Proposed North Cascades Mountain Helicopter Training Areas

[bearpaw]

Pilots from Fairchild Airforce base fly up in my area often. I've watched deer and other wildlife when aircraft are flying and I don't think they are bothered much. The airforce trains survival school east of us and there are servicemen in that area all times of the year, all over the mountains, yet it's great hunting in that area. I honestly don't think most wildlife will be affected much.

Its not so much the fly overs that worry me its the 7 helipads where landings will take place. The survival school you mention is closed to hunting.

See Page 89 of the hunting pamphlet:
Parker Lake (GMU 117) (Pend Oreille Co.):
All lands south of Ruby Creek Road (USFS
Road 2489), north of Tacoma Creek Road
(USFS Road 2389), and west of Bonneville
Power Administration power lines are
designated as "CLOSED AREA" to hunting
wild animals and wild birds year-round except
for special hunts adopted by the fish and
wildlife commission. The Parker Lake closure
provides a protected area for the U.S. Air
Force Military Survival Training Program.

For many years Parker Lake was closed, now there are deer and moose permits for that area. The Air Force actually trains over am much wider area including the LPO wildlife refuge and Colville National Forest which has some of the highest hunting use in NE Washington. Many members of this forum hunt the LPO and CNF, the Air Force trains every year, it's also open to hunting access, and it's great hunting.