Kittitas County Field & Stream Club
Conservation Efforts
conservation
(kan' sər va' shən) n.
1. a conserving; protection from loss, waste, etc. 2. the
official care and protection of natural resources.
The Club’s aims and purposes
regarding recreation are inextricably linked to
conservation. Indeed, each individual has an opportunity each day
to protect resources. Recycle, pick up a piece of litter, plant a
tree,
rehabilitate a spring, release gamebirds, or join a conservation
group. The Kittitas County Field & Stream Club is for
everyone interested in the outdoors: rafters, hikers, fishers, birders,
hunters, horsemen, RVers, and relaxers. Club members work
year-round to preserve and improve recreational opportunities
throughout Kittitas County. After all, without land
and wildlife, there is no outdoor recreation.
Access
Areas
on Yakima River. Regular contact with WDFW and other agencies
ensures they are aware how important it is that public access sites
remain on a river that is becoming more and more privatized. When
the Big Horn site in the canyon was closed due to littering and abuse,
the Club and Worley Bugger Fly Shop cleaned up and monitored the site
to get it reopened and to
keep it that way.
Alpine
Lakes Management
Plan applies only to public lands, as no one perceived the
threat of
logging companies clear cutting on a massive scale. The
Club was a vocal opponent to the clear cutting that began in the Silver
Creek area. Our repeated suggestion to use the plan on private land
did little to slow a company bent on liquidating its assets.
Angler Education. In
cooperation with WDFW and in partnership with "The Evening Hatch" fly
shop, our Fish Committee is conducting a two-day course to help
inexperience anglers improve their techniques.
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Beavers. Club
members install a "beaver pipe" in a dam to permit the continued flow
of irrigation water. Working with the land owner and WDFW,
members insert a 6-inch pipe through a dam to maintain the beneficial
pond behind the dam for habitat and allow the flow of water for
irrigation.
Big Game Management Roundtable
is a non-profit group working to educate the public, research and
resolve human-wildlife conflicts. The Club was at the forefront
of support to establish the group, funding an internship position to
improve its work. We continue to support the groups efforts.
Bluebird
nest boxes.
Members built and installed dozens of boxes to help them thrive.
Bobwhite
quail were a part of the Club’s Gamebird Program for many
years.
Members bought and raised day-old chicks to maturity and released them
into suitable habitats. On average, F&S released 750 quail
each year. Today, we no longer have our own facilities to raise
birds. Instead, we purchase mature chukars for release into suitable habitat.
Brunson Habitat Project. In
1990,
Field & Stream leased a portion of the Dan Brunson farm. The
22
acres
were mostly brushy, treed land--good pheasant habitat. Brunson
cleared
and cultivated 5 acres to various grains and irrigated the crops
throughout the summer, then left the grain to provide winter feed.
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Canada Geese
were transplanted to the valley. Club members coordinated with
DFW and land owners to set wooden nesting
tubs at appropriate sites along the river to encourage the birds to
stay. Today the birds are a familiar site.
Canal
Rescue
project involves installing escape grids in the cement-lined irrigation
canals. Working in cooperation with Kittitas County Reclamation
District, members identify locations where deer and elk become trapped
and drown in the canals, then they build and install the
grids. Statistics kept during the first few years of the
program showed grids reduced fatalities by more than half.
Cascade Field & Stream and
Kittitas County Field & Stream partnered up on several occasions to
protect wildlife and habitat, including halting polluting of Yakima
River and protecting Wenas-Taneum elk herd.
Children's Activity Museum.
Over the years, Field & Stream has sponsored several outdoor-themed
rooms. In 2006 we contributed to the museum's major renovation of
the permanent "Outdoors" area.
Chukars
are the major part of the Club’s Gamebird Program. In the past,
members bought and raised day-old chicks to maturity and released them
into suitable habitats. On average, F&S released 1,500
chukars each year. Today, we no longer have our own facilities to
raise birds. Instead we purchase mature chukars from respected
game farms. Members transport and release up to 800 chukars
each year.
Chukar
Run Banquet
is the major fundraiser the Club holds each year (our other one is
Hilltop Parking). Beginning in 1987 club members raised day-old
chicks to maturity for its Gamebird Program and the banquet was the
major source of funds for the project. During those 12 years,
members raised and released thousands of chukars, pheasants and
quail. Today, the Club purchases mature chukars, and the Chukar Run Banquet remains the
source of funds for this program.
Columbia
River Coalition.
F&S joined the coalition to protect the Hanford Reach, the last
free flowing stretch of the Columbia River, as a National Wild and
Scenic River.
CORT. Crime Observation and Reporting Training was begun by "Eyes In the Woods," a non-profit organization aimed at protecting wildlife and wild lands from
abuse by creating a network of trained citizens willing to report
resource crimes. During CORT, WDFW
Enforcement Officers teach citizens how to recognize the most common
crimes, what details to note and how to report the incident. In 2004
we began hosting several CORT classes each year.
"Cougarwise." Walter
Strom Middle School eighth graders learn about cougars, their habits
and habitat. Participating in collaring and tracking the animals,
the students learned the effects of people feeding deer, the cougars
prey. Field & Stream sponsored a meeting where the upper
county students presented their findings and advised against feeding
deer.
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Dan Caspar Memorial Fund.
Dan was an avid outdoorsman and in his memory family and friends
established the Fund to aid gamebirds in the valley. It was an
honor for the Club to receive the monies and purchase several hundred
chukars, which Dan’s family and friends released.
Deer. Members
aided WDFW capture and collar 13 deer on the Bud Dunning Ranch in
Wilson Creek Canyon.
Through this effort, WDFW tracked migration routes, learned habitat and
forage preferences, computed harvest rates and estimated populations.
Devil's Gulch. Field
& Stream was instrumental in curtailing the aerial logging on this
extremely sensitive and scenic area. Through meetings with the
Wenatchee National Forest supervisor, the Club assisted in this area
being designated as "Managed for Wildlife."
Durr
Road Clean Up. Located
on the LT Murray Wildlife and Recreation Area, the Durr Road
shooting area is heavily used and some don’t abide WDFW’s “Pack It Out”
campaign, which asks recreationists to “pack out” whatever they may
bring onto public lands. As part of our anti-litter program and
our aim to keep public lands open to the public, we clean up trash left
by irresponsible shooters. Our first clean up was in 1999 and has
become an annual event with club members, families, and friends
joining the effort and cleaning up an average of two tons each
year.
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Elk panels
and elk fences protect farmers’ and ranchers’ haystacks from marauding
elk. In order to foster a better relationship between sportsmen
and farmers, the Club worked for many years with WDFW and farmers to
protect their livelihood. We donated funds to purchase elk panels
and encouraged WDFW to complete the elk fence. Today the Big Game
Management Roundtable is a strong force in resolving the elk depredation issue and we enthusiastically support their work.
Elk
Heights
rezoning. F&S opposed rezoning of the Elk Heights area
adjacent to the LT Murray wildlife area based on the hazards to elk and
deer. With commercially zoned areas within 10 miles there wasn’t
sufficient cause to support the rezone effort.
Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce.
The Club set up an advisory group at the Chamber to assist outside
hunters, telling them where they could hunt, the best places to hunt,
and encouraging them to foster good hunter-farmer relations. The
Club also donated $1,000 toward the purchase of the Driver's House,
today's Chamber of Commerce, Ellensburg Rodeo, and US Forest Service offices.
Ellensburg High School Environmental Club.
We were happy to contribute to the students efforts to raise funds to
begin a WDFW "Salmon In the Classroom" project in their school.
Eyes In the Woods. This
non-profit organization is protecting wildlife and wild lands from
abuse by creating a network of trained citizens willing to report
resource crimes. During Crime Observation and Reporting Training,
WDFW Enforcement Officers teach citizens how to recognize the most
common crimes, what details to note and how to report the
incident. In 2004 we began hosting several CORT classes each year.
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Farmer-wildlife conflicts.
From the outright purchase of barriers to protect hay to extensive
contact with WDFW, F&S supports valley farmers and ranchers to
resolve elk damage problems. The Big Game Management Roundtable
is now the lead in resolving these issues and has F&S support.
Fiorito
Ponds were
bought by WDFW with the help of Kittitas County Field & Stream,
whose members donated $2,000 for the purchase. These lakes
are some of the area’s most heavily fished. Many enjoy
parking their RVs for the entire day at the site.
Firearms Safety Course.
Safety, ethical hunting, and good sportsmanship have been taught in
organized classes long before today's Hunter Ed Classes. For
nearly seven decades the Club has taught "hunter education" in some
form.
Free Fishing Weekends. During
this WDFW no-license-needed fishing weekend, members set up a booth at
Fio Rito Lake to share techniques in everything from knot tying to
cleaning the catch. Club members are happy to introduce this great
sport to new anglers every year.
4-H groups aided Field &
Stream Club members in caring for the chicks we were raising for our
Gamebird Program.
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Game Farm. Members
assisted the State Game Farm on various occasions. In later
years, Club members fixed up the abandoned facility for its own
gamebird raising program.
Game Management Program. As
early as 1945, Field & Stream stressed to the Department of Game
the importance of developing a Game Management Program to ensure the
public use of state owned lands did not irreparably harm the
wildlife on the lands, specifically big game.
Gamebirds. Since
beginning in 1987, the Club's Gamebird Programs have released more than
45,000 chukars, pheasants
and quail. Our efforts improve hunting opportunities and help
maintain wild populations.
Gamebird Program. In
1986 two Club members raised 250 chukar and pheasants at their private
homes. In 1987 the Club received permission to use the
abandoned
State Game Farm facilities and began an intense gamebird program to
replenish populations decimated by the harsh 85-86 winter. After
extensive work to repair the pens and brooders, the club purchased
1,500 day-old chukars and 1,000 pheasant chicks. Five teams of 4-5
people each worked in one-week rotations caring for the birds and
maintaining the facilities. Though hunters and winter kill took a
share, some of the Club's banded birds were seen the following
year. The program was a success and members continued raising
chukars, pheasants and quail for many years. Some years 4-H
groups took a week rotation during the summer to help the
effort. Today, we no longer raise chicks. Instead, we
purchase mature chukars from reputable game farms and release them into suitable habitats throughout
the county. And, for many years we assisted WDFW in releasing state-raised pheasants.
Garrison
Spring was
in danger of being obliterated by cattle. Funded by a Wallace
Grant, members securely fenced the immediate soggy area of the spring
to prevent it from being destroyed and diverted a portion of the water
to a trough for livestock and wildlife. Riparian habitat
restoration benefits all wildlife of an area.
Go
Play Outside
is a WDFW youth initiative aimed at encouraging youth interest and
participation in outdoor activities. As a member of the
Washington Wildlife Coalition, F&S supports youth recreation
activities across the state.
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Hanford Reach
is
the 51-mile segment of the Columbia River flowing through the Hanford
Nuclear Reservation. The Club joined the Columbia River Coalition
to protect this last, free-flowing stretch which retains many of the
characteristics of the river as it existed prior to the construction of
dams. F&S promoted it be a unit of the National Wild and
Scenic River System.
Hansen Canyon. Members
install cisterns in Hansen Canyon area Firing Range.
Highline Canal. In 1946,
the Club contacted the State Game Department to ask what action they
contemplated in conjunction with the Reclamation District to prevent
deer and elk from drowning the Highline Canal. Years later Club
members began the Canal Rescue project to aid wildlife.
Hilltop
Parking
is our other fundraiser (the Chukar Run Banquet is the big one).
Working in conjunction with the Rodeo Board, the Club manages parking
and rodeo viewing from atop Craig’s Hill. RVers roll in for the
weekend and other spectators come on foot to view the events from this
unique vantagepoint. The Club and Rodeo Board share the funds
earned and our proceeds support our many outstanding programs.
Hunter
Education Classeshave
been a project of the Club for many years. Supporting WDFW
efforts to teach ethical and safe hunting is an important task of the
Club. Several members became Certified Instructors and donate
their time and skills to teach classes locally. The tradition
continues today with volunteer certified instructors teaching several
classes each year in Kittitas.
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I-90. The
Club requested State Highway Department erect an 8-foot cyclone fence
on the west side of the new I-90 between Cle Elum and Taneum canyon as
a drift fence for big game.
Internships.
Big Game Management Roundtable interns gain on-the-job experience while
pursuing a degree in wildlife research or management. We’re proud
to have assisted BGMR complete its important work and aid a young
CWU student by funding an intern position for the group.
Joe Watt Canyon.
During the harsh winter of 85-86, members volunteered every day
helping WDFW feed the elk and deer driven from the mountains by early
onset of winter in mid November. Joe Watt was the site for 1969
LT Murray Area Dedication ceremonies and the Club sponsored a BBQ
picnic for the 600 attendees.
John Wayne
Trail. Working with State Parks rangers, Field &
Stream members supported creation of the park and worked to enhance
habitat along the trail. The Club turned several dozen apple
juice barrels into gamebird feeders and placed them along the trail to
support gamebirds (after hunting seasons were over). The Paul
Hart Memorial fund greatly supported the Club's efforts.
Junior Conservation
Camp
at Orcas Island. The Club regularly
sponsored a boy to attend the camp each year. Today the camp is
called Washington State Youth Conservation Camp and we continue
sponsoring campers.
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Keep Washington Green. The
Club supported this organization for many years to improve areas
throughout Washington State.
Knudson Ranch
(a portion) was offered for sale and WDFW and RMEF worked together on
the sale. When RMEF needed an appraisal to begin its
involvement, Field & Stream donated $1,500 to get the ball
rolling. RMEF and F&S encouraged WDFW to make the purchase as
an important elk habitat addition to the adjacent LT Murray area;
however, it was RMEF that ultimately purchased the property and
protected it from development. It is important to note that the
Knudson’s wanted the land saved for elk, and they accepted less than
commercial value to ensure it would not be developed.
Life Member Scholarship is
given annually to an area high school senior who will be earning a
degree in habitat, fish or wildlife management. Field & Stream
is pleased to assist a young man or woman pursue a field of study that
will benefit wildlife and habitat.
Litter
has no place in the life of responsible recreationists. Club
members pick up litter whenever they are outdoors. F&S
organized the first Yakima River Clean Up. Members patrolled
Mattoon
when it was having an extensive littering problem. After the '66
hunting season, members cleaned up several camps left littered.
The Club’s
annual Durr Road Clean Up removes an average of 4,000 lbs of litter
from the LT Murray Wildlife and Recreation Area each year. Join
WDFW’s “Pack It Out” campaign and take out whatever you haul onto
public lands.
LT
Murray Wildlife and Recreation Area
is a tremendous asset to our valley. Field & Stream was
actively involved in the purchase of the 100,000 acre High Valley
Ranch. More than 600 people attended the Dedication Ceremony and
the Club sponsored the BBQ
picnic that followed. We are very proud the area is
available for everyone to enjoy hiking, wildlife watching, hunting,
target practice, and other recreating.
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Manastash. Field
& Stream and the local Pheasants Forever chapter joined to improve
a portion of the area's habitat for pheasants.
Mattoon
once had an excessive littering problem. Club members
conducted
litter patrols to ensure the pond would remain open for those who did
not disrespect the area.
McCabe
Lake (Helen
McCabe State Park). In the 90s, Field & Stream entered a
commitment with Washington State Parks and WDFW to maintain the park
for public fishing and members constructed the fence and parking
area of McCabe Lake. We continue the commitment with litter
patrols and recently assisted with replacing barbed wire fencing to
improve handicap access to the lake.
Morgan Middle School. We
were happy to contribute toward their "Salmon In the Classroom" project
when students needed to raise funds to purchase a chiller to keep the
salmon tank a chilly 42 degrees.
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Naneum. Our
Lands Use Committee is diligently working to ensure the private-public
checkerboard ownership of the Naneum becomes all public. In a
landmark deal, the private owner is cooperating with state agencies.
Naneum Watershed.
When stream silting was damaging fish habitat, WDFW proposed closing
many roads in this highly used area. Field & Stream objected
to the closures, contending the newly built road used by the timber
company was primarily responsible, and asked the Department to review
road use and maintain public access to the area.
North Central Washington Sportsmen Council.
Joined the council in 1966 to represent area sportsmen on a regional
level and provide a stronger voice to the state council.
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Paul Hart Memorial Fund. Paul
Hart Sr. was a driving force behind the creation and naming of The John
Wayne Trail. The
Field & Stream Club was honored to be given Memorial Fund monies to
enhance
the pheasant habitat and place gamebird feeders along portions of the
John Wayne Trail.
Pheasants
are a part of the Club’s Gamebird Program. For many years,
members raised day-old chicks to maturity and released them into
suitable habitats. On average, F&S released 1,200 pheasants
each year. Today, we no longer have our own facilities to raise
birds. For several years we assisted WDFW and the CRCC
Pheasant Farm with pheasant releases. Members transported and released several hundred
pheasants each year.
Pheasant Habitat. Pheasants
are drawn to grain fields bordered by fence rows with patches of heavy
cover. Bigger farms and more efficient methods have all but
destroyed pheasant habitat. With the Brunson Habitat Project, the
Club set out to provide a place for them. In
1990, Field & Stream leased a portion of the Brunson farm on
Riverbottom Road. The 22
acres were mostly brushy, treed land--good pheasant habitat.
Brunson
cleared and cultivated 5 acres to various grains and irrigated the
crops throughout the summer, then left the grain to provide winter
feed. Field & Stream posted the area for no hunting and
planted some birds from its own program to provide brood
stock. Club members also improved pheasant habitat at
Manastash and
along the John Wayne Trail.
Pheasant
Rescue. Some time ago, the Game Department seized 1,200 pheasants from an
illegal game farm operation. At the time, the Club’s gamebird
program involved raising day-old chicks, so we had facilities available
to care for these birds. All the birds where quite ill, and
members worked around the clock caring for the sickest ones which had
lost their feathers.
Plum
Creek,
the logging subsidiary of Burlington Northern Railroad, began massive
clear cutting on its 150,000 acres within Kittitas County and the Club
was extremely vocal in its opposition. Citing the critical
harm to the habitat and wildlife, F&S lobbied the company to use
the Alpine Lakes Management Plan on their own property.
Pollution. Working with Cascade Field & Stream, the Club intervened on many
occasions when pollutants such as, sewage, coal mine waste, silage, and
factory waste, were being spilled or deliberately dumped into the
Yakima River and Wilson Creek.
Predator Drives.
Magpie predation harmed gamebird populations such that several years
the Club, in cooperation with the Department of Game, paid a bounty on
the birds. In 1944 birds were trapped and released with a
"coupon" redeemable by the hunter for a War Bond.
Public Service Award.
WDFW highly praised Kittitas County Field & Stream Club and
presented its Public Service Award to us for our long-standing service
and superior efforts raising donations for game feeding, helping feed
elk and deer, cleaning up elk-damaged Wanapum State park, and feeding
birds and game throughout the valley.
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Rabanco Hazardous Waste Incinerator.
The Club was extremely vocal against this incinerator proposed for
placement across the Columbia River.
RIDGE. Field & Stream
supported this group's efforts for curtail Plum Creek's 1980s timber
harvest in the upper county. The group contended that the
rate of harvest was not sustainable and would ultimately damage the
area's economy when harvesting had to end.
Rocky Mountain
Elk Foundation. When
RMEF needed an appraisal to begin its
involvement to purchase a portion of the Knudson Ranch, Field &
Stream donated $1,500 to get the ball
rolling. RMEF and the Club encouraged WDFW to make the purchase
as
an important elk winter habitat addition to the adjacent LT Murray
area;
however, it was RMEF that ultimately purchased the property and
protected it from development. It is important to note that the
Knudson’s wanted the land saved for elk and they accepted less than
commercial value to ensure it would not be developed. Kittitas
County and Cascade Field & Stream Clubs worked together to
establish the local RMEF chapter.
Roden Trophy was presented to
the Club in 1950 by Walt Roden, a regular member and ardent
rifleman. The trophy was awarded annually to the Field &
Stream Club member winning the Roden Trophy Shoot. The course of
fire included 20 shots kneeling and 20 shots standing in NRA approved
positions.
Rotary Pavilion. Field
& Stream donated a bench at the downtown pavilion in memory of
Floyd Wayne, outdoorsman and club member.
Ryegrass
Landfill.
The Club was an extremely vocal opponent to this proposed landfill east
of Ellensburg.
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Saddle
Mountain. The Club recommended this area be included in
the study
reviewing Hanford Reach as a National Wild and Scenic River.
Sage Hens. Club supports
local potato farms and protects sage hens by recommending an open
season in a limited area where the hens are damaging the farmers
crops.
Salmon
In The Classroom.
In 2005 Morgan Middle School wanted to participate in this WDFW program
and Field & Stream was happy to help. They had a 55-gal tank,
the salmon eggs were here, but they
needed a chiller (to keep the tank a chilly 42 degrees). Always
interested in getting kids connected to the outdoors, the Club donated
toward the purchase. In 2006 we donated to the Ellensburg High
School Environmental Club to get their own project started. We
hope to see many salmon fry released from
the program in years to come.
Skookumchuck. In a
multi-phase acquisition, major portions of the Skookumchuck are
becoming public property. Our Lands Use Committee was a driving
force behind this amazing deal.
Soil Bank. The Club
placed 18.26 acres of its leased property into the Soil Bank as a
Conservation Bird Refuge.
Sorenson’s
Pond.
At one time F&S leased the pond to provide a Kids’ Fishing Hole.
Snoqualmie and Wenatchee National
Forests. Club members worked extensively to guard big game
population in these areas when cattle grazing reduced their habitat.
South Central Washington Sports
Council. Club joined Yakima, Benton and Klickitat county
groups in 1947 and formed the council to deal with local issues and
give the entire area a stronger voice at the Washington State Sports
Council.
Special Award. In 1973
the Game Department presented Kittitas County Field & Stream Club a
Special Award for Outstanding Firearm Training. The Club
continues teaching Hunter Education Classes to promote safety, ethical
hunting and sportsmanship.
Spring Rehabilitation.
Members worked on a project improving springs between Manastash and
Robinson Canyon.
Stream Pollution Commission.
In the 40s and 50s polluting the branch of Wilson Creek which flows
through Ellensburg was a regular problem. The Club intervened
where possible and notified the Commission on other occasions.
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Table Mountain is
crucial to deer and elk, especially for fawning and calving. When
an ORV park was planned, the Club opposed it as a serious disruption to
the big game of the area. Available Forest Service roads provided
ample recreation areas for ORVs and further harassment of wildlife of
Table Mountain would be irresponsible.
Tahoma Chapter Backcountry Horsemen of
Washington rode 100 miles over Cascades from Renton to
Ellensburg to appear in the Rodeo. Field & Stream donated use
of our club facilities and property to pasture their horses during
their stay. BCHW is a vocal group for keeping public lands open
to recreation.
Taneum Lake. Members sink brush in the lake to improve fish habitat in 1968.
Tjossem's Mill Pond. Club
members worked to acquire lands and develop means to keep waterbirds in
the valley and petitioned
Department of Game to purchase this pond and maintain as a permanent
game refuge for migratory birds.
Trap and Rifle Shooting was a
major club activity for many years. Today's Ellensburg Trap and Skeet Club was once part of the Field & Stream Club.
Turkeys. Field &
Stream has supported efforts of the National Wild Turkey Federation to
transplant turkeys in suitable habitat throughout the valley.
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U.S. Soil Conservation Service
and the Club cooperated on a reseeding program.
Wallace
Grants. David and Patsy Wallace donated a large portion of
their
estate to WDFW to support a grant program aimed at improving bird
habitat. The Club has proudly received several such grants and
rehabilitated riparian areas.
Walter Strom Middle School "Cougarwise" program. Eighth
graders learn about cougars, their
habits and habitat. Participating in collaring and tracking the
animals, the students learned the effects of people drawing deer--a
cougar's prey--into their yards by feeding. Field & Stream
sponsored a meeting where the upper
county students presented their findings and advised against feeding
deer.
Wanapum State Park. The
harsh winter of 85-86 drove elk into Wanapum State Park for the first
time. When Park Rangers discovered elk had damaged over 100 trees by
eating the bark, Field & Stream worked with WDFW to prevent more
damage by setting up a feeding station at Getty's Cove to draw the elk
out. The following Spring, 25 club members brought chainsaws,
pickups and other tools to help Park Rangers cut down and haul out 79
dead trees in one day. Club efforts ensured the campgrounds were
safe and helped Park personnel get started on a replanting program
right away.
Washington
State Sports Council.
Club regularly sent a representative to the WSSC meetings with input
regarding hunting seasons and topics relevant to Kittitas County.
Club
still sends a representative to state Fish & Wildlife Commission meetings.
Washington State Youth Conservation Camp.
The Pierce County Sportsmen's Club has held these boys' and girls'
camps for many years. Campers spend a week at Moran State Park on
Orcas Island, the largest of Washington's San Juan Islands, where they
have a wide variety of outdoor experiences. Field & Stream is
proud to sponsor kids from Kittitas County to attend the annual camp.
Washington
Wildlife Coalition,an
affiliated group of Washington Wildlife Federation, is a state-wide
group of non-profit organizations united to implement the WDFW “Go Play
Outside” effort directed at youth and aspiring outdoor
recreationists. The Coalition intends to increase ethical and
responsible outdoor recreation and opportunities through promotion of
outdoor skills; the proper management of fish, wildlife, habitat; and
the conservation mindset. Through membership and donations, Field
& Stream has supported the Coalitions many fishing events, archery
camps, and more each year.
Water
tanks and guzzlers
on LT Murray required maintenance and the Club helped WDFW by
monitoring them.
WDFW. Though a
rocky relationship at times, Club members have a long association of
assisting the Department of Fish & Wildlife. Efforts include
habitat restoration, feeding game, bighorn surveys, elk classification
counts, check station operation, litter clean up, waterfowl surveys,
upland bird surveys, deer tagging, and more.
Wenatchee and Snoqualmie National Forests.
Club members worked extensively to guard big game population in these
areas when cattle grazing reduced their habitat.
Wilson Creek Canyon.
Members aided WDFW to capture and collar 13 deer on the Bud Dunning
Ranch. Through this effort, WDFW tracked migration routes,
learned habitat and forage preferences, computed harvest rates and
estimated populations.
Wood
Duck nest
boxes. Members built and installed boxes to help them thrive.
Whiskey
Dick Creek.
Working with WDFW, members have planted hundreds of willows,
cottonwood, aspen and dogwood, and installed gabions to transform a
barren gully into a suitable habitat for beavers to slow the stream,
raise the water table and vastly improve the area for all
wildlife. According to WDFW, beavers once thrived in the area,
their dams doing for free what government dams do for many millions of
dollars--store water.
White
Spring was
in danger of being obliterated by cattle. Funded by a
Wallace Grant, members securely fenced the immediate soggy area of the
spring to prevent it from being destroyed and diverted a portion of the
water to a trough. Trough overflow was led into a rocky stream
bed, where cattle and wildlife would not create problems by
wallowing. A check of the area
the following day showed deer had used the tank that night. Riparian
habitat restoration benefits all wildlife of an area.
Wilson Creek. In
the 40s and 50s polluting the branch of Wilson Creek which flows
through Ellensburg was a regular problem. The Club intervened
where
possible and notified the Stream Pollution Commission on other
occasions. In later years, Club members volunteered at a Kiwanis
organized effort to improve Wilson Creek habitat. Volunteers
planted red twig dogwood to provide shade and protect against bank
erosion.
Winter
Wildlife Feeding. The Club’s annual program to support
wildlife
during harsh winters has been a success for many years, particularly
during the ‘85-’86 winter. The community banded together during
this very severe time. Club members volunteered every day at elk
feeding stations, filling bird feeders, stocking its winter wildlife
feed bins, and much more.
Woodhouse Ponds. Field
& Stream members helped WDFW clean up rubbish and brush from this
area.
WWII. In 1944 the Club
requested the State Sports Council conduct "no open season on cow elk in Kittitas
County for the duration of the war, to protect our elk so that our boys
in the service may have some game when they get home."
Yakima River Maps
are published by the Club to aid recreationists rafting, fishing,
boating, etc on the Yakima River. Our maps list access points,
river hazards, picnic and camping areas and other information to
improve your outdoor experience. We printed the 3rd Edition the summer of 2005.
Youth Angler Education.
First effort to offer fishing instruction to beginning anglers
consisted of a 2-day course held summer 2006. Classroom time
covered choosing and handling gear, how fish use their senses, fish
behavior and more. Field time offered hands-on fly fishing
casting and retrieving instruction. Support from The Evening
Hatch Fly Shop, Pautzke Bait Company and WDFW contributed to our
success.
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