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Ahead of us lay a thick blanket of sparkling snow, like a white down comforter giving warmth to the otherwise brisk winter morning. Behind us, our snowshoes left sets of Bigfoot-looking tracks. The landscape resembled a candied forest -- as if a giant truck dumped loads of powdered sugar over everything. The snow- and ice-covered trees made a stark contrast against the Crater Lake-blue sky.   Aspen trees in the Ochochos (All photos by Scott Staats) When ... [full story]

Over 70 Refuge Positions Cut in 8 Midwest States, 3 Refuges to Lose Entire Staff The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is making drastic reductions and redeployments of staff in the National Wildlife Refuge System throughout the Midwest region. Reductions in services will be felt in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri. The consequence of these reductions will be the elimination of environmental education programs for school children, endangered species recovery ... [full story]

The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is issuing a call to action from saltwater fishermen throughout the country in an effort to make their collective voice heard by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC); an organization forged under a U.S./Canadian treaty to manage the halibut biomass in Pacific waters. Next week, the IPHC is scheduled to hold closed meetings for discussions on the recreational harvesting of halibut off the coast of Alaska. Currently, Alaska's commercial fleets ... [full story]

Doernbecher Children's Safety Center aims to reduce injuries in children through education and distribution of safety products; it is free and open to the public Each year thousands of people are injured sledding in city parks, on streets and in resort areas, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In the wake of yesterday's snowstorm, Oregon Health & Science University Emergency Department treated a rash of sledding accident victims - eight total, some severe. ... [full story]

A lot of people put their exercise regimens on hold during the long, winter months because they don't think it'll be safe to do the things they like to do.  While it's true that Winter is a more dangerous time of year to be out and about -- low temperatures raise the risks for everything from frostbite and muscle pulls to slips on icy sidewalks -- you don't need to stay cooped up inside all ... [full story]

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For most of the year, things operate pretty smoothly in the outdoors. Fish are jumping, birds are singing, elk are bugling. Then all of a sudden three strange things happen -- December, January and February. But these are times when some of the most memorable experiences are sealed in the mind as hard as ice. That is, if you live to tell about it. Winter offers several activities that you couldn’t otherwise experience the rest ... [full story]

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In an effort to provide additional fishing opportunities, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) stocked two southwest Oregon ponds on January 10 with excess hatchery summer steelhead adults. ODFW added 175 steelhead to Expo Pond near the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Central Point and Reinhart Park Pond in Grants Pass, formerly called All Sports Pond, was stocked with 50 steelhead. These excess fish are recycled back into the Rogue River up until Jan ... [full story]

With quiet anticipation I lift my head from the warm comfort of the king-sized bed and gaze out the windows at the impending sunrise over the lake. Soon the sky is filled with orange, red, yellow and gold, reflecting off the ice and the open channels of water. Finally, the morning light pours over the rim and fills the lake basin once again. My wife and I make at least two trips a year to ... [full story]

If you have a passion for fishing and want to share your love of the sport with others, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking for you.  The ODFW’s Angler and Aquatic Education Program is recruiting individuals to become instructors to introduce children and adults to the sport of fishing. You must be at least 21-years-old to participate in the instructor program.   “It is very rewarding to see children and adults excited about ... [full story]

Fishing experiences can range from both the pleasure that comes from catching a fish to the pain and frustration that comes when "the big one" gets away. For every successful fish story you might hear at the boat ramp, there are probably many more tales anglers left in disbelief as the fish of their dreams breaks their line -- never to be seen again.For those of you fishing for fun, the heartbreak is usually temporary. ... [full story]