With hope for calm skies, many Washingtonians are looking forward to seasonal activities that will take them outdoors for the holidays.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the holiday issue of Weekender. The next edition will appear Jan. 9, 2008.

The Christmas Bird Count, for example. Starting Dec. 14, birders in Washington and throughout the Americas will join in Audubon’s 108th annual count of bird populations from Alaska to Argentina.

Here and elsewhere, spotting teams are now forming to count every bird they see in a 24-hour period and add their observations to the longest-running database in ornithology. For more information, see Audubon’s website (http://www.audubon.org/) or see the regional reports below.

Four-legged fauna will also be on display starting Dec. 20 at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area west of Yakima, where the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) operates a winter feeding program for elk and bighorn sheep. For information about daily tours – which are especially popular during the holiday season – see the Southcentral Washington report below.

Rather dig razor clams? For the first time since 2003, the tides are conducive to holding a razor clam dig during the Christmas week, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

Four beaches – Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis and Mocrocks – will open for evening digs Dec. 21 and 22, provided toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat, Ayres said. Twin Harbors beach is also tentatively scheduled to open for a third evening of digging Dec. 23.

“These digs during the holiday season are enormously popular,” said Ayres, noting that nearly 20,000 people showed up on ocean beaches on the first day of the dig in 2003. For the Ayres family, traditional holiday fare also includes Dungeness crab, which are still available for harvest in most areas of Puget Sound. For current information, see the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/index.htm.

Steelhead fishing, another activity associated with the winter holidays, is also looking promising during the weeks ahead, said Steve Thiesfeld, a WDFW fish biologist.

“The storm that hit western Washington during the first week of December brought more rain than people hoped for, but it did get fish moving upstream,” Thiesfeld said. “Fishing for hatchery winter steelhead usually begins in earnest with the first high water after Thanksgiving, and peaks between Christmas and New Year’s, and this year should be no different.”

Thiesfeld noted that, in most areas of the state, anglers are required to release any wild steelhead with an intact adipose fin. Additional information on recreational fishing regulations is available in the Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet, available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm.

For more information on other fishing, hunting and wildlife-viewing opportunities throughout the state, see the regional reports below:

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Heavy rains and high winds during the first few days of December made fishing difficult for anglers in the region. But several rivers have come back into shape and are fishable again. At the same time, stalwart anglers that dropped a line in Puget Sound have had some success fishing for blackmouth.

  “The big storm, and probably some holiday shopping, have kept fishing effort down in the marine areas,” said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. “But anglers who did get out on the water in the last few days have actually done pretty well in some areas, especially those fishing in 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay) and 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner).”

  Anglers fishing marine areas 8-1 and 8-2 can keep two hatchery blackmouth – resident chinook – as part of their two-salmon daily limit. They must, however, release wild chinook, which have an intact adipose fin, and are required to use single-point barbless hooks.

  Farther south, Thiesfeld said anglers have been averaging about one blackmouth for every five rods in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), where they also have a two-salmon daily limit, and can keep up to two hatchery chinook per day.

  “The blackmouth fishery is a good opportunity for anglers to get out on the water during the holidays,” Thiesfeld said. “Plus, in some marine areas, you can still do some crabbing.”

  Marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu), 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), 11 (Tacoma/Vashon), 12 (Hood Canal) and 13 (south Puget Sound) are open to sport crabbing seven days a week through Jan. 2. However, crabbing is closed in marine areas 7 (San Juan Islands), 8-1 and 8-2.

  The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. In addition, fishers may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across. Additional information is available on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/index.htm.

  In the freshwater, water levels have dropped in most streams, allowing anglers an opportunity to get out on the river and cast for steelhead, said Steve Foley, another WDFW fish biologist. “Some of the rivers are actually in pretty good shape,” he said. “I’ve heard the Green and the Skykomish are fishable and there should be some winter-run hatchery steelhead in both of those rivers.”

  Foley reminds anglers that salmon fishing closes in those and most other rivers in the region after Dec. 31.

  Rainbow trout, however, remain an option for anglers. About 3,000 hatchery rainbow trout – averaging approximately 3 to 5 pounds each – were released into Beaver Lake near Issaquah in mid-November. The daily bag limit is five fish, and bait anglers must keep the first five trout they catch.

  Before heading out, anglers should check the rules and regulations for all freshwater and saltwater fisheries in WDFW's Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

• Hunting: While the rough weather made fishing difficult at times for some anglers, the rain and wind improved conditions for waterfowl hunters. “Duck and snow goose hunters had excellent hunting opportunities at the Skagit Wildlife Area,” said Lora Leschner, WDFW regional Wildlife Program manager. “Winter weather conditions – high winds and rain – made for great hunting.” Waterfowlers in the region have through Jan. 27 to hunt ducks and geese.

  However, the recent storm probably made hunting difficult for deer and elk, said Dave Ware, Game Division manager for WDFW. “Hunters in western Washington probably had a difficult time getting out in the field,” Ware said. “Now that the storm has passed, I’m sure people are looking forward to participating in the final days of the deer and elk seasons.”

  Archers have through Dec. 15 to harvest deer in Game Management Units (GMU) 466 and 460, and through Dec. 31 in 407, 410 and 454. The region's musket hunts for deer wrap up Dec. 15. Most muzzleloader and archery hunts for elk also continue in the region through Dec. 15. An exception is the musket hunt in Elk Area 4941, where hunters have through Jan. 30 to bag an elk.

  Before going afield, hunters should check the Big Game Hunting pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm) and the Waterfowl and Upland Game pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/water.htm) for details.

• Wildlife viewing: Flocks of snow geese have arrived in the Skagit Valley, where one of the best places for birders to watch the white birds is at the Fir Island Farm/Hayton Reserve. About 80,000 snow geese winter in western Washington each year. Most of those snow geese congregate in the Skagit Valley, and can be found in the area from mid-October through early May.

  Elsewhere, a birder in West Seattle recently saw a flock of about 20 evening grosbeaks. This was a rare sighting noted the birder, who in the 11 years of living in the North Admiral area of west Seattle has only seen a grosbeak one other time, according to her report on Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/).

  During the holiday season, several Audubon Society chapters throughout the region are coordinating Christmas Bird Counts (CBC). Here's where, when and how both veteran and novice birdwatchers can participate in the North Sound area:

  • Bellingham, Dec. 16. Contact Joe Meche at joemeche@aol.com, 360-739-5383, for more information.
  • East Lake Washington, Dec. 15. Contact Brian Bell at bellasoc@isomedia.com, 425-485-8058. Visit http://www.elwas.org for details.
  • Edmonds, Dec. 29. For more information, contact Jan van Niel, sjvanniel@comcast.net, 425-778-7568.
  • Everett, Dec. 15. Contact Scott Atkinson, scottratkinson@hotmail.com or Mary Teesdale at meteesdale@hotmail.com, 360-734-2561.
  • Kent-Auburn, Dec. 30. Contact Nancy Streiffert at nancy_streiffert@hotmail.com or 253-852-8394.
  • North Cascades, Dec. 15. Email Bob Kuntz at robert_kuntz@nps.gov or call him at 360-856-5700 ext. 368.
  • San Juan Islands, Dec. 15. For more information, contact Barb Jensen at skylark@rockisland.com or at 360-378-3068.
  • San Juan Ferry (Anacortes to Sidney, British Columbia), Dec. 15. For more information, contact Clayton Snider at 360-738-2232 or Joe Meche at joemeche@aol.com, 360-738-0641 or 360-739-5383. A CBC count during a round-trip ferry ride from Anacortes to Sidney.
  • Seattle, Dec. 29. Contact the Seattle Audubon Society at adams@seattleaudubon.org or 206-523-8243 ext. 80. Online registration is also available at http://seattleaudubon.org/science.cfm?id=1103.
  • Skagit Bay, Jan. 1. Contact Art Campbell at acampbell@herrerainc.com or rapakivi@earthlink.net, or call 206-783-2449 or 206-441-9080 for more information on how to participate.
  • Whidbey Island, Dec. 22. Contact Steve Ellis at sellis@coup.wednet.edu or call 360-678-2264 for more information.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: The Olympic Peninsula’s world-class steelhead fishery should begin in earnest once rivers drop back into shape after the heavy rains of early December. Meanwhile, anglers and shell fishers around the region can choose from a number of other options, including salmon and razor clams.

  Depending on the outcome of marine toxin tests, razor clam diggers may be able to add some clams to their holiday feast, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. The last digs of the year are scheduled for Dec. 21-23 on evening tides at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks. One more evening dig is planned Dec. 23 at Twin Harbors only. Kalaloch Beach remains closed throughout the 2007-08 season.

  “We’ve found that folks really enjoy going out on a dig around the holidays, when clams are a traditional menu item for many people,” said Ayres.

  Tentative opening dates and evening low tides are:

  • Friday, Dec. 21 (4:12 p.m. –0.4) all beaches (except Kalaloch)
  • Saturday, Dec. 22 (5:06 p.m. –0.9) all beaches (except Kalaloch)
  • Sunday, Dec. 23 (5:58 p.m. –1.2) Twin Harbors only

  No digging is allowed before noon those days. For best results, Ayres recommends that people start digging at least one hour before low tide and take a lantern for evening digs.

  Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container. A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2007 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is still valid.

  A week after rain and high winds pelted the Olympic Peninsula, most rivers from the north coast to Grays Harbor were still too high to fish. But anglers looking for steelhead may have some opportunity by the Dec. 15 weekend, said Scott Barbour, WDFW fish biologist. “The rivers really got flooded out, but the Wynoochee and the Satsop should be plunkable soon and I hear conditions should be better on the north coast soon.”

  In Puget Sound, angler effort has been low in Marine Area 11 (Tacoma/Vashon Island), but people “who know what they’re doing and are familiar with the area,” are still landing blackmouth, said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. Thiesfeld said those fishing near Point Defiance averaged about one fish for every 2½ rods over the Dec. 8 weekend. He reminds anglers the salmon season ends Dec. 31 in marine areas 11 (Tacoma/Vashon Island) and 12 (Hood Canal).

  Once the rain subsided, anglers on the Nisqually River began landing some late-run chum salmon. “The chum here are still pretty bright and high-quality,” Thiesfeld said. “With the river coming back into shape, anglers should be able to land some nice fish.” Anglers have been successful fishing between the WDFW handicap access and the railroad bridge due south of Old Nisqually Road. The Nisqually River remains open through Jan. 31, with a limit of six salmon, only two of which may be adults. Wild, unmarked chinook must be released.

  For these and other fisheries, anglers are advised to check WDFW’s Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) for more information.

  Meanwhile, area crabbers have through Jan. 2 to sink a pot or two. Marine areas 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), 11 (Tacoma/Vashon), 12 (Hood Canal) and 13 (South Puget Sound) are open for sport crabbing seven days a week through that date.

  The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches. In addition, fishers may catch six red rock crab of either sex per day, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across. Additional information is available on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/index.htm.

  Once the fishery is over, Puget Sound crabbers will have until Jan. 15 to submit their winter catch record cards to WDFW (the mailing address is printed on the back of the cards). A drawing will be held for free fishing licenses after the filing period.

• Hunting: While the hunting season for blue, ruffed and spruce grouse ends Dec. 31, the duck and geese season will remain open seven days a week through Jan. 27 in all parts of the region except Pacific County (Goose Management Area 2B), which is open Wednesdays and Saturdays only through Jan. 12.

  Meanwhile, archers and muzzleloaders are winding up late-season hunts for deer and elk. Late hunting seasons for those groups end Dec. 15 in many areas, although some areas remain open for archery deer hunting through Dec. 31. See WDFW's Big Game Hunting pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm) for details.

• Wildlife viewing: Birdwatchers will have an opportunity to contribute to the world’s longest-running bird database during the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. The annual event begins Dec. 14 and runs through Jan. 5. Small teams count birds from early morning to late afternoon on specific dates. Below is a list of bird-count organizers and counting dates throughout the region:
  • Leadbetter Point, Dec. 15, Alan Richards, mrm@willapabay.org, or Robert Sudar, fallcreek@toledotel.com; the day's count will be tallied about 5 p.m. at Hunter's Inn in Naselle.
  • Olympia, Dec. 16, George Walter, gwalter@nwifc.org; e-mail compiler for more information about joining.
  • Port Townsend, Dec. 16, Richard Johnson, 360-385-5418; compiler will arrange teams.
  • Sequim-Dungeness, Dec. 17, Bob Boekelheide, bboek@olympus.net: count area ranges from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the foothills of the Olympic Mountains.
  • Satsop, Dec. 26, Tom Schooley, schooleymccartan@comcast.net. Email compiler for more information about joining.
  • Grays Harbor, Dec. 29, Dianna Moore, dlmoor2@coastaccess.com or (360) 289-5048; count area ranges along the Washington coast.
  • Padilla Bay, Dec. 29, Bob Barry, dabarrybest@verizon.net. Email compiler for more information about joining.
  • Vashon, Dec. 30, Sue Trevathan, sue.trevathan@centurytel.net; Vashon Island and part of Pierce and Kitsap county shorelines.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Heavy rains brought fishing to a near standstill during the first week of December, swamping tributaries throughout the lower Columbia River Basin. But as those rivers drop back into shape, fishing – particularly for hatchery steelhead – should be better than ever, said Joe Hymer, WDFW fish biologist.

  “We’ll have to see what’s around when the water levels drop, but we’re moving into prime time for hatchery-reared winter steelhead,” Hymer said. “The fishery usually starts to take off in mid-December.”

  As of Dec. 10, water levels were still running high on the Lewis and Cowlitz rivers, the two largest tributaries to the lower Columbia River on the Washington side. But anglers were pulling a fair number of hatchery steelhead out of the Lewis and Cowlitz rivers before the rains hit, and should do so again once stream flows drop, Hymer said.

  Hymer noted that the North Fork Lewis River opens to hatchery steelhead and hatchery coho fishing Sunday, Dec. 16 from Colvin Creek upstream to the overhead power lines below Merwin Dam. In addition, the mainstem Grays River opens for hatchery steelhead Dec. 15 from the Highway 4 Bridge to the south fork; the West Fork also opens that day from the mouth to the footbridge at the hatchery intake.

  “Smaller rivers like the Grays and the Elochoman were still running dirty a week after the heavy rains, but they should be the first to drop into shape,” Hymer said. “They, along with the Kalama and Washougal rivers, could be a good bet if the Lewis and Cowlitz rivers are still running high.”

  Chris Wagemann of the WDFW Kalama Research Team noted that the “first real big push of hatchery winter steelhead” – 105 fresh fish – were handled and recycled to the lower Kalama River boat ramp by hatchery crews Dec. 10.

  Anglers are reminded that any wild steelhead they intercept with an intact adipose fin must be released. See the 2007-08 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) for more information about hatchery steelhead and other fisheries.

  As with many area rivers, there were no reports of angling success on the Cowlitz River during the first week of December, although fish were still moving up the river. During that week, Tacoma Power recovered 3,013 coho salmon adults, five fall chinook adults, 101 summer-run steelhead and 108 winter-run steelhead at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator during seven days of operations.

  Tacoma Power employees then released 60 coho adults and four jacks into Lake Scanewa at the Day Use Site; 271 coho adults, 10 coho jacks and four winter-run steelhead into the Cispus River above the mouth of Yellow Jacket Creek; and 130 coho adults into the upper Cowlitz River at the Skate Creek Bridge in Packwood. They also released 188 coho adults, five fall chinook adults, one winter-run steelhead and two cutthroat trout into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton.

  Meanwhile, 13 anglers caught 10 rainbow trout at Klineline Pond, which was planted with 2,000 catchables Dec. 4. Icehouse Lake near the Bridge of the Gods was also planted with 1,500 catchables that day.

  Only one of the 52 bank anglers checked while fishing for sturgeon immediately below Bonneville Dam took home a legal-size fish during the first week of December. Nine boat anglers checked from Vancouver to the Gorge had released 35 sub-legal sturgeon, but had caught no legal-size fish.

  Under standing rules, retention fisheries for sturgeon will reopen Jan. 1 above Bonneville Dam upriver to McNary Dam. Sturgeon may be retained until the guidelines for each of the three pools are met. In addition, fishery managers from Washington and Oregon will to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 to consider 2008 fishing seasons for both white sturgeon and smelt. The meeting, scheduled at the Kelso City Hall at 203 South Pacific Avenue in Kelso, is open to the public. Watch the WDFW website for news on these seasons.

• Hunting: The storm that blew into western Washington during the first week of December appears to have moved more waterfowl into the region, but has also created some access problems for hunters, said Eric Holman, WDFW wildlife biologist. “Hunters should take care when crossing pastures and fields, because it’s pretty soggy out there,” Holman said. “Small ditches can become big obstacles when there’s this much water on the ground.”

  On the other hand, “we certainly have waterfowl in the area,” Holman said. Outside of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Goose Management Area 2A will be open to goose hunting from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday each week through Jan. 27. Ridgefield is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday through Jan. 19, but closed Dec. 25 and New Year’s Day. Hunters must successfully complete a goose-identification test administered by WDFW to hunt in those areas.

  All parts of Area 2A are below their quota for dusky geese, Holman said. Meanwhile, Goose Management Area 3 (Lewis and Skamania counties) and Goose Management Area 5 (Klickitat and Yakima counties) are open daily through Jan. 27.

  Archers and muzzleloaders have through Dec. 15 to hunt deer and elk in a number of game management units, although a few areas remain open for archery deer hunting through Dec. 31. See the Big Game Hunting pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm) on the WDFW website for more information.

• Wildlife viewing: A birder venturing out after the storm during the first week of December spotted the Eurasian wigeon that has been attracting attention lately at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. As is often the case, the winter visitor from Siberia had joined a large flock of American wigeons, this one plying the waters of Long Lake. In a report to the Tweeters birding website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/), the observer noted that “ducks have increased in numbers, notably wigeon and green-winged teal.

  Another contributor to the Tweeters website reported see a slate-colored fox sparrow and a myrtle yellow-rumped warbler at the Bingen marina in Klickitat County. Just east of Bingen, he also spotted an adult Thayer’s gull fishing on Rowland Lake. “However, the biggest surprise came along the river about three miles east of Roosevelt,” he wrote. “There were an estimated 450 California gulls sitting on the river, close to the shore! This is one of the largest winter concentrations of California gulls I’ve ever seen in eastern Washington.”

  Perhaps they’ll still be there for the Christmas Bird Count, which gets under way Dec. 14 in southwest Washington and throughout the Americas. Sponsored by Audubon, the annual event enlists birdwatchers – veterans and novices – to contribute their sightings over a 24-hour period to the world's longest-running bird database. Below is a list of bird-count organizers and counting dates throughout the region.

  • Camas Prairie-Trout Lake, Dec. 15, Stuart Johnston, johnstonstuartf@hotmail.com; count area includes a large portion of Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Glenwood.
  • Columbia Estuary, Dec. 16, Mike Patterson, celata@pacifier.com or 503-325-1365; count area includes Fort Canby, Ilwaco, Fort Columbia and the Chinook Valley in Pacific County.
  • Columbia Hills-Klickitat Valley, Dec. 29, Stuart Johnston, johnstonstuartf@hotmail.com or 509-493-3363; count area Goldendale and Centerville.
  • Cowlitz-Columbia, Jan. 1, Bob Reistroffer, breistrof@aol.com; count area includes Kelso, Longview, Lexington and Willow Grove.
  • Hood River-Bingen, Dec. 30, Catherine Flick, stewart@gorge.net or 509-493-1195; most of the count area is in Oregon but it takes in Bingen Pond in Washington.
  • Lyle, Dec. 16, Bob Hansen, bobhansen@gorge.net or 425-637-2736; count is noted for being the only count in Washington with predictable sightings of acorn woodpeckers and more Lewis's woodpeckers observed than any other area.
  • Sauvie Island, Dec. 29, Wilson Cady, gorgebirds@juno.com or 360-835-5947; count area includes the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and Vancouver Lake.
  • Wahkiakum, Dec. 15, Andrew Emlen, aceasp@pacifier.com; count area includes the Julia Butler Hansen and the Lewis & Clark national wildlife refuges, the Blind Slough Swamp Preserve, and other bird habitat around Puget Island, Cathlamet and Skamokawa.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Catch rates for steelhead fishing on the Snake River and its tributaries in southeast Washington are among the best so far this season. WDFW creel checkers found steelheaders on the stretch from the Oregon state line to the mouth of the Walla Walla River averaging just over five hours of effort per fish caught. Steelheaders on the mainstem Snake River between Lower Monumental and Little Goose dams averaged just under six hours per fish caught. Those on the mid-Snake stretch above the interstate bridge near Clarkston were averaging just under seven hours per fish caught. On the Washington section of the lower Grande Ronde River, from Bogans Oasis to the Oregon state line, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife creel checkers reported an average of nine hours of effort per steelhead caught. For the full report, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/creel/snake/index.htm.

  Fishing has been good at the region’s central district winter-only rainbow trout fishing lakes that opened Dec. 1. Anglers averaged two to three trout on the opener in open water conditions at Hog Canyon Lake in southwest Spokane County, and Fourth of July Lake, on the Lincoln-Adams county line. Scott Young, WDFW regional access manager, reported Dec. 12 that both lakes had only about two inches of ice – enough to keep boats from being launched but not enough to walk on safely.

  WDFW does not make regular checks of ice conditions or make any guarantees about safety. While ice safety can never be assured, no one should venture onto the ice unless it is at least four inches thick, clear and solid, according to U.S. Coast Guard guidelines. As much as nine inches may be needed to safely support snowmobiles or other vehicles. Such ice depths can form after at least a week of below freezing temperatures, day and night. For tips on ice fishing safety see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regions/reg1/ice_fishing.htm.

  Angler effort has been light at the region’s north district winter-only lakes – Williams and Hatch in Stevens County. Neither lake has recently been stocked with trout since both are infested with stunted, illegally introduced yellow perch. Both are candidates for fishery rehabilitation next year.

  Boat anglers willing to brave winter conditions have found decent fishing for Lake Roosevelt rainbow trout. The hot spot seems to be from Seven Bays up to near Grand Coulee Dam. Roosevelt rainbows usually range from 18 to 24 inches.

  Waitts Lake, just west of Valley in southern Stevens County, remains open to fishing through February to allow continued opportunity on rainbow and brown trout that range up to 15 inches. At last check, however, Waitts had only about an inch or so of ice about 100 yards out from shore, so fishing may be delayed until conditions are safer. Silver Lake, a mixed species water open year-round in southwest Spokane County, also had only about an inch of ice.

• Hunting: With most big game seasons closed, upland game bird and waterfowl hunting is the main attraction.

  Snow cover from winter storms is holding pheasants, quail, chukar and Hungarian partridge and forest grouse. With farm-raised pheasant releases finished for the season, it’s strictly a wild bird show. Chukars are likely to be at the snowline in the canyons along the Snake River. Hungarian partridge are foraging in the newly sprouted winter wheat fields throughout the Palouse. California quail are in good numbers in many wooded riparian areas. Pheasants may be fewer and farther between than past years, but at this point in the season they’re concentrated in brushy draws. Forest grouse closes Dec. 31. Pheasant, quail and partridge run through Jan. 21.

  Winter storms are also moving migrant ducks and geese into the region on big, open water from the Pend Oreille to the Snake River. Goose hunters in Lincoln, Spokane and Walla Walla counties, where goose hunting is available only on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays, get several extra days this time of year. Goose hunting in that zone is open on Monday, Dec. 24; Tuesday, Dec. 25; Thursday, Dec. 27; Friday, Dec. 28; and Tuesday. Jan. 1. The season runs through Jan. 27.

  Juli Anderson, WDFW Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area manager, said the only potential waterfowl hunting areas in the Lincoln County area are Z-Lake off Telford Road, Florence Lake and Whittaker Lake. “I've seen some geese here and there, but not many ducks yet,” she said. “Upland bird hunters are also having a tough go of it here this year.”

  Late archery deer hunters and modern firearm deer Advanced Hunter Education (AHE) Master Hunters in some game management units in the region have through Dec. 15 to finish their season. Late muzzleloader elk hunting for AHE Master Hunters in some units runs through Dec. 31.

  WDFW Regional Wildlife Program Manager Kevin Robinette reminds deer, elk, black bear, and turkey hunters to report hunting activity by Jan. 31, either over the phone at 1-877-945-3492 or on the Internet at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov. Hunter reporting is mandatory for those species and failure to do so brings a $10 penalty when purchasing next year’s license. To qualify for special permit drawings, hunters should submit their reports within 10 days of a kill, or if unsuccessful, by Jan. 10. For more information about reporting, see page 14 of the 2007 Washington Big Game Hunting Rules pamphlet.

• Wildlife viewing: Now that snow is on the ground throughout the region, it’s a good time to view wildlife – or at least see where they’ve been – from cross-country skis or snowshoes. “Winter doesn't seem so bad if you go play outside,” said Steve Zender, WDFW northeast district wildlife biologist in Chewelah. Snow tracking can turn up evidence of common species, such as whitetailed deer, coyotes, and wild turkeys, but also a few less common species, including bobcats, cougars, otters and weasels, he said. Zender also said the major rivers in the region are attracting ducks and geese from the north, and bald eagles are preying on them and spawned out fish. “Winter wildlife viewing will also give you some good ideas for holiday gifts, such as wildlife tracking and bird identification guidebooks, binoculars, spotting scopes, snowshoes and cross-country skis,” Zender said.

  The south end of the region also has some good wildlife viewing opportunities. WDFW Blue Mountains Wildlife Areas Complex Manager Bob Dice of Clarkston reports elk and wild turkeys are now highly visible at the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area. “There are about 90 elk hanging around Joseph Creek near our buildings,” Dice said. “Our staff has seen folks driving by and taking pictures and video.” Dice said the turkeys are also pretty thick, as usual. “I had a 12-acre field left in spring wheat for a winter food source up there and between the elk and turkeys, they have stripped it bare,” he said. In the Shumaker Road area, south of Anatone, there also are wintering deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and fresh cougar tracks in the snow. “We've also seen bald and golden eagles,” he added. Dice cautioned travelers to be prepared with tire chains because Shumaker Road is slick with packed snow and ice.

  Several Audubon Society chapters and other birdwatching enthusiasts throughout the region are coordinating Christmas Bird Counts, in keeping with the 108-year tradition of tallying species and numbers across North America for the world's longest-running bird database. (For more information on the tradition, see http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/; for more information on specific counts, see http://www.wos.org/WACBCs.htm.) Most are day-long events that get started early, like the birds, and conclude with count tally gatherings around warm food and drink. Here's where, when and how both veteran and novice birdwatchers can participate:

  • Clarkston (and Lewiston, Idaho), Sat., Dec. 29, contact Terry Gray at clgtlg@moscow.com, or 208-882-1585.
  • Colville, Sat., Dec.15, contact Barbara Harding at Barbara_Harding@fws.gov or 509-684-8384.
  • Pullman (and Moscow, Idaho), Sat., Dec. 15, contact Tom Weber at tweber@wsu.edu or 509-334-3817.
  • Newport, Sat., Dec. 22, contact John Stuart at ninebark@povn.com or 509-447-2644.
  • Spokane, Sat., Dec. 29, contact Alan McCoy at ahm@webband.com or 509-448-3123 evenings or 509-448-8861 workdays 9-6.
  • Walla Walla, Sat., Dec.15, contact Mike Denny at m.denny@charter.net or 509-529-0080.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Steelhead fishing above Wells Dam on the upper Columbia River has slowed considerably in recent days due to colder weather, said Bob Jateff, WDFW district fish biologist in Omak. “The Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen rivers all have flowing ice, and very little angler effort has been observed,” he said. “A few fish are still being caught by shore anglers fishing upstream of Wells Dam using jigs tipped with a shrimp.”

  Rufus Woods Lake, the Columbia River reservoir created by Chief Joseph Dam near Bridgeport, continues to produce good catches of triploid rainbow trout that weigh up to four pounds, Jateff reported. “Both shore and boat anglers are having success using both bait and lures and flies,” he said. “Just remember that Rufus Woods has a two-fish daily catch limit for trout.”

  Jateff noted Rat Lake near Brewster in Okanogan County should provide good fishing for 10-12-inch rainbow trout during the winter catch-and-keep season, which started Dec. 1. “Davis and Little Twin lakes near Winthrop should also be good this winter for rainbows once the ice is thick enough to walk on,” he said.

  Columbia Basin waters are freezing up, said Jeff Korth, WDFW district fish biologist in Moses Lake. But none of the year-round big waters, like Potholes Reservoir, Moses Lake, or Billy Clapp Lake are ready to provide safe ice-fishing.

  WDFW does not regularly check ice conditions or make any guarantees about safety. While ice safety can never be assured, people should not venture onto the ice unless it is at least four inches thick, clear and solid, according to U.S. Coast Guard guidelines. As much as nine inches may be needed to safely support snowmobiles or other vehicles. Such ice depths can form after at least a week of below freezing temperatures, day and night. For tips on ice fishing safety see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regions/reg2/ice_fishing.htm.

• Hunting: “The northerners have arrived,” said Mikal Moore, WDFW waterfowl specialist in Ephrata. Recent winter storms have moved ducks and geese from Canada into the Columbia Basin, providing opportunities for waterfowl hunters.

  The last aerial waterfowl survey of the North Basin by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and WDFW was conducted Sunday, Dec. 9. Moore said surveying is usually scheduled during the week to avoid weekend hunters, but weather conditions forced the Sunday flight. Randy Hill, USFWS wildlife biologist, said some hunters may have been initially annoyed by the survey plane’s low passes that day, but bird movements ultimately created additional opportunities for hunters.

  The central basin and the lower Columbia River pools were surveyed, but deteriorating weather and potential for fog cut the survey short for Banks Lake and the Columbia River from Grand Coulee to Rock Island. “We feel fortunate to have a partial December survey after being weathered out the last two years,” Hill said. “And the northerners have indeed arrived.” Five survey locations had more than 25,000 mallards, and three others topped 15,000. On the Sunday survey, the ducks were concentrated at reserves and three non-hunting lakes and/or flooded cornfields. Notable was a lack of wigeon, although much of the river was not surveyed, said Hill. “Divers were found mainly on the two Columbia River pools and totals are well below normal because the surveyed area on the river was limited,” he said.

  “We still have lots of Canada geese in the area, although the survey doesn't reflect that,” Hill said. Large flocks were moving to cornfields as the survey was beginning and most geese were missed. As an example, Columbia National Wildlife Refuge has had about 10,000 geese, but only 75 were counted on the survey. “The abundant corn acreage is mostly harvested now but several fields are still standing across the north basin area, so unless we have additional snow or ice to cover corn stubble fields, both ducks and geese should remain in good numbers,” he said.

  For all the survey numbers, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/reg/eventopp/events2.htm.

  Goose hunters throughout the region, where goose hunting is available only on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays, will get several extra days with the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Dec. 24-25, Dec. 27-28 and Jan. 1, are open to goose hunting in that zone. The season runs through Jan. 27.

  Matt Monda, WDFW regional wildlife program manager, reminds deer, elk, black bear, and turkey hunters to report hunting activity by Jan. 31, by calling 1-877-945-3492 or going online at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov. Hunter reporting is mandatory for those species and hunters failing to do so will be fined $10 when they purchasing next year’s license. To qualify for special permit drawings, hunters must submit their reports within ten days of a kill, or if unsuccessful, by Jan. 10. For more information about reporting, see page 14 of the 2007 Washington Big Game Hunting Rules pamphlet.

• Wildlife viewing: The Methow Valley in Okanogan County offers some excellent winter wildlife viewing, said Scott Fitkin, WDFW district wildlife biologist in Winthrop. “Watch for winter raptors in particular,” he said. “Gyrfalcons, rough-legged hawks, and even the occasional snowy owl can be seen in open habitats. Northern hawk owls and great gray owls occasionally make appearances in the forested country. Also, tundra swans are being seen wherever there's still open water.”

  A great way to see wildlife in winter — or at least signs of their presence — is by snowshoe. This quiet, slow method of traveling over deep snow can be just the ticket for spotting the unusual. The U.S. Forest Service’s Methow Valley Ranger District and the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (MVSTA) offers free naturalist-guided snowshoe tours on Saturdays, three-day weekends and holidays, starting Dec. 29. Participants learn about wildlife, tracks, winter ecology, beaver ponds and more. Some tours provide free snowshoe use, while others require trekkers to rent or bring their own gear. All require a MVSTA ski or snowshoe trail pass, available at many Methow area businesses. The tours follow easy routes on groomed snowshoe trails near Sun Mountain Lodge and along the Methow River in Mazama. For more information call 509-996-3287 or see "The Nature of Winter" tours website at http://www.mvsta.com/winter/snowshoe2.html#wintertours.

  Several Audubon Society chapters and other birdwatching enthusiasts throughout the region are coordinating Christmas Bird Counts, in keeping with the 108-year tradition of tallying species and numbers across North America for the world's longest-running bird database. (For more information on the tradition, see http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/; for more information on specific counts, see http://www.wos.org/WACBCs.htm.)

  Most are day-long events that get started early, like the birds, and conclude with count- tally gatherings accompanied by warm food and drink. Here's where, when and how both veteran and novice birdwatchers can participate:

  • Bridgeport, Sat., Dec.15, contact Meredith Spencer at merdave@homenetnw.net or 509-686-7551
  • Chelan, Fri., Dec. 28, contact Steve Easley at seasley@wenval.com or 509-682-2318
  • Grand Coulee, Sat., Dec. 22, contact David St. George at hartashkip@yahoo.com or 509-667-7472
  • Leavenworth, Thu.,Dec. 20, contact Karen Haire at karenhaire@nwi.net or 509-548-4566
  • Molson (coordinated out of Bridesville, British Columbia), Sat., Jan. 5, contact Doug Brown at douglasbrown01@yahoo.ca or 250-495-6164
  • Moses Lake, Sat., Dec. 15, contact Doug Schonewald at dschone8@donobi.net or (509) 766-0056
  • Osoyoos, British Columbia (including U.S. side of Canadian border), Sat., Dec. 29, contact Doug Brown at douglasbrown01@yahoo.ca or 250-495-6164
  • Omak-Okanogan, Sat., Jan. 5, contact Gordon Kent gogo6116@yahoo.com or 509-422-6116
  • Twisp, Sat., Dec. 29, contact Caryl Campbella at bearfight@methownet.com or 509-996-3458
  • Wenatchee, Sun., Dec. 30, contact Dan Stephens at dstephens@wvc.edu or 509-682-6752

  Birdwatchers who like to key in on waterways should check out the latest U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service aerial waterfowl survey of the north Columbia Basin at http://wdfw.wa.gov/reg/eventopp/events2.htm.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Year-round fishing waters in the Yakima and Ellensburg areas recently received more broodstock from WDFW’s Goldendale Fish Hatchery. WDFW district fish biologist Eric Anderson of Yakima reports that several lakes and ponds have each been stocked with 140 six-to-ten-pound rainbows. They include I-82 Pond 4 and Rotary Lake in the Yakima area and Mattoon and FioRito lakes in the Ellensburg area. Myron Lake near Yakima will be stocked later. “These big fish really spice up the winter fishery in our local year round waters,” Anderson said. For all catchable-size trout plants see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/plants/weekly/.

  Anderson also noted that FioRito and Mattoon lakes should see improved fishing in the future with new funding of aquatic weed-control work at both. “We were just awarded a major grant from the Washington Department of Ecology to control and prevent re-infestation of Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife and yellow flag iris that threaten these lakes’ fisheries,” he said. "This grant is the result of a cooperative effort spearheaded by the Kittitas County Noxious Weed Board and the Kittitas County Field and Stream Club.”

  WDFW fish biologist Paul Hoffarth of Pasco reminds anglers that the steelhead fishery in the Ringold area of the Columbia River, from the Highway 395 bridge to the old Hanford town site, remains open through the end of March. Anglers are allowed to retain two hatchery (adipose-fin-clipped) steelhead.

  Hoffarth also notes anglers will be allowed to fish for and retain sturgeon below McNary Dam Jan. 1.

• Hunting: Waterfowl is the focus for hunters in this region now. WDFW district wildlife biologist Mike Livingston of Pasco reports that major increases in duck numbers have been observed in Benton and Franklin counties in recent weeks. “The McNary and Umatilla National Wildlife Refuges and Hanford Reach all have good numbers now,” he said. “North Franklin County wetlands and irrigation canals are holding lots of birds too. The abundance of corn in the Columbia Basin should provide forage for the next several weeks. Canada goose numbers have not been has good as last year, but there are still lots of birds to hunt especially for those who have access to private crop fields along the Snake and Columbia Rivers.”

  WDFW waterfowl specialist Mikal Moore of Ephrata confirms that waterfowl hunting opportunities in the south Columbia Basin are good now. “The northerners have arrived,” she said, pointing to a Dec. 8 aerial survey of the area by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Moore said the surveying is usually scheduled during the week to avoid weekend hunters, but weather conditions forced the Saturday flight. “We may have disrupted some hunts momentarily, but we also put more birds on the wing and potentially provided more opportunity biologists,” said Howard Browers, a USFWS biologist who participated in the survey. Mallard numbers were about 2½ times greater than the November survey which is a pretty good indication that migrant birds from the north are in our area.”

  For all the survey numbers, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/reg/eventopp/events3.htm.

  Goose hunters in Benton, Franklin, and Kittitas counties will get some extra days to hunt for the holidays. In those counties – where goose hunting is usually open only on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays – can also take to the field Monday, Dec. 24, Tuesday, Dec. 25, Thursday, Dec. 27, Friday, Dec. 28, and Tuesday. Jan. 1. The season runs through Jan. 27.

  Livingston reported quail and pheasant numbers are down, so hunting has been a bit slow. All farm-raised pheasant releases are over for the upland game bird season, which runs through Jan. 21.

  WDFW regional wildlife program manager Ted Clausen reminds deer, elk, black bear, and turkey hunters to report hunting activity by Jan. 31, either over the phone at 1-877-945-3492 or on the Internet at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov. Hunter reporting is mandatory for those species and failure to do so brings a $10 penalty when purchasing next year’s license. To qualify for special permit drawings, hunters should submit their reports within 10 days of a kill or, if unsuccessful, by Jan. 10. For more information about reporting, see page 14 of the 2007 Washington Big Game Hunting Rules pamphlet.

• Wildlife viewing: Winter feeding of elk and bighorn sheep at WDFW’s Oak Creek Wildlife Area west of Yakima will get under way the week of Dec. 17, with tours starting Dec. 20. Area manager John McGowan says elk are fed at 1:30 pm daily at the area headquarters site, six miles west of Naches on Highway 12. Bighorn sheep are fed mid-morning at the Cleman Mountain unit of the wildlife area, just northeast of the Highway 410 and 12 junction, about half-a-mile up the Old Naches Road. Anyone interested in group tours should call the Washington Environmental Corps volunteer staff Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 509-698-5106, McGowan said. “Reservations need to be made 48 hours before your tour date,” he said. “Our feeding program and tours are supported by donations, so please give generously.”

  McGowan noted that bighorn sheep in the Tieton River Canyon and on Cleman Mountain are attracted to highway surfaces by the de-icer chemicals used by the Department of Transportation. “Sheep will lick the pavement, sometimes standing on the centerline,” McGowan said, “and they will not move until cars are directly upon them. So please slow down and be alert on Highways 410 and 12 in this area.”

  McGowan also noted a bighorn sheep trapping operation in the Cleman Mountain area is under way by Yakama Indian Nation wildlife biologists to supplement the Simcoe Mountain herd. “This is a cooperative project between WDFW and the Yakamas over the past few years to develop a California bighorn population on the Yakama reservation,” he said.

  McGowan said both bald and golden eagles are in the vicinity of the area headquarters elk feeding site and along the river canyons during the winter.

  Oak Creek Wildlife area visitors are reminded that vehicle gates at Oak Creek and Bethel Ridge roads are now closed for the winter season, through April 30. Vehicle gates on the Sanford Pasture/Mud Lake road system will close Jan 1 through April 30 to limit recreational activity on critical big game winter range.

  Other winter road closures are in effect on WDFW’s Wenas and L.T. Murray wildlife areas in Kittitas County, said area manager Cindi Confer. As of Dec. 1, the Mellotte Road gate into the Wenas, and the Robinson Canyon and Joe Watt Canyon gates into the L.T. Murray are closed to protect wintering big game. Supplemental winter feeding of limited numbers of elk at those sites will be getting under way soon.

  Several Audubon Society chapters and other birdwatching enthusiasts throughout the region are coordinating Christmas Bird Counts, in keeping with the 108-year tradition of tallying species and numbers across North America for the world's longest-running bird database. (For more information, see http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/. Most are day-long events that get started early, like the birds, and conclude with count tally gatherings around warm food and drink. Here's where, when and how both veteran and novice birdwatchers can participate:

  • Cle Elum, Wed., Dec.19, contact Michael Hobbs at BirdMarymoor@verizon.net or 425-869-2370 or 425-318-2105
  • Ellensburg, Sat., Dec.15, contact Phil Mattocks at pmattocks@kvalley.com or Gloria Baldi, baldi@kvalley.com or 509-933-1558
  • Toppenish, Sun., Dec. 16, contact Andy Stepniewski at steppie@nwinfo.net or 509-877-6639
  • Tri-Cities, Sat., Jan. 5, contact Dana Ward at dana_c_ward@rl.gov or 509-545-0627 or Dennis Rockwell, picahudsonia@surfbest.net
  • Yakima, Sat., Dec. 15, contact Denny Granstrand at dgranstrand@charter.net or 509-453-2500

  Birder counters in the Tri-Cities area should get some great views of wintering raptors in the area, according to WDFW district wildlife biologist Mike Livingston of Pasco. “Migratory rough-legged hawks and short-eared owls can be found hunting in the dryland wheat, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields, and shrub steppe,” he said. “Red-tailed hawks, northern harriers and American kestrels can be observed in dryland and irrigated farmland.

  The number of wintering bald eagles also should increase in response to recent winter weather. Look for them anywhere large trees are found along the Snake, Columbia, and Yakima rivers. Waterfowl and waterbirds including grebes, herons and loons can all be viewed from the local city parks on the Columbia River.”