TRAILS -- A hot band is music to the ears of rail-trail developers in northeastern Washington this week. The Ferry County Rail Trail is getting a boost by members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who've autographed a skateboard that's being auctioned on eBay this…
HUNTING -- In what’s being called a “bold” move, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission gave initial approval Thursday to convert all but a few mule deer tags to antlered only, which would prohibit taking does in light of what appears to be a rapidly…
WILDLIFE -- Idaho Fish and Game's monthly presentation for sportsmen is featuring habitat biologists: COEUR d’ALENE SPORTSMEN’S BREAKFAST TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013 Breakfast.. $7.50 includes tax and gratuity Lake City Senior Center, 1916 N. Lakewood Dr. Coeur d’Alene, ID ~ Time – 6:30 AM Habitat…
WINTER SPORTS -- Members of the Panhandle Nordic Club put up a Snowshoe Hut on Twisted Klister System this week. A wood stove soon will be installed. The snow is still thin, but the it's good to know shelter is there for the winter days…
HUNTING -- A mess of elk were slaughtered or wounded in a youth elk hunt that was marred by greedy adults last week in the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula The story by the Ravali Republic is among the saddest reports on sport hunting I've…
THREATENED SPECIES -- A panel of wildlife officials says it’s time to lift Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park. An Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee spokesman says the panel’s members voted unanimously Wednesday in favor of ending the federal…
FISHING -- The Rose Lake Access Area managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will be closed to public access this winter. The closure is needed for public safety during an access site improvement construction project southeast of Fourth of July Pass. Construction…
TRAILS -- Now's the time to plan next year's major backpacking excursions for more reasons than one. Permits need to be secured in some cases, and if the trip is in the West, now's the best time to buy specially designed topos from Green Trails…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Two whitetail bucks that locked their antlers in battle near Liberty Lake during the rutting season set the stage for a ghoulish drama video that's gone viral on YouTube. Pete Caruso of Spokane and Eric Martin of Colbert were heading out toward…
Biennial report tracks changes in Yellowstone National Park The Yellowstone Center for Resources released its biennial report on conditions within Yellowstone National Park and the 2013 "Vital Signs" said that drier conditions were reported across the park in the past two years as precipitation has…
HUNTING -- My Outdoors column today features a model bowhunter who recruited capable help and went the extra grueling mile to track and retrieve a whitetail buck (above) after his arrow missed the vitals. But what about other archers, especially during the bowhunting seasons that…
WINTER SPORTS -- First it was Colorado resorts, then Montana's Big Mountain out of Whitefish. The Sun Valley report clearly defines the Forest Service and ski industry concern for backcountry skiers launching their trips from resort slopes. Idaho resort puts limits on uphill skiers Sun…
OUTDOOR LITERATURE -- A clash between politics and nature is front and center among the winners of the 2013 National Outdoor Book Awards. Krista Schlyer in her winning book "Continental Divide" reports on the controversial border wall between the United States and Mexico and its…
FLY FISHING -- Some fly fishermen briefly distracted from their sport by the Eastern Washington University football team's pursuit of the FCS championship are trying to hook even more enthusiasm with a little fly-tying incentive. Before the third-ranked EWU Eagles take on Jacksonville State at…
THREATENED SPECIES -- A “hair of the bear” study has accounted for at least 42 grizzly bears in the Cabinet Mountains and Yaak River drainage regions of northwestern Montana, according to the Associated Press. Research leader Kate Kendall reported her findings to the Interagency Grizzly…
WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT -- The bad news from Banks Lake is that an apparently organized criminal element of Eastern European descent continues to thumb its nose at Washington fish and wildlife regulations and kill massive amounts of sportfish. The good news is that by allegedly attempting…
PREDATORS -- This kitty didn't run. Female mountain lion makes a meal of young wolf in W. Wyoming Mountain lions lose their share of cubs to wolves. The cats are generally programmed to climb a tree and avoid confrontations that could leave them injured. But…
PUBLIC LANDS -- The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is planning to conduct prescribed fires in the Huckleberry Mountains area in Stevens County Dec. 12-Jan. 31, according to the Spokane District Office. About 153 acres of public land will be burned, and smoke may be…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Montana outdoor photographer Jaime Johnson and his wife, Lisa, were in the right place at the right time to see a killer wildlife drama play out on below-zero temperatures on Monday. I'll let Jaime explain: We had a really amazing thing happen…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Talk about local. This annual calendar features images of local birds captured by local birder-photographers.
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- The number of bald eagles is increasing at their traditional winter feast of spawning kokanee at Lake Coeur d'Alene. Carrie Hugo, U.S. Bureau of Land Management wildlife biologist, counted 86 bald eagles today in the Wolf Lodge Bay area. That's up from…
RIVERS -- Talks on revising the Columbia River Treaty aren't getting off to a great start from the perspective of fishermen: Hastings: Leave ecosystem out of Columbia River Treaty -- Capital Press
HUNTING -- The story of a Montana wolf hunter shooting a pet malamute as it romped with its owner near Lolo Pass in November is a long way from being as dead as the dog. USA Today has just posted a story rehashing and updating…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Can you ID these two birds? If not, you may want to attend one of the Audubon Society programs tonight and Wednesday on identifying wintering birds. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife experts say both birds are male finches and despite the…
PUBLIC LANDS -- A week after conservation groups filed a federal lawsuit against the new Clearwater National Forest Travel Management Plan, two Idaho counties have filed suit against the plan that closes 200 miles of national forest trails to motorized vehicles. Idaho and Clearwater counties…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
| Dec. 2013 | Nov. 2013 | Oct. 2013 | Sept. 2013 |
| Aug. 2013 | July 2013 | June 2013 | May 2013 |
| April 2013 | March 2013 | Feb. 2013 | Jan. 2013 |
