Elk hunting season opens Saturday

Elk season in Western Washington begins its 11-day run on Saturday, with the weather appearing in hunters’ favor, or at least not hurting them.

“Conditions are looking pretty good this year,” said David Anderson, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist in Trout Lake. “We didn’t have a severe winter and the recent snowfall is helping to move elk down from the higher elevations.”

The snow has since melted, with temperatures in the 50s on Wednesday.

Shooting hours on Saturday and Sunday are 6:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Shooting hours beginning Monday are 6:40 a.m. to 5:05 p.m.

A state resident elk hunting license costs $43.20.

Unlike deer hunting in Southwest Washington, where the harvest improves as the season progresses, elk hunting is best on the opening day, then tapers quickly.

State biologists overall are forecasting a harvest similar to 2008 in Southwest Washington.

A rule change this year will allow hunters in the Stella unit west of Longview to kill antlerless elk as well as bulls.

However, the use of modern firearms remains prohibited in the area.

Stella-area residents told state wildlife officials that hunters scouting the area appear unaware of the firearms restriction, said Craig Bartlett of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.