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Category: Commentary

At a fork in the river: the future of Western Washington steelhead, fisheries for them

Posted on January 4, 2021August 12, 2021 by Chase Gunnell

Seattle Times LTE: Orcas’ survival: Don’t scapegoat fishing

Posted on August 8, 2020August 12, 2021 by Chase Gunnell

This letter was first published in The Seattle Times on August 8, 2018. I’m disappointed to see out-of-context calls to “stop chinook fishing” in orca coverage. I’m even more disappointed in reports from Gov. Jay Inslee’s orca-recovery task force that foreshadow a punt on significant threats in favor of similar attacks on low-hanging fruit….

Seattle Times Op-Ed: Stiffer penalties needed for poaching wolves

Posted on April 11, 2020August 12, 2021 by Chase Gunnell

This opinion editorial was first published in The Seattle Times on April 11, 2016. Poaching may be limiting progress toward wolf recovery goals. By Chase Gunnell, Special to The Times Wolves are important native predators and vital pieces of our wildlife heritage. The news [“Four new wolf packs recorded in state,” Local News, March 14]…

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Wandering the wild crest of the Kettle Range with @bentommat 📷.

I’m back on the wetside cutting venison and planning for what’s sure to be a stormy backcountry elk hunt, but over in northeast Washington my colleagues at the @newforestcoalition just did something special; showing once again that collaboration and relationship building between diverse stakeholders is the best path toward durable conservation progress for public lands, and for the people and communities that benefit from them.

A collaborative made up of representatives from the timber industry, non-profit groups including @conservationnw, recreation leaders, utilities and other local interests—coordinating with the USFS, DNR and tribal nations—the Northeast Washington Forest Coalition this week released a new Strategic Vision for the future of the Colville National Forest, including continued forest restoration and timber harvest, but also greater investment in recreation access and tribal cultural areas as well as permanent Congressional protection for wild Roadless Areas on the Kettle Crest, Abercrombie Mountain, and an addition to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness; at present the only designated Wilderness on this sprawling national forest.

The Colville NF has the least amount of permanently protected wildlands of any national forest in the Pacific Northwest. Through collaborative support, local leaders believe a legislative package to protect its wildest areas through a mix of Wilderness, National Recreation and/or Conservation areas, and other designations can be accomplished while advancing local community, tribal and economic interests as well as outdoor recreation opportunities.

This is grassroots conservation at its finest, and it’s going to be exciting to see where this new vision for northeast Washington’s heritage goes next. More info at the @newforestcoalition page and northeastwashingtonheritage.org.

#ColvilleNF #NEWHeritage #ForestCollaboration #Forestry #Wilderness #Roadless #KettleCrest #KettleRange #RealLifeWA

chasegunnell

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Wandering the wild crest of the Kettle Range with @bentommat 📷.

I’m back on the wetside cutting venison and planning for what’s sure to be a stormy backcountry elk hunt, but over in northeast Washington my colleagues at the @newforestcoalition just did something special; showing once again that collaboration and relationship building between diverse stakeholders is the best path toward durable conservation progress for public lands, and for the people and communities that benefit from them.

A collaborative made up of representatives from the timber industry, non-profit groups including @conservationnw, recreation leaders, utilities and other local interests—coordinating with the USFS, DNR and tribal nations—the Northeast Washington Forest Coalition this week released a new Strategic Vision for the future of the Colville National Forest, including continued forest restoration and timber harvest, but also greater investment in recreation access and tribal cultural areas as well as permanent Congressional protection for wild Roadless Areas on the Kettle Crest, Abercrombie Mountain, and an addition to the Salmo-Priest Wilderness; at present the only designated Wilderness on this sprawling national forest.

The Colville NF has the least amount of permanently protected wildlands of any national forest in the Pacific Northwest. Through collaborative support, local leaders believe a legislative package to protect its wildest areas through a mix of Wilderness, National Recreation and/or Conservation areas, and other designations can be accomplished while advancing local community, tribal and economic interests as well as outdoor recreation opportunities.

This is grassroots conservation at its finest, and it’s going to be exciting to see where this new vision for northeast Washington’s heritage goes next. More info at the @newforestcoalition page and northeastwashingtonheritage.org.

#ColvilleNF #NEWHeritage #ForestCollaboration #Forestry #Wilderness #Roadless #KettleCrest #KettleRange #RealLifeWA

3 days ago

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1/4

I got to test out these @vortexoptics 15x56 Diamondback HD binos last year in the southeast Alaskan alpine, and they’re now a permanent piece of my hunting kit. Frankly, I don’t find spotting scopes all that useful for PNW backpack hunting. They’re heavy and bulky with limited versatility, and I’m not concerned about counting antler inches. For the past few seasons I’ve taken to packing a pair of 15 power binos with a tripod mount for stationary glassing (in addition to 10x42s on my chest), or for confirming a legal buck. These Diamondback HDs are significantly smaller and lighter than other high-power binos I’ve used, with impressive clarity and field of vision for the price. Definitely something to consider if you’re hunting thicker environments or rugged backcountry where every ounce and multiple uses for each piece of gear counts. #VortexOptics #VortexNation #MountainHunting #HuntWA #HuntWashington #HuntBackcountry

chasegunnell

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I got to test out these @vortexoptics 15×56 Diamondback HD binos last year in the southeast Alaskan alpine, and they’re now a permanent piece of my hunting kit. Frankly, I don’t find spotting scopes all that useful for PNW backpack hunting. They’re heavy and bulky with limited versatility, and I’m not concerned about counting antler inches. For the past few seasons I’ve taken to packing a pair of 15 power binos with a tripod mount for stationary glassing (in addition to 10x42s on my chest), or for confirming a legal buck. These Diamondback HDs are significantly smaller and lighter than other high-power binos I’ve used, with impressive clarity and field of vision for the price. Definitely something to consider if you’re hunting thicker environments or rugged backcountry where every ounce and multiple uses for each piece of gear counts. #VortexOptics #VortexNation #MountainHunting #HuntWA #HuntWashington #HuntBackcountry

5 days ago

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2/4

I watched this mountain whitetail bed down and disappear in some rocky benches mid-morning on Saturday. Picked my way through that cliff band behind me to get 220 yards above where I thought he was, and decided to wait him out. An hour and a half later he stood up, and one shot from my @weatherbyinc .270 put him down on the spot.

#HuntWA #HuntWashington #FueledByNature #FirstLite

chasegunnell

•

I watched this mountain whitetail bed down and disappear in some rocky benches mid-morning on Saturday. Picked my way through that cliff band behind me to get 220 yards above where I thought he was, and decided to wait him out. An hour and a half later he stood up, and one shot from my @weatherbyinc .270 put him down on the spot.

#HuntWA #HuntWashington #FueledByNature #FirstLite

1 week ago

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3/4

When you set out on a strenuous scouting hike but have to stop every 50 yards for the chanterelles growing along the trail. Pretty incredible day of backcountry ‘shroom hunting.

#mushroomhunting #chanterelles #FueledbyNature

chasegunnell

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When you set out on a strenuous scouting hike but have to stop every 50 yards for the chanterelles growing along the trail. Pretty incredible day of backcountry ‘shroom hunting.

#mushroomhunting #chanterelles #FueledbyNature

2 weeks ago

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4/4

@chasegunnell

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Evergreen Outdoors is a blog to archive published work, share news, opinion commentary and writing projects, photography, recipes and how-tos, and more. Learn more.

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CONTACT: chasegunnell [at] gmail [dot] com