DENNIS. L. CLAY

A hunter gets a surprising visit at her tree stand

Tayler Schafer is a busy woman. She is the mother of 2-year-old twin boys, plus she will be finishing her double major in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education.

Postmark key to counted absentee ballot

OK, this is the third week we have discussed this matter: The United States Postal Service does not guarantee every piece of mail dropped into a mail drop box will be postmarked.

Outdoors: More firearm terms to ponder

The firearm related terms in last week's column were well received, so we will continue with more this week.

Outdoors: Firearm related terms educate readers

From time to time this column has featured simple facts about outdoor-related topics, such as facts about wildlife or names of wildlife young. Today we will tackle a few firearm-related facts, supplied by the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Hunting and fishing: Goose, duck hunting good

Reports reaching this desk put the goose and duck hunting as good, maybe great. Goose hunters are shooting mostly limits. Some duck hunters are also, but others are waiting for the northerns to arrive, as they put it.

Hunting and fishing: Goose, duck hunting good

Reports reaching this desk put the goose and duck hunting as good, maybe great. Goose hunters are shooting mostly limits. Some duck hunters are also, but others are waiting for the northerns to arrive, as they put it.

Make sure your mail-in ballots are postmarked

Remember, the United States Postal Service does not guarantee every piece of mail dropped into a mail drop box will be postmarked. As I understand the situation, the machine, whatever the machine is, doesn't postmark every envelope for whatever reason. Remember when an election is held and the Revised Code of Washington, or RCW, states the absentee ballot must be postmarked by a certain date, and it is not postmarked, those ballots not receiving a postmark have the possibility of being disqualified.

Outdoors: Firearm related terms educate readers

From time to time this column has featured simple facts about outdoor-related topics, such as facts about wildlife or names of wildlife young. Today we will tackle a few firearm-related facts, supplied by the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

The legend of Four-Fish Crawler

Hunting and fishing: General elk season ends Sunday

Although several elk seasons will continue or begin again throughout the state, what is known as the general elk season will end on Sunday. Last Friday we were having lunch in Kittitas and witnessed a constant line of vehicles pulling into the convenience store and gas station across the street.

No on I-594 and yes on I-591

Voting is an obligation and responsibility all U.S. citizens should take seriously. I usually shy away from political issues, but when the issues hit me where it hurts, I'm ready to battle.

2014 Deer Camp Diary Pt. 2

Ground Observer cause continues to be important

Dry conditions slow deer hunting success

The deer numbers seem to be lacking in my hunting territory and the dry conditions seem to be the culprit. A Fish and Wildlife enforcement officer relayed a lack of deer taken opening weekend, even though a sizeable number of hunters have been checked. He also said there seems to be fewer hunters in the field than usual.

2014 Deer Camp diary

Queen Virginia visits Larson AFB

General deer season opens Saturday; good luck

This is the last of a three-part series about eastern Washington hunting prospects.

First Basin drive-in theater opened in July of 1952

Hunting prospects continued

Hunters focus on upcoming hunting seasons

Columbia Basin hunters are focusing on the upcoming hunting seasons. The general modern firearm deer season opens on Oct. 11 in many areas across the state.

Water to Westlake important in 1952

Class of 65 meeting this Saturday; Dean Feige to join the group

OK members of the Moses Lake High School Class of 1965. We are having a planning meeting tomorrow afternoon, Saturday, Sept. 27, at the back lawn of Kris and Bob Chudomelka, beginning at 3 p.m. Yes, we will be planning next year's reunion. Yep, this will be number 50.

Chelan and Douglas county hunting prospects

Dean Feige is coming to town next week

Many of us remember Dean Feige from school. He was with us through at least part of our freshman year, before moving to, well, I think it was Portland.

Youth hunting rules this weekend

The special youth hunt is scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21, with a daily limit of four Canada geese and a possession limit of eight. The youth hunter must be under 16 years old and accompanied by an adult who is 18 years old and not hunting.

Operation Skywatch conclusion

How to take care of game in the field pt. 2

This is the second of a two-part series about taking care of game in the field.

Early Canada goose season this weekend

An early Canada goose season is scheduled for Goose Management Areas 4 and 5 on Sept. 13 and 14. These areas are basically lands east of the Cascade Mountains. The daily limit will be three with a possession limit of six. Remember this hunt is for Canada geese only.

Taking care of game in the field

Thomas continues account of volunteering for Operation Skywatch

Dove hunting starting off well

Dove hunting can be a day-by-day event. One day the hunting is good, followed by a dip in the temperature and the birds disappear.

Clay: First hunt productive

The plan was simple; meet in Wilson Creek at 5:30 a.m. and head north to our hunt area. My hunting buddy, Bill Green, was waiting when I arrived 20 minutes late. My usual goal is to be early when planning to meet a partner such as this, but, even though I was up and preparing for the hunt early, time slipped away before my Ram headed north on Stratford Road.

Monday is the opening of several hunting seasons

Just two days until the September hunting seasons begin. Opening will be the forest grouse seasons, which continues through Dec. 31. The limit is four a day with a possession limit of 12 straight or mixed bag.

The Ground Observer Corps was important in the 1950s

E-mail from Cheryl

Clay: Opening day hunt planned

Bill Green stood in front of me; his face about 12 inches from mine.

Countdown to September first hunting openers

September is the beginning of many hunting seasons. Read the regulations, if you don't already have the seasons memorized. Many Washington waters

Fairchild airmen visit Grant County Fair

Two airmen and five dependents traveled from Fairchild to Moses Lake to attend the Grant County Fair. One family of four needed to cancel at the last minute. Our timeline of a 10 a.m. departure from Fairchild and a 12 noon arrival at the fairgrounds held true.

Rich Hums and Strums to Victory

More hunting seasons open in a couple weeks

The forest grouse seasons opens on Sept. 1 and continues through Dec. 31. The limit is four a day with a possession limit of 12 straight or mixed bag.

Ideas on how to restructure wild meat

My friend Bill Witt called a few days ago. We discussed our vegetable gardens, upcoming camping trips and outdoor cooking.

Baby it's dry outside

Fish and Wildlife restricted fires on Eastern Washington lands a month ago. They said, "The arrival of hot, dry summer weather has forced Fish and Wildlife to restrict fires and other activities on its eastern Washington lands to reduce the risk of a repeat of last year's costly fire season."

Limited-entry deer hunt applications due Aug. 13

The 6,000- acre Charles and Mary Eder unit of the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area in northeastern Okanogan County will provide a quality hunt for 18 hunters this fall.

Bear season opens today

The fall black bear general season opens today, Aug. 1. The Game Management Units opening in the Columbia Basin are 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260-290, 371-381. The GMUs in the hunt zone known as the East Cascades to open are 244-247, 249-251, 328, 329-368, 382, 388, 578.

Confusion abounds concerning hunts

There were public comment periods, where hunters could submit written remarks about changes in hunting rules. There were meetings open to the public where hunters could comment in person in front of the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Bear season opens a week from today

The fall black bear general season opens on Aug. 1, a week from today. The Game Management Units opening in the Columbia Basin are 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254, 260-290, 371-381. The GMUs in the hunt zone known as the East Cascades to open are 244-247, 249-251, 328, 329-368, 382, 388, 578.

RoadRunners and PageBoys were early garage bands

Two of the early Columbia Basin garage bands of the 1960s were the RoadRunners and the PageBoys. Spencer Clark was a member of both bands and explains the band configuration this way:

Now is the time to prepare for the fall hunt

Let the hunts begin. Yes, the first hunt begins Aug. 1, eight days from now. This hunt is for black bear in several Game Management Units, including some in the Columbia Basin. Other GMUs open for black bear on Aug. 15 and still more on Sept. 1. Two master hunter elk hunts also begin on Aug. 1.

Isaacs named Nash manager in 1952

The C.B. Supply Company sold Ferguson 30 tractors, as the ad indicates, but the company also sold Nash automobiles. Read on.

Use care when outside on hot days

OK, it's hot outside. The forecast is calling for the next 10 days is calling for five days topping out at 90 degrees or above and five days at 85 degrees or above. The lows are scheduled to be in the high 50s or low 60s.

The epilogue

Epilogue: A concluding part added to a literary work.