Colfax again opens hunting zone

Colfax City Council Monday night again opened the rural residential zone along the North Fork of the Palouse River to hunting this year. Hunters will be required to obtain permission from property owners.

City law prohibits hunting inside the city limits, but the year-to-year resolution takes the rural residential zone, property which was annexed into the city, out of the banned area.

The lone homeowner in the Redtail Ridge development has complained about hunters not respecting his property. He has been advised that under the resolution he can refuse permission to hunt on his property. He has been advised to post signs, although Councilwoman Jeannette Solimine Monday noted nothing in the resolution mandates a posting of signs.

The homeowner has told city officials he plans to post a sign at the entrance up to Redtail Ridge.

Councilman David Nails said development of 15 or 20 more homes in Redtail could lead the city to change its policy.

City Attorney Bruce Ensley said he believes the city some day should change its ordinance. Approval of a resolution each year to allow hunting in the rural residential zone conflicts with the overall ban on hunting in the city limits, he said.