From Fish and Wildlife:

Dove hunting season opened Sept. 1 and the Columbia Basin is one of the best places in the state to participate. Fish and Wildlife Biologist Finger expects dove hunting to be good but, as always, it's highly dependent on weather conditions.

"Unstable weather often redistributes birds significantly," he said. "Hunters may improve their success by securing access to wheat fields for the morning hunt and traditional roosting areas, such as large stands of trees near water and agricultural fields, for the evening hunt."

Roost site hunting can be found on the north and west sides of Potholes Reservoir, the east side of Winchester Lake and throughout the Desert Unit of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area.

The bag limit is 10 per day and 20 in possession. Remember, the European collared dove does not count as part of the mourning dove limit. This means if a hunter shoots five mourning doves and then a European collared dove, the hunter is able to shoot five more mourning doves.

This person will have 11 doves, but only 10, the limit, mourning doves. The collared doves are larger than the mourning doves and they have a black line or collar, around their neck.

Dove hunting prospects in the Chelan and Okanogan districts are even more dependent on warm weather holding birds in the area through the month-long season. The number and distribution of Conservation Reserve Program, (CRP) fields has increased in Douglas County over the past few years, so scouting those habitats might provide new unexploited hunting areas.

Looking for doves in planted food crops in the Sinlahekin and Chiliwist Wildlife Areas.

Forest grouse hunting also opened Sept. 1, and usually is productive in both the Okanogan and Chelan districts, with populations of ruffed, blue and spruce grouse in forested areas. Forest grouse prospects should be good and similar to last year, although spring rains may have negatively affected chick survival in isolated locations.

Biologists suggest grouse hunters improve their chances by searching out areas where fewer hunters concentrate. Chelan County has a relatively limited road system within grouse habitat, so hunters can increase their chances by hunting areas on foot, away from roads and most other hunters.

For those wanting to go high for a buck

The modern firearm high buck hunting season runs Sept. 15-25 and includes the region's wilderness areas. The Pasayten Wilderness is expected to offer good mule deer buck harvest opportunities. Summer's hot, dry weather and scattered thunderstorms have generated wildfire activity, however, so hunters are advised to check with the Okanogan National Forest for trail closures or other restrictions.

Sept. 22-23 is the special youth-only waterfowl and upland game bird hunt that offers hunters under 16 a jump start on the general hunts that open later this fall. Non-hunting adults at least 18 years of age must accompany young hunters and should note all the special weekend season rules. Read the Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons pamphlet.

Although Grant County in the Columbia basin is ranked number one in the state for duck and geese harvest, along with doves and pheasants, waterfowlers are reminded that the early youth hunt is focused on resident birds. Waterfowl hunting improves later in the general season when migrating birds arrive from the north.

A first-time, special pheasant hunting opportunity is available Sept. 24-28, for hunters 65 years of age or older only. Dennis note: Hurray, I'm planning on hunting every day.

While many hunters feel pheasant release sites are the only areas where they can harvest pheasants, released birds made up barely 22 percent of the total harvest in Grant County last year. The total reported 2011 pheasant harvest was 13,245 birds, while only 2,850 pheasants were released in the county.

Hunters are reminded that non-toxic shot is required for all upland bird hunting on all pheasant release sites statewide to protect other wildlife species including waterfowl and raptors.

Other hunting seasons

Cougar

The early cougar hunting season is also open and scheduled to continue through Dec. 31. The late cougar season will begin on Jan. 1 and continue through March 31. Any legal weapon may be used in both seasons.

So why two seasons with the second beginning the day after the first ends? Starting Jan. 1, hunt areas may meet or exceed the harvest guideline and may close. When hunting cougar after Jan. 1, confirm the cougar season is open in the area you want to hunt by calling 866-364-4868.

Game Management Unit has a harvest guideline of seven to nine cougars, with an average harvest of seven. The GMU 105 numbers are two for the guideline and four for the average harvest. GMUs 108 and 111 numbers are five to six and four.

The GMU 113 guideline is four to six with an average of five. GMU 117 numbers are six to eight and four. The two main GMUs I hunt have no harvest guideline and average seven.

This writing does not show all of the GMUs and numbers, so be sure and check the Big Game Pamphlet. However, the numbers are quite revealing to us.

This change in the cougar seasons is a great improvement. Instead of having archery only in one season, muzzleloader in another season and then modern firearm in another season, any legal weapon is allowed from Sept. 1 through March 31. The restrictions begin with the second season when each hunter needs to check to make sure the season hasn't closed because of the number of animals taken.