Out & About

OUTLIVE

Idaho producing bumper crop

About 1,300 vehicles collided with wildlife in Idaho, resulting in 200 serious injuries to drivers and passengers in 2007. In the past 10 years, 27 people have died in collisions with critters.

With winter snow forcing game to valleys and roadways, time is prime for an accident.

U.S. 95 at McArthur Lake near Sandpoint is Idaho’s top spot for wildlife collisions. The area is winter range for white-tailed deer and moose.

U.S. 395 near Chewelah is a hot spot in Washington.

Driving tips:

•Slow down when passing yellow game-crossing signs, which are posted where heavy wildlife traffic occurs.

•Deer often travel single file. One deer crossing the road means more likely are coming.

•Watch the road shoulder. Even game well off the road may become confused by oncoming traffic and dart across the roadway.

More info on problem areas in Idaho: http://fishand game.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/ manage_issues/collision.

OUTFLOAT

Boat fees pay the way

Happy New Year: It’s time to renew your Idaho boat registration.

The annual fee helps fund recreational boating services and marine law enforcement.

Only sailboats and motorboats must be numbered and registered.

Info: 208-334-4197; www.parksand recreation.idaho.gov.

OUTSMART

Never sniff a lowland gift

Cross-country ski trails should finally be groomed at Fourth of July Pass this weekend, thanks to volunteers who’ve dealt with difficult winter conditions lately.

That hasn’t stopped Geoff Harvey, Panhandle Nordic Club president, from skiing more than 100 kilometers.

“State Parks has been grooming trails at Farragut and along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes near Cataldo,” he said. “On the rare occasion that there’s good snow at Farragut, there’s no reason to drive up into the mountains.”

OUTFISH

Missouri insight

Spokane Fly Fishers present Montana guide Neale Streeks, “Fishing the Missouri River,” Wednesday, 7 p.m., St. Francis School, 1104 W. Heroy.

OUTLOOK

Best fishing

Lunar tables from the U.S. Naval Observatory. Be fishing an hour before and after peak times. Applies to all time zones.

(* indicates best days)

Through Jan. 18

Today

—12: 50 p.m.

Monday

1:20 a.m., 1:45 p.m.

Tuesday

2:15 a.m., 2:40 p.m.

Wednesday

3:05 a.m., 3:30 p.m.

Thursday

3:55 a.m., 4:15 p.m.

Friday

4:40 a.m., 5 p.m.

* Saturday

5:25 a.m., 5:45 p.m.

* Next Sunday

6:10 a.m., 6:30 p.m.

See the Hunting-Fishing Report every Friday in Sports