FISHING -- The first spring chinook salmon of the season has been counted at Bonneville Dam, according to Joe Hymer of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Winter counts are done by videotaping. The chinook had a white chin, which is like a lower…
FISHING – Cloudy water in the Beaverhead River led to an estimated $5 million in losses for outfitters and related businesses in 2015, Montana officials say. Fish, Wildlife and Parks fisheries biologist Matt Jaeger tells The Montana Standard that about 10,000 fewer anglers fished the...
HUNTING -- Sportsmen's groups filed suit against the federal government on Friday seeking to overturn two Obama-era restrictions governing the management of National Wildlife Refuge and National Preserve lands within Alaska’s borders. The Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, the Alaska Professional Hunters Association and two rural Alaskans.…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- A modest state proposal that would allow hunters to shoot "problem wolves" in Oregon on a case-by-case basis is, predictably, raising the hackles of people who hang on to the notion that wolves are above be managed. This mentality will not lead…
NATURE – Butterflies found in the Spokane area will be featured in a photo presentation by Jeanne Dammarell of the Washington Butterfly Association on Wednesday, 6 p.m., at the Spokane Downtown Library.
HUNTING – The Spokane Bird Dog Association is holding a six-session "Basic Hunting Dog Obedience " class that starts next Sunday. The class is geared t all types of hunting dogs including older dogs as well as puppies, said Doug Koenig, club spokesman. It’s also…
WINTERSPORTS -- A Spokane teen and an Olympian who lives in Sandpoint won the men and women divisions in the 2017 Spokane Langlauf 10-kilometer cross country ski race Sunday at Mount Spokane State Park. Brett Ford, 18, averaged nearly 14 mph to finish the course...
OUTDOOR RELATIONSHIPS -- More than 34 years ago, my fiance and I walked into Dodson's Jewelers in Spokane and bought the rings we'd put on during our upcoming wedding. We walked out the door and drove to what was then the Eddie Bauer Bargain Basement…
WINTERSPORTS -- Two skiers at Crystal Mountain Resort face fines of up to $1,000 after ducking under a rope and skiing in an area closed due to avalanche danger. They narrowly escaped danger. The News Tribune says it’s the first time Crystal has pushed for…
WATERSPORTS -- The revised forecast has been released for water levels at Lake Roosevelt this spring as water managers predict how how much the Columbia River reservoir will be drawn down to accommodate spring runoff and how fast it will refill to summer elevations of…
WILDLIFE -- A Washington lawmaker said he's trying to make a point with pointless legislation that would allow Western Washington hunters to shoot bull elk that show signs of a limp. Really. Sen. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe says he introduced SB 5474 to prompt the Washington...
WILDLIFE -- Among the billions of people out there snapping photos of birds, a precious few photographers are masters. Paul Bannick is one of them, and you don't have to take my word for it. The award-winning photographer from Western Washington is presenting a new...
RIVERS -- Ice breakup and a stew of winter weather conditions are raising havoc with area rivers, including the Grande Ronde River in southeastern Washington and, closer to home, Hangman Creek, which was flowing ice this morning. Cody Toner snapped the photo above from the...
FISHING -- Tony Warren's photo above showing iced up fishing gear after a morning of jigging on the Columbia River at the Tri Cities says a lot about the trials anglers have suffered this winter. Ice fishermen are whistling a sweet tune with their numb...
PUBLIC LANDS -- Don't trust federal land grabber Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. He's part of the problem. Chaffetz made headlines last week and got some positive attention for withdrawing his unpopular legislation to mandate the sale of more than 3 million acres of public lands...
OUTDOOR GROUPS -- While researching my recent story on the All Out effort to help people connect with outdoor activities, I came across some enthusiastic SheJumps advocates wearing outdoor clothing -- and tutus. "It helps us stand out in the crowd," said Kayla Jo Haas…
PUBLIC LANDS -- The checkerboard forestry management on Idaho state lands just south of Priest Lake stands out in a winter photo from NASA. "An astronaut aboard the International Space Station observed this distinctive checkerboard pattern alongside the Priest River in northern Idaho," says NASA's...
OUTDOOR TOURISM – In case we need a reminder that preserving landscapes has economic value, a University of Montana research institute says that more than 12 million tourists visited the Big Sky State last year, spending nearly $3.5 billion and supporting nearly 53,000 jobs. Montana’s…
WATERSPORTS -- Unable to find a suitable concessionaire, the National Park Service says it will close the Kettle Falls Marina on April 30 when its contract with Lake Roosevelt Vacations, Inc. expires. "The effort to select a contractor to continue operations was cancelled to give…
HABITAT – The Spokane Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will hold its annual Big Game Banquet on Feb. 18, starting at 5 p.m. at the Mirabeau Hotel in Spokane Valley. Tickets are available online, or by calling Ashley Atkinson, at (509) 939-6360.
CLUBS –Outdoor programs of note this week: Karelian bear dogs, by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 7 p.m., 6116 N. Market St., for Inland Northwest Wildlife Council. Cuba birding, by Ann Brinly, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, at Riverview Retirement Center, 2117 E. North Crescent Ave.,…
PARKS – Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area staff will discuss proposed outdoor recreation opportunities during a meeting, 6 p.m., tonight, Feb. 6, at the Center for Clinical Research and Simulation building, 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd. Proposals include a disc golf course, traditional and 3-D…
FISHING – A parasite that caused a major die-off of mountain whitefish in the Yellowstone River has been discovered in two more southwestern Montana streams. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said today that the parasite was detected in the Big Hole River near Wise River…
FISHING -- Idaho's spring chinook fishing rules are being developed and anglers are invited to comment. A public meeting is scheduled on Feb. 16 at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game Clearwater Region Office, 3316 16th St. in Lewiston, Free pizza and refreshments will…
WINTERSPORTS -- Three people were injured, apparently not severely, when snow slid off the metal roof of Selkirk Lodge shortly after 1 p.m. today during the 12th annual Women's Souper Bowl snowshoeing and cross-country skiing event at Mount Spokane State Park. State park rangers say...
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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