Outdoors | Brant goose season opens this Thursday

Hunters can set their sights on another brief brant goose hunting season this month.

Hunting will be open Thursday, Saturday, Jan. 20, 22, 24, 26 and 27, with a daily limit of two birds.

The seven-day season was approved after an aerial survey found nearly 9,200 brant on Fidalgo, Padilla and Samish bays. At least 6,000 brant must be counted in Skagit County before hunting is allowed.

"Brant numbers climbed again this year, and the wintering population is back around the long-term average," said Don Kraege, a state Fish and Wildlife waterfowl manager. "There could be a number of factors for the increase, but it's most likely due to good production on the breeding grounds."

Last year, about 6,100 birds returned to Skagit County, about 3,100 fewer birds than the long-term average. About 9,500 brant were counted in aerial surveys in 2006 and about 10,000 in 2005.

Kraege says about 1,500 hunters register for the special hunt every year, and on any given day about 300 to 500 are actively hunting during the short season.

Those who participate must have prior written authorization and a harvest card. Hunters need to record their information immediately after taking a brant, and return the report by Feb. 15. Hunters who fail to return them will be ineligible to hunt brant in 2008-09.

"Compliance has been pretty good during the hunt as well as providing their harvest reports," Kraege said. "This year we will do some intensive bag checks for avian influenza, and taking samples and measurements to see the breeding origin of the birds."

Hunters who harvest a brant implanted with a radio transmitter should call 360-902-2522.

Hunters who harvest a brant fitted with a colored leg band should also report the leg band's numbers and color. Birds fitted with metal leg bands can be reported by calling 800-327-BAND or online at www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl.

Notes

• The Coastal Conservation Association's Sea-Tac Chapter members-only meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Des Monies Masonic Temple, 2208 South 223rd St. Details: www.joincca.orgor/">http://www.joincca.orgor 206-755-8409.

• State Fish and Wildlife is looking for people to fill four open positions representing Western Washington on its Waterfowl Advisory Group. Advisers should have a broad interest in waterfowl and be able to communicate effectively with the public. Deadline is Feb. 15. Mail to Don Kraege, waterfowl section manager, WDFW, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091. Details: 360-902-2522.

• The Coastal Conservation Association is hosting a free event 7 p.m. Friday at the Mount Vernon PUD Building. Gary Loomis will discuss the group's involvement in restoring salmon and steelhead populations in the Pacific Northwest. Details: 360-631-8851 or www.joincca.org.

• The South King County Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers is meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Des Moines Masonic Hall, 2208 S. 223rd St. Steelhead University instructor Terry Wiest will discuss float fishing for steelhead. Details: 253-833-1440.

• The Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce is hosting Winterfest: Fire and Ice on Friday and Saturday. Compete in a snowman-building contest, watch snow sculptors and enjoy a bonfire and cook-off. There will be a polar bear splash, torchlight parade and fireworks. Details: 1-866-789-5071 or www.cometothelake.com.

• Alaskan guide Dick Lange is offering an introductory fly-fishing course Jan. 17-March 6 and fly-tying classes Jan. 16-March 5 for Woodinville Parks and Recreation. Fly-fishing classes are Thursdays, and fly-tying classes are Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost is $39 for Woodinville residents and $44.85 for nonresidents, plus $10 to $15 for a course manual. Register by Jan. 11. Details: 425-398-9327 or www.ci.woodinville.wa.us.

• The Washington State Parks and Recreation Boating Program is looking for volunteers for the Seattle Boat Show Jan. 24-Feb. 2 at the Qwest Field and Event Center. Details: 360-586-6590 or e-mail heidi.hughes@parks.wa.gov.

• The 2008 Diver's Weekend is Jan. 19-20 at Vancouver, B.C.'s Stanley Park Aquarium. There will be a scuba fashion show, display of historical diving equipment, dive instruction, dive travel, commercial diving, and artificial reef and marine awareness. Details: www.vanaqua.org.

• Seattle Parks' next Trail Mix Nature Lecture Series is Wild Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center, 3801 W. Government Way in Seattle. Patricia Benson, president of the Puget Sound Mycological Society, will bring mushrooms to identify, and prepare to taste, smell and ask questions. Cost is $10. Details: 206-386-4236 or www.seattle.gov/parks.

• The Washington Sportsmen's Show is Jan. 23-27 at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center in Puyallup. Details: www.otshows.com.

• The Seattle Boat Show is Jan. 24-Feb. 2 at the Qwest Field and Event Center in Seattle and Chandler's Cove on South Lake Union. Details: www.seattleboatshow.com.

• REI is hosting a seminar titled Living & Recreating With Bears 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Issaquah REI Store, 735 Northwest Gilman Boulevard. Speaker Julie Hayes Hopkins, a biologist with the Grizzly Bear Outreach Project, will offer a presentation on the biology of grizzly and black bears, how to live and recreate safely in bear country, and how to keep your backyard from being a bears food source. Details: 425-313-1660 or www.rei.com.

• The Washington Sportsmen's Show is Jan. 23-27 at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center in Puyallup. The show will feature exhibits, seminars, kids' activities including a trout pond, and exhibitors will offer a wide selection and prices on tackle, hunting gear, outdoor clothing, boats, trucks, RVs, campers, tent trailers, cargo trailers, 4x4s and more.

Hours are: Noon-8 p.m., Jan. 23-25; 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Jan. 26; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Jan. 27. Cost is $10 for adults, and $5 for youth ages 6-16. Details: www.otshows.com.

• The Seattle Boat Show is Jan. 24-Feb. 2 at the Qwest Field and Event Center in Seattle and Chandler's Cove on South Lake Union. The West Coast's largest boat show features 1,000 recreational watercraft, 230 seminars and the latest boating accessories.

Hours are: Noon-8 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Cost is $10 for adults, and $5 for youth ages 11-17. Details: www.seattleboatshow.com.

• The Methow Valley Sports Trails Association Snowshoe Festival is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 2 at Sun Mountain Lodge. There will be an introduction to snowshoeing and free use of Alta snowshoes. Families are welcome, and at 11 a.m. people may participate in the Nature Winter Tour Series snowshoe walk with a local naturalist to learn about winter ecology, wildlife and animal tracks. There will also be an evening snowshoe walk beginning at 5 p.m. Details: www.mvsta.com.

• Peter Potterfield, author of Selected Climbs in the Cascades and Classic Hikes of the World, is hosting a slide show and book signing that features his favorite hikes in New Zealand 7 p.m. March 10 at the Seattle REI Store, 222 Yale Ave. North, and 7 p.m. March 11, at the Issaquah REI Store, 735 Northwest Gilman Boulevard. Details: 206-323-1944 or 425-313-1660 or www.rei.com.

• Mountain climber Ed Viesturs will read from his book No Shortcuts to the Top and present a slide show with discussion 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at The Mountaineers, 300 3rd Avenue West in Seattle. Viesturs spent 18 years to climb the world's 14 8,000-meter peaks without the aid of bottled oxygen. Details: 206-284-6310 or www.mountaineers.org.

• The Coast Guard Auxiliary Edmonds Flotilla are hosting a 13-week Boating Skills and Seamanship class beginning Feb. 7, and an Advanced Coastal Navigation class beginning Feb. 5. Both classes will be held in the Shoreline area. Details: 206-546-4171 or email Boatclasses@hotmail.com.

• The recreational oyster season is open at Cushman (Saltwater) Park until further notice. The park is located in Mason County on the west side of Hood Canal. Recent surveys by state Fish and Wildlife indicate that the oyster population can support a year-round season. Details: http://wdfw.wa.gov.

• The TELUS Winter Classic is Jan. 25-26 at Whistler-Blackcomb Resort. The event features skiing, food and wine, auctions, mountaintop galas and entertainment. All proceeds go to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation in support of registered nonprofit organizations whose activities provide benefit to the residents of the Sea to Sky Corridor. Details: ww1.whistlerblackcomb.com/wbfoundation/events/winter.html.

• The Fly-fishing Film Tour is 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Neptune Theater, 1303 N.E. 45th St. in Seattle. Cost is $12 and $10 for children. Details: www.flyfishingfilmtour.com.

• Mount Rainier National Park is offering guided 1.2-mile snowshoe walks with park rangers every weekend through March 30 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. The walks are on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign ups start one hour before the walks begin at the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise. The walks aren't recommended for children under age 8.

Organized groups of 13 or more people may reserve a snowshoe walk in advance. Group snowshoe walks begin at 10:30 a.m. on weekends.

The Paradise snowplay area is now open, and only "soft" sliding devices such as flexible sleds, inner tubes and saucers may be used.

The Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise is open weekends and holidays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Ski Touring Center, operated by Guest Services, Inc., at Longmire offers cross-country skiing including touring and telemarking. Details: 360-569-2211 or www.nps.gov/mora.

• Just 5 miles of road within North Cascades National Park Service Complex is affected by the winter closure of the North Cascades Highway (SR 20) at milepost 134, and that means scenic drivers and adventurers can enjoy the park all winter long.

The North Cascades National Park Visitor Center near Newhalem is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. From here, drivers can access Diablo Lake and Gorge Creek Falls Overlooks.

Campers are invited to stay at the Colonial Creek, Gorge Lake, and Goodell Creek Campgrounds (no winter services and no fees).

Hikers can access the Ross Dam, Happy Panther, Pyramid Lake, Thunder Knob, Diablo Lake, Thunder Creek, Pyramid Lake and Newhalem Area trails. Boating is open in Diablo and Gorge lakes, and rafters can drift down the Skagit River. Details: 360-854-7200 or www.nps.gov/noca.

• The Mount Baker Ski Area Banked Slalom Race is Feb. 8-10. Watch one of the longest-running snowboard events. Details: 360-734-6771 or www.mtbaker.us or www.bellingham.org.

• The Stehekin and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area are open and offer a range of snowshoe and backcountry ski routes.

The National Park Service will offer ranger programs through March 8 covering various natural and cultural history topics on Fridays at 7 p.m. at the Stehekin Landing Resort, and guided snowshoe walks on Saturday mornings at the end of the plowed Stehekin Valley Road.

The Golden West Visitor Center is open 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Rangers can provide details and maps of area trails, trip planning assistance and naturalist information.

The Stehekin Landing Resort offers fully equipped kitchenettes, equipment rentals, vehicle rentals and transportation service to ski and snowshoe trails on the weekends. Details: www.stehekinlanding.com. For more information on Stehekin and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, call 360-854-7365 or www.nps.gov/noca.

• The Nature of Winter Tour Series in the Methow Valley, hosted by the Twisp River Pub, will be held through March 1. The snowshoe trek from Jack's Hut at the Wilson Ranch or Sun Mountain Lodge is 11 a.m. every Saturday with a local naturalist. Learn about winter ecology, wildlife and animal tracking. All participants need a $3 snowshoe pass, and snowshoe rentals are available. Details: 509-996-3287 or www.mvsta.com.

• Husky Winter Sports, a student-run club at the University of Washington, is hosting a ski and snowboard school at Snoqualmie Pass. Lessons are open for students 18 and older, children and families.

Lesson are 2:30-5 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sundays. Programs are Jan. 26-27, Feb. 2-3, Feb. 9-10, Feb. 23-24, March 1-2 and March 8-9. Cost is $99 for six weeks, $29 for single lessons, $49 for single private lessons, $79 for two-person private lessons and $129 for single family lessons. Details: 206-543-8832 or www.huskywintersports.com/signup.php.

• The Discovery Bay Salmon Derby is Feb. 16-18, and is the longest-running salmon derby in the state. The largest hatchery-marked chinook salmon is worth $3,000. Proceeds go to Jefferson County District Number 5 Volunteer Fire Department. The award ceremony is 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Gardiner boat ramp. Cost is $30. Details: 360-797-7711 or www.SwainsInc.com or www.DiscoBaySalmonDerby.com.

The derby is part of the Northwest Salmon Derby Series hosted by the Northwest Marine Trade Association.

Other derby dates: Roche Harbor Salmon Classic, Feb. 7-9; Geoduck Restaurant Salmon Derby, March 1-2; Anacortes Salmon Derby, March 29-30; Salmon Quest, Portland, Ore., May 10; Port Angeles Halibut Derby, May 24-25; Bellingham Salmon Derby, July 11-13; Elliott Bay Salmon Derby, July 26; Des Moines Salmon Derby, Aug. 2; Gig Harbor Salmon Derby, Aug. 9; Hood Canal Salmon Derby, Aug. 16-17; Sinclair Inlet Salmon Derby, Aug. 23-24; Tokeland Marina, Willapa Bay Salmon Derby, Aug. 30; and Edmonds Coho Derby, Sept. 6. Details: www.nmta.net.

• Northwest Trek's Kids 'n' Critters Naturefest is 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 19-21. The park will be offering special themed activities to help kids learn about where animals live. The event includes crafts, games, and other indoor and outdoor activities. Cost is $15 per adult, and they are allowed to bring up to four children ages 3 to 12 for free. Details: www.nwtrek.org.

• The National Alpine Ski Camp is offering a summer snow camp for children and young adults of all ages at Mount Hood in Oregon.

The camp offers six- and ten-day sessions in the summer for children of all ages. There is also a masters program for those over age 20. Race training is the foundation for the camps, with an emphasis on free skiing and free skiing drills. Designated for intermediate and advanced skiers, campers must have basic ski skills to attend.

Ski training is conducted in the morning, followed by windsurfing, rock climbing, rafting, swimming, hiking, mountain biking and go-cart racing in the afternoon. Details: 800-453-6272 or www.skicamp.comCQ.

• The state's Winter Sno-Parks are open for operation. Those planning a trip need to register their snowmobiles and purchase Sno-Park permits and cross-country ski trail guides.

Permits are available at more than 125 retail dealers statewide; one-day permits may be purchased on-line at www.parks.wa.gov/winter/. A one-day permit costs $10, seasonal permits are $30 and a special groomed-trails permit is $30.

The groomed-trails permit must be purchased along with a seasonal sno-park permit for the following Sno-Parks: Cabin Creek, Chiwawa, Crystal Springs, CS Road 54, Hyak, Lake Easton State Park, Lake Wenatchee State Park, Mount Spokane State Park and Nason Ridge. Individuals who purchase a one-day permit are not required to buy the special trail permit.

The snowmobile sno-park permit including the yearly snowmobile registration fee is $30 a year per sled ($12 a year per vintage sled), plus additional dealer fees. Snowmobile owners may register through county auditors or local state licensing office.

Nason Ridge Sno-Park near Lake Wenatchee State Park will be closed this season due to winter logging.

Downriver Golf Course Sno-Park in Spokane and Hardtime Sno-Park along the Wind River Highway in southwestern Washington are no longer available.

Several new Sno-Parks have been added: Ape Cave and Government Mineral Springs (South Cascades area), CS Road 54 and Lake Keechelus (I-90 corridor/Mt. Snoqualmie area) and Silver Springs (Crystal Mountain area).

For a list of permit dealers email winter@parks.wa.gov or 360-586-6644. For winter recreation information, including trail grooming reports go to www.parks.wa.gov/winter.

• A four-year, $10 million repair project on damaged roads and bridges of the Mountain Loop Scenic Highway has been completed, and the highway is now open to visitors with access through the Darrington Ranger District of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

The highway follows the South Fork Stillaguamish River over Barlow Pass and into the South Fork Sauk River drainage, and reconnects the towns of Darrington and Granite Falls.

The 2003 flood damaged more than 40 roads, closing of many of them, and restricting public access to popular spots. For details on road closures in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, see www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/conditions/road_conditions_report.shtml.

• Washington State Parks has announced their winter schedule, but that doesn't mean all outdoor activities have cone to an end.

In fact more than 100 parks will remain open daily through the winter offering campsites and other facilities. There are 19 parks closed until March and April, and six parks are remaining open during the winter on weekends and holidays only.

Tolmie State Park is open Wednesdays through Sundays through April 2, and the Goldendale Observatory is open 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays and by appointment Wednesday through Thursdays through March 30.

Winter camping means smaller crowds, and campers may park their RVs or pitch tents on a first-come, first-served basis at most state parks open during the quiet season.

The parks also offer comfortable cabins at Camano Island, Kitsap Memorial or Wallace Falls state parks, a yurt at Cape Disappointment, Grayland Beach and Seaquest or a vacation house at Millersylvania, Fort Flagler, Fort Worden or Moran. These facilities may be reserved year-round.

Year-round camping reservations are available at Cape Disappointment, Deception Pass Dosewallips, Grayland Beach, Ocean City, Pacific Beach and Steamboat Rock. Pearrygin Lake and Riverside. Reservations can be made through Oct. 31. Details: 888-CAMPOUT or 888-226-7688. To view the winter schedule for state parks, go to www.parks.wa.gov.

• Those planning on visiting the Klickitat Wildlife Area should be aware of three road closures now through April 14 to protect roadbeds and to avoid disturbing wintering deer and elk.

The closures are in the Soda Springs Unit, including Anderson Road, 1.3 miles south of the intersection with Soda Springs Road; Old Headquarters Road, 1 mile south of the intersection with Soda Springs Road; and South Breaks Road, 0.1 miles west of the intersection with Soda Springs Road.

The 12 miles of unpaved roads were badly damaged by vehicle traffic last fall and spring.

The roads will be open during the early deer-hunting season in October, and will reopen in time for the spring turkey season. The roads will remain open to pedestrian access.

• The Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall holds numerous outdoors events, including a monthly "Tracking Club," that meets in Sultan on the third Saturday of each month now through May from 9 a.m. to noon.

The program is open to naturalists, hunters and people curious about learning to identify, follow and understand stories written in tracks left by animals on the Skykomish River shoreline. Details: 425-788-1301 or www.wildernessawareness.org.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offers various public classes through the year. The public also is invited to club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, at the Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave N., in North Seattle. Details: 206-684-7524.

• The Emerald Sea Dive Club offers year-round activities including the big buddy program and weekly and monthly dives. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at Alfy's Pizza, 4820 196th S.W. in Lynnwood. Details: 425-775-2410 or www.emeraldseadiveclub.org.

• The Seattle Audubon Society offers field trips and classes every month. Details: 206-523-4483 or www.seattleaudubon.org.

• Northend Bassmasters is accepting new members who want to learn more about bass fishing. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com