Conservation group’s monthly meeting Oct. 9
The Southwest Washington chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association will hold its monthly meeting on Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at the Camas Meadows Golf Club at 4105 NW Camas Drive in Camas. The guest will be Pro Escobedo of VIP Outdoors.
Oregon fall clam season postponed
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will delay the opening of fall razor clam harvest along the Clatsop beaches from the traditional date of Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 at the earliest, to allow time to collect public feedback on management options in light of a recent stock assessment.
Extension of the annual conservation closure only applies to Clatsop County beaches, and prohibits all harvest of razor clams along the 18 mile stretch from Tillamook Head to the mouth of the Columbia River, until the closure is lifted.
ODFW recently completed the annual stock assessment survey for razor clams along the Clatsop beaches. The survey found that most clams are too small to be harvested by commercial clammers or desired by recreational clammers.
Recently, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife delayed the traditional October razor clam digs on the Long Beach peninsula until late December due to similar concerns about the population and small size of clams. In Oregon, the population includes even fewer medium and large razor clams.
Fire restrictions lifted on most lands
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has lifted fire restrictions on most department-managed lands in Eastern Washington, where cooler temperatures and high humidity have reduced fire danger.
“This change reflects an easing of fire danger in Eastern Washington, but we still urge campers and anyone else heading outdoors this fall to be extremely cautious with campfires and any other activity that could spark a wildfire,” Wilkerson said.
She noted, however, that some localized restrictions will remain in place.
Poacher reward now gives preference points
A new program will provide big game preference points in lieu of a cash reward to people who turn in poachers.
The program builds on the long standing Turn in Poachers Program (TIP), a successful collaboration between the Oregon Hunters Association and Oregon State Police which until now only provided cash for information about poaching.
But new this year, people who provide information that Oregon State Police determines leads to an arrest or citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game (deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, antelope, bear, cougar, or wolf) are eligible for preference points or cash.