Out and About: Outdoors news from around the area

Fall brush-up event set for wildlife refuge

The Lower Columbia chapter of the Washington Waterfowl Association will hold its annual fall “brush-up” event at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, September 30. The club will meet at 8:00 am at the hunter check station to prepare the blinds for the coming hunting season. Participants are encouraged to bring their waders, gloves, and anything else you need to help dress up the blinds. A BBQ lunch will be served.

Wildlife League meeting date changed

The monthly meeting of the Vancouver Wildlife League has been moved from Wednesday Oct. 4 to Tuesday Oct 3 at 7 pm. The meeting will take place at the WDFW Region Five Headquarters in Ridgefield, WA. The guest speaker will be Dave Calhoun of Outdoor GPS and Northwest Rods.

Washington tentative clam digs announced

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced a tentative schedule for the fall razor clam season set to begin in early October.

Final approval of all scheduled openings will depend on results of marine toxin tests, which are usually conducted about a week before a dig is scheduled to begin.

Proposed razor clam digs through December are listed below, along with evening low tides and beaches:

• Oct. 6, Friday, 7:49 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

• Oct. 7, Saturday, 8:33 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

• Nov. 3, Friday, 6:47 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Nov. 4, Saturday, 7:31 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Nov. 5, Sunday, 7:16 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Dec. 2, Saturday, 5:29 p.m.; -1.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Dec. 3, Sunday, 6:15 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Dec. 4, Monday, 7:02 p.m.; -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Dec. 31, Sunday, 5:12 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

WDFW estimates that total clam numbers may be down this year, due to an extended period of low salinity in surf zone ocean waters, especially in the Long Beach and Twin Harbors areas.

Oregon razor clam season opening

Oregon’s Clatsop beaches will open on October 1 to razor clams for the first time since July of 2016. The beaches have been closed due to high levels of domoic acid, which can cause Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning.

Test have shown that razor clam numbers on the Clatsop beaches are low, even after an 18 month closure.

Public lands day

In celebration of the 23rd annual Public Lands Day on September 30, Washingtonians can recreate at national parks, national forests, and Washington State Parks for free.

Public lands are a hot topic right now, as federal legislatures are trying to shrink or reduce public lands and monuments.

In 2016 over 200,000 volunteers lent a hand during Public Lands Day events around the country. There will be chances for interested parties to volunteer at various events on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.