Waterfowl hunters are hoping that a cold snap will help drive more ducks and geese down from the north. Deer hunters are looking for some gusty weather to clear the trees of leaves, while anglers count on rainfall to help move fish into the rivers.

But not so much that it makes those rivers "unfishable."

"Weather is always a major factor in hunting and fishing," said Dave Ware, game manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and an avid angler. "That's especially true in October, when the weather is so changeable."

Success rates for hunters who took to the field Oct. 15 for deer, ducks and geese season openers were about average, according to reports from check stations around the state. So were the weather conditions, which were generally mild on both sides of the Cascades.

"So far, we're mostly seeing local birds," said Lora Leschner, WDFW wildlife manager for the North Puget Sound region. "But once we get a strong cold front, we'll start seeing more ducks and geese move into the area from up north. We're expecting up to 40,000 snow geese to move through the area this year."

Recent rains in western Washington have drawn thousands of coho salmon up area rivers - with mixed results. Fishing has generally been good on coastal streams, but rivers that flow into northern Puget Sound are generally running high and muddy.

As the weather changes, so do hunting and fishing opportunities. Several new options coming up in the next few weeks include:

• Pheasant hunting in Eastern Washington, where the season begins Oct. 22. A mild spring helped increase the number of wild birds available in some areas.

• Elk hunting with modern firearms in Eastern Washington, which gets under way Oct. 29.

• Chinook salmon fishing in the lower Columbia River, where anglers can again retain kings starting Oct. 20.

Many fishing lakes and streams close Oct. 31, but the last weeks of the season can be among the best. For more information on these and other fishing and hunting opportunities, see the regional reports below.

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: With the recent rains, bright coho salmon have been moving from the saltchuck to the rivers in increasing numbers. The problem for anglers is that most rivers in the area have been running high and dirty after all that rainfall. "The coho runs should be hitting their peak right now in the lower Skagit River, but the river has been super dirty," said Brett Barkdull, WDFW fish biologist. "It's tough to catch fish in water with two feet of visibility." The situation has been much the same in the Skykomish, Snohomish and other area rivers, said Chad Jackson, another WDFW fish biologist. "Fishing has been spotty, largely based on river conditions," Jackson said. "If the rivers drop back into shape, we should see some good coho fishing in the next few weeks."

  Chum salmon have also started showing up in the catch, and should enter area rivers in large numbers by the end of October, Jackson said. The Stillaguamish and Snohomish rivers are both expected to have strong runs of chum salmon this year, he said. Until then, Jackson reminds anglers that the Reiter Ponds section of the Skykomish River is now open to retention of hatchery steelhead and other game fish.

  As more coho move into the rivers, catch rates for salmon in marine areas dropped accordingly, said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW recreational salmon-fishing manager. "A test fishery in Marine Area 8-1 found that an angler would have to put in an eight-hour day to catch one legal blackmouth," Thiesfeld said. "That's a pretty hard day's work. On the other hand, the selective fishery in marine areas 8-1 and 8-2 on the eastern side of Whidbey Island will be open through April, so the opportunity will be there when the fishing does pick up."

  Meanwhile, sport crabbing reopened Oct. 12 in marine areas 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) and 11 (Tacoma-Vashon) on a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule through Dec. 21. Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) also reopened for sport crabbing seven days per week through Jan. 2, with other areas to follow. The only two areas that will not reopen for crabbing are marine areas 8-1 and 8-2, where WDFW surveys show the areas' harvest share was exceeded during the summer months.

• Hunting: According to a rough estimate, hunters bagged an average of nearly two ducks apiece on the Skagit Wildlife Area during opening day of duck-hunting season. "That's fairly low for opening day, but it says more about recent weather conditions than anything else," said Lora Leschner, regional wildlife manager. "Once the temperature drops, waterfowl hunting will pick up throughout the region." The opening-day tally, designed to gauge hunter turnout, found that approximately 430 hunters harvested 826 ducks at the wildlife area Oct. 15. Of the ducks harvested, green-winged teal accounted for 61 percent; mallards, 23 percent; wigeon, 6 percent; pintail, 4 percent; miscellaneous ducks, 6 percent. Hunters also took four snow geese in the area that day.

  "Those are mostly local birds," Leschner said. "Large flights of ducks and geese will be arriving from the north over the next few months. We're expecting to see 40,000 snow geese pass through this area during the winter months." Due to federal regulations, the duck-hunting season will break for two days, Oct. 20-21, then continue from Oct. 22 to Jan. 29. Similarly, the region's goose-hunting season will break Oct. 28 through Nov. 4, then resume from Nov. 5 to Jan. 29.

  Meanwhile, deer hunters using modern firearms will be in the field through mid November, and the pheasant season will continue into the new year. For information about WDFW pheasant-release sites, see the Western Washington Pheasant Release pamphlet, which is available on the department's website.

• Wildlife viewing: Puget Sound's resident killer whales have begun their annual foray south from the San Juan Islands in pursuit of migrating salmon. In postings on the Orca website (http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html) several people reported seeing two adult males traveling between Bush Point and Lagoon Point off Whidbey Island. Other sightings have been reported as far south as Bainbridge Island. "The two males were traveling together, sometimes surfacing and diving, exactly in sync with each other, their tall dorsals rising and falling back into the water in perfect timing," wrote one contributor to the Orca website. The killer whales, members of the J, K and L pods, often venture into central Puget Sound into the winter months to feed on coho and chum salmon preparing to spawn in area rivers.

  Shorebirds are also on the move as area residents settle into fall. "Right now, we're seeing the last wave of shorebirds headed south," said Bill Tweit, a WDFW policy adviser and avid birdwatcher. "We just saw several sharp-tailed sandpipers near Port Susan last weekend." One contributor to the Tweeters bird-watching website watched 40 snow geese fly over Blakely Island; another reported seeing 75 to 80 snow geese fly over the ferry line at Anacortes the next day. "As the temperature continues to drop, we may start seeing northern owls, snowy owls and northern finches in the area," Tweit said.

  With bird-hunting seasons now under way throughout the region, Tweit recommends that bird watchers wear hunter-orange clothing while in the field. "It's not a legal requirement for bird watchers," Tweit said. "But it only makes sense to let hunters know where you are when you're sharing the same area, since we are partners in outdoor recreation."

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: As the calendar gets ready to flip from October to November, salmon anglers are primarily pursuing coho in rivers and blackmouth in Puget Sound.

  A lack of rainfall had delayed river fishing, but salmon are finally on the move in both North and South Olympic streams. Up north, finicky chinook and coho had been lying low in the bays or holed up in pools for weeks as the Sol Duc, Bogachiel and Hoh rivers and their siblings remained clear and low. Flows are getting back to normal now, and so is the fishing. "We should be at about the peak of the coho entry into the rivers," said Mike Gross, WDFW biologist. "The fish are moving, and we're starting to see some pretty good action." The key, now, is for the rivers to stay in shape - enough water to keep them flowing but not enough to blow them out. The limit is six salmon, chinook or coho, but only two can be adults. In the Quillayute River system (Sol Duc, Bogachiel, Dickey and Calawah), a third adult fish can be kept if it is a marked (hatchery) coho. "If the rivers are at the right levels, you can't go wrong with the North Olympic Peninsula," said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW recreational fishing manager. "People call me from all over the country and I send them up to Forks as the day-in, day-out best place to fish in this state." An upper section of the Hoh from Willoughby Creek to Morgans Crossing opened Oct. 16. Coho fishing has been slow in the Dungeness since it opened on the same day, but that shouldn't last, Thiesfeld said. The Elwha, which has been open since Oct. 1, also should be good, he said. The Dungeness limit is four coho, the Elwha six coho with no more than four adults.

  The recent shot of rain also had a favorable effect south of the Olympics, moving salmon through Grays Harbor and into the rivers, said Scott Barbour, WDFW biologist. The fish are thick in the Chehalis, Wynoochee and Satsop rivers, which opened Oct. 1, and the Humptulips River, which opened Oct. 16. Chinook, which must be released in the rivers and bay, have been more aggressive than coho, which appear to be bent on reaching the hatcheries. Finding a clear stream during unpredictably rainy autumns is a key to angler success, Barbour said. Best bets now are the Wynoochee and the upper Chehalis River near the Montesano boat launch, or around the mouth of the Satsop River. The limit is six fish, of which no more than two can be adults. Coho are still being caught in the Puyallup River, when it's clear enough, and the Skokomish River.

  Nearly all of Puget Sound will be fair game for blackmouth fishing with the season already open in Seattle/Bremerton and set to start Nov. 1 in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet and South Puget Sound. Thiesfeld recommends trying the usual spots -- Midchannel Bank, Possession Point, Point No Point, the Racetrack, Jefferson Head and Manchester. Sekiu and Port Angeles can also be good, but check on the weather. Blackmouth generally range between the minimum 22 inches to 7 or 8 pounds. "That's a nice fish to bring home for dinner when nothing else is going on," Thiesfeld said. "There aren't many places in world right now where you can go chinook fishing, especially in protected waters. That's why blackmouth fishing has always had a strong following here in the Puget Sound. It's a unique opportunity to go out and catch salmon in the wintertime." For more information on these and other fisheries, check the WDFW Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500), the department's website or the Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet.

  Fishing for game fish in many rivers and streams will close Oct. 31 and not reopen until June 1.

  It's not too early to start making plans for the next razor clam dig, tentatively scheduled for evening tides Nov. 12-14, at all five ocean beaches, with an extra day of digging Nov. 15, at Mocrocks and Twin Harbors. As always, final approval is contingent on the results of marine toxin tests conducted the week of the scheduled opening. The final test results will be announced about one week before the proposed opening. For updates on the planned razor clam dig, see the WDFW website or call the Shellfish Hotline at 1-866-880-5431.

  Most waters of Puget Sound reopened to recreational Dungeness crab fishing on Oct. 12. New sport crabbing rules adopted by the commission last May helped to slow the catch, leaving enough crab available to extend the season through the end of the year. Crabbing reopened in Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) seven days per week through Jan. 2 and on a Wednesday-through Saturday schedule in marine areas 9 (Admiralty Inlet), 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) and 11 (Tacoma-Vashon) until Dec. 21, when it will switch to seven days a week. In addition, marine areas 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) and 7 (San Juan Islands) will reopen for sport crabbing on a Wednesday-through-Saturday schedule from Nov. 16 through Dec. 21, then switch to seven days per week through Jan. 2. Crabbing has continued non-stop in three other marine areas - 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu) and 13 (south Puget Sound) - which will remain open seven days per week through Feb. 28, unless the catch reaches state harvest share before that date. The daily catch limit is five crabs at least 6¼ inches wide, males only and in hard-shell condition.

• Hunting: The Vail Game Management Unit in Thurston County, regularly among the state's top deer-hunting sites, had average weather for an average crowd that took an average number of deer during the Oct. 15-16 opening weekend, said Jack Smith, WDFW regional wildlife manager. Some 108 black-tailed bucks were checked at the area south of Rainier on the first two days of the modern-firearm season. That's down significantly from the past two spectacular years -- 164 in 2004 and 151 in 2003 - but about average for the past eight seasons. "An average harvest on opening weekend means there's more available for the rest of the season," Smith said. Spikes dominated the harvest, along with a fair number of two points, Smith said. No big bucks were taken. They normally stay out of sight until the rutting season begins in late October. "The larger bucks got that way for a reason," Smith said. "They're older, they're pretty wily, and they know the terrain. With the thick tree cover, they're able to elude predators and human hunters. As they get closer to the rut, they lose some of their normal wariness." Thirty-eight does were also checked opening weekend by hunters with special permits. The deer season continues until Oct. 31, and will be followed by a late season Nov. 17-20. Modern-firearm elk season is Nov. 5-13.

  Birds are all over the Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay areas, Smith said, but mild weather kept them out on the water. The duck season closes Oct. 20-21, then reopens Oct. 22 and continues through Jan. 29. In Goose Management Area 3, which includes most of the Olympic Peninsula and the South Sound, the season runs daily from Oct. 15-17, breaks for a few days and resumes from Oct. 22 to Jan. 29. In Goose Management Area 2B (Grays Harbor and Pacific counties), where dusky geese are off-limits to hunting, hunters must carry an authorization card and meet other requirements specified in WDFW's Migratory Waterfound and Upland Game Seasons pamphlet which can be viewed on the department's website. Hunting is permitted only on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

  Rather hunt pheasant? Hunters can choose from eight release sites throughout the region, identified in WDFW's Western Washington Pheasant Release pamphlet. The general season remains open until Nov. 30, with hunting in selected areas from Dec. 1-15.

• Wildlife viewing: Chum salmon have begun to move up Kennedy Creek in southern Mason County, a sight that's hard to miss from the Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail. Staffed by the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, the half-mile trail will be open weekends in November from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Most of the trail is ADA accessible. For more information, call (360) 412-0808 or see http://www.spsseg.org.

  In Kitsap County, the Clear Creek Trail and Silverdale's Waterfront Park provide good chum-viewing opportunities. Another favorite spot is the Big Beef Bridge on Hood Canal. Look for coho salmon at high tide and eagles at low tide.

  Orca whales generally tail salmon migrations into Puget Sound, and this year is no exception. The killer whales, which have been up in the San Juan Islands, have been spotted as far south as Bainbridge Island. Their forays are expected to plunge deeper into the Sound as their dinner heads south. The whales have also been seen off of Marrowstone Island and Point No Point. You can follow their progress or report sightings to http://www.orcanetwork.org.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: The best catch rates for sturgeon in the lower Columbia River are generally posted in October, and this year is no exception. One in four bank anglers fishing downstream from the Bonneville Dam caught a legal-sized fish during the three-day period ending Oct. 15, said Brad James, WDFW fish biologist. "Bank anglers are doing really well right below the dam right now. Catch rates are down somewhat from the previous week, but the fishing is still very good," said James, noting that the fishery is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week. Clearly the word is out. Fish checkers counted 251 anglers on the Washington side of the river and 397 on the Oregon side Oct. 8. James reminds anglers that they must release any sturgeon measuring less than 42 inches or more than 60 inches long.

  While few anglers have been fishing for salmon on the lower river in recent days, interest may pick up now that Washington and Oregon have agreed to allow chinook retention from the mouth to the highway 395 bridge in Pasco, effective Oct. 20. Both states agreed that allowing chinook retention at this point in the run poses little risk to wild stocks. Although most chinook have moved upriver, anglers still have a chance to catch some nice upriver brights - particularly above and below Bonneville Dam, said Cindy LeFleur, WDFW Columbia River harvest coordinator. Gear and daily catch limits are the same as those listed in the Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet. LeFleur reminds anglers that many area tributaries remain closed to chinook retention, and that coho retention ended Oct. 16 on the Elochoman, Kalama and Washougal rivers.

  But salmon anglers are finding some success on the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers, which remain open for retention of chinook, hatchery coho and steelhead. At Lake Scanewa, above Cowlitz Falls Dam, one in three boat anglers have been catching hatchery coho. Bank anglers at the Lake Scanewa day use park have also been catching some fish.

  To help boost success rates, Tacoma Power employees recently released 2,500 coho adults and 754 jacks into the upper Cowliz at the day use park, 399 coho adults and 104 jacks at Franklin Bridge in Packwood, and 171 coho adults into the Cispus River above the mouth of Yellow jacket Creek. They also recycled 1,200 summer steelhead adults and 36 cutthroat trout downstream of the boat launch at Interstate 5.

  Speaking of cutts, John Weinheimer, WDFW district biologist, strongly recommends Goose Lake north of Carson. "The fishing there has been terrific," said Weinheimer, touting coastal cutthroat up to 1.5 pounds each, along with good-sized brown, rainbow and eastern brook trout. Cold Lake, near Toutle, is also a good bet, he said. "Fifteen-inch rainbows are the norm," said Weinheimer, who advised anglers to check out the sport-fishing rules before they go. For those and other fishing regulations, see WDFW's Fishing in Washington pamphlet or call the Fishing Hotline at (360) 902-2500.

  Anglers who want to learn about - and comment on - future salmon and sturgeon management issues on the Columbia River should consider attending a public meeting Oct. 20 in Cathlamet. The meeting, hosted by the Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife departments, will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Julius Wendt Elementary School, 265 South Third St.

• Hunting: Gray skies and wet weather provided favorable hunting conditions for opening day of the modern-firearms season for black-tailed deer. Like the weather, the hunter success rate was about on par with previous years. A WDFW check station in the Coweeman game management unit (GMU 550) logged 658 hunters with 23 deer Oct. 15-16. In the Washougal area (GMU 568), 550 hunters were checked with 21 deer. The season continues through mid-November throughout the region.

  Hunting seasons also got under way for ducks and, in several counties in the region, geese. (Goose hunting remains closed to protect dusky geese until Nov. 12 in Goose Management Area 2A, which includes Wahkiakum, Cowlitz and part of Clark County.) Until rainfall produces enough standing water to draw waterfowl inland, hunters will find most waterfowl on bays and inlets, said Don Kraege, WDFW waterfowl manager.

  Meanwhile, hunting seasons continue for pheasant, grouse, California quail and bobwhite. For information about the WDFW pheasant release sites, see the Western Washington Pheasant Release pamphlet, available on the department's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/wwapheas.htm.

• Wildlife viewing: October is the time to see sandhill cranes at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the big birds are likely to be gone from the refuge within a month, as cold weather drives them south. But as of mid-October, birdwatchers reporting to the Tweeters bird-watching website have consistently seen cranes at the refuge, along with an assortment of great egrets, great blue herons, Canada geese, northern pintails, greater yellowlegs and other species.

  In recent days, the Tweeters site has also been abuzz with issues other than standard field reports. One hot topic is the relative strength of different species of birds. One contributor described how she had once found the remains of a missing pheasant under a barn owl nest. That sparked a response by a nature photographer, who described watching a great blue heron spear, then eat, a large catfish. Finally there was an account of a bald eagle that took flight gripping an adult opossum in its talons.

  Meanwhile, other writers have been debating whether bird watchers are required to wear hunter-orange clothing while in the field. "It's not a legal requirement for bird watchers," said Bill Tweit, a WDFW policy analyst and avid birder. "But it only makes sense to let hunters know where you are when you're sharing the same area, since we are partners in outdoor recreation."

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Snake River steelheading continues to be steady in most stretches, reports WDFW fish biologist Joe Bumgarner. "Turbine work at Little Goose Dam has slowed fishing on 'the wall', as the face of the dam is called," he said, " but most other areas are providing steady fishing." Bumgarner also noted there's been little use of the Tucannon River to date, despite an average catch rate there of about four hours of effort per steelhead. The mainstem Snake above the interstate bridge at Clarkston has also yielded about a four-hour-per-caught-fish rate. The mainstem Snake from Lower Monumental dam to Little Goose dam, and the Wallula area (state line to the mouth of the Walla Walla River), both measured just under 10 hours of fishing effort per steelhead during the latest creel check. The Walla Walla River had a 12-hours-per-fish catch rate, and steelheaders on the mainstem Snake from Ice Harbor dam to Lower Monumental dam averaged almost 14 hours of effort per fish caught.

  Now is a good time to fish eastern Washington's streams and lakes since many close at the end of October. The Tucannon River impoundments in Columbia County, several lakes in Stevens and Pend Oreille counties up north, and many stretches of streams and rivers still have trout. Water and air temperatures are conducive to good fishing, with fish fattening up before winter on fall insect hatches. WDFW Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area manager Juli Anderson reports that fly fishing at Z-Lake, a walk-in only water on the area west of Telford Road, is excellent north of the shallow end, with "nice, pink-fleshed" rainbows ranging up to 14 inches. Amber Lake in southwest Spokane County remains open for catch-and-release trout fishing through November.

• Hunting: Deer hunting continues through Oct. 23 or 28, depending on species (whitetail or mule deer) and game management unit. Opening weekend (Oct. 15-16) saw a success rate of about 14 percent among northeast hunters who came through WDFW's traditional Deer Park hunter check station. A total of 321 hunters were checked with 45 deer there, according to WDFW northeast district wildlife biologist Steve Zender of Chewelah. That's similar to last year's checks at the same place and same time, he said. Non-traditional check stations conducted in other parts of the region, mainly to collect tissue samples for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) monitoring, don't provide realistic hunter success rates since most hunters who stop have deer for sampling. But those checks indicated that hunting pressure and success is also fairly similar to last year. Wetter, cooler, and breezier weather should provide even better opportunities in the final days of the season. Zender said another check station will be conducted at Deer Park on Sunday, Oct. 23, noting that cooperation from hunters - with or without bagged game - is appreciated. WDFW Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area manager Juli Anderson says there are some nice three-point and better bucks in the sagebrush of Lincoln County. "The area burned by this summer's Wall Lake wildfire has some nice swales that didn't burn and we're seeing deer grazing in there, too," she said. Anderson reminds hunters to keep motor vehicles on named county roads. "We've been re-seeding the bulldozer tracks from the Wall Lake fire and they are not trails open to motor vehicles," she said.

  Pheasant hunting opens Oct. 22, which could mark the start of the best season in the central and southeast districts of the region in a long time. "This is the best pheasant production I have seen in over 15 years," said WDFW southeast district wildlife biologist Pat Fowler of Walla Walla. "I think hunters will have excellent opportunity if they've planned ahead for private land access." Nesting, hatching, and rearing conditions were apparently just right for pheasants this year, Fowler said. He also noted that quail and Hungarian and chukar partridge numbers also appear to be up. WDFW Private Lands biologist Scott Rasley of Walla Walla also reports a high number of upland game birds mostly in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands. WDFW Revere Wildlife Area Manager Joe McCanna of St. John reports higher than average pheasant numbers on that area and surrounding private lands in Whitman County. Anderson notes that although the Swanson Lake area is not "optimal" for upland bird hunting, this year has been good for pheasant and gray partridge production. WDFW central district wildlife biologist Howard Ferguson of Spokane relayed that many deer hunters coming through the Colfax CWD check station on Oct. 16 reported seeing high numbers of pheasants. As the season progresses, some farm-raised pheasants will also be released on public access sites; for more information see the Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Program pamphlet.

  Modern firearm elk hunting opens Oct. 29 for any elk in three northeast game management units (101-Sherman, 105-Kelly Hill, 109-Douglas) and in several other units throughout the central district. Hunting also begins that day for any bull in three northeast units (111- Aladdin, 113-Selkirk, 117-49 Degrees North) and for spike bulls in several Blue Mountains units in the southeast. (The Oct. 30 opening date for the Blue Mountains printed in Big Game Hunting pamphlet units is in error; those units actually open Oct. 29.) Elk hunters can expect about the same opportunity and success as in past years throughout the region. Overall that means about 6 percent of hunters will bag an elk.

• Wildlife viewing: Bald eagles are starting to show up along the Pend Oreille River and likely will be seen soon along other major waterways throughout the region. The big birds feed on spawned out fish and gathering waterfowl. North Spokane County's Peone Prairie elk are back in the fields off Argonne Road where early morning and evening commuters report seeing them. Driving and wildlife viewing don't always mix well, though, so if you want to see more than a glimpse, find a safe place to pull over.

  Some whitetail and mule deer viewing has been far too close for comfort lately - motor vehicle collisions with Spokane County's abundant deer populations seem to be up lately. Drought conditions have diminished forage at higher elevations and deer are coming down closer to roads and people to eat irrigated vegetation. The deer-breeding season is beginning, so bucks are moving does around and all may be less wary of roads and traffic. Deer hunting season is open and in some areas may be moving deer around more. But the most likely reason for increased deer-car collisions is probably the dwindling daylight hours, which puts commuters on the roads in darker conditions when deer can't be seen and avoided as well. With daylight savings time ending Oct. 30, even more after-work commuting will be after dark. The single best thing drivers can do to avoid deer collisions is to slow down.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW district fish biologist Art Viola reports from Cashmere that steelhead fishing on the Columbia River above Rocky Reach Dam, which opened Oct. 8, has been "relatively good for this early in the season." He predicted that catch rates will improve as water temperatures decrease. In addition to the stretch of the Columbia from Rocky Reach to the Highway 17 bridge at Bridgeport, steelhead fishing is open on the Okanogan River from the mouth upstream to one-quarter mile below the railroad trestle below Zosel Dam, and on the Methow River from the mouth (Highway 97 Bridge) upstream to the second power line crossing, and from the first Highway 153 bridge north of Pateros to the confluence with the Chewuch River. Selective gear rules are in effect and the daily catch limit on all three rivers is two adipose-fin-clipped hatchery steelhead of at least 20 inches in length. All steelhead with an intact adipose fin - the small, fatty fin on the back near the tail - and those bearing a disk tag must immediately be released unharmed.

  WDFW district fish biologist Jeff Korth of Moses Lake says Lake Lenore is "hot" right now for Lahontan cutthroat trout. The average cutthroat there is three pounds, he said, with the big ones running up to seven pounds. Korth reminds anglers that this is a selective regulation fishery with a one-fish daily limit. Korth also notes that this is a good time to fish for walleye on Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir, and Sprague Lake.

• Hunting: WDFW eastside waterfowl biologist Ron Friesz of Ephrata checked duck hunters on the Desert Wildlife Area during the waterfowl hunting season opening weekend (Oct. 15-16). Despite sunny, warm, wind-free weather that's not ideal for duck hunting, he contacted 59 hunters with 178 ducks along the Winchester and Frenchman Hills wasteways between the town of George and Potholes Reservoir. That's an average of three ducks per hunter, which is just slightly below the average for past openers on the area. "It appeared the number of hunters on the Desert Wildlife Area was up from past years," Friesz said, "possibly an indication of poor hunting conditions in surrounding areas from continued drought conditions." Friesz reported that mallards made of 37 percent of the harvest, followed by 19 percent American wigeon, 16 percent green-winged teal, 12 percent gadwall, 11 percent northern pintail, and northern shovlers, ring-necked ducks, bufflehead, and cinnamon teal making up the the remaining five percent. "Duck hunters need to remember that only one pintail is allowed in the daily bag limit," Friesz said. "Pintails are fairly plentiful in the Columbia Basin during the early period of the migration. If hunters are not sure of their targets, they should not shoot or otherwise risk exceeding the bag limits."

  Deer hunting, which opened Oct. 15 for modern firearm hunters, should only get better with advancing fall weather, according to WDFW district wildlife biologists Scott Fitkin of Winthrop and Beau Patterson of Wenatchee. Fitkin conducted the traditional Chewuch River check station over the opening weekend and measured about a 5.5 percent success rate among what seemed to be fewer hunters afield. "That percentage is misleading though," Fitkin said, "since the season continues and some of the best hunting conditions are ahead of us. By season's close, we'll likely see an overall success rate of four times that. As deer moving toward winter range when we get snow and rain at elevation, there will be more opportunity." Patterson agreed and noted that the opener was warm and sunny with fewer hunters checked throughout Chelan County. Deer are plentiful, however, and - with wetter, cooler weather - hunters will do well, he said. Hunters in Okanogan County can help reduce the spread of noxious weeds before going afield with a free vehicle wash on Friday, Oct. 21 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the Sun Valley Restaurant on Appleway, just off Highway 97 in the town of Okanogan. S.K. Environmental is providing the washing equipment for motor vehicle undercarriages in cooperation with the Okanogan County Noxious Weed Control Board, WDFW, BLM, and U.S. Forest Service, which traditionally provides maps to hunters at that location.

  Pheasant hunting opens Oct. 22 and WDFW district wildlife biologist Jim Tabor of Moses Lake says the Columbia Basin's birds seem to be in slightly greater numbers this year. "Those who hunted the Basin successfully last year, who know how and where to go with access permission already arranged, should do even better this season," he said. Increases are likely weather related, with warm and dry conditions when pheasant chicks hatched this year, he noted. Crow counts conducted earlier in the year indicated fewer breeding birds, but more chicks produced per bird, he said. The increase is relative, however, and needs to be kept in perspective, especially by long-time Basin pheasant hunters who remember the "glory days" of the 1980s. Farming practices have changed since then, with an increase in alfalfa production and a shift to earlier harvesting, which can reduce nesting success and hen survival. Conservation Reserve Lands (CRP) in the Basin are generally too dry to support as many birds as other parts of the state. "There are also many more people and their dogs and cats living where pheasants used to live in the Basin, compared to 20 years ago," Tabor said. As the season progresses, some farm-raised pheasants will also be released on public access sites; for more information see the Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Program pamphlet.

  Quail and partridge numbers are very good throughout the Basin, most likely due to a series of mild winters, Tabor said. "Central Adams County, with its vast acreages of wheat, is full of gray or Hungarian partridge and lots of Feel Free to Hunt lands," he said. "But you've probably got to have good dogs and lots of time to figure out how to hunt that open landscape."

• Wildlife viewing: "This is a great time of year to view a large variety of water birds migrating through the Columbia Basin," said WDFW regional wildlife biologist Matt Monda. Large, easy-to-spot birds like white pelicans and great egrets are visible on and around Potholes Reservoir and other large water bodies in the region. Sandhill cranes have been spotted in Douglas County, moving south to wintering grounds beyond Washington. A great variety of ducks are on waterways throughout the Basin now and make for relatively easy roadside viewing with a good pair of binoculars. A good birdwatching map, The Great Washington State Birding Trail along the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway, is available free at WDFW's Ephrata, Spokane, and Yakima regional offices. The map features 53 birdwatching sites between Grand Coulee and Othello, most with good opportunities for fall viewing. The route includes more than half of Washington's 365 bird species at some time of year, from bald eagles to western screech owls. The map is the second in Washington Audubon's series and is a cooperative production of Central Basin Audubon Society, WDFW, the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Transportation, and Washington State Tourism Office. It is also available through http://www.wa.audubon.org.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: The salmon fishery in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River (from Old Hanford townsite wooden power line crossing to Priest Rapids) closes Oct. 22. The Columbia River from the highway 395 Bridge upstream to the wooden power line towers at the old Hanford townsite will remain open for salmon fishing through Dec. 31, but few salmon are harvested after Nov. 1. WDFW fish biologist Jim Cummins says fishing is expected to be excellent until then, but fish quality will deteriorate rapidly. The last creel checks indicated it was one adult chinook for every 13 pole hours, with high water making it hard on anglers and fish condition declining fast.

  This area (Highway 395 to Hanford townsite) will also remain open for the retention of hatchery steelhead through March 31, 2006. Through October, hatchery steelhead harvested must have adipose and right ventral fin clips. Beginning Nov. 1, any hatchery steelhead may be retained in this portion of the Columbia River. Fishing for steelhead in the Ringold area has been slower this year than during the previous three years. Including fish released, last creel checks show that Ringold bank anglers averaged one steelhead for every six rods, with some fall chinook also caught. Starting Oct. 20 chinook salmon can be retained on the mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to the highway 395 bridge near Pasco.

  The Yakima River salmon fishery also closes Oct. 22. The last creel check showed lots of angler effort with about 238 adult chinook harvested. Catch rates averaged one chinook harvested for every 18.5 angler hours. Cummins notes that late October is a popular time of year on the Yakima for many trout fly fishers. "It can be frustrating because of the challenge of catching and releasing very selective trout on dry flies, and it can get crowded," he said. " But flows are very low, insect hatches and surface feeding fish are the rule, and the autumn colors and mild weather enhance the fishing experience." Cummins noted that tiny blue winged olive mayflies, which often hatch in large numbers can bring dozens of trout to the surface, but Yakima River rainbow can often spot a counterfeit and refuse to rise to all but the best imitation and presentation.

  October caddis and several other mayfly hatches also bring fish to the surface. Dry fly anglers must match the hatch in order to be successful. Some anglers prefer to fish with nymphs, which can sometimes be more productive, particularly between insect hatches. For current fishing reports and information about fishing guides, facilities, fishing techniques, insect hatches and the most productive flies, search the Internet for "Yakima River trout." Most rivers and streams in the region close to fishing Oct. 31, but the Yakima River is open year around for catch and release fishing upriver from Roza Dam near the Yakima/Kittitas County line.

• Hunting: Pheasant hunting opens Oct. 22 and WDFW regional wildlife program manager Ted Clausing says Franklin County should be a good area to find wild birds. Irrigated farmland and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands there support more pheasants than other parts of the region, but private land access must be secured ahead of time. Some public access may be available and hunters can search for it by using the "Go Hunt" webpage. Clausing noted that the very best pheasant hunting in the region is probably on the Yakama Indian Reservation, where a season opened Oct. 15. As the season progresses, some farm-raised pheasants will also be released on public access sites; for more information see the Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Program pamphlet. Meanwhile, Clausing notes that chukar partridge hunters, who have been afield since Oct. 1, have been reporting good numbers of birds.

  Modern firearm elk hunting opens Oct. 29 for spike bulls in several game management units covering the Yakima and Colockum herds. (The October 30 opening date printed in the Big Game Hunting pamphlet for these units is in error.) A new any elk hunt in the Rattlesnake Hills unit in Benton County near the Hanford Reservation also opens Oct. 29 but private land access permission must be secured ahead of time. The Yakima elk herd is in good shape, at population objectives, Clausing noted, and if snow falls at high elevations before the season opener, elk will be moving down. Colockum elk numbers are still below objectives, so there is somewhat less opportunity and fewer special permits in that area. Clausing warns hunters who plan to head for the Whiskey Dick, Quilomene, and Colockum wildlife areas that traffic is congested due to construction work under way on the wind turbine farm in that area. Although through-traffic will be allowed on the Beacon Ridge Road, Clausing suggested that hunters look for alternative routes.

• Wildlife Viewing: WDFW habitat biologist Ken Bevis reports "interesting" fall migrants continue to pass through the region. "Watch for soaring sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks in the open and forested country," he suggested. "Their broad wings and long tails will separate them from the American kestrels in the same areas. Sometimes these birds will harass the northern harriers or red tailed hawks sharing their space. They will use thermals and move high in the sky, then glide to the next thermal, or work their way across some of the landscape by flapping. The sharpshins begin to make their winter reputation for raiding bird feeders (the birds, not the seeds) at this time of the year. Sharpies often stay in Washington through the winter, but most of the Cooper's hawks are gone to points south."