Experts Journal

There are two types of rights that may be included in land ownership: surface rights and mineral rights. A landowner may own the rights to everything on the surface, but not the rights to underground resources such as oil, gas, and minerals.

No other big game animal embodies the wide open spaces of our country’s Western prairies and high desert steppe better than the pronghorn. Pronghorns are actually a uniquely American species that once used their incredible vision and speed to evade now-extinct Ice Age cheetahs.

Many of you have asked which month you should go on your first elk hunt. In Western states, elk seasons can run anywhere from August to January. When you go will have a big impact on your style of hunting as tactics change from one week to the next. For instance, calling works very well during the rut, but it may not work at all once rifle seasons begin.

Sage grouse are symbols of the unique and diverse habitat of the American West. These upland birds make their home in the sagebrush, as do 350 other species and thousands of ranchers who rely on Western rangelands for their agricultural operations.

When summer fades away and is replaced with cool autumnal weather, many anglers hang up their waders in favor of other outdoor pursuits. But don’t let challenging conditions steer you away from fishing in the fall. There are still lots of fish to be caught and the transitioning scenery, pleasant weather and dwindling crowds make it a great time to be on the water.