OUTDOOR NEWS
Big Sky
bigskyoutdoornews.net
JUNE 2012
The Trout Bite Is On!
ARROW DYNAMICS with Travis ‘T-Bone’ Turner
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JUNE 2012
FIVE VALLEYS ARCHERY CLUB & MONTANA BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION
5th Annual Montana State Bowhunters Championship JUNE 16, 2012
40 3-D Targets : 2 – 20 Target Courses FIVE VALLEYS ARCHERY CLUB BEAR SHOOT 2012
JUNE 16th & 17th 34th ANNUAL FAMILY FUN SHOOT 80 3-D TARGETS: 40 each day. Four separate loops of 20 targets. Shoot two different loops of 20 targets each day. These two shoots are at the same location for a weekend full of archery fun. Primitive camping available on site. Contact: Paul Roush @ 406-544-2169 or FVAC@Live.com or visit www.fivevalleyarcheryclub.com This will be the BIGGEST ARCHERY EVENT OF THE YEAR. Come have fun with friends, family and other Bowhunters. Two days of nothing but shooting your bow. Held at The Clearwater Junction, 45 miles East of Missoula on Hwy. 200. Concessions by Pards Tummy Teasers CAMPING IS AVAILABLE MUST BRING YOUR OWN FIREWOOD, NO CUTTING OF TREES IS ALLOWED. BEAR PROOF CAMPING GEAR You don’t want to miss this event. You will be sorry.
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JUNE 2012
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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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JUNE 2012
ARROW DYNAMICS Sponsored by: Robinson Outdoor Products By: Travis ‘T-Bone’ Turner Reprinted with permission from Bowhunting.net. For more please go to: www.bowhunting.net
BOW HUNTING
has plenty of what-ifs as is. That’s why you and I take on the archery challenge. But making your shot shouldn’t be a question mark. You can’t control what a whitetail will do, but you can control your gear and your practice approach, so you’re ready for a slam-dunk on the shot. I look at my archery gear equation with a pro-con approach, weighing out the benefits against the costs of every factor of my setup. Nothing is all good or all bad, and there’s always give and take. But with time, work, patience and some practice, you can get your gear tuned and yourself shooting well. Confidence translates into shots made in the field.
I call it “arrow dynamics.”
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Some of my approaches might surprise you. But here’s what T-Bone thinks about arrow weight and speed, energy, penetration and practice. I hope these ideas help you launch an arrow into the boiler room of the next buck you draw on.
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ARROW WEIGHT: GO FOR PENETRATION
Hunters overlook their arrows’ importance. Getting excellent penetration is key. Your arrow cannot be too stiff. However, too stiff is better than underspined. Spine is the arrow’s ability to absorb the bow’s energy. A stiffer arrow holds that energy and flies straight. An underspined arrow is a hard tiger to tame. You lose energy as it whips and wobbles. This takes away all that speed you wanted. Worse yet, it reduces penetration. A light arrow is faster, but at the target (a deer), it loses kinetic energy. If a major league pitcher could throw either a ping-pong ball or a baseball at you at 100 mph, which one would you rather get hit by? After an arrow hits the animal, the energy in that lighter arrow is gone. But the heavy arrow smashes and slices through. I like 6 grains of arrow weight per pound of bow weight. For example, my 70 pound bow is just right with a 420-grain arrow. This formula is a minimum. Pushing arrow weight up is better than down. How did Native Americans kill deer without bows that shot a fraction of today’s speeds? They had heavy arrows. Energy at the point of impact is what’s important. There’s a fancy but important formula for kinetic energy of an arrow: fps2 x weight of arrow2/450240. It’s cool to know the numbers, but I like to measure penetration by how deep my arrow is in the dirt on the other side of the animal, or how far it’s lodged into a tree after passing through. (continued page 35)
JUNE 2012
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Caliber Confusion T here are many myths, misconceptions, and legends
about various guns and ammunition, and it seems like everyone who knows anything about firearms considers themselves an expert. The language of firearms has evolved with few rules, and as a result there is a lot of confusion. This wonʼt solve everything, but here are some things Iʼve learned, when I was looking up other things.
marketing department of the company that first designed the bullet.
TIP 3: NUMBERS ARENʼT ALWAYS EXACT The .38 Special and .357 Magnum are both 38-caliber, but the bullet is actually 357-thousandths of an inch in diameter. The .30-30, .30-06, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .308 are all different, non-interchangeable rounds that are all 30-caliber. However, 30-caliber bullets are .308-inches TIP 1: CALIBER VS. GAUGE in diameter. I once saw a customer Gauge is a measure of the inside diameter of a shotgun barrel, while go ballistic (pun intended) because he wanted to handload his .30-30, caliber generally refers to the and the clerk gave him bullets that diameter of rifle and handgun were .308-inch in size. The clerk bullets. However, a .410 is the was right. caliber of a small shotgun, which is never called a 67 1/2-gauge. Gauge was developed hundreds of TIP 4: THOSE OTHER NUMBERS years ago, before accurate devices So if a .30-30 and a .30-06 are allowed for precise measurement. both 30-caliber rounds, that are .308-inch in diameter, why do they have those extra numbers? In TIP 2: CALIBER the case of the .30-30, it meant Caliber refers to the diameter of that there was originally 30-grains a bullet, and can be expressed of smokeless powder inside the in either metric (7mm) or English case. However, for the .30-06, (.284) measurements, depending on where it was developed (Europe the -06 has nothing to do with powder—that was the year, 1906, or the U.S.), or the whims of the
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Tips From Whitetails Unlimited that the round was adopted by the U.S. Army. There are other cartridges, such as the .30-378 Weatherby Magnum that is 30-caliber (.308), but it used a necked-down .378 case. And then there are rounds like the 7.62x39 and the 7.62x51, popular usage changes. It drives where the 39 and 51 refer to the me nuts when a gunʼs magazine length of the case. is called a “clip.” However, I often use the word “bullet” to indicate an TIP 5: NEVER ASSUME individual round or cartridge, even A .22 LR (long rifle) is much though the bullet is actually just different from a .220 Swift, a one component of that cartridge. .22-250, or a .22 Hornet. A .300 Winchester Magnum will not work TIP 7: WHY SO MANY? in a .300 Weatherby Magnum, and Looking through a reloading you canʼt buy a spacer to make a manual, I found bullets with actual .300 Super Short Magnum work in diameters of .257, .264 (6.5mm), a .300 Short Magnum. I was once .277, and .284 (7mm). Do we ridiculed by a friend when I wanted really need bullets in so many to buy a .44 Magnum rifle, diameters that are so similar? Well, because everyone knew that the I donʼt need them, but someone .44 Magnum was a handgun does. Bullet diameter is only one cartridge. The joke was on him, as variable in the performance of a there are a number of rifles particular round. The case size and chambered to shoot handgun shape, as well as the kind of rounds, and a few handguns that powder and primer, all have an shoot some rifle cartridges. affect on the downrange performance. To each his own. TIP 6: OTHER LANGUAGE PROBLEMS Language is constantly changing, and the rules can change as
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JUNE 2012
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largest of its species ever recorded, according to the Boone and Crockett Club. Club officials...confirmed the goat, a male that scored 57-4/8 Boone and Crockett points, as a new World’s Record. Since 1906, the Boone and Crockett Club’s scoring system has been used to measure the success of conservation programs across North America. The system rewards antler and horn size and symmetry—classic symbols of outstanding habitat, strong recruitment of animals into older age classes, sustainable harvest objectives and other elements of sound wildlife management and fair-chase hunting. More than a thousand Rocky Mountain goats from Alaska to Nevada have met the minimum Boone and Crockett score of 47. But by far the most entries (541) have come from British Columbia. “British Columbia continues to set the standard for Rocky Mountain goats,” said Eldon Buckner, chairman of Boone and Crockett Club’s Records of North American Big Game Committee. “The province remains home to more than half of the world’s population and trophy-class specimens have been trending upward each decade since the 1970s. That testifies to the professionalism of the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.” The new World’s Record goat surpassed the old mark by a substantial 6/8 of an inch.
The previous record was actually a tie between two British Columbia goats, one taken in 1949 and the other in 1999, scoring 56-6/8. Troy M. Sheldon of Alexandria, Ky., bagged the new record goat on the seventh day of a hunt in the Stikine River area. Sheldon’s friend Carey Renner and guide Heidi Gutfrucht of Northwest Ranching and Outfitting accompanied him on the hunt. He used a Tikka T3 .270 WSM to make a perfect 319-yard shot across a ravine. Following a required drying period and initial scoring, a special Boone and Crockett judge’s panel verified the goat’s official entry score as a new World’s Record. Sheldon will be invited to include his trophy in a public exhibition held as part of Boone and Crockett’s 28th Awards Program in Reno, Nev., next year. COVER PHOTOS: Fishing Photo Contest Winner Cannon Colegrove, Helena - Missouri River Rainbow Inset: Eric Berkner - D.M.D. Smile Missoula Dentistry
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Off-Season Preparation for Deer
Photo & Article By Bob Humphrey Yamaha Outdoors
What better time to start preparing your stands for the fall.
T
urkey season is over and deer seasons are three or four months away. What better time to start preparing your stands for the fall. You can make minor disturbances and even major perturbations without negatively impacting your hunting. In fact, you’ll only make it better. EXISTING STANDS: Let’s start with existing stands and stand locations. Remember that low-hanging branch that blocked your shot last fall, or that pile of dead branches you had to walk through trying to sneak to your stand? Get rid of them. A lot could have changed over the winter too. Don’t wait until a week or two before season to find out your stand tree was struck by lightning. - Trim Out Shooting Lanes - Branches fall and saplings grow into shooting lanes. Clear them out so there won’t be anything that might interfere with your shot. - Inspect Your Stands - Check all straps and fasteners to ensure they’re snug, but not too snug. Nuts, bolts and screws can come loose and make noise, or represent a safety hazard. Tighten them up. Check ratchet straps for wear, then loosen and re-tighten. Trees grow and if straps become too tight they will break. Also, squirrels like to chew on them, as well as seat cushions and shooting rests. Inspect and replace if necessary. - Inspect Locks - If your stands are locked, open, lubricate and re-lock them. Locks can become rusted or corroded eventually becoming non-functioning, which can be a real pain if and when you decide to remove that stand. NEW STANDS: Now it’s time to move on to new stands. Remember that smokin’ hot spot you found last fall, the one you noted in your hunting log and marked as a waypoint on your GPS? Okay, so maybe you’re not that meticulous. But I’ll bet you found one or two locations you thought would make good stand sights...Here again, you can do whatever is necessary to trim branches and clear shooting lanes without worrying too much that it will disturb deer in the area. It will initially, but they’ll become adjusted ...Another nice thing about doing this now is that you can load all your gear in or on an ATV or Side-by-Side vehicle and drive right to the stand location. It may not be a big deal with a simple loc-on or a climber, but try strapping a two-man ladder stand on your back and carrying it a quarter mile into the woods. LAND MANAGEMENT: In addition to the passive mode of finding hotspots, you can take a more direct and active approach by creating them. - Create Openings - Opening the canopy allows more sunlight to reach the forest floor, which means more natural deer food. It also creates more thick cover that deer prefer. And this can include the next tip ...- Release Mast Trees - Thin around apple or oak trees, persimmon bushes or any other hard or soft mast-producing trees. By removing or reducing the competition for sunlight and soil nutrients you can increase mast production immensely. - Plant - If you don’t have mast trees, plant some. You can also put in small hidey-hole food plots, or plant woods roads and skid roads with clover. All of these require bringing equipment into the woods. Again, you can use your ATV or Side-bySide vehicle now without concern over too much disturbance. You wouldn’t and shouldn’t be driving in to your stands three or four months from now.
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JUNE 2012
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Fishing Tally Lake By Rick Haggerty T
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his gem of a lake is relatively little known and used. At around 492 feet at it’s deepest point, it is Montana’s deepest natural lake. There is not a house on the shore, only the campground, (maintained by the Forest Service). This is a “Trophy” makinaw fishery, but makinaw are not the only target, as big kokanee, fantastic northern pike, rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout inhabit this lake. For kokanee, troll the shore across from the boat launch area, trolling to the east along the lakes southwest shore. The bay between the boat launch and the Logan Creek inlet is where you’ll want to target for pike. For the big Macks, you’ll have to head to the deep waters, trolling down riggers, and heavy cannonballs. Try an M-50 Flatfish in a rainbow trout patter, 90 feet deep, and slow to 1.2 to 1.7 mph. With good electronics, you’ll find high percentage spots, and on a good day, you can catch lake trout in the 25 pound category, and that is a truly spectacular fish! Check regulations as these fish must slot at a certain size, (last checked), the requirement was 42 inches to be taken. A fish over 42 inches could be over 35 years old! It is thought that there are 50 year old fish swimming in this lake. Any fish of that magnitude would be pushing the state record. That’s why Tally Lake is called a “Trophy” fishery for macks. If you do hook onto one of these, you’ll definitely know it, and it could be the next state record fish!
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JUNE 2012
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Things To Think About While Wishing For Walleyes By Brian “Bro” Brosdahl Northland Fishing Tackle
Surefire walleye techniques that’ll be served hot in my boat this spring and summer
It’s early in the season. The labor of spawning is a fling of the past – the
breeders are well rested. Water temps are in that magical range – above 50 but no higher than the low 70s. Walleyes are licking their chops and under the impression that the next minnow or jig that eases by is a complimentary meal – big mistake. The fishing IS good, so don’t over-think your approach. Trust me, if you write down these tips on your hand with a Sharpie – ala Sarah Palin’s cheat-sheet technique – you will bet bit and not blow a brain chip doing so.
UNEARTHING EATERS: Sort of hate the term because it implies certain fate by fryer. But you know what I’m talking about – small to midsize fish, typically males. They’re the easiest to locate and lasso this time of year. And without giving it a second thought, my initial probing starts over gravel flats. On a typical natural lake that puts you in 6 to 12 feet of water. If the water’s clearer than moonshine, though, slip out into the 18 to 22 foot range. In both instances, if weeds and or a shoreline point are involved, more power to you. My second nod goes to a raging river mouth – something significant that walleyes either use to breed or chokes-up with baitfish. A river mouth is actually a broader, more dynamic area than the name implies, too. Relative to that reality, check the actual mouth, (continued on page 19)
BY BOB BATES, fedflyfishers.org
A fly tier should always keep their eyes and mind open for new fly tying materials...Fred Sica of Shelly, Idaho told us about this as he tied the Slammer at the 2011 East Idaho Fly Tying Fair in Idaho Falls, Idaho. A doctor had wrapped Fred’s arm with a Sports Underwrap to keep a wound clean. He took it off and dropped it in the sink as he was getting ready to shower. It floated!!! He repeatedly tried to sink it without success. To a fly tier this presented many possibilities for floating flies. He was curious so he had some friends at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks look at it with a microscope. Their report: “It contains air bubbles.” So with that question answered, he started tying different fly patterns with it. He started with small flies, #18 - #22, like Pale Morning Dun (PMD), midges and other small mayflies. It catches fish in many situations. Probably the most dramatic result is when PMDs are hatching. Throw the fly into riffles, and jiggle it a little as it floats downstream. The fish really hit it, in other words they slam it. That happened many times so the pattern’s name became Slammer. MATERIALS LIST: Hook: DaiRiki 320 #20 or 18, DaiRiki 135 #18 - #22 Thread: Uni-thread, pink 8/0 Body: Sports Underwrap Tail: Krystal Flash, pink Post: Polyethylene Hackle: White TYING STEPS: 1. Lay one thin line of thread on hook. Tie the Underwrap at the back and spiral the thread over it to the front. 2. Gently wrap the underwrap forward to the eye and secure it. A rotary vise is convenient at this time. The underwrap will tear easily so be gentle. 3. Loosely spiral the thread back to the bend. 4. Tie on the pink Krystal Flash tail. Spiral the thread forward, trim off excess Krystal Flash at front if there is any, and leave the thread at the eye. 5. Cut the tail a little longer tail than most folks. It gives the fly a little stability, and helps it float higher. When the PMDs come up they sit high on the water. Pick a single strand of Krystal Flash. Tie it in across the back, return thread to eye, wrap the Krystal Flash forward in close wraps. Secure and trim. 6. Spiral the thread back to mid-shank. Cinch in the Antron post, and cut off the back piece of Antron. This is the way Fred does it, but he said you can tie the post any way you like. 7. Pick up post and put one thread wind in front. Put one thread wind around post. Cover up cut off Antron, 8. Select a white hackle with barbs a little longer than a shank length, and strip off some of the fibers. Tie it in on the side of the post away from the tier. Cinch it in well. Fred said that the barb length is not critical, generally anything less the size 14 will do. 9. Wrap the hackle around the post two or three times, tie it off in front of the post and trim excess hackle. A lot of hackle is not needed because there is flotation in the body. Turn over the fly, and put a drop of head cement on thread winds. This makes the thread a little translucent and lets a little more of the flash show through. Fred uses white hackle on PMDs, grizzly or black on midges and grizzly or white on a Yellow Sally...Fred has not tied larger flies with it, except as an anchor layer on the hook for a Chernobyl Ant. It probably doesn’t help the flotation, but it helps secure the materials on the rest of the fly. He likes the DaiRiki 135 hooks for tying emergers, and he ties the Underwrap a little farther around the bend. As a side note: One fellow who watched Fred tie this pattern was so excited about it that he got up at 3:00 am and tied a half a dozen. Reportedly, his wife was a little upset with the early morning tying session.
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Fishing With The Captain Mark Ward
W ell it is here! Yes the month of June is here and it is the month
that fishing really turns on all across the state on the rivers and lakes. Unlike last year when spring-run-off ran well into the month of July during a record year, this year should present some good fishing on both the rivers and the lakes. I love to fish lakes, and in June whether you are fishing for trout, walleye, northern pike, bass, or lake trout, you won’t see any shortages on where to take your fishing pole. Fort Peck Reservoir over in the eastern part of the state is always on the top of my list. The 134 mile lake has seen an increase in water level the last few years. Higher water levels mean better fishing, pure and simple. The fishing experts are predicting an excellent year for walleye and northern pike fishing. Lake trout fishing has been good and will only get better with more anglers targeting them. Let’s also not forget that Fort Peck is also known as one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries in the region. It holds the state record for a small mouth bass. Another great lake is Canyon Ferry Reservoir by Helena. The water level will be fluctuating quite a bit the first part of June because of the spring run-off. Canyon Ferry is a lake that I recommend to fish if you want to get started fishing for walleyes. This lake and this month are a perfect combination. The walleye bite on Canyon Ferry normally happens most of the month of June. The south end of Canyon Ferry is also mostly free of snags so you won’t get frustrated by constantly getting hung up on the bottom while fishing. The lake
on the south end is fairly easy to target walleyes. Trolling with a bottom bouncer and a Crawler Spinner or Leech Harness is the most popular way to fish the walleyes. A Slow Death hook tipped with a night crawler or the Slow Death with a Smiley Blade is also a popular choice for anglers. Some anglers are also having luck by trolling a mustard color or crawdad patterned Rapala lure. The kokanee salmon fishing on Lake Mary Ronan should continue for at least a few days into June. That bite depends mostly on the water temperature. It is a pretty lake just west of Flathead Lake and has a nice boat ramp to launch your boat. Anglers like to jig with a Swedish Pimple and Glow Hook that is tipped with a maggot in 22-29 feet of water or troll Cowbells with a Wedding ring tipped with a maggot about two or three colors deep. Anglers also have had luck using raw shrimp. If you want to head to Idaho this month the Chinook salmon season is expected to be one of the best in recent years on the Clearwater River. Like I said earlier, no matter where you go this month, the fish should be biting, whether it be a river or a lake. The main thing to remember in June is “Quit wishin and go fishin”!
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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JUNE 2012
“Jiggin’ the Dream” on
Fort Peck
one mile west of the Dairy Queen on Round Butte Road in Ronan visit us today for
Hunting, Fishing & Camping Archery, Guns & Ammo
Outdoor Calendar Sponsored By C’Mon Inn Bozeman & Missoula Lodge Like Atmosphere With Resort Amenities BIG TIMBER Gun Show: June 8 - 10
Vendors will be selling art, antiques, books, clothing, jewelry, and guns. With the waterslide just down the road there is something for the whole family. Held at the Big Timber Civic Center. Phone: 406-932-5969
DEER LODGE Territorial Gun Show: June 22 - 24 Antique to modern pistols, rifles and shotguns. Phone: 406-846-3111
ENNIS Lions Club Kids Father’s Day Fishing Derby: June 17
Kids under 12 can catch ‘big’ fish in the little pond at the park. Free barbecue in the park at 1:00pm. Held Lions Club Park. Phone: 406-682-5711
FORSYTH Mathew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match June 15 - 17 Long range rifle competition using original or replica period firearms from the glory days of buffalo hide trade. Held at the AG Lee Ranch. Phone: 406-346-2763
HAMILTON Sportsman’s Expo - July 27 - 28
80 vendors representing fly fishing, archery, guns & ammo, dog training, saddles & tack, camo clothing, outfitter & guide services, ATVs & campers, and more. Phone: 406-241-4176
Bitterroot MicroBrewfest - July 28
Tasting event that offers over 45 microbrews and select wines. Phone: 406-363-2400
HELENA BLAST FROM THE PAST CAR SHOW AND DRAG RACES: June 29 - July 1
Event kicks of Friday at Nickels. Show and shine at Broadwater grounds on Saturday. Drag races Sunday. Visit www.helenavalleytiming.org
Iandt hasI’mbeen two days since my return from the magical waters of Fort Peck still waking up at night setting the hook in a big walleye. I traveled to Fort Peck Reservoir with my friend and amazing fisherman, Jim Muscat, to chase the post spawn walleye bite. After spending a couple hours eliminating certain water and getting our sea legs on it was game time!
Events To Support WILDLIFE
Fort Peck is a unique lake in that the walleye make a huge migration back to the main lake after the spawn. This migration is put in place by the cisco which is a pelagic baitfish (meaning they fluctuate in the water column.) Generally this time of year the walleye head for deep water in main-lake basins to forage on the cisco.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION June 2, 2012 Gallatin Big Game Banquet - Bozeman Becky L Arbuckle 406-285-3819 June 16, 2012 Blackfoot/Clearwater Chapter - Seeley Special Event Bruce Wold 406-677-2529
As many of you know the water levels have increased drastically the last few years creating a utopia spawning ground for certain species including baitfish. Along with the increased numbers of baitfish, there is exceptional habitat for the walleye to hunt. This made it a no-brainer that we would focus our jigging game in shallow water rather than the deep main lake bite.
MULE DEER FOUNDATION July 28, 2012 Western Montana Chapter - Missoula Jennifer Cote 406-880-4719 August 24, 2012 Lewis & Clark Chapter - Helena Steve Miller 406-439-6831 MT SPORTSMEN FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE June 16, 2012 2-7pm Montana SFW BBQ & Fundraiser Lumberjack Saloon, Lolo MT Silent & Live Auction, Raffles and games for all ages Laurie Clark, 406-880-2242 DUCKS UNLIMITED June 23, 2012 Greenwing Camp Day - Missoula Western Montana Retriever Club For kids 17 years old and younger. Sam Kinsinger 406-360-3909
LEWISTOWN SNOWY MOUNTAINS MUZZLELOADERS RENDEZVOUS: July 28, 2012 June 29 - July 1 Eric Pierce Memorial Event - Bozeman Pistol and rifle (patched round ball, open iron sights 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM only) trail walk gong shoots, paper target shoots, Randy Newberg 406-570-4399 knife and tomahawk throwing, fire starting, and cannon firing, along with games for ALL ages and fun shoots. Held at Ed McGivern Memorial Park. Phone: 406-428-2286
BY TREVOR JOHNSON KIT’S TACKLE
The post spawn period is an aggressive bite and my favorite time of year to jig for walleyes! Imagine how hungry a walleye would be after battling the rigors of spawning. In the past few weeks, walleye have had one thing on their mind, with little to no food or nutrition in their bodies. This makes for a ravenous bite which is unorthodox of the typical walleye. Imagine yourself not eating for two to three weeks and then seeing a cheeseburger come floating by...I think you get the point. This is why I highly recommend having a jigging rod in your hand if you get a chance to make it to Fort Peck this spring or early summer. When jigging, you get in a personal rhythm and create a jigging pattern that builds your mental confidence that it will draw in walleye. Jigging is between you and the fish and lifting up and feeling the weight of a huge walleye is incredible... but not as incredible as setting the hook on them. I find this the most rewarding type of fishing because the motion you place on your jig entices the fish to bite.
Kit’s Tackle Tips and Techniques for Jigging Post Spawn Walleyes: • BOAT CONTROL: When pitching in shallow for post spawn walleyes it is important to make a buffer zone between the boat and the shore. This is important so you don’t spook the fish and so you’re fishing the proper depths. I like to slide along the shorelines and cast the jig into the shore working it slowly back to the boat. If more than one person is fishing out of the boat make sure the boat is in proper position for ALL anglers to be able to fish properly.
Remember that fish orient into the wind so always fish with the wind when possible (this makes your presentation more natural.) (continued on page 16)
JUNE 2012
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Twitch and Pause for Smallmouth Hogs Casting suspending bodybaits for brute bronzebacks is the perfect By Mitch Eagan year-round ploy
The founding father of all suspending bodybaits is the Rapala Husky Jerk. To this day, it holds the top spot in performance as new lifelike finishes further bolster its appeal to bronzebacks. Photo courtesy of Rapala
C
ast. Reel. Stop. Twitch and pause. Twitch, twitch. Pause. The rhythm of your retrieve is limited only to what your brainwaves can beckon. A smallmouth bass in proximity takes note of your bodybait suspended motionless in the water column. You make another sharp, downward rip of the rod tip and the lure scurries askew and stops. Sunlight reflects from it like the beam of a spotlight echoing off a mirror. As slack line is reeled in the fish erects its dorsal fin, spins, flares its gills and attacks what it thinks is dinner. The wallop is so powerful it torques your wrist. Soft plastics that imitate critters crawling along bottom fill the majority of tackle totes of smallmouth aficionados. And that’s okay because crawfish and aquatic insects make up the majority of a smallmouth’s diet. But contrary to popular bass beliefs, fishing low and slow with creepy-crawlies isn’t always the finest bass catching methodology. Minnows and young-of-the-year fishes are equally as sought after as smallies hunt them down just as doggedly. Casting suspending bodybaits for brute bronzebacks and retrieving them with a tug and purposeful lull is the perfect year-round ploy for emulating the finned fishes big bass eat. It’s not just the lure’s action, but lack thereof that entices bass to whack them no matter the marauder’s mood. STILL NEWSWORTHY - Casting suspending baits for smallmouths isn’t “alert the media” news. Back in the late 1970’s it was realized that lures that didn’t float or sink, but hung right in the water column when paused were often smacked more often than those worked with a steady retrieve. Back in the early days of this revelation, anglers would bore holes in the bellies of Rapala Original Minnows, slide the prescribed mass of lead weights in so the lure would suspend as perfectly horizontal as possible, then close up the gaps with epoxy and touch up the paint. (continued on page 17)
RECIPE CORNER Kris Winkelman www.winkelman.com Baked Walleye Sticks 1⁄2 c flour 1 1⁄2 walleye filets 1⁄2 c beer (lager style) 1 1⁄2 T Dijon Mustard and mayo mixed together 1 lime (squeezed) 3 eggs (1 large & 2 egg whites) 2/3 c Panko bread crumbs 1/3 c unsalted sunflower seeds (crushed) 1 t cumin Salt & pepper to taste Preheat oven to 425 degrees: coat a cookie sheet pan with oil evenly. Heat in oven while preparing fish. Mix flour and black pepper together. Combine 1⁄2 beer, Dijon and mayo, lime juice and eggs beat with whisk until foamy. Place panko bread crumbs and crushed sunflower seeds in shallow dish. Sprinkle fish with salt dredge fish in flour mixture and then in egg mixture and then in panko mixture. Place in oven on hot cookie sheet until brown and only turn over once.
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JUNE 2012
Say Hello To Success: Where to chase the Fish this Month Brought to you by
Jim Verzuh of Bozeman with a recent catch.
more pasture and private property. In June, expect rainbows, brown trout, and mountain whitefish to hit on small Mepps and Panther Martins regularly. Fly fishing Elk Hair Caddis, sizes 16 to 18 or Yellow Sallies, or float a Copper Johns and Beadhead Prince Nymph in slow moving currents will yield results. Upstream fishing access sites include Spring Creek (27 miles) and Brewery Flats (24 miles). Downstream from Lewistown, fish Lazy KB (21 miles), Carrol Trail (20 miles), Reed & Bowles (18 miles), and Hruska (15 miles). Distances are upstream from the confluence with the Judith River.
MARIAS RIVER
June will be one of the best months of the whole year to get out and do a lot of fishing. The mild spring and warm weather has made a smooth transition into our summer pattern. Expect excellent conditions for the next few weeks and expect excellent fishing as well. Most every creek, lake or river will be fishing great. The key is for you to take the time, grab your gear and head to the nearest water you can find. Here are a few areas to consider for June.
CLARKCANYONRESERVOIR
The fishing will be heating up with the weather on this reservoir near Dillon. Generous stockings of rainbow trout have made this a stellar destination to land some of the prettiest rainbows in the state. Trollers can catch some nice sized trout, dragging a Wedding Ring behind a string of Cow Bells or Ford Fenders with a worm. Rapalas and Needlefish in a brown trout color will catch fish. Spin fishers will find jigging successful until the weeds get too thick. For those fly fishing, a size 10 Chironomid pattern under a strike indicator will do the trick. Good colors are black, red, green and olive. Also try a size 8 Denny Rickard’s Seal Bugger for big brown trout in the shallows.
ECHO LAKE
If you’re into bass fishing, it will be a good time to hit this lake located near Kalispell. Post spawn bass will be ready for any number of baits. Start with soft plastics like Berkley PowerBait rubber tubes or spinnerbaits in white with a silver blade, and retrieve slowly for big largemouth here. Expect a strike from a big nothern pike in these waters as well. Blackies Bay is a good place to start, early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You will also find fish around the old marina near the causeway. If you have a boat to use, use it here, as access to some key areas are limited from fishing from the shore. Fish around and under docks for lunkers hiding in the shade. Also work the shallow bays, as these will be the first to warm. Other fish to target here are trout, kokanee, lake whitefish, and yellow perch.
BIG SPRING CREEK
Big Spring Creek is one of the largest freshwater springs in the world and has plenty of access sites to fish. It flows north and south of Lewistown. The upstream section is classic Spring Creek water. The section below town is
June is the best month to fish these waters located near Loma, midway between Havre and Great Falls along Hwy. 87. Bring a tub of nightcrawlers for a variety of species here, including smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger, northern pike, carp, catfish, shovelnose sturgeon, burbot, brown and rainbow trout. The confluence of the river fishes well, because fish from the Missouri River enter the Marias in search of spawning areas. If the Missouri is really ripping fast, you’re better off fishing the Marias. Nightcrawlers fished with enough weight to keep them on the bottom are a good bet. Fishing can be very good at night for some of the species mentioned above, so bring a headlamp and some patience, and you will pull in a few fish.
MISSOURI RIVER Steady river flows in May have made for some excellent fishing lately, and June will be even better. Known worldwide for outstanding dry fly fishing near Craig, many fishermen flock to this area, and for good reason - BIG BROWN TROUT! (rainbows too). Try dry fly fishing with patterns like Para Adams #16 - 18 and Midge Emergers. Nymphs include Pink Soft Hackle, San Juan worms, (red, pink and purple). Streamers are effective now as well. If you have not fished the Missouri, and
want to, consider hiring a guide, and let the pros eliminate a lot of time and error. It will be worth the price of admission.
NOXON RESERVOIR
Plenty of first-class fishing on Noxon this month for largemouth bass, smallmouth, big northerns, and a few walleye. There are many hot spots around the reservoir like Marten Creek Bay near Trout Creek. After a mild winter like we’ve seen the fishing should be excellent in June. Crankbaits work well, as do plastics, spinnerbaits, or a Rapala Husky Jerk in a perch color. Fish shorelines where largemouth bass will hold up just on the deep side of ledges looking for a meal. Big northerns are caught trolling crankbaits along water edges and throwing spinnerbaits into weeded areas as the pike will be in warm water sloughs and inlets hanging and feeding aggressively right now. We’ve had reports of walleye catches here recently
REGULATING RESERVOIR This reservoir is located 8 miles northeast of Helena on York Road on the way to Hauser Lake. It offers mainly fishing for kokanee, whitefish, and perch. Fish finders are a must for consistent action, as kokanee are very sporadic at times. Trolling works well once you find schooled up fish. If you spot fish, anchor up for some vertical jigging. Try using a Buckshot minnow tipped with corn or a maggot, or a nightcrawler on the end of a jig. As for trolling, use Cowbells, Kwikfish or FlatFish. Since you’re in the area, drive about 5 miles up the road and try fishing Hauser Lake.
HAUSER LAKE
Expect good numbers of walleye and trout to be on the take here. Pulling Rapalas in black/silver and perch patterns work well here. Fishing near the dredge cuts with a leech and a slip bobber are effective as well. If the water temperatures don’t get too high, Lake Helena should hold quite a few
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JUNE 2012
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“Don’t m miss iss a day on the water.” BIG OR SMALL Ding, Dent, Or Major Body Work We Can Help!
Remember to carry your bear spray when outdoors.
UPLAND BIRD HUNTING AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER THRU MARCH
Augusta, MT • www.shocoranch.com Phone: 406-562-3553 E-mail: birds@shocoranch.com post spawn walleyes, and a few big brown trout. It’s a wonderful area to recreate, with plenty of campsites on Hauser Lake and on nearby Holter Lake. There is no shortage of fishing opportunities in this area and some tremendous fishing to be had.
CANYON FERRY RESERVOIR
Fishing Canyon Ferry in June will be awesome this month, as the post spawn walleye will become aggressive, and in high numbers here. The southern end of Canyon Ferry is where most fishermen congregate along gravel shorelines and methodically work these areas back and forth in shallow water to collect walleye. Fish around Cemetery Island, Magpie Bay and along the eastern shoreline from Confederate to Goose Bay. One of the most used methods for walleye will be trolling harness rigs tipped with crawlers or leeches. Colors will vary with the weather patterns. Northland’s real image perch Colorado blades usually produce walleye in good numbers, as well as the tackle provided by local tackle makers “Kit’s Tackle” or “Canyon Ferry Tackle” out of Townsend. If you’re trolling harnesses, remember to troll slow between 1/2 to 1 mph for walleye. If you’re jigging, try a purple colored jig tipped with a nightcrawler, or a Lindy rig set-up tipped with a crawler along the bottom until the fish takes it. Trout fishing will be phenomenal as well, and these methods will also land trout, or you can head to deeper water and fish larger spoons, wide running crankbaits, and even gang trolls like Ford Fenders trailed by a nightcrawler or a smaller spinnerbait like a Mepp’s or Panther Martin. If you need a fishing guide on Canyon Ferry give Forrest Fawthrop “AKA Walleye Hunter” a call at 406-459-5352.
HOLTER LAKE
Vertical jigging through the “Gates” will be your best bet for walleye, and you should see lots of numbers this month. Find structures or gravel bottoms, and get aggressive. If you aren’t hitting,
move to a different spot. Try Gulp minnows and leeches along with various Marabou jigs. Marabou colors that consistently produce are perch and crawfish imitations. Trolling for trout can be very productive in the area in front of American Bar. Pull floating or tail-dancer Rapalas or similar type lures in a variety of colors. Trolling Cowbells will also be effective. Try different baits until you find the one that’s working for the day, as conditions will always change on the water. Upriver, fishing around the Cottonwood Creek area will produce active walleye and trout now, and the fish will be laying in these small inlets. There is no shortage of hot spots here, and the natural beauty of this area will take your breath away.
Don Eutsler with his Steelhead
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Walleye Fishing Tournaments & Others
FORT PECK RESERVOIR
June and July provide some of the best fishing days of the year on Peck. Troll gravel humps south of Rock Creek in the Big Dry Arm Area for super sized walleye and northern pike. The water temperature is just right and the fish are aggressive. Go shallow and slow for fish hanging on the edges of bays here. The Hell Creek area is hot around Cattle/Crooked Creek Bay, Gilbert Bay and across the lake in Timber Creek and Pines Bay. A live minnow on a spinner rig is a good “go to” here, and rattling crankbaits will work well in tainted water. Lake trout fishing will begin to pick up in June, and if you like to fish for bass, smallmouth bass are in the plenty here. They are aggressive and they are big! Fish bay inlets in shallow waters for bass, using spinnerbaits in various colors like green, white, chartreuse, and yellow. Expect a few perch as well. Try pitching spoons in 2 to 12 feet of water, and this will like produce some good fish. Target big northerns in 10 to 15 feet of water with a jig and a minnow. If you have never fished Fort Peck, and want to, I recommend a fishing guide, as this is big water and knowledge is key here, plus, you’ll have a great time fishing with someone who knows the water.
From Walleyes Unlimited
Montana Walleye Circuit Tournaments Fresno Walleye Challenge June 2-3 Steve Chvilicek at 406-395-4485 Tiber Walleye Tourney June 16-17 Doug Rohlf at 406-799-4210 Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival June 23-24 Dennis Hovden at 406- 266-5582 Fall Classic at Crooked Creek August 4-5 Travis Scott at 406-366-5603 FORT PECK FISHING TOURNAMENTS Rock Creek June 2-3 Kris Keller at 406-653-3320 Governor’s Cup July 12-14 Glasgow Chamber at 406-228-2222 Hell Creek July 21-22 Calvin Thomas at 406-557-2311 OTHER MONTANA FISHING TOURNAMENTS John Arnold Fish Derby August 24 Adrin at 406-439-9473.
Hunter, age 12, from Winchester, Idaho with his steelhead caught on the Grand Ronde in Washington. Caught with Zebco rod.
Broadwater Rod and Gun Club Walleye Derby July 14 Doug Breker at 406-266-5279 FROM MONTANA PIKEMASTERS Pikemaster’s Tournament June 23 - 24 Fort Peck - Rock Creek Marina Clay Buckmiller 406-860-7435 Bill Hinrich 406-485-2560
16 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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JUNE 2012
WE HAVE MOST ANYTHING YOU NEED FOR FISHING Stop in! Night Crawlers $2.00/dz Leeches $3.85 Kits Tackle in stock!
Fishing Gear & Bait Biggest Cigar Selection Coldest Beer Around Novelty Section
2 LOCATIONS
615 Helena Ave. corner Last Chance Gulch & Helena Ave. 406.443.8084 OR ON YOUR WAY TO THE LAKE at 200 S. Montana Off Highway 12 East - East Helena 406.227.6519
Kit’s Tackle Tips and Techniques for Jigging Post Spawn Walleyes: (continued from page 12)
For our full line of tackle and customer rods, shop online at
www.KitsTackle.com
• JIGGING: When jigging for post spawn
walleye I like to fish a little more aggressively than usual. I cast my jig into shore and “hop” it along the bottom back to the boat. In-between hops it is of paramount importance to let your jig fall on a SLACK LINE. This eliminates line drag so the jig falls naturally and the fish won’t feel you. Most fish will be in 2-12 feet of water this time of the year. Walleyes can be ready strikers this time of year, but be sure to set the hook at any feel of resistance...it is better to be safe than sorry. Walleyes are notorious for feeling like a log on the bottom. We recommend that all persons in the boat face the bow and cast their jigs into shore at 11:00 meaning they are casting forward so all anglers can fish and no line drag is placed on the jig.
• CATCH AND RELEASE: Just wanted to touch on the importance of catch and release of quality fish. 20+ inch fish are the primary spawning fish that will maintain a fishery for generations to come. Catching a big walleye is a rush like no other, but letting a big fish go is a rush that will bring incredible self-gratification for a lifetime. (Be sure to get a photo!)
KIT’S TACKLE RECOMMENDATIONS:
• JIGS: My favorite jig this time of year is the Kit’s Tackle “GLASS MINNOW” Series jigs for their realistic representation of natural forage and their incredible undulating action in the water. Every fish we caught on the GLASS MINNOWS on our trip to Fort Peck was hooked inside the mouth (when the walleye would hit the net there was nothing but line coming out of their mouths.) The few we caught on regular jigs were barely hooked outside the mouth. This makes for confident fishing and a great day on the water. If you want to beef up your presentation even more try tipping with a 2.5 inch Berkley Gulp minnow for added scent and visual attraction. From Northern Pike to Walleye this is the most productive jig I have ever used!
• Line: Braided line gives you incredible feel for jigging applications. I
recommend 4-6 lb Berkley Fireline with a 24-36 inch Fluorocarbon leader in clear water applications. • RODS: For pitching jigs I recommend a 6-6’3” medium light rod with a fast action tip for feel. A higher quality rod makes a significant difference for jig fishing. Remember feel is everything in the world of jig fishing. Check out KitsTackle.com to see our custom rods specific for jigging applications. So until the next trip to the “land of the lost” they refer to as Fort Peck, I will be eagerly waiting to hear the song of the meadowlark resonate the air while the wind whistles through my guides “Jigging the Dream” ***To watch us release some huge post spawn walleye and pike on our trip, check out the Kit’s Tackle Facebook page to watch the videos!!!
JUNE 2012
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The only limits on suspending bodybaits are those you self impose. Played slow to fast to match the conditions – cold to warm water – bodybaits serve up year-round appeal to bronzebacks. Photo by Mitch Eagan
SEASONAL SUPPRESSION - One misnomer still stuck in the minds of smalljaw fanatics is that suspending bodybaits only work when fish are foraging below a lake’s façade during the coldwater periods of pre-spawn and late fall – nothing could be further from the truth... Freshwater fish are truly cold blooded. This means their body temperature duplicates the surroundings; smallmouth bass, included. In coldwater fish not only won’t, but cannot catch up to a lure fished too aggressively. Besides that, the very forage these lures are imitating are also lethargic and unable to dash away from predators.
Twitch and Pause for Smallmouth Hogs (continued from page 13) It was a time consuming task but well worth the effort. As word spread of the suspending bait’s effectiveness, the soon-to-be-doctored floating balsa lures started disappearing off store shelves.
plastic, have weight-transfer systems for long-distance casting and to keep the lure from spinning and tangling midair; and come in every imaginable shape, size and color.
Since that formative era, companies like Rapala began mass producing bodybaits that suspended without needing a handyman. And the baits have come a long way; most are now molded from
The Rapala Husky Jerk persists as the benchmark suspending bodybait. It casts long and rattles, literally, the cages of smallmouth bass. Comes in every size and finish to match your neighborhood hatch, too.
When water temperatures are in the 40s and 50s, the lure should move less and park longer; sometimes sitting still up to 30 seconds between twitches. As water temperatures warm, however, the rip of the rod tip can become more erratic and with tighter intervals between twitches. By the time water temps reach 70 you can entirelyeradicate the pauses, your rod tip continuously snapping and the lure endlessly darting to and fro – this versus a steady retrieve. Overall, no matter the season, the key to success boils down to varying the twitch and pause until you get hit. The hard part is remembering exactly what speed and pause time worked so as to repeat it... MATCH GAME - To evoke the correct lure action takes a rod and line that matches the task at hand.
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SAVE $7,635 Rods, whether spinning or baitcasting, should be on the long side; up to 7 feet to cast lures extended distances. (The waters smallies swim are often very clear and long casts away from the boat or shore are necessary). The rod should be medium-action, yet with a soft tip – the medium power of the midsection and butt for muscle to work the lure and set the hook; the forgiving tip section aiding in casting the lure without it somersaulting in the air. St. Croix, for example, has designed a 6-foot 8-inch “jerkbait” rod in the Legend Tournament Bass series explicitly for this technique. Using the right line, too, is essential in making the lure come alive. It should have little or no stretch, yet be soft enough to cast like a demon. 10- to 17-pound-test Sufix 832 is where it’s at. The dense property of fluorocarbon, too, such as found on Sufix Castable Invisiline 100% Fluorocarbon in the same pound test is a suitable alternative for twitching suspending baits. Both superline and fluorocarbon are sensitive and even the lightest hits can be felt telegraphed through the line, rod and into your hand. ANYWHERE, ANY PLACE, ANYTIME minnows and young-of-the-year fishes are equally as sought after as bottom dwellers – smallies will hunt them down like CIA operatives. And suspending bodybaits, which emulate baitfish, work wonders anywhere...The key to using bodybaits is varying the action and amount of time between moves. That, and use equipment that makes the lure come alive...
18 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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BOAT OAT WE’VE YOUR B GOT
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JUNE 2012
PLEASE PASS THE MEAT... THE FRESH STUFF Walleye fishing icons Gary Roach and Doc Samson won’t be giving up live bait anytime soon By Ted Pilgrim
northlandtackle.com
L ivebait is back, baby. You better believe it. Despite the buzz about plastics, the
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reality is, walleyes eat live bait. Period. In the end, all artificial lures lack two potent, inimitable ingredients: organic random movement and instinctive flight response. In the presence of predators, live baits like minnows exhibit a set of natural, random escape maneuvers. These moves represent the single most effective strike triggers in existence. Often, walleyes (and other species) simply will not ingest an offering until they’ve examined it for extended periods. Without all the little shakes, twitches and retreat signals performed by live bait, sometimes you simply will not get bit. Talk is talk. Yet the truth lives within the boats of master walleye men. Inside the baitwells of anglers the likes of Gary Roach and Bruce “Doc” Samson reside a perpetual, steady supply of fresh live bait. Let’s begin with Mr. Walleye himself.
ROACH ON RIGGING
“When the going gets tough, it’s still tough to beat a Roach (live bait) Rig, even after all these years,” states the venerable Roach. “Quick-Change Walking Sinker, ant swivel, fine-wire VMC cone-cut hook, and Roach Finesse Snell—still the deadliest livebait delivery system ever devised.” The real beauty of the rig, Roach says, lies in its simplicity. But it’s a deceptive simplicity, Roach adds. “This rig didn’t happen overnight. It took years of fishing effort, tweaking and redesigning.” The result, Roach says, is a rig that simply places bait in the walleye’s face, then steps back and allows the tasty morsel to steal the show. “Keep a rig and active live bait in front of a walleye, and eventually, she’ll eat. It’s as close to a sure thing there is.”
CRAWLER HAULIN’ HAWGS
There are times, of course— especially as water warms in summer— when extra speed, bulk and flash trigger big fish. It’s why when Roach finds walleyes on broad flats, he reaches for the bottom bouncer rods. “When walleyes get cranked up in summer, I love running a big spinCrawler Hauler ner rig,” Roach continues. “Flashy Colorado blades, beefed up #6 beads and a 4-foot snell tied with 17-pound test Berkley XT and run behind a bottom bouncer – it’s a package that puts a fat juicy crawler in front of a lot of big ‘eyes.” Developed on the Great Lakes and windswept western reservoirs, the Crawler Hauler by Northland Fishing Tackle is equally at home on shallow, dark water rivers and lakes. “Lots of times, bulking up your rig is far more effective than the usual tendency to downsize, especially for big fish, and at night,” Roach contends.
Thumper Jigging
Longtime tournament ace and electronics guru, Doc Samson, agrees. “Live bait is simply about confidence,” Samson offers. “Even in the toughest bites, live bait adds the extra dimensions of natural scent and movement. As Gary says, eventually something’s going to eat it.” For Samson, live bait has been like money in the bank. In 2002, he walked away with a cool $300K, winning the FLW Championship with Roach Rigs and minnows...“I love blade jigs like the Thumper,” Samson reveals.
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“Lots of fishermen think they’re for dirty water only. Actually, they shine in clear water; I think the flash of the little spinner better attracts walleyes in clear water, because there’s more light available to reflect off the blades.” Walleyes, Samson believes, detect the subtle baitfish-like flash of the blades flickering near the bottom, and swim over to eat. A vigorous leech seals the deal.
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Things To Think About While Wishing For Walleyes (continued from page 10)
upstream a spell if navigable, as well as the spillway up to a quarter mile out into the lake. Watch your electronics and pay close attention for signs of a deeper river channel. Those cuts can be killer. SATISFYING SLOBS: These are not for eating. Got it? Trusting that you’re an ethical angler, I’m going to give you my top terrain for finding giant early Pro Staffer season walleyes. Ready? Rocks, big rocks. Deep or Brian “Bro” Brosdahl shallow, I’ve caught more slovenly, spawned out females amongst boulders than anywhere else. These sows are hungry, too, but not inclined to chase bait around. Rather, they hunker down in an ambush stance and wait for deliveries. I’m convinced that they’re waiting for me to lower a sumo-sized minnow on a rig or jig. Rarely does a year pass when I don’t pin a couple of trophies on the Minnesota Opener using Popsicle sized shiners or chubs. SECRET STRUCTURE: Rocks are regular. Sand the same. And points, well, very predictable. So here’s an arrow to add to the quiver that you might not already own. Clam beds. They’re pretty prevalent on large lakes and generally colonize in 6 to 10 feet of water inside, or just beyond the outside weedline. And with foliage not yet totally in place, now’s the time to find them. (By midsummer clam beds can get buried in greens and be virtually undetectable.) Paramount to fishing clam beds is not dragging the bottom or you’ll get cut-off more times than a Vespa in downtown New York traffic. Clam beds are constructed of both the living and the dead. And the last gasp of a clam leaves an open shell that’s sharpened to slash fishing line. With that in mind, I “float” a jig overhead. Close to the bottom, maybe ticking it once to get a reference point, but then maintain a lofting and swimming motion that steers clear of the cutlery. Hair jigs are the ultimate vehicle for hovering over clam beds. The plume of a marabou tail or airy hairs of a bucktail jig provide a tempting target with a relaxed fall fit for such operations. And there’s no doubt, Northland’s new Buck-A-Roo hair jig is the ultimate anti clam digger. It floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. RIGGING RITUAL: Launch and look around. There’s probably a 50/50 split between guys jigging and rigging. I have no qualms with either party, either. Both are classic methods for rolling cold water walleyes. But this year, just for poops and giggles, experiment with my hybridized presentation. It blends the best of both worlds. Think of it like an undersized live bait rig that can be pitched like a jig. Build it this way: Space roughly 18-inches between your hook and a fixed position bullet sinker. I use Northland’s ingenious Sling-Shot Worm Weight because they affix to the line – without nicking and twisting it – and stay put without a swivel. Moreover, you can change weights without retying. To complete the rig, simply tie in a #6 or even smaller #8 hook. In this application, smaller hooks are preferred because they aren’t a prone to snagging. Dress the rig with minnow, half a crawler, or my favorite, especially in early summer, a medium black leech. Rear back and pitch it like a jig. Twitch it back in 2-foot strides, each action followed by a 3-second settling period to let the bait fall to a potential death by walleye. I haven’t officially named the rig yet, but will, and shortly, so nobody else claims it... Oh, and by the way, the No Name Rig is most effective over shallow rocks and for slipping through emerging vegetation. ALIVE AND KICKING: That Buck-A-Roo jig I just mentioned? You can bet it’ll be buddy-buddy with a live minnow in my boat. In fact, other than stroking my No Name Rig and a leech at rocks and weeds, minnows will be responsible for the rest of the dirty work. And hands-down, locally-trapped, shiner minnows are the best of show. Nothing outdoes what the lake is actually serving. The shiners are in. The walleyes are in because of the shiners. So don’t fool with Mother Nature. Fragile as they are, the slightest scrape of a hook puts a shiner into a traumatized twist that walleyes enjoy to watch, albeit sadistically...A flash of a flank of a shiner and the jig is up, literally. That delicate nature also presents a problem. Shiners are easily shocked and you can burn a lot of hard earned money if they aren’t handled with TLC. For the big transport – going from the bait store to camp, which might be hours away – I transfer them into Frabill’s 6-gallon Personal Bait Station.
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20 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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JUNE 2012
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EYE OF THE TROUT
,
Part 1
Montana Made Drift Boats Adipose FLOW
ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY JUSTIN HARTMAN - TIGHT LINE ADVENTURES
We’ve been doing a lot of research over the past year on Fluorescent light and how certain colors are viewed by trout sub surface. The following series...contains our findings and thoughts on Fluorescent light and how it is viewed by the trout.
Science has taught us a few things about light penetration in water. The first being that water filters out different wavelengths of light depending on the color of the water and they type of suspended material within the water. Secondly, water becomes more “one-colored” the deeper you go, and color shifts can happen just as quickly in shallow murky water.
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One of the greatest innovations in fly tying the past few years is the production of ultra violent and fluorescent material. Understanding why UV and FL flies seem to entice more takes, knowing what colors to tie during certain situations, and understanding how fish view color are three big keys to angling success. Fluorescent types of material reflect light at a longer wavelength than which it receives. Fluorescent materials can absorb any light color in the spectrum and will ultimately reflect their representative color. Non fluorescent colors will appear black at most water depths as color changes, and will only appear in their representative color when they reflect the same color light. Depending on the depth and clarity of the water, you will find different colors. Flies tied with fluorescent materials stand out in the aquatic system, especially at depth and in dirty waters. This creates a huge advantage over flies tied without fluorescent materials as they will appear in a natural color with a brightly colored “hot spot” in those deeper runs. Wanting to figure out what that “hot spot” represents the fish slides over and opens their mouth to examine the fly. Anyone who has had or been around children knows that when they are young everything they touch goes in their mouth. I always thought it was very interesting that they would explore their world via the sensory receptors in their mouth. Fish act in the very same way as small children in this instance. Because they lack the ability to stop a fly in drift and examine it with their fins, fish explore their surrounding environment with their mouth. One of the most common phrases in fly fishing is “he spit the hook.” Well we all know this statement is not 100% true, but there is a good portion that holds truth even though the angler saying it may not know how close to accurate they may be. Steelhead fishermen know there is nothing better than swinging up a dime bright beauty fresh out of the ocean. They are a far cry from the ones we find inland after months in the rivers migrating back to their spawning grounds. The bright silver color has been replaced with deep reds resembling those of rainbow trout. Ever wonder why that is? When a steelhead is in the ocean their eyes contain more of the photochemical rhodopsin, which helps them see in the deep ocean range of colors blue and green. When they enter into the freshwater river systems, their cells change from rhodopsin to porphryopsin with peak sensitivity to red light. Steelhead change colors to help them find a mate. Just like the Steelhead, fishermen will change the color of their flies when the current choice is not producing. More often than not we seem to stumble on the right color combo and begin to feel fish on the end of the rod. In our next article we will go over in detail which colors we’ve found work well in all different types of water, which colors work better at certain depths, and provide a few visual examples of Fluorescent vs. Non Fluorescent flies. Tight Line Adventures provides guided fly fishing trips and lodging. Justin Hartman is the Visit http://tightlinemontana.com to owner of Tight Line learn more or call 406-925-1684. Adventures in Dillon.
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22 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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JUNE 2012
GROUNDHOG DAY
JUNEENDS 30 th !
By Bob Humphrey
Good optics are a must for long range shooting
S
ummer is upon is and we’re about as far from any regular hunting season as you can get. So when it’s too hot for golf and the fish aren’t biting, what’s an avid hunter to do? Pack up your gear and head for the fields for some of the hottest shooting action of the year. It’s groundhog day.
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*Finance offer subject to credit approval, applies to purchases of new Yamaha ATVs made on a Yamaha Installment Financing loan account from 1/1/12-6/30/12. Minimum contract length 24 months, maximum 36 months. Minimum amount financed $5,000. Fixed APR of 3.99%, 4.99%, 5.99% or 12.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Monthly payments per $1,000 financed based on 36-month term are $29.52 at 3.99%, $29.97 at 4.99%, $30.42 at 5.99% and $33.69 at 12.99%. **Customer Cash offer good on select 2011 (and prior year) models between 1/1/12 - 6/30/12. Offer good only in the U.S., excluding the state of Hawaii. ATVs with engine sizes over 90cc are recommended for use only by riders age 16 years and older. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety; Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing; never carry passengers; never engage in stunt riding; riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix; avoid excessive speed; and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. ©2012 Yahama Motor Corp. U.S.A. All rights reserved. • yamaha-motor.com
They go by different names in different parts of the country: ground hogs, woodchucks, marmots. They and some of their smaller cousins, like the prairie dogs and ground squirrels are considered varmints in many areas, and with no closed season. But the best time to hunt them is right now. The first step is finding a place to hunt. The good news is, that while landowners might be stingy with their deer and turkey hunting privileges, they’ll often welcome chuck hunters with open arms, especially if they raise livestock. These medium to large members of the rodent family live in burrows. A cow that breaks a leg stepping in a chuck hole will probably have to be put down, which could represent a significant loss to the landowner or lessee. Like most wild critters, woodchucks are most active early and late in the day; so those periods will offer the best odds. However, they’re also quite accommodating for those of you who prefer more leisurely hours. Chucks may be active all day, as will prairie dogs. The name of the game is long-range shooting. The optimum caliber will vary with circumstances but in general, you want a relatively light, yet flat-shooting cartridge. At the low end is something like the .17 HMR. The upper end is limited more by how much recoil you can tolerate, an important consideration as you may be doing a lot of shooting. Preferred varmint calibers are usually somewhere in the .22 center-fire range, like the .223 or .22-250, but there’s all kinds of wildcat cartridges available, (next page)
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23
Groundhog (continued from previous page) and the sport is particularly popular with hand-loaders. Don’t worry if you only own one gun - a deer rifle, you’re breaking in a new deer or antelope gun or simply want to get used to it before the season. In that case you can go with a larger caliber but use reduced recoil loads or accelerator sabots. With the latter you can shoot .30-06 bullets down to 55 grains.
The rest is simply locating your quarry and making a good shot. For the most part you’re in open terrain, fields and pastures. The amount of available cover and how close you are to your quarry will determine how much or how little camouflage you need. It may take patience so it’s best if you can set up in the shade and make yourself comfortable.
Small varmint hunting is not a particularly rigorous activity either. In fact, most good hunting areas are accessible by an off-road vehicle so you can load your ATV with guns, gear and some amenities like a cooler for lunch, chairs, even a shooting bench if you prefer.
A few words of caution are also advisable. You may be around livestock so always be sure of your target and what’s beyond, and make sure there is some sort of solid backstop behind it should you miss, or your bullet pass through. Otherwise, practice all the standard firearms safety procedures and be considerate of landowners and other land users.
For essential equipment you’ll want a bipod, tripod or other means of stabilizing your gun. Because it’s primarily long-range shooting, binoculars and a spotting scope are invaluable. And of course, you should wear the proper eye and ear protection.
Groundhog Day may only come once a year on the calendar, but you can re-live it many days over in the middle of the summer. Not only does it offer some great recreation, you’ll be doing the landowner a big favor, which could work in your favor when it comes to gaining access for bigger game.
PLEASE PASS THE MEAT continued from page 18
“Rig your float rig so the jig hovers just inches off bottom,” he instructs. “In troughs between waves, the jig dips and the blade just rubs bottom—looks exactly like a silvery-sided baitfish. Tipped with a leech, this is a real go-to method,” he offers, with a grin.
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Keeping Your Soldiers Happy For live bait artists like Roach and Samson, proper bait care is key—but it’s also the one step most anglers fail to execute. “My baits are like my soldiers,” says Samson. “They’re always fresh and ready for combat. I often see guys fishing bait that’s in really sorry shape. I want to tell them they might as well be fishing with an old sock.”
FX CRUISER SHO®
To assure your bait stays healthy and happy, follow a few simple steps: Minnows – Maintain a steady cool environment in your bait container (under 60-degrees whenever possible), adding non-chlorinated ice to baitwells as water warms. Avoid adding too much ice at once, which can shock and kill baitfish. Keep water infused with a steady stream of oxygen, too. An insulated baitwell, such as a Frabill Aqua-Life Bait Station, provides a cool, aerated baitfish environment. Change water every day in cooler weather; several times on hot summer days. Crawlers – The “happiest” environment for crawlers is within an insulated cooler filled with slightly damp (not soggy) worm bedding. Bedding is cleaner and makes for robust crawlers. Frabill offers a great bait care product called the Habitat Deluxe Worm Kit. The kit includes a large insulated “Habitat” cooler, smaller cooler for toting enough bait for a trip, a pack of specially-formulated Super-Gro bedding, and even a jar of crawler food. Here’s an old guide secret: just minutes before fishing, place a crawler into a small cup of cool water. The crawler will swell in size, becoming fat and frisky on the hook. Don’t over soak. Leeches – Like baitfish, leeches require cool, clean water. Most top walleye anglers keep leeches in a container like a Frabill Leech Tote, which fits nicely inside your boat’s aerated livewell. The Tote features a removable bait strainer that lets you hand-select the choicest leeches in the stash. As long as walleyes swim, livebait will remain a prime presentation. Put a frisky minnow, leech or crawler in a walleye’s face and it’s over. They just can’t help themselves.
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24 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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JUNE 2012
COYOTE HUNTING BASICS
Absolutely The Easiest Way To Move Packs, Game Traverse Rough Country And Go Around Gates “The Easy Way Out...& Back”
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Photo: Babe Winkelman and Steve Criner
n my last column I made a case for WHY you should go coyote hunting. In this piece, I’ll lay down the fundamentals of HOW you can go about your hunt. To recap a little bit, every hunt starts with good preparation - from scouting and de-scenting your gear to having good camo and calls. So, you’re all set. Now what? First, because coyotes are predominantly nocturnal hunters, focus your calling and hunting during the low light periods of dusk and dawn. Dusk can be particularly good, as many coyotes have spent the daylight hours hunkered down and not feeding. As evening approaches, they typically have a hunger for a rabbit dinner. Night hunting under a bright moon or with artificial lights is thrilling and highly effective, but a little more advanced. Since my intent here is to provide fundamentals for first-time coyote hunters, we’ll save nighttime tactics for another time.
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The Future Of Montana’s Big Game Animals Is In Your Hands! Thereʼs never been a more important time for YOU to FIGHT for your hunting and fishing rights.
Join us for the 2012 MTSFW BBQ/Fundraiser Lumberjack Saloon, Lolo MT Saturday June 16th 2-7 pm $20.00 per person (children under 12 free)
Silent & Live Auction, Raffles and games for all ages We hope you can join us! If you have any questions, please feel free to call 406/544-0420 or e-mail lclarkmtsfw@gmail.com For overnight reservations contact the Lumberjack 406-273-6264 or lumberjacksln@aol.com Montana Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife Mission Statement:
To preserve, protect and enhance Montana’s fish and wildlife resources and outdoor opportunities and to ensure our American heritage of hunting, fishing and trapping through hands-on conservation efforts and responsible predator management by Montana Sportsmen. All memberships are a tax deferral as SFW Montana is a no-for-profit 501 C3 entity
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When you arrive at your hunting location, pay attention to wind direction and the location of the sun. In an ideal set-up, you’ll have a slight crosswind and the sun at your back. This gives you a huge edge over a coyote’s keen eyesight and sense of smell. Why a crosswind? Because an approaching coyote will often circle downwind of the calling location to locate the source of the call. It puts you in a good ambush position on an approaching predator. Choose a vantage point that gives you a good, wide view of the terrain and adequate cover for your concealment. Field edges, gravel pits, dry sloughs and creek valleys are prime spots. I’ve found that when you come upon a good location, your predatory instincts sort of speak to you and say “this is a good spot!” Trust your instincts. Many coyote hunters put a decoy out at each set, and it’s a good idea. It gives the coyote a visual on the “meal” and takes his attention off of you. A rabbit skin on a stick works perfectly well, particularly if it can dance in the breeze a little bit. Movement is good. So good in fact that many companies have introduced motorized decoys that add eye-catching movement. The choice to use a decoy or not is simply a matter of personal preference; same thing for the choice to use mouth calls or an electronic caller. There are advantages to both. Mouth calls are lightweight, compact and effective. However, they make you the object of attention. Remote electronic callers can be placed away from your ambush position and in close proximity to your decoy if you’re using one. TNT Game Calls make some excellent electronic calls. As for which calls to use, there are three must-haves: rabbit in distress, coyote howler and mouse squeaker. So, you’ve found a nice spot with a good view of the landscape. You’re well camouflaged and scent free. Your rifle is in the ready position on shooting sticks. It’s time to call. A great way to start is by blowing your distressed rabbit call first. Begin with moderate volume and passion for about 30-45 seconds, then chase that with a coyote howl and finish with another short burst on the rabbit call. After calling, pay close attention for an approaching coyote. If nothing appears after several minutes, repeat the calling sequence. If you see a ‘Yote running in on a string, keep quiet and focus on making the shot. He’s sold. If the coyote is sneaking his way in and tentative, then coax him in with soft volume rabbit wails or with your mouse squeaker. Read the dog’s body language. If he keeps looking back over his shoulder, it can mean that he’s got some buddies with him – which means you might be in for a double or triple! It’s always best to shoot at a standing coyote versus one that’s trotting. It’s pretty easy to get them to pose for you if they’re moving. Simply give them a dog bark with your voice and they routinely stop in their tracks to give you a shot. Sometimes you can even stop a missed coyote that’s running away from you with a sharp bark. The more you hunt coyotes, the better you’ll get. You’ll hone your scouting, set-up, calling and shooting skills and have a ton of fun doing it. You’ll also do the natural world a favor by removing some of these unwanted predators. But be warned... you WILL get addicted to the heart-pounding pursuit of the Wile E. Coyote. Good Hunting!
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Bob Ward & Sons Sporting Goods Celebrates 95th Anniversary in 2012 footsteps, creating a Montana business tradition known today as Bob Ward & Sons. Robert “Bob” C. Ward and his sons RICH OUTDOOR TRADITIONS Bob Ward’s love of hunting and fishing led him to become a well-known gunsmith in addition to being a skilled jeweler. Bob was also the first person HOW IT ALL BEGAN in the country to import wire-haired Bob Ward & Sons, Montana’s oldest and griffons from Germany. These highly largest sporting goods retailer, is celebrating trained hunting dogs earned Bob a its 95th anniversary in 2012. With deep roots national reputation for breeding and in Montana, the Ward family continues to training. As he aged, Bob Ward’s own and operate the now 5-store chain and enthusiasm for outdoor activities did not is proud of its heritage and the tale of its diminish. At 66, he won a national rifle founder, Robert “Bob” C. Ward. marksmanship competition. When Bob Ward was born in Minnesota in 1885. In Bob was in his 70’s, “Ripley’s Believe it March 1900, at the age of 15, Bob set out on or Not” featured an article on him after he’d successfully hunted a black bear a journey to the Klondike in search of gold. Two states later, in Missoula, Montana, he with a bow and arrow. ran out of money. Eager to continue his journey, Bob looked up an old family friend, Eventually, the Bob Ward & Sons John Roland, who owned a Missoula jewelry business grew to include custom gun-making and fishing-tackle store. Roland offered Bob a job that the manufacturing (part of the fishing line young man was sure would pay the rest of was the locally famous “Ward Wobbler”). his way to the Klondike. Robert C. Ward passed away in 1985 at Still in Missoula sixteen years later, Bob was the age of 100, leaving his dedicated sons married and on the verge of opening a watch- and grandson to keep the business thriving. repair shop. His shop opened in 1917. Over GENERATIONS the next decade, he and his wife became the After returning from World War II, parents of eight children, six of whom were Bob’s oldest son, Irvine, expanded the boys. And those six boys followed in Bob’s
business into retail sporting goods, which is its primary business today. The company grew to become the largest sporting goods company in Montana. Under the guidance of Irvine’s son, Keith Ward, the company has further expanded its reach to include stores in four other markets in Montana: Bozeman, Helena, Butte and Hamilton. Bob Ward & Sons has become one of the largest privately held sporting goods companies in the Northwest. Keith’s son, Chad Ward, joined the company full time in 1997 after graduating from Wake Forest University and now is president of the company. TRADITIONS It all began, simply, because Robert C. Ward, at the age of fifteen, ran out of money in Missoula, Montana, while on his way to find a fortune. What he found instead was a long, prosperous life in the heart of Big Sky Country; what he left is a proud legacy of service to Montanans and others that the family carries on today. MESSAGE FROM CHAD WARD “What can one say after 95 years in business and four generations? It simply comes down to a huge “THANK YOU” to our neighbors and customers as well as the thousands of employees we’ve had over the years. We love Montana and are grateful to be able to help provide gear,
advice, and service to everyone that wants to enjoy the outdoors of Big Sky Country. I also really enjoy hearing the stories that pop up randomly from folks I don’t know about my great grandfather or grandfather, as well as when someone tells me that they used to work here decades ago. I’m sure I haven’t heard half of the stories that are out there. 95 years is a long, long time to be in business. But we hope and plan to be in business for a long time to come. We are still a locally owned Montana business with deep ties to the communities we are in. So to all our customers from the past, the present, and the future, thanks again and hope to see you in the store, on the river, on a mountain top, on the golf course, or wherever your adventurous side takes you!”
Chad Ward and HIS sons!
26 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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JUNE 2012
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M issed Birds and Blown Shots
By Dave Price
You will learn more about shotgun shooting in one day at the Sporting Clays range then you would in 10 years of bird shooting. The best practice method is shooting sporting clays using mechanically thrown targets at a controlled shooting range that was designed to simulate the sport of bird hunting. There are low fliers, high fliers, birds from the right and from the left. In many cases, there is a rabbit target bouncing across the ground and even flights of mini targets that fly like they have jet afterburners. Adding realism to the scenario, there is usually a pair of targets thrown simultaneously or a second one sent flying as your shotgun goes off after shooting at the first bird.
S
porting Clays originated in the 1920’s in Great Britain for the purpose of teaching wing shooting skills to wealthy sportsmen. In the last seventy years, it has expanded worldwide and is recognized as not only a system for teaching shooting skills, but also as a tournament sport and one of the major recreational target shooting sports. Participation in sporting clays tournaments is growing faster than any other competitive shooting sport in America
The next best is skeet shooting. Skeet was developed in the early 1900s in the US as a way to practice shooting live birds during the off season. Shots include shooting a “high house” bird darting low and a “low house” birds flying high. Shots come at angles up to 90 degrees from the shooter and fly at speeds approaching 50 mph - this can require a lead of four to six feet to hit the bird. Most of the stations throw doubles - two birds thrown at the same time from each direction - to challenge shooters.
The last game is trap developed in England to practice for driven A bright ring neck pheasant breaks loose under your feet and accelerates away bird hunts. It’s the easiest and most common method because of the rapidly as he puts distance between him and your pointed shotgun. You quickly minimal resources it requires. All birds present “going away” shots at angles averaging from straight away to being offset 30 degrees. align him with the front bead as he pumps his wings to add distance to the For a novice shooter this is a very good game and builds important equation. In your mind, you know that this bird is in the “bag”. shotgun handling skills in inexperienced shooters. You instinctively squeeze the trigger to send the fatal charge of number Another method to use is the hand trap or personal clay pigeon fives on their way as the bird accelerates. The shot, sound, recoil and the thrower (they can be purchased in Bob Wards stores or other sporting bird flies off unscathed...you missed! outlets These help, but usually the speed is not sufficient to This scenario is all too common for upland game bird hunters who only replicate the flight of a wild bird. Shooters tend to stand behind get to hunt pheasants or other flushing birds once or twice each year. the thrower and shoot birds going away. These are fairly easy shots Shotgun skills are completely different from rifle shooting skills, and and shooters should push themselves to improve their skills. The without continual practice they fade away like old photographs left out more realistic the practice scenario the easier it will be to hit shots in the sun. Shooting once per year while hunting (possibly ten shots) isn’t in a hunting situation. When you’re hunting in a crosswind and it is enough practice to keep your shotgun skills current and those skills soon cold and snowy outside your warm weather practice habits will take fade. Walking all day long behind good dogs flushing birds is only part of over and the crossing shots becomes instinctive. Make your practice the equation when pursuing upland game birds. There is more work to be sessions difficult, push the envelope for flight angles and shoot at done in order to fill your game bag with wild roosters. It’s time to analyze clay birds that replicate live bird speeds in the field. A wild bird will your shooting skills and correct flaws as they arise in order to be successful. do everything he can to avoid getting shot, and he’ll be even faster after the first shot misses. Make your first shot count and you won’t Off season practice is the remedy to help you make shots on have to worry about a follow-up shot. Approximately 95% of the flushing birds. On many hunts, hunters claim to have flushed over 20 time your first shot is the easiest and you don’t want to rely on the birds on a given morning, but when they return home with an empty game lower odds of a second shot This will also help you build your skills bag it doesn’t matter how many birds they saw unless they’re able to make on hunting shots, but shooting sporting clays and skeet is the best a variety of different shots in a hunting situation. If you look at the cost of method to improve your overall wing shooting skills and help make a pheasant hunt (driving to the hunt, motel costs, restaurant meals, licenses you “field ready” when the upland bird hunting season rolls around. and access fees) how can hunters not afford to squeeze in a few practice During any of the shooting sports, sporting clays, skeet or trap, rounds of skeet, trap or sporting clays during the summer months to you’ll get more quality practice and improve your shooting skills improve their shooting skills? more in one round than in 10 years of one day field hunts!
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28 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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Comments Sought On Proposed Harvest Public Comment Sought On Proposed 2012/2013 Wolf In Archery/Elk Hunting Districts MFWP Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is
HDs 502/510 (west of Hwy 310), seeking public comment on proposed 520 (south and east of West Fork antlerless harvest prescriptions for a of Rock Creek)/57515 antlerless elk group of 21 bundled hunting districts (HD502/510 portion) outside the Missouri Breaks and 35 antlerless elk (HD 520 portion) seven other hunting districts in the 25 antlerless elk (HD 575 east of Missouri Breaks area for the 2012 Stillwater River) hunting season. 80 antlerless elk (west of Stillwater River) In February the FWP Commission HD 580 (south of Sweetgrass Creek) modified the elk archery regulations 110 antlerless elk in these hunting districts for the 2012HD 590 and portion of HD 701 north 2013 hunting season by increasing of the Yellowstone River, south of the either-sex elk archery permits Hwy 12 and west of available, and removing hunting Sumatra-Myers Rd. districts 420 and 455 from the group 225 antlerless elk (Bull Mtns) of bundled hunting districts. 45 antlerless elk (Pine Ridge) HDs 702/704/705 Public comment will be accepted 50 antlerless elk (HD 702) through June 18 on the proposed 115 antlerless elk (HD 704) harvest levels set for each of the following bundled hunting districts: 45 antlerless elk (HD 705) MISSOURI BREAKS HDs 410/417 300 antlerless elk (HD 410) 85 antlerless elk (HD 417) HDs 620/621/622 400 antlerless elk HD 700 205 antlerless elk OUTSIDE MISSOURI BREAKS HDs 401/403/450 50 antlerless elk (HD 401) 50 antlerless elk (HD 450) HDs 411/412/426/511/530 375 antlerless elk (HDs 411/511/530) 150 antlerless elk (HD 412) 25 antlerless elk (HD 426) HD 447 300 antlerless elk HDs 500/570 45 antlerless elk
Following the hunting season, FWP will use harvest data and winter population surveys to assess management effectiveness at maintaining or reaching population objectives and to potentially recalculate the harvest quotas in the bundled hunting districts. To comment and find more details on the proposed changes, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Hunting.” Comments will be accepted through June 18 at 5 p.m. Send written comments to: FWP–Wildlife Bureau Attn: Public Comment P.O. Box 200701 Helena, MT 59620-0701
Hunting Season Details MFWP
MFWP is seeking comment on a proposed 2012-13 general wolf hunting and trapping season. The general season would run from Sept. 1 to Feb. 28, 2013, with trapping allowed from Dec. 15 to the end of the general wolf season. Trapping and hunting of wolves is provided for in Montanaʼs wolf conservation and management plan. Montanaʼs 2011 wolf season included a statewide hunting-only quota of 220 wolves aimed at reducing the minimum population to about 425 wolves. Hunters harvested 166 wolves last season. Under the proposed 2012-2013 season there would be no statewide quota, but quotas would be established in two areas near Glacier and Yellowstone national parks. “With a healthy wolf population we can offer additional opportunities to harvest a wolf while comfortably maintaining the base population and genetic diversity that is important to the long term health and management of the species,” said Ken McDonald, FWP wildlife bureau chief in Helena. “Weʼre proposing a season that aims to get us closer to a post-season population count of 425 wolves as stated in 2011,” McDonald said. “This number only represents an annual target for the 2012 hunting season. The 2012 season is designed to help Montana meet management objectives that include reduced impacts to livestock and ungulate populations while maintaining a viable wolf population.” Features of last yearʼs hunt that would remain in place include mandatory harvest reporting within 24 hours, and the FWP Commission would have the authority to close the season in any wolf hunting unit or portion of a wolf hunting unit if necessary to prevent overharvest. ...Trappers would be required to take a mandatory trapper orientation and to conduct mandatory trap-checks. Snares would not be allowed. The proposal includes potential adjustments to bag limits and electronic calling if statutory adjustments are made in the 2013 legislature. The public is encouraged to read the complete wolf hunting season proposal and submit public comments online. To comment, and to find more details on the proposed changes, visit FWPʼs website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Hunting.” The public may also comment in writing through June 25 to FWP-Wildlife Bureau.
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Thompson Falls Bighorn Sheep Herd Continues to Decline MFWP Sterling says that the highway mortality problem has been ongoing for decades, but seems to be more serious in recent years, noting that five sheep were taken out in one collision a few weeks ago. © Twildlife | Dreamstime.com
B ased on recent surveys, the bighorn sheep herd in the
Thompson Falls area continues to decline. FWP Biologist Bruce Sterling counted only 52 sheep on his annual flight this spring. This figure compares to 270 sheep counted in 2008. These numbers reflect the number of sheep observed in the survey, not the total number of sheep in the population. But the trend is alarming to Sterling, who attributes most of the decline to highway mortality. During the 2008-2012 period, a total of 110 sheep (50 ewes, 60 rams) were killed by collisions. A total of 107 sheep were killed on Highway 200 and 3 were killed by trains.
“We have lost 50 breeding or potentially breeding females during this time frame when hunters have taken only five ewes on permits,” Sterling says.
“Now that we are at a low population level for sheep, each mortality is more critical,” Sterling says. He points out that since 1985, 403 sheep have been killed on the highway and 58 sheep were killed by trains. Sterling cites a number of steps that have been taken to reduce highway mortalities of sheep, but they have not been effective. Yellow flashing caution signs and reader boards have not been successful in convincing drivers to slow down and avoid collisions with sheep. He says that the problem will be discussed at a meeting coming up with the Montana Department of Transportation... Bighorn sheep were native to the Thompson Falls area but were extirpated by overhunting and disease passed by domestic sheep. Bighorns were re-introduced in the mid 1950s.
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RMEF to Fund Montana Habitat, Research Projects Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation T
he RMEF funding commitment totals $257,011 and affects 14 counties...The newly announced grants do not include the recent $51,000 contribution from RMEF to support implementation of Montana’s approved wolf management plan. “Prescribed burning, forest thinning and weed treatment projects will help to enhance some 18,000 acres of habitat across Montana,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We’re also continuing to provide major funding for the high-profile, elk-survival research in the Bitterroot Valley, where preliminary findings support managing and controlling predator populations. Managing for a balance between predators and prey is so important in areas where habitat is shrinking or in less than optimum condition.” RMEF’s mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. Since 1985, the organization and its partners have completed 736 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Montana with a combined value of more than $128 million. Funding for RMEF grants is based on local membership drives and banquet fundraising by RMEF chapters and volunteers in Montana. Allen thanked RMEF supporters for their dedication to conservation both in Montana and all across elk country. RMEF grants will help fund the following 2012 projects in Montana, listed by county: Broadwater County—Improve habitat for elk and other wildlife by treating noxious weeds on 66 acres in the northern Elkhorn Mountains area. Fergus County—Prescribe burn 1,200 acres to rejuvenate forage for elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep and turkeys in the Gallatin Rapids area of BLM lands. Lewis and Clark County—Enhance elk and mule deer wintering range via a prescribe burn on 1,100 acres in the Alice Creek area of the Helena National Forest. Lincoln County—Prescribe burn 334 acres to improve elk winter range in the Tobacco Plains area of the Kootenai National Forest; treat noxious weeds and prescribe burn 1,000 acres in the Warland, Bristow and Cripple Horse creek areas of the Kootenai National Forest. Madison County—Improve forage in elk wintering and calving areas by treating noxious weeds on 500 acres near Bear Creek Wildlife Area. Mineral County—Rejuvenate decadent vegetation by thinning and prescribe burning 591 acres for elk in the South Fork Fish Creek area of the Lolo National Forest. Missoula County—Treat 185 acres of noxious weeds at Boyer Ranch to enhance critical wintering habitat for a regional elk herd as well as for deer and upland birds; aerially treat spotted knapweed and apply bio-controls (knapweed weevils) on 398 acres in the Marent Gulch area of the Lolo National Forest. Petroleum County—Prescribe burn 4,065 acres of elk wintering range in the Tin Can Hill area of BLM lands. Powder River County—Thin encroaching conifers and prescribe burn 1,500 acres to improve elk habitat in the Threemile area of the Custer National Forest (also affects Rosebud County). Powell County—Enhance aspen and shrub growth by thinning conifers on 326 acres, and treating noxious weeds on 523 acres, for foraging elk in the Marcum Mountain area of BLM lands. Ravalli County—Provide continued funding for research on elk survival and recruitment in the Bitterroot Valley; thin encroaching conifers and prescribe burn 4,000 acres to improve habitat for elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, black bears, great gray owls and other wildlife in the East Fork Bitterroot River area of the Bitterroot National Forest. Sanders County—Enhance 700 acres of elk habitat by treating noxious weeds and introducing bio-controls (knapweed weevils) in the Thompson River area; thin encroaching conifers and prescribe burn 400 acres in the Falls Creek Flat area of Lolo National Forest. Stillwater County—Treat noxious weeds such as leafy spurge, spotted knapweed and sulfur cinquefoil on 1,500 acres of elk habitat in the upper Stillwater River watershed.
30 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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JUNE 2012
Rocky Mountain States PWC Sets Hunt License Numbers for 2012 Idaho’s
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approved big game hunting license numbers...for the upcoming fall hunting seasons. Agency staff utilized herd population estimates to recommend reductions in license numbers for mule deer, elk and pronghorn while recommending increases in licenses to manage growing populations of moose and black bears. According to a 2008 study, big game hunting in Colorado provides more than $430 million per year in economic impact to the state and supports 4,660 jobs in the state. Colorado is a national leader in big-game hunting opportunity. This year, Colorado will issue more than 240,000 limited licenses for the state’s ‘big three’ species-elk, deer and pronghorn. Wildlife managers and biologists around the state recommended the issuance of 139,461 limited elk licenses, 79,800 limited deer licenses and 23,862 pronghorn licenses for the 2012 fall seasons. Statewide, mule deer licenses declined 5.8 percent from 2011. “Mule deer populations are being intensively monitored and we’ve seen some declines, especially in the western part of the state,” explained Andy Holland, Statewide Big Game Manager. “Between severe winters, increased development, habitat decline, and migration corridor fragmentation, most western states are seeing declines in mule deer populations. We adjusted license numbers accordingly.” In addition to issuing nearly 140,000 limited elk licenses,
Colorado plans to issue an unlimited number of over-the-counter bull elk licenses in the archery, 2nd rifle and 3rd rifle seasons. The number of unlimited licenses available makes Colorado the top destination in the U.S. for elk hunting opportunity. The 2.2 percent decline in the number of limited elk tags offered this year is mostly related to elk populations reaching management objectives after several years of intentional efforts by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to reduce elk damage on private lands. Despite the elk license number reduction, Colorado remains the destination state for elk hunters, offering more elk licenses by far than any other state. Black bear hunting license numbers will be increased in the state after biologists determined that the statewide population is larger than previously believed. New estimates show that approximately 16,000 to 18,000 black bears live in the state... “The historical harvest information coupled with new technology led to the increased population estimate and the increased number of hunting licenses approved for this coming fall.
Super Hunt
272 Super Hunt Winners in 8 Years. They’ve come from as far away as Tasmania and as local as Idaho. Two hail from Montana.
They are Idaho Super Hunt winners - 272 sportsmen in the past eight years whose special tags allowed them to pursue big game in any open hunt in Idaho. Many have sent letters thanking Idaho Fish and Game for this unique opportunity. Others have written magazine articles of their Super Hunt adventures or shared photos on the Super Hunt Facebook page. Most all have described their experience as a ‘hunt of a lifetime. A Super Hunt tag is a special tag that allows 32 hunters every year to pursue an elk, deer, antelope or moose in any open hunt in Idaho. Super Hunt Combo tags allow two additional hunters to hunt all four species in any open hunt. 272 Sportsmen won this unusual freedom to pursue world-class big game in Idaho by entering Idaho’s Super Hunt Drawings. There are two. The first drawing is in June with a May 31st deadline for entries; THE SECOND IS IN AUGUST WITH A DEADLINE OF AUGUST 10TH FOR ENTRIES. A single Super hunt entry is $6 for a single species and each additional entry for the same species is $4. The Super Hunt Combo entry costs $20 for a single entry and each additional one costs $16. 34 more hunters will win Super Hunt tags again this year. And the proceeds of the drawing will support Idaho’s Access Yes! program dedicated to improve hunting and fishing access on private and public lands. For more information and entry forms, visit: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ public/hunt/superhunt” http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/superhunt
BUCK DEER PERMITS REDUCED SLIGHTLY
the number of permits dropped slightly because some of the 30 units will be managed for a higher buck-to-doe ratio than biologists have managed them for in the past.
F
this fall.
(A buck-to-doe ratio is the number of bucks per 100 does that biologists find after the hunting seasons are over in the fall.) “The best way to increase the number of bucks per 100 does is to reduce the number of bucks that are taken during the hunting season,” Aoude says.
or months now, deer hunters have wondered how many general buck deer permits will be available for Utah’s 30 new deer hunting units On May 3, the Utah Wildlife Board gave the answer: 86,500. The board divided the 86,500 permits as follows: Hunt Archery Rifle Muzzleloader
Number of permits 17,300 51,900 17,300
Photo by AJ Keller
The 86,500 permits the board approved are 500 fewer than the 87,000 permits available in 2011. Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says
Starting this year, biologists will manage 14 of Utah’s 30 general deer hunting units for 15 to 17 bucks per 100 does. The remaining 16 units will be managed for 18 to 20 bucks per 100 does. Aoude says the 14 units that will be managed for a lower buck-to-doe ratio are units that provide good access to lots of public land.
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Rocky Mountain States NDOW’s 2012 Big Game Quota Recommendation Justifications for Elk, Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, and Mule Deer
The Nevada Department of Wildlife is making the recommendation for some healthy increases in tag quotas for many big game species and here are some of the reasons why. Growth in most big game populations (elk, antelope, bighorn, and deer) and elevated male ratios have provided a biologically safe opportunity for a significant increase in hunting without jeopardizing herd health. Tag quota recommendations are extremely conservative and based on biologically safe harvest levels. Recommendations are made in the absence of any consideration of revenue generation. Some of the biological information supporting these recommendations is listed below. Antelope - herds continue to grow, and every year since 2008 the statewide population estimate has set a new state record with the latest set at 28,000 antelope. Post-season antelope buck ratios remain strong at 35 bucks/100 does with the last 5 years’ ratios between 35 and 40. Trophy quality in our antelope herds is still good. In fact the likely new state record buck was harvested in 2011. Demand for buck and doe hunting opportunity remains strong with 7 to 1 odds for resident rifle buck tags and 5 to 1 odds for resident doe antelope tags. We are recommending a 20% increase statewide in antelope tags compared to 2011. This quota recommendation is biologically safe and is providing quality hunting opportunities relative to the rest of the west. Nevada is not the most conservative western state in terms of % of bucks harvested of the total estimated bucks available. At the same time, we certainly could be harvesting even more antelope; many states harvest 9 – 10% of their herds annually where Nevada averages only about 7% harvest... Desert Bighorn Sheep – We are recommending a 28% increase statewide in desert bighorn sheep tags compared to 2011. The statewide average desert bighorn lamb ratios from 2002 – 2007 ranged from 42 to 45. Those are phenomenal lamb production years considering long-term Nevada has only averaged low to mid 30s lambs/100 ewes. These lambs would be the 5 -10 year old age class rams in 2012, the primary age groups of mature ram harvest. It was recognized over the last few years that a few of our larger bighorn herds have been underestimated based on recent survey data and population modeling. The 2012 statewide desert bighorn population is another new record at 8,600. Additionally, nearly all ram harvest indices are near record values such as average age of rams harvested at 6.6, average hunt days below 5 days, average ram score nearly 154 points, and number of harvested rams over 170 points. The data clearly shows we have a tremendous opportunity for mature desert bighorn ram harvest and there is no reason not to take advantage of it now. As we see the lean lamb production years move into the 5-year old and older age classes, we will again, as we always have, make commensurate reductions in tags. Elk –Female elk harvest is keeping herds well below their habitat carrying capacity and has allowed all of our elk herds to continue to be very productive and actually set new population records each year. The 2012 statewide elk estimate surpassed 15,000 for the first time. We are recommending a 21% increase statewide in bull elk tags and 22% statewide in cow elk tags compared to 2011. 2011 bull elk harvest indices continue to be strong: 72% of bull harvest were 6 point or better (highest ever); percent of all bulls harvested with main beam length of 50+ inches rose from 25% in 2008 to 31% in 2011; 5.8 years average age of bulls harvested in Area 11 & 22 (5.6 average from 2001-2008). With the need to maintain elk herds at social carrying capacities (population objectives) and continued high numbers of mature bulls, the 2012 tag increases are strongly justified. Mule Deer – After the second consecutive year of a modest increase in Nevada’s mule deer population estimate, a series of factors are contributing to NDOW’s increased tag quota recommendations in many areas. Some of these areas have been growing rapidly with commensurate increases in their buck ratios, some of those same areas experienced significant tag reductions last year allowing for increases in the buck ratios. Further exacerbating the issue, many of those same areas had exceptionally high production AND recruitment due to a favorable 2010-11 winter, good summer, and very mild 2011-12 winter. Nevada continues to maintain one of the highest post-hunt buck ratio objectives in the country with many areas well over 30 bucks per one hundred does. The 1980s have been regarded by many as the “hay day” for mule deer in Nevada. Therefore, for comparative purposes, harvest strategies from the 1980s are considered relative to those used today. Buck ratios in the 1980s ranged in the low to mid 20s per 100 does. Today, Nevada’s quota recommendations are extremely conservative and if approved would result in a post-hunt buck ratio of 30. Bucks typically comprised roughly 26% of the population in the 1980s, today bucks comprise approximately 32% of the population. Of the available bucks in our deer population in 2011 we harvested around 21.5%. In the mid 1980s we harvested up to 36% of our bucks. In 2011, Nevada’s post hunt buck ratio objectives were nearly 50% higher than post-hunt buck ratio objectives in the 1980s. Unnecessary quota reductions in 2011 of 25% in most areas of the state, exaggerated an already overly conservative process and resulted in the highest post hunt buck ratio ever observed. Nevada currently possesses a population of 112,000 mule deer with 35,000 bucks. (read complete article at www.ndow.org)
Tiger Trout State Record Broken Twice in Two Weeks
Tiger trout are getting bigger and
bigger in High Savery Reservoir as evidenced by two new state records set in the past few weeks by anglers from Rawlins and Casper. Last month, Rawlins angler Tom Murry bested the existing state record, reeling in a fish that weighed 7.54 lbs. breaking the old record by more than two pounds. The old record was 5.12 lbs. and was set in 2010. However, that record only lasted several weeks when it was eclipsed by Casper angler Jackson Sorensen who caught an 11.07 lb. monster May 6, doubling the record fish from 2010 and besting Murry’s new record by well over three pounds.
Sorensen’s trip to High Savery was his first. He had made the trip to the reservoir specifically to fish for tiger trout. He had been bait fishing from shore since first light and around 8 a.m. his record fish took his bait. As soon as the fish was in, Sorensen’s fishing partner told him it was a state record and they hustled into Rawlins to have it weighed. Sorensen’s fish was nearly 29 inches long and had a girth of nearly 18 inches. Like Murry, Sorensen also caught several other brook trout on that fishing trip.
Since 2006, new tiger trout records have become almost an annual occurrence from High Savery Reservoir. The reservoir is the only public water in The two record fish were caught the state with tiger trout and was first using very different methods. Murry was stocked with the fish in 2005. It has fishing April 23, trolling a Needlefish in been stocked every year since that time. about 40 feet of water when the fish hit. It is likely Sorensen’s fish was from that After boating the fish, Murry suspected first stocking in 2005. High Savery is a he had a new record, which was later relatively new impoundment located 30 confirmed with the weighing of the fish miles south of Rawlins. Tiger trout are on a certified scale in Rawlins. Other a sterile cross between a brown and a fish Murray caught that day included brook trout. several kokanee salmon and brook trout. Murry’s fish measured 27 inches Rules for submitting a fish for state in length and had a girth of more than record consideration are on the Game 15 inches. The previous record was 24 and Fish website. A listing of state inches long. record fish is also on the site.
32 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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BOONE and CROCKETT CLUB
JUNE 2012
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s I was sitting with an arrow nocked, waiting for a Columbian Whitetail deer to appear from the tangles of nearby Blackberry thickets, many of my past deer hunts began racing through my mind as well as a mental check list. Was the wind going to hold true all evening? Did I do enough homework to know what trail the buck would use? Did I make it to my spot without being detected by anything? If an opportunity presents itself, am I ready to make it count? A person has to keep their mind occupied with questions of this nature so the smallest of details are never overlooked. As we all know, the stars have to align a little for everything to come together in those few precious moments leading up to a shot. In 2011, I made due on the largest goal I personally have set as a bowhunter. My goal was to take one of each of the six species of deer in North America. I understand some would argue there are x amount of whitetail sub-species out there. However, for my goal I’m talking Mule Deer, Blacktail Deer, Sitka Blacktail Deer, Whitetail Deer, Coues Whitetail and Columbian Whitetail Deer. Five of these species are recognized by Pope & Young. Columbian Whitetails are not recognized at this point. This was a goal I felt I could accomplish without breaking the bank. I knew if I hunted hard and exhausted all of my resources I could do each of these hunts with friends or people I have met within the hunting community that may have some access to these different species of deer. You see, like many of you, there just isn’t a lot of money to throw around at the end of every month. My love of hunting isn’t going to hinge on how much money I have either! I have two children, wife, mortgage, vehicle payments, student loans, daycare and the list goes on and on. Fact is, I had to get creative on how I was going to accomplish this goal. Whether it be trading, researching or simply drawing a tag, I was up for any of them. Here is how some of the hunts went down!
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MULE DEER: I was fortunate enough to meet a great friend when I was in my early twenties who introduced me to the thought of hunting out of state. Kevin talked me into applying for a tag in Nevada with him right after I graduated from college. Since that day, I have been lucky enough to draw several tags over the years and been able to kill some very nice bucks. The only costs for these hunts were simply the out of state fee’s and the travel to get there and back. Lot’s of research and the mindset that we will go until we find deer was all we needed! BLACKTAIL DEER: Fortunately for me, growing up on the Oregon Coast has allowed me to hunt Blacktail deer my entire life. This species is easily my favorite animal to hunt and in my opinion, the most difficult of all the deer species to kill a mature one of. Blacktail tags can be bought over the counter in Oregon, Washington and California. I have hunted in both California and Oregon but never made my way to Washington. For a non-resident, an Oregon Blacktail tag is going to cost you about $450.00. (continued on page 42)
JUNE 2012
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34 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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JUNE 2012
Bob Ward & Sons - New Gear Review Stand Up & Paddle with Boardworks Award Winning “SHUBU” Inflatable SUP
Stand Up Paddling (SUP) is one of the fastest
growing segments of the water sport market. Its popularity has spawned new and creative board designs, including the inflatable (and portable!) SHUBU board by Boardworks. The SHUBU allows you to take your SUP on the road, trail, plane, train, and more. The SHUBU SUP changes the game when it comes to deciding what to take with you when space is in question. Made of durable military-grade, UV-resistant rubber, these boards can take just about anything you can throw at them. Excellent for recreational surfing, touring, running rivers, or just goofing around, the SHUBU is extremely versatile. The SHUBU includes a backpack, high volume pump, a variety of valves, an inline pressure gauge, and a color matched rubber patch kit. Equipped with 4 forward deck D-rings and a bungy system for strapping down whatever you might need for that adventure of a lifetime! Bob Ward’s carries 3 sizes - 9’2”, 10’, and 10’7”. Stand Up & Paddle with Boardworks Award Winning “SHUBU” Inflatable SUP!
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Photo: IF&G
Fishing In Idaho: It’s Better Than Ever The fishing is great in Idaho, and people are catching on; more people are fishing now than most years in the past decade.
In 2011, Idaho Fish and Game sold about 450,000 fishing licenses, down about 5 percent from the recent high in 2009. More good news, though, most license and permit sales through March 2012 are above what they were at the same time in 2011.
Resident fishing license sales are up about 9 percent; resident junior licenses are up 14 percent; resident disabled licenses are up 16 percent; two-pole permit sales are up 6 percent; nonresident licenses are up 10 percent; salmon permits are up about 6 percent; and steelhead permits are up about 2 percent. The increase in fishing license sales is not just an indication of good fishing; it is also proof that fishing represents affordable and popular recreation in spite of the economy. To fish in Idaho, anglers need a fishing rod and a valid fishing license, unless they’re under 14. Licenses and fishing rules are available from any Fish and Game office and from a long list of vendors statewide. Anglers are on their own for the rod, reel and lures. It’s easy to get started, and Idaho Fish and Game can help. Check out the Fishing section of the Fish and Game Web site - http://fishandgame.idaho. gov/public/fish/ - and click on the section called Learn to Fish. It includes basic information on getting started, how to identify fish and several opportunities for beginning anglers. In addition Fish and Game’s Fishing Planner at http://fishandgame.idaho. gov/ifwis/Fishingplanner/, can help anglers find fishing spots all over the state, how to get there and what kind of fish they’ll find when they do.
Echo Has The Right Model For Any Budget Or Desire ECHO Rods: No matter what the criteria for choosing your next fly rod; action, power, length, cast-ability, cosmetics, or price, Echo has the right model for any budget or desire. This review focuses on two of the most popular rods in the Echo line. The Echo Solo is the best One-Hundred dollar fly rod on the market, bar none. Classy looks and steady casting performance make the Solo hard to walk away from. A beautiful gloss brown blank and premium anodized components wrapped around a forgiving Medium Fast action blank will help every new fly angler get the feel for a sport that will stay with them for a lifetime. So, whether choosing your first fly rod, or picking up that solid back up rod for a special trip. Look no further, the Echo Solo has a spot in every angler’s arsenal. Now available in 4 piece. Solo Echo’s Carbon Series rods are considered one of the best “deals” in the world of fly fishing, providing ultra-smooth casting along with bullet proof durability. The medium-fast action is not too stiff and not too soft. These four piece rods feature half-wells cork handles with composite pressure zones and unique anodized-aluminum cutaway reel seats. The finish is matte brown with alignment dots for easy assembly and a 20” fish hero mark. Carbon Each Echo rod comes with a Cordura® nylon-covered rod tube and a lifetime warranty.
The All New ANARCHY Bow from Bear Archery Faster Speeds, Smoother Draw And Release And More Solid Wall
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at the start of every bow design, Bear listens to their customers. The Anarchy Bow is their answer with a more forgiving, longer axle-to-axle bow that is more durable yet still lightweight. The Anarchy feels like no other from draw to release. With Bear’s all-new Flat Top Cam, the Anarchy offers a smooth draw and release. Their Max Pre-load Quad Limbs are steady during draw and provide a silent, stable, vibration-free source of undeniable Bear power at release. Bear’s Dual Arc Offset String Suppressors have been keeping Bear bows shock-free and silent at release since 2008. BEAR ANARCHY SPECIFICATIONS: SPEED (IBO) 340 FPS BRACE HEIGHT 7.25” PEAK DRAW WEIGHT 50/60/70 LBS DRAW LENGTH RANGE 25” - 31.5”
WEIGHT 3.8 LBS AXLE TO AXLE 35.25”
Get these and other fine products at a Bob Ward & Sons location near you or shop online 24/7 at www.bobwards.com
JUNE 2012
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ARROW DYNAMICS
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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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35
(continued from page 4)
SPEED: SILENCE IS GOLDEN
I am a fanatic about a silent bow. SILENCE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SPEED. I’d rather harness speed and improve arrow flight, which will increase the energy that an arrow delivers on impact. It’s hard to steer an arrow-with-broadhead flying over 280 feet per second (fps). I like my bow shooting about 270 to 280 fps, where it’s very accurate and quiet. You need a light arrow to get 300-plus fps speeds. But lightness sacrifices spine, and your arrow whips. Any flaw in your shooting form is going to be greatly emphasized. For every five fps you gain in speed, you lose forgiveness. Worse yet, fast bows are loud. Whether you’re shooting 240, 270 or 340 fps, your pin gap isn’t changing that much between 20 and 30 yards. Weighing out the pros and cons, an arrow thrown from a bow at 270 fps will fly just as flat as a 340 fps arrow over the first 20 to 30 yards. And as whitetail hunters, our bread and butter is close in. Did you know that the average distance P&Y bucks are shot is? 17.5 yards! So why prepare so hard for low-percentage, long-range pokes? I compare it to smart basketball. You practice day-in and day-out for that close-range work in the lane — the stuff that really pays off. You don’t practice all year for the buzzer beater, which is that 30-plus yard shot. One of the biggest benefits of a “slower” bow is silence. String oscillation and whip is the number one noise factor. You can’ beat the speed of sound, which is going to reach that deer before the arrow does, and then you know what happens. Whoosh! Silence — not speed — is the solution. Adding string leeches or cat whiskers helps the silence factor. Cat whiskers also add weight, and they force the string on a straighter path, both of which help. I even put cat whiskers on my cables. Some guys laugh at that, but I’m only losing 4 fps when I do it, and I’d rather have less sound than more speed. One more tip: Always aim a little lower on the animal when picking your gaps and placing your pin. If a deer is going to jump, it will be downward. So aim for the top of the heart. Then if he sprawls, you still have 8 inches or so of lung above where you were aiming. And if you miss low it’s usually clean.
RESTS AND SIGHTS: SIMPLE AND STRONG
When you think about your bow budget, the areas not to skimp are your rest and release. A good, solid rest that performs consistently is essential to good shooting. So is a smooth, trouble-free and consistent release. Simpler is best here. I like a rest that has containment, so that the arrow won’t fall off. Drop-away rests are quiet too. They are great for the small-diameter carbon arrows many folks use these days. You could tape on a toothpick for a sight. But getting something solid and reliable is smarter. Out West, or where longer range shots and stalking are the names of the game, an adjustable pin sight is good. For most whitetail work, where action happens fast and is usually at close range, you don’t have time to fiddle with an adjustable pin. What was going to be a 7-yard shot might soon be a 26-yarder, or vice-versa. You need fixed pins. In some situations you might have 10 seconds to estimate your range, draw and make the shot. Keep it simple with 20, 30 and 40 yard pins. You can gap shoot for mid-ranges between these distances. The 20-yard pin works form point blank out to that range. Start at longer ranges and set those pins first – 40 if you want, then 30. Work your way up so you can get a true 20 yard pin setting. If you don’t start setting the longer pins first, your gap distance for 20 to 30 might be larger than the gap between 30 and 40. (continued on page 40)
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36 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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406-449-6595 www.montanamotorsportsandmarine.com UTILITY ATVs ARE RECOMMENDED ONLY FOR RIDERS 16 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. ATVs CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. FOR YOUR SAFETY, BE RESPONSIBLE. READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. BE CAREFUL ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN. ALL ATV RIDERS SHOULD TAKE A TRAINING COURSE (FREE FOR NEW BUYERS. ASK YOUR DEALER OR CALL ASI AT 800-887-2887). NEVER RIDE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, ON PAVED SURFACES, ON PUBLIC ROADS, WITH PASSENGERS, OR AT EXCESSIVE SPEEDS. NO STUNT RIDING. RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN RIDING. FourTrax® and Rancher® are registered trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (06/12). Gold Wing® ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. NEVER RIDE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, AND NEVER USE THE STREET AS A RACETRACK. OBEY THE LAW AND READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL THOROUGHLY. For rider training information or to locate a rider training course near you, call the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at 800-446-9227. Gold Wing® is a registered trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (06/12).
We sell Honda Powersports, Honda Outboard Motors - Chaparral Boats - Centurion Boats - Crestliner Boats - Bayliner Boats Honda Power Equipment - Mercury Outboard Motors - Yamaha Generators, Pumps & Outboard Motors
ATV RIDES Western Montana Trail Riders Association Unless stated otherwise, WMTRA is not responsible for any of the rides listed below. All rides are organized and led by individual club members and not by the club itself. Friends and potential new members are welcome to attend these rides, but may be encouraged to join the club if they continue to participate as non-members.
JUNE
SATURDAY, JUNE 2ND – Pipestone Trail System – Easy - Difficult Ride Leader/Organizer: Scott Swan 406-251-7988 (home) 239-9809 (cell) email: bigskyswan@yahoo.com SATURDAY, JUNE 9TH – Cabinet Ridge Riders Annual ATV Poker Run – Easy Lakeside Resort, Trout Creek, Montana SATURDAY, JUNE 16TH – Montana Hope Project Ride For Hope – Easy Intermediate - Difficult Lake Mary Ronan Roger Tulberg 406-829-1649 (home) 240-1910 (cell) email: rogertulberg_58@msn.com FRIDAY, JUNE 22ND – SUNDAY, JUNE 24TH – Capitol Trail Vehicle Association OHV Fun Run Camp Out & Clean Up Hellgate Campground Area - East side of Canyon Ferry Reservoir Contacts: Dave Koch at 406-461-4674 Gary Petersen at 406-459-2664 email: capitaltrail@gmail.com For more info visit: www.ctva-ohv.com SATURDAY, JUNE 30TH / SUNDAY, JULY 1ST – Ravalli County Off-Road User Association 6th Annual Fun Run Hughes Creek email: brentnelson@hughes.net For More Info Visit: http://www.rcorua.org
JULY
MONDAY, JULY 16TH – SATURDAY, JULY 21ST – High Mountain ATV Association – Annual ATV Jamboree Wallace, Idaho – Easy - Difficult Contact: Scott Swan 406-251–7988 (home) 239-9809 (work cell) email: bigskyswan@yahoo.com For more info visit: www.highmountainatv.org SATURDAY, JULY 21ST – Jocko to Seeley Lake – Easy Ride Leaders/Organizers: Jerry and Raejean Johnson 406-549-1210 email: rjranch@msn.com SATURDAY, JULY 21ST – West End ATV Club Annual Poker Run - Easy O-Aces Bar, DeBorgia, MT email: craig@westendatvassociation.com For more info visit: http://westendatvassociation.com
AUGUST
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4TH – Wallace, Idaho – Difficult Ride Leader/Organizer: Scott Swan 406-251-7988 (Home) 239-9809 (Cell) email: bigskyswan@yahoo.com SUNDAY, AUGUST 5TH – Maxville/Princeton/Philipsburg – Easy - Difficult Ride Leader/Organizer: Bob Saurers 406-543-3654 SATURDAY, AUGUST 11TH – Miller Creek/Miller Peak – Easy Ride Leader/Organizer: Bob Lamley 406-721-6544 (home) 544-3676 (cell) email: rlamley@bresnan.net If your ATV organization has rides to share, please email us at: bigskyoutdoornews@yahoo.com
JUNE 2012
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Bynum Reservoir FAS & Campground
MFWP
Bynum Reservoir Fishing Access Site is located on Bynum Reservoir . Fish for walleye, yellow trout, kokanee, and rainbow trout. Activities: Boating Fishing Camping
Boat services: Ramp (concrete) Campground: Primitive Campsite (4)
Fees: FAS Camping $12.00 Without fishing license FAS Camping Fee $7.00 With Fishing License Jan 1 - Dec 31
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Directions: Located 7 miles west of Bynum on Blackleaf Road. Fishing Pressure: Year Days Fished1 2009 4,168 2005 101 2003 280
Trips2 64 2 7
State Rank3 134 986 546
Regional Rank3 25 141 90
1 Estimated yearly fishing use in angler days (one angler fishing one body of water in one day for any amount of time). 2 The number of times that a section of water was reported as having been fished (used to estimate the number of “Days Fished”). 3 How this section of water ranked among all surveyed sections in the state or region, based on “Days Fished” in a survey year.
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38 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE
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JUNE 2012
Sounds easy, right? Take a walk in the woods and shoot an elk. Piece of cake. Ok, here’s the deal. One, you have to find elk. Two you need to find elk in a location where there is little hunting pressure from both hunters and wolves. I managed to do both. Three, you need some luck. Most of us don’t have the kind of luck that happens when a 12 year old kills a 350 class bull elk on her first hunt, or when a casual deer hunter takes a drop-tine once-in-a-lifetime bull a short distance from the pickup. Common theme here, “luck”, they were both in the right place at the right time.
LUCKY HUNTING
By Glenn Ferren On a late October evening I parked my Jeep at a gated Forest Service road. It’s about three hours until dark and I will need about half that time to climb to the ridge above. By the road my destination is around 4 1⁄2 miles, the route I will take cuts it to 3, but it’s a steep climb. Shouldering my pack and slinging my rifle, I speak briefly to a couple from Alaska standing by their pickup camper parked at the gate. As I pass the gate I pickup the pace and think to myself...I hope they kill a deer on the uphill side of this road. The downhill side and steep draws that drop over a mile could make packing a deer out a real chore. When I finish my climb to the upper part of this switchback road, I stop to refresh my cow elk perfume and apply a fresh coat of scent killer. It’s a good time to cool down and to adjust from hill climbing to stealth mode hunting. And it’s a good opportunity to apply some camo facepaint. Although it’s rifle season the extra camo can’t hurt when hunting sharp-eyed bull elk. Over two hours into the hunt and I am almost at the high point of the road, the crown of the hill above me is overlooking a large bowl of hillside below. Starting around an S curve in the road I see elk ahead and drop instantly to one knee using the tall roadside grass for as much cover as I can get. Elk are coming to me and I scan for horns. A barely legal bull shows for an instant in what appears to be at least a dozen elk. Suddenly a larger bull pushes to the front of the herd and stops; he looks hard at my shape in the grass. I look hard at him and make my decision. At 40 yards I can’t turn down a good bull. The bull starts to quarter away toward the thick brush and a quick exit. A cow standing too close moves out of the shooting lane, the 270 thunders, the 130 grain CoreLokt takes the bull behind the front shoulder and it seems like elk are running everywhere. I lose the bull and then elk are crashing through the brush on the hillside below. I move forward on the road parallel to the movement and look in the brush for elk. Suddenly I see horns, but I scope him and don’t shoot. A bull and a cow blast by in the brush below and I think was that my bull? And I tell myself, that elk was moving way to fast to be the bull I just shot. I backtrack to where the elk left the road and drop into the brush about 30 yards out from the road. Moving forward I find my bull quickly. He dropped in 20 yards with his front feet folded under his chest.
In order to find my bull I changed from my usual hunting location. During archery season (2010) and (2011) I noted that the elk moved from my usual stomping ground crossed a creek and headed into some steep, heavily brushed hillsides. The 2010 season turned out lousy, my usual location was getting a bit crowded with too easy an access, my trail camera was stolen a week after I got it, elk were few and far between...time to move out of there and leave that place. In the spring of 2011 while shed hunting, I scouted another area and located (2) good bulls. During the (2011) archery season I hunted and scouted the new area even harder, noting rubs, and even locating one of the bulls I saw back in the spring. I spent as much time as possible in the area looking for elk sign, people sign, and wolf sign. To my benefit, I did not cut any fresh wolf sign. Also to my benefit, most of my fellow hunters were not venturing far enough in to see where the elk were crossing and feeding. Nor were they seeing the new rubs that I noted every time I entered the elk comfort zone. As another plus, I called a bull in at the end of the archery season confirming that he was still running with the cows. I backed out and came back on opening day of gun season. Sure enough, I saw a good bull that day, but he saw me first. No gunshots, little pressure from hunters, no wolves, the elk stayed put, and a week later I put a bull on the ground. So for the first time in a few years, I had time to hunt for a deer. Not too many of those left in our neck of the woods either. But on the next to the last day of the season I took a walk down by the river. By now most folks were driving the river road, hoping a deer would jump out in front of them I guess. I parked and walked the road with about (2) hours of daylight left. About a 1⁄2 mile in, a flash of white alerted me to a doe coming off the hill on a trail down to the river. She saw me but didn’t run out of the country. About 20 yards of climbing up that deer trail put me on a flat bench where I watched a 3x3 whitetail buck trail the doe. An easy shot at 40 yards, but I let him walk. The rut behavior encouraged me. Back down to the road and walking, I see lots of sign where deer have been coming off the hill. My destination is a fair piece, but I will make it in time with a good pace. At a curve in the river, there is a good marshy flat that I know the deer use. As I walk into the upper corner I hear a deer snort. Now I’m not much good with a call, but I can manage the noise that sounds like the can call doe in heat. I hit the call and get another snort in reply. To my right I can see an opening and I hope the buck will take it as he moves from the road to the marsh and back into the woods. He does. And when he shows I hit the call again. Slightly quartering away, he stops to look back at me and the 270 drops him in his tracks. A good whitetail buck – big bodied and some character in broken horns from serious fighting. Dragging distance to the road, an easy 30 yards. If you read my spring bear (2011) story and this one you have found some common patterns. Like Randy Newberg of “On Your Own Adventures”, one of the first signs I look for is “road closed, no motorized vehicles”. I hunt where there are few hunters when I can, I like to go in a long ways, and I prefer to hunt late in the day. In my neighborhood deer, elk, and bear all perk up from 3pm on. I may get up at 4am on opening day, but that’s just my homage to the hunting tradition and to the memories of hunting with my family as a kid growing up in Arkansas. Good hunting and keep the wind in your face.
JUNE 2012
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ARROW DYNAMICS
(continued from page 35)
I TAKE THESE APPROACHES TO PRACTICING FOR HUNTING.
One; I’m estimating ranges to things all the time. In most hunting situations, you don’t really know the yardage or might not have time to laser it. So it’s important to estimate. I do this constantly, then march it off and check. Plus, practice with your laser rangefinder so you get good — and quick — using it. Two; I highly recommend shooting 3-D archery tournaments. There’s no better way to practice for hunting. But stay low-key. You’re there to practice and get better. I’ll just get together with friends and shoot 3-D once a week. A little friendly competition is okay — there’s definitely pressure to make the shot when you’re hunting. Three; don’t pick up your bow two weeks before the season, practice like a madman, and expect to hit a deer. Instead, hang your bow on your back porch, by the back door or in your garage, and take five shots in the morning and five in the evening. Shoot a few arrows a lot, not a lot of arrows every once in awhile. Four; avoid long, tedious and sometimes frustrating shooting sessions. Avoid trying to “get one last good group” before you quit. You’re better off coming back later with a better attitude. Practice should be positive, not punishing. One group in the 10-ring is better than 60 shots all over the target. Five; shoot your bow exactly as it will be set up for hunting, right down to wearing your hunting clothes. Take off the quiver if that’s how you will hunt. If you hunt from a ground blind, practice from one. Shooting while kneeling or sitting is much different than standing. BROADHEADS: One of the beauties of mechanical broadheads is that their trajectory won’t change from your field points. This is huge, as compared to the prospect of re-tuning and re-zeroing your bow as hunting season nears and you change to fixed-blade broadheads. I need to be clear here — I like fixed-blade broadheads (this includes replaceable blade models), and use them in many situations. But rear-deploying mechanical broadheads are reliable as can be, and they give you the same arrow flight as your practice points. Using a modern compound bow with a peak draw weight at 60 to 70 pounds, and a rear-deploying mechanical broadhead, you should be able to take most North American game. There’s enough kinetic energy there for excellent penetration. But mechanical broadheads begin to lose effectiveness when used with traditional bows (which I love), and at lighter draw weights on compounds. Penetration is hindered. Just by the way I shoot and the draw weights I like, I use mechanicals most of the time these days. The exceptions are when I’m using a recurve bow or going for super-large game. For deer, I like a three-bladed broadhead with 1 1⁄2-inch blades. Two-bladers don’t cut as much. That’s just a function of 50 percent more cutting surface on a three-bladed broadhead. You get three “flaps” and a bigger hole in the animal. It’s that simple. A bigger hole means more blood on the ground. Here’s an example. I was bear hunting in Alberta. The outfitter was a rifle guy, and had concerns about bowhunting for bear. He preferred big guns. But I showed him a broadhead, and convinced him to let me try. I double-lunged a 300-pound black bear and it went 8 yards. The outfitter couldn’t believe it, but he believes now. You need cutting surface. I could have put a water bottle through the hole in that bear. You can’t kill anything too dead, or have too much blood come out too fast. That’s hunting. That’s our responsibility to the wonderful animals we hunt. CONCLUSION: If you want to be a better bow hunter, don’t make yourself crazy chasing arrow speed. Go for arrow energy, penetration and silence instead. These are the “arrow dynamics” I believe in, and they’ll help you get your buck too. Georgia’s Travis “T Bone” Turner is a world champion archer and co-host of Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector TV show.
Reprinted with thanks from Whitetails Close Enough to Kill – FW Media
JUNE 2012
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Arrowing Bucks on a Budget! (continued from page 32) SITKA BLACKTAIL DEER: This was probably the most costly of all the species for me because I had to get up to Alaska where I was allowed to buy a couple tags. One of the teachers where I work guides fishing trips out of Sitka. I talked him into just dropping me off on the beach and coming back to retrieve me once I had killed a couple of bucks. This was a very physically demanding hunt but was well worth it. I ended up killing two very nice deer and packed them back down to the beach where I simply had to lay around and wait for my buddy to get a break in his schedule and come pick me up. I don’t know how much I saved by enlisting his help, but I’m sure it was a bunch! COUES WHITETAIL DEER: I’ve been very lucky to meet some great individuals and families, because of hunting. I made a trip to Arizona to hunt with a great friend, Matt Schimberg. Matt happens to own a guiding outfit, Arizona Strip Bucks and was kind enough to show me the ropes for Coues deer. Matt and I began glassing the first morning of the hunt and spotted a buck he thought I should put a sneak on. The rest of the hunt is history. I got very lucky and was able to put my tag on the first Coues deer that I had ever stalked. I could see how this hunt could be one of the most difficult spot and stalk hunts out there. In the end, it’s just putting the right piece in the right place at the right time. Again, this hunt cost me airfare and the NR license and tag fees.
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EASTERN WHITETAIL DEER: I started picking up a few points in Kansas to make sure I could take advantage of any opportunities that came my way. A couple years later I met a gentleman that wanted to hunt Blacktail deer and I made a friendly trade with him to swap a trip. Worked out great and I was able to arrow this buck on the 7th day of that hunt. I really enjoyed hunting these vocal deer. I had never in my life been exposed to some of the vocalizations I heard and really had a great hunt. Again, this hunt cost me airfare and the NR license and tag fees. COLUMBIAN WHITETAIL DEER: As an Oregon resident, we have a couple seasons set up to hunt these Columbian Whitetail deer. I happen to have a bunch of deer points in Oregon and really did not want to burn them on this hunt. I started applying for the early archery tag as a second choice so I could retain my points every year and hoped to get lucky on the draw. Also, I really wanted to have a bull elk on the ground prior to spending much of September trying to kill one of these little bucks. In the end it worked out great. I drew a second chance tag and killed a bull early in elk season. This gave me the time I needed to invest in finishing my deer goal and this would be the year. Because this unit is almost all private property I knew I was going to have to find someone to let me on. I made a bunch of phone calls to different people I know and landed a spot to check out. Wasn’t all that much later and I was sitting over this buck with my goal accomplished! I guess its time to raise the bar and set some new goals. The main thing here is that you can save a lot of time and money by knowing people in other states and making a tight budget work. I am grateful for all the contacts I’ve made over the years who all helped me live my goal. You can too.
JUNE 2012
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43
PRESEASON GUN PREP By Rick Haggerty
I
t’s a very busy time of the year for the average sportsman, and as summer begins, so do all of our outdoor activities. Fishing and camping are at the top of my list right now, but in the back of my mind, I am also thinking that pretty soon it will be early fall, and I’ll be getting things together to go on my annual week long deer hunt. Now is the time to make time for some practice with the rifles you plan to use this fall. It’s very important to have confidence in your shooting abilities, and that the equipment you are using won’t fail you at the moment of truth, when you are staring at a big whitetail or giant mule deer this fall. Marksmanship is a skill that can improve with practice or really decline from negligence. With a little time invested, you can be a better hunter and a better shot.
HERE ARE A FEW KEYS TO SUCCESS WHEN YOU PRACTICE ON THE GUN RANGE THIS SUMMER:
IT ALL STARTS WITH YOUR TRIGGER FINGER. Position the pad of your finger flat across the face of the trigger and apply even pressure in a straight line toward the butt of the rifle. If your trigger finger is touching anything else on the gun, (as in the bolt, the trigger guard, the stock), then stop and rebuild your grip. NATURAL POINT OF AIM. Take a solid shooting position (which would be right before you plan to shoot at the target). You’ll know if you’re doing it right when you close your eyes, bring up your gun, and you have your crosshairs on the target.
HERE IS A LIST OF ITEMS TO HELP YOU MAINTAIN YOUR GUNS: •A quality one piece cleaning rod is the way to go when cleaning the bore. •Flush out the chamber, and thoroughly clean the receiver and trigger. •Take a gun cloth and gun oil and wipe down any metal exterior parts, and the outside of the barrel. •Check all of the screws on your weapon. •The bases and rings need to be checked for any looseness that can occur over time. Shooting often can loosen bases and rings.
AMMUNITION: Buy two or three different bullet weights in the ammunition you DRY FIRE PRACTICE. Focus hard on the target you are aiming at, and know plan to use, and shoot three - 5 shot groups off a solid rest. Use each bullet to see how exactly where the crosshairs were positioned after you pull the trigger. If the crosshairs they perform. This is one of the easiest, and economical ways to improve the jump as the dry fire pin hits, then your technique needs work. The goal is to polish accuracy of your hunting rig. your form and improve your trigger control. There’s more prepping to do before the hunt begins this fall, but having your guns in good working order, and the confidence to shoot an animal when it comes down to it, GUN TUNE UP is worth the time spent preparing. PLUS, you owe it to the game you are after when Keeping all of your guns and rifles in good working order is critical, that shot goes off, that you hit the mark. before you hit the woods for a hunt.
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