No traction for mining bill in Montana

The Montana House of Representatives took the side of the hard rock mining industry when they voted to table a common-sense bill, HB 593, recently. HB 593, introduced by Representative Nate McConnell (D-Missoula), would have required an independent audit of mining companies every 3 years. These audits would make sure the mining companies are following…

Utah asks Congress to support federal wildfire funding

Fighting fires is expensive and the U.S. Forest Service is responsible for the bulk of funding the growing number of fire events each year. Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service By Andy Rasmussen Wildfires do more than consume forests and turn rivers black. Fighting fires is dangerous and expensive—amazingly expensive. Wildfire suppression eats up a significantly…

Idaho sportsmen ante up to support wildlife management

Jillian Lukiwski backpacking and fishing in Idaho’s Sawtooth mountain range near Stanley, Idaho. Josh Duplechian/Trout Unlimited By Michael Gibson Significant cuts are being proposed to federal programs that benefit sportsmen and healthy habitat. But in Idaho, sportsmen successfully lobbied to increase their own license fees for the greater benefit of our wildlife, setting an example…

Voices from the River: Jon boat dreams

By Chris Hunt As a kid, I remember seeing little jon boats cruising up and down the Sabine River along the border with Texas and Louisiana, their pilots running trot lines for channel cats and generally looking like they were having an excellent time. The boats, squared off in the front and pushed by a…

Short casts: Guides huddle in Montana, big bucks and bass

Unless you’re a mayfly nymph (living under a rock, get it?) you have heard some that we’ve had some action on environmental issues come out of Washington DC in recent weeks. These actions have, shall we say, led to some lively discussions. Arguing can be counter-productive, but discussion is usually a good thing. And that’s…

Short Casts: What did I catch and should I eat it?

A pacu found dead at a community fishing pond in southern Utah. Courtesy Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Fishing is all about surprises. Sometimes the surprise is not the fact the trip ended up without so much as a sniff at your fly or the big one that did not get away, but rather what…

TU Business Spotlight: Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions

Not long ago, I read that the average American kid spends about seven hours a day in front of a screen of some type, but only about seven minutes a day outside. As a parent and a grandparent, those numbers sent a chill through me. If kids aren’t outside, how can we expect them to…