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December 2023 Weekender Report |
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 Your guide to Washington's winter wonderland
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Frosty fins and feathered friends make the outdoors a delight this December
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Despite the winter chill, Washingtonians have plenty of reasons to head outdoors during the holidays. Seasonal fisheries are underway throughout the state, waterfowl hunting is in full swing, and birders are gearing up for some prime viewing opportunities.
Events:
Join Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff at the Puget Sound Estuarium's Turn of the Tides winter festival on Dec. 9 in Olympia!
This free, family-friendly event will include hands-on arts & crafts, warm drinks, local artist vendors, and tabling by educational and environmentally-focused community partners (including WDFW). Visit the Turn of the Tides website to learn more.
Details: Saturday Dec. 9 from 11:00am - 4:00pm
Olympia Community Center
222 Columbia St NW
Olympia, WA 98501
Additional outdoor opportunities include:
Waterfowl hunting
While other hunting seasons are winding down, opportunities for ducks and geese are at their peak this month in Washington, with specific rules varying by location and species. Please refer to the before you head out. If hunting public lands and waters, we also suggest checking for any access closures before heading out.
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Streams
Steelhead fishing does not require a boat or expensive gear, making it a relatively accessible fishery. December offers opportunities to fish for and retain hatchery steelhead, including early returning winter-run fish in Puget Sound, lower Columbia, and coastal rivers from the Snoqualmie and Cowlitz to the Bogachiel, as well as fall-run steelhead in the Snake River and its tributaries. Our smolt stocking webpage is the go-to resource for hatchery steelhead information. Be sure to also review fishing regulations and any emergency rules.
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WDFW, partnering with the Washington Invasive Species Council, is looking for student designs for our statewide art contest, to spread the word about not spreading invasive species. Winning designs will be displayed in WDFW’s invasive species outreach trailer and watercraft inspection stations.
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We’re looking for Washington big game photos for next year's Big Game Hunting Rules and Regulations pamphlet! This year's photo contest theme is "Live big game animal." Send us your photos for a chance to have your photo featured on the cover of next year’s regulations!
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Winter Crab Fishing
Winter recreational crab fishing is open daily through Dec. 31 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line (4), Sekiu-Pillar Point (5), eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca (6), San Juan Islands (7), eastern side of Whidbey Island (8-1 and 8-2), northern Puget Sound/Admiralty Inlet (9), and Hood Canal north of a line projected true east from Ayock Point (12). Coastal areas are also open year-round for crab fishing but be sure to check for certain gear restrictions.
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Razor Clamming
More tentative razor clam digs at coastal beaches are scheduled for Dec. 13-17 and Dec. 26-29. Not all beaches are open for every dig, so diggers are encouraged to make sure their intended destination is open before heading out. Final approval of marine toxin testing usually occurs about a week or less – sometimes two to three days – before the start of each digging series at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches. Additional tentative digs in January and February will be announced soon.
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Lake Trout Fishing
Even if you missed out on the WDFW’s Black Friday trout fishing event, rest assured thousands of planted jumbo-sized fish averaging one to two pounds apiece are still lurking in 23 lakes around Clark, Cowlitz, Island, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Yakima counties. In October, many year-round lakes were also planted with trout. Click here for weekly trout plants. Seasonal lakes are now closed but there are many opportunities in lakes open year-round. Check out the WDFW Medium blog for tips and videos on how to catch trout.
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Squid Jigging
Puget Sound squid returns usually peak in December, and timing is key to catching them with the prime period occurring at night during or right at flood tide change. When abundant, you can even catch them on a daylight flood tide. All you need is a trout-style rod and spinning reel with a weighted pink, chartreuse, red, green, orange, or glow-in-the-dark jig. Squid fishing is open year-round. WDFW has also renewed their Puget Sound dockside surveys to obtain more information on the Puget Sound squid population. Click here for find out about the surveys.
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#LifeOutdoorsWA
The outdoors fit into everyone’s life in unique and personal ways. We want to help people connect with nature wherever they are. Check out our Life Outdoors resources to plan your next adventure, whether it be birding in your neighborhood or camping across the state. We hope to see you in the field and on the water enjoying Life Outdoors!
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 Find out what's happening in Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties.
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Find out what's happening in Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties.
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Find out what's happening in Benton, Franklin, Kittitas, and Yakima counties.
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Find out what's happening in Island, King, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties.
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Find out what's happening in Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Lewis, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties.
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Find out what's happening in Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, and Thurston counties.
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Watchable Wildlife
Winter is coming! As the snow begins to fly, the snow geese and swans settle in. Thousands of these birds winter in Western Washington having finally landed after their long migration from Alaska and Russia. Looking to watch or photograph these iconic flocks of thousands? We’ve got a blog for that.
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Habitat at Home
Make a gift for both humans and wildlife this holiday season! Whether you have a seasoned bird watcher, bat enthusiast, or wildlife-curious beginner in mind, bird and bat houses make great habitat-boosting gifts. Get your craft on with our DIY bird box and bat house instructional guides.
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Wild Washington Youth Education Program
You don’t have to have a degree in science to participate in counting birds near you. Families can join Audubon’s 124th annual Christmas Bird Count Dec. 14, 2023- Jan. 5, 2024. This early winter bird survey helps contribute valuable data to biologists who monitor bird populations.
The Christmas Bird Count isn’t only for adults! In our middle school activity, “Counting Birds for Science”, students are introduced to Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, the nation’s first community science project. Community science is great way to get youth involved in scientific inquiry and hone observation skills. This activity uses technology like Merlin and eBird to help students identify common winter birds and submit data for science. It’s a great activity for winter break and a fun way to connect students to nature and wildlife.
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Wild Ways: Why Keeping Washington's Habitat Connected Matters |
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 Animals rely on movement to survive, in pursuit of food, resources, and seasonal habitat. As Washington's human population grows, the state's natural habitats grow increasingly fragmented. Habitat connectivity is about ensuring animals have the freedom of movement they need to thrive, and WDFW is working hard with its partners to help improve those connections across Washington.
 Volunteer Opportunities
WDFW welcomes volunteers of all abilities who want to contribute to conservation of fish, wildlife, and habitat. Diverse volunteer opportunities are available, including projects on state wildlife areas and water access areas, habitat restoration projects, Hunter Education instruction, and assisting at outreach events.
For more information about the volunteer program and upcoming volunteer opportunities, visit the WDFW volunteer webpage.
Read our new blog about Jim, a WDFW volunteer, who has taught many children over the years about fishing and fish biology and has helped to feed a lot of people in the eastern Washington community at the same time, most recently working with the North County Food Pantry in Elk, Washington.
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If you'd enjoy preserving, protecting, and perpetuating the state's fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities, then check out some of our current job openings or sign up for job alerts. From fish hatchery specialists to environmental engineers and human resources consultants to wildlife biologists, a career with WDFW makes a difference. |
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