Discover North Central Washington

Steelhead

Steelhead fishing returned to the Upper Columbia on October in select areas of the Upper Columbia for the first time in nine years. Hatchery steelhead and coho fisheries will be open in the Methow River and the Upper Columbia River from Beebe Bridge to Brewster. WDFW will continue to actively monitor returns weekly to determine closure dates if additional or expanded conservation fisheries could be authorized.

Where to fish:

• Methow River: From the mouth to County Road 1535 (Burma Road) Bridge
• Upper Columbia River: Beebe Bridge to Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster

Keep up to two hatchery steelhead or two coho per day (or one of each). Hatchery fish must be retained, wild fish released unharmed. Read the full story for more information. 

Mixed species

Walleye fishing continues this month on Moses Lake and Potholes Reservoir in the Columbia Basin. Yellow perch fishing continues to be good.

Sprague Lake, on the Adams-Lincoln county line, continues to be productive for largemouth bass, black crappie, and perch.

Be aware that many rivers, streams, and beaver ponds closed on Oct. 31 under the statewide general rules. Double-check the regulations before hitting the water. 

Stay tuned to the emergency Fishing Rule Change webpage, emails, or our Fish Washington mobile app for updates and current rules. Fishing for coho and other salmon should remain strong on coastal, Grays Harbor, and Willapa Bay rivers through November. The Skagit, Cascade, and Nooksack rivers are also good bets for late-run silver salmon. Summer steelhead are being caught on the Cowlitz and other lower Columbia tributaries, as well as the Snake River and its tributaries in southeast Washington where November is often the peak of bigger “B Run” fish. On the Yakima and other year-round trout rivers, fishing typically heats up with small nymph and sculpin imitations as rainbows and cutthroat feed up before winter. 

Lake Roosevelt white sturgeon

The popular white sturgeon fishery runs through Nov. 30 on Lake Roosevelt from Grand Coulee Dam to China Bend Boat Ramp (including the Spokane River from Highway 25 Bridge upstream to 400’ below Little Falls Dam, Colville River upstream to Meyers Falls Dam and the Kettle River upstream to Barstow Bridge).  Fishery dates, times, slot limits, daily limits, and annual limits may be adjusted to ensure a sustainable population of sturgeon is maintained. Be sure to check on specific regulations and harvest limits for this fishery.

Plan your hunt

Hunters should make sure to check this year’s rules in the  2024 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules pamphlet or the Game bird and small game regulations before heading out. WDFW’s Hunting Prospects guide, past Game Harvest Reports and Go Hunt mapping tool can all be helpful in determining where to hunt.

The late general season for white-tailed deer runs Nov. 9 to 19 on select Game Management Units (GMUs) so you should be planning your hunt if you haven’t already. WDFW’s Hunting Prospects can provide insight that can help make your hunt a successful one. 

Elk

Modern firearm elk hunting runs through Nov.3 or Nov 15 throughout the region depending on the GMU. Most GMUs in

 Region 2 offer an opportunity to harvest any elk, however, a few have the following restrictions: GMU 204 – any bull, GMU 249 – spike bull, and 251 – true spike bull. Late archery and muzzleloader elk hunting seasons run through Nov. 15 in select units throughout the region. Additionally, from Nov. 25-Dec. 8, archers have the opportunity to harvest any bull in GMU 204 or, from Nov. 27-Dec. 8, a spike bull in GMU 249 or 251. 

Chronic wasting disease in Washington

If you travel to WDFW’s Eastern Region 1 to hunt this season, please be aware that, to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), you cannot transport a whole deer, elk, or moose carcass to other parts of the state. You also cannot bring a whole carcass into Washington from other states or Canadian provinces. A list of what is legal to transport is on WDFW’s CWD web page.  
 
CWD is a fatal illness of deer, elk, moose, and caribou. A single case of CWD was confirmed in Spokane County in July of 2024. Testing of deer, elk, and moose is now mandatory in GMUs 124, 127, and 130 and encouraged in other areas to help gauge the prevalence of the disease in Washington. Resources are being concentrated in Region 1 where the CWD case was confirmed, so there will not be hunter check stations in North Central Region 2. If you are near a Region 1 check station, or willing to travel to one, you are welcome to have your harvested animal tested for CWD there. If there is not a check station convenient to you, you can still have your animal tested by mailing it to WDFW. Information on how to do this is on the CWD web page or email CWD@dfw.wa.gov for assistance. 

Upland game bird

Pheasant, quail, partridge and forest grouse hunting continues throughout the region. Chelan Butte pheasant releases were cancelled due to wildfire. 

Waterfowl

Duck and goose hunting is underway. Some of the best hunting is probably still ahead when northern migrants drop in to boost locally-produced duck and goose numbers. If you waterfowl hunt, check out this year's regulation pamphlet that details rules for migratory waterfowl and upland game. You can also find information on WDFW waterfowl Regulated Access Areas on the WDFW website.

Grouse

Forest grouse hunting season runs  through Jan. 15, 2025. Since 2021, the forest grouse season has started two weeks later than in the past to protect brood hens with chicks. You can see that and other information in this year’s Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game Seasons and Rules pamphlet.

WDFW collects wings and tails of hunter-harvested forest grouse (spruce, ruffed, dusky and sooty species) throughout the grouse hunting season. The goal of this collection effort is to build estimated population trend datasets for each species to evaluate harvest changes. Grouse hunters can help by depositing one wing and the tail of each grouse harvested into wing collection barrels placed around the state or by bringing them to the closest WDFW District or Regional office. For more information as well as a map of wing collection barrel locations, please visit Forest grouse wing and tail collection | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Fall wild turkey season

The fall wild turkey season through Dec. 31. Season rules and regulations.

Black bear

Fall black bear season continues through Nov. 15. Bear hunters in certain Eastern Washington GMUs are reminded that it’s possible to encounter some protected grizzly bears, so species identification is critical. If you're hunting in those areas, you must score 80% or higher on WDFW’s bear identification test or an equivalent test from another state and carry proof that you have passed . More information on the bear identification program.

Seeing salmon

Several species of spawning salmon are headed back up the Columbia River this time of year including summer Chinook, Coho, and sockeye. Check out the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board’s “Seeing Salmon” page for more information on who’s swimming and when. 

Bird watching

The Columbia Basin hosts ducks, geese, other waterbirds, and shorebirds this time of year as they prepare for their southbound migrations. November’s changing weather and shortening daylight hours bring lots of bird movement throughout

 the region. New winter resident birds are arriving and migrants are making stopovers, so birdwatchers never know what they might see from day to day at this time of year. Many of the 13 units of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area provide road or trail access to areas where views are available, especially with binoculars, scopes, and telephoto camera lenses. 

The usual patrons of backyard bird feeding stations, including finches, juncos, chickadees, and nuthatches, are showing up where meals are offered or water is provided. Some have been summer residents, but more are moving in from farther north. Several woodpecker species that normally feed on insects may be attracted to suet feeders.  If you live in bear country, putting out bird feed should be delayed until the middle of November to minimize the potential for conflict.

The North Central Washington Audubon Society has a wealth of information on fall activities for bird watchers.

Avian influenza “Bird Flu”

While bird watching during fall or on other adventures, if you encounter a sick or dead bird, please report it to WDFW’s online reporting tool.

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has not been widespread so far this fall but cases of it could pick up as birds migrate and come into contact with each other this fall. 

Avian influenza viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect poultry and other bird and animal species. 

If you encounter dead or sick wildlife, please do not touch it, transport it to a vet or attempt to nurse it back to health. There is no vaccination and no treatment for avian influenza and moving an animal infected with it can spread the virus to new areas. More information on this virus is on the WDFW webpage.

Deer

With the peak of mule deer breeding season (or rut) in mid-November, this is the time to view antlered bucks vying for dominance over other bucks or seeking does. Buck deer can be less wary of virtually everything else at this time, so viewing may be easy from a roadside. Motor vehicle collisions with deer increase at this time, not just because the deer are less wary but because shortened daylight hours simply have more motorists on the roads in the dark. Check out our blog for more details.

Report bat observations

Have you seen a bat flying during the day or in freezing weather? These could be signs of a serious disease called white-nose syndrome. Please report your observations online or call 360-902-2515. White-nose syndrome does not pose a threat to humans, pets, or other wildlife. 

Cats and wild birds don’t mix

Keep your cats and wild birds safe: Domestic cats can make great pets, but when they are allowed to roam outdoors, there can be serious consequences to local wildlife. Cats kill about 2.4 billion birds every year in the U.S. alone. Visit the American Bird Conservancy website for information on their Cats Indoors Program and learn how to keep pet cats and wild birds safe. You may even consider an outdoor enclosure for your cat. 

Make a window cling to protect birds

Up to a billion birds die each year from flying into glass. You can help prevent that from happening at your house by making your own window clings using recycled plastic and puffy fabric paint. Check out this tutorial video from the Audubon Society. 

To read reports published prior to 2024, visit the Biweekly Wildlife Program activity reports page.

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Photo by WDFW

Brock Hoenes is the North Central Region (Region 2) Director. Brock started his career with WDFW in 2008 and has held positions with the department including ungulate section manager, assistant district wildlife biologist, district wildlife biologist, statewide WDFW elk specialist, and deer and elk section manager.

Prior to moving to Washington, Hoenes worked for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and the New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit on a variety of research projects focused on mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk, cougars, black bears, and pronghorn. Hoenes received his B.S. in Fish and Wildlife Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his M.S. in Wildlife Sciences from New Mexico State University.