Upcoming hunting seasons cause excitement

The night before the opening day of a hunting season is reminiscent of the night before Christmas during my youth. There is excitement in the air at my house.

There are several seasons approaching. Read on.

Hunting seasons on tap

Many hunting seasons are scheduled to open on Sept. 1, such as fox, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, forest grouse, snowshoe hare and some deer and elk seasons. Stay tuned for details.

Waterfowl seasons set

With a record number of ducks counted on the northern breeding grounds, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved migratory waterfowl hunting seasons for this fall and winter during a public meeting in Olympia Aug. 7-8.

Under the waterfowl hunting package, most hunting opportunities approved by the commission will be similar to last year. That includes a statewide duck season that will be open for 107 days, starting Oct. 17-21 and continuing Oct. 24-Jan. 31. A special youth hunting weekend also is scheduled Sept. 19-20.

Limits for mallard, pintail, scaup, redhead, goldeneye, harlequin, scoter and long-tailed duck will remain the same as last season. But the commission raised the daily bag limit for canvasback from one to two per day because of increasing numbers throughout North America.

Goose hunting seasons will vary among management areas across the state, but most open mid-October and run through late January.

In southwest Washington, however, the commission approved several changes to the goose hunting season. Those changes include: Closing the season for dusky Canada geese to ensure protection of the birds in areas where the small population of this subspecies winters. Expanding the length of the general hunting season into March for other geese.

Adding all of Clark County to Goose Management Area 2A, and Grays Harbor County to Goose Management Area 2B.Eliminating check stations for geese, and instead increasing checks in the field to monitor harvest.