The fall black bear general season opens today, Aug. 1. The Game Management Units opening in the Columbia Basin are 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260-290, 371-381. The GMUs in the hunt zone known as the East Cascades to open are 244-247, 249-251, 328, 329-368, 382, 388, 578.

Other hunt zones will also open on Aug. 1, still others will open on Aug. 15 and three on Sept. 1. Consult the hunting pamphlet for more details.

Salmon derby

The Brewster King Salmon Derby will take place today, Aug. 1, tomorrow and Sunday. As of 10 a.m. yesterday, only 10 entry tickets remained and those were expected to be sold by 9 p.m. Even though anglers can no longer enter, it would be interesting for non-participating anglers and non-anglers alike to make the trip to Brewster to see the fish being weighed. The weigh-in time for Friday and Saturday is 6:30 p.m. and Sunday the time is 12:30.

The adult winner will receive $1,500, youth prize youth ages 9-14 is $600 and youth 8 and younger will receive $100.

There will be more than $20,000 in cash and prizes, with cash awarded to the top 10 in the adult division and the top five in the youth division.

In addition, there are a number of side pots, with an 85 percent payout to winners and 15 percent going to the local Chamber of Commerce.

These side pots include: individual total weight, a daily contest; team total weight average; total individual weight for the derby; mystery fish weight side pot.

This last one is designed to encourage all derby entrants to weigh all kings caught. Apparently the derby committee predetermines a weight which is different each day, say 12 pounds for Friday, 17 pounds for Saturday and 9 pounds on Sunday. The king weighing at or nearest the mystery weight wins a prize valued at over $200.

Master hunter elk hunt

The 3911 and 3912 master hunter elk hunt begin today. Hunters wanting to use a 3911 second tag and those who don't have one in hand will need to wait until next week, because these tags must be purchased through a telephone call with the Fish and Wildlife licensing department in Olympia.

Limited-entry deer hunt applications due Aug. 13

The 6,000-acre Charles and Mary Eder unit of the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area in northeastern Okanogan County will provide a quality hunt for 18 hunters this fall.

Hunters can submit an application for the limited-entry deer hunt on Fish and Wildlife's website at wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/scotchcreek or by contacting the WDFW northcentral region office at (509) 754-4624. The deadline to apply is midnight Aug. 13.

The 18 applicants will be chosen during a random drawing scheduled Aug. 13. Winners of the drawing will receive access permits to the Charles and Mary Eder Unit of the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area near Oroville. This drawing is open to the general public without any additional fees beyond the cost of a hunting license and the standard tags.

Of the 18 access permits available this year, six will be reserved for bowhunters, six for muzzleloaders and six for hunters using modern firearms.

Hunters are allowed to take only one deer, as authorized by their general hunting license.

Deer-hunting seasons for the area are Sept. 1-26 for bowhunters, Sept. 27-Oct. 5 for muzzleloaders and Oct. 11-19 for hunters using modern firearms.

The results of the drawing will be available on WDFW's website the last week of August. Hunters who are drawn will receive an access permit and a boundary map in the mail.

Shoreline restrictions extends through Oct. 31

Fish and Wildlife extended the closure of four water access sites along the Columbia River behind Wanapum Dam through Oct. 31, while work continues to repair a fractured spillway.

The extended closure is necessary to protect public safety, fish habitat, and archeological and cultural resources, according to Fish and Wildlife.

The closures affect the Yo Yo, Old Vantage Highway, Sunland Estates and Frenchman Coulee water access sites.

Fish and Wildlife also has closed the lower ends of roads that lead into the reservoir at the Colockum and L.T. Murray wildlife areas in Kittitas and Chelan counties, and at the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area in Grant County.

The upland portions of the wildlife areas above the ordinary high-water level remain open to the public. Closures will be enforced by Fish and Wildlife law enforcement officers in cooperation with local sheriff's offices.

Comments wanted on rules updates

Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comments on proposed updates to state Hydraulic Code rules, which regulate construction and other work in or near state waters to protect fish life.

Common projects requiring approval under the state's hydraulic rules include work on bulkheads, culverts, piers and docks.

Fish and Wildlife will accept written comments through Aug. 15 on the proposed rules, a related draft environmental impact statement and a small business economic impact statement.

All documents related to this rulemaking activity are available on Fish and Wildlife's website at wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/hpa/rulemaking/, along with an email address for submitting comments. Written comments also can be addressed to Randi Thurston, WDFW Habitat Program, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091.

Officials at the habitat program said the changes proposed in the Hydraulic Code rules will provide more protection for fish, streamline the permit process and ensure the code is consistent with other state laws.

Some rules proposed by Fish and Wildlife would set new standards for projects ranging from the construction of culverts to the design of waterfront bulkheads and docks. Others would clarify existing policies, including those restricting the use of creosote in aquatic areas and promoting the preservation of marine vegetation.

The proposed updates to the rules that guide that process are the result of six years of discussions with local and tribal governments, environmental organizations, the forest industry, the agricultural community and other state agencies.