OLYMPIA — Steelhead enthusiasts can now show support for steelies by purchasing a vehicle license plate with an image of Washington’s iconic state fish.
The steelhead specialty plate went on sale Jan. 3 and revenue generated from plate sales will be used by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to help support activities critical to conserving populations of native steelhead.
More than 4,000 people expressed interest in buying a steelhead license plate last year with the WDFW collected the signatures requires to seek legislative approval for the plates. The 2016 Legislature gave the OK to proceed with the steelhead license plate sales.
“We can’t wait to see steelhead license plates on vehicles across the state,” said Kelly Cunningham. This is a great way to help fund efforts to conserve steelhead in Washington,” said Kelly Cunningham, deputy assistant director of the WDFW Fish Program.
The WFDW is currently taking several actions to restore steelie populations, including measures that guide fisheries management, hatchery operations, monitoring and habitat restoration.
The initial price of special wildlife-themed background plates range from $54 to $72, depending on the vehicle, in addition to regular license fees.
More infomation can be found at www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/specialdesign.
Hunters can win special permits
OLYMPIA — Hunters will get a chance to win special hunting permits for this fall, but they have to act fast.
Hunters who report their 2016 black bear, deer, elk or turkey hunting results by Tuesday will have the opportunity to win one of nine deer and elk special hunting permits for fall 2017, state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials announced this week.
WDFW Game Division Manager Anis Aoude said the department is offering the special permits, which will be awarded through a drawing this spring as an incentive to encourage hunters to report their results as soon as possible.
Aoude said the special hunts include five deer permits and four elk permits in various areas of the state. The permits will be valid from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31.
To qualify for the drawing, hunters must submit a report by Jan. 10 for each black bear, deer, elk or turkey tag they purchased and each special hunting permit they received in 2016.
All hunters, regardless of their success, must submit hunting reports for each transport tag by Jan. 31. Failure to meet the deadline can result in a $10 reporting fee, which must be paid when a hunter purchases a license for the 2017 season.
Annual hunting reports are a primary source of information for managing game populations and developing future hunting seasons, Auode said.
Hunters can report by calling 877-945-3492 or at www.fishhuntdfw.wa.gov.
If hunters want to report online, they’ll have to establish an online account with a username and password.
For more information, call the WDFW’s Licensing Division at 360-902-2464 or at licensing@dfw.wa.gov.
Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby
GARDINER — Tickets are now on sale for the 2017 Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby, which spans 500 square miles of fishing in the Peninsula.
The event, which has been held for more than 40 years, will start on Friday, Feb. 17 and will conclude on Feb. 19 with an awards ceremony at 3 p.m. Ticket sales end on Feb. 15.
The first prize is $10,000, with many other prizes, including four $500 mystery fish prizes. The event is hosted by the Gardiner Salmon Derby Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that supports area scholarships, and community and emergency services in Gardiner, Diamond Point, Blyn and nearby communities.
This derby uses selective fishery, clipped fin hatchery fish only. This winter’s Blackmouth Classic is part of the Northwest Marine Trade Associations Northwest Salmon Derby series.
Ticket holders are automatically entered into the NMTA boat drawing to be awarded later this year. The boat is a fully loaded Hewescraft 220 OceanPro valued at $85,000, powered with a Honda 250 and a 9.9-horsepower motor on an EZ-Loader Tandem axle galvanized trailer, fully rigged with Scotty downriggers, Raymarine electronics and a Dual Electronics stereo.
Winners of boats in 2015 and 2016 were both anglers in the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby.
Tickets can be purchased at area merchants and cost $40 per person for all three days. Tickets can be purchased online for $42.50 via PayPal. Go to www.gardinersalmonderby.org for more information about ticket sale locations and online ticket sales.
Weigh stations will be established at five launch ramps: Freshwater Bay, Ediz Hook in Port Angeles, John Wayne Marine in Sequim, Gardiner Beach and the Port Townsend Boat Haven.
Derby volunteers will inspect and weight submitted fish, which are then returned to each angler.
Free state park days
OLYMPIA — The state Parks and Recreation Commission announced that Sunday, Jan. 15 and Monday, Jan. 16 are the next state parks free days.
Visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass for day visits at state parks on those days. The free days are to honor the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
In 2017, state parks will offer 12 free days.
Remaining free days include:
• Sunday, March 19 — State Parks’ 104th birthday
• Saturday, April 15 — Springtime free day
• Saturday, April 22 — Earth Day
• Saturday, June 3 — National Trails Day
• Saturday, June 10 — National Get Outdoors Day
• Friday, Aug. 25 — National Park Service 101st birthday
• Saturday, Sept. 30 — National Public Lands Day
• Saturday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
• Friday, Nov. 24 — Autumn free day
The free days do not apply to Sno-Parks. During the winter season, Sno-Parks visitors will need permits. For information about winter recreation permit requirement, go to http://parks.state.wa.us/winter.
