Outdoor news
Grizzly shooting
A Browning man faces charges of illegally shooting and killing three grizzly bears this past summer. Everett Skunkcap is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Keith Strong in U.S. District Court in Great Falls on Dec. 4 on three counts of unlawfully taking of a threatened species. According to court records, Skunkcap said his dogs alerted him to a grizzly sow and two cubs on Aug. 6. The bears were about 200-500 feet away from his grandchildren on the opposite side of a creek. The children ran into a house, and Skunkcap shot the bears. Skunkcap also told Blackfeet wildlife officials that he shot a grizzly in 2013 and he would do so again.
Elk River talk
A talk about fishing the Elk River will take place at Flathead Valley Trout Unlimited’s chapter meeting at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks offices on Meridian Road in Kalispell on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. The featured speaker will be Kelly Laatsch, a full-time guide and manager of the St. Mary Angler fly shop in Cranbrook, B.C. Laatsch has been fly-fishing and tying flies since he was a boy and has been guiding in southeastern British Columbia since 1992. Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded.
Bob plants
Maria Mantas will talk about “Flora of the Bob Marshall Wilderness” at the Flathead Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society meeting at the Teakettle Room on Nucleus Avenue in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. The talk is free an open to the public.
Wilderness hiking
Hungry Horse News photographer Chris Peterson will give a photo presentation and talk about a 200-mile journey retracing much of Bob Marshall’s original hike through the wilderness of 86 years ago at the Montana House in Apgar on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 4 p.m. The presentation is free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended. Contact the Montana House at 888-5393.
Forest chat
The Flathead National Forest will talk about providing more access to backcountry areas in the popular groomed Canyon Creek Snowmobile Trail area and safety concerns during its next breakfast chat at the Pin and Cue Restaurant in Whitefish on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 a.m. Those planning to attend are asked to notify public affairs officer Wade Muehlhof at ewmuehlhof@fs.fed.us or 406-758-5252.
Online auction
The Glacier Institute will hold its fourth annual Online Auction to benefit youth programs at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center with bidding ending Monday, Dec. 1. Visit online at https://glacier30.24fundraiser.com. For more information, call 406-755-1211 or visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org.