WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- The final revised draft of Washington's 2015-2021Game Management Plan is scheduled for a vote on Thursday in a public involvement process that started in June.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will present 325-pages of documents for approval on the first day of the state Fish and Wildlife Commission's Dec. 11-12 meeting in Olympia.

The current status of the state's big-game, small-game, game bird and waterfowl species is summarized in the plan along with hints at the agency's options for maintaining or enhancing the populations.

Points sportsmen and other wildlife enthusiasts should keep on their radar include:

• The plan acknowledges that sales of hunting licenses continue to decline, a trend that could affect the role of hunting in managing wildlife damage.
• A beefed up section on predator/prey management guidelines owes to the increased presence of wolves since the last plan was created. One principle stands clear in the agency's guidelines: "Conservation, ecological, economic, recreational, and societal values will be considered" in predator-prey management actions.
• Getting the lead out of hunting and fishing activities continues to be a statewide goal. Use of non-toxic ammunition for hunting and gear for fishing will be promoted. Expect to see more surveys, programs and possibly more restrictions on lead ammunition and gear.
• Gaining more hunter access on private land is cited as a priority.
• Use of bait in hunting is prominently addressed under the discussion of Hunter Ethics and Fair Chase. The agency proposes to "facilitate public debate of regulations for use of electronic equipment and baiting of wildlife for purposes of hunting" during discussions of each three-year hunting rules package, a season-setting process that operates under the guidelines laid out in the Game Management Plan.

The draft 2015-21 Game Management Plan was revised in October. The Revised Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement document includes 127 pages of public comments received as late as Nov. 17 along with agency responses.

The main issues identified by the public at the outset of the Game Management Plan process were categorized into several key areas:

• Scientific/professional management of hunted wildlife
• Public support for hunting as a management tool
• Hunter ethics and fair chase
• Private lands programs and hunter access
• Tribal hunting
• Predator management
• Hunting season regulations
• Game damage and nuisance
• Species-specific management issues

New issues or emphasis areas that surfaced during the initial comment period and meetings include:

• Wildlife Conflict Management
• Recruitment & Retention of Hunters
• Disease Impacts
• Non-toxic Ammunition
• Re-introduction of pronghorn
• Wolf Management

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife allowed more time to comment and respond to these topics in the comment period that was extended to Nov. 17.

Note: The 2015-21Game Management Plan is separate at this point from the three-year package of hunting regulations proposals for  2015-17. The deadline for comment on the initial proposals ended earlier this fall.

However, the hunting regulations proposals touch on some of the same topics, including possible restrictions on baiting for big game.

Other issues under consideration by the department for hunting regulations that would take effect starting next year include:

• Setting spring and fall black bear seasons
• Early archery elk seasons
• Modern firearm mule deer seasons
• Hunting equipment, including non-toxic ammunition, expandable broadheads and crossbows
• Special permit drawings

Specific recommendations for 2015-17 hunting seasons and rules will be drafted and available for further review in January. 

Final recommendations for 2015-17 hunting seasons and rules will be presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for adoption next spring.