Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police are investigating the alleged poaching of an adult pregnant doe in the Battle Ground area.
“The doe was left to waste in the area of the BG 2000 line, which is located off of N.E. Berry Road,” Officer Isabel Van Vladricken said. “The doe was found with multiple bullet wounds and had twin fawns (both male) days away from being born.”
The deer is believed to have been shot between the evenings of Thursday and Friday of last week. The deer was left on sight to waste and was found days later.
“We are currently seeking assistance from the public to assist us in identifying any suspects or vehicles that may have been involved,” Van Vladricken said.
Anyone who might have information regarding the incident is encouraged to called the WDFW at 360-902-2928, visit the department’s website at wdfw.wa.gov by clicking on violations, or text WDFWTIP to 847411.
Those who provide information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward or bonus points for special permit hunting opportunities. (WDFW)
Release of steelhead halted on Coweeman
No winter steelhead were released into the Coweeman River this spring. It is the first time the fish were not planted into the river by the WDFW since the early 80’s.
The releases have supported a popular although small sport fishery.
The department had an agreement with local landowners that allowed them to acclimate and release the fish from a rearing pond. Those landowners did not allow the department to use their property this year.
The WDFW planted the steelhead into other local rivers and lakes. The steelhead would have returned to the river in 2021 and 2022.
The WDFW does not have any alternate sites on the Coweeman to acclimate steelhead. Fish managers still hope a solution can be reached that will allow WDFW to resume the Coweeman program in 2020.
Discussions on changes to sturgeon regulations
In addition to meetings in other Washington cities, the WDFW has scheduled a meeting in Montesano to collect input from the public on possible changes to the state’s sturgeon fishing regulations.
The meeting will be held at the WDFW Region 6 office in Montesano from 6 to 8 p.m, June 13.
In addition to the meeting, the public can now provide comments online through WDFW’s website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/season-setting/sturgeon.
Management recommendations and discussion topics include:
• Removing night fishing for sturgeon on the Chehalis River. Under current rules, catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon is permitted 24 hours per day on a large stretch of the river, the only such 24-hour sturgeon fishery in the state.
• Extending the ending date of all sturgeon spawning sanctuaries in the Columbia River from Bonneville Dam to Priest Rapids Dam until Aug. 31. Currently the end date is July 1. The extension would also apply to the Snake River below Ice Harbor Dam.
• Extending the area of the spawning sanctuaries on the Columbia River below McNary and Priest Rapids dams.
n Closing sturgeon retention fishing within McNary Reservoir, inclusive of the lower Snake River below Ice Harbor Dam and the Hanford Reach below Priest Rapids Dam, due to a lack of population monitoring information.
Feedback from the public will be used to inform its final management recommendations. Fish managers expect to brief the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in October on the resulting proposed regulations.
