ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Public
Ron Ozment, Chair	Ken Oliver, Pend Orielle Co. Commissioner
Fred Shiosaki, Vice Chair	Bruce V. Vails
Ken Chew	Mike Bernsen, Eagle Lakes Ranch
Jerry Gutzwiler	Tony Delgado, Stevens Co. Commissioner
Chuck Perry	Dave Duncan, Big Game Mgmt. Roundtable
Shirley Solomon	Mark Hyer
Miranda Wecker	Bill Frymire, AGO
	Roger Reynolds
Commission Staff:	Jim Pearson, SCI
Nancy Burkhart	Clare Cranston, Richland Rod & Gun Club
	Harland Radomske
Department	Kelly White
Jeff Koenings, Director	Robert Heath, Tri-Co. Hound Club
Bruce Bjork	Bob Anderson
John Andrews	Ralph Ferguson
Don Kraege	Robert T. Laughery
Jeff Tayer	Rone Brewer, WA Waterfowl Assn.
Todd Walker	Ralph engle
Rocky Beach	Doug Warnock, Big Game Mgmt. Roundtable
Dick Stone	Mary Lou Peterson, Okanogan Co. Commissioner
Steve Pozzanghera	Ryan Fuller, Conservation Northwest
Chris Parsons
John Whalen
Rich Finger
Ron Friesz
Mark Wachtel
Tom Davis
Mike Whorton
Jim Hodgson
Other Department staff

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5:

Chair Ozment called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry, to approve the minutes of the following:

- June 17-18, 2005, Commission meeting;
- June 23, 2005, Commission conference call; and
- July 7, 2005 Commission conference call.

The motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously.

COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION:
Commissioners discussed recent activities and items of general interest and provided status reports on Commission committees.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Director Koenings reviewed significant Department issues and activities.

Director Koenings presented Dr. Mike Schroeder with WAFWA's 2005 Contributor of the Year award for his work on sage grouse.

BUDGET UPDATE:
Director Koenings provided a status report on the Department's budget.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
Seven individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting.

GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND PERFORMANCE (GMAP) -- BRIEFING:
Bruce Bjork and John Andrews briefed the Commission on GMAP, Governor Gregoire's signature management initiative focused on improving the results of state government.

ESTABLISHMENT OF 2005-06 MIGRATORY WATERFOWL SEASONS AND REGULATIONS -- RULE ACTION:
Don Kraege presented WAC 232-28-429, 2005-06 Migratory waterfowl seasons and regulations, and repeal of WAC 232-28-428, 2004-05 Migratory waterfowl seasons and regulations, to provide hunting recreation and damage control consistent with the status of waterfowl species and within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

No oral testimony on the rule proposal was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-429, 2005-06 Migratory waterfowl seasons and regulations, as filed with the Code Reviser's Office and amended by staff, and to repeal WAC 232-28-428, 2004-05 Migratory waterfowl seasons and regulations.

Commissioner Gutzwiler moved that the Department follow the federal guidelines for waterfowl seasons and regulations. The motion failed for lack of a second.

The motion to adopt the permanent amendments carried.

AMENDMENTS TO NONTOXIC SHOT REQUIREMENTS, GAME RESERVES, AND WATERFOWL CLOSURES RULES -- RULE ACTION:
Don Kraege presented proposed permanent amendments to WAC 232-12-068, Nontoxic shot requirements; WAC 232-16-050, Byron Game Reserve, and WAC 232-16-740 Columbia, Snake, and Yakima River waterfowl, coot, and snipe closures, to provide additional public hunting recreation consistent with the status of waterfowl species.

No oral testimony on the proposed amendments was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 232-12-068, Nontoxic shot requirements; WAC 232-16-050, Byron Game Reserve, and WAC 232-16-740, Columbia, Snake, and Yakima River waterfowl, coot, and snipe closures, as proposed. The motion carried unanimously.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS BIG GAME CONFLICTS IN KITTITAS COUNTY -- BRIEFING:
Jeff Tayer, Dave Duncan (landowner/former President of Kittitas County Cattlemen's Association), and Doug Warnock (retired Washington State University Extension Agent) briefed the Commission on collaborative efforts to address big game conflicts in Kittitas County.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS--DECISION:
Todd Walker presented two proposed land transactions for the Commission's consideration and approval.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Wecker, to approve the following land transactions:

- Acquisition of the 2,362-acre Dezellem Farms, Inc., property in Douglas County for a price not to exceed $850,000; and
- acquisition of the 126.58-acre W.K. Lilliquist property in Grays Harbor County for $467,500.

The motion to approve the land transactions carried unanimously.

CORMORANT DEPREDATION -- BRIEFING:
Rocky Beach and Dick Stone briefed the Commission on ongoing discussions with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on cormorant and other bird/fish depredation issues, and the Double Crested Cormorant Environmental Impact Statement.

AMENDMENTS TO COUGAR HUNTING WITH HOUNDS RULES -- RULE ACTION:
Steve Pozzanghera, Mary Lou Peterson (Okanogan County Commissioner), and Ken Oliver (Pend Orielle County Commissioner) presented proposed permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-285, 2005-2006 Pilot cougar hunting seasons with the aid of dogs, to provide a more effective cougar management program and enhance public safety.

One individual provided oral testimony on the proposed amendments during the meeting.

Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-285, 2005-2006 Pilot cougar hunting seasons with the aid of dogs as proposed. The motion carried unanimously.

AMENDMENTS TO MANDATORY REPORT OF HUNTING ACTIVITY -- RULE ACTION:
Dave Ware presented proposed permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-299, Mandatory report of hunting activity, to encourage timely reporting that would allow the Department to develop accurate harvest estimates used to recommend the following year's permit levels and season adjustments.

No oral testimony on the proposed amendments was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Wecker, to adopt the permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-299, Mandatory report of hunting activity, as proposed. The motion carried unanimously.

HUNTER EDUCATION STUDENT MANUAL DEVELOPMENT -- BRIEFING:
Bruce Bjork and Clare Cranston (Hunter Education instructor) briefed the Commission on development of a new hunter education student manual which will be completed by January 2006.

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:
Commissioners discussed items that arose immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda was published.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
Three individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting.

Chair Ozment adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m.

Commissioners in Attendance:
Ron Ozment, Chair
Fred Shiosaki, Vice Chair
Ken Chew
Jerry Gutzwiler
Chuck Perry
Shirley Solomon
Miranda Wecker

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