-saving measure, WDFW last year changed the process for considering sportfishing rule proposals to a two-year cycle, rather than a yearly basis. The next opportunity to propose major changes to sportfishing rules will be next year for the 2012-14 season.

Because of the need for several minor adjustments to various fisheries, WDFW is proposing a small number of changes for 2011-12.

Comments on the proposals can be submitted by mail to WDFW Rules Coordinator Lori Preuss at Lori.Preuss@dfw.wa.gov or 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA, 98501.

In addition, the public will have an opportunity to provide testimony and written comments on the proposed rule changes during the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission's Oct. 1-2 meeting in Olympia.

The commission, which sets policy for WDFW, is scheduled to take action on the final sportfishing rules package during its Dec. 2-4 meeting in Olympia.

The only proposed change concerning Columbia Basin anglers is Number 11: Free Fishing Weekend. Proposal: Anglers are not required to purchase the Two-Pole Endorsement or Columbia River Endorsement to fish on Free Fishing Weekend.

Explanation: In keeping with the spirit of Free Fishing Weekend, this proposed rule change will make it clear that the Two-Pole Endorsement and Columbia River Endorsement are not required during Free Fishing Weekend.

This will be a first-class change.

Timeline for 2011-2012 Sport Rule Adoption Process: Sept. 3, public notified that proposals are available for comment; Oct. 2, last day for mail or e-mail testimony to be received; Oct. 1 and 2 Fish and Wildlife Commission Meeting in Olympia, brief the Commission and take public testimony on proposals; Dec. 2 through Dec. 4 Fish and Wildlife Commission Meeting in Olympia, The commission will act on the proposals.

Youth bird seasons coming up

Sept. 25 and 26 are the youth seasons for duck, coot, Canada goose, pheasant, California and Bobwhite quail, chukar and gray or Hungarian partridge.

This is an excellent opportunity to get our hunters of the future into the field when they don't have to compete with adults. Take advantage of the opportunity.

Sept. 25 is National Public Lands Day

We reported on this the last couple of weeks and found out they will count toward the accumulation of Master Hunter hours.

Tracy Loveless, the person in Olympia who approves such projects sent along this note: "Those sound like great projects. It has our approval for Master Hunter conservation hours."

In addition to the planned work on Sept. 25, individual sportsmen are encouraged to develop their own National Public Lands Day volunteer project. By contacting the manager of their favorite recreational area, sportsmen can design a volunteer project that benefits the public land and the experiences of hunters and anglers. Ideas for projects include, building wood duck boxes, removing trash from recreational areas and planting native shrubs for bird habitat.

We understand there is a push to have Washington State Parks take part in some sort of Public Lands Day volunteer project. Potholes State Park is the closest and we will contact them to see if they are interested.

Also, we will be contacting Fish and Wildlife and the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge for possible projects.

So, all of you Master Hunters who are looking for volunteer hours contact me and we will put our heads together to search for worthwhile projects.

Perhaps we can interest Rosann and Bill Green of Ephrata into helping us come up with ideas for projects. Bill Bailey and friends have been working toward the goal of rejuvenating parts of Northrop Canyon. Perhaps we can help by supplying volunteers.

For information about the originally designed project, read on.

On Sept. 25 more than 170,000 Americans will grab shovels, pruning sheers and gloves to help improve the nation's public lands as part of National Public Lands Day, an annual event held at local, state and federal sites throughout the country.

In line with the special focus on recreation, National Public Lands Day is reaching out to the sportsmen community as an important source of volunteers for this year's event. Hunters and anglers spend much of their time outdoors, particularly on public lands. They are often the first to notice the effects of trash, invasive species, habitat loss and misuse of land on the local wildlife.

It is recognized that sportsmen and women have a long, distinguished record of volunteering for projects that restore and sustain fish and wildlife populations and their habitats on public lands. This is an opportunity to continue in that proud tradition."

This year, National Public Lands Day is anticipating volunteer projects on over 2,300 sites. Many of the projects are directed towards sportsmen and improving access to public lands.

The closest project for the Columbia Basin is in the Yakima River Canyon. The plan is to remove litter, plant trees, landscaping projects, trail work, remove weeds, install benches and campground maintenance.

The contact for the project is Steve Smith at 509-536-1219.

Wolf pup in northeast Washington may indicate state's third pack

A gray wolf pup recently trapped and radio-collared near the Canadian border in northeast Washington indicates the state may be home to a third breeding wolf pack.

A wolf specialist hired by Fish and Wildlife caught the 50-pound young wolf earlier this month in northern Pend Oreille County, just south of the Canadian border. Attempts are under way to locate and radio-collar adult wolves in the area.

The presence of the pup, and photos of other wolves captured on a remote camera in the area, indicate there is a pack in the area.

A successful breeding wolf pack is documented by locating a breeding pair of adults with two or more pups that survive until Dec. 31.

Washington's first documented wolf pack was found in July 2008 in western Okanogan County. By December 2009 that pack, named the Lookout Pack, included seven animals.

Washington's second documented wolf pack was found in July 2009 farther south in Pend Oreille County. Two adult wolves in that pack produced six pups in 2009 and six this year. At least four of the pups born in 2009 survived until the end of the year. The pack moves between Washington and Idaho.

Allen said there also may be a wolf pack in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Area of the Umatilla National Forest in southeast Washington, although wolves have not yet been confirmed there. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife radio-collared a yearling wolf south of the area in Oregon earlier this year.

Members sought for Master Hunter Advisory Group

Fish and Wildlife is accepting letters of interest through Oct. 15 for membership on the department's Master Hunter Advisory Group.

The group, which represents master hunters statewide, advises Fish and Wildlife on issues and opportunities affecting master hunters and the Master Hunter program. Five volunteer positions are currently open on the 15-member group.

MHAG members, who serve three-year terms, must be certified master hunters. At least two members are selected from each of Fish and Wildlife's six administrative regions

The director of WDFW will make formal appointments by March 2011. Master hunters interested in filling a position should send a letter of interest to Eric.Anderson@dfw.wa.gov or to Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Enforcement Program, Attn: Eric Anderson Hunter Education Division; 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091.

Letters should address why a person wants to be a member of the advisory group, what qualifies them to be a member and applicants should explain how they can help achieve the advisory group's vision.

The advisory group meets at least four times a year. Members serve as volunteers and do not receive direct compensation for their work, but travel reimbursement is available. Members of the group can expect to donate up to 200 hours of their time each year and will participate in master hunter orientation, information and outreach, and special hunt management meetings held near their area of residence.