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Alan Liere
The Spokesman-Review
Hunting
Idaho’s first wolf hunts began Tuesday with few hunters afield and reports of three wolves taken. Two wolf harvest reports came from the Lolo wolf hunting zone and one from the Sawtooth zone, the only zones of the 12 Idaho wolf zones to open. Two other zones open Sept. 15 and the rest on Oct. 1.
Idaho and Washington dove and grouse gunners went afield Tuesday, and indications are most found some action. Populations of both species appeared to be average or better.
The chukar survey along Idaho’s Brownlee Reservoir was conducted last week and the results were encouraging. The number of chukars observed increased 95 percent and the number of chukar groups increased 74 percent over 2008 levels, which were dismal. The number of chukars per group increased 12 percent from 2008.
Chukar flights are not complete in the Clearwater Region this year, but ground observations indicate a rebound there, too.
Idaho’s chukar season opens statewide Sept. 19. Washington follows Oct. 3.
Early archery elk hunting begins Tuesday in Washington. Blue Mountains elk hunters are restricted to spikes only, although some units offer antlerless harvest, too. Northeast bow hunters can take any elk.
An early Canada goose hunt runs Thursday through Sept. 15 in Game Management Units 2A and 3.
•Hunters who travel to other states note: Transporting big-game carcasses from some areas back into Washington is restricted to reduce risk of transmitting chronic wasting disease. States and provinces with CWD are Alberta, Saskatchewan, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Rules for care and transport are on page 98 of Washington’s 2009 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet.
