September 5-18, 2007

Contact: (Fish) 360-902-2700 (Wildlife) 360-902-2515

Coho salmon fishing picking up; early
archery, bird hunts under way statewide

The summer season is winding down, but many outdoor activities are just getting started throughout the state.

Out in the ocean, anglers are still catching coho, especially along the northern coast where salmon fishing continues to be decent. Anglers at La Push recently averaged about one-and-a half fish per rod, while those fishing Neah Bay averaged one fish per person.

In Puget Sound, anglers are waiting for a big push of those ocean silvers to travel through the Strait of Juan de Fuca into inside waters. “We should see more and more of those ocean fish make their way into the Sound in the next couple of weeks,” said Steve Thiesfeld, a fish biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

The same can be said for the Columbia River, where the coho catch has already started to climb and more silvers are entering the estuary every day. Anglers fishing some of the Columbia’s tributaries, such as the Lewis, Wind and White salmon rivers, are also catching some coho.

Crab fishers licensed to fish for Dungeness crab in Puget Sound are reminded that they must submit their new summer catch reports to WDFW by Sept. 15, whether or not they fished or were successful in catching Dungeness crab. Sport crabbers who file their catch reports by the deadline will be entered in a drawing for one of 10 free 2008 combination fishing licenses, which allow the holder to fish for a variety of freshwater and saltwater species.

Meanwhile, hunting opportunities abound throughout the state. Early archery seasons for deer are already under way, while the early archery season for elk gets started Sept. 8. High buck hunts are just around the corner. That season gets going Sept. 15 and runs through Sept. 25. Details on the hunt are available in the Big Game Hunting Rules pamphlet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm

Bird hunters can choose from a number of seasons. Forest grouse and dove hunts are already in full swing, while the band-tailed pigeon hunts begin Sept. 15. The youth hunting season for duck and coot runs Sept. 22-23, and is open to hunters under 16 years of age. Early Canada goose hunting is also available in select areas this month.

While summer doesn’t officially give way to autumn until Sept. 23, fall bird migrations are well under way across the state. Warblers and vireos are passing through eastern Washington as they travel south. West of the Cascades, shorebirds are assembling in large flocks along the tideflats before their long flight to winter ranges in southern latitudes.

For more information on the full array of fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities now available around the state, see the regional summaries below:

 

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: The parade of pink salmon entering marine waters of Puget Sound has slowed recently. But anglers are beginning to hook a few ocean coho, which are expected to enter the Sound in larger numbers in the coming weeks.

  “The pink salmon catch has tapered off considerably in the marine areas,” said Steve Thiesfeld, a WDFW fish biologist. “But the coho catch recently picked up at Sekiu, so we should see more and more of those ocean fish make their way into Puget Sound in the next couple of weeks.”

  When they do arrive, Point No Point, Jefferson Head and Possession Bar should be good spots to hook ocean coho, said Thiesfeld. Anglers fishing those areas, or other waters of marine areas 9 (Admiralty Inlet) and 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), have a daily limit of two salmon, plus two additional pink salmon, and must release chinook. Chum salmon also must be released in Marine Area 9 through Sept. 30 and in Marine Area 10 through Sept. 15.

  Until those ocean silvers show up in greater numbers, anglers can target resident coho, which continue to provide decent fishing in portions of Puget Sound. Anglers are still finding some nice-size resident hatchery coho in marine areas 9 and 10, Thiesfeld said.

  Rather catch some shellfish? The coonstripe and pink shrimp fisheries are open in the region, and shrimpers can fish in marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay), 8-2 (Port Susan/Port Gardner), 9 and the northern and central portion of Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands). For more information on shrimp fisheries check WDFW's website at http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/shrimpreg/shrimpindex.shtml.

  Crabbing in the region is limited, though. Only the northern and eastern portions of Marine Area 7 remain open for crab while the other marine areas undergo a catch assessment. See WDFW's sport-crabbing website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/ for more details on the fishery.

  In the freshwater, a portion of the Green (Duwamish) River recently opened for salmon. “Anglers caught mostly pink salmon during the first few days of the fishery,” said Steve Foley, another WDFW fish biologist. “But some anglers did find a few chinook and even some coho.”

  The Green is open from the 1st Ave. South Bridge to the northbound I-5 Bridge. Anglers fishing that stretch have a daily limit of six salmon, only one of which may be a chinook, and no more than three adults. Beginning Sept. 16, anglers can also fish from the I-5 Bridge to the SW 43rd St./S 180th St. Bridge, but must release chinook along that stretch of the river.

  Portions of other rivers, such as the Skagit, Stillaguamish, Skykomish and Snoqualmie also are open for salmon fishing. Anglers fishing those four rivers must release chinook. Those fishing the Snoqualmie and Skagit also must release pinks.

  Elsewhere, Lake Sammamish is open for salmon fishing, with a daily limit of two salmon measuring at least 12 inches. All sockeye must be released, and salmon fishing is closed within 100 yards of the mouth of Issaquah Creek. Sammamish Lake’s larger neighbor, Lake Washington, opens Sept. 16 to coho fishing. Anglers will be allowed two coho per day (minimum size 12 inches) from waters north of the Highway 520 Bridge and east of the Montlake Bridge.

  Before heading out, anglers should check the rules and regulations for all freshwater and saltwater fisheries in WDFW's Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

• Hunting: Early archery seasons for deer are under way in select western Washington Game Management Units, while the early archery season for elk gets going Sept. 8.

  The statewide forest grouse and dove hunting seasons are in full swing. The dove hunt lasts through Sept. 15, while the season for forest grouse runs through Dec. 31. And an early Canada goose hunt begins Sept. 8 and runs through Sept. 13 in Game Management Units 1 and 3.

  Bear and cougar hunting seasons also continue in the region. Hunters are allowed two cougar during the season, which runs through March 15, 2008. Hunters are also allowed two bear during the 2007 general season (Aug. 1-Nov. 15), but only one bear can be taken in eastern Washington.

  Before going afield, hunters should check the Big Game Hunting pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm) and the Waterfowl and Upland Game pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/water.htm) for details.
  

• Wildlife viewing: In the last couple of weeks, a number of different mammals have been spotted traveling the marine waters of North Puget Sound. Whalewatchers have reported sightings of killer whales in the Edmonds area to as far north as the Canadian border. Gray whales also have been seen in the region – most recently in the Swinomish Channel – and a Pacific white-sided dolphin was spotted several consecutive days feeding on baitfish near the tidal line in Admiralty Inlet.

  Birders also had some success observing a variety of feathered-species. A birder at Richmond Beach in northern King County spotted a pair of brown pelicans heading south, two parasitic jaegers, a large group of common murres, several pigeon guillemots, a number of rhinoceros auklets, a couple of white-winged scoters and several pairs of horned grebes.
  

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: While the salmon season is winding down on the coast, numbers of coho are moving through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and into Puget Sound. Anglers will have a chance to catch wild coho off Sekiu later this month or continue to enjoy some river fishing throughout the region.

  Although the fishing action is cooling down after a successful season on the south coast, anglers are still finding some salmon — mostly coho, said Wendy Beeghley, WDFW fish biologist.

  “The average catch at Ilwaco and Westport (marine areas 1 and 2) was less than one fish per person over Labor Day,” she said. Results have been better farther up the coast where the average at La Push was one-and-a-half fish per person. Anglers at Neah Bay were getting about one fish each.

  The big draw though is the opening of the non-selective coho fishery in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu). From Sept. 16-30 anglers will be able to try for wild coho, in addition to pink and sockeye. “We’re seeing quite a few coho and I hear people are already gearing up,” Beeghley said. Creel checks show anglers caught 590 coho and 229 pink salmon off Sekiu over the Labor Day weekend.

  The salmon fishery in Marine Area 1, which re-opened Sept. 2, will remain open until Sept. 30 or until the quota is met. Salmon fishing in marine areas 3 and 4 (La Push and Neah Bay) is scheduled to continue through Sept. 15 and through Sept. 16 in Marine Area 2 (Westport/Ocean Shores). Beeghley reminds anglers that Willapa Bay will remain open for salmon fishing until Jan. 31.

  A portion of Marine Area 3 (La Push) will be open daily Sept. 22 through Oct. 7 for a late-season salmon fishery. See WDFW’s Fishing in Washington pamphlet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm for details on boundaries and rules.

  In Puget Sound anglers are starting to see the transition from pink salmon to coho, while chinook are tapering off, said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist.

  “The focus will be on coho in the upcoming weeks,” he said. Thiesfeld suggests anglers try the Quilcene River and Quilcene Bay on Hood Canal. “Anglers generally do pretty well there this time of year.”

  Meanwhile, anglers interested in river fishing are finding a mix of chinook, coho and pink salmon in the Puyallup and Carbon rivers. “There’s been plenty of anglers on the water since the rivers opened Sept. 1,” Thiesfeld said. “With the recent rains, folks should be seeing more fish.”

  
  The rain has created some good fishing conditions in other area rivers as well, said Scott Barbour, WDFW fish biologist. “With the rivers dropping back into shape, we’re seeing some decent summer steelhead and silvers in the Hoh and Bogachiel rivers on the Olympic Peninsula,” he said. “People are also catching some nice summer steelhead on the Wynoochee River in Grays Harbor.”

  Recreational crabbers who were licensed to fish for crab in Puget Sound are reminded they have until Sept. 15 to report their summer’s catch to WDFW — whether or not they fished or were successful in catching Dungeness crab.

  Crabbers who file their catch reports by the deadline will be entered in a drawing for one of 10 free 2008 combination fishing licenses, which allow the holder to fish for a variety of freshwater and saltwater species.
  

• Hunting: Archers with an elk tag have from Sept. 8-21 to take advantage of the early archery elk season, which will get under way in designated game management units. That season overlaps with the archery black-tailed deer season, which will continue through the end of September. Also, the annual high buck hunt in the wilderness (non-park) areas of the Olympic Peninsula will take place Sept. 15-25.

  Statewide forest grouse season is under way and continues through Dec. 31. On Sept. 15, the season for mourning doves closes and a weeklong season for band-tailed pigeons opens (Sept. 15-23). Goose hunting in Area 2B (Pacific County) also closes Sept. 15. Hunters should note that written authorization from WDFW is required for all people hunting band-tailed pigeons.

  The bear- and cougar-hunting seasons continue in the region. Hunters are allowed two cougar during the season, which runs through March 15, 2008. Hunters are also allowed two bear during the 2007 general season (Aug. 1-Nov.15), but only one bear can be taken I eastern Washington. While the general season for duck, coot and snipe opens in October, youths will have two days — Sept. 22-23 — to hunt duck and coot.

  Before heading out, hunters should check the Big Game Hunting pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm) and the Waterfowl and Upland Game pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/water.htm) for details.

• Wildlife viewing: In September, Ocean Shores is the place to go for excellent views of migrating shorebirds. Birders staked out on the Point Brown jetty over Labor Day weekend counted more than 150,000 sooty shearwaters, 1,200 brown pelicans, and 9,000 Heermann's gulls. A single, rare Arctic tern was sighted, as well as a number of rock shorebirds and wandering tattlers. To the south on the outer beaches of Ocean Shores, birders found thousands of roosting shorebirds, including 2,000 black-bellied plovers and 30,000 western sandpipers.

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Hatchery coho are now the name of the game for many anglers fishing the lower Columbia River, where all chinook salmon must be released downstream from the mouth of the Lewis River. Chinook retention is also closed on the Lewis River up to the I-5 Bridge and on the Cowlitz River up to the Highway 4 Bridge in Kelso. In addition, the entire Coweeman River is closed to all fishing in September and October.

  While hatchery coho may not draw the near-record crowds that chinook did in recent weeks, the fish are showing up just the same,” said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist. “A big bunch” of coho moved into the Buoy 10 area during the first weekend in September and more are entering the estuary every day.
  
  “ On Labor Day a friend told me he limited on hatchery coho by 8 o’clock in the morning,” Hymer said. “I also heard an account of another boat with 18 fish landed. This fishery will continue to grow and expand into the tributaries over the next few weeks as more fish move in from the ocean.”

  The hatchery coho fishery in the lower Columbia River usually peaks in mid- to late September, with many of those fish weighing “in the teens,” Hymer said.

  “Some anglers have been mistaking these fish for chinook salmon,” he said. “It’s important to know the difference, because anglers are required to release any wild coho they encounter anywhere in the Columbia River and its tributaries from the Hood River Bridge downstream.”

  The daily limit for hatchery coho is two adults per day in the Columbia mainstem, but “bonus limits” are in effect in several tributaries, Hymer said. Anglers can retain up to four adult hatchery coho in the Grays, Deep, Elochoman, Kalama, Lewis and Toutle rivers. In the Cowlitz River, the limit is six hatchery coho per day.

  As of the first week in September, some coho were showing up in the catch in the Lewis, Wind and White Salmon rivers. Most of those rivers also had some catches of chinook and hatchery steelhead, as well.

  While those fisheries continue, retention of chinook salmon on the mainstem Columbia River will remain closed until Oct. 1 below the lower end of Bachelor Island (just upstream from the mouth of the Lewis River) to conserve wild “tule” chinook. The river remains open for chinook retention upstream from the boundary marker on the island.

  During the last full week of retention fishing below Bonneville Dam, 4,548 anglers were checked with 684 adult chinook, 34 adult coho and 33 hatchery steelhead. During the entire month of August, anglers caught 4,550 adult chinook – the third highest number on record – compared to nearly 5,000 last year at the same time. The highest catch was 5,133 chinook in August 2002.

  This year’s fall chinook fishery in the lower Columbia River does, however, appear to have set a new record for angler participation, Hymer said. According to preliminary estimates, anglers made approximately 42,600 fishing trips to catch chinook in August, besting the previous record for the month in 2000.

  Meanwhile, boat anglers fishing the Bonneville Pool have been catching some chinook, as well as steelhead, off the mouth of the White Salmon River and Drano Lake. Hymer noted that approximately 160,000 hatchery steelhead, which have crossed Bonneville Dam but not The Dalles Dam, are still available in those fisheries until the mainstem cools and they re-start their journey upstream.

  Just below Bonneville Dam, bank anglers have been averaging one legal-sized sturgeon for every 6.3 rods, and boat anglers have been catch some legals near Vancouver and Longview.

  Trout anglers should be aware that WDFW recently planted Goose Lake in Skamania County will 1,8000 cutthroats, weighing nearly a pound apiece. Mineral Lake also got 810 rainbows weighing over a half-pound each on Aug. 28. Mineral remains open to fishing through September.
  

• Hunting: Archers with an elk tag have from Sept. 8-21 to take advantage of the early archery elk season in designated game management units. That season overlaps with the archery black-tailed deer season, which runs through the end of September. Also coming up: High buck hunt gets under way Sept. 15-25 in several wilderness areas around the state.
  
  This is also a good time to keep a close eye on early bird-hunting opportunities. The early goose-hunting season runs Sept. 8-9 in Goose Management Area 5 (Klickitat and Yakima counties) and Sept. 8-13 in Goose Management Areas 2A and 3 (including Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Lewis and Skamania counties). Mourning dove season closes in all areas Sept. 15, but the season for band-tailed pigeon runs Sept. 15-23. Forest grouse season continues statewide through Dec. 31.

  For more information on these hunts – plus the special youth hunt for Canada geese coming up Sept. 22-23 – see WDFW’s Waterfowl and Upland Game pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/water.htm).

  Meanwhile the bear and cougar hunting seasons continue in the region. Hunters are allowed two cougar during the season, which runs through March 15, 2008. Hunters are also allowed two bear during the 2007 general season (Aug. 1-Nov.15), but only one bear can be taken in eastern Washington.
  

• Wildlife viewing: After just a few minutes of observation, a birder seated in a gazebo at the Wildlife Botanical Gardens in Brush Prairie noted that a) purple finches are crazy about a certain lavender-colored berry, b) a pair of Anna’s hummingbirds kept flying into a nearby vine maple – presumably containing a nest – and c) a white-breasted nuthatch preferred the fir trees at the edge of the preserve.

  Observations like these are common at the Wildlife Botanical Gardens, a three-acre complex in Clark County operated by Washington State University to teach gardening and landscaping concepts that attract native wildlife. Open to the public, the 12 distinct gardens – with names like Butterfly Garden and Hummingbird Place – are specifically designed to serve as models for homeowners planning their own yards. Want to attract finches or mourning doves? Check out the Cottage Garden. Like hummingbirds? Find out what to plant at Hummingbird Place. For more information, see www.pairiewa.com/wildlife.htm on the Internet.

  Meanwhile, the nocturnal migration of songbirds continues throughout the area. One birder reporting on the Tweeters website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/) counted more than 600 Swainson’s thrush passing overhead, along with 20 yellow warblers and at least three times that many unidentified species of warblers.

  Fish are also on the move. More that 6,100 adult chinook salmon were counted at Bonneville Dam on Aug. 29, nearly twice as many as any previous day this season. Steelhead counts are declining, although the sleek fish are still visible through the fish window at the dam. To monitor daily fish counts from home, check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/fishdata/home.asp. Or stop by the Washington Shore Visitor Complex and see the annual parade of fish for yourself. To get there, take Washington State Highway 14 east to Milepost 40 (about 5 miles from Stevenson) and turn into the Bonneville Dam visitor center. The visitor center is the glass building at the end of the powerhouse.
  

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Now is good time to catch trout and other fish, since fishing pressure is down considerably after Labor Day and water temperatures begin to moderate in lakes and streams, said Curt Vail, WDFW northeast district fish biologist. “Some waters that have been productive – fishing at 30 feet or less – include Deep, Loon and Waitts lakes in Stevens County and Curlew Lake in Ferry County,” he said. “Smaller waters should also start to become active, fish-wise, in September.”

  Kettle River fishing, on the other hand, is probably not so good now, Vail noted. “It is not very floatable due to lower-than-normal flow, with water temperatures in the 70s,” he said. “Whitefish are hanging out near small tributaries in cooler water. The bigger rainbows are not numerous but rainbow in the four- to eight-inch range are available to those willing to wade or fish from the bank.” Vail reminds anglers the Kettle is still on selective gear rules and only two trout over 12 inches can be harvested daily.

  Vail also notes that a public meeting is scheduled Sept. 18, from 7-9 p.m., at the Agricultural Service Center located at 230 Williams Lake Road in Colville, to discuss WDFW’s 2008-09 sportfishing rule fishing regulation proposals. Those proposals, available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/rule_proposals/index.htm, include a springtime closure of the upper dozen miles of Lake Roosevelt to protect spawning redband rainbow trout, and a prohibition to possess anything but rainbow trout at Williams and Hatch lakes in Stevens County and Ellen Lake in Ferry County. Public comments on all proposals will be accepted up to Nov. 2, when the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meets in Chelan to consider adoption.

  WDFW enforcement sergeant Dan Rahn of Spokane reports trout fishing along the Little Spokane River from Chattaroy to Elk has been good. Rahn recently checked several limits of rainbows from eight to 13 inches. Rahn reminds anglers the limit on the river is two trout with an eight-inch minimum size. Also, when fishing with bait, all trout equal to or greater than the minimum size are counted as part of the daily limit, whether kept or released. Rahn also reports the Spokane River is low, “but bass fishermen are doing quite well on the upper river to the state line, which is a catch-and-release section.“
  

• Hunting: Statewide mourning dove season continues through Sept. 15 and WDFW field staff report birds are still in the area, especially near water throughout the south end of the region and in southern Spokane County, and Whitman and Lincoln counties. WDFW enforcement officer Curt Wood of Davenport reports checking dove hunters at Swanson Lakes Wildlife Area in Lincoln County over opening weekend. “There were good numbers of doves in the area and I saw a few hunters who were bagging some doves,” he said. “But I actually saw more doves than hunters. I heard some areas like Lone Pine Road were hit pretty hard, but I didn't check anyone on that road system.”

  Early archery deer hunting continues through Sept. 30 in much of the region. Black bear hunting just opened Sept. 4 in the Blue Mountains and Northeast Washington game management units. Statewide bobcat, fox and raccoon seasons also just opened Sept. 4. Early archery elk hunting opens Sept. 8 in several game management units, and early Canada goose hunting is open Sept. 8-9 throughout the region.

  Forest grouse hunting continues through the end of the year. WDFW field staff report good numbers of ruffed grouse in the foothills of Mt. Spokane, but few hunters have been seen afield. Rabbit and hare season is open through mid-March.

  Hunters can check wildfire restrictions before going afield by calling the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) toll-free fire information line, 800-323-BURN, or checking county-by-county on DNR's fire information webpage, http://www.dnr.wa.gov/fire/index.html.
  

• Wildlife viewing: Now is the time to hike into elk country – the Blue Mountains to the south or the Selkirks to the north – to hear roaring bulls. Bull elk should be into pre-rut activities, which include their unique bulging, creating wallows and gathering harems of cows. The peak of the rut is about the third week of September, but a lot of bulging and displaying occurs before then.

  This is also breeding time for moose, and bulls can be expected to be a little more aggressive than usual. Give them a wide berth when out in moose country, which includes a growing part of the region as moose populations expand. Coyotes are dispersing from family groups that serenaded many summer nights. As these young “song dogs” find their way in the world as solitary hunters, remember to keep small pets and their food secure to avoid attracting problems with the overly bold and hungry.
  

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW district fish biologist Bob Jateff of Omak reports summer chinook salmon fishing on the upper Columbia River above Wells Dam in the Brewster/Bridgeport area has slowed down in recent weeks. “A few fish are still being caught off the mouth of the Okanogan River,” he said, “and upstream toward Chief Joseph Dam.” Jateff reminds anglers there is a non-buoyant rule restriction on the entire summer chinook fishery above Wells Dam. The Okanogan and Similkameen rivers are also open for summer chinook fishing until Sept.15.

  “The Methow River catch-and-release trout season has produced some good fishing for resident rainbow and cutthroat in the 16- to 18-inch range,” Jateff said. “Selective gear rules are in effect and anglers should be aware of certain sections of the Methow that are closed to all fishing as listed in the sport fishing pamphlet.”

  Jateff predicts lowland lake trout fishing will improve as water temperatures start to cool down during the months of September and October. Selective gear lakes such as Blue on the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, Big Twin near Winthrop, and Ell near Tonasket should all start to pick up during this time of year.
  

• Hunting: Early archery deer hunting continues through the end of the month and early archery elk hunting opens Sept. 8 in a few select units in Chelan County. The high buck hunt for muzzleloaders and modern firearm hunters in northcentral Washington wilderness areas runs Sep. 15-25.

  WDFW district wildlife biologist Scott Fitkin of Winthrop says prospects for deer in the Okanogan are average. “It isn’t outstanding hunting,” he said, “but it’s not poor either. The poor fawn recruitment from two winters ago will start to affect the availability of legal bucks this year. But it will be mitigated by reduced harvest last year due to access restrictions from wildfires,” he said. Don't discount recently burned areas, Fitkin said. “Scouting hunters have reported significant deer activity in those areas, even in last year's Tripod fire area.” Fitkin reminds hunters to be very cautious with fire in what remains an extremely dry landscape. “And please be respectful of private land,” he said. “Just because you’re quiet and wearing camo doesn’t mean you can go wherever you want without permission.”

  In addition to ongoing seasons for mourning dove, forest grouse and black bear, early Canada goose hunting is available Sept. 8-9 throughout the region.
  Before going afield, all hunters heading for northcentral Washington should check out the most current wildfire conditions and access closures at http://inciweb.org/state/49/. Hunters in other parts of the region can check conditions by calling the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) toll-free fire information line, 800-323-BURN, or checking county-by-county on DNR's fire information webpage, http://www.dnr.wa.gov/fire/index.html.
  

• Wildlife viewing: Salmon are returning to the Wenatchee River system and that means it will soon be time for the 17th annual award-winning Wenatchee River Salmon Festival in Leavenworth. This year’s event is Sept. 20-23, with the first two days devoted to school groups. The festival is based at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery and features salmon and other wildlife watching at the hatchery and in the stream, and a lot more. There are nature-related art and craft booths, "recycled" salmon sculpture, an animal costume parade, the amazing salmon maze, a Native American encampment, outdoor recreation exhibits and hands-on educational activities. Call 509-548-6662 for more information, or see http://www.salmonfest.org/home.htm .

  The fall raptor migration in this region typically peaks in late September. Near Wenatchee, Burch Mountain is a good place for raptor watching, in particular Eagle Rock. North of Manson, Chelan Ridge is another good location. Through the Chelan Ridge Raptor Migration Project since 1998, Hawk Watch International (HWI) has teamed up with the Okanogan/Wenatchee National Forest to monitor and learn more about raptors migrating through the eastern Cascade Mountains of Washington within the Pacific Coast Flyway. Counts typically range between 2,000 and 3,000 migrants of up to 17 species per season. The most commonly seen species are the sharp-shinned hawk, red-tailed hawk, Cooper's hawk, northern harrier, golden eagle, and American kestrel. HWI interpreters are generally available six days per week throughout the monitoring season. Contact HWI at 1-800-726-HAWK (4295) to arrange a visit.
  

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: WDFW fish biologist Joe Hymer reports Columbia River chinook salmon fishing in the Hanford Reach near the Tri-Cities is still on the slow side. Fish passage over McNary Dam totaled 5,105 adult and 984 jack fall chinook through Aug. 31. “Incidental steelhead catches at Ringold are still on the high side with reports of bright fall chinook being seen the last few days,” he said. “River flows have been high during the week with a drop on weekends, making it tough on Ringold bank anglers. Traditionally salmon fishing should start to pick up by the second week in September.”

  No creel reports are in yet from the Yakima River salmon fishery that opened Sept.1 from the Highway 240 bridge upstream to 400 feet below Prosser Dam and from the Highway 223 bridge at Granger upstream to Sunnyside (Parker) Dam. Most of the best fishing is expected later this month. Daily limit is six salmon, but no more than two adults (24 inches or more if chinook, 20 inches or more if coho) may be retained. All areas of the Yakima River are closed to angling for steelhead, hatchery or wild.

  Trout fishing remains available in many southcentral region rivers and streams, including the Yakima, Naches, Little Naches, and Bumping rivers in Yakima County, and the upper reaches of Taneum Creek, Naneum Creek, Manastash Creek, and the Forks of the Teanaway in Kittitas County. Most rivers and creeks have special regulations like selective gear rules that prohibit bait. Most also have statewide trout catch limits of two trout with an 8-inch minimum size. Anglers should check the regulation pamphlet for all details.
  

• Hunting: Early archery deer hunting continues through Sept. 30 in much of the region. Early archery elk hunting opens Sept. 8 in several game management units, and early Canada goose hunting is open Sept. 8-9 throughout the region. Statewide mourning dove, forest grouse, and rabbit and hare seasons continue.

  Hunters can check wildfire restrictions before going afield by calling the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) toll-free fire information line, 800-323-BURN, or checking county-by-county on DNR's fire information webpage, http://www.dnr.wa.gov/fire/index.html.
  

• Wildlife viewing: Wildlife listening, rather than viewing, can be prime now, at least when it comes to the region’s abundant elk populations. Bull elk are beginning to bugle at this time to establish breeding territories. The Raven's Roost area in the Little Naches River drainage in the far northwestern corner of Yakima County (follow Hwy. 410 northwest of Naches) is traditionally one of the best places to listen. For the best opportunities, arrive just before daylight (or plan to camp in one of the many forest service campgrounds in the area), and walk the Cougar Valley trail. Elk may be visible on the open hillsides until about 7 a.m., when they move down into timber. But their bugling might be heard throughout the day, particularly early and late.

  Fall bird movements are in full swing. Watch for flocks of everything from nighthawks to sparrows flying high near sunset. Neotropical birds, like warblers and vireos, are following summer, moving through the region on their way south. Many hummingbirds migrate south at higher elevations along the Cascades Crest. The meadows around Chinook pass are a great place to view late season hummers, which are moving down the mountains with the blooms of nectar-producing flowers.