October 22 - November 4, 1998
Contact: Mike Judge, (360) 902-2407

Deer hunting opener successful;
birding opportunities plentiful

OLYMPIA—Many modern firearm hunters met with success during the opening of deer season last weekend, and deer hunting should continue better than last year due to last year's mild winter, according to Rolf Johnson, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) big game manager.

This year, like last, three-point minimum antler restrictions are in place for deer in parts of eastern Washington, so bucks taken there should be larger adult animals. Here are some early reports from our far-flung field correspondents:

• Northeast Washington: This is where whitetails reign. Last weekend hunters reported seeing lots of deer and hunting success was high. Because of last winter's mild weather and excellent forage this year, an unusually high number of yearling deer (18-month-olds) are 3-point bucks.

• North Central Washington: Deer hunting generally was excellent last weekend, except in Chelan County where poor hunting conditions and small mule deer populations made for a slow opener. Hunters did remarkably better than last year in the rest of the area, even in Okanogan County where mule deer still are recovering from the ‘96-'97 winter.

• Central Washington: Hunter turnout was the heaviest in years and success was high in Grant, Douglas and Adams counties. Biologists in Kittitas and Yakima counties reported less hunting pressure and lower success. Hunting is by permit only in many units and hunters should check WDFW's 1998 "Big Game Seasons and Rules" pamphlet before setting out to hunt.

• Southwest Washington: The area again lived up to its reputation as the top deer area of western Washington. Hunters were slightly more successful in the Cascade units than those hunting west of Interstate 5. The Vail Tree Farm proved to be one of the best hunting areas of the state again this year.

• Disabled hunters can get in on the action at several new special-access areas including: a portion of the Cowlitz Wildlife Area near Peterman Hill in the Morton area; portions of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Southwest Washington's Wind River; the Rendevous Unit of the Methow Wildlife Area in north-central Washington; three portions of the Wenatchee National Forest — one in the Naches area of the Cle Elum Ranger District and two in the Entiat Ranger District, and some areas of the Colville National Forest and in Department of Natural Resources and private timberlands northeast of Spokane. Opportunities vary by site, but many offer disabled hunters the opportunity of driving all-terrain vehicles or other motor vehicles into areas normally restricted to walk-in use. In some areas, hunters must get access permits in advance. For more information please see our "Accessible Hunting and Wildlife Viewing Opportunities" page. For details on rules and restrictions check the WDFW Website (http://wdfw.wa.gov) or contact the nearest WDFW regional office.

Fall is also offers great recreation opportunities for the non-hunter:

Waterfowl and other bird viewing: It's a great time to go waterfowl watching on waterways in the Columbia Basin, along the coast and in many other areas of the state. Hundreds, even thousands, of ducks and geese are grouped for feeding and resting before colder weather moves them south. The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is a great spot for bird watching. Located in the southwest corner of Washington along the Long Beach Peninsula, the reserve offers diverse habitats that make it a regular stopover for migrating waterfowl. The most popular spot is Leadbetter Point which features a network of trails that lead to a sandy ocean beach. The refuge reports plenty of ducks, including mallards, teal, wigeon and pintail as well as Canada geese and a few white-fronted geese. Bird numbers and species vary day to day.

Westside fishing: Trout fishing should pick up at several lakes in King, Thurston, Snohomish and Pierce counties. The WDFW has planted of thousands of 2-and 6-pound hatchery fish. The number of fish planted in the following lakes: King County: Angle (410); Fenwick (70); Meridian (595); Pine (345); Steel (180); Snohomish County: Ballinger (400); Blackman's (240); Martha (240); Silver (420); Pierce County: Spanaway (400); American (350); Clear (200); Thurston County: Black (400); Offutt (200); St. Clair (250); Lawrence (300).

Eastside fishing: The cool days of advancing fall mean hot fishing on Lake Roosevelt, Washington's largest reservoir on the Columbia River off Grand Coulee Dam in the northeast corner of the state. Catch limits ( five a day) of 14-to-18-inch, fat rainbow trout typically are landed in a few hours of fishing now, and fishing should continue briskly through December. Good fishing can be found almost anywhere on Lake Roosevelt below the mouth of the Colville River just south of the town of Kettle Falls. Some of the best fishing has been between Hunters in Stevens County and Hawk Creek, below the mouth of the Spokane River. Kokanee, the landlocked version of sockeye salmon that are sometimes called silver trout, are also in Lake Roosevelt and moving to tributary streams to spawn. Only hatchery kokanee, distinguished by missing adipose fins, may be kept at this time; all wild kokanee must be released. Walleye, often considered one of the best-tasting freshwater fish available, are also being caught in deep water in the upper stretches of Lake Roosevelt. Only walleye less than 16 inches or more than 20 inches may be kept and only one of the eight walleye allowed per day can be over 20 inches. The rules protect spawning age fish.

Backyard birdwatching: Robins, cedar waxwings and other fruit-eating birds have been descending on orchards, vineyards, and other early fall berry-bearing trees and shrubs. Various sparrows, finches, juncos, grosbeaks, and other seed-eating birds also are migrating through the state, gleaning the last of seeds from dying flowers and grasses. These flocks may not be the birds you end up watching outside your window this winter at backyard feeders, but they're a good signal to get your winter feeding program started.Here are a few tips to attract a wide variety of your feathered friends through the coming season:

• Provide a variety of feeds including black oil sunflower, thistle or niger seed, cracked corn, wheat, barley, millet, etc. Avoid mixes to minimize waste.
• Use a variety of feeders including hanging tubes, raised platforms, ground-feeding hoppers and slit-opening feeders for small birds.
• Place feeders in a variety of locations around your property, but avoid placements that provide neighborhood cats easy ambushes of feeding birds.
• Provide open water in a bird bath equipped with a small heater or simply in a pan from which ice can be removed and fresh water replaced daily.

Salmon fishing: Coho fishing is winding down in salt water, and most coho will be following chinook into rivers with the fall rains. Good coho fishing is being reported on numerous Puget Sound and coastal rivers; however opportunities depend on weather and river conditions. All blackmouth fishing from Seiku to Olympia, with the exception of Area 8.2 (the Port Susan and Port Gardner areas) will open Nov. 1. Based on summer and early fall reports, fishing should be excellent. "I'm optimistic about the blackmouth fishing in November," said Tony Floor, WDFW spokesperson. "This year's survival of legal fish could be dynamite."

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