FISHING -- The "northern pike" reported to have been captured in the John Day Pool and mentioned in this blog this week was a mistake, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fish managers say. The so-called pike showing up in the John Day Pool mentioned...
WINTERSPORTS – Washington state’s ski season begins today, Nov. 19, as Mt. Baker Ski Area opens with a good base of cold snow. Many ski areas in Washington usually don’t open until Thanksgiving or later. Recent storms have brought fresh powder to the region, but...
FISHING -- Plans to improve the boat launching area at Heller Bar on the Snake River are taking shape this month with revisions that should placate angler concerns about interference with a good shoreline fishing area. Fishermen were alarmed in September when they saw Washington...
CAMPING -- This week is serious business if you have a tree through your roof. Otherwise, just get out the coolers, barbecue and camp cooking gear and carry on. What are you cooking while the town is dark?
HUNTING -- With whitetail hunting in full swing and reports of good hunting, nonresidents or Idaho hunters interested in a second tag may want to buy sooner rather than later. Only about 1,300 white-tailed deer tags remained in the nonresident quota today, and all nonresident…
TRAILS -- Take a nature break on the day after Thanksgiving with a guided group walk suitable for families through the Dishman Hills Natural Area. Jeff Lambert, Dishman Hills Conservancy executive director, will lead a hike of 2-3 miles at a moderate pace while identifying…
WATERSPORTS -- The Port of Whitman County is moving ahead with plans to expand Boyer Park, its popular dock-and-campground facility located on the Snake River at Almota, according to the Lewiston Tribune. The project includes adding 13 camping sites with 40-foot recreational vehicle pads and...
WINTERSPORTS -- Cross-country skiers are waxing up TODAY and hitting groomed trails in a couple of the region's most consistent early season destinations. The Rendezvous Ski Trails near West Yellowstone are being groomed this week for the first time of the season after a good...
FISHING -- An opah, also known as moonfish, caught by a North Idaho angler on Sept. 27, 2015, has been confirmed as a Washington state record. Jim Watson of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, caught the large-eyed, orange-red colored, disc-shaped giant–while fishing with anchovies 45 miles offshore…
FISHING -- State and tribal fish managers are in Portland today requesting continued funding from the Northwest Power and Conservation Council for controlling non-native northern pike that are seeping into the Columbia River. A northern pike was captured in the John Day pool recently, increasing...
WILDLIFE -- Last week I posted a video showing the bold effort of a man releasing a frantic entangled buck that calmed down to let the rescuer help. Now here's the rest of the story from Idaho Fish and Game: It wasn't an average day…
WILDLIFE HABITAT -- Washington's Fish and Wildlife Commission on Friday approved spending $3.7 million to purchase of 2,061 acres that nearly wraps up a multi-phased plan to transfer the 12,000-acre 4-0 Ranch to the state's Chief Joseph Wildlife Area. The state Fish and Wildlife Department's…
THREATENED SPECIES – The Montana Land Board has approved restrictions meant to protect sage grouse habitat. The board voted unanimously Monday to prohibit breaking up native range and eradicating sage brush in the bird’s habitat, the Associated Press reports. A waiver is possible for land-break…
FISHING -- Idaho's fishing seasons for the next three years will be set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission during a Nov. 18-19 meeting in Hailey. Routine agenda items include setting the 2016-2018 fishing seasons, approving the 2015 Strategic Plan and considering land acquisitions....
PREDATORS -- Wolf trapper certification classes are being offered by the Idaho Fish and Game Department in the Panhandle Region on Friday and Saturday. Certification is required before a person can purchase wolf trapping tags. The course includes 6.5 hours of instruction including both classroom…
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY – A free program on a local couple’s self-guided photo safari in northern Tanzania, full of encounters with lions, elephants and other African wildlife, will be presented Monday, 7 p.m., at Mountain Gear Corporate, 6021 E. Mansfield Ave. in Spokane Valley. Bill and...
PARKS – America's national parks aren't meeting the needs of this year's flood of tourists from the East. The influx of Asian tourists in Jackson Hole has resulted in some cultural problems involving pit toilets around Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, the Jackson Hole...
PUBLIC LANDS -- A few decades ago, people willing to brave frosty nights and fewer services would be rewarded with uncrowded opportunities to view wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. Nowadays, even October can't be considered the shoulder season. The National Park Service reports just more…
ACCESS -- Why should the average sportsman worry about a writer who lost his job? Why should you care that a sportsman's conservation group dismissed columnist Don Thomas because he put the spotlight on a wealthy man's mission to bar public access to a public...
OUTDOORS -- Two locally-produced calendars stand out like stars in the field of gift-giving choices for nature lovers. The Spokane Audubon Society once again has produced its Birds of Eastern Washington calendar which is sold for the bargain price of just $10. The 2016 calendar…
TRAILS -- Friends of the Centennial Trail reports making a $20,000 matching funds gift to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission for the Centennial Trail extension in Nine Mile Falls. The funds are generated by donations and the annual Spokane Bike Swap. The Northwest…
TRAILS -- An online auction is underway for a longboard signed by guitarist Eddie Vedder and other rockers to raise funds for the continuing effort to develop the Ferry County Rail Trail. The trail is a scenic 28.5-mile non-motorized route on an abandoned railway along...
HUNTING – A youth pheasant hunting area stocked with birds raised by volunteers has been designated in the Palouse River area of Idaho. Hunters age 15 and under who have completed a hunter education course and are accompanied by an adult with a hunting license...
PUBLIC LANDS -- Forest road access to wood cutters and hunters will be increasing starting next week as the Idaho Panhandle National Forests begin opening forest roads that have been gated to help provide security for grizzly bears. Gates will be opened starting Nov 16...
GEOGRAPHIC NAMES – The federal government has renamed a lake and a creek in north-central Washington to honor an African American miner who staked claims in the area 125 years ago, the Associated Press reports. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the name...
Rich Landers writes and photographs stories and columns for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including Outdoors feature sections on Sunday and Thursday.
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