HUNTING -- Fall is in the air, and hunters are gearing up for the woods.

Although black bear seasons already have opened in some areas of Washington, Sept. 1 it the big kick-off day for bears hunting in notheastern Washington along with mourning dove hunting and forest grouse seasons in much of Washington and Idaho.

Archery big-game seasons also are opening throughout the region. Idaho's wolf season opened Tuesday.

In Montana, the general season to hunt black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and moose begins Sept. 15. The general hunting season for antelope begins Oct. 8, followed by the general season for deer and elk on Oct. 22.