Christmas Eve 2012 was a good day for Peter Steffens and his father, Dr. Thomas Steffens. The father and son team brought home five ducks after an outing with Ecternkamp's Guide Service, 766-6791, on Potholes Reservoir.

Peter writes the front page advertorials for the Columbia Basin Herald and also sells CBH newspaper subscriptions.

The pair downed five ducks, all mallards, with the count at three for Peter and two for Thomas. Peter describes getting the ducks from, "The grocery store of God."

Peter's account of the outing:

"Ecternkamp's Guide Service provided the boat, transportation, decoys, duck calling, a duck retrieving dog named Babs.

"The total harvest was six ducks with two mallard hens and four mallard drakes in the bag. Our guide shot one duck and Dad and I the rest.

"I used a Remington pump action shotgun with 3- inch shells while Dad used a Remington over-under with 2 ?-inch shells. Our guide used a Benelli pump action shotgun with 3-inch shells.

"After the hunt, we worked as a team to pluck and butcher the birds. We salted the breasts to remove excess blood overnight in the refrigerator. The meat was cooked for 15 minutes on medium heat on Christmas, Boxing Day and Dec. 27.

"My three meals were eaten with the ducks cooked with butter, salt and pepper and a glass of Porto wine. Dad did a marinade with a variety of seasonings and dressings for his meals."

Way to go Peter, Thomas, too.

Fishing

March 1 opener three weeks from today. Anyone else headed for Martha Lake? This popular lake near George is sure to be extra busy if the weather is pleasant and just busy if the weather is not so pleasant.

Hunting

The spring turkey season will open April 15.

Fish and Wildlife ask for input about Fish Washington logo

Anglers and others can help Fish and Wildlife select a new graphical theme for its "Fish Washington" campaign.

People can help choose a pair of new logos that will identify Fish Washington on the web and in other applications at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/washington/vote.php. Voting will be open through February.

Chris Donley, WDFW inland fish program manager, said the department is planning other improvements to its Fish Washington campaign, which currently includes an online guide to a variety of fishing opportunities throughout the state.

"We're looking for the public's input on these logos, designed to symbolize the state's many great fishing opportunities," Donley said. "The updated graphic will not only identify the online fishing guide but may also be used by Fish and Wildlife to market fishing opportunities in the state on a number of other platforms."

Salmon meeting set for March 1

Anglers, commercial fishers and others interested in Washington state salmon fisheries can get a preview of this year's salmon returns and potential fishing seasons during a public meeting for March 1 in Olympia.

Kicking off the annual salmon season-setting process, Fish and Wildlife will present initial forecasts, compiled by state and tribal biologists, of 2013 salmon returns.

The meeting is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room 172 of the Natural Resources Building,1111 Washington Street S.E., in Olympia.

Those attending the meeting will have an opportunity to talk to fishery managers about the pre-season forecasts and participate in work sessions focusing on possible salmon fisheries and conservation issues.

Fish and Wildlife has also scheduled additional public meetings focusing on regional salmon issues through early April. This series of meetings, involving representatives from federal, state and tribal governments and recreational and commercial fishing industries, is known as the North of Falcon process.

The North of Falcon process is held in conjunction with public meetings conducted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, responsible for establishing fishing seasons in ocean water three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast.

Final adoption of the 2013 salmon fisheries is scheduled for April 11 at the PFMC meeting in Portland.