Fish and Wildlife has a special study underway to eradicate feral pigs in a portion of the Desert Wildlife Unit. We are told there may be just one or two pigs causing the worry.Be sure, we do not want to have feral (wild) pigs become established in the Columbia Basin or Washington State.This is not a hunting opportunity REPEAT This is not a hunting opportunity

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is assisting USDA Wildlife Services with feral swine eradication efforts by closing a small portion, approximately two square miles, of the Desert Wildlife Unit starting last Tuesday, Feb. 23, and running for about a month.

A closure is needed to reduce human disturbance to observe reliable pig activity patterns and to provide public safety while the last remaining individuals are removed. USDA-WS aircraft for this work just became available without advance warning, so that’s why this notice is so late. Basically the closure is north of Winchester Wasteway, east of Dodson Road and south of private land on the north edge.

Stay out of the area and let those involved get rid of the pigs.

First fishing opener only four days away

The first fishing opener of the year is always exciting. We will be at Martha Lake. Read on.

Many Columbia Basin waters are open all year long. However, others have a structured season. The first fishing opener is March 1, just 11 days away.

Local lakes opening on March 1 include: Burke, Upper Caliche, Cascade, Cliff, Crystal, Cup, Dusty, Lenore, Lenice, Martha, Merry, Nunnally, Quincy, Rainbow and Spring Lakes.

Success on the March 1 opener always depends upon the weather, with ice on the lakes sometimes. Don’t suspect this problem will exist this year.

Spring bear hunt applications

Hunters may now purchase and submit applications for a 2016 spring black bear hunting permit, applicable to specific areas of western and eastern Washington. Hunters must purchase and submit an application to Fish and Wildlife by midnight Feb. 29 to be eligible for a permit.

A drawing will be held in mid-March for 345 permits in western Washington and 509 permits for hunts east of the Cascade Range. Permit winners will receive notification in the mail no later than March 31.

To apply for a permit, hunters must purchase a special permit application and a 2016 hunting license that includes bear as a species option. Hunting licenses, bear transport tags and bear permit applications may be purchased: Online at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/, by phone at (866) 246-9453 or at any license vendor in the state.

Hunters have until March 31to apply for multiple-season tags

Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter their names into the drawing for a 2016 multiple-season tag, which can greatly increase the opportunity for success in the field.