Fish & Feathers: A belated happy Veterans Day

Published 11:24 am Tuesday, November 17, 2015

While we missed last week’s issue of the newspaper, we still want to wish you a happy Veterans Day to all of you who have served in wars, conflicts, police actions and all other ordeals that have taken you away from family and loved ones in the service of your country. Special prayers for those who did not return.

Each of us should give our thanks to the young men and women who serve in the many branches of the military. We truly appreciate your sacrifice.

For those of us who share our freedom, it is that time of year when there many activities to enjoy.

Although delayed, there hopefully will be a clam season sometime during the month of December. Recreational crabbing is probably at its peak before the commercial pots hit the water and decent weather prevails.

For bird hunters, there are plenty of open blinds available at the Riekkola Unit on the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. Also on the refuge, at the South Bay there are many geese and ducks of all kinds in flight. Upland bird season is open in many parts of the state. In Eastern Washington, the migration is in early form, with mostly wood ducks and widgeon in movement.

Various forms of elk and deer hunting — muzzle loader, rifle and archery — are open in different areas. Consult WDFW for season regulations.

A special license plate featuring a steelhead — the official fish of Washington — could be available if the proposal for the new plate is approved by the state Legislature. Before the Legislature can consider the proposal, state law requires the WDFW to show that people intend to purchase at least 3,500 plates, which would be available for cars, trucks, motorcycles and trailers.

People interested in purchasing steelhead plates can submit a signature and indicate the number of plates they would likely purchase on WDFW’s website at wdfw.wa.gov/license_ plates/steelhead/.

Submitting a signature is not an obligation to buy a plate

Ron Malast can be reached at 665-3573 or raiders7777@centurylink.net.