A short fortnight ago this precious space was dedicated to the intricate details of pursuing four-legged hoppers in the various drainages and deserts of Washington. While there was plenty of statistical input and anecdotal tales to go around we were unable to unravel the entire story due to the notable lack of comment from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Well, whether it was regular old blind luck or luck imbued by a hyper-color dyed and dismembered rabbit’s foot, the WDFW wound up popping up out of their hideaway hole to reveal some of the state secrets. Of course, hare and rabbit hunting season ended on March 15, so anyone hoping to go out and bag a bunch of hoppers will instead have to file away these most recent findings for use beginning Sept. 1 when small game seasons open up again across the Evergreen state.
According to Angelique Curtis, a wildlife biologist with the WDFW, the vast majority of the regulated hopping quarry in western Washington is represented by the snowshoe hare. However, Curtis noted that agricultural practices have led to sustainable populations of cottontail rabbits in the wetter western third of the state as well. Although it is fun to imagine hobo cottontails hitching a ride over the mountains in the hideaway of a hay truck, Curtis says that’s not usually how the rabbits wind up in our neck of the woods. Instead, Curtis says that the cottontail rabbit populations were founded by renegade 4-H animals who were either let loose or escaped of their own accord. Once they have gained their freedom the rabbits simply set about doing what rabbits do. The next thing you know it’s time for pappa rabbit to start looking for a bigger warren or making additions to the existing one in order to accommodate all the new arrivals.
Curtis said that finding a hare hunting hotspot can be problematic due to the hoppers propensity to spread out and their natural inclination to stay hidden among the underbrush.
”They are very much evenly distributed. If you go off of one of the logging roads that’s where you’re going to see them,” said Curtis, who noted that hares prefer high elevations. She suggested using well-trained hunting dogs in order to flush out hares that may be hiding beneath the hemlock or holly trees. “They’re going to be in the more densely vegetated areas and particularly where you’re going to catch them is along the logging roads in the early morning or evening when they are out feeding.”
Where snowshoe hares prefer to head high up in ‘dem-’dar hills, cottontail rabbits are much more of a lowland species. They prefer verdant farmers’ fields and the well coiffed rows of backyard gardeners. While cottontails are a less common species in western Washington there is no doubt that the white bootied rabbits are the more popular species for hunters to bag. In 2015, the last year for which complete hunting statistics are available through the WDFW, a total of 919 snowshoe hares were harvested all across Washington, while that same year 7,542 cottontail rabbits found their way into the take home bag.
The WDFW does not conduct independent cottontail rabbit population surveys, instead they depend on harvest data from hunters in order to piece together a picture of their distribution. However, Curtis noted that, “Their populations are pretty evenly dispersed among most areas.”
Curtis added that it is rare for adult hunters to go out targeting snowshoe hares and cottontail rabbits in particular, although youthful hunters will often go out looking for grouse and rabbits and/or hares on the same expedition.
“They don’t just go hunting for that species. It seems like they are out there actively hunting deer or elk and if they see one on the side of the road they will stop and shoot it,” said Curtis. “There’s just not a lot of people who go out.”
Curtis noted that so long as a person has the appropriate hunting license there is no regulation on the type of weapon that can be used to hunt hares or rabbits.
“In general, I probably wouldn’t use a shotgun at close range,” said Curtis with a chuckle. “You might not have anything left.”
Contrary to popular misconception, farmers are not permitted to simply pick up a bunny foo-foo and bop them on the head simply for raiding the carrot patch. Indeed, Curtis says hares and rabbits that make a nuisance of themselves would need to be reported to the wildlife conflict program in order to attain a special permit that would allow a green thumb who’s seeing red to eradicate them..
“With a license you can kill as many as you want, as long as it’s within the daily bag limit,” said Curtis.
Additionally, jackrabbits are a protected species in Washington and are never fair game for hunting, but Curtis noted that their range is limited to the east side of the Cascade Mountains. Curtis pointed out that no license is needed to shoot European rabbits since they are considered a nuisance species. However, she added that cottontail rabbits and European rabbits look exceedingly similar so extra effort should be taken to correctly identify which species is in the crosshairs prior to pulling the trigger in order to avoid becoming an inadvertent poacher.
Lastly, Curtis explained that the populations of both hares and rabbits are directly affected by weather patterns and the corresponding vitality of predator populations. Curtis said that extended wet and cold weather makes for a dip in hare and rabbit populations while seasons that are warmer and drier than normal can cause their numbers to grow.
“It’s just like the boom and bust of the coyotes. If you see a lot of coyotes around you’re probably going to see a lot of hares or rabbits around,” said Curtis. “They boom and bust together.”
FISHIN’
Angling efforts and favorable results on the lower Columbia and Chehalis rivers remain depressed thanks to rain and muddy waters. A midweek respite from the downpours has given hope to anxious anglers but it’s likely that another storm will roll in before the weekend to muddy up the prospects once more.
Reports from the Chehalis and its tributaries have been sparse, and even the Skookumchuck, which had been fishing hot, has cooled down since it hit flood stage late last week. On the lower Columbia the WDFW tailed 2,258 angler trips with a measly haul of 11 spring Chinook. Walleye and bass effort has also been slow to nonexistent and last week the WDFW announced that sturgeon retention will end in Bonneville and The Dalles dam pools beginning March 25. It is expected that anglers will have harvested the maximum quota by that date, but catch and release fishing will remain open in both pools.
Fishing on the Cowlitz River last week was a nice change of pace though as some late lingering steelhead improved the take for soggy anglers. The WDFW tallied 199 boat anglers with a harvest of 41 steelhead and two adult springers. One steelhead was also released, while 124 bank anglers kept six steelhead and one jack spring king. At the salmon hatchery separator last week 153 winter-run steelhead adults, one steelhead jack and 13 spring Chinook adults were collected.
The Lewis and Coweeman rivers were shuttered to salmon fishing on March 16 which left the Kalama River as one of the only other lower Columbia tributaries open for fishing. However, 14 overly-optimistic anglers on the Kalama went home empty handed for their efforts.
In the face of so much rain it makes sense for a rainbow or two to pop up. Thanks to the continued trout stocking efforts of the WDFW local billabongs will have thousands of catchable size rainbow trout in the coming months. Specifically, on March 9 the WDFW stocked South Lewis County Park Pond with 1,840 fingerling rainbow trout and 9,400 fingerling rainbows at Horseshoe Lake in Cowlitz County.
Off the golden pond and into the ballroom, the Northwest Region of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club will hold their spring meeting on April 1 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kelso. The entirety of the ballroom will be lined with vintage fishing tackle on display and for sale. Admission is $5 for non-members and the display will be open from 9 a.m. until about noon. Free appraisals and auctioning of collectible items will be offered. Additional information can be obtained by calling show host Monte Martinsen at 360-274-8045.
CLAMMIN’
Last week the WDFW got everyone’s hopes up for a razor clam dig at Twin Harbors when those beaches were added to the proposed three-day schedule at the last minute. Early this week though, the WDFW approved the digging dates but removed Twin Harbors from the slate due to a new wave of domoic acid inundation.
Domoic acid is a naturally occurring marine toxin that has wrought havoc on coastal shellfish harvests since 2015. The acid is produced by the decay of certain types of marine algae and is exacerbated by warm ocean temperatures. The toxin is absorbed into the meat of shellfish, like razor clams and crabs, and can cause illness or death if consumed in large enough quantities.
“Unfortunately, toxin levels spiked again at Twin Harbors, prompting us to cancel this opening there,” said WDFW coastal shellfish manager Dan Ayres in a press release. “We’ll continue to monitor toxin levels at all our ocean beaches and hope to offer some digging dates for Twin Harbors and Long Beach as soon as clams are safe to eat.”
The upcoming dig is approved on the following beaches, dates and evening low tides:
• March 24, Friday, 5:01 p.m.; 0.5 feet; Mocrocks
• March 25, Saturday, 5:44 p.m.; 0.2 feet; Copalis
• March 26, Sunday, 6:24 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Mocrocks
No digging will be allowed on any beaches before noon and the best digging results typically happen about one or two hours prior to the prescribed low tide.
Just around the corner though the WDFW has tentatively scheduled a four-day dig for morning tides. Those digs would alternate between Mocrocks and Copalis beginning on March 30. Final approval is expected next week pending toxin testings.
State law allows clam diggers to keep up to 15 clams per day. The first 15 clams dug must be kept regardless of size or condition and each digger must keep their own harvest in a personal container. Diggers 15 years and older are required to have an appropriate license to dig clams on any beach.
HUNTIN’
The Washington Outdoor Women are accepting applications for their annual introduction to waterfowling workshop. The workshop, held near Monroe, will happen on March 28 and is expected to fill to capacity. No walk-up participants will be accepted. The registration fee is $125 and includes all instruction, gear, meals, and participation gifts. Participants must be at least 18 years old but no prior experience is required.
Hunters in training can expect to learn about the tradition, techniques, safety and ethics of hunting waterfowl from certified instructors and experienced hunters. Lessons will include setting decoys, shooting clays, duck calling and the importance of bird dogging.
Registration can be taken care of online at http://www.washingtonoutdoorwomen.org/workshops-waterfowl.htm.
Additional information can be obtained by calling WOW director Ronni McGlenn at 425-455-1986, or emailing wowomen@gmail.com.
Deer and elk hunters have until the end of the month to submit their names for multiple season tag drawings. The drawing will be held in mid-April and a total of 8,500 multiple season deer tags and 1,000 multiple season elk tags will be awarded.
Permit holders will be allowed to hunt during archery, muzzleloader and modern firearm seasons until they have attained their allotted harvest. Applications cost $7.10 for Washington residents and $110.50 for out of staters.
Out in the field, a statewide two-day youth turkey hunt on April 1-2. After that everyone will get their turn stalking turkeys across the Evergreen state from April 15 through May 31.
Cougar hunts are also still open in many areas but locations are subject to closure based on updated harvest numbers. Most cougar areas will stay open through April 30 but hunters should check with the WDFW for up to date information.
