ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Tom D. White, 37, and his wife, Erin J. White, 37, of Twisp, Wash., have entered guilty pleas in plea agreements involving illegal conduct relating to endangered wolves. Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, just announced…
HUNTING/FISHING -- Safari Club International and the NRA are praising the U.S. House of Representatives today for passing H.R. 4089, the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012, advancing the controversial legislation to the Senate. The legislation has good parts on which most sportsmen can agree. But…
FISHING -- A prize overnight accommodation on the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River has just become available for rental reservations. Starting May 18, the historic Avery Creek Cabin, recently renovated, will join 13 cabins and lookouts available for rent on the Idaho Panhandle…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Most people interested in birds know there was an unusually high number of snowy owls that migrated south from the arctic to winter along the northern United States this season. People were devoting a great deal of effort into taking advantage of…
SALMON FISHING -- Though the fishing season for Chinook salmon opens on Sunday, April 22, in the Clearwater River, Snake River, Little Salmon and lower Salmon rivers, this year’s run is appears to be one of the latest on record. No fish had crossed Lower…
TRAILS – Volunteers will be gathering all along the Spokane River Centennial Trail on Saturday to wail on weeds, pick up litter and sweep it clean. To join the group, and enjoy the free lunch, preregister by Friday for the 20th annual Friends of the…
WILDLIFE -- It's been well publicized over the years, but we can't let people forget that our lower Coeur d'Alene river basin is a toxic stew for migrating waterfowl, thanks to the waste of a century of upstream mining. An eyewitness to a swan death…
OUTDOORS -- Citing surveys that indicate kids are spending up to 30 hours a week dialed in to video games, computers other technology, a several business, agencies and volunteer groups have organized a nifty schedule of free or low-cost outdoor activites and clinics April 21-28…
WILDLIFE -- This period when bears are emerging from dens and snow still prevents them from dispersing to the high country is prime time for conflicts with humans who live in rural areas. Bottom line: the bears are hungry. Eliminate food sources that might lure…
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- Perhaps it's a hint of the difference wolves can make. While Idaho cut back on elk hunting opportunity for this fall, Washington -- where wolf expansion is still in its infancy -- is expanding elk hunting permits. But the Fish and Wildlife…
TRAVEL -- Meri Murphy of the Spokane Mountaineers will detail her the post retiremed trip she made -- for eight months! -- in the Middle East and Africa during a free program tonight, 7 p.m. at Mountain Gear Headquarters, 6011 E. Mansfield. Murphy departed Spokane…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Glacier Nationa Park has a special incentive for walkers and cyclists for the next month or so, but especially next week when ntrance fees to Glacier National Park and the nearly 400 National Park Sites across the country will be waived during…
RIVERS -- The 2012 Toyota Weaver Seed World Jet Boat Championship races got their start on the St. Joe River last weekend. Promoters say about 5,000 people were spread along miles of river to watch the boats roar by. The S-R had a story today…
HUNTING -- At least 8 gobblers raising hell in every direction from my stand from 5:15 a.m. to 6:25 a.m. this morning, opening day of the spring wild turkey season. Then the woods virtually went silents -- except for the damned flicker that kept coming…
CONSERVATION -- The Dream Trail through the Dishman Hills of Spokane Valley has come 269 acres closer to reality this week with the purchase of two parcels in the Glenrose area. Two adjoining parcels were purchased with $473,500 from the Spokane County Conservation Futures Program…
RESERVOIRS -- The level of Lake Roosevelt was 1241.90 this moring and continuing to drop about 1.5 feet a day. That rate forecast to continue at least through the rest of the month to reach the flood control elevation of 1220.2. The plan could change,…
INVASIVE SPECIES -- A dive team to assess an outbreak of invasive asian clams in the Hope area of Lake Pend Oreille is being organized for Monday by the Idaho Department of Agriculture and Bonner County. The clams were detected recently during the pre-runoff lake…
HUNTING -- These wild turkeys feel free to trot through the Ponderosa neighborhood in Spokane Valley even though Washington's general turkey hunting season opens Sunday. The front-runners are clearly jakes, as indicated by the short "beards" protruding from their breasts. This little neighborhood parade (photo…
FISHING -- An angler survey is underway at Moses Lake and Potholes Reservoir in Grant County. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife surveyors are randomly selecting anglers at various access to learn more about the two fisheries. Ceel clerks are checking anglers about 16 days…
OFF-ROAD VEHICLES -- Idaho recently came within an eyelash of stripping the Idaho Department of Fish and Game of the authority to regulate the use of all-terrain vehicles on public land during hunting seasons. An editorial in the Idaho Mountain Express notes that if the…
PADDLING -- An open online collaboration is plotting a map of kayaking play spots on the Spokane River, complete with directions and a few sparse details. Check it out.
SALMON FISHING -- With heavy runoff creating poor river conditions, the spring chinook salmon fishing season on the lower Columbia River has been extended through April 22. The eight-day extension may give anglers a better shot at fish that appear to be delayed off the…
SHOOTING -- The Jerry Townsend Tribute Shoot is set for April 21 at Landt Farms Sporting Clays. The "fun shoot" starts at 10 a.m. Cost $45, includes lunch. Preregister by calling (509) 464-2070. Townsend is owner of Pheasant Valley shooting preserve near LaCrosse.
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.