Change At Mcnary

Waterfowl hunting

Waterfowl hunters on the McCormick Unit on the Oregon side of the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge are used to the routine of applying by Sept. 2 to get designated blinds and pits for the fall hunting season.

For the first time, hunters at the McNary Unit on the Washington side of the refuge will have to apply, too.

The free-roam areas at McNary had become the scene of 5 a.m. footraces for hunting spots, said Kevin McGowan, refuge hunting coordinator.

“Hunters asked us to regulate the area to make it sane again,” he said.

McGowan believes the change is necessary, not because of the surge in waterfowl numbers, but because of population growth in the Tri-Cities area.

“In the past we’ve been able to operate McNary on a first-come, first-served basis,” he said. “But hunters told us there were too many people to do that anymore.

McNary has about 23 marsh blinds, primarily for duck hunters, and nine field pits. McCormick has about 25 marsh blinds and eight field pits.

For information on waterfowl hunting along the Columbia River, contact the Umitalla National Wildlife Refuge, Dept. FS, Box 700, Umatilla, OR 97882-0700, telephone (541) 922-3232. , DataTimes