Commercial huckleberry permits for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest will be available beginning August 13. A normal to good berry season is expected this year. Berries at lower elevations are just starting to ripen. At higher elevations, berries will ripen a little later.
Huckleberry harvest for personal use remains free, and no permit is required. Personal use consists of three gallons of huckleberries per person per year.
All people harvesting more than three gallons, or selling any quantity, must obtain a commercial huckleberry permit. Commercial permits range from $40 to $75 will be available beginning Aug. 13 at Ranger Districts and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters.
For more details, visit the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Passes and Permits page.
Berries may be harvested from most anywhere in the forest. Some important areas closed to both commercial harvest and berry removal for personal use include the legislated Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, legislated Wilderness and the “Handshake Agreement” area of Sawtooth Berry Fields.
Seminary Hill Geology Walk
The last scheduled special walk of the Seminary Hill Natural Area, the Geology Walk, will be held this Saturday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m.
Geologist Jim Ward will take you and other interested amateur geologists on a trip back in time as he explains the geological history of the Seminary Hill area. As you walk you will see examples of and learn about the development of the present-day land forms of the region.
Wear comfortable shoes, bring a walking stick if you need it to make climbing and descending the hill an easier chore, and be prepared to learn a bucketful of new and interesting natural history.
To meet the geology walk group, follow Seminary Hill Road past the Armory, then past Saxon and Baker Streets to the large blue gate on the right (just beyond the small pump house).
Waterfowl Seasons Set
Goose and duck hunting seasons are based on state and federal waterfowl population estimates. According to those estimates, a record number of ducks, approximately 48.6 million, were on the breeding grounds in Canada and the United States this spring.
With a record number of ducks counted on the breeding grounds this year, the WDFW Commission approved migratory waterfowl hunting seasons for this fall and that includes a statewide duck season that will be open for 107 days, starting Oct. 13-17, then Oct. 20-Jan. 27. A special youth hunting weekend will run Sept. 22-23.
Special limits for hen mallard, pintail, redhead, canvasback, goldeneye, harlequin, scoter and long-tailed duck will remain the same as last season, but the commission removed bag limits and an early season closure for scaup due to the significant increase in population.
Goose hunting seasons will vary by management areas across the state, but most open Oct. 13 and run through Jan. 27, 2013.
Kimberly Mason is a freelance writer and photojournalist. She is the founder of The (Almost) Daily News website, enjoys a good handcrafted beer, and is still seeking to land her first steelhead. You can find her on Facebook, call at 360-269-5017, or email kim@almostdailynews.com.
