Events scheduled at Washougal Oaks Natural Area on Saturday
WASHOUGAL — Two outings for the public to learn about the Washougal Oaks Natural Area are scheduled Saturday by the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
The first event will be from 9 a.m. to noon. A hike of less than 1.5 miles will visit the Oregon white oak forest where participants will learn about restoration efforts and enjoy wildflowers.
There is a limit of 14. To register, or for questions, call Carlo Abbruzzese at 360-575-5056 or email to carlo.abbruzzese@dnr.wa.gov. Participants will want boots and long pants.
The second event, for youth, will be from 1 to 3:30 p.m. It will include a short nature walk. Leaves, sticks and other natural objects will be used to create prints on paper or cloth.
Youth are encouraged to bring a blank t-shirt or decorate a dish cloth the state will provide.
To register, call or email Abbruzzese.
To get to the events, take state Highway 14 three miles east of Washougal. Just prior to mile marker 20, turn left and up a road to a large barn and parking area.
A sign on Highway 14 will say “Washougal Oaks.”
Fall hunting permit applications due to state by May 18
OLYMPIA — Hunters have through May 18 to apply for special permits for fall deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep and turkey seasons in Washington.
Applications may be purchased from license vendors statewide or on the Department of Fish and Wildlife website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wdfw/special_permits.html. Applications must be submitted on that website or by calling 1-877-945-3492.
Instructions and details on applying for special-permit hunts are described on pages 84-85 of the 2012-13 Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations pamphlet, available at department offices, license vendors, and online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations.
Additional information is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/faq.html.
Before applying for a special-hunt permit, hunters must purchase an application and any necessary hunting licenses and transport tags for each species they wish to hunt.
All are available online, by phone, or from a licensed dealer.
Most special hunt permit applications cost $6.60 for residents, $110.00 for non-residents, and $3.30 for youth under 16 years of age.
Permit winners will be selected through a random drawing conducted by the agency in late June. The special permits qualify hunters to hunt at times and places beyond those authorized by a general hunting license.
Results of the special-permit drawing will be available online by the end of June at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wa/specialhuntlookup. Winners will be notified by mail by mid-July.
Snow removed from Curley Creek road in Gifford Pinchot National Forest
CARSON — Curley Creek road No. 51 connecting the Wind River Winter Sports Area at Oldman Pass with the North Fork Lewis River valley is open.
Skamania County has plowed the road linking Wind River road No. 30 with Lewis River road No. 90. The snow removal makes it possible to drive from Carson to Cougar through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Twin Harbors beach open this weekend for razor clams
OLYMPIA — Twin Harbors beach is open Saturday through Monday for razor clam digging, the final season until autumn.
All other Washington beaches are closed until the fall season is announced, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Low tides will be -1.5 feet at 6:32 a.m. on Saturday, -2.1 feet at 7:19 a.m. on Sunday and -2.3 feet at 8:07 a.m. on Monday.
“With digging restricted to one beach, I’d recommend arriving early and getting your clams before it gets too crowded,” Ayres said.
Mount Hood Meadows ski area to be closed beginning Monday
Mount Hood Meadows will be closed for the season beginning Monday.
The ski area will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with Mount Hood Express, Cascade Express, Buttercup and Ballroom Carpet operating.
Chairlift tickets will cost $49 and season passes will be honored.
