Hunting Prospects

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2012 Hunting Forecasts by District
District biologists have provided hunting forecasts for their district based on surveys and field work.

District 9
Counties: Skamania, Clark and Klickitat
David Anderson and Eric Holman, District Wildlife Biologists

Summary

District Nine is located in the southwest/central part of Washington and is the only district in the state that includes significant amounts of both west and east-side habitats.  Game Management Units (GMUs) in District 9 include 554, 564, 568, 560, 572, 574, 578, 388 and 382.  Hunters can choose a variety of habitats including areas covered by west and east side season dates and permit regulations. 

The geography of District 9 is dominated by the Cascade Mountain Range that divides the district into west and east sides zones.  Topography varies from near sea level along the Columbia River and its lower tributaries to alpine habitats associated with Mt St Helens and Mt Adams in the Cascade Range.  Dominant west-side river drainages include the Lewis, Washougal and Wind Rivers.  Major east-side watersheds include the White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers.   Rock Creek in eastern Klickitat County is the primary watershed in ponderosa pine/oak and shrub steppe portions of the district.  The southern border of the district is bounded by the Columbia River.

District 9 is one of the most diverse habitat areas of the state that include west side coniferous forests dominated by Douglas fir and western hemlock.  These forests give way to Oregon White Oak and Ponderosa Pine as you travel to the east side of the Cascade Mountains.  In eastern Klickitat County, pine and oak habitat transition into shrub steppe dominated by grassland and sagebrush.

The majority of the west-side forest land is dominated by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and state land owned by the Department of Natural Resources.  These are public lands open to public access.  East-side forest and shrub steppe/grassland habitat is primarily in private land   ownership and varies in public access.  Large timber company lands are generally open to public hunting, but generally not open to private motorized vehicles.  Most grassland/shrub steppe habitat in Klickitat County is in private hunt clubs restricted to access by fee only.

Hunting Forecasts

Pheasant: District 9 has very little wild production of pheasants. Essentially all hunting opportunities are associated with pen-raised birds and the formalized release sites in Klickitat County (Eastern Washington Pheasant Release Sites) and Clark County (Western Washington Pheasant Release Sites).

2011 Statewide Small Game Harvest Statistics: Pheasant - Statewide and by County

Quail, Gray Partridge, and Chukar: Spring conditions have not been favorable in 2012 for upland bird populations in Klickitat County.  Fall hunting prospects should be poor to moderate based on reports from landowners.  Most hunting is located on private lands in eastern Klickitat County, which is dominated by hunt clubs with limited access. Prospective hunters should seek permission in advance of the season to access upland bird hunting areas.

2011 Statewide Small Game Harvest Statistics

Forest Grouse: Grouse numbers should be low in 2012 due to an abnormally wet and cold spring and early summer.  Prospective hunters should focus on brushy riparian zones or overgrown abandoned logging roads for the best chance at success.

2011 Statewide Small Game Harvest Statistics: Forest Grouse - Statewide and by County

Wild Turkeys: Populations in Klickitat County continue to be healthy, and hunting conditions for the fall of 2012 should be good.  Late brood counts indicate poor nesting conditions this spring and summer, but decent size broods have been observed.  Skamania county turkey populations are located primarily along the eastern and southern margin, i.e. near Klickitat County.  Clark County offers little to no turkey hunting opportunity.

Waterfowl: Hunters are reminded of the complex goose hunting regulations in area 2A designed to protect wintering populations of the dusky Canada goose. Dusky populations remain below objectives and liberalization of the hunting season structure is not likely in the near term. Goose hunters should be aware of an increase in the cackling component of the goose bag limit in area 2.  Hunters will be allowed to take 3 cacklers as a portion of their 4-goose daily bag limit.

2011 Statewide Small Game Harvest Statistics

Duck hunting: Locally produced mallards and wood ducks will provide some early season opportunity for duck hunters. Improved duck hunting opportunity is dependent on the arrival of migratory birds pushed southward from northwestern Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. This year’s waterfowl breeding season is reported to be excellent and fall/winter hunting prospects should be good.  Two pintails are again legal per day, during the 2012-13 season.

2011 Statewide Small Game Harvest Statistics: Duck - Statewide and by County

Dove: Klickitat County continues to have the best dove hunting in our district, but opportunity is limited.  Like other bird hunting for 2012, harsh spring conditions have had an impact on local populations.  Hunters should remember that most quality hunting areas in eastern Klickitat County are associated with private hunting clubs. Some dove hunting opportunity in the Vancouver lowlands, i.e. Shillapoo Wildlife Area.

2011 Statewide Small Game Harvest Statistics: Dove - Statewide and by County

Deer:  Deer populations are generally stable in lower elevation units such as Washougal (568) and Battle Ground (564), as well as the Klickitat County GMUs, i.e. West Klickitat (578), Grayback (388) and East Klickitat (382).  However, deer populations remain suppressed in the Cascade Mountain GMUs, i.e. Lewis River (560), Wind River (574) and Siouxon (572).  2012 should offer no better than average deer hunting opportunity as the previous spring was unusually cool and rainy with above average snowpack in the Cascades. 

Successful hunting for black-tailed deer is primarily a function of the effort, focus and energy that hunters put into the hunt. Black-tailed deer thrive in heavily vegetated habitats and are often very nocturnal in nature. This means that successful blacktail hunters must be in position early in the morning and carefully hunt near sources of food and in secure cover.

Bucks travel more during the rut when they cover large amounts of territory searching for does in estrus. This makes bucks more vulnerable as they spend less time hiding and are sometimes found in “open” habitats, i.e. clear-cuts and meadows. Not surprisingly, approximately one-third of the annual buck harvest in Region 5 occurs during the 4-day “late buck” hunt held each November.

District 9 - 2011 Game Harvest Statistics:
- Deer General Harvest
- Deer Special Permits Harvest

Elk:  Significant changes were implemented in 2010 for elk seasons in several game management units.  Elk hunters are strongly encouraged to review the 2012 Big Game Regulations to be clear on these new opportunities.

The new regulations from 2010 affect elk hunting in GMUs 568 (Washougal), 574 (Wind River) and 578 (West Klickitat).  ANTLERLESS ELK ARE NO LONGER LEGAL DURING ANY GENERAL MODERN FIREARM OR MUZZLELOADER SEASON IN THESE GMUs.  Additionally, the THREE-POINT ANTLER RESTRICTION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THESE GMUs FOR ALL GENERAL SEASONS.

Antlerless elk hunting in these GMUs is now offered through the special permit process.  Antlerless elk permits are available for both modern firearm and muzzleloader hunters.  Tag numbers have been allocated at a level intended to maintain harvest and hunting opportunity at a level similar to that of the past 5-years in these GMUs.  Again, please review the pamphlet and be familiar with these significant changes in elk hunting regulation in Washougal (568), Wind River (574) and West Klickitat (578).

District 9 - 2011 Game Harvest Statistics:
- Elk General Harvest
- Elk Special Permits Harvest