The Outdoor Line

Record Gun Sales in December
It appears as though not every segment of the economy is in shambles. CNN reports that gun sales across the US hit a record this past month with 1,534,414 inquiries submitted to the FBI’s national background check system. Almost half of a million of those guns were purchased in the last 6 days prior to Christmas. An NRA spokesman said the upswing could be due to citizens feeling the need to protect themselves and an increase in skeet shooting and other gun sports.

Police Arrest Two Men Suspected in Sportco Gun Heist
Fife police have arrested two men suspected of stealing dozens of guns from Sportco Sporting Goods on December 17th. The robbery occurred at 3 a.m. when two men smashed thru a window and stole 42 handguns and two rifles valued at $21,000 dollars. Even though police were on the scene within seconds the criminals managed a clean getaway, at least until now. A 21 year old suspect was charged on Friday and a 32 year old man is being held on unrelated warrants and remains under investigation.  Three of the 44 guns have been recovered and police feel the rest of the guns are within reach.

Skagit Duck Hunting Picks Up
Anthon Steen at Holiday Sports in Burlington reports good duck hunting for mallards and pintails the last few days on the Skagit flats and in fields that have water in them close to the flats. Hunters that were able to get out on the windy days this past week saw the best field hunting, but Steen said that most of the better action has been occurring on Skagit Bay. 

Sky and Snoqualmie Producing Steelhead
Mario V at Dougs Sporting Goods in Woodinville reported good steelhead fishing on the upper Skykomish River and also on the Snoqualmie River before heavy rains punched the rivers out this week. Anglers should keep a keen eye on both of these rivers, as they should produce excellent fishing when they drop back into shape.

Puget Sound Crabbing Closes Today
Today is the last day to crab in all of the open areas of Puget Sound. The season will close at sunset today and crabbers have until February 1st to turn in their winter crab cards. Failure to do so will result in a $10 fee tacked onto next year’s license purchase.

Commission Considers Puget Sound Steelhead Closures
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission received public comments thru yesterday regarding the early closure of the Puget Sound river’s to protect low wild steelhead returns. The Commission will meet January 7th in Olympia to decide whether to close the Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, Green, and Puyallup rivers in mid-January to mid-February. Puget Sound steelhead were listed as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act in 2007 and steelhead seasons have been cut drastically in response to the listing.

WDFW Proposes Increase in Multi-Season Permits
WDFW has proposed increasing the number multiple-season hunting permits available each year to 8,500 deer permits and 1,250 elk permits. In 2011, the department conducted a drawing for 4,000 deer permits and 850 elk permits from among the hunters who paid an application fee. Public comments will be taken at the next Commission meetings held on January 6th and 7th at the Natural Resources Building in Olympia. Click HERE for more information about this meeting.

Rob Endsley
The Outdoor Line
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