Wildlife Conservation Volunteer Opportunities

SPECIFIC VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES NOW AVAILABLE
Listings of specific Master Hunter volunteer project opportunities will be posted by the Department and updated on a routine basis.

DO YOU HAVE A MASTER HUNTER RELATED PROJECT FOR WHICH YOU NEED VOLUNTEER HELP?
Make sure your activity corresponds to the pre-approved conservation project guidelines then call Mike Kuttel at (360) 902-8413, kuttempk@dfw.wa.gov, to get it posted here.

STATEWIDE OPPORTUNITIES

• Department of Natural Resources (DNR) volunteer projects statewide. Contact DNR statewide volunteer coordinator, Christine Redmond, at Christine.Redmond@dnr.wa.gov.

REGION 1

• Hand Pulling of Noxious Weeds at the Blue Mountains Wildlife Area Complex. Contact Bob Dice 509-758-3151 dicerid@dfw.wa.gov
  
  
• Master Hunters are needed to assist with the 10th annual New Shooters Day, near Sprague, sponsored by the Inland Empire Chapter of the Safari Club. The New Shooters Day Event will occur on September 7, 2008. Last year 135 youth attended the event. Take the Fish Trap Lake Exit off I-90 to Old Highway 27, then to the Williams Lake Road. The event is at the Miller Ranch off the Williams Lake Road. Volunteers will receive orientation and training on site. Assistance is needed for Five-Stand, archery, .22 rifle, and live-bird shooting venues. For more information, and to register as a volunteer, contact Rick Osterback (509) 993-3098.
  
  
• Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Complex (McNary, Umatilla, Conboy Lake, Columbia, Hanford Monument/Saddle Mountain, and Toppenish National Wildlife Refuges). Re-occurring volunteer projects include: pre-waterfowl hunting season hunt blind preparation (September); waterfowl hunt blind construction and replacement (February thru September); post-waterfowl hunting season cleanup (March); disabled hunter accessibility including trails, boardwalks, and hunting blinds (February thru September); waterfowl hunting trail maintenance (September); and native tree and shrub planting (February thru March). Contact Brian Allen or Paula Call at the Burbank Headquarters Office at (509) 546-8300, fax (509) 546-8303, brian_allen@fws.gov. The following web link provides pictures of volunteer activities: http://kenandmyrt.com/volunteers.html.
  
  
• Volunteers needed for biological (deer hunter) check stations in the Colville District of Eastern Washington. Hunter Check Stations are a valuable tool for wildlife management. WDFW check stations within the Colville District have been operated by agency staff for over 30 years. The check stations are located at Washington State Patrol Commercial Truck Scales on Highway 395 near Deer Park and Highway 2 near Chattaroy, WA. Master Hunter volunteer efforts will include: Sign-up for one or more dates/locations, travel to/from station sites, setup, collect data from hunters and their harvested game, tear-down, clean-up, and the completion of required WDFW forms. Weekend check station dates scheduled for fall of 2008 include the following Saturdays and/or Sundays: October 12, 19, November 8, 9, 15, and 16. Volunteers will need to be dressed & prepared to spend the day outside greeting up to 500 or more hunters as they drive through the weighing station and inspecting their deer or other game. Raingear, a hunter-orange vest (for public recognition), a lunch, water bottle, thermos, etc. are recommended. Work hours are 9:30 AM until shortly before dark on each of the six days. Please contact Dana L. Base at (509) 684-2362 ext.21 or BaseDLB@dfw.wa.gov for more information and/or to sign up.

REGION 2

• Master Hunters are needed to assist with the 10th annual New Shooters Day, near Sprague, sponsored by the Inland Empire Chapter of the Safari Club. The New Shooters Day Event will occur on September 7, 2008. Last year 135 youth attended the event. Take the Fish Trap Lake Exit off I-90 to Old Highway 27, then to the Williams Lake Road. The event is at the Miller Ranch off the Williams Lake Road. Volunteers will receive orientation and training on site. Assistance is needed for Five-Stand, archery, .22 rifle, and live-bird shooting venues. For more information, and to register as a volunteer, contact Rick Osterback (509) 993-3098.
  
  
• Sinlahekin Wildlife Area and Chiliwist Wildlife Area projects. There are 20 different volunteer activities available. Contact Wildlife Area Manager Dale Swedberg at 509-223-3358, swedbdas@dfw.wa.gov . Please note that a bunkhouse is available for volunteers to use, BUT that advance scheduling is definitely required. Volunteers should be able to work independently once given training and orientation. General projects include: Sinlahekin Wildlife Area---- Zachman Gate Installation; Deer Enclosure Fence Rebuild; New Gate Forde Lake Campground Road; Woodshop and Machine shed Painting; Garbage Dumps Cleanup; Fence Removal; Fence Construction and Repair; Guzzler Repair and Rebuild; Loading Dock Construction; Weed Control; Upland Bird Feeder Repair; Road Fence; Construction of Bluebird Nest Boxes; and oheny Basin Road Brushing. Chiliwist Wildlife Area----Weed Control; Fence Removal; Parking Area #2 Fence Removal, Construction, and Signage; Parking Area #3 Fencing and Signage; Loading Dock Construction; and Fence Construction and Repair.

REGION 3

• Elk fence repair in Yakima County. Eight hours each day, bring gloves, brush clearing tools or fence repair tools if you have them (hammer, tool belts, fencing tool, chainsaw, wire cutters, brush cutters or trimmers, etc. Last chance to volunteer! Saturday, September 6th. Contact Department Biologist Anthony Novack at 509-925-9323, novacajn@dfw.wa.gov.
  
  
• Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Complex (McNary, Umatilla, Conboy Lake, Columbia, Hanford Monument/Saddle Mountain, and Toppenish National Wildlife Refuges). Re-occurring volunteer projects include: pre-waterfowl hunting season hunt blind preparation (September); waterfowl hunt blind construction and replacement (February thru September); post-waterfowl hunting season cleanup (March); disabled hunter accessibility including trails, boardwalks, and hunting blinds (February thru September); waterfowl hunting trail maintenance (September); and native tree and shrub planting (February thru March). Contact Brian Allen or Paula Call at the Burbank Headquarters Office at (509) 546-8300, fax (509) 546-8303, brian_allen@fws.gov. The following web link provides pictures of volunteer activities: http://kenandmyrt.com/volunteers.html.

REGION 4

• Volunteer projects available on Department of Natural Resource (DNR) managed lands in the Northwest Region.
  1. Harry Osborne State Forest, Hamilton, WA: Drive or walk along forest road systems removing litter. Collect litter in a gravel pit that is used for target shooting. Garbage bags, work gloves and litter picker will be provided. DNR Recreation Crew will pick up bags of garbage.
  2. Blanchard Forest Block, Alger, WA: Two separate work sites. The first site involves a ½ mile hike to carry materials and tools to a panoramic view area of Mount Baker and the Sisters Peaks. Posts, interpretive signs, and benches will be installed, and brush will be cleared to re-establish the view on the Lily and Lizard lakes trail. The second site is a 2-mile hike to install benches and hitching rails for rest areas along the Lily and Lizard Lake trails. All materials will be found onsite for the second project. Only tools will need to be hauled to the work area. All necessary tools for both work sites will be provided by DNR.
  3. Walker Valley ORV Area, Big Lake, WA: This project involves trail maintenance, painting signs, and litter pickup with the following details: Trails Cleaning hardened water bars—removing excess dirt and rock with a shovel from the uphill side of the water bar as well as the adjoining outlet ditch; cleaning or re-establishing ditch lines along the trail system—ditches need to be cleaned by hand using shovels; brushing the trail system—cutting blackberries and brush out of the trail system; trail tread hardening—hauling gravel with a quad and trailer to various sections of trail. Signs Painting of informational signs in various locations. Litter collection Picking up garbage throughout the trail system—walking or riding the trail system and roads with garbage bags.
  4. Volunteer Work Parties Throughout the Year: Interested individuals are welcome to join one of these work party events or to sponsor a work event in partnership with DNR. Contact Christ Thomsen or Jim Cahill for further information, specific project dates, and additional volunteer opportunities in the Northwest Region at Christ.Thomsen@dnr.wa.gov or Jim.Cahill@dnr.wa.gov .
     
     
• Volunteers Needed for the Property Watch/Land Access Program. This pilot program targets WDFW Regions 4, 5, and 6. Eyes In The Woods Association Inc. directors are collaborating with multiple local conservation/sport organizations, business owners, private landowners, timber companies, media, and WDFW staff with the goal of opening private lands for outdoor recreational uses, primarily hunting and fishing. Participating volunteers are required to travel to key locations and stay at those locations during hunting hours. Locations are selected to best direct hunters away from active logging areas, provide access to open gates, and provide information to hunters. Volunteer participation also includes installing signs at strategic access locations; land clean up projects, and to act as a deterrent for poaching, dumping, vandalism, and other crimes. For more information or to sign up go to: www.eyesinthewoods.org/CALENDAR or call Tony Wells (360) 480-6689.

REGION 5

• Assistance at the Bob Oke State Pheasant Farm in Centralia (360-807-6211)
  
  
• Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County. Hand pulling of noxious weeds (ricesield bulrush) on the River S Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Open work parties will be held every Saturday from June 28th-August 30th, but volunteers can participate at anytime during that period. Access to the work site is from 9th Avenue. Please contact Orlanda at (360) 508-5627, orlanda_kleimenhagen@sws.gov .
  
  
• Sign-up to volunteer in the Mt. St. Helens Land Access Program. A great opportunity to help provide hunting access. This project is a cooperative effort between many volunteer organizations, Weyerhaeuser (Weyco), and WDFW to provide additional motorized access during the week to the majority of Weyco St. Helens Tree Farm during special elk permit seasons. Thanks to the hard work of participants, 2007 was a very successful year that provided additional weekday motorized access for hunters to about 86% of the St. Helens Tree Farm. Register electronically at http://wdfw.wa.gov/volunter/sthelens_land_access.htm.
  
  
• Volunteers needed for biological check stations in Western Washington. Check stations are a valuable tool for wildlife management. Volunteers often assist in the collection of biological data for deer and elk populations. Eyes In The Woods Association Inc. (EITW) volunteers, working with WDFW Regions 5 and 6,have a nine-year successful history of conducting volunteer check stations. WDFW check stations will range from the Hoh drainage in the northwest to the Skookumchuck drainage in the southwest, and throughout strategic areas south to the Columbia River. EITW volunteer’s efforts will include: attending a training, signup for one or more dates/locations, travel to/from station sites, setup, collect data from hunters and their harvested game, teardown, cleanup, and the completion of required WDFW and EITW forms. Check station training sessions for 2008 are scheduled for August 23 at Boston Harbor Fire Hall in Olympia. For more information or to sign up go to: www.eyesinthewoods.org/CALENDAR or call John Arnold (360) 520-4330.
  
  
• Volunteers needed for the Property Watch/Land Access Program. This pilot program targets WDFW Regions 4, 5, and 6. Eyes In The Woods Association Inc. directors are collaborating with multiple local conservation/sport organizations, business owners, private landowners, timber companies, media, and WDFW staff with the goal of opening private lands for outdoor recreational uses, primarily hunting and fishing. Participating volunteers are required to travel to key locations and stay at those locations during hunting hours. Locations are selected to best direct hunters away from active logging areas, provide access to open gates, and provide information to hunters. Volunteer participation also includes installing signs at strategic access locations; land clean up projects, and to act as a deterrent for poaching, dumping, vandalism, and other crimes. For more information or to sign up go to: www.eyesinthewoods.org/CALENDAR or call Tony Wells (360) 480-6689.

REGION 6

• Rebuilding of hunting duck blinds in Belfair area on WDFW blinds. There will be two days of work, presently planned for Saturday, September 20th at the South Sound Wildlife Area, and Sunday September 21st meeting at the North Shore access at Union River (Belfair). The Saturday work will be pre-construction of the duck blinds, and the Sunday work will be the placement of the blinds out in the Belfair tide flats. Contact Rick Holland, Eyes In The Woods Membership Director at (253) 797-1383 (rickh@eyesinthewoods.org) for more information.
  
  
• Volunteers needed for biological check stations in Western Washington. Check stations are a valuable tool for wildlife management. Volunteers often assist in the collection of biological data for deer and elk populations. Eyes In The Woods Association Inc. (EITW) volunteers, working with WDFW Regions 5 and 6,have a nine-year successful history of conducting volunteer check stations. WDFW check stations will range from the Hoh drainage in the northwest to the Skookumchuck drainage in the southwest, and throughout strategic areas south to the Columbia River. EITW volunteer’s efforts will include: attending a training, signup for one or more dates/locations, travel to/from station sites, setup, collect data from hunters and their harvested game, teardown, cleanup, and the completion of required WDFW and EITW forms. Check station training sessions for 2008 are scheduled for August 23 at Boston Harbor Fire Hall in Olympia. For more information or to sign up go to: www.eyesinthewoods.org/CALENDAR or call John Arnold (360) 520-4330.
  
  
• Volunteers needed for the Property Watch/Land Access Program. This pilot program targets WDFW Regions 4, 5, and 6. Eyes In The Woods Association Inc. directors are collaborating with multiple local conservation/sport organizations, business owners, private landowners, timber companies, media, and WDFW staff with the goal of opening private lands for outdoor recreational uses, primarily hunting and fishing. Participating volunteers are required to travel to key locations and stay at those locations during hunting hours. Locations are selected to best direct hunters away from active logging areas, provide access to open gates, and provide information to hunters. Volunteer participation also includes installing signs at strategic access locations; land clean up projects, and to act as a deterrent for poaching, dumping, vandalism, and other crimes. For more information or to sign up go to: www.eyesinthewoods.org/CALENDAR or call Tony Wells (360) 480-6689.