WILDLIFE -- Black bears have been reported on the popular South Hill bluff trails today. After receiving two calls, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department police officer Mike Sprecher responded and said it looked as though two bears, an adult bear and a younger bear, had...
PARKS -- Mount Spokane State Park visitors have two weekends to enjoy driving to the top of the mountain until next spring. The gate to the Summit Road to the top of Mount Spokane will be locked for the season on the evening of Oct....
RESERVOIRS -- If you thought the level of Lake Spokane was already low this week, you were right, but you haven't seen anything yet. Avista announced plans Thursday afternoon to reduce water levels in Lake Spokane in preparation for the unusually high amount of rain…
HUNTING/FISHING -- I've never been a fan of programs that reward certain groups of people -- such as disabled hunters, the terminally ill or veterans -- with free hunting or fishing licenses. We should hold licensing for the privilege to hunt or fish to a…
FISHING -- Steelhead fishermen got their first good news of in a fish-poor season last week when a group of state, federal and tribal fisheries managers that coordinates salmon and steelhead fishing in the Columbia River basin upgraded its forecast for B-run steelhead. Here's a…
WATERSPORTS – Priest Lake’s slow drawdown to winter level is set to begin Saturday evening, Oct. 8. Flows will be increased from Outlet Dam to lower the lake three feet from its current full pool at elevation 2,437.6 feet. The drawdown should be complete by...
BIRDING -- A 10-day trip to Western Montana paid off "big" for wildlife shutterbugs Buck and Sandy Dometrovich of Cheney. They returned to an area where they'd photographed a great gray owl in April, and against all odds, they found it again,...
BICYCLING -- While bicycling across the United States in 1976, I acquired many useful outdoor life skills, such doing Eskimo rolls on my bike. See this demonstration captured on Super8 by another TransAmerica Bicycle Trail rider, Patti Brehler, as we camped one night in Kansas.
WINTERSPORTS -- If you're a skier or boarder, the snowfall that started covering the slopes at Lookout Pass Ski area was a sight to behold this morning. But considering that it's only Oct. 5, I'll bet deer and elk hunters are even more excited. Snow…
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation issued a statement today strongly opposing Initiative 177, a measure on Montana’s November ballot that would immediately ban trapping on all public lands in the state. Washington voters approved a similar measure in 2000. It was soon...
HUNTING -- Washington has no single opening day for hunting. Some bear seasons opened in August. Dove and forest grouse hunting started Sept. 1. Early deer and elk archery seasons have had their days with late seasons to follow. Youth hunters got the first shot…
PUBLIC LANDS -- In its third newsletter in a series addressing comments received from the public about the Colville National Forest planning effort, the revision team provides background and clarifications regarding the Roadless Rule, Inventoried Roadless Areas and how these are considered in forest plan…
FISHING -- The 2016 fall chinook run has peaked over McNary Dam, and Columbia River anglers are hauling in good catches as salmon have stacked up through the Hanford Reach below Priest Rapids Dam. Here's the latest report from Paul Hoffarth, Washington Department of Fish…
FISHING -- Strike indicators are especially important to fall fly fishing as surface activity tapers off on the region's trout stream. The guides at Red's Fly Shop on the Yakima River have prepared the following information pointing out that selecting the right indicator can be…
GEOLOGY -- "Washington Rocks!" is a guidebook that brings geology to the people. And the authors from Eastern Washington University are bringing a program about the book to Auntie's Book Store in Spokane at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7. As I mentioned in a review...
OUTDOOR RETAILERS -- Word's been out that for quite a while that Sidney, Nebraska,-based Cabela's, billed as "America's foremost" outdoor outfitter, has not been doing well, or has been poorly managed. Here's the retailer's new lease on life: OMAHA, Neb. – Outdoor gear giants Bass...
RIVERS – Despite a cool, rainy day, 692 volunteers turned out for the annual Spokane River Clean-up on Sept. 17, the Lands Council reports. Crews were dispatched to the river in Spokane Valley, the University District, the downtown river gorge area, High Bridge Park, People's…
HIKING/BIKING -- A notable hike and bicycling lecture are among the many indoor and outdoor educational activities planned this week for the Fall for History Festival in Wallace, Idaho, Oct. 7-9. In cooperation with the Idaho Humanities Council, the Idaho Historical Society, the Idaho Association…
TRAILS -- The steep, eroded gouge in the earth is history and a new rerouted section of Trail 65 is ushering hikers to the top of Scotchman Peak, a popular North Idaho day trip destination near Clark Fork. In celebration of National Public Lands Day,...
WILDLIFE -- Presentations on the Hells Canyon bighorn sheep project, fall fishing updates and more are planned by Idaho Fish and Game Clearwater Region staff on Thursday, Oct. 6, along with a Dutch oven lunch for interested wildlife enthusiasts. The event will start at noon…
HUNTING -- A man scouting for elk in Montana surprised a sow grizzly bear with cubs and was attacked not once, but TWICE on Saturday. "Yeah life sucks in bear country," Todd Orr said with his face covered in blood as he made a short...
PARKS -- Mount Spokane Park Road, which has been closed to the general public this summer during construction, will be re-opened to motorized vehicle and non-motorized vehicle use starting on Monday, Oct. 3. Initially the road will be reopened with flagging in one direction, park…
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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