Columns
Searching for opinion based articles? Below we'll share opinion news articles on a wide variety of topics.
Fish management failures
Last week I drove to my cabin in the Thompson Chain of Lakes, planning to do some spring cabin chores and squeeze …
Fresh ears for young writers
It’s all good. I practically skipped with glee after these volunteer gigs, and the rejuvenating effects lasted for hours — just for bringing fresh ears to new writers.
2024 Montana hunting regulations
The much-awaited 2024 deer, elk and antelope hunting regulations are out for public review and implementation. This is one of Montana’s most popular publications, with 270,000 copies printed each year.
Cupid’s got nothing on Marion
They had me at “Anti-Valentine’s Day” in the event promo. I called my adventure buddy, and we headed to Marion.
Behind the open mic
Now a weekly event, the all-comers confab traces its roots to about six years ago, when emcee-organizer Colton Christensen worked at a Whitefish restaurant.
Sharp shooter captured a town
In these weather-bound days I hole up and read for hours. I finished a book about Lucie Duff Gordon, a London intellectual and translator who fled to Egypt in the mid-1800s to save her health and fell in love with …
Fishing for muskie
What’s probably the rarest game fish in Northwest Montana? I’ll bet that 99% of local fishermen can’t answer that question correctly.
Packers cultivate sunny outlook
Days are supposed to be stretching longer since solstice but to me it doesn’t feel like it. Winter can be hard around here.
Failed fishery management
Sunday’s Daily Inter Lake had an interesting article about a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks proposal for what might be viewed as reinventing the wheel. The proposal is considering to restart a program to kill lak…
The laureate rocks
I didn’t expect to hear Mary Oliver’s verse from Montana’s poet laureate, and here Chris La Tray recited her “The Summer Day.” We listened, then bent our heads to draw.
Start the ice fishing season at Sunriser tourney
Yes, in spite of our unusually warm weather, ice fishing season is here. ‘Tis the hard water fishing season!
Maybe the Swifties take charge
After talking about journalism and sharing stories, we said bye at Sea-Tac with the idea we might meet up again as I often visited Seattle.
Reviewing the elk management plan
During the last few days, I have been reading the new 470-page Montana Statewide Elk Management Plan. What was of most interest to me and probably most hunters, is found on pages 15-41.
Some pivotal actors are quietest
As we gathered for a quintessential American holiday last week, I found myself also feeling grateful for Norwegians.
Snoozing on the job
Our general rifle season for deer and elk ended last Sunday. If you are like me, after many days of hunting starting in September, first for grouse, then archery hunting for deer and elk, then ducks & pheasants and…
Science meets art in Yellow Bay
“Who here loves plants?” Seattle artist and former river guide and garden designer Sarah Jones asked the few dozen of us assembled for a day alongside Flathead Lake.