SEDRO-WOOLLEY — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced a three-day hunting season for brant geese in Skagit County Jan. 20, 24, and 27.

Fish and Wildlife brant counts this winter will allow for hunting opportunities in Clallam and Whatcom counties on Jan. 18, 22, and 25 and in Pacific County on Jan. 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 26.

Although records are sparse, fewer than 3,000 brant geese were detected wintering in Alaska before 1977. That number now has jumped to as many as 40,000 birds, according to the study.

The average amount of geese on a peak migration day is around 50,000 birds on the lake. Lonner recalled one spring around 20 years ago, when approximately 300,000 birds were on the lake in one day.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced a three-day hunting season for brant geese in Skagit County. Hunting will be allowed Saturday, on Jan. 24 and on Jan. 27.

The initial count was for 18 geese and no swans. The 20-year average of birds counted on March 13 is more than 16,000 geese and 1,400 swans.