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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Brian Calkins, Acting Wildlife Program Manager

December 27, 2006

Region 5 Wildlife Areas

Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area

Mt. St. Helens News Coverage: Wildlife Area Manager Calkins was interviewed by KATU news (Portland) on the Mt. St. Helens State Wildlife Area last week. The interview included questions concerning habitat on the wildlife area in light of recent flooding, winter conditions for elk so far this winter, and the new elk herd and wildlife area plans. Winter conditions this year have been colder and wetter than average, which does raise a concern for elk in the valley. Calkins noted that, due to the current conditions, discussions about winter feeding are occurring. WDFW is monitoring the elk and has implemented special hunts to harvest some of the animals to help reduce the pressure on the winter range. The wildlife area will also be closed to public access to reduce stress and energy expended by elk, which they need to survive the winter. It is not known at this time when the story will air.

Game Management Division

Region 5 Post-Season Deer Surveys: Biologist Holman conducted a ground-based survey of the post-hunting season deer herd in GMU 382 (East Klickitat). The survey resulted in a total of 428 deer classified. The fawn to doe ratio was 62:100 and the buck to doe ratio was 10 to 100. The total number of deer observed during the effort was significantly higher than those of recent years; the fawn ratio was very similar, while the buck ratio has declined.

Although located in Region 5, GMU 382 is managed as a mule-deer area, with a three-point or larger antler restriction for all user-groups. A post-hunting season goal of 15 bucks per 100 does has been established as a statewide benchmark per the Game Management Plan. Post-season survey efforts in each of the past three years had resulted in buck to doe ratios consistent with this goal. However, the GMU was previously hunted under a nine-day general rifle season. For the 2006-08 3-year hunting season package, a 14-day general rifle season has been implemented. This survey raises the possibility that the new season structure may be resulting in inadequate hunting-season escapement in GMU 382. Post-season surveys of the deer population in GMU 382 will continue in future years.

Mt. St. Helens Mudflow Hunt Update: The second group of permit holders began their hunt on the Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area on December 19th. To date, 15 permit holders have taken part in the special hunts and we currently believe that most of them have been successful in harvesting an elk. The hunt for disabled hunters, which is open only to special permit holders drawn from the existing pool of applicants, was initiated to harvest additional animals as a measure to reduce pressure on the winter range and possibly winter mortality on the site. A third, and final, group of hunters is scheduled to begin hunting on December 26th. Many of these hunters have submitted organ samples for assessing body condition of the elk. A preliminary assessment appears to show that the cow elk were in good condition. However, results will not be conclusive until the final evaluation has been conducted after all the hunts have been completed.

Wildlife Diversity Division

Columbia Gorge Conservation: Biologist Anderson attended a workshop sponsored by the Columbia Land Trust (CLT), a nonprofit land conservation organization working in the lower Columbia River region. The focus of the meeting was to prioritize future conservation work in the Columbia River Gorge by the CLT, including land purchases and conservation easements. Following the meeting, it was agreed upon that the Klickitat River drainage ranked high on the list of critical areas to target conservation efforts due to its importance as fish and wildlife habitat.