Let it rain, as soon as the wheat harvest is over and the winter wheat is above ground. Until we get rain and the fire danger subsides we can look at closures of our traditional hunting areas. The following is from Fish and Wildlife. Read on.

Hunters may need to consider alternative locations for their traditional hunts this year because of drought- and fire-related access restrictions on Washington's public and private lands.

Fish and Wildlife officials say hunters should confirm before heading into the field that they will have access to their preferred locations for hunting big and small game, including bear, deer and upland birds.

The fall black bear season opens Aug. 1 or 15 in some game management units. Archery deer, forest grouse, mourning dove, and other small game seasons open Sept. 1.

"For most hunters, these conditions may simply mean they can't have a traditional campfire," WDFW Game Division Manager Mick Cope said. "But with several wildfires currently burning and with extremely dry conditions across the state, some hunters may need to find different routes into traditional hunting areas or choose different places altogether."

Cope said Fish and Wildlife is not considering hunting regulation changes at this time. He also said the game management units for which hunters have drawn special permits are currently accessible, although fire restrictions are in place.

In the unlikely event that fire prevents access to all of the areas covered by a special permit, Fish and Wildlife will work with permit-holders to restore special permit points or help them find alternative locations.

The following activities are prohibited or restricted: Fires or campfires, however, personal camp stoves or lanterns fueled by liquid petroleum, liquid petroleum gas, or propane are allowed; Smoking, unless in an enclosed vehicle; welding and the use of chainsaws and other equipment; operating a torch with an open flame and equipment powered by an internal combustion engine is prohibited; operating a motor vehicle off developed roads; parking is permitted in areas without vegetation within 10 feet of the roadway; in developed campgrounds; and at trailheads.

These restrictions, under the DNR burn ban, will be in place at least until Sept. 30.

Elk area 3911 meeting in Ellensburg on July 31

Master Hunters and area landowners are invited to attend a meeting Tonight, July 31, in Ellensburg to discuss a recent boundary change and other issues in Elk Area 3911, located near Ellensburg in Kittitas County.

Hosted by Fish and Wildlife and the Master Hunter Advisory Group, the meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Central Washington University Student Union Building, Room 210 (Theater).

The meeting will focus on the new northeastern boundary of Elk Area 3911 that was approved by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in April. Other topics will include hunting opportunities in the elk area for certified state Master Hunters and how to hunt in the area, which is mostly made up of private lands.

Hunting in Elk Area 3911 is limited to Master Hunters, enlisted by WDFW to participate in controlled hunts to address property damage or public safety issues. The area is made up primarily of private lands, many of which are subject to property damage caused by elk.

Hunting opportunity deadline approaching

This has appeared in this column before, but the opportunity is still available. Read on.

Not all Columbia Basin hunters are interested in hunting in Okanogan County, but there are enough to warrant letting them know about the following opportunity. Actually, others may be interested after this. Read on.

Eighteen lucky hunters will have an opportunity to hunt for deer this fall on the 6,000-acre Charles and Mary Eder unit of the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area in northeastern Okanogan County.

Hunters can submit an application for the limited-entry deer hunt on the Fish and Wildlife website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/scotchcreek/ or by contacting the WDFW Northcentral Region Office at (509) 754-4624 or headquarters at (360) 902-2515.

The deadline to apply is midnight Aug. 14.

Eighteen applicants will be chosen during a random drawing and 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 bow hunters, 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. 1-30 for bow hunters, Oct. 3-11 for muzzleloaders, and Oct. 17-27 for hunters using modern firearms.

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

Dry conditions cause fishing closures and restrictions

State fishery managers are closing or restricting fishing on more than 30 rivers throughout Washington to help protect fish in areas where drought conditions have reduced flows and increased water temperatures.

The closures and restrictions went into effect on Saturday, July 18. The changes will remain in effect until further notice.

Fishing will be closed in some waters and limited in others each day to the hours between midnight and 2 p.m. These restrictions will go into effect on rivers where fishery managers want to reduce stress on fish during the hottest time of day. Some of the closures and restrictions include:

Region 1 - Eastern Washington

Closed to fishing:

North Fork Touchet River above Spangler Creek; South Fork Touchet River from the mouth to Griffen Fork and above Griffen Fork; Wolf Fork Touchet River from the mouth to Coates Creek and Robinson Fork; Asotin Creek and tributaries (Asotin Co.) from the mouth to headwaters.

Also: Touchet River (Columbia/Walla Walla Co.) from the mouth to the confluence of the North and South forks; North Fork Touchet River from the mouth to Spangler Creek; Tucannon River (Columbia/Garfield Co.) From the Highway 12 Bridge to Cow Camp Bridge; Spokane River (Spokane/Lincoln Co.) from upstream boundary at Plese Flats Day Use Area to the Idaho State Boundary; Spokane River tributaries, including Little Spokane River and tributaries (Spokane/Pend Oreille/Stevens Counties) from the State Route 25 Bridge upstream to Monroe Street Dam.

Region 2 - North Central Washington

Closed to fishing: Wenatchee River (Chelan Co.) from the mouth to the Icicle River Road Bridge; Icicle River (Chelan Co.) from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam; Lake Wenatchee (Chelan Co.); Okanogan River from the Hwy 97 bridge upstream to Zosel Dam, except open to game fish fishing; Similkameen River from the mouth upstream to Enloe Dam.