Dennis had come to the Anthony Creek feeding site of the Elkhorn Wildlife Area since at least 2000. The Rocky Mountain bull elk has not been seen this winter. - Submitted photos

Where is Dennis?

Dennis is a six-point bull elk that has visited the Elkhorn Wildlife Viewing Area's Anthony Creek feeding site regularly for at least eight years.

Photo/JIM WARD

Hunting, poaching, disease, and overgrazing — these were the bighorn's killers, and in 1927 the Enterprise Record Chieftain reported that Wallowa County contained the last wild sheep in Oregon.

Members of the La Grande Sno-Drifters assemble their club's new log cabin in October. Those working, left to right, are Mitch Williams, Nick Milner and Scott Wilde. - Photo/GREG BLACKMAN

Snowmobiles, cross country skis and snowshoes instead are your passes.

Todd Erickson, left, of McMinnville took this elk in north Wallowa County in November. The bull's green score of 398 for non-typical antlers means it might be the third best in state history in its category. Erickson is shown with his son T.J., who accompanied him on the hunt. - Photo/JON WICK

Erickson had reason to be drained. The McMinnville man had just completed two climbs — one up a steep canyon and another up the all-time state elk hunting list.

This is how one of the buildings that was part of the old Union fish hatchery complex looked when the facility was operating from the early 1920s to 1937 - Photo courtesy of Jerry Gildemeister and from the Dick Bonney collection

No obvious evidence exists indicating that the structures were once linked to a violent chapter in Union's history.

The tale begins in the early 1920s when the buildings were constructed for a new state fish hatchery. Trout were raised there and then stocked in area streams and high mountain lakes in the Wallowas.

Hunters who take birds at Ladd Marsh might find themselves stopped by wildlife officials who are sampling birds for avian flu. - Photo/ODFW

No, not the legendary English rock band, but a Switzerland-based organization that marches to a more methodical but urgent beat — the World Health Organization.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are monitoring birds at Ladd Marsh and at waterfowl sites throughout the nation for avian flu.

Looking for a ski area that offers improved trails and great conditions even during icy periods?

Look no farther than the Meacham Divide Ski Area.