GARNET WILSON
Herald Outdoor Writer
Recent Stories
Hunting prospects continued
General deer season to open one month from yesterday
Modern firearm deer hunters are getting excited about the upcoming deer season, which is scheduled to open one month from yesterday, Saturday, Oct. 17.
Hunting prospects continued
Dove season has strong beginning
Although we have not received an official opening day of dove season results, reports have reached this desk indicating the opening was strong. Reports of limits, including a mixed bag of mourning doves and Eurasian collared doves.
District 5 Deer hunting prospects
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.
Hunting prospects for deer and elk
Wildfires always frightening, but now deadly, too
Wildfires have always been a frightening concern, but now the several fires in Washington State have turned deadly as well. We think of the heartbreak involved with the loss of life, but also with the loss of structures and animals, cattle, horses and pets.
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.
Extra planning required for hunting seasons
Let it rain, as soon as the wheat harvest is over and the winter wheat is above ground. Until we get rain and the fire danger subsides we can look at closures of our traditional hunting areas. The following is from Fish and Wildlife. Read on.
Hunting opportunity deadline approaching
Not all Columbia Basin hunters are interested in hunting in Okanogan County, but there are enough to warrant letting them know about the following opportunity. Actually, others may be interested after this. Read on.
Hunter education training needed by most first-time hunters
Each year there are people who want to hunt, but are not allowed because they didn't complete a Hunter Education Course. But there is a way to complete the course. Read on.
Deadline for hunting opportunity in Okanogan County Aug. 14
Eighteen lucky hunters will have an opportunity to hunt for deer this fall on the 6,000-acre Charles and Mary Eder unit of the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area in northeastern Okanogan County.
Fireworks a danger to wildlife and humans, too
It is difficult to understand why fireworks haven't been banned this year. We aren't talking about the major fireworks by the city, but the fireworks in the rest of the city and in the county have us worried this year.
Fire prevention front and center
Again we are hammering fire prevention. This time it is Fish and Wildlife placing restrictions on the lands they control.
Raffle Permit deadline looms
Fish and Wildlife offers a number of hunts each year by raffle. There is no limit on the number of tickets a person may purchase. The deer, elk, moose and mountain goat tickets are $6 each. Bighorn sheep tickets are $11.50 and Multi-species tickets are $17 per ticket for three-species raffles and $22.50 for four-species raffles. The deadline for purchasing tickets is June 15.
Two days left in the 2015 spring turkey season
OK, this is it, right down to the last weekend of the spring turkey season for this year. Sunday is the last day of the season.
Special hunt permit deadline is May 20
My hunting buddies and I are studying the 2015 Big Game pamphlet to determine which hunts are our favorites for the fall season. The deadline is May 20, about 12 days from today. Read on.
Safford notches turkey tag
Caiden Safford, 15, of Moses Lake, shot his first turkey with his Grandpa Ray Safford at Jump Off Joe Lake near Chewelah during the youth hunt on April 4. Caiden was using Browning 12 gauge for the hunt. The hunter is a student at Moses Lake High School.
Youth turkey season tomorrow and Sunday
The spring youth turkey season is open for a two-day run, tomorrow and Sunday, April 4 and 5. This is an opportunity which should not be missed.
Crane Festival dominates weekend activities
The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival begins today and continues through Sunday. If you have never participated in this annual event, now is the time.
Basin anglers successful
Anglers around the Columbia Basin have been successful in recent days. Martha Lake was the only water with partial failure.
Y.O.U. Banquet two weeks away
The Fifth Annual Y.O.U. Banquet on schedule for Feb. 28, just two weeks from tomorrow, at the Best Western Lake Front Inn.
Hunting seasons winding down
Hunters are looking at the last days of the hunting seasons for this year.
Most Wanapum Reservoir open, some parts remain closed
Good news for those who use Wanapum Reservoir for recreation. Most of the Wanapum Reservoir has reopened for public use, but some areas have not. Read on.
Most Wanapum Reservoir open, some parts remain closed
Good news for those who use Wanapum Reservoir for recreation. Most of the Wanapum Reservoir has reopened for public use, but some areas have not. Read on.
Stadshaug brings home two
Harold Stadshaug, a classmate from the Moses Lake High School Great Class of 1965 and now living in Yakima, fished the Pacific a few months ago and caught...well here is his side of the story:
An angler enjoys time in the Great Outdoors
Tera's big catch; following in the steps of Hemingway
An angler enjoys time in the Great Outdoors
Tera's big catch; following in the steps of Hemingway
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hunting and Fishing: General elk hunt starting tomorrow
Most of them are already in place and more are sure to be erected. Elk camps is the focus of this week's hunting scene. If you have the time and a four-wheel drive vehicle, consider a drive over Colockum Pass next week.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Raffle ticket deadline July 15
The 2014 raffle permit hunt tickets are now on sale with a due date of next Tuesday, July 15. These tickets cannot be purchased on the Internet or over the phone, but must be purchased in person at your favorite sporting goods store.
Fishing heats up for holiday weekend
Kaysers share rare wildlife viewing opportunity
We have seen a few hummingbird nests in our lifetime, but mostly up in the mountains or in an area where there are pine trees. Never have we seen or heard of a nest in the Columbia Basin or the Moses Lake area.