Field reports: DNR reopens Eastern Washington recreation lands
6 a.m.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources reopened all recreation lands east of the Cascades to recreation on Friday.
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Thu., Sept. 17, 2020
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Wildlife, habitat take devastating hit from wildfires across region
UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 21, 2020
Field Reports
Field reports: DNR reopens Eastern Washington recreation lands
Tue., Sept. 22, 2020
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In brief: Northern pikeminnow reward program extended
UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 23, 2020
This year’s Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery, which for 30 years has paid anglers to catch qualifying northern pikeminnow in the Columbia River basin, has been extended through Oct. 11 at select registration stations. In addition, the program has increased incentives for anglers to help reduce the number of these predatory fish where threatened or endangered salmon or steelhead may be present.
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Submit your own outdoors-related photographs for a chance to be published in our weekly print edition and browse our archive of past reader submissions online at spokesman.com/outdoors.
Field reports: DNR reopens Eastern Washington recreation lands
Tue., Sept. 22, 2020
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources reopened all recreation lands east of the Cascades to recreation on Friday.
Off the grid: The inevitable death of a mother
Mon., Sept. 21, 2020
There are entire manuals available on how to deal with the emotional fallout of the impending doom of our planet. Some might argue they were written for the snowflakes, but now I hope there are a few extra copies for me.
Wildlife, habitat take devastating hit from wildfires across region
UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 21, 2020
The immediate public concern as wildfires have ravaged portions of Eastern Washington this month is the human suffering, destruction of property and the pall of hazardous smoke. Behind the headlines is the silent anguish of wild creatures.
Dave Nichols: Building hunting memories as satisfying as harvesting game
Thu., Sept. 17, 2020
Despite looking the part with my “Grizzly Adams” beard, I’m not much of an outdoorsman, if I’m being honest.
S-R Hunting Outlook 2020: Idaho elk, whitetails thrive; mule deer bouncing back
Thu., Sept. 17, 2020
Deer and elk hunters should see plenty of game in Idaho during fall hunts as mild winters have helped mule deer herds hit hard in recent years to rebound, and elk herds continue to soar and harvests have come roaring back over the past six years.
S-R Hunting Outlook 2020: Plentiful migratory birds en route; good local duck hatch
Thu., Sept. 17, 2020
Washington offers a wide variety of waterfowl hunting options, ranging from deep saltwater areas to dry land agricultural fields. The many types of habitat in the state support opportunities for waterfowl ranging from mallards, Canada geese and snow geese, to sea ducks and brant.
S-R Hunting Outlook 2020: Upland bird hunters have time to kill
Thu., Sept. 17, 2020
Wingshooters who take advantage of Washington bird-hunting seasons can pursue quarry somewhere in the scablands to forested mountain peaks from Sept. 1 through Jan. 18. That’s five months of sweaty bliss.
S-R Hunting Outlook 2020: Washington big game hunters have opportunity for harvest
Thu., Sept. 17, 2020
If you’re a big game hunter in Eastern Washington or North Idaho, you may have already spent time out in the woods scouting, setting up stands or, if you’re an archer, actually hunting. If not, what’s keeping you?
Alan Liere’s fish-hunt report for Sept. 17
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Alan Liere's fish-hunt report for Sept. 17.
Reader photo: Distant companion
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A bull moose enjoys the abundant tree leaves among the tombstones in the cemeteries along Government Way in Spokane during the second week of September.
Field reports: DNR Extends Recreation Closure in Eastern Washington
Tue., Sept. 15, 2020
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is extending the closure of all of the lands it manages east of the Cascades to recreation due to high fire danger through Thursday.
Recreation becomes ‘wreckreation’ as careless outdoor adventures turn destructive
Mon., Sept. 14, 2020
Recreation is turning into “wreckreation,” as COVID-cabin-fevered hikers, campers and day-trippers venture out and damage public lands all over the state – including, it seems, sparking wildfires with careless or clueless behavior.
Lost: Quick trip turns into 6-day ordeal through Salmon River country
Sun., Sept. 13, 2020
David Wolfe has the ability to see the bright side of things and to stay calm despite trying circumstances.
CaughtOvgard: Reflections during another Pacific Northwest fire season
Sat., Sept. 12, 2020
PROSPECT, Ore. – I was not prepared for it. The smoke was so thick that I couldn’t see across the small Oregon lake. Trees encroached upon the waterline, the soupy ethereal smoke spilling from their branches.
Alan Liere: Thrill of collecting ‘waterfowl jewelry’
Fri., Sept. 11, 2020
Although my waterfowl season was abbreviated last year due to the pressing need to replace a house that had burned down, it was actually satisfying. I shot a banded goose in Canada in September and a banded mallard in December – the fifth and sixth banded birds in a lifetime of hunting.
Rich Landers: Stand-up paddleboarder conquers 31-mile length of Idaho’s biggest lake in 6.5 hours
Thu., Sept. 10, 2020
A 31-mile water route up Lake Pend Oreille stood out to stand-up paddleboarder Jason Hershey as a challenge reminiscent of the Hawaiian Islands where he used to live, work and play.
In brief: DNR closes recreation on Eastern Washington lands due to fire danger
Wed., Sept. 9, 2020
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday closed all of the lands it manages east of the Cascades to recreation due to high fire danger. The closure will last at least through Friday, Sept. 11, and DNR staff will evaluate the possibility of extending it as the week progresses.
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