Hunters who also like to fish will have some choices to make as summer turns to autumn.

Stalk a deer or fish for coho salmon? Fish for sturgeon on the lower Columbia River or hunt wild turkeys in northeastern Washington?

As in years past, the first few weeks of fall mark the start of a wide range of hunting opportunities for everything from waterfowl to big game. But while many summer fisheries are winding down, fall fishing seasons are opening to take their place.

On the coast, salmon fishing off Ilwaco will close Sept. 30, but a late "bubble fishery" is scheduled to open Sept. 24 through Oct. 9 out of LaPush. On the lower Columbia River, the chance to catch and keep chinook salmon ended Sept. 18, but anglers will again be able to retain sturgeon three days per week starting Oct. 1.

Also starting Oct. 1, anglers fishing in marine areas 8-1 and 8-2 in northern Puget Sound will be able to retain hatchery chinook as part of their bag limit. In addition, all or part of several westside rivers will open to salmon fishing that day, including the Green, North Fork Nooksack, Chehalis, Satsop, Wynoochee and Wishkah.

Given these various opportunities, many hunters prepare for as many options as possible, said Dave Ware, game manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"When I go hunting at this time of year, I often pack a fishing pole or two as well," Ware said. "If I get a deer or a limit of chukars, I then turn my attention to fishing."

Meanwhile, fish and birds of all kinds are on the move throughout the state with the changing of the season. Majestic egrets and sandhill cranes have arrived at the wetlands at the mouth of the Columbia River and long strings of Canada geese can be seen moving south on both sides of the Cascade Mountains.

Several festivals are coming up in the next few weeks to celebrate this annual cycle, including the Nisqually Watershed Festival (Sept. 24), Issaquah Salmon Days (Oct. 1-2) and BirdFest 2005 (Oct. 15-16) at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge near Vancouver. See the regional reports below for more information.

Whether hunting, fishing or just spending time outdoors, everyone should take precautions against mosquito bites, according to the state Department of Health (DOH). Washington is now the only state in the Lower 48 that has not yet logged a human case of West Nile virus, although dead birds found here - including one found in Yakima earlier this month - have tested positive for the virus.

DOH recommends wearing long sleeves and long pants and using insect repellant with DEET while in the field. For more information call the Department of Health West Nile virus information line 1-866-78-VIRUS (1-866-788-4787) or log on to http://www.doh.wa.gov/WNV.

With that in mind, here's a summary of fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities now available - or coming up shortly - in every region of the state:

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: While the bulk of the run has moved into the rivers, a few pink salmon are still being caught in marine waters off Mukilteo and Everett. Those anglers who want to target "humpies" should try fishing with the traditional gear of a small pink imitation squid fished about 20 inches behind a white flasher. Drop the gear down about 25 feet in the water column and troll slowly. Anglers throughout the region have had to work a bit harder than usual to entice bites from coho salmon. Steve Foley, a WDFW fisheries biologist from Mill Creek, recently burned a lot of gas in his boat while searching for coho in central Puget Sound. "We covered a lot of water and had very few hook-ups to show for our effort," said Foley, adding that he and another veteran salmon angler tossed just about every piece of gear they could find in the tackle box at the fish. Anglers have had some luck using a green artificial squid behind a green flasher and trolled fast, while flies, plug-cut herring and spoons can also catch coho. Try fishing in the top 40 feet of water early in the morning, and go deeper as the day progresses. Sue Kraemer, a veteran WDFW sport fish sampler, said the fishing in recent days has generally been better in waters adjacent to Seattle than in the Everett area. "I wouldn't say it was great fishing off Seattle, but the overall trend seemed to indicate that fishing was better south than north," Kraemer said. One angler bucked the trend by catching a giant coho off Everett. The fish tipped Kraemer's scales at 20 pounds. That's a nice fish, but it's five pounds short of the saltwater record, which was set back in 2001 by an angler fishing off Sekiu. Anglers in the San Juan Islands (Marine Area 7) have been taking only a smattering of chinook, coho and pink salmon. Saltwater salmon-fishing rules change in many areas beginning Oct. 1, including the end of the special "pink bonus" of two additional pink salmon in marine areas 7-10. Beginning Oct. 1, anglers in Marine Area 7 will have a two-fish daily bag limit, one of which can be a chinook measuring at least 22 inches. One hatchery chinook of any length can be retained as part of anglers' two-fish daily limit in Marine Area 8-1 beginning Oct. 1, while anglers in Marine Area 8-2 will have a two-fish daily limit and can retain up to two hatchery chinook measuring at least 22 inches in length. The loss of this summer's "pink bonus" is the only change in the daily bag limits for marine areas 9 and 10 (Admiralty Inlet and the Seattle-Bremerton areas, respectively) beginning Oct. 1. Salmon fishing has also been spotty on area rivers, including the Skagit, where WDFW District Fish Biologist Brett Barkdull said anglers have been working hard to land pink salmon. "Fishing conditions haven't been the best this year, with low flows and poor visibility really making it tough," Barkdull said. Plunking gear seems to be working best on the lower river. The Skagit is open to salmon fishing from the mouth upstream to the confluence with the Cascade River. Anglers can keep two salmon measuring at least 12 inches in length per day. Release all chinook. The pinks are thick on the Snohomish River in the Monroe area, and anglers have been landing fish with a pink jig. There is a four-fish daily limit on the Snohomish; no more than a total of two may be coho and chum salmon. Release all chinook. The Skykomish, one of the Snohomish's main tributaries, is also producing a lot of good fishing for pink salmon. The Sky is open under the same daily bag limits as the Snohomish. Anglers on the Snoqualmie River can retain two salmon per day, but all chinook and pink salmon must be released. Elsewhere in the region, fishing remains slow on the lower Nooksack River, which is open to salmon retention from the Lummi Nation reservation boundary upstream to the yellow marker at the FFA high school barn in Deming. Anglers on the Nooksack can retain two fish measuring at least 12 inches in length each day. All pink, wild chinook and wild coho salmon must be released. Those are the same rules for the north fork of the Nooksack, which opens to salmon fishing Oct. 1. Coho fishing on the Stillaguamish River remains slow. For an urban salmon-fishing experience, head down to the Duwamish River in Seattle's industrial south end. There, anglers are targeting the big run of pink salmon that is colonizing the Duwamish-Green watershed. WDFW enforcement officers have cited anglers for a number of infractions on the lower Duwamish, so be sure to follow all of the rules. Downstream of the First Avenue Bridge, anglers are fishing under Marine Area 10 rules that are outlined on pages 116-117 of the Sport Fishing in Washington pamphlet. Anglers who are fishing the stretch of river from the First Avenue South Bridge upstream to the Southwest 43rd Street-South 180th Street Bridge can retain up to six salmon per day, no more than three adults, and all chinook must be released. The Green River opens to salmon fishing up to the South 277th Bridge in Auburn beginning Oct. 1 under the same regulations as the lower river. If saltwater and river fisheries aren't generating any interest, try lake fishing for a change. The yellow perch are biting at lakes throughout the region. Perch are not only one of the tastiest species available, they're also considered one of the most abundant fish species in Lake Washington, where anglers are catching full stringers by fishing a plain nightcrawler just off the bottom in about 20 feet of water. Fishing for trout on lowland lakes should continue to improve as water temperatures cool. Try trolling pop gear or a fly during the first and last few hours of daylight, or still-fish with bait near the bottom during the midday.

• Hunting: The special western Washington pheasant season for hunters age 65 and older concludes Friday, Sept. 23, while the general season begins Saturday, Sept. 24, and runs through Nov. 30. Hunting is allowed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, and the daily bag limit is two birds of either sex. There are several sites throughout the region where pheasants are regularly released during the long general season. See the 2005 Western Washington Pheasant Release Program pamphlet for details of release sites, including maps, driving directions and any additional information. Prospective pheasant hunters must possess a small game hunting license and western Washington upland bird permit. The small game hunting license is $32.85, the western Washington pheasant permit costs $39.42 for adults and $18 for youth (under 16). The bag limit is two pheasants of either sex per day on release sites. There is no limit to the number of permits purchased per year. A three-day permit that allows harvest of four pheasants can be purchased for $21.90. The general westside archery deer hunt runs through Sept. 30, while the high buck season concludes Sept. 25 in the Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak and Henry Jackson wilderness areas (west of the Pacific Crest Trail). Check the WDFW Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet for the details. Forest grouse season continues through the end of the year, while the westside season for California quail and bobwhite begins Oct. 1.

• Wildlife viewing: All three of Puget Sound's resident killer whale pods - the J's, K's and L's - were recently amassed in what is called a "superpod" just off Lime Kiln State Park on the western shore of San Juan Island, as reported to the Orca Sightings Network (http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html). The whales are honing in on big schools of salmon as the fish near the end of their saltwater migration and return to their stream of birth to spawn and die. One of Washington's biggest wildlife-related festivals, Issaquah Salmon Days, celebrates the end of the salmon's lifecycle as the fish return to spawn at WDFW's Issaquah Hatchery in downtown Issaquah. This year's festival, set for Oct. 7-9, features educational displays, entertainment, food and other attractions. More information is available at http://www.salmondays.org/home/. Winged migrants are garnering a lot of attention from birdwatchers throughout the region, including one correspondent to the Tweeters Birding Network website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/) who recently spent a day tallying a number of migratory species at WDFW's Skagit Wildlife Area. The birder's sightings included (take a deep breath) six turkey vultures, two willow flycatchers, a pair of Pacific-slope flycatchers and one least flycatcher, a dozen brown creepers, three dozen ruby-crowned kinglets, 10 American pipits, Swainson's varied and hermit thrushes and five separate species of warbler (orange-crowned, yellow-rumped, just plain yellow, MacGillivray's and Wilson's). Colorful golden-crowned sparrows rounded out this dedicated birder's list. For sheer numbers, it's hard to beat the 800 violet-green swallows and 500 barn swallows that were also spotted on the sprawling wildlife area. The violet-greens are on their way to wintering grounds that stretch from southern California through Mexico, while the barn swallows face an even longer flight - all the way to South America. Other bird sightings of interest in the region include a pair of Lapland longspurs, two American pipits and a vesper sparrow at Marymoor Park in Redmond, while an elegant great egret was seen foraging at the Green River Natural Resources Area in Kent.

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: Anglers still have time to go ocean salmon fishing, but it's quickly slipping away. Only Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) remains open, and just until Sept. 30. All of the other coastal waters closed on Sept. 18. Ilwaco anglers averaged about one fish per rod during the Sept. 17-18 weekend, nearly three-quarters of them cohoM. They can keep two, and both can be chinook. "It's probably the best show in town now," said Scott Barbour, WDFW fish biologist. Marine Area 3 (LaPush) was one of three ocean areas closed to salmon fishing on Sept. 18, but not for long. A two-week bubble fishery is scheduled from Sept. 24 to Oct. 9 targeting coho and chinook salmon returning to the Quillayute River system. In the past, fishing has been restricted to the area just outside the mouth of the river, but this year's "bubble" is wider and has no western boundary. That will give anglers, including those who take part in the LaPush Last Chance Salmon Derby on Oct. 1-2, more water to fish. A total of $4,300 is up for grabs at the derby, with $1,000 for the biggest chinook (which usually tops 40 pounds) and hatchery coho. Willapa Bay is serving up its best year of fishing since WDFW began tracking it, Barbour said. Fishing for chinook and coho has been good long after Labor Day, when it traditionally tails off. The fishery will stay open through Jan. 31, but anglers are now competing with commercial fishing boats. Anglers might think about heading north to Grays Harbor, which opened east of the Buoy 13 line on Sept. 16. Barbour is expecting some big coho there. (Chinook must be released.) The question is how many, and when. Some rain should bring them in, Barbour said. The countdown is also on for salmon fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where anglers have been landing some nice 10- to 16-pound coho. Like Ilwaco, the season there ends Sept. 30. "There are reports of these nice big ones going through the strait, so you'd better get out there quick," said John Long, another WDFW fish biologist. Chinook, wild coho and chum must be released. The "No Fin You Win" coho derby is Sept. 24 at Sekiu. The winner gets half of the entry fees. Fishing for coho has also been improving around Point Defiance in Tacoma and the silvers should continue to work their way down Puget Sound, Long said. "They should show up in the South Sound in the next week or so, and I expect a fair number of them to return," he said. Record low flows are being recorded in many of the north Olympic streams, said Mike Gross, WDFW biologist. Fish are holding up low in the river systems or hanging outside the mouths waiting for more water to trigger upstream migration. Some coho are in the Sol Duc and Quillayute rivers, but getting them to bite is difficult. Early morning is the best time to try, Gross said. The chinook have been slow to show up, he said. Several other westside rivers - including the Chehalis, Satsop, Wynoochee and Wishkah - open for salmon fishing Oct. 1. Shellfish alert: The state health department recently issued emergency closures for two North Olympic beaches. Sequim Bay was shut down Sept. 16 to shellfish gathering because of high levels of domoic acid in oysters and clams. Discovery Bay was closed two days later because of Paralytic Shellfish Poison, commonly called red tide. Monitoring will continue and the beaches will reopen when the levels drop. Recreational harvesters can check for biotoxin closures at the health department's Biotoxin Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.htm) or the biotoxin hotline at 1-800-562-5632.

• Hunting: With the age 65-and-older pheasant hunt coming to an end Sept. 23, hunters of all ages will get a chance to start hunting the popular game birds the following day. Pheasant release sites located in Clallam, Mason, Grays Harbor, Pacific, Pierce and Thurston counties will provide hunting opportunities through the season. For more information, see this year's brochure on the Western Washington Pheasant Release Program. Archers, meanwhile, have been in the field hunting deer and elk as the days of summer wane. The early season for elk ends Sept. 21, but archers will continue to hunt deer through Sept. 30. Muzzleloaders will get their first opportunity of the year to hunt deer and elk starting Oct. 1. Areas open for black-powder hunting are listed in the Big Game Hunting rule pamphlet posted on the WDFW website. Looking ahead, the statewide duck-hunting season will get under way Oct. 15, the same day goose hunting resumes in management areas 2B and 3. To hunt in Management Area 2B, hunters must first pass a goose-identification test as described in WDFW's Migratory Waterfowl rules pamphlet.

• Wildlife viewing: Now is the best time to see large flights of turkey vultures as they begin their annual migration to South America. Vultures from Vancouver Island and northward gather at the southern tip of the island. They ride the winds, often in groups of 100 or more, over one of the Strait of Juan de Fuca's narrowest points, and arrive near Salt Creek County Park west of Port Angeles. Since 1992, they have been monitored from the park as part of the Olympic Vulture Study. During that time, more than 17,000 turkey vultures have been tallied. Sept. 27 has historically been the biggest day, with a record 719 counted in three hours in 1999. Turkey vultures are odd-looking birds. Their small, featherless red heads poke out from between wings that stretch 5 to 6 feet across. Unlike most birds, they have a well-developed sense of smell but no syrnix, or vocal organ. They are scavengers, eating any dead and decaying meat or fish they can find. They eat it on the spot because their feet are too weak to grip a carcass and carry it off. After migrating south, turkey vultures begin returning to Washington in February. Meanwhile, spawning salmon continue to provide interesting viewing all over the state. A good bet would be South Prairie Creek in east Pierce County. WDFW biologists counted more than 110,000 pink salmon in a 12-mile stretch of the stream last week, said Hal Michael, WDFW biologist. The smallest of the Pacific salmon at 3 to 5 pounds, pinks can get upstream more readily than larger species. Males grow a large hump on their backs during spawning, hence the nickname "humpies." Both males and females turn from a bright silvery color to a pale slate, brownish or greenish-gray with black spots. Pink salmon live just two years before returning to spawn, primarily in odd-numbered years. The large number of fish in the creek should attract a varied of other critters such as ducks, gulls, dippers, raccoons, eagles and bears, Michael said. "This is a feast," he said. "All sorts of scavengers and predators will be there." The Nisqually Watershed Festival will be Sept. 24 at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge near Olympia. The free event will feature music, food, guided walks and educational displays.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: In a recent newspaper column, the outdoors editor for the Vancouver Columbian suggested that area anglers take a break from fishing now that chinook salmon retention has ended for the season on the lower Columbia River. "It's true that the action has slowed down, but anglers do still have some options," said Manuel Fariņas, WDFW regional fish manager. For one thing, fishing remains open for hatchery coho, steelhead and cutthroat trout on the lower river between the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line and Bonneville Dam. Although the bite is fairly subdued for coho and steelhead, anglers have had some success fishing for hatchery coho at the mouth of the Cowlitz River and the downstream tip of Lady Island on the Columbia River in Camas at this time of year. In addition, the Buoy 10 fishery at the mouth of the Columbia remains open to retention of chinook and hatchery coho salmon, although the catch rate for chinook has dropped to about one fish for every 12 rods. For hatchery coho, anglers have been averaging about one fish for every 5.5 rods. Some anglers have turned their attention to catching sea-run cutthroat trout, now returning to the Cowlitz Hatchery. Fishing has been good from Castle Rock to the barrier dam below the hatchery, said Wolf Dammers, another WDFW fish biologist. "These trout make for great eating," said Dammers, noting that the fish generally range from 12 to 15 inches long. "Keepers" must be at least 12 inches and have a clipped adipose fin. Come Oct. 1, anglers will also be able to catch and keep sturgeon Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays on the mainstem Columbia from the Wauna powerlines upstream to Bonneville Dam. See the WDFW Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet for size limits and other information. Meanwhile, an increasing number of anglers are following the chinook upstream from Bonneville Dam, where chinook retention is still allowed. Fish checkers are reporting increased angler effort in the Bonneville Pool, including the mouth of the White Salmon River where anglers are catching bright fall chinook and some hatchery coho. The same is true off the mouth of the Klickitat River, where anglers are finding success either jigging or trolling. Salmon fishing in tributaries to the Columbia River is also picking up, both above and below Bonneville Dam. Boat anglers fishing the lower reaches of the Lewis River are mostly catching fall chinook, while bank anglers are having the best luck with hatchery coho. On the Klickitat River, anglers are catching dusky-colored fall chinook downstream from the Fisher Hill Bridge. "A good, hard rain would really help move some fish upstream," Fariņas said. "Sooner would be better than later." That's because chinook retention will come to an end Oct. 1 on all or part of a number of tributaries, including the Elochoman, Cowlitz, North Fork Toutle, Green, Kalama, Lewis, Washougal and White Salmon. Here, too, anglers are advised to check the Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet for specific regulations on those and other rivers. As announced in mid-September, fisheries managers from Washington and Oregon agreed to end chinook retention in the lower Columbia after reducing their estimate of returning "upriver bright" chinook from 354,600 fish to 280,000 fish - a reduction of 20 percent. The upriver bright run includes salmon bound for the Snake River that are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Estimates for mid-Columbia brights and the Bonneville Pool Hatchery stock were also reduced. Chinook jack counts at Bonneville Dam have been running below the 10-year average, although the Spring Creek Hatchery and McNary Dam have both achieved this year's goals.

• Hunting: With the age 65-and-older pheasant hunt coming to an end Sept. 23, hunters of all ages will get a chance to start hunting the popular game birds the following day. Release sites in Lewis, Cowlitz and Clark counties will provide hunting opportunities through the end of the season. For more information, see this year's brochure on the Western Washington Pheasant Release Program. Archers, meanwhile, have been in the field hunting deer and elk as the days of summer wane. The early season for elk ends Sept. 21, but archers can continue hunting deer through Sept. 30. The Klickitat game management unit (GMU 588), where about 60 percent of the yearling bucks have at least two antler points on one side, looks like a particularly good prospect, say area wildlife biologists. Archers in that area are allowed to harvest either two-point or larger bucks or antlerless deer. Muzzleloaders will get their first opportunity of the year to hunt deer and elk starting Oct. 1. Areas open for black-powder hunting are listed in the Big Game Hunting rule pamphlet, posted on the WDFW website. Looking ahead, the statewide duck-hunting season will get under way Oct. 15, the same day goose hunting resumes in management areas 3 (which includes Skamania County) and 5 (which includes Klickitat County). Goose hunting in Management Area 2A (Wahkiakum, Cowlitz and all of Clark County north of the Washougal River) begins Nov. 12, but is restricted to those hunters who have passed a goose identification test. Testing schedules are listed on page 10 of WDFW's Migratory Waterfowl rules pamphlet.

• Wildlife viewing: Two of the state's most majestic migratory bird species are now gathering in the lower Columbia River wetlands as fall migration shifts into high gear. WDFW biologists have spotted a number of great egrets in recent days at the Shillapoo Wildlife Area near Vancouver Lake, where they have also heard the unmistakable trumpeting ("garoo-a-a-a") of sandhill cranes. A correspondent for the Tweeters bird-watching website also reported seeing several egrets at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in mid-September. Standing up to four feet tall with a wingspan of six feet, the gray-colored cranes are the larger of the two birds. But egrets, three feet tall with white plumage, also make quite an impression. In recent years, both species have been found in increasing numbers during the "fall roost" at the mouth of the Columbia, and a growing number are choosing to stay through the winter. Egrets and sandhill cranes are just two of the many species of birds that will be on display at BirdFest 2005, scheduled Oct. 15-16 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day at the refuge. Sponsored by the Friends of the Refuge, the festival features guided bird-walks, kayak trips and live bluegrass music. For more information, call (360) 887-9495 or check out the festival website (http://www.plankhouse.org).

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW Fish Biologist Joe Bumgarner says Snake River steelhead creel checks indicate that the fishing remains slow, although a few areas have seen a bit of improvement recently. Ice Harbor and Wallula Junction, below the mouth of the Walla Walla River, have produced fish, while anglers have reported some success at the mouth of the Tucannon River, Bumgarner said. "Not much is happening on the Grande Ronde River yet," he added, noting that creel checks indicate anglers are averaging about 12 hours of effort per steelhead caught. Clocking in with a seven-hour-per-fish average was the Tucannon, while anglers on the Walla Walla River averaged nine and a half hours per fish. On the mainstem Snake, steelheaders in the stretch between Lower Monumental and Little Goose dams averaged just under 12 hours per steelhead caught. Ice Harbor to Lower Monumental dams was almost 15 hours per fish, and Little Goose to Lower Granite dams was just over 26 hours per fish. Several trout fishing lakes throughout the region close Sept. 30, including eastern Spokane County's Liberty Lake, where the WDFW access site is the only way lakeshore homeowners can remove their docked boats for the season. WDFW Lands Manager Brian Trickel said the gates to the access area will be left open until Oct. 11 to give residents time to remove their boats after the fishing season closes. The last days of trout fishing should be excellent at other local lakes, such as Badger and Williams in southwest Spokane County, where rainbow and cutthroat to 14 inches long are still being reeled in. A number of fingerlings that were just stocked this year are also now showing up in the catch and anglers are returning them to the water. That has prompted WDFW sergeant Dan Rahn to remind anglers who fish with bait that they must stop fishing once they have caught five fish - even if the fish are undersized. "I suggest trout anglers shift from bait to lures to avoid this problem," Rahn said. Many fishing lakes remain open through October and are providing good action. Rahn reports that Chapman Lake is producing limits of kokanee.

• Hunting: The fall wild turkey hunting season runs Sept. 24-30 and Oct. 8-14 in Game Management Units 105-124 in the northeast district. That includes most of Stevens County, where turkey densities are believed to be among the greatest in the western United States. In an effort to reduce turkey numbers where the birds have become a nuisance, WDFW allows hunters to take birds of either sex. Upland bird hunters can pursue quail and partridge beginning Oct. 1, and wildlife biologists throughout the region say it looks like there will be plenty of birds. While no specific species counts are made, field reports incidental to other survey work indicates good numbers and sizes of broods. A little rain would help scenting conditions for bird dogs. The muzzleloader season for elk runs Oct. 1-7 in several of the region's northern and central game management units. Some areas are open for any bull, some for any elk. Check the 2005 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet on the Internet for all the details. The Mountain View unit (172) in the Blue Mountains is open for spike bulls only. The general season for non-hound cougar hunters in Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Chelan and Okanogan counties opens Oct. 16; check the 2005 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet for the details.

• Wildlife viewing: Everything in the bird world seems to be on the move these days. That's the collective assessment of WDFW staff throughout the region, with notes of many different bird species encountered as fall migrations pick up. Long skeins of Canada geese and quicker-moving flights of mallard and other ducks are gracing the skies nearly everywhere. Huge flocks of blackbirds blanket treetops and powerlines during migratory rest stops. Other southbound migrants, including white-crowned, song and American tree sparrows, spotted towhees, Cassin's finches and pine siskins, are visiting backyard bird-feeding stations. Groups of and individual red-tailed, Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks are shifting south. Turkey vultures, distinguished from hawks by their pronounced V-shaped wing position and separated primary feather tips, are also migrating south. Noticeable, too, at this time is the nearly complete absence of so many common summer species, including hummingbirds, swallows, bluebirds and robins. "You don't need a calendar to know what time of year it is," said WDFW central district wildlife biologist Howard Ferguson. "Just look around you and listen."

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: September 30 marks the end of chinook salmon fishing in the Okanogan River and the lower Similkameen River in Okanogan County. The stretches open are the Okanogan from the Highway 97 bridge near the mouth to the railroad trestle downstream of the Lake Osoyoos Control Dam in Oroville, and the Similkameen from the mouth upstream to the county road bridge in Oroville. The daily limit is six salmon, no more than two adults. All coho and sockeye must be released. Non-buoyant lure restriction and night closure are in effect. Year-round Potholes Reservoir remains good for bass, walleye, catfish and crappie fishing, especially with lower water levels and cooler temperatures. Many Columbia Basin trout lakes also close to fishing Sept. 30, and the fishing action should improve with the cooler weather. Check the sport fishing pamphlet for details on specific lakes. Several of the region's lakes are scheduled for rehabilitation, and that means the daily bag limit has been removed for all game species on those waters. In Okanogan County, the daily bag limit is removed on Green, Lower Green and Spectacle lakes. In Grant County, daily limits have been removed on Warden, South Warden, Quincy and Burke lakes. Daily bag limits remain in effect for Annex Lakes and Shay Pond, which are also scheduled for rehabilitation.

• Hunting: WDWF Wildlife Biologist Beau Patterson says hunters should find continued good conditions for hunting forest grouse and black bear, and excellent early archery and muzzleloader deer hunting, particularly in Chelan County. Seasons for quail and partridge open Oct. 1, and Patterson predicts average to above average bird numbers throughout the region. A few Chelan County game management units open for muzzleloader elk hunting Oct. 1-7. Hunters can take spike bulls only. The general season for non-hound cougar hunters in Chelan, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties opens Oct. 16; check the 2005 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet for the details.

• Wildlife viewing: This is the peak period for observing a variety of fall migrating raptors, says WDFW Wildlife Biologist Beau Patterson. "Near Wenatchee, Burch Mountain is a good place for raptor watching, in particular Eagle Rock. North of Manson, Chelan Ridge is another good location," Patterson said. In fact, the areas provide such good raptor-viewing sites, WDFW staff and volunteer observers use these locations for raptor-monitoring studies. Patterson noted that last year observers documented 13 species of raptors passing Eagle Rock, with more than 17 individual birds per hour during the peak. Species observed included bald and golden eagles; sharp-shinned, Cooper's, red-tailed, and Swainson's hawks; prairie and peregrine falcons; merlin; goshawk; osprey; northern harrier; and American kestrel. In addition to these species, observations at Chelan Ridge have included rough-legged hawks, and the rarely documented white-tailed kite, broad-winged hawk and ferruginous hawk.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: The Yakima River opened for salmon fishing on Sept. 1 from the confluence with the Columbia River upstream to Sunnyside (Parker) Dam, and will remain open through Oct. 22. WDFW Fish Biologist Paul Hoffarth says the peak fishing typically occurs during the last two weeks of the season. A Yakama Nation Fishing Permit is required for fishing upstream of the Highway 223 Bridge at Granger. Check the "Special Rules" section for the Yakima River for additional details and restrictions. The Hanford Reach area of the Columbia River is also open for salmon fishing through Oct. 22 for all areas upstream of the old Hanford townsite. Hoffarth noted that the Columbia River below the townsite is open through the end of December, although few salmon are caught after the first week in November. The Columbia River downstream of the Hanford townsite (Ringold) opens Oct. 1 for the retention of steelhead returning to the Ringold Hatchery. Hoffarth said these hatchery steelhead have both adipose and ventral fins clipped, and anglers can only harvest those with both fin clips. This fishery remains open through March 31, 2006.

• Hunting: Several game management units throughout the region open for muzzleloader elk hunting Oct. 1-7. All hunts are for spike bulls only. Muzzleloaders should check the pamphlet carefully for open areas. Upland bird hunters can pursue quail and partridge beginning Oct. 1, and wildlife biologists throughout the region say it looks like there will be plenty of birds.

• Wildlife Viewing: Areas that have recently been burned by wildfire are excellent places to look now for woodpeckers of many kinds. Black-backed, hairy and pileated woodpeckers, as well as Clark's nutcrackers, have recently been spotted working over the snags for insects to fatten up for the coming winter. Your own backyard may be as far as you need to go to see incoming and other birds that may have summered farther north and might winter in this region of Washington. Although natural food sources are still plentiful, it's not too early to set up backyard bird feeding and watering stations if you want to entice some to stay and watch them close-up. Or better yet, take advantage of this best time of year to plant trees and shrubs that will establish long-term, year-round habitat for wildlife of all kinds, right on your property. Detailed information about supplemental feeding and habitat landscaping is available from WDFW's Backyard Sanctuary Program, on the Internet.