Rich Landers

The future of bighorn sheep got a boost from the Montana Supreme Court recently. The court ruled that the state Department of Lands could not permit private landowners to run domestic sheep on public land without preparing an environmental analysis of the impacts the practice might have on wild bighorn sheep.

Wildlife management Human encounters with cougars continue to occur far above historic levels, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department officials say.

Habitat The Pennsylvania-based Ruffed Grouse Society has pumped $17,000 into three Washington habitat projects aimed at boosting the feathered rocket population. Since 1985, the society has improved habitat at 300 sites in 24 states and five provinces The most recent project in Washington involved improving aspen regeneration and protecting forest waterways on 140 acres in the Cox Meadow area of the Okanogan National Forest. Other state projects have been in Stevens and Ferry counties. Info: (608) 788-1786.

Wildlife refuges Hunters who want to take a break during the midday lull Saturday can stop at headquarters and have their say about the future of the Little Pend Oreille Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge. "We know it's the opening day of deer season, but we thought hunters might want to take a break between noon and 3 p.m. and stop in," said Lisa Langelier, refuge manager. The refuge, which is geared primarily as habitat for white-tailed deer, is beginning to draw up a management plan. The public will be asked for comments on proposals for such things as restricting motor vehicles on some roads and expanding refuge priorities to include species other than whitetails. To reach the refuge from Colville, head east on Highway 20 about six miles and turn south on Artman-Gibson Road. Follow signs about seven miles to the headquarters. A public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Oct. 17, at Colville High School.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 13 miles Difficulty: Moderate Riding time: 2 - 3 hours Season: Late June through mid-October Maps: Spokane County Recreation Map by Northwest Map and Travel Service.> Info: Mount Spokane State Park, 456-4169. MOUNTAIN BIKING TRIP NOTES Access: From U.S. Highway 2 north of Spokane, head east on State Route 206 (Mount Spokane Park Drive) 15 miles to park entrance, which is just past Kirk's Lodge. Continue uphill 3-1/2 miles to junction with Summit Road. Trailhead is in large parking area at right. Attractions: Loop trip goes around Mount Spokane, with good combination of scenic views along with uphills and downhills on reasonable grades. Route follows dirt road, double track trail or pavement, easily negotiated by mountain bikers of all skill levels. Only reason it's ranked "moderate" instead of "easy" is the fitness level required to handle two sustained climbs. Go through lightly visited north side of park. Cross small streams. Coast through old-growth forest and huckleberry stands. Tremendous wildflower displays in summer followed by brilliant fall colors in early October. Comments: Best times to ride are early in morning or late in afternoon for solitude and opportunity to see wildlife. Park opens 6:30 a.m. to dusk.

Wildlife refuges The Spokane Chapter of the National Audubon Society is seeking volunteers for a work party at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Saturday. The project coincides with National Wildlife Refuge Week. Since the first wildlife refuge was established by Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, the National Refuge System has grown to 92 million acres at more than 500 refuge sites. They range from a half acre to 20 million acres. Refuges nearest to this area include Turnbull near Cheney, Little Pend Oreille east of Colville, Columbia near Othello, Umatilla and McNary near the Tri-Cities, Kootenai near Bonners Ferry and the Lee Metcalf and National Bison Range in Western Montana. Volunteers for the Turnbull project will meet at the refuge at 9 a.m. to begin planting trees along Pine Creek. Info: 455-4462.

Two weeks ago, five Spokane men flew to Alaska for the fly fishing trip of their dreams. From Anchorage, they flew to Kodiak, where a float plane greeted them like clockwork for the shuttle to the Karluk River. They were hooking 18-pound silver salmon, 8-pound Dolly Varden and ocean-bright steelhead within an hour.

Members of the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council aren't planting trees and shrubs for wildlife habitat this fall. Instead, the wildlife conservation group is planting yard signs asking voters to approve state Referendum 45. The Spokane-based group of about 1,000 members has taken the lead in a statewide measure designed to remove politics from fish and wildlife management.

Hiking A revised second-edition guidebook to the Pacific Northwest Trail is available on diskette, making it easier to keep up with new developments in the 1,100-mile route from Glacier National Park to the Olympic Peninsula. The trail follows designated trails, roads and corridors over the Continental Divide, through the Purcell and Selkirk mountains, across the Salmo-Priest Wilderness, Kettle Range and Columbia River, into the Pasayten Wilderness, North Cascades National Park and through Puget Sound before ending at the wilderness beaches of Olympic National Park. The guide is available for $15 postpaid from Pacific Northwest Trail Association, P.O. Box 1048, Seattle, WA 98111-1048.

Jolene Unsoeld

Accessible trails A new trail that will allow easy access to people using wheelchairs has been completed at the overlook of Palouse Falls State Park. The 420-foot asphalt trail leads visitors to the edge of the 198-foot waterfall at the park, which is 17 miles southeast of Washtucna. Other improvements have been made to allow wheelchair access to restrooms, a picnic shelter and a campsite.

State Parks Proposed revisions in methods for classifying park lands will be presented by the Washington State Parks Department during a meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at the East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone St. (near Altamont) in Spokane. The proposed system would categorize park land and the types of uses that would be allowed. For example, parks classified as natural areas would be limited to hiking and similar uses while a park classified as a recreation area would allow camping, park officials said.

Wildlife A mountain goat that died this summer near Lake Pend Oreille has presented a rare opportunity for Farragut State Park.

CHECK IT OUT Distance: 23 miles Difficulty: Moderate Paddling time: 2-3 days Season: March through November Maps: Canada National Topographic Series 82F/13, 82F/14 and 82K/3 available from Northwest Map and Travel Service, 455-6981, plus Valhalla Provincial Park brochure available from park headquarters. Info: Vahalla Provinicial Park in Nelson, (604) 825-3500. PADDLING TRIP NOTES Access: From Castlegar, British Columbia, drive 12 miles north on Highway 3A. At junction, turn onto Highway 6 toward Slocan and continue north about 28 miles. Turn left into Slocan. Go right at first paved road, then left on Fletcher Street, following signs to village park and boat launch at end of Main Street. Park's boat launch is south trailhead. To reach north trailheads, continue north on Highway 6. Drive through New Denver and go 10 miles. Turn left toward Hills on Bonanza Road, which forks at bridge across Shannon Creek. Choose from two options: Follow paved road left short way to Alvorez Road, which leads to day-use beach. Overnight parking tolerated here but camping not allowed.

The three world-record big-game animals declared by the Boone and Crockett Club in June are featured in a book of hunting stories, trophy photographs, and updated listings of 3,239 record entries approved in the past three years. "The Boone and Crockett Club's 22nd Big Game Awards, 1992-1994," edited by Jack and Susan Reneau ($39.95), is the trophy hunter's atlas to the best big game hunting areas in North America. The book includes details on the hunts for more than 100 record big-game animals, including:

Check it out Distance: 8 miles round trip Difficulty: Moderate Hiking time: 6 hours or overnight Season: Late June through Oct. Maps: USGS Mount Headley, Priscilla Peak, plus Lolo National Forest map

Boating Boaters can save 50 percent on boat launching fees under a discount program being offered at Washington state parks. Boaters who regularly use state park boat ramps can purchase the $40 annual boat launch permit for only $20 until the end of the year.

Mike Sprecher has had his hands full since becoming the ranger for the Little Spokane River Natural Area. Photo by Rich Landers/The Spokesman-Review

Check it out Distance: 101 miles Difficulty: Difficult Riding time: 5-10 hours Season: Virtually year-round Maps: Spokane and Stevens County maps

Hunting The Spokane Rifle Club will open its 100-yard range to non-members Saturday through Oct. 13 so sportsmen can zero-in their hunting rifles before the major big-game seasons. The club, situated on the Spokane River just downstream from the Bowl and Pitcher, will be open to nonmembers 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day except Mondays and Tuesdays. Cost is $5 for one rifle or $7 for a sportsman who brings two rifles.

Hunting That rare breed of hunters who stalk bears and cougars should cook their meat well-done. The Idaho Health District in Lewiston reported 15 cases of human trichinosis last spring after people ate cougar jerky. Human trichinosis occurs by eating undercooked meat contaminated with infective larvae.

College students from Audubon Expeditions Inc. take notes after a lecture at the Vista House on top of Mount Spokane. Photo by Rich Landers/The Spokesman-Review

Fishing Tiger muskies are gaining girth and popularity in area lakes. The sterile crosses of muskellunge and northern pike have been stocked in six North Idaho lakes since 1989 and more recently in Spokane County's Newman Lake. Dennis Hicks of Post Falls holds the Idaho record for tiger muskies with a 17-pound, 4-ouncer he caught in Hauser Lake on June 26.

Dave Crandall