September 10-23, 1998
Contact: Mike Judge, (360) 902-2407

Take a walk on the wild side

OLYMPIA -- There's a touch of fall in the air -- the perfect time for a walk in the park. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has been working with municipal park departments to create areas that offer wildlife and native plant viewing opportunities.

Gardens around the Lake Hills Greenbelt Ranger Station in Bellevue (next to Phantom Lake) have been planted with native and non-native plants that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.

"This area was designed to inspire homeowners to incorporate nature and wildlife friendly plants into their backyard landscapes," said Debbie Pettersson, park ranger and site manager. For directions and more information call (425) 452-7225. To see how backyards can be managed to benefit wildlife go to the Carkeek Park Environmental Education Center at 950 N.W. Carkeek Park Road in Seattle. This Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary demonstration project includes native woodland landscape plants. This is a good time of year to see different species of butterflies. There also is a newly created snag (dead tree) used by several woodpecker species, a bat box research project and a newly created wetland walk. For more information call (206) 684-0877.

Other early September recreational opportunities include:

• Dove hunting: The season continues through Sept. 15 and eastern Washington wildlife biologists say it's probably one of the best dove seasons in a decade. That's because the weather has remained hot and dry. Often by this time of year a cold snap has moved doves out of the Eastside before the season really gets started. But this year there are doves everywhere in traditional habitat (near water, snags, etc.), and sharpshooting hunters are enjoying bag limits and great tablefare.

• Salmon Fishing: The first sport chinook salmon fishery in the lower Yakima River since 1964 opened Sept.1 and is expected to run through Oct. 31. The Yakima River will be open from the mouth at the Highway 240 bridge to the Chandler Power House outfall. The outfall is approximately eight miles below Prosser Dam. Selective fishing gear rules apply.Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2.2 inside Buoy 13 and outside of the river mouth boundaries) also will be open to salmon fishing Sept.1 through 30. The daily limit is one adult salmon and a maximum of six fish. Unmarked coho and chum must be released. Anglers are limited to use of a single point barbless hook. Chinook in Marine Areas 5 and 6 are open for catch and release only. See WDFW's "Fishing in Washington" pamphlet for details.

• Raptor Migration: Hawk watching in the Northwest can be very pleasant during the remaining warm days of September and October. The best watching takes place during the middle of the day as large numbers of various hawk species sail on rising heat currents along mountain fronts. The best hawk-watching sites are situated on high ridge-tops, providing fabulous scenic vistas as an additional bonus. Binoculars with wide field of view are a real advantage when trying to find birds in the air. The best conditions for viewing are in clear weather with moderate winds from the west or southwest, and immediately before an approaching weather front. Species most common along the eastern fronts of the Cascade Mountains include: American kestrels, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, golden eagles, Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks, osprey, merlin and prairie falcons. Identified hawk-watching sites in Washington are relatively new and since hawk movements are largely dependent on weather conditions, contacting your local Audubon Society or bird club for information is recommended. Many of the best sites are 7 to 12 miles from paved highways. Roads can be steep and narrow, so be prepared for driving on mountainous gravel roads. Some of the best hawk watching sites include Harts Pass and Slate Peak. The roads to both areas are very steep. The area is also great for mountain flowers, high mountain birds, pikas and marmots. For directions and more information call the Okanogan National Forest, Methow Valley Ranger District, at (509)997-2131. Other good hawk watching sites are Red Top Mountain in the Wenatchee National Forest between Wenatchee and Ellensberg. This trip will include a half-mile hike to an old lookout on the peak. Another site is Diamond Head, just nine miles east of Red Top. Call the Wenatchee National Forest at (509) 662- 4335 for directions and more details.

• Hunting: Fire danger has temporarily closed some private timber lands to hunting. The closures affect some areas where the Sept. 1-14 early archery season is open for deer and elk hunting.Closed areas as of Sept. 2 include: all Weyerhaeuser properties in Washington, Hampton Tree Farm,Willamette Industries land; Longview Fibre property and portions of Champion Timber Co. lands in Klickitat and Yakima counties. Other private landowners are considering temporary closures. Game management units (GMUs) affected by the current closures include: Margaret, Toutle, Winston, Mossyrock, Coweeman, Ryderwood, Grayback, Willapa Hills and Skookumchuck. Other GMUs may be added to the list if the fire danger continues to increase. Hunters should check with private landowners before setting out to hunt. U.S. Forest Service lands in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, state Department of Natural Resources lands and WDFW lands remained open as of early September with campfire restrictions in place.

• High Buck Hunt: Hunters need to check the WDFW "Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules" pamphlet for changes in the high hunt area. The western portion of the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness Area will not be open to modern firearm hunters as in the past. The eastern portion of the area was never part of the high buck area. Other areas have been added to the high hunt with the change of the boundaries to coincide with the USFS Wilderness boundaries.

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