The modern firearm deer season begins on Saturday, Oct. 17, one week from tomorrow. A bunch of deer hunters are excited about this event, including me.

Ducks and geese

The duck and goose season also opens in a week. Duck and goose hunters need to read the hunting pamphlet, as there is a closure and then the season reopens.

The quail, chukar and Hungarian partridge hunting seasons are open. The limit is 10 mixed bag per day for quail and six chukar and six Huns a day.

Doves

The mourning dove season is ongoing, due to end on Oct. 30. The limit is 15 per day.

Planning ahead: State Parks offers 12 ‘free days’ to visitors in 2016

No Discover Pass needed to visit parks on designated days

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announced Friday, Jan. 1 is the first of 12 “free days” in 2016 when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass to visit a state park.

The “free days” are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass. The pass costs for a $30 annual pass or $10 for a one-day permit and is required for vehicle access to state recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources.

The Discover Pass legislation provided State Parks could designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The free days apply only at state parks; the Discover Pass is still required on WDFW and DNR lands.

“We are happy to offer the free days to give folks a chance to check out some of the parks,” said State Parks Director Don Hoch. “We hope that the free days give people a taste of the parks that are out there to enjoy and that they will consider buying a pass to support the park system. We appreciate our pass holders and really depend on revenue from the Discover Pass program to keep operating parks.”

The 2016 State Parks free days are as follows: January 1 – (Thursday) New Year’s Day and State Parks’ First Day Hikes Day; January 17 and 18 – (Sunday and Monday) Martin Luther King Jr. Day; March 19 – (Saturday) Washington State Parks’ 103rd birthday.

Also March 26 – (Saturday) A springtime free Saturday; April 22 – (Friday) Earth Day; May 8 – (Sunday) A springtime free Sunday; June 4 – (Saturday) National Trails Day; June 11 – (Saturday) National Get Outdoors Day.

Also Aug. 25 – (Thursday) National Park Service 100th birthday; Sept. 24 – (Saturday) National Public Lands Day and Nov. 11 – (Friday) Veterans Day.