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What do billboards say about a local area?

Outdoors-related billboards have a different flavor depending on the region. At top is a billboard along U.S. 93 south of Missoula, Montana. The two lower billboards have appeared along U.S. 395 in Stevens County, Washington. All three are controversial for one reason or another.
By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com(509) 459-5508
Outdoors-related billboards have a different flavor depending on the region. At top is a billboard along U.S. 93 south of Missoula, Montana. The two lower billboards have appeared along U.S. 395 in Stevens County, Washington. All three are controversial for one reason or another.
Outdoors-related billboards have a different flavor depending on the region. At top is a billboard along U.S. 93 south of Missoula, Montana. The two lower billboards have appeared along U.S. 395 in Stevens County, Washington. All three are controversial for one reason or another.

WILDLIFE — I hadn’t thought outdoor advertising was all that effective, but I’ve changed my mind in recent years. Travelers can definitely get a flavor for the region they’re traversing by checking out some of the billboards.

The top one in the photo above is from Ravalli County, Montana. Bottom two are from Stevens County, Washington.

Get a flavor?

Wait a minute, though:  As polite as the top billboard seems at first glance, it has Western Montana fly fishing guides in a lather.

The outdoor advertising company used a BASS in the poster instead of the Bitterroot Valley’s famous TROUT.

Wolves, bass, wilderness  … what’s a tourist to think?

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Outdoors Blog." Read all stories from this blog