Norm Elliott and The Happy Hunting Grounds

Norm Elliott went home two weeks ago – just about the time we were packing the last of our deer and antelope meat into coolers for the drive from Sheridan, Wyoming, back to Paradise. You probably never met Norm. Too bad, really, because he was a fascinating guy with a...

Continuing Bighorn Sheep Die-Offs

You may have seen Scott Sandsberry’s piece in last Saturday’s Ellensburg Daily Record, or somewhere picked up from a wire service. Scott reports for the Yakima Herald Republic, but our local paper occasionally picks up some of his work. We cross paths from time to...

On Skunks and Skunk Trapping

The conversation started at the campground in Ilwaco, over Tuna Weekend. One or more skunks found their way to food and company among the hundred or so campers on hand, and left calling cards on the moist evening air. Thus began conversations about past run-ins with...

Tuna Fishing and the Weird Outdoor Year

Last weekend – Labor Day Weekend – was “Ilwaco Tuna Weekend” for Hucklings, Homeys and former Homeys. We started planning it when I booked Captain Rob’s Katie Marie right after he returned us and our fish to port a year ago. 2015 was extra special:...

Radios, Weather & 100 Mile Runners

Last weekend the 17th annual Cascade Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run happened. Over the past some years, I’ve written a few columns about the runners and their connections with the outdoors and fresh air and the earth, and my admiration for anyone who stretches personal...

About Family and Self-Defense – And Then Some

I don’t know how many times I have been asked the question over the past few decades, but here it was again. Local friend Gary Brown and I were talking about the Front Sight Firearms Training Institute outside Las Vegas. “So,” he asked, “do you have a carry permit?” I...