Hunting is upon us. There are quite a few season openings this month along with some that opened in August.

Don’t worry, we will discuss fishing in just a bit.

Bear and cougar hunting seasons opened last month but like every year, the hunting doesn’t really pick up until the weather forces the animals down to lower elevations. I have seen a couple of reports of some nice black bear being taken in the higher elevations in the Cascade Mountains and we should see more bear moving down in the next few weeks.

Hunters should concentrate on berry patches early in the morning and later in the evening as bear tend to bed down during the hotter hours of the day. You will have to get out and do some walking and possibly a little hiking, but the reward could be well worth it.

Forest grouse, one of my favorite game birds, opened on Monday and with the mild summer we had, hunting should be decent. Cooler than normal temperatures should keep them on the ground a little longer in the mornings as they forage for food before they return to the trees to roost.

I love to get up in the hills driving the logging roads that are scattered all over Skagit County. Finney Creek happens to be one of my favorite areas to hunt. I will usually see a couple of birds on the drive up but getting out and walking the roads is the experience most of us like.

Archery deer season opened on Sept. 1 as well. Wetter than normal days will be a welcome sight for most archers. This will enable them to stalk deer silently with soft ground cover under foot.

The east side of the mountains would be my first choice if I was a betting man. Blacktail deer are pretty much nocturnal during the early parts of the season and will stay out later in the day as the season goes along. Whereas mule deer move around a bit more.

On Sept. 8 the archery elk season opens and this just increases the excitement for archers. Not only can you tag a deer but elk is also on-ticket as well. This is an opportunity that modern firearm hunters do not get to enjoy.

Be sure to check you hunting regulations for specific areas and their restrictions before heading out.

Fishing

Fishing on the Samish River has really picked up over the last few weeks. Anglers are stacked up in their favorite holes during low tide trying to catch some of the biggest king salmon found in the Puget Sound area.

Several fish over 30 pounds have already been reported with plenty of salmon over 20 pounds being caught.

Good luck!

I would throw large Silver Fox spinners at them during high tide just to avoid the crowds but then again, there are a few holes where I have fished that the conversation alone makes the trip worthwhile while.

Good luck!