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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Fred Dobler, Wildlife Program Manager

February 14, 2005

Region 5 Wildlife Areas

Klickitat Wildlife Area CAG Summary– RMAP (Road maintenance abandonment plan) issues and orphaned roads to be abandoned. Discussion of abandoning seeding and rehabbing old forest roads and 4-wheel drive trails on KWA to stop illegal off roading by vehicles and ATVs and vehicle disturbance to hunters and users of the area. This Idea was well-received concerns for the projects were having access roads in case of emergencies and access for the disabled.

Proposed timber harvest and prescribed burn regimen– Timber harvest plan of thinning (not just timber of commercial value) bug infested and over stocked areas and prescribe burn thinned areas to benefit wildlife and improve the health of the forest was well received. Concerns: What would the size of the cut be and the time frame for rotation on the burns and thinning practices? The planned date of starting this project, because consensus was that it is well overdue with worries that if a wild fire does go through the area with all the fuel on the ground it would burn hot and kill all the timber and understory plants. Whether the forest practice plan would take into account all wildlife species not just deer and squirrels.

Limiting camping to specified areas on KWA– This project was received well in agreeing this would improve the quality of the hunt and outdoor experience.

Goldendale Hatchery / Pheasant Release Site land sale– The group felt monies would be better spent in habitat improvements of the already owned land instead of looking for new land to buy for a release site. Concerns were also raised for not including the public about the sale and reasons for the sale.

Feed back from group on issues they may have or know about. Consensus of the group was WDFW needs to inform the public about issues that affect user groups of that land or facility. They are concerned that the public has no input about issues they help fund and are told only after the issue has been decided.

Klickitat Wildlife Area: Mineral Springs– Work was started on securing the Ice House on the Mineral Springs Unit. This work will secure the building from being a safety hazard and protect the chimney used by the Vaux swift as a roosting sight during its migrations. Work should be complete within two weeks, if the weather holds out.

Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area Advisory Group Established– Wildlife Area Manager Calkins held the first meeting of the newly established Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area Advisory Group on February 9. The group members represent diverse interests ranging from paragliders and horseback riders to adjoining forest landowners. The groups first task was to review past goals that had been established for the wildlife area and revise them into a new list that will be used in a management plan that is being developed. The topic of most interest was the cost effectiveness of tree planting as an erosion control measure including criticism of some ongoing efforts. The group is very interested in the option of placing large wood as an alternative method.

The group was also asked about the potential upcoming spring elk trapping effort and how and if a closure of the wildlife area during the project should be implemented. The group's feeling was that closing the entire wildlife area was not a good idea during this time of year. They suggested that if a closure was needed that only the area immediately around the trap should be closed. The rationale was that some will ignore a closure anyway and that a full closure may cause some users to want to retaliate by vandalizing the trap or otherwise attempt to interfere with the trapping effort.

Shillapoo Wildlife Area: Public Use and Wildlife Viewing– With major hunting seasons now closed Waterfowl numbers using the wildlife area have risen dramatically. This has been even more pronounced this year with new wetland management features in place. A drive down Lower River Road or the Erwin O. Reiger Memorial highway should offer numerous opportunities to view Canada Geese, several species of ducks and other wildlife on both the wildlife area and Private Properties. Undeveloped lands in the Port of Vancouver also generally hold large numbers of these birds. In addition to waterfowl this is also the best time of year to view great blue herons in the rookery across the road from the entrance from Vancouver Lake Park. Observers may also easily notice great egrets in both open fields and wetlands. The large white birds stand out and are easy to spot from a distance. The wetland areas on the Vancouver Lake Unit and adjoining city/county parks property are offering new viewing opportunities this year.

Visitors are reminded that this is the time of year that the North and South units are closed to dog training to avoid disturbing the large flocks of birds. Educational signs are also posted which identify the sites as important wintering habitat and ask the public to recreate elsewhere to help in this effort. Past compliance with this "voluntary closure" has been very good. Keeping the birds on the Wildlife Area helps to lessen crop depredations on private farm lands in the area. During the period through mid-April the Vancouver Lake Unit remains open for dog training and other uses as Canada Goose use of this site is less extensive.

Vancouver Lake Gate Damaged By Vehicle Collision– Wildlife Area Manager Calkins was called to the Vancouver Lake Unit Access Gate the night of February 7th to inspect damage caused by a vehicle that struck the gate. Both of the gates arms received damage. One arm was broken completely from it's hinge and the metal from the opposite post was torn loose at the hinge. The force on this second arm was sufficient to cause it to wrap around the post and snap off a six by six wooden post which destroyed the access sign. Access Manager Spangler and the Wildlife Area Staff were able to repair the gate within two days. The gate is closed nightly to reduce vandalism and illegal dumping and other undesireable activities which were once common on the site before the gate was put in place.

Game Division

2005 Hunting Season Recommendations– The St. Helen's District is proposing a new hunt to take place on the Julia Butler Hansen refuge in Cathlamet. This hunt is designed to control elk numbers on the ESA listed deer refuge and as an alternative to trapping and relocating the elk. Suitable release sites have become very difficult to find in SW Washington and a hunt is another method of controlling the elk. The hunt is proposed to be limited in permits to 5 and 2 or 3 hunt periods are propose, hunting will be limited to graduates of the Advanced Hunter Education program.. Hunters will receive a detailed briefing and be under restrictions as to where they may hunt to reduce conflicts with other refuge uses and safety concerns.

Northwest Sportsman's Show– Region 5 Staff from Wildlife, Enforcement, Fisheries, Customer Service and Habitat Programs along with License Sales out of Olympia all participated in manning the WDFW booth at the Northwest Sportsman's Show in Portland. Wildlife Program Manager Dobler oversaw setup of the booth which featured an explanation of the proposed $5 hunting license surcharge for increased access to private lands for hunting, a display of the new "Go Hunt" feature on our website, elk on the St. Helens Wildlife Area, Kids fishing, Columbia River fish habitat improvement projects and sturgeon research.

Popular wildlife related points of discussion at this year's show included the 2005 hunting season, the details of our special hunting permit allocation process, the 2006-08 3-year season setting process, Southwest Washington goose management, wolf expansion across the west, etc. Fisheries related topics generating a lot of interest included the upcoming spring chinook fishery, chinook harvest by the Makah Tribe and a proposal to allow additional take of listed Columbia River steelhead during commercial spring chinook fisheries. Among those that entered these discussions, most were in favor of the proposed access program and really liked the Go Hunt feature. The free gun locks provide by the National Shooting Sports Grant were again very popular this year.

Special thanks are due this year to Fisheries Biologist Brad Cady for his help in setting up the booth, specifically for unloading, carrying and stacking an entire pallet of gun locks -Thanks Brad!