The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission recently convened for three days of policy discussions and decision-making, covering everything from salmon season settings to cougar management. From April 18th to the 20th, the packed agenda included briefings on the 2023 wolf report, deliberations on proposed land transactions, and rule-making for hydraulic permits and cougars, as per announcements on their official website.

The commission kicked off with various committee meetings, wherein the Fish Committee chewed over salmon seasons, and trout policies, while grappling with budget updates shaping the Fish Program's future. Meanwhile, the Habitat Committee mulled a new land deal and its budgetary impacts, with the Big Tent Committee weighing in on conservation policies and public involvement strategies. Despite the intense schedule, a noteworthy decision was approved: a significant land acquisition involving Springwood Ranch in Kittitas County, aimed at bolstering the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan's efforts to safeguard habitats and threatened species.

A shift in focus came Friday, with the WDFW director delivering a report and overseeing the delegation of certain public petitions. A timber sale was okayed for a forest restoration project at Scatter Creek Wildlife Area in Thurston County, while rules around dock flotation via Hydraulic Permit Approval saw progression. Moreover, staff received directives to craft a proposed rule for managing cougar seasons based on specific densification metrics, following a prior public petition, a move surely of interest to those in the hunting community.

Gray wolves took center stage on the last day, as the commission digested a report detailing a population uptick of 20% from the previous year. Details on these wildlife dynamics, as well as the commission's full meeting, have been made accessible to the public through recordings posted on the Commission's webpage.