Forest restrictions possible

Campers and hunters heading into the national forests for the Labor Day weekend might be wise to call ahead for possible restrictions on specific roads. For example:

•Some areas of the Blue Mountains are restricted because of lingering danger from the School Fire, including portions of Forest Road 42, Forest Road 4206, Tucannon Campground and trailhead, Ladybug Campground, Panjab Campground and trailhead and Meadow Creek trailhead.

Some other areas are closed only at night.

For updates, contact the Umatilla National Forest’s Pomeroy Ranger District office, (509) 843-1891.

•The China Ten fire 15 miles east of Grangeville has resulted in several road and trail closures on the Nez Perce National Forest and several trails in the Moose Creek District of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Info: (208) 926-4258.

Idaho sets waterfowl seasons

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has approved a 107-day waterfowl season with maximum bag limits allowed by federal law.

Duck and goose hunting will run Oct. 8 through Jan. 20 in North Idaho and Oct. 15 through Jan. 27 in the southwest. Duck limits were set at seven – all of which can be mallards – including no more than two mallard hens.

The canvasback season remains at 60 days in the beginning of the duck season while a daily bag including one pintail runs the whole duck season this year.

Colville OHV meetings set

Public meetings for planning travel routes for off-highway vehicles and other trail users in the Colville National Forest are scheduled next week starting at 6 p.m. as follows:

Sept. 7 – Colville SFCC Campus, Dominion Room.

Sept. 8 – Chewelah City Council Chambers

Sept. 14 – Ione Community Center

Sept. 15 – Stratton Elementary School in Newport.

Elk poachers cited

Two North Powder, Ore., men have been cited for shooting an elk during bow-hunting season.

Shawn Brown, 42, and Donald Storie, 39, were cited by the Oregon State Police after a group of bowhunters heard a rifle report just before dawn last Saturday on a ranch a few miles northwest of North Powder.

The bowhunters hiked to the top of a nearby ridge where they watched and videotaped the two men load the bull elk into a backhoe bucket, said Lt. Randy Scorby, who oversees state police game wardens in Eastern Oregon.

The bowhunters telephoned state police, who made the arrest.