This is the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission’s April 9-10, 2015 meeting agenda. Please note the meeting is on Thursday (4/9) and Friday (4/10). The meeting begins at 8:00 a.m. both days. Both Willapa and Grays Harbor are on Thursday the 9th with Willapa in the morning and Grays Harbor after lunch. Note location change.

April 9-10, 2015

Preliminary Meeting Agenda
Download PDF version
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
APRIL 9-10, 2015
Capital Events Center
6005 Tyee Drive SW Tumwater WA 98512 - Mason/Lewis Rooms
Directions: www.capitaleventcenter.org/domain/97
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015
8:00 AM 1. Call to Order
1. Commissioners’ Discussion
2. Meeting Minute Approval
8:15 AM 2. Open Public Input
The Commission is a direct link between the citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting.
NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda.
8:45 AM 3. Director’s Report
The Director will brief the Commission on various items.
9:15 AM 4. Willapa Bay Salmon Management Policy – Briefing and Public Hearing
The Department will brief the Commission on Willapa Bay Salmon Management challenges, describe the public process, and seek guidance on draft policy sideboards. Staff Report: Steve Thiesfeld, Region 6 Fish Program Manager
PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

10:45 AM 5. 2015 Interim Willapa Bay Salmon Management Guidance Policy – Briefing and Public Hearing
Department staff will brief the Commission on Willapa Bay salmon management guidance for 2015, and seek direction for upcoming recreational and commercial fishing seasons.
Staff Report: Steve Thiesfeld, Region 6 Fish Program Manager
PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

11:45 AM Lunch
12:45 PM 6. Grays Harbor Salmon Management Policy Review – Briefing and Public Hearing
Department staff will present an annual review to the Commission on the Grays Harbor Basin Salmon Management Policy C-3621 as set in the Adaptive Management objectives of the policy.
Staff Report: Steve Thiesfeld, Region 6 Fish Program Manager
PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

1:30 PM 7. Game Reserves and Other Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations – Decision
Department staff will request approval on the proposed updates and amendments to game reserves and other migratory bird hunting regulations.
Staff Report: Don Kraege, Waterfowl Section Manager
1:40 PM 8. Landowner Hunting Permits – Decision
Department staff will request approval to make adjustments to permit levels and hunt dates in accordance with landowner needs and recreational goals.
Staff Report: Brian Calkins, Small Game/Hunting Access Section Manager, Wildlife Program
1:50 PM 9. Trapping Seasons and Regulations – Decision
Department staff will request approval on proposed dates, bag limits and other rules for all furbearers.
Staff Report: Brian Calkins, Small Game/Hunting Access Section Manager, Wildlife Program
2:00 PM 10. Small Game and Hunting Restrictions – Decision
Department staff will request approval on proposed dates, bag limits and other rules for small game and other wildlife hunting.
Staff Report: Brian Calkins, Small Game/Hunting Access Section Manager, Wildlife Program
2:15 PM 11. Falconry and Dog Training Eurasian Collared Doves – Decision
Department staff will request approval from the Commission to add this species to the lists of other species that can be used for training purposes.
Staff Report: Brian Calkins, Small Game/Hunting Access Section Manager, Wildlife Program
2:25 PM 12. Mountain Goat, Bighorn Sheep, and Moose Permits and Regulations – Decision
Department staff will request approval on recommendations regarding permit levels for mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and moose.
Staff Report: Rich Harris, Ph.D., Special Species Section Manager, Wildlife Program
2:45 PM 13. Deer Areas, Elk Areas, Special Closures and Firearm Restriction Areas – Decision
Department staff will request approval from the Commission on proposed amendments to deer and elk area descriptions and special closures and firearm restriction areas.
Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program
2:55 PM Break
3:05 PM 14. Elk General Seasons and Special Permit Regulations – Decision
Department staff will request approval from the Commission on elk general seasons and definitions and special permits.
Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program
3:25 PM 15. Deer General Seasons and Special Permit Regulations – Decision
Department staff will request approval on deer general seasons and definitions and special permit seasons.
Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program
3:55 PM 16. Baiting of Deer and Elk – Decision
Department staff will request approval on a proposal for baiting rules.
Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program
4:15 PM 17. Hunter Orange Clothing Requirements – Decision
Department staff will request approval on the need for regulatory clarity to ensure Master Hunters wear fluorescent hunter orange clothing while hunting during hunting seasons that allow the use of modern firearms.
Staff Report: David Whipple, Hunter Education Division Manager
4:25 PM 18. Multiple Season Big Game Permits and Reduced Rate Combination Elk Hunting License – Decision
Department staff will request approval on the master hunter incentive for elk hunting and an adjustment to the date and procedure for purchasing a multiple season big game permit.
Staff Report: David Whipple, Hunter Education Division Manager
4:35 PM 19. Game Management Unit Boundaries – Decision
Department staff will request approval from the Commission on proposed amendments to game management boundary descriptions in Region 1 and Region 5.
Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program
4:45 PM 20. Importation and Retention of Dead Nonresident Wildlife – Decision
Department staff will request approval proposed amendments to importation and retention of dead nonresident wildlife.
Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program
4:55 PM Recess
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
APRIL 9-10, 2015
Capital Events Center
6005 Tyee Drive SW Tumwater WA 98512 - Mason/Lewis Rooms
Directions: www.capitaleventcenter.org/domain/97
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015
8:00 AM 21. Open Public Input
The Commission is a direct link between the citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting.
NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda.
8:30 AM 22. Equipment Requirements – Decision
Department staff will request approval from the Commission on equipment requirements.
Staff Report: Jerry Nelson, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Section Manager, Wildlife Program
8:50 AM 23. Cougar Hunting Seasons and Regulations –Decision
Department staff will request approval from the Commission on cougar harvest and human-cougar conflict trends. Staff will also describe how the results from these topics are incorporated into the Department’s cougar management strategies. The Commission will also be briefed on the proposed 2015–2016, 2016–2017, and 2017–2018 cougar hunting seasons and regulations.
Staff Report: Donny Martorello, Ph.D., Carnivore Section Manager, Wildlife Program
9:05 AM 24. Fall and Spring Black Bear Seasons and Regulations –Decision
Department staff will request approval of proposed amendments to 2015- 2017 fall black bear hunting seasons and regulations and 2018 Spring black bear seasons and regulations.
Staff Report: Donny Martorello, Ph.D., Carnivore Section Manager, Wildlife Program
9:20 AM 25. Steller Sea Lion and Tufted Puffin Status Review – Decision
Department staff will request approval from the Commission on the status review of the Steller Sea Lion and Tufted Puffin.
Staff Report: Penny Becker, Ph.D., Acting Diversity Division Manager and Gary Wiles, Biologist, Wildlife Program
9:30 AM 26. Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances – Briefing
Department staff will brief the Commission on two draft voluntary agreements aimed at providing assurances to landowners who sign up to conserve sage-grouse and fisher on their lands before they are federally listed.
Staff Report: Penny Becker, Acting Diversity Division Manager and Cynthia Wilkerson, Lands Conservation and Restoration Section Manager, Wildlife Program
10:00 AM Break
10:15 AM 27. Quilcene and Dabob Bay Flatfish Sport Rules – Briefing and Public Hearing
Department staff will provide the Commission a briefing on proposed adjustments to the recreational flatfish fisheries within the Quilcene and Dabob bays.
Staff Report: Craig Burley, Fish Management Division Manager and Dayv Lowry, Ph.D., Research Scientist
PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

11:00 AM 28. Results of the 2014 Puget Sound Dungeness Crab Fishery – Briefing
Department staff will provide an annual briefing summarizing the performance and harvest of both commercial and recreational fisheries during the 2014 season and regulation compliance data collected by enforcement and fishery management staff as required in Policy C-3609.
Staff Report: Rich Childers, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager and Mike Cenci, Deputy Chief of Enforcement
11:30 AM 29. Results of the 2014 Puget Sound Shrimp Fishery – Briefing
Department staff will provide an annual briefing summarizing for each management region the performance and harvest of both commercial and recreational fisheries during the 2014 season as required by Policy C-3610.
Staff Report: Rich Childers, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager
12:00 PM 30. Columbia River Sturgeon Update – Briefing
Department staff will brief the Commission on discussion results with stakeholder for Columbia River Sturgeon management in 2015.
Staff Report: Guy Norman, Region 5 Director
12:30 PM 31. Technical Amendments to Recreational Fishing Rules – Briefing and Public Hearing
The Department is proposing technical changes to several recreational fishing rules to update, clarify provisions, and ensure rule accuracy.
Staff Report: Joanna Eide, Criminal Justice Liaison/Regulations Coordinator
PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

1:00 PM 32. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief
The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.
1:15 PM Adjourn
Contact the Fish and Wildlife Commission Office for further information:
Phone (360) 902-2267
Email: commission@dfw.wa.gov