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ON THE COVER
Logan Braaten smiles over a nice Northeast Washington whitetail he harvested on a snowy day last November. He was hunting with his dad, Eric, who works as a private lands biologist for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Braaten family enjoys hunting and angling across the region, and Logan has been appearing in these pages with fish and game since at least 2011.
(KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
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62 THE WATERFOWL WAIT
Willamette Valley duck and goose hunting may not be blazing-hot just yet, but Troy Rodakowski sure is excited about the 2025-26 hunt’s prospects. He details what state managers are predicting as he eagerly awaits the start of the real waterfowl season.
90 10 TIPS FOR TAGGING OUT ON A RUTTY BUCK
It’s the most wonderful time of the year if you hunt North Idaho and Northeast Washington, land of rutty whitetails during rifle season. But while bucks may throw caution to the wind as they seek out does, they don’t toss all of their good sense. Jeff Holmes shares advice for bagging one.
117 LAST CHANCE FOR FALL KINGS
Fall Chinook are fewer and further between on the Oregon Coast by this time of year, but guide Bob Rees knows where to still find some keepers. And he shares where to start poking around for an even rarer species these days –early-returning hatchery winter steelhead.
129 SNEAK OFF TO SNAKE FOR STEELIES, KLICK FOR COHO
With a more robust return of A- and B-run steelhead than forecast, the Snake River should serve up good fishing this month. We walk you through where to fish and what to use on the mainstem and lower Clearwater. Klickitat coho are also way up, so we share how to tap into that run too!
(MD JOHNSON)
24
FOR THE LOVE
OF THE TUG Meet Southern Oregon’s ‘Champion Of Fisheries’
As she has continued to grow as an angler-advocate, Sara recently met Jim Muck, allaround Northwest sportsman and retired fisheries biologist. She sat down with Jim for a Q&A on coastal salmon stocks, invasive bass and his thoughts on ODFW and the Fish and Wildlife Commission.
(SARA POTTER)
COLUMNS
79 GUN DOG Personalized Gun Dog Gear
It’s not just stores that get the holiday spirit a wee bit on the early side – Scott does too! He shares the many ways to celebrate gun dogs, including 3D magnets, ornaments and other gift ideas that can “bring a spark of happiness to your life, no matter what breed of dog you’re most passionate about.”
84 ON TARGET For Many Deer And Elk Hunters, Late Is Great!
October was just a warmup for the big game hunting to be had in November, and Dave W. offers up Evergreen State units where it could be a month to remember for rifle and muzzleloader hunters. He’s also got some advice for Washington waterfowlers and upland bird hunters.
101 CHEF IN THE WILD Happy Shanksgiving! Celebrating The Underdog Cut
Don’t know if you noticed, but there’s a new holiday on the calendar this hunting season – Shanksgiving. Chef Randy hails shanks, an overlooked cut of venison, and serves up a recipe that will have you rethinking grinding the meat on those four lower legs of your deer and elk into burger ever again.
121 BUZZ RAMSEY The Rainbows Of Late Fall: Trout And Steelhead
Ages ago, Thanksgiving marked the kickoff of winter steelhead season, and it still does on select rivers, but those aren’t the only waters to hit for the species Oncorhynchus mykiss this time of year! Buzz details how to work Black Friday and fall/winter rainbow releases, as well as gears you up for the first hatchery steelies.
141 OUTDOORS MD Steamers: An Alternative To Razors
Come fall and clam digging, the focus is on the Northwest’s outer coast and razors, but tucked back in the bays behind the beaches is another bounty of bivalves – Manila, littleneck and other steamer clams. MD has written your prescription for getting in on this alternative shellfish opportunity.
Crackin’ Seattle Crab Movements
Joint state-tribal study tracks Central Puget Sound Dungeness crabs and aims to add to abundance data.
23 THE EDITOR’S NOTE Artificial intelligence, tech gadgets and fair chase
24 THE BIG PIC
Retired state and federal biologist Jim Muck on ODFW, salmon, bass and more
43 READER PHOTOS
Lots of coho, a load of Dungies, and the largest fishing lure ever launched on a Northwest lake!
47 THE DISHONOR ROLL
Angling for a date backfires on woman; ASAs on the job in Idaho; 6 men sentenced for Montana elk, deer poaching; Jackass Of The Month
51 OUTDOOR CALENDAR
Upcoming fishing and hunting openers, events, deadlines, more
(WDFW)
Recently, we accepted the award from the Hewes family for being the 2025 Top Sales Dealer — an honor we don’t take lightly. I’m thankful for the support from Hewescraft and especially our sales, parts, and service teams at Tom-n-Jerry’s. Great job, team!!!
— Kelly Hawley, President.
Tom-N-Jerry’s
A 1902 cartoon depicts President Theodore Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot a Mississippi black bear that had been chased down with hounds and tied up for him. The principles of fair chase are being tested in these technologydriven times. (CLIFFORD BERRYMAN)
THE EDITOR’SNOTE
There have been a number of warnings of late from Northwest fish and game managers about the rise of artificial intelligence. (Irony: Google Docs tacked on the last two words in that sentence before my fingers had even finished typing the final “of.”)
Mostly, they were advising anglers and hunters not to trust AI or generative search engine answers to questions about whether River X or Unit Y was open, what the bag limit is, etc.
In late spring, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was the first to raise awareness after game wardens started noticing people mistakenly working closed waters and beaches. Then in mid-October, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game reported its conservation officers had been handing out citations to some folks who’d been using incorrect AI or search results instead of what it says in the actual regulations pamphlet.
“Remember, getting bad information off the internet is no excuse for violating seasons and rules. We know how handy search engines and AI can be, but when it comes to hunting and fishing regs, go straight to the source,” stated IDFG, echoing what the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and WDFW have also said recently.
IT’S NOT JUST ChatGPT that is giving managers fits. Other fastevolving technologies such as thermal optics, drones, even e-bikes used on roads or in areas that are closed to motorized use, are tilting the balance away from fair access for all and fair chase protections for critters, ODFW warned just before the start of Oregon’s main deer season last month. The devices are unlawful to use while hunting or scouting, reminded the agency.
Meanwhile, the Boone and Crockett Club, founders and keepers of the fair chase ethic, posted an article that observed AI has already changed hunting. PJ DelHomme wrote that AI can now tell you (and every other user) where to look for, say, a whitetail buck in Spokane County, bull elk in the Mount Emily Unit or pronghorn in the Owyhee Mountains, how to hunt a given area, along with what to pack, etc.
AI clearly makes many mistakes as it scrapes all we’ve ever written and posted into its large language models – I’ve read amusing Gemini summaries of my Gmail conversations – but to be fair, there is value in some aspects, such as biologists using the tool to figure out the most effective habitat protections and improvements.
The technology train long ago left the station, and the fishing and hunting worlds are but a small part of its impact, but I’ll echo DelHomme. It still is up to we hunters, anglers, managers and sportsman-conservation orgs like the Theodore Roosevelt-founded B&C Club to hold the line on the ideals of fair chase and ethical pursuit while folding in AI and tech as appropriate. –Andy Walgamott
Meet Southern ‘Champion
Jim Muck, here on the banks of the Umpqua with his dog Ranger, was a state and federal fisheries biologist, and he remains an all-around Northwest sportsman who continues to advocate for salmon and steelhead and their fisheries. Throughout his life he has also trained Labrador retrievers. (SARA POTTER)
Southern Oregon’s of Fisheries’
Retired biologist Jim Muck on coastal salmon populations, invasive bass, and ODFW and the state Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Every once in a while a person will walk into your life and ignite literal fires of intrigue. You walk away from them with their words running through your mind and you just think, “Wow, I want to know this person better!”
By Sara Potter
That is exactly what happened the first time I heard Jim Muck speak. Fighting for our fall Chinook fishery on the Umpqua River is what brought him into my life, and participating in local angling organizations has allowed me to get to know him better. I know Muck’s knowledge will help me become a better advocate for fish, fisheries and the sportsmen around the state of Oregon, no doubt.
FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG
We are living in a time when fishers need to come together more than ever before, and Muck’s understanding of the science behind fish – he worked hard and passionately for 40 years for them, including 30 years with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and 10 years with the National Marine Fisheries Service – his passionate sportsman’s soul, and ability to
Muck (right) and brother John stand next to their father’s boat while getting ready for a day of fishing on the Lower Columbia. As a teenager, he knew he wanted to become a biologist after watching a crew capture returning fall Chinook for broodstock on the Kalama River. (JIM MUCK)
show up no matter the adversity makes him perfect to educate and unite us. His stature is fitting of his brilliant mind and when he speaks, people stop and listen. That is why I am stepping far beyond my comfort zones as a writer this month to share with you some of the perspectives of Jim Muck. He does make a difference and my hope is that in sharing some of his passion, we can all be inspired and ignited to get to work.
Muck has embraced the outdoors his entire life. He can remember fishing the sandy beaches of the Columbia River when he was barely old enough to hold his rod, and that helped mold him into the man he is today. He eagerly got his hunting tag at 12 years old, as soon as it was legal for him to do so, and his heart holds a deep love for elk and pursuing them. The beautiful racks that hang throughout his lovely home illustrate a passion that needs no words. Where we sat for our interview housed two mounts from when he was 18 and 19 years old. These particular antlers represent his passion and success as a young bowhunter, which undoubtedly helped Muck find his footing for his life ahead of him.
I feel that a question-and-answer article will work best, as his buffet of knowledge should not be tweaked by my sometimes whimsical heart and mind.
Sara Potter What led you to your path as a biologist?
Jim Muck I was fishing on the Kalama River when I was 17. The hatchery truck arrived at the trap to collect fall Chinook from the trap for broodstock. I told my dad that’s what I wanted to do for a career. I never looked back.
SP When you worked for ODFW, did you feel like you were able to have a voice? And if so, were you heard? If you were heard, who was it who heard you?
JM I always believed that a good convincing presentation would get the results that you desire. I had several great bosses including Paul Reimers and Chris Wheaton who helped me develop my career. I also had an excellent relationship with the research team out of Corvallis.
SP What fisheries have you been instrumental with when it comes to the science to lobby the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for approval?
JM I provided the rationale for both the Coquille River coho salmon fishery and the Umpqua fall Chinook fishery. ODFW had planned to close both these fisheries. I worked through the Oregon Angler Alliance and Oregon Coastal Anglers to get these fisheries approved through the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission. These fisheries generate over $2 million each to the local economy each year.
SP I know you have been fighting the good fight for the sportsmen of Oregon in regards to federally delisting Oregon Coast coho salmon. How close are we to seeing this happen? Why hasn’t it happened already?
JM Today, 18 of the 21 populations of OC coho salmon are now sustainable. Therefore, the five stratums – the five regions of the evolutionary significant unit, or ESU – for OC coho salmon are passing the criteria under the Endangered Species Act. The state has developed habitat conservation plans for the Elliott State Forest and are near plan completion for the Tillamook
Forest. Federal lands are protected by the Northwest Forest Plan and now we have the Private Forest Accord. Many tidegate projects create large refuge areas for winterrearing OC coho salmon. We now need the ODFW and NOAA-Fisheries to complete the task of delisting.
SP Can you explain where we sit with our populations of OC coho and more specifically, give me your thoughts on the populations that are struggling and why you believe they’re struggling?
JM The Sixes and Necanicum populations both are on the borders of the ESU for OC coho salmon. The Sixes River are closely related to the Southern [Oregon/Northern California Coast] stock of coho salmon that is not doing well. The Necanicum River is following the Lower Columbia stocks that are also not doing well.
My concern is the South Umpqua River stock, which has now crashed to almost nonexistence. The South Umpqua River is overappropriated for water use, has high temperatures due to inadequate riparian health, and now has invasive smallmouth bass intruding into the upper reaches of the watershed. We need the ODFW, Oregon
Elk racks decorate Muck’s home. He was featured in a February 2013 article in these pages about seven Oregon and Washington state fish and wildlife biologists who are also hardcore hunters and anglers. (JIM MUCK)
Watershed Enhancement Board, NOAA and the local watershed council to prioritize projects for the South Umpqua for recovery.
SP What is it that has led to the recovery of coastal coho salmon?
JM The agencies created Amendment 13 after the listing of the OC salmon in 1997. This harvest matrix protected weak stocks such as the OC coho salmon. The northern populations of OC coho salmon quickly rebounded from very low adult returns of the late 1990s to full seeded stock of today. Yes, overharvesting wild fish was occurring in the ocean fisheries, up to as high as 90 percent. Today’s harvest is capped between 8 and 45 percent based on adult returns and outgoing smolts. Closure of hatcheries had no impact on the recovery of OC coho salmon, although contrary to many beliefs.
SP What does a healthy habitat look like for OC coho salmon? Is the necessary work being done to maintain such habitats or, better yet, is the work being done to create more habitat?
JM We need more large wood projects and a healthy riparian area. We need to follow the Lobster Creek Project (on the Alsea River) that increased large wood, alcoves and offchannel ponds, resulting in a doubling of smolts in the creek.
SP When it comes to habitat recovery, what concerns you the most?
JM Watershed councils are more concerned about landowner relationships than prioritizing the best projects for salmon. We have done enough roads and culvert replacements. We need grant applications through OWEB that demonstrate how many more fish the project will create. Presently, the state of Oregon is having a difficult time showing that we have created any more habitat at the ESU level since the late 1990s.
SP What are your feelings about the species of bass in our rivers? How heavy of an impact do you believe they have on our declining runs of fish? If you could, please talk specifics on the effects of these bass when it comes to our runs of fall Chinook.
JM Introduction of smallmouth bass has led to the complete loss of the 32,000 wild fall Chinook on the Coquille River. Spawning
“I
became a biologist because I love to fish,” says Muck, here with a coastal hatchery fall Chinook. “I became a biologist because I wanted to recover fish. If I didn’t fish, I wouldn’t have become a biologist.” (JIM MUCK)
counts now are limited to less than 1,000 fish in the watershed. I am very concerned about potential introductions of smallmouth bass in the Siuslaw, Alsea and Siletz Rivers.
SP If you could face predation head on in regards to the invasive species in our rivers, how would you address it?
JM First, I would place billboards between Eugene to Florence, Corvallis to Newport and Salem to Lincoln City educating folks of the dire effects of smallmouth on salmon. A picture of smallmouth bass eating smolts should do just fine. I would also work with legislation to increase fines and penalties for transporting live fish in Oregon. Once smallmouth bass are found in a watershed, the process (to remove them) is difficult. I suggest rotenone and electrofishing.
SP Let’s talk a little bit about the Umpqua, as it is both of our home waters. I know we both have major concerns about the Umpqua and our loss of fisheries. I would love to hear your concerns and what you believe could be done to get us back on track here in our local basin. How do you feel about the loss of the hatchery summer steelhead program on the Umpqua? I encourage you to speak of the economics of these fish in their prime versus where the program sat upon the time of termination.
JM There was a time when every parking lot in the North Umpqua was filled with fishermen fishing summer steelhead. ODFW stocked hatchery fish into the North Umpqua, and overall abundance of wild and hatchery stocks was high. ODFW then moved hatchery releases downstream due to environmental pressure and eventually terminated the hatchery program. Today, less than a half dozen fishermen can be seen on the river fly fishing for summer steelhead.
SP How do you feel about the loss of the mainstem fishing for wild spring Chinook on the Umpqua? And do you believe taking away this fishery actually helped the cause as to why it was closed?
JM ODFW closed mainstem fishing in the Umpqua River to protect the remaining
‘BONUS FISHING DAYS’ ON 3 COHO SYSTEMS
After a nudge from the state Fish and Wildlife Commission and consultation with federal overseers, Oregon wild coho managers approved “bonus fishing days” on three Central Coast systems this month.
The season was extended by two days (November 15-16) on the Siletz River, including Drift and Schooner Creeks, 16 days on the Yaquina River and Big Elk Creek (November 1-16) and nine days (November 8-16) on the Alsea River.
The late-season opportunity came about after Commissioner Bob Spelbrink of Siletz and other members in August asked Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists to approach the National Marine Fisheries Service about possible additional opportunities. Following an analysis, it was “determined that more harvest days are possible without exceeding Endangered Species Act limits,” according to ODFW.
Oregon Coast coho are “one of the closest listed” salmon or steelhead stocks to being declared federally recovered, per NMFS. Harvest of wild silvers resumed in 2009 after a decade and a half without a directed fishery. Last year saw anglers keep an estimated total of 18,428 wild coho out of 12 different coastal systems.
Plugs, spinners and twitching jigs are all good bets for late silvers. –NWS
Coho season on three Oregon Coast streams will continue deeper into November than originally scheduled. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
If Muck, a longtime tournament bass fisherman, had his way, he’d have billboards showing a picture like the one below of a Coquille River smolt eaten by a smallmouth posted on highways leading to the Oregon Coast to educate the angling public about the consequences of bucket biology. The crash of Coquille fall Chinook returns and subsequent fishery restrictions in recent years are a direct result of bass predation. (JIM MUCK; ODFW)
South Umpqua spring Chinook (less than 20 fish). Mainstem fishermen may have caught two to three fish from the South Umpqua while fishing for North Umpqua wild and hatchery fish in the mainstem. This was a loss of over a million dollars, again, in economic revenue to the county.
Actions needed to recover South Umpqua spring Chinook include: reduce water appropriations; increase riparian
health; close swimming in adult holding pools [e.g., the deep holes people jump into to cool off in the summer]; and large wood introductions. Harvest has a very minimal impact on the dependent population of South Umpqua spring Chinook.
SP With most coastal rivers open to harvest OC coho this year aside from the Umpqua Basin, how did you sit with the commission’s decision to deny all four basins any coho opportunity within the river this year?
JM ODFW stated that spawning counts of South Umpqua OC coho salmon went to zero. However, the Smith, mainstem tributaries and North Umpqua have very healthy stocks of OC coho salmon. It’s hard to impact the South Umpqua coho salmon when there are no fish present. The closure impacted over $2 million to the economy of Douglas County.
SP If you don’t mind sharing some of your insight and opinions on ODFW, what concerns you most about the way this agency is run today?
JM I am concerned the agency is moving towards preservation versus conservation.
SP What exactly do you mean by that, for those who may not fully grasp what the difference between the two is?
JM Preservation is more towards no fishing and hunting, where conservation is managing the resource for present and future generations to enjoy. We need full seeding for our fish stocks, but we can harvest the surplus. The term is maximum sustainable yield.
SP With a lack of transparency taking place and constituents feeling as if their voices are never heard, how long do you think this type of relationship can last?
JM ODFW has always been the keeper of the data. I am concerned when data is hidden from the public. We need to see spawning counts and harvest estimates early in the year so we can help develop alternatives for fishing.
SP How do you feel about our current hatchery systems?
JM Our hatcheries are becoming overcrowded such that we are continuing
to see fish losses due to disease. This did not happen when I worked for the department.
SP What is needed to help jump-start hatcheries in a new way?
JM We need a state-of-the-art hatchery that can address the effects of climate change. This hatchery needs to be located with cold water like below Diamond Lake. I’m sure anglers would cough up $10 a year to pay for this hatchery.
We need smolt production to mitigate the losses in the South Umpqua and Coquille Rivers. Smolts can be released at the head of tide and avoid the wild sanctuaries located higher in the watershed. This would allow a localized fishery in the bay while recovery can happen for the wild stocks in the upper basins.
SP Do you believe the way ODFW is representing the fishers and hunters of Oregon is just?
JM Hunter and fishers have been the true conservationists of fish and wildlife in the country. From Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Oregon Hunters Association to Northwest Steelheaders and Salmon Trout Enhancement Program groups. We generate a lot of money for the department. Fishing and hunting and the related economic revenue should be the priority for the state.
SP What do you think differs most in the way this agency is run today versus when you worked for it?
JM When I was hired for the state, you were not hired unless you hunted or fished.
SP What fishing and hunting groups are you a part of? Which ones do you believe are making a difference for our fishing opportunities?
JM I am a member of Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, OHA, Oregon Angler Alliance and Oregon Coastal Anglers. We need an involved fishing and hunting community to advocate for our interest.
SP How can we get the fishermen more involved?
JM Join OAA, OCA, Northwest Steelheaders, etc. Agencies don’t often listen to individuals. They want group representation.
SP What can be done to bring us fishers all together to start becoming a united front, not only to the staff of the ODFW but to the commission as well?
JM Listening groups that meet monthly throughout the year. ODFW needs to know their constituents, and we need to know our agency staff.
SP Without salmon recovery, what would the future of our fisheries look like?
JM Well, I bass fish because they don’t close the season.
SP With retirement comes the opportunity to chase a few dreams, check off a few bucket-list adventures. What does Jim Muck’s future look like?
JM I look forward to all that awaits my wife Sharon and I. I just completed a 10-day tuna fishing trip out of San Diego. Next is a fly fishing trip to the Green River in Utah.
Probably another Alaska trip next summer. If I am lucky, a horse pack-in hunting trip for elk/deer. And, of course, tournament bass, and salmon/steelhead fishing in Southern Oregon.
AS WE FINISHED up our interview, Muck said something that rang strong and true for me.
“I became a biologist because I love to fish,” he told me. “I became a biologist because I wanted to recover fish. If I didn’t fish, I wouldn’t have become a biologist.”
His love for the pursuit of salmon and steelhead is what led the way, and is the reason why he was so successful in his four-decade-long career and, more importantly, in salmon recovery.
As I watched the current ODFW biologist speak regarding OC coho on the Umpqua at August’s commission meeting, I saw a person who lacked confidence and overall passion and understanding of the fish. I truly believe these qualities are needed in someone calling such shots for the fish and game of this state. Honestly, I believe they should be required. How can
you speak for basins that your feet don’t truly embrace? I wholeheartedly believe that lack of fishing and hunting in today’s ODFW continues to hurt us more than help us, leading me to believe that they just don’t make them like they used to.
Jim Muck’s lifetime of devotion and results is most impressive to me and so just to know him makes me want to work harder myself. He has earned his nickname as “The Champion of Fisheries” in Southern Oregon for a reason. I wish there were more people like this man, because he truly does make a difference. His heart is in the wild, and I could feel that the moment I met him. He has so many answers, if only I could help him bring all of us together to see it.
As I continue to speak at commission meetings and try to rally the people, I am able to see so clearly that the commission isn’t interested in hearing from one of us; they will only listen to us when we are united. It is time for us to come together and speak up for our watersheds before it’s too late. My heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it, even if I tried. NS
Crackin’ Seattle Crab Movements
A new joint state-tribal study tracks Central Puget Sound Dungeness, aims to add to abundance data.
By Mark Yuasa
Just below the murky surface of Puget Sound, it is hard to fathom what the traffic looks like for Dungeness crabs scurrying along the seafloor.
Unlike traffic cameras pinpointing nearly every nook and cranny along busy nearby Interstate 5, the whereabouts of Dungeness scampering the sea bottom is a difficult one to grasp. However, a collaborative study between the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Suquamish Tribe hopes to shed light on crab movement within central Puget Sound’s Marine Area 10, the Seattle and Bremerton area.
During a four-day period in late September, WDFW and the Suquamish Tribe fisheries staff captured, tagged and released 555 legal-size male Dungeness crabs. The project spanned across six locations in Area 10, from Alki Point in West Seattle north to Apple Cove Point near Kingston, and several points in between.
“We’d really like to unlock some of the mysteries surrounding Dungeness crab movement and look forward to seeing the results of this project in central Puget Sound,” said Katelyn Bosley, WDFW crustacean program leader. “This could even provide more insight about crab abundance and assist us in how we manage crab fishing seasons and set annual catch quotas.”
DURING THE WINTER crabbing season opener on October 1, one tagged crab was reported from Elliott Bay. As of the time of this writing last month, another four more tagged crabs had been reported by anglers at Kingston, Shilshole Bay and the Elliott Bay/Magnolia area.
Each tagged crab features a thin, green wire-like marking device known as a “floy tag” measuring 2 inches long. These types of inexpensive tags were first used in the late 1970s in Alaska and primarily focused on tanner crabs. Each tag has its own individual identification number and a phone contact.
WDFW and tribal study researchers inserted each tag into the backside of the crab above the hind legs on the lower side of the carapace and right along the “suture line.” This is an area of the exoskeleton that splits when the crab molts. Lab studies have shown a crab can still retain the tag even after going through the molting process multiple times.
Researchers measured each crab, noted shell hardness to indicate the stage of molting and recorded the location of where they were caught and released. There’s no need for anglers to be concerned about consuming a tagged crab.
Crabbers who catch a tagged crab are asked to call the phone number on the tag and leave a voicemail or provide a text message. A webpage link will be provided to submit the information, or crabbers
Over 550 keeper male Dungeness crabs received special green tags in late September as part of a state-tribal study looking at crab movement in Puget Sound’s Marine Area 10, the waters off Seattle, Shoreline, Bremerton and Kingston. (WDFW)
may leave a detailed message, which will be added to the WDFW database.
Within the webpage link, crabbers can input the tag identification number; approximate location coordinates (the webpage is GPS enabled and there’s a map to pin the location) for where the crab was caught; catch date; shell condition (optional); and additional comments. The portal to report a tagged crab will be open for an extended amount of time since crab are able to retain a tag for up to two years or longer.
DUNGENESS CRAB ARE managed in recreational and commercial fisheries under numerous distinct marked boundary lines within Puget Sound.
WDFW and tribal comanagers conduct test fisheries at various times throughout the year in the inland seas to determine Dungeness abundance, population structure and help set winter and summer fishing seasons. Each marine area has its own specific catch quota, and this study may improve that part of the decisionmaking process.
The ebb and flow of Dungeness crab movement could also be subject to other environmental factors including a diverse sea floor structure, tidal currents, freshwater outflow from surrounding rivers and creeks, inflow of saltwater from the ocean, and nitrogen and low dissolved oxygen levels. Past studies in places like southern Hood Canal have shown that crab movement increased when oxygen levels declined.
This isn’t the first time a study on Dungeness crab movement has occurred in the Puget Sound region.
WDFW and tribal collaborators including the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Skokomish Indian Tribe and the Suquamish Tribe conducted a crab tagging study during test fisheries from 2002 to 2007. The study covered three of the eight crab management areas that included the western side of Hood Canal, around Port Townsend and Discovery Bay in the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca.
During that study period, a total of 7,137 tagged crab were released with 567 retrieved for an 8 percent recovery rate (89 percent of those were recovered in recreational and commercial fisheries).
Variously known as floy or spaghetti tags, each of the 2-inch-long devices attached to the crabs bears a unique number as well as a phone number for crabbers to call or text. A weblink will be sent to them to record where and when the Dungie was caught and other info. The tags remain attached to the crabs even after multiple molts, studies show. (WDFW)
Oregon’s Cascade Getaway, Any Season!
An excellent venue for retreats, team-building activities, weddings, and family reunions, Odell Lake Lodge & Resort offers cozy cabins, delicious food, boat and slip rentals, and a newly designed 18-hole disc golf course. It’s the perfect place to gather, connect, and create lasting memories in a stunning natural setting. Enjoy fishing, hiking, and camping in the summer, or snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fireside relaxation in the winter. This Fall, take advantage of the brand new sauna at lakeside as part of your adventures! Experience over a century of mountain magic—any season, every reason.
It’s
winter crabbing season that’s open through the end of the year, but while participation drops off from summer, bundled-up shellfishers can enjoy equally good if not better success. Valentina Schevchenko shows off a keeper she caught while out on an otherwise dreary day with skipper Justin Wong of Seattle-based Cut Plug Charters. (MARK YUASA)
From the time of release to tag recovery, the study showed a minimum of two days to a maximum of 682 days and a mean average of 147 days.
The preliminary results of the study for time traveled revealed 43 percent of the tagged crabs traveled less than half a mile (1,000 meters), but a very small percentage moved about 26.8 miles (43,273 meters, or 43.3 kilometers) and the mean average was 2.2 miles (3,650 meters, or 3.6 kilometers). The estimated speed of movement was relatively slow, but it appears that some crabs could move quickly if they wanted to.
“Since that time, we’ve explored repeating that study in other places of Puget Sound where there are pressing management
questions,” WDFW’s Bosley said. “We have low or poor crab populations within Marine Areas 10, 11 and 13, and are hopeful studies like this can lead to creating more viable sustainable fisheries in Puget Sound.”
WDFW CONDUCTED A pilot run where 100 tagged crab were released in Port Townsend Bay, located in Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet), this past June. Crabbers are asked to report if they catch a tagged crab in Area 9. Five tags from this area have been reported to WDFW through early October.
This past April, the Swinomish Tribe conducted a similar crab tagging study in Area 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay), where about 500 tagged crab were released in Similk Bay.
Through last month, the Swinomish Tribe have recovered 61 blue-colored tags with 43 reported from the summer recreational crab season and 18 from commercial crabbers.
In May, a tribal test fishery caught another tagged legal-sized male crab in Skagit Bay, south of where it was originally released. To read about the Swinomish Tribe’s tagging study, go to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission webpage at nwtreatytribes.org/tagging-study-looksat-movement-of-crab-in-skagit-bay/.
To get a better understanding of the Dungeness crab population, WDFW held a collaborative tagging/shell condition workshop in Port Townsend this past June. Attendees included Lummi, Suquamish, Jamestown, Port Gamble, Skokomish, Puyallup and Swinomish tribal representatives, WDFW coastal shellfish managers, and coordinators from the Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group.
More information about crab management is available on WDFW’s website at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/ shellfishing-regulations/crab.
MEANWHILE, WINTER CRABBING season on much of Puget Sound got underway on October 1 and is open daily through December 31, and while participation tends to much less than summer fisheries, the shellfishing can be equally good if not better from a success standpoint.
Waters open for crabbing include Areas 4 (Neah Bay east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line); 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point); 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait, Port Angeles Harbor, Discovery Bay); 7 North and South (San Juan Islands); 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay); 8-2 (Port Susan and Port Gardner); 9 (Admiralty Inlet); 10 (Seattle and Bremerton area); and that portion of 12 (Hood Canal) north of Ayock Point only.
Areas 13 (South Puget Sound) and 12 south of Ayock Point will remain closed for the winter season, as long-term test fishing and harvest assessment information indicate continued poor abundance in these waters.
Crabbing did not immediately reopen for winter in Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island area) due to the limited number of crab remaining in the catch quota following the summer recreational fishery. Fishery managers will re-evaluate the
obviously colder and moister during the
harvest estimates from Catch Record Card data to determine if enough quota remains to allow a winter fishery.
WDFW reminds sport crabbers that setting or pulling traps from a vessel is only allowed from one hour before official sunrise
through one hour after official sunset.
The daily limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crabs, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 61/4 inches. Crabbers may also keep six red rock crabs of either sex per day with
WINTER CRABBING BY THE NUMBERS
Below is a comparison of Puget Sound winter crabbing seasons from 2020 through 2024. Keep in mind the data can vary from year-to-year since Marine Areas 10 (Seattle and Bremerton) and 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island) are not open at all, or for just a shortened winter season.
• 2020: 36,459 catch record cards issued with 115,752 crab retained for a total of 208,354 pounds;
• 2021: 26,843 catch record cards issued with 94,992 crab retained for a total of 170,986 pounds;
• 2022: 37,900 catch record cards issued with 125,994 crab retained for a total of 226,789 pounds;
• 2023: 32,975 catch record cards issued with 131,769 crab retained for a total of 237,184 pounds;
• 2024: 33,743 catch record cards issued with 134,075 crab retained for a total of 241,336 pounds;
• Five-year average: 33,584 catch record cards issued with 120,516 crab retained for a total of 216,930 pounds. –MY
a minimum carapace width of 5 inches, and six tanner crabs of either sex with a minimum carapace of 41/2 inches.
All recreational crabbers 16 years or older must carry a current Washington fishing license. Options range from an annual shellfish/seaweed license to combination fishing licenses, valid for a single day or up to a year.
Crabbers must have a Puget Sound Dungeness crab endorsement to harvest Dungeness from Puget Sound. All Dungies caught in the late-season recreational fishery must be recorded immediately on winter catch record cards, which are valid through December 31. Winter catch cards are free to those with crab endorsements and are available at license vendors. Winter catch reports are due to WDFW by February 1, 2026. NS
Editor’s note: Mark Yuasa is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife communications manager and longtime local fishing and outdoor writer.
Scene: Northcentral Washington’s Curlew Lake on an early fall day. A fishing boat comes to a stop off a lake house, from which someone is overheard to ask, “Wonder what they’re fishing for?” The young angler aboard casts a 13-ounce, 16-inch lure, which lands with a very large splash. “Oh,” says someone at the lake house, “they gotta be fishing for muskies.” And indeed Austin Han and his dad Jerry were, as evidenced by their pretty good case of “musky fever,” complete with flesh wounds and $33 Super Magnum Bull Dawg LOTW Perch swimbait. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Their elders can be absolute pains in the butt to get a go out of, but a mess of coho jacks proved quite eager to bite the sand shrimp-egg combo bait of Cade Cameron and his buddy Marvin Holder that day on a Western Washington river. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
No doubt you’ve seen that cowboy hat over innumerable Chinook, steelhead, coho, rainbows, bucks and bulls, but how ’bout a fall turkey? Buzz Ramsey filled the second of his tags in late September with this local bird! (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
For your shot at winning a knife in our Knife Photo Contest, send your full-resolution, original images with all the pertinent details – who’s in the pic; when and where they were; what they caught their fish on/weapon they used to bag the game; and any other details you’d like to reveal (the more, the merrier!) – to awalgamott@media-inc.com or Northwest Sportsman, 941 Powell
Renton, WA 98057. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for use in our print and Internet publications.
“Great crabbing” for Puget Sound Dungies was on tap for Chad Smith and sons Zac (left) and Logan this past season. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Not many 9-yearolds can say they caught their first halibut way out on the briny blue, but William Solomon can! He landed this one while fishing with his dad and friends out of Westport in midAugust. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
“The struggle is for real, lol,” emailed Eric Schager after one good day of coho fishing on Puget Sound during a season that was otherwise slow, with fewer fish around but more seals. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
No October fall Chinook ops on the Lower Columbia? No problem! Dennis Schwartz landed this beautiful hatchery coho early last month just before late-stock counts hit a probable record daily high at Bonneville. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Kaleb and Kara Shaw and crew enjoyed a productive outing for Lake Wenatchee sockeye with Kara’s coworker (and local salmon sharpie) Don Talbot last summer. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
6 Men Sentenced For Montana Hunt Crimes
Four Eastern Washingtonians were among six men sentenced in Montana in late September to pay a sum total of nearly $23,000 in fines and restitution as well as lost their hunting licenses for two to eight years after pleading guilty to unlawfully shooting large bull elk and mule deer bucks north of Billings.
According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and
Parks, a confidential informant led them to investigate Benito “Ben” Valadez, Kyle Steiling, Noa Valadez and Johnny Lopez of Tri-Cities and Devon Rea and Mitch Miller of Roundup for killing elk and deer without elk permits or deer hunting licenses between 2020 and 2024. Game wardens filed 34 charges against them, as well as issued 13 warnings and seized
By Andy Walgamott
11 mounts. Facebook posts helped tie the men to specific locations in the Treasure State.
Benito Valadaz received the heaviest penalties – $8,050 and an eight-year hunting license suspension. Thanks to the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, he and the others won’t be hunting anywhere during their license revocation periods.
JACKASS OF THE MONTH
It wasn’t his hunger for illicitly caught salmon that gave a Chinook poacher away. Rather, it was his thirst that night. It all began in late summer when Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police Officer Jacob Schrader was on an overnight foot patrol along a southern Hood Canal creek. There he came across a stringer with four kings on it, and then he heard someone barging away through the brush and splashing into the water.
When Schrader ordered whoever was fleeing him to come out, they failed to comply, instead hunkering in the brush. A further search of the area revealed three more Chinook on another stringer as well as a backpack.
The officer seized the fish and pack and returned to his patrol truck.
Not long afterwards, Schrader and another WDFW officer got a report of a shirtless, soaking-wet man walking along nearby Highway 101 and carrying a long-sleeve shirt. Upon contacting him alongside the road, they heard some fishy stories about why the man appeared to have recently gone for a swim.
The man finally landed on the story that he was hanging from the bridge over the river and was going to drop down into the water to get a drink of water, when he fell in and had to swim his way out of there. The man denied being the owner of the backpack or having caught the Chinook salmon,” WDFW Police reported on Facebook.
He was released, but the investigation continued as Schrader received a search warrant to open the backpack he’d found by the stream. Inside he found a knife, a third stringer and two 2-liter pop bottles – and a receipt for the drinks.
That led the officer to a local store, from which he acquired video surveillance footage, and that allowed
him to “positively identify the purchaser of the sodas as the man he had contacted soaking wet walking down Highway 101. Within the surveillance footage the suspect is seen with the same backpack Officer Schrader recovered from the creek,” WDFW Police reported.
They said they planned to file criminal charges with the Mason County Prosecutor, and the list could include first-degree unlawful fishing in a closed area and exceeding the daily limit, wastage, failure to submit catch and license for inspection, and angling without a license.
Sometimes you do dumb things when you’re not properly hydrated, and sometimes when you are.
“The man denied fishing and provided various stories of how he became so wet. Maybe don’t do the dirty deeds, dude. (WDFW)
Angling For Date, Woman Catches Attention Of Wardens Instead
She wasn’t exactly catfishing anyone, but a Northcentral Oregon woman who thought a pic of a sturgeon she allegedly caught would turn heads on a dating app got the come-hither-with-that-illegal-fish glance of state fish and wildlife troopers instead.
Details come from the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division’s August 2025 newsletter, which reports it all began when a Pendleton-based trooper received a tip about a photo of the live fish crammed not so sexily in a bathtub and uploaded to an unspecified online dating platform – Fin-der, perhaps?
Teaming up with a Hermiston-based colleague, the trooper was able to track down the woman, who had posted the image by phone. When the troopers called her number, the woman initially provided “various stories” about the fish pic, and when asked specifically about it, she suddenly ghosted them.
Several hours later she apparently had a change of heart, called them back and “confessed to catching the sturgeon,” and then made a date to meet with troopers in person about it.
“She explained she was unaware of the type of fish and drove it home wrapped in a wet blanket in the backseat of her car from Irrigon to Hermiston, where she put it in her bathtub,” they write.
That soon led her to perform a web search of a different kind.
“She advised she could not find a large enough fish tank on Amazon, so she loaded it back up in the car and released it back in the river,” troopers add.
While the sturgeon certainly can now be said to get around, what the heck was the woman thinking?!?
“She advised she saw men on the dating app posting photos of fish, so she decided to add a photo of the fish she caught,” troopers explained.
True, that John Day Pool sturgeon probably was a whole lot bigger than most if not all of the guys’ fish, but unfortunately for the gal, Oregon’s angling regulations also apply to wacky gestures straight out of a rom-com.
Troopers say they forwarded several charges to the district
Posting a pic of a sturgeon in a bathtub to catch the eyes of suitors turned out to be a dumb move by a Hermiston woman, who now faces potential state fishing violation charges. (OSP)
attorney, including unlawful take/possession of a sturgeon, transporting a live fish, angling during a closed season – indicative that the fish was allegedly caught in a designated sanctuary – and fishing without a combined angling harvest tag.
No doubt she’d like to swipe left on all those solicitations.
Faux Critters On The Job In Idaho
Idaho poachers can’t say they weren’t warned. Ahead of the kickoff of the Gem State’s biggest big game seasons last month, conservation officers were openly warning that they use “artificial simulated animals” such as fake deer, elk, moose and more to catch those who scoff at hunting laws.
“Taking a shot on that suspiciously still bull might seem tempting, but
it could also be a very costly mistake that causes you to lose your money and your hunting license,” the Idaho Department of Fish and Game stated in a press release.
The agency terms ASAs, which have been widely adopted by most states and provinces, an “extremely important” tool in their efforts to head off otherwise hard-todetect illegal activities.
The faux bucks and bulls are “used to address complaints of spotlighting, trespassing, and road hunting,” and in Idaho, those found guilty of sending a bullet, sabot, arrow or other projectile their way could lose their hunting license, be fined up to $1,000, face potential jail time, and have to cough up $50 to keep IDFG’s imitation menagerie in good trim.
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
NOVEMBER
1 Mussel harvesting opens on WA Coast beaches outside of Olympic National Park; Various WA trapping seasons open; Western WA rifle elk opener; WA Goose Management Areas 3 and 5 reopener; OR Zone 1 snipe and scaup openers; ODFW Central Oregon Waterfowl Hunting Workshop ($25, register), Bend – info: myodfw.com/workshops-and-events
3-9 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info: wdfw.wa.gov
4 OR Southwest and Mid-Columbia Zones goose season reopeners
7 Last day to hunt deer with Western OR any legal weapon tag
8 OR West Cascade and Rocky Mountain elk second season openers; WDFW St. John Pheasant Hunting Clinic (free, register), Rock Lake Sporting Clays –info: wdfw.wa.gov/events
8-9 Extended Western OR youth deer season dates; ODFW Northwest Oregon Waterfowl Hunting Workshop ($50, register), Gervais, Sauvie Island – info above
8-19 Northeast WA late rifle whitetail season dates in select units
13-16 Western WA late rifle blacktail season dates in select units
15 Last day to hunt black bears in WA; Start of OR Zone 1 second mourning dove season; Southwest OR late bow deer opener in select units
15-18 Western OR Coast bull elk first season dates
18-23 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above
22 Northwest OR late bow deer opener in select units; OR Northwest Permit Zone Canada goose season resumes
22-28 Western OR Coast bull elk second season dates
26 WA late bow and muzzleloader deer and elk openers in many units; WA GMA 2 Inland goose season resumes
28 WA “Black Friday” opener at select lakes
28-29 OR Free Fishing Weekend
29-Dec. 14 OR brant season dates
30 Last day of OR Zone 2 early duck and scaup season; Last day of OR High Desert and Blue Mountain early goose season
1 General Eastern OR fall turkey hunting season switches to only open on private lands with permission
1-15 Extended pheasant season dates at select Western WA release sites (no birds stocked)
2-8 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above
4 OR Zone 2 duck and scaup season resumes
8 Last day of many WA late bow and muzzleloader deer and elk seasons
9 OR High Desert and Blue Mountains Zone Canada goose season resumes
15 Last day of most remaining WA late bow and muzzleloader deer and elk seasons
18-23 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above
PROFESSIONAL
GUIDES
Our guides and captains are members of the Washington State Guides Association, demonstrate patience and professionalism and are happy to answer your questions during trips.
AMENITIES INCLUDED
Whether you’re on the salt or on the river, our trips are an average of six to ten hours and include all gear, bait, tackle,
and captain or guide.
20 WA GMA 2 Coast and 4 goose seasons resume
31 Last day of OR rooster pheasant season; Last day of Eastern WA general fall turkey hunting season; End of OR and ID fishing and hunting license years
31-Jan. 6 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above
Deltana Outfitters Alaska
PHOTOS BY DELTANA OUTFITTERS
At Deltana Outfitters, big game hunters can experience the hunt of a lifetime with spot-and-stalk adventures for moose as well as grizzly, black and brown bears in some of Alaska’s most remote and pristine areas.
for me to take over when they retired,” said Bob Summers, now owner of the company. “Ralph passed away suddenly and I came in as a partner with Jim, and three years later Jim retired and I took the business over solely.”
Deltana Outfitters offers spring and fall hunts with highly experienced guides. While some of their hunts are on state leases, others are on refuge concessions. All of their tent camps are remote and reached via bush plane, and all camp meals are prepared by the guide and consist of fresh food (steak, chicken, ham, etc.).
Celebrating four decades in business, Deltana Outfitters was originally founded in 1985 by Ralph Miller with partner Jim Weidner. “I guided for them and the goal was
“We do moose, grizzly and black bear out of our western camp. We glass from low ridges and hills and mainly focus on calling the moose to us and then spot-and-stalk the bears as they are feeding on berries in September,” explained Summers.
“Our brown bear hunts are on the Alaska Peninsula and they are alternating years. Odd years, it’s a fall season where we concentrate on streams with fish and travel corridors between streams. Even years are spring hunts and we are looking for male bears looking for sows. There is more walking in the spring because
the bears are on the move.”
In addition to bagging trophy big game, Deltana Outfitters customers can look forward to working with dedicated and diligent guides and staff who will do everything in their power to make your hunt an experience of a lifetime.
“We say what we mean and mean what we say. We are very upfront and honest. No hidden costs or surprise fees,” said Summers. “We will always give 100 percent for your success. We will always do our part and you just have to do yours and hunt. We will take care of the rest.”
For more information, visit deltana.com.
DESTINATION BIG SKY MONTANA
YOUR ULTIMATE HUNTING RESOURCE
Premium calls and accessories crafted for performance and reliability.
At MT E.L.K., Inc., we specialize in providing hunters with top-tier gear designed for precision and reliability. With years of experience in the field, our products are crafted to meet the toughest demands of serious hunters. Whether you’re an experienced outdoorsman or just starting, we offer everything you need to elevate your hunt, from expertly designed elk calls to durable accessories. Trust us to be your partner in every hunt!
MT E.L.K., Inc. began in 1985 in Gardiner, Montana—gateway to Yellowstone—when Don Laubach and Gordon Eastman revolutionized elk hunting. Don created and patented the first cow elk call in the U.S., the legendary “Cow Talk,” while Gordon brought it to life on screen with How to Talk to the Elk
From that game-changing start, the company expanded into calls for deer, antelope, turkey, and predators, plus a full line of outdoor videos. Don also co-authored five bestselling hunting books with Mark Henckel, including Elk Talk, which sold over 75,000 copies.
Now known as MT E.L.K., Inc., we’re still proudly family-owned and driven by the same passion—creating innovative, effective gear for hunters who love the wild as much as we do.
—T. Phillip Bowers, Owner
DESTINATION BIG SKY MONTANA
Blue sky days can be few and far between in fall and winter in Oregon, but waterfowl shouldn’t be. Just be aware of two changes to bag limits this season – one to the good for northern pintails and one to the bad in the Northwest Permit Zone for geese, which will also have a shorter season. Check the regs pamphlet for more. (TROY
The Waterfowl Wait
Oregon duck and goose hunting may not be blazing-hot just yet, but one Willamette Valley hunter is excited about this season’s prospects.
By Troy Rodakowski
As Pacific storms line up and take aim at the Northwest, waterfowl will be winging south at a rapid pace from their Alaskan and Canadian nesting grounds. It’s been the norm as of late for the Pacific Flyway to see some of the season’s best hunting during November, December and January as northern birds push south as cold weather sets in.
Overall, populations of several duck species are up from 2024, including wigeon, gadwall, pintail, shovelers, redheads and canvasback. Mallards, teal and scaup have struggled during the last year, according to recent Delta Waterfowl population and habitat surveys. The really good news is relief from our recent drought years has made for a fairly healthy overall population in the Pacific Flyway for the 2025-26 season.
“For northern areas that contribute to our wintering flocks, Alaska and northern Canada were mixed, while southern Alberta saw increases in breeding populations for most species. For geese, populations in Alaska continue to be lower than the past couple of decades, and cacklers
from the Yukon Delta remain well below population goal at about 125,000. Those are similar numbers to the early 1990s as the population was rebuilding from historic lows that necessitated closed seasons,” stated Brandon Reishus, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife migratory game bird biologist.
Northern pintails are always a prize regardless of where you hunt, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service has increased the bag limit to three birds this season, which is fantastic news. However, I encourage folks to carefully identify their birds and try their best to shoot drakes so we can continue to have a multiple-bird bag limit for future seasons.
“The main wintering areas in Oregon (Willamette Valley and Lower Columbia River, Columbia Basin, Treasure Valley) are more at the mercy of population status and breeding conditions in northern breeding areas, and with mixed population statuses this spring (some up and some down) and continental populations at near long-term average, I’d expect an average season, unless favorable weather conditions prevail for much of the season,” added Reishus.
RODAKOWSKI)
HUNTING
PULLED CROCK-POT WATERFOWL
Marinate 2 to 3 pounds of duck or goose meat for eight hours in 2 cups soy sauce, Game Bird & Chicken seasoning, minced garlic, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and Tabasco sauce to taste.
Turn Crock-Pot on low for six hours.
Add one bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce.
Pull meat apart and shred.
Serve on buns with fresh coleslaw or wrap in tortillas with cheese and veggies. –TR
He also indicated “that we have very little information from snow goose colonies in the Arctic, though reports from Alaska’s North Slope indicated strong breeding efforts and good overall production.”
Snows and specklebellies have been seen more frequently moving through the Willamette Valley and other Western Oregon locations over the past several seasons. This was not the norm a decade ago, when most of them migrated further east toward Summer Lake and the Malheur Basin. Pattern shifts can occur when land use and agricultural practices change in favor of migrating flocks looking for food and stopover/resting spots.
I REALLY LOVE
those stormy fall and winter mornings when new flights of northerns arriving on the cold jet stream drop into the decoys like determined fighter-bombers. Some of the best hunts I have had have been on the nastiest, wettest and coldest days of the season.
Draw blind hunting opportunities can be a smart move for hunters, especially late in the season, and I highly recommend trying them out. After Thanksgiving, when the cackling Canada geese are in, there are plenty of opportunities on private agricultural tracts, where geese create extensive damage to crops and most landowners are usually very happy to grant access to hunt.
As surface water begins to build on ryegrass and grain fields, it creates new feeding zones for all waterfowl. Their early-season forage fields may be fed out by now, so birds will be searching for new locations with ample food. This in turn creates a problem for hunters, as it scatters flocks through large areas of potential roosting and feeding sites.
Late-season birds, of course, have some of the best plumage, with every color of the rainbow present at times throughout their feathers. They provide some of the best specimens for the taxidermist and their beauty never ceases to amaze me.
Oregon ducks and geese can be made into jerky and sausage, or you can try author Troy Rodakowski’s barbecue pulled waterfowl sandwich meat recipe. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)
HUNTING
Corn, wheat, annual ryegrass, clover and many other crops are staples for migrating ducks and geese, and the Willamette Valley is full of farms that grow them. While access is tight, there are options, including through the state’s Open Fields Program for geese.
(TROY RODAKOWSKI)
The most important aspect when hunting late-season birds is taking the time to prepare not only for the elements, but also to do your scouting. When the fall rains are late to arrive, feed will hold on longer and magnetize migrating fowl for several weeks. However, heavy early-season rains can flood out many potential feeding locations, quickly whisking feeding migrators away to new areas.
LATE-SEASON HUNTING LOOKS to be pretty good for most locations throughout the Pacific Northwest, with good numbers of birds projected to move through during the latter portions of the season. I recall numerous times over the years when limits didn’t come quickly until the month of November, or even not until following Thanksgiving. Just as how the fog slowly rolls into the marsh on a late fall evening, the bird hunting tends to follow suit across most of the region the deeper into the
Located in the timbered mountains of Southeast Idaho, family-run Thunder Mountain Elk Ranch has offered premier elk hunts since 1999. With five generations of Western heritage, they provide fully guided three-day, two-night hunts featuring private lodging, home-cooked meals, and no competition from other hunters. Each all-inclusive hunt includes airport transportation, cape and meat care, taxidermy prep, and optional mount shipping. You’ll also enjoy bird hunting, trap shooting, stocked fish ponds, and full ranch transport. They personally guide every hunter and take pride in delivering a hunt that exceeds expectations. With monster bulls and ideal elk habitat, the experience is unforgettable. As a family operation, they welcome many guests back year after year – not just as hunters, but friends.
107-day season we get.
I’m really looking forward to some of those cold mornings with warm coffee, snacks, good company and whistling wings descending from the skies above.
Decoys set by headlamp in the dark and the fresh smell of gun powder drifting across my nostrils following some good shooting at a cupped-up flock. Watching the dogs work and retrieve countless birds from the frosty winter waters without hesitation. Ahh, the sights and smells of a day in the field.
Then there are the evenings around the dinner table telling stories of great shots and the birds that got away, all while enjoying a great meal of fresh duck and goose, then sipping on a glass of fine bourbon and enjoying a refreshing cigar while preparing to do it all over again. These and many other things we cherish are all part of the long waterfowl wait. NS
WHY HUNT WITH US?
www.thundermountainelkranch.com
Pacific Northwest Duck Forecast 2025
Here’s what Washington, Oregon and federal managers have to say about quacker numbers in our part of the flyway.
By MD Johnson
Forecast. A hypothesis. Otherwise known as an educated guess based, hopefully, on data derived through scientific, intellectual and often labor-intensive efforts. Forecasts are often wrought with revisions and variables. Updated information. Even justifications. It’s this because of that. It’s that because of this other thing.
Such, as most of you who have followed Northwest Sportsman for some time now know, is our annual waterfowl season forecast. What, using the information available, might duck hunters – and we’re staying strictly with quackers this time around – see once they take to the field in earnest come November through to the close of the 202526 season in late January? That’s the question. The forecast. The long look into the crystal ball that every migratory bird program manager/ coordinator, coast to coast, keeps shined up on his or her desk.
This season, the magical orb reveals a modicum of interesting info, but let’s not reveal too much yet.
FEDERAL SURVEY SAYS ...
In late August, as they’re wont to do, waterfowl program specialists with the US Fish and Wildlife Service
Get those decoys ready! While overall duck numbers are similar to last season, there are some reasons to be optimistic heading into the heart of the Northwest’s 2025-26 campaign. (MD JOHNSON)
HUNTING
released their annual waterfowl population survey, which “contains results from surveys and population estimation methods conducted by the USFWS, Canadian Wildlife Service, and numerous state and provincial partners.”
According to the feds’ numbers, the estimated total population of breeding ducks is 34 million, which is no different from the 2024 estimate, but still 4 percent below the longterm average, or LTA, a figure with origins dating back to 1955. Mallards, the principal species of interest nationwide, came in at 6.6 million, again similar to 2024 and 17 percent below the LTA. Pintails were pegged at 2.2 million, 13 percent above last year, but 41 percent below the LTA. That last figure – 41 percent below the LTA – makes it a challenge, at least to me, to understand what comes next from the USFWS, that being “under the new USFWS interim pintail harvest strategy, hunters in all four flyways are expected to have a threepintail daily bag limit option for next year’s 2026-2027 season based on this year’s breeding population results.”
Well, folks, it’s not for the 202627 season, but rather the 2025-26 season. This season. Throughout the whole of the Pacific Flyway, the pintail limit for this season will be three birds per day. Intrigued, I asked both of our state waterfowl managers about this radical departure from the years-long norm; we’ll get to that in a moment, but first said managers’ forecasts as a whole.
WASHINGTON OVERVIEW
Puddle ducks. Sea ducks. Geese.
Band-tailed pigeons. Hell, even snipe, mourning doves and coots. If it migrates – even a couple feet; coots are not known for long flights – Kyle Spragens, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Waterfowl Section manager, has a hand in monitoring it, evaluating it, surveying it, recommending, not recommending, advising – well, you get my drift.
wing teal, northern shoveler – they’re dead on their LTA. There’s not a lot of variation. We’re very far removed from the “highs” of 2015, when everything had a boost at
Northwest Sportsman
Overall, Kyle, the bottom-line number from the USFWS, 34 million, is roughly the same in 2025 as it was in 2024. So what are guys going to see this fall?
Kyle Spragens When (the USFWS) puts out the status report, folks get the total duck numbers. And you’re right; it’s almost exactly the same (in 2025) as it was the previous year. Then they break out the 10 main species that make up that number. And if you look at any of them – mallards, green-
that point.
NS That’s not bad news, but there’s better news for 2025?
KS The one glimmer of hope is that our (WDFW) banding operations conducted during August and most of September, depending on the year, showed a better number of hatch-year (young-of-the-year) mallards in the traps when compared to 2024. The wild card is always production. The surveys (in the spring) are not about production; they’re about the potential for production. The only real indicator as you get closer to the season is the answer to the question: Did you get a lot of hatch-years in the traps, or did you only get a bunch of adults? So, I get some hint that (this year) might be a little bit better than 2024.
NS The three-pintail daily bag limit has been receiving quite a bit of attention
FYI, SAUVIE ’FOWLERS
If you hunt Northwest Oregon’s Sauvie Island Wildlife Area, the “infrastructure failures experienced over the past couple years” that resulted in a lack of water on some hunt units were remedied in time for the mid-October opener.
So said Brandon Reishus at the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“We’ve had a massive new pump installed, plus some fixes on some of the smaller pumps that go from unit to unit,” he reported last month. “We don’t anticipate any problems in getting our units flooded up on their typical schedule. That’s going to help tremendously.”
–MDJ
Northwest duck hunters can look forward to potentially more local mallards and Alberta greenheads this season.
(TOM KOERNER, USFWS, FLICKR, CC BY 2 0)
HUNTING
from waterfowl hunters, not only in the Pacific Flyway, but across the flyways. What, if anything, are you hearing from the general public in terms of reaction to this change?
KS [Laughs] The one conversation I’m being told about is people (hunters) wanting a hen restriction within the three-pintail daily limit. I don’t know
how else to explain that. It doesn’t do what people think it would do. There’s this classic conversation about “Can hen harvest drive population decline?” Yes, it’s possible for harvest to drive population decline, but we haven’t been in that situation for ducks in a long time. It’s habitat.
For instance, the southern Alberta
strata [the details upon which the pintail numbers are derived] was 125,000 individuals. That’s significantly higher than the 43,000 counted in 2024. But the LTA, or how many pintails have we become accustomed to as coming out of southern Alberta? That number is 613,000. Southern Saskatchewan in 2025? That number is 302,000. That sounds better, right? The LTA is over a million. It is habitat. If you don’t have the habitat, it doesn’t matter how many hens you save. Harvest is not the driver in this scenario.
ACCESS UPDATE
Just prior to the statewide opener on October 11, WDFW announced that a portion of the Johns River Wildlife Area’s North Willapa Bay Unit will be open to duck and goose hunting by reservation only, with hunting permitted only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, as part of an effort to improve the waterfowl hunting experience and protect declining dusky Canada goose populations. This new rule applies to the WDFW parcels “north of the Willapa River between Fleiss Creek and Camenzind Road near the Willapa Harbor Airport.”
Hunters entering the area closest to the airport before 8 a.m. must have a valid permit through WDFW’s Hunt By Reservation system; hunters can check the system after 10 a.m. for reservable hunts. Hunters entering after 8 a.m. must complete a registration slip on site. Designated parking spots are identified in the reservation system.
“By managing the number of hunting days and number of people visiting the unit at once, we hope to provide a less crowded, more enjoyable hunting experience this season,” said Nick Bechtold, WDFW Johns River Wildlife Area manager. Goose hunting on the newly configured unit will be rather tightly regulated and closely monitored. And as Spragens reminds, goose hunters must pass a species identification test
Author MD Johnson reports that large flocks of both pintails and wigeon arrived on Willapa Bay early last month. Those two species along with teal and mallard comprise the vast bulk of the puddle duck harvest in Washington and Oregon. (MD JOHNSON)
HUNTING
and possess a harvest record card because Canada and cackling geese mingle in this goose management area. Waterfowlers are also asked to cooperate with WDFW staffers when asked to show their harvest so the agency can collect information on birds taken.
EVERGREEN STATE TAKEAWAY
It’s October 8 as I write this piece, so it’s difficult to accurately predict what the season truly holds. Spragens mentioned during our conversation that the 2025 migration does seem to be a little bit behind schedule based on the number, or lack thereof, of the early migrants, your pintails and American wigeon, on traditional October holding waters, e.g., Skagit and Willapa Bays and the Lower Columbia. Just yesterday, though, I did see several large flocks of the aforementioned sprig and baldpates on the southern end of Willapa Bay, so perhaps – and no pun intended – the tide’s turning. Spragens’ talk of more hatch-year mallards in WDFW traps in August/September is guardedly good news; every little bit, as most would agree, helps. As in most years, it’ll be a wait and see.
OREGON OVERVIEW
Across the Columbia in Salem, Spragens’ counterpart at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Brandon Reishus, likewise keeps his thumb on the pulse of avian populations in his role as the department’s migratory game bird coordinator. Reishus’s crystal ball revealed this when I spoke with him.
NS With the numbers in ’25 being similar to ’24, Brandon, what’s your take on the coming season in terms of species of interest or concern, and areas of optimism?
Brandon Reishus It’s somewhat mixed when you look at the traditional survey and how it factors into (specifically) the Pacific Flyway. You’re looking at Alaska, northwest
Canada and southern Alberta. Southern Alberta had relatively good (habitat) conditions, so numbers in southern Alberta compared to ’24 were all generally improved, if not quite a bit higher. So there’s some room for optimism there that production may have been pretty good in parts of the southern prairies.
Moving north into the Northwest Territories/northern Alberta, they’ve
been in a long-term drought for several years, and (duck) numbers were generally mixed. A few species showed increases; a few showed decreases. The same held true for Alaska. The one surprising result was that mallards were down quite a bit in Alaska from the previous year, and we know a lot of those birds come to the Pacific Northwest. Hopefully, that (decrease) was an artifact of survey
Count on Paula Little and teenage daughter Sabrina to be among the many waterfowlers on Northwest waters and fields this month. They were hunting Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge last season with husband and dad Matt Little, Western public policy director for Ducks Unlimited. Between public lands and private lands enrolled in access programs, there’s plenty of room to roam. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
HUNTING
timing, which is always difficult the further north you get.
NS Your colleague in Washington is optimistic about WDFW’s banding results. You folks see something similar in Oregon?
BR We had some areas where we had a great proportion of young mallards in our banding sample (Eastern Oregon), but then other areas where the results weren’t as good as we would have expected for production. The bottom line for us is our habitat conditions in Eastern Oregon, and especially Southeast and Southcentral Oregon, were great for breeding birds. Good snowpack for the third year in a row. Lots of ponds and playas and dugouts in the sagebrush that held water. Summer came fast, though, and things started to dry up quick. But from a waterfowl standpoint, it all should have led to good production.
NS Brandon, anything new in Oregon in terms of access and/or waterfowling opportunity?
BR The newest for us would probably be the Coquille Valley Wildlife Area, which is about 10 years old now but a lot of folks are still unaware of the opportunity it provides. For the masses in Oregon, it takes a while to get there. The WMA is upriver from the mouth several miles. This is Southwest Oregon country.
The interesting thing about the Coquille (River) is it has one of the longest tidal reaches of any of the Oregon rivers, excluding the Columbia. Because of that, there’s a long, narrow, flat valley there that was historically used for dairy and cattle grazing. In the winter, this floods, and the ODFW purchased property that was actually called Winterlake.
It’s very similar to some of the area in that Willapa country – lowland, flooded, grassland, marshland.
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One 8-ounce bottle will tan one deer hide in two medium-sized fur skins. Bear, elk, moose and caribou require three to six bottles. Complete instructions are included. You’ll be amazed how easy it is!
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Seasonal wetland habitat, mostly for dabblers like pintails, wigeon, mallards and shovelers. It’s walk-in and freeto-roam. The Winterlake Tract is open weekends and Wednesdays. A daily hunt (no charge) permit is required, but you just fill that out on-site at the kiosk.
The adjoining Beaver Slough Tract to the north is open seven days a week. In all, the wildlife area encompasses some 5,400 acres.
BEAVER STATE TAKEAWAY
From a (duck) population standpoint, “things look a little bit better for our resident birds, breeding-wise,” Reishus said.
“Overall, numbers are doing better in the southern portion of the Pacific Flyway over the past few years,” he added.
“Hunting success,” he summarized, “is going to be driven so much by habitat conditions and weather.” NS
BLACKFOOT CANVAS
Personalized Gun Dog Gear
Last spring my wife Tiffany went to Vietnam. She watched an artist on the street as he worked his magic, drawing a puppy. She showed him a picture of Echo and Kona, our two pudelpointers. He made a drawing for her. She gave it to me as a gift. It hangs in our hallway where we see it
every single day. It brings joy to my life. Echo is almost 12; Kona is 9. Echo is brown; Kona is black. Both have long coats, which is not the rule for the breed. They have the same father, Lon, perhaps the most famous pudelpointer to ever walk the Earth. Tiff’s act of kindness struck a chord. I started collecting everything pudelpointer that I could find. Here are some sources I’ve found that will bring a spark of happiness to your life, no matter what breed of dog
you’re most passionate about.
BIRD DOG OF THE DAY
I love the Bird Dog Of The Day page on Instagram. It’s a fun site devoted to sharing great photos and stories of our best friends. Recently, a fellow pudelpointer lover gave me a sticker of a black pudelpointer. It instantly got my attention; one, because it was a pudelpointer, and two, because it was black. Only 4 percent of pudelpointers
GUN DOG By Scott Haugen
Attention, holiday shoppers! There are some great options when it comes to Christmas gift ideas that remind us of our dogs. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
2025 SouthBay Pontoon
Smokercraft Sunchaser Pontoon
Smokercraft Sunchaser Pontoon
Alumaweld Stryker 202
Alumaweld Stryker X202
are black, and the fact the sticker had a long coat – like Kona – made me like it even more. That’s when I discovered that Bird Dog Of The Day offered more than fun social media content.
They have an awesome website (birddogoftheday.com) loaded with fun items. Nearly 30 dog breeds are featured on their website, including some very unique ones. I ordered a hoodie, T-shirt, Christmas cards, Christmas ornaments, more decals and a tumbler, all of pudelpointers. And because I have a brown and black pudelpointer, I had to get a mix.
I even got a decanter that’s glassetched with a pudelpointer. To go with the decanter, a pudelpointer and a mix of waterfowl and upland glasses were in order.
On this year’s Christmas wish list from Bird Dog Of The Day are wine glasses and wooden coasters, along with a hoodie and T-shirt featuring a brown pudelpointer, for Echo. With those, my collection of everything pudelpointer will be complete. Almost.
PROJECT UPLAND AND MORE
Another gun dog resource that appeals to me is Project Upland (projectupland .com). Their timely articles and social content are educational and fun. When I discovered their new pudelpointer coffee mug last year, I had to have one. Their matching pudelpointer decal and T-shirt were also must-haves. I’ve about worn out the T-shirt.
In addition to fun attire, Project Upland features loads of editorial content, from magazines to books, podcasts to videos.
If you’re serious about taking your knowledge of versatile gun dogs to the next level, check out all Project Upland has to offer. A magazine subscription would make a great Christmas gift.
When High Camp Flasks (highcampflasks .com) announced personalized engraving, I jumped on it. I sent in a profile piece of art designed after Kona. In less than a week I had a classy, etched Firelight Flask. It works great for spirits, hot coffee
and more. All High Camp Flasks we’ve owned are impressively durable. The magnetic tumbler design is ingenious and holds firm, while the easy screw cap is 100-percent leakproof, even when carried in backpacks or totes.
SAVING MEMORIES
When it comes to celebrating our dogs, there’s no such thing as going overboard. You can go online and have stickers made of your dog, along with 3D magnets, ornaments and more. And be sure to have the best photos saved on your smartphone, for you never know when you might bump into an artist on the street who can whip you up a memory to last a lifetime. NS
Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his basic puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com. Follow his adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
Bird Dog Of The Day offers a complete line of memorabilia dedicated to celebrating our canine companions, and in nearly 30 breeds. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
For Many Deer, Elk Hunters, Late Is Great!
For a lot of Evergreen State big game hunters, November is their month to remember, whether they hunt the late modern rifle seasons for deer or the timber with their muzzleloaders in hand for late deer or elk.
ON TARGET
By Dave Workman
The traditional late Northeast Washington whitetail buck hunt runs November 8-19 in Game Management Units 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121 and 124, and it’s an “any buck” opportunity.
For Westside blacktail buck hunters, the season runs November 13-16 in GMUs 407, 454, 466, 501 through 506, 510 through 520, 524, 530, 550 through 560, 568, 572, 601 through 621, 624 (except Deer Area 6020), 627 through 654, 658 through 684, and 699, again for any buck.
In GMUs 410 through 417, 419 through 424, 564, 655 and Deer Area 6020, the hunt is open for any deer.
Success depends on the weather, but by now, there ought to be enough snow in the higher elevations to be pushing deer around, and the colder temperatures will be signaling the rut. I recall one year when I hunted up east of Colville for a whitetail, and when we came back through town to head south, we saw several bucks wandering around town!
During late Westside buck seasons, I’ve found bucks on the move in eastern Pierce and Lewis Counties, and in the lowlands
around Rochester, and over in the Willapa Hills of Southwest Washington. By now, it may be tough getting into GMU 466, the Stampede Unit of far eastern King County. It’s accessible by driving over Stampede Pass from I-90 in Kittitas County and back up over into King County, but snow can make this a hunt “on paper only” by making it virtually impossible to get in there.
As for hunting in the Issaquah Unit (GMU 454), if I were to try my luck in there, I’d be using a handgun.
By now, we’ll have returned to standard time. You’ll have shorter daylight hours, and it might – understatement of the year – be raining in the Westside units, while in the Northeast units, you may be hunting in the snow. I certainly have had the experience! Dress for cold, wet weather, top to bottom.
On the plus side, it will be quieter, leaves will have fallen and this will aid in improved visibility. Still, you’ll have to watch for movement, and you will be watching to see “part” of a deer. Hunt the edges of old clearcuts, check these boundary areas carefully for signs of deer movement east or west, and don’t be surprised to spot deer feeding in open farmland, again east or west. Bucks will be cagey, but they will also have their minds on romance, which just might give hunters an edge. Also be prepared to get away from the roads.
BLACK POWDER, BLUE SMOKE
Over the years, I’ve met many muzzleloader hunters who don’t go afield until November,
Kyle McCullough pulls his first muzzleloader buck out of snowy woods during a December deer-elk combo hunt with his brother-inlaw Chad Smith. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
COLUMN
skipping the early seasons altogether. Their explanations have included lower competition, quieter forests and a little more time afield.
The overwhelming majority of late muzzleloader hunters use inline rifles, while my preference has always leaned toward traditional caplocks. I’ve got a .50-caliber T/C Hawken Custom front stuffer and a .54-caliber Lyman Trade Rifle, to which I’ve done some work. Both guns shoot rather well, with black powder or Pyrodex, but I’ve never really worked much with Triple Seven, another black powder substitute.
Muzzleloader hunters in the late seasons have to be crafty, and patient. Despite advances in gun and bullet offerings, and the black powder substitutes, the smokepole is still a relatively shortrange weapon. In my caplocks, I’m prone to using a patched round ball, though I’ve also experimented with various conicals and once even tried some sabots in .50 caliber, which launched .44-caliber-plated bullets.
As noted on page 75 of the Washington Big Game Hunting Regulations, “Sights must
There’s
be open, peep, of other open sight design, or scopes not exceeding 1x magnification. Fiber optic sights are legal. Telescopic sights are prohibited. It is unlawful to have any electrical aiming device attached to a muzzleloading firearm while hunting except for red-dot or similar electronically powered scopes not exceeding 1x magnification.”
ALSO TIME FOR WATERFOWL
While wingshooters have already had their early-season flings with local duck and goose populations, November and December
traditionally heat up as the northern flights arrive, either along the Puget Sound or over in the Columbia Basin from Banks Lake down through the Tri-Cities.
I’ve actually been down in Benton County hunting pheasants when the evening sky did turn suddenly darker as huge flights of ducks came over, headed toward Umatilla. It’s flights like these that pull waterfowlers to the field like magnets.
Check page 20 of the state and Small Game pamphlet for a colorcoded chart showing the seasons for
still time to fill game bags, thanks to November and December opportunities. Mostly, it’s archery and black powder, but there are rifle seasons to take advantage of this month. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Time to stock up on nontoxic shotgun shells because waterfowl hunting from now on will get serious! (DAVE WORKMAN)
COLUMN
Along with other upland bird options, author Dave Workman reminds hunters that grouse are still open in late fall and early winter.
ducks and geese, some of which run well into January, so there will be opportunity long past the holidays. (Maybe if you’re lucky, Santa will bring a couple more boxes of steel with your name on ’em!)
You’ll find additional details on page 21, while page 22 reveals the top four species duck hunters take in the Evergreen State: mallards, green-winged teal, northern pintail and wigeon. These dabblers account for 80 percent of the harvest, according to the pamphlet.
But they’re not the only game in town! Diving ducks are also in the bag, including scaup, canvasbacks and redheads – two-bird daily bag on these – along with gadwalls, northern shovelers, buffleheads, wood ducks and ruddy ducks, plus various sea ducks, all depicted on pages 22 through 25. Stock up on nontoxic shot now. There’s tungsten, bismuth and assorted steel available.
AND DON’T FORGET UPLAND BIRDS!
For those who prefer upland gunning, the
Westside general season for pheasants runs through November 30 with an extended season December 1-15, which amounts to a cleanup session, at these sites: Belfair, JBLM, Kosmos, Lincoln Creek, Scatter Creek, Skookumchuck, Green Diamond resource lands and Whidbey Island release sites. (None are stocked with birds in December.)
I haven’t had the opportunity to hunt pheasants over the past few years, so maybe between now and the holidays I’ll grab the 20-gauge, a box or two of steel (see page 54 of the regs) and head for the Basin. Be sure to comply with nontoxic shot requirements at the Westside release sites.
One thing I discovered years ago is that bismuth can hammer upland birds as well as lead, and maybe better than steel. I’ve shot grouse with bismuth just to see how it performed, and was favorably impressed. It’s pricey, but it works.
In Eastern Washington, ringnecks can be hunted through January 19, while chukar may be hunted through January 31. Don’t know about you, but the times I’ve hunted
chukar taught me to shoot faster and always have a few extra shells! They’re bigger than doves, but hunting chukars in scabrock country proved to my satisfaction that when they flush and head downhill, they can hit warp speeds in an eye-blink. They’re good eating, too, when prepared right.
Quail hunting is also open through January 19 on the Eastside, and I’ve been thinking real hard about hunting in the Moses Coulee region sometime later this fall, in a spot I discovered a few years ago while hunting deer. I also expect to see quail elsewhere around the Basin, and there’s also opportunity down along the lower Yakima Valley.
Of course, grouse hunting continues through January 15, and I must say I’ve never really seen anyone pursuing grouse much beyond November, so one might eke out some wingshooting with very little competition, depending upon where one decides to hunt.
You’ll find all the details on page 34 of the Small Game pamphlet. NS
(DAVE WORKMAN)
Whether it’s a spike, a nice buck like this or an old monster that makes a mistake out of horniness, there is no doubt that your best chances of harvesting a whitetail in Northeast Washington and North Idaho are in November. Even if you haven’t scouted or planned as much as you should, the November rut presents opportunities to harvest a deer that no other month does. (TOM KOERNER, USFWS)
10 Tips For Tagging A Rutty Buck
Find success during the best part of whitetail season in Northeast Washington and North Idaho.
Story and captions by Jeff Holmes
Rifle hunters targeting whitetail deer will have their best chance of the year to score on any buck during Northeast Washington’s late season this November 8-19 in Game Management Units 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121 and 124. Just to the east, the same will be true for North Idaho hunters who also get a crack at antlered deer during a time when all bucks – even old, cagey nocturnal ones – stumble around like drunks in pursuit of does in estrus. All sense goes out the window for bucks, and even monsters that have gotten big by being ultra shy and smart will make themselves seen.
This is precisely why anyone with a tag and an accurate rifle – even someone who did not scout or plan well – stands a decent chance of harvesting a whitetail buck during the rut. Scouting and planning is always wise and advisable, but you do not have to rule out a deer hunt this November if you procrastinated. There are unlimited over-the-counter tags still available in Washington. Buy one, and you too can compete for venison in the predator-rich forests of Northeast Washington and stand a decent chance
of harvesting a buck. This is especially true if you keep in mind the proven advice that follows, starting with the single smartest move you can make when hunting rutting whitetails.
GO LONG! Be in the woods as many days as possible and stay in the woods all day long. There are other best practices you can follow to increase your odds of an encounter, and this article covers that advice. But if you do nothing else, be in the deer woods hunting effectively from dawn to dark.
The days are short in November, and the bucks are unpredictable, yet also predictably so. They can show up anywhere at any time, and if you’re sleeping or back at camp or driving backroads or whatever hunters might do instead of staying alert and in the field, you’re making a mistake. By the time a whitetail buck makes it to November, they’ve hardened their antlers, sparred with rivals, hidden from people and predators and gorged on food sources at night to go into battle in peak physical condition. But by the time they emerge from the rut into post-rut recovery in early December, they are a total wreck. They lose lots of weight, suffer battle wounds and have a terrible case of deer insomnia and
HUNTING
depressed immune systems just as they enter the harshest weather of the year. Many die for their labors.
For almost an entire month a buck thinks about one thing and remains forever on the move in search of receptive does. They sleep no more than a few hours a day, if that. A buck’s downfall and the reason for the majority of bucks harvested in these late rifle units is this tendency to be forever on their feet at all times of day, making appearances in places they’d never dream of wandering in daylight the other 11 months of the year: along highways, in yards, in fields and clearings, or walking out of nowhere into a hunter’s line of sight in the middle of the day.
THE NOSE STILL KNOWS Bucks are dumb in November, but they still have fantastic noses and vision for movement, senses that regularly save their backstraps. As the rut moves along, deer become less wary, more worn out and more apt to make a big mistake. Still, you should always play it smart and hunt into the wind or focus your attention on areas where deer won’t smell or see you, but also be aware for bucks popping out as total surprises in places you might not believe they would.
As the rut progresses, bucks chase and seek does more and more and become dumber and dumber. That said, whitetails depend on their sense
Logging projects are excellent for whitetails year-round because they create favorable feeding conditions. They also improve feeding conditions for those of us who like venison by attracting deer, increasing their numbers, and presenting shots by increasing visibility. Finding open areas near likely bedding areas and escape cover will increase your chances
of smell more than any other sense. Their best defense against ending up in your truck or otherwise having their tenderloins removed is smelling you, and no amount of fancy scent-blocking clothes or scent-blocking spray or detergent will stop a buck from winding you and running away if you don’t pay attention to the wind. And if you walk around a lot, especially if it isn’t .5 mile per hour or slower, or stand in conspicuous places, even rutting bucks are likely to see and avoid you.
STAY
IN THE GAME Hunt with confidence in November and stay motivated; your chances never get better. At the beginning of November, whitetails can be rutting hard in one drainage and not yet rutting in another just miles away. The presence of estrus does, cold weather and unknown factors trigger intense rutting behavior, but by the time November 9 rolls around, you have to assume with confidence that deer in every drainage are rutting.
If you’ve hunted whitetails enough in both the prerut and the rut, you know how stark the difference is in their behaviors and in your odds of harvesting a buck. Some bucks don’t even get on their feet during daylight hours until they are triggered to rut by the smell of estrus and whatever combinations of other factors dictate their desire to breed. If you have not hunted enough whitetails out of the
rut and do not have the experience to fully know the difference in your chances of harvesting a buck when they are rutting, please know that this advice is not hyperbole. Hunt with the confidence it will take to keep you alert and in the field for a maximum amount of time.
FIND THEIR SAFE PLACE “Be the buck” and seek safe places where there are also does. Overall, whitetails thrive in the presence of humans, but big bucks spend most of their lives avoiding people like the plague and staying mostly nocturnal. Deer rut and breed at night and not just during the daylight hours, but they are most certainly rutting hard during the day. I have seen bucks fight, chase, breed and more in the middle of the day, but there are always does around while they are doing it.
For most ungulate hunting, even during the rut, walking far behind gates away from the average lazy hunter often puts you in a zone where deer are less wary and on edge, provided the area you’re hiking to offers good habitat and hunting line of sight. If you find does far from people during the rut, your odds go up dramatically. Never do I sit or still-hunt (walking ¼ mph) with more confidence than when I find does far away from people.
In this kind of situation, I know a buck will show up or is at least close
this November. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
The forests of the Selkirk, Coeur d’Alene and Bitterroot Ranges alight with yellowing western larches during the whitetail rut. The only thing that can quiet the color of these trees also known as tamaracks is a blanketing of snow. What is lost in beauty and warm feet in boots on a snowless landscape is gained in the ability to track, see bucks more easily against the white background, and get deer moving. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
HUNTING
A thin blanket of snow can be a whitetail hunter’s best friend in November. Snow can quiet the woods and tell stories bare ground never reveals. Of course, too much snow and the wrong kind of snow can make the woods nearly impenetrable or an incredibly loud crunchfest. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
by. I am so confident in hunting around does that I am much less concerned about the good advice I just offered about walking far behind gates and getting away from people than I am about simply locating and hunting close to does. If there are does, bucks are going to come check them out.
IT’S JUST LIKE BAITING Does are legal “bait” for those seeking bucks and they are more effective than all the corn in Iowa and apples in the Yakima Valley. It’s now illegal to use bait in Washington to slow the inevitable spread of chronic wasting disease, but even when it was OK to bait, hunting rutting bucks over does has always been more effective than hunting over bait. Bucks barely
eat when they rut, so counting on bucks checking them out is at least as good a proposition as watching an established game feeder or food plot. For fairweather whitetail hunters looking for a rutting buck, there’s scarcely a better approach than hunting over what amounts to bait. Bucks are seeking does and constantly checking for them coming into estrus. I have shot bucks while sitting within sight of does and close to areas I know they are bedded. Never do I have more confidence than when I know I’m essentially outside the bar on a Friday night waiting for a horny dude to show up looking for females.
BE A ZERO HERO Do not hunt unless
GO FULLY PREPARED
The very best way to increase your odds of harvesting a whitetail buck – not only this November but in the future – is to remain alive and to retain all of your extremities. Hypothermia, frostbite, bad falls, heart attacks, cuts or puncture wounds, and more can all befall a late-season deer hunter. You can get hypothermia any month of the year in the Pacific Northwest, but your odds go up dramatically in the late fall in the mountains. Take risks seriously before you take the field, and prepare. I have had a few very scary and life-threatening events occur that were avoidable and my fault.
Many years ago in my early 20s, I got lost deer hunting close to my former home of Cheney, near Spokane, and was wearing cotton. I did not have a proper way to make a fire and had little food and no water on me, just two cans of Olympia beer. The weather turned dramatically that night and got down to 32 degrees. Two inches of wet snow fell. I finally found my hunting buddy and got back to the truck many hours after dark. If I’d had to spend the night out, I believe I would have died.
On another hunt in Northeast Washington where my partner killed a big bull elk 4 miles into the backcountry, I got severe hypothermia in early October from not taking the time to drink water and to warm myself sufficiently. Adrenaline betrayed me while processing the bull and hauling meat, and then my mind and body did. I ended up hugging an emergency fire in the night and taking a long break to nurse myself back to health. It was rainy and windy and wet with snow, and if I had not had superior fire starters, I would have been in trouble.
On another elk hunt in that same wild place, I went in alone way behind gates on a cold and rainy day and hurt my back and also nearly fell off of a house-sized boulder. Those events have changed how I think and how I prepare.
In the woods of Northeast Washington and North Idaho, generally speaking, the more time you spend moving around, the lower your chances become to harvest a buck. Sitting or still-hunting (walking less than 1/4 mile per hour or standing) in prime areas to find does and thus rutting bucks makes all the difference. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Hunting with a partner whenever possible is smart, and if you can’t, making sure a couple people know exactly where you are going and when they will hear from you is super important. Even on a short hunt for just an hour or three, make sure you have everything you need in your pack and in your clothes to survive a night out if you broke your leg and the weather turned. Make sure you have sufficient clothes, the ability to stay dry, the ability to make a fire in wet conditions, additional calories, enough water, a headlamp with extra batteries, and, ideally, a Garmin inReach or a similar emergency communication device. I also make sure I have plenty of extra ammo for signaling help, and because I hunt around predators and because there are terrible humans in the woods sometimes, I carry both bear spray and a handgun. –JH
HUNTING
you know that you are zeroed in with your rifle. I have procrastinated before season and also made last-minute decisions to hunt. This is not the norm for me, but it has happened. If you find yourself in this avoidable position and have not made it to the range, don’t give up, nor just hunt without making sure you’re in the black.
Instead, do two things: 1) Spend the time to sight in your gun no matter what, even if it means missing all of day one, and 2) learn your lesson and never put yourself in this position again: shoot your deer rifle well in advance of season every year. Wounding a deer is a sickening feeling for any moral hunter, and missing a big buck – or any buck
– is depressing. I remember a nice buck I rattled in and missed several years ago in GMU 113 as much or more than any deer I have ever shot. I shot my gun before the season that year, but not nearly enough.
RILE ’EM UP Rattling and calling are good supplemental strategies during the rut. Lots of curious, combative, doe-crazy bucks will fall this autumn in Northeast Washington and North Idaho because hunters rattled or grunted them in or simply turned over a Primos bleat can. The internet is full of rattling and grunting demonstrations, and I recommend watching or reading a whole bunch in advance if you’re
new to rattling or using a grunt tube or bleat can.
Definitely avoid overcalling, mimic deer’s natural sounds and stay put for a good while after a couple of rattling sequences spaced maybe 10 minutes apart. Basically, commit to a strategy at home before you go afield. This isn’t jazz; don’t improvise until you learn some basics. If you rattle, use natural antlers not synthetic, cut off the eye guards for safety, use a decent-sized rack to attract mature bucks, and drill a hole in the base of the anglers and attach them with parachute or other cordage. Losing both antlers is less likely and less frustrating than losing just one. I have lost an antler
I’ve had some scary solo hunts in Northeast Washington where I really should’ve been with a hunting partner. Hunting by yourself is better than not hunting at all, but your chances of staying safe this time of year increase a lot when you have someone watching your back. It also helps a hell of a lot to have someone to help you drag a big-bodied November whitetail out of the woods. Logan Braaten needed just that last season after tagging out with this buck while afield with dad Eric. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
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HUNTING
twice when setting out to rattle and endeavor never to do it again. Call less and more lightly earlier in the rut than you do later in November. I have had success rattling on two occasions when I saw fresh buck tracks and specifically targeted that deer with a rattling session.
SCRAPES ARE SO-SO Don’t fixate on scrapes; they are not all created equally. Scrapes laid down on field edges or in open areas are unlikely to be visited during the day. Finding an active scrape or a scrape line is definitely a good sign, but don’t assume a buck is for sure going to revisit the same scrape or that he’ll do it in daylight. Hunting on or around scrapes can pay off, but fixating on one you’ve dumped a bottle of synthetic doe piss on is not necessarily going to pay off. It might, though.
There is vast knowledge to be gained from scrapes and licking branches, but most of us, me included,
remain ignorant to that knowledge. If you know it’s a major, blown-up community scrape or a big scrape on an obvious and active scrape line that offers protection, maybe sit or still-hunt that scrape or scrape line if there’s ample lines of sight.
DITCH THE DODGE Hunt on your feet, in a stand or on your butt – not in a vehicle of any description. Deer don’t like engines, and the slower you go and quieter you are, the more in line you are with whitetail hunting best practices. Trucks and ATVs can be great tools for accessing hunting areas or hauling out game, but those who hunt off of them don’t do nearly as good as those who don’t.
If you’re a boot hunter, don’t be discouraged by motorized traffic. Think about where deer might go to avoid traffic, or trust that drivers will cruise past tons of deer and that bucks will wander around during the rut
seeking does that freeze as vehicles putt-putt by.
KEEP IT SIMPLE Stick religiously to simple, proven advice for killing rutting bucks. I am not a true whitetail expert, but I know from interviewing so many experts during a former gig with Field & Stream as a “Rut Reporter” that I am sometimes guilty of thinking too much and psyching myself out.
Staying still and slow and quiet from sunup to sundown, playing the wind, hunting around does, seeking balance between hunting good cover and seeking clear lines of sight, avoiding people, and rattling and grunting minimally and naturally are the keys I think about most while afield. I’ll never be a whitetail whisperer, but I know I have a good chance of killing a buck when I stick to best practice basics like these during the rut. NS
Happy Shanksgiving! Celebrating The Underdog Cut
Every big game hunting season, the backstrap gets all the love. I’ve gone years where this prized cut off the top of a deer or elk’s spine didn’t even make it home from the hunt – they were eaten before the tent was down! Other years, I have carefully banked it away until it’s the last thing in the freezer.
CHEF IN THE WILD
By Randy King
Backstrap is the prom king of the deer family – tender, popular, pretty. Meanwhile, the shanks sit in the freezer like the kid picked last for dodgeball. They’re tough, overlooked and waiting patiently … since, like, last season. The shank would be the Jan Brady of the meat world, a middle child that’s ignored, underestimated … and quietly plotting against Backstrap, Backstrap, Backstrap.
Honestly, most hunters treat shanks like a consolation prize; laws had to be written so that we would take them out of the field.
I have been guilty of some of this. I open the freezer in July and there they are: two awkward, bone-in logs wrapped in butcher paper, staring back at me. “Hey, Randy,” they seem to say, “remember us?”
Maybe, I think in my head, I should have just turned you guys into burger.
After all, shanks are the hardest-working muscle on the deer, so why not put them in a grinder? They’ve carried that animal up mountains, through sagebrush and across creeks. Shoe leather is more tender. But, as $50 lamb shanks on menus have taught me, they deserve better than freezer purgatory.
So I say, this Thanksgiving, give shanks a shot (see what I did there?), they’ve
The shanks of a mule deer are revealed as a pair of hunters begin to skin a buck. While not the most celebrated cut of venison, the lower four legs can be more than just burger. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
VIVA LA SHANKS!
If I’ve convinced you to give shanks a chance in the starting lineup, here’s a Shanksgiving recipe to try – Southeast Asian braised venison shanks.
2 to 4 venison shanks, trimmed
2 tablespoons oil (canola or peanut)
1 large onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, smashed
2-inch piece ginger, sliced
2 to 3 red chilies, sliced (or to taste)
1 stalk lemongrass, smashed (optional, but recommended)
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 can coconut milk (13 ounces)
2 cups beef or game stock
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
1 bunch Thai basil (or regular basil)
Juice of 1 lime
Fresh cilantro, mint and/or green onions
for garnish Toasted peanuts (optional)
Brown the shanks: Heat oil in a heavy pot or Dutch oven. Brown shanks on all sides, working in batches if needed. Remove and set aside. This step builds flavor – don’t skip it, even if you’re tempted.
Build the base: In the same pot, sauté onion, garlic, ginger, chilies and lemongrass until soft and fragrant. Add cinnamon stick if using. This is where you layer your flavors – take your time and let everything meld.
Deglaze: Add soy sauce, fish sauce and brown sugar. Scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pot. These bits are pure gold – don’t let them go to waste.
Braise: Return shanks to the pot. Add coconut milk and stock, making sure the liquid comes at least halfway up the shanks. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for three to four hours (or longer),
until shanks are fork-tender and the sauce is rich. Check occasionally and add more liquid if needed.
Finish: Stir in lime juice and Thai basil. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes to thicken the sauce and let the flavors meld. Taste and adjust seasoning; add more fish sauce or lime if you want more punch.
Serve: Spoon shanks and sauce over jasmine rice or creamy mashed potatoes. Top with fresh cilantro, mint, green onions and toasted peanuts for crunch. Put extra herbs on the table and let everyone build their own bowl.
Pro tip: If you want to freeze leftovers, shred the meat off the bone and store in sauce. It reheats beautifully – just add a splash of stock to loosen it up.
Bonus tip: If you’re feeling generous, package up a container for your hunting buddy who still thinks shanks are only good for dog treats. –RK
Southeast Asian braised venison shanks with oven-baked potato wedges. (RANDY KING)
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been waiting patiently. Start referring to hunting as “shank season” and change your mindset on the darn things. How does a “bone-in, slow-braised, east Asianinspired dish of venison that is slightly spicy and just a little sweet” sound? Not bad; that’s stuff from a chef’s menu. I say, serve them shanks!
WHY SHANKS DESERVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE
Venison shanks are loaded with connective tissue, which means they need a little TLC. But treat them right, low and slow, and you’ll get meat so tender it falls off the bone, plus a sauce so rich you’ll want to drink it straight from the pot.
Believe me, I’ve done it, so there’s no judgment here.
The magic of shanks is in the transformation: What starts out as tough and chewy becomes silky, savory and deeply flavorful. The bone adds depth to your braise, the marrow melts into the sauce, and the meat itself soaks up every bit of flavor you throw at it. If you’ve ever had osso buco, you know what I’m talking about.
And let’s not forget about bragging rights. Anyone can cook a backstrap. It takes a real wild game enthusiast to turn shanks into something worth fighting over at the dinner table.
COOKING TIPS
Low and slow wins the race: Shanks need time. Think three to four hours at a gentle simmer. But I’ll be honest, three hours is the minimum amount of acceptable time. Four or more hours is the sweet spot. The connective tissue melts, turning tough into tender, and the bone gives up its marrow, enriching your sauce. If you try to rush it, you’ll end up with something that chews like a rubber boot and tastes like disappointment.
The secret is steady, gentle heat. I usually bake my shanks in a covered and wrapped dish. If you’re using a Dutch oven, keep the lid on tight. If you’re using a slow cooker, set it to low and walk away. The longer you cook, the better it gets. Just keep an eye on the liquid content. Make sure you have at least an inch of liquid in the pan. Otherwise, you run the risk of burning. It’s like that old ketchup commercial – good things come to those who wait.
Don’t skimp on the liquid: Always use enough broth, water or other cooking liquid to keep shanks moist. Dry shanks
are sad shanks, and nobody wants to gnaw their way through dinner. The liquid should come at least halfway up the meat, and ideally, you’ll have enough to cover it. As it cooks, the meat will release juices and soak up flavor, so don’t be stingy.
Remember, the liquid isn’t just for cooking – it’s for serving too. A good braise yields a sauce that’s rich and perfect for spooning over rice, spuds or whatever you’ve got. If things look dry, add more liquid. If you end up with too much, just simmer uncovered to reduce and concentrate the flavors. The goal: shanks that are moist, tender and swimming in delicious sauce.
Layer your flavors: Start with aromatics – onion, garlic, ginger or whatever you like. These build the foundation and set the stage for everything that comes next. Don’t be afraid to experiment with a little chili, soy sauce, herbs and spices – even a splash of vinegar can take things to the next level.
The key is to build flavor in stages. Sauté your aromatics until soft and fragrant, then add your liquids and seasonings. Let everything mingle before you add the shanks. As the meat cooks, it will soak up all those flavors, turning tough muscle into something worth celebrating. Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning to your liking.
Finish with fresh herbs: Toss in fresh herbs like cilantro, basil or mint at the end for brightness. They cut through the richness and add a pop of color and flavor. Don’t be shy – pile them on. If you want to get fancy, sprinkle on sliced green onions or toasted nuts for crunch.
Herbs aren’t just garnish; they wake up your palate and make every bite feel fresh, even after hours of slow cooking. If you’re serving a crowd, put out extra herbs and let people build their own bowls. Everyone deserves a little customization.
FREEZING TIPS
After butchering, get shanks into the freezer ASAP. Air is the enemy – vacuum seal if you can, or double-wrap in plastic and foil. The goal is to keep out moisture and oxygen, which can cause freezer burn and off flavors. If you’re using zip-top bags, squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing. If you’re feeling old school, wrap in butcher paper and tape it tight.
I make sure to freeze my stuff in a standup freezer that has a fan. My coffin freezer is great for storing frozen things, but it takes
too long to freeze things. My motto is to freeze all meat as fast as possible. My pan selection at home sometimes limits my shank cooking, so I will sometimes cut the exposed bone off. It’s about 2 to 3 inches most times. This will leave a sharp “edge” that you need to address if you are vacuum sealing the meat. I wrap those edges in paper towels, then seal them. This keeps the bone from puncturing the bag and exposing the meat to air and freezer burn.
LABEL EVERYTHING
Seems simple, I know. How can you mistake shanks for something else? Well, I have. I deboned them one time trying to save space and thought the package said “sirloin” when I pulled it out of the freezer. No, it just had an “S” in the right spot, so there I was with thawed shanks and hungry kids who wanted dinner now, not hours from then. Write the date and cut on the package. Otherwise, you’ll be playing a round of “Guess! That! Mystery! Meat!” next July. I always write species, cut, year and killer on the package; for example, MD, Shanks, ’25, RK. This way you’ll avoid awkwardness when your spouse asks, “What’s this?” and you have to admit, “I … got no idea.”
THAW SLOW
Move shanks to the fridge a day before cooking. Rushing the thaw can mess with texture, and nobody wants mushy meat. If time is limited, it is possible to thaw in cold water while still wrapped; however, using hot water or a microwave is not recommended. If you forget to thaw, don’t panic. You can braise straight from frozen – just add an extra hour to your cook time and be patient.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Andy, the editor of this fine magazine, put me up to this, so if you have any issues with renaming a classic turkey-centric American holiday to a horror-moviesounding name, please contact him at Andy@circularbinreporting.com.
All that said, this Shanksgiving, skip the backstrap, say to hell with the turkey, and instead give shanks a chance – GSAC. Your freezer will thank you, your taste buds will thank you, and maybe – just maybe – the shanks will finally get picked first. If anyone asks why you’re serving shanks, just tell them it’s a tradition now. After all, every hero deserves a holiday. NS
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By Bob Rees
November is a transition month in Oregon, as the bulk of fall salmon have returned to their native spawning grounds while the region’s winter steelhead run is often just getting underway, at least in the northwest corner of the state.
Chinook begin their spawning phase, but the South Coast remains
Last Chance For Fall Kings
Your monthly Oregon fishing outlook provided by The Guide’s
an option for bright, late-running fish, with the Chetco and Sixes Rivers offering the best chances at quality kings well into November. Success is largely dependent on fall rain freshets that will draw new fish upstream, so anglers need to maintain flexibility when it comes to planning for success.
Late-run fall Chinook respond best to back-trolled plugs and back-bounced eggs and will hold in traditional holes
and deep runs after rivers subside to normal flows following a good deluge. Chinook hunker down in the deep, dark water, and are rather receptive to large clusters of fresh cured roe or a bait-wrapped Mag Lip or Kwikfish, working out their territorial aggressions towards these freshwater “invaders.”
Although the Chetco and Sixes seem to offer the more consistent fishing, don’t overlook the Elk River,
Andy Martin nets a large fall Chinook caught on one of Oregon’s South Coast rivers. They’re the best bet for a November ’Nook in the Northwest. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST),
FISHING
which will often see Chinook return into early December.
THE NORTH COAST’S late-season Chinook opportunity isn’t what it used to be, but the Wilson and Kilchis do see some come in into December, and they’re susceptible to the same gear that anglers utilize on the South Coast.
Most fishermen here this time of year now start to get motivated for winter steelhead, which make a fair showing in some smaller, more bankfishing-friendly streams and rivers.
The Klaskanine, North Fork Nehalem, Alsea and Necanicum Rivers, as well as Big and Gnat Creeks harbor early-returning steelhead and provide various degrees of success from year to year. Winter steelhead returns often mimic fall returns of coho, since they both migrate to the ocean at the same time of year as juveniles. If that is an indicator, steelhead numbers may not be as robust as they were last season.
These early-season returnees aren’t known for being the most aggressive biters, but persistent anglers can do well when water conditions are right. Like fall Chinook, it’s best to go after a high-water event, when the flows subside but still have a green or light brown color to them.
As a general rule, use big, bright baits in off-color conditions, and drop down to more subtle offerings as the waters clear. Single soft beads have become all the rage in recent years, fished with long leaders and under a bobber used as a strike indicator more than anything. Favorite colors include pinks, reds and oranges in various sizes, as determined by river height. Anglers often utilize soft beads in size 10mm or 12mm, but in higher flows, size 20mm becomes popular, as fish can find the larger size more readily in the off-colored water. It almost mimics a cluster of eggs versus just a single floatie.
Prepare to lose gear in these snaggy systems, but they do offer a more
dynamic form of bank fishing, where reading the water makes it a more fun challenge. Seek out biters instead of flogging the same water cast after cast; unless the steelhead are on the move, finding undisturbed fish will provide more opportunities than casting over the same bunch for hours at a time.
AND FINALLY, WITH other winter options limited, Oregon sportsmen can look forward to bountiful shellfish opportunities, also along the coastline. Soft tides are excellent for Dungeness crab in our estuaries, while stronger minus tides offer up razor clams, most abundant along Clatsop County’s lowsloped beaches. Weather, of course, plays a factor, as a small surf produces better “shows” for razor clams, while winds can produce dangerous waters for estuary crabbers, so check the forecast before heading out. NS
Editor’s note: For more information, visit TheGuidesForecast.com.
Chinook are fewer and further between on the North Coast this time of year, but there are still some to be caught, like this Kilchis fish caught by Jeff Whalen while out with guide Chris Vertopoulos. Earlyreturning winter steelhead also begin to filter into some of the region’s streams. (CHRISVSGUIDESERVICE.COM)
The Rainbows Of Late Fall: Trout And Steelhead
There is more than a little outdoor fun to be had during the last full month of fall, which is a favorite time of the year for sportswomen and -men who chase Northwest fish and game. And while this column is about winter fishing, my plan is to be away chasing elk in Oregon as this magazine hits your mailbox. But –and perhaps like you – I’ll be back in time to experience Washington’s Black Friday trout opener with friends, and I’ll also be gearing up for what could be an excellent winter steelhead season.
I look forward to chasing rainbows this time of year because winter trout are larger and better eating than many of the stockers released in the spring. What kicks the season off is the Black Friday trout opener on the day after Thanksgiving, which this year is scheduled to occur on November 28. Keep in mind that not all lakes are open for fishing and these fish are not stocked in every lake, so check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website for the current stocking schedule.
WDFW is bragging that 24 lakes will be planted with as many as 65,000 fat rainbow trout ahead of Black Friday. And while Oregon and Idaho have yet to release trout specifically for Black Friday, both states offer year-round fishing on many lakes and periodically release trout throughout the year, including during fall and winter months.
FOR MORE THAN a few anglers, going after winter trout during the late November and December timeframe has replaced the Thanksgiving-through-Christmas kickoff of winter steelhead season. Sure, some Northwest Coast and Lower Columbia tributaries still offer early-season steelhead
BUZZ RAMSEY
Jeff Flatt of Rainier, Oregon, shows off a few trout he caught during last year’s winter trout fishery. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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Although author Buzz Ramsey often uses his drift boat when trolling different plugs, spoons or spinners, he mostly fishes from shore when stillfishing PowerBait. However, when he does use the buoyant dough off his boat, he often sets an anchor off each end to hold it stationary, as he doesn’t want it moving around while he’s still-fishing. When trolling, he relies on plugs such as a small size FlatFish, Mag Lip and SpinFish. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
action, but there aren’t nearly as many opportunities as during past decades due to the switchover to later-returning (January through April) steelhead stocks.
The most appealing thing about winter trout is their size, as many average up to and over 15 inches. You see, in most cases the fall plants are fish that were carried over all summer and released in advance of Black Friday. You may catch bigger trout, too, as many lakes also receive a decent stocking of broodstock fish (those used for hatchery spawning) that can reach 3 to 10 pounds.
What we have found is that the fish mostly don’t start biting good until about 9 or 10 a.m., which might be related to the slight warming of lake temperatures during the day. And while the fish will respond to all normally used fishing methods, for anglers with or without boats, still-fishing PowerBait may represent your best option.
To rig for PowerBait, start by threading your main line (6- or 8-pound-test monofilament) through the hole in an oval
egg sinker (3/8- to 1-ounce sizes work; it’s all about how far you need or want to cast), add a small plastic bead and tie your main line to one end of a size 10 barrel swivel. Then attach an 18- to 30-inch leader to your swivel (6-pound test is what I use) with a size 16 or 18 treble hook connected to the end. It’s then that you form a small ball of dough trout bait/PowerBait around your hook. You’ll want to use enough of the buoyant bait around your treble to make it float. That’s fundamental to success when still-fishing PowerBait – you want to float your small baited treble hook above bottom so that cruising trout can quickly find it. To ensure buoyancy, some anglers will thread the smallest size Corky (a buoyant single egg imitation) onto their leader to ensure their bait is floating up from the bottom.
Realize, too, that you will want to leave a little slack in your line after casting into
the lake so trout can swim off and swallow your bait before you pull back on your rod tip to set the hook.
KEEP IN MIND that due to the cool water temperatures this time of year, the trout may not have dispersed around the lake when planted as quickly as they do when the water is warmer, so trying your luck near the original release site might be a worthwhile venture.
Another area to try your luck is downwind from the release site, since the prevailing wind can sometimes encourage trout to move in that direction. Also, look for winter trout near where small, oxygenfilled creeks or warm-water runoff might enter the lake. In addition, fish can be attracted to areas where warm underwater springs seep up from the lake bottom.
These days many trout lakes and reservoirs are regularly stocked and open
Buddies Christian Bamber and Austin Han show off trout they caught around Thanksgiving. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
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year-round. Still others, like in Washington, are planted with fat trout and scheduled to open on Black Friday. Make no mistake, the popularity of fishing the day after Thanksgiving has caused the states to distribute fish in advance of what has become an annual adventure for many anglers, including me.
To find out what lakes have been stocked with fat trout for the winter season check the fishery managers’ website for your state:
AS FOR THOSE sea-run rainbows, some Oregon streams that still see releases of
early-returning hatchery steelhead include Big and Gnat Creeks and the Klaskanine River, all located along Highway 30 on the Lower Columbia between Rainier and Astoria, and the Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem and Alsea Rivers on the North and Central Coasts.
Just as with Oregon, Washington is moving away from early-returning winter steelhead stocks in favor of late-timed fish derived from native parents. There appears to be some overlap during this transition period where early-returning winter steelhead still exist, so it’s best to call the local WDFW office for advice in this regard. But the list of early rivers still includes the Quillayute system, Skykomish, North Fork Stillaguamish, Willapa, Naselle and Elochoman. However, this will be the last
winter that hatchery winter-runs return in any numbers to the Snoqualmie and Washougal Rivers. Their programs were terminated after last year’s smolt releases.
Keep in mind that summer steelhead will still be lingering in rivers that see returns of that stock, as most don’t spawn until the new year. Fishing for summer-runs can be quite good during the fall and winter on Idaho’s Snake, Salmon and Clearwater Rivers, as well as Washington and Oregon’s Grande Ronde River system and the latter state’s Imnaha River. Remember to check regulations carefully before planning a trip.
Again, many hatchery programs have switched over to later-returning broodstock fish, where the timing of their return mirrors that of the January-through-March wild steelhead run.
There’s still a few Northwest streams that see releases of early-returning winter steelhead, including the Alsea. Others can be found in the Lower Columbia and Willapa Bay regions, the North Coasts of both Washington and Oregon, and Puget Sound. Summer steelhead also provide good fishing opportunities on various Snake River tributaries. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
IF YOU’RE NEW to the sport of chasing winter steelhead, realize that rainstorms and cold weather can make this a challenging pursuit. After all, and for this reason, winter steelhead are regarded by many as one of the most difficult fish to catch. For some, the most compelling attraction is the fish themselves, which includes their size (as compared to the winter trout and whitefish), immense beauty and what sometimes seems like never-ending fighting ability.
Tackle preference should be based on what fishing methods you plan to focus on. Many anglers prefer baitcast-style reels for the drift or bobber dogging fishing methods. Likewise, most anglers fishing from boats prefer levelwind baitcasters when back-trolling plugs and using a bait
diver. Spinning outfits have gained a huge following by anglers employing sidedrifting, float, jig or bobber dogging fishing techniques, where light- to medium-test line is often used.
Once you’ve selected your reel style, it’s time to choose a fishing rod. Spinning rods have larger line guides than those designed for baitcast reels – it has to do with the size of the line coils as they come off the reel spool. And the rods designed for levelwinds (besides their smaller line guides) often feature triggers on their reel seats, which offer superior rod control when casting, setting the hook or fighting a big steelhead.
The popularity of some fishing methods has changed fishing rod preferences. For example, 9- to 10-foot spinning rods rated for 6- to 12-pound-test line are what is
mostly used when employing methods like side-drifting or bobber and jig.
And while both spinning and baitcasting outfits are popular for bobber dogging, most anglers prefer slightly heavier 9- to 10-foot rods for this method. It’s about getting a strong hookset when different line angles are in play. Even drift fishermen have switched away from the classic 8-foot-6 rods of years gone by to sticks of at least 9 feet long.
You should realize, though, that the classic 8-foot-6 medium (or M) and medium-heavy (or MH) rod lengths work great for casting and retrieving spinners or fishing small, brushy streams for steelhead. (They’re also good for trophy trout, trolling for walleye or chasing sockeye, making for a solid multipurpose, multispecies tool.)
COLUMN
IN GENERAL, MONOFILAMENT line test ranges from 8 to 12 pounds for spinning reels and 12 to 20 pounds for baitcast/levelwind reels. Limper lines, like Berkley Trilene XL, perform best on spinning reels, while stiffer lines, like Big Game or Maxima, are more popular for baitcasting reels. Fluorocarbon line, due to it being less visible to fish and mostly stiffer than monofilament, which forces swivels to work, is what many anglers (including me) employ as leader material.
And while mono will likely fill most of your steelheading needs, you should realize that the characteristics of super lines might serve you well for some applications. The advantage of super lines, of course, is that they are much thinner than mono of the same pound test, they last longer, are generally more durable, float better (especially when treated with fly line dressing), and their lack of stretch means you can feel a lot more about what’s happening on the end of your line, which might be important when drift fishing.
If you try super lines, realize that it’s important to step up a couple of pound
test categories over the monofilament you might otherwise use. Doing this will still give you a diameter advantage over mono. For example, where I might use 10or 12-pound-test mono for side-drifting, with braid I’d go with 20- to 30-pound test. The reason it’s important to go with heavier braid is that super lines offer no forgiving stretch and mostly break at what the label says. As you might know, all monofilament lines stretch 20 to 30 percent when wet and their actual breaking strength is often much more than what the label suggests, up to a third more depending on the pound test and brand of line. NS
Editor’s note: Buzz Ramsey is regarded as a sportfishing authority (as related to trout, steelhead and salmon), outdoor writer and proficient lure and fishing rod designer. Buzz built a successful 45-year career promoting gear related to Northwest and Great Lakes fisheries during his tenure with Luhr Jensen, Pure Fishing and Yakima Bait. Now retired, he writes for Northwest Sportsman and The Guide’s Forecast.
This broodstock hatchery winter-run bit a Corky Drifter drift fished in combination with salmon eggs captured in a Spawn Bag. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
Sneak Off To Snake For Steelies
With a much more robust return of A- and B-runs than initially forecast, here’s where and how to target them on the mainstem and Clearwater.
Story and captions by Jeff Holmes
At this point it’s pretty well known that the 2025 upriver summer steelhead run over Bonneville Dam came in way over prediction, the kind of mistake by fisheries managers we can all get behind. Managers’ original prediction was for 55,600 A-Index (19,000 unclipped) and 11,800 B-Index (1,100 unclipped) fish. These are grim numbers, and should this run have come to pass, fishing opportunities would have been extremely limited.
But now, with approximately 155,000 steelhead over Bonneville by late October, the U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee updated the run to 130,400 total A-run fish (including 55,400 unclipped). TAC also updated B-run steelhead abundance at the dam to 18,400 total fish (including 3,200 unclipped). As a result, we can expect some good to very good fishing this November and beyond. Things were looking bad before the fish showed up, especially for B-runs, but that has blessedly changed. There are many places to catch steelhead in November in the Snake River Basin, but here are a few of my favorite areas I highly recommend, starting low in the Snake and working upstream.
John Pietig of Coeur d’Alene landed this beauty of an early-season B-run steelhead after the fish bit a back-trolled Mag Lip 3.5 in Idaho’s lower Clearwater River aboard the River Wild sled of Reel Time Fishing guide Vernie Cross. There aren’t quite as many B-runs back this year as last year’s relatively huge return, but 18,500 are expected, mostly to the Clearwater with a handful of those fish returning to Idaho’s Salmon River. This many Bs should ensure good fishing all season. (REELTIMEFISHING.COM)
FISHING
LOWER SNAKE RIVER
ICE HARBOR DAM TO LYONS FERRY AND THE TUCANNON Steelhead, including B-runs, can be caught anywhere on the Washington Snake, but they hang out in reliable places. That said, prospecting and trying new places along its many miles of impounded water is fun and can be lucrative. On a few occasions while bird hunting, I’ve seen steelheaders catching fish in middle-of-nowhere places I would never have thought to fish. Points near dropoffs, the outside of coves close to deep water and the mouths of creeks are great places to prospect
with floats or with plugs.
But if you’re new to the Snake or just like the assurance of fishing in known steelhead hangouts (author raises his hand), the mouth of the Tucannon River is an excellent place to encounter Tucannon fish, Snake fish and B-runs ultimately bound for Idaho’s Clearwater River. At the Tucannon, boats anchor up on both sides of the little river’s channel as it empties into the Snake, fishing coonies below floats and shrimp-tipped jigs below floats. Some anglers troll plugs downstream of the shrimp show along the riprap and the underwater structure a little
further from shore. I have caught a lot of steelhead here on plugs, including a few destined for the Clearwater. I’ve also caught nice walleye here plugging and tons of smallmouth.
Several miles downstream of the Tucannon below the mouth of the Palouse River is the Lyons Ferry Hatchery, another great place to catch steelhead. Over the years I’ve had some good days and spectacular nights trolling plugs here, as well as some luck fishing shrimp under floats.
Further downstream are Lower Monumental (LoMo) and Ice Harbor Dams, closer to Tri-Cities. LoMo is a
Not every day in the Snake River basin will result in catches like this, but this group of anglers enjoyed a great outing releasing and retaining lower Clearwater steelhead this September with Cross. He guides for Toby Wyatt, owner of Reel Time Fishing, on the Clearwater, but also operates Vern’s Fishing Experience (vernsfishingexperience.com), based out of Tri-Cities. Cross is a kind man who fishes from Buoy 10 all the way to the LC Valley and is a great choice for a steelhead trip on the Snake, where he also fishes around Ice Harbor and Lower Monumental Dams, among others. (REELTIMEFISHING.COM)
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FISHING WORK COHO’S LATE (AND LARGE) SHOW
By the date of this writing, October 19, over 141,662 adult coho had passed Bonneville Dam, an absurd number aided by excellent ocean conditions and expanded hatchery runs bolstered by tribes and also by nontribal managers trying to make more orca food. November should bring some of the best coho angling we have seen above Bonneville with the bulk of those fish returning to the Klickitat River.
Without a doubt, the Klickitat is the crown jewel fishery for coho above the dam, whether that’s in the river itself or in the wildly popular fishery at the river’s mouth in its bottom half mile and in the Columbia River’s Bonneville Pool. Enough fresh “B-run” coho will show here to keep the fishing going throughout the month, even when dam counts slow to a trickle. B-run coho show up later, larger and meaner than their more slender, early-returning A-run predecessors. (Technically, the two stocks are known as Type S and Type N coho, with the former returning from south of the Columbia mouth earlier in fall and the latter coming in later and from the north.)
For numbers, the Klickitat’s peak is definitely in October, but fresh chrome fish will be found in the Columbia throughout November. Best accessed from Mayer State Park in Oregon or from an unimproved but solid launch in Lyle, Washington, the fishery at the mouth of the Klickitat produces lots of limits of fish that average 6 to 9 pounds but with plenty of fish larger than that and some extending into the high teens. I have taken limits here in late November even when very few fish are counted coming over Bonneville, and those fish were chrome bright.
A wide variety of options work in the lower Klick and at its mouth in terms of tactics, and I have had luck trolling plugs, trolling and casting spinners, twitching jigs and fishing eggs. Huge numbers of fish will lie on the several-hundred-yard-long shelf just off of the channel marker where the Klick dumps into the Columbia, and many boats concentrate here. Don’t be afraid to go looking for fish away from the crowd here, especially downstream, but always note that there is a large concentration of coho off the shelf that go on and off the bite throughout the day.
We have seen jaw-dropping coho numbers over Bonneville Dam in 2025, and most of those salmon are latestock fish headed for the Klickitat. Many will hang up in the Columbia to stage before making a run up the Washington-side tributary, driving the success of the most popular and productive coho fishery above the dam. Sadly, the one downside to these big numbers –October 5’s 9,612 is likely a single-day record for the late run – and the great fishing to come is that yet more guides will use the phrase “coho rodeo” to market this fishery. Guys, please. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Fishing a good coon shrimp on a 3.5 (or smaller) bladed prawn spinner behind either a rotating or triangle flasher can be lethal here and results in bycatches of Chinook and occasional steelhead. Small plugs in fluorescent and chrome colors can also shine.
Fishing in the bottom half mile of the Klickitat can be very good, too, although it’s close quarters and can be crowded and competitive. Staying out in the Columbia is the best option for most, and it’s a relatively easy fishery to learn.
A large return of coho is also expected to return to the Hanford Reach this fall at the Ringold Hatchery. Tri-Cities anglers are still learning to catch these fish, which are the
larger, later-returning B-run coho. This will be the fourth year of returns, but more and larger (two-salt) fish are expected this year. Released notionally as food for southern resident killer whales, the coho will also end up in smokers and on dinner tables.
Along with standard coho trolling techniques, anglers should carry twitching jigs and Vibrax and other casting spinners. Fishing slightly above Ringold, around the hatchery creek itself and downstream of Ringold in the excellent eddies and slowmoving backwaters of the free-flowing Columbia are good ideas. Watch for surface action in these areas and be prepared to experiment to figure out this newish run. –JH
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FISHING
drive, even from Tri-Cities, so there is never a crowd, but it is at times a very good fishery both above and below the dam. Its isolated location keeps it from being popular. Ice Harbor, however, is much closer to “the Tri,” and it is a popular and productive fishery.
In these forebays and tailraces, trolling large, shrimp-baited jigs below floats at a super slow .4 mile per hour works well. This approach gained a following at the McNary Dam forebay and works great at LoMo and Ice Harbor. It’s a great way to cover water, elicit strikes and ensure hookups. Set your bobber stop 10 to 18 feet from your jig, spread your floats out in a fan 20 to 40 feet behind your boat and wait for a takedown.
LITTLE GOOSE DAM TO THE SNAKECLEARWATER CONFLUENCE Clearwater B-runs provide opportunities for
Snake summer-runs remain aggressive in November and even into December and will strike lures and flies. Bait, however, always works, and coon shrimp shines. Just remember that whether fished under a bobber, drifted, tipped on a jig or however else you choose to fish them, barbless hooks are required, even with shrimp and other baits. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
James Booth of Tri-Cities landed this nice fish early this fall near the train bridge in Lewiston on the lower Clearwater while fishing with Cross. Book with Cross, Toby Wyatt or any Reel Time Fishing guide (reeltimefishing.com) for good action this November and extending through the winter. (REELTIMEFISHING.COM)
FISHING
From the Klickitat to the steelhead streams of Idaho, we can expect good November fishing above Bonneville, with the best fishing probably occurring in the Snake River basin. It remains to be seen if the Upper Columbia will open again this year, but you can plan your trips for the Snake, Clearwater, Grande Ronde and other tributaries in this basin with certainty. Through November, the same goes for the Klickitat, where Buzz Ramsey landed this nice summer steelhead early this fall. For the Upper Columbia to open, we were getting close to the numbers needed at Priest Rapids Dam, but were not quite there yet as of press time.
Washington anglers all fall and winter to intercept big steelhead. Some Bs streak right up the Columbia and Snake into the Clearwater, but a large percentage take their sweet time getting there. They hang out in the mid-Columbia from the John Day Arm to the confluence with the Snake, favoring the forebays of dams.
In the Snake in Washington, B-runs will hang out above and below all the dams including Little Goose and Lower Granite. Along with the more numerous A-runs, B-runs will show in the catch all fall and winter, and some places are famous for producing them.
The mouth of the Clearwater itself is a funnel for B-runs, so the confluence and the Washington shoreline
stretching miles downstream is excellent for these outsized steelhead. Popular ambush points include Nisqually John Canyon, Blyton Landing, Granite Point, Wawawai and the forebay and tailrace of Lower Granite Dam.
Bank and boat anglers alike catch lots of As and Bs here on coon shrimp fished 6 to 14 feet under floats and black, black-and-red, black-andpurple, purple and many other colors of jigs tipped with coon shrimp or any shrimp fished below floats. Along with the traditional technique of fishing floats in a stationary manner, the bobber trolling approach popularized above McNary Dam works great here.
Forward trolling plugs is also super popular here, and any patterns will
catch fish. Proven old-school patterns include metallic plugs in purple, red, green and blue as well as black with metallic sparkles and a variety of other standard and inventive plug patterns. Wiggle Warts, Brad’s Wigglers, Mag Lip 3.5s and 3.0s and – my favorite – ¼-ounce Hot Lips are great choices.
SNAKE FROM CLARKSTON TO HELLER BAR AND THE GRANDE RONDE
This beautiful and famous stretch of the Snake River and its picturesque and wild tributary, the Grande Ronde, are easily accessible to bank and boat anglers and are close to the LC Valley (the fishing and hunting capital of the Northwest). The Snake is loaded with Snake River, Grande Ronde River, Salmon River, Wallowa River and Imnaha River fish in November.
Fish are still aggressive in the Snake and Ronde in November as waters cool toward winter and more and more steelhead headed for both streams and other tributaries laze their way upriver and prepare to winter in deep, slow pools, runs and slots. The snappiness of the fish draws hardware and fly anglers to this stretch of the Snake and to the Grande Ronde. Getting fish to bite in November under good water conditions is not hard. If you add in some fall rains that further cool the waters and raise the flows without blowing out the rivers and restricting visibility, fishing can be amazing.
This stretch is mostly home to A-runs, but Clearwater B-runs also stray into the stretch, and Salmon B-runs travel through it on their way to the confluence with the Snake roughly 20 miles above Heller Bar. The Snake in Hells Canyon is also home to plenty of 30-plus-inch wild fish, and both the Snake and Ronde will consistently kick out keepers over 30 inches, though they are the small minority of fish retained.
You can catch fish using virtually all steelhead baits and techniques, but without a doubt preying on their aggression during November is my favored approach. I love to catch steelhead on spinners and spoons, especially spinners, and there is no better time for it than fall. I prefer size 4
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FISHING
and 5 spinners in the Snake with brass, copper or black blades and favor bodies in greens, candy apple blue, purple, black and black with glitter, aka the Michael Jackson. I downsize slightly to size 3 and 4 blades in the Grande Ronde with the same color preferences for blades and bodies. Silver/nickel blades can be effective too.
Plugging both the Snake and Ronde is probably the most effective way to fish, and there is almost always enough water in the Ronde in November to float it effectively. Anything below 1,200 cubic feet per second as measured at the Troy, Oregon, gauge will be a scratchy float in a drift boat, but it’s floatable below 1,000 cfs. A jet boat is highly desired in the Snake except for expert boaters who know the river. Because hydropower managers raise and lower the flows often from Hells Canyon Dam – I have even hit a rock (hard) with a jet pump in this stretch –caution is advised.
CLEARWATER RIVER
LEWISTON TO OROFINO
The free-flowing Clearwater is the final destination of most of the B-runs and also a lot of A-run fish and is one of the most aesthetically beautiful places to fish for them in the system. The river from Highway 12’s Memorial Bridge to Clear Creek just above Kooksia is under catch-and-release regs until November 10, but don’t let that dissuade you from making a trip early in the month. I have enjoyed some super memorable days on the Clearwater without bonking a fish.
Although shore opportunities here are many and obvious in the almost 40 miles between Lewiston and Orofino, the Clearwater is best fished from a boat and best fished with a guide. Probably the best known Clearwater outfit is Reel Time Fishing, owned by Toby Wyatt. He and his guides (Vernie Cross, Travis Wendt – any of them, really) remain my recommendation
for booking a first trip on the river. Wyatt and his guides have the river dialed and notoriously will switch up tactics to match conditions and show the fish something different.
If you can’t or don’t want to hire a guide and have experience running big, rocky, free-flowing streams, the Clearwater is more than worthy of your exploration. If you’re shorebound, probably the best way to fish it is with float and shrimp or float and jig. Smaller, ¼- and 1/16-ounce jigs in purples and other dark colors are popular, but as elsewhere I think profile, scent and a dead drift are bigger keys than color.
One of the many cool aspects of fishing the Clearwater is the diversity of water types that present opportunities to explore with a wide variety of tactics. In November, fish have not yet retreated to the deepest, slowest wintering water and can still be found in all the typical steelhead habitats. NS
Steamer Clams: An Alternative To Razors
DBy MD Johnson OUTDOORS MD
on’t get me wrong. I absolutely love everything about razor clams. I love where they live. I don’t mind the 53mile drive from home to get to where they live. I enjoy letting Abigail, the black dog, romp on the beach. I like talking to my fellow diggers. In a somewhat sick and twisted way, I even really enjoy cleaning our clams; don’t mind it at all.
As a matter of fact, I take great pleasure in cleaning clams. Why? ’Cause I know what’s coming next – Julie’s clam chowder; clam fritters; deep-fried clam strips. I love it all, except, that is, Julie’s experimental clam loaf. That was both terrible and a long story; however, if you’re interested, drop a note and I’ll give you the Reader’s Digest Condensed Books version.
But as much as I love razor clams, I like steamers even more. Why? Again, I love where steamers live. Southern Willapa Bay. Northern Willapa Bay. Tokeland. Puget Sound and Hood Canal beaches. About half the bays on the Oregon Coast between Tillamook and Charleston. The list of wheres goes on and on, but we’ll get to that in a moment.
I love steamers, or as they’re known technically, Manila clams, because unlike elk, they don’t run. They don’t hide, per se. And getting a limit of steamers from where I found them to the Ford doesn’t require friends, a winch, packboards, knives and a subsequent trip to the chiropractor. While not a greedy man, I can get 40 steamers, whereas I can only, if lucky enough, bag 15 razor clams, which is a God’s plenty, but I like that number. Forty. It’s nice and round and easy to remember.
Raking steamers, at least to me, is an elemental undertaking. The gear is simple. The act of gathering itself is simple. Unlike
Gordie Walling shows off some freshly dug steamer clams harvested off a beach on Washingtons’ South Coast. Manila, littleneck and other bay clams represent an alternative shellfish opportunity during late fall and winter when storms can make ocean beaches more dangerous. (MD JOHNSON)
COLUMN
razor clams, there’s no cleaning steamers. Just place your limit (or two, if you have a friend and/or spouse) in a heavy stock pot, add a bunch of minced garlic and a halfstick of real butter, maybe a splash of white wine, punch the medium heat button, and steam ’em until they open. They don’t open? Don’t eat ’em.
So this month, and in the midst of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s tentative schedule of razor clam digs between now and January 6, 2026, let’s take a little closer look at that little clam that could, the steamer.
FULL STEAM(ER) AHEAD: WHERE
We’ll mainly stick with Washington here, but several Oregon bays, e.g., Coos, Tillamook, Alsea, Nehalem and Siletz Bays also provide shellfish enthusiasts the opportunity to harvest what’s called bay clams, such as cockles, softshells, littlenecks, gapers and others. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has mapped the best beds on their very informative webpage, myodfw.com/ articles/where-bay-clam-oregon.
Meanwhile, the Evergreen State is blessed – or should I say the Washington harvester of shellfish, is blessed – with a
long, long list of public beaches on which to rake. I could list them all, but I won’t. Instead, I’d suggest a visit to the WDFW’s website, specifically wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/ shellfish-beaches, for a county-by-county listing of everything’s that open and available to the Average Joe/Josephine, of which I most certainly am one.
That said, I will mention a couple of my go-to steamer haunts, strips of public sand I visit a handful of times throughout the course of the year. The first goes by the name of Hawks Point. Located along Highway 105 almost, but not quite, to the
Author MD Johnson rakes a clam bed. While a standard garden rake will work, he has found it’s easier to pull a four-tine-style rake through the sands. (MD JOHNSON)
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town of Tokeland, Hawks Point presents a good news/bad news scenario. The good news is that its approximately 2 miles of publicly accessible tideland does harbor steamer clams. The bad news is that in recent years, the burrowing shrimp, i.e., sand shrimp or ghost shrimp, population has exploded, proving detrimental to what was once a tremendous shellfishery. The steamers are still there. It’s still public. You’ll just have work harder for your 40.
Me, I’m partial to Long Island, mainly
due to the anti-social gene I inherited from my father. Long Island sits in the southern end of Willapa Bay not far from the town of Naselle, and offers a pair of steamer raking options. There’s Pinnacle Rock on the southwest corner, and Diamond Point on the northwest. Both are on the western side of the island facing, let’s say, the Long Beach Peninsula.
If you’ve not been there, Long Island is an interesting place, full of black bears, which grow big, and swarms of bloodthirsty
mosquitoes, which grow even bigger. The downside, I reckon some would call it, is Long Island has no access, except by boat; thus, the anti-social aspect. A nice launch can be found off Highway 101 at the Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge’s Cutthroat Boat Ramp near milepost 24.
Take note that these are my go-to steamer beaches, but there’s a lengthy list of places to play all along the Washington Coast and onto the Olympic Peninsula. That WDFW website is, again, certainly worth a look-see.
STEAMER GEAR
Now here’s where raking steamers really shines. Ducks? There’s a flat metric ton of gear involved, with that list including an Aquapod, decoys, blind bag, gun, calls, waders, blah, blah, blah. Elk? Same story; no one is a minimalist when it comes to elk. Or late deer. Or geese. Steamers, on the other hand, are as elemental from a gear standpoint as it gets, with my equipment typically consisting of the following:
Waders: Optional, but nice when it comes to keeping me dry, especially when I’m kneeling to count clams, investigate marine life closely, or, as my 14-year-old grandson would say, take an “old guy tumble.” Not a regular occurrence, Doc, but it can happen to anyone.
Razor clam bag: Julie made mine out of black mesh and heavy-duty nylon webbing material. It attaches to the belt on my
OREGON RAZOR CLAM PROSPECTS
Along with Washington’s South and Central Coasts, Oregon’s North Coast is also open for razor clamming.
Season began back on October 1 on what are known as the Clatsop Beaches, the sands between the mouth of the Columbia River and Tillamook Head. These 18 miles account for around 90 percent of the state’s harvest, and heading into this season, shellfish managers advised diggers that the overall razor clam density was 2.47 per square meter of beach, which is the third highest figure since 2004 and the dawn of annual assessments.
However, 60 percent of that figure was comprised of young razors, those clams
that are only about 2.5 to 3 inches long. Still, that’s good news for digging later in 2026, assuming good overwinter survival and spring and summer growing conditions.
“Be very selective this fall,” advised Oregon shellfish biologist Matt Hunter. “For the best chance to find a larger clam, target only the large clam shows – the ones that are bigger than a nickel.”
That’s key because under razor clamming rules, harvesters must keep the first 15 they dig or bring up with a clam gun, regardless of whether their shells are broken or not.
“Once the young clams start growing in spring 2026, digging could be much more successful. But you still need to focus
on the biggest shows to find those larger clams,” tipped Hunter.
Besides the Clatsop Beaches, razors can also be found around Cannon Beach, Cape Meares, north and south of Newport, Waldport, north and south of Charleston and a few other locations down the coast, but again, the far North Coast is the best location.
Unlike Washington, razor clamming is open daily in Oregon through July 15, but of course is dependent on low enough tides to access the bivalves and good digging conditions (i.e., a low swell coming off the ocean). And just like to the north, season may close by emergency rule if marine toxin levels rise too high. –NWS
Manila and littleneck clams have a minimum size limit of 1.5 inches, and many crab calipers come with two different ways to measure width. This one’s a keeper! (MD JOHNSON)
COLUMN
waders. Easy to pack. Easy to rinse. Stays out of my way while I’m raking/walking. It’s much more convenient than the traditional 1-gallon bucket or self-modified gallon milk jug. It looks cooler too.
Rake: I’ve used a common garden rake in the past, and while it unquestionably works, it’s often harder to drag 16 2-inch tines through the sand than it is four 4-inch tines. Technically speaking, I’ll have you know that my implement is known as a “garden
cultivator,” available at Tractor Supply, Ace Hardware and similar stores for $20 to $30. However, I’m cheap (not frugal) and find mine at garage sales for right around $1.
Miscellaneous: I do carry a small 1-gallon bucket housed in an old backpack. When I’m done, I partially fill the bucket with saltwater, drop my bag o’ clams inside, snap on the lid, put said bucket in my pack and comfortably (?) trudge back to the truck.
This keeps my catch fresh and alive until I’m home. I also include a crab gauge, which features a convenient 1½-inch hole in one end. Unsized steamers pass through said hole; legal specimens do not, and thus go into the aforementioned clam bag.
SOME LEGAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
Just a short note here, as it’s easy enough for you to look up and research any and all regulations associated with steamers and the harvesting thereof, but here is a quick legal summary.
License: Washingtonians will need either a Get Outdoors license; Fish Washington license; Combination license; or a Shellfish/Seaweed license. Kids under the age of 16 do not need a license to harvest steamers.
Limit: Daily bag limit is 40 clams, not to exceed 10 pounds in the shell of all species combined, that number as recognized by the WDFW being seven. Photographs of the shellfish species, along with descriptions and more details, can be found on page 137 of the 2025-26 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Property boundaries: Often, public and private tidelands adjoin, and unless you have permission from the private landowner to trespass, it’s best to 1) know where you’re standing, and 2) stay off what’s not public.
Easy does it: As for the environmental concerns, my plea is to tread lightly. The tidelands, though undeniably a rough and tumble landscape that’s dried and drowned twice a day, are incredibly fragile. Hundreds of species make their homes there. Shrimp. Dungeness crabs. Invertebrates and other worm-like creatures. Ghost shrimp. Oysters. Fish of all kinds. Countless birds above.
Carefully rake through the sand; you never know what is hiding below. Don’t drive the tines into the sand, as spearing a concealed Dungeness through the carapace seals its doom. Go gently. Pack it in. Pack it out. Don’t be greedy. And every now and then, stop and look at the world around you. It’s an incredible place, the tidelands. It truly is. Take the time to appreciate it.
Until next time, get outdoors. Doctor’s orders … NS
While razor clams require cleaning, not so with steamers! Just put them in a pot with minced garlic, half a stick of butter and perhaps a spot of white wine – no more liquid than that is needed – heat them on medium and steam until the shells pop open. Don’t eat the clams that don’t open. (MD JOHNSON)
2024 FishRite 23’ Outfitter
-$10,000 PRICE DROP
Blow out sale on the last 2023 fish boat in stock. This boat needs a home. Priced with a Honda 150hp EFI outboard and a Karavan galvanized trailer with led lights and disc surge brakes. This boat has a deck washdown system, hydraulic steering, welded bow rails, full canvas enclosure with drop curtain, bow anchor box, metallic paint upgrade, 36’ bench seats and dual wipers. Priced to sell!
2024 Custom Weld Deep and Wide 22’ Bush
If you are looking for the perfect Puget Sound and Ocean machine. You have found it. This boat has an overall length of over 25’. With an 8.5’ beam and huge deep sides, it can take what ever you are looking to do. Powered by the awesome Honda 250hp with fully remote 15hp Honda controlled by the rear steering station. You also have a rear steering station that can be set up for a kicker or for another set of controls for the big motor. This also comes with the 48” bench seats, bulkhead door with lock, metallic red paint upgrade, stern rails with downrigger mounts, huge bow fish box, floor fish box, transom fish box, trim tabs, hydraulic steering and dual wipers. The boat is supported by a Karavan I-beam trailer with electric over hydraulic brakes. Get out on the water.
2026 FishRite 20’ Sportsman
PRICE-$5,000 DROP
$96,995 $64,995 $47,995
Talk about a huge boat. This thing is massive for its size. Super deep and super wide. This boat has a 7’ bottom. Massively stable. Priced with a 200hp V-6 Honda, this boat can get with the picture. Karavan trailer gets you to the water with led lights and hydraulic surge disc brakes. It also has a nice boarding ladder on the offshore bracket, bow and stern rails, 3 battery trays in the bow for group 31 batteries, auto bilge pump, dual batteries with a switch for main motor, huge fish box in transom, washdown system, hydraulic steering system and dual wipers.
Michlitch Company spokanespice.com
MarDon Resort mardonresort.com
Ka-Bar Ice Cream Scoop sportco.com The best unique stocking stuffer! Destroy the toughest of desserts with the Ka-Bar Dessert Destroyer Ice Cream Scoop. Also works great with melons such as watermelon and cantaloupe. Made in America with food- and water-safe Creamid.
Black Hills Ammunitionblack-hills.com
The M1200 cartridge chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor is the designated ammunition for the US military’s MRGG-S (Mid-Range Gas Gun-Sniper) weapon system.
The Black Hills M1200-C (Commercial) version features a 140-grain OTM projectile loaded to 2,750 feet per second from a 22-inch barrel. The match primers are staked securely in the primer pocket to ensure flawless performance during suppressed semiauto fire. The propellant is selected for temperature stability to ensure reliability and avoid velocity variation in extreme environments. When accuracy, reliability and long-range external ballistics are required, the M1200-C from Black Hills is the answer.
Hi-Point Firearms hi-pointfirearms.com
Hi-Point Firearms offers some of the best value-pricedfirearms,andthe995,1095P and4595Pfitperfectlyintothatposition. Builtaspistols,thesefirearmsaremore compactthanthecarbinecounterparts andaddmoreversatilityinasmaller size,whileofferingthesamelegendary reliabilityandaccuracy.Multiple configurationsareavailable–findyours todayonthewebsiteabove.
PursuitUp pursuituptv.com
MT E.L.K., Inc.
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Make this Christmas legendary with MT E.L.K., Inc. hunting call packages! Searching for the perfect gift for the hunter who has it all? Look no further – the Christmas hunting call packages from MT E.L.K., Inc. bring the thrill of the wild right to their stocking! From the electrifying bugles of elk to the heart-pounding chase of antelope, deer and predators – there’s a call for every season and every hunter. Hand-selected, field-proven and full of holiday spirit, these gift sets are built to inspire. Order now and give the gift of adrenaline, adventure and unforgettable hunts this holiday season!
Hunting and fishing processing equipment. Alaska Butcher Equipment & Supply has all you need to process your own hunt or catch! Local and family-owned.
All the holiday fixins! Prime rib, tenderloin, steaks, turkeys, hams and more. Also offering gift certificates and freezer meat packages. Great gifts for the hard- to-shop-for person on your list!
PursuitUp is a premium on-demand streaming app built for outdoor enthusiasts. Watch your favorite hunting, fishing and adventure shows anytime, anywhere. For just $4.99/month or $49.99/year, enjoy unlimited access to exclusive content from the Pursuit Channel and top outdoor producers. Start your one-month free trial today –cancel anytime. Stream on your phone, tablet or smart TV and take the outdoors with you wherever you go.
Boat Insurance Agency boatinsurance.net
All Rivers & Saltwater Charters allwashingtonfishing.com
The Boat Insurance Agency is an independent agency representing the best marine insurance companies. They carefully compare a number of policies to find the lowest premiums and best values for your boat insurance needs. Boat Insurance Agency is owned and operated by Northwest boaters. They have the local knowledge needed to understand boating in the West, along with your special needs. Contact them for an insurance quote and to learn more about the value and service they can offer. Nomar nomaralaska.com
All Rivers & Saltwater Charters provides you the highest quality experience. From avid anglers to first-time fishermen, they always strive to improve your skill and technique. Whether you’re fishing in Seattle, Westport or anywhere in between, you can expect the highest quality service, boats and equipment.
The Nomar boat bag is a versatile splash-proof bag to tote your gear to the boat, to the beach or wherever a tough, heavy-duty bag is required. The top zips closed to protect its contents. Features heavy-duty carry handles and D-rings on the side to add a carry strap. Measures 15 inches by 10 inches by 15 inches. Available in lots of colors.
The Lodge at Otter Cove lodgeottercove.com
Give someone special the gift of an Alaskan adventure! The Lodge at Otter Cove’s all-inclusive three-day, fournight package includes three guided adventures, your accommodations, and all of your meals. Book before Christmas and receive 2025 pricing! Check out the website above or give Joe a call at 907-299-6450 for details.
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CONNECTICUT
Connor’s and O’Brien Marina Pawcatuck, CT connorsandobrien.com
Defender Industries Inc. Waterford, CT defender.com
O’Hara’s Landing Salisbury, CT oharaslanding.com
MASSACHUSETTS
It’s a glorious sunrise, viewed in fast forward thanks to the power of your 250 ProXS. Because you need to get there while the fish are still eating breakfast. Learn more at mercurymarine.com or visit your local dealer, today.
Captain Bub’s Marine Inc. Lakeville, MA captainbubsmarine.com
Doug Russell Marine Worcester, MA WorcesterBoating.com
Essex Marina LLC. Essex, MA essexmarinallc.com
McLellan Brothers Inc. Everett, MA mclellanbrosinc.com
Action Marine & Watersports Inc. Holyoke, MA actionmarineholyoke.com
Bill’s Outboard Motor Service Hingham, MA billsoutboard.com
Obsession Boats East Falmouth, MA capecodboatcenter.com
Portside Marine Danvers, MA portsidemarine.us
Marine Boat Center, Inc. 503 Jacks Lane Mt Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 336-2176 www.mastermarine.com
Riverfront Marine Sports Inc. Salisbury, MA riverfrontmarine.com
South Attleboro Marine North Attleboro, MA www.sammarine.com
Merrimac Marine Supply Methuen, MA merrimacmarine.com
Billington Cove Marina Inc. Wakefield, RI bcoveyc.com
Jamestown Distributors Bristol, RI jamestowndistributors.com BUT AT 70 MPH YOU CAN’T
Nauset Marine-Orleans Orleans, MA nausetmarine.com
Wareham Boat Yard W. Wareham, MA wareham-boatyard-marina.com
LeeLock Anchor Systems leelock.com
The perfect gift for the serious angler!
The LeeLock Magnum Skeg #LMS-04 is made specifically for Minn Kota Quest motors, boosting steering control, straight-line tracking and overall efficiency. Give the gift of longer battery life and better on-thewater performance this season!
Ideal for anglers running bow-mounted Quest motors. (Check out #LMS-01, #LMS-02 and #LMS-03 for other models.)
Make their fishing trips smoother, smarter and more enjoyable – a Magnum Skeg belongs under every tree!
Kodiak Predator Adventures
907-513-5131
Early 2026 booking discount when booked before December 31, 2025, for any available 2026 dates. An entire day of offshore fishing for up to six people is $2,000. (Private boat for your group, drinks, light snacks and coffee included.)
Back 30 Outfitters back30outfitters.com
For a limited time, Back 30 Outfitters is offering discounts on their whitetail hunts for the 2026 hunting season.
Coastal Marine Engine
Located in Northcentral Idaho, all their hunts include food, beautiful lodging and guaranteed outfitter tags. Spot and stalk/glassing/stands. Normally priced at $4,500 for five days, the discounted price is $3,500 per hunter or $3,000 each for two-plus hunters. Can also upgrade your hunt to an elk/deer combo hunt! Cheaper options for semi-guided are available. Call 208-301-7050 or visit the website for more information.
Black Star Fishingblackstarfishing.com
Black Star Fishing Co. is a premier guide service specializing in salmon and steelhead fishing on the finest rivers in the Northwest. Spend adayonthewaterusingtop-of-the-line gear,aboardacomfortableboat,andledby afriendly,knowledgeableguidededicatedto makingyourfishingexperienceunforgettable. Now booking winter steelhead trips for 2025 and 2026. Gift certificates available!
coastalmarineengine.com
Receive 10 percent off labor on any scheduled maintenance between January 2nd and February 28th. Please use the discount code NWSM2026 when booking your service.
PrOlix prolixlubricant.com
PrOlix is a penetrating solvent/dry lube product that was lab-developed and tested by law enforcement, military and commercial shooters over many years.
The citrus-based biodegradable cleaner, pioneered in 1995, is the first successful“all in one”gun care product, now deemed“Bio-Technology.”Their recyclable (strain and reuse) products are made of 89 percent or greater renewable resources, a true commitment to sustainable practices and caring for the environment. As such, the USDA has listed PrOlix as a BioPreferred Product since 2012.
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To complement the PrOlix Cleaner/Lubricant (Dry Tech) line, shooters can use the equally superior“gun-oil and grease replacer”PrOlix Xtra-T Lube for a total care product.
Give the gift of adventure on the Oregon Coast! A deep-sea fishing or crabbing trip in Newport is the perfect present for experienced anglers and beginners alike. Gift certificates can be used for exciting trips targeting rockfish, halibut, albacore tuna, salmon and Dungeness crab. Buy online for instant email delivery or order easily by phone.Treat someone special to an unforgettable day on the Pacific! Call 541-265-6800.
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