Outdoors briefs for July 14, 2011

Woodcutting areas to open

SMELTERVILLE - The Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District will be opening two preferred fuelwood areas within the next two weeks. These areas will be available to the public for gathering firewood for personal use. Both are on the east side of the district.

Road 6541: The first fuelwood area is on Road 6541 (top of Kings Pass, south of Prichard). This area is being opened to the public for wood gathering from Monday, July 11 through Monday, Aug. 8.

Road 1586: The second fuelwood area is on Road 1586, which is used as a seasonal ATV trail (south of Prichard). The area will be open from Friday, July 15 through Monday, Aug. 15. There will be no firewood cutting or gathering allowed beneath the power lines.

Maps and driving instructions for these preferred woodcutting areas can be picked up at either the Silver Valley Office in Smelterville, or the Fernan Office in Coeur d'Alene.

The required permit can be purchased at either office, or woodcutters can print off a mail-in form that can be obtained from our website at: http://fs.usda.gov/ipnf (from the home page select Passes & Permits, Forest Products, Read more..., Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District; then click under "Download a permit application").

For more information, contact the Silver Valley Office at (208) 783-2363 or the Fernan Office at (208) 664-2318.

Palaniuk qualifies for Bassmaster

Rathdrum's Brandon Palaniuk has qualified for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic via points accumulated in the race for the 2011 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year.

This will be Palaniuk's second appearance at the Bassmaster Classic, the Super Bowl of bass fishing.

In his first appearance in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic, Palaniuk placed fourth.