Commission to decide on multiple-season hunting permits

OLYMPIA — The state Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet here Friday and Saturday to adopt sport-fishing rules for 2012-13 and consider increasing the number of multiple-season hunting permits.

The nine-member citizen panel will start work at 8:30 a.m. both days in Room No. 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E.

Eighteen fishing rule changes will be considered including minor changes to Salmon Creek, the South Fork of the Toutle River and Swift Reservoir in Southwest Washington. The proposed changes are posted at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is proposing increasing the number of multiple-season permits from 4,000 to 8,500 for deer and from 850 to 1,250 for elk.

Since 2006, the department has conducted annual drawings for multiple-season hunting permits, which allow a certain number of hunters to participate in all general hunting seasons for deer and elk.

Without the special permit, hunters must choose among archery, muzzleloader or modern firearm seasons.

The multiple-season hunting permits are on Friday’s agenda, while the fishing proposals are scheduled for Saturday.