The game warden: deer, elk, pheasant preview

Fall hunting season is underway in Whitman County with much of the traditional dates intact for birds, elk and deer, unaffected by virus restrictions.

"The bird numbers are looking good," said Grant Silver, Whitman County game warden. "Always kind of a mecca for pheasant hunting. Deer are always iffy."

Pheasant and deer are the top animals hunted in Whitman County.

Deer populations are still returning after the spread of blue tongue disease in 2015.

As game warden, Silver covers the county, as well as acts as a backup and fill-in for Asotin County, Garfield and Columbia counties.

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