The Eagle Outdoors

As a boy growing up in the northeast corner of Ohio in the 70s, I loved everything about October. I loved the way the pin oaks, hickories, beech, and maples changed colors, quietly donning their seasonal hues of red and orange and yellow. I loved the crisp chilly mornings delivered with the promise of mid-afternoon warmth. I loved the frequent flights of restless Canada geese and the flurry of stockpiling activity among the neighborhood fox squirrels. Growing up in the Midwest was wonderful, nay magical.

It's nice here, too. I will admit it's a little bit heavy on the 'green,' especially during October when we, or at least by way of my Midwestern mind, should be changing from Palette A to Palette B. Still, we do have the alders and their yellows. The vine maples cloaked in crimson. Just yesterday, Julie and I were treated to the sound of southward travelling white-fronted geese. A day or two ago, there were sandhill cranes. Now, the little geese, the lessers and the cacklers and Aleutians, having left Alaska, are passing high overhead daily. So, even though we're not as colorful as southern Ohio's stairstep into Appalachia, it's still awful darn nice out here, especially in October.

It's a busy time in the outdoors now. The critters are busy; we humans are busy, finishing up, setting aside, heading afield. Many moving parts right now as we wind down 2025 and wonder just what 2026 has in store for us.

Deer, elk, and waterfowl seasons

At the time I'm jotting these notes, we're officially four days into muzzleloader deer season, which began on Saturday, Sept. 27, and will continue through Sunday, Oct. 5. This, for those chasing blacktails here locally, is followed by a modern firearm (rifle) season beginning Saturday, Oct. 11 and ending on Halloween, with a brief four-day reopening, aka Late Buck Season, from Nov. 13-16.

Elk muzzleloader season will open on Saturday, Oct. 4, and run through Oct. 10, with a modern firearm opportunity, again here locally, from Nov. 1-12. Waterfowl hunters will enjoy a split season, the first portion running Oct. 11-19 and then continuous from Oct. 22, 2025 through Jan. 25, 2026.

I mention these dates not so much to inform the hunters in the area who, at least theoretically, should have this calendar committed to memory but, rather more so, for those of you who don't choose to hunt. Given these dates, you'll have a 'heads up' – an explanation, that is – for the BOOMS you're hearing around Puget Island or the influx of orange-clad individuals standing at the register at Gragg's, arms full of Monster energy drinks, pizza pockets, and Slim Jims. It happens every October, as most of you know, and it's part of the reason I love the 'Halloween month' so dearly. That, and free candy.

The Birds!

Now's the time to start thinking about the birds. If you haven't done it already, now's the time to be cleaning those seed bird feeders. Give 'em a good dry scrubbing, getting rid of any old seed, mold, crud, and corruption that might be present. While you're at it, check to make sure the string, chain, wire – whatever the feeder is supported with – is intact and in good shape. Replace, obviously, if necessary. Also, any hardware (e.g. screw eyes or fasteners) should get a look at this time, too.

Let's not forget the hummingbirds. Our liquid feeders get disassembled, scrubbed inside and out with hot soapy (Dawn) water, rinsed thoroughly, and set to dry. FYI – You can make your own hummingbird feed, sans red dyes, using traditional (not Himalayan) granulated sugar and distilled (no chlorine/fluoride) water in a one-part sugar/four-parts water ratio. Replace the sugar feed often. If you leave it for too long, it begins to ferment and turn to alcohol. Nobody wants to be responsible for sending a little Anna's to AA.

Sturgeon survey

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is currently asking folks to participate in an interesting online survey. The following is from the WDFW newsroom: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public input on white sturgeon recreational fisheries in Washington waters. The survey asks about fishing participation and preferences on possible rule changes including season timing, area closures, limited-entry permits, gear restrictions, and retention or catch-and-release fisheries. Survey responses will help inform potential updates to statewide sturgeon fishing regulations and guide how the WDFW balances angling opportunities with conservation and harvest limits.

For more information and to participate in the survey, which could potentially result in some limited retention opportunities, visit engage.wdfw.wa.gov/sturgeon.

Clam digs in early October

Attention, Long Beach clammers: your first round of digs for fall 2025 begins the evening of Monday, Oct. 6, with a -0.2 low at 6:35 p.m., and continues through Sunday, Oct. 12, also a -0.2 low tide, but at 11:41 p.m., which is way past my bedtime. "This recreational razor clam season will see a similar digging opportunity to the past two years, with a full digging schedule again for this fall," said WDFW Coastal Shellfish Biologist Bryce Blumenthal. "The tides this year will allow for clam gathering opportunities in the lead up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, along with harvestable daylight digs for the late afternoons of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day."