WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT -- Forty-four cow elk in western Montana's Ravalli County have been equipped with GPS collars as part of an elk population study expected to last through 2013. Biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the University of Montana attached the collars earlier…
WINTER SPORTS -- The trails, grooming and skiing conditions simply could not be better than they were Sunday at Mount Spokane's cross-country ski trails. One more brilliant day in the forecast before grimness returns.
NEW ORLEANS — Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum finished fourth in the Bassmaster Classic after the final weigh-in today for the three-day “super bowl” of bass fishing. Palaniuk, 23, was the youngest of the 50 anglers to qualify for the competition. He also was the only…
HUNTING -- The Idaho Fish and Game Department is planning a series of public open house meetings to discuss proposed big-game seasons and rules for the fall hunting seasons. Some meetings in the Clearwater region are as early as Tuesday. Panhandle meetings will be the…
PRO FISHING -- Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum told the Bassmaster Classic weigh-in crowd in New Orleans tonight that he was fishing this morning in thick a fog and could hear other anglers casting nearby, but he couldn’t see who was around him. Suddenly he realized…
PRO FISHING -- Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum moved from 11th place to fourth place today after the second day of fishing among the 50 anglers in New Orleans for the Bassmaster Classic . Palaniuk, who's been creating a buzz since he arrived, has a shot…
PRO FISHING -- As I write this, Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum is still waiting for his weigh-in after the second day of fishing at the Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans. Palaniuk, 23, is the only angler from the West among the 50-angler field. He finished…
WINTER SPORTS -- Powder is the word for President's Day Weekend skiers. Around 2 feet of blower powder piled up and was waiting for skiers today. The full moon is out and everyone is ready to go out and shred! For those of you heading…
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission issued a statement today voicing its opposition to a provision of bill being considered in the Washington Legislature that would reduce the commission’s authority. During a conference call, commissioners unanimously approved a statement objecting to the provision…
PRO-FISHING — Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum is in 11th place after the first day of fishing among the 50 anglers in New Orleans for the Bassmaster Classic . The three-day Super Bowl of bass fishing runs through Sunday at the Louisiana Delta. Palaniuk, the only…
FISHING -- Water discharge from Dworshak Dam near Orofino, Idaho, will temporarily decrease starting Saturday, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operations officials announced this afternoon. Discharge flow through the powerhouse will be decreased from approximately 11,000 cubic feet per second to 6,200 cfs on Saturday…
OUTDOOR WISDOM -- After attending last night's Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Bing -- a thoroughly entertaining evening of film that overshadowed the unpolished ramblings of the tour hosts -- I left knowing one thing for sure: The most common misconception about fishing is…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Despite Gov. Brian Schweitzer's call this week for Montanans to defy federal endangered species laws and kill wolves (see story), the state's game wardens aren't launching a war on the controversial predators. On Wednesday, Schweitzer announced he was done waiting for federal…
STATE GOVERNMENT -- Plan ahead today if you need something from a Washington Fish and Wildlife Department office -- or most other state government offices. Monday is the Presidents Day holiday and Tuesday is another furlough day for most Washington state employees. This will be…
FISHING-HUNTING -- The ice is almost gone from Sprague Lake this week, a harbinger of a new season to come. Here's the latest hunting fishing report, posted today by S-R columnist Alan Liere.
NATIONAL FORESTS -- The lottery drawing is coming up for summer reservations at a popular Forest Service “cabin” on the St. Joe River. Applications for staying at the former forest service employee home at Red Ives from Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 30 must be…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- The annual Great Backyard Bird Count begins tomorrow across North America -- and in your own neighborhood, if you choose. Volunteers do a census on the birds in their yard or neighborhood and record the data online to create a huge database…
OUTDOOR IMAGES -- Linda Lantzy, an outdoor photographer who sports a classy "Best of Idaho" scenic images Facebook page includes some shots she couldn't resist from Washington's North Cascades, according to our Huckleberries blogger, Dave Oliveria. You can see her other favorites here.
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- During a local birding foray Wednesday, Spokane Auduboner Kim Thorburn reported hearing a canyon wren sing at Deep Creek in Riverside State Park. “The winter and Bewick's wrens have already been at it for a week or two,” she said. “I also…
HUNTING -- Chronic wasting disease isn't getting the press it received a decade ago as the malady was being documented in deer and elk in several states and provinces. However, while stepped up testing programs from coast to coast are affirming that most areas remain…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Skagit Valley Herald photographer Scott Terrell saw something stand out among thousands of white snow geese grazing in a field of winter wheat as he drove along Fir Island Road in northwestern Washington Tuesday. It was his first sighting of a black…
WILDLIFE -- A trail cam photo that shows eight cougars in one frame (click "continue reading" below) has been going viral on Northwest websites and e-mail lists since a hunter shared it with friends on Christmas day. As usual, not all the the information in…
PRO-FISHING -- Rathdrum, Idaho, angler Brandon Palaniuk (pronounced "pal-a-nick") is catching some attention -- and perhaps some extra cash -- as he warms up for this weekend's Bassmaster Classic -- the Super Bowl of competitive bass fishing. An e-mail just received from a Bassmaster insider…
STATE PARKS -- The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission today OKed environmental considerations in the conceptual expansion proposals for expanding Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park. According to a press release just posted, the commission "issued a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance under the State…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- A Washington state cattle group is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to force the agency to review federal protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rockies. Attorneys for the Washington Cattlemen’s Association say the lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S.…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.