Fish & Feathers Check for smoke before heading east

Published 12:35 pm Tuesday, September 1, 2015

For those heading over east of the mountains for the opening of dove hunting or the opening of other types of hunting in the near future — carefully check out your locations before you go.

As far as doves are concerned, it appears that the fires up north have pushed many additional birds into the Yakima Valley. The valley is said to be clearing out of smoke, but who knows what is to come in the next week.

For those who use the Yakima Indian Reservation campground for RVs and tenting, be advised that the campground will not be there next season. It is closing and will be used for another function by the tribe — possibly a hotel.

As far as other campgrounds go, many of our past favorite spots up around Twisp, Winthrop and Carson are gone and only God knows where the animals have fled for protection.

How will these fires affect the deer migration from Canada? Which way will they go? Only time will tell. Much of that area is so thick with brush that a good fire in the long run will probably be of benefit to man and beast alike. But in the meantime, it provides grief, financial loss and hardships for local residents.

Over the years that we have hunted in Eastern Washington, we have met only the kindest and hospitable souls that you can imagine. It is with true sorrow we consider those residents who live in that beautiful, pristine countryside that has been ravaged by fire. This was truly country that housed big bucks, driven down from the north the by the Canadian migration of deer. The deer living and migrating through there are truly some monster Whitetails and muleys, enough to make any hunter’s adenine rise.

Fishermen in the Columbia River continue to take big fish even after wild Chinook retention was shut down on Aug. 24. Pictured here is Ocean Park resident John Horsley with a nice king salmon with a clipped adipose fin. Horsley is showing off as he does every year, and rightly so.

Albacore fishing is at its finest, when the weather is cooperating. The charter boat Shake ‘n Bake reports a full boat every time out. I assume that other tuna boats are having the same success.

We will be heading east of the mountains for our annual dove-hunting trip, the one that makes monkeys out of all us “big-time hunters.” So see you next week.

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