On May 2, U.S. Forest Service officials stationed in the Bitterroot National Forest of western Montana said they’ve received a mining company’s Notice of Intent (NOI) to further explore the headwaters of the Bitterroot River for underground minerals used in smartphones, wind turbines, electric car batteries, and a host of other alternative energy applications. The so-called rare-earth elements are located in the Sheep Creek drainage of the Bitterroot Mountains, which flows into the ...

If you’ve been deer hunting for a number of years, you’ve likely had your fair share of venison summer sausage. Usually stuffed into five-pound sleeves of dark colored collagen casing and served in slices alongside beer, cheese and crackers, this cured meat staple is ubiquitous in deer camp kitchens across North America.  Frequently prepared in butcher shops and small-scale wild game processing plants, the roots of summer sausage can be traced back to pre-industrial Germany where it was ...