September 6-19, 2006

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

WILDFIRE UPDATE (Sept. 12) – The Tucannon River Road is now open to the Tucannon Guard Station 8.5 miles south of The Last Resort RV Park, allowing access to WDFW's Wooten Wildlife Area and use of six of its nine campgrounds (three are located beyond the road closure.) The Umatilla Forest, including the Washington portion of the Wenaha Tucannon Wilderness Area, remains closed.

For hunters and fishers, September traditionally marks the start of archery deer and elk seasons, goose hunting and new angling opportunities in rivers throughout the state.
This year is no different, except that wildfires may limit access to recreational areas on both sides of the Cascade Range.

Major wildfires burning from southeast Washington to the Olympic Peninsula may have a significant effect on people’s plans to spend time outdoors in the weeks ahead, said Dave Ware, game manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

“Given the dry conditions and the number of major wildfires already burning, everyone who plans to spend time outdoors needs to pay close attention to local fire conditions,” Ware said. “People need to check for access restrictions and closures before they leave home. Obviously, it’s also critical that they avoid doing anything that would spark another fire.”

Since last month, wildfires have prompted the U.S. Forest Service and other landowners to close many lands that would otherwise be available for public hunting and other types of outdoor recreation. WDFW recently closed access for most of the Wooten Wildlife Area in southeast Washington due to the advancing Columbia Complex Wildland Fire that has burned nearly 80,000 acres.

“Some hunters may find that their usual areas are closed this year,” Ware said. “This may be a good year to scout out some new areas.”

Access restrictions and other information about other public land wildfires currently burning in Washington state can be found at http://inciweb.org/state/49/. Access restrictions on other private and public lands are posted on the Washington Department of Natural Resources webpage (http://www.dnr.wa.gov/fire/index.html) and are also available by calling 800-323-BURN.

The early archery season for elk starts Sept. 8 in many areas of the state, followed by the goose-hunting season Sept. 9. Hunts already in progress include the early archery season for deer, and general seasons for grouse, bear and cougar. For more information, see the regional reports below, WDFW’s Big Game Hunting pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm) or the Upland Game and Waterfowl pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/water.htm).

“Hunting for deer or elk is a challenge under these hot, dry conditions,” Ware said. “It’s hard to approach the animals without them darting. Also, they tend to become nocturnal when it’s hot.”

Goose hunting, on the other hand, should be good right from the start, said Don Kraege, WDFW waterfowl section manager. “Weather conditions don’t really affect the geese,” he said. “Goose populations are healthy and these birds haven’t seen a hunter since last January.”

See the regional reports below for additional information on fishing, hunting and wildlife-watching opportunities throughout the state:

North Puget Sound

• Fishing: Saltwater anglers continue to hook coho salmon in portions of Puget Sound, but the wait is on for an anticipated run of ocean silvers.

  “About now is when we normally expect to see a big push of coho from the ocean into Puget Sound,” said Tim Flint, WDFW salmon resource manager. “The coho catch has picked up some in Sekiu and Port Angeles, so we should start to see those ocean fish make their way into the Sound in the next couple of weeks. “Hopefully they will be biting.”

  In marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay) and 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) the coho catch has been fair. Creel checks at the Everett boat ramp showed 466 anglers hooked 36 coho Sept. 2, while 472 anglers hauled in 67 silvers the following day.

  Anglers fishing in Marine Area 8-1 and outside the Tulalip Bay "bubble" salmon fishery in Marine Area 8-2 have a daily limit of two salmon and must release chinook. Anglers fishing the Tulalip bubble, which is open each week from Friday through noon Monday, also have a two-salmon daily limit but can keep chinook measuring at least 22 inches.

  Salmon fishing has tapered off a bit in Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), but anglers dropping a line in the area are still finding some nice coho, said Flint. Creel checks at the Armeni boat ramp indicate 66 anglers hooked eight silvers on Sept. 1, while 82 anglers were checked with 11 coho the next day.

  In Marine Area 10, anglers fishing outside the boundaries of the Sinclair Inlet fishery have a daily limit of two salmon, with no minimum size limit, and must release chinook and chum salmon. Anglers fishing the Sinclair Inlet fishery also have a daily limit of two salmon and must release chum, but can keep chinook measuring at least 22 inches. Anglers in both areas can keep chum beginning Sept. 16.

  Flint reminds anglers to check out the regulations for each fishery in WDFW's 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm).

  Crabbing has closed in all but one marine area in the region. Only the eastern and northern portions of Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands) remain open while the other marine areas undergo a catch assessment. In early October, WDFW will announce the reopening of waters where the catch has not met area quotas. In the meantime, crabbers can drop pots in the two open portions of Marine Area 7 Wednesday through Saturday each week through Sept. 30. See WDFW’s sport-crabbing website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crab/) for more information.

  To participate in the fishery, all crabbers age 15 or older must obtain and carry a current Washington fishing license. In addition, all crab fishers – regardless of age – must obtain and carry a catch record card and a crab licensing endorsement to fish for crab in Puget Sound. The crab endorsement costs $3 for crabbers age 15 and over, but is free to fishers under age 15.

  Coonstripe and pink shrimp fishing also remains open throughout the region, and shrimpers can drop a pot in marine areas 8-1, 8-2, the northern and central portions of area 7 and a portion of area 9. Details on the fishery are available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/crabreg/.

  Portions of the Stillaguamish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish and Skagit rivers recently opened for salmon fishing. Anglers might be able to find some early coho but those freshwater fisheries aren’t expected to heat up until the end of the month.

  Anglers fishing the Skykomish, Snoqualmie and Stillaguamish rivers have a daily limit of two salmon measuring at least 12 inches and must release chinook and pink. Anglers fishing the Skagit River are allowed three salmon daily measuring at least 12 inches, and must release chinook. Additional stretches of the Skagit River open to salmon fishing Sept. 16. Anglers should check WDFW's 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) for more information on those and other river fisheries in the region.

  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.

• Hunting: Hunting seasons for bear and cougar continue in the region. Hunters are allowed two cougar during the hunting season, which runs through March 15, 2007. Hunters are also allowed two bear during the 2006 general season (Aug. 1-Nov. 15), but only one bear can be taken in eastern Washington.

  The early archery season for deer also is under way in select western Washington Game Management Units, while the early season for elk gets going Sept. 8.

  The statewide forest grouse and dove hunting seasons are in full swing. Grouse can be hunted from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, while the dove hunt lasts through Sept. 15. And an early Canada goose hunt begins Sept. 9 in Goose Management Areas 1 and 3.

  Before going afield, hunters are encouraged to check out the 2006 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm) and the 2006-2007 Waterfowl and Upland Game Regulation pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/water.htm) for details.

• Wildlife viewing: Whale watchers in the region have had plenty to observe as resident and transient orcas continue to cruise the waters off San Juan Island. Further east, a minke whale also was spotted foraging in Guemes Channel. The minke surfaced three times and kept changing directions, an observer reported to the Orca Network (http://www.orcanetwork.org/sightings/map.html).

  Birders also have been busy in the region. One birder reporting to Tweeters website (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/) visited Marymoor Park in King County and spotted a few Pacific-slope flycatchers, four purple martins, several black-capped chickadees, warbling vireos and a Lincoln’s sparrow. The birder also spotted a juvenile Cooper’s hawk chasing crows and harassing an adult bald eagle.

  Elsewhere, a birder spotted a short-eared owl hunting in the Snoqualmie Valley near Fall City. The owl, which was likely searching for small mammals such as rodents and rabbits, spent most of its time near a “brushy area” but occasionally circled an open area as well. “At one point it flew within 20 yards of me,” the birder reported.
  

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

• Fishing: As salmon fishing begins to wind down along most of the ocean coast, the hot spot continues to be south end, according to Wendy Beeghley, WDFW fish biologist. Ilwaco (Marine Area 1) anglers were catching an average of about one fish per person during through the week of Sept. 3. “Fishing was good over the holiday weekend while effort was high,” she said. “The day after Labor Day, however, only 26 boats went out.” Fishing remains open in Marine Area 1 through Sept. 30.

  In Westport (Marine Area 2), the count ranged from half to less than three-quarters of a fish per angler. Marine areas 2, 3 (LaPush) and 4 (Neah Bay) will be open for salmon fishing through Sept. 17. However, a portion of Marine Area 3 (LaPush) will open Sept. 23 through Oct. 8 for a late season salmon fishery. It is open daily with a two-fish combined limit. See WDFW's 2006/2007 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) for details on boundaries and rules.

  In nearby Willapa Bay, the numbers of chinook have been multiplying. Based on WDFW catch counts, 18 chinook were caught on Aug. 12. On Aug. 20, the count was 37 and jumped to 62 on Sept. 2. “Anglers are having good success there,” said Tim Flint, WDFW statewide salmon manager. “The waters are generally calm and it makes for a nice day of fishing.” Also, a coho-only fishery will open in Grays Harbor from Sept. 16 through Sept. 30. The daily limit is two fish, with a minimum size of 12 inches.

  A good sign of the coho’s movement was anglers’ success in Sekiu, noted Flint. The catch count for Sept. 2-3 found one in three anglers reeling in a fish.

  The next two weeks should also be good for coho fishing in Puget Sound, according to Flint. “Mid-September through early October is traditionally when these fish are heading from the ocean to the rivers,” he said. Salmon fishing also open in marine areas 11 (Vashon Island to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge), 12 (Hood Canal), 13 (South Puget Sound) and 10 (Bremerton), with a daily limit of two fish.

  The Puyallup River system is a popular fishing spot right now for chinook and coho, according the Hal Michael, WDFW fish biologist. While the catch is fair, the anticipation high, he said. “We’re waiting for some rainfall to drive more fish into the rivers,” he said. “The general belief is, they should be moving soon. They just need an environmental push.”

  The Skokomish River chinook fishery is seeing plenty of action, Michael said. He noted anglers who wear polarized glasses tend to be hitting well because they can see lots of fish in the water. “The glare on the water’s surface can make you think they aren’t there,” he said. Anglers fishing the Skokomish River are reminded that terminal gear (hooks, weights, lures or baits) and lines must not come within 25 feet of tribal gillnets. This fishery closes Sept. 13.

  Recreational crab fishing remains open in marine areas 4 (Neah Bay), 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) and 13 (South Puget Sound) seven days a week through Feb. 28. In early October, WDFW will announce if crab fishing will reopen in other waters where the catch has not met area quotas.

  The Kids Fishing Catch and Release Pond will open at the Puyallup Fair on Sept. 8 and run all three weekends, Fri.-Sun. The pond will be open from noon to 6 p.m. with a one-hour break around 3 p.m. Kids 12 and under can drop a line for catchable-sized rainbow trout provided by the Puyallup hatchery. The pond is located in the “Go Play Outdoors” building, southwest of the fairground’s Blue Gate.

• Hunting: Archers will take to the field for elk Sept. 8-21, while the archery season for deer continues through the end of the month in designated game management units. The numbers look good for both deer and elk, according to Jack Smith, WDFW regional wildlife manager. “Conditions are extremely dry, however, causing many areas to be closed for access,” he said. He advised hunters to check on access in the area they plan to hunt.

  The first goose-hunting season in Management Area 2B—which includes only Pacific County this year—also started on Sept. 1 and runs through Sept 15 before reopening Oct. 14. Smith noted that hunters must pass a goose-identification test and have a written authorization from WDFW to participate in the hunt. Similar authorization is not required for Management Area 3, which covers the rest of the region. That goose season will be open Sept. 9-14 before reopening Oct. 14. Statewide forest grouse season also continues, having gotten underway on Sept. 1. It runs through Dec. 31.

• Wildlife viewing: It's a good time of year to head for the Olympic Mountains, according to WDFW Wildlife Biologist Kelly McAllister. “Flowers are still blooming in the alpine areas and a variety of butterflies can be found,” he said. Blue coppers, Mariposa coppers, sooty hairstreaks, great spangled fritillaries and Milbert's tortoiseshells are among the butterflies likely to be encountered at high elevations.

  Down around Puget Sound, cabbage whites, margined whites, woodland skippers, and an occasional California tortoiseshell are more likely to be seen. California tortoiseshells appear in the lowlands in March and April. They then move to higher elevations, reappearing again near sea level in August or September. They often roost in shrubs or trees. With their wings folded up over their backs, they look like a bark chip, said McAllister. “But when they spread their wings, you get a view of the brilliant orange on the dorsal surfaces.”

  With the approach of fall comes the peak of the southward migration for many birds, especially the shorebirds seen along coasts and wetland areas. Birders have been making treks to prime spots such as coastal areas in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties or the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge in Thurston County. They have been rewarded with numerous sightings of godwits, sandpipers, yellowlegs, plovers, dowitchers, shovelers and red knots.

  Touch and learn about live marine critters at the Touch Trays at the Puyallup Fair. The trays, sponsored by WDFW, will be open Sept. 8-10 only. The featured animals—including moon snails, urchins, geoducks, sea stars, sea cucumbers and some more – are collected off Port Angeles. Alan Rammer, WDFW environmental education specialist, will be on hand to answer questions.
  

Southwest Washington:

• Fishing: Columbia River anglers who find the fishing slow at Buoy 10 might want to test the action a bit further upriver. In August, sportfishers caught nearly 5,000 adult chinook salmon below Bonneville Dam – the second highest catch on record. (The record is 5,100 fish in 2002.) And with fall chinook counts at Bonneville now nearing their peak, anglers can expect more good fishing in the lower Columbia River in the coming weeks, said Joe Hymer, WDFW fish biologist.

  “For whatever reason, the fish didn’t stop at Buoy 10 this year,” Hymer said. “It’s happened before, but it’s still disappointing for anglers who fished that area. On the other hand, a lot of those fish have been showing up in the catch above Tongue Point.”

  Based on creels survey conducted during the first three days of September, boat anglers fishing the Columbia mainstem did best from Woodland to Vancouver, averaging an adult chinook for every three rods. Overall, boat anglers averaged an adult chinook for every 4.7 rods on the lower river while bank anglers landed one chinook for every 39 rods.

  The largest chinook checked in early September weighed “in the upper 40s, with a lot of fish in the 30s,” Hymer said. “Some fish caught as far upriver as Kalama still had sea lice on them. They obviously hadn’t spent much time in freshwater.”

  Although some mainstem anglers have also been catching good-sized hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead, Hymer said most are targeting chinook in deep water with wobblers and large gear. He cautioned boat anglers anchoring in the mainstem Columbia to avoid the ship channel and be alert for large vessel traffic. Also, with coho running large this year, anglers should check twice before securing their catch, he said.

  “We’re seeing a substantial number of unmarked coho in anglers’ creels this fall,” said Hymer, noting that those fish are now listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. All wild coho must be released from the mainstem Columbia and its tributaries from Buoy 10 upstream to the Hood River Bridge.

  On the Cowlitz River, anglers have been taking home a mixed bag of fall chinook, hatchery coho, summer steelhead and cutthroat trout. Thirty-six boat anglers recently contacted from the Interstate 5 bridge downstream had 11 chinook, 11 hatchery steelhead and one adult coho. Anglers checked on the Kalama and Lewis rivers had a similar array of fish.

  Although more than 10,000 chinook salmon are now moving past Bonneville Dam each day, Hymer said salmon fishing in the lower Columbia River should remain good through September. Then the action will shift to the Bonneville Pool, its tributaries and the Hanford Reach.

  Trout anglers may want to bear in mind that Skate Creek and the Tilton River were each planted with 1,400 half-pound rainbows Aug. 29. In addition, hatchery sea run cutthroats are biting on the Cowlitz River.

• Hunting: For archers with an elk tag, hunting options will increase Sept. 8 when the early archery elk season gets under way in selected game management units (GMU) throughout the state. That season, which runs through Sept. 21, overlaps the archery deer season that continues through Sept. 30. Before going afield,
  archers are advised to check WDFW's Big Game Hunting pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm) for regulations governing hunting those species in specific GMUs.

  Archery hunters are reminded that the popular Grayback GMU has been changed from "588" to "388" to facilitate mule-deer-style management in this area of mixed deer genetics. In accordance with that change, there is now a three-point antler restriction on bucks in the Grayback. The change also means that an eastern Washington elk tag rather than western is now required for elk hunters in this unit. Hunters interested in more details regarding this change in management should review "Frequently Asked Questions: 2006 hunting rules change from Klickitat County Game Management Unit (Grayback)" on the Hunting page of WDFW's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/faq/muledeer_changefaq.htm).

  The early goose-hunting season starts Sept. 9 throughout the region. “Hunting should be good in the Vancouver lowlands and the Shillapoo Wildlife Area,” said Don Kraege, WDFW waterfowl section manager.

  Meanwhile, statewide hunting seasons for forest grouse, bear and cougar are under way. Eric Homan, WDFW wildlife biologist, recommends that grouse hunters concentrate on areas with brushy deciduous vegetation. The summer has been dry in southwest Washington and the birds will likely be concentrated in riparian areas or on the north sides of hills where moisture keeps vegetation more lush through the summer months. Early in the season, annual broods are likely to remain intact, so continue hunting in areas where a single bird has been located.

  Whether stalking deer or grouse, hunters should be mindful that they are not the only people enjoying the outdoors at this time of year, said Brian Calkins, acting wildlife manager for WDFW’s southwest region. “It’s important that hunters remember there are still a lot of other folks in the woods right now – and most of them are not aware of hunting seasons,” Calkins said.

• Wildlife viewing: A small white bird with yellow legs and energetic feeding habits has been attracting attention at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in recent days. Several veteran birders have identified the bird as a juvenile snowy egret, a rare sighting in Washington even in its adult form. At first blush, several birders thought the downy bird they spotted in the River “S” Unit of the refuge was a juvenile little blue heron. But that seemed unlikely after a closer look. “We eliminated Little Blue Heron as a possibility based on the combination of yellow legs (Little Blue’s legs should be more greenish at this age), yellow on the culmen, a lower mandible that was over 50 per black and rather animated feeding behavior,” one observer reported to “Tweeters,” the online birding site (http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/).

  Other birders also commented on the egret’s feeding style. “Each time we saw the bird it was most active as it darted and pranced around for food,” one wrote. “This behavior is wrong for a Little Blue Heron . . . which tend to feed much slower, stealth-like and methodical similar to a Great Blue Heron.” Another argument for declaring the bird a snowy egret is that two of them were sited in the refuge at Rest Lake in August 2004. “It may be possible that there were a pair of Snowy Egrets undetected that bred somewhere in the nearby area … but that hasn’t been proven yet,” the second birder wrote.

  One undisputable fact is that there are plenty of other birds to see at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Birds recently sighted there in a single day include three great egrets, 15 northern pintail, four greater yellowlegs, 50 western sandpipers, a Wilson’s snipe and more than 125 Vaux’s swifts.

  Speaking of Vaux’s swifts, thousands of the small birds have once again taken up temporary residence in the chimney of a house in the old west side of Longview. Each night, just before sundown, neighbors gather to watch a funnel-cloud of swifts form, then disappear down the chimney at the house on the 1400 block of 24th Avenue. “Every time we go out and see them, we’re just absolutely moved by the majesty of the whole thing,” one neighbor told the Longview Daily News.
  

Eastern Washington:

• Fishing: Snake River steelhead fishing is under way in the south end of the region, and at least a few big fish have been landed. Glen Mendel, WDFW district fish biologist, said the best catches usually come later in the season, but diligent steelheaders with time to try many spots will not be disappointed. The daily catch limit is three hatchery steelhead (rainbow trout over 20 inches marked with a clipped fin). Any wild (unmarked) steelhead, or chinook and coho salmon must be released.

  Steelheaders and others out in southeast Washington are bound to deal with smoky conditions as the Columbia Complex Wildland Fires continue to burn through the Umatilla National Forest and surrounding land. For information about road closures and other restrictions due to the wildfires, check
  http://inciweb.org/incident/443/ or call the Fire Information Office at 509-337-6059.

  With dry conditions throughout the region, open fires are currently prohibited on all WDFW owned and managed water access sites. Anglers are urged to be extra careful with anything that could start a fire.

• Hunting: Early archery deer hunting continues through Sept. 30 in much of the region, and black bear hunting opened Sept. 5 in the Blue Mountains and Northeast Washington game management units. The early archery elk hunting season opens Sept. 8 in select units, and early Canada goose hunting is open Sept. 9-10 throughout the region.

  But wildfires, and associated road restrictions are challenging some of those hunters, particularly in the Blue Mountains to the south. The Columbia Complex Wildland Fires continue to burn through the Umatilla National Forest, which is closed to all use. Most of WDFW’s Wooten Wildlife Area is also closed to use due to the Tucannon River Road closure. The Wooten’s 2,342-acre Hartsock Unit, north of Blind Grade and west of Oliphant Road, is still open. Maps of the Hartsock Unit are available at the Last Resort RV Park (Tucannon River Road and Blind Grade), which may be only place left to camp in the area. Mountain Road, along Scoggin Ridge on the northeast side of the Wooten, is open down to the forest boundary. Foot traffic is allowed from Mountain Road through last year’s burned area down into Tumalum Creek. For updates on the fire and access closures, call the Columbia Complex Information Office at 509-337-6059, or check http://inciweb.org/incident/443/.

  Hunters in other parts of the region can check conditions before they go 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.

  Kevin Robinette, WDFW regional wildife program manager, said dry conditions throughout the region means open fires are currently prohibited on all WDFW owned and managed lands.

  “We urge all hunters to be extra careful with anything that could start a fire,” Robinette said. “This is also the year to try new hunting ground. There are lots of game management units open where fires have not closed access and we encourage hunters to try them if their traditional spots are not available.”

  New hunters who need to complete the state-required hunter education course can register for a special three-day “jamboree” course to be held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the Boy Scouts of America Camp Cowles on Diamond Lake in Pend Oreille County, just north of Spokane. Registration will be taken in person Sept. 11-15at the WDFW Eastern Regional office, 2315 N. Discovery Place, in Spokane Valley; and Sept. 16 at Sportsman’s Warehouse, 14014 E. Indiana Ave. in Spokane Valley. Registration will also be available through Sept. 17 by contacting Newport area hunter education volunteer instructor Greg Koehn at 509-447-2604, or WDFW Eastside Hunter Education Coordinator Chuck Ray in the WDFW Northcentral Regional office in Ephrata at 509-754-4624 Ext. 23.

• Wildlife viewing: Fall migration for birds is in full swing now, said WDFW central District Wildlife Biologist Howard Ferguson. More than 50 American white pelicans and 30 double-crested cormorants were recently spotted at Phileo Lake, east of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Spokane County. Other birds seen on or around Phileo include: long-billed dowitchers, Baird's or western/semi-palmated sandpipers, eared grebes, mallards, gadwalls, blue-winged and green-winged teals, redhead and ring-necked ducks, common mergansers, Canada geese, northern shovelers, northern pintails, white-crowned and chipping sparrows, house wrens, Cassin's vireos, and Wilson's warblers. Ferguson noted a juvenile osprey is still spending time in a nest at Phileo. The Tower Mountain area just south of Spokane recently yielded glimpses of Hammond's, dusky, and Pacific-slope flycatchers; warbling vireos; yellow-rumped and Macgillivray's warblers; white-crowned, chippings, and song sparrows; Townsend's solitaires; American pipits; gray catbirds; black-chinned hummingbirds; and western bluebirds.

North Central Washington:

• Fishing: Cooler nights are slowly making for cooler water temperatures in the region’s Columbia Basin, and that means fish are biting. Walleye action at Moses Lake and Potholes Reservoir is picking up, along with smallmouth and largemouth bass. The third annual Mar Don Resort Marathon Dock Fishing Tournament on Potholes Reservoir is Sept. 22-24. Cash prizes from the $30 per angler entry fee will be awarded for top catches of perch, crappie, bluegill, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, trout, walleye, catfish, channel catfish, bullhead and carp. See http://www.mardonresort.com for more information and entry forms.

  Bob Jateff, WDFW Okanogan district fish biologist, said fishing on the open section of the Methow River has been good for both rainbow and cutthroat trout up to 18 inches. Those fish are being caught on both flies and spinners, he said. Jateff reminds anglers it’s a catch-and-release fishery with selective gear rules, and it closes Sept. 30.

  Jateff also said the salmon season on the upper Columbia River system, including the Okanogan and Similkameen rivers, has been spotty with fish in the 10- to 15-pound range still being caught. The area from the first Hwy. 97 Bridge upstream of the mouth of the Okanogan River to the Hwy. 97 Bridge just below the town of Oroville, and the Similkameen River from the mouth to the Hwy. 7 Bridge in Oroville, closes to salmon fishing Sept. 15.

  “Fishing this month and next should pick up as water temperatures in some of the selective gear lakes start to cool down,” Jateff said. “Big Twin, near Winthrop, and Blue in the Sinlahekin should both be good.”

  Davis Lake near Winthrop opened Sept. 1 with catches of rainbows up to 14 inches. Both Cougar and Campbell lakes were also set to open on Sept. 1, but have restricted access due to wildfires. Contact the U.S. Forest Service Methow Ranger District at 509-996-4000 for further information about access to these fishing lakes.

  Jateff noted alpine lake fishing for cutthroat trout is usually good at this time of the year, but anglers planning backcountry trips should first check for wildfire access closures. See http://inciweb.org/state/49/ for the latest on northcentral Washington fires.

• Hunting: The forest grouse, black bear, and early archery deer hunting seasons are currently under way, while the early archery elk hunting season opens Sept. 8 in a few select units in Chelan County. The early Canada goose hunting season is available Sept. 9-10 throughout the region, and the high buck hunt for muzzleloaders and modern firearm hunters in northcentral Washington wilderness areas runs Sept. 15-25.

  Northcentral Washington’s wildfires, however, are challenging some of those hunters to find different places to pursue game this year. WDFW Okanogan District Wildlife Biologist Scott Fitkin reminds hunters that major access restrictions are in effect in the western half of Okanogan County because of the Tripod Compex Fire and other fires burning in the area.

  “As of Sept. 6, all of unit 203, most of unit 224, much of unit 215, and the eastern third of unit 218 are actively burning and/or closed to public access,” Fitkin said. “The closures encompass one of the most popular and heavily used mule deer hunting areas in the state and one of our premier forest grouse areas. Smoke conditions are not just bothersome but downright unhealthy, particularly in the Methow Valley. Unfortunately I don't anticipate significant changes in conditions or access anytime soon.”

  Fitkin said the entire Pasayten Wilderness Area is closed, which means high buck hunters who usually go there will need to try some of the other open areas this year.

  WDFW Chelan District Wildlife Biologist Beau Patterson said 90 percent of the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area remains open to high buck hunting, as well as the Lake Chelan Recreation Area, part of the Henry Jackson Wilderness Area, and the Olympic Peninsula Wilderness Area.

  Fitkin said serious archery deer hunters are already taking advantage of opportunities in the eastern part of the district, mainly east of the Okanogan River. The southwest part of the district, game management units 239 and 242, are also mostly open, although smoke is oppressive at times.

  For areas that remain open but near fires, Fitkin said hunting prospects are unknown. “I'm not sure how fire displacement of animals will play out on the landscape in the short term,” he said. “In the long term, these fires will enhance habitat and game populations and hunting opportunity.”

  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.

  Meanwhile, Patterson reports black bear hunters have been “doing pretty well” in Chelan County. “Hunters are finding bears primarily along salmon spawning streams and in higher elevation berry fields,” he said. “Forest grouse hunting has been slow but some birds are being found. Archery deer opened hot and dry, with little harvest.”

• Wildlife viewing: Salmon are returning to the Wenatchee River system and that means it will soon be time for the 16th annual, award-winning Wenatchee River Salmon Festival in Leavenworth. This year’s event, with a theme of “Homeward Bound” is Sept. 28-Oct. 1, with the first two days devoted to school groups. Based at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, the festival features salmon and other wildlife watching at the hatchery and in the stream. 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, as well as a reptile and raptor show. One of the most exciting new features this year comes from "Inspirations of the Forest,” a traveling Smithsonian exhibit featuring the 100 year centennial of the U.S. Forest Service. Call 509-548-6662 for more information, or see http://www.salmonfest.org/home.htm.

South Central Washington:

• Fishing: Southcentral region rivers and streams continue to provide good trout fishing, 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.

  No creel reports are in yet from the Yakima River salmon fishery that opened Sept.1. The fishery is open 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.

  Late September is also the best bet for salmon fishing on the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River near the Tri-Cities.

• Hunting: In addition to ongoing seasons for forest grouse, black bear, and early archery deer hunting, early archery elk hunting opens Sept. 8 in select game management units, and early Canada goose hunting is available Sept. 9-10 throughout the region.

  With dry conditions throughout the region, open fires are currently prohibited on all WDFW owned and managed lands. Hunters are urged to be extra careful with anything that could start a fire.

  Hunters can check conditions before they go 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 bugling 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.