Outdoor News

Bear Attack 07/28/10

Helena, Montana-One person is dead and two more are injured after a bear attack in Soda Butte campground jsut outside of Yellowstone. Tenters hid in their cars for the night after word spread of at least one bear attacking. The campground is now closed and traps are set. Montana Fish and Wildlife is trying to piece together what happened and how many bears were involved.

Yellowstone Fire 07/27/10

Yellowstone National Park-Fire crews are beating back a wildfire in Yellowstone with success. The Beach Fire started near Bridge Bay campground July 18. It burned more than 500 acres before being almost 100% contained. The cause is under investigation. Many wildfires are left to naturally burn in the park, but suppression is necessary on the Beach Fire because buildings are nearby. 

Body Found in Park 07/21/10

Yellowstone National Park-Backcountry researchers in Yellowstone National Park found the body of an Oklahoma man July 14.  He's been missing since late May. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as self-inflicted gunshot. The man, Peter Louis Kastner, was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps after serving four years with a tour in Iraq. He was injured twice by explosives while serving. 

Next Wolf Hunt 07/16/10

Boise, Idaho-Commissioners for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will hold their monthly meeting in Idaho Falls August 16. The meeting is of particular interest because regulations for the next wolf hunting season are on the agenda. The state is going forward with plans for another wolf hunt, but a decision at the federal level may close the hunt before it opens.

Raising Wolf Quota 07/09/10

Helena, Montana-Montana wildlife officials voted to raise the wolf kill quota from 75 to 186 for this year's hunt. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimates that would reduce the number of wolves in Montana by 8 to 20 percent. The commission approved the increase July 8. It also created an archery hunt.

Visitation Up 07/06/10

Yellowstone National Park-Where are the masses? Probably in the nation's first national park. Nearly 700,000 people visited Yellowstone National Park in June. That's 100,000 more than the number of visitors in June 2008. Visitation for the year is already passed 1 million.

Crowds are Coming 06/29/10

Yellowstone National Park-As most crowds celebrate America's birthday this weekend with fireworks, another kind of crowd is celebrating the nation's first National Park. There will be no construction delays in Yellowstone in preparation for holiday traffic. The 4th of July is usually the park's busiest holiday.

Water Falling 06/22/10

Southeast, Idaho-A few days of sunshine instead of rain puts water levels back in check in Southeast Idaho. Flood concerns are subsiding as the flow is dropping on the Snake River. The South Fork of the Snake hit 23,228 cubic feet per second last week. It is down to 13,234 cfs this week and fishing is improving. For current conditions go to: Time OUT Weekly Water

Oil in the Runoff 06/16/10

Salt Lake City, Utah-Crude oil is running from the peaks to the park in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chevron officials say an electrical arc punctured a pipeline east of the city. The hole allowed 33,000 gallons of crude oil to run into Red Butte Creek, through Salt Lake City and into Liberty Park. The local zoo is trying to save an estimated 280 birds with a scrub and rinse.

Wolves in Court 06/15/10

Missoula, Montana-The legal layout for wolves begins once again today. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy is hearing arguments over the listing status of wolves in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Wolves are still protected fedrally in Wyoming, but in Montana and Idaho, wolves are managed at a state level which allows for hunting.

Anglers Land $1,000 Fish 06/09/10

Swan Valley, Idaho-The first South Fork rainbow trout worth $1,000 is a keeper. Two guides from Lodge at Palisades Creek turned in a bag of bows they caught over a few nights of fishing after work. Idaho Fish and Game wants anglers to keep rainbows in an effort to help native cutthroat trout in the South Fork of the Snake River.  Time OUT

Hide n Seek a Success 06/03/10

Idaho-'Time OUT with Kris Millgate' produced record breaking results with 'Time OUT Hide n Seek' in May. Almost 1,000 online entries came in during the contest period boosting site traffic by more than 200%. Outdoor journalist Kris Millgate hid in a different outdoor location every week. Viewers submitted their best guess for a chance to win free outdoor gear.  Time OUT

Lightning Strikes Nine 06/02/10

Yellowstone National Park-Lightning struck nine Yellowstone National Park visitors yesterday. All nine were around Old Faithful when a thunderstorm dropped one bolt to the ground. Most of the victims have minor injuries. One is at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. His condition is unknown.

Free Park Admission 05/31//10

Washington D.C.-The National Park Service is celebrating the start of summer with a freebie. National Parks across the country will welcome you without your wallet because all entrance fees are being waived June 5 and 6. 

Dead Climbers Recovered 05/26//10

Yellowstone National Park-Rescuers recovered the bodies of two ice climbers in Yellowstone National Park today.The Montana team was climbing a frozen waterfall in  Yellowstone's Grand Canyon over the weekend. Friends reported them missing Monday. Their fall was likely due to an ice column collapse. 

Special Wolf Kill 05/17//10

Northern Idaho-Idaho Fish and Game has authorized four backcountry outfitters tho shoot wolves on site in the Lolo Zone. Outfitters and their licensed guides already in the backcountry on spring black bear hunts will work with Fish and Game in a predator control action to reduce wolf numbers. They can kill up to five wolves each in their operating area by the end of the spring bear season June 30. This is an effort to help the dwindling elk herd. The control action is not open to hunters. 

Time OUT Hide Out 05/12//10

Idaho-Interested in a friendly game of hide and seek?  Time OUT outdoor reporter Kris Millgate is hiding. You have to find her for a chance to win outdoor gear every week in May. Check Time OUT weekly for hide out clues. Submit your best guess then watch every Wednesday as Kris announces a prize, the winner and a new hide out.

Fall Wolf Hunt 04/28/10

Montana-U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy hears arguments June 15, 2010 in the lawsuit over de-listing wolves. He allowed the first legal wolf hunt to proceed in 2009, but it may also be the last wolf hunt. The upcoming 2010 wolf hunt hinges on Molloy's decision this summer. Surveys show 1,700 wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The 13 conservation groups in the lawsuit claim that total should be 2,000 to 3,000 before wolves are considered recovered.

Fish Idaho 04/21/10

Idaho-In 2009, Idaho Fish and Game sold 473,576 fishing licenses, the most since 1999. Sales through March 2010 are well above the same time in 2009. Resident fishing license sales are up 19 percent; resident junior licenses are up 27 percent; resident disabled licenses are up 36 percent; two-pole permit sales are up 5 percent; nonresident licenses are up 7 percent; three-day salmon and steelhead permits are up 33 percent; and steelhead permits are up 15 percent. The increase in fishing license sales is not just an indication of good fishing; it is also proof that fishing represents affordable recreation in spite of the current state of the economy.

Salmon Season 04/19/10

Idaho-The 2010 Chinook salmon fishing season opens Saturday, April 24 on the Clearwater, Snake, Little Salmon and the lower Salmon Rivers. Chinook fishing also will open May 23 on the Lochsa River, and June 19 in the lower Salmon River from Short’s Creek upstream to Vinegar Creek. In addition, this year Fish and Game will open a new section of the lower Salmon River from Rice Creek to Hammer Creek to salmon fishing during the same time as the other sections of the lower Salmon.

Rainbow Rewards 04/14/10

Swan Valley, Idaho-There are about 200 fish in the freezer and not one of them is worth money. Idaho FIsh and Game tagged 575 rainbow trout for cash in the South Fork of the Snake River. So far, no winners yet. That means tags worth $50 to $1,000 are still in the river. The department is offering the cash incentive to get anglers to keep rainbows on the South Fork. Rainbow trout are pushing the native cutthroat trout out of the waterway. Anyone who turns in a fish for a tag scan by April 21 is also entered in the 'Go Fish with Kris' contest sponsored by South Fork Outfitters.