Washington Dept. of Fish and WildlifeTHE WEEKENDER REPORT

October 1-14, 2008
Contact: (Fish) 360-902-2700
(Wildlife) 360-902-2515

Standard equipment for autumn
ranges from muskets to clam guns

Popular hunting seasons for ducks and geese, as well as the modern-firearms season for deer, will get under way Oct. 11. But before they do, muzzleloaders will take to the field Oct. 4-10 to hunt deer and elk with blackpowder rifles. 

Some rain would help improve hunting conditions by dampening the sound of leaves crunching underfoot, but that’s just one factor in a successful hunt, said Dave Ware, game manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"Ultimately, it usually comes down to a hunter’s skill and preparation," Ware said.  "Hunters who know the terrain and have practiced their skills usually have the greatest success."

All hunters must carry a valid 2008-09 hunting license for the species they are hunting. For more information, see the current Big Game Hunting Seasons pamphlet ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm ), the Waterfowl and Upland Game Regulation pamphlet ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/water.htm ) or WDFW's licensing website ( https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov ). 

Rather handle a clam gun? Four ocean beaches are scheduled to open this month for the first razor-clam dig of the season if marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat. Three evening digs are tentatively scheduled at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks Oct. 16-18, while Long Beach is scheduled for two evening digs Oct. 17 and 18. Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight. 

For more information on the scheduled razor-clam dig, see the report for the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula region below and check for updates on the WDFW website ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/ ) or the toll-free Shellfish Hotline (866-880-5431).

Meanwhile, a robust return of steelhead to the upper Columbia River Basin may allow for a fishery on hatchery steelhead in that area.  Anglers may want to check the WDFW website (wdfw.wa.gov) or the Fishing Hotline (360-902-2500) for information on a possible opening in the days ahead.

For more information on other fishing, hunting and wildlife-viewing opportunities available in the next few weeks, see the regional reports below:

North Puget Sound

Fishing: For the most part, fishing has been slow this fall for coho salmon in both the marine and freshwater fisheries. But, despite the low catch rates, there have been some scattered reports of anglers reeling in some nice-size silvers.

"Some anglers who have recently caught coho are bringing in good-size fish," said Steve Thiesfeld, a WDFW fish biologist. "But, overall, it’s been tough out there for salmon anglers. The coho that are around just aren’t biting."

That was evident at the recent Everett Coho Derby. A total of 2,087 adult and youth tickets were issued for the event, but only 246 silvers were weighed. That’s well below last year’s total of 1,166 coho. Of the anglers who did catch fish, Jonathan Kelly turned out to be the derby's big winner. Kelly hauled in an 18.16-pound coho he caught in the Snohomish River, taking home the $2,500 first prize in the adult division. Brady Peterson, who weighed in a 16.63-pound coho he caught in Marine Area 9 finished second and pocketed $1,500, while Hut Phanhthavilay’s 16.44-pound silver - caught in the Snohomish River - was good enough for third place and $1,000.

Anglers looking to hook ocean coho should try fishing Point No Point, Jefferson Head, Possession Bar and Shipwreck, Thiesfeld said. Anglers fishing those areas, or other waters of marine areas 9 (Admiralty Inlet) and 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), have a daily limit of two salmon but must release chinook.

Thiesfeld reminds anglers that beginning Oct. 1 portions of marine areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay) and 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner) open for salmon fishing. Salmon fishing in Marine Area 8-1 is restricted to Oak Harbor, west of a line from Forbes Point to Blowers Bluff. Anglers fishing Oak Harbor have a daily limit of two coho only.

In Marine Area 8-2, salmon fishing is limited to the south end of the area, south of a line from Randall Point to the south end of the Everett Naval Station dock. Anglers in that area have a two salmon daily limit, but must release chinook.

Anglers looking to get an early start on the region's blackmouth season can head to Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands), where they can keep one chinook as part of a two-salmon daily limit. Blackmouth - resident chinook - fishing opportunities will expand Oct. 16, when anglers in Marine Area 10 also will be allowed to keep one chinook as part of that area's daily limit of two salmon. 

In the freshwater, there have been a few reports of anglers doing well fishing for coho on the Green (Duwamish) and Snohomish rivers, but overall catch rates for coho have been down in the region. "On the Skagit River it’s been about the same as most everywhere else - slow," said Brett Barkdull, another WDFW fish biologist. "There’s been a few fish caught, but it’s not great fishing." Anglers fishing the Skagit have a daily limit of two salmon, but must release chinook.

Elsewhere, the chinook catch has tapered off recently in the Samish River, where anglers have a daily limit of two salmon. "It looks like the end of the road when it comes to chinook this season, and unfortunately I haven’t heard any reports of anyone catching coho yet," Barkdull said. 

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

Hunting: Muzzleloaders hunting deer and elk will go afield Oct. 4-10 before making way for the general firearms season for deer, which begins Oct. 11. General seasons also will get under way for ducks and geese Oct. 11 in the region.

"The best hunting during the early part of the season is usually in the bays and estuaries," said Don Kraege, WDFW waterfowl manager. "Those birds move more inland after it rains and sheetwater forms in the fields."

Meanwhile, hunting seasons continue for bear, cougar, grouse and pheasant , while the California quail and bobwhite seasons get started Oct. 4. For information about WDFW's pheasant release sites, see the Western Washington Pheasant Release pamphlet ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/wwapheas.htm ).

Hunters should be aware that the Skagit Wildlife Area Headquarters Unit will be closed to hunting through Oct. 3 due to ongoing construction of the Wiley Slough/Headquarters Unit estuary restoration project.  The area is scheduled to re-open to public access and hunting Oct. 4, when the first phase of the project is scheduled for completion.

The Samish and Leque Island Units will be used as pheasant-release sites for the first week of the general pheasant-hunting season, which started Sept 27.

Lora Leschner, regional wildlife manager, said hunters should also be aware that access to Snohomish County's property at Diking District 6 (Ebey Slough) is closed. The county recently advised the department that access will be restricted until further notice while crews work on power transmission lines in the area, she said.

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: Turkey vultures heading south for the winter have been spotted in the region. About 15 turkey vultures were seen soaring south along the west side of Beacon Hill, according to one birder reporting to Tweeters website ( http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/ ). This is the best time of year to spot migrating turkey vultures in the Puget Sound area. The birds often congregate off the coast of Vancouver Island before traveling across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the shores of Clallam County, and then on to warmer climates.

Farther north, a brown pelican was seen in the Edmonds area. The pelican was spotted near a kelp bed just north of the ferry terminal, according to the birder. Brown pelicans are coastal birds and are rarely found away from the ocean, where they are often looking for a meal. Their diet consists mostly of fish, such as anchovies and smelt, and the birds will often plunge headfirst into water to snatch their prey. After securing their catch, the birds throw their heads back to swallow the fish.

Meanwhile, a birder in the Fir Island area of Skagit County, saw two Pacific golden plovers . The birds were sharing a field near Maupin Road with about 15 black-bellied plovers and several American or buff-bellied pipits .

South Sound/Olympic Peninsula

Fishing: As more salmon move in from the coast to area bays and rivers, anglers can look forward to catching fish closer to home.  Or, they might consider trading their fishing rods for clam shovels for the first razor-clam dig of the season. The dig is tentatively scheduled to begin Oct. 16, provided that test results show the clams are safe to eat.

Three evening razor-clam digs are tentatively scheduled at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks Oct. 16-18, while Long Beach is scheduled for two evening digs Oct. 17 and 18.  Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, recommends clam diggers take lights or lanterns with them because low tides for digging will occur later in the evening. He also recommended checking weather and surf forecasts before heading out.

Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight. Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.

A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination fishing license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov. Clam diggers are not required to display their licenses on outer clothing.

Tentative opening dates and evening low tides in October are:

More digs are tentatively scheduled Nov. 13-16 and Dec. 11-13.

Meanwhile, anglers looking for salmon fishing opportunities can head to Marine Area 6 (Port Angeles) where a non-selective fishery for coho and chinook is now under way through Oct. 31.

"With the exception of a few special areas, the entire area’s open for fishing and people can keep wild or hatchery coho , chum and blackmouth ," said Steve Thiesfeld, WDFW fish biologist. The daily limit is two salmon, but only one may be a chinook. Freshwater Bay, Port Angeles Harbor and Sequim Bay remain closed to salmon fishing, while Dungeness Bay is open for coho salmon only.
 
Also as of Oct. 1, anglers in Marine Area 11 (Vashon Island to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge) may retain wild chinook as part of their two-fish daily limit. Wild chinook may also be retained in Marine Area 13, but anglers but must release all wild coho. Other fishing opportunities coming up in Puget Sound include chum and blackmouth retention in all of Hood Canal beginning Oct. 16.
 
Thiesfeld reminded anglers that the Skokomish River, from the mouth to the Hwy 101 Bridge, is open for coho fishing through Dec. 15. While chum may be retained after Oct. 15, no chinook retention is allowed on the river.

Plenty of salmon anglers have been fishing Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2.2) and the lower Chehalis River since the Sept. 16 opener, but the catch has been low, said Scott Barbour, WDFW fish biologist. "So far there have been one or two good days on the lower Chehalis, which is typical for this time of year," Barbour said. "Hopefully we’ll get some rain to bring in more fish and move them upriver." While some adult coho are showing up, most of the fish have been jacks, he said.

Fishing on the upper Chehalis River is now under way, Barbour said. "Through Oct. 15, anglers may retain one wild coho as part of their six-fish daily limit, but all chinook and chum must be released," he said. Starting Oct. 16 only hatchery coho may be retained on the river.  

The same is true for other area rivers including the Elk, Humptulips, Johns, Satsop and Wishkah rivers in Grays Harbor County; Kennedy Creek in Thurston County and the Nemah River in Pacific County.

Barbour advised anglers to check WDFW's 2008/2009 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) for details on boundaries and regulations.

Meanwhile, more area rivers will open for fall fishing Oct. 16 including a portion of the Dungeness River in Clallam County, which opens for trout and coho salmon. A section of the Hoh River from Willoughby Creek to Morgan's Crossing boat launch also opens for salmon fishing Oct. 16. In Pacific County, anglers can start fishing for salmon on the Willapa River from the Highway 6 Bridge to Fork Creek and from the Hwy 4 Bridge to the Salme Bridge on the Naselle River. Anglers are advised to check WDFW's 2008/2009 Fishing in Washington pamphlet (wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm) for details before fishing these waters.

Anglers fishing in the Quillayute system, which includes the Bogachiel, Sol Duc, Calawah and Dickey rivers, can keep up to two chinook as part of their limit of three adult fish. The total daily limit is six fish; all wild adult coho must be released until Nov. 1.

Hunting: Those hunting deer and elk with muzzleloaders will take to the field Oct. 4-10. The modern firearm season for black-tailed deer follows Oct. 11-31.

Goose hunting in most areas opens Oct. 11 and continues daily through Oct. 23 before picking up again in November. In Pacific County, hunters must have written authorization to hunt, which requires passing a goose identification test.

A five-day season for duck, coot and snipe hunting will take place Oct. 11-15. The season will then reopen Oct. 18 and run through Jan. 25, 2009. Hunters may also pursue California quail and bobwhite beginning Oct. 4. Meanwhile, the statewide forest grouse season continues through Dec. 31.

The general pheasant season, which started Sept. 27, continues for hunters of all ages. Check the WDFW website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/wwapheas.htm ) for the locations of the department's pheasant release sites.

Bear and cougar hunts also are an option. Hunters are allowed two cougar during the season, which runs through March 15, 2009. Hunters are also allowed two bear during the 2008 general season (Aug. 1-Nov. 15), but only one bear can be taken in eastern Washington.
  
Before heading 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: Hundreds of turkey vultures have begun their annual migration, passing over the Olympic Peninsula on their way south. To catch a sighting of these eagle-sized raptors, wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers recommend the Salt Creek Recreation Area on Tongue Point west of Port Angeles. While visiting the recreation area, which is on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, visitors can also explore the various tidepools that are home to starfish, sea cucumbers, crabs, sea anemones and urchins. From Port Angeles, head west on U.S. 101 to Hwy 112. Turn right on the Camp Hayden Road.

While touring the Olympic Peninsula, visitors should be on the alert for the annual autumn Roosevelt elk rut. A great place to hear a bull elk bugle or clack antlers with a rival is the Quinault River valley upstream from Lake Quinault. Several groups of elk are visible along the loop road along the South Shore and North Shore roads. The elk are most active during the early morning and evening hours. Observers should give the elk plenty of room, since they are easily disturbed and potentially dangerous.

An alternative is Northwest Trek in Eatonville, where visitors can observe the spectacle from a safe distance. In addition to elk, Northwest Trek offers opportunities to view a variety of North American animals such as bighorn sheep, deer, woodland caribou, mountain goats, bison, grizzlies, black bears, wolves, bobcats, lynx, cougars, owls, eagles and wetland animals . The annual Hoot 'n Howl Festival for kids of all ages will be held Oct. 24 and 25. The wildlife park is at 11610 Trek Dr. East in Eatonville, about 35 miles east of Tacoma, on the road to Mount Rainier. For more information call (360) 832-6117 or visit www.nwtrek.org . Northwest Trek is open April through December.

Southwest Washington:

Fishing:   The signs of fall are everywhere in the Columbia River Basin, and they aren’t confined to falling leaves and chilly mornings. As experienced anglers know, this is the time of year when:

"This is truly a time of transition for area fisheries," said Joe Hymer, a WDFW fish biologist.  "The summer season is morphing into fall, with a whole new set of fishing opportunities."

Opportunities to catch white sturgeon are clearly on the rise. Boat anglers fishing upstream from Longview averaged one keeper for every 4.6 rods, while bank anglers fishing just below Bonneville Dam averaged a legal-sized fish for every 8.6 rods.  Boat catches were spread throughout the river. Approximately 150 boats and 480 bank anglers were counted during a Sept. 27 aerial survey.

Salmon fishing in the mainstem Columbia River has also been holding up well between the lower end of Bachelor Island near the mouth of the Lewis River upriver to Bonneville Dam. In that area, boat anglers have been averaging one adult chinook for every six rods. Anglers there may retain up to two adult chinook salmon as part of their daily limit.

Anglers fishing the mouths of the Cowlitz and Toutle rivers have been picking up good numbers of hatchery coho, and those fishing the Cowlitz near the trout hatchery have been catching some nice sea-run cutthroat as well. Bank anglers fishing the North Fork Toutle have been averaging an adult hatchery coho for every two rods. The Lewis River has also been productive for hatchery coho, as has the Kalama River. Anglers must release all chinook salmon caught on the Lewis River and all adult chinook on the Kalama. The same is true for unmarked coho, which must be released in all fisheries downriver from the Hood River bridge.

Tacoma Power released 775 coho salmon and 96 jacks into the upper Cowlitz River at the Skate Creek Bridge over the Cowlitz River in Packwood, along with 287 adult coho and 23 jacks into the Cispus River during the week ending Sept. 28. In addition, 257 adult chinook and 138 jacks were released at the Ike Kinswa State Park boat launch at Mayfield Lake.

Trout anglers might want to try the Swift Reservoir on the Lewis River at this time of year, Hymer said. "The lake was planted late and the water temperature is cooling," he said. "This should be a good time to hit it."

Fishing for hatchery coho should pick up in the weeks ahead as more late-run fish move in from the ocean, Hymer said. "Late-run coho are showing up at the mouths of several tributaries to the Columbia River," Hymer said.  "Once we get some rain, those fish will start moving and wind up in creels throughout those rivers."  The Cowlitz and Lewis rivers are good prospects for late-run hatchery coho, he said.  In addition, early run fish should be on the move in the Grays and Elochoman rivers after the next rain. 

Above Bonneville Dam, boat anglers have been catching some chinook salmon, with most of the effort concentrated around the mouth of the Klickitat River. The Klickitat, both inside and outside the mouth, should remain good for chinook salmon as well as coho salmon in the weeks to come, Hymer said.

Starting Oct. 1 (today), many tributaries to the Columbia - or sections of those rivers - will close for retention of adult chinook to avoid interfering with spawning salmon. Hatchery jack chinook, marked with a clipped adipose fin, may still be retained in those rivers. Waters closing Oct. 1 to retention of adult chinook salmon include:

Also on Oct. 1, all fishing on the North Fork Lewis River will close from Colvin Creek (upstream from the salmon hatchery) to Merwin Dam.  At Drano Lake, all non-tribal fishing will be prohibited from 6 p.m. Tuesdays through 6 p.m. Wednesdays during October.
 
With regulations changing in so many areas, anglers are advised to check the Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet and in-season rules changes http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm before planning a fishing trip.

Hunting: Those hunting deer and elk with muzzleloaders will take to the field Oct. 4-10 in designated game management areas. The modern firearm season for black-tailed deer follows Oct. 11-31. Hunters are advised to check the WDFW's Big Game Hunting rules pamphlet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm for more information.

Based on past seasons, about one in five hunters will get a deer this year, said Eric Holman, a WDFW wildlife biologist. "Our success rates have been very similar over the course of many years, bouncing around between 15 percent and 20 percent," Holman said.  "About one in five guys gets a deer.  Those who really try hard are probably way higher than that.  Those who just buy a tag and go looking for elk, or go out to enjoy the woods, don’t get one as regularly."

Hunters may pursue quail and bobwhite beginning Oct. 4. Goose hunting opens daily Oct. 11 in Goose Management Areas 3 (Lewis and Skamania counties) and 5 (Klickitat and Yakima counties), with a four-day closure Oct. 14-17. The season for duck, coot and snipe also begins Oct. 11 and continues through Oct.15, then reopens Oct. 18. 

See the Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game pamphlet http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/water.htm ) for more information on all these hunts.

Meanwhile, the statewide forest grouse season continues through Dec. 31. The general pheasant season also continues for hunters of all ages. Check the WDFW website ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/wwapheas.htm ) for the locations of the department's pheasant release sites.

Hunters in Klickitat County are reminded that the general-season cougar hunt is restricted to hunters using muzzleloaders and archery equipment from Sept. 9 through Oct. 10. The same will be true for the period from Nov. 20-30.

That change, which is not reflected in the Big Game pamphlet, is the result of recent action by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to authorize a new pilot cougar hunt with the aid of dogs in Klickitat County.  To accommodate the new pilot hunt - set for Dec. 1 through March 31 - the existing general hunt had to be restructured mid-season.

The only remaining period when hunters can use any type of weapon - including modern firearms - to hunt cougars during the general season is Oct. 11 through Nov. 19. Those regulations are consistent with those in effect in the other five counties where hunting cougar with the use of dogs has been approved. Included in that list are Chelan, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties.

Wildlife viewing: Birders from throughout the region will converge for Birdfest and Bluegrass 2008 , scheduled Oct. 11-12 at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Sponsored by the Friends of the Refuge, the festival features guided bird walks, kayak trips, children's activities and live bluegrass music. All proceeds go to benefit the refuge, which provides habitat for more than 200 species of birds.

Due perhaps to their sheer size, sandhill cranes take center stage during the annual festival. Standing up to four feet tall with a wingspan of six feet, the cranes are the focus of special guided tours at sunrise and sunset both days. From a viewing blind, visitors can watch the majestic birds feed, preen and rest on the Ridgefield roosting grounds. For more information, see http://www.ridgefieldfriends.org .

With the festival fast approaching, many of the feathered guests have already assembled, according to reports from various contributors to the Tweeters birding website ( http://www.scn.org/earth/tweeters/ ). During a recent visit to the refuge, one birder reported seeing lots of cranes , a greater white-fronted goose , yellowlegs (both greater and lesser ) and more than a hundred turkey vultures kettling overhead.

Of special note was a rare sharp-tailed sandpiper spotted by a number of observers at the south end of Rest Lake.  This bird was seen in the company of several pectoral sandpipers , but was distinguished by its telltale rufous cap and white eye-line.  The Canadian Wildlife Service estimates there are about 166,000 sharp-tailed sandpipers worldwide, but only about a thousand migrate down the Pacific Coast from Alaska.

Eastern Washington:

Fishing: Angler effort has been high during the hatchery fall chinook salmon fishery on the Snake River near Little Goose Dam, but so far few chinook have been caught, said Glen Mendel, WDFW southeast district fish biologist. Creel checks and angler counts conducted the first weekend of the special season showed about 30 fishing boats above Texas Rapids boat launch to the tail race of Little Goose Dam, plus over 20 boats in the area of the Tucannon River confluence. No chinook were checked and catch rates for steelhead were poor. Up to half of the anglers checked were actually fishing for bass and catfish .

The hatchery chinook fishery is scheduled to remain open through Oct. 15 but could close earlier if the allowable incidental impact to wild chinook is reached. Chinook fishing is open only from the Railroad Bridge crossing the Snake River about a half-mile downstream of the mouth of the Tucannon River upstream to the no-fishing-zone below Little Goose Dam, plus from the safety zone boundary above the dam up to the south shore boat launch about one mile upstream of Little Goose Dam.

The salmon daily catch limit is one hatchery-marked (adipose fin clipped and healed) adult fall chinook (24 inches or greater), plus two hatchery jacks (under 24 inches, with a minimum size of 10 inches). Anglers must stop fishing for salmon once an adult hatchery salmon has been retained. All chinook or steelhead with unclipped adipose fins and all coho salmon must be immediately released unharmed. Chinook and steelhead anglers must use barbless hooks and a night closure is in effect.

Chris Donley, WDFW central district fish biologist, said that with most other trout fisheries closed, it’s a good time to fish for rainbows at year-round Sprague Lake, on the Lincoln-Adams county line, and for browns at year-round Rock Lake in Whitman County. Clear Lake in southwest Spokane County is open through Oct. 31 and is still producing both rainbows and browns. Any mixed species water that’s still open should provide good early fall fishing, he said.

Both Donley and Marc Divens, WDFW warmwater fish biologist, recommend anglers go after panfish, especially along the dying weed lines in waters like Long Lake (the Spokane River reservoir) and Eloika Lake in north Spokane County.

"Largemouth bass should be putting on the feed bag in preparation for winter the next few weeks," Donley said. "So fishing should be good."
 
Divens said eastern Spokane County’s Newman and Liberty lakes are also good bets for bass and crappie . "Fall is a great time of year to catch warmwater fish species because they are busy fattening up for winter," he said.
Newman Lake is open year-round and Liberty Lake is open through October.

Hunting:   Early October marks the opening of some of the most popular hunting in this region, and prospects are fair to good for most seasons.

Hunts for California quail, chukar and gray or Hungarian partridge open Oct. 4 and run through Jan. 19. Joey McCanna, WDFW upland game bird specialist, said quail numbers throughout the region are excellent. "This could be a banner year for quail hunters," he said. "Quail hatches seem to have avoided the cold, wet weather we had so much of this year. We don’t specifically survey quail, but we’re seeing good numbers of birds in lots of the traditional places, from riparian areas to brushy draws with springs."

No actual counts are made of chukars or huns either. But McCanna said hunters should do fairly well if they put in the miles up and down the breaks of the Snake River, from Penawawa Canyon northeast of Central Ferry to Nisqually John and Steptoe canyons southwest of Colton. Lots of private farmland in WDFW’s "Feel Free To Hunt" and "Register To Hunt" access programs include decent quail and partridge habitat, he noted. Hunters need to scout out the signs marking those properties and follow up with phone calls to landowners as needed in the "Register To Hunt" program.

Modern firearm deer hunting opens Oct. 11 throughout the region. Traditionally some of the best hunting on whitetails occurs in the northeast game management units.  Last year success rates ranged from more than 32 percent of hunters bagging deer in the Mt. Spokane unit to 21 percent in the Selkirk unit. But white-tailed deer numbers are down in some areas this year, especially in Pend Oreille County, said Dana Base, WDFW northeast district wildlife biologist in Colville. His most recent surveys show a depressed buck-doe ratio of just 24 bucks per 100 does. "Don’t expect a banner year for whitetails in northeast Washington," he said.

Base says mule deer seem to be faring better, with most occurring, as usual, in Ferry County (GMU 101) and "pocket populations" in Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties (especially GMUs 108, 111, 117 and 113).

The central district of the region usually produces similar deer hunting success rates, with last year running from more than 32 percent in the Steptoe unit to 19 percent in the Mica Peak unit. Howard Ferguson, WDFW central district wildlife biologist in Spokane, said that although fawn-doe ratios look good, overall numbers of adult deer may be slightly down. "I don’t think this part of the region was impacted by last winter as much as up north though," he said.

Southeast modern firearm deer hunting success rates last year ran from more than 38 percent in the Grande Ronde unit to 14 percent in the Wenaha unit. The Prescott unit, which last year produced a 27 percent success rate, may not be as productive this year because of a die-off of whitetails. Southeast District Wildlife Biologist Pat Fowler said the deer succumbed to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), mostly along the Touchet River between the towns of Touchet, Prescott and Waitsburg in Walla Walla County and in the west-central part of Columbia County. The disease is common to white-tailed deer, but rarely affects other species. It usually occurs in the driest part of the year when conditions are right for biting gnats, the carriers of the virus. EHD is not contagious from one animal to another, and it is not transferable to humans.

Also opening Oct. 11 is waterfowl hunting season. Although the eastern region doesn’t compare to the duck and goose factory of the Columbia Basin, some local spots can be productive.  Wildlife biologists throughout the region note that abundant water this spring may have enhanced local nesting and brood rearing conditions. From the Pend Oreille River up north to the potholes west of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge to the backwaters of the Snake River down south, waterfowl hunters have several options.

The fall wild turkey season closes Oct. 3, although some 800 special permit holders will have another chance at the prolific big birds later in the year.

Wildlife viewing: Elk are still bugling and WDFW Central District Wildlife Biologist Howard Ferguson said Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to listen, and possibly view the animals. Ferguson and wildlife biologist Mike Atamian recently conducted their annual aerial survey of elk on the refuge just west of Spokane, counting a total of 324 elk and one of the highest bull-cow-calf ratios since 2004, when flights began. The biologists counted 42 bulls for every 100 cows and 83 calves for every 100 cows - at least a 45 percent increase in calves. Most large herds have two adult bulls, Ferguson said, and many herds had good numbers of younger bulls.  

The Peone Prairie elk herd in north Spokane County has been visible again to early morning commuters along Bruce/Argonne Road just northeast of the city of Spokane. Ferguson says landowners in the Deadman Creek drainage have reported seeing the herd in recent weeks.

Canada geese flights are noteworthy throughout the region now as birds are on the move with advancing fall. Ferguson said some much smaller and more rare migrants are showing up at "islands" of habitat like cemeteries and parks.

In Lincoln County, a palm warbler was recently spotted at the Davenport cemetery and two black-bellied plovers were seen at Reardan’s Audubon Lake. Near the Whitman-Adams county line in Washtucna, a golden-crowned sparrow, winter wren , a couple of Lincoln’s sparrows and several hermit thrushes were seen in shrubs near water. In the Walla Walla cemetery, a red-naped sapsucker, Brewer’s sparrow , and a couple of western tanagers and Hammond’s flycatchers were seen.

North Central Washington:

Fishing:   WDFW Okanogan district fish biologist Bob Jateff of Omak reminds anglers that salmon fishing on the mainstem Columbia River from the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster to the Highway 17 Bridge at Bridgeport will close Oct. 16. WDFW enforcement officers recently cited three anglers for fishing closed season on the Okanogan River in Omak.  The three were found in possession of five chinook salmon and a hatchery steelhead.

An upper Columbia River steelhead season is likely to open very soon under an emergency rule change, he noted, so anglers should check the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm for the announcement.

Trout fishing also looks promising. "Selective gear lakes in Okanogan County have experienced good trout fishing in the last several weeks with cooling water temperatures," Jateff said.  "Best bets are the Big and Little Twin in the Winthrop area and Blue Lake in the Sinlahekin.  Blue Lake has both brown and rainbow trout up to 18 inches, and Big and Little Twin have rainbows in the 15-17 inch range."

Chopaka Lake near the town of Loomis has had very good fishing for rainbow trout 15-17 inches, Jateff said.  Chopaka is a fly-fishing-only lake, and should provide good fishing until it closes Oct. 31.

Year-round Patterson Lake near Winthrop has been producing catches of yellow perch throughout the summer and fall.  Jateff encourages anglers to retain as many perch as possible from this lake. Jameson Lake, south of Mansfield in Douglas County, re-opens this month (Oct. 1-31) for rainbow trout that usually average 11 inches, with carryovers to 15 inches.

Hunting: Seasons for California quail, chukar and gray or Hungarian partridge open Oct. 4 and run through Jan. 19. WDFW Columbia Basin district wildlife biologist Rich Finger says the outlook for quail hunting is good.  "Populations have been holding strong in the Basin," Finger said. "Weather conditions, with humidity and cool temperatures will allow dogs to work scent effectively, at least for the opening weekend.  Most riparian areas hold quail, but a bit of work is needed to find the larger coveys."

WDFW waterfowl specialist Mikal Moore of Moses Lake predicts an average year for waterfowl hunting, which opens Oct. 11. In the Columbia Basin, the waterfowl capital of eastern Washington, that’s good. "While local breeding mallard counts were up 10 percent," she said, "wetland conditions in southern Alberta were not conducive to early duck production.  However, some late spring precipitation after the May survey in Alberta may have resulted in a successful late-hatching cohort of ducklings. Columbia Basin farmers have set the table for migrating ducks and geese with record acreages of wheat and corn.  Now we just need the weather to cooperate and keep that food available for the birds when they show up." 

Finger says that judging by the arrival of early migrants, duck hunting should be good for the opening weekend.  "Waterfowl migration typically peaks around mid- to late-November in the Basin and, like last year, we have plenty of grain corn to keep them around as long as deep crusty snows don’t drive them south," he said.
  
Modern firearm deer hunting also opens Oct. 11. Finger reports that with a mild winter last year, deer populations appear to be in good shape. Hunting prospects are similar to last year, when success rates ranged from 33 percent of hunters bagging deer in the Ritzville unit to about 18 percent in the Badger unit.

WDFW Okanogan district wildlife biologist Scott Fitkin reports buck deer availability for the western half of Okanogan County will be down from what it was a few years ago. That’s due to three consecutive winters with higher than average fawn mortality, he explained.  "However, last December's post-season ratio of 16 bucks per 100 does remained above the minimum management threshold of 15," Fitkin said. "This represents decent carryover, so there should be some nice bucks taken despite an expected drop in overall buck harvest."
 
Fitkin reminds coyote hunters to be sure of their target, given the newly-confirmed presence of a wolf pack in Okanogan County. The gray wolf is protected as a federal and state endangered species.

Wildlife viewing: WDFW Columbia Basin district wildlife biologist Rich Finger Rich reports that sandhill cranes are migrating through the Basin in large numbers now.  The big birds can be observed at or near the Winchester Reserve, Frenchmen Hills Reserve, and various locations within and around the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, including harvested grain fields between Othello and Royal City.  WDFW warmwater fish biologist Mike Schmuck confirms the crane spectacle, testifying that a mass migration recently flew overhead near Ephrata. "We witnessed a fly over that continued for over two hours," he said.

Finger and Schmuck both also noted that small Canada geese , primarily Lesser’s and Taverners, are arriving in the Columbia Basin in small numbers. They should begin picking up in numbers over the next couple weeks, reaching tens of thousands later in the month.  Finger said white-fronted geese have also been moving through.  Numbers of early migrating waterfowl such as American wigeon, northern pintail , and green-winged teal have also been increasing.

South Central Washington:

Fishing: Paul Hoffarth, WDFW fish biologist in Pasco, reports increasing angler effort and catches in the lower Yakima River fall chinook fishery. An estimated 116 adult fall chinook and 22 jacks were harvested the week of Sept. 29, with a total effort of about 2,200 angler hours. Harvest for the season is estimated at 149 adults and 22 jacks. No steelhead have been reported in the catch. Anglers averaged one chinook for every 17 hours of fishing. The catch rate was best in the lower Yakima, from the mouth to Horn Rapids.

A 21-mile section of the Yakima River bordering the Yakama Nation Reservation will be closed to non-tribal fishing for all fall chinook and coho salmon (hatchery and wild) Oct. 1-22.  The section runs from the Hwy. 223 bridge (at Granger) upstream to Sunnyside (Parker) Dam. Fishing was closed because the Yakama Nation has federally reserved, exclusive fishing rights on waters that border its reservation and has not currently waived those rights to allow a non-tribal sport fishery. 

The sport fishery for fall chinook and coho salmon remains open through Oct. 22 in the river reach between the Hwy. 240 bridge at Richland and Prosser Dam, which is downstream of the Yakama Reservation boundary (see Page 90 in the 2008/2009 Fishing in Washington pamphlet for details, (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm ). Fishing for steelhead remains closed. All steelhead must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.

Hunting: Early October marks the opening of several hunting seasons and prospects are fair to good for most. California quail, chukar and gray or Hungarian partridge hunting opens Oct. 4 and runs through Jan. 19, 2009. Although no specific surveys are conducted on any upland game bird species at this time, anecdotal information and general indications are that it should be an average year.

Modern firearm deer hunting opens Oct. 11 in several units throughout the region. The best hunting is generally in the east end of the region, where success rates last year ranged from 34 percent of hunters bagging deer in the East Klickitat unit to almost 19 percent in the Rattlesnake Hills unit.

Waterfowl hunting also opens Oct. 11, with the south end of the Columbia Basin on the east side of the region looking fairly good as usual, said Mikal Moore, WDFW waterfowl specialist. Moore said that although local breeding mallard counts were up 10 percent, Canadian conditions were not conducive to early duck production. 

"However, some late spring precipitation after the May survey in Alberta may have resulted in a successful late-hatching cohort of ducklings," Moore said. "Columbia Basin farmers have set the table for migrating ducks and geese with record acreages of wheat and corn. Now we just need the weather to cooperate and keep that food available for the birds when they show up." 

Wildlife viewing: If you’re too busy with fall clean-up around the home front these days to make a wildlife viewing trip afield, bring the wildlife to you by setting up a backyard bird feeding station. At this time many migrant species are moving through the region and would welcome a feeding, watering, and resting stopover. Check out WDFW’s Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program information at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/backyard/ to get started with safely providing a variety of healthy feed to attract the greatest diversity of birds. In dry conditions, it’s important to provide water for birds, either in a birdbath or just a pan of water set out. 

Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs, so be sure to include species that provide food and cover for birds and other wildlife. Just putting some of that fall yard clean-up on hold is a good way to leave some natural food sources for birds, like flower seed heads and leaf duff that hosts worms and bugs.

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