May 5th

[SHED HEAD]

Opening back up May 5th.
Only day trips.
Glad I live on the east side

[buckcanyonlodge]

How are they going to enforce that??

[Fatherof5]

Exactly. 

[Russ McDonald]

There not they are saying please do if you can.  Just bring everything you need with you.  They are recommending day trips.

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[avidnwoutdoorsman]

WDFW plans to reopen some outdoor recreation in a phased approach following the state’s efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The reopening will occur on Tuesday May 5, for local day-use only recreation.  It applies to all state-managed parks, wildlife areas, recreation land, and boat launches. However, it may take several days for all gates to be unlocked and sites to be serviced at remote areas due to limited staff capacity.

It includes most recreational fishing and hunting (per 2019-2020 license requirements and regulations – check your pamphlet):

All freshwater fisheries open, except Columbia River salmon will open as soon as we can get monitoring staff returned to regular field work, which is required under the federal Endangered Species Act as well as obtaining concurrency with Oregon – check our website.
Puget Sound (Marine Areas 5-13) open, except salmon, halibut, shrimp and intertidal shellfish will open as soon as we can get monitoring staff returned to regular field work, which is required under the federal Endangered Species Act and other agreements – check our website.
Coastal saltwater (Marine Areas 1-4) fishing and shellfish harvesting remains closed, after consultation with local health departments.
Local hunting for turkey and spring bear will reopen. Due to breeding behaviors and to protect newly hatched poults, the spring turkey season will close on May 31 and has not been extended. However, all spring bear seasons will be extended until June 30.
WDFW is asking hunters and anglers to enjoy these outdoor activities only if they can do so locally, while also practicing physical distancing.

The Department will not be hosting any formal opening day events for lowland lakes this year. WDFW hatchery staff have continued to stock lakes throughout the closure. Anglers are asked to practice appropriate physical distancing at a given location, and avoid crowding on banks or at boat ramps.

To help discourage travel, the department is temporarily suspending the sale of non-resident fishing licenses but will honor licenses already purchased.

Refund Policies will be flexible if no opportunity to fish or hunt occurred.  WDFW will also be looking at season extensions and bag limits.

------------------------------------------------BEFORE YOU GO-------------------------------------------------------------

Check what’s open. While many state-managed land destinations are open for day-use, other local and federal land may still be closed.

Opt for day trips close to home. Please buy gear and supplies from stores within your own community and enjoy the outdoors with immediate household members only.

Travel prepared. Visitors may find reduced or limited restroom services as staff begin the process to reopen facilities at wildlife areas and water access sites. Bring your own soap, water, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper with you as well as a mask or bandana to cover your face.

Avoid large crowds. Be prepared to go somewhere else or come back another time if your destination looks crowded.

Please pack out what you pack in. Take any garbage with you, including disposable gloves and masks.

The Department is encouraging local county health department to stay in contact with WDFW regional management regarding any concerns; and notes that the Department may also act to close areas during localized future outbreaks to discourage travel or congestion-related spread of the virus.

-From Senator Lynda Wilson

[sneakyjake]

Hey, I bought my licenses.  I don’t remember getting them in the mail.  I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t issue tags.  With everything else going on in my life I’m kind of confused as to where all that paperwork stands.  Is anybody else in the same position?  Oh, and for all of my sanity, thank you lord!  I’m getting so old I can’t even see what I’m typing.

[Britt-dog]

Hey, I bought my licenses.  I don’t remember getting them in the mail.  I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t issue tags.  With everything else going on in my life I’m kind of confused as to where all that paperwork stands.  Is anybody else in the same position?  Oh, and for all of my sanity, thank you lord!  I’m getting so old I can’t even see what I’m typing.

I just purchased my second turkey tag and printed it on my home printer. they never stopped selling, or issuing tags, they just closed the current season.

[kirkl]

I called them today and she said they are going to start staffing offices and mailing out licenses and tags if you purchased online.

[mp.hunter]

I called them today and she said they are going to start staffing offices and mailing out licenses and tags if you purchased online.

Thanks for this info


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[Buckhunter24]

I called them today and she said they are going to start staffing offices and mailing out licenses and tags if you purchased online.

Thanks for this info


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[dilleytech]

How are they going to enforce that??

My understanding is it’s not a law it’s a recommendation. Like “only leave your home for essentials”

[Stein]

I'm sure it's like anything else, if they do a license check and see you live in Port Angeles and are hunting Coleville they may ask how you are doing that as a day trip.

It's unclear what would be done which in my mind means they are asking us to be smart and not force them to specify what will be done for enforcement.

[Washington Wapiti]

Yep . . . and the other press release on the opening of state-managed lands says:

"Visitor centers, camping, and other overnight accommodations on state-managed lands will remain closed until further notice."

Not sure how the hotel/motel scene is looking over there. Love the turks but driving 10-12 hours roundtrip for a day hunt does not compute.

[baldopepper]

Ran into a Stevens County sheriff yesterday and asked him about enforcing the stay at home edict for the upcoming fishing and hunting season. Told me they would be watching for any large camps or fishing groups but didn't intend to get to rough on it unless the people got too "smart a--" about it. Little concerned about scattered camps and said he'd personally rather have them in campgrounds where messes would be easier to clean up and campers could more easily be kept track of. Nice guy, but did admit it worried him a little to have a lot of outsiders coming into the area and was hoping the numbers stayed low.  He wants things to open up and, like a lot of us, was worried any troubles or large gatherings would get it shut back down. Said revenue from speeding tickets was way down-then chuckled.

[BreezyBear]

 As soon as you report your kill, they will know if you hunted locally or not, so how's that gonna work?