Changes Made To Hunting Rules

Changes have been made to the published rules for Washington archery and muzzleloader hunting seasons that open in September.

The state Fish and Wildlife Commission made the changes at meetings after the 1997-98 regulations pamphlet was published. The changes were made after evaluating information on big-game populations following the tough winter.

Modifications for Eastern Washington include:

Archery hunting for mule deer and blacktail deer in all open 100, 200 and 300 series game management units is restricted to three-point minimum and antlered bucks.

However, mule and blacktail antlerless deer may be taken during the Sept. 6-15 season only in units 130, 133, 139, 142, 145, 149, 163, 178, 248, 254, 266, 269, 272, 284, 306 and 308.

White-tailed deer archery seasons remain the same as written in the pamphlet.

In the late archery deer season, Nov. 26-Dec. 8, mule and blacktail deer hunters will be restricted to taking three-point-minimum bucks in units 209, 215, 233, 300, 316, 346, 352 and 364.

Only unit 272 remains, as written in the pamphlet, open to hunting for three-point minimum buck or antler-less deer.

Unit 136 was changed to mule or whitetail deer, three-point minimum or antlerless, for the late muzzleloader season, Nov. 26-Dec. 15.

Unit 130 was added as an open area for mule or white-tailed deer, three-point minimum or antlerless.

Volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed for a work party on Saturday to reconstruct a portion of the Marie Creek Trail on the Idaho Panhandle’s Fernan Ranger District.

The group will meet at the Fernan Ranger Station, 2502 E. Sherman in Coeur d’Alene, at 8 a.m. Info: (208) 769-3000.

, DataTimes