No info on hunting results available

It is always a priority of this column to provide the results of a recently opened hunting season as soon as possible. The results of Tuesday’s opening seasons are not available as of this writing.

In fact, the sound of shotgun blasts has not reached these ears. Saturday should be a busy day for Columbia Basin hunters. Send photos of your success.

Two-day youth season on Sept 19 and 20

The youth season for pheasant, partridge, quail, coot, duck and Canada goose will be the weekend of Sept 19 and 20. These youth hunts are great training for the youngsters. They are open to youth under 16 years of age and they must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old and who is not hunting. Take advantage of this opportunity.

Other hunting seasons opening in September and October will be discussed in future columns.

Hunting seasons currently open

Tuesday, Sept. 1, was a big day for hunters. Pick up the migratory waterfowl and upland game bird pamphlet and study it.

This year the dove season will run from Sept. 1 through Oct. 30. This is a month longer than usual, plus the limit is up from 10 to 15.

Forest grouse is open, with a limit of four a day, but not more than three of each species. Cottontail and snowshoe hare season is also open, with a limit of five, mixed bag.

The crow season is open and there is no limit on these birds. Bobcat, fox and raccoon are open and there is no limit on these animals.

Columbia River sturgeon fishing on again

Effective last Tuesday, Sept. 1, state fishery managers in Washington and Oregon are rescinding a moratorium on sturgeon fishing in the Columbia River Basin.

Water temperatures have now returned to normal, ending the warm-water conditions that killed more than 80 sturgeon on the Columbia River and threatened many more, according to Fish and Wildlife.

The extreme conditions that were subjecting sturgeon to stress have passed. Fish and Wildlife believes it’s safe to reopen fishing in areas of the river closed since mid-July.

Due to the states’ action, anglers may again catch and release sturgeon on the Columbia River and its tributaries above Bonneville Dam. However, anglers must release any sturgeon they catch for now, because no scheduled sturgeon-retention seasons are open.