FISHING -- The big drawdown at Lake Roosevelt -- much more dramatic than last year -- is making boat launching difficult at all but a few ramps. Even shore fishing is getting tricky as wthe water levels drop so low and fast that anglers are…
WILDLIFE -- Black and grizzly bears are emerging from hibernation, and wildlife managers are trying to get word out to people who live in bear country – that’s virtually anywhere north and east of Spokane – to clean up their act and avoid creating a…
WILDLIFE – Grizzlies and snow leopards highlight the films in the International Wildlife Film Festival coming to Sandpoint’s Panada Theater Friday night – a fundraiser for the Sandpoint High School Venture Club. Starting at 7 p.m., the line up of award-winning films includes: “South Pacific:…
HUNTING -- When Idaho's spring black bear hunting season opens Friday, hunters must be especially careful to identify the species of bear they are looking at before they pull the trigger. Species identification important: It's legal to take a black bear but illegal to kill…
FITNESS -- Even if you're not a runner, Spokane's annual Bloomsday run is a great motivation to improve the fitness needed for outdoor pursuits, whether its hiking, hunting, fishing, geocaching -- whatever. Join the thousands of people for the he 7.5-mile run/walk on May 1.…
PUBLIC LANDS -- National parks will be waiving entrance fees for eight consecutive days, April 16-24, as an incentive for families to enjoy the outdoors and national heritage. The parks will be waiving fees for a total of 17 days in 2011, including National Park…
BACKPACKING -- Phil Hough and Deb Hunsicker, a pair of long-distance hikers from North Idaho, will tap 3,100 miles of footwork to present a free program, “Wildflowers, Wild Lands and Wild Times Along the Continental Divide," Wednesday, 6 p.m., at the Sandpoint Community Hall. The…
Watch the full episode. See more Nature. WILDLIFE RESEARCH -- It's a fascinating coincidence that one of the top wolverine researchers in the region and North America will be speaking about the rare species in North Idaho this this week, as explained in my Sunday…
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has just released a summary of the new hunting rules for deer, elk and other game animals approved Friday and Saturday in Olympia. The hot issue in the meeting was the adoption of the controversial 4-point…
WILDLIFE -- Dogs are breathing easier in Wenatchee this afternoon. After police evacuated homeowners from a Wenatchee neighborhood this morning, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials killed a cougar found underneath a house deck. Rich Beausoleil, the ageny's cougar specialist, said the location of…
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION -- They don't make the evening news headlines, but sportsmen's groups working the halls of Congress are vital to wildlife conservation as the first hearings begin for the 2012 Farm Bill. Getting a few positive votes on these measures can do more for…
HIKING -- A reader who frequently hikes out of the Painted Rocks trailhead along the Little Spokane River just emailed and said he was surprised last week to see two new signs indicating that dogs are not allowed on the trails. "This absolutely shocked me,"…
RIVER RUNNING -- The Spokane River is running big, but waves didn't stop Peak 7 Adventures from taking a group down this weekend for their first whitewater fun trip of the season. Here's a scouting report just posted on the Whitewater Northwest forum: Bowl &…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- A federal judge over the weekend blocked a proposal to lift endangered species protections for wolves in Montana and Idaho that had been hammered out by U.S. wildlife officials and conservation groups. The plan could have led to public hunting of some…
FISHING -- Although a decision isn’t likely until the end of this week, a spring chinook salmon season is likely to open in phases on the Washington portion of the Snake River starting around April 20, state officials say. When approved by federal fisheries officials,…
FISHING – The public is invited to hear the latest fishing reports from Washington and Idaho waters and rub elbows with local fly tiers at the annual Spokane Fly Fishers Extravaganza, Wednesday, 6 p.m., at St. Francis School, 1104 W. Heroy. The event is free.…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Spokane Audubon members are offering several choice opportunities to learn more about birds and bird identification. Birds of Eastern Washington, April 21 & 23, taught by SAS member Fran Haywood. Sign up through Community Colleges of Spokane. Bird Identification workshops for novices,…
WILDLIFE -- Excitement has turned to concern as we watch the drama in the eagle nest. On Sunday, it ws clear the web cam operator was zooming in frequently to let viewers see what might be unfolding. It was exciting to see the third eaglet…
HUNTING -- A controversial antler point restriction for whitetail deer, proposed by a Stevens County sportsmen's group, was approved by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday during its meeting in Olympia. Starting this fall, only whitetail bucks with four or more antler points on…
STATE PARKS -- A good clean photo of the Quartz Mountain lookout in Mount Spokane State Park is difficult to achieve without getting the darned outhouse in the picture, said Cris Currie, head of the Friends of Mount Spokane State Park. But this year's deep…
CONSERVATION -- Workers from kids to senior citizens gave up the first beautiful Saturday of a soggy spring to pull weeds, build trail, obliterate unauthorized routes, groom a native plant garden and pick up trash during the community work project at the Dishman Hills Natural…
PUBLIC LANDS – Glacier National Park is next of five parks to be featured on one of the U.S. Mint’s new “America the Beautiful” quarters. The quarter features a mountain goat with Reynolds Mountain in the background. It’s a view familiar to visitors who drive…
FISHING -- Attention Colville-area anglers: A free Walleye Fishing Seminar focusing on using GPS electronics will be given by Montana angler and Lowrance rep Dale Gilbert tonight at the Big R store in Colville, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Check him out at www.MontanaWalleye.com.
WILD COMMENTARY -- The Idaho Legislature passed "wolf emergency" bill on to Gov. Butch Otter this week, embarrassing a few folks within the state, including the editors of the Idaho Mountain Express. "Westerners are proud of the persistence and bravery of their ancestors. But Westerners…
FISHING -- The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have pooled up to $150,000 in cash prizes for this year's Flathead Lake Spring Mack Days fishing tournament in an effort to entice more anglers and reduce the lake trout population. The competition runs every Friday, Saturday…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.