Anglers have found some bright spots in the forecast after weeks of heavy rainfall and - in some areas - unseasonably warm weather that have taken a toll on fishing prospects since the start of the new year.

During that time, steelhead fishing has come to a virtual halt in western Washington, where heavy flows have rendered most rivers unfishable. On the east side, unusually high temperatures have made ice fishing on many lakes a risky proposition.

Still, even without a change in the forecast, several promising opportunities await anglers and others who enjoy the great outdoors:

• Columbia River sturgeon: "Sturgeon actually seem to like these conditions," said Joe Hymer, a fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). He recommends fishing around the mouth of the Willamette River or in the Bonneville Pool, where boat anglers have been averaging one legal-size fish for every six rods.

• Okanogan steelhead: Fishing for hatchery steelhead has improved steadily in the Okanogan and Methow rivers as warmer weather has melted away most of the ice. Relatively undisturbed for more than a month, the fish are now biting, said Bob Jateff, another WDFW fish biologist.

• Razor clams: WDFW has announced one tentative opening on evening tides Jan. 27-29 at four ocean beaches and another Feb. 24-26 at all five ocean beaches. Final decisions will be announced once toxin tests determine whether the clams remain safe to eat. Despite wind and rain, many diggers got their limits during the last opening on New Year's weekend.

For bird watchers, recent weather patterns have brought several rarely seen species into view, including dozens of red phalaropes that have turned up along the Pacific coast. Snow-free areas in eastern Washington have also made it easier for birders to observe hawks, harriers and other birds of prey.

Duck and goose hunting has been good on lakes and ponds around the state as the season enters the home stretch. All areas still open to waterfowl hunting will close Jan. 29.

Whether successful or not, hunters who purchased deer, elk, black bear or turkey tags for the 2005 season are required to report their hunting activities by Jan. 31, 2006. Hunters who miss the deadline must pay a $10 penalty before they can purchase a 2006 license.

Hunters who want to comment on WDFW's proposals for hunting seasons during the next three years are invited to attend any of the meetings noted in the regional reports below:

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Heavy rains and rising rivers have forced anglers to avoid the region's murky streams and instead turn to saltwater for fishing opportunities. Steelhead fishing has come to a virtual halt as rain continues to fill North Sound rivers. But stalwart anglers willing to brave the wind and rain in Puget Sound are having some success with blackmouth. The best bet for anglers seems to be the waters near Everett, said Steve Foley, WDFW biologist. The weather, however, is keeping most people off the water. "The few people that are out there fishing are catching some fish," Foley said. "But with this weather pattern the way it is, it's tough for people to get out." Blackmouth catch counts at the Everett boat ramp gave some indication of angler success. On Jan. 8, 13 anglers checked in six chinook.

  Those heading out on the Sound can take advantage of the region's islands for some protection from harsh weather. If a south wind is blowing, anglers might want to try the east side of Whidbey Island, said Steve Thiesfeld, a WDFW fish biologist. "Areas like Penn Cove, Holmes Harbor and Utsalady Bay give anglers a shot at catching some blackmouth while providing protection from a south wind," Thiesfeld said. This is also a good time for anglers to take their time and learn the blackmouth fishery. "It really pays off," he said. "Those that have learned the fishery are having success."

  Marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) and 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) are open for blackmouth fishing, although Area 10 closes Jan. 31. Marine areas 7 (San Juan Islands) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet) remain closed for blackmouth. Anglers should check the 2005/2006 Fishing in Washington pamphlet for more information.

  When the rain does let up and rivers in the region start to drop, anglers should first try fishing the upper reaches of rivers, said Foley, who recommended Tokul Creek, a tributary of the Snoqualmie River, and the Cascade River, which is a tributary of the Skagit River. "Upper reaches drop and clear up first, while the lower reaches can remain dirty," he said.

• Hunting: Rain may have hindered anglers, but not hunters. The wet weather has improved waterfowl habitat, said Lora Leschner, WDFW regional wildlife program manager. "The recent rain has enhanced waterfowl and shorebird use, providing excellent hunting conditions," Leschner said.

  Big-game and turkey hunters are required to report their hunting activities by Jan. 31, 2006, whether or not they were successful in their hunt. (See WDFW's Big Game Hunting pamphlet.) Hunters who miss the deadline must pay a $10 penalty before they can purchase a 2006 license.

  Hunters who want to give input on the next three-year hunting season proposals may want to attend a public meeting scheduled 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 at La Quinta Inn & Suites,1425 East 27th Street in Tacoma. Another meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Avenue North in Edmonds. See http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/ for more information.

• Wildlife viewing: A birder reporting to Tweeters birding website spotted a Eurasian wigeon swimming amongst hundreds of American wigeons on Union Bay. The birder suspected the Eurasian wigeon had been in the area for a while, "but too far out in the lake to be spotted." Male Eurasian wigeons have gray bodies and rust-colored heads, while the female is streaked gray and brown. Both males and females have dull blue bills and white shoulder patches. The Eurasian wigeon is usually found at lakes, ponds or marshes near large flocks of American wigeons. The Eurasian grazes on land and also hangs out near flocks of diving ducks. The Eurasian waits for the feeding ducks to resurface and then snatches the food from them. The same birder also spotted a Cooper's hawk, a crow-sized bird with a long tail and short wings. Cooper's hawks mainly feed on other birds, which they relentlessly chase.

  Another birder reporting to Tweeters mentioned that a great horned owl was spotted during a Christmas Bird Count. Great horned owls vary in color from nearly all white to dark brown and gray. They have yellow eyes, a white throat and prominent ears. The owls prey on grouse, rabbits, beetles, lizards, frogs, birds, ducks and other owls.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: High water and steady rain have put a damper on fishing area rivers, forcing anglers to consider other options. One possibility is a three-day razor-clam dig tentatively scheduled Jan. 27-29 at four ocean beaches. WDFW will give the final word on that dig - and another opening tentatively scheduled at all five ocean beaches Feb. 24-26 - once toxin tests determine whether clams remain safe to eat.

  Both digs are geared to evening tides, with no digging allowed before noon any day. Low tides during the three-day dig proposed this month are at 5 p.m. Jan. 27, 5:49 p.m. Jan. 28 and 6:34 p.m. Jan. 29.

  The four beaches tentatively scheduled to open those days are Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Kalaloch. Copalis Beach will remain closed to digging in January to ensure that enough clams are available for harvest in April, when the tides allow for morning digs, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. Copalis is, however, tentatively scheduled to open for digging along with the other four beaches Feb. 24-26, Ayres said. "Since the weather is usually better in February, it made more sense to take a break this month," he said.

  Due largely to rough weather, diggers averaged just 6.7 clams per day during the opening held over New Year's weekend, Ayres said. "But a lot of the more experienced, better-prepared diggers did get their 15-clam daily limit," he added. "A lot depended on finding the right location, being able to spot 'shows' and packing a good lantern." "Shows" are small holes in the sand, indicating the presence of a clam below the surface.

  Meanwhile, steelhead fishing has stalled throughout the Olympic Peninsula, as heavy rains continue to push area rivers out of shape. On the Quillayute River system, where 165 anglers caught 67 steelhead (including four wild fish) over New Year's weekend, catch totals and angler participation steadily declined as flows increased. By Jan. 10, the Quillayute and virtually every other river in the region was unfishable. "All the rivers in the Grays Harbor area - the Satsop, Chehalis and Wynoochee - are completely blown out," said Scott Barbour, a WDFW fish biologist. "Your best bet (for seafood) right now is to drop a crab pot in the harbor."

  Barbour noted that plunkers had some success catching hatchery coho in high water on the Wynoochee River during the first week of January, but gave up when the skies opened up again. "Give the rivers a couple days to drop back into shape after the rain stops," advises Mike Gross, another WDFW fish biologist. "Once they do, there's usually a bunch of fresh fish waiting to move upriver."

  Or, anglers can go blackmouth fishing. Most marine areas are closed to salmon fishing, but Marine Area 10 is open for blackmouth through the end of January and Marine Area 13 is open through April 30. Catch rates aren't red hot, "but people are getting some nice fish," said Steve Thiesfeld, Puget Sound recreational fishing coordinator for WDFW. Anglers are reminded that several area rivers - including the Humptulips, Copalis, Minter and lower Chehalis (below Porter Bridge) - will close to salmon fishing Jan. 31. Thiesfeld advises anglers to check the WDFW Fishing in Washington pamphlet before they head out.

• Hunting: The last day to hunt geese in Goose Management Area 2B (Grays Harbor and Pacific counties) is Saturday, Jan. 14. Goose hunting in Area 3, as well as the statewide duck-hunting season, ends Jan. 29.

  Big-game and turkey hunters are required to report their hunting activities by Jan. 31, 2006, whether or not they were successful in their hunt. (See WDFW's Big Game Hunting pamphlet.) Hunters who miss the deadline must pay a $10 penalty before they can purchase a 2006 license.

  Hunters who want to give input on the next three-year hunting season proposals may want to attend a public meeting scheduled 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Log Pavilion at Morrison Riverfront Park,1401 Sargent Blvd. in Aberdeen. See http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/ for more information.

• Wildlife viewing: The strong winds and driving rain that bedeviled participants in the Christmas Bird Count appear also to have produced a rare opportunity for birders. Dozens of red phalaropes, which normally stay miles off the coast en route from the Arctic, have been spotted throughout the region before and since the holidays.

  For several weeks, the Tweeters birding website has included reports of sightings at Ocean Shores, Elma, Olympia and Vashon Island as well as the Oregon coast and the San Francisco Bay area. Biologists have suggested that the storms might have blown the birds inland or prevented them from eating at sea. Red phalaropes often feed by swimming in small, rapid circles to create whirlpools that bring food to the surface. They are also distinguished by their reverse sex roles. Females, which are larger and more brightly colored than the males, pursue their mates, compete for nesting territory and aggressively defend their nests. Once they lay their eggs, they head south from the Arctic, leaving the males to incubate the eggs and care for the young. Despite their name, red phalaropes wear their rust-colored plumage while breeding in the Arctic. Birders hoping to spot one here should look for a medium-size bird with a white face and gray undercarriage - perhaps swirling feverishly in a pool of water.

  Despite rough conditions, participants in the Christmas Bird Count continued the 106-year-old tradition. The Sequim-Dungeness counting circle counted 70,537 birds representing 142 species, including five snowy owls, two blue grouse, three Anna's hummingbirds (at feeders) and a rough-legged hawk.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: High, dirty water has brought steelhead fishing to a virtual standstill in rivers throughout the region, but sturgeon are a different story. "Sturgeon actually seem to like these conditions," said Joe Hymer, WDFW fish biologist. "Warm, turbid water with lots of debris seems to invigorate them." The best place to find those conditions right now is around the mouth of the Willamette River, which is where Hymer suggests anglers go if they're looking to hook a sturgeon in the lower Columbia River.

  Other options include the pools farther upstream. At the Bonneville Pool, boat anglers have been averaging one legal-sized sturgeon for every six rods, although fishing has been slow for bank anglers. The Dalles Pool and John Day Pool have also been giving up some legal-sized fish.

  All three pools are open to sturgeon fishing under the same rules as last year. (See WDFW's 2005-06 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet.) Below Bonneville Dam, the fishery is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays downstream to the Wauna powerlines near Cathlamet and seven days per week below the Wauna powerlines to Buoy 10.

  Smelt make great sturgeon bait, but they don't come cheap. Hymer said fresh/frozen smelt were retailing for nearly a dollar per fish after commercial boats landed 399 pounds in the lower Columbia on Jan. 5. (Another 445 pounds were landed Jan. 9). No recreational landings had been reported on the Cowlitz River as of Jan. 10, but Hymer said that should change once river conditions improve. The popular fishery on the Cowlitz runs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. each Saturday through March 31, with a daily catch limit of 10 pounds per person. All other tributaries to the Columbia River are closed to smelt dipping until further notice.

  With waters already running high throughout the region, 22 anglers interviewed Jan. 2-6 on the Cowlitz River had caught just two steelhead - one at Mission Bar, the other at Olequa. Although the peak of the early hatchery run has passed on most area rivers, Hymer noted that the Cowlitz and Kalama rivers have late runs that should provide good fishing into March. Anglers have been catching some steelhead in the Dalles Pool, but fishing effort has been down in most areas as the rain continues to fall.

  Meanwhile, Tacoma Power employees recovered more than 1,000 salmon during the first week of 2006 at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery - including the first adult spring chinook of the new year. More than 750 adult coho and 13 winter-run steelhead were released into the upper Cowlitz River at the Lake Scanewa Day Use site above Cowlitz Falls Dam. Crews also released 132 adult coho at Franklin Bridge in Packwood, 85 winter-run steelhead at the Massy Bar boat launch and 150 adult coho into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton.

  Still, looking for a way to shake the high-water blues? Lake fishing may be the answer. During the first week of January, WDFW stocked Sacajawea Lake in Longview with 123 five-pound rainbow trout and 36 ten-pounders. Horseshoe Lake in Woodland got 16 five-pound fish and four ten-pounders; Rowland Lake near Lyle got 100 five-pounders and 75 ten-pounders; and Spearfish Lake near Dallesport got 90 five-pounders and 25 ten-pounders. The department plans to continue planting approximately 1,000 catchable-size rainbows in Klineline Pond every other week through the winter.

• Hunting: The last day to hunt ducks or geese anywhere in the region is Saturday, Jan. 29. Big-game and turkey hunters are required to report their hunting activities by Jan. 31, 2006, whether or not they were successful in their hunt. (See WDFW's Big Game Hunting pamphlet.) Hunters who miss the deadline must pay a $10 penalty before they can purchase a 2006 license.

  Hunters who want to give input on the next three-year hunting season proposals may want to attend a public meeting scheduled at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way in Vancouver. See http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/ for more information.

• Wildlife viewing: The sighting of a glaucous gull in Centralia created something of a stir among birders just one week into the new year. On Jan. 7, Dave Hayden of Lakewood called a friend to report that he had spotted the bird feeding in a field south of town west of Interstate 5. His friend posted the reported sighting on the Tweeters birding website and the chase was on. Within the next few days, a half-dozen people went on-line to describe their search for the bird, some of whom were able to confirm the initial report.

  The sighting was significant because, while glaucous gulls have occasionally been spotted elsewhere in Washington, none had ever been reported in Lewis County. A large gull at 28 inches long, an adult glaucous gull has a white body, pearl-gray wings and a yellow bill. It is distinct from a glaucous-winged gull, which is more common in Washington. Glaucous gulls are widespread in the Arctic, but only infrequently migrate as far south as Washington state. (Sightings have been reported along the coast and as far inland as Grand Coulee.) Visiting birds are usually one- or two-year-olds, and are usually seen feeding with large flocks of other gulls. At last report, the Centralia gull was seen feeding with other gulls five miles south of where it was initially sighted.

  Birders being birders, those who went searching for the glaucous gull also saw - and recorded - a number of other species in the Centralia area, including a white-tailed kite (on Meadows Road), two male redheads (near the Centralia Wastewater Treatment Plant), a flock of American kestrels, wigeons, green-winged teals and a bald eagle.

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Snake River steelheading has been slow with high, muddy flows from abundant rain and snow melt in the tributaries and full pool in all sections of the mainstem river. Latest creel checks showed anglers averaged five hours per steelhead caught on the Touchet River and more than 29 hours per fish caught on the Snake between Ice Harbor and Lower Monumental dams. (See the full report at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/creel/snake/index.htm.) When water conditions settle out from current high levels, steelhead action should pick up, especially in and at the mouth of the tributary streams.

  The same wet, unseasonably warm weather has left most of the region's winter or year-round fishing lakes unsafe for ice fishing, which drew crowds in December. Boat launching and shore fishing might also be risky at this time on some waters. A forecasted cold snap might ice things up again, but WDFW district fish biologist Chris Donley of Spokane warns that it will have to be a sustained freeze to make ice fishing safe again. "Now's the time to fish Lake Roosevelt for kokanee and rainbow trout," Donley said. "It's been good for both boat trolling and bank fishing, from the mouth of the Spokane River all the way to Grand Coulee Dam." Donley also noted that Whitman County's year-round Rock Lake continues to produce catches of brown and rainbow trout.

  WDFW district fish biologist Curt Vail of Colville reported that fishing at winter-only Williams Lake in Stevens County is available only to brave, small boat anglers, since ice conditions have deteriorated. "Getting your boat in and out will require some risk and ingenuity," he said, "but there are some great rainbows in there for those willing to try." He noted that other waters in the northeast district are in similar shape. "Waitts Lake just barely got completely frozen before the current thaw," he said. Winter-only Hatch Lake, which is in need of rehabilitation to restore its once-healthy trout fishery, is yielding skinny yellow perch about six inches long. "You could cook fillets with three passes over a 100-watt light bulb," he said.

• Hunting: The upland game bird season continues through Jan. 16 and, for the first time in recent memory, the "new year" part of the season includes pheasants. But without the snow cover that helped hold birds earlier in the season, the final days of hunting may be more challenging, with birds scattered and willing to flush out of range. Quail, partridge and pheasant remain in areas with good cover near grainfields.

  WDFW Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area manager Juli Anderson reported that at least one bird hunter recently got into a covey of Hungarian partridge on that Lincoln County area. Anderson also noted that Canada geese are flocking to Swanson Lakes' many ponds and lakes, which are starting to fill up from snow runoff and rain. Goose hunting continues through Jan. 29 in that area, and shifts from the Saturday-Sunday-Wednesday regime to every day after Jan. 23. (In most of this region goose hunting is available every day throughout the season; see the management area delineations in the migratory waterfowl regulations pamphlet.) Duck hunting also continues through Jan. 29.

  Big-game and turkey hunters are required to report their hunting activities by Jan. 31, 2006, whether or not they were successful in their hunt. (See WDFW's Big Game Hunting pamphlet.) Hunters who miss the deadline must pay a $10 penalty before they can purchase a 2006 license.

  Hunters who want to give input on the next three-year hunting season proposals may want to attend a public hearing scheduled at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Ramada Inn at the Airport in Spokane. For more information see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/.

• Wildlife viewing: Wet snow in the northern end of the region is making for excellent wildlife tracking, notes WDFW district wildlife biologist Steve Zender of Chewelah. "This wet snow actually gives much better definition of tracks than the nice powder we had in December," he said. "If it stays below freezing it should be around a while." Zender recommends packing a wildlife tracks field guidebook to identify moose, elk, deer, cougar, coyote, raccoon, skunk, weasel, mice, a variety of birds from wild turkeys to juncos. "Pick areas with the most wildlife activity, like stream banks and forest edges to farmland or clearcuts," he said.

  Snow-free areas farther south in the region have made hunting easier for many birds of prey. WDFW district wildlife biologist Howard Ferguson of Spokane relays reports from birders of many northern harriers, rough-legged and redtailed hawks, and short-eared owls working the shrub-steppe and farmlands of Spokane, Lincoln, and Whitman counties. A few snowy owls continue to be seen in various parts of Lincoln County from time to time.

  Ferguson urges those who maintain winter backyard bird feeders to keep those feeders clean and as dry as possible to avoid spreading disease among visiting birds. Since most birds continue to forage naturally and don't depend on feeders alone, breaks in traditional winter weather can be a good time to take feeders down for awhile to thoroughly clean and dry them. "Remember that the greatest benefit of backyard bird feeding is our own viewing enjoyment and increased knowledge and appreciation of birds," he said, "so don't worry about any birds going hungry." See http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/urban/winter_feed.htm for more on winter bird feeding.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Fishing for hatchery steelhead has improved considerably in the upper Columbia River system with recent warmer weather melting most of the ice in both the Methow and Okanogan rivers. WDFW district fish biologist Bob Jateff of Omak says steelhead that have been relatively undisturbed for more than a month are now biting, although WDFW enforcement officers report that participation has been low. Most fish are being caught with small jigs used with a foam-type bobber as a strike indicator.

  By law, anglers must release any steelhead with an intact adipose fin or a disc tag they intercept in the fishery. Officers estimated that only one out of six steelhead recently caught were hatchery-reared "keepers." The daily catch limit is two fish with a minimum size of 20 inches. Statewide gear rules and night closures are in effect. Anglers can check the WDFW access areas for signs about gear rules and closed areas.

  Jateff also reminds whitefish anglers that standard whitefish gear rules do not apply in areas where there is an ongoing steelhead fishery. In the open steelhead sections of the Similkameen and Methow Rivers, selective gear rules will apply, with no bait allowed, during the Dec. 1 to March 31 whitefish seasons.

  Winter fishing is currently very slow for rainbow trout in such Okanogan County lakes as Little Twin, Davis, Sidley and Bonaparte, where warm temperatures have made the ice unsafe to walk on and shore and boat fishing risky. Walleye fishing has been productive recently at Potholes Reservoir, even from the MarDon Resort dock.

• Hunting: Waterfowl hunting has been good in and around Potholes Reservoir and Moses Lake with lots of limits of mallards and Canada geese recently taken. Mild conditions and abundant rain seem to have ducks and geese scattered throughout the Columbia Basin, although conditions have not allowed for regular aerial surveying this season. Goose and duck hunting continue through Jan. 29, with the goose season shifting from the Saturday-Sunday-Wednesday regime to every day after Jan. 23.

  Upland game bird hunting continues through Jan. 16 and, for the first time in recent memory, the "new year" part of the season includes pheasants. Quail, partridge and pheasant remain in areas with good cover near grainfields. Big-game and turkey hunters are required to report their hunting activities by Jan. 31, 2006, whether or not they were successful in their hunt. (See WDFW's Big Game Hunting pamphlet.) Hunters who miss the deadline must pay a $10 penalty before they can purchase a 2006 license.

  Hunters who want to comment on WDFW's proposals for hunting seasons during the next three years may want to attend a public meeting scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Wenatchee Convention Center. For more information see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/.

• Wildlife viewing: A fun way to view winter wildlife, or at least see where they've been, is by snowshoe. Free wildlife snowshoe tours are conducted in the Leavenworth area of Chelan County every Saturday and Sunday morning through the end of January. The tours are sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, where they convene at 10 a.m. The tours are leisurely treks along Icicle Creek where tour leaders show how to identify animal tracks and talk about how local wildlife survive in the winter. Species whose tracks, or presence, might be seen include mule deer, coyote, river otter, raccoon, weasel and many birds. Anyone at least eight years of age is welcome to join. Snowshoes are provided. Group size is limited to 12 people, so be sure to make a reservation by calling 509-548-6662.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Fishing participation has been low throughout the region with rain and snow melt leaving rivers and streams high and muddy. WDFW enforcement officers recently checked a few die-hard whitefish anglers on the Yakima River near Cle Elum but catches were light. Other recent river and stream patrols have turned up few or no anglers. Just one steelhead was checked from the Columbia River near Plymouth in Benton County. As water levels and conditions settle out, catch rates should improve.

  WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins of Yakima reports the warmer weather has melted most of the ice on the region's year-round lowland rainbow trout lakes, so they may be more accessible.

  Anglers can bone up and gear up for future opportunities at the 13th annual Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show, Jan. 20-22, at the TRAC in Pasco. Among the many fishing guide and gear vendor displays and demonstrations, there's a kids' fishing pond and free seminars, including fly-fishing expert Jim Teeny and an outdoor cooking camp hosted by TV personality Butch "C.W." Welch. Show hours are 1-8 p.m. Jan. 20, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan. 21 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 22. Admission prices are $7 for adults, $3.50 for kids six to 12, and free for kids five and under.

• Hunting: Waterfowl hunting seasons continue through Jan. 29. Mild, rainy conditions may have ducks and geese spread out across the region, although regular aerial surveys of the lower Columbia River basin have not been possible due to weather. Upland game bird hunting, including pheasants this season, runs through Jan. 16.

  Hunters who have already cleaned and stored their guns for the season may want to bone up and gear up for future opportunities at the 13th annual Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show, Jan. 20-22 at the TRAC in Pasco. Among the many hunting guide and gear vendor exhibits and booths, there's the Northwest big game display, an elk bugling contest, virtual shooting range, kids' air rifle range, free hunting seminars and retriever demonstrations, and an outdoor cooking camp hosted by TV personality Butch "C.W." Welch. Show hours are 1-8 p.m. Jan. 20, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan. 21 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 22. Admission prices are $7 for adults, $3.50 for kids 6 to 12 and free for kids 5 and under.

  Hunters who want to comment on WDFW's proposals for hunting seasons during the next three years may want to attend the public meeting that begins at 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at the TRAC in Pasco; for more information see http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/. Big-game and turkey hunters are required to report their 2005 hunting activities by Jan. 31, 2006, whether or not they were successful in their hunt. (See WDFW's Big Game Hunting pamphlet.) Hunters who miss the deadline must pay a $10 penalty before they can purchase a 2006 license.

• Wildlife Viewing: Wagon-ride tours are now under way at WDFW's elk-feeding station near the headquarters of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area west of Yakima. Well over a thousand elk gather daily at the feeding site, just off Hwy.12 southwest of Naches, where a visitor parking lot and interpretive center are located. The elk are fed at 1:30 p.m. daily, although many remain visible close-up throughout each day. The interpretive center, operated by Senior Environmental Corps and AmeriCorps volunteers, is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. The wagon tours are available for donations on both a first come-first serve and reservation basis. Call the wildlife area at 509-653-2390 for more information on the tours and about road closures to protect wintering wildlife throughout the wildlife area.

  Another viewing opportunity is available at the Cleman Mountain unit of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area, where WDFW is now feeding up to 120 bighorn sheep. The Cleman Mountain unit is located just northeast of the Highway 410 and 12 junction, about half-a-mile up the Old Naches Road.

  Finally, as many as 1,000 winter-fed elk are visible on the Joe Watt Canyon unit of WDFW's L.T. Murray Wildlife Area just west of Ellensburg in Kittitas County. Visitors can take the Thorp exit off Interstate 90 south on the Old Thorp Highway, to Thorp Cemetery Road, to Joe Watt Canyon Road up to the winter closure gate on the wildlife area. Elk viewers are advised to remain in or near vehicles at the gate to watch the feeding elk. Both the Robinson Canyon and Joe Watt Canyon gates into the wildlife area close each year to all motorized and non-motorized public use in late November and early December to protect wintering elk.