Outdoor News

Missing Lynx 02/01/12

Salmon, Idaho-A threatened animal that disappeared two decades ago makes an appearance in central Idaho. The Canada lynx sighting is the first in the Salmon-Challis National Forest since 1991. An outdoor user spotted the lynx in a legally set bobcat trap. Idaho Fish and Game collected hair and scat samples and released the lynx after ensuring it wasn't injured. “We watched it wander off in good shape,” says Dane Cook, Idaho Department of Fish and Game conservation officer. “It had all the classic lynx features:  long legs, huge furry paws, ear tufts, and the short black-tipped tail.”

Road Kill Kills 01/18/12

Preston, Idaho-Road kills are proving deadly for eagles in Southeast Idaho this year. Idaho Department of Fish and Game officers have picked up eight dead eagles since early December. Seven golden eagles hit by vehicles while feasting on road kill and one bald eagle illegally shot.

Free Admission 01/11/12

Nationwide-Take all of your warm clothes for winter play. Leave all of your money for admission. National Parks across the country are wiaving entrance fees this weekend. Play in the parks for free January 14-16 in honor of the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.

Best of 2011 01/04/12

Nationwide-It was a year of triumph  for bald eagles and a year of tears for a baby buffalo. From the coldest to the coolest, see the best Time OUT outdoor stories of 2011 this week in Time OUT.

Winter Range 12/27/11

Idaho-Wildlife is slow to arrive on winter range with minimal snow across East Idaho. Ski resorts are slow to open for the same reason. Snap on some snowshoes and check out prime winter range while the trekking is easy this week in Time OUT.

Open the Gate 12/13/11

Yellowstone National Park-The nation's first national park opens for winter use Thursday. Guided snowmobile and snowcoach trips start sledding through the gate this week despite poor snow conditions. Several roads inside the park are still closed until there is enough snow to groom a track. 

New Snowshoe Trail 12/06/11

Ashton, Idaho-No snowmobiles. No skis. This new trail is perfect for snowshoes. Volunteers are clearing a 4.8 mile loop near Ashton for the Caldera Rim Snowshoe Trail. Grab a trail map here then see the labor-intensive work done on snowshoes this week in Time OUT.

Hunting for Poachers 11/29/11

Preston, Idaho-The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is looking for help in a handful of poaching cases. The cases involve five rooster pheasants found in a gas statoin dumpster in Preston and a mule deer buck found in a field in Preston. Anyone with information can call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. 

Let the Snow Fly 11/22/11

Alta, Wyoming-Ski resorts across the West are already open. Grand Targhee Resort joins their ranks this week. The Shoshone and Paspoose lifts open for ski season Friday, November 25. Targhee has received 78 inches of snow since the beginnning of October. The rest of the resort needs more snow before it opens.

Wolf Trapping Opens 11/15/11

Idaho-Wolf trapping season opens today in several Idaho zones. Trappers must complete a required wolf trapping class before they can buy wolf trapping tags, valid only in zones with an open wolf trapping season. Licensed trappers may buy three tags per trapping season. Wolf tags cost $11.50 for resident hunters and $31.75 for nonresidents.

Bear Attack in Teton 11/01/11

Grand Teton National Park-A Wyoming hunter is recovering after a bear attack in Grand Teton National Park Sunday. The man was hunting for elk, but hadn't killed one when he saw the bear. He was carrying bear spray, but couldnt get it out of the holster when he dropped to the ground and covered his head. The bear bit him then ran off.  There are six reported bear attacks in the park's history.

New Pond Opens 10/25/11

Pocatello, Idaho-Pocatello's new community fishing pond opens Friday, October 28. The pond is located at Edson Fichter Nature Area behind Indian Hills Elementary. The pond opens to the public for fishing at 3:00pm.

Dead Grizzly Found 10/18/11

Island Park, Idaho-The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the death of a grizzly bear. Its decomposing body was found by hunters in late September in Idaho, a few miles south of Yellowstone National Park. According to investigators, the dead bear was found in the vicinity of Lower Goose Lake in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Examination of the carcass and the site indicates the bear did not die of natural causes. Anyone with information that might help in the investigation is asked to contact the Fish and Wildlife Service at 208-523-0855.  Grizzly bears are a federally protected species.  

Grizzly Killed 10/04/11

Yellowstone National Park-The female grizzly involved in the death of a park hiker August 26 is now dead. Park staff euthanized her Sunday. Her two cubs are now living in captivity at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Montana. 

Bear Snare 09/27/11

Island Park, Idaho-A garbage addicted grizzly may soon have its last meal. Idaho Fish and Game set snares around a trash can to trap a problem bear in Island Park. There are 75 documented cases of people feeding the bear. It will be put down with a dart gun as soon as it is caught. 

Free Park Admission 09/20/11

Yellowstone National Park-National Park visitors will enjoy a day of free admission Saturday, September 24. The Park Service is waiving entrance fees in honor of National Public Lands Day. 

Wolf Hunt Open 09/13/11

Idaho-Wolf hunting season is now open in Idaho. The season runs through the end of the year in the Island Park and Beaverhead wolf management zones. The hunt runs runs through June 2012 in the Lolo and Selway zones where elk numbers are down dramatically. Nine other zones are open until the end of March 2012. Hunters may purchase two tags a year. Three hunters have killed wolves so far.

Grizzly Kills Hiker 08/30/11

Yellowstone National Park-Another fatal bear attack in the nation's first national park. Hikers found the body of a man on the side of a trail Friday. Autopsy results confirm the cause of death to be traumatic injuries from a bear attack. Trails in the Hayden Valley area of the park are now closed.

Meet the Millgates 08/23/11

Wellsville, Utah-The outdoor antics of Time OUT reporter Kris Millgate run in the family. Meet the Millgates at Hillbilly Hill this week in Time OUT.

Fish Kill 08/16/11

Montpelier, Idaho-Hundreds of fish are dead due to lack of oxygen at Little Valley Reservoir near Montpelier Reservoir. This is the second fish kill at the reservoir since 2006. Idaho Fish and Game plans to restock next year.

Growing Giants 08/02/11

American Falls, Idaho-Another record breaker is coming out of American Falls Reservoir. Mark Adams now holds the record for Idaho's largest rainbow-cutthroat hybrid trout. Find out how the reservoir is growing giants this week in Time OUT

Wolf Hunt 07/19/11

Idaho-The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking public comment on the proposed 2011 wolf hunting season. The hunt could start at the end of August with limits based on wolf numbers in 13 zones.  There are an estimated 1,000 wolves in Idaho. The state must maintain a minimum of 150 wolves and 15 breeding pair. Check out the wolf hunt proposal here.

Sorting Spawners 07/05/11

Swan Valley, Idaho-The South Fork of the Snake River is high and dirty. Cloudy conditions are delaying the annual cutthroat trout spawning season by a few weeks, but the natives are finally showing up in the tributaries. See the action in Time OUT.

Banding Baldies 06/28/11

Swan Valley, Idaho-The South Fork of the Snake River is a bald eagle stronghold in the West. Banding the nation's symbol of freedom is the perfect way to celebrate the 4th of July with Time OUT outdoor reporter Kris Millgate.

Watch the Wild for Free 06/21/11

Nationwide-Watch the wild for free today in one of the nation's national parks. The Park Service is waiving entry fees in celebration of the summer solstice. “The longest day of the year is the perfect time to take a short trip," said Jonathan Jarvis, National Park Service director. "Celebrate an extended Father's Day with dad, start summer break with the kids or celebrate with a graduate."

The next free entry day at national parks is September 24.

Water Woes 06/14/11

Idaho-Rivers are muddy, reservoirs are spilling and low lands are washed out, but there really is a silver lining in all of this flooding. Time OUT outdoor reporter Kris Millgate  takes fans to the one place where high water is a wonder instead of a worry.

Bear Necessity 06/07/11

Idaho-Biologists are once again trapping grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The multi-state operation continues through July. National park and Forest visitors are encouraged to avoid areas marked with signs indicating bear trapping in progress. Several grizzlies are collared for research every summer in an effort to keep tabs on the animal that came off the Endangered Species list in 2007.