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ON THE COVER
Ashley Masters-Hall bagged this nice public/ private-land-haunting blacktail buck in Southwest Washington late last October. Her dad Skylar Masters reported the family went three for three on deer and saw over 100 during six days of hunting. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
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90 LIT TLE WATER, FAT DUCKS
It will be a little while before those huge flocks of orange-footed northerns wing into the Northwest and fall rains flood the fields, but with duck season open now, there’s no reason not to head out. David Johnson details how to hunt small streams and ponds for local birds and early migrators.
96 5 OCTOBER CAST-AND-BLAST DESTINATIONS
There’s a reason why this season is so beloved by sportsmen – there’s just so much to do! With an eye to making the most of fall and the motto “Do both!” John Kruse pairs up fishing and hunting opportunities from Hells Canyon to Willapa Bay, Summer Lake to Potholes Reservoir, and beyond!
123 THE KINGS OF OCTOBER
As we pack as much into this issue as possible, guide Bob Rees reveals the myriad reasons to stick to Oregon’s waters instead of its woods this month – from coastal salmon and trout to inland steelhead and more, he shares top bets for Beaver State anglers.
129 THE NERVOUS TWITCHER
Fact is, we’re all beginners at some point, and while twitching for salmon has been around for awhile, it wasn’t till last season that fly gal Tobey Ishii Anderson gave it a go. She recounts a lesson on fishing jigs for coho and Chinook with guide Mike Zavadlov.
136 NOT JUST A DAY OF FALL FISHING
The Olympic Peninsula is stunning in autumn, its salmon streams especially so. Amanda Wiles takes us on a float down a Forks-area river with her husband and clients, a trip part learning experience, part immersion into the natural world with new friends.
With any luck, the Mariners and Cal Raleigh will
54 ON TARGET Here Come The Bucks!
Dave W. is geared up for Washington deer season, but where in the 68,000-squaremile state is the best spot to go? He details top units for Northeast whitetails, Cascades muleys and Westside blacktails. And he also has a DIY fix should you break your binoculars glassing for bucks!
COLUMNS
60 BECOMING A BETTER HUNTER How Big Is Too Big?
Breaking news: You don’t need a howitzer to tip over a deer or elk. OK, we all know that, but Dave A. takes a look at the age-old question of best big game caliber through the lens of modern offerings. So what bullet diameters make his list for producing consistent, ethical shots on bucks, bulls and bears?
67 CHEF IN THE WILD Get The Youth Out
With his sons part of marching band at school, Chef Randy has had to be creative to also get them out hunting in fall. Fortunately, all three Northwest states offer good opportunities for youth hunters – Randy lines those out, as well as whips up a deer delight from the Delta: Mississippi venison pot roast.
75 GUN DOG Gray Squirrels And Suppressed .22s
We don’t run a lot of squirrel hunting stories in these pages, but leave it to all-around Northwest sportsman Scott to correct our ways. Between his squirrel hound, trail cams and scoped, suppressed .22, he details why you should leave time on your fall calendar to hunt bushytails, as well as the best bullets for the job.
82
OUTDOORS MD Mallards And More Minus The Masses
Yes, our surgeon of outdoor ops may be a bit of a curmudgeon, but these days MD prefers to hunt quackers all by himself. It gives him a certain freedom to hunt how and where he wants – and without the worry about a hunting partner spilling hardwon spots all over social media! He details how to go it alone for waterfowl.
147 BUZZ RAMSEY How I Preserve And Serve Salmon
Lest we forget the bottom line about why we run all these words on how and where to go fishing, it’s about eating and enjoying the catch, Buzz reminds us. With more than a few dinners and smoked snacks under his belt over the decades, Buzz opens up his cookbook to share how he preserves, smokes and cooks salmon.
154
FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG Farewell For Now
Sara’s time at the mouth of the Umpqua this season ended earlier than she would have liked because of restrictions that shut down fall salmon fishing, but as she heads back to her upriver home, she shares parting words on what the estuary has taught her and why and how fellow anglers should stay engaged on river issues.
(KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
A move across state lines hasn’t been easy for a Northwest hunter to adjust to, despite a warm welcome to new muley country.
DEPARTMENTS THE BIG PIC Deer Camp Then And Now
23 THE EDITOR’S NOTE Good news for whitetails
33 READER PHOTOS
Sooooooo many shiny salmon, plus awesome offshore catches!
37 THE DISHONOR ROLL
Backcountry hunter faces Idaho charges; Kudos; Jackass Of The Month
41 OUTDOOR CALENDAR
Upcoming fishing and hunting openers, events, deadlines, more
WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE SEA... OCEAN CREST RESORT
Tucked away in Moclips, Washington, on a 125-foot clifftop where the forest meets the sea, sits Ocean Crest Resort – your new favorite spot for some much needed R&R&R. No, that third R isn’t a typo, it’s Washington’s best-kept secret.
Rest: You’ll feel well rested having drifted off to the dull roar of the Pacific, the soft patter of rain, or the quiet murmur of the movie you rented from the front desk.
Relaxation: You’re sure to be relaxed after lounging at Cedar Serenity Spa, the resort’s pool, hot tub and cedar dry sauna.
Recreation: You’ve never had a vacation like this, because Ocean Crest Resort is the ideal launchpad for any adventure, no matter what suits your fancy.
Fun is just footsteps away when you descend the resort’s staircase to Mocrocks Beach for surf fishing, clam digging, beachcombing and birdwatching. Adventure a little further to take advantage of the Olympic Peninsula’s best spots for game hunting, fishing, hiking and trail biking, all less than a 45-minute drive away.
With 43 units ranging from retro and rustic to renovated and refined, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect spot to land, be it a standard studio or a large two-bedroom flat for the whole family. How about an adventure for your palate? The dining room at Ocean Crest Resort sources the finest, freshest spoils of the Pacific Northwest and prepares them with global flair, leading to unique dishes that are flavorful and refined, yet unpretentious and exciting. The restaurant truly is a love letter to the region, pouring only beers local to Grays Harbor and maintaining an expansive wine catalog sourced exclusively from the Pacific Northwest.
No matter what kind of adventure you’re looking for, you’ll be impressed by all Ocean Crest Resort has to offer.
(ANDY WALGAMOTT)
Recently, we accepted the award from the Hewes family for being the 2024 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
Federal wildlife officials say the population of Columbian whitetail deer on the lower end of the Columbia River “has improved to the point where it no longer meets the definition of a threatened or endangered species.”
THE EDITOR’SNOTE
It’s not often I get to share a good-news Northwest deer story in these pages. Outside of celebrating readers’ successes afield, these days most news is about how diseases, environmental conditions, migration impediments, predation and more are cutting into the herds. But thanks to a “strong comeback,” the whitetails of the Lower Columbia are on the verge of a federal delisting proposal.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last month announced that the population, which lives on islands in the big river and nearby mainland areas, “meets all the goals in its recovery plan, and the Service is recommending it be removed from the federal Endangered Species List.” Their risk of extinction is “extremely low, further supporting the recommendation to consider delisting,” the feds added.
THESE DEER ARE one of only two groups of whitetails west of the Cascades in the Northwest, and the news “marks a major milestone in the decades-long effort to save the Columbian white-tailed deer, a conservation journey defined by collaboration, science, and persistence,” USFWS stated.
A five-year review found their numbers have grown from a low of just 300 to 400 animals in the 1970s to an estimated 1,354 today, and they occur in 10 primary populations split evenly between Washington and Oregon, including on Tenasillahe, Puget, Deer and Sauvie Islands and mainland areas near Westport (Oregon), Longview, Ridgefield and Scappoose. The 6,000 acres of the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for Columbian White-tailed Deer near Cathlamet – created in 1971, one year after the species was federally listed – has been a “stronghold” and yielded some of the deer that were relocated upriver to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. In particular, Tenasillahe Island as well as the Westport area have been very productive in terms of supplying deer for translocations.
Seven of the 10 subpopulations are now considered to have a “high to moderate level of resilience,” and reestablishing populations such as at Ridgefield has served to “increase both the geographic range of the species and connectivity throughout the landscape.”
Even if growth stalls and the Columbia’s bottoms flood due to rising seas, the deer persist in 50-year scenarios, per the review.
The other population of Columbian whitetails, located near Roseburg and which was federally delisted in 2003, has been huntable since 2006 under controlled tags from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. A total of 116 were issued for this season.
To be clear, Lower Columbia tags are a ways off in both states, but in 2023, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission reclassified the species from endangered to threatened. Baby steps! Meanwhile, I hope they continue to thrive and spread, and one day there’s a chance to hunt the recovered population. –Andy Walgamott
(MD JOHNSON)
Deer Camp Then
And Now
Dad and another member of my old deer camp in Northcentral Washington’s Okanogan stand around the campfire during the 2021 season. I was the youngest at this camp, and without having contributed my sons, I worry it will ultimately fade away now. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
A hunter’s move across state lines hasn’t been easy to adjust to come fall, despite warm welcome.
Story and captions by Andy Walgamott
The quarry and driving directions to deer camp are the same – muleys; go north, then east by southeast for a long time, and finally jog north again – and the company and landscape are pretty similar, but October is much different now for me than in years past.
Back then, and living a couple hundred miles up I-5, I’d always find myself in Washington’s Okanogan come midmonth, rifle in the gun case, over-the-counter tag in my wallet and hopes high while greeting Dad and old coworkers gathering again to hunt deer. These days it’s the western Blues of Oregon, this year finally with a rifle and e-tag in possession, and mixed emotions as I once again join my wife Amy’s uncle Alex and cousin Aaron at their family cabin.
Oh, I still love the hunt, really enjoy the duo’s company and can’t wait to get out this fall with them, but in sharp contrast to how Oregon salmon and steelhead fishing has left me with zero regrets about leaving Washington, deer season is where I still feel the greatest sense of displacement and guilt over my old and new worlds.
After a half century fully moored in the Evergreen State, I moved down to Oregon City with my family in 2022. I love it here –except for the consistently hotter weather –but it was quite something to wrench myself away from all that I’d known and learned. Life does go on, but I’d always assumed each fall I’d check in on my spots around that mountain in the Okanogan, places I’d spent quality time at and we’d named. Killed a few bucks in ’em too. I even wrote into my will that a quarter of my ashes be spread there.
PART OF MY muddle may be because my entry into hunting deer in the Beaver State
has not been as smooth or as successful as I’d anticipated. I have only myself to blame.
That first fall, due to the timing of when we moved, I was a nonresident simultaneously in the eyes of both states’ hunting license laws, so I bit the bullet and bought an out-of-state Washington tag –and started to realize how dear it would be to continue to hunt where I had for decades.
In the second year, the pull of Northcentral Washington in October was still strong enough that I seriously considered eating the cost of that license, gas for the 800-plus-mile roundtrip and all the groceries I’d need to make an extended stay maximally worthwhile. Dad was also headed up after a year off, but late on
some unexpected bills completely wiped the trip off the table. Instead, I bought a Western Oregon any legal weapon tag, then left my rifle at home and headed east of the Cascades to be a deer spotter for Alex and Aaron on the opening weekend of their controlled tag hunt. Afterwards, I spent the final weeks of the blacktail hunt poking around an area scorched by one of 2020’s Labor Day fires.
Last year, I bitterly gave up my dream of returning to hunt the Okanogan – and now with Washington’s 38 percent fee increase and a nonresident deer license running $600 out the door, I actually do need to win the lotto to go back – and put in for and drew that same Oregon controlled tag. It’s really easy to pull because of how much of the unit is private land, which discourages many hunters from applying, though there is some federal and state ground.
Unfortunately, summer 2024 saw a large swath of the unit burn during an Oregonrecord 1.9-million-acre wildfire season, including a good jag of that public land. While firefighters saved the cabin, after Alex checked things out in the weeks before season, his recommendation to me was to skip buying the controlled tag. So I got the general Western Oregon one once more, but again went over with him and Aaron to continue to get a feel for the unit and just to be at deer camp in this glorious time of year, something I really needed.
As if to mock my decision, on the eve of the opener as another guy and I rode around that charred countryside with Aaron, we saw lots of deer, including multiple large herds and several bucks. Salty regrets were expressed by yours truly. But the muleys also knew what was up and they somehow all but disappeared
First light glows up the Northcentral Oregon cabin where I’ve gone the past couple Octobers after moving to the Beaver State. The rustic but solid structure was built by my wife’s uncle Alex and has long been used for hunting and family gatherings. It’s very different from what I’ve known as deer camp ... and also incredible. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
on October’s first weekend. Neither Aaron nor Alex filled a tag, and I headed back into that Westside burn. With a better idea of the lay of the land, I found lots of deer tracks, trails, rubs and poop, vultures on a freshly boned-out carcass, and somebody’s Tyvek-wrapped treestand in the back corner of a clearcut … but nary a live critter. Turns out blacktails are ghosts of burned forests too. At least for me.
BUT THIS YEAR I’m done being so damn wishy-washy and so I bought the Eastern Oregon controlled tag I was again drawn for. That is fairer than again reneging on a permit somebody else could have had. I’ve got my time off lined up, my hunting gear is all together, and by the October 4 opener, I reckon I’ll be fed up with and need a break from fishing for Willamette River coho.
Speaking of said silvers, they featured on last year’s cabin menu. Yes, there’s a menu. That’s one big difference between these Washington and Oregon deer camps I’ve been part of. With Dad in the Okanogan, gourmet dining was the time we melted bleu cheese on our burgers as they burbled in his all-purpose pot and then tried not to get any of the oozing ketchup and mayo on our hunting clothes as we ate by lamplight in camp chairs by the fire. It was great!
In Oregon last October, I paired four individually prepared coho belly and tail filets and my home-grown boiled fingerling potatoes with a selection of fine red wines recommended by our in-house sommelier, a non-hunting friend of Aaron’s who has tagged along for a number of years to marinate thoroughly in that guys-weekend atmosphere, and served them on an actual dining table under actual electric lights. We might not have said grace before the meal, but we did turn off the satellite TV that’s permanently tuned to college football –we’re not total heathens.
The next night’s dinner was pork tenderloin, seasoned oven-baked potato wedges and Caeser salad with a wine from northwest Italy’s Piedmont region.
Ahem, I don’t want to give the wrong impression here. Despite my motherin-law’s suspicions, there is absolutely nothing glamping about this setup or crew. A glance around the walls inside and out will show that hardcore deer and elk
hunters have used it over many decades to bag many bucks and bulls. These guys are as deadly if not deadlier behind a rifle as the best of the boys back in the Okanogan. But if you’re invited to the cabin for hunting season, you can also expect to be called on to provide a dinner, and canned Vienna sausages ain’t gonna cut it. (FYI, that was not my favorite deer camp dinner of all time, Dad.) I got a pass on cooking my first year because I could only stay two nights
and there were enough chefs to cover all the dinners, but I was up to bat last year, so I pushed down my anxiety, prayed I didn’t burn my fish and gave it a go. Dinner turned out pretty damn good.
YET SOME OF my sense of deer camp disorientation is the cabin itself. Beamed and sided with pines cut down and milled right there on the property and built by Alex, it’s a rustic but also permanent
Decades of hunting in the Okanogan told me where mule deer like to be when, upping my odds of tagging out – as well as having great close encounters like this one. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
structure. (Well, as long as a third fire in 30 years doesn’t blow through anytime soon.) It has a kitchen with sink, stove and refrigerator, full set of dishes and silverware, wood stove, a couch, chairs and recliner to watch TV from, beds upstairs and down, and an awesome covered front porch. Power comes from solar panels and a generator. There’s also a bunkhouse for when the
Unsuccessfully hunting a burn scar in Western Oregon has reminded me of how little I know about finding blacktails. But I want to really learn this area as a backup for when I don’t get drawn for a controlled tag. It should be productive for many more years. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
grandchildren and others come out, an airy shed for butchering and hanging game, parking the four-wheeler and storing stuff, and a Porta-Potty off to the side. It’s a fantastic testament to the lengths a hunter will go to make sure he and his guests are comfortable out in the boonies.
In marked contrast, Okanogan deer camp arrives in the beds of pickups. The only
things nailed down are the aging game pole tacked and lashed to a pair of ponderosas, ring of stones for the campfire, and generally flattish spots for tents and/or mud puddles should it rain hard enough, as it did on the Day of the Deluge, October 20, 2003 (on which I screwed up a chance at a nice buck due to the lake in my scope; I would have had to compensate for the refraction angle of water if I’d taken a shot). While the imprint of deer camp is there throughout the year, hunters are a vestigial presence, like winter’s snows, spring’s arrowleaf balsamroot blooms, summer’s thunderstorms and the honking of southbound geese high overhead in fall. I love that sense of permanent impermanence.
Now, it’s not like that was the only deer camp I’ve ever known. Early on, hunting near Lyda Camp by Loup Loup Pass, my grandparents brought their RV and Dad and I ate pancakes they made for breakfast in it before we headed out. When I got my first deer and my first whitetail, Dad and I had been staying at motels.
But it is where I began to put it all together – where to be on the mountain when – and find success on my own, and I’d expected to hunt there the rest of my days, sharpening and tweaking my tactics as the woods and I aged. It was all I wanted.
Acting as a deer spotter the past two falls in Oregon has begun to teach me where local muleys hang out. A huge fire last year didn’t displace them nearly as much as feared. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
I’M STARTING OVER from scratch here in Oregon, and at a relatively late age to be doing so, though Alex and Aaron have been wonderful and shared much of what they’ve observed over their decades hunting out of the cabin. I cannot thank them enough for taking me under their wings.
Just as up in Washington with The Aspen, The Corner, The Saddle and The Slope That Has No @$%@$ Reason To Be
So $%@$# Steep, they’ve got placenames for their spots around the cabin. One is The Island, which is not an island whatsoever but a patch of private land they don’t have access to hunt and which the deer like to retreat to (go figure).
I can’t say I can keep straight the names of the neighbors who’ve given them permission to hunt their land, but on my first trip to the cabin, I did bestow a moniker of my own on a spot: The Bank. It’s where the wine steward and I hunkered for protection as a guy on the ridge above unloaded his magazine on a buck running
in our general direction, or at least what looked like it through my binoculars.
That’s all a start to settling into a new hunting area – sharing experiences, learning the collective map, and coming up with your own names for places as you spend more time there. We’ll see if The Bank gets any traction with the cabin cartographers in the years ahead; it might if I put a buck down there this month!
I’VE BLATHERED LONG enough here, but I’ll admit my biggest regret is not having taken our sons to Okanogan deer camp to hunt with me, Dad and the fellas. Part of me feels that because of that I somehow relegated the space I knew and loved one step closer to becoming a “ghost camp.” That’s somewhat unlikely in the Okanogan, which is just too good of an area to hunt for local and migratory muleys, but still, as Dave Workman has chronicled in these pages and elsewhere, it is occurring elsewhere on the eastern slopes of Washington’s Cascades as hunter numbers fall and herds shrink.
But maybe I can make amends here in Oregon, starting with our youngest, and maybe that will help change this sense of still being in-between to something on more solid ground. While the older boy is off to college this fall and hasn’t been interested in hunting and fishing of late, the younger kid has been itching to go hunting this year, and so he’s been studying hunter ed lessons. Maybe by bringing Kiran to the cabin it will help me finally start to feel more at home hunting in Oregon and more at peace with myself and this change of deer camps.
Maybe I can build something with him – and River when and if he wants – just like Dad built with me in the Okanogan, where I learned to hunt muleys from him and gradually developed my own tactics, though perhaps to the detriment of the broader goal. In my last years there I was a little too serious, too mission-oriented to think I had the time and space for two kids tagging along. I, Daddy Walgamott, was wrong and am sorry for that. But now I have a chance to atone for that mistake, continue to learn a new land, a new hunt and begin a new fall tradition.
Hey, Alex and Aaron, mind if I bring a deer spotter of my own this year? NS
My wife’s cousin Aaron and another hunter pull a mule deer buck out of the woods during 2023’s Eastern Oregon controlled season. While I can’t shake this feeling I’ve sold out and traded up, my future as a deer hunter really is here, though nostalgia for the Okanogan in October will always be very strong this time of year. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
Nooooooo pressure! Dennis Schwartz prepares to net a Lower Columbia fall Chinook for his boss, Walt Rabe, CEO of Schnabel Engineering. While it was a tougher start to season on the big river, fishing improved by midSeptember. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire couldn’t dim Clayton Binder’s smile after catching his first salmon ever! He hooked it at high tide off a Burien beach while tossing a 2-ounce pink Buzz Bomb. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
fellow fishermen first this summer! That’s his neighbor kiddo Brady with his first salmon, from the Columbia near Longview, and nephew Eric with
while they were out with a certain cowboy-hatted guy who would later go on to pierce his ear for the first time (albeit with a treble). (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Jeff Flatt was all about putting
his first, a Buoy 10 bright,
Don’t. Change. Anything! That was our advice after Mike Campion sent us this pic of this gorgeous Bellingham Bay Chinook and the message, “The entire universe is in perfect order right now!!!” (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Trolling 200 feet down in 320 feet of water added up to one pretty nice king for frequent photo contributor Darrel Smith. He was fishing off of Westport. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
If it’s a little smokier than usual in Marvin Holder’s neighborhood, it’s because his Big Chief is working overtime after he caught “easy limits” of coho and sockeye in Alaska. Holder was fishing out of Lake Creek Lodge and also landed chum salmon, along with 20-plus-inch rainbow trout. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Sawyer Solomon brought a bluefin aboard buddy Gary Lundquist’s boat in late August, making for something of a full-circle story. Even as stocks of the tuna are rebuilding in the North Pacific and anglers are catching more of them nowadays, Lundquist was one of the first people who happened across the bluefin that died on an Orcas Island beach in July 2023 (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Dragon! Gil Luis caught and released this 43-inch lingcod while fishing out of Sekiu this summer. “It was not a keeper, but it sure was fun because it hitchhiked on a bass he was bringing up!” emailed wife Katie. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Captain Kelvin Kato of the All Out admires a bonafide 30-pound upriver bright caught out of Westport with angler Lyle Jennings. The Chinook bit a Tomic plug.
(FRANCIS ESTALILLA)
Backcountry Hunter Faces Idaho Charges
Abackcountry big game hunting influencer faces serious charges in Idaho, where he was accused last month of grand theft by deception as well as illegally killing both a trophy mule deer buck and a mountain lion.
Lehmi County prosecutors say Ryan C. Lampers collected $2,000 last year for claiming to shoot a wolf in one Idaho big game management unit but which was allegedly killed in an adjacent unit where reimbursements were less than half that amount at the time.
They also say Lampers, who lives in Montana but spent most of his life in Washington, shot a 175-plus-class buck out of season and without a tag for the unit on December 1, 2024, and then five days later shot a cougar nearby without a valid tag for the area and then falsely reported to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game he’d killed the cat in a different, open area.
The two felony and six misdemeanor charges filed against Lampers were first reported by MeatEater and Gear Junkie after word began to seep out on hunting forums over Labor Day Weekend. Lampers, 51, goes by StHealthy Hunter on social
media but reportedly deleted some feeds associated with that handle.
Reaction in the hunting world varied from shock, disappointment and reminders that those charged are innocent until proven guilty, to ever deepening disgust with influencers. As we detailed in this space last issue, in July, a Georgia personality pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal take of whitetail deer that were featured on his hunting show and was sentenced to never hunt or fish in Kansas again.
IDFG, whose Senior Conservation Officer Jordan Costner filed the affidavit of probable cause in the Lampers case and which the Lehmi County charges are based on, said it would not issue a press release nor comment on the case until it went through the court system.
IN IDAHO AND Montana, hunters and trappers can be paid for harvesting wolves in livestock depredation zones, areas where elk herds are below objective, or other portions of the states. They must first join the Foundation for Wildlife Management, which runs a reimbursement program that notes false reporting is a felony.
By Andy Walgamott
Charging papers say Lampers received a check for $2,000 from F4WM at his Three Forks, Montana, home last December“under false pretenses by submitting false and/or misleading documents for reimbursement to the F4WM for killing a wolf in Big Game Management Unit (BGMU) 28, an Increased Reimbursement Unit which can lead to a maximum payout of up to Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) ... when in actuality, the Defendant killed the wolf ... in BGMU 21, a Standard Reimbursement Unit, which according to F4WM payout policy, only leads to a maximum payout of up to SEVEN Hundred and FIFTY Dollars ($750.00) …”
Per charging papers, felony grand theft by deception is punishable by one to 14 years in prison and/or a $5,000 penalty.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Lampers did have an Idaho deer tag last season, but it was specifically for BGMU 28, which is on the south side of the Salmon River west of the small town of North Fork, Idaho. Court papers allege he shot the trophy buck in the Cove Creek drainage in BGMU 21, which is on the north side of the Salmon River.
“The deer season was closed in BGMU
JACKASS OF THE MONTH
Aman who once claimed game wardens were out to get him and said at the successful conclusion of a case against him that he’d never hunt again … is in a pickle yet again.
Eddy Dills, formerly of Longview and now a resident of North Idaho, was charged last month with conspiracies to unlawfully kill wildlife, sell unlawfully taken wildlife and conceal evidence.
The felony charges came out of a Kootenai County grand jury indictment that also charged Dills’ wife, Angela, and son, Daniel, with the same alleged crimes.
Early last month the Coeur d’Alene Press reported that Eddy and Daniel used dogs to hunt two cougars as well as bobcats while
their hunting licenses were suspended. The paper reported that several times they were accompanied by Angela, who completed hunter reports for them.
The alleged illegal hunts occurred between May 2024 and February 2025 in the three counties surrounding and to the south of the town of Coeur d’Alene. One of the lions was dumped over an embankment to conceal the crime, according to the Press
Angela reportedly sold $1,725 worth of wild cat parts to a local fur dealer. In Idaho, it is legal to sell hides (though not the meat) from game animals that are taken legally.
Just before these illegal hunts occurred, Daniel pled guilty to unlawfully selling a cougar he killed while his hunting license was suspended three years, according to
reports. He received three years probation.
If the name Dills rings a bell, it’s probably because Eddy Dills and his son Joseph “Joe” Dills were part of a Southwest Washington poaching ring bust in the 2010s. In 2019, after entering an Alford plea to a count of illegally hunting a cougar with a dog and being sentenced to 60 days in jail, Eddy stated he was “done. I goofed up, I agree. And I take my responsibility to never hunt again,” per The Columbian, which also reported that he lambasted Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers for being allegedly out to get him.
“That’s simple (sic) not the case,” responded one warden. “If he would simply just obey the law, and stop hunting illegally, then we would stop contacting him.”
Looks like that lesson has yet to sink in.
21 at that time,” the affidavit states.
The punishment for felony unlawful possession of a trophy mule deer buck includes a $2,000 civil penalty and a one year to lifetime hunting ban. Under Idaho law, a trophy muley is one whose rack measures 150 or more Boone and Crockett points.
The lion was allegedly shot December 6 on the ridge between Cove Creek and Owl Creek, the next drainage to the west, also in BGMU 21. While Lampers had what’s known as a reduced mountain lion tag, the spot this animal is alleged to have been killed “is not an area where the reduced mountain lion tag is valid for use.”
When, as required by IDFG, Lampers brought the cat’s hide and skull in for inspection, he “provided false information for the (Big Game Mortality Report) that he had shot the mountain lion in BGMU 28, on Gant Mountain,” according to court documents.
The half of Gant Mountain that is in the Frank ChurchRiver of No Return Wilderness was open under the terms of a reduced nonresident mountain lion tag for BGMU 28, but the Cove Creek-Owl Creek area in BGMU 21 is outside of any designated wilderness and thus not open under the tag, IDFG regulations show.
Lampers was reported to have a court hearing right after press deadline for this issue.
KUDOS
Melissa LeRitz was already the only district attorney to be awarded the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division’s Prosecutor of the Year twice, and this summer she added a third. What made her 2024 award unique is that as a former Jackson County deputy district attorney, she participated in a Wildlife Enforcement Decoy operation with OSP F&W’s Rogue Valley Fish and Wildlife Team, “physically assisting the team in setting up a deer decoy … helping the team spot for oncoming vehicles and suspects and staying through the whole operation to assist in safely taking down the setup,” troopers stated. They added that LeRitz is “constantly available to law enforcement, frequently stepping out of trials or responding by text message to answer questions. She frequently answers the phone late at night, early in the morning, or any time a trooper calls with questions.” LeRitz was the Prosecutor of the Year for 2019 and 2022.
(OSP)
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1 Siltcoos, Tahkenitch and Tenmile Lakes coho opener; OR razor clam opener on Clatsop County beaches north of Tillamook Head
2-5 Tacoma Fall RV Show, Tacoma Dome – info: thesportshows.com
3-5 Series of ODFW Southern Oregon Waterfowl Hunting Workshops ($15, register), Klamath Falls, Medford, Roseburg – info: myodfw.com/workshops-and-events
4 Western OR deer and most Eastern OR controlled deer openers; WA muzzleloader elk opener; Eastern WA quail and partridge openers; ODFW Ocean Surfperch Level 2 Workshop ($25, register), Gearhart – info above
6-12 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info: wdfw.wa.gov
10 ID deer and elk rifle openers in many units
11 OR pheasant and partridge openers; Eastern OR quail opener; OR Zones 1 and 2 early duck season opener; OR Zone 2 scaup and snipe opener; WA general rifle deer season opener
11-19 WA early duck season dates
15 Last day of OR recreational ocean crab season (bays open year-round)
16 ODFW Intro To Hunting In Oregon Workshop ($10, register), Tualatin Cabela’s – info above
17-18 ODFW Steelhead 101 and Broodstock Collection Workshop ($70 for adults, $50 for 17 and younger, register), Troy – info above
18 Last day of bottomfish retention off WA Coast; Eastern WA pheasant opener
20-26 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above
22 WA duck season reopener
24-25 King of the Reach Derby, Mid-Columbia’s Hanford Reach; ccawashington .org/kingofthereach
25 Eastern WA rifle elk opener
31 Last day to fish many WA lowland lakes listed in regulations
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
3-9 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above
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
8-9 Extended Western OR youth deer season dates
8-19 Northeast WA late rifle whitetail season dates
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
22-28 Western OR Coast bull elk second season dates
28 WA “Black Friday” trout stocking, select lake openers
28-29 OR Free Fishing Weekend
2-8 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above
18-23 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above OCTOBER
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MacFarlane Pheasants
PHOTOS BY MACFARLANE PHEASANTS
With nearly 100 years in the business, MacFarlane Pheasants has become the largest pheasant farm in the United States, delivering both day-old chicks and mature game birds all across the country. But let’s start at the beginning … Not a native species, ringneck pheasants were first brought to the US from China in the late 1800s. It was soon discovered that the game bird thrived here, and by the 1920s, the population was able to sustain hunting. Shortly thereafter, an enterprising Kenneth MacFarlane opened his own pheasant farm in Wisconsin, after having attended game rearing school in New York and then importing eggs from a farm in England.
Later joined by brother Donald, the family-run farm raised 2,500 to 3,000 mature pheasants for sale to hunt clubs. Donald took over the farm in 1941 after the death of his brother and continued to grow the farm. By the 1960s, Donald had expanded the breeding aspect of MacFarlane Pheasant Farm and began largescale production of day-old pheasant chicks. Over 200,000 day-old pheasant chicks were produced annually, alongside the mature pheasants that continued to be produced for sale to hunting preserves.
In 1985, after the death of his father, the torch was passed to Bill MacFarlane.
“(Bill) has grown the farm to be the largest pheasant farm in the United States,” said
Sarah Baker, head of sales at MacFarlane Pheasants. “We produced 2.2 million day-old chicks in 2025, and we raise 360,000 mature pheasants and 105,000 partridges for the hunting season each year.”
“Our pheasant breeds are Chinese ringneck and Kansas ringneck. Our Kansas breed has become very popular out west with its smaller body mass, explosive flying and long tail,” added Baker. “We sell two kinds of partridges to the Northwest states: pure Spanish redlegs and Hungarians. Each year we import the freshest bloodlines and bring in eggs to incubate from Spain and France. Both of these partridge options are popular in their respective countries during a hunt. As more hunters are curious about hunts overseas or are fortunate to have hunted in Spain, France or the (United Kingdom), we receive more requests for them. They are a great addition to any hunt to challenge your hunters and offer a specialty bird.”
Because Bill MacFarlane believes that sharing information and knowledge within the game bird industry is important, MacFarlane Pheasants began hosting seminars on pheasant rearing and management in the 1990s. What began as a small gathering focused on ideasharing and collaboration has since grown into one of the most respected educational events in the game bird industry. The next seminar is scheduled for March 2026.
“We are expecting 150 to 200 attendees and will offer seminar topics ranging from
incubation, to biosecurity, to fractional human resource options,” said Baker. “We try to cover all aspects of running a game bird farm and include more than just raising techniques. Currently, we have attendees from the United States, France, UK, Denmark and Canada signed up to come.”
If you’re interested in pheasants or partridges for your preserve, ranch or outfitting service, look no further than MacFarlane Pheasants.
“We have been delivering pheasants across the United States for almost 40 years,” said Baker. “We know how to deliver game birds and can go the distance to ensure your birds are healthy and ready for your hunt upon arrival.”
For more information, visit pheasant.com.
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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.
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Here Come The Bucks!
ON TARGET
By Dave Workman
The general statewide buck opener in Washington is Saturday, October 11, and here’s what you should be doing leading up to that weekend, and the days beyond.
If you’re like me, you have been spending your grouse season not only shooting fool hens, but also doing some preseason scouting. One of my traditional favorite spots was hit by forest fire in late August, so I scratched that off my list of places to hunt, and broke out some maps.
I also logged onto the state Department of Fish & Wildlife’s website (wdfw.wa.gov) and clicked my way to last year’s harvest reports and did a little figuring.
IN THE NORTHEAST
corner of Washington (Game Management Units 101 through 121), the total deer harvest was highest in 121, but the deer-per-hunter ratio was best in GMU 105, where 670 hunters reported harvesting 200 deer, racking up an impressive 29.9 percent success rate.
Down in the Southeast, GMU 145 last year saw 535 hunters bring in 186 deer for a 35 percent success rate, followed by GMU 178 where 487 hunters tagged 166 deer for a 34 percent success rate.
Up in Okanogan County, GMU 204 produced 440 bucks for a success rate of 18 percent, but remember, just about every unit in the county delivered bucks, and the overall success rate for the season was 15 percent.
In neighboring Chelan County, where there were also some fires burning as this was written, last year saw decent deer hunting with 665 bucks tagged. GMU 251 delivered 139 of them and GMU 243 was
right behind with 137 bucks. However, a lot depends on the weather in the high country to the west – without snow, those deer aren’t likely to be moving east. Pay attention to the weather forecast!
One might say “ditto” for hunting in Yakima and Kittitas Counties, where the Teanaway (335), Naneum (328), Manastash (340) and Umtanum (342) are typically the most productive GMUs. Over the years I’ve taken bucks in two of those units and I may hunt Teanaway Ridge again this month just for “old time’s sake.”
CROSSING INTO WESTERN
Washington, you have two problems: people and development. Three problems if you count dense forest cover, so my recommendation is to always hunt the east end of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and King Counties, and likewise heading south, there is more opportunity in eastern Pierce and Lewis Counties, and don’t overlook the units in northern Skamania and western Klickitat Counties.
According to WDFW, in Southwest Washington, “Several GMUs … consistently rank among the top statewide for black-tailed deer harvest. In the 2024 general season, the highest buck harvests occurred in GMUs 550 (Coweeman), 520 (Winston), 530 (Ryderwood), 505 (Mossyrock), and 501 (Lincoln).” Last year, GMU 550 produced 708 bucks and GMU 530 delivered 520 more blacktail bucks. In third place was GMU 520, which produced 424 bucks.
And what about the greater Olympic Peninsula? In Mason, Kitsap and east Jefferson Counties, the agency forecast says, “Field observations and recent harvest trends suggest good deer hunting potential exists in GMUs 621, 627, and 633. GMU 651 remains a popular hunting unit,
With his regs pamphlet in the truck, a pair of binoculars and his rifle, author Dave Workman is all set for October deer season. But where to go hunting? Here he shares some advice on good spots in Washington. (DAVE WORKMAN)
COLUMN
but portions owned by Green Diamond Resource Co. require an access permit. Hunters may find good deer hunting in lower-elevation habitats in GMU 636, but deer density in this unit appears to decline at higher elevations, which is dominated by older, dense forest. Hunters need a Green Diamond Resource Co. access permit to hunt some areas in GMU 636 around Matlock; elsewhere no access permit is required, and much of the unit is USFS land.”
GMUs 621 and 624 saw 460 and 321 bucks taken, respectively, in 2024.
BY NOW YOU should have done the following:
• Zeroed your rifle with the same ammunition you’ll be using this season. In Eastern Washington, I have always expected shots on deer to be out there from 150 to maybe 350 yards. In Western Washington, my shots on deer have rarely exceeded 125 yards, even
Workman uses his grouse treks to scout deer. He’s been keeping an eye peeled for tracks like this one. An hour before he got to this spot, this track hadn’t been made yet. While on the hunt for a buck, keep your wits, look for fresh tracks and watch for movement and parts of deer, since one rarely sees a whole animal at first glance. (DAVE
WORKMAN)
QUICK BINOCULAR REPAIR
So I’m on a scouting trip and my binoculars fall off the truck seat and out onto the gravel road, right on the plastic extension where my binocular strap hooks onto the binocular tube. Oops!
Since this particular binocular was a gift from several years ago and it has served me and a few others very well on hunts in Washington, Montana and Wyoming, I was really in no mood to just set them aside to gather dust.
Major disaster, right? Well, not so much provided you have a little bit of sandpaper (I always carry a half-strip of medium-grain sandpaper somewhere in my hunting gear), a tube of Super Glue or similar contact cement, maybe some Gorilla tape, a bit of patience and you’ve had the good sense to not trash the little plastic keepers which are found on the binocular strap to prevent them from flapping around.
These little keepers are invaluable for quick repairs, and Super Glue will instantly bond one of these things to the spot where the original attachment broke off.
First, if you cannot find the broken piece – I couldn’t – then unthread your binocular strap carefully, remove the plastic keeper and check to see how much of a curved surface you will need to fit it to. Judging the curved surface, be prepared to do some light sanding to one side of the keeper so that it increases surface contact with your binocular body.
Next, clean both surfaces (use an alcohol pad from your first aid kit for this chore) and allow the alcohol to evaporate.
The next step is a no-brainer, but one has to be a little careful so as to not apply too much of the Super Glue. A small drop should accomplish the task quite well.
When you are certain both surfaces have completely dried, add the drop of glue and, within a few seconds, press the keeper to the spot where whatever remains of the original attachment loop were. Within 15 seconds, the glue will take a set and it should hold firmly.
The newly repaired strap connection can be reinforced after 24 hours by adding another drop of Super Glue to bolster the joint, and you can also cut a strip of tape about a quarter-inch wide and about 1.5 inches in length. Carefully slip it through the bonded plastic keeper and press the tape to the sides of your binocular tube.
Next, cut two more strips, also about a quarter-inch wide, but about 6 to 7 inches in length. Carefully wrap the
But we’re not done, just yet. At least, I wasn’t. This is where the Gorilla Tape comes in handy.
1) He got resourceful and used one of the plastic binocular strap keepers for a repair. (DAVE WORKMAN)
3) He then used his Dremel grinder – you can do this with sandpaper and a few minutes of sanding – to “dish” out the surface of the plastic keeper so it matched the slightly curved surface of the binocular. (DAVE WORKMAN)
5) Here’s the repaired piece with the binocular strap reinserted. (DAVE WORKMAN)
When Dave Workman dropped his valuable Weaver 8.5 x 45mm binoculars, the plastic slot through which his carrying strap is connected broke, necessitating a repair job. (DAVE WORKMAN)
COLUMN
6) To reinforce the newly bonded piece, Workman passed narrow strips of Gorilla Tape through the strap slot to the binocular surface, and then wrapped two strips of tape completely around the binocular body. (DAVE WORKMAN)
strips around the binocular, one above and one below where the keeper now rests, bonded solidly to the binocular body. Wrap them tight and press them hard over the through-strip, essentially creating a binding band.
While this may not solve your problem forever, it should last for a couple of hunting seasons, and maybe longer, unless you’re clumsy like me and prone to dropping your binoculars on the ground. –DW
when hunting a big clearcut.
• Assembled maps of your hunting area, checked on the latest forest fire damage information (if any), and rounded up your gear. This includes water, propane for your stove and lanterns, lighters or strike-anywhere matches, a copy of the regulations to be kept in your vehicle, and fresh batteries in your AM/FM radio (if you have one), flashlights and in your two-way radios if you and your partners use them.
• Assembled your grocery list. There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep with a full stomach! Don’t forget scent-free soap!
• Cleaned out your hunting pack, trashed old stuff left over from last year (i.e., emergency candy bars, granola, old cookies, etc.), made sure your first aid kit is up to snuff, added toilet paper, new rubber gloves for use in cleaning game, packed a gallon Ziploc bag (heart and/or liver, maybe?), cleaned your knife sharpener (you do have one, right?!?) and washed your hunting
clothes and hung them outside to get that fresh air smell.
IT ALSO PAYS to memorize season dates. You will find all modern firearm deer season dates on page 23 of WDFW’s 2025 pamphlet. Buck hunting in Eastern Washington runs October 11-21 except in GMUs 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121 and 124, which remain open through October 24.
In Western Washington, it’s October 1131 for blacktail deer.
Don’t get discouraged and remember, there’s a late rifle season in many units in November.
I figure to be hunting again this month with my Marlin bolt-action in .30-06. It is zeroed to shoot about 2½ inches high at 100 yards, and with my handloads (180-grain Nosler AccuBond ahead of Hybrid 100V propellant) that will put the bullet dead on at about 200 to 225 yards. Windage is good.
And I always carry a .22 pistol in case I bump into a stupid grouse. NS
TRAIL CAM SCOUTING
Just as I was writing this month’s column, I learned a trio of Muddy Cellular Trail Cameras has been announced, and I quickly asked for one to be sent along so I could see how these things work. I’ve got a couple of trail cameras, and they have worked rather well, but the cellular camera is intriguing.
The lineup includes: Manifest 3.0 Cellular Trail Camera, an “affordable, easy-to-use entry-level cell cam” that produces 20-megapixel images and 720-pixel HD video; Matrix 2.0 Cellular Trail Camera, featuring 36-megapixel images, 1080p video with audio, lightning-fast trigger speed and auto-connect to two carriers; and the Trifecta 180 Camera, which has a 180-degree field of view, 20-megapixel images and video capture.
Shown here is the Matrix 2.0, featuring Muddy’s “Automatic Network Coverage.” According to company information, “Once activated, the camera selects the strongest cellular signal, Verizon or AT&T, and automatically connects. From its high-resolution 36MP imaging and rich 1080P full HD video with audio to the long-reach 80-foot detection and flash range for broad coverage of prime hunting areas, this cam delivers big, even when compared to its predecessor. It also boasts a 0.4-second trigger speed that captures between one and six crystal-clear pictures per activation, ensuring you’re privy to all the nitty-gritty details of the moment they were taken.” For more, see gomuddy.com. –DW
keep
when
2) Workman then roughed up the binocular surface slightly and ground off part of the broken spot to smooth it down. (DAVE WORKMAN)
4) A single drop of Super Glue did the trick, bonding the replacement piece to the binocular tube, thus repairing the broken binocular. (DAVE WORKMAN)
Muddy Matrix 2.0 cellular trail camera. Workman has used a trail camera to
tabs on his empty campsite
he’s off on a stand somewhere. (DAVE WORKMAN)
How Big Is Too Big?
BECOMING A BETTER HUNTER
By Dave Anderson
The topic of rifle caliber is one that often stirs up more campfire arguments than not. I’ve been there, surrounded by fellow hunters, everyone with their own opinion, usually shaped by their unique personal experiences, family traditions or what their favorite outdoor writer swore by decades ago.
Some insist you need a .30-caliber to be deemed a “serious” hunter. Others, including myself, have come to appreciate the advances in bullet technology and design that make smaller cartridges more than enough. So how big is too big? Do we really need a .30-caliber? What actually matters when it comes to hunting caliber?
I’d like to dive into what truly matters in selecting a hunting caliber based on what I’ve learned from my experiences in the field as well as my own research over the years. Because at the end of the day, it isn’t about owning the biggest rifle – it’s about making clean, ethical shots.
HOW BIG IS TOO BIG FOR A RIFLE?
In my own hunting journey, I have come to realize there is a point where a rifle becomes “too much gun” – not necessarily for the big game I’m hunting, but for me as a shooter.
I recall shouldering a hefty .300 Weatherby on a hunt. While it could absolutely bring down an elk from 400 yards, the recoil and weight made me hesitate every time I thought about pulling the trigger. I quickly learned that flinching, hesitation and lack of confidence are all
byproducts of “overgunning” yourself. Furthermore, if you can’t handle the recoil, can’t practice with the gun regularly, or can’t make a precise shot when it matters, your rifle becomes more of a hindrance than an effective tool.
From what I have observed, most North American hunters don’t need anything larger than a .300 Magnum. In fact, I’ve found that the average deer, pronghorn or black bear does not require the firepower of a cannon. For me, too big is when the rifle punishes you more than it punishes the animal.
WHAT’S NECESSARY IN A HUNTING CALIBER?
When I select a caliber, I’ve also shifted my focus from asking, “What’s the biggest bullet I can send downrange?” to “What caliber enables me to make consistent and ethical shots?” I have learned that suitable hunting caliber must meet three criteria:
1. Adequate energy for the game: I have found that vaporizing an animal isn’t necessary; reliable penetration and expansion are what count. For deer, I aim for at least 1,000 footpounds of energy at impact, while for larger game like elk, I prefer 1,500 to 2,000 foot-pounds. Many mid-sized cartridges meet these requirements without issue.
2. Manageable recoil: There is nothing worse than dreading the moment I pull the trigger. That said, recoil tolerance varies from person to person. My experience has shown me that cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor, .270, 7mm-08 and
In a personal reflection on rifle calibers for the modern hunter, author Dave Anderson says it’s all about making consistent, ethical killing shots that don’t punish the shooter more than the game, be it deer, elk or other critter. He’s partial to a Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Guide in the new 7mm Backcountry, and his is topped with a Leupold VX-5HD scope. (DAVE ANDERSON)
.308 offer a great balance of power without punishing recoil, allowing me to practice regularly and build proficiency.
3. Practical accuracy: Ultimately, the best caliber is one you can shoot accurately. I have had the pleasure of seeing how lightweight, low-recoil rifles let me shoot tighter groups and stay on target longer, especially when it comes to follow-up shots. Being able to see impact through your scope after the shot is a great way to verify accuracy of shots. I have watched vapor trails land on their mark out to 565 yards, verifying impact on elk. I was able to take this shot because I diligently spent time at the range practicing these shots.
A “necessary” caliber isn’t about being the biggest; it’s about being the one that
allows me to put a bullet where it needs to go under every type of field condition.
DO YOU REALLY NEED A .30-CALIBER RIFLE?
For many years, I viewed .30-caliber rifles like the .30-06 and .308 Winchester as the gold standard caliber choice for hunters. There is no denying their effectiveness; I have seen a .30-06 take down everything from antelope to elk. But do I really need one?
When a .30-caliber makes sense:
• If you frequently hunt elk, moose or larger animals;
• If you often hunt in areas where you have to navigate thick brush and need heavier bullets to penetrate through bone and muscle;
• If you are confident in handling the recoil and can consistently make your shots.
When a .30-caliber is overkill:
• If your primary focus is deer hunting;
• If the recoil causes you to flinch or lose confidence;
• If you don’t shoot enough to maintain proficiency with a heavier rifle and more recoil.
Advancements in bullet technology have made smaller calibers incredibly effective. I have seen firsthand that a 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 and 7mm PRC can take down an elk just as effectively as a .300 Win. Mag., all without leaving my shoulder black and blue.
WELL-PLACED SHOTS BEAT BIG CALIBERS EVERY TIME
There is a saying that has always resonated with me and should resonate with any hunter: “A .243 in the lungs is better than a .338 in the guts.”
Maury Kincannon, Anderson’s father-in-law, harvested this cow elk with a rifle chambered in 7mm PRC. (DAVE ANDERSON)
COLUMN
“The persistent truth in all of this is that a well-placed shot with a smaller caliber will always triumph over a poorly placed one with a larger magnum,” writes Anderson, here with his 2024 Idaho bull, taken with one shot at 50 yards from a Bergara MgLite in 7mm PRC. (DAVE ANDERSON)
It’s true – poor shot placement with a powerful rifle leads to wounded animals, while a well-placed shot with a smaller caliber ensures a quick, humane kill. Bullet diameter doesn’t make up for poor marksmanship.
Think of it like golf: you can buy the biggest driver in the world, but if your swing is garbage, the ball isn’t landing on the fairway. Hunting is the same way – technique and consistency matter more than horsepower.
To illustrate this point, I’ve witnessed the .243 Remington, often dismissed as “too small,” cleanly take down countless deer with precision and good bullets. And
consider that the .243 Winchester has earned its reputation as one of the softestshooting cartridges out there and is considered a legendary deer rifle because it allows hunters like me to place shots accurately. In contrast, I have seen many hunters flinch and miss with magnum rifles that they thought were necessary.
Ethical hunting, as I have come to understand it over the years, isn’t about the size of the rifle; it’s about how effectively I can use it.
TRADITION VERSUS MODERN THINKING
The “bigger is better” mindset often stems from tradition. My grandfather
and I’m sure a countless number of other grandfathers hunted with a .30-06 because that was the norm, and it worked. But technology has evolved over the years and changed the game.
With today’s bonded and monolithic bullets, I have come to realize that a .270 or 6.5mm loaded with one of these modern bullets can easily outperform the older .30-caliber loads from decades past. The focus should be on bullet selection and shot placement rather than just caliber.
PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
So what rifle caliber should you carry? Here are my personal guidelines based on the different game animals I pursue:
• Bear (black or brown): .308 and up for black bear; .30-06, .300 Win. Mag. or larger for big coastal browns.
The key takeaway for me is to choose the rifle that I shoot best and pair it with the most effective bullet for the task at hand.
CONCLUSION
So how big is too big? It’s too big when it causes more harm than good to the shooter.
What’s necessary in a hunting caliber? Enough energy, manageable recoil and the confidence to shoot accurately.
Do you really need a .30-caliber? Not unless your target game animal or terrain calls for it.
The persistent truth in all of this is that a well-placed shot with a smaller caliber will always triumph over a poorly placed one with a larger magnum.
At its core, hunting is not about the size of the rifle but about the respect shown to the animal, the discipline to know your limits and the responsibility to take only the shots you know you can make. While big bores have their place, it’s the hunter behind the rifle who ultimately matters the most. NS
With his sons part of marching band at school, author Randy King has had to be creative to also get them out hunting in fall. Fortunately, Idaho as well as the other two Northwest states offer good opportunities for youth hunters. King’s youngest, Jordan, bagged this doe on a perfect outing with his two older brothers, dad and grandpa last November.
Get The Youth Out
CHEF IN THE WILD
By Randy King
All of my sons did marching band in high school. This – one would think – was a great thing. Three boys, band nerds, good grades, all those things. And in that regard, you’re correct.
But it came with a really big caveat: It landed smack in the middle of rifle
season in Idaho. Friday nights were for football games, and Saturdays were spent at band competitions throughout all of October. So, I would cringe at missing a performance, and I tried to never miss one if I could.
I also truly value getting my boys out into the scrub looking for a deer. A sunrise, a sunset, a cold breeze in the air. A UTV ride and a connection that doesn’t come from playing Call of Duty or Minecraft but comes from being side by side for an hour,
planning how to stalk a bedded doe in the next draw over. A connection that comes from the mutual misery of a long pack-out.
But by Sundays, the kids were wrecked, so they spent the day indoors and sleeping. We would get out, but never as much as I would like. In any given year, I could have had four deer tags, four elk tags and – if I got lucky – an antelope or two. There was lots of potential for meat, but in reality, there was not a lot of opportunity to actually get out with the kids.
(RANDY KING)
MISSISSIPPI YEARNING
While this magazine is focused on the Northwest, for this month’s recipe we’re going to take a little trip down south so as to broaden our culinary horizons. Meet Mississippi venison pot roast, so named after a gal in the Magnolia State came up with the recipe, which subsequently became popularized in a church group recipe book, then got loose in the wilds of the internet and went viral, and, well, here we are today.
3- to 4-pound venison roast
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1½ cups beef stock (low sodium if possible; homemade venison stock is even better)
6 to 8 whole pepperoncini peppers, plus 2 to 3 tablespoons of the brine
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Sear the roast: Heat butter in a heavy skillet or Dutch oven. Sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned. This is where flavor begins. Transfer to slow cooker (or set aside if using a Dutch oven).
Cook the aromatics: In the same pan, sauté onion until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds – just enough to wake it up.
Deglaze the pan: Pour in beef stock and Worcestershire. Scrape up all those browned bits. Stir in the mustard. This liquid is your flavor base.
Season it up: Mix in dill, parsley, chives, paprika, salt and pepper. This is your herb layer – don’t skip it!
Assemble the roast: Place roast in slow cooker (or Dutch oven). Pour liquid and onions over it. Add pepperoncini and their brine. Place butter on top like a crown.
Slow cook until tender: With a slow cooker, heat for eight hours on low (or four to five hours on high). In a Dutch oven, cover and cook at 375 degrees for three to four hours, until fork tender.
Shred and serve: Once tender, shred meat into the juices and mix well. Serve over mashed potatoes, rice or with crusty bread. Or just eat it straight from the pot – no judgment. It is what I did. –RK
Mississippi venison pot roast, in the midst of being pulled apart after cooking, with pepperoncini peppers. (RANDY KING)
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TO SOLVE THIS hunting problem, I started looking at different youth options for the boys. What tags could we grab that were either sex or for does? What units could we hunt does in the whole time? What “extra” tags (think depredation) could we put in for that would allow us later-in-theyear hunting options just for the kiddos? In other words, how could they have the cake of marching band and still shoot something in the field to eat too?
In Idaho, youth hunters (ages 10 to 17) benefit from generous over-thecounter options and reduced license fees. The state offers youth-only seasons for deer and elk, often in early October, and allows youth to hunt either sex in certain units. These tags are designed to be flexible – doe hunts, antlerless elk and even late-season depredation tags that can stretch into November and December. Idaho’s approach is practical: Give young hunters a better chance at success and make it easier for families to
plan around school, sports and, yes, even marching band.
Washington takes a similar tack but adds a layer of mentorship. Youth are defined as under 16, with no formal lower age limit. Youth special permit seasons are carved out for deer and elk, in a few cases a week before the general season opener. Tags for whitetails are available over the counter for a number of Palouse and Spokane-area units. The state encourages adult supervision and offers mentored hunts through partnerships with conservation groups. (Idaho does too, but it doesn’t seem to promote it as much – look to Backcountry Hunters and Anglers in the Gem State.)
Oregon leans into opportunity with a mix of over-the-counter and controlled hunts. Youth hunters (ages 12 to 17) can apply for special youth-only hunts, often with higher draw odds and longer seasons. The state also offers “mentored youth hunter programs,” allowing kids
to hunt under an adult’s license in some cases. And the general Western Oregon blacktail season runs two extra days in November just for youths with an unnotched tag.
YOUTH TAGS AREN’T just about filling the freezer. They’re about building confidence, creating memories and passing down a tradition that’s increasingly at risk of fading. Remember, they might complain about not playing video games when you take them hunting, but they will never remember the matches they play that day. But they will always remember the hunt.
Whether it’s a doe tag in a quiet canyon or a late-season elk hunt after football wraps up, these programs are designed to meet families where they are – and to make sure the next generation gets a chance to walk the hills, carry a weapon and maybe, just maybe, bring home dinner. NS
Goosetown Goldens
Gray Squirrels And Suppressed .22s
By Scott Haugen
October marks the start of many bird hunting seasons for gun dog owners throughout the Northwest. But there’s one upland prize that must not go overlooked: the Western gray squirrel.
Though the season is brief and limited to portions of Western and Central Oregon, the addiction to hunting these
native tree-dwelling squirrels grows with each passing encounter. When it comes to hunting the shy animals, I’ve developed a process over the years, and it works.
IT STARTS WITH running Moultrie Mobile trail cameras year-round to monitor gray squirrel populations and movement. Cellular game cams provide timely feedback of where squirrels are, which is especially important during hunting season.
Having hunted gray squirrels for several years – and using the information from
trail cameras to study their movements – I’m amazed at how cyclical these critters can be from year to year. Most movements hinge on a shift in food sources, while others are forced by predators.
In a few of the best gray squirrel areas, I know where they’ll be this time of year based on the casting of acorns and other mast crops. I’ve learned what routes squirrels travel in the hardwoods and where they search for food in big stands of coniferous timber. These are the places where I increase the number of trail cameras
GUN DOG
Author Scott Haugen and Kona the pudelpointer with a morning bounty of gray squirrels. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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during hunting season in order to maximize the odds of locating secretive squirrels.
(Invasive eastern gray and eastern fox squirrels are typically open year-round in the Northwest with a hunting license, but see your state’s regs for official details.)
ANOTHER KEY TO tree squirrel hunting success is covering ground. Be it on foot, mountain bike or electric bike, the more prime ground you can cover, the better the odds of locating squirrels. Take extra water for your dog when hunting on a bike, as they’ll cover several miles a day and need to stay hydrated.
Where deciduous trees meet conifers can be brushy. There are lots of squirrels in this habitat, but stalking them can be a challenge. Once treed, the shooting window is often brief. If I see a squirrel, I’ll slowly get closer with Kona – my male pudelpointer – heeling at my left side. Then I get Kona lined out and send him on the run. Once he trees a squirrel, his man-bark kicks in. He loves retrieving gray squirrels as much as he does treeing them. If, based on what trail cameras are revealing, there’s a time of day when squirrel movement is high, I’ll slip in a couple hours early and sit against a fir tree with Kona at my side. We sit where visibility is greatest and when a squirrel is spotted, Kona gets to work.
WHEN SHOOTING IN thick cover, a shotgun might be a good choice. If the habitat is semi-open and the trees don’t bear thick, brushy limbs, a .22 rifle is ideal.
My go-to squirrel rifle is a Browning T-Bolt with a laminated stock and stainless steel barrel. It’s topped with a Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire scope in 3-9x40. The added magnification of a 3x9 scope on a .22 is much appreciated when picking a small shooting window and a tiny target high in a tree.
A Silencer Central Banish 22 suppressor completes the precision setup. This is the most accurate .22-caliber hunting rifle I’ve ever owned, and the suppressor has been a game changer.
Suppressors spook fewer squirrels. Before suppressors, if Kona treed two or three squirrels at once, we rarely got a shot at more than one of them. With a
Tree squirrel hunting means precise shooting. Having the right gear helps to efficiently close the deal. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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suppressor, we’ve pulled off many doubles. Last season we shot a triple on three of four squirrels Kona put into some fir trees. The quiet shooting doesn’t spook squirrels.
The suppressor also makes it easier to communicate with Kona and he doesn’t get amped up at the sound of the shot. Instead, Kona looks to me for direction while under control. Much of the time Kona doesn’t even hear the shot if he’s moving through brush or panting heavily from an intense chase. Not until a squirrel starts falling through the tree limbs or hits the ground does Kona even know I pulled the trigger.
WITH THE LONG-OVERDUE suppressor craze finally taking root in the US, CCi has delivered a complete line of specialized suppressor rounds for .22 enthusiasts. Their Subsonic Hollow Point Small Game 45-grain bullet moving at 970 feet per second is a great tree squirrel round. It’s very quiet, yet offers a light, lethal hit
and very minimal meat damage for a hollowpoint.
CCi’s Sub-Sonic 22LR Lead Hollow Point Small Game 40-grain bullet is moving a tad faster at 1,050 fps. It’s only a fraction louder than the 45-grain option, hits a bit harder, and still results in minimal meat damage. This is a great ground squirrel load if looking to anchor the varmints before they make it back to their hole, so your dog can retrieve them.
A great load for both tree and ground squirrels is CCi’s Suppressor Max. This segmented 45-grain hollowpoint moves out at 970 fps, yet hits with authority. It’s super quiet and deadly accurate.
The next three loads are labeled for targets, but I love their performance on squirrels as well as the starlings that were plucking cherries from our trees this spring. I shot a number of the invasive birds and ground squirrels with the CCi Clean-22 Suppressor 45-grain bullet. Moving at 1,000 fps, this load is
very quiet, shoots tight groups and kills with conviction. The same is true of the 40-grain Clean-22 poly-coated-lead, blue roundnose bullet. Moving at 1,070 fps, this load – as well as the 45-grain option – offers impressive downrange accuracy and energy. Both routinely dropped varmints out to 75 yards and beyond.
The Quiet-22 in a 45-grain roundnose flies at 835 fps. It’s whisper-quiet and punches through squirrels quickly and smoothly. Very minimal meat damage results from this load. It’s a great tree squirrel load.
While bird seasons are in full swing, take the time to get after some gray squirrels this fall. Trust me, the experience will leave you and your gun dog wanting more. NS
Editor’s note: Watch author Scott Haugen’s basic puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen .com. Follow his adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
Along with a Silencer Central Banish 22 suppressor, CCi’s complete lineup of suppressed .22 Long Rifle ammunition will transform your squirrel hunting experience. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
Call him a curmudgeon, but these days author MD Johnson prefers to hunt mallards and other quackers all by himself. (TOM KOERNER, USFWS)
Mallards And More Minus The Masses
By MD Johnson OUTDOORS
MD
Come October 11 here in the Northwest I’ll officially start my 51st duck season. Not that I’ve always been a duck hunter, mind you. Early on, I went through what I’ll call the shootist stage; rather, I packed a ton – and damn near literally – of 20-gauge ammunition into the marsh fully expecting to leave said marsh with many (many) more empties than live rounds.
Then it was limits followed by drakes-only followed by technique until today, at 61, I’m happy to get out, paddle around by my lonesome, arrange … and rearrange … and rearrange my plastic ducks, eat my snacks, make both real and not-so-real duck sounds sans critique, and maybe, just maybe, shoot a duck. Or shoot at a duck.
The key word in the above paragraph, if you haven’t caught on already, is “lonesome.” Solo. Alone. By myself. Mano a mano with Mister Mallard and relations.
Now I know what you’re thinking. It’s opening day. Opening weekend, if you want to split hairs, and he’s by himself. He must have access to a piece of private ground. Or a lease. That’s, you’re muttering under your breath, the only way – the only way – he’s by himself. Where’s the guy who comes in at legal shooting time and starts throwing decoys while yelling at his 6-month-old black Lab dog, this just 75 yards away? Downwind. Where’s the nonstop calling? The sky-busting, otherwise known as the deep-seated belief that a 12-gauge shotgun shooting size 3 steel and a 150mm howitzer have the same approximate range? Where’s the yelling? The boat races? The … well, if you’ve been there, you understand exactly what I’m getting at here.
Want the truth? Morning of October 11, I won’t be on private ground. No highdollar lease. I’ll be hunting water that anyone and his or her brother is welcome to hunt. No asking permission. No sweat lines. Public land. Yes, sir. All public ground.
But that all said, how does one, understandable question that it is, survive the opening weekend of waterfowl season? Not only survive it, but do it alone? Or relatively alone? And is it possible to carry that sense of public land solitude throughout the whole of the season? Me? I’m alone for 99 percent of Washington’s 107-day season. Do I get depressed talking to myself nonstop, no one to share these special moments with, while I sit watching the tidewaters rise around my feet and my decoys, one by one, lift from their anchors and take on a life, as well as a location, of their own? To put it mildly, I do not. And here’s why, or rather, here’s some things to consider if ’fowling by yourself is on your to-do list.
HOMEWORK
I do a lot of homework, i.e. geographic scouting, research and observation, both during the offseason, as well as once the season starts. Scouting, for me, never ends, but it doesn’t have to be a grind. It can be casual, part of a blue highways (two-lane roads) sort of drive. A little pond here. A bay backwater there. A handful of mallards loafing in an out-of-the-ordinary spot during a 10.9-foot king tide. Catch that? An unusually high tide. I dig around, for better or worse, on Al Gore’s internet, trying desperately not to spiral down into those mind-numbing rabbit holes. I’m always looking. A practitioner of observation. Asking questions. Thinking.
About what, you ask? Little places. Parts of the whole. Those “I wonder what those birds are doing there?” kind of hideyholes. It’s not imperative to have an entire marsh to yourself to enjoy a lonely kind of hunt. Venture off. Explore an uncharted,
or uncharted to you, portion of a creek or river. Grab yourself a 2025 tide table and learn how to use it; better yet, download an app and then hunt the tides, if you’re close enough and of a mind.
Here, let me make a little confession. Remember I said I hunt only public marshes? Well, that’s true. I do hunt only public marshes; however, I access a handful of these via private property. “No, ma’am,” I told the lady of the house after introducing myself and discussing her laying hens. “I’m not looking to hunt your place, but I’d like to hunt over there. And I’d like to access ‘over there’ from your place, if you don’t mind.” Permission granted and cemented, thanks to my wife’s apple zucchini bread and a jar of homemade fig jam.
Moral of the story? Homemade fig jam goes a long way to building a lasting hunter/landowner relationship. And private ground doesn’t have to have water or ducks in order to pique my interest, as
Offseason scouting and always having an eye out for hideaways that ducks might dive into help Johnson put together enough go-to spots to be able to enjoy success on the waters near his Lower Columbia River home. (MD JOHNSON)
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long as it’s adjacent or allows me access, especially difficult to achieve otherwise, to a public wetland.
Work hard and then work harder
I still chuckle when I think about it. Nice guy that I occasionally, albeit rarely, am, I invited one of my former students – note: I’m a substitute high school teacher on the Lower Columbia – to join me at one of my pet marshes. Well before dawn, I pick the boy up, two Aquapods in the bed of the truck, and we head out. We launch from the edge of a field, paddle downriver, up a channel, and up another before running out of water. We offload ourselves, drag the ’Pods another 100 yards, up and over the bank, and another 75 yards through the tules to a 2-inch-deep mud puddle about the size of an average living room.
The 19-year-old catches up, drops to his knees, and gives me a stare.
“That?” he asks, breathing hard. “We’re hunting that?”
I nod. He shakes his head, looks me in the eye, and says, “How in God’s name did you ever find this place?” To which I replied, “Good. Now I know you won’t find it again.”
I’m not bragging, but I work hard to be alone. I paddle “this far” and then paddle farther. I drag myself. I drag my boat. I wade through marsh and mud terrible to the point that even I question my sanity. I know it’s been written before, but the tougher you make it on yourself, the more alone you’re going to be.
GET A SMALL SKIFF
Yes, it’s a little out-of-pocket money, but if
you don’t have one already and solitude is your objective, get yourself a little duck skiff. Not a big fancy sled or 21-foot Bankes, but a 10-foot Aquapod or Carstens or Marsh Rat. Retrofit a canoe or kayak. You want something safe and capable of carrying the minimum, i.e. dozen decoys, shotgun, blind bag and yourself, but not so big that she can’t be launched from the side of the road or dragged through a cattle pasture in order to access an untouched part of the marsh.
HUNT DURING THE WEEK
Now I’m not trying to make enemies nor cause readers to cancel their subscriptions. I’m really not. But if you’re serious about duck hunting by yourself on public ground, it can help to hunt during the week. “But I
Johnson will take others duck hunting, but even then he’s pretty selective about who he brings and how much of the trip he ultimately shares. Sometimes, the less said, the better, especially after working hard to find good spots. (MD JOHNSON)
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work,” you say, this right after you’ve told me you’ve scheduled a week off for modern rifle deer, another for modern elk, enjoyed time off in August for Buoy 10, got some days coming for trophy winter steelhead. It’s all about priorities, I reckon. If your priority is venison, so be it. If, however, you long for lonely in the duck marsh and it’s possible with your schedule, hunt on a Tuesday. Or watch the weather and lay off for a Thursday afternoon. We hunt when we can, I understand, but I’m happy to work time and a half on the weekends so I can paddle my little plastic boat around in a vacuum of humanity on a Wednesday.
BE ANTI-SOCIAL
Let me preface this final note by saying I’m not a huge fan of social media. I don’t have a Facebook account. No Instagram. Nix on the TikTok and Snapchat. Don’t sport a YouTube channel. That said, if you do, that’s fine, ’specially since Zuckerberg looks like he could use a good meal these days.
My point is, and it should go without saying, if you’re going to take the time to find a public honey-hole you have to yourself, don’t publicize it. I’ll be honest. I’ve enjoyed more than one good public land shoot, thanks to a YouTube video that, well, offered up enough of what I’ll call background information that it wasn’t difficult to find with a little bit of cross-referencing. I’m not telling you what to do or how to be when it comes to social media. Just remember Big Brother is always watching, and Big Brother is a duck hunter.
Until November, be safe out there. Doctor’s orders. NS
Little Water, Fat Ducks
Hunting small Northwest streams and ponds can save the start of your duck season.
By David Johnson
The classic dream duck hunt involves large flights of migratory mallards being called to a big raft of decoys on a shallow lake shore, where hunters in a substantial blind “take ’em, boys!” as the ducks set wings for landing. Yet surprisingly few hunters have ever experienced such a hunt, and almost no hunters regularly have a chance to hunt ducks like this.
The reason this kind of duck hunt is rare is straightforward: There aren’t many lakes where big flights of ducks arrive in waves. Ducks don’t like getting shot at, so most of the lakes like that are lakes hunters don’t have access to. Of lakes like this open to duck hunting, almost all are either private or hard-to-draw-to permit hunts. Access to private duck clubs, the cost of decoys, blinds and other
expenses make “classic” duck hunting both rare and expensive.
If you want to hunt ducks but don’t have access to this kind of hunting, all is not lost. Scouting and hunting “small” water, such as spring branches, small ponds and slow bends in rivers, can be a boon for mobile hunters on a budget this time of year.
WHY SMALL WATER ATTRACTS DUCKS
When the first fall storm fronts move across Southeast Alaska and Western Canada, puddle ducks like mallards begin to move south, joining locally produced ducks in Oregon and Washington. This annual migration costs the birds a lot of energy, so as the ducks begin to move in small groups, they are looking for quiet places to rest that have easy-to-reach aquatic vegetation that is still green. It doesn’t take much water to attract puddle ducks. They feed shallow, and
HUNTING
Small ponds with a little shoreline cover can allow hunters to sneak up on local ducks and the season’s first migratory birds early in the fall. (STEVE JOHNSON)
HUNTING
aquatic feed will still be green before later hard frosts arrive.
Often these places are not well scouted by hunters; many are not hunted at all. Hunting small water favors mobile hunters – hunters who are willing to move along a spring branch and sneak up on ducks using available natural cover.
It also favors hunters who scout, as the better idea a hunter has about which locations along a stream the ducks will favor, the easier it is to figure out the best approach to avoid getting busted by the ducks before you are in gun range. Also, of course, ducks are not everywhere, so the less time spent on unproductive sections of stream, the better.
Many spring-fed small streams and ponds also attract ducks well into the winter east of the Cascades, because
they are the last places with slow waters that freeze. Groundwater in Idaho, for example, tends to be in the 46- to 55-degree range, so as long as new spring water is flowing into and out of the pond or spring branch, it will remain ice-free well into cold weather.
Spring-fed systems have another advantage in the early season: Spring water tends to have more nutrients in it and more stable water levels than strictly snowmelt-fed freestone creeks, so they grow more aquatic vegetation. The water is clean, slow and provides the ducks with food. But early in the season, slow bends in freestone streams will also attract ducks, as they provide a convenient place to rest and often go under the radar of hunters.
FINDING BIRDS
I consider scouting ahead of time
critical in jump-shooting and smallwater duck hunting in general, but I don’t necessarily spend much time specifically looking for ducks. Like most people, I find it difficult to dedicate days doing nothing but hoping to see ducks. Life gets in the way. It’s a big reason hunters who would like to hunt ducks never get around to it.
I get around this by multitasking. Throughout the year, when I go trout fishing, bass fishing, turkey hunting and deer hunting, I pay a lot of attention to any water I’m on or near.
You might think that trout fishing in July won’t tell you much about where ducks will be in the late fall, but it can in two ways.
First, you can get a general sense of what places in a stream (for example) provide water that ducks might see and rest in. River bends, backwaters, the mouths of slow side streams and so forth are candidates – especially if they have aquatic weeds such as watercress, milfoil, wild celery and the like.
Second, if there are wild ducks where you fish in the summer – birds that raised their young here instead of flying north with the rest of the flock – it’s quite likely these places will be also attractive to ducks arriving from the north in the fall.
Any time of year you run into ducks on a place you might secure permission to hunt, remember where they were and take the time to think about how you would approach that place or hide there to ambush ducks later in the fall. Make lists of such places.
Closer to the season, birds moving in unsettled weather can show you where they are coming from and where they are landing to rest or feed. Watching ducks move while you are hunting them can allow you to relocate with good results. But if you are in a place that ducks want to return to, staying put and taking cover is often the fastest way to a follow-up shot.
In some situations, such as small valleys or arid areas without much surface water, ducks may favor only
Author David Johnson with an early fall drake taken at the mouth of a small spring branch in Northeastern Oregon. Spring branches provide favored resting and feeding spots for local and migrating ducks. (STEVE JOHNSON)
HUNTING
two or three places for resting and escape. If watching ducks trade back and forth tells you where those spots are, and you have permission to hunt a couple of them, a coordinated plan with a hunting partner can give both of you more shots at ducks.
The partners split up and approach or hide in two of the spots ducks favor. They both shoot at their ducks about the same time. Some of the ducks escaping partner A’s spot will head for partner B’s spot, and vice versa. As the ducks from each spot trade to the other, each partner can get two rounds of
shooting in on ducks that don’t know their resting spot is being hunted.
Finally, maps of public land can be useful. Don’t overlook desert country, either. Deserts and duck hunting don’t sound like they go together, but ducks flying over arid areas funnel into the few rivers and ponds that are available. Some of these places are on Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service or other federal or state land.
GETTING CLOSE ENOUGH
One of the biggest problems for mobile duck hunters on small water
DUCKS
ADon’t have a dog? Bring a rod to retrieve ducks that fall over deeper waters – and maybe catch a fish! Kyle Vanderwaal was using a Shad Rap 9 to pull in mallards he had downed during an early-season hunt when this largemouth bit for him a few falls back. The bass was released; the greenheads weren’t so lucky. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
WITHOUT A DOG
dog keen on retrieving is the gold standard for duck recovery. But if you don’t have a retriever, there are a few things you can do to keep from losing ducks. First, if you knock a puddle duck down, make sure it’s really down and mark where it is. Second, go after it immediately; on a small stream, be prepared to wade.
Also, on streams and even small ponds you can often time your shots – if you stay calm; easier said than done – so that the bird is over land when it drops. Ahead of time, as you scout spots and plan your approach, also consider where the ducks will be and how they will fly to escape you. Make a plan ahead of time for how you’ll get to your birds once they’re down.
On small ponds, you can also bring a fishing rod with a relatively heavy lure. Cast over the duck, and carefully bring the lure in, pulling the duck with it. Or, if you are in a place that you can tote a small kayak into, they can provide a fast and relatively dry way of picking up ducks where wading is not possible. –DJ
is getting close enough to the ducks to shoot them before the ducks spot you and fly off. No matter what you do, sometimes you’ll be busted. Ducks have excellent eyesight and are highly tuned to the kind of movements predators make.
Luckily, streams erode their beds, so most streams have a bank. Most banks have brush. Hunters who are aware that ducks are likely to be in a specific spot on a stream or small pond should scout the approach avenues they can use to keep brush or the bank itself as cover to get within gun range of ducks.
Camouflage helps, including gloves and face covering. I use a light mesh turkey hunting mask/head cover. Because it’s loose and mesh, it’s easy to breathe through. But 90 percent of what determines whether you get close enough for an initial shot is whether you can use cover so that the ducks on the water can’t see you at all. This always requires that you stay low on your approach, and sometimes you will have to resort to crawling.
On slightly larger streams, hunters on foot can work their way down the banks, if there is a clear place to walk between the brush and the water line. If at all possible, work your way on the inside of river bends, using cover until coming around the bend at the last possible moment.
If you’re hunting places like ponds or flooded backwaters that you think more ducks might come into after your first shot, and you are patient enough to wait for that to happen, you have three cover choices.
First, if there are trees and brush that provide some overhead cover, you might be able to just hunker down, hold still and wait. A second option is to bring some camouflage netting and pull it over you in the hopes that you look to incoming ducks like a pile of brush. The third option is to construct a blind, though that option may only be available to hunters on private land and only if the landowner is OK with it. NS
5 October Cast-and-Blast Destinations
From east to west, high to low, these spots serve up Washington, Oregon and Idaho variety this month.
By John Kruse
October is a month filled with choices. Do you go hunting for deer, elk and birds, or do you take advantage of the spectacular fishing found in lakes and rivers around the Northwest this month? Sometimes, the answer is, “Do both!” That’s right, go on a cast-andblast adventure. Looking for a few suggestions and destinations? We’ve got them for you here.
GROUSE, BEAR AND ALPINE LAKES TROUT
In October, the hordes of summer hikers on mountain trails have all but disappeared, but there are opportunities to hunt black bear and ruffed grouse at a time when many hunters are targeting opening day deer, elk, ducks and pheasant in the lowlands. Bring your trout rod if you are hiking in the Cascades. There are lakes full of rainbows, cutthroat, brook trout and – in a few locations – brown and golden trout. These fish are trying to fatten up for the winter and fall is an excellent time to target them. I do recommend catch-andrelease fishing with a single barbless hook except for keeping a few fish to cook for lunch or dinner at camp.
Keep in mind October can be fickle when it comes to changing weather conditions and despite the thinning number of hikers, you still need to be sure of your target before you pull the trigger and know what’s beyond that target when hunting near trails.
SNAKE RIVER SALMON, STEELHEAD AND CHUKAR
Fall is a fantastic time to fish and hunt in Hells Canyon, home of North America’s deepest gorge and the Snake River that runs through it. The canyon itself is a national recreation area straddling Oregon and Idaho and full of huntable public land.
If you don’t have a boat, you can catch both salmon and steelhead from shore at Heller Bar and there are opportunities to hunt chukar and quail at the nearby Chief Joseph Wildlife Area bordering the Snake and Grande Ronde Rivers in the extreme southeast tip of Washington.
The Snake from Heller Bar through Hells Canyon offers excellent fishing for summer steelhead and fall Chinook salmon. One popular method to catch both species is to side drift eggs from your boat. If the salmon or steelhead bite peters out, pull out your bass rod and catch smallmouth. They are very
HUNTING
Can’t decide on the field or the water? Why not do both! Cast-and-blast opportunities abound in the Northwest and can include a morning of hunting ducks and afternoon of fishing, such as at Potholes Reservoir. (JOHN
KRUSE)
HUNTING
plentiful here. You can also catch and release giant sturgeon here as well. These fish can reach 11 feet in length and be over 100 years old!
It is not recommended to run Hells Canyon by yourself if you have never done this before. The rapids here are wicked, some of them class V, and they have eaten many boats over the years. Instead, consider hiring a guide for a cast-and-blast trip. Jason Schultz, owner of Hells Canyon Sportfishing out of Lewiston, Idaho, offers singleday trips where you fish and hunt over the course of the day. Minam Store Outfitters, based in Wallowa County, Oregon, offers a five-day rafting castand-blast adventure in Hells Canyon where you’ll hunt and fish during the day and camp along the river and eat great food for four nights.
SUMMER LAKE WATERFOWL AND HYBRID BASS
The Summer Lake Wildlife Area in rural Southeast Oregon offers some of the best duck and goose hunting in the Beaver State, especially in October. However, you are not going to be alone in this wildlife area defined by
Despite the early-season crowds, hunting can be quite good for a wide variety of duck and goose species. There is also upland bird hunting here as well for pheasants and quail, primarily in the northwest portion of the wildlife area.
Don’t forget your fishing rod when you come here. Fly fishing for rainbow trout on the Ana River can be rewarding and Ana Lake, which lies just north of the wildlife area boundary, also has a healthy trout population.
Bring some bass gear and heavy line if you are going to fish Ana Reservoir because the big stars of this lake are the wiper bass. Wipers are a hybrid cross between a male striped bass and a female white bass. These fish can get big! A state record 19-pound, 12-ounce bass was caught out of this reservoir by Chad Meadows in 2014.
In October the wipers are likely to be deep or in the middle depths of the lake. Try a deep-diving crankbait that
resembles a tui chub (their main food source), or you can follow Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Justin Moore’s advice.
“Fish along the bottom with sand shrimp, prawns or chicken livers on a 1/0 hook and a 24-inch fluorocarbon leader. Sliding sinkers are ideal, allowing fish to pick up the bait for a solid hookup,” he tips.
As for when to fish for wipers? The best times are dusk, dawn or at night.
If you are looking for places to stay, there are primitive campsites within the wildlife area and across the road from the entrance is The Lodge at Summer Lake, offering solid, comfortable accommodation as well as some great-tasting, reasonably priced food at their Flyway Restaurant.
POTHOLES RESERVOIR BASS, WALLEYE AND WATERFOWL
Ducks and geese in the morning, followed by walleye, bass and more in the afternoon. That’s a great option for hunters and anglers at Potholes Reservoir, located south of Moses Lake in Eastern Washington. At full pool, Potholes has over 27,000 acres
Summer Lake to the south and canals and streams to include the Ana River running through the property from the north.
The sturgeon of North America’s deepest gorge will put one helluva bend in your rod, and its chukar partridge will give you a heckuva workout. David Kruse (center) poses with a 9-foot Hells Canyon diamondside. (JOHN KRUSE)
HUNTING
of water. However, this irrigation reservoir is drawn down to its lowest level in early fall.
This means hunters can set up at one of the sandy pothole ponds disconnected from the main lake as the water lowers. Whether you hike in or boat in, you can be in for a good mixed bag duck hunt to include teal, wigeon, gadwall, pintail and mallards. You may also luck into a Canada goose.
The morning shoot is generally over by 10 a.m., making it an ideal time to stow the shotgun and break out a fishing rod.
Shelby Ross is the owner of Ross Outdoor Adventures and offers guided cast-and-blast trips in October at the reservoir.
“The drawdown in the fall of the reservoir can make for some of the best walleye fishing of the year,” he says.
Ross likes to use crankbaits to find schools of walleye, then he will often start trolling a bottom bouncer weight with a Mack’s Lure high UV Smile Blade on a leader behind it. The hooks behind the Smile Blade spinner blade are tipped with a nightcrawler.
During these October fishing trips you usually catch a lot more than walleye, according to Ross.
“There’s no shortage of action … It’s not uncommon to catch six, seven or eight species in a trip,” he states.
The list includes bass, perch, sizeable bluegill and crappie, as well as bullhead and catfish.
WILLAPA BAY BUCKS, BULLS, DUCKS AND CLAMS OR OYSTERS
If you look at the harvest numbers and field survey numbers provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, you’ll see that the game management units associated with the Willapa Hills near the Southwest Washington coast offer some of the best places to tag out on blacktail deer and Roosevelt elk.
The latest figures from WDFW show deer hunters had a 15 to 20 percent success rate here, while elk hunters had their greatest success in GMUs 658, 660, 673 and 681.
Willapa Bay is also a very good
place to hunt both ducks and geese. The main species of ducks harvested here are wigeon, pintails and mallards, though the occasional sea duck can be added to the daily bag. A variety of geese, to include western Canada and lesser Canada geese, as well as dusky and cackling geese, can be found in the agricultural fields near the bay.
So, what’s a hunter to do after the day is done? You can certainly go clamming once the razor clam season opens on Long Beach in October. You can also harvest and shuck some oysters.
One place to do the latter is at the WDFW-owned Nahcotta Tidelands. Located east of Ocean Park on the Long Beach Peninsula, you are allowed to harvest oysters from this 40-acre tideland in the bay yearround. However, if you can’t manage to harvest them yourself, you’ll be happy to know several oyster farms are located around Willapa Bay and they can set you up with shucked and even cooked or grilled oysters in a hurry. NS
Editor’s note: Author John Kruse is the host of Northwestern Outdoors Radio (northwesternoutdoors.com) and America Outdoors Radio (americaoutdoorsradio.com).
Author John Kruse with a fall perch from Potholes Reservoir. October’s fish and wildlife variety is so huge that pairing up outings is the only way to possibly fit it all in. (JOHN KRUSE)
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The Coast With The Most
Westport, Grays Harbor and environs are chock-full of midfall opportunities.
By Mark Yuasa
Autumn is arguably one of the best times to head to Washington’s central coast and score a grand slam on fishing and other fun outdoor opportunities.
The four headliners include digging razor clams from early October to early
January, casting for surf perch, dock fishing for coho, and wading a tidal pond or dropping a ring net and/or star trap off a dock for Dungeness crab.
To sweeten the deal, you don’t need to break the bank for an exciting getaway to this remarkable stretch of the coastline from Moclips to Ocean Shores and Westport to Grayland, as
well as all destinations in between.
COASTAL RAZOR CLAMS
Garnering the lion’s share of attention is coastal razor clam digging, and you can find easy access to Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks Beaches. While this column focuses on the central coast, don’t overlook Long Beach
Razor clamming is one of the heavy hitters of fall on the Washington Coast, especially at the start of digging season, which begins this month with several -1-plus-foot tides, but there are lots of other opportunities to be had out here. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
along the southern coast too.
Last month, shellfish managers at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced 47 tentative days of razor clam digs at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks from October 6 through January 6.
“This recreational razor clam season will see similar digging opportunity to the past two years, with a full digging schedule again for this fall,” said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. “The tides this year will allow for clam gathering opportunity in the lead-up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, along with harvestable daylight digs for the late afternoons of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.”
Summertime assessment surveys conducted by WDFW and tribal co-
managers showed a relatively stable population of razor clams on all four beaches. Kalaloch Beach, along the northern Olympic Peninsula coast, won’t be open due to continuing issues with depressed populations of harvestable clams.
All beach openings are dependent on final approval of marine toxin testing, which usually occurs about a week or less before the start of each digging series. Before a beach can open for digging, the Washington State Department of Health requires two test samples seven to 10 days apart
and domoic acid levels to be under the guideline level. Domoic acid, a natural toxin that certain marine algae produce, can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.
The daily limit is 15 razor clams per person (broken clams count toward a limit). Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container, and all diggers must keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition.
The most successful digging occurs about one to two hours before the listed time of low tide.
FISHING
The tentative first dates of the 202526 season are October 6 (low tide of -0.2 feet at 6:35 p.m.) at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks; October 7 (-1.0 at 7:18 p.m.) at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks; October 8 (-1.4 at 8:02 p.m.) at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Copalis; October 9 (-1.5 at 8:49 p.m.) at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Copalis; October 10 (-1.3 at 9:40 p.m.) at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks; October 11 (-0.8 at 10:37 p.m.) at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks; and October 12 (-0.2 at 11:41 p.m.) at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Copalis.
Additional tentative dates are planned for October 20-26; November 3-9; November 18-23; December 2-8; December 18-23; and December 31-January 6. For more information, go to the WDFW’s razor clam webpage at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/ shellfishing-regulations/razor-clams.
WESTPORT BOAT BASIN COHO
Westport takes centerstage when anglers converge to the Westport Boat Basin Marina docks, where coho fishing is open daily through January 31.
This year marks the 50th anniversary since the inception in 1975 of raising coho in net pens at the
boat basin marina began to boost fall fishing opportunities here. WDFW, Ocosta High School students and the Port of Grays Harbor raise about 150,000 juvenile coho each year. The coho are transported in trucks from WDFW’s Bingham Creek Hatchery and raised in the net pens and then released each May.
The 2025 Westport net pen coho
forecast is 6,723, up from 3,255 in 2024. The entire Grays Harbor hatchery coho forecast is 87,805, up from 68,200 in 2024, and which includes coho returning to the Humptulips and Chehalis River systems.
The prime fishing time occurs from September through October, but fish can be caught well into early winter. It isn’t unusual to catch a dip-
No river, no problem! Thanks to a net pen program in its 50th year, the Westport Boat Basin Marina sees good returns of hatchery coho. It’s a popular fishery that serves up nice-sized silvers, and there’s a derby that runs through the end of this month
bag
big one! (WESTPORT MARITIME MUSEUM)
FISHING
OTHER COASTAL ACTIVITIES ABOUND
There are so many other fun and exciting adventures to partake in around the central coast during the fall and early winter. While some involve a rod and reel, others might simply require dressing for the weather. Here are some choices worth considering:
Last-chance lings: Anglers who prefer to fish for a variety of other bottomfish still have time to do so by heading out on a charterboat from Westport to catch lingcod and rockfish. The season is open through the third Saturday in October –the 18th this year. For details, go to the Westport Charterboat Association website at charterwestport.com.
Peak river salmon season: Coastal rivers and streams are home to migrating salmon and the peak of the return of Chinook, coho and chum salmon occurs well into December. Nearby coastal rivers include the Humptulips, Hoh, Bogachiel, Calawah, Quillayute, Quinault, Satsop, Wynoochee, Nemah, Willapa, Naselle and Chehalis. Anglers should check the WDFW website on the intended river they plan to fish for specific gear rules, closures and other regulations.
Silvers on the harbor: Those with a boat can try Grays Harbor east of the Buoy 13 boundary line (Marine Area 2-2), which is the gateway to some of the best fall coho fishing opportunities. If last year’s decent coho returns are an indicator of expectations this fall – the forecast is 149,989 wild and hatchery fish in 2025, up from 143,051 in 2024 – anglers would be wise to put this fishery on their to-do list.
The harbor’s coho fishery mainly occurs in the south channel (referred to as the East Bay Grays Harbor Fishery) just outside of the Johns River boat launch, just west of Aberdeen off Highway 105. It is open in October and through November 30 with a two-salmon daily limit, minimum size 12 inches, release all Chinook. Just upstream
of Grays Harbor, there is an active troll fishery during the fall on the lower Chehalis River from the Montesano boat launch to the lumber mill and from the Friends Landing boat launch to a couple miles below the Wynoochee River mouth.
Late-season lakes: Good trout and warmwater fishing can also be found in several coastal lakes. In Grays Harbor County, Duck Lake, Lake Sylvia and Vance Creek Ponds are open year-round, and Aberdeen and Failor Lakes are open through October 31. Ozette Lake in Olympic National Park has a fairly good number of yellow perch and bass. Wentworth Lake in Clallam County is open year-round and can be good for planted trout.
Go foraging: When the first major rainfall occurs in October and into November’s first frosts of autumn, mushrooms are highly sought-after by foragers. Being able to identify edible mushrooms is important to avoiding getting sick or ending up in the hospital. Be sure to consult with a trusted field guide or a mycological club before consuming wild mushrooms. Find helpful tips on mushroom gathering and identification in the WDFW blog at wdfw.medium.com/gourmet-ediblemushrooms-popping-up-for-falla95923da4ea7.
Nonconsumptive activities: The Washington Coast has a diverse network of scenic year-round hiking trails, camping
From fishing to foraging, and last-chance charterboat and camping trips, the coast is loaded with things to do, but with a pretty solid coho forecast, you’d be wise to put the Grays Harbor fishery on your to-do list. (MARK YUASA)
FISHING
and wildlife viewing locations. There are numerous hiking trails especially within Olympic National Park, Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area, Copalis National Wildlife Refuge and Damon Point Natural Area. Coastal camping ranges from remote sites, field and forested sites, and larger group sites to car camping and even the glamping-style sites at places like Pacific Dunes Resort at Copalis Beach. There are
in coho headed to one of the many river systems located within Grays Harbor either.
The boat basin daily limit is six including no more than four adult salmon. Anglers must release Chinook. A night closure and antisnagging rule are in effect except any hook where the weight is molded directly to the hook such as twitching jigs, swim jigs or casting jigs are not allowed. Only single-point barbless hooks may be used. A valid fishing license is required for those ages 16 and older. The Catch Record Card reporting code is 2-2W.
There are numerous ways to catch coho, but most will use spinners, jigs, or a bait below a bobber. Anglers can use a 5/8-ounce or size 5 or 6 spinner to cast from the docks or edges of the harbor. Those fishing with bait can use a small cut-plug herring, anchovy or cured salmon eggs below a bobber.
The boat basin docks surrounding the marina can be busy with not only anglers and visitors but marina tenants, so please be respectful of others when fishing.
There are around 17 publicly accessible docks at the Westport Marina, the Fishermen’s Boardwalk on Float 20, and a long pier near the Fisherman’s Memorial. All the ramps to the marina docks are also mobility friendly.
The Vern Coverdale Memorial Boat Basin Salmon Derby coincides with the annual coho return and runs daily through October 31. It is free to participate and simply bring the whole, ungutted coho to the weigh station
many hotels, motels and vacation home and cabin rental options too. Camping is available at state parks including Pacific Beach, Grayland Beach, Griffiths-Priday, Twin Harbors Beach and Ocean City. For state park details, go to stateparks.com/ the_coast_washington_parks.html. The state of Washington tourism website has helpful info at stateofwatourism.com. Keep it clean: Regardless of wherever
at the Westport Seafood Connection Building on Float 8, Slip G, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The top coho in the adult and youth divisions will receive prizes when the derby season ends. For derby details, call (360) 268-1234 or visit westportgrayland-chamber.org/ boat-basin-salmon-derby.html. Anglers should check the WDFW website at wdfw.wa.gov for specific regulations pertaining to the Westport Boat Basin coho fishery.
SEARCH FOR SURF PERCH
The Washington coastline stretches for hundreds of miles and surf perch fishing from the shoreline – open yearround – is a fishery that goes relatively unnoticed. The central coastal beaches, including Ocean Shores and Westport, can be very productive, especially during spring and fall.
During an outgoing tide look for visible large depressions and channels in the sand and revisit these areas on an incoming tide. The first few hours of an incoming tide and at high slack tide are the best times to have your gear in the water. Be observant of where to cast your line where the wave breaks, as the sand bars and troughs likely lie in between them. Rocky areas are good to cast out to as well.
You can also try for surf perch off a coastal jetty and other fish species can be caught when the fishing seasons are open for lingcod, rockfish, cabezon and flounder.
Make sure to use a stout 9- to 12foot surf rod and spinning reel with large line capacity (200 yards or more) to cast beyond the breaking waves.
you hike, camp, fish, dig clams or go crabbing, be respectful and leave the site better than when you arrived. Be sure to dispose of trash (yours and others’) properly, minimize your impact on the environment and leave it cleaner than you found it. By following common sense sustainable practices, we can preserve the beauty and diversity of the Washington Coast for future generations. –MY
To the main line attach a free-sliding snap swivel to a pyramid-style weight (6 to 10 ounces or more depending on how far you need to cast) to a rubber stopper and ball-bearing swivel and an 18- to 24-inch leader to your hook. The hook size depends on the bait you’re using, but usually a circle, J or octopus-style hook in size 2 to 4 – but no larger than a 1/0 – will do the job. Some claim a smaller hook results in more fish being hooked.
The most common baits are clam necks, sandworms, shrimp and mussels. Herring or anchovies work, but just be sure to brine them in a salt cure or a store-bought brine so that they can withstand being ripped off the hooks by the surf and current.
As for artificial-style lures or baits, try a plastic worm or swimbait, as well as spoons and jigs.
Waterproof hip waders and boots are key in the chilly ocean waters. Always pay attention to the surf, crashing waves, rip currents and running water pushing onshore, and never face away from the ocean. If you’re wading in the surf, make sure to wear an approved personal flotation device. The buddy system is another way to stay safe and leave a detailed itinerary with someone at home with a specific time of when you intend to fish and specific location.
The daily limit is 12 surf perch except a shiner perch daily limit is 15 and both are not included in a bottomfish limit. Anglers should check the WDFW website at wdfw .wa.gov for specific rules and gear and bait restrictions.
FISHING
COASTAL CRABBING OPTIONS
Recreational crabbing is open yearround along the Washington Coast, but crab pots, dome pots and hoop nets cannot be used from September 16 through November 14 in Willapa Bay (Marine Area 2-1) and from September 16 through November 30 in Grays Harbor (Area 2-2), La Push (Area 3) and Neah Bay (Area 4) west of Tatoosh-Bonilla line. If you plan to catch crab along the central coast, remember that only ring nets and star traps that lie flat on the bottom can be used to allow crab to enter and exit freely.
Another fun and adventurous way to catch crab along the coast is to seek them out in ponds and tidal pools
during low tide or at slack water. All you need is a dip net or dip rake, rubber boots and gloves, and/or waders. Look for movement or simply drag your rake through the shallow water, as sometimes the crab are known to burrow just underneath the sand.
You can also catch crab off various piers located at Float 20 and the Westport Boat Basin, the Westport jetty and Willapa Bay’s Toke Point Public Pier in Tokeland. Casting a crab snare in Half Moon Bay at Westhaven State Park will find its fair share of crab. For bait use fresh chicken, fish filets and other fish or salmon carcasses and turkey legs.
The WDFW blog has helpful information on coastal crabbing at wdfw.medium.com/check-yourgear-heres-what-s-legal-during-crabpot-closure-in-coastal-marine-areas77453b46e07c. NS
Editor’s note: Mark Yuasa is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife communications manager and longtime local fishing and outdoor writer.
The daily limit off the coast is six Dungeness crab, male only (minimum size is 6 inches), and six red rock crab of either sex (minimum size is 5 inches). All crab must be in hardshell condition. Minimum size is measured directly in front of the rear-most points or tips. Use a crab caliper or gauge to accurately measure, and never use a tape measure, ruler or dollar bill.
The Kings Of October
Your monthly Oregon fishing outlook provided by The Guide’s Forecast.
By Bob Rees
October is the traditional month when Oregon Coast fall Chinook get all the attention – other than big game hunting, that is. Although the overall run is in a slump, there will still be great options for anglers in both salt- and freshwater, the latter greatly dependent on how much precipitation falls over the course of this month.
Like wild winter steelhead and cutthroat trout, fall Chinook return to nearly every coastal river system, with some providing better opportunities than others. Big blue-label herring used to be the bait of choice, but with
the onslaught of 360-degree flashers and spinners, the game has changed.
If history repeats itself, the Siletz, Alsea, Coos and Rogue should remain top prospects, but the southern systems see heavier returns in September, so those systems may now be fading. While the Necanicum, Nehalem, Nestucca, Salmon, Tillamook and Siuslaw also have returns coming back into November, numbers are down and limits are conservative on most.
Check the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife “Regulation Updates” button on the Recreation Report (myodfw.com/recreationreport) for your favored waterbodies.
Anglers will anxiously be awaiting the year’s first rain freshet; sometimes
it doesn’t come in October. If it does, the Trask, Wilson, Nestucca, Alsea and Siletz systems will be high on the list of priorities for the driftboat fleet, as nothing quite matches the fight of a big fall Chinook on a smaller river system.
FALL CUTTHROAT TROUT
fishing is an underutilized fishery that can provide great opportunities for bank anglers on small stream settings. They’re great on light spinning outfits and fly gear, and nearly every coastal river system has a fair to good population available through the end of the month.
But maybe the bigger opportunity is a relatively robust wild coho return, where bay and tidewater anglers have a good chance at success. Regulation
Catching big fish in small rivers is one huge draw of fishing for fall Chinook on the Oregon Coast. While many runs began in earnest last month, October and November offer more than enough opportunities. Mike Brown, a client of guide Chris Vertopolous, caught this one on a plug. (CHRISVSGUIDESERVICE.COM)
FISHING
details by watershed are also available on ODFW’s website. Returns of wild coho should be good for nearly all North and Central Coast watersheds this fall.
Buoy 10 anglers have historically witnessed good returns of large October coho in the Lower Columbia. While still an option, this fishery has become more volatile in recent years, but if you pick the right tide series, a combo coho and Dungeness crab trip can be pretty productive. Weaker tides are good for crabbing, while stronger tides often produce better coho catches, so it’s a catch-22.
October also challenges ocean-going anglers as tuna migrate out of reach, coho fisheries close and interest wanes even more for halibut this time of year. Bottomfish and crabbing are excellent options, but Dungies close after October 15 on the Pacific. Bay crabbing will only improve until significant rains send the “sea spiders” back to the salt.
Razor clam digging reopens October 1 on the far North Coast and although tides often shift to nighttime hours, digging can be very productive if the proper safety measures are taken into account. A small surf makes for more successful digging, but never turn your back on the ocean waves.
INLAND, A BETTER than expected return of summer steelhead should provide October sport for Deschutes River anglers. Fly fishing gets more promising with the lower flows on
this system, barring any blowout from the White River that happens from time to time.
The Columbia Gorge can offer excellent fishing for latereturning fall Chinook well into October when regulations allow (again, see myodfw.com for the latest regs). Trollers working flashers and spinners or Super Baits or anchor anglers running plugs closer to Bonneville Dam can enjoy surprisingly productive results. Early mornings produce the best; the bite slows dramatically about three hours after sunrise.
Trout fishing at high desert lakes starts to wind down in October, but not before these fish go on a pretty heavy feeding frenzy, making for good fishing on Diamond Lake especially. Several lakes offer great October fishing, but be ready for inclement weather, as it can change on a moment’s notice.
And finally, Metro-area anglers will work the Sandy, Clackamas and Willamette River above Willamette Falls for coho returning to these respective systems. It’s hatchery fish only on the Sandy and Clackamas, but the upper Willamette enables anglers to take any coho, wild or hatchery, with wild fish vastly outnumbering hatchery fish in this blossoming fishery. Trolling flashers and spinners is becoming the method of choice, but casting spinners, spoons and jigs, as well as trolling hot-colored plugs, will take fish too, especially at tributary mouths such as the Tualatin and Molalla Rivers. NS
Editor’s note: For more information, visit TheGuidesForecast.com.
October is typically the most productive month for Willamette coho in terms of kept catch above the falls as the run makes its way toward spawning tributaries stretching from the Tualatin to the McKenzie. Mike Huwaldt shows off a pair caught on a four-for-four day last season. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
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The Nervous Twitcher
By Tobey Ishii Anderson
To twitch or not to twitch? That is the question. Getting up early in the morning and beating the sunrise to answer the quandary deserved a strong cup of coffee. The Miller Tree Inn never disappoints, as a plate of fried eggs on avocado toast sprinkled with parmesan cheese and a side of sausage would keep me going for the day ahead.
We were floating down the gin-clear rippling waters on one of the Olympic Peninsula’s famous rivers. The alder leaves were dripping with dew. Dressed in the proper Pacific Northwest rain gear, I had on my nifty new waders guaranteed not to tear at the knees. My hat was blue Gore-Tex and the raincoat was insulated. I was already drenched on the outside from the heavy downpour of liquid sunshine. It was nice to be dry on the inside!
We dodged boulders appearing out of nowhere. In the raft, Mike Zavadlov, our guide, shook hands with all the obstacles as if they were old friends. Passing a bank of rock-covered green moss, a little creek emptied its flow into the main river. It was a scene out of Lord of the Rings. Mike gave an owl hoot call as he saw a feathered creature sitting on a branch. The owl naturally hooted back twice. Mike’s background in zoology makes him an expert guide, both with fish and the surrounding environment on the river.
“Look at the seam. See the color change? It’s deep,” Mike pointed out.
All these observations were new to me. I was the “look for the riffle” type of fisher.
A float down an OlyPen river serves up a lesson on fishing jigs for fall salmon.
Author Tobey Ishii Anderson and her brother Paul Ishii smile over an Olympic Peninsula coho caught last fall on a guided trip with Mike Zavadlov. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
FISHING
A ROD AND spinning reel combo was handed to me. It felt so odd to have this contraption with a thin band of metal controlling the line. I was used to my trusty 5-weight fly rod and reel, ready to strip the line.
So I opened the bail and was given explicit instructions on what to do with my trigger finger.
Release! Whizzzzz … Plunk.
At times it was closer to release, jerk, clunk! with echoes of “Open the bail, Tobey!” thrown in.
The conglomeration at the end of the line intrigued me. It was a bulbous weighted hook dressed in a flowing pink and purple marabou-feathered gown. Looking like the latest Prada fashion, the jig was ready to go.
The method of fishing with a jig is an art form. Mike demonstrated and I tried to follow his lead. Cast out, let sink, let sink, flick the wrist or “twitch,” then reel in the slack. Mike did this effortlessly. He twitched his wrist 25 times and brought the line in. For me it was 100 times and my wrist was about to fall off.
Twitch, reel, twitch, reel. I got into a hypnotic trance. I started thinking about cleaning my fly-tying room, ordering more dog kibbles, the latest book club selection.
“What are you doing, Tobey? There is too much slack in your line and you’ll get hung up in the rocks!” I snapped out of my daydream and quickly reeled in. The intervals between the twitch and reeling needed to be intuitive. It would take more than one day of fishing to get this feel.
“It’s all about timing and depth of the water,” Mike lectured. “The salmon are hanging out in the deep waters, which can be 4 to 8 feet down. They feel safe to hold in those locations. There might be five to 10 salmon in the holes.”
This was to be my lesson for this trip: the importance of depth control. The jig must sink to a certain depth. If the twitching starts too soon after the cast, the salmon are just looking up at the purple jig as it skitters by.
I watched my brother Paul use his spinner. There is a certain amount of finesse to this method, and it was working for him as he hauled in one salmon after another! It had to do with water depth and current speed. Paul would effortlessly cast out and give the spinner time to sink. It would swing with the current as he slowly reeled the spinner in. I gave it a go. I lost the spinner on some rocks on the first swing.
Again, water depth was mentioned
A selection of Zavadlov’s handmade twitching jigs, made for fall trips with his clients. (MIKE Z’S GUIDE SERVICE)
FISHING
by my tutor, along with knowing how long of a pause to give before reeling in. I figured it was Mike’s polite way of reminding me of this importance.
Paul nodded. “It’s depth control.”
I CAN DO this! I opened the bail and cast out. The jig flew through the air and landed in the dark-colored water. Swish-plunk! It’s deep.
I let the pink and purple jig settle. With timing so important, I started to sing “Let it sink, let it sink” to the tune of “Jingle Bells.” I gave a sudden strong twitch of the wrist, as I wanted the jig to do an acrobatic dance to entice the salmon. I was in that zone, that state of flow where I lose my conscious self into something I love to do.
A huge tug whipped my line. “Set the hook!” was shouted in my ears in surround sound. My line took off!
“Reel! Reel! Rod tip up! Bring it to the left, now to the right!”
Just as the king salmon was to be netted, zing! it took off. The mighty 18-pound torpedo jetted off toward the rocks. The spinning reel smoked as the line accelerated off the spool. I reeled as fast as I could. My arm, wrist and fingers were ready to disassemble into a messy pile of appendages. The salmon leapt into the air, a Nat Geo moment.
“Rod tip up! Higher!”
I must confess that I used all the energy reserves left in my body to lift the magnificent salmon into the net. No worries, though, as Mike swooped up the silver-chrome creature.
I held the thick tail as the head of the salmon tilted in the water. I tried to be a salmon whisperer to keep it calm. Gently, I released the tail. The king was ready to meet the current. It stayed still by my boot, trying to steady itself. Gracefully, the salmon glided away from us to continue its cycle to lay her eggs. The only trace was a wake in the water.
To twitch or not to twitch? There is no question. NS
Editor’s note: Tobey Ishii Anderson is a flyfishing, rock-climbing, storytelling grandma based out of the Olympia area.
Twitching is most associated with coho like this one landed by Ishii, but on occasion Chinook will take a worked jig. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Colorful leaves begin to carpet a boat launch on the Olympic Peninsula. Chrome Chinook and coho draw fishermen to the West End’s rivers this time of year, but there’s more to a float. (AMANDA WILES)
Not Just A Day Of Salmon Fishing
Drifting a Forks-area river for Chinook and coho is part learning experience, part immersion into the natural world with new friends.
By Amanda Wiles
I’ve been up since 1:30 a.m., making my weekly weekend drive over to Forks from our home in Port Orchard. The daylight is just breaking through that everchanging sky above, just enough to see the water conditions and levels of the river.
“It’s going to be a good day!” I think to myself as I make my way down to the launch with our clients for the day.
My husband is slowly backing our raft into the water, as the clients and I watch and prepare ourselves for an epic day on the water. These mornings are what I look forward to every October – the adrenaline of what is hopefully to come, the peace of being on the water and the joy of meeting new friends while doing what we love.
This is the fall run on the Olympic Peninsula.
A HIDDEN GEM in the uppermost left of Washington, the small logging town of Forks is most known in recent years for the setting of the Twilight Saga movies. But beyond the vampires and werewolves are the most beautiful and bountiful rivers this state has to offer. The lush rainforest and absolutely breathtaking beaches are a tourist destination for many during the summer months. But come fall, the tourists switch out to fishermen looking to land those 20-plus-pound kings and feel the tug
of a coho rodeo. It’s a fishery we look forward to sharing every fall season, as well as spending some family time on the river.
As we load up the raft for the day and push out, our adventure for that day begins. The chill of the morning is greeted by a willful sun breaking through the clouds and glistening on the water as it makes its way through cracks in the forest. The water is calm as we float by the gorgeous moss-covered trees and green landscape.
The wildlife that can be seen from the water is impressive for a one-day trip, and can include eagles, fishers, river otters, waterfowl, deer, elk, coyote – the list goes on. This isn’t just a day of fishing for salmon; it’s a tour of what this part of Washington has to offer.
I always find joy in pointing out the animals and beauty of the landscape to our clients and watch them take pictures or just see the excitement wash over their faces. Rain or shine (perhaps mainly rain the later in fall it gets), the Olympic Peninsula is stunning and worth the trip.
I HEAR THE anchor drop and I know it’s go time. As we prepare rods, my husband gives instructions to our clients on where to cast and how and when to set the hook. I am busy getting things ready on the boat for potential hookup, rebait or retie situations. We have a wide range of clients on the raft with all types of fishing experience or no experience
at all. It does not matter to us; we love to teach, coach and cheer our clients on the whole way.
We use all types of fishing techniques, but up here we love to float a bobber with cured eggs or a jig/bead. This is a great technique to use because you can visually see the bobber and presentation in the water. It is also a very effective way of fishing and very popular for that reason. Floating a bobber and egg allows you to utilize the full potential of the river you are anchored or fishing from the shore on. I will add, however, fishing from a boat gives you better access to certain parts of the river that you cannot reach from the bank.
As we teach our clients how to read the water and where to cast in those seams of moving water, we hope they can take this knowledge and use it on other rivers or when fishing from the banks. Being able to read the water and know what the targeted species of fish like or where they prefer to hold will increase your hookup probability immensely.
There is no shortage of conversations on what we use as bait, jigs, beads, hardware, or how we tie something up. We love to share and teach as we go. This is the point most of the time on guided trips – to learn from your guide; the bonus is leaving with a fish.
However, we understand some anglers just want to fill the freezer and we’re more than happy to do so with that as well.
FISHING
OFTEN, BECAUSE WE are husband and wife, we bring in more female clientele. Being a female angler can be rough navigating through the challenges of learning and finding a safe, comfortable place/person to learn from. I’ve experienced the judgment and uncomfortable situations myself while learning to perfect my craft.
Many years ago, I once had a gentleman come down to the shore where I was fishing in close proximity to my husband but far enough away that I was in fact alone. I had been there since daylight and was fishing to my heart’s delight when the gentleman decided to fish next to me. He then proceeded to tell me that where I was casting was in the way of where he wanted to cast and I needed to move.
At the time, I was a meek, nervous female on the river learning
the ropes. I was immediately intimidated and uncomfortable, so I just went and sat down out of frustration and embarrassment over not knowing how to handle the situation. Once my husband and his buddy noticed what had happened, they had a much-needed conversation with the gentleman, who quickly found himself a new place to fish.
Nowadays, I would tell that confused gentleman to kick rocks with a sweet smile and let my redheaded soul shine through with confidence. But back then, my confidence and experience held me back, and I never want another female on the river to feel inferior like I did that day. Which is why I believe having a married couple and a woman on the boat adds that extra ease for many females while they learn and grow in the sport.
AS MY EYES follow all the bobbers going downriver, and I remind clients to mend their lines, there are bobber-down moments. Was it a branch? Was it a log? Was it a boulder? Did you hit bottom?
Each bobber down looks different, and you learn to know what they look like after many years. However, you will always find me making some sort of gasp or yell – “Reel down and set!” We don’t mind tying up a new setup, but will be sad if you miss a potential opportunity to land a fish.
But as soon as that bobber is under the water and we are in a hookup situation, that is when the magic happens. Some of our clients have never fought a king or coho in their life. The shock of the fight and the pure strength of these fish is remarkable. After all, they have spent all this time out in the ocean bulking up and prepping for their journey upriver. When you float down one of these Forks rivers, you see a portion of the journey these fish must take to get to their spawning grounds. It is eye-opening, to say the least. The biological makeup of these fish and what they put their body through to fulfill their lifecycle is amazing to see.
The rivers in the Forks area (and elsewhere on the coast) are very close to the ocean, which makes this the start of their freshwater journey upriver, thus, the strength and the quality of the fish. The genetics are to be treasured and protected. They are very large here and chrome in color, sometimes just hours out of the salt, which also means these fish will cut nicely with firm and often great fat content throughout the meat.
Not only is the quality of the fish excellent, but the fight is also a wild ride. Watching a bobber go down, followed by a perfect hookset (by either the client or us guides, who then hand it off) starts the adrenaline that everyone is looking for during these trips. The rush of, “Is that a log? A bag of bricks?” happens and then the head shakes start. You are
You won’t find any vampires or werewolves in these parts, but there’s plenty of real wildlife, including bald eagles. (AMANDA WILES)
FISHING
hooked in, and you better hold on for a ride with these OP fish!
We once had a client who has fished with us many times come out and tell us she wanted a big king this trip. We spent all day going downriver slowly, picking off just a few fish here and there. We came to the final stretch of the day and my husband hooked into a good fish. He handed the rod off to her and she quickly tried to catch up with the
fish and hold on for dear life. This fish was not happy about the surprise hook in his glorious cluster of eggs. After making some very aggressive head shakes that ultimately also shook the smallframed angler, he took off. Not just a small run, either; this fish peeled line like he was being chased by Michael Myers. The client yelled out, “Where the heck is he going!?” while trying desperately to keep a hold of the rod.
We laughed, and I said, “He’s fixin’ to go back into the ocean, girl; hold on!” We all laughed and soon he slowed down, and she was able to regain the fight with the fish.
When she finally was able to get that fish to the boat, he was a beautiful buck with sea lice still on him. As she stood exhausted from the fight but gleaming with joy and accomplishment, I snapped a picture of her with her trophy fish. She had
Angie Biggerstaff got exactly what she was looking for on an OlyPen float – a big king. This one nearly went back to the ocean before she finally turned its head and ultimately guided it into the net. (AMANDA WILES)
FISHING
gotten what she came here for, and maybe a little more aggressively than she anticipated. This is a perfect example of why we love this fishery.
IN BETWEEN THE fishing action, there are always conversations. Some of the best conversations I have had have been on a boat with clients. The fish stories, hunting stories, life in general – there is so much to share and connect with people. What better place to do this than in a beautiful setting like this in nature? This is part of fishing – connecting to others with similar interests and sharing these experiences and joys.
We have had the privilege of connecting with so many wonderful people. Connecting over losses in life, joys in life, and everything between. I believe this is a big part of a guided fishing trip. You are paying for knowledge, learning and to be entertained. We love every part of this and enjoy our time shared with clients who soon become friends to us and repeat clients. Not only for a good time on the boat, but for this specific fishery as well.
AS OUR DAY ends, and we reach the takeout, I am always torn between wanting to continue to fish and wanting to go take a shower and not move for 15 hours after eating a giant pizza. Fifteen hours may be an exaggeration, but one can dream.
Author Amanda Wiles writes what many feel this time of year. “I will always treasure our time spent in the Olympic Peninsula and feel blessed to fish and share these fall runs.” (AMANDA WILES)
One feeling always trumps the joy of having spent time on the river with wonderful company. As we take time to gather all the fish up for pictures, those same joyous faces appear, and those smiles make these long days on the water worth every minute. I love ending the day chatting over how much fun the trip was, or what amazing fish was caught, what amazing wildlife we saw and how unbelievable the scenery. It truly is a special place and remarkable fishery.
I will always treasure our time spent in the Olympic Peninsula and feel blessed to fish and share these fall runs.
NS
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How I Preserve And Serve Salmon
For me and the majority of my friends and fellow anglers living throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, the thought of a fishing adventure that includes the catching, bonking, bleeding, cleaning, fileting, cooking, canning, smoking and finally the eating of these delicious fish is what represents the complete package – a successful fishing adventure.
The combination of all or most of the above list is what many anglers cherish about living or visiting here and why we participate in the sport of fishing.
But if you’re new to this sport, realize that after the high-fives and photos of you holding your catch are completed, the first thing you need to do (in conjunction with filling out your harvest tag) is to bonk and bleed the salmon you just caught. You can do this by breaking loose or cutting one or more gill rakers located at the fish’s throat; they’re just behind the gill plate. If
BUZZ RAMSEY
Fishing guide Bill Monroe Jr. shows off a few of the fish author Buzz Ramsey and crew caught during a Buoy 10 outing. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
Most boat anglers bleed their fish in a bucket filled halfway with water before icing the catch in a kill bag or insulated cooler. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
COLUMN
you intend to eat your catch fresh (before freezing), it’s best to clean and/or filet your prize soon after your trip ends. Realize, though, fresh-caught fish will only keep in the refrigerator for up to five days.
FILETING
Fileting salmon is easy if you have a sharp filet knife and a flat tabletop working area. Here’s how. After slitting the belly from anus to throat, and with the fish lying on its side and its back facing toward you, cut downward (90 degrees to the fish) just rear of the head and gill, until you feel your blade hit the backbone. Then, turn your knife blade parallel to the backbone and while angling the blade slightly downward, cut lengthwise using the fish’s backbone to guide your knife blade through the fish. There are two methods for removing the belly bones. One is to cut through them as you guide your blade lengthwise down the backbone, flip the side filet over (skin side down) and filet the belly bones away from the meat with your knife while leaving as much meat as possible on the filet. The other method is to filet the sides and belly bones away in mostly one step. Here’s how: After making your first lengthwise cut, with the tip of your knife riding just past the backbone about halfway down the fish (where the belly cavity ends), before pushing your blade all the way through the fish and fileting the
full width of the tail section away from the backbone, you can then go back to the shoulder area, lift the filet upward (away from the backbone) and trim the belly (rib) bones away from the side filet as you lift and cut.
No matter which method you use, you’ll still have a small row of lateral bones that run lengthwise starting at the fish’s shoulder and running about halfway down each side filet. Some anglers pull these bones out with a pair of pliers or – we do this – filet them out while using a really sharp knife.
FILETING FOR EATING, SMOKING OR BOTH
What I often do when fileting salmon is separate what many refer to as the “tips” for smoking and main body meat for cooking.
The tips (being rich in Omega-3 oil makes them the best for smoking) consist of the collars and a couple of inch-wide lengthwise cuts from the belly portion of the fish. These go in my brine for smoking right away while we often consume the body meat fresh, or vacuum pack it before freezing.
EATING SALMON
Over the years, my wife Maggie and I have settled on a few salmon recipes that we keep coming back to. Of course, placing a filet on the barbecue is one way to go, which we sometimes cook on a presoaked hickory plank as a way to add smoke flavor to our dinner.
Another recipe that we enjoy is to broil a boneless, skinless filet of salmon. It’s easy; just place your filet on a section of aluminum foil atop your broil pan. Broil until the filet is just cooked through (don’t overdo it), then break the meat up with a spatula and sprinkle the filet with ground garlic, onion and black pepper, before spreading a thin layer of mayonnaise on top of the fish.
It’s important to then place it back under the broiler until the mayonnaise starts to brown and melt into the fish. It only takes three to five minutes for the mayo to begin to brown. Tip: Don’t overcook it. This is best served on a bed of rice along with your favorite vegetable.
SMOKING SALMON
There are many great dry and wet brine recipes you can use prior to smoking your salmon. All consist of salt and sugar,
Although Ramsey bled and iced this salmon right away, he chose not to gut it but instead just fileted it without gutting – after slitting the belly open. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
Another option is to filet the whole fish for smoking. Here, Ramsey cut inch-wide lengthwise strips sized long enough to fit the racks on his smoker. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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COLUMN
It usually takes about eight to 10 minutes for the fish to cook through when broiling. Break the justcooked filet up with your spatula before seasoning and spreading with mayonnaise. Then place the filet back under the broiler until the mayo begins to soak into the meat and turn brown. Serve over a bed of rice and with your favorite veggies. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
sometimes in combination with other spices or tasty liquids like a half cup of soy or teriyaki sauce, a cup of your favorite fruit juice or one of the fruity wines. The salt cures the meat and helps carry the smoke flavor into the fish. The sugar counteracts the natural bitter taste of the salt. What we use is a simple brine and add spices along with a thin coating of sugar after the brining and air-drying process.
The wet brine we use consists of a half gallon of water, half cup of non-iodized salt and a cup of sugar. Brown sugar works good too. This is the right amount for 10 to 20 pounds of fish.
Premix these ingredients in a stainless steel or plastic container (not aluminum) and immerse your filets into the mixture skin side up. Then place your container into the refrigerator (or cooler with ice) for a minimum of six hours or overnight, stirring at least once during the brining process.
You will want to rinse your fish thoroughly in cold water after removing it from the brine before letting it drain and patting it dry with paper towels. It’s then that you place the
filets on your smokehouse racks skin side down. To achieve the best texture and color, let your filets air dry for two to three hours before placing them in your smokehouse.
This drying process forms what’s called the pellicle on the meat, which when slightly tacky helps the smoke particles adhere to the fish. In addition, allowing your fish to air dry until tacky enhances the color, texture and flavor of your fish, and is the secret of many fish-smoking enthusiasts. Once the pellicle has formed, you can then sprinkle favorite spices, like ground garlic and/or onion along with black pepper, onto your fish. We often top these spices off with a sprinkling of sugar. Some smoking enthusiasts coat their fish with brown sugar.
While there are many different smokers available on the market, the one we like best is the Little Chief-brand electric smokehouse. Oh, we’ll use the larger Big Chief model when we have a large load of fish to smoke or during the winter months when it’s cold outside. You see, the bigger model runs a little hotter than the littler one. The reason we like the Big and Little Chief products is because they don’t dry our fish out too quickly so we can obtain just the right amount of texture and doneness. For us, this means smoking
until the meat is just starting to firm up.
With this electric smoker, the smoking and curing process will take six to 12 hours, depending on the outside temperature, thickness of meat and quantity. What we mostly do is time things so that we can burn a couple pans of smoker wood chips during the evening time period and then let the smoker do its job of drying the fish overnight, while we’re sleeping. We just unplug our fish smoker in the morning after checking for the doneness we like.
FREEZING FILETS
When it comes to wood chips, hickory is our favorite, but we have many friends who like the milder taste of apple, cherry or alder wood chips. While mesquite wood imparts a very distinct, aggressive flavor that we sometimes use for venison jerky or adding smoke flavor to ribs or steaks, we have found it’s just too strong tasting for fish.
After the smoking process is complete, we allow our filets to cool and then store them in a brown paper bag with several paper towels folded at the bottom. Handled this way, smoked fish will keep in the refrigerator for a few weeks – but normally it disappears much sooner!
Surprisingly to some, frozen fish lends itself particularly well to the smoking process. You see, freezing causes cell tissue to burst, so fish that have been frozen (even if only overnight) takes on the flavor of the brine ingredients and wood smoke
Speaking of freezing, it’s what most anglers do to preserve their catch beyond eating it fresh. You should realize that unlike beef or venison, fish will not stay fresh tasting after freezing for more than a few weeks unless it’s vacuum packed, frozen in barbecue sauce or the entire fish is frozen whole, without cutting or gutting, except for bleeding the fish soon after catching it.
Freezing your fish in barbecue sauce will keep it fresh tasting for up to six months. This is a quick and inexpensive way to keep fish you intend to barbecue fresh tasting for an extended time period, providing you like the taste of barbecue sauce.
What works is to place one or two filets into a zip-top freezer bag and cover all exposed meat with barbecue sauce (two to three cups is what might be needed) before freezing. If freezing two filets in the same bag, try arranging them meat side to meat side, with the skin facing the outside of the bag. Add enough barbecue sauce between and around the filets to cover all exposed meat, then fold the bag over, expel all air and zip the bag shut before placing it in your freezer.
After thawing, rinse the used barbecue sauce away with cold water and pat dry the
fish with paper towels. You can then cook the salmon any number of ways, but given that the barbecue flavor has permeated the meat you might like it best barbecued. If so, just place your side filet on the grill skin side down. You can add a fresh coating of barbecue sauce if you like. Cook until just done before using a spatula to lift the filet away from the skin for serving.
FREEZING SALMON WHOLE
Most anglers are surprised to hear my favorite way to store fish for an extended period is to freeze them whole, without gutting or fileting. I just bleed my salmon out, hold them on ice during transport, put them into a plastic bag and tape the open end shut. You should get as much air as possible out of the bag. A tall-size kitchen bag works for salmon up to 15 pounds.
This quick and easy method will keep fish fresh tasting for as long as eight months. As an example, I’ve got several spring Chinook frozen whole in my freezer now waiting for the Christmas season. We do this every year; there is just something special about enjoying fresh spring Chinook during the holidays.
As part of this drying process, and prior to placing the fish in the smoker, Ramsey and wife Maggie sprinkle their salmon with ground garlic and onion, black pepper and finally a coating of sugar. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
The finished product. Note the spices the Ramseys sprinkled on the fish. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
When thawing, it’s important to warm your fish slowly by placing your frozen salmon in a kill bag or water-filled cooler the day before. As long as the temperature (think garage during winter) is in the mid40s, you can leave a whole salmon on a flat spot to thaw. Thawing too quickly will cause the meat to lose its firm texture.
Once thawed, it’s important to scrape or brush all slime away. Doing so eliminates any freezer taste that might have accumulated on the outside of your fish. It’s then that you filet as though your salmon were caught that day. Trust me, if done correctly, it will taste like it’s fresh-caught. 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.
Thanks to its high sugar and salt content, barbecue sauce will protect fish meat from freezer burn. Ramsey also freezes his fish whole to preserve for later use. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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Farewell For
Her time at the mouth of the Umpqua River this season ended earlier than she would have liked because of restrictions that shut down fall Chinook and coho fishing, but author Sara Potter’s hope is that it’s only a one-year hiccup. (SARA POTTER)
COLUMN
Now
Ihave come to realize some farewells in life are harder than others. When you are a passionate person, you feel things deeper than most people and, in all reality, this is both a blessing and a curse. Living life in a new way working at the mouth of this river has been so good for me. This latest growth I have been blessed with couldn’t have come from any other place. I stepped far away from the comfort of the rocks up the North Umpqua that made me and into the brackish waters of the estuary. Fate led me to the mouth, but without me actually biting what was presented, I would be living a completely different life.
FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG
By Sara Potter
I suppose I’m not normal in many ways, as my heart calls the shots more so than my brain 89 percent of the time. Not that my brain isn’t capable and a huge attribute in who I am, but my heart, she runs this show. If I had a choice in the matter, though, I wouldn’t change a thing. It just sometimes is hard on me to accept things or to let things go.
ADAPTING TO THIS environment around me, I have learned so many new things about this river, how it works and why. Where the Umpqua meets the sea is far different than where my upriver roots were established so very long ago. Learning how the ocean and the river work together – and sometimes against each other – has made a better fall fisher out of me, no doubt. There is so much meaning to conditions when fishing near the coast or in brackish water.
Since I learn best in a hands-on setting, spending five months of my life a year on the coast has been most ideal. In years past I understood the fishing and what it took to make the fish bite for the most part. But, I realize now, it was only a partial education. Now I understand ocean conditions, tides and what they mean. With this newfound knowledge I have gained even more respect for fall fishing than I ever had before.
And I did so without the opportunity to fish my river for fall Chinook this year. No glorious thunk of my lead hitting the river’s floor. No beautiful takedowns full of such conviction that the line peeled off the reel
COLUMN
before I even had the rod in my hands – none of it. I would hate to see this knowledge and passion that has come to me all for naught. I can accept this year and its heavily restricted fall Chinook season for what it was, but I can’t say farewell to the fish forever.
I MOST DEFINITELY know that Salmon Harbor holds a piece of my heart. I’m just too deep and too passionate for it not to.
Where she was once firmly grounded in North Umpqua fisheries, her sojourns to the coast where she works at a tackle shop and fishes the estuary have taught Potter there’s much more to her river system, making her a stronger overall advocate for its salmon and what they provide. (SARA POTTER)
and-so to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, but I am saying we need to come together and speak up before it’s too late. If by chance this watershed isn’t your big backyard, just know you still need to speak up because it could happen to you at any time.
As I say farewell to this bay community for now, I would like to reach out to my readers in hopes that this farewell is only for the season. I encourage we the people to have our voices heard. We must fight for what we believe in when it comes to today’s fisheries. We cannot just let such incredible rivers and fish become nothing more than the pages of history.
I’m not saying to be a pompous so-
I know in my gut these quotas like what was implemented on the Umpqua for its fall Chinook season are going to become part of our lives, in which our freedom to simply fish will not be like it once was. We fishermen need to help ODFW see the many angles that must be taken into consideration when it comes to this type of adaptive management. I believe where our biologists are falling short, we fishermen can also help the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission see things because we are out here living it.
You never know the difference you can make until you try. You never know when a simple farewell might actually become very permanent. So, both in life and in fishing, show up, be present and let those and what really matters to you most know it. It is more important than you think. My heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it even if I tried. NS
