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.
Entering the rut
Hunting season is entering the best two weeks of this deer and elk hunting season. Many veteran hunters have spent lots of time afield for the last several weeks, but have been reluctant to pull the trigger on any …
The best time of the year is finally here
Ahh, autumn. For the outdoors person, especially the hunter, this is best time of the year.
A declining wildland deer herd
Youth hunt success
Last Saturday, 16-year-old Tegan Schaper was sprawled on the prairie grass sighting her .270 rifle at a nice mule deer buck that was 440 yards away.
A wealth of hunting opportunities
For thousands of Flathead area hunters, hunting season is now moving into high gear.
Recreation season turns toward fall activities
Like it or not, fall is here! Two weeks ago, the weekend before Labor Day weekend, we were at our cabin with our granddaughters. The lake water had cooled a little, but with afternoon temperatures in the 80s, it st…
As summer wanes, fall hunting season beckons
I love summer. I love fishing with my boat. I don’t know what is more challenging — catching fish or trying to understand my electronic fish-finder.
COLUMN: Boating - and boats - keep getting bigger and better
Wow, summer fun in the Flathead! During the last few days, the weather has been perfect for enjoying the hundreds of lakes and streams of Northwest Montana.
COLUMN: Non-native fish are the reality in Montana
Two weeks ago I wrote a column on the fine sport of fishing for northern pike. At least one reader strongly disagreed with my column. His letter to the editor blasted me from all sides. I suspect if that writer wer…
COLUMN: Pike fishing has some serious fans
It is Saturday and here I am slaving away writing a column for next Thursday’s paper. I am sitting on the deck of my cabin on Crystal and Lavon Lakes in the Thompson Chain of Lakes. It is about 70 degrees and sunny.
COLUMN: Release big fish to be caught again
Are you ready to catch a big fish? A more important question is what are you going to do with a really big fish when it is at the boat and ready to land? Are you going to keep the fish for a treasured wall mount, e…
COLUMN: There are plenty of reasons to go fishing
Why do people fish? With the abundance of lakes, rivers and creeks in Northwest Montana, I think it is a rare adult who has never fished.
COLUMN: Deer, antelope populations looking healthy
Here is some good news for hunters. Last week my wife and I had to make a quick trip back to Wisconsin to attend a funeral. On the way, I planned to stop at my farm near Malta to see how the farm had wintered. But …
COLUMN: Trapping opponents pursuing initiative again
For the third time in the last several years, animal-rights advocates, funded by mostly out-of-state money, are attempting to get public trapping banned on over 30 million acres of Montana public land. This effort …
COLUMN: It's time to indulge in some springtime fishing
Springtime in the Rockies! Wasn’t last weekend a dandy? Warm and sunny spring days made it impossible to stay inside. I had a ton of chores to do in my Kalispell yard, but I could not resist the call of my cabin an…