This looks like a good scope for those who like to plink at certain rodents in the spring. The Nikon P-223 scope is preset to the ballistics for standard .223 rounds for an AR-15 and other .223 rifles, so the hold over is already calculated. It's an inexpensive way to get take some of the guess work out of shooting at longer ranges.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission is in the process of revising its rules on use of motorized vehicles off road while hunting, and it is seeking public input through an Internet survey. A survey is asking participants about their experiences using OHVs while hunting, and how they feel about restrictions in some areas on the use of OHVs while hunting.

The questionnaire has been mailed to a random sample of 4,000 people who are either hunters or OHV owners in Idaho. But any interested persons can take the survey online at

I am a bit red in the neck this morning, which is a confirmation of the obvious for those who know me. I spent Sunday on the water fishing and apparently did not apply sunscreen as per the manufacturer's specifications, or I used a bottle that was beyond its prime.

Every year I go through this debate whether it's worse to get a sunburn or slather some motor-oil grade ointment all over my body and feel like a glazed donut at the end of the day. I still don't have the answer.

Quinn's Pond off Pleasanton Avenue in Boise becomes a hub of water activity on weekends and evenings.

You'll see paddle boarders, canoeists and kayakers out paddling on the 22-acre pond. Swimmers also use the pond to do laps.

It's also a great place for retriever training.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game also stocks the pond with trout most of the year.

We're lucky to have neighborhood ponds like this throughout Treasure Valley.

Here's some interesting news about Brunton, an American company that we featured in the gear section of Thursday's camping guide. Brunton is bringing some of its manufacturing home, and not just home to the U.S., but to the rural West (Riverton, Wyoming). It's an interesting case study for Western states trying attract business. Many outdoor businesses start locally and domestically made, then ship the manufacturing overseas, and most likely to China.

It's kind of weird that the first fish were caught when the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers are surging, but that's the case. I got this email from Amy Sinclair at Exodus Wilderness Outfitters: "I just wanted to report that the first two chinook were caught and harvested yesterday morning (Wednesday, May16) at the confluence of the Little Salmon and Salmon Rivers."

It's shaping up to be a big-water weekend. My river-gauge alerts from the USGS just keep coming in: Main Payette, 10,800 cfs; Salmon at Whitebird, 51,100 cfs, Grande Ronde at Troy, Ore., 9,040 cfs, Little Salmon at Riggins, 4,166 cfs, Lochsa, 8.49 feet and the Boise River's still high at 6,200 cfs.

So, if you're not comfortable with high water, put away the paddles for a few more weeks. I bet things drop fairly fast by mid-June.

REDFISH LAKE LODGE

I'm not going beat around the bush. Zimo and I think we're putting out the best camping guide ever on Thursday, May 17. It's got a lot of good stuff for everybody from family campers to motorcycle tourers. So we're shamelessly promoting it. Drop your three quarters in the paper box tomorrow and give it a read, or angry grizzly bears will invade your camp. Let's review: 75 cents for an informative and entertaining camping guide, or angry grizzlies. The choice is yours.

“Get to Know Your Boat Day” is planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 19, at the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge Lower Dam Recreation Area at Lake Lowell.

The event is to help educate the public about boating safety and law and is being sponsored by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation’s boating program, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office and the Intermountain Jet Boat Association.

Energizer has just launched its new Micro Sport Headlight, which features both front-facing white LEDs and a rear-facing red flasher, making it a really cool combo light for bicycling. It's nice to combine the two safety lights in one gadget.

The Micro Sport Headlight's front light has high and low beam. The headlight is fully detachable from its adjustable head strap.