There are two opening seasons this weekend. First the duck, coot and snipe seasons reopen on Saturday, Oct. 19, after being closed for two days. Second, the pheasant season opens tomorrow and will remain open until Jan.12.

The general modern firearm deer season continues through Sunday, Oct. 20.

My plan was to have a complete report on hunter success from last weekend, but Fish and Wildlife could not provide one.

However, several 2-point deer have been delivered for grinding and distribution of the meat. Why such a rash of illegal deer taken this year? Don't know. Hunters need to make sure the buck has 3-points on at least one side for it to be legal in most areas of eastern Washington.

An enforcement officer brought in a 2-point with a three-quarter inch eye-guard. My first thought was to give the hunter some slack, as it was just a quarter inch short. Then I regained the proper reasoning. Don't shoot unless you are sure the eye guard is at least an inch long. If it is short or questionable, don't shoot.

Continuing seasons include quail chukar and Huns, crow, forest grouse. Upcoming seasons include the modern firearm elk season from Oct. 26 through Nov. 13 or 15 depending upon the area.

Also the late fall turkey season, which opens Nov. 20 and runs through Dec. 15 in Game Management Units 105 through 154 and 162 through 186. The limit is one turkey of either sex.

Good luck to all. Remember when in the Great Outdoors, have fun, but be careful out there.

Lower Hanford Reach anglers may now retain any hatchery steelhead

Fish and Wildlife has opened a section of the Columbia River to retention of any hatchery steelhead from Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco upstream to the old Hanford townsite wooden powerline towers. The effective date was Friday, Oct. 17.

The daily limit of is two hatchery steelhead. Hatchery steelhead are identified by a missing adipose fin with a healed scar in its location. The minimum size is 20 inches.

Wild steelhead, those fish with adipose fin intact, must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.

This action removes the requirement for both an adipose fin clip and ventral fin clip for hatchery steelhead retained prior to Nov. 1. The Lower Hanford Reach will remain open for hatchery steelhead fishing after Oct. 31 under the current permanent regulation listed in the 2013-14 fishing rules pamphlet (Page 73) and is scheduled to run through March 31, 2014.

Hatchery-origin steelhead in excess of desired escapement are forecast to return to the upper Columbia River. This fishery will reduce the number of excess hatchery-origin steelhead and consequently increase the proportion of natural-origin steelhead on the spawning grounds. Higher proportions of naturally produced spawners are expected to improve genetic integrity and recruitment of upper Columbia River steelhead through perpetuation of steelhead stocks with the greatest natural-origin lineage.

Steelhead fisheries for hatchery steelhead (adipose clip only) have recently opened in the upper Columbia and tributaries allowing early retention of adipose clip only steelhead in the lower Hanford Reach.

Fish and Wildlife seeking volunteers

WDFW is seeking volunteer assistance for a shrub planting project in the Gloyd Seeps Unit of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area on Nov. 9 and 10. The primary purpose of the planting is to improve habitat for upland game birds and mule deer. We will be planting approx. 4,500 shrubs and expect the effort to take at least 2 days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

We will meet at the Spud Field, northwest access point at 9 a.m. on the 9th, or just arrive whenever you can. We will likely work until about 4p.m. on Saturday and no later than 4 p.m. on Sunday. Some wrapping up may occur on Tuesday the 12th, if needed, so if you'd like to participate during the week let me know and I'll contact you if it is needed. Dress to get dirty and possibly wet. Bring waterproof boots along if you have them, or we can put you to work on dry ground. The road is rough, so a pickup is recommended. We can make accommodations if needed.

If you are interested in participating for any of these days, please RSVP to Rich Finger (fingersf@dfw.wa.gov) by Nov. 1st. Time worked will count towards a complimentary discover pass, (please let me know if you'll need a voucher for hours, I have a limited supply but can order more if needed) or master hunter hours.

To summarize, if you're interested I need to know: Which days you are willing to work, including Tuesday the 12th if we aren't done; whether you need a discovery pass voucher and if you need a ride from Road 16 (gravel county road) to the project site

Contact Rich S. Finger, District Wildlife Biologist, WDFW Ephrata Regional Office at 754-2624, ext. 229.

Hydraulic Code comments wanted

Fish and Wildlife will accept public comments through Nov. 15 on proposed updates to the Hydraulic Code, which governs construction work in and around state waters.

As part of that effort, WDFW has scheduled seven public meetings in October and early November to discuss with the public the proposed rule changes.

Hydraulic Code rules were last updated in 1994, with the exception of those for mineral prospecting, which were updated in 2008.

The proposed rule changes would update the requirements to stay current with fish science and design technology, streamline the review process for Hydraulic Permit Applications (HPA), and remain consistent with state law.

Six general-focus public meetings will run from 6-8 p.m. and are scheduled for: Oct. 17 - WDFW's Mill Creek Office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek; Oct. 24 - Natural Resource Building Room 172, 1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia; Oct. 28 - Center Place Event Center, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley; Oct. 29 - Grant County Public Works, 124 Enterprise St. SE, Ephrata; Oct. 30 - Moxee City Hall, 255 W. Seattle Ave., Moxee; Nov. 4 - Water Resources Center, 4600 Columbia Way SE, Vancouver.

A seventh public meeting focused solely on mineral prospecting will be held in Olympia on Oct. 23 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 1111 Washington Street in Natural Resources Building Room 172.

The proposed rules - as well as information for submitting comments via mail, email, and online submission - are available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/hpa/rulemaking/.

The Hydraulic Code rules dictate the HPA process, which has been in place since 1943 to ensure projects such as bulkheads, docks, and culverts meet state standards for fish and wildlife protection.