Outdoors

Heidi Hietpas of Sequim completes the kayaking leg of Saturday's Big Hurt as part of a tandem team with her husband, Forest Hietpas. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

OUTDOORS SPORTS: Big Hurt returns in a big way

After a two-year layoff, the team of Hammer Down returned this weekend to win the two-person team category in the return of… Continue reading

Heidi Hietpas of Sequim completes the kayaking leg of Saturday's Big Hurt as part of a tandem team with her husband, Forest Hietpas. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

OUTDOORS: Autumn’s arrival marks mushroom season

HEAVY RAINS THAT came with the storm that blew in last weekend served a two-fold purpose: bringing up the levels on depleted rivers, notably out… Continue reading

Olympic Motorcycle Club’s Triple Crown Fall Series gets underway with the first of three racing weekends this Saturday at the club’s track off of Deer Park Road. Round two follows on Oct. 16-17, and the series concludes Nov. 5-6. (Tom Hines/Olympic Motorcycle Club)

AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Olympic Peninsula Motorcycle Club’s Fall Series underway this weekend; Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers reopen Wednesday

Weekend rain on the West End did the trick as the Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers will re-open to recreational fishing beginning Wednesday.… Continue reading

Olympic Motorcycle Club’s Triple Crown Fall Series gets underway with the first of three racing weekends this Saturday at the club’s track off of Deer Park Road. Round two follows on Oct. 16-17, and the series concludes Nov. 5-6. (Tom Hines/Olympic Motorcycle Club)
Terry and Barbara Rossow of Ellensburg caught this good-sized coho while fishing off Sekiu on Wednes-day. The pair also enjoyed whale watching after the big catch.

OUTDOORS: Storm expected to usher in fall, raise low-flowing rivers

Rain gear a must this weekend

Terry and Barbara Rossow of Ellensburg caught this good-sized coho while fishing off Sekiu on Wednes-day. The pair also enjoyed whale watching after the big catch.
Kids dig for razor clams at Long Beach. (Photo courtesy Tammy Foes/WDFW)

OUTDOORS: First razor clam digs for 2021-2022 get green light

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has given final approval to the first nine razor clam digs of the 2021-22 season, with… Continue reading

Kids dig for razor clams at Long Beach. (Photo courtesy Tammy Foes/WDFW)
Rachael Canavan of Sequim runs in the 50K race Saturday in the annual Great Olympic Adventure Trail run west of Port Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sagen)

ADVENTURE SPORTS: Sequim woman wins 50K GOAT run

Nearly 240 runners from Washington and states beyond ran through the woods and the hills west of Port Angeles this weekend in… Continue reading

Rachael Canavan of Sequim runs in the 50K race Saturday in the annual Great Olympic Adventure Trail run west of Port Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sagen)

AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Sol Duc, Quillayute fishing closed

The Quillayute and Sol Duc rivers outside of Olympic National Park were closed to all fishing Friday by the Washington Department of Fish… Continue reading

OUTDOORS: Now is the time for prime coho fishing

The pinks have pushed through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and its time to seriously reel in some silvers before the season shut down… Continue reading

OUTDOORS: Parks-a-plenty in Jefferson County’s Irondale

Changes in longitude, even if it’s only one degree easterly, are significant. Recently, circumstances dictated that I pack up and leave Deer Park, the name… Continue reading

Monkey Face at Smith Rock State Park. (Pierre LaBossiere/Peninsula Daily News)

OUTDOORS COLUMN: Triumph in a place called Misery

Once upon a time, I climbed mountains. Big, scary mountains. I climbed two 14ers in California, I climbed El Capitan, I climbed Half Dome, I… Continue reading

Monkey Face at Smith Rock State Park. (Pierre LaBossiere/Peninsula Daily News)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife just released its Hunting Prospects for the 2021 hunting seasons. Cody Nelson/Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

OUTDOORS: WDFW releases Hunting Prospects for fall 2021

Fall marks the start of hunting seasons for deer, elk, waterfowl and upland game birds in many areas of Washington and to help… Continue reading

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife just released its Hunting Prospects for the 2021 hunting seasons. Cody Nelson/Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

OUTDOORS: Forest grouse opener now Sept. 15

Two-week delay to protect hens and chicks

Razor clam diggers should expect a banner harvest season in 2021-2022 with record-size numbers of clams at many ocean beaches. (Photo courtesy of State Department of Fish and Wildlife)

OUTDOORS: Banner razor clam season expected

But not at Kalaloch, which won’t open in 2021-2022

Razor clam diggers should expect a banner harvest season in 2021-2022 with record-size numbers of clams at many ocean beaches. (Photo courtesy of State Department of Fish and Wildlife)
The Olympic Chapter of Salmon For Soldiers hosted 77 service veterans on 34 volunteer skippered fishing boats during last Sunday's Summer Salmon Slammin' event in the waters off Sekiu. Fishing was red-hot across the board as veterans enjoyed a day out on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

OUTDOORS: Veterans salmon fishing outing a huge success

The smoke cleared, then the fog burned off, and 77 service veterans enjoyed the treat that is summer salmon fishing on the Strait of Juan… Continue reading

The Olympic Chapter of Salmon For Soldiers hosted 77 service veterans on 34 volunteer skippered fishing boats during last Sunday's Summer Salmon Slammin' event in the waters off Sekiu. Fishing was red-hot across the board as veterans enjoyed a day out on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

OUTDOORS BRIEF: Additional elk tags available

Hunters who bought a multi-season permit application for elk earlier this year, but were not selected in the April drawing, may be one… Continue reading

Holly Bauman Quilcene angler Ward Norden found beach casting success from the shore of Fort Flagler State Park recently, catching this pink with a pink rotator jig. Pinks are at the height of their odd-year return this month.

OUTDOORS: Olympic Peninsula anglers can fish Canadian waters with caveats

Who’s up for a leisure cruise in Canadian waters? While the land borders between the Great White North and the U.S. remain closed until Aug.… Continue reading

Holly Bauman Quilcene angler Ward Norden found beach casting success from the shore of Fort Flagler State Park recently, catching this pink with a pink rotator jig. Pinks are at the height of their odd-year return this month.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

OUTDOORS: Spot shrimp reopens in Marine Area 6 on Wednesday

Recreational spot shrimp will reopen in four Puget Sound marine areas, including most of the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, for a… Continue reading

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

OUTDOORS: Steelhead season planning underway as state announces steelhead committee

HOPING TO AVOID a repeat of last fall’s bombshell winter steelhead rule change rollout, state fishery managers have drawn back the curtain a bit on… Continue reading

OUTDOORS: King fishery closed off Port Townsend

Still able to target coho and pinks

Courtesy photo 13-year-old Joey Kang of Port Angeles caught a 28-pound king salmon this week at Freshwater Bay near Eagle's Nest. Kang was fishing with his father James Kang of Port Angeles and reeled in his the giant fish himself.

SALMON FISHING: 13-year-old Port Angeles boy catches 28-pounder

Joey Kang, 13, of Port Angeles caught a 28-pound king salmon this week at Freshwater Bay west of Port Angeles. Kang was fishing with his… Continue reading

Courtesy photo 13-year-old Joey Kang of Port Angeles caught a 28-pound king salmon this week at Freshwater Bay near Eagle's Nest. Kang was fishing with his father James Kang of Port Angeles and reeled in his the giant fish himself.