Outdoors | The Spokesman-Review

Featured Stories

Act now, adventure later: Procrastinators lose in competition for prized reservations

Some of the hottest permits and reservations for summer outdoor adventures at home and abroad are being procured now, in the chill of winter.

Photo Galleries

Hunting

Alan Liere: Hidden menace of the roads: black ice

Fishing

Sturgeon in Hells Canyon on the decline

Hiking

Nighttime rescue on ‘easy’ 14er highlights basic hiking mistakes that can turn deadly

She hiked the entire Appalachian Trail at 80, unaware she’d just made history
Lookout improvement: Forest Service making progress on popular Little Guard Lookout
From forest newbies to ‘certified trail dogs’: College students tell of their experiences maintaining wilderness routes in the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation

Wintersports

Across the Cascades, avalanche dogs come to the rescue

Conservation

Trump nominee, letter from Idaho congressman revive worries of public land selloff

Columns

Ammi Midstokke: Sailing and other forms of magic

Field Reports

Field Reports: Roads in Idaho’s upper Pack River drainage washed out

Fish-Hunt Report

Matt Liere’s hunting and fishing report for Dec. 18, 2025

Latest Stories

Sports > Outdoors

Chronic wasting disease found in deer killed south of Grangeville

Wed., Jan. 14, 2026

A deer harvested in Idaho's Game Management Unit 15 south of Grangeville tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Sports > Outdoors

Organization offers reward for information on grizzly killing

Wed., Jan. 14, 2026

A conservation organization announced this week that it's adding to the amount of money already available for information leading to the conviction of whoever shot and killed a grizzly bear in October near Perkins Lake, located northeast of Moyie Springs and near the border with Montana.

Sports > Outdoors

Outdoors reader photo gallery: Cruising altitude

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 14, 2026

A northern harrier, also known as the marsh hawk or ring-tailed hawk, flies over the Saltese Flats Wetland Area on Jan. 8 in this photo from Terry Sanborn.

Sports > Outdoors

Ammi Midstokke: Sailing and other forms of magic

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 14, 2026

There are some things that are better for us to not ask about. Like how a tube of mixed metals crammed with 300 people flies over an ocean, or how foie gras is made.

Sports > Outdoors

Alan Liere’s hunting and fishing report for Jan. 15

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 14, 2026

Silver Bow Fly Shop says stonefly and worm nymphs, hot bead anything and streamer patterns will get it done this time of year.

Sports > Outdoors

Act now, adventure later: Procrastinators lose in competition for prized reservations

UPDATED: Sat., Jan. 10, 2026

Some of the hottest permits and reservations for summer outdoor adventures at home and abroad are being procured now, in the chill of winter.

Sports > Outdoors

Deer in Ferry County tested for CWD, later test inconclusive

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 7, 2026

A mule deer killed in Ferry County this past hunting season tested positive for chronic wasting disease in tests performed by a private testing company. However, the tests were inconclusive for CWD when performed by state biologists.

Sports > Outdoors

Outdoors reader photo gallery: Backyard baskers

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 7, 2026

Two house finches enjoy a brief period of sunshine during a backyard visit in this photo from James Summers.

Sports > Outdoors

Alan Liere’s hunting and fishing report for January 8

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 7, 2026

The Spokane River flow remains extremely big and fly fishing spots are very limited.

Sports > Outdoors

Ammi Midstokke: The winter that never was

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 7, 2026

The calendar says it is winter, but it has not arrived at my house yet. There’s some amorphous white debris in my yard, a lumpy, crusty sprawl of no real substance. Every day, I calculate the value loss of my ski pass.

Sports > Outdoors

‘We’re all excited to finally see a lot of snow’: Spokane-area ski resorts relieved and ready

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 7, 2026

Blankets of crisp, white snow have largely been missing from Spokane and the region’s slopes – but all that changed this week.

Sports > Outdoors

Alan Liere: Hidden menace of the roads: black ice

UPDATED: Sat., Jan. 3, 2026

An acquaintance of mine rates assorted fearful experiences in his life by what he calls the pucker factor. He is not referring to his lips — he is talking about the constriction of muscles in his lower anatomy that make his buttocks close so tightly in certain fearful situations they could crack walnuts.

Sports > Outdoors

Conservancy buys land along St. Joe River

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 8, 2026

A patch of timberland on the banks of the Saint Joe River is expected to move into public ownership this year, giving anglers a reason to celebrate.

Sports > Outdoors

Banff Film Festival showing in Spokane next week

UPDATED: Sat., Jan. 3, 2026

If you’re looking to start 2026 with some outdoor inspiration, you won’t have to wait long.

Sports > Outdoors

Idaho’s domestic elk farms drawing criticism

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 7, 2026

Despite legislative testimony saying it was unlikely to happen, some of Idaho's domestic elk farms have proven to be porous with multiple examples of wild animals getting into the high-fenced operations and domestic animals escaping.

Sports > Outdoors

Ammi Midstokke: Defining the year with defunct words

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 7, 2026

When you lack religion, rehab, or amnesia, the only way to turn a new leaf is via the New Year’s Resolution. There are a few cantankerous naysayers out there who claim one can resolve to anything at any time, but I suspect they’re just tired of failing.

Sports > Outdoors

Outdoors reader gallery photo: Elk feast

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

In spite of all the wind, rain, downed trees and fog, the elk living on the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge still find a place to enjoy breakfast in this photo from Buck Domitrovich.

Sports > Outdoors

Alan Liere’s hunting and fishing report for Jan. 1

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

Fly fishing

Sports > Outdoors

WDFW seeks public input on draft status review for Canada lynx

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 29, 2025

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public input on a draft periodic status review for the Canada lynx that includes a recommendation to keep the animal classified as a state endangered species, according to a news release.

Sports > Outdoors

Outdoor writing contest first place: Beautiful dead things

UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 27, 2025

The forest was still alive; crepuscular animals ran and played about in the fallen leaves and undergrowth. The night had not arrived, so the feeling of safety and warmth had not yet left.

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