 | |  |  |  | | NORTHWESTERN OUTDOORS | | Brought to you by John Kruse |
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My wife and I just got back from Las Vegas where we attended the "Ginormous" SHOT Show. SHOT Show, in case you didn't know, is the world's largest trade show for manufacturers involved in the firearms-shooting-tactical-hunting industry. It was held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center and in two full days I only managed to see 80 percent of the booths and talk to just a fraction of the exhibitors there. The crowds were huge - with a final tally coming in at over 58,400
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Northwestern Outdoors Radio will be at three Sportsmen Shows this Winter - and we hope you'll stop by!
Drop by the booth for the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association at any of the Shuyler Shows taking place in Eastern Washington and say hello to John. He'd love to hear your comments about the show and he'll also be selling autographed, discounted copies of his book, "Great Places Washington".
Look for John in the NOWA booth at the following dates and times:
TRI-CITIES SPORTSMEN
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Are you stumped this year in terms of what to give the hunter or angler in your life? We are here to help! Simply go to the Articles, Audioi and Gear Review page and check out THE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE! It's chock full of things that will make that outdoorsman or woman happy!
Still looking for ideas? How about an author autographed copy of Great Places Washington? Just go to the E-Shop or Great Places - Washington for more information about this one stop resource to
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We've researched the proposed ban of lead tackle on several Washington lakes where loons breed in Washington State. My take on this is that we do want loons to not only survive, but thrive. However, this proposed rule to ban lead tackle in the lakes they breed is a first step towards banning lead tackle throughout Washington State. In fact, that's what the loon advocates in their proposal to the WDFW Commission have proposed.
Unfortunately, the science behind their proposal is
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Hidden in the latest proposed sportfishing rules is a proposed regulation that would outlaw the use of lead head jigs in lakes where loons (a sensitive species) are thought to breed in Washington State. Tackle manufacturers are rightfully concerned, since just about every jig on the market right now has a lead head on it. Lead line, lead weights and even lead used on flies would be affected by tyhis rule. The WDFW cites one study regarding lead tackle and loon mortality,
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It's the most wonderful time...of the year!
That classic tune gets most people thinking of Christmas - but for me, October is truly the most wonderful time of year! Why? We'll, because I get to do two things I love to do at the same time - namely - fish and hunt!
Opening weekend will find me at Pothole Reservoir, where I'll camp in the sand dunes for a couple of days for some bass fishing and duck hunting. I'll follow that up with a stay at Mar Don Resort where I'll fish for
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The following is a guest editorial written by Jim Shepard, Editor of the Outdoor Wire. It was published today through that web service. Since I can't say it better myself, I'll let Jim express the thoughts many of us are uneasily sharing this day:
A Memory That Should Still Be Vivid
For many of you, the time you spend reading these few words this morning will be in advance of 8:46AM -10:28AM. You will, in fact, be reading before the true anniversary of the September 11, 2001 |
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"Where have you gone, Joe Dimaggio our nation turns it's lonely eyes to you....."
Simon and Garfunkel - "Mrs. Robinson"
WHERE HAVE OUR HEROES GONE?
If you are looking for a role model it's a tough time to be growing up in America. In this day and age where commercial hype and money are all the rage here are a few depressing examples of those that are being held up as "heroes":
1. Michael Vick - NFL Quarterback and convicted felon who organized dog fights and the killing of dogs that
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Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are again showing their disdain towards outdoors recreationalists who want to cast a line into alpine lakes at North Cascades National Park. The Park will no longer allow recreational fish stocking in some 42 lakes within the park after July 2nd, 2009, even though their own studies indicate there seems to be no harm in it, the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is not opposed to the practice and volunteer groups are willing to continue
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Recently, Washingtonians overwhelmingly passed a referendum asking for renewable energy. One source of this energy are wind farms, which have sprouted like weeds on hills around the Columbia River from Goldendale to Vantage.
Frankly, the wind farms are not as efficient energy producers as hydropower is through the dams along the Columbia River, but wind farms don't have a reputation for killing salmon like dams do. Unfortunately, Wind Farms are now being tagged as the culprit
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An action alert from our friends at Wenatcheeoutdoors.org -
A bell, unless rung, emits no sound -- WenatcheeOutdoors Proverb
Two issues where our noise can make a difference. These are quick, easy issues to weigh-in on, and our collective voice will help.
1) On the state level: The state legislature is wrestling with the budget for the next biennium and two different proposals for the State Parks budget are on the table. The House proposal cuts the Parks budget by $40 million |
Cost cutting moves are rapidly becoming bloody amputations at the Washington State Parks Commission. The Parks Commission, like other state agencies, was told by Governor Chris Gregoire to reduce their budget by 23 percent. They had already come up with a 10 percent reduction from the 100 million dollars budgeted last year that will result in the closure (or transfer of ownership) of 13 some parks and mothballing of others. Along with this comes a significant number of layoffs |
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There are definitely some rough waters ahead if you are an outdoors enthusiast in Washington State. The reason? A gaping 8 billion dollar plus hole in the state budget. While some of the blame lies with a state legislature that spent beyond their means in recent years (and is now paying far worse a price than they would have otherwise), the declining national economy and is also to blame.
In Washington alone, the State Parks Commission may well close a dozen parks
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With little fanfare the Wenatchee World, a daily newspaper in Central Washington, recently stopped publishing weekly columns covering hunting, fishing and conservation news. Dave Graybill, known as the "Fishin' Magician" and longtime outdoors writer Leroy Ledeboer's articles were cut not to a lack of reader interest but instead, became a victim of cost cutting.
World Sports Editor Steve Maher confirmed the columns were dropped due to "financial considerations". While the World will
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Dear Commissioners -
I'm writing to express my frustration as a sports angler. Despite a run of steelhead into the Upper Columbia River that is greater than any run over the last 22 years, it appears likely the Wenatchee River will not be opening for steelhead fishing this year. Speaking with WDFW employees in Region 2, it is my understanding that not enough wild (non-fin clipped) fish have migrated up the Wenatchee River for a fishery to take place, even though the |
Dear Commissioners and Region Two WDFW members,
I'm writing this letter to express my concerns about the declining pheasant hunting opportunities available in the heart of Central Washington. As you are aware, a percentage of our small game license fees is dedicated towards Eastern Washington pheasant hunting opportunities, especially in the wake of recognized habitat loss which has led to lower populations of wild pheasant in Grant, Douglas and Chelan Counties
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For over a year now I've been hosting The Great Outdoors, a weekly radio show broadcast from 560 KPQ in Wenatchee, Washington. I've also been the editor of Pacific Northwest Outdoors, an e-zine published through the PeoplePC Sitebuilder site for the last four years.
Well, it's time for a change. And that change involves consolidating the radio show and e-zine under one umbrella. The name for both? Northwestern Outdoors.
What are some changes you can expect to
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