DENNIS. L. CLAY
Herald Columnist
Recent Stories
Trip to Travis Air Force Base educational
The e-mail arrived at my inbox on Feb. 6 at 11: 49 a.m.:
Hunter education training needed by most first-time hunters
Each year there are people who want to hunt, but are not allowed because they didn't complete a Hunter Education Course. But there is a way to complete the course. Read on.
Thoughts on the weather, reunions and hunting season
Not long ago, a few days at most, I began thinking about ... well lots of things.
Deadline for hunting opportunity in Okanogan County Aug. 14
Eighteen lucky hunters will have an opportunity to hunt for deer this fall on the 6,000-acre Charles and Mary Eder unit of the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area in northeastern Okanogan County.
Odds and ends of the past year
There are times when life seems to be a jumble of odds and ends. These odds and ends come in various forms, some obvious, apparent and evident, while others are obscure, vague and unclear.
Fireworks a danger to wildlife and humans, too
It is difficult to understand why fireworks haven't been banned this year. We aren't talking about the major fireworks by the city, but the fireworks in the rest of the city and in the county have us worried this year.
Hot weather causes change in normal behavior
Baby, it's still hot outside. A check of future weather forecasts indicate we will experience above 90-degree temperatures through July 15, with five days above 100 and the rest 96 or above.
Fire prevention front and center
Again we are hammering fire prevention. This time it is Fish and Wildlife placing restrictions on the lands they control.
We'll-do-it idea may work today
Bits & Pieces
More hot weather on the way
Heat
Sometimes it is best to simply stay inside. Temperatures exceeding 100 degrees are due in the Columbia Basin beginning tomorrow. The forecasters on the Spokane television stations have been talking about temperatures of 101 degrees for a day or two, but Moses Lake and other Basin towns are in for more than a week, almost two weeks, of temperatures over 100.
Results of special permit drawing available online
The results of the big game special permit drawings are now available online. Go to: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/ and click on "Check your special permit drawing results."
Raffle Permit deadline looms
Fish and Wildlife offers a number of hunts each year by raffle. There is no limit on the number of tickets a person may purchase. The deer, elk, moose and mountain goat tickets are $6 each. Bighorn sheep tickets are $11.50 and Multi-species tickets are $17 per ticket for three-species raffles and $22.50 for four-species raffles. The deadline for purchasing tickets is June 15.
Always have a plan in the outdoors
First of all I don't plan to ever become lost. After all, helicopter pilots never become lost. They may be disoriented for a while, but never lost.
Learn and then teach survival in the Great Outdoors
Learn survival skills for the Great Outdoors, because it may save your life. Teach your children outdoor survival skills, because it may save their lives.
Two days left in the 2015 spring turkey season
OK, this is it, right down to the last weekend of the spring turkey season for this year. Sunday is the last day of the season.
Sharpening company producing survival tools
The Arkansas Stone is well known throughout the outdoor world as a great sharpening tool. The company making the stone, Smith's, is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas and has been in business since 1886, making it 129 years old this year.
More travel trailer tips
Our Hideout travel trailer is a gem. It is the correct size for my wife, Garnet, and me to attach to the Dodge Ram, drive to the campsite, maneuver into the camping spot and set up.
Special hunt permit deadline is May 20
My hunting buddies and I are studying the 2015 Big Game pamphlet to determine which hunts are our favorites for the fall season. The deadline is May 20, about 12 days from today. Read on.
Safford notches turkey tag
Caiden Safford, 15, of Moses Lake, shot his first turkey with his Grandpa Ray Safford at Jump Off Joe Lake near Chewelah during the youth hunt on April 4. Caiden was using Browning 12 gauge for the hunt. The hunter is a student at Moses Lake High School.
New Hunting Pamphlet out; time to study
The 2015 Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations Pamphlet has been published. I have not been able to find it at any of the sporting goods stores, yet.
Perseverance helps when on a diet
This is the last of a three-part series about dieting tips.
Dieting is no picnic
This is the second of a three-part series about dieting tips.
Reasons for wanting to lose weight important
This is the first in a two-part series about helping outdoor-minded people lose weight.
Youth turkey season tomorrow and Sunday
The spring youth turkey season is open for a two-day run, tomorrow and Sunday, April 4 and 5. This is an opportunity which should not be missed.
Day trip on the agenda
A day trip is possible at any time in our household. My wife, Garnet, might stroll into the kitchen and pour a cup of coffee and ask, "What do we have planned for today?"
Crane Festival dominates weekend activities
The Othello Sandhill Crane Festival begins today and continues through Sunday. If you have never participated in this annual event, now is the time.
Basin hikes varied, sand dunes hike a bit strenuous
Hikes provide exercise while dieting
Hiking
This is the first in a series about day hikes in the Greater Columbia Basin area.
State fish art contest deadline March 31
Heads up educators - the State Fish Art Contest deadline is March 31. This allows three weeks to pass along the information about the contest to your students.
Basin anglers successful
Anglers around the Columbia Basin have been successful in recent days. Martha Lake was the only water with partial failure.
Y.O.U. Banquet two weeks away
The Fifth Annual Y.O.U. Banquet on schedule for Feb. 28, just two weeks from tomorrow, at the Best Western Lake Front Inn.
Thoughts on 24 years of Clay Feats
Anniversaries are interesting. By definition an anniversary is the annual or yearly return of the date of an event. A couple is married and on the same day in the following year, they celebrate their first anniversary and so on, year after year.
Three rules for new husbands
So there I was, minding my own business, when ...
A legend passes
Charles Theodore Buck passed away last Friday, Feb. 6. He was a marvelous man. We became friends after I began writing stories and columns about the Great Outdoors 30 years ago.
SHOT Show full of info
This is the last of a two-part series about the 2015 Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas.
Annual SHOT Show trip enlightening, educational
Hunting seasons winding down
Hunters are looking at the last days of the hunting seasons for this year.
Most Wanapum Reservoir open, some parts remain closed
Good news for those who use Wanapum Reservoir for recreation. Most of the Wanapum Reservoir has reopened for public use, but some areas have not. Read on.
Most Wanapum Reservoir open, some parts remain closed
Good news for those who use Wanapum Reservoir for recreation. Most of the Wanapum Reservoir has reopened for public use, but some areas have not. Read on.
Give back remains theme for first column
The paper coffee cup was standing on the snow-covered road as if the owner had opened the door and set it in place. This piece of litter was not thrown, helter-skelter, out of a window. This was an intentional act, no doubt.
Yo-Yos were important toys in the 1950s
When was the last time you worked a yo-yo? They were important toys in the 1950s, with both boys and girls learning and mastering as many tricks as possible. Moses Lake even had a city championship as did Washington State. Read on.
Stadshaug brings home two
Harold Stadshaug, a classmate from the Moses Lake High School Great Class of 1965 and now living in Yakima, fished the Pacific a few months ago and caught...well here is his side of the story:
An angler enjoys time in the Great Outdoors
Tera's big catch; following in the steps of Hemingway
Christmas shopping for the outdoor-minded person
This is the first of a two-part series about Christmas gifts.
Christmas shopping for the outdoor-minded person
Irrigation District election next Tuesday
Yes, this is the last week we will discuss this matter this year. The United States Postal Service does not guarantee every piece of mail dropped into a mail drop box will be postmarked.
An angler enjoys time in the Great Outdoors
Tera's big catch; following in the steps of Hemingway
Spotting wildlife difficult at times
Bill Witt was driving my Dodge Ram as I scanned the landscape from the passenger seat. We were looking for elk east of the town of Kittitas. Movement was noticed and three white rumps spotted.
Spotting wildlife difficult at times
Bill Witt was driving my Dodge Ram as I scanned the landscape from the passenger seat. We were looking for elk east of the town of Kittitas. Movement was noticed and three white rumps spotted.
Postmark key to counted absentee ballot
OK, this is the third week we have discussed this matter: The United States Postal Service does not guarantee every piece of mail dropped into a mail drop box will be postmarked.