Warren Illi: Flathead Outdoors
Explore Warren Illi’s Flathead Outdoors column, offering seasoned insight into Northwest Montana’s wildlife, hunting, fishing, and outdoor traditions. His writing highlights local ecosystems, regulations, seasonal activities, and decades of field experience across Northwest Montana.
A modern arsenal for ice fishing
The recent cold weather has been very welcome for those of us that like to ice fish.
A father-son fishing trip to northern Canada paradise
I recently returned from my annual fishing trip to northern Canada. I’ve been fishing Canada for more than 60 years and fishing in the lake country of northern Canada has never disappointed.
A history of wildfire management
On June 15, the Daily Inter Lake had an editorial titled "New fire division a bold step toward smoke-free summers."
Good fishing memories
Here we are in June and the unofficial start of summer. It’s time to forget the yard work and a hundred other “honey dos” that tend to keep us out of taking time for a great fishing trip, hike into the backcountry …
Spring is gopher season
For the outdoors person, springtime is here and rapidly moving forward towards summer.
Noon shore lunches
Boy, I am hungry for a good meal of deep fat fried fish filets.
Hunting regs are getting more complex
Many hunters like fall as their favorite time of the year because of the hunting season.
Unnecessary boat tax
My old friend George Ostrom, one of Montana’s best-known newsmen, liked to say, “No man’s life or liberty is safe when the Montan Legislature is in session.” A proposed new tax on Montana boat owners seems to meet …
Public access to private timber land
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks is again asking for public comments on the second phase of a conservation easement project with the Green Diamond Company, a timber company.
State should follow Elon Musk’s lead on simplifying hunting regs
Wow, can you believe the beautiful weather we had last weekend? My truck thermometer registered 50 degrees.
Elk foundation champions hunting, conservation causes
This Saturday, Feb. 15, will be one of the most fun nights of the year for Kalispell area hunters.
Ice fishing 101
Last Saturday morning my day started at 4 a.m. Yep, 4 a.m. occurs very early in the morning!
God bless the USA
As the old Charlie Daniels song goes, God Bless the USA. Let me revise that song a little bit and say, God Bless the state of Montana.
Time to change horses
The general rifle seasons for deer and elk hunting has mostly ended. Unless you were lucky enough to draw a late-season elk tag and have access to private ranch land in central Montana, your big game hunting season…
Peak deer season has arrived
For the thousands of local deer hunters who have not notched their deer license this year, your time has arrived.