Field reports: S-R Trapshoot is winter tradition

OUTGUN – Starting today, for the 97th year, clay targets will be vaporized by shotgunners competing in The Spokesman-Review Trapshoot, an eight-week contest with open, women and youth divisions.

The oldest shooting event of its kind in the country pits participants against flying clay targets as well as winter wind, cold and snow as they shoot at their own clubs.

Scores are compiled each week by The Spokesman-Review and posted at spokesman.com/outdoors.

Winter rules set at Mount Rainier

PARKS – Mount Rainier National Park is among Yellowstone and other parks that gear up in a big way for winter visitors. But the snow and cold restricts some services and requires visitors to be a bit more prepared and ready to adapt to changing access conditions.

Several park roads open for winter are closed at night. For instance, the uphill road gate between Longmire and Paradise closes at 4 p.m.

At Mount Rainier, seasonal recreation opportunities include guided snowshoe walks, ski rentals and overnight stays. However, access may be dependent on road conditions, according to a press release.

Winter camping with a valid permit is allowed, but overnighting in vehicles is not permitted in the park.

Backcountry travelers should get updates on current and projected snow, avalanche and weather conditions before coming to the park. They should come prepared to survive winter conditions, park officials say.

Every vehicle, including those with four-wheel-drive, is required to have chains while in the park during winter.

The Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise is open weekends and holidays only between 10 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.

For winter camping reservations, call (360) 569-6575. For road conditions, (360) 569-2211. Info: nps.gov/mora.

Sign-up for exposure to winter outdoors

NATURE – North Idaho College at Sandpoint is offering three, one-day, winter recreation classes January through March:

• Winter Ecology, Jan. 17.

• Animal Tracking and Sign Interpretation, Feb. 7.

• Winter Birds of Prey, March 14.

Contact the NI C Workforce Training Center at (208) 769-3333, www.nic.edu/wtc.

At least 115 eagles in Wolf Lodge Bay

BIRDING – Bald eagle numbers are still strong this week at Lake Coeur d’Alene for their annual gathering to feed on kokanee spawning in Wolf Lodge Bay.

Carrie Hugo tallied 105 adult bald eagles (with white heads) and 15 immature eagles this week. That’s down about 50 percent from the late December birds counted in recent years. 

“However, the counting conditions were about as bad as they could possibly be,” she said. “Snow on the trees, bright sun in my eyes and wind making me tear up!  I’m sure I missed quite a few, however, I was surprised that the numbers weren’t higher.”

A record 273 bald eagles was counted on Dec. 29, 2011.