HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown Anyone who has never tried turkey hunting will now have the perfect opportunity to learn how to hunt this tough, smart and elusive bird. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Hunter Education Division will be hosting free turkey hunting clinics around the state later this month. Dave Whipple, the division manager, said, "Our hunting clinics will provide basic knowledge on how to hunt turkey, and be a helpful starting point for new turkey hunters, and a refresher for those interested in refining their hunting skills. The course will be taught by department staff, with assistance from Hunter Education instructors, Master Hunters, and members of the National Wild Turkey Federation.GÇ¥ Hunting clinics will include turkey-calling demonstrations and tips on how to successfully hunt turkeys throughout the state. Participants will receive booklets that provide information on species identification, biology, habitat, how and where to hunt turkey, care of harvested game, and safety practices. Turkey hunting clinics that are scheduled include two in Pierce County. Both GÇô one on Marchh 26, the other on March 27 GÇô will be at the Bass Pro Shop in Tacoma at 7905 S. Hosmer St. More information on the clinics and how to enroll is available on the WDFW website. Later this year, WDFW will partner with local non-governmental organizations to offer additional hunting clinics for deer, elk, waterfowl, and upland birds. Past clinic partners have included Pheasants Forever chapters, Cabela's Sportsman's Warehouse, and Ace Hardware.
Fishing and clamming reports
" Fishing was pretty good for Cowlitz River boat anglers during Feb. 29- March 6. Bank anglers also saw some action, although not as much as boat anglers. Creel checks showed 38 boat anglers had 27 hatchery winter run steelhead kept and one hatchery jack spring chinook released. Fifty-nine bank anglers had three hatchery adult spring chinook and nine hatchery winter steelhead kept. The majority of the steelhead were caught near the trout hatchery, while the spring chinook were caught near the barrier dam. Tacoma Power recovered 226 winter steelhead and five spring chinook. Flows have running in the 12,000 cubic feet per second range. " Stacie Kelsey of the WDFW Vreported 50 Kalama River bank anglers sampled during the aforementioned period had two hatchery steelhead kept and one wild steelhead released. Eleven boat anglers had three hatchery steelhead kept and two wild released. " The Skookumchuck River is still producing steelhead for those anglers who know what they are doing. Angler pressure has been heavy at the upper end of the river. Mixtures of baits are being used throughout the river. Some anglers are floating corkies and yarn while others are using jigs and pink worms. " Razor clam diggers can return to Mocrocks and Copalis beaches beginning March 18 for a three-day dig, said state shellfish managers. The dig, which is on evening tides, will coincide with the annual Ocean Shores razor clam festival, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. Last month, state shellfish managers approved a razor clam dig that runs through March 31 at Long Beach. Although Long Beach is open daily, optimal digging conditions occur when the low tide is one foot or lower, WDFW also has proposed another dig on morning tides at Mocrocks in March, if marine toxin tests are favorable. That dig is tentatively scheduled on the following dates' low tides: March 25, 26 and 27.
.Bob Brown can be contacted at "robertb1285@centurylink.net
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