OLYMPIA– As summer slips into fall, the changing season brings exceptional opportunities for fishers, hunters and wildlife watchers in the form of Hanford fall chinook salmon, flocks of Canada geese and scores of migrating sea birds.

Fall chinook bound for the Hanford Reach offer one of the Columbia River's most important salmon fishing opportunities. Although the fishery officially opened in mid-August the action heats up through September as returning fish reach the upper river system in large numbers mid-month and the run peaks in late September to early October.

"It should be getting better all the time through September," says Joe Hymer, Region 5 fish biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

As of the first few days of the month, 71,000 fall chinook had passed Bonneville Dam–well above the 10-year average of 67,730. Dam counts reached 15,000 fish per day over Labor Day weekend.

The Vernita Area is a favorite spot for anglers, but boats also can be launched at White Bluff and Ringold for fishing from Ringold to the Priest Rapids Dam.

"It's basically a boat fishing show," said Jim Cummins, WDFW Region 3 fish biologist. "Trolling plugs are very popular but some people prefer to anchor and drift with salmon egg skeins."

Lucky anglers are rewarded with a hefty catch– the fish can top 30 pounds and typically exceed 10 pounds, Cummins said. Anglers who want to keep tabs on the action may check creel survey results under the Fishing in Southwest Washington section of the WDFW Website.

Meanwhile, hunters also face encouraging prospects in the early Canada goose season underway statewide through Sept. 12.

Although breeding counts are down slightly from last year they still are well above long-term averages, especially in western Washington, says Don Kraege, WDFW waterfowl section manager.

"The opener is looking as good or better than last year," Kraege said, adding that long-term numbers are especially strong in northcentral and southwest Washington. Goose numbers on the upswing in other areas, as well, especially in Whatcom and Skagit counties. For hunters who can get access permission from private property owners, rural areas in Puget Sound counties are also worth a try.

Hunting is open only for Canada geese, not white-fronted geese, and both state and federal stamps are required, in addition to a hunting license. The federal stamp is available at an increasing number of license dealers, as well as post offices, and also may be ordered on the Internet or by phone. Details on these and other hunting requirements are noted in the WDFW "Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons" pamphlet, available at WDFW regional offices and license dealers statewide.

Wildlife watchers should think about going to sea this month for excellent opportunities to view pelagic birds, those that spend their entire lives on the open ocean. September is a good time to see these birds because many, like sooty shearwaters and storm petrels, are migrating in large numbers up the Pacific Coast. Pack a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope for an outing to the coast and scan the area where the farthest waves form to catch a glimpse of these birds. Westport's south jetty observation towers, Olympic National Park's Ozette-Cape Alava area, Makah Bay and Cape Flattery are among the best viewing spots from land. For even better viewing take a pelagic birding trip by charter boat – check with local coastal chambers of commerce in Ilwaco, Westport and other coastal towns for lists of private operators offering tours. Audubon Society chapters and the Seattle Aquarium also arrange such trips.

Other opportunities this month include:

High buck hunts: The first deer hunting season for modern firearm hunters and muzzleloader deer tag holders opens Sept. 15 in several U.S. Forest Service wilderness areas and runs through Sept. 25. The 11-day opportunity provides a backcountry experience for hunters looking for a challenge in a scenic setting. Open areas include the Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak, Pasayten and Olympic Peninsula wilderness areas, and the Lake Chelan Recreation Area. Newly opened this year is the portion of the Henry Jackson Wilderness Area west of the Pacific Crest Trail. Any buck taken in the hunt must have at least three antler points on one side. This year is expected to bring better than-usual opportunities for mule deer east of the Cascade crest because of increasing buck ratios and improving deer survival resulting from two mild winters, says Rolf Johnson, WDFW deer and elk manager. With black bear hunting also open and bear populations at high levels, Johnson suggests that deer hunters may want to buy a black bear tag before they set out. Hunters are reminded that the dry season may result in access restrictions as fire danger increases in some parts of the state.

Early fall fishing: Several eastside lakes offer some of their best fishing this month before they close Sept. 30. As waters start to cool, fish that have been lethargic in the summer start to bite again. Early fall insect hatches in some areas make for excellent dry fly fishing now. Southwest Spokane County's Amber, Badger and Williams lakes usually produce some nice rainbow trout now. (Anglers are reminded that Amber Lake is a selective gear fishery with a limit of two trout, minimum size 14 inches. Trout with missing adipose fins must be released.) The Pend Oreille chain of lakes in Pend Oreille and Stevens counties remain open through October. In the northcentral region, Blue and Park lakes in Grant County and Alta Lake in Okanogan County are in their last month of rainbow and brown trout catches. The alpine lakes in this region continue producing cutthroat and rainbow catches through October. In the southwest part of the state, the mainstem Columbia River is still producing good numbers of hatchery steelhead, chinook and coho.

Bull trout viewing: In Yakima County now is the time to see bull trout spawning through Sept. 12 at the lower road crossing of Deep Creek, a tributary of Bumping Lake, and through Sept. 20 in Indian Creek, a tributary of Rimrock Lake. Since the fish are a federally protected endangered species, it is illegal to harm or harass them. Viewers should keep their distance and avoid throwing objects at the fish or stepping in creek bottom gravel where redds (the nests where the fish deposit their eggs) are located. In the same region, spring chinook salmon have been spawning in the American, Little Naches and Bumping rivers and will be spawning in the Naches and Yakima rivers. The portion of the Yakima below Lake Easton is a good area for mid-month viewing.

Raptor viewing: Migrating raptors are a breathtaking bonus to many high-elevation hikes. Watch high ridge tops where hawks can be seen plunging off cliffs to sail on rising air currents heated by mid-day sun or diving hundreds of feet for prey on a valley floor. Binoculars with a wide field of view are best for identifying birds in the air. Clear weather with winds from the west or southwest, and immediately before an approaching weather front provide the best conditions for viewing. Since raptor movements are largely weather dependent, contacting your local Audubon Society or bird club for information is highly recommended. The most common species along the eastside 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. Many of the best viewing sites are 7- to- 12 miles from highways; access roads can be steep and narrow. Two well-known hawk watching sites are Hart's Pass and Slate Peak. For directions and more information call the Okanogan National Forest at (509) 997-2131. A half-mile hike brings viewers to another good hawk site at an old lookout on the peak of Red Top Mountain in the Wenatchee National Forest. Also try Diamond Head, nine miles east of Red Top. Call Wenatchee National Forest at (509) 662-4335 for directions and details.

Outdoor skills: Women who want to pick up pointers on fishing, hunting, backpacking and other outdoor pursuits can learn new skills at a Sept. 17-19 event sponsored by Washington Outdoor Women (WOW) at Millersylvania Park south of Olympia. The weekend event offers workshops on topics ranging from fly fishing to wildlife identification. Lodging, meals and equipment are included in the $175 fee. For information or registration contact Ronni McGlenn at (425) 455-1986.