FISHING -- A Washington ice fisherman visiting Fourth of July Lake on Thursday reported open water around the edges and water over the ice in the main portion of the lake. He said he packed up and decided it was safer to go ice fishing…
BOATING -- The water level at Banks Lake is coming up close to normal range this winter after a dramatic maintenance drawdown that reached 30 feet below normal in October. The lake elevation was up to 1,561 feet this week, about 7 feet below the…
WINTER SPORTS -- The region's mountain snowpack is stabilizing, but snow-goers must be aware of a couple of weak layers, says Kevin Davis in the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center weekly avalanche advisory issued this morning. Of the two layers of surface hoar, one has been…
TRAILS -- The Inland Northwest, with its fabulous system of rail trails, has insight to what would be lost if a malicious defunding bill gets anywhere in Congress. The Rails to Trails Conservancy is calling H.R. 7 -- the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act…
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY -- The one-in-a-million pheasant photo by Coeur d'Alene wildlife photographer Tim Christi sparked some pleasant memories after the S-R published it in the Outdoors section. I received this letter last week: "My late husband used to rise earlyl in the morning to surveyhis…
MOUNTAINEERING -- Jared Townsley had a goal this year to ascend Mount Hood once a month. The 32-year-old from Tigard was a skilled climber who had already scaled the mountain more than a dozen times, sometimes solo, the Oregonian reports Sunday night, Townsley headed up…
Doc Of The Drakes, Short from Silver Creek Outfitters on Vimeo. ANGLING -- The annual Fly Fishing Film Tour presented last night to a nearly full house at the Bing Crosby Theater soared beyond expectations. The films were beautifully photographed and brilliantly edited, capturing moods…
FISHING -- A free event to introduce people to ice fishing is set for Saturday (Feb. 11) at Cocolalla Lake south of Sandpoint, sponsored by Idaho Fish and Game Department. Everything about the event is free, including bait and the fishing equipment available to borrow.…
WINTER SPORTS -- The Washington Legislature is toying with proposals that could divert dedicated gas-tax funds from established and popular Sno-Park programs. These are the programs, such as those at Mount Spokane, that plow parking areas and groom trails for snowmobiling, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and…
OUTDOOR JOBS -- A few good physically fit, personable men or women with biology degrees and outdoor skills are being sought for the newest job openings in the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department. The agency plans to hire two wolf trappers and three assistants with…
BIRDWATCHING -- Responsible bird enthusiasts regularly clean their feeders to help prevent the spread of disease that can kill masses of birds. But even the most conscientious feeders can be deadly if the seed they buy is poisonous. Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. recently admitted guilt in…
MARINE WILDLIFE -- After nearly being hunted out of existence, California sea lions have boomed in population in the 40 years since the 1972 passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. According to several estimates, their number has grown from 5,000 around 1970 to about…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Here's another wake up call for anyone contemplating a summer Forest Service cabin or lookout rental. The Idaho Panhandle National Forests St. Joe Ranger District is accepting applications through February for a lottery to select reservation rental dates for the popular Red…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Most rentals for cabins and fire lookouts on national forests and parks are reserved on a national reservation system that allows the public to book dates no more than 180 days in advance. Check out the National Recreation Reservation Service online or…
SLACKLINING -- Andy Lewis, who thrilled and chilled viewers at the 2011 Banff Mountain Film Festival, shared his slacklining genius in a flawless performance on stage with Madonna in Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show. The video above shows the death-defying balance of the daredevil who…
CYCLING -- All this snow-free winter weather and the bare roads have turned my thoughts occasionally to bicycling. However, this video suggests I have a long way to go before learning everything about riding a ROAD bike.
HUNTING -- It looks as though Congress is going to make it easier for sportsmen to one-stop-shop for state and federal waterfowl hunting licenses. That's good news for the sport and for wetland habitats. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 373-1 recently to forward a…
WINTER SPORTS -- A great Souper Bowl turnout of women and girls made the most of a perfect day at Mount Spokane to ski, snowshoe and lunch for the benefit of the Women's and Children's Free Restaurant. The bottom line: 280 women came out for…
FISH AND WILDLIFE -- Fishing rules adopted for 2012... upcoming meetings about the Pend Oreille River pike fishery... revised hunting proposals for 2012-2014 -- all of this is involved in a small blizzard of proposals and adoptions coming out of the Washington Fish and Wildlife…
ANGLING -- Beckie Clarke, the Fernie, British Columbia, guide pictured above, leads filmmakers to top-rate bull trout fishing in the Elk River Valley in one of the flicks to be featured in the annual Fly Fishing Film Tour, starting in Spokane at 7 p.m. Wednesday…
OUTDOOR PROGRAMS -- Here's a few outdoor programs to consider catching this week: Fly fishing – “Match the Hatch Simplified,” free program by Oregon fly-fishing author Dave Hughes, 7 p.m., Wednesday (Feb. 8) at St. Francis School, 1104 W. Heroy, hosted by the Spokane Fly…
CONSERVATION -- Backpacker magazine and SNEWS named Spokane-based Mountain Gear the Sustainable Retailer of the Year at the recent 2012 Winter Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City. The annual award honors outdoor retailers that stand out as leaders for the industry and the communities…
NORDIC SKIING -- In honor of the upcoming (Feb. 12) Spokane Langlauf, the annual 10K cross-country ski event at Mount Spokane, let your mind soar and your body be sore while viewing the lengths some skinny skiers will go to be just like crazy alpine…
WILDLIFE LAWS -- The Washington Legislature is considering numerous bills that relate to hunters, anglers and wildlife. Andy Walgamott of Northwest Sportsman Magazine posted this update on last week's activity.
HUNTING -- A few days later than scheduled, proposals for hunting rules and seasons for 2012-2014 have finally been posted on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department website. Check them out. The Fish and Wildlife Commission will take more public input on the proposals during…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
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