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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
August 6, 2007

Game Management Division

Private Lands Access: As part of the on-going effort to facilitate additional hunting access onto Weyerhaeuser lands in Southwest Washington, Biologist Holman met with members of the Yacolt Burn Sportsman's Club (YBSC). Details regarding hunting access to Weyerhaeuser's lands were discussed. Specifically; safety, policy, and liability procedures for WDFW work by volunteers; ALEA grant procedures; travel reimbursement procedures; as well as logistics and expectations for the upcoming hunting seasons were all discussed.

YBSC has maintained excellent relations with Weyerhaeuser over the course of the past twelve years. With neither support nor help from WDFW, this group of Clark County Sportsmen and Women have opened and closed gates daily throughout various hunting seasons in the Yacolt Burn. During a period of significant loss of hunting access to private industrial forestlands, the volunteer group has maintained free public access to approximately 35,000 acres of forestland primarily located in GMU 568 (Washougal). This year, YBSC has been awarded ALEA funds to reimburse them for their expenses associated with facilitation of this hunting access.

Private Lands Access Program Meeting: Biologist Anderson and Holman recently met with Private Lands Biologists in Ephrata to learn more about the program. With recent budget cuts to the Private Lands program, Region 5 biologists were given the task of implementing the program, which is primarily in Klickitat County. Currently we are contacting landowners in preparation for the upcoming hunting season. In addition, Biologist Anderson has established contact with the Farm Services Administration to learn more about contract extensions for the CRP program in Klickitat County. We are pleased to report that all contract extensions have been completed with landowners.

Mud Flow Hunt: Locks and keys were secured this week for the hunters to pass thru the 3100 road to the WDFW gate. Letters have been drafted advising the hunters of the organ collection program and key issuance and return process. Sample bags have been ordered to collect the heart and kidneys from cow elk to judge body condition. Tooth envelopes have been received to extract a tooth to estimate age of the elk we collect the organs from.

Band-Tailed Pigeon Surveys: Science Technician Ridenour along with Weyerhaeuser volunteer Sherrie Southern completed the band-tailed pigeon mineral site survey at the Newaukum River site. A total of 215 pigeons arrived at the mineral spring over the 7-hour survey period. This is within the normal range of pigeons seen at this site.