Chad Carlson of Island City has hunted geese for about 16 years. He is shown here with geese he took with the help of two decoys. - Submitted photo

And possibly their foot speed.

Duck and goose hunting seasons open Saturday in much of Eastern Oregon including Union and Wallowa counties. The season officially begins at sunrise, 6:37 a.m. This time, however, is not the focus of many people who hunt waterfowl at the popular Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area.

The Gregorian calendar, the one most widely used in the world, lists Sept. 21 as the first day of fall.

However, in the hearts of many sportsmen the day of autumn’s true coming out party is Oct. 4 — the opening of deer buck rifle season in Northeast Oregon.

Saturday represents a seasonal rite of passage. Hunters in Union and Wallowa counties will celebrate more than tradition Saturday They will also celebrate promising hunting conditions.

This bull moose was photographed Wednesday in the Lookout Mountain area north of Elgin by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Pat Matthews of Enterprise. - ODFW/PAT MATTHEWS

Will there ever be a moose hunting season in Northeast Oregon?

Dogs will be the best friends of young hunters this weekend at the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area.

Hunting dogs like Labrador retrievers will be needed by boys and girls participating in the annual youth pheasant hunt at the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area. The reason in part is meteorological — vegetation is much denser at Ladd Marsh now because of an unusually moist spring. Dogs will be needed by hunters to find and flush birds and then retrieve them.

Rio Grande turkeys will see something historic in Wallowa County this fall — hunters stalking them.

The first fall turkey season in Wallowa County is set to begin in about six weeks. The controlled season, recently approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, will run from Oct. 11 to Nov. 30.

The commission approved the hunt because of rising turkey populations in Wallowa County. The fall season will be in addition to the spring turkey hunt conducted annually in all of Northeast Oregon from April 15 to May 31.

On the eve of bow season in Northeast Oregon, prospects are looking up for elk hunters.

Especially if they are careful to silence the buzz at their campsites.

Elk hunters should do well in Union and Wallowa counties because of increased numbers of elk, according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists.

William Densmore and Georgia Larvik received awards for their 4-H field trial performances. Standing behind them are judges Teddi Montes-Botham and Vic Retherford. - Submitted photo

The 4-H leader had to make history if he wanted to achieve his objective.

Larvik wanted to enter the members of his Sagebrush Pointers club in a 4-H dog field trial competition.

Mark Touhey, second from right, the City of La Grande’s parks and recreation director, talks to La Grande Rotary Club members about a development plan for Morgan Lake Park. The four men are at Morgan Lake Park looking at an aerial photo which has details of the development plan. The Rotary Club members are, left to right, Gordon Kohler, Lance Shoemaker and Colby Marshall, far right. The La Grande Rotary Club will assist with the development project. - Observer photos/DICK MASON

At the base of Morgan Lake Road is a large but inauspicious metal pipe sticking out several feet. Water from Morgan Lake once flowed through the pipe to a small hydroelectric plant, one that stopped operating many decades ago and burned down in 1963.

A black bear peers from a fir tree at the home of Chuck Koch located two miles north of Elgin. - Photo/Chuck Koch

Just ask Chuck Koch of Elgin.

Koch recently received more than he bargained for because of his efforts to spend less on gasoline — a black bear in his backyard.