Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure - April 2009

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OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

APRIL 2009 www.outdoorsmontana.com

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10 Must Do Fishin’ Holes

Three EASY

TURKEY CALLS Shoot Your Bird With A Bow

Montana

Lake Trout

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Shooting Your Bird With A Bow W

here should you shoot once you have that Gobbler right where you want him? It is a lot harder than it sounds, and many a Tom has escaped because of poor arrow placement. Take a look at the turkey Vitals illustration, you can see that the area you are trying to hit is not the largest target area. About 3 inches tall and 4 long, the Heart/Lung area rides right below the backbone.

If you look at this picture you can use the leg bones and wings as a guide in the field. Picking a spot right where the wing attaches to the body, slightly in front of the leg should put your arrow right in the Boiler Room and put the bird down.

If your Tom is quartering to you or away, center the legs and just behind of where the wing connects on the other side of the bird. Expandable Broadheads are a great choice for Turkeys, but you can shoot them with your regular big game set up as well.

HEAD SHOTS Shooting for a Gobbler’s head and neck is another option, but requires some special broadheads and arrow set ups.

The Gobbler Guillotine and Magnus Bull Head Broadheads are specifically designed for this purpose.

BY NEAL COTE

Clarification Regarding Fishing On The Marias River MFWP

Both require a longer arrow than your standard length, and the flight of these heads will limit the shooting distance. Getting a strutted Tom to stick his neck out is pretty easy, and if you get that arrow close, off goes his head!

RECOVERING YOUR BIRD If you have placed your shot right, a turkey won’t get very far. There are two theories you can use, either run out immediately after your shot and grab the bird, or you can sit tight and try to watch where your Gobbler goes after he’s hit. Both will work, I personally prefer to sit and wait.

As much I want to run out and try and grab a hurt bird with a sharp broadhead sticking out of him, I think it’s better to watch where he goes. If you are hunting with a partner, your bird may expire right where he is, and allow other birds to come in for your partner to get a shot, Double Down!!!!

A

printing mistake in the 2009 Montana fishing regulations has Marias River anglers scratching their heads.

The regulations for the Marias River in the central fishing district should read: Open the entire year downstream from the I-15 bridge.

That includes Tiber Reservoir.

Instead it simply repeats the wording for the Marias River in the eastern fishing district, which has led to some confusion.

But fishing on the Marias River and Tiber Reservoir in Montana’s central fishing district remains as it has in the past. That is, open the entire year downstream from the I-15 bridge.

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Contents

6. Gear Review, T. Patrick Stinson 8. RMEF Great Elk Tour 9. Cut Bait Tactics That Work, Neal Cote 10. 2009 Spring Mack Days Update 12. State Wildlife Officials Pleased With Salazar Wolf Decision, MFWP 13. Traveler’s Corner, US Diesel 14. Montana Fishing Report 15. Can Maps Make YOU A Better Fisherman? Mark Reller 16. Three Easy Turkey Calls, Andrew Mckean 18. Finding A Place To Turkey Hunt, Joe Esparza 19. Hot Spot, Beaverhead Rock State Park 20. Spring Steelhead Season Still Open 21. Fishing With The Captain, Mark Ward 22.. Bitterroot Big Cat, Brodie Swisher 24. Hunting & Conservation News 27. New Gear For 2009 28. News From Rocky Mountain States 30. Calendar Of Events 31. Four Men Sentenced In Poaching, MFWP 33. Montana Wolf Population Grows In 2008 36. 10 Must Do Fishin’ Holes, Chuck Robbins 38. Photo Page Cover photo: Bob Orsua (r) with Spring Mack Days record breaking lake trout. 31.1 lbs 43” in length 28” in girth. Bob owns and operates \Mo Fisch Charters out of Lakeside Mt. www.mofisch.com On the (l) Matt, one of Bob’s fishing guides is holding is a 24lbr. Bob caught just 45 min before the big fish.

Please support the advertisers you see in this newspaper and let them know you saw their advertisement in Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure. Thank you!

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The entire contents is © 2009, all rights reserved. May not be reproduced without prior consent. The material and information printed is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure. Nor does the printed material necessarily express the views of Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure.

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gear review

Reviews provided by Montana Test.Com The Country’s Leading Outdoor Product Testing Site. Reviews are independent of advertisers and all products tested in real time hunting and fishing conditions. Montana Test .Com does not guarantee positive reviews to any manufacturer. www.mtBowHuntingreviews.com and www.bowhuntingreviews.net are part of Montana Test.com. Visit www.montanatest.com

Mountain Hardwear Tech Jacket, Windstopper Jacket & Vest

Recommend Yes...Buy Highlights: We normally do not test something for a full year before we give a review but we wanted to give the Mountain Hardwear jackets and vest a thrashing. We received three pieces, the Crucial a Gore-Tex Paclite jacket, the Windstopper Tech jacket, and the Windstopper Tech vest. Each piece took real punishment day after day week after week and never faltered. We tested in rain, snow, and wind, and all pieces were our go-to outerwear when we had to have serious protection. Chris Stinson used the Crucial jacket all spring, summer, and fall guiding anglers. I fished a spring day with Chris, a steady downpour followed us all day. The Crucial jacket was dry and with the Windstopper vest as a layer, Chris was comfortable all day. I checked the jacket when we finished the day and it was dry. We worked the Mountain Hardwear; it looks as good now as it did when we received it. The Mountain Hardwear jackets and vest offer quality, great styling, and toughness for any outdoor enthusiast. Drawbacks: None Rating: Good Water...Great Tester: Pat and Chris Stinson Suggested Retail: Crucial Jacket Gore-Tex...$250.00 Windstopper Tech Jacket...$185.00 Windstopper Vest...$100.00

Joby’s Gorillapod SLR And Original Tripods

Recommend Yes...Buy Highlights: You caught the fish of a lifetime or maybe took a four-legged creature and the best you can do is take a picture without you in it. If you had Joby’s Gorillapod tripods your hunting and fishing friends would never give you a hard time or question your ability, you now have pictures. The solution, Joby’s Gorillapod SLR, and Original tripods, both have flexible leg joints that rap around a tree branch, oar, rock, or you can use as a standard tripod. These look like something from a Star Wars movie. They may be the strangest looking camera accessories we have seen or tested. We twisted and turned them around everything we could find and they held as tight as we wrapped them.

The Original tripod works for point and shoot cameras and the SLR will hold a compact video camcorder or large camera. Here is a tip, before you use around water made sure each are wrapped tightly, you do not want a recorder or camera falling into the drink.

Drawbacks: None Rating: Good Water...Great Tester: All Suggested Retail: $39.95 SLR $24.95 Original

Maine Military Cot From Byer

Recommend Yes...Buy Highlights: We test a bunch of sleeping pads, bags and sometimes we still struggle to fall asleep, the first night out is always the toughest.

If this happens to you, we may have a cure. We decided that after years of sleeping on the ground with thin pads it was time to test bigger tents, with room for a couple of cots. This summer and fall, we tested a Maine Military Cot from Byer. This cot is 30-inches wide 18-inches high with 84-inch long rip-stop polyester fabric, heavy gauge aluminum tubing 1 1/4 inch thick, and rugged enough for a 375-pound user.

The center of the cot is reinforced with an extra panel of fabric and a pouch that hangs from the side for all your valuables. The advantages of a Byer cot start with comfort and convenience; you can sit up, remove your boots, clothing, stretch out, and sleep as if you are home in your own bed. We suggest you use a pad between you and your bag; this insulates you from cold air that gathers between the floor of the tent and bottom of cot. We appreciated the Maine Military Cot from Byer. It is top quality, extremely sturdy and comfortable. It comes complete with a carry bag with handles.

Drawbacks: None Rating: Good Water...Great Tester: All Suggested Retail: $79.95

APRIL 2009

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Editor’s Note A

pril 15 marks the start of our big game season here in Montana.

The spring bear hunt will start and there should be ample opportunities to harvest a big sky bruin. Once the weather begins to warm up the bears will start to feed more, presenting themselves in the open as a result. If you can put in the time and effort, you should have success. Keep in mind, you must complete a bear identification test prior to buying your tag, and you must have a bear tag before the start of the season opener.

Our spring turkey season will also start up in April. Yes, it’s time to tune in your bow or clean your shotgun, as the turkey here in our state are doing quite well, and in some areas, booming. If you can get permission to hunt on a ranch, (many property owners would like to take a few off their land as a result of too many birds), you shouldn’t have any problem finding birds.

May 1st marks the deadline for special permits to hunt moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat here in Montana.

This could be your year to obtain one of those coveted tags. You can’t win the lottery if you’re not going to play!

With the weather warming as the days drift on, spring fishing will also begin to heat up. The fish will be eager to bite as the bugs hatch, creating some great opportunities to catch some big fish.

Check the state fishing regulations for updated information on your next fishing destination, and check with the fishing department at your favorite sporting goods store or fly shop. This will give you much needed updates on where you fish, saving you time and money. Go where the fish are!

Send us your photos of your hunts or the fish that are being caught, and we will post them on our web site and they may also be published in Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure. If you like to blog, check out our web site. We have added a blogging feature.

Take a kid fishing or in the woods with you and get them involved in the passions you enjoy! Have a great time in the field or on the water.

Thanks for reading Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure. Please support your local economy and the advertisers that you see in this publication.

Let them know you saw their ad, as they support hunting, fishing, and conservation in our great state.

Rick Haggerty Editor

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Woman Reports Being Bitten By Coyotes Attacking Dog COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

A

Traveling Trophies Promote Elk Foundation Habitat Message RMEF Sponsors include Blaser, Massive antlers are a Brunton, Hunter’s Specialties, product of age, genetics and habitat.

Encouraging habitat stewardship and conservation is the goal of a 2009 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation traveling exhibit of trophy-class elk.

The RMEF Great Elk Tour, themed “Great Elk Need Great Habitat,” is appearing across the U.S. at sports and outdoor shows, retail locations, Pro Bull Riders events and more.

Continually updated schedules, photos of the mounts and other details are available at www.greatelktour.org.

Realtree, Sitka and Trijicon.

The tour features six monster bulls: Arizona—Specimens for 2009 include two bulls from Arizona. One is a unique three-antlered non-typical elk that gross scores 341. Hunter Troy Pfennigs took the bull from the White River area in 2006. The second Arizona bull has typical antlers grossing 402-2/8. P.T. Carter found one of the sheds and then acquired the mate from an antler dealer.

51 year old Denver resident reported that she was attacked by three coyotes while walking her dog near her home.

The woman, who lives on the 3900 block of S. Oneida, stated that she was crossing the street with her dog, a 75-pound Labrador retriever, when she and her dog were surrounded by three coyotes. The woman reported that when two of the coyotes attacked her dog, she attempted to intervene. She said that when she attempted to defend her pet, she was scratched and bitten by one of the coyotes.

The woman brought her pet to a veterinary hospital and visited Swedish Hospital herself. She was released the same evening.

After being notified about the incident by Colorado State Patrol at 11:00 PM Saturday evening, Colorado Division of Wildlife officers began a search for the animals involved.

Searches continued through Sunday evening, but were unsuccessful. DOW officers will continue to work the area to inform residents about the incident and will engage Denver authorities in the effort to address the situation. If the coyotes responsible for the incident can be located, the DOW will remove these animals by lethal means.

“The DOW takes injuries to humans very seriously,” said Liza Hunholz, Area Wildlife Manager for Denver. “We will continue to work with Denver and all other Front Range communities to ensure that all citizens are aware of the presence of coyotes and know how to protect themselves and their pets. Likewise, we will continue to support cities and towns in

developing a management plan that meets the needs of their constituents, such as Greenwood Village and Lakewood have done. “ Last week the DOW hosted city leaders and decision makers at a coyote symposium in Jefferson County to discuss the coyote issue and train representatives on biology, outreach methods, and laws and regulations pertaining to coyotes.

Cities and towns across the Front Range were encouraged to work with the DOW to create coyote management plans that meet the needs of their constituents.

Most conflicts between people and coyotes occur when coyotes are able to find food near human residences. Sometimes coyotes find food left out for other wildlife. In other cases, these adaptable predators learn that they can hunt other wildlife and pets that frequent residential neighborhoods. But the result is that when coyotes lose their natural wariness of the human environment, they can become aggressive towards people The DOW strongly discourages feeding of wild animals, including coyotes. In fact, feeding of coyotes and foxes is illegal in urban areas.

If a coyote approaches you: -Be as Big, Mean, and Loud as possible -Wave your arms and throw objects at the coyote Shout in a deep, loud and authoritative voice -DO NOT RUN or turn your back on the coyote -Face the coyote and back away slowly -If attacked, fight back with your fists and feet

ELK TOUR CONTINUED Montana—Two bulls from Montana are included for 2009. The first is a set of non-typical sheds with a gross score of 404-6/8. Kyle Libsack found the sheds last year in Park County. The second Montana elk is a unique winterkill bull found in 2008

by Tom Benedict in southwest Montana. The bull gross scores 311.

North Dakota—This 397-1/8 grossscore bull from Billings County was taken by Terry Doll in 2007. Doll

hunted for two months without seeing an elk. His luck changed one evening when this monster stepped out just before sundown.

Wyoming—This 363-1/8 gross non-typical, droptine bull was found dead on the Jackson Hole elk refuge.

Wild West Designs purchased the antlers, helping to fund operations for the refuge and local Boy Scout troops.

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Cut Bait Tactics That Work

BY NEAL COTE OF BITE ME FLIES

If you think that fishing for any large predator like Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Bass, Walleye and even big Rainbows and Browns is a strictly artificial lure or fly game....boy you might be missing out on some awesome action!

Fishing Dead Baits like smelt for Northern Pike is a very widely used tactic that everyone has tried at one time or another, but what if you take that idea and expand it to include other species?

I think if you give the system a few modifications, you might tie into some of the largest fish of the season that otherwise would never even show up on your radar.

Lets break down the target species and see if we can show you some tweaks that apply to those fish.

LARGE RIVER TROUT Of course you can’t fish with bait in most of Western Montana’s rivers until the third Saturday in May, which means fishing during high water. Upon plunging into a flood-stage river, Large Trout and other predators find leaves, sticks, branches, and water-logged trees tumbling downstream at them. With visibility severely reduced, they can’t see an object coming until it approaches quite close. A 20 plus inch Brown, for example, can pick up vibrations from large objects with its lateral line, but smaller things can pose problems. The obvious answer for fish in these conditions is to get out of the main flow and search out sheltered breaks in the current. This is where Dead or cut baits can excel while other presentations fail to produce.

The plus of cloudy water stems from the lack of visibility. The fish can’t see food and the can’t see you. Even in 2 feet of water, you remain invisible until you almost step on them. Since these fish can’t see danger, they seem to assume it does not exist and can be quite aggressive if you don’t stumble around in the rocks or wade through them. The problem is they can’t see your bait either. Being blind, those fish switch from their primary sight feeding to using their other senses like hearing and smell. So to catch them, you appeal to their sense of smell and bulk up the bait to make it easier to detect from a noisy background.

The areas of reduced flow in a river become the paths of least resistance to any fish moving upstream in high water.

The larger the area of reduced flow, the more likely fish will hold or pause there.

Holding fish are the prime targets for Dead or cut bait. The likeliest areas include the inside turn on a bend, a shallow flat out of the main flow below an obstruction like a log jam or weir, the slow side of a long run, or any shallow water out of the main flow or hiding behind a current break. Often these spots are quite close to the bank, where the shoreline itself further slows the current through friction. Larger Trout, Pike, and

Walleye also seek these spots because slower water allows some of the silt to settle, while most debris tends to be swept into the swept into the faster currents.

The inside of a bend is a classic high water spot. In low water, the shallow flat on the inside of the bend is the spot to wade while fishing the deeper outside run.

In high water, trout hold on that shallow flat where you would likely be wading, so don’t just wade right in before thoroughly working the flat on the inside. The higher the water, the farther below the point or middle of the bend, and the closer to the bank will those fish hold. In the highest flows, those fish will hold behind things like standing trees and cut banks. They will almost always be below the midpoint on the inside of a bend in shallower water.

The fast water will continue to follow the same bank below the outside bend as it drops into the next run. Long runs have considerably slower water on the side of the inside bend, and fish often hold all along that side of the run during high flows. Just keep fishing slowly down stream below an inside bend, and stay on the bank. Make short casts. In fact, drop in the first cast right, right by your boots.

Then start making progressively longer casts out to mid-river, sweeping them up against the bank below you. Let the bait sit for a minute or two at the end of each drift. A big tangle of logs or fallen trees on the slow side of the river can hold a lot of fish. Get your bait right behind these and literally drop your baits down into the branches on the down stream side, probing every nook you can drag the bait through without snagging up.

Most high water spots on these rivers call for a medium power spinning rod with a fairly fast action. In high, cloudy water, trout become far less line shy. Use 10-12 pound mono-filament with an 8-10 pound mono leader for most situations.

If you notice the areas where the trout are holding in the current breaks, this is where you should put your first cast.

The best rigs for this are shown in this article.. Be sure to add just enough weight to get your bait to hold on the bottom. By placing a cast here, you position it to fish that are holding in the slower water near the lip and letting scent from your bait (continued on page 35)

NOAH DRESSEL OF LOLO WITH BEAR TAKEN LAST FALL UP THELOLO CREEK AREA

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Salute To

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An Inspirational Awards Dinner Honoring Local Women Thursday, May 14, 6:00 p.m.

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2009 Spring Mack Days Update CYNTHIA BRAS

Fly Tying Corner:

Missoulian Angler Series Grey Drake

Brought To You By The Missoulian Angler Fly Shop

The race is on. Spring Mack Days began March 13 and continues on th

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, until April 26th. Over $45,000 in cash and prizes sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by MFWP will be given away at the conclusion of the event. Mack Days are used as a management tool as part of the Flathead Lake Co-management Plan to reduce numbers of non-native lake trout and restore a balance of native trout in Flathead Lake. A total of 1,669 lake trout were turned in over the weekend. Friday was a cold fishing day the afternoon sun helped anglers warm up and a total of 727 entries were turned in. Saturday’s total came in at 637. The wind on Sunday made for difficult fishing and took its toll with 305 well earned entries.

Youth angler Stephen Naethe of Pablo leads with 123 lake trout entered.

Mike Benson of Hot Springs comes in second with 116 and Paul Haines of Pablo has a total of 113. Fourth place is held by Bernd Albrecht of Polson with 74, Dean Vaughan-Charlo-5th -58, Greg KarlsonMissoula-6th -48, lady youth angler Terry Biere-Butte-7th -48, Sid Bitney-Kalispell-8th -46, Marty Noyd-Missoula-9th -44, Dewey Kruse-Polson-10th -44, Dan Smith-Hot Springs-11th -42, Steve Biere-Butte-12th -39, Don Peters-Florence/Polson-13th 38, Mike Howe-Kalispell-14th -37, Dan Long-Columbia Falls-15th -37, Matt Slyder-Roundup-16th -34, Barr PetlodoHot Springs-17th -33, Doug BolenderKalispell-18th -33, Larry Schmill-Missoula19th -30, Mike Shima-Polson-Nicole Peters-Florence/Polson-& Joe O’Hara-St. Ignatius-20th -29.

Seven tagged lake trout were turned in over the weekend. Friday the

“Motley Crew” of Greg KarlsonMissoula, Dan Smith, and Barr Petlodo of Hot Springs turned in two tagged fish with values of $500 and $100. Mike Howe of Kalispell also turned in a tagged laker with a tag worth $100. Saturday Mike Howe again was lucky and came up with a $100 tag along with Steve Foley with a $100 tag. After fishing for 12 hours on a rough choppy lake on Sunday Stephen Naethe of Pablo was surprised with $200 and $100 tags.

The largest lake trout ever turned in during the history of the events was entered on Saturday. This fish measured 43” and weighed in at 31.1 lbs and was entered by Captain Bob Orsua of Mo Fish Charters out of Lakeside. The winning large lake trout entry at the end of the event wins $500 with second place $100.

Smallest lake trout entries are held by Stephen Naethe of Pablo with a 217mm and Dennis Cornelius of Kalispell with a 255mm entry.

Youth anglers are lead by Stephen’s 123, Terry Biere-Butte is second with 48, Keegan Noyd of Missoula 3rd with 20, Ausin and Danner Shima-Polson4th have 10 entries each, Garett VaughanCharlo-6, Gregory Ganz-4, Tanner MurryColumbia Falls and Kobo Cox-Charlo-3, Daniel Hunt-St. Ignatius & AJ WigginsCharlo-2, Grace Noyd-Missoula, Benton Spears-Ravalli, Madisen Wheeler-Proctor, Juliet Savage-Somers, and Brad WeibleCharlo with 1 entry.

Entries continue to be taken until the last day of the event. Go to www.mackdays.com for the e-mail address on the entry page, telephone 406-883-2888 ex. 7282 or 7294, or fax your name, address, telephone number to 406-883-2897. (All rules of the event are to be read and followed and apply to all persons entered.)

BY RUSSELL PARKS

S

pring is here and so are the bugs! The early season hatches on our local waters is certainly not a secret anymore. However, there are often some overlooked patterns as many people get focused on one fly or the other. The grey drake can be a productive fly this time of year, especially tied with CDC as described below. Change the size and color for other mayflies and you have a great pattern added to your fly box.

Also, if you are looking for some guided fly-fishing on the local Missoula waters, give us a call and we’ll show you how well these patterns work.

MISSOULIAN ANGLER SERIES GREY DRAKE Hook – MFC 7009 Size 12 Thread – Grey 6/0 Tail – Natural Elk Hair Body – Natural Elk Hair Thorax - Grey Trouthunter CDC Wing – Natural Deer Hair & CDC Feather Step 1: Leave thread hanging at 1/3 hook shank behind eye Step 2: Stack and clean about 15-20 elk hair fibers for extended body and tail Step 3: With tips out the back of the hook, measure extended body to be about a hook shank beyond bend, trim butt ends and anchor in at 1/3 point. Be careful to keep hair on top of the hook Step 4: Loosely wrap thread over hair as you move to the back of the hook to retain buoyancy, anchor in tight before bend Step 5: To form extended body, use forefinger and thumb to grasp extended body hair and utilize your other three fingers to grab bobbin as you wrap around the hair. Make one solid wrap around hair. As you bring thread up for second wrap, form a segment by taking thread over the top of the body then make one solid turn. Continue this to form three segments. On the last segment, work your way back down toward hook crossing the opposite direction over segments, forming X’s on the top of body Step 6: With scissors trim out the middle clump of hair for tail, leaving 2-3 hair tips on each side for tail Step 7: Dub forward over hair on the shank with sparse CDC Step 8: Form thorax with CDC, wrapping directly over each other to stand up wing Step 9: Select four CDC feathers and match up tips. Tie in feathers in front of thorax with tips out over the eye, concave of feathers facing up.

Step 10: With a small amount of dubbing, split the butt ends of CDC feather with a figure eight to flare out as ‘outriggers’ on the sides of the fly. We’ll trim these later Step 11: Fold CDC feathers over and anchor in behind thorax Step 12: Clean and stack deer hair for wing. Measure with tips matching up to tips of CDC feathers Step 13: Tie in hair wing in front of CDC wing and trim, leaving a small ‘head’ like elk hair caddis Step 14: Dub a small amount of CDC over thread on hair wing Step 15: Whip finish behind the eye under the hair, trim CDC butt ends a little long for ‘legs’, and go fish!

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12 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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State Wildlife Officials Pleased With Salazar’s Wolf Decision MFWP

M

ontana wildlife officials praised Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s announcement today that affirmed the decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in January to remove gray wolves from the list of threatened and endangered species in Montana, Idaho, and parts of Utah, Washington, Oregon. Wolves in western Great Lakes will also be delisted, but wolves will remain a protected species in Wyoming, Salazar said.

Wolf conservation and management in Montana will become the full responsibility of the state when the decision takes effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register, which is expected within a few weeks.

“This is what we worked for,” said Joe Maurier, director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. “We’re pleased the new administration agrees that Montana has done its part to ensure that the wolves are established and secure in this part of the Northern Rockies. Now it’s time for the state to take over management of this wildlife species.”

USFWS originally announced the decision to delist the wolf in January, but the new administration decided to review the decision as part of an overall, government-wide regulatory review when it came into office.

Federal officials said the USFWS decided to delist the wolf in Idaho and Montana because they have approved state wolf management plans and solid programs in place that will ensure the conservation of the species in the future. At the same time,

USFWS determined wolves in Wyoming would still be listed under the Endangered Species Act because Wyoming’s current state law and wolf management plan are not sufficient to conserve its portion of northern Rocky Mountain wolf population.

When delisting takes effect, the line separating Montana into the northern Endangered Area and the southern Experimental Area will no longer exist. Upon delisting, wolves throughout Montana will become reclassified under state law as a species in need of management, which also offers wolves legal protection much like other managed wildlife.

With delisting, the flexibility to protect livestock and domestic dogs is provided in Montana law. Similar to lions and black bears, a wolf seen actively biting, wounding, chasing, harassing, or attacking livestock or domestic dogs could be killed. Such incidents must be reported to FWP in 72 hours.

The transition, however, may face court challenges. Several groups say they will closely scrutinize the latest federal delisting decision and may renew legal challenges to block it.

“We believe this decision is on solid biological and legal footing, “ Maurier said. “If challenged, FWP will defend the delisting decision.”

Legal challenges could affect the sale of hunting licenses for a 2009 wolf-hunting season previously adopted by Montana’s FWP Commission. Officials said none would be offered for sale until Montana is confident a wolf-hunting season could occur.

Nevertheless, the recovery of the wolf in the northern Rockies remains one of the fastest endangered species comebacks on record. In the mid 1990s, to hasten the overall pace of wolf recovery in the Northern Rockies, 66 wolves were released into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho.

The minimum recovery goal for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains was set at a minimum of 30 breeding pairs—successfully reproducing wolf packs—and a minimum of 300 individual wolves for at least three consecutive years and well distributed throughout the recovery area. The goal was achieved in 2002, and the wolf population has increased every year since.

The northern Rockies “metapopulation” is comprised of wolf populations in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. About 1,600 wolves,

with about 95 breeding pairs, live in the region, where wolves can travel about freely to join existing packs or form new packs. This, combined with wolf populations in Canada and Alaska, assures genetic diversity.

About 420 wolves inhabited Montana, in 73 packs and 39 breeding pairs at the end of 2007, Maurier said. The population is expected to increase slightly when 2008 minimum estimates are finalized.

FWP has led wolf management under the federal guidelines since 2004. Delisting allows Montana to manage wolves in a manner similar to how bears, mountain lions and other wildlife species are managed, guided by state management plans, administrative rules, and laws.

To learn more visit FWP online at fwp.mt.gov. Click Montana Wolves.

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Vehicles and fleets that consistently operate under load benefit from improved fuel efficiency, vehicle safety and load carrying capacity as well as reduced driver fatigue and extended tire and suspension component life. RAS is a simple retrofit to most every pickup truck and van with rear leaf springs, with up to a 1 1/2 ton capacity, and once installed no adjustments or maintenance is ever required.

Traditionally, automotive suspension has been a compromise among three conflicting criteria: road handling, load carrying and passenger comfort.

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14 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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APRIL 2009

Mo nta n a Fis h i n g Rep o rt

CHRIS MADSEN

Western Montana Fishing Report Brought To You

By The Missoula Sportsman’s Warehouse

BY CHRIS MADSEN, (406) 532-9000 e-mail: madwolf2@netzero.net

Spring has finally sprung in western Montana, at least that’s what the calendar says. The cool temperatures of March have kept the river flows low and cold, and all of the smaller popular lakes still have ice. Only with the recent warm up have people started to get out of their winter funk. Gas prices, this spring, are reasonable compared to what they were at this time last year, and a lot more people are heading to their favorite fishing spots, and mine. None the less, skwalas are out, the steelhead are still running, and Mac Days are in full swing. Hopefully, with the advent of April, Mother Nature will continue to be kind and we can continue to have the fishing we had at the end of March.

April is usually the last month the hard water fisherman have a chance to use their augers. The fish seem to sense the oncoming warmer weather and liven up just before ice off. These more aggressively feeding fish can be taken on small jigging spoons and bait. Be careful if you’re adventurous enough to fish on the ice this time of year. The conditions change in a hurry and falling through the ice is not a pleasant way to spend a spring day even if it’s above 50 degrees outside.

In western Montana, Flathead Lake should continue to fish well. Macs will be taken jigging spoons tipped with cutbait off points or drop-offs, and trolling Hoochies or flatfish with downriggers or steel line will account for most of the rest of the catch.

Macs can also be caught from shore casting Country Mile, Krocodile or Bomber “Slab” spoons. The north end of the lake and the sloughs of the Flathead River are good spots to try for pike this time of year. Throwing crank baits, sluggos and spoons will get some looks for gear fishermen.

Fly rodders should take along a good selection of large streamers in a variety of colors. Salt water streamers transfer well over to pike fishing.

Bass anglers will be eager to start fishing Noxon reservoir, as warming water will start bringing smallmouth and largemouth bass into shallower water, where slowly fished spinnerbaits, plastic worms and tube jigs will take some impressive pre-spawn fish. Lipless crankbaits are also a great lure to fish in the spring and can produce great catches.

Similar opportunities can be found on many Flathead Reservation lakes like Ninepipes and Kicking Horse, as these shallow, low elevation lakes ice off and warm relatively early.

Just like the bass fishing, the fishing for pike will pick up as the water temperatures rise. Salmon and Seeley lakes will have a short window of opportunity once the ice comes off and before the spawn. Once they start to spawn they’ve got other things on their mind and couldn’t care any less what you’re throwing at them. They just don’t cooperate. The sloughs and backwaters of the Bitterroot and Clark Fork can also produce some good pike fishing this time of year. I have already heard of some impressive catches from our local rivers. Crankbaits, swimbaits, and big 6” long pike flies should catch the attention of these ambush predators.

The local area rivers started fishing well at the end of March and should continue to do so in April as long as we don’t get a big push of water.

There are plenty of bugs and the hatches should continue to be steady through the month. The Bitterroot is always a local favorite for fly anglers, and with the number of people on the river in the spring anymore it seems to be a favorite of the rest of the country

as well. It was nice to be able to fish dries in March after looking at a strike indicator all winter. Skwalas, Blue Winged Olives, March Browns and Neumoras are the main table fair in April. And although there aren’t the huge flights of bugs we get during the summer hatches the fish are on them in a big way. The Clark Fork and Rock Creek also fish well in the spring and they get most of the same hatches as the Bitterroot. The hatches on these rivers just start a little later. And you can also get away from the crowds of the Bitterroot. Look for the fishing on the Lower Clark Fork to slow down due to the removal of Milltown Dam. But the stretches above the dam work will continue to be good.

The Blackfoot isn’t as great a dry fly stream this time of year but can be a streamer fisherman’s nirvana. Olive or ginger conehead wooly sculpins cast to the bank and stripped back can produce some of the biggest fish of the year.

There are still plenty of steelhead in the Clearwater and Salmon River systems. The only things that will slow down the fishing are water levels and clarity. The standard set ups have all been catching fishing with drift fishing roe probably being the most popular this time of year.

Fly fishers have been doing well with egg patterns under an indicator and swinging flies on a sink tip.

The Salmon has been fishing well when the water levels have been cooperating. The Salmon has had a good run of fish this year and I have heard reports of good numbers of fish being caught. Bobber and jig fishing with smaller jig patterns, drifting roe and back trolling plugs from a drift boat will all produce fish. The Salmon is also a great river for Spey rodders to get in some casting practice and also have a good chance at hooking some fish.

Whether you prefer fishing the freshly thawed lakes or the warming rivers your list of options is growing by the day. Don’t be afraid to try a new spot.

Good fishing and I’ll see you on the river.

RYAN ONGLEY

Southwest Montana Fishing Report Brought To You

By The Bozeman Sportsman’s Warehouse

BY RYAN ONGLEY (406) 586-0100 SPRING FEVER April has arrived and with it some of the best fishing of the season. Ice will be coming off many of our lakes and the first hatches of the year will be in swing on our area rivers. Get out there and take advantage of this great time of year when the crowds are low and the fish are hungry. Let’s get to some reports for Southwest Montana waters.

Upper Madison River The McAtee Bridge to Ennis Town Bridge section is open, while the river above McAtee remains closed until the general opener in May. As water temps rise throughout the month throwing streamers can bring some very large trout to net. Blue Winged Olive hatches will be occurring so be prepared with a good selection of dries, nymphs, floating nymphs, and emergers for this hatch. The spring Blue Winged Olives will be a size 18 to 20. Nymphing will be very consistent with two fly rigs being the rule. Stonefly nymphs, baetis nymphs, and caddis, and midge imitations are all good bets. San Juan Worms and egg patterns will also continue to produce. (continued on page 34)

APRIL 2009

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 15

Can Maps Make YOU A Better Fisherman?

ANYTIME

BY MARK RELLER, CONSTELLATION SERVICES

F

or any fisherman, part of the fun is learning the lake. I am so lucky to own and operate Constellation Services.

For the last 11-years I have enjoyed learning lake after lake, the only trouble was, for many of these lakes I wasn’t able to take the time and fish.

But when I get the opportunity to learn a new lake, I get days on end of focused boating. It is common to cover 60 to 80 miles in a day’s boating. Plus all that time I get to play with and learn from some really amazing low impact technology, GPS and SONAR. A friend of mine summed it up once when he said I get to take pictures with sound. That is actually very true, I get to make images with sonar soundings aided by GPS. These images can help every fisherman learn the water quicker, catch more fish and be safer doing it. As any hunter knows, relationship of good map-study to successful hunting is well established. The same relationship equally applies to fishing, learning the lay of the land (water) makes you a better fisherman. You can target habitats and depths, and plan your boating strategy.

Depths can often be a surrogate for temperature. This feature provides clues for finding many species in the summer and the winter. Some species like areas with quick changes in depth, such as drop-offs, submerged islands, or old flooded stream channels. Other species may prefer large flats or shelves or even open water. Learn the seasonal preferences for your target species, compare it to the underwater terrain and you can focus your fishing efforts in high probability habitat. Varying the color, pattern and your presentation in the RIGHT places is more efficient than trying a lot of a different places.

Knowing the topography gives you insight on fish position and on your position. Why you will catch more fish is nearly self-evident. The value of knowing your position on the water can be priceless. While GPS has given us a quantum leap in navigation, it has NOT replaced the paper map.

As someone who boats hundreds and hundreds of miles per on inland lakes in the northwest, I have many stories to share on how fast a storm can appear and make a one mile or a ten mile run down the lake a dangerous option. A paper map is the best and fastest way to evaluate and determine perhaps less dangerous options in stormy or calm conditions.

We all want to make it back to the dock safe and dry. Often ducking into a small cove or wind protected zone for 30 or 60 minutes of jig fishing, is a much more attractive option than a long wet rough ride. A paper map gives you such options quickly and easily. With a paper map you can see the lay of the land and the water. However, if you really feel the run home is the best option, a paper map in the hands of the first mate, can give you insights on safety zones such as bays or coves along route, in case you change your mind about jig fishing. Plus paper maps help you determine which shores might be the best to hug.

I think you can start to see the point, paper maps still have value. Using maps to leverage your GPS is also smart.

A good paper map will contain proximity GPS points for key locations around the water body. This can include marinas, fuel, launch ramps etc. Pre-programming these points into your GPS can allow for a quicker response in rough weather.

Remember the accuracy of these points will vary from publisher to publisher. If you geo cache or geo-photo cache, you already know some waypoints are of better quality than others. When ever possible, grab your own waypoints during your trip. When using other’s data confirm a few pre-programmed points early in the trip to get a quality assurance assessment of the data you are using.

It is also important to note that paper maps can’t replace good judgment.

The images I collect are generally created from a technique called “line bathymetry”. That is a series of transects is used to build a full image. The closer the transects, the better the final image resolution. But there is always spaces between the transects and thus the image is a representative image and not a perfect reflection of the environment. It is possible to have anomalies like rocks or humps that present boating hazards. Add to that floating and other dynamic hazards and it all simply says keep your eyes on the water… you will be safer and see more fish! http://lakemaps.foliosnap.com AND mreller@mt.net Mark Reller Constellation Services GPS & Natural Resource Management P.O. Box 949 Helena, MT 59624 YOUR MAPS ARE HERE!

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Angler Catches Record Tying Pygmy Whitefish Eric Tullett of Kalispell will now share the Montana angling state record for the diminutive pygmy whitefish with two other anglers, both of whom turned in their record fish in February 2005.

Tullett caught the .23-pound (that’s 3.7 ounces) pygmy on a glow hook and maggot while ice fishing on Bitterroot Lake on March 17. He hooked the fish at 80 feet below the surface and reeled it in.

“My arm is still hurting,” he joked.

Tullett did everything right in getting his record certified. He took the fish to Super One of Kalispell and had it weighed on a certified scale; he then

MFWP

brought the fish and the weight slip to the Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks Headquarters. There, Fisheries Biologist Mark Deleray examined and measured the fish and certified that the impressive specimen tied the state record of .23 pounds held jointly by two other anglers. Tullett’s fish measured 8-1/4 inches, while the other two record fish had measured 8-1/2 and 9 inches respectively. Tullett’s pygmy was particularly fat, with a girth of 5-3/4 inches. Tullett will receive a state record certificate when the paperwork is received in Helena.

The pygmy whitefish is one of three types of whitefish that live in Montana. The pygmy, along with the larger mountain whitefish, is native.

16 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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Three Easy Turkey Calls

BY ANDREW MCKEAN Make these three turkey calls for almost any spring gobbler

I

t’s easy to be intimidated by all the information out there about turkey hunting, and every year it seems there’s another call to learn, another tip to try or another gimmick to buy to fool spring gobblers.

But the truth is that turkeys can be a cinch to call, just as they can be maddeningly difficult. Knowing that, you should become proficient at just three simple calls, the only sounds you’ll need to make to be successful about 90 percent of the time. If you want to invest hundreds of dollars and hours of time getting good enough to call gobblers the remaining 10 percent of the time, then you have more of both than I do.

Here are the basic spring turkey calls and how to make them: • Yelp – This is your go-to call almost every day in the spring. Yelps are simply single-note vocalizations that can express contentment, loneliness or desire. It’s this last urge that you want to mimic, because you can call in most gobblers with a slow, loud “caulk, caulk, caulk” on a box or slate call. I’m a big fan of box calls because they’re easy to use and easy to sound good. To make a yelp, simply draw the lid across the lip of the box in a single, moderate pace. The shape of the lid, or paddle, will help define the sound, but you can try lifting up on the lid as you finish. The yelp should end on a slightly higher note than it began, to give a sense of emotional urgency. You can then experiment with the

cadence, or speed of the yelp. String together four or five yelps about a half-second apart, then work on making them louder and softer. When you get good at the sound, try adding some raspy sounds by using one end or the other of the paddle. And try adding some emotion to this call. You should be able to mold the sound into a plaintive wail that begs a gobbler to come closer.

• Cluck – A cluck is simply a yelp at a faster, more staccato rhythm, usually with the end cut short. Think of an old hen chicken talking to herself as she’s feeding or gossiping with her neighbors. Start the cluck the same way you start the yelp, but stop the lid short and lift up on it quickly, almost like you think the lid is stuck to the box call. That shortened stroke will result in a click, like a slow “chock, chock” sound. Use clucks to reassure an approaching gobbler that a hen is nearby or to calm down a nervous flock of turkeys.

• Purr – This is one of my favorite calls, and it’s easy to make on a well-tuned box call. You basically draw the lid slowly over the lip of the box call, or on a slate call you drag the striker slowly over the slate surface. It should sound like a burbally, whirring sound, and it’s a turkey’s ultimate sound of contentment. Hen turkeys often purr as they feed, and it’s a great call to give a nervous gobbler that won’t close the last few yards to your location. If you have a chance, try raking leaves as you sound purrs to really unlock wary toms.

APRIL 2009

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Bull Elk Left To Rot Utah Division Of Wildlife

Under these tree limbs is what’s left of a five-point bull elk that was poached recently on the Book Cliffs. After killing the bull, the poacher piled tree limbs over it to try and hide it.

Photo courtesy of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

A

five-point bull elk was shot, hidden and left to rot in the Book Cliffs in east central Utah recently.

Now wildlife officers are looking for help to solve the case.

“On Feb. 1, I responded to a call from our poaching hotline,” says Clint Sampson, a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officer.

The caller said they [were in the Book Cliffs and] noticed a flock of crows and a bald eagle feeding on something. When they got closer, they discovered the birds were eating an elk carcass buried under a pile of old tree limbs.

That’s when the caller called Utah’s Turn In a Poacher hotline at 1-800-662-DEER (3337).

“The dead bull, a five point, was shot and then hidden under some old tree limbs,” Sampson says. “We found the elk on McCook Ridge, about half a mile south of the junction of the McCook Ridge and Indian Ridge roads. No meat was taken. The bull was just shot and left for the scavengers.”

The elk was shot about a month ago. If you know anything about this shooting, please call the DWR’s Northeastern Region office at (435) 781-9453.

BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 17

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18 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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Finding a Place To Turkey Hunt

BY JOE ESPARZA

N

ow that it is officially spring turkey season, I often get asked, “Where can I find a place to hunt turkeys?” What I discover is most people have not put in for a special permit, so I’ll address where to find those spring gobblers in areas that don’t require special permits.

I confess one of the easiest things you can do is join our website, SportsmensAccess.com, as a premium member. For a $59 annual fee, you can use the searchable database and mapping service to find a number of places to hunt. I’ll outline the steps in this article so you can easily navigate and find your turkey hunting grounds.

I’ll also offer other options you can do on your own to find a place to hunt.

Here are the four options to help you: 1. Use SportsmensAccess.com Searchable Database and Mapping Service 2. Call FWP Regional Offices 3. Use your former Block Management phone lists 4. Call other public land regional offices Use SportsmensAccess.com Mapping Service Our unique mapping service has over 62 layers of information that show up on the map of Montana. All you have to do is click on the information you want to see. As illustrated below, one of those layers is game bird distribution, with eight game bird choices. You can see on the chart on the right, I have clicked on turkey distribution.

When I go back to the map, it will show me where turkey distribution is in Montana. The mapping service allows me to zoom into public lands near my home, identified by the color blue for state land and the color yellow for BLM. Below is a screen capture of what the turkey distribution overlay looks like with targeted public land. The pink grid shows the turkey distribution overlay for both state lands and BLM.

One of the best features of this mapping service is that you can capture the GPS coordinates and drive right to the public land you’ve identified for your hunt. When you’ve completed setting up your hunt, you can print this customized map, as many as

Use SportsmensAccess.com Searchable Database One of the last things you can do is use the searchable database to find great turkey hunting hotspots.

SportsmensAccess.com lists over 30 landowners who are willing to let you hunt turkeys free-of-charge. They are part of a special Block Management program allowing spring turkey hunting this year.

Call FWP Regional Offices When you call the offices, remember that these folks are busy, with many things being asked of them.

It helps to be prepared by giving them a name of a town near where you would like to start hunting, as well as the type of terrain you’d like. The more specific you can be the better the information you’ll get. Be sure to ask for any landowners who have called and are willing to let spring turkey hunters on their lands. A few years ago I did just that and got a landowner’s name and number. I called him and he wanted to know how many people I was bringing as he was being overrun with turkeys! I explained to him that I was just coming with another buddy. He went on to say that if I knew of anyone else that was interested in hunting turkey to have them give him a call, too. I harvested a nice Tom on this hunt and was able to line out hunting for sharptails and pheasants later in the fall.

APRIL 2009

Use Your Former Block Management Phone Lists Block Management contracts do not include spring turkey hunting. However, if you contacted landowners in the fall and still have their phone numbers, consider them as another source of places to hunt turkeys. Remember if they grant you access, avoid calling late at night or interrupting dinner. It also wouldn’t hurt to give a box of apples or oranges to the landowner. In these tight economic times, it’s the little things that people notice.

Call Other Public Land Regional Land Offices One of the great things about hunting turkeys in Montana is that Eastern Montana has a lot of great turkey hunting on public land. Be sure to contact regional offices in your areas such as BLM, Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge.

All of these places can be a great source for public access hunting.

Warning! Spring turkey hunting can be addicting much like chasing bugling bull elk. So if you’re willing to take this risk, join SportmensAccess.com or pick up the phone and start calling region offices to find your hunting spot for a great gobbler this spring.

Shoot Straight!

Joe is the owner of SportsmensAccess.com, a membership website that provides members with the most comprehensive database and mapping service in the state of Montana for hunting and fishing on public and private land.

APRIL 2009

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 19

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Fishing on the Beaverhead Beaverhead River Tributary of Jefferson River.

BEAVERHEAD ROCK - MFWP

Sacagawea recognized this huge landmark, resembling the head of a swimming beaver, while traveling with the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805. Site can be viewed and photographed from a distance but is not directly accessible. The site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Beaverhead Rock State Park is located on the Beaverhead River 25 miles from the mouth on the right hand side as you face down stream.

Poindexter Slough is the next access site up stream from Beaverhead Rock.

This park is open year-round.

Directions: 14 miles south of Twin Bridges on Montana 41.

Fishing can be accessed at Poindexter Slough, 3 miles south of Dillon on Montana 41 Fisherman at Poindexter Slough - MFWP

Although originally formed at the confluence of the Red Rock River and Horse Prairie Creek, the Beaverhead River now begins its 69-mile-long journey at the outlet of Clark Canyon Reservoir, an irrigation storage facility constructed in 1964. It joins the Big Hole River at Twin Bridges to form the Jefferson River. The river above Dillon is characterized by a tight channel meandering through densely covered willow banks. From Dillon, it flows through a broad open agricultural valley for 50 miles before reaching Twin Bridges. Its channel is restricted through a narrow canyon during part of its lower journey near Point of Rocks. The water in the Beaverhead River is comparatively cold, except in areas subject to dewatering, mainly located in the lower river. Fish cover primarily consists of submerged and overhanging bank vegetation, undercuts and long, deep pools.

Species Present Game Fish Opportunities: Brown Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout All Species Present: Arctic Grayling, Brook Trout, Burbot, Common Carp, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Mottled Sculpin, Mountain Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, White Sucker, Brown Trout

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20 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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SPRING FISHING SPECIAL PAY FOR 2 NIGHTS & GET THE 3RD FREE! Sportsman Motel & RV Park in Melrose.

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E-mail: sportman@3rivers.net During the month of April

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Fishing On The Big Hole Melrose, Montana I

f you are looking for a new fishing and camping destination here in Montana, and have never visited the area around Melrose, here is a little of what you can expect.

Melrose is on the Big Hole River, halfway between Butte and Dillon. It is famous for its trout fishing (from Cheney’s Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing and Travel Montana). The town is nestled in the mountains near the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

Near Melrose is Beaverhead State Rock State Park (see story on page 19). The huge landmark for which the park gets its name. Beaverhead Rock, resembles the head of a swimming beaver. Sacagawea recognized this landmark while traveling with the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The site is 4,949 feet in elevation and is 71 acres in size.

The site can be viewed and photographed from a distance but is not directly accessible.

Bannack is also near Melrose. It is the best preserved of all Montana ghost towns.

Bannack State Park is a registered historic landmark and the site of Montana’s first major gold discovery on July 28, 1862. This strike set off a massive gold rush that swelled Bannack’s population to over 3,000 by 1863. (from visitmt.com).

The Big Hole River is a Tributary of the Jefferson River. From its modest beginnings at Skinner Lake in the Beaverhead Mountains of southwest Montana, the Big Hole River flows 153 miles to its confluence with the Beaverhead River near Twin Bridges.

Early explorers and settlers were drawn to the Big Hole by the sheer size, beauty, and richness of the high elevation valley or “hole” as the trappers called it. The Big Hole has been designated as a “Blue Ribbon” fishery and is one of the most heavily used fishing streams in Montana. The river remains free flowing for its entire course, adding to its uniqueness and charm. The Upper Big Hole contains the last stream-dwelling population of Arctic grayling in the lower 48 states, which has prompted many significant private partnerships and cooperative efforts to ensure the protection of this valuable population.

Total Length: 153 miles FWP Region: Region 3 Fishing District: Central Fishing District

FISHING REGULATIONS Standard Fishing Regulations for the Central Fishing District The standard fishing regulations for the fishing district(s) apply. Please check your copy of the regulations.

Some Exceptions to Standard Regulations: ENTIRE RIVER •Extended season for whitefish and catch-andrelease for trout open December 1 to the third Saturday in May with artificial lures and/or maggots only.

•All float users are limited to a total of 2 launches at or near each official access site each day. See Big Hole River map for official access sites.

Headwaters To North Fork Big Hole River •Brook trout: open entire year.

HEADWATERS TO MUDD CREEK FAS •Closed to float outfitting from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day. HEADWATERS TO DICKIE BRIDGE •Combined Trout: 5 daily and in possession, no size restriction.

MUDD CREEK FAS TO FISHTRAP FAS •Closed to float outfitting on each Tuesday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day. FISHTRAP FAS TO EAST BANK BLM FAS •Closed to float outfitting on each Thursday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day. DICKIE BRIDGE TO DIVIDE BRIDGE (DIVIDE FAS) •Artificial lures only.

JERRY CREEK FAS TO DIVIDE FAS •Closed to float fishing by nonresidents and float outfitting on each Saturday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day. DIVIDE BRIDGE (DIVIDE FAS) TO MELROSE BRIDGES (SALMON FLY FAS) TO GLEN FAS (BRIDGES) •Closed to float outfitting on each Monday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day. After a great day of fishing, you will want to hit a popular watering hole in the area. The Hithin’ Post is well known for its great food and atmosphere.

The area also has two fly shops, The Montana Fly Company and the Sunrise Fly Shop are both ready to take care of your fishing needs, as well as provide the latest on how the fish are biting. Give the Sportsman Motel & RV Park a call today at (406) 835-2141 to set up your trip.

APRIL 2009

Spring Steelhead Season Still Open IF&G

A

surefire cure for cabin fever, steelhead season is still open on the Boise, Clearwater, Snake and Salmon and Little Salmon rivers.

The spring harvest continues until April 30 on many river segments, except on a portion of the Salmon, on the Little Salmon, the Snake above Hells Canyon Dam and on the Boise rivers.

The statewide steelhead limit is three per day, nine in possession and 20 for the spring season. Once limits are reached, the angler must stop fishing, even catch-and-release.

Anglers must have a valid 2009 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit.

Steelhead anglers may use only barbless hooks, and may keep only hatchery steelhead marked with a clipped adipose fin. All other steelhead must be released unharmed immediately.

STEELHEAD FISHING ON THE: Clearwater River mainstem and Middle Fork from its mouth upstream to Clear Creek is open until April 30.

North Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam is open until April 30.

South Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the confluence of American and Red Rivers is open until April 30.

Salmon River from its mouth upstream to the Lake Creek Bridge about six miles upstream from the mouth of the Little Salmon River, and from Long Tom Creek (about a quarter mile upstream from the Middle Fork Salmon River) to the posted boundary 100 yards downstream from the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery weir, near the town of Stanley, is open until April 30.

Salmon River from the Lake Creek Bridge to Long Tom Creek closes March 31.

Little Salmon River from its mouth upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 Bridge near Smokey Boulder Road remains open until May 15.

Snake River from the Washington state line at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers upstream to Hells Canyon Dam is open until April 30.

Snake River upstream of Hells Canyon Dam to Oxbow Dam is open until May 31.

Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam is open until May 31.

In the boundary waters on the Snake River between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, an angler with a valid 2009 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit may fish where the river forms the boundary between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, but may not fish from the shoreline, including wading, and may not fish in sloughs or tributaries on the Oregon or Washington side. An angler may have only the limit allowed by one license regardless of the number of licenses the angler holds.

Consult 2008-2009 fishing rules brochure for exceptions and special restrictions. For more information on steelhead fishing in Idaho, check the Fish and Game Website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.

AARON DUPUIS, PHOTO COURTESY RUSSELL PARKS

•

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 21

Fishing With The Captain Mark Ward

N

ow that it’s April, I suppose it’s official – spring has sprung.

This is Montana, however, which means that you’re just as likely to see nice weather in April as you are to see a late snowstorm, but we’ll take what we can get.

Nevertheless, I am seeing more boats on the roads heading for water. Whether it is aluminum, fiberglass, driftboat or rubber raft they all are being trailered by smiling anglers, another sure sign of spring.

Trap and skeet club leagues around the state will also be started their warmer weather activities, too, and local sporting good stores have started are promoting good buys on .22 caliber rifles and bricks of .22 shells – just in time for spring gopher hunting. And yes, yes the gophers are out and running on sunny days.

April also means the start of spring hunting seasons with turkey hunters out in force on Saturday, April 11, for opening day.

Yes, the signs of spring are all around us. But are we really ready for it? If you’re like me, there are some things I need to do.

Remember that tackle box you sort of pushed into a corner last fall? It’s time to go it box and make a check list of what you need to buy.

Check your rods and reels and see what shape they are in.

Replace line on your reel and check the line guides on your fishing rod. Go through your boat and make sure you have a legal supply of life jackets for kids and adults. The fire extinguisher must be in working order and, depending on size, your boat needs to have a throw cushion and other items.

Then inspect the batteries and clean the connections. Inspect your trailer and check tire pressure. Inspect

the wiring, bulbs, and ball bearings.

It is not a bad idea to also locate the binoculars and rain gear you might have taken out of your boat last fall to use for the hunting season.

Electronics that sit over the winter sometimes seem to have somehow developed operating problems that you wouldn’t normally detect until you are out on the water.

That list includes electric trolling motors, fish finders and GPS units.

It is a lot better to fix any problem by going through a check list now, rather than your first day on the water.

Where to go for April fishing?

By most measures, lakes are very good for trout when the ice first comes off. Flathead Lake is also a great place to go trolling or jigging for lake trout.

Spring Mack Days runs every Friday through Sunday during the month and ends Sunday April 26th.

You can enter free if you log onto www.mackdays.com Remember it only takes one fish to win.

Canyon Ferry, Holter Reservoir, and Hauser Reservoir, near Helena, should fishing well for trout this month. Brings the kids because you can catch fish either on shore or on the boat trolling a lure.

After what seems like an extra long winter, I am really looking forward to spring and summer and the fishing they bring. I hope the fuel prices stay around $2 per gallon and that you, too, are able to catch a big one this year.

SHOP ONLINE

SPORTING GOODS, MONTANA STYLE

Mark Ward is known as the Captain of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show heard statewide every Saturday from 6am - 8am.

Log onto www.montanaoutdoor.com to find a radio station in your area. You can also read his weekly column in the Thursday Missoulian Outdoor section.

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22 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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APRIL 2009

Bitterroot Big Cat

BY BRODIE SWISHER

MICHAEL BRADT WITH HIS MOUNTAIN LION

I

t was a chilly afternoon in the Bitterroot Valley when I knocked on the door of new bowhunter, Michael Bradt. Michael was grinning from ear to ear as he welcomed me into his family’s home. It was one of those sheepish grins, as if to say, “Boy have I got a story for you!” I couldn’t help but return the smile as I knew the young man’s excitement stemmed from a cat hunt where he recently killed one of the biggest mountain lions of the season. That’s right! In his first season of hunting, 13 year-old Michael Bradt killed a cat for the books with nothing more than his bow and a well placed arrow. I recently had the privilege to sit down with Michael, and his twin brother Daniel, as they retold the story of how boys become men when pursuing wild critters with the bow.

“You want to watch the video of the hunt,” Michael eagerly asked, as I made my way into the living room. “I’ve been waiting all day,” I said as we settled in on the couch like kids watching cartoons on Saturday morning. As with most lion hunts, the scenery and terrain of cat country is breathtaking, both in its majestic beauty…as well as the physical toll the rugged country takes on one’s body. Michael’s hunt would prove no different.

“There were only three lion tags available for this side of the valley and I got one of them,” Michael said as prepared his video camera for

playback. Michael had been out in pursuit of a cat on 2 or 3 other occasions this season, however, this was his first encounter with one in the tree.

“We had five dogs running the track and they actually treed the cat pretty quick,” says Michael. “It took us a lot longer to get to the cat than it took the dogs! It was tough hiking in places where there was a lot of snow because we would sink down deep, but in places where there wasn’t a lot of snow, or if we could stay on top of the snow, it wasn’t too bad. We were sweating though, and we did stop to shed a few layers before we got to the cat. It was actually 1:30 before we got to the tree and were ready for the shot.” I asked Michael what was going through his mind as he approached such a large beast at so short a distance. “I expected it to be really nerve-wracking, but the cat was actually calm, so I wasn’t shaking as much as I expected.

The video of the hunt revealed a classic tale of boy versus beast.

Michael stood just below the giant cat – a cat 3 times his size - in pure David VS. Goliath fashion, as he prepared for the shot. Michael was quick to point out that his first arrow would have been a heart shot had it not been blocked by a limb that safely guarded the lion’s pump station. I was impressed to see Michael remain cool and calm even after his first arrow was deflected by a limb. He quickly grabbed another arrow from his quiver, dialed in a touch higher on the cat’s vitals, and unleashed the whisper of death on the monster cat perched just 12 yards above his head.

“The cat flinched when I shot and then pretty much dodged the branches as he was bailing out of the tree. He came down about 10 yards on the other side of the tree from me. You could tell he hit the ground a little harder than he wanted to. He then ran 50 yards out of sight and then tumbled down the hill.” After following an easy blood trail in the snow, Michael was rewarded with his first bowkill...a lung-shot lion worthy of the record books. The cat is a Pope & Young qualifier, and following the drying period, Michael’s cat skull is expected to find its place in the Boone & Crockett books.

Michael credits his ability to make the shot to great coaching from his dad and lots of practice before and between hunts. “We’d hoist a target up into a tree with a rope, kind of like

a lion on a limb, and shoot at it a lot. When it was warmer out, we’d practice every day, or every other day on the targets out behind our house.”

Michael’s twin-brother Daniel also found success in his first season of bowhunting with the harvest of a fine Bitterroot buck. Michael and his brother Daniel both agree that they like bowhunting better than rifle hunting. Daniel said, “I like bowhunting better because when you get the animal you feel more excited, kind of like you’ve achieved more.”

I’d say these fine young men have achieved more in their first season of bowhunting than many guys will in a lifetime. Congrats to these young hunters for their rookie season success. And also to dad, Mike, who’s taken the time to fuel a passion within his boys to pursue the wild critters our good Lord has blessed us with.

Brodie Swisher is a world champion game caller, outdoor writer, and seminar speaker. Check out his website at www.BroOutdoors.com.

DANIEL, MICHAEL’S TWIN BROTHER WITH HIS 1ST BUCK

APRIL 2009

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 23

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24 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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APRIL 2009

Hunting And Conservation News Hunting & Conservation News Proudly Sponsored By

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Bowhunter Education Courses Scheduled For Northwest Montana MFWP

B

Reminders For Spring Black Bear Hunters MFWP

T

o hunt in the spring black bear season, black bear hunters must purchase a license by April 14.

Licenses purchased after April 14 can only be used for the fall black bear season. Only one black bear license per year is issued to an individual. The spring black bear season begins April 15. Check the 2009 black bear hunting regulations (fwp.mt.gov) for details.

Hunters are reminded that they must successfully complete bear ID training before purchasing a black bear license. Hunters who have already successfully passed the bear identification test do not need to retake the training. However, all black bear hunters are urged to continuously hone their bear identification skills to distinguish a black bear from a grizzly.

Grizzly bears, a federally protected, threatened species, are not hunted in Montana.

To take the test, go to http:// fwp.mt.gov/bearid/default.html .

Complete the training and test, and then present the on-line certificate you receive to purchase a license this year.

Paper versions of the training and test are also available.

Spring black bear hunters in northwest Montana are reminded that they must select Bear Hunting Districts 103, 106, and 107, or the rest of the state when they purchase their license.

Montana’s Trapper Youth Camp Announced MFWP The Montana Trappers Association’s Youth Trapper Camp

is set for June 12-14. The registration deadline for those applying for a scholarship is April 15. Others must register by May 15.

The 10 th annual camp, held in cooperation with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana 4-H, will be located in the Bears Paw Mountains south of Havre in Beaver Creek Park.

FWP will offer a $20 scholarship to each of the first 60 campers that sign-up. Registration is on a first come, first served basis.

The fee for adults is $40.

The charge covers all meals, snacks, and educational materials.

Attendees should plan to provide their own RV, camper trailer or tent. Youth not accompanied by adults should let camp organizers know if they will need accommodations.

For details and registrations forms, contact: Jim or Fran Buell, PO Box 133, Gildford MT, 406-376-3178, or by e-mail: 7mbuell@itstriangle.com . Or visit the MTA website: www.montanatrappers.org .

y state law, all first time bowhunters must pass the bowhunter education course in order to purchase an archery license in Montana. The following Bowhunter Education courses have been scheduled around northwest Montana.

Kalispell: All classes are held at the Flathead Valley Trap Club north of Kalispell.

Register in person from 8-5 weekdays, at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Headquarters on North Meridian Road; pick up pre-course materials and schedule when you register.

Kalispell area classes will be held in April, May (two classes), and June. Registration opens about 2-weeks prior to each course.

Adults have the option of taking the classroom portion online. Call FWP at 752-5501 for more information.

Kalispell South: Register by calling Aaron Lasco at Spirit Quest Archery, 756-5455. Classes will be held at Spirit Quest on May 12 and May 14, 6:30-9 p.m. The field course will be held on Saturday, May 16. This course is designed to pick up students from Somers/Lakeside/Bigfork and south.

Kalispell Youth Bow Ed: A Bowhunter Education class for students 11-17 years of age will be held on April 7 and 10 (6:30-9 p.m. evenings) and April 12 (Saturday morning). Although the class is held in the Kalispell area, it is open to any student.

Register by stopping in to the FWP office on North Meridian Road in Kalispell beginning March 23. For more information call FWP at 752-5501.

Polson: Register by calling Jim Nesladek at 883-5029, or call David Conrad at 883-4236. Classes are held at the Good Shepard Lutheran Church on April 14 and 16, 6-9 p.m.; field course is held Saturday, April 18 from 8 a.m. to noon. A second course will be held on July 14, 16, and 18 at the same times and place.

Whitefish: Register for the Whitefish area Bowhunter Education Course by calling Ron Nail (862-4509) or Ric Anderson (257-0590). Classes will be held at the Flathead Valley Trap Club, 6:30-9 p.m. on June 1, 2, and 5; the field course is held Saturday, June 6, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Columbia Falls: Register for the Columbia Falls Bowhunter Education Course by calling Dave Yeats at 892-4527. Classes will be held at the North Valley Community Center, 6:30-9:00 p.m. on May 4, 6, and 11; the field course is scheduled for Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Plains: Registration and first night of class is Monday, April 6, 6-9 p.m., at the Plains High School. Classes continue 6-9 p.m. on April 7, 8, and 9. Field Course is April 11. To register, Contact Wayne Crismore, 826-5139.

Online Bowhunter Education Class Offered For Adults MFWP Montana offers online bowhunter education for anyone 18 years and older. Although the coursework is completed online, students must attend a field day to receive their final certification card. To attend a field day, students who complete the online course must show their online certificate of completion to the field day lead instructor and register to attend the field day ahead of time.

Students who take the online class begin their certification by completing coursework over the Internet.

There is a $20 fee for the online course.

Upon successful completion of the online coursework and exam, students must complete an in-person field day with Montana bowhunter education instructors before receiving final certification. Field day options are limited so students must plan ahead and register to attend a field day. Miles City field day for online students is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 8 - Noon. Students can register for the field day by coming to the FWP regional office in Miles City. Students can attend other regularly scheduled bowhunter education field days by calling the appropriate lead instructor and registering for the field day. Students must show the lead instructor their online certificate of completion to attend the field day.

All information on field days and the online class can be found on the FWP Web site <fwp.mt.gov> at fwp.mt.gov.

Click on Education and then follow the links to Hunter Education and then Bowhunter Education <http://fwp.mt.gov/ education/huntereducation/bowhunterEd. html> .

FWP also offers regular classroom courses free of charge. For a list of traditional classroom courses and how to register, check the FWP Web site <fwp.mt.gov> , fwp.mt.gov. Click on Education and then follow the links to Hunter Education and then Bowhunter Education <http://fwp.mt.gov/education/ huntereducation/bowhunterEd.html> . Or, call the Miles City FWP office at 406-234-0900.

In Montana all first-time bowhunters, regardless of age, must complete a bowhunter education course.

Montana law requires anyone buying an archery license to show either a previous year’s archery license or a certificate of completion from a bowhunter education course.

APRIL 2009

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 25

Hunting And Conservation News Club Donates Historic Conservation Archives To University BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB

T

he Boone and Crockett Club has donated its collection of historic files, letters and photographs to the University of Montana in Missoula. These archival materials will be housed at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library and available for anyone researching America’s conservation history.

“This collection not only represents the history of the Boone and Crockett Club but the history of the conservation movement itself,” said Tony Schoonen, chief of staff for the Club, which is headquartered in Missoula. “By partnering with our trusted friends at the University of Montana, not only will this cherished collection remain close to home but also be open to those who want to learn about an integral and important part of this nation’s history.”

The Club was founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt to address declines in wildlife populations. It was the first hunter-conservationist organization in of its kind. George Bird Grinnell, John Lacey, Gifford Pinchot, Aldo Leopold and other early conservation leaders served as members. The Club remains active today and continues to help shape almost every major conservation effort in North America.

“We are thrilled this material is coming to The University of Montana. This is a collection of national significance and we’re proud the Club chose to place their records at UM,” said Donna McCrea, university archivist.

She added, “There should be some really amazing stuff in there. Part of the reason they are turning things over to us is to really find out what they have. It’s a big collection and it may take us a year to really go through it and get it fully organized and catalogued.”

Boone and Crockett historian Leonard Wurman said, “The Club researched a number of nationally acknowledged archival institutions and was delighted to find the one we wanted right in our own backyard in Missoula. It is important to the Club that these materials be easily available to those researching America’s conservation history.”

In 1992, the Club established an endowed chair in wildlife biology at the University of Montana to teach classes and conduct research both on campus and at the Club’s 6,000-acre Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch near Dupuyer, Mont. Boone and Crockett has used this model to establish endowed chairs at other universities around the nation.

In addition to fostering academic scholarship and advancing conservation, the Club also maintains hunting records of native North American big game as a vital conservation tool for assessing the success of wildlife management programs.

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About The Boone And Crockett Club Founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887, the Boone and Crockett Club promotes guardianship and visionary management of big game and associated wildlife in North America. The Club maintains the highest standards of fair-chase sportsmanship and habitat stewardship, and is the universally recognized keeper of the records of native North American big game.

Member accomplishments include protecting Yellowstone and establishing Glacier and Denali national parks, founding the National Forest Service, National Park Service and National Wildlife Refuge System, fostering the Pittman-Robertson and Lacey Acts, creating the Federal Duck Stamp program, and developing the cornerstones of modern game laws. The Boone and Crockett Club is headquartered in Missoula, Mont. For details, visit www.booneandcrockettclub.com.

WMA’s Closed Till May 15 MFWP

Montana’s Nongame Income Tax Check-Off

Provides Essential J ust a reminder that the wildlife management areas in north central Montana are closed until May 15.

And three on the Rocky Mountain Front - Sun River, Blackleaf and Ear Mountain - are closed till noon on May 15.

Periodic bouts of warm spring weather have a tendency to confuse “horn hunters” into thinking the WMA’s are open.

They’re not and anyone caught trespassing on a WMA will be prosecuted.

The areas are meant to give wildlife, primarily elk, a wintering area free from human presence and keep them off neighboring ranch land.

Funding MFWP

M

ontana’s annual nongame income tax check-off provides about $45,000 to assist common wildlife species, reverse population declines of species, and encourage awareness and appreciation of all Montana wildlife through public education and involvement.

If only 900 of the more than 900,000 wildlife viewers in Montana contributed just $10 through Montana’s nongame income tax form check-off marked by the flying eagle, it would mean an additional $9,000 for projects to help Montana’s nongame wildlife.

Please watch for the flying eagle on your copy of the 2008 Montana income tax form to make a real difference for nongame wildlife species.

26 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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ON-LINE AT WWW.OUTDOORSMONTANA.COM

APRIL 2009

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APRIL 2009

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 27

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28 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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ON-LINE AT WWW.OUTDOORSMONTANA.COM

APRIL 2009

Rocky Mountain States Another Yellowstone Wolf Confirmed In Colorado A Yellowstone wolf dispersing from her pack in southwestern Montana is

received other reports of wolf sightings throughout the state in recent years. None have been confirmed. now wandering the Colorado high country after a journey of perhaps 1,000 miles, Wolves generally disperse within Colorado Division of Wildlife officials 60 miles of their pack, although announced today. biologists have documented approximately The global positioning satellite 10 wolves since 1992 that collar attached to the 18-month-old female traveled in excess of 190 miles in search indicated her last known position was in of a mate. The actual number of Eagle County. She separated from her pack long-distance dispersers may be higher; just north of the Yellowstone National Park less than 30 percent of the northern Rocky boundary in September and has now Mountain wolf population has been traveled across five states, federal radio-collared. None of the long-distance biologists said. dispersing wolves from the northern “Young wolves often cover Rocky Mountain population have remarkable distances looking for a mate successfully formed packs or bred. Lone and a new territory,” said DOW director wolves typically have low survival rates Tom Remington. “If this wolf doesn’t find outside of occupied wolf range. a pack, she’ll likely keep moving. We’ve Native populations of gray seen at least one Yellowstone wolf in wolves were extirpated from Colorado Colorado before, but we have no reason to by the late 1930’s. Prior to 2004, the last believe that wolves have established a pack known record of an individual wolf killed in the state yet.” in Colorado was in 1943.

The gray wolf is listed as However, wolf biologists expect endangered under the Endangered Species that dispersers from the Yellowstone area, Act and may not be killed or harassed Idaho and Montana will continue to without federal approval. Colorado’s wolf attempt to reestablish populations in policy allows for wolves to move freely suitable portions of their former range. throughout the state as long as they don’t In 2004, the Colorado Division of come in conflict with people or livestock.

Wildlife adopted a wolf management plan The wolf roaming Colorado, when and if wolves may try to naturally known as 314F, was a member of the Mill recolonize the state. The policy establishes Creek Pack when she was caught and collared by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks that wolves may roam freely in Colorado unless they come into conflict with people as part of a research effort with the or livestock. Such conflicts would be University of Montana to improve wolf addressed on a case-by-case basis by the monitoring techniques. The data provided U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in by her collar has allowed researchers to consultation with the DOW. track her epic journey across an enormous Colorado has no plans to chunk of the Rocky Mountain region. reintroduce the wolf.

According to satellite data, the As a listed endangered species, wolf passed south through Yellowstone wolves may not be harassed, pursued, National Park and the Bridger-Teton hunted, shot, captured, trapped or killed, National Forest in western Wyoming nor may any member of the public engage southeast of Pinedale. She then traversed in such conduct unless a wolf poses a widely through southwestern Wyoming legitimate threat to human safety. The and wandered through southeast Idaho and northeastern Utah before crossing into DOW reminds hunters and the general public that they should exercise additional Colorado within the past two weeks. The caution to ensure this wolf is not mistaken wolf is now 450 miles from its origin, but for a coyote. has traveled at least 1,000 miles overall.

“The Division of Wildlife The last confirmed wolf in Colorado also came from Yellowstone. The relies on the public to help us track wolf sightings,” said Shane Briggs, a wildlife young female was killed by a vehicle on Interstate 70 near Idaho Springs in June, conservation specialist with the agency.

2004. In 2007, video footage of a black, “Potential wolf sightings should be wolf-like canid was taken near Walden, reported to the DOW immediately.” A CO, in the North Park area. While this report form is posted on the Division of footage was highly suggestive, the animal Wildlife Website at: http://wildlife.state. was not wearing a radio collar and its iden- co.us/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/ tity could not be verified. The DOW has Mammals/GrayWolf.htm

Idaho Fishing Rules To Continue Through 2010 I

daho anglers should hold onto their 2008-2009 Idaho fishing rules brochures for one more year.

Though labeled “2008-2009 Fishing Seasons and Rules,” the publication and rules will stay the same through 2010, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. A new, two-year rule brochure will be developed for 2011-2012.

While the current rules have been extended one year, Fish and Game Regional Fisheries Manager Jim Fredericks says that “now is the time to start thinking about the next regulation cycle.”

In the next few months, fishery managers around the state are inviting anglers to share their ideas on potential rule changes, that include equipment restrictions, such as the type of hooks or equipment that can be used, the use of bait, and activities, such as fishing contests. They do not include seasons, bag limits or size limits.

Until mid-April, Fish and Game will be seeking public comments on fishing rules. Based on those comments, proposed rules will be presented to the public for additional review in July.

Because rules require legislative authorization, comments must be gathered a year in advance.

The season change process will begin a year from now, with new fishing rules set to take effect in January, 2011.

Idaho Fish and Game is specifically asking for opinions on four statewide issues. Some of these issues have been brought up by the public over the past two years.

“Others,” Fredericks said, “are part of an effort to make rules more user-friendly.”

One issue particularly relevant to the Panhandle Region is potential elimination of the “Electric Motors Only” rule. For many people who have no electric motors, the rule limits angling opportunity. Though there are places where the use of motors isn’t appropriate, the existing rule is a cumbersome way of restricting boating through fishing rules.

In most cases, the rule applies only to anglers who are actively fishing and does not apply to jet skis, water skiers, or other recreational activities using watercraft.

Those activities are regulated by county ordinances. Elimination of the rule would simply mean anglers and Fish and Game would work with the counties to determine the most appropriate watercraft restrictions.

A second suggestion is to remove “Family Fishing Waters” as an actual rule.

This is mainly a rules clarification issue, and would not take away opportunities for good places to take families. The Family Fishing Waters program would continue, but the existing requirement that these waters have no length limits, year-round seasons, and six-fish limits for trout and bass would be eliminated. Fredericks says this change would make the program “more flexible and of better use to the public.”

A third suggestion is to eliminate the “no bait” definition.

Currently, “no bait” means anglers may use artificial flies or lures with only one barbless hook per fly or lure. Up to 5 flies or lures may be used. A potential new definition of “no bait allowed” would simply prohibit the use of bait. The definition change would allow lures with multiple hooks.

Finally, Fish and Game is asking sturgeon anglers to provide their thoughts on a rule that would require special tackle for sturgeon fishing. A suggestion is to require a single barbless circle hook and sliding sinker when sturgeon fishing. Many anglers and biologists are concerned that mortality associated with sturgeon hooking and handling may affect the population in heavily fished waters.

“Research has shown circle hooks reduce hooking mortality,” Fredericks said.

Anglers may provide comments and suggestions at the April 7 open house, by calling the Fish and Game at 208-769-1414, by e-mail to jfredericks@idfg.idaho.gov, or by U.S. mail. Letters should be sent to: Fishing Rules, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.

APRIL 2009

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 29

Rocky Mountain States DWR Proposes More Deer And Elk Permits The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources proposes big game permit numbers for this fall’s hunts You might have a better chance at drawing a permit to hunt big game in Utah this fall.

Division of Wildlife Resources biologists are recommending an increase in the number of permits available for most species.

Now the biologists want your ideas about their recommendations.

Learn more, share your ideas All of the DWR’s big game proposals are available at wildlife.utah. gov/public_meetings. Once you’ve read the proposals, you can share your thoughts and ideas via e-mail.

PROPOSALS A few more hunters might be hunting buck deer in the Central and Northeastern regions this fall. DWR biologists want to add 1,000 permits back that were taken from each region’s cap a few years ago.

“Most of Utah’s big game animals are doing well,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR. “And that’s great news for sportsmen. It means more permits can be offered this fall.”

The following are among the DWR’s recommendations: BUCK DEER The number of permits the state can offer for Utah’s general buck deer hunts each fall is decided by two factors.

One is the state’s permit cap.

The cap does not allow more than 97,000 general buck deer permits to be offered each year.

The other is a requirement that deer herds have at least 15 bucks per 100 does.

A few years ago, the Utah Wildlife Board decreased buck deer permits by 1,000 permits each in both the Central and Northeastern regions. The board lowered the number of permits because the threeyear buck-to-doe average in each region fell below the minimum of 15 bucks per 100 does.

Since then, the number of bucks has improved. Over the past three years, biologists have found an average of 16 bucks per 100 does in the Central Region.

In the Northeastern Region, the herds have averaged 16 bucks per 100 does.

PHOTO BY PHIL DOUGLASS

Since then, the number of bucks has improved. Over the past three years, biologists have found an average of 16 bucks per 100 does in the Central Region.

In the Northeastern Region, the herds have averaged 16 bucks per 100 does.

“Both regions have good numbers of bucks,” Aoude says. “We’d like to give more hunters a chance to hunt these bucks by returning 1,000 permits to each of the two regions.”

One region biologists do not want to add permits back to is the Northern Region.

“A lot of deer died in the Northern Region during the winter of 2007– 2008,” Aoude says. “Even though the three-year buck-to-doe average across the region is good, the average on two of the units — the Cache and Ogden units — is down to about 10 bucks per 100 does.

“We’d like to maintain the current number of permits to help the deer in those two units rebound faster.”

BULL ELK On 26 of Utah’s 28 limited entry bull elk units, hunters are taking bull elk that are older than the age objective for the units. Because the units have plenty of big bulls, biologists are proposing that the number of limited entry bull elk permits be raised this year.

The biologists are proposing 2,760 limited entry bull elk permits for 2009. That’s up 13 percent from the 2,447 offered in 2008.

“There are plenty of big bulls on these units,” Aoude says. “We want to give a few more hunters a chance to enjoy hunting them.”

Game And Fish Nabs Big Piney Deer Poachers Thousands of mule deer from the O n Saturday, Feb. 21, what Sublette and Wyoming Range deer herds appeared to be an illegally killed mule deer buck was discovered in the Deer Hills west of Big Piney. Less than two weeks later, Lee Hedlund and Travis Core, both of Big Piney, found themselves in court receiving a stiff sentence for the crime.

After receiving the report of the dead deer, investigative work by Adam Hymas, Big Piney game warden, revealed a vehicle description and that the deer had been shot on Feb.18. Within an hour of putting the word out, the vehicle had been located in Pinedale and the two suspects were apprehended and questioned. Hedlund admitted to shooting the antlered deer while Core assisted, salvaging some of the meat.

On Mar. 5, Hedlund, 27, pleaded guilty to taking a deer during a closed season and Core, 26, pleaded guilty to accessory to taking a deer during a closed season. Circuit court Judge Curt Haws sentenced both individuals to five days in jail (30 days with 25 suspended), a loss of hunting and fishing privileges for three years, $780 fines (all fines were suspended), 80 hours of community service, and one year of probation. Both Hedlund and Core had recently relocated to Big Piney from the state of Washington.

Big Piney Game Warden Adam Hymas applauded the efforts of Judge Curt Haws. “I think a clear message was sent that the illegal shooting of wildlife will not be tolerated in Sublette County,” Hymas said.

Hymas also recognized the efforts of Sublette County Attorney Allegra Davis and his office for their efforts in prosecuting the case and the individuals who commit wildlife crimes.

“This is a good example of how justice was achieved through good investigative teamwork and great vigilance and attentiveness from those that care about Wyoming’s wildlife resource,” said Hymas. “I applaud both Judge Haws and prosecutor Davis for their continued dedication to our local wildlife.”

spend their winters in the Pinedale-Big Piney-LaBarge area. “It’s no secret these animals are vulnerable this time of year,” said Hymas. “Not just to poachers, but vehicle collisions and harassment by winter recreationists, including antler hunters and photographers trying to get too close.”

In recent years, Game and Fish enforcement personnel have focused more attention on these mule deer winter ranges, but they still need help from the public. “Obviously, we do not have the personnel to be everywhere, all the time, so we rely on reports from people who are out there,” says Hymas.

“There are actually quite a few people out there watching deer and their reports of suspicious activity can really help us, as it did in this case. Whether you’re a hunter or just a wildlife enthusiast, people should be outraged about the illegal shooting of these animals,” said Hymas.

The Game and Fish has identified several poacher profiles: •Vehicles with evidence of travel in the countryside - often sport utility vehicles or pickups with toppers.

•Presence of camping, hunting or outdoor equipment.

•Firearms, spotlights, scanners or night vision equipment.

•Folks claiming to be in the area to hunt coyotes or photograph deer.

•Vehicles traveling in rural areas during the early morning, evening or late at night.

•Small amounts of blood or hair - poached wildlife are typically not readily visible.

To report information on this poaching incident or other suspicious vehicles or activities call local Game and Fish offices or the STOP POACHING hotline at (877) WGFD-TIP (877-943-3847) or your local game warden. Information can also be reported through the department’s web site. Any information leading to the arrest and conviction may result in a reward of up to $5,000

30 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

BIG SKY Spring Run-Off: April 11

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APRIL 2009

Calendar Of Events

DEER LODGE Junior Ranger Day: April 25

GREAT FALLS State Park Evening Hiking Series: May 2

SEELEY LAKE Loon & Fish Festival: May 23 - 24

The Grant-Kohrs Ranch park is celebrating Junior 5:00pm - 7:00pm Spring Run-Off is back by popular demand. Big Sky A celebration of the wildlife that inhabits the Ranger Day. The park will have the Junior Rancher First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park Resort will once again design a 100-foot pond filled with Seeley-Swan Valley, the festival includes guided nature Booklet. There will be tours, walks, kids activities, Take a beautiful drive to First Peoples Buffalo Jump water that skiers and snowboarders will navigate and walks that explore loon and other animal habitat, ranch programs and prizes.Take the Deer Lodge Exit State Park where a 3 mile guided hike will take you skim across or, in some cases, directly into. Great fun children’s activities, local arts and crafts for sale for an end of the season event that will also feature live 184 or 187 from Interstate 90. From Main Street watch through the history of this famous buffalo jump. From and demonstrations by local artisans. Located at the for the entrance sign across from the fairgrounds.

Great Falls, MT take I-15 south 7 miles to the Ulm, MT Community Hall, Highway 83; Ranger station at mile music, drink and food specials, and an after party.

Phone: 406-846-2070 ext 224 or visit exit 270. Turn right and go 3 1/2 miles to the visitor Phone: 406-995-5765 or Toll Free: 800-548-4486. marker 18, Highway 83, for bird and loon viewing www.nps.gov/grko center. Bring plenty of water and dress appropriately Visit www.bigskyresort.com or walks. Phone: 406-793-5706 or for the terrain and weather. If the weather does not e-mail: chadjones@bigskyresort.com E-mail: marthaforaai@blackfoot.net. cooperate the hike will be canceled. No charge for event. A Region 4 State Park Hiking Guide will be EUREKA BIGFORK WEST YELLOWSTONE available. Park fees apply to non-residents.

David Thompson Black Powder Shoot Northern Rockies Paddlefest: May 16 - 17 Cycle Only Days: April 1 - 16 Phone: 406-454-5870 or visit Join us at Wayfarers State Park near Bigfork for an & Rendezvous: April 24 - 26 Ride in Yellowstone for free and before the park opens http://fwp.mt.gov/parks/calpark.asp. opportunity to try out various makes and models of Step back into the early 1800’s and visit the David to public automobiles or buses. Animals are abundant E-mail: cdantic@mt.gov kayaks and canoes. Instructional clinics will be offered Thompson Rendezvous. Competitions include muzzle and days are invigorating. Ride to Madison Junction, on topics such as basic and advanced paddling loading, rifle and pistol shooting, knife and tomahawk Canyon or Mammoth Hot Springs.

HELENA techniques, packing for expeditions and safety equipment throwing and other primitive events. Fun for all ages to Phone: 406-646-7701 or visit Annual Kite Festival: May 3 is provided free of charge. Also, don’t miss the exciting compete or watch this unique event. Other attractions www.cycleyellowstone.com Come join the fun at CCP’s Annual Kite Festival! Fly Cardboard Kayak Races held during the day. Held at include primitive camps, primitive dress, old time trade a kite, enjoy concessions, live music, face painting and Wayfarer 5 miles south of Bigfork on MT. Highway 35. goods, food, laughter and good clean fun. Held at the tattoos for kids. The Kite Festival is fun for the entire Phone: 406-752-5501 69 Ranch, 2 miles north of Eureka. Phone 406-882-4691. family. No admission fees. Free kites available or bring Bigfork Whitewater Festival: May 23 - 24 Annual Eureka Dune Runners Sand Drag: your own! Held at Ryan Park next to the fairgrounds in Helena. Phone: 406-443-4608.

The Bigfork Whitewater Festival involves international April 25 - 26 kayak racing on the ‘Wild Mile’ of the Swan River that Eureka Dune Runners, a 4X4 race club, will offer an Don’t Fence Me In Run Trail Run: runs through Bigfork. At the height of spring runoff, exciting time with fun for the entire family with its annual the ‘Wild Mile’ is considered a Class V whitewater.

May 9 sand drag. Race excitement includes blower cars, modified The event draws over 200 competitors along with This event consists of a 30k, 12k, 5k, and a 5k dog 4X4s. Come enjoy the mud, and bring ear plugs and lawn several thousand spectators. There are festivities running chairs. The races are broken down into classes. There is a walk. The runs take you on a tour of Helena’s beloved throughout the weekend. Phone: 406-837-5888 or South Hills trail system and boast great views of the spot for every racer. If you bring a high-power rig then you 04/18/09 visit www.bigfork.org Helena Valley. Air Jam Inflatables will be there with will compete against others in your class. If you just roll in a jumping room, there will be live music and lots of Lincoln off the dealer’s lot, you will be placed with similar racers.

BILLINGS Classes include 4-6 cylinder stock, V8 stock, sportsman A, things to see and do. Race activities will begin and end Lincoln Community Hall - 5:00pm Blackfoot River Ducks Unlimited Banquet at Pioneer Heritage Park in Downtown Helena.

Big Sky Challenge Hill Climb: May 16 - 17 sportsman B, competition modified A, competition modified Contact: Renee Lundberg (406) 362-4072 Phone: 406-442-0490.

B, and X-class. Camping is free during the races.

The Big Sky Challenge Hill Climb is the first of a Held at Airport Road. Phone: 406-889-5360 or visit three-part Western States Hill Climb series, which http://geocities.com/eureka_dunerunners LIBBY includes the Great American Championship Motorcycle Hill Climb and Widowmaker. These three hills make Koocanusa Resort Salmon & Trout up some of the toughest hill climb courses found in FORT BENTON Derby: May 16 - 17 the world. Close to five hundred riders will convene in Fort Benton Spring Classic Fishing Derby: 23 miles form Libby on Lake Koocanusa is Koocanusa Billings to take on the ‘little brother’ to the world-famous Resort & Marina. There are camping facilities, cabins, 05/01/09 May 16 - 17 Great American in mid-May. A grassy fenced area allows Second annual Fort Benton Spring Classic Fishing Derby boat rentals, a restaurant & lounge, gift shop and much Helena visitors to get up close to the hill and the action. From more. Fishermen and women come from all over to Jorgenson’s Inn & Suites with categories for both adults and children. This event is I-90, take Exit 447 and go south on S Billings Blvd over partake in this event of catching the big one. Register Last Chance Gobblers fun and exciting for all ages, filled with prizes and cash. the Yellowstone River, turn left at Blue Basket (approx. early, grab your fishing pole and gear and enjoy Come to historic Fort Benton and enjoy some of the best Contact: Chris Morgan (406) 457-7200 2 miles from Interstate). Go 1.5 miles to club grounds.

Montana’s finest fishing and hospitality. fishing on the Missouri River and the Marias River.

Phone: 406-656-9960 or visit Phone: 406-293-7474 or visit Phone: 406-621-5592 or visit www.billingsmotorcycleclub.us www.koocanusaresort.com. www.fortbenton.com/derby.

E-mail: ridethebigsky@yahoo.com E-mail: kocanusa@kvis.net E-mail: springclassicfishingderby@hotmail.com

EVENTS TO SUPPORT WILDLIFE

DUCKS UNLIMITED

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

RMEF EVENTS

BOZEMAN Watershed Festival: May 16 The Montana Outdoor Science School will be hosting the 11th Annual Watershed Festival at the Bozeman Fish Technology Center. Offered free to the public.

Topics include bird and mammal identification, wetland wonders and function, stream ecology, nature walks, fly casting, birds of prey, noxious weed identification, steam monitoring, a hatchery and facility research tour, aquatic macro invertebrates, natural science interpretation and activities and well water information. There is also music and performance entertainment and many educational displays for all ages. All activities are outdoors, rain or shine. Call 582-0526 for additional information.

GARDINER Park to Paradise Triathlon: May 2 Park to Paradise Triathlon - Boat (8 miles) ** Bike (18 miles) ** Run (5 miles) 6 Team Categories: Racing - men, women, and mixed (people who ‘train’ for the race) Recreational - women, men, and mixed (people who look confused when you ask if they ‘train’) 2 Solo Categories: Women and Men (these people often wish that they had trained more) Registration: Carbella Fishing Access (Tom Miner turnoff, south end of Paradise Valley); 9:00am to 10:00am . Race begins at 10:30am.

For more info call Stacey Gunther at 406-848-7941.

MISSOULA Bike For Shelter: May 9

There are several rides to choose from: a Bike Rodeo, where kids can learn bike and road safety; 2-mile, 10-mile, 20-mile, or 50-mile rides. All participants will receive a Bike for Shelter T-shirt, barbecue, refreshments, entry into a drawing to win a new mountain bike and every child will receive a medal.

Other activities include miniature horses, inflatable jumping gyms, sack races, face painting, live music, a ride on the Montana Rail Link locomotive, and our friend Marty Moose will be handing out balloons.

Held at Community Center Parking lot.

Phone 406-549-0058.

04/18/09 Butte Southwest Montana Big Game Banquet Contact: Richard Talley (406() 494-3043 05/02/09 Missoula Five Valleys Big Game Banquet Online tickets at www.rmef.org 05/16/09 Bozeman Gallatin Big Game Banquet Contact: Trevor Dorner (406) 587-4142

APRIL 2009

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FWP Four Browning Proposes To Men Sentenced Acquire Neal For Poaching Ranch F MFWP

MFWP

Montana Fish, Wildlife

& Parks is proposing the FWP Commission acquire the Neal Ranch, comprising 3,278 acres, along the Rocky Mountain Front and add it to the Sun River Wildlife Management Area, which it adjoins.

FWP Region 4 acting supervisor Graham Taylor made the decision March 18 after reviewing a draft environmental assessment on the property.

Taylor said he based his decision on favorable public comment for the project and the public’s desire to acquire important elk winter range habitat.

Purchase of the Neal property is pending available funds.

Taylor’s decision is subject to appeal, which must be submitted to the FWP director in writing and postmarked within 30 days of March 18. For more information or to receive a copy of the EA decision notice, contact FWP in Great Falls at (406) 454-5840.

our Browning men were each fined $1,020 in Teton County court recently for trespass, hunting without a license and illegal possession of unlawfully taken wildlife.

In addition, Gregory A. LaPlant, 20; Devin T. Gray, 19; Sudena F. LaPlant, 20; and Jordan L. LaPlant, 18; had their hunting, fishing and trapping privileges revoked for 10 years by Justice of the Peace Pete Howard, who also ordered the men to forfeit their firearms, ammunition and hunting equipment used in the crime.

The case began late afternoon Nov. 15, 2008, on a ranch a couple of miles southeast of Dupuyer, just inside the Teton County line. A ranch hand saw a pickup off-road in a field, says Kqyn Kuka, Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden.

The ranch hand stopped the truck to talk. When he noticed three dead deer in the back, the truck took off, Kuka says.

The witness called the Pondera County Sheriff and a chase quickly ensued. Reaching speeds of 80 miles an hour, the truck headed north through Dupuyer, across Birch Creek, and through Heart Butte until it ran off the road and hit a fence, Kuka says.

The four men in the truck fled the scene, Kuka says, but were soon captured.

In the back of the truck was a 4-by-5 mule deer buck, a 4-by-5 whitetailed buck, a headless mule deer buck and a 3-by-4 mule deer head. Inside the truck were three rifles and ammunition.

Kuka said four law enforcement agencies eventually became involved because the crime occurred in Teton County but the chase crossed into Pondera County and ended on the Blackfeet Reservation.

“Besides FWP, we had help from the Pondera County Sheriff, the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department,” Kuka says.

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Charges Filed In Moose Poaching A

Culbertson-area man, Chad Arnold Hilde, faces eight felony counts in connection with the illegal killing of four moose, allegedly by his minor son, last July 4 on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

Hilde, chief of the Poplar Police Department, was formally charged on March 11 by Sheridan County Attorney Steven Howard.

Hilde faces four counts of unlawful possession, shipping or transportation of game animals and four counts of solicitation. Each felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine, a loss of hunting and fishing privileges for a period or three years to life, and restitution.

The case, which was investigated by the MFWPs and the Fort Peck Tribal Fish and Game Department, will be heard in Montana’s 15th District Court in Plentywood.

A court affidavit filed by Howard says that on July 9, 2008, FWP Region 6 Warden Captain Mike Herman received a telephone call from Tribal Warden Bruce Bauer concerning four moose that had been shot inside the reservation

MFWP

north of Brockton. Bauer said Chad Hilde, who is not a member of the Fort Peck Tribes or any other American Indian tribe, and his family were involved.

Herman and Bauer met with Hilde the next day, and it was disclosed that Hilde’s 14-year-old son allegedly killed the moose -- two young cows, a yearling bull and a yearling calf -- while out with his father. Only tribal members or those specifically licensed by the Fort Peck Tribes can hunt big game on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Hilde’s son also has not provided proof of belonging to any American Indian tribe and was not legally licensed to hunt on the reservation.

According to the court affidavit, Chad Hilde said he gave two of the dead moose to a Poplar man who he had called to help with the downed animals. Hilde’s arraignment is tentatively scheduled for March 25.

“This was a very cooperative effort between the Fort Peck Tribes, their Fish and Game Department and FWP,” Herman said. “We would not have been able to file charges in this case if we hadn’t worked together on it.”

32 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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APRIL 2009

Rocky Mountain Hunting Rifles: Spring Tune-Up Tips Trophy W Big Game Records BOONE and CROCKETT CLU LUB B

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SHIRAS MOOSE

LONNIE WALLACE OF FLORENCE TOOK THIS GREAT BUCK IN EASTERN MONTANA IN LATE NOVEMBER. THE DEER SCORED CLOSE TO 180 B&C. HIS HUNTING PARTNER, MICK EARL SUBMITTED PHOTO.

ith spring fully in swing, my growing list of chores probably reads a lot like yours. Power-raking and fertilizing the lawn need to happen soon, along with selecting and planting a duo of shade trees to replace the two lost to their perennial attraction to overhead power lines.

The windows are begging for a wash and the flower beds desperately desire some spading.

But seasonal household chores aren’t the only thing competing for my precious few hours of spare time. Trout beckon from the rivers and ice is fading from the lakes. Spring is certainly the season that lends credence to the observation that there are never enough hours in the day.

Not to add additional stress to the season, but now that it’s pleasant to be outdoors it’s also worth lavishing a little attention on the hunting rifle that lies neglected in the closet. If you’re like many hunters, the end of the big-game season means giving your rifle a quick cleaning then storing it until the following fall. However, staying acquainted with your hunting firearms year-round pays dividends in both preparation and proficiency. Here’s a few ideas for giving your rifle a spring tune-up to ensure that it’s ready to function at an optimal level this fall.

Cleaning - I usually manage to get the bores cleaned on the rifles carried by my sons and I in the fall, but sometimes that’s as far as it goes. A rainy afternoon in April is a great time to pull out a rifle and give it a thorough cleaning from the trigger mechanism to the bolt.

Snug ‘em up - Most hunters don’t have the tools or skills to tackle anything but minor gunsmithing jobs, but there’s one thing any shooter can do that’s as simple as turning a screwdriver. Loose screws on the rifle or scope mounts can significantly affect the accuracy of your firearm. Using a screwdriver or hex wrench that fits snugly in the slot, check to see that these fasteners on your rifle are tight. If any are loose, turn them down snug, but don’t force or over-tighten them.

Like the screws on the rifle itself, also check those on the scope mounts. The use of a thread-locking compound on scope-mounts is debated by some shooters, but in my experience seems beneficial. If you use a thread-locking compound, choose one that has a medium holding capacity.

Compounds of this strength help hold the screws in place, but will also release without undue difficulty when it’s time to remove or replace the scope. Of course, if you tighten the fasteners on the scope mounts, it’s also imperative to check the zero on the rifle afterwards.

Dead-on without a doubt - With camp some 2.5 miles and nearly 1,000 vertical feet above us, it seemed time to give my boys a break. Normally we shared the luxury of a saddle horse, taking turns walking and riding. But with daylight already departed, I decided I could handle the hike on my own and let them ride double.

Everyone was enjoying the arrangement, except the horse. As we ground up a particularly steep pitch, Micah begin to slip slightly backwards from his perch just behind

the saddle. He tightened his grip on Dominic, who responded by instinctively tightening his grip on the only thing in his hands, the reins. True to his training, Red Leroy stopped.

When the rein pressure continued, he lurched backwards, sending Micah and his rifle tumbling to the ground. Except for a couple of bruises, Micah took his first horse-dump unscathed.

Back at camp, he told me that he’d landed on his rifle. We did a quick field check in the daylight by shooting at a rock. Then the incident passed into memory. A month later, the .260 Remington dropped a burly mule deer buck.

However, a short-range poke at a buck and a shot at a rock aren’t great indicators of the true accuracy of a rifle.

Spring is a great time to put a few rounds through your rifle to check it’s zero, especially if it took some bumps and bruises in the fall. This is especially important for hunters planning to hunt spring bears. Finding a bruin is tough enough without losing the opportunity to a rifle that’s been knocked from its zero.

Tinkering with triggers - In the past decade the number of affordable rifles with adjustable triggers has increased by leaps and bounds. However, I’m not sure too many hunters bother to make any changes to the factory adjustment. If your rifle offers such adjustment, a springtime day at the range is a good time to tinker with it.

Because competitive shooters prefer rifles with triggers set to break with little pressure, many hunters assume that lighter is better. However, the proverbial “hair trigger” isn’t the best option for everyone. I, for one, tend to shoot a rifle with a delicate trigger poorly. My shooting teeth were cut on inexpensive .22s and pellet guns sporting triggers that took more than a timid squeeze to break. Shooters are well-advised to squeeze the trigger of their rifle, but my early experience led me to release the round with something more akin to a snap than a squeeze. Decades later, I still shoot the same way. As such, I’m very comfortable with a trigger-pull that is significantly stiffer than a number of my gun-writer friends who have shot competitively.

As long as your rifle has an adjustable trigger, why not take a couple hours to experiment with various settings to see what you prefer? Start with the factory setting, then decrease the pressure to see if this improves your shooting. However, if you lighten the pull significantly at the range, make sure you practice enough under field conditions to become thoroughly accustomed to the new setting. The excitement of shooting at a live animal may cause you to break a light trigger prematurely. Only practice will adequately adjust your brain and index finger.

Montana’s autumn big-game seasons are just six months away --way too long when dreaming of a big buck, but far to short to get properly prepared amidst the other demands of life. While tackling the rest of the spring cleaning chores, try to find a few hours to invest in your rifle. You’ll appreciate it in October.

APRIL 2009

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Montana Wolf Population Grows In 2008 MFWP

About 500 wolves now inhabit Montana, equally distributed between the state’s northern and southern areas, according to the 2008 annual wolf conservation and management report released today by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

FWP’s report, which is available online at fwp.mt.gov , shows Montana’s wolf population increased about 18 percent in 2008, compared to a 34 percent increase in 2007. The minimum Montana wolf population is estimated at 497 wolves, in 84 verified packs, and 34 breeding pairs.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced recently that it would delist the northern Rocky Mountain’s gray wolves in Montana, Idaho and parts of Washington, Utah and Oregon, but not in Wyoming. The decision was based in part on the USFWS’s determination that the northern Rocky Mountain population in the approved areas has exceeded recovery goals and potential threats to the wolf have been resolved.

FWP’s report is part of the annual federal recovery update required by USFWS. The end of 2008 count also estimates that 302 wolves inhabited Wyoming and 846 wolves inhabited Idaho. Annual reports from Idaho, Wyoming, and information about wolves in Yellowstone National Park and the northern Rockies as a whole are available online at http://westerngraywolf. fws.gov.

The northern Rockies’ “metapopulation” is comprised of wolf populations in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Today, about 1,645 wolves, with about 95 breeding pairs, live in the region, where wolves can travel about freely to join existing packs or form new packs. This, combined with wolf populations in Canada and Alaska, assures genetic diversity.

Most of the increases in Montana’s wolf population occurred in the northwest where the population grew by about 43 wolves, and in Montana’s Greater Yellowstone Area where the population also increased by about 43 wolves.

“The rate of population growth is slowing down, in part because the best of the best places in Montana already have resident wolf packs,” said Carolyn Sime, FWP’s wolf management coordinator in Helena.

In the northwestern Montana endangered area, biologists estimate the wolf population at 256 wolves, in 45 verified packs, and 17 breeding pairs. In the southern Montana experimental area, biologists estimate the wolf population at 241 wolves, in 39 verified packs, and 17 breeding pairs. Twenty-three packs occur along the Montana’s border with Idaho, 14 of which are included in the Montana estimate.

While wolves are still listed under the Endangered Species Act, they remain under two different sets of federal regulations in Montana. These regulations will expire and be replaced by state laws and

regulations when the wolf is officially delisted. The federal delisting decision is expected to take effect by late April, but legal challenges may stall the removal of the wolf from the federal list of endangered species.

Nevertheless, the recovery of the wolf in the northern Rockies remains one of the fastest endangered species comebacks on record. In the mid 1990s, to hasten the overall pace of wolf recovery in the Northern Rockies, 66 wolves were released into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho.

“The real story of wolf recovery is that about 95 percent of the Montana wolf population now lives outside of national parks on both public and private lands,” said FWP Director Joe Maurier. “It’s very clear that Montana has made room for wolves and that Montanans have done all that’s been asked of them in this recovery effort.”

That recovery, however, has also been accompanied by increases in the number livestock killed by wolves and the number of wolves killed to resolve conflicts, as chronicled in the latest report. Of the 155 wolf deaths documented in 2008, 110 were related to livestock depredations, nine were illegal kills, and vehicles or trains struck 16.

Others died from a variety of causes common to all wildlife species, including poor health and old age.

Despite the loss of 155 wolves, Sime said the Montana wolf population still increased by 18 percent, remains secure and well above recovery criteria. FWP documented a minimum of 147 pups at the end of 2008.

Cattle deaths confirmed by USDA Wildlife Services in Montana increased slightly from 75 in 2007 to 77 in 2008, and confirmed sheep death losses increased from 27 to 111. About 36 percent of Montana wolf packs were confirmed to have killed livestock. One wolf pack and lone wolves were responsible for nearly all confirmed sheep losses. Eight llamas, two horses, seven goats, and two dogs were also confirmed killed by wolves. Additional losses and injuries occurred, but either could not be verified or were determined to be “probable” wolf kills.

“We know Montana’s wolves inhabit places where people live, work and recreate,” Maurier said. “The key to keeping wolves on the landscape long term is having the ability to manage them by balancing wolf biology and science with the everyday lives of the people who live and work in Montana. It’s not always easy, but that’s what we strive for in Montana.”

The minimum recovery goal for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains was set at a minimum of 30 breeding pairs— successfully reproducing wolf packs—and a minimum of 300 individual wolves for at least three consecutive years and well distributed throughout the recovery area. The goal was achieved in ‘02, and the wolf population has increased every year since.

BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 33

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Southwest Montana Fishing Report (continued from page 14) Lower Madison River April through May is primetime on the Lower Madison. Crayfish will be active throughout the river. A two fly rig with a good crayfish imitation followed by a baetis nymph trailer can be dynamite. Throwing large streamers and buggers will also be very productive. The Blue Winged Olive emergence can be very good.

Usually walking the banks looking for risers is key. The section of river below Ennis Dam can be the hot spot for catching the hatch best. Stonefly nymphs, baetis nymphs, caddis and midge pupae will all be patterns needed throughout the month.

Yellowstone River The Yellowstone will offer up some of the largest trout of the year early in the season. Fishing large double jointed streamers can bring on a vicious take this time of year. Again the Blue Winged Olives will be emerging. The

hatch will fish best if you can hit a day with little or no wind. Which can be asking a lot on the Stone in spring?

Sub surface action will include stonefly nymphs, baetis nymphs, caddis and midge pupae.

Boaters are patiently awaiting the ice to disappear therefore they can get back to what they love, trolling and jigging. Anglers are reminded that Magpie Bay is closed to fishing as posted March 1-June 14.

Gallatin River As we get into April and the days continue to get longer the entire river begins fishing more consistently. Ice will be off almost the entire length from the Park boundary down to Three Forks. Blue Winged Olives can be found emerging virtually the entire length of the river. Stonefly nymphs trailed with small mayfly imitations are always a good bet in the spring on the Gallatin. Streamer action will be very good as well.

Remember when fishing BWO hatches to focus on the slower water with some depth to find fish feeding on these tiny insects. A size 18 or 20 is usually needed. A floating nymph or emerger pattern fished in the film or just below can be deadly to the bigger browns at this time. Rip some Lips!!!!!

JESSE FLYNN

North Central Montana Fishing Report Brought To You By The Helena Sportsman’s Warehouse

BY JESSE FLYNN CANYON FERRY: Area lakes including Canyon Ferry are going through a transitional period at this point and time. With spring thaw taking place the month of April can prove to be the best month of the year; and moreover one of the most challenging. Ice is breaking away and fish are spawning making this time of year a bank fisherman’s dream. Canyon Ferry is full of bays in which big rainbows will hold awaiting aggressive feeds; so grab some hair jigs, egg sucking leeches, and or wooly buggers and hold on because it can get dirty. Anyway, the walleye fishing will pick up nicely mid to end April.

HAUSER: No safe Ice! Fishable open water includes York Bridge, Causeway, and Riverside. Trout fishing is and will continue to be good at York Bridge, egg patterns and small jigs will prove to be an effective strategy while fishing this stretch of water. A few walleye are being caught at the Causeway as fishing will continue to get better as the month proceeds. Worms, jigs, and crank baits will be the ticket as April furthers. By the end of April, I predict that a few 10lb+ walleye will have been pulled out of the Causeway. Black Sandy has unsafe or inaccessible ice but if this warm weather continues the ice will disappear faster than you can say “gas up the boat”!

HOLTER: Boaters putting in at the Gates of the Mountains are picking up nice spawning rainbows going up the river toward Beaver Creek and down the river nice perch are being picked up, of course that is if you can locate them. Boaters will begin to break out the plainer boards and rapalas in an effort to pick up walleye but usually come up with more trout. Locating walleye and jigging for them will produce better numbers more than likely.

Gulp alive minnow grubs and minnows on a gumball jig or something like it in the 1/81/4 oz range will be sufficient. Locals have proven that walleye and trout love the scent that Berkley Gulp Alive has to offer.

APRIL 2009

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Cut Bait Tactics That Work (continued from page 9) flow down into the hole, possibly getting fish further down current to move up and find that good smelling chunk of meat.

LAKE TROUT Targeting Lakers with bait is nothing new to many of you that make the drive to Flathead Lake. Tipping jigs with cut bait is a must to get bites on some days, but to target the truly huge fish, taking a dead bait like a 12-14 inch sucker and a quick strike rig is just the ticket. Letting a bait like this just sit on the bottom plays right into a scavenging Lake Trout’s idea of an easy meal.

The Quick Strike Rig is designed to do just what its name implies, when a fish strikes, quickly get the slack out of your line and set the hook. Do not let them run very far with the bait, or you will have to perform surgery to get the hooks out! A large 3/0-6/0 Circle hook can also be used, just let the fish take the bait and swim until they feel the hook set into the corner of their mouth. It is important “not” to try and set the hook when using Circle Hooks. When the fish starts fighting, you start reeling them in.

You can make your own Quick Strike rigs, or purchase pre-tied ones. I prefer to make my own so I can adapt them to the size of some large bait fish.

Suckers, Peamouth and Northern Pike Minnows(Squawfish) are the best baits.

Early in the year, Lake Trout can be found from 3 to 200 plus feet of water. Target edges from rock to silt, or cliff edges that change to gravel. Ice fishing makes this presentation even easier, letting you leave the rig in one spot, allowing fish to stumble upon such an easy mark!

Most of you Pike anglers out there have been using this method for years, and I bet a few of you can attest to some very large Rainbow, Brown and Bull Trout falling victim to this system. One of the largest Brown Trout that I have caught fell to a Quick Strike rig while I was targeting Notherns.

Dead Bait is a perfect choice for those of you that like to fish two rods while up on Flathead Lake. Use one rod with your normal jig set up, and the second with a Quick Strike rigged bait right on the bottom. If you attract a fish with the jig, but it doesn’t take the jig, the fish might turn around and find that dead bait.

BURBOT (LING COD) Cut Bait is a must when fishing Burbot. They have a unique method for finding food, they smell it almost like Catfish. Sucker is the best by far, and is the choice of most anglers on Helena’s Area Reservoirs. The basic trout rigs work in most situations, and by adding a small chemical glow stick on the leader just above the hook will get you lots of attention from hungry ling at night. Try using slightly larger hooks for better hook ups. Late February to the end of March is a great time to target these excellent tasting fish. They are very eager to please once you find them. Target deep drop offs and current breaks. By Mid March, if you find one Ling, you should find more as Ling will start forming large Spawning schools.

BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 35

will help with this some, but bass will swallow them unless you tighten up right after the take.

NORTHERN PIKE The number one big Pike bait, dead bait fishing is by far the most used tactic for Northerns employed just about anywhere they are found. Smelt, Herring and many other bait fish are just a few ideas. Quick Strike Rigs fished from the surface to the bottom are key. Suspended from a slip bobber, weighted and fished on the bottom, or simply dragged around behind the boat all work well to get a strike.

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Tweaks for these rigs are too numerous to list, but here are a few of the better ones that I have tried: *Soaking baits like Herring and Smelt in Red and Yellow food coloring. This will set your bait apart form everyone else.

Color is a large factor to getting a negative Pike to strike. * Adding Corkie Steelhead floats and spinner blades to Quick Strike Rigs. Same as the above plus spinner blades add more flash and sound to the rig. Corkies can float a bait up off the bottom and into the open so the fish can find them easier. *Scents added to the baits always outproduce standard baits. They also cover any scents left over from your handling of the bait.

LARGE AND SMALLMOUTH BASS Summer and fall are key times for bait fishing around Western Montana, when Large and Smallmouths congregate on structure and become more difficult to catch, try using crawlers or dead minnows. The rigging uses a split shot rig constructed with a #4 wide gap or Circle hook and a 3/8 ounce or lighter sinker for fishing in current. You can even for go the sinker in clear water. There are several hooking methods like through the nose of the worm, through the collar, or threading the hook through the head end to find the most natural presentation. Most of the time, nose hooking will give you the most natural presentation. The same basic rig can also be used with smaller sized Northern Pike Minnows(Squawfish) and if you can find them, Red Sided Shiners. These are dead or course, you can’t use live minnows in Western Montana!

The types of retrieves you can employ are limited only to your imagination, from still on the bottom to fast on top, With crawlers try just letting them fall slowly to the bottom, letting the crawler do its thing. There is not a Bass out there that won’t swim right up....and “gulp! Once you detect a take, tighten up until you feel the fish and set the hook.

With bass, you can’t wait very long, or they will swallow the bait. Circle hooks

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Well I hope that some of these ideas for fishing Dead Bait help you out there this year. I know that some “experts” out there frown on fishing natural baits, and I expect them to be laughing at this article. I, however think that any way you can add to your days on the water and fish on your line is the final answer to their laughs. As long as you are having fun and catching fish, remember to get good pictures and keep only what you can use!!!!

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36 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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APRIL 2009

4 Ways To Be A Better Fisherman 1) Learn the structure 2) Learn the water depths 3) Learn the Access and Amenities 4) Buy a Lake Fishing Map from Constellation Services!

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PHOTO COURTESY CHUCK ROBBINS

Walleye Tournaments For The ‘09 Sagebrush News: 10 Must Season From Walleyes Unlimited Do Fishin’ Holes Y

ou must be a member of Walleyes Unlimited to enter these tournaments. To join visit Walleyes Unlimited of Montana at www.montanawalleyesunlimited.net.

Fresno Walleye Challenge Fresno Reservoir May 16-17, 2009 Entry Fee - $200 Per Team (includes $10 Conservation Team Fee) Maximum 100 2-Person Teams Payable to: Fresno Challenge Attn: Tournament Mgr. PO Box 490 Big Sandy, MT 59520 For more information call Jim Rettig @ 378-2176 or Doug Grubb @ 378-2163 Rock Creek Walleye Tournament June 6-7, 2009 Entry Fee - $200 Per Team (includes $10 Conservation Team Fee) Maximum 100 2-Person Teams Payable to: Rock Creek Tournament Attn: Tournament Mgr. Kris Keller, Steve Harada, Bill Dasinger 116 Indian Street Wolf Point, MT 59201 Kris @ 653-3320, Steve @ 653-1463 or Bill @ 653-1952

Tiber Walleye Challenge Lake Elwell June 13-14, 2009 Entry Fee - $200 Per Team (includes $10 Conservation Team Fee) Maximum 125 2-Person Teams Payable to: Tiber Tournament 1024 35th ave. N.E. Great Falls, MT 59404 For more information Call Doug Rohlf 452-8003 or cell 799-4210

Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival Canyon Ferry Reservoir June 27-28 2009 Entry Fee - $250 Per Team - 6am Start (includes $10 Conservation Team Fee) Maximum 150 2-Person Teams Payable to: Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival Attn: Doug Breker or Dennis Hovden Tournament Managers PO Box 513, Townsend, MT 59644 For more information call: Work 266-5279 or Home 266-3102 Montana Governor’s Cup Fort Peck Reservoir July 9-11, 2009 Entry Fee - $400 Per Team (includes $10 Conservation Team Fee) Maximum 200 2-Person Teams Payable to: Montana Governor’s Cup Attn: Tournament Mgr. PO Box 832,Glasgow, MT 59230 For more information Call 405-288-2222 or visit www.mtgovcup.com Hell Creek Tournament July 25-26 2009 Entry Fee - $200 Per Team (includes $10 Conservation Team Fee) Maximum 120 2-Person Teams Payable to: Hell Creek Tournament Attn: Tournament Mgr. Calvin Thomas PO Box 22, Sand Springs, MT 59077 For more information call: 557-2311 Fall Classic Fort Peck Reservoir August 8-9 2009 Entry Fee - $250 Per Team (includes $10 Conservation Team Fee) Maximum 100 2-Person Teams Payable to: Fall Classic Attn: Tournament Mgr. Craig Larson 116 Indian Street, Wolf Point, MT 59201 Fall Finale Yellowtail Reservoir August 28-29 2009 For information call: Rod Putnam 591-1141

(Before You Die) N

BY CHUCK ROBBINS

early anywhere you live in Montana there is good fishing literally out the door. But if you are like me it’s easy to fall in a rut, satisfied to fish the same old, the closer to home the better. And why not? Since we all know the more you know the bigger the catch...and, after all, that’s what it’s all about...right? Well, maybe, at least to a point, but what about all those other nifty fishin’ holes, those you hear and read so much about, what’s up there? Well, for you who perhaps feel the need to scratch such an itch here’s my list...

really huge browns. In either case plus 10 pounds is a distinct possibility and fish over 5 pounds while beyond average are nonetheless common. The Dillon fly shops are the best sources of information.

Blackfeet Lakes ...If big trout in scenic, though feral and often harsh surroundings trip your trigger check these out. More than a dozen lakes (number varies depending on conditions), most of which hold trout, many best measured in pounds. The reservation itself is huge and, since most tribal members live in a few towns, largely uninhabited. A tribal permit is required.

Mountain cricks...Ditto #5, only in some cases even better...OK, not better, how about just as good.

Fort Peck Reservoir...The MT Fishing Guide lists 15 game fish: black crappie, brown trout, burbot, channel catfish, lake trout, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, northern pike, paddlefish, rainbow trout, sauger, shovelnose sturgeon, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch; in addition you might also hook a bluegill, green sunfish, Chinook salmon, sauger, sucker or goldeye. Below the dam swim some of the largest rainbows on the planet. What more is there?

Lake Koocanusa ...Plentiful and big bull (catch and release much of the season) and rainbow trout and relatively little fishing pressure; hard to believe, I know. So perhaps the best way to find out is haul your boat up there and give it the old college try...

Clark Canyon Reservoir...Bigger than average rainbows and the chance to catch

Mountain lakes...Admittedly with hundreds to choose the where-to does require a bit of leg work (pardon the pun). But if you like your trout fishing spiced with scenic and solitude this is about as good as it gets...better still the trout come with a guarantee—cold as ice, postcard pretty and mm-m-m good to boot.

Spring cricks...such as pay to play DePuy’s, Nelson and Armstrong and public gems such as Poindexter Slough (a sort of hybrid but close enough) and Big Spring Creek...for many, truly “cloud nine.”

Tail-waters...such as Beaverhead, Bighorn, Kootenai and Missouri (below Holter Dam) are among the bluest of blue ribbon streams or as a besotted client once said, “Heavenly, my man, simply heavenly.”

Yellowstone National Park...there’s more great trout fishing here than you can shake the proverbial stick at...lakes, ponds, cricks, rivers, you name it...OK, technically not Montana but close enough... right? Right.

Rock Creek...Yes, I know there are many but only one I know anywhere near worthy of this list...True story: the fish gods won’t let you in the gate unless you cross your heart and swear not to lie...

So there, get to it; and no need to thank me...

Chuck is a freelance writer/photographer and fly-fishing guide. To check out his books, blogs, photos and more go to www.chuckngalerobbins.com.

APRIL 2009

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 37

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE • 39

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