HUNTING & FISHING Montana
News
April 2016
Spring fly fishing Camp options for the Western Hunter
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4 - Hunting & Fishing News
Top Spring Pike Tactics By Daniel Quade
H FIS RE MO CH CAT In A New Boat Mark Keenan
www.lindyfishingtackle.com
T he best fishing for northern pike is going on right now. For quantity and quality, there is no better time than spring for catching these toothy trophies.
From the early days of the post-spawn period until pike disperse to their summer haunts, hungry pike are predictable. Best of all, since the fish are often concentrated in shallow water sweet spots, the action can be as good as it gets for these belligerent green-and-white rockets. Your first step toward enjoying epic catches is getting there. Perennial pike hotspots include Minnesota’s Upper Red Lake, Montana’s Fort Peck, Lake Michigan’s Big and Little Bays de Noc, Green and Sturgeon Bay, and North Dakota’s incredible Devils Lake. Massive border waters including Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake are also top destinations. “Lake of the Woods is probably one of the best in the U.S. for numbers of fish over 40 inches, plus plenty of eaters,” says veteran guide Jon Thelen, who crisscrosses the Midwest while filming Lindy Fishing Tackle’s popular “Fish Ed TV” and online programming.
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Thelen also notes that scores of worthy pike waters exist in virtually all corners of the malevolent predator’s range, and notes that he’s found absolute pike gold mines within the Twin Cities metro area. Factors such as light fishing pressure, harvest regulations protecting fish from 26 to 40 inches, spearing bans, and a healthy forage base portend pike paradise. April, May and even early June—depending on your latitude—provide excellent chances for shallow water action. The show starts even before the ice is completely off the lakes and continues until warming water temperatures force pike out to deep weedlines, offshore structure and into the heart of the abyss. Where open season allows, the early bite typically begins when postspawn pike begin migrating out of tributaries. “These are fish that moved into creeks and other inflows from the main lake, surged way back into marshes and drainage ditches to spawn, and are now working their way out toward the main lake,” explains Thelen. “Slight depressions within funnel areas are golden. It doesn’t have to be much -- just a 5-foot hole surrounded by 3 to 4 feet of water is all it takes to offer a bunch of pike a place to rest and feed.” Thelen’s presentation of choice is fishing deadbait beneath a large slip float. The fish aren’t aggressively feeding.” Time-tested deadbaits include oily baitfish such as whitefish, smelt and shad. Riggings consist of 17- to 20-lb mainline with a bobber stop, bead and Thill Big Fish Slider riding above a barrel swivel. On the other end of the swivel is a 12- to 18-inch leader and treble hooks in the size 2 to 4 range. Thelen likes stout fluorocarbon leaders in the clear water common in early spring, though wire is an option as well. Where regulations dictate, adding a small Lindy spinner blade above the top treble keeps the rig legal. (continued page 38)
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Fundamentals Of Navigating Without Technology By Stefan Wilson All photo credits: Stefan Wilson
Originally published at
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T echnology has infiltrated nearly every facet of life. Hunting is no exception. There are gadgets and apps for just about everything you could ever
need when it comes to hunting and navigating the backcountry. Portable GPS units are a fantastic addition to anyone’s pack because you can plot routes, know your exact location instantly and even signal for help with some models. But there is just something about doing things the old fashioned way. In addition, what will happen when technology fails? For anyone who spends time in the backcountry, it is important to understand how to use a compass and a topographic map.
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REASONS TO HAVE A TOPO MAP AND COMPASS
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A compass and map will never run out of battery life. They will never short out if dropped into water. They will never have a broken screen or malfunction. A compass and a topo map will always work when you need them to work.
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1. Never runs out of batteries
A map and a compass never need a software update or an SD card. You can also write directly on them. 3. Get custom maps I order my maps from MyTopo.com and I can get the exact location I want in the exact scale I want with the exact details I want. 4. Great to use as a backup Even if you prefer to have a portable GPS, you should always have a compass and a map as a backup just in case. 5. Look super cool In all seriousness, when you see someone navigating with a map and compass you say to yourself, “He/she is pretty legit.”
THE ANATOMY OF A TOPO MAP
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Scale All maps are made to a certain scale. The map will indicate the ratio scale (i.e., 1:24,000, 1:100,000, etc.) of the map as well as the measurement scale (i.e. 1 inch = 1 mile). Scale is essential to understanding the distance between two points. Magnetic declination diagram
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Magnetic declination is the degree to which Magnetic North differs (declination) from True North. There is a diagram on every topo map that gives the correct declination for the given location on the globe. Grid All topo maps have a grid system that uses reference points around the margins of the map. The most common two are: • Latitude and Longitude – Latitude and longitude points are marked in intervals (most common). • Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) – Military system that divides earth’s surface into zones. Contour Lines
Contour lines are lines that indicate changes in terrain by connecting points that are the same elevation. This gives a continuous line across an area in which the terrain has a natural contour. (continued page 27) April 2016
7
Prepping Kids For Turkey Season www.hunterspec.com
T he clock is ticking and most of us still have a few months before
we can chase those lovesick longbeards of spring. If you are like me you are staring out the window and still looking at that dreaded white stuff covering the ground...yes SNOW! As we get closer to the opener of spring turkey season there are a few basic things I always do in preparation. Even being a seasoned turkey hunter, I always pattern my shotgun before turkey season. I know that my UnderTaker choke tube is going to be deadly, but there are always new turkey loads hitting the market. I like to try out some of the new loads in the various shot sizes so I can try to improve that pattern in my favorite turkey gun. On that note, I want to talk about something I have seen several times with kids on their first turkey hunt. First of all, I don’t care who you are, turkey loads can pack a punch! I have taken several youth hunters out who have had a longbeard dead to rights and were scared to death to pull the trigger for fear of the recoil of the gun. Usually after the fact you talk to the mentor and they thought they were doing their due diligence by taking the youth out to shoot the gun prior. This is a good practice but here is something I like to do. When I take a youth hunter to the range to shoot their turkey gun I have already done my homework and know what brand of shell and shot size shoots the best through that particular gun. The main exercise that you are trying to accomplish is getting the hunter comfortable with the gun and I like to have them shoot the gun in a hunting situation. (continued page 28)
8 - Hunting & Fishing News
Spring Fly Fishing By Drew Baker
If you’re like most Montana fly anglers, you’ve spent the last handful of months staring at a vice, tying up flies and patiently watching a
thermometer bounce between the negatives and low teens. Ice shelves protrude from snowy banks out over a majority of Montana’s rivers and creeks, making most impossible to fly fish. But the time is here. It’s time to dust off those waders and that fly rod (that you probably stashed away in the closet), hang up the winter coat and find some open water. The temperatures are finally warming up enough to get out there and enjoy a day wetting a line. Let these tips help you catch more trout as you kick off your 2016 fishing season. Like you, the fish don’t like to be very active when the temperatures are super cold. Keeping an eye on the forecast can prove to be very beneficial as fish feed more actively when the water warms up a bit. If the temp drops and the water temps follow, it can provide for some less than exceptional fishing. Another important factor to consider when it comes to the temp is that the warmer it gets, the more runoff you’ll likely be dealing with. And although these murky waters caused by the runoff can give you some leeway while stalking trout, if it turns into something comparable to chocolate milk, your best bet is to call it a day or go find some clearer water to fish.
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When it comes to sub-surface fishing in the high and fast runoff, try fishing heavier set-ups. If your nymph isn’t bouncing off the bottom periodically, go deeper. Try using beadhead nymphs and streamers or get yourself some sinkers. Try dead drifting along seams, runs and along undercut banks. Fish don’t like to exert too much energy so they rely on these slower moving currents to conserve as much of it as possible. Although fishing nymphs, emergers and streamers account for a lot of the netted fish this time of year, don’t count out the key hatches that go off during spring afternoons that can provide for some prime top water action. The main hatches that come off in the spring are the Blue Winged Olive, March Brown, and Skwala. Although there are hundreds of variations of these bugs that work, Montana guide, Marcus Bradley’s proven go-to flies are the Bullethead Skawala, Parachute Adams and BWO. He also said that if fish aren’t rising, try fishing an emerger just beneath the surface or bouncing a nymph off the bottom. His go-to’s here are the Zebra Midge and a variation of different colored rubber legs. As I mentioned above, a lot of the times the water will be murky, but not always! Keep this in mind as you stalk trout. If the water looks clear, limit your profile, limit your false casts, and focus on your presentation. Cast to where the fish are going, not on top of the fish. You’ll spook less fish and in turn catch more! Flies you will want to carry with you while fishing this month: Parachute Adams, burgundy bodied parachute, Sparkle Dun, brown/olive stimulator, Griffith Gnat, elk hair Caddis, Parachute Midge, Zebra Midge, Prince nymph, Pheasant Tail nymph, Hares Ear nymph, soft hackle emerger, rubber legs, dark color sculpins and buggers, Clouser and Sparkle Minnows.
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FOR
BIG BUCKS
By Mike Hanback www.mikehanback.com
D o any of you walk the woods and scout for old buck sign this time of year? I know it’s not a sexy topic, but if you go out and do it a few days this spring, your whitetail hunting will improve three-fold 6 months from now.
A study of wild, hunted deer in Louisiana found that the average core area of mature bucks in the fall and winter months is only about 300 acres. Much smaller than you probably imagined. Although big deer venture out of these comfort zones on excursions for does in November, they come home after the rut and spend most of their days back in the same small areas. If food and cover remain the same, bucks will live in these cores year after year, and all their lives. Now is the best time to find and explore the cores. When you scout and hunt from September-November, you find big tracks, rubs and scrapes but only scratch the surface of the core areas. You don’t walk around too much or explore too deeply in the woods for fear of bumping deer, and that’s smart. But you only get a glimpse of how and where the bucks are living. But now you can walk every inch of your woods and investigate. Take a look out your window as you drive to work. The grass and weeds are brown and beaten down, and the fields and woods are as barren and open as they will ever be. The next couple of weeks are the best time to scout your land and find sign. Start walking and cover every ridge, draw and creek bottom (plus it’s good exercise). Stick your boots and nose in every field edge, thicket or swamp. You’ll bump a few deer, but who cares? You won’t be back to hunt them for 5 or 6 months. Here’s what to look for.
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Cut a main deer trail, wide and muddy now in the spring, and follow it…walk, walk and walk to find out where it comes and goes. That trail might fork into secondary trails that link more food sources and cover thickets. Walk those too. Mark the trails on an old-school aerial map or on Google Earth for your mobile, and highlight pockets of good deer sign in red. As you hike, note secondary feeding areas you might have missed—a grove of white oaks on a ridge, a honeysuckle patch near a swamp… When a trail cuts a creek, veers around a ridge point or cuts through a saddle, take note. Those funneling points are great places for tree stands next fall. Buck rubs and even scrapes (when the snow finally melts for the latter) from last November are easy to spot in the barren woods. Look for “signpost” rubs–large, scarred trees that mark a buck’s core area. Top whitetail scientist Grant Woods points out that while only mature bucks blaze the big rubs, all deer interact with them. “They smell and touch them,” says Woods. “They act as communal pheromone wicks and are located in areas with high deer traffic.” Woods has found a correlation between the number of rubs and the number of older, shooter bucks in an area. On one of his management projects, he’s observed 5,000 rubs per square mile, or 7.8 per acre. If you find a piece of woods lit up rubs like that, start looking for trees for your stands this fall. Studies old and new reveal that bucks are habitual, and scrape in the same areas year after year. Key in on 3 scrape spots you might run across and mark them on your map:
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–A cluster of large scrapes at the intersection of 2 or 3 trails, with big rubs nearby. This is a “rut junction” and a good spot for a stand. –A line of large scrapes on the edge of a linear honeysuckle thicket or row of pines or cedars. Bucks run these edges frequently. –A heavily scraped section of a hardwood ridge 100 yards or so off a corn or bean field. If acorns are thick this fall, bucks will stage and scrape like mad there again. Look for a stand spot now. As you hike/scout you should also hunt for sheds, of course. Say this weekend you run across a 60-inch, 4-point antler glinting in the sun. That’s a tangible piece of evidence. You know that a 140-class buck survived last season (figure 60 inches for the other side, and an 18-inch spread).That buck will hang in that core area—remember maybe only 300-400 acres–many days next season, so plan to hunt him right there.
April 2016 11
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Recipes For Tough Turkeys Mark and Katelyn Kayser with a tough turkey
By Mark Kayser
M y Hunter’s Specialties slate was singing out a sweetheart melody targeted toward a distant wood line where a gobbling tom hid.
His response rate was one for one, but he still wasn’t brave enough to step from cover for a chance at a drumstick dinner. I labeled the gobbler as “tough” and halted my calls in a chance to regroup and put together another strategy to lure the blabbermouth into the open. My daughter Katelyn was the shooter and I could tell from her looks she was disappointed in the morning’s hunt.
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You can run into tough gobblers early, mid or late in the season. Some gobblers are paranoid straight from the egg and those that aren’t have already received top billing on a Camp Chef stove. If a tough tom is giving you stress headaches consider some of these solutions to put an end to the frustration.
FLAP A WING -
Gobblers key in on sounds right before they leave a morning roost. If you come across a lone gobbler you can guide him right into your lap mimicking the sound of a turkey’s wingbeat. Several companies manufacture or sell real wings, but you can also use a dried wing from a previously harvested turkey. Before daylight and just prior to the time turkeys leave the roost, flap the wing vigorously in turkey-like fashion. To imitate landing you can also clatter a few leaves in the process. Don’t overdo it. After several seconds stop and emit a few soft calls to let the roosted gobbler know your exact location. Be prepared. The next wing flaps may be for real and he could land too close for comfort.
BE THE FLOCK -
Most turkey hunters practice and are proficient with several styles of calls. That’s perfect. It gives you flexibility in trying to find a call and pitch a gobbler may respond to, plus you can sound like more than one bird. Any turned-on gobbler will be more than happy to woo two, three or four ladies as compared to one. A boss hen may also be less leery when moving toward what sounds like a small flock of hens as compared to a lone instigator. My strategy employs a diaphragm call and a slate call on nearly every setup. Once I determine which tone a gobbler likes more I use that for the main conversation and add in other chatter for background reality.
SCRATCH THAT DUFF -
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If you have a gobbler or a flock that won’t budge, give them a reason to join you. In addition to using soft yelps, purrs and clucks, take your hand and rake the leaves to imitate the sound of a flock scratching for food. I like to use this tactic in the midday hours when turkeys are loafing in the shade or dusting for parasites. This strategy gives turkeys at least two reasons to move your way. First, if they hear turkeys contently feeding they will have a feeling of security. Secondly, turkeys feed all day long and the sound may entice them to check out a different refrigerator being raided. (continued page 28)
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April 2016 13
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Tips for More Walleye this Season
By Jason Mitchell, host of the popular outdoor program, Jason Mitchell Outdoors. www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com
F ishing can remain frustrating, humiliating and most of all humbling regardless of how much you get to fish or how much you think you have learned. There will always come a time when you feel like you just hit a wall. Anybody who has never been stumped on the water just hasn’t backed the boat
down the ramp too many times or they are not being honest. Either way we have probably all pounded a lake from before sunrise to after sunset with our pride seriously tarnished. I can’t tell you how many lessons I have had to learn over and over in my life but regardless, here are a few guidelines that just might help you catch a few more walleye this season. Believe me when I tell you that some of this Intel is hard earned. None of you want to know how many tough days of walleye fishing I have had in my life. Tip One: Understand Water Clarity One of the secrets to catching walleyes consistently is just avoiding bad situations. Extremely clear water and extremely turbid water are two conditions to avoid when possible. You can sometimes find the right water by using wind. On really clear bodies of water, wind will give the wind blown area of the lake just enough stain. On the flip side, what we see so often on wind swept prairie dish bowl lakes is that wind can whip up too much turbidity in the water and we end up looking for areas that are out of the wind so that the sediment can settle. Fishing is usually better in stained water, that is water that has some color and this stained water often gets moved or pushed around the lake with wind or current. There is a difference between stain and turbidity. Fish can still see well in stained water but can’t see well if the water is turbid. This is why mud lines have a life cycle. Mud lines create an opportunistic window when waves crash up against a bank until a veil of turbid water protrudes from the shoreline. In the early stages of the mud line, the plume of churned up muddy water reaches out and hangs like a veil in the top of the water column and at this stage is typically when mud lines are the most productive. As the wind continues to pound and the veil becomes bigger and sinks down through the water column, the bite will often dissipate. So often when wind churns up sediment and clouds the water, the day after the big wind can sometimes be the best because as the sediment sinks, the visibility increases yet still offers some stain in the water. What also happens is that the water will get a green color as it warms up so we often find stained water with the The author Jason Mitchell spills temperature gauge. Colder water is often much more clear and warmer water is typically more stained. some hard earned knowledge Tip 2: Focus on the Process So often with walleye fishing, the key to catching fish is to find fish. At times, to help you catch more walleye locations will let you down; specific spots will let you down. Tried and true patterns will sometimes disappoint. this season. What never fails however if you have enough time is an honest and thorough process of elimination. 14 - Hunting & Fishing News
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In order to truly be successful, you have to almost turn off human emotion and start checking off possibilities from the list. The walleyes should be shallow but they are not, next step is eliminating main lake structure in depths from twenty to forty feet as an example. The key is to keep checking off possibilities even if the possibilities don’t feel right at the time.. When it comes to finding fish, the least you know going into the day is sometimes better because you can adhere to the process of elimination easier. If you give something a good honest effort and it isn’t happening, turn the switch. It is always amazing how many anglers will cling to a spot or pattern for agonizing amounts of time. Been guilty of beating a dead horse myself. This is why a clock is an invaluable fishing tool. Use the element of time to force yourself out of ruts and also use the clock to slow you down when you begin to scramble. What can also happen in search mode is not giving any one spot enough time. Commit yourself to hour increments as you begin the process of elimination so that your day has some structure and you can stick to the strategy. Tip 3: Worry about Efficiency I honestly believe that most anglers worry about the wrong stuff. They get hung up on matching the hatch or they simply out think the fish. With everything that you do in fishing, focus on becoming as efficient as possible because this can greatly increase your likelihood for success. Consider this, if you can become twice as efficient, you can basically become twice as successful. Do some real honest self-evaluation and try to do an honest assessment of how much you actually have a lure or hook in front of fish. If you can take steps to become more efficient, you will basically increase your success exponentially. If you can land a higher percent of the fish you hook or hook a higher percentage of bites, your success climbs. Most people want some secret formula. Some B.S. reasoning that if there is sunshine, you need to use bright colors or if there are perch in the lake, you need to worry about using a perch color. Worry about being in the right place at the right time and when you get an inch, take a mile. You do all of these things right and you can use the wrong color to catch all kinds of fish in the right spot at the right time until the paint is all chipped off. Tip 4: Chameleons Catch More Fish We all have our favorite way of doing something. We all have something that gives us confidence. Sooner or later however, there will come a time when you are simply an observer. Somebody else is catching all kinds of fish and all you can do is watch. A little humility can do an angler a lot of good if you let it. When it is your turn to watch somebody else put on a clinic, embrace the opportunity and let the experience make you a better angler. That means no excuses or over evaluation. Adjust and match, be the chameleon. Again, don’t get hung up on cosmetics but monitor and break down the big picture, watch the jig stroke, the rate of retrieve, casting angle, visualize what that successful presentation is doing in relation to the structure and fish. Visualize what the lure or presentation looks like. If you are fishing below the boat, look to see what the angle is from the rod tip to the water and match that angle with the angler that is catching fish. Test location versus presentation so that you gather better information. Locational nuances to test might be pushing the boat up or out of the break. When somebody is catching fish and you are not, the best thing that can happen to you as an angler, is to figure out why... Tip 5: Make Time to Learn...Spend parts of your day exploring. Make a point to try something different each day. Mix up exploring the unknown with the tried and true. Force yourself to embrace the unknown. Experiment with new lures, new tactics and most of all new locations. Try approaching old locations with a different mindset. What I have found for myself personally is that learning new things keeps fishing exciting and fresh... April 2016 15
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*1.99%, 5.99%, 6.99%, or 12.99% APR with Minimum Payments of 2.87%, 3.05%, 3.10%, or 3.39% of the purchase amount, based on your creditworthiness, are effective until the purchase is paid in full. Offer available on approved purchases of new 2014-2016 Yamaha Side-by-Sides made on the Yamaha Card issued by Capital One, N.A. Offer valid through 6/30/16. Your account must be open and current to be eligible for this offer. Some options may not be available and other terms may apply. Your Standard APR is either 12.99%-22.99% or variable 14.99%-22.99%. Variable APRs as of 2/1/16 and apply to accounts opened on or after 11/6/09. Minimum Interest Charge $1. **Purchase a new 2016 Wolverine between 2/1/16-6/30/16 and receive a Free 18 month Y.E.S. (Yamaha Extended Service) Contract for a total of 2 years Genuine Yamaha Coverage. Includes 6 month Factory Warranty + 18 month Y.E.S. or a 3000 lb. Vantage Winch with mounting kit. Dealer participation may affect this offer. Installation not included. Offer good only in the U.S., excluding the state of Hawaii. Dealer remains responsible for complying with all local and state advertising regulations and laws. Shown with optional accessories. Always protect the environment and wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the owner’s manual and the product warning labels before operation. Professional riders depicted on closed courses. ©2016 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • YamahaWolverine.com 16 - Hunting & Fishing News
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Pre-Spawn Walleye
By Neal M. Cote’ Dedicated to my mom, Billie Early season tactics that can improve your spring fishing!!
QUITE BY ACCIDENT, I stumbled across a pattern that has opened up a whole new opportunity for
spring walleye . The fact that once you put the pieces together, you can start your season early and possibly catch a fish of a lifetime. As the picture illustrates, the day I discovered the biggest pieces, I wasn’t even targeting walleye. Northern Pike were the target species that day, and we caught them, but several times, walleye took an 8 inch streamer!! FIRST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE It was early March, and I was targeting a large shallow bay that is a prime spawning location for big northern pike. Yellow Perch were starting to spawn there first, making them easy targets for pre spawn pike. Because of this, I was there hoping for a 40” or bigger. About two hours into the day the pike started to move in and we caught several. Moving to the outer edge, I was stripping a long cast back when I got a strike. It felt different after the hook set, and low and behold, it wasn’t a pike, but an 18” walleye. Water temps were right at 44-45 degrees in the shallows, with temperatures hovering at 40 outside the bay. TIMING IS EVERYTHING As the day progressed more walleye moved up and I caught two more. Had I switched to trolling with shallow diving cranks or a light 1/16 oz. jig head with a bigger soft plastic, it might have got ugly, but I didn’t know that at the time. I do now, and it has got me getting the boat ready in February!! Warming trends that start in mid February are the key to this pattern, and set up an earlier perch spawn, which will draw some of the biggest female walleyes into these flats. Think Canyon Ferry out by the duck ponds, Holter right in front of Gates of the Mountains boat launch, and the Causeway on Hauser just to name a few. Moving east there are tons of reservoirs with these shallow spawning bays that will see perch and pike show up first, and attract big pre spawn walleyes to feed. Tiber, Fresno, and Nelson come to mind. Starting as early as mid March and continuing to early May, the pre spawn bite will vary by day, but if you hit it just right...... LURES AND BAIT Think bigger for sure. 4” to 6” soft plastics fished on a lighter 1/16oz. jig head, or if you are out east, a big live minnow is a great choice. Northland Whistler jigs tipped with half a night crawler can be deadly. The fish to the left fell for the Whistler. Another choice would be to fan cast or troll a shallow diving crank bait or rattle bait like a Rapala Ripping Rap. And of course you can use a light bottom bouncer with a medium sized Macks Smiley blade tipped with a night crawler. COVER THE EDGES Once you have your location figured out, start on the deeper edges and work your way into the shallower areas. Water depth is not going to be much deeper than 15-10’ or less. Longer fan casting or slow trolling with your electric motor will help you cover water quickly and quietly. Planer boards can spread out your lines and cover tons of extra water as well. Early spring can be one of the best times on the water. If you beat the rush, and hit it just right, you just increased your odds at a fish of a lifetime!! Good Luck out there!! Neal Cote’ is the owner and operator of Bite Me Flies out of Missoula MT. He has been tying his “tooth proof” flies since 1992. For ordering information contact him on facebook, or e-mail him at mrpikemt1@yahoo.com April 2016 17
We’ve got what you need for SPRING FISHING
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MULTI-SPECIES - CANYON FERRY - HAUSER - HOLTER Brown Trout • Rainbow Trout • Walleye • Yellow Perch On the Water NEW FOR 2016! FORT PECK TRIPS Walleye • Northern Pike • Smallmouth Bass Clinics! FLY FISHING - JET BOAT AND LAKE BOAT TRIPS Contact us today at Kit’s Tackle Sportfishing to learn more about a fishing adventure with Kit’s Tackle. 406.459.2841 or 406.459.5206 or visit www.kitstackle.com CAPTAIN TREVOR JOHNSON US COAST GUARD CAPTAIN KIT JOHNSON US COAST GUARD
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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 “Fire Tiger” Glass Minnow This color pattern is proven to set off the warning alarms on mama and daddy trout’s lateral line!! Equipment: -5-6’ ex-fast action ultralight rods -We use 4-6lb Stren Magnathin line -1/16, 1/8 and 1/4 oz jigs
By Trevor Johnson Kit’s Tackle
Kit Johnson of Kit’s Tackle
W ould you like the opportunity to catch 20, 30, or even 50 plus big rainbow trout in one day? The north end Canyon Ferry rainbow trout
spawn is the most prolific spawn in the entire world; ok I made that up but it can sure feel like it with non-stop jigging action. The awesome thing about this fishery is that shore access is very available and anglers can get big rewards without a boat. This is single handedly some of the most exciting spring fishing Montana has to offer…especially if you’re a jig fisherman!!
These fish are also a blast on the fly rods!! We use a 5 or 6 weight and throw 1/32 or 1/16 oz jigs on a sink tip for whacking action!! A leech pattern under an indicator is also a sure bet this time of year! FUN!! Here is a Google earth map zoomed in on the north end of Canyon Ferry with the green lines indicating the best seven places to target spawning rainbows!!
NOTE** The trout that spawn on the north end of Canyon Ferry are hatchery fish and it is a mock spawn meaning that it is not successful. We would never recommend fishing wild fish on their beds.
I have a special connection with Canyon Ferry this time of year and chasing big bruiser bows on their beds…it is where I learned to jig fish. This is also where I acquired the famous “Johnson Jig” style that has filled the box time after time. There isn’t a nook or cranny on the shoreline I haven’t tossed a marabou jig into hoping for a line twitch. I can still remember my grandpa’s enormous smile when I would hook a big rainbow and the drag would start squealing…talk about a slimy Disneyland for kids!! You owe it to yourself this late April-May to head to Canyon Ferry for some incredible jigging action for HUGE rainbows.
Our friend John Chaffee, of Helena, with a gorgeous buck rainbow! And his helper Buxton!
Rainbow trout build vast spawning beds and protect them with all their life. They actually place small signs around the perimeter with the warning “all intruders will be devoured on site!” While fishing rainbows during the spawn most strikes come from irritation and not predation. So in other words, using bright colored visibly noisy jigs is your best bet to getting bit. My two highest recommendations for spawning rainbows: “Egg Sucking Leech” Pro Series Marabou Leeches are notorious for robbing nests…mama trout gets very angry when she sees a leech swimming off with one of her babies. The best way to describe what happens next…do you remember the game Hungry Hungry Hippos?? 18 - Hunting & Fishing News
Trevor Johnson is the co-founder of Kit’s Tackle “Jiggin’ the Dream” along with his father, Kit. “I am a true made in Montana fishing guide, an insane outdoor enthusiast, a wild man in the woods and on the water and they even say I’m a quarter mountain goat. I am a happy husband,a proud daddy to a beautiful little girl and two sweet dogs. When I’m not shoveling coal into the jig engine, you can find me on the water or leaving boot tracks in the wilds of Montana.
406.541.4800 | www.bretzrv.com I-90 & RESERVE EXIT 101 MISSOULA
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April 2016 19
Say Hello To Success: Where to chase the Fish this Month Brought to you by
and on most days, trout swarm the banks close enough so that even bank fishers can have a hay day. Egg sucking leech patterns and various nymphs are a good option here. Another option worth trying is a size 8 Panther Martin, gold blade with black and white spots, which should slam the trout here.
T he early spring fishing season can yield exceptional catch rates
as the warmer, longer days settle into April, and fish begin to feed more during the day. The combination of sunny weather plus warming water temperatures and the pre-spawn for trout and smallmouth bass means optimum fishing opportunities on most fisheries that are open now. You’ll want to make time to get out and fish this month as it can truly be some of the best of the year, and it’s an excellent time to land a trophy fish as well. Whether it’s trout, bass, walleye, or northern pike you are after, you’ll need to be fishing this month. Here are a few spots that are high on my list in the early spring.
Pre-run off rivers:
While nobody can predict the timing nor the extent of this year’s run-off, one thing is certain, you won’t catch fish until you drop a hook in the water. Here are a few rivers to target now.
KOOTENAI RIVER:
Located in the Northwest part of the state, the Kootenai River below Libby will be lively with trout and you can take them by using black and olive beadhead Woolly Buggers, sizes 4 and 6. Some guys still use nightcrawlers as well. Above Kootenai Falls try the Bead Head Prince, Hare’s Ear and Zug Bugs.
UPPER MISSOURI RIVER: The first mile below the dam on the Missouri is always a good place to start if you’re fishing from the bank.
LAKE KOOCANUSA
Near Libby Montana is a hot spot for big double-digit sized Kamloops rainbows, and plenty of kokanee salmon here to target. For the big trout, trolling with planer boards and downriggers will consistently pull in some of the largest trout in the state. It’s one of the deepest lakes in the West and you could catch the fish of a lifetime here if the stars align. Photo www.walleyehunteroutfitters.com book your Montana fishing trip today
A jig+worm combo or throwing out smaller spinning gear will get the job done. Drifting worms and casting crankbaits will produce nice rainbow and brown trout on the Missouri. There are many miles of river to fish, and you’ll want to target the part of the river where there is an influx of water or an inlet running into the river as these draw fish to these inlets to feed.
Little Blackfoot, Beaverhead (above Pipe Organ FAS), Boulder (near Big Timber), Ruby, Rock Creek (near Missoula), and Big Springs Creek (Lewistown). These are just a few trout waters you’ll want to visit in April. Before you set out, check the Montana fishing regulations as some fishing won’t be open until the third Saturday in May on certain rivers or streams in Montana.
BIG HOLE RIVER:
WARM WATER LAKES & RESERVOIRS:
In Southwest Montana, half-starved trout are quick to jump on most any fly pattern that is properly presented. This includes streamers such as Woolly Buggers and San Juan Worms. Spin fishers do well casting a Panther Martin, Mepps, Rapala or Blue Fox. As the bugs hatch, look to the evening for prime fishing opportunities. Other top river fishing in the state this month include the Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Clark Fork, Flathead,
Warm water anglers can also get plenty of action early this spring as the winter cap has receded off Montana’s lakes and reservoirs. Plenty of toothy predators await and will be on the bite. Here are a few waters to consider.
CLARK CANYON RESERVOIR: The Dillon area is home to a very good fishery routinely giving up rainbow and brown trout in the 5-pound plus category. Ice-out triggers an in-shore feeding frenzy,
HOLTER LAKE
Near Helena you can fish for big fighting rainbows or browns as well as the mighty fine eating perch and walleye that inhabit this scenic area of Montana. A jig and worm combo along the bottom will pick up plenty of fish, or slow roll a bottom-bouncer with a plastic or crawler to attract a big brown trout along the shorelines. Big walleye can be caught along the gravel shoals from Log Gulch and from Indian Trail to the dam.
DEADMAN’S BASIN
If it’s the bigger fish you are after, then why not try your luck at landing a tiger muskie in Montana? Near Harlowtown in Southeast Montana, these big dandy’s will be on the prowl scooping up anything that moves in early spring. Muskies consistently take swimbaits, spinnerbaits, and shallow-running crankbaits. Rainbow trout and kokanee salmon can also be caught here in the spring.
THE BEST FISHING BRANDS!
Stores in Bozeman, Butte, Hamilton, Helena and Missoula. Or shop online 24/7 at www.bobwards.com 20 - Hunting & Fishing News
OTHER LAKES TO TARGET
Each lake or reservoir seems to have it’s own hot spots, hot flies, or top lures that work. Stop at one of the Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors store and ask about the local waters and recommendations for good baits and tactics to use for each body of water that you plan to fish. There are dozens of still waters to choose from such as Canyon Ferry (Townsend), Hauser (Helena), Blackfeet Reservation Lakes (Browning - requires Blackfeet Nation Fishing Permit), Cliff, Wade and Hebgen Lakes (West Yellowstone), Dailey Lake (Emigrant), Ennis Lake, Harrison Lake, Hyalite Reservoir (Bozeman), Ruby Reservoir (Alder), Holland Lake (Condon), Browns Lake (Ovando), Harper Lake (Clearwater Junction) Willow Creek and Nilan Reservoirs (Augusta), not to mention the giant lakes of Flathead (Polson) and the Fort Peck Reservoir (Jordan). All of these exceptional fisheries are out there waiting for you to explore. Have an incredible fishing season and good luck catching a trophy this season.
Northern Idaho Walleye Expand By Rob Ryan, Regional Fishery Biologist, Coeur d’ Alene
Walleye, a staple of the Midwestern United States, have not historically
been a part of the northern Idaho landscape. They have found their way into area waters fairly recently. Lake Pend Oreille, well known for its kokanee, Kamloops rainbow trout, bull trout, and cutthroat is now also the home to a growing walleye population. Walleye were illegally introduced into the Clark Fork River, upstream in Montana. They gradually worked their way downstream into Idaho and were detected in Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River around 2004-2006. Although targeted by more anglers every year, catches of walleye remain low. In a 2014/2015 angler survey of Lake Pend Oreille, walleye catch was estimated to be less than 200 fish. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) completed walleye surveys in 2011 and 2014 that showed walleye are expanding. Using gill nets, IDFG biologists sampled waters from the Clark Fork delta, across Lake Pend Oreille, and down the Pend Oreille River. Catches showed walleye abundance nearly doubled in the three years between surveys. Walleye in the Pend Oreille system are growing fast. Five and six pound fish are relatively common. Although walleye are increasing, they are still relatively low in abundance compared to well-established populations in the northwest such as Washington’s Lake Roosevelt. Walleye present a unique challenge for fishery managers. Walleye are often revered by anglers for the quality of their meat and the challenging angling experience they provide. A walleye fishery has not been available in northern Idaho, and biologists recognize it is something a number of anglers desire. Biologists recognize that new fisheries come with risks. Walleye are predators that live almost entirely on a diet of other fish. In Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River, that means walleye may reduce the number of fish of other species that anglers like to catch. They may also pose problems for some of the native fish in the system, such as cutthroat and bull trout. Like them or not, walleye are now a part of the northern Idaho landscape. However, because walleye were illegally introduced and may have detrimental impacts to some of the lake’s existing fisheries, IDFG will not encourage walleye population growth. IDFG has an official policy that states the Department will not promote or enhance fisheries for illegally introduced species. The policy is intended to discourage anglers from establishing new fisheries through illegal introductions. Although illegal introductions may provide a new fishing opportunity for some anglers, it always comes at the expense of someone else. Many of Idaho’s most popular fisheries are based largely on non-native fish, but not all introductions were well thought out. Over the past 100 years, there have been hundreds of introductions by government agencies, sportsmen’s groups, and private individuals. Many of them provided benefits, but others have caused irreparable damage. Taking into account the lessons learned, IDFG is now very cautious about stocking non-native fish into new waters, and fishery managers now implement a rigorous process to evaluate the potential impacts and benefits to new species introductions.
2016 SPRING MACK DAYS LAKE TROUT FISHING EVENT On FLATHEAD LAKE
Fish The Entire Lake
March 18th
through
May 15th
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Competitive Mack Days -lottery, prizes, tagged fish and bonuses Pick your 18/27 best days Friday-Sunday to count for top ten angler prizes Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: bonus days and tagged fish only (51 days total)
Up to $225,000 in CASH & PRIZES 1-$10,000, 3-$5,000, 5-$1,000 & Over 6,000--$100 to $500 Tagged Lake Trout
UP TO $30,000 Lottery Prizes ($1,000-$200)-all it takes is one fish/ticket to win Plus-Top ten angler prizes $700-$200-18/27 best days Fri-Sun. count-last day is separate Captains $250-(4 prizes), Smallest lake trout $250-(2 prizes), Largest lake trout $500 (Fri - Sun) Top lady anglers $300,$200, $100, $100, by total fish entered (Fri-Sun) Youth anglers- (17-13) 1st- $200, 2nd-$150, 3rd-$75, 4-5th-$50 (12 & under) 1st-$100, 2nd-$75, 3rd-$50 will also be entered in the lottery drawing. Weekend Prizes-$300 & $200 (Fri-Sun) drawn and announced weekly; also merchandise prize drawings (NEW) Golden Angler Award (70 & older)-$200 & $100 (Fri-Sun) determined by total fish entered 3 days of single/team-heaviest 4-fish 4/1-Friday, 4/23-Saturday, & 5/8-Sunday - Prizes listed on the website Last Day Only: $300, $200, $100, & $100 & Heaviest Mack under 30”-$200 & $100
BONUSES: ALL ANGLERS WHO ENTER 11 OR MORE LAKE TROUT WIN. The higher your total is at the end of the event-the higher your bonus- (every day Tues-Sun (51) counts) Fish Fry for participants & families-May 15th at Blue Bay 3:00pm Awards Ceremony at 4:00pm
Entry forms will not be mailed out.
Enter online at www.mackdays.com
or pick up entries at local sporting good stores - or you can even enter when you check in your fish at the check in stations during Mack Days. It is easier if you enter before the event begins. Phone 406-883-2888 Ex. 7294 We remind you to follow all fishing regulations. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have a special $13 fishing permit for the south half on Flathead Lake that is available wherever fishing permits are sold.
Sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks April 2016 21
BERNIE’S FORT PECK FISHING REPORT 2016 Fishing reports WALLEYE SEASON SUMMARY By Bernie Hildebrand Licensed Fishing Outfitter www.fortpeckguide.com If you have any questions about fishing or are interested in booking a trip, contact Bernie at (406) 234-6342 or send him an e-mail at: Bernie@MidRivers.com
Walleyes > 1 pound Walleyes < 1 pound Total pounds Average in pounds Hours Walleye/hour 10 pound-plus
2015 1255 205 1991 1.61 684 1.84 4
2014 1148 131 2874 2.50 717 1.60 5
2013 559 85 1231 2.20 654 .86 4
Other year statistics back to 2001 are found on the Bernie’s Catch Statistics Page. http://www.fortpeckguide.com/catchrecords/
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Fort Peck Reservoir in 2015 was good but not as good as 2014. The number of walleyes over one pound and under one pound and walleyes per hour increased while total pounds, average pounds and hours fished decreased. What does all this mean? There is a lot of fish available, their size has decreased because of a strong age class or they have moved into the catchable sizes, and the amount of effort to catch them is decreasing. As many of you know you had to sort through a lot of walleyes for that nice limit! The number of smallmouth bass was off just a little compared to 2014 for 3 to 4, 4 to 5, and 5 pound and greater. Twenty-seven smallmouths between 3 and 4 pounds, seven between 4 and 5 pounds and 3 that were 5 to 6 pounds where caught last year. The largest smallmouth that has ever been caught in my boats was one that was just over 6 pounds The number of northern pike 40” and greater increased considerably from the previous year with 11 pike that were between 40” and a 42”. These pike were 18 to 22 pounds depending on when they were caught. There also was a northern pike caught that measured 45.5″ and weighed over 25 pounds!! The number of ten pound or better walleye was down a little, but is low compared to the early trolling years. Big fish numbers are mostly a cause of how a person fishes. As I’ve said before, vertical jigging is the slowest method while bottom bouncer and pitching jigs is intermediate and trolling crankbaits is the fastest method. At times it is best to cover as much area as you can. It has been good fishing for the last 5 years and should continue to be good for at least another two or three years. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR FISHING ! ! !
22 - Hunting & Fishing News
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Read the owner’s manual before operating Honda Power Equipment. Connection of a generator to house power requires a transfer device to avoid possible injury to power company personnel. Consult a qualified electrician. Not all dealers carry all products. Consult your local Yellow Pages. © 2016 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. www.powerequipment.honda.com April 2016 25
Catin’ Attack
By Eddie White
T he mountains are just short of their yearly run off, which swells and raises the river to muddy water conditions. As the water levels
start to raise, but do not stain too badly, it is the time to get on the catfish action. The water is starting to push all of the delectable, morsels of winter kill that were lodged in the ice and under rocks and trees, making the ever so slow wintered cat push out to find easy meals. It is time for the spring kill buffet. This is a fantastic opportunity for one to venture out and seek a trophy opportunity of our whiskered friend. “Daytime or nighttime?”, one might ask. Fishing daytime hours this time of the year is when one will find the peak of their feeding habits. As the day warms the water, the fish become more active. A few degrees difference can and will start a feeding frenzy among the almighty cat. If I were to pick a shore to fish off of, it would most definitely be the north. Why? It is simple, as the sun rises and sets, the north shore obtains the most daylight, which in turn will help spark the slow metabolism and get these fish hungry, and moving. Don’t believe everything you hear. Cats do not just sit on the bottom in the mud and wait for something to find them. They do not just sit in backwaters or deep holes either (yes you can find them there as well). Channel cats actually rely on current for their feeding habits. Not middle of the river sweeping faster than a sinker can hold down current, but a nice seam. Where slow moving water and faster water meet. There is typically a drop off, in or around the seam, where the water will move the food to sit and wait for a cat to pick it up.
Fishing the river I always tend to keep my tackle light while on foot. Having sinkers from 1 to 5 ounces is always a plus, just to know you can hold bottom in any conditions. I also prefer a 3/0 to 5/0 hook. A sliding style is always my go to. I will put my sliding sinker on, tie a snap or barrel swivel, and a snelled hook. Cutbait, as in cut sucker, is the only bait necessary to take along. When your rod taps, then bends over to epic proportions, the fight is on! I do not know that one can find the kind of fight a catfish will give, here in Montana. What I do know, is once you catch the almighty cat, you will be hooked! Eddie White owns and operates The Minnow Bucket in Huntley Montana, also a writer, seminar speaker and tournament angler. Contact is as follows: montanaminnowbucket@yahoo.com www.Facebook.com/TheMinnowBucket or 406.696.1281 26 - Hunting & Fishing News
Fundamentals Of Navigating Without Technology (continued from page 7)
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Index contour lines
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Silent & Live Auctions, Raffles & Games Index contour lines appear bolder on the map and serve as an indicator for that specific elevation (i.e. 8000’, 9000’, etc.) Photo for illustration only Gun may vary. Call for details.
Contour interval Contour lines have intervals of separation that are separated by a set distance in terms of elevation (20’, 40’, 60’, etc). Whatever the interval is for a given map will remain consistent throughout the entire map. Contour line intervals do not change within a single map.
THE ANATOMY OF A COMPASS Not all compasses are the same. Some are packed with features and some are more basic. I personally use a military-style compass because that is what I was trained with in the Army and is what I am most comfortable using. Use the owner’s guide that comes with your compass to determine its exact features.
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These are the basic features present on nearly every compass available: •Base Plate – The mounting surface of the compass. This typically has a ruler to be used in conjunction with specific map scale. Some have multiple rulers for multiple scales. •Magnetic Needle – This points to Magnetic North. •Orienting Lines – These lines are intended to be lined up with grid on the map. •Compass Bezel – Most compasses have a bezel around the needle with degree markings. These markings allow you to maintain your heading after taking bearings.
HOW TO USE A MAP AND COMPASS TOGETHER Once you have a compass and a topo map, it is time to get to work. I highly recommend that you take a class on how to properly use a compass and a map before you go into the backcountry. While the information in this article will help you gain a basic understanding, taking a class taught by a certified instructor will help to ensure you can confidently use these tools to their fullest potential. The first few times you take a map out in the backcountry, make sure you are using it in a place in which you know your exact location. If you don’t do this, you are just going to get more and more lost when you finally do pull your map out. In order to know where you are, find landmarks like forest roads, water tanks, etc. on the map. Once you know your current location, you can begin to determine where you want to go from there. (continued on page 32) April 2016 27
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Recipes For Tough Turkeys
Prepping Wild Turkey Kids For Enchilada Skillet Turkey Season Recipe By Kris Winkelman (continued from page 8)
This means shooting from a sitting position with their back against something to simulate being in the woods with your back against a tree for safety. If a tree isn’t available you may have to compromise with the tire of a vehicle. Another great item you might want to look into is the V-Pod by Hunters Specialties; this is a great item for beginners and veteran turkey hunters. This product attaches to the barrel of your shotgun and gives you stability without having to hold the weight of your gun for long periods of time while you are waiting that gobbler out. All we are trying to accomplish is getting them comfortable with the gun in a hunting situation. One thing I recommend is to have the youth shoot a very light load. Trap loads work great for this--low brass, maybe a 7 ½ or 8 shot. This takes the recoil issue out of the equation and now it becomes comfortable and fun. Because you have already shot the gun and know the optimal turkey load, when the moment of truth comes, focusing on that turkey’s head will be what they are thinking about, not “dang, this gun is going to kick like a mule!” Try these tips the next time you run to the range to pattern your turkey gun. Check MFWP regulations before you head out to hunt. 28 - Hunting & Fishing News
www.winkelman.com
©Michael Chatt|Dreamstime.com
(continued from page 12)
CREEP IN CLOSE
Merriam’s turkeys have a reputation for running to calls, sometimes from a long ways off. Nevertheless, to make it as easy as possible for a gobbler to come to your calls, get as close as possible before calling. After he initially responds to a locator call, shut up and make your move before firing him up with hen calls. Use terrain and foliage to block your approach and try to get within 100 yards or less of the gobbler before using hen calls. If he still plays hard to get, creep or crawl 15 to 20 yards ahead and try again. Your movements actually mimic what happens in nature. Hens normally go to the gobbler, not vice versa.
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Main Ingredients: turkey, onions, jalapeno 1 ½ c wild turkey cooked (cubed) 1 onion (chopped) 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 10oz can green or red enchilada sauce 1 4oz green chili’s (chopped) 1 jalapeno pepper (diced) crushed seasoned taco chips shredded cheese cilantro sour cream oil
In skillet add oil with onion, sauté until tender, add soup and sauce, pepper, chili’s and then cooked turkey. Simmer, sprinkle with cheese and cilantro. Serve with sour cream. Garnish with seasoned taco chips.
SHUT UP
There’s nothing wrong with cranking up the volume and cadence of calling, but if a gobbler doesn’t make a move it may be time to shut up and make him think twice. If you call nonstop you may make a gobbler believe you are excited and on the way to him. Remember, it’s the hen’s job to go to the gobbler. If a gobbler won’t budge a sudden quiet period could make him believe that you may have left or lost interest. His peanut-sized brain may just force him into an act of desperation to come and find you. Get ready, he could roll in quiet or gobble right in your face for the shock of a lifetime.
CALL AND WALK AWAY
Lastly, if a gobbler won’t budge and you don’t like the option of sitting quietly and patiently, get up and walk away with a disappearing good-bye. Turkeys have excellent hearing and any gobbler will know within seconds that you are on the move with a route headed in the opposite direction. I’ve pulled this trick on gobblers several times. Some get uptight and run at me while shouting “don’t leave.” Some gobblers have slipped in behind me and ripped a gobble when I least expected it. A few just simply stay put. You just never know. As for the gobbler hidden in the timber I decided it might just be time to forget him and go looking for a more cooperative target. Lifting my gaze I was astonished to see the big bird in full strut walking straight at me. He was as quiet as a church mouse, but it didn’t matter now since he was within shotgun range of my daughter’s 20 gauge. “Take him,” I whispered and the words were barely out of my mouth when the Hornady Heavy Magnum Turkey Load landed us a drumstick dinner. CONTACT INFORMATION For timely blogs, new hunting videos, strategies and social media connections visit www.markkayser.com.
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Frontcountry Camp Options For The Western Hunter By Stephen Spurlock
Originally published at
www.gohunt.com
W ith the offseason upon us, it’s time to start deciding what changes are needed for the 2016 season. Your camp might be something you are
considering upgrading (or downgrading) and your camp choice depends, to a large degree, on the type of units you plan on hunting. In the article below, we will discuss camp options for units with road access. Wilderness or backpack camps are another conversation! There are a number of options out there with varying costs and varying functions. Below we will examine some of the options out there, the associated cost, and some of the pros and cons of each camp type.
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The break even point is taking minimal yearly maintenance into affect for each option. The hotel option is based on an average of 14 days per year. The Jumping Jack four year price increase is due to new tires. The Toy Hauler yearly price increase is due to winterization and the four year price increase is due to new tires.
HOTEL “CAMPING”
As you will see below, camp options can get pricey. Depending on your budget, there are options out there to fit us all. That being said, the alternative to camping is the hotel/motel option. If you are able to do all your hunts from home you are extremely lucky. Hunting close to home just isn’t a reality for most of us. (continued page 40)
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Hunting & Conservation News Proudly Sponsored By
Republic Services of Montana
HUNTING & CONSERVATION NEWS B&C Supports Grizzly Delisting Boone and Crockett Club www.boone-crockett.org
© Aardema | Dreamstime.com
The Pope and Young Club Announces Potential New World’s Record Shiras Moose www.pope-young.org
In the early afternoon of October 8th, 2015, Bobby Hebert of Golden,
Colorado, found himself a mere 9 yards away from an incredible Shiras bull moose. Bobby’s years of patience and countless hours of practice had paid off. Mr. Hebert’s moose has an initial entry score that is 8 2/8 inches higher than the current World’s Record. It is yet subject to Panel Judging, which may change the final accepted score for a variety of reasons, including initial mis-measurement, unusual shrinkage, and other factors. The current World’s Record Shiras moose is 185 6/8 inches taken in Sheridan County, Wyoming in 1987 by Richard E. Jones “We were making our way around to where I had been calling the night before, when my hunting partner, Mike told me to stop,” says Bobby Hebert. “He thought he could see a moose in the trees ahead. I slowly raised my binoculars to find it was the bull we had named, Yukon Jack, Mike told me to stand behind some pine trees and he proceeded to walk away. The moose seemed to watch my hunting partner disappear into the trees beyond me and started towards my direction. The massive bull grunted with every step as he walked by me at 9 yards. I took a single step and let loose with my arrow, watching it strike home. He ran off about 40 yards and fell over. When I returned with Mike to see my harvest, the bull was standing up. I maneuvered around him for another shot, but he disappeared into some trees. We found him lying down with his head behind a pine about 20 yards away. I nocked another arrow, let it fly and it hit true. He ran another 35 yards and collapsed. I literally shed tears of reverence and joy, giving thanks to the Man upstairs. I am incredibly grateful to have taken part in this once-in-a-lifetime hunt.” “The Pope and young Club is excited that Bobby Herbert has entered his magnificent Shiras bull moose into the Records Program as a pending Pope and Young Club world record,” says Ed Fanchin, Pope and Young Club’s Records Chairman. “The size of the moose is a testament of sound conservation work and game management. It’s great to know that animals of this class are currently roaming the woods. What I like most is the story behind Bobby’s hunt, and how it was a true example of Fair Chase, ethical bowhunting.” Mr. Hebert’s moose will be entered into the current, ongoing 30th Recording Period—the biennium representing entries accepted into the P&Y Records Program from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016. At the close of every two-year biennial recording period, numerical awards and honorable mentions are awarded to the most outstanding animals in each species category entered during that recording period. New world’s records are verified and proclaimed, and awards are presented to these outstanding animals during the Pope and Young Club’s biennial convention and awards banquet.
30 - Hunting & Fishing News
W e welcome today’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal to return the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear to
state management as a recovered species. Restoring the bear to this point is a high achievement of state, federal, and tribal experts working together since the 1980s, and we commend especially the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee for a job well done. The strong biological evidence that Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bears are recovered clearly justifies today’s proposal, and we will join in the process of reviewing the proposal for certainty that recovery will hold before a final delisting decision is made. We will work closely with other conservation leaders to insist on continued interagency cooperation that sustains a stable grizzly population, manages conflicts between bears and people, and employs ethical, scientifically-regulated hunting to the extent that it serves management goals and promotes respect for the grizzly and its conservation.
Boone and Crockett Club Offers New Specialty License Plate for Montana Residents www.boone-crockett.org
N
ext time you’re in line at the Montana Motor Vehicle Division to license a new vehicle or renew your current one, consider selecting B&C’s new specialty license plate. A $20 sponsor fee goes back to B&C. The funds collected help promote our Fair Chase hunting heritage for future generations, maintain big-game records, support science-based conservation policy, and offer conservation education ranging from outdoor youth camps to college programs. Most Motor Vehicle Departments stock the plate, but if yours does not or they are sold out, they can order the plate for you. It usually takes a couple of weeks to arrive in your mail box.
HUNTING & CONSERVATION NEWS
Real Conservation Matters Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
T
heodore Roosevelt was a man of action. As a hunter, he rallied fellow sportsmen and women, pushed for hunting regulations and established conservation groups to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat. His actions led to the formation of what we now refer to as the North American Wildlife Conservation Model, which highlights two basic principles – that our fish and wildlife belong to all Americans, and that they need to be managed in a way that their populations will be sustained forever. Individuals can take action as well. In 1937, hunters approved a self-imposed tax on their firearms, ammunition, bows and arrows. The Pittman-Robertson Act has since generated more than $10.1 billion. The revenue generated from the excise tax is doled out to state wildlife agencies which put the money on the ground for conservation efforts, hunter education programs, and shooting projects and programs. We, as hunters, provide the lion’s share of funding for conservation efforts. And in this highly political age each of us can make a difference. It is incumbent that we become educated on the issues and engaged in the process. We must raise a collective voice for conservation and wildlife or those with polar opposite views will speak for us! We can take action by using the resources available to us. Go online, use social media to express support for causes and initiatives, reach out to the media, write a letter to the editor, follow issues in your state legislature and in the halls of Congress, and reach out to state wildlife agencies and our lawmakers who make rules and regulations.
One voice can change an opinion. Many voices together can sway policy. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was founded in 1984 by four hunters from Troy, Montana who wanted to ensure a future for North America’s grandest game animal. To become a member or learn more visit www.rmef.org April 2016 31
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Fundamentals Of Navigating Without Technology (continued from page 27) In order to know how to proceed to a specific destination, you must first take a bearing. A bearing is essentially the direction you must head to reach a specific point (landmark, campsite, water tank, etc.). A bearing is much more specific than “head northeast.” Instead, it is communicated using degrees. Heading 30 degrees will give you a much more accurate path than “northeast” will. If you are off by just 1 degree you could miss your point by hundreds of feet. For this reason, being accurate with your bearings is essential. To take a bearing, identify your current location on your map and then identify your destination. These two points will create a straight line. You can see this in the photo above. Next, take your compass and align its edge with that line. Now, rotate the bezel of your compass so that the bezel’s orienting lines run parallel with the grid lines on the map (you can also accomplish this by rotating the bezel so that the North arrow runs parallel with the grid lines.) 32 - Hunting & Fishing News
You now have your bearing. For our purposes, the bearing is 45 degrees northeast. If I follow 45 degrees northeast on my compass, I will reach my destination after hiking for the allotted distance between the two points (use the measurement scale of your map to determine the exact distance and count paces to determine distance traveled). This process can be reordered to determine a specific bearing based on observing the terrain. If I can see a point that I can also identify on the map, I can then use my compass to get a bearing from my point to that point and then plot that bearing on the map in order to find my location on the map. This is known as triangulating. Using two known points and plotting a bearing on the map from each point will pinpoint my location on the map.
HOW TO MOVE WITH A COMPASS Walking with a compass takes much more attention and diligence than just pointing an arrow and walking in that direction.
The first thing you must know is that the compass should not just be held in front of you at chest level while walking. It is a good practice to find a visible mark (tree, rock, etc.) that is perfectly inline with your bearing, walk to that mark, stop, and repeat (this is called “shooting a line”). This will prevent you from looking at your compass too much, which could lead to injury. This will also help you to ensure that you maintain a straight line. Your eyes should be up, looking at the terrain, not down and looking at the compass. As you walk, stop and confirm you are still maintaining your bearing. If you have veered off of your bearing, reorient yourself and begin walking again.
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Compass sight picture To shoot a line accurately, hold your compass at eye level and use the sight pin of your compass in conjunction with the mirror and line the sight up with your bearing. Once you have your bearing, identify what the site is lined up with on the horizon. This is your target. Once you reach your target, shoot another line to another target that is inline with your bearing. Doing this continually will ensure that you are maintaining your proper bearing. Take breaks to check and make sure that you are on-track based on your map and the visible terrain. As you approach your destination, it is important that you keep your head up and look around as you may be off by 10, 20, or even 100 feet. If you followed your bearing properly, you should be able to see your destination even if you do not step right on top of it.
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A NOTE ABOUT MAGNETIC DECLINATION The goal of aligning your compass to a map is to align it with True North, using the magnetic arrow. To do this, you must find the magnetic declination diagram on your specific map. If your compass has an adjustable declination setting, you can manually adjust the magnetic arrow to account for the declination amount; however, if your compass does not have this feature, you must remember to account for this declination amount. An easy way to remember is to use tape or a marker to mark the declination amount on your compass.
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Photo credit: USGS
While this is very basic instruction on how to use a topo map and compass, it is enough information to potentially save your life if you get lost and only have a topo map and compass to find your way back. Get outside, practice and take a course offered locally. Doing so will increase your confidence as well as teach you some advanced techniques for navigating.
April 2016 33
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34 - Hunting & Fishing News
BEST RIFLES AND CALIBERS FORByDEER HUNTING Mike Hanback www.mikehanback.com
I’ve shot whitetails, mule deer and a few blacktails with a dozen different cartridges over the years, and from those experiences I’ve drawn the following
simple yet practical conclusion: Choose a rifle caliber that shoots a 130- to 165-grain bullet accurately out to 300 yards and you’ll be in great shape for deer anywhere in North America. Five time-tested standbys–.270, .308, .30-06, 7mm-08 and 7mm Rem. Mag.–fit that criteria and, all things considered, are my top choices for straight up mule deer hunting and whitetail hunting. Quick note about the .270: I have shot a bunch of bucks with this cartridge, and I prefer the added weight and anchoring power of the 150-grain bullet over the 130-grainer. Quick note about the 7mm-08: This is the most overlooked cartridge on my list, but it’s top-notch for whitetails in Texas and elsewhere where bucks tip the scales around 150 pounds. Love the 140-grain bullet. I grew up hunting with the .243, but experience has taught me that the 7mm-08, with its light pushing recoil, is a better choice for young hunters, and it’s about perfect for today’s growing number of lady deer hunters. Quick note if you hunt out West: For those of you that hunt elk and muleys, the .270 with the 150-bullet will do the job, though it is minimum. I suggest you power up to the 7mm Rem. Mag. or the .30-06, both of which typically shoot 150- to 180-grain bullets accurately. Quick note about the rifle you’ve seen me use to drop a bunch of deer on TV: I’ve shot as many big whitetails with a Remington Model 700 chambered for 7mm Rem. Ultra Mag. (RUM) as anybody, with both 140- and 150-grain loads. This overlooked cartridge is fast and powerful, and delivers devastating performance on deer and elk. Action: I prefer a bolt-action rifle plain and simple. I am a Remington man, but any modern bolt gun will prove rugged and dependable and probably last you a lifetime. While some individual rifles will shoot a little better than others out of the box, all bolts, save for the odd lemon, will give you all the hunting accuracy you need, provided you test several brands/weights of ammunition and then sight-in with the load and bullet weight the rifle likes best. Using most any new factory bolt-action with a factory 130- to 165-grain load, you will be able to fire 3-shot groups at 3 inches all day long at 100 yards. That won’t win you any bench-rest shooting matches, but it will enable you to kill a lot of deer. With a bit of load tweaking and more shooting time at the range, you can cut those groups to 2 inches and under. That’s plenty of deer-hunting accuracy. Stock: A synthetic stock is lighter than wood, and it comes in a gray, black, green or camouflage finish. Synthetic is impervious to rain and snow, and for that reason alone many of my stocks are composite. But there is no denying the romance of wood. Every once in while I pull out my old .30-06 or 7 RUM and run my hands over the walnut stock’s dents, gouges, scrapes, and scars. Twenty-five years of memories come flooding back—the stunning vistas of Alaska, the exciting stalks in rough terrain, the big racks coming through the woods, the spot-on shots, the misses… You don’t get that with a composite stock. Synthetic or wood? Both are good, the choice is up to you. Trigger: Hunting rifles generally come from the factory with trigger pulls of five or six pounds. Over the years I have taught myself to shoot heavy triggers pretty well, both through shooting a lot and dry-firing more. But you’ll shoot better with a crisp-breaking four-pound trigger, which I have found to be about ideal for a hunting rifle. Soon as you purchase a rifle, test the trigger with a pull scale (guy at the gun shop can do this) and lighten the load to 4 pounds or so if needed. These days many modern rifles come from the factory with triggers you can adjust yourself, but I recommend you have a gunsmith you trust do the job... April 2016 35
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SPOTTING A BEAR
Whether you’re hunting in the spring or the fall, remember that a bear’s motivated by food. Bears are invariably attracted to green clover and dandelions, especially the stuff that shows up in early spring along open backroads, cut lines and hillsides. The heaviest green patches can be invaluable for a bear hunter. Find these healthy patches of clover and dandelion patches in late April and May and it’s only a matter of time before a bear shows up.
WATERWAYS
MONTANA BEAR HUNTING By Hunting & Fishing News Pro Staff
River edges, shorelines and hillsides along lakes, creeks and streams are all high odds locations to focus your hunting efforts. Beavers are also a staple food source for black bears. Find a healthy population of beavers in the heart of big timber, and you’re sure to see bears in the area. As a rule, bears like cool, dark and moist cover. Mossy, musky flats full of swamp spruce and deep valleys for instance, even in mountain habitat can be excellent areas to kick up a bear. Locate this kind of cool, dark cover near a high quality food source, waterways, and south-facing slopes and you could be well on your way to spot and stalking a bear.
BEAR SIGN
Look for bear scat on old logging roads. If you’re seeing a lot of fresh bear scat and cut grass along the sides of the road where bears feed, there will be a bear in the area - it’s just a matter of time, patience and your willingness to put in the time to locate a bear that calls this area his home.
BLACK BEAR AREAS TO TARGET
I
© Brandon Smith | Dreamstime.com
n Montana, you can hunt spring black bears in late April by covering lots of area to spot, and then stalk for a good shot. The last two weeks of April and into May should be outstanding, especially with the mild winter of 2015 - 2016. Bears will be out looking for food and bears will be moving a lot during the mid-day and late afternoons before dark. Take advantage of a warm spring day to advance further into remote areas looking for open lines with growing clover, several drainages of flowing water, and a south facing hillside to up your chances of seeing a quality bruin. 36 - Hunting & Fishing News
The entire Divide, from the fabled Bob Marshall Wilderness, west of Choteau, down to Wisdom and the head of the Big Hole Valley, can offer some of the highest densities of black bear in the state. Look for areas of good concentrations of road access, with gated off areas for you to walk into to hunt. A mix of high, middle and lower elevation habitat are opportune areas to concentrate your hunting efforts. The Lincoln area near Helena or black bear hunting districts in the Seeley/Swan Valley offer up plenty of roads to access. Superior, St. Regis, the Trout Lake area near Noxon and Thompson Falls can all be good hunting. Good spots are scattered above Park Lake west of Clancy. Check out the sun-drenched ridges between Boulder and Basin and along Basin Creek for bear sign. There may be more than black bears in this country too. While the core of Montana’s grizzly bear populations are in and around Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, you could see a griz just about anywhere between the parks now, as the grizzly bear has expanded it’s territory. If you do encounter a grizzly bear while hunting, contact MFWP and report the sighting. Make sure that the bear in your sights is a black bear, and you must also make sure that it’s not a black bear sow with cubs, as they are off limits.
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Top Spring Pike Tactics (continued from page 5)
“You have two options,” Thelen notes. “Set the float to suspend within a foot – or directly on – the bottom. Fishing off bottom can be more effective early in the day, but it pays to experiment.” On some systems, pike also spawn around main-lake shorelines. “On Devils Lake, a lot of spawning occurs along rocks and bridges,” says longtime guide Jason Feldner of Perch-Eyes Guide Service. “Immediately after they spawn, pike head for black-bottom areas on the main lake or in bays.” Feldner’s early go-to tactics include fishing dead herring or smelt beneath a Big Fish Slider. He favors 20-lb superbraid mainline with a 12- to 14-inch, 30-lb steel leader. Once the water temperature rises into the 50s, pike begin to chase artificial lures with more enthusiasm. “Swimming a 3/8-ounce Lindy Jig tipped with a 3½- to 5-inch paddle-tailed plastic like a YUM Money Minnow is deadly,” he says. New Rotax® 850 E-TEC engine, the most powerful 2-stroke engine in the industry.* The next generation REV® platform that delivers unmatched agility. Together they create the new standard for effortless mountain riding.
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38 - Hunting & Fishing News
Small spoons and spinnerbaits also merit experimentation, as do crankbaits. Thelen adds that while filming a “Fish Ed” segment on backwater pike on Devils Lake, he and Feldner enjoyed a banner day casting size 5 Lindy River Rockers in old cattail sloughs where new vegetation was just starting to sprout. “When the fish are ready to eat, a wide-wobbling bait like this can be phenomenal,” he said. The River Rocker’s charm is not lost on Jonny Petrowske, an avowed pike hunter who guides on Upper Red Lake. He trolls size 3 and 5 versions of the banana-shaped bait along shorelines where postspawn pike linger to feed. “Shiner minnows school in 3 to 6 feet at water temperatures from 52 all the way to 65 degrees,” he says. “Pike to 40 inches and longer cruise the shallows chasing them, and trolling is a top way to take them.” Petrowske’s program includes sturdy yet flexible casting combos spooled with 20-lb monofilament mainline, capped with a 40-lb fluorocarbon leader and small snap, to which he attaches the lure. With a boatload of clients, he deploys a veritable phalanx of lines, spread by trolling boards, and buzzes the shallows at speeds from 3 to 5 mph. It’s just another creative yet deadly means of enjoying some of the year’s finest pike fishing before eaters and gators alike shift to deeper haunts for the summer.
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Many kinds of gamefish including walleyes, panfish, pike and bass often relate to aquatic vegetation.
Being able to identify different weed species can help you pinpoint areas where food and cover converge to create prime fishing areas you don’t want to miss. To help you find the best types of vegetation and catch more fish, fast, we put together the following selection of important aquatic plants. Broad-leaf pondweeds Often called cabbage, several varieties of pondweed including large-leaf, floating-leaf and clasping-leaf provide exceptional habitat for baitfish plus pike, panfish, bass, muskies, walleyes and more. As a bonus, the sturdy stalks and crisp leaves won’t foul your fish hooks like the clingier canopies of other species such as coontail. Pondweed is found in streams and lakes in depths to 20 feet, often near or along the edges of drop-offs and bottom content changes. You can identify floating-leaf cabbage by its slightly heart-shaped leaves, which float at the surface. Large-leaf has oval-shaped leaves, while the clasping-leaf variety has wide, wavy foliage. Pondweed attracts fish from the point it begins emerging all the way to maturity. In fact, lush beds of still-green “cabbage” often hold fish well into the winter months. Outside edges, as well as open pockets and lanes within the bed are easily fished with jigs, slip-bobber rigs, crankbaits and other presentations. You can also cast and troll jigs, spinner rigs and crankbaits over the weed tops, which is a prime feeding area in low light and windy weather. Curly-leaf pondweed An exotic invader that’s often called crisp pondweed, curly cabbage or simply lumped in with other pondweeds as cabbage, this species can be distinguished by small teeth on the edges of its crinkled, stiff, 2- to 3-inch leaves. Cold tolerant and an early sprouter, the curly-leaf pondweed often provides some of the season’s first weedy cover. It grows in depths of up to 15 feet, depending on water clarity, and is commonly found in thick stands that at maturity can impede boat traffic and be difficult to fish with all but the most weedless presentations. It often reaches the surface in early summer and dies back shortly after. Under the right conditions, including calm, hot weather, massive pondweed die-offs can starve a lake of oxygen, producing fish kills in the hardest hit areas. Bulrush North America is home to a number of species of bulrushes. Most of them look relatively similar to one another, and provide good habitat for baitfish, invertebrates and gamefish. Often called reeds, bulrushes also offer fine spawning habitat for sunfish, bass and other species. Typically found in shallow water, these grass-like perennials are easily identified by their slender, leafless stems. They often sprout in dense colonies and some varieties can reach heights of 10 feet. While anglers often associate bulrush beds with hard bottom, they are often found on a variety of different bottom types. For example, hardstem bulrush does indeed prefer gravel or hard sand, but the softstem strain flourishes on far muddier substrates. Coontail A native species often called “hornwort,” coontail is common in moderate to very fertile fisheries and provides great habitat for juvenile fish and other aquatic creatures, which makes coontail beds prime feeding areas for hungry gamefish. You can identify coontail by looking for five to 12 serrated, forked, antler-shaped leaves per whorl. Although it might not help you catch more fish, it’s interesting to note that coontail doesn’t put down roots. Instead, the plant uses modified leaves to anchor itself in place, and absorbs nutrients from the water around it. Coontail can also survive while floating freely in the water column, and sometimes forms thick mats just below the surface. Eurasian watermilfoil An exotic nuisance species once sold in the aquarium trade, this plant is widespread and can crowd out native vegetation. It spreads fast since it reproduces both from seeds and plant fragments, and can infest a lake within two or three growing seasons. This type of milfoil forms dense stands that often hold sunfish and bass, but is so thick it can be challenging to fish unless you punch heavy weights down through the canopy to more open water close to the bottom. You can identify Eurasian watermilfoil by its feathery leaves, which are typically arranged in whorls of four, with 12 or more pairs of closely spaced leaflets. Maidencane This native grass provides critical cover and feeding opportunities for invertebrates, small fish and large gamefish. It grows up to eight feet tall and has long, tapered leaves that may stretch up to a foot in length. Maidencane sprouts in the water and along shorelines, and often forms thick stands or colonies... April 2016 39
Frontcountry Camp Options For The Western Hunter AMERICA’S NO. 1 SELLING TRAVEL TRAILER FOR 10 YEARS STRAIGHT.
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(continued from page 29) Motel cost in rural hunting areas range from $40 to $120 per night. Depending on your unit, population centers, and availability, I think peak season for many of these venues is hunting season, which seems to drive prices up. Depending on how many nights a year you spend, this cost can vary greatly. Days hunting Motel costs Motel cost over per year per season five year period 5 to 7 $200 to $700 $1,000 to $3,500 7 to 10 $240 to $1,000 $1,680 to $5,000 10 to 14 $400 to $1,400 $2,000 to $7,000 With this in mind, some of these camp options may become more affordable. Other factors to consider when using local motels are the distance to your hunting area, quality of hunt (driving two hours every morning and evening can deteriorate camp morale), and the fuel cost of driving vast distances to and from the hunting area to a motel. When looking at the options below, keep in mind the break-even cost of camping. The break-even costs may surprise you.
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Nothing says hunting season better than a wall tent. Available in a large array of shapes and sizes, wall tents are comfortable, relatively small to pack in a truck, and provide great protection from the elements. Pros Easy to pack in a truck bed (requires no trailer). Doesn’t limit mobility (heavy to pack but easy to haul around in truck/with horses). Can accommodate large group comfortably. Easy to store and maintain. Packable with the use of horses or a large group. Cons Hot in the early season. Carrying cooking and additional supplies needed. Wood stoves for winter heat can be heavy and add some expense. Overall bulk to pack any great distance. May limit bed space for hauling ATVs or other camp gear. Wall tents come in a number of configurations and sizes. Prices vary accordingly. Model Size Price Cabela’s Outfitter Wall Tent (Sewn by Montana Canvas) 12x17x5 (75 lbs) $1,129.99 Cabela’s Outfitter Wall Tent (Sewn by Montana Canvas) 10x12x6 (61 lbs) $969.99 Davis Wall Tents 12x14 (does not include poles) $773.62 Alaska Tent & Tarp 12x14x4 (38 lbs) $405.00 (does not include floor or poles) Canvas Wall Tent The wall tent option obviously does not include cooking devices, internal tent structure (beds, chairs, etc) or climate control (heater, stove etc). There are number of options here ranging from wood stoves to portable grills. Stove prices range from $150 to $400. Cots are priced around $70 each. Camp chairs typically range from $15 to $30. Tables and other items that come in handy for camping range in cost from $35 to $150. With the other necessities, a wall tent camp will cost an additional $500 to $700 to set it up just right.
THE JUMPING JACK
Jumping Jack trailers have become very popular with western hunters. These trailers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The unique fold out design of the Jumping Jack Trailer allows you to use the trailer to transport ATVs, side by sides, and other gear. Pros Trailer serves as storage in transport and as housing once you get to set up. Maneuverable trailers won’t limit campsite selection terribly. Accommodates three to four adults comfortably depending on model. Small dining space available in most models. Ample storage. Can be hauled with a half ton truck or smaller. Cons Trailer can limit access to some hard to get to areas (decent roads needed). Non-climate controlled (can be hot in the early season). Jumping Jack trailers come in several sizes and at several price points. Model Size Price Standard 6x8 $5,995 Mid 6x12 with 8’ tent $7,995 Jumbo 6x17 with 12’ tent $9,895 As with the wall tent option, the Jumping Jack comes without some necessities. The Jumping Jacks have a table and sleeping surface inside. A cooking surface, lights, heaters, etc., are all still required. The cost of these items will range from $400 to $700 (similar to the cost of the additional items needed with the wall tent). As with the toy hauler/ RV camps, Jumping Jack trailers will require some minimal annual maintenance cost. You will also need to replace the trailer tires every three to four years at a cost of around $500 per new set.
TOY HAULER
This is the deluxe climate controlled camp option. Toy haulers provide excellent function and comfort. The premise of the design of the toy hauler is incorporating both the amenities of a travel trailer and the functional ability to haul ATVs and side by sides on a flatbed trailer. This versatile function makes the toy hauler a very popular choice amongst western hunters. Toy haulers come in a variety of shape, sizes, and price points. The sky’s the limit as far as budget, but there are some good affordable options out there. Pros Climate control and comfort. Large amounts of storage. Includes shower. Can accommodate a large crowd comfortably. Cons Expensive. Bulky to store. Requires easy to access camp location. Yearly maintenance required. Repairs can be expensive. May require three-quarter ton truck to pull. The toy hauler is available in a number of shapes, sizes, and costs. Some of the options and associated costs are listed below. Model Size Price Jayco Octane 20’ 8’’ x 8’6’’ $23,381 Superlite 2015 (new) Dutchmen RV 26’ 11’’ x 8’6’’ $32,900 Rubicon 2100 2015 (new) Dune Sport 14’ 14’ x 8’6’’ $14,795 Toy Hauler 2015 (new) DRV Luxury Suites 36’ x 8’6’’ $127,068 Mobile Suite 36 RS (new)... (continued on page 44) April 2016 41
Smoked Salmon or Trout On a Budget By Andy Lightbody and Kathy Mattoon
www.ammoland.com
D epending on where you live, it seemed like a long and cold winter, where cleaning out the freezer of last season’s salmon and trout fillets just wasn’t in the cards.
Alder wood chips or chunks are the favorite for making your own smoked trout and salmon. Three or four pans of chunks/chips will add a light smoke flavor without overpowering the delicious taste of the fish. photo: Kathy Mattoon 42 - Hunting & Fishing News
Now that most of the “arctic blasts” are over, it’s time to start reliving some of last year’s great angling memories and making room for some of the fresh fish from springtime adventures that are just around the corner!... It’s time to clean out the freezer and turn those fillets into great eating and economical smoked trout and salmon. Instead of $26-$60 a pound for questionable quality, the Little Chief smoker let’s you make “great eats” for pennies on the dollar. Begin by defrosting your trout or salmon fillets. Ten pounds of fillets are going to smoke, dry and end up producing about 3-4 pounds of smoked fish when finished. If you want to take the fillets and turn them into jerky instead of moist fish bites, all you do is follow this same recipe and just increase the drying time until the fillets have about 90 percent of the moisture reduced. Ten pounds of fish fillets will turn into around 1 pound of jerky. The Smokehouse Trout & Salmon Brine Mix is prepackaged, premixed with salt, sugar and spices, and ready to use with 2-quarts of water. One box will do up to 15 pounds of fish and marinates your fillets in the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours. In order to keep everything as simple as possible and easy to prepare, our top choice for the brining process is the Smokehouse Trout & Salmon Brine Mix (www.smokehouseproducts.com). It’s a prepackaged, premixed combination of salt, sugar and flavorful spices that mix up with 2-quarts of water and can be used for up to about 15-pounds of fillets. If your fillets are more than ¾ of an inch in thickness, use a sharp knife and do some simple cross-cuts laterally on the flesh-side of the fish. This increases the surface area of the fillet and allows it to better absorb the brine and spices. Once mixed, fish and brine are put in a glass bowl or small plastic bucket and allowed to marinate for 8-12 hours. Even 24+ hours of brining won’t hurt a thing, and we often throw the bucket in the refrigerator and let it soak overnight. The real chemistry behind brining is actually pretty simple. All fish, poultry and meats already contain salt water. By immersing and soaking them in a liquid with a higher concentration of salt, the brine is absorbed into the meat. Whatever spices and flavors that are in that brine are absorbed as well. After marinating, gently rinse the fillets and lay them out on your smoker rack to air dry for approximately 1-hour. As always, spraying the racks, even the supposedly “non-stick” types, with a non-stick spray or wiping the surfaces with vegetable oil will keep the fillets from sticking while smoking and drying. Once brined, the fillets can be smoked without adding anything, or you can go from “mild-to-wild,” by using a host of spices, rubs, sauces and flavorings. Smokers are as much a personal choice and preference as trying to suggest what make/model of car is your favorite. For home-use, ease and afford-ability, there is little question as to why the Smokehouse Big Chief or Little Chief electric smokers (www.smokehouseproducts.com) reign supreme. They’ve been around since 1968, are easy to operate, provide constant temperatures and turn out “great eats.” Regardless of your smoker choice, the idea behind all smoked fish is to dry/dehydrate and add flavor, without turning it into a high-temp oven. Low, slow and with temperatures of 165 degrees F to no more than 200 degrees F is the key to success. If you mix and match your fillet flavorings, try labeling with a post-it-note to identify the different offerings. Temp is low enough in the Little Chief smoker that there is no fire danger. With the fillets on the racks, you’re ready to add your personal touch and “flavor profiles.” Once brined, some folks like to just use the flavor from the wood smoke. Others want to go with Cajun, Lemon/Pepper, Chili, Mexican, Teriyaki, Dill, Rice Vinegar, and Hoisin or seasoned-salt options. Here is where you are limited only by your imagination! Into the smoker, and our favorite wood flavor is Alder, because it is a light wood and delicate. For a sweeter touch, try apple chunks or chips. If you want to go bolder, try cherry, mesquite or even hickory. WARNING: As with all smoking of fish or game, too much and it becomes overpowering and equates to eating a charcoal-briquette offering. Our best results are from using 3-4 pans of wood chips (one immediately after the other) in total. Each pan of chips will burn/smolder/smoke for approximately 45 minutes, so you are actually smoking the fillets for about 3 hours, and they should start to turn a light golden brown as the smoking process continues. After the smoke, simply use the heat from your smoker to finish the fish, which can vary greatly, depending upon outside temperature, wind conditions and even air humidity. Based on those outside weather conditions, your smoked fillets will be ready in anywhere from 3 ½-8 hours. At this point, the fillets can be brushed with additional Teriyaki, honey, Hoisin, soy sauce, etc. Just keep checking them periodically and dry them till they are done to your taste and texture.
April 2016 43
Frontcountry Camp Options For The Western Hunter Other options
The Kifaru Tent Tipi
(continued from page 41)
The three options above are just a few of the mobile camp options available. Below is a list of some other available camp options.
Kodiak Canvas Tents
Photo credit: Jason Phelps The Kifaru Tipi is another product that can both serve as a base camp in roaded units and a mobile camp on wilderness hunts. Available in a variety of shapes and configurations, Kifaru Tipi can accommodate groups from four to 12. Pricing on these products ranges from $850 to $2,900.
Conclusions
Camp options are endless. I hope the options provided above give you some food for thought for the 2016 offseason.
The Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Tent provides a unique blend of size and portability that conventional wall tents do not offer. Ranging in size and price, these tents can serve as both a base camp when hunting roaded units and a mobile camp that can be packed by a group of folks. Prices range from $399 to around $1,200. 44 - Hunting & Fishing News
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April 2016 45
46 - Hunting & Fishing News
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