Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

OLYMPIA – The first phase of the popular sport fishery for spring chinook salmon on the lower Columbia River will close at the end of the day Friday, April 8, one day earlier than previously e... Full story

OLYMPIA – Black bears are beginning to emerge from winter dens across the state, prompting state wildlife managers to remind residents how to avoid possible conflicts with hungry animals looking to s... Full story

Starting this month, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) hopes to conduct controlled burns on parts of the Sinlahekin, Scotch Creek, and Sherman Creek wildlife areas in northeast... Full story

OLYMPIA – State wildlife managers are seeking public input on their recommendations to keep Columbian white-tailed deer and Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies on Washington’s endangered species list.... Full story

April is the month of Arbor Day and Earth Day, and this year both are promoting something we advocate for wildlife habitat -- tree planting. Arbor Day has always been about planting trees, starting in... Full story

Action: Open the lower Yakima River to fishing for spring chinook salmon Species affected: Chinook salmon Dates: April 29 through June 15, 2016 Location: From the Hwy. 240 bridge in Richland (river... Full story

Action: Closes Sarg Hubbard Park Pond (Reflection Pond) to all fishing except those youths registered for the “Kids' Fish-In” event. In addition, the daily limit is reduced to two trout during the eve... Full story

OLYMPIA – State shellfish managers today approved nine days of razor clam digging beginning April 20 on the first of three ocean beaches. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) a... Full story

OLYMPIA – Anglers will have opportunities to fish for salmon in the ocean and Columbia River this year, although recreational and non-tribal commercial salmon fisheries in Puget Sound may be closed t... Full story

Action: Closes Columbia Park Pond to all fishing except those youths registered for the “Special Needs Fishing Event” on Friday, May 6, or the “Kids' Fishing Day” event on Saturday, May 7. In additio... Full story

OLYMPIA – State fishery managers have begun releasing more than 500,000 juvenile steelhead from five state fish hatcheries into Puget Sound rivers after receiving word from NOAA-Fisheries that t... Full story

YAKIMA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will hold public meetings this month to discuss target shooting options for the Wenas Wildlife Area located between Ellensburg and Y... Full story

OLYMPIA – State fishery managers have decided to separately secure the federal permit required to hold salmon fisheries this season in Puget Sound. The decision was made Tuesday after negotiations o... Full story

OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has closed public access to the Fir Island Farms Reserve, where work has begun to restore 131 acres of tidal marsh in the Skagit River D... Full story

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking updated information about nine wildlife species as part of a review of native wildlife populations listed by the state as e... Full story

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and forest landowners are preparing to move forward on a joint strategy to help protect the fisher, a member of the weasel family c... Full story

Action: Kalama River anglers may keep up to 2 hatchery adult spring chinook beginning Saturday, March 10. Effective date: March 10, 2016 until further notice. Species affected: Chinook salmon.... Full story

Action: Anglers must release all chinook salmon. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Effective date: March 10, 2016 until further notice. Location: Lewis River from the mouth upstream to the overhead... Full story

Action: Steelhead anglers on these three Cowlitz County streams will be able to fish for hatchery steelhead. Effective date: March 16, 2016 through April 15, 2016 Species affected: Hatchery steelhead... Full story

Several fisheries are set to open in the weeks ahead, and the year’s first hunting season isn’t far behind. With a new season of outdoor adventures about to begin, Washingtonians might want to con... Full story

OLYMPIA – Another decent return of hatchery chinook salmon to the Columbia River is forecast this year, but expected low returns of coho could put a damper on salmon fisheries in the river, along t... Full story

Temperatures are warming, birds are singing and the lower Columbia River will soon be teeming with spring chinook salmon. Spring is still a ways off, but February offers plenty of opportunities to enj... Full story

Spring may officially be several weeks off, but now is the time to get your bird nest boxes cleaned out and ready for new, incoming occupants. If you don’t already have nest boxes up, this is the t... Full story

OLYMPIA – State shellfish managers have proposed two days of razor clam digging in February at Copalis beach in addition to an approved a month-long opening at Long Beach that starts today. The W... Full story

OLYMPIA – The Washington departments of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Natural Resources (DNR) will host a meeting next week in Ellensburg to discuss implementation of the Naneum Ridge to Columbia R... Full story