October 8-21, 1998
Contact: Mike Judge, (360) 902-2407

Like duck a l'orange?
Try duck a l'WDFW

OLYMPIA — High numbers of ducks have been reported in the major waterfowl areas during the past week, although hunting success thus far has been mixed due to mild weather. In coastal areas early flights of mallards, pintails, and wigeon from northern breeding areas typically provide good opportunity. The Columbia Basin is recording large numbers of mallards.

This year's opener was one of the earliest on record for our state, and is due to longer seasons resulting from excellent duck breeding population numbers. The general goose season (except brant) will open on Sat., Oct. 10. Surveys of locally-produced geese show high numbers compared to the long-term average, but lower than last year. Hunters should remember that the waterfowl season will close statewide on Mon., Oct. 12 to compensate for the youth hunt provided in September.

The finishing touch to a great duck hunt is a great meal; here is a recipe from experienced hunter and cook, Jay Hunter, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologist. The best duck is plucked and cleaned as soon as possible. Remove any pesky pin-feathers and rinse before preparation.

Duck a l'WDFW

Salt and pepper the body cavity Garlic salt the outside skin, mostly for aroma Place half a cut-up onion and half an apple in the body cavity Place 2 strips of bacon over the breast Place breast side up in a covered pan that will retain moisture. (Duck is a dry meat and moisture retention is important.) Add 1 c. water, 2 mashed garlic cloves and a couple of pieces of onion and pepper Cook in a 325-degree oven for 2 hours, or 2 ½ hours for two ducks Let sit in the covered pan for 10 minutes to set the juices Cut the cooked duck in half and serve with the pan juice in a gravy dish Serve hot with an interesting rice and green vegetable

For other recreational opportunities in early October consider:

• Sandhill crane viewing: They're moving out fast but you still may be able to catch a glimpse of migrating sandhill cranes. Traveling in flocks of up to 200, cranes arrive in the Columbia River basin from mid-September through October to congregate in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello. Unlike many other birds, cranes usually can be watched from the road. Randy Hill, a U. S. Fish and Wildlife biologist, reported seeing 5,000 birds two weeks ago, west of Othello. The cranes have been seen on Royal Slope, between Royal City and Othello. They also have been seen near Crab Creek, landing in grain fields, irrigated pasture and grain stubble. The best times to see the cranes is two- to three-hours before daylight and sundown. They feed in morning and evening and roost mid-day and evening. White pelicans and great egrets can be seen scattered throughout the refuge in wetter areas north of Potholes Reservoir. Birds can be seen by driving the Dodson Road west of Moses Lake. For more information call the refuge at (509) 488-2668. Another great birding area is the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, located about 15 miles north of Vancouver WA. Abundant waterfowl, cranes and swans can be seen in the northern section of the refuge. This area is always open to birding during daylight hours. For more information call (360) 887-4106.

• Salmon fishing: Fall rains bring higher water in streams and rivers and provide a vehicle for migrating salmon to reach their spawning grounds. These rains are "just what the doctor ordered for salmon movement upstream," said Tony Floor, a WDFW spokesperson. At this time of year the focus changes from saltwater chinook to coho fishing. The adipose fins on many hatchery coho salmon have removed to allow anglers to identify these fish as hatchery produced. Hatchery coho production provides fishers a recreational opportunity without damaging wild coho stocks. Anglers should call regional WDFW hotlines for more information on current fishing opportunities. These numbers are listed in WDFW's 1998 "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet. Anglers fishing in marine waters should watch for good returns of chum salmon now entering northern Puget Sound. Chum should continue to build in Puget Sound through October. Floor suggests fishing near Jefferson Head north to Point No Point. Chum anglers have found success by trolling at a dead slow speed with small plug-cut herring near the surface. The sport chinook salmon fishing season in the Columbia River from the Megler-Astoria Bridge to Bonneville Dam reopens Weds., Oct. 7. The portion of the Columbia from Bonneville Dam to the Highway 395 bridge in Pasco reopens to chinook fishing on Oct. 12. Anglers will be targeting upriver bright chinook headed to the Hanford Reach and several upper Columbia hatcheries. The lower Columbia River will remain open for sport chinook fishing for the rest of the year. The daily limit in both sections of the Columbia River is six salmon, two of which may be adults. (Adult chinook are 24 inches or longer and adult coho are 20 inches or longer.) The minimum size is 12 inches. All fishing for coho on the mainstem Columbia below Bonneville closed Oct. 1.

• Grouse/chukar hunting: This season should put to rest the old saying "the bird hunting just ain't what it used to be," said Mark Quinn, WDFW eastside biologist. Recent brood surveys and field reports show this year's bird numbers similar to what they were in the 1950s and ‘60s. "There has been exceptionally good chukar hunting around Ephrata, Moses Coulee and Columbia Coulee," Quinn said. This also should be a great year for grouse hunting.

• Freshwater fishing: Eastern Washington will offer some special fishing opportunities in the next few weeks. Catch limits have been lifted at six lakes for October in anticipation of upcoming rotenone treatments. Trout will be planted in the lakes next spring. The lakes are: Big Meadow (Pend Oreille County); Fish and Hog Canyon (Spokane County); Fishtrap (Lincoln and Spokane counties); Leader (Okanogan) and Mudget (Stevens). All the lakes except Leader are open without limits through Oct. 25. Leader is open through Oct. 31. In central Washington, WDFW is planting thousands of pan-sized trout as well as hundreds of 6-to 12-pound steelhead. The plants include 20,000 rainbows and 12,000 brown trout. The trout will be planted in the following Yakima County lakes and ponds: Clear, Myron, Mud, Wenas, Rotary, Interstate 82 ponds 3, 4 and 6, Sarge Hubbard Park and Tims ponds. Fio Rito and Mattoon lakes and Hanson and McCabe ponds in Kittitas County also will receive trout plants. Large steelhead are being planted in Railroad Pond and Dalton lakes in Franklin County; Mattoon Lake in Kittitas County; Myron, Mud and Rotary lakes and Sarge Hubbard Park Pond in Yakima County, and Columbia Park Lagoon in Benton County.

• Brown pelicans and other bird species: As summer fades brown pelicans start moving north up the coast from their breeding grounds in California and Mexico. They always come as far as Oregon but sometimes venture farther north during strong El Nino years such as the one we just had. Brown pelicans are uncommon along the Northwest coast but, as mentioned above, hundreds frequently can be seen in a few locations when conditions are right. Some good viewing sites are near Point No Point, Eglon Beach, and the Nature Conservancy Foulweather Bluff Preserve. All of these sites can be accessed by Hansville Road NE.

• Ancient Forests: The creatures that reside in our state's ancient forests are busy preparing for winter. Douglas squirrels are collecting cones and hanging fungi in trees for use later in winter. Thrushes, robins and other birds are searching for the last of this year's huckleberries. Redlegged and Pacific chorus frogs may be seen taking one last hop or two before they select their final winter resting spot. Along trails and roads where the fall sun still reaches the ground, look for garter snakes as they soak up a few last rays before hibernation. Temperate rain forests in Washington can be found in the Hoh, Quinault and Queets river valleys in the Olympic National Park. For more information call (360) 452-4501, ext. 230.

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