Hunting seasons continue
Dennis L. Clay
People are getting serious about hunting. There are several open now and others are about to open and still others are set to open in a couple of weeks.
Fall turkey season
The early fall turkey season is now open to all hunters. This season will continue through Oct. 11 in Game Management Units 105 through 142. The limit is two beardless turkeys in addition to other fall turkey harvest.
The season, with the same dates, is also in GMUs 101 and 124 through 154 and 162 through 186. The limit is one turkey of either sex, in addition to other fall turkey harvest.
This means in overlapping GMUs, three turkeys can be tagged. An example is GMU 124, Mount Spokane, where a hunter may take two beardless turkeys and one of either sex or three beardless birds.
Continuing seasons
The mourning dove season continues through next Monday, Sept. 30, with a daily limit of 10 and a possession limit of 20. The forest grouse season continues through Dec. 31.
Archery and muzzleloader deer and elk season continue to turn on and off during September. The modern firearm deer season is scheduled to begin on Oct. 12.
Anglers may retain any legal size fall chinook in the Columbia River Wanapum Pool
New rule for the area of the Columbia River from Wanapum Dam to Rock Island Dam: Daily limit six chinook, up to two may be adult chinook, minimum size 12 inches. Anglers may retain any legal size chinook regardless of whether the adipose fin has been clipped or not.
This rule is in affect from Sept. 21 through Oct.15, 2013.
Reason for action: Current estimates for the fall chinook run far exceed the forecast. There are currently close to 20,000 adult fall chinook returning to the Wanapum pool, which is four times the 10 year average.
Other information: Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license as well as a Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement.
Hanford Reach (Columbia River) fall chinook salmon fishery enhancements
Effective Sept. 21 through Oct. 22, 2013 these rules apply:
1) Fishing for salmon with two poles is permitted from the Hwy. 395 Bridge in Pasco to Priest Rapids Dam if the angler possesses a two-pole license endorsement.
2) Daily limit six salmon, up to three may be adult salmon. Once the daily limit of adult salmon is retained, anglers may not continue to fish for any species for the remainder of the day.
3) Open the closed water boundaries at the Priest Rapids Hatchery discharge channel, commonly referred to as Jackson/Moran Creek, to angling by boat only. Boat anglers are not allowed to fish in the hatchery discharge channel, but may fish in the Columbia River adjacent to the channel.