BAD NEWS FOR pheasant hunters: There will be no hunting in the area known as Voice of America this year.
In fact, there probably won’t be any hunting of any sort in the Dungeness Recreation Area in the near future.
“All hunting has been discontinued indefinitely,” Bryan Davidson of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife told me this week.
There has been a big load of confusion about this because some of the hunting regulation pamphlets were printed with incorrect information.
So, don’t believe everything you read, but do believe this: Hunting is completely closed in Voice of America.
The area isn’t being stocked with pheasants as it has in the past.
Apparently, the area’s lease ran out and it wasn’t renewed.
Davidson did say that the state is working to find another pheasant hunting spot in the area to stock with pheasants for hunters.
Last Chance Salmon Derby
The Last Chance Salmon Derby in LaPush is coming up.
The annual event, co-sponsored by the Forks Chamber of Commerce, the Quileute tribe, and the city of Forks, will be Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5 and 6.
Tickets for the two-day derby are $25, and are available now at the Quileute Marina, Swain’s General Store in Port Angeles, Forks Outfitters, Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks, Forks Chamber of Commerce and during the derby at the Quileute Marina.
Cash prize is $500 for largest chinook, $250 for second largest and $100 for third largest; and $500 for largest coho, $250 for second largest, and $100 for third largest.
This salmon derby isn’t just for salmon, as there will be a $100 prize for largest bottomfish as well.
There are also drawing prizes, for which all ticket holders are eligible.
Visit www.tinyurl.com/pdnLastChance or phone 360-374-2531 with any questions.
Wild in Sekiu
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) opened to wild coho fishing on Sunday.
And on that day, the fishing exploded.
According to the state ramp checks, 213 boats with 525 anglers were checked in Sekiu on Sunday. They caught 704 silvers.
That is an average of 1.3 coho per angler, and 3.3 per boat.
Those ramp reports also show that the Strait of Juan de Fuca had a decrease in pinks caught recently.
CCA meeting
The Coastal Conservation Association North Olympic Peninsula Chapter will meet Wednesday, Oct. 9.
The meeting’s guest speaker will be James Beasely, owner and creator of Wicked Lures, which is a Port Angeles company.
James will share videos of his product in action and will discuss their uses in rivers, lakes and saltwater.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Sequim Library at 630 N. Sequim Ave.
Swimming otters
Earlier this week, I was emailed a link to a YouTube video of otters swimming in Lake Crescent.
Check it out here: www.tinyurl.com/pdnOtters.
It’s pretty cool. And it is only about 30 seconds, so those of you with a short attention span won’t grow impatient.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.