HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is predicting a good hunting season this year, but hunters need be aware that due to wildfire conditions, access restrictions are possible. Mick Cope, WDFW game division manager, said "There is some good hunting to be had this year, but hunters need to check current conditions before heading into the field. Some hunters may need to find alternate hunting locations or different routes to their selected hunting locations.GÇ¥ Fire prevention restrictions implemented earlier this summer on WDFW's wildlife areas and water access sites across the state remain in place. Those restrictions, including a ban on campfires, are available on the department's web site. Also on the site is a list of major public landowners for each region along with their contact information, plus information on private lands hunting access. The department will update hunting prospects for areas affected by wildfires after the fires have subsided and the impact on hunting opportunities become clear. "Waterfowl surveys indicate an even higher population of birds than we saw last year,GÇ¥ Cope said. "We anticipate an excellent duck hunting season this year.GÇ¥ Other highlights for this hunting season include: " Muzzleloaders will be allowed to hunt elk in 27 additional game management units (GMUs). " Two more days have been added to the modern firearm mule deer season. " Archery elk season starts later this year, on September 12, in response to concerns raised by hunters in past years. " There are more days and extended hours to hunt geese in southwest Washington .
Fishing and crabbing reports
" During Aug. 24-30, Tacoma Power employees recovered 334 summer steelhead, 278 spring chinook, 25 jacks, 42 mini-jacks, 73 fall chinook, 13 jacks, one coho and three cutthroat trout at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. Flows at Mayfield Dam were approximately 2,560 cubic feet per second on Tuesday, September 1. Also, the lower river was milky white as was the Kalama on same days. Joe Hymer of the WDFW reported department personnel sampled 1,649 salmon anglers (including 410 boats) with 496 adult fall chinook, 12 jacks, 20 steelhead, and four adult coho. All but six of the adult chinook were kept. The 162,845 adult fall chinook counted at Bonneville Dam to date is the second highest on record (since at least 1938). The record was 221,375 fish counted from Aug. 1 to Sept. 1 in 2013. Conversely, the 3,309 adult coho counted at Bonneville Dam to-date are the fewest since 1999. " Most of Puget Sound closed to recreational crab fishing at sunset on Labor Day, with summer catch reports due by midnight Oct. 1. The only two areas of the Sound that will remain open to crab fishing after Labor Day are 7 North and 7 South near the San Juan Islands. Those two areas will remain open Thursdays through Mondays each week through Sept. 28. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are closed, and all crab gear must be removed from the water. " Fishing on the lower Puyallup River has been very good for pinks, with the occasional coho also being caught. Fishing has been slower in the upper reaches of the river, probably due to murky water conditions. Angler activity is heavy. Water conditions are about the same on the Nisqually River. A spokesperson for Zettle Marina reported fishing has been pretty hot near the mouth of the Nisqually for pinks, but there are also good numbers of kings in the area and anglers have been targeting them. Walt Harvey of Verles Sports in Shelton said bobbers and eggs are working well in the lower Skokomish for kings.
Bob Brown is a freelance outdoors writer. He lives in Roy and can be reached at robertb1285@centurylink.net
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