Ski swaps prelude to season

Snow accumulating in the high country is a sure sign that used gear will be coming out of closets to make up the great deals offered by annual ski- and winter-gear swaps.

These fundraisers help raise money for area ski patrols.

Mount Spokane Ski Patrol Ski Swap at Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds in Spokane Valley, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 25 and 9 a.m.-noon on Oct. 26. Register items for sale from 3 p.m.-9 p.m. on Oct. 24.

Info: www.mssp.org .

Silver Mountain and Lookout Pass ski patrols Winter Swap, North Idaho Fairgrounds on Government Way in Coeur d’Alene, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Nov. 1. Register items 3 p.m.-8 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Info: (208) 818-8038, www.winterswap.org .

49 Degrees North Ski Patrol Ski Swap, Northeast Washington Fairgrounds in Colville, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Nov. 15. Register items for sale 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. on Nov. 15.

Info: www.ski49n.com .

Rich Landers

CONSERVATION

Roosevelt’s natural classroom

Student interns are exploring careers in conservation at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.

Three college field biology students from Georgia, Massachusetts and Wisconsin are working on shrub-steppe habitat restoration, collecting lake water samples for E. coli testing, mapping and controlling non-native invasive exotic plants, creating student outdoor learning materials and monitoring osprey nests.

The interns are among nearly 3,000 high school, college and graduate students placed this year through the Student Conservation Association, which seeks to instill a “conservation ethic” through hands-on service.

SCA interns provide about 1.5 million hours of conservation service in national parks, forests and other public lands, an association spokesman said.

About 60 percent of SCA interns go on to careers in conservation.

Info: Kevin Hamilton, (603) 543-1700, ext. 185; www.theSCA.org .

For info on other volunteer opportunities at Lake Roosevelt, call (509) 633-9441, ext. 130.

Rich Landers

WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT

Game chief misfires

The head of the New Mexico’s Game and Fish Department could lose his hunting license for two years for illegally shooting a deer on private land during a hunt in southeastern New Mexico.

In November 2007, director Bruce Thompson shot a deer on the Diamond T Ranch west of Roswell without permission from the private land owner, which is illegal in the state.

Thompson, who had a valid deer hunting license, said he believed he was on U.S. Bureau of Land Management land, based on coordinates entered in his global positioning system unit.

A hearing officer has recommended that Thompson’s hunting license be revoked for two years.

The state Game Commission has the final say.

When Thompson was first charged with illegally hunting on private land, he said that the incorrect entry in his GPS was no excuse and that he expected “to be treated like any other hunter who unintentionally violates wildlife regulations.”

The incident resulted in two court convictions and fines and probation for unlawful hunting and illegal possession of a deer.

Associated Press