OUTDOORS ROUNDUP: Big Mountain Run planned Saturday

On Saturday, the Glacier Nordic Club will hold its 34th annual Big Mountain Run.

The race starts at Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Danny On Trailhead at 10 a.m. and ends at the summit — a 3.8 mile course. Runners will compete for the titles of King, Queen, Prince and Princess of the Mountain.

Dogs (with runners) will compete for the fastest dog award. All runners finishing the course within a certain time limit will qualify for the Birthday Club and receive a cupcake. All registered runners, except dogs, receive free chair-lift rides back to the base area.

The cost is $15 per individual, $35 per family or $8 for contestants aged 16 and under.

To register in advance, visit runsignup.com. Same-day registration will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Danny On Trailhead.

Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Glacier Nordic Ski Team that serves over 160 youths each winter.

For more information, visit glaciernordicclub.com.

‘Painting in Nature’ class offered on trail

The Whitefish Legacy Partners are hosting a free “Painting in Nature” hike on the Whitefish Trail this morning from 10 a.m. to noon.

Kids will explore the Whitefish Trail and become familiar with the plants, animals, birds and bugs that live alongside us in nature. Local artists will help transform those observations into watercolor paintings.

All art supplies are provided.

Participants will meet at the Lion Mountain Trailhead and walk to the learning pavilion at 10 a.m. No RSVP is required.

For more information about this hike and other scheduled outings, visit www.whitefishlegacy.org, call 406-862-3880 or email info@whitefishlegacy.org.

Early hunting opportunities available

Elk hunters will have opportunities to fill their tags beginning Aug. 15 in two hunting districts in Northwest Montana.

A shoulder season is a firearms season that can occur as early as Aug. 15 and run as late as Feb. 15, depending on the hunting district.

While most shoulder seasons focus on antlerless elk harvest on private land and are not intended to replace or reduce harvest during the existing archery or five-week general firearms seasons, some are meant to address problematic distribution of elk.

Northwest Montana Region One’s elk shoulder seasons run from Aug. 15 through Oct. 16 in districts 101 and 109.

The hunts are on private land only, but do not include Weyerhaeuser, Stoltze and Stimson Timber Co. lands.

Hunters must have obtained a 199-00 Elk B license to harvest one antlerless elk each during the shoulder season. Even if a hunter does not fill his or her shoulder season tag, he or she will be ineligible to harvest a bull elk with a general elk license at any time during the season.

General questions can be directed to staff at the regional office by calling 406-752-5501.

Lone Pine Park hosts sunset hike

Lone Pine State Park will host a sunset hike from 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9.

When the sun goes down, nocturnal animals come out at Lone Pine. Hikers will learn adaptations that these animals use to hunt, hide and survive in the dark.

The one-mile guided hike will teach participants about the nocturnal animals that inhabit the park and provide an opportunity to enjoy the sunset at the park overlook.

Due to steep and rocky trails, this activity is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible. The program is for ages 10 and older. Hiking shoes are recommended, as are flashlights and headlamps.

Pre-registration is required and the hike leaders ask that participants please leave their dogs at home.

For more information or to register, call Joan West or Elisse Buhmann at 406-755-2706, extension 4.

Field trip takes look at bat activity

Flathead Audubon and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks will host a field trip from 8:30 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, to learn more about bats in the Flathead Valley.

Participants will be guided to a site with known bat activity. Wildlife biologists Lewis Young, Lisa Bate and Chris Hammond will have electronic equipment to detect the ultrasonic calls of bats flying overhead and have mist nets set up to capture bats for closer inspection.

They will demonstrate the equipment, handle bats captured in mist nets and talk about bats’ adaptations for navigating, catching food and hibernating. Participants will not be allowed to touch or handle bats.

Headlamps or flashlights are necessary, as well as suitable clothing for evening temperatures and possibly mosquitoes.

The field trip is free and all are welcome.

Call Young at 406-889-3492 to sign up and get directions to the meeting site.

Bear hunters face Aug. 31 deadline

The deadline for bear hunters to purchase a license for the fall hunt is Aug. 31.

Hunters may purchase a license and obtain the 2016 black bear hunting regulations at all Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks offices, license providers or by visiting fwp.mt.gov, clicking “Online Services.” After that date there is a 24-hour wait on the use of bear hunting licenses.

Black bear hunters must have successfully completed the Black Bear Identification Test and must present a certificate of completion when purchasing a black bear license.

The training and test are available online by visiting fwp.mt.gov, clicking “Quick Links” and then “Education.”

Paper versions of the test are available at the agency’s offices.