Outdoors Report: Following a Pack of Wild Geese Under the Weight of the Sun

Like an overripe fruit forgotten in the back of the refrigerator the sugar sweet leaves of dependable trees are marking the turning of the season by the changing of their color. Affluent and electric greens have faded to straw yellow with blood red veins and brown bruise spots spilling out like muddy coffee stains from center core.

That soft oozing. The unrelenting defoliation. The chilling cut of the steel edged wind that bellowed like the cold-hearted gusts exhausted from the paunch belly of his most formidable foe were all too familiar and haunting to the meek woodsman. He, too, knew what it felt like to slowly deteriorate amongst those supple woodlands that used to hold so much promise. But while he always found time to revere the trees as they faded away, he wondered if anyone had ever stopped to ponder his lot.

It wasn’t that he was in need of, or even that he yearned for the attention. He was simply curious to know if his existence on the dirty earthly plane had ever managed to move the dial one way or the other. Had anyone ever noticed that he sometimes slumped to one side under the weight of the sun?

Each year, when the cold started to seep into his bones, he knew it was time. That’s when he’s run out on the hilltop and follow the packs of wild geese as they winged to where the climate better suits their clothes. He knew that soon wood and water ducks would fill the flooded lower bowls of summer pastures and push the banks of abandoned old mill ponds to the brink. He knew, too, that black bears in pungent furs of many colors would romp through the muddy creeks and marshes in order to find the final flash berry patches. Soon enough the heavy blanket of winter would fall softly and tuck them into their musk dens for good.

Soon the snow will begin to shuffle down the mountain sides to cover the disparate and desperate bergs of the foothills. When those flakes begin to accumulate, that’s when the big kitty hunts begin to pick up, when padded paw tracks traced stories into the ice etched surface of last night’s fresh powder. They would carve circles around the deep wells of trees and climb the icy tips in order to surveil all the lands that fall under their flickering cats eye.

First though, there would be ample time to cast glass across great chasms in search of undulating ruminants, or preferably, ruminating ungulates. The latter had always proved an easier target as they chewed their cud and pondered the meaning of life and the fickle ways of nature.

The early fall was always a lonely time in the woods, since those deer and elk tend to stay smart and safe while the last vestiges of summer’s heat waves linger beneath the canopy. Soon enough, though, the fat racks of desirous deer and elk would perpetually be put in harm’s way as they followed the primal pull of their guts toward the wafting scent, and the fleeting companionship that could be found at the end of this year’s rut.

Holding his rake and his honey-do list as he watched the giant maple leaves pinwheel to the carpet of his front yard he knew he was not much different than those animals he longed to pursue across the great wild yonder. After all, it was a lifetime of instinctual decision making that had delivered each of them to their current lot. Nothing ever seemed to change, except for the task at hand, the seasons and the leaves.

FISHIN’

The big news on the water during the last week has been the sudden closure of Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2.1) and all of its tributaries to all salmon fishing.That emergency closure took effect at midnight on Sept. 22 and was scheduled to last “until further notice.”

The WDFW noted that the return of fall Chinook to the tributaries of Willapa Bay had been significantly lower than preseason forecasts called for. The closure was intended to increase the number of hatchery remaining in the rivers for broodstock operations at fish hatcheries.

However, beginning Thursday that regulation change will be amended to allow coho and chum salmon harvest within Marinea Area 2.1, as well as the Willapa Bay Control Zone. The daily limit is six salmon, two of which may be adult fish, but all Chinook must be released. In a press release the WDFW noted that while fall Chinook returns continue to lag behind projections the timing of those runs make it unlikely that many fall Chinook will be encountered during this time by marine area anglers. Once caveat to the revised fishery is that anglers must cease fishing as soon as the adult portion of their daily limit has been bonked.

On the Chehalis River system salmon anglers will have to wait a few more days still before they can begin harvesting adult salmon. That fishery is very much dependent upon the fresh rainfall and will open on Oct. 1. Currently there are steelhead running in the river, especially on the upper Wynoochee, but angling effort has been depressed as diehards wait for salmon season to begin. On Wednesday river flow on the Wynoochee above Black Creek was reported at 290 cubic feet per second while flow at Grisdale was reported at 238 cubic feet per second.

The biggest happening on the lower Columbia River system last week was the second phase of a two-day catch-and-keep sturgeon fishery between the Wauna Powerlines and Bonneville Dam. However, last Saturday’s efforts did not muster the same feisty results as the week previous. To wit – Last week sturgeon anglers kept only 58 legal sturgeon in the lower river, with hotspots near both Longview and Woodland. Going forward though there will only be the standard catch-and-release sturgeon fishing options in the big waters of the lower Columbia.

The end of that special fishery is bad news for anglers searching for a place to find big fish because salmon and steelhead fishing is currently closed on the mighty Columbia River from Buoy 10 all the way to Pasco.

Additionally, the Cowlitz River closed to Chinook salmon fishing after last Saturday from the mouth up to the Barrier Dam. For reference purposes, last week on the Cowlitz River 127 bank anglers downstream of the I-5 Bridge kept two Chinook, and two coho jacks while 55 boats with 141 rods kept eight Chinook, three Chinook jacks, two coho, and 69 coho jacks. Upriver of the I-5 Bridge 48 bank rods kept one Chinook, two steelhead, and one cutthroat trout, while four boats with nine rods kept four steelhead. Additionally, last week at the salmon hatchery separator crews retrieved 390 coho adults, 568 coho jacks, 226 fall Chinook adults, 51 fall Chinook jacks, 38 cutthroat trout, 30 summer-run steelhead adults, 19 spring Chinook adults, and one spring Chinook jack. Those crews also released 47 coho adults, 59 coho jacks, five spring Chinook adults, one spring Chinook jack and one cutthroat trout into the Cispus River near Randle, while depositing 67 coho adults, 122 coho jacks and 12 spring Chinook adults at the Franklin Bridge release site in Packwood. Another 186 coho adults, 377 coho jacks, 110 fall Chinook adults, 40 fall Chinook jacks, and three cutthroat trout were plopped into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton. From Monday through Wednesday river flow below Mayfield Dam rose from 2,510 cubic feet per second up to 3,570 cubic feet per second. River temperature has not dropped much though.

Other creel samples conducted by the WDFW last week showed 27 bank anglers on the Kalama River released one Chinook and one steelhead, while two anglers on the Elochoman showed no catch. On the Lewis River 112 bank anglers kept one Chinook, three steelhead, three coho, three coho jacks and released one Chinook, one coho and three coho jacks. Another 20 boats outfitted with 49 rods kept six Chinook, one Chinook jack, one coho, and 14 coho jacks while letting go another 15 Chinook, 20 Chinook jacks and four coho jacks.

For anglers who like to chase trout and cash in prizes it’s time to take stock of the WDFW’s ongoing trout fishing derby. That promotion, which features nearly 1,000 stocked trout equipped with tags that can be redeemed for prizes, will last another five weeks through the end of October. In Lewis County derby tagged fish were planted at Carlisle Lake (Ol’ Mill Pond), Fort Borst Park Pond, Mineral Lake, and South Lewis County Park Pond (Ol’ Wallace Billabong). In Cowlitz County prize winning fish were stocked at Horseshoe Lake, Kress Lake, Silver Lake, and Longview’s crown jewel, Lake Sacajawea. Thurston County was also loaded up with prize worthy fish with deposits at Clear Lake, Deep Lake, Offut Lake, Pattison Lake, and Ward Lake. Other prize producing waters can be found across the state, including 11 state parks. 

“There’s still plenty of time to catch one of 900 tagged fish stocked in more than 100 lakes, and you can win a fabulous prize,” noted a release from the Washington State Parks Department.

HUNTIN’

As the real weather of fall works up the courage to stick around for good many hunters are left wondering when the prime opportunities for bagging deer and elk will finally arrive. While those seasons pick up the bulk of the attention, bear hunts are still producing plenty of fodder for hunters who are able to happen upon a late blooming berry patch.

“Bears seem to be prolific this year,” said Lloyd the rod and reel monger at Dennis Company in Montesano. “Lots of bear out there.” 

In our area the best places to search for black bears is west of Interstate 5 in the Willapa HIlls, southernmost ranges of the Olympic Mountains, and the lush coastal areas that stay wet and verdant the longest. Other area to try are the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, particularly where huckleberries, cascara and other wild food sources can be found in abundance. Those hunts will continue through Nov. 15 in all open areas.

If you just can’t wait for the rut to begin and the weather to turn there are options for stalking deer and elk already. While the last of early deer archery openings will close on Sept. 28, muzzleloader seasons will begin the next day and run through Oct. 7 in GMUs across the state. Musket hunts will take place for whitetails and mule deer on the east side of the state during the same duration. Likewise, early archery for elk is closed already but musket toters will be able to blast at elk on both sides of the state from Oct. 6-12.

Forest grouse and crow seasons will continue through the end of the year and hunts for California quail and northern bobwhite are ready to run from Sept. 30-Nov. 30. General pheasant hunts are nearly ready to open as well, with western Washington’s season set to take place from Sept. 29 through Nov. 30, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. Mountain quail hunts will take place on the same dates as pheasants without the time constrictions. Mourning doves will be legal fodder through Oct. 30 and turkey hunters in GMUs 101-154 and 162-186 will also be able to pursue their quarry through the end of the year. Elsewhere, wild turkey enthusiasts in GMUs 382, 388, 568-578 will have to cut their hunts short on Oct. 12.

There are also plenty of small game options just starting to hit their mark including openings for bobcats, fox, racoon, rabbits, and hares. Cougar seasons will also be open in all legal areas through at least the end of the year. As for waterfowl, the next shooting window will not open until the second week of October.

Of course, coyotes are always fair game for hunters and farmers, and roadkill salvage nearly always legal in Washington. The only exceptions are for deer in Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties in order to protect endangered populations of Columbia white tails.

CLAMMIN’

The WDFW has announced a tentative list of razor clam digs that are set to begin in the second week of October. Those fall/winter digs are set to continue intermittently through the end of the year, including a popular New Year’s Eve dig. 

As always, final approval for the digs will be dependent upon results of marine toxin testing usually conducted about one week before the actual digging dates.

Surveys by the WDFW indicate that the overall razor clam population has increased significantly across the coast since last season. However, populations are still slumping at Long Beach where low density of succulent bivalves caused the closure of that beach for most of the 2017-18 digging seasons. A bout of low salinity caused by uncommon outflow from the Columbia River was blamed on that dip on clam recruits.

Proposed razor clam digs through the end of October are listed below, along with evening low tides and beaches:

· Oct. 11, Thursday, 8:58 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

· Oct. 12, Friday, 9:41 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

· Oct. 13, Saturday, 10:26 p.m.; +0.1 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

· Oct. 25, Thursday, 7:55 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

· Oct. 26, Friday, 8:36 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

· Oct. 27, Saturday, 9:19 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

· Oct. 28, Sunday, 10:08 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Additional proposed digging tides can be found on the WDFW website.

FORESTIN’

The U.S. Forest Service is currently accepting applications for more than 1,000 seasonal jobs in Washington and Oregon for the spring and summer of 2019. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 12.

“Seasonal employment with the Forest Service is a great way to help protect public lands, support local communities, and learn new skills,” said Dianne Guidry, acting regional forester for the U.S.F.S., in a press release. “If you’re interested in working with a dedicated team of people who take pride in managing our national forests, we encourage you to consider joining the Forest Service.”

Job openings exist in several fields including fire, recreation, natural resources, timber, engineering, visitor services, and archaeology. The U.S.F.S. oversees 193 million acres of public land while providing assistance to state and private landowners and conducting large-scale forestry research. The Pacific Northwest Region is comprised of 16 National Forest, 59 District offices, a National Scenic Area, and a National Grassland. In total those areas cover 24.7 million acres in Washington and Oregon and are staffed by around 3,550 people.

Applications must be submitted on www.USAJOBS.gov by Oct. 12.

BIRDIN’

The Wings Over Willapa festival is set to take its first flight on the Long Beach Peninsula beginning Friday. That three-day festival, in its inaugural year, will celebrate the diverse array of migratory and native birds that frequent the diverse habitats of Washington’s coast.

The festival is being hosted by the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and will feature informative presentations, guide tours, artistic displays and hands-on workshops, along with other family-friendly endeavors.

According to Jack Ferrier of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, the idea for the festival was hatched last year after the refuge was tabbed as a site of international importance for shorebirds. In its fledgling stage still, interest has outstripped the expectations of organizers with  many of the festival offerings already sold out.

The hodgepodge of habitat found around the Long Beach Peninsula make it a perfect place to observe a wide array of birds. Those habitats include estuaries, sandy dunes, freshwater wetlands, tidelands, and thick coastal forest. Some of the most common and popular birds that can be seen along Washington’s southwest coast include the pygmy owl, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, great blue heron, trumpeter swan and snowy owl, and snowy plover. Many other species of birds are known to make pit stops off of the Pacific Flyway as well.

General admission tickets to the event cost $20 for adults and $10 for children age 7-3. Children under 7 will be allowed in for free. As a bonus for locals and bird supporters, tickets for Pacific County residents and current Friends of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge members are $10.

A registration social will be held from 5-9:30 p.m. on Friday at the Salt Hotel and Pub in Ilwaco and another registration opportunity will be offered at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. Registration on Sunday will be back at the Salt Hotel and Pub. Additional information can be found online at Friendsofwillaparefuge.org,

DRIVIN’

As we round the corner toward autumn the National Park Service has provided an updated list for road access and planned closures that lead to some of the area’s most revered locales around Mount Rainier.

The Sunrise visitor Center at Mount Rainier National Park closed on Sept. 23 but Paradise Inn will remain open until Oct. 1. The Nisqually Entrance to Longmire will remain open all winter. The road from Longmire to Paradise will also remain open through the winter but the uphill gate will be closed each evening.

Elsewhere, the Ohanapecosh Campground and Henry M. Jackson visitor center will both remain open until Oct. 8, while the Sunrise Road from White River Campground to Sunrise will close after Oct. 22. Paradise Valley Road, White River Road (lower Sunrise Road) to SR 410, and Stevens Canyon Road are all slated to remain open until Oct. 29 or the first significant snowfall. Finally, Cayuse Pass (Highway 123) and Chinook Pass (Highway 410) are scheduled to stay open until Nov. 19 or the first heavy snowfall.