Earlier this year I asked for clarification about the use of deer and elk tags during the master hunter special permit hunts, along with the master hunter 3911 and 3912 hunts. After weeks or months of working on the matter, Fish and Wildlife has offered the following explanation.

From the Wildlife Program Division of Fish and Wildlife:

Dear Master Hunter:

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be making some clarifying language changes to the Master Hunter Deer and Elk Special Permits. If you draw one of these Special Permits, please take note of the changes listed below. The changes will also be posted on the Department web site on the Corrections to the Big Game Pamphlet page at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/ .

The following two corrections will be made to the Big Game Pamphlet on both pages 37 and 58-59:

Under the Master Hunter Deer/Elk Special Permit Hunts, the 5th column in the table should read: 2nd Tag Allowed (not 2nd Tag Required).

Under Master Hunter Deer/Elk Special Permit Hunts, the following language should replace the language in the Notes section Any legal weapon may be used while hunting the following hunts unless otherwise specified in the hunt notes or required by the Hunt Coordinator. Only one animal may be taken under this Special Permit opportunity. For those Special Permit hunts allowing the purchase of a second tag, hunters can use either their first or second tag, but are allowed to kill only one animal under the authorization of the Special Permit. If a hunter uses their general tag and kills and tags an animal under this Special Permit, the second tag may not be used for the general hunting season.

The changes apply to both deer and elk Master Hunter Special Permits. The following scenarios illustrate examples resulting from the changes for elk:

If a Master Hunter has an unfilled general elk tag and is called to participate in a Master Hunter Special Permit season, the hunter could hunt with the unfilled general elk tag.

If a Master Hunter who has filled a general elk tag and is then called to participate in a Master Hunter Special Permit season, the hunter would need to purchase a second elk tag as long as that Special Permit hunt allows the use of a second tag.

If a Master Hunter kills an elk during an early Master Hunter season and uses their first general elk tag, the hunter would not be issued another general elk tag for the fall general seasons.

If a Master Hunter kills an elk during an early Master Hunter season and uses their Master Hunter second tag, the hunter would not be issued another Master Hunter tag for a later Master Hunter season. The hunter may still have their general elk tag to be utilized in other appropriate seasons.

A hunter may harvest only two elk per license year.

Again, for those Special Permit hunts allowing the purchase of a second tag, only one animal may be killed in the unit under the authorization of the Special Permit. We hope this modification clears up some of the confusion related to the Master Hunter Special Permit hunts. Thank you for your service and your interest in Washington wildlife.

Wildlife Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Fish and Wildlife seeks applicants for wildlife advisory councils

Fish and Wildlife is seeking nominations to citizen advisory groups that advise the department on wildlife management issues affecting game and non-game species.

Fish and Wildlife Director Phil Anderson will appoint 25 members to its Game Management Advisory Council, which advises the department on issues such as hunter access, resource allocation and research projects.

Anderson will also appoint 17 members to its Wildlife Diversity Advisory Council, which makes management recommendations on non-game species ranging from frogs to killer whales.

Members of both advisory groups will be appointed to three-year terms beginning July 1. Current appointments to the WDAC have expired and current appointments to the GMAC will expire June 30.

Anderson encourages current advisory group members to reapply, but said the department is also looking for new candidates with varied backgrounds who can effectively present their views on wildlife management to Fish and Wildlife and the public.

Fish and Wildlife will consider all nominations received by July 15 at 5 p.m. Nominations must be submitted in writing and include the following information: The name of the advisory group. Nominee's name, address, telephone number and email address. Relevant experience and reasons for wanting to serve as a member of the advisory group. Nominee's effectiveness in communication. Name and contact information for any individual or organization submitting a nomination.

Nominations can be submitted to: GMAC: Send nomination to Dave Ware, WDFW Game Division Manager, at David.Ware@dfw.wa.gov or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091. For more information, contact Dave Ware at (360) 902-2509.

WDAC: Send nomination to Eric Gardner, Wildlife Diversity Division Manager, at Eric.Gardner@dfw.wa.gov or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091. For more information, contact Eric Gardner at (360) 902-2509.