Fish and Wildlife has scheduled three meetings to discuss and take public comment on the draft northeast Washington elk management plan. The plan which has been revised and is subject to additional revision in response to hunter input regarding elk numbers.

The meetings are scheduled to take place on Jan. 26 at the Okanogan County Public Utility District Main Office at 1331 2nd Ave. N., in Okanogan; Feb. 1 at Center Place located at 2426 N. Discovery Place in Spokane Valley and Feb. 2 at the Northeast Washington Fairgrounds Building, 317 W. Astor Ave. in Colville.

All of the meetings are to begin at 7 p.m. and last two hours.

The proposed elk management plan is referred to as the "Selkirk Elk Herd Plan" because it includes elk in the Selkirk Mountains of Pend Oreille County. Under the plan, the elk are considered as two distinct sub-herds, the Pend Oreille sub-herd and the Spokane sub-herd.

The plan covers elk management in Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Ferry, Lincoln, Whitman, and eastern Okanogan counties of northeast Washington, which includes Game Management Units 101 through 142 and 204.

In this part of the state, with small and scattered elk groups, Fish and Wildlife have offered liberal hunting rules to keep elk numbers low and minimize agricultural damage. However hunters have indicated they want to see more elk.

Game managers are trying to address hunters' interest through the proposed elk management plan, which should result in greater elk numbers by shifting from any-elk hunting seasons to restrictions on antlerless elk hunting in the Pend Oreille sub-herd areas, including units 101, 105, 108, 121 and 204.

Agricultural damage problems would be addressed through a variety of tools we use throughout the state.

The elk plan must be finalized before changes in Selkirk elk hunting seasons and regulations could be made. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to review proposed new hunt rules in March and to consider adoption in April. If adopted, those rules would become part of 2012-14 state hunting rules package.

March meeting

The March 9 and 10 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting mentioned above is scheduled to take place in Moses Lake. Attending meetings is most distasteful, but this one may be interesting. At least it will be close to home.

Sturgeon decline means catch reduction

Washington and Oregon Fish and Wildlife directors have agreed to reduce the catch of white sturgeon on the lower Columbia River, where the species has declined in abundance in recent years.

Under the new agreement, the total allowable harvest of white sturgeon below Bonneville Dam will be reduced from 22.5 percent of the legal-size fish to 16 percent in 2012.

The new harvest rate will hold the combined catch by sport and commercial fisheries to 9,600 sturgeon measuring 38 to 54 inches long. Last year's guideline for those waters was 15,640 fish, although only 14,488 were actually harvested.

This year's agreement will reduce the sturgeon harvest in the lower Columbia River by 38 percent, following a 30 percent reduction in 2011 and a 40 percent reduction the previous year.

The abundance of legal-size sturgeon has declined nearly 50 percent since 2007, according to surveys by both states. Factors often cited for the decline include increased predation by sea lions and a drop in the abundance of smelt and lamprey, which contribute to sturgeons' diet.

Concerned by these trends, the fish and wildlife commissions charged with setting policy for each state called for significant catch reductions in 2012 during separate meetings last week. The responsibility for negotiating a common catch rate fell to the fish and wildlife directors of each state.

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon will meet Jan. 26 in Portland to set this year's fishing seasons for sturgeon and spring chinook salmon on the lower Columbia River. Later in the year, the states' plan to begin a public process involving fishermen to fully review current sturgeon management strategies on the Columbia and Willamette rivers prior to the 2013 fishing season.

For the birders

The snow makes travel difficult. While it may be necessary to drive to work and back, making a trip around the greater Columbia Basin should be considered unnecessary and perhaps unsafe.

However this doesn't mean the sport of watching birds must come to a stop. In fact the snow allows watching some of the birds at a closer distance than when in the field.

Put one or more birdfeeders filled with seed in the backyard and enjoy the antics of the many bird species which will appear. Also be on the lookout for hawks, which might appear in search of food. After all, it is a birdfeeder after all.

If there are a bunch of birds around the feeder and all of a sudden they all disappear, look around for a hawk. It may be on a fence or in a tree, motionless until the next small bird appears in search of seed. Watch as the hawk pounces, kills and eats the bird.

Let's clear up one myth about feeding birds: If a homeowner maintains a birdfeeder, keeping it full of seed and clean, for a few weeks and suddenly stops filling the feeder, the birds will not starve. They will simply find food elsewhere.

This is similar to the birds finding a patch of plants with seeds in the wild, eating all of the available seeds and then moving on to another patch of seeds.

Master Hunter application period now open

The Master Hunter Permit Program application period is now open and will continue through Feb. 15. All requirements of the program must be completed by Nov. 15 of this year.

Ducks and geese

We have nine more days of duck and goose hunting this winter and every day is a goose day, meaning they can be hunting every day of the week. The duck and goose hunting seasons will continue through Jan. 29. Good luck.

Discover Pass

The Discover Pass must be displayed on a vehicle when visiting state recreation lands managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The fine for not displaying the pass is $99.

The Discover Pass allows you to enjoy nearly 7 million acres of Washington state-managed recreation lands - including state parks, water-access points, heritage sites, wildlife and natural areas, trails and trailheads.

A one-day pass to these areas is $10 plus transaction and dealer fees. The Discover Pass may be purchased online; in person from any of nearly 600 recreational license vendors where state fishing and hunting licenses are sold; by phone at 866-320-9933; when you renew your vehicle license or at State Parks headquarters and region offices, and at state parks when staff is available.

WDFW will accept applications for ALEA volunteer grants

Fish and Wildlife is now accepting grant applications for projects that benefit the state's fish and wildlife.

The grants, funded through the state's Aquatic Land Enhancement Account, provide reimbursement for organizations and individuals who conduct volunteer projects that conserve fish and wildlife or promote public appreciation of species ranging from steelhead to sage-grouse.

Fish and Wildlife currently expects to award about $180,000 in ALEA grants this year.

Five major types of projects are funded through the program: habitat restoration, research, education and outreach, facility development and artificial production. Other projects consistent with Fish and Wildlife goals and objectives also may be considered. Grants may not be used for salaries, wages or stipends.

Eligible applicants include individual citizens, non-profit organizations, tribes and political subdivisions of the state, such as public utility districts, schools and universities. State and federal agencies are not eligible.

Applications must be received or postmarked by Feb. 29, 2012. Application materials will be available for download from WDFW's website by Dec. 1, at http://wdfw.wa.gov/grants/alea/index.html. Those without adequate internet access can request a compact disc containing the application materials by contacting Fish and Wildlife at 360-902-2700.