WILDLIFE HABITAT -- Elk research at Mt. St. Helens and habitat improvements on four national forests and other public lands in Washington headline a just-announced slate of projects selected for 2011 grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The far-east side of the state isn't…
CONSERVATION -- The environmental movement is facing serious challenges in the current political and economic climate. Considering bills in state legislatures and in Congress, some conservationists believe they've lost considerable political capitol in their tough stance to prolonging endangered species status for the gray wolf…
CONSERVATION -- An Oregon tax incentive to preserve wildlife habitat has been grossly abused by some property owners forcing the state to put the brakes on new sign ups until oversight is beefed up. In one case, a homeowner received tax deductions for "wildlife habitat"…
WILDLIFE WATCHING -- I'm a little late getting into the office today, distracted by a wild turkey crossing in front of the S-R building and heading west on Riverside Ave., across Monroe Street -- traffic kindly giving it the right of way in a Spokane-friendly…
HUNTING -- Seasons for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear and mountain lion are on the Idaho Fish and Game Commission agenda today through Tuesday at the Red Lion Hotel in Boise. An open public hearing is set for tonight at 7 p.m. On Tuesday morning,…
SKI RESORTS -- While many ski and snowboard resorts will close their lifts on April 10, some Montana ski areas are delaying closing dates by several weeks -- perhaps April 17 -- because the late-season snow is fabulous -- and skiers and snowboarders haven't lost…
SHOOTING -- When driving down U.S. Highway 93 through Hamilton, there's no need to do a double-take when you see the sign hanging above the Radio Shack Super Store, reports the Ravalli Republic. You read it right. Customers who buy Dish Network will be rewarded…
ENDANGERED SPECIES -- Just out in an Associted Press story from Billings: Federal officials today signaled their preliminary support for a plan to kill gray wolves in western Montana that have preyed on big game herds along the Idaho border. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife…
WILD LIFE -- Hikers and hunters have joked that the safest way to travel in grizzly country is to bring along a companion you can out-run. Turns out, the same holds true for pot smokers. During a routine patrol to look for illegal fishing activity…
FISHING -- It's routine nowadays for Fish and Wildlife police to deal with illegal activity that has nothing to do with fish or wildlife. Last week, an officer patrolling the TucannonRiverand Wooten Wildlife Area observed a man on Big 4 Lake, which is “Fly Fishing…
FISHING -- Because of a study that involves chemically anesthetizing fish, anglers must release all marked fish on the Columbia River reservoir behind Priest Rapids Dam from April 1-May 31. Species affected by the emergency rule include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, channel catfish and…
FISHING -- This soggy weather sends a lot of people indoors. But serious angler know the saturated ground forces worms out of the ground, making this a ripe time to stock up on nightcrawlers for the next fishing trip. You'll find worms onthe streets and…
WINTER SPORTS -- The weekend avalanche death of a snowboarder near Stevens Pass has sobered some backcountry travelers, and brought forth some worthwhile thoughts. Following is a comment from a skier named Ed posted with the news story about the death. It follows the same…
INVASIVE SPECIES -- Eloika Lake's "milfoil monster" will be addressed in an upcoming program geared to anglers, property owners and anyone else who wants information on this threat to a popular lake -- and the waters downstream. Local Wildlife” photos and the “Eloika Milfoil Monster”…
ENVIRONMENT -- A few tickets remain available for The Lands Council's 16th annual April Showers auction and banquet on April 16 at The DoubleTree Hotel in Spokane. The event always features good food and wine along with live and silent auction items in a fundraiser…
CONSERVATION– Ducks Unlimited has scheduled several upcoming fundraising events to benefit wetlands conservation. Amont them: April 2 – Coyote Falls Sporting Clays fun shoot near Almira. Practice starts 9:30 a.m., event at 10:30 a.m. Preregister by Wednesday: (509) 639-0168 or email coyotefallssporting@gmail.com. April 7 –…
WILDLIFE -- I received a great letter today from Joe Dufresne regarding the memories evoked by today's Critter Watch column on the us and downs of the albatross nesting on Pacific Island refuges. Dear Mr. Landers; Your article on the albatross today carried me back…
PADDLING -- Typically the Grand Canyon is floated by raft because of the length of time it takes to boat the roadless stretch of the Colorado River. Most trips take 12-21 days to negotiate big whitewater and long stretches of flatwater. All the skills requirements…
CYCLING -- A free session in bicycle maintenance basics will be offered Thursday, 7 p.m.,at the Spokane REI store. The session will demystify important highlights from removing the tire and fixing a flat to keeping the drive train clean and functioning correctly. Pre-register to reserve…
RIVER RUNNING -- At 8 a.m. this morning, a large snag was stuck in the left slot in the Spokane River's notorious Devil's Toenail near the Spokane Rifle Club. "Scout from the road (Aubrey White Parkway)," one rafter said in a whitewter list serve. "Nasty."
DAY HIKING -- Wet spring weather is giving dayhikers extra incentive to hit the trail. Palouse Falls near Washtucna is roaring this week, and nifty trails offer numerous points of view. One not to miss in its brief spring rise to fame is Hog Lake…
RIVER RUNNING -- A Montana man drew a coveted new permit that allows him to pick the ideal flows and perhaps the best fishing period any day of the year to launch a group of rafts down Montana's strictly regulated Smith River. Sean O'Connor of…
PUBLIC LANDS -- Every year, one can find the ruts of tire tracks over soggy forest roads -- as well as trails and even meadows. This wet transition from winter to spring is the most vulnerable time of year for roads, trails and off-trail lands…
FISHING -- Steelhead fishing will close April 1 on the Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to Chief Joseph Dam and the Wenatchee, Icicle, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan, and Similkameen rivers, the Washington Fish and Wildlife announced today. Read on for details.
WILDLIFE -- Good news arrived last night from Newman Lake, where my blog item last weekend reported the sad story of a deer with a Halloween bucket stuck on its face. "I can report that the deer is doing fine and the bucket is off!"…
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
| March 2011 | ||||
| 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 |
| 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
| 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
| 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
| 10 | 09 | 08 | 07 | 06 |
| 05 | 04 | 03 | 02 | 01 |
