September 24-October 7, 1998
Contact: Mike Judge, (360) 902-2407

Early pheasant hunting, festivals kick off
fall recreational opportunities

OLYMPIA — Washington hunters can get a jump on pheasant hunting with two opportunities that open this Saturday, Sept. 26.

In western Washington, hunters age 14 and under who are accompanied by an adult can hunt pheasant release sites Sept. 26 through Oct. 2. The regular pheasant hunting season in western Washington opens Oct. 3.

In eastern Washington, hunters under age 16 can hunt pheasants and quail Sept. 26 and 27, if accompanied by a non-hunting adult. The regular season in eastern Washington opens Oct. 10.

The early youth seasons are meant to encourage a new generation of hunters to try the sport and perhaps develop a lifelong interest in wildlife and the importance of preserving needed habitat. Interested young hunters or their parents should contact WDFW's Wildlife Management Program in Olympia at (360) 902-2515

Other late September, early October recreational opportunities include:

• Oysterfest: Want to learn how the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife manages marine resources such as squid and scallops? You're in luck. The annual Shelton Oysterfest gets underway next weekend, and the Department is hosting a display complete with "touch tanks" for the kids (and grown ups, too). In the past displays have featured various live marine species, including a giant Puget Sound box crab that ate live razor clams as appetizers (it didn't bother to shuck the shells). "The display this year will feature the European green crab," said Alan Rammer, a WDFW Marine Education specialist. "This non-native species was recently discovered in Puget Sound waters, and poses a tremendous threat to Washington's valuable commercial and recreational shellfish resources." The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4 at the Mason County fairgrounds located just north of Shelton on Highway 101. For more information call Rammer at (360) 586-6129, ext. 201.

• Salmon Fishing: "Fortunately, Puget Sound coho returns are healthy enough to provide a full Puget Sound coho season through November" said Tony Floor, WDFW spokesperson. As of mid-September, catches have been very good on both sides of Puget Sound from Point No Point south to Eglon and across the sound from Mukilteo to Shilshole Bay. Most coho have averaged five pounds. Some have weighed in the low- to mid-teens. Other salmon fisheries are well underway. Chinook and coho fishing has been good. Grays Harbor is open through Sept. 30 and Willapa Bay will be open through the end of the year. Anglers fishing these two bays are reminded to release wild coho, its adipose fins have not been removed.

• Swift Roosts: Vaux's swifts are the smallest of the swifts and are among the world's fastest birds. Before migrating south for the winter, these little birds start gathering at night in communal roosts in chimneys. Roosts of 2,000-to-4,000 birds are not uncommon. The best way to find current swift roosts is to contact a local birding group. One viewing site is an old two-story building on the Mineral Springs Unit of the Klickitat Wildlife Area near Goldendale. The Mineral Springs Unit is on SR 142, near mile post 14. At this time of year it also is possible to see turkeys among the oaks in this area. For more information call Dan Morrison, Klickitat Wildlife Area Manager at (509) 773-4459.

• Salmon viewing: View migrating steelhead and fall chinook salmon coming up the fish ladder at Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River in southeast Washington. The visitor center at Ice Harbor Dam includes a public fish-viewing window, and both species are starting to show up in good numbers as river water temperatures drop with the advance of fall. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates this and three other dams on the lower Snake River in Washington. Ice Harbor Dam is located east of the Tri-Cities; from Pasco, take Highway 12/395 across the Snake River, then left on Highway 124 about six miles, then left at the Ice Harbor Dam sign for three miles to the dam. Picnic shelters and tables, restrooms and drinking water are available for your fish-watching outing.

• Chukar hunting: As with most upland birds in the state this year, production of young appears to have been very good, which usually means good hunting. The highest concentrations of chukars are in the southeast part of the state. The Asotin Creek and Joseph Creek wildlife areas are managed by WDFW and provide some of the best chukar hunting. The Yakima Canyon, the Colokum Wildlife Area, and Moses Coulee are good bets in the central part of the state. There are ample amounts of public land in all of these locations. The season opens Oct. 1 and hunters will need a hunting license and an eastern Washington upland bird permit.

• Estuaries: Learn more about your local estuaries, why they are important, and how you can help take care of them. Sign up for one of the Sound Stewards' weekend tours (All tours will occur on Saturdays unless otherwise noted) The tours are sponsored by the YMCA, WSU Cooperative Extension and Stream Team (Olympia, Tumwater, Lacey, Thurston County). Two tours coming up near Olympia include the Budd Inlet Historic Shoreline Tour Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the East Bay Tour Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon. To register for a tour or for more information, call Chris Hawkins at (360)705-0987.

• Shellfish: Crabbing has been good in Puget Sound, particularly in Hood Canal where crab quality is improving (harder shells). Crabbing also has been good in the Columbia River estuary.

• Fishing: Anglers will have an unusual opportunity to catch steelhead weighing up to 12 pounds in two Grays Harbor lakes this weekend. That is because WDFW has released 67 large steelhead in Lake Aberdeen and another 33 fish in Lake Sylvia. Additional steelhead may be released later if the fish are available. Fishing regulations allow anglers to keep five trout, although only two may be over 20 inches. The daily steelhead limit in the lakes is two fish. Anglers hoping to hook a steelhead in the lakes will need a game fish license. A steelhead punch card is not required. Lake Sylvia is open for fishing all year. The fishing season for Lake Aberdeen has been extended to Nov. 30.

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