Low Count Means 2-day Skagit Brant Hunt, But More Ops Elsewhere

THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today announced continuing hunts in Clallam, Pacific, and Whatcom counties and a two-day hunting season for brant geese in Skagit County.

BRANT GEESE TAKEN ON PACIFIC COUNTY’S JANUARY 8 OPENER. (BRIAN BLAKE)

Continued stable winter counts of brant have allowed for continued hunting opportunities in Clallam and Whatcom counties – Jan.15, 19, and 22 – and in Pacific County – Jan. 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, and 30.

Reduced brant counts in Skagit County mean that hunters will have a limited two-day season on Jan. 15 and 22. 

“The recent aerial brant counts in Skagit County indicate numbers fell short of the 3,000-bird requirement to allow for additional hunt days beyond the approved two-day season,” said Kyle Spragens, WDFW waterfowl section manager. “The reduced schedule is necessary to restrict harvest of western high arctic brant, which primarily overwinter in Skagit County.”

Spragens said population surveys conducted in Skagit County over Padilla, Samish, and Fidalgo bays tallied 2,750 birds, the fifth lowest count in the 70-year history of surveys, prompted this year’s two-day season.

“The number of hunting days is directly related to how many brant we count during these surveys – the surveys allow us to monitor the winter population,” he said. “This is the fifth consecutive year of fewer than 6,000 brant in Skagit County bays, and while we strive to provide a harvest opportunity when appropriate, these types of historically low counts require us to restrict opportunities for this unique coastal waterfowl species.”

WDFW reminds hunters to familiarize themselves with local regulations and boundaries. Specifically, hunters in Clallam County are advised to consult the closed zones of Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and hunters in Whatcom County are advised to review boundaries relevant to Bellingham and Lummi Bays.

Information on brant seasons is available in WDFW’s Migratory Game Bird regulations. Brant hunters are reminded they must possess a valid migratory bird authorization and brant harvest report card, including during the Youth, Veteran, and Active Military opportunity on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.