SATURDAY IS A big day for hunters with the opening of the archery deer and grouse seasons.
Also opening that day are the rabbit, cougar and bobcat seasons.
Add these to the bear hunt, which opened Aug. 1, and hunters have plenty to choose from.
And if the weather forecast holds up, they should have a nice opening weekend.
Blacktailed deer
Bow hunters get the first crack at blacktailed deer.
Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and knowledgeable hunter, said they should have a good number of targets.
“The ‘hair loss disease’ that devastated so many populations of West-side blacktailed deer does not appear to have been as bad here on the [North Olympic Peninsula] as in other areas, so blacktails are still plentiful,” Norden said.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said the weather has been cooperating with hunters.
It should be a nice weekend, and the recent rainfall, though slight, puts moisture in the plants and gives hunters a tactical advantage.
“It’s hard to move quietly when it’s dry,” Menkal said.
To hunt deer, you’ll need a big-game hunting license that includes deer as a species option and an archery deer or multi-season tag.
Archery tag holders can hunt only with archery equipment and during designated archery season.
The limit is one deer per hunter during the season, except for those who hold a second deer special permit.
Also, be sure to pick up a copy of the Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet when you purchase your license.
In some areas of the Peninsula, any deer can be hunted. But in others, only bucks can be hunted.
The pamphlet can also be downloaded here: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations.
Forest grouse
A lot of grouse hunters have hidden agendas.
Modern firearm hunters have to wait until October to hunt deer.
Hunting forest grouse provides them with more than target practice. It also gives them more than a month to scout the deer.
“They’re looking for next month, trying to see deer signs,” Menkal said.
The firearm hunters can’t shoot the deer, obviously, but they can get an idea of where they’re hanging out.
And, hopefully, they can take home some grouse. But Norden predicts it won’t be easy.
“Our cold wet springs recently have not been kind to nesting grouse, so hunting for grouse will likely be slow,” Norden said.
The forest grouse season lasts from Saturday to Dec. 31. The limit is four grouse per day.
Other openers
The rabbit, cougar and bobcat hunts aren’t as popular on the Peninsula, apparently, but that doesn’t make them any less interesting.
Here’s some things you need to know about those seasons:
■ The bobcat season runs from Saturday to March 15, 2013.
It is illegal to employ dogs in your bobcat hunting endeavors.
■ Washington Fish and Wildlife Department has made some changes to its cougar regulations.
The early season hunt opens Saturday and ends Dec. 31.
Every area that has not reached its harvest limit will remain open until the harvest limit is met or March 31, 2013 — whichever occurs first.
Cougars may be hunted with .22 caliber centerfire rifle and 20-gauge to 10-gauge shotguns.
■ Norden said the rabbit season should be better than last year.
“Rabbits are in the early stages of their population cycle, so hunting should be better this year than last,” he said.
Rabbit season is open from Saturday to March 15, 2013.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.