Montana Hunting & Fishing News - August 2016

HUNTING & FISHING Montana

News

August 2016

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4 - Hunting & Fishing News

MONTANA HOPPER FISHING

By Brian McGeehan - Montana Angler To book a trip with Montana Angler call 406-522-9854 or visit their website at www.montanaangler.com

L

ate summer in Montana brings some of the most highly anticipated dry fly fishing of the season. Montana’s numerous large agricultural valleys filled with alfalfa fields are a haven for the large insects.

Although grasshoppers fill the fields in the early summer, trout do not get interested in them until they molt from the nymph stage to and adult stage. As adult insects, hoppers have wings allowing them to become airborne. Because they are not strong fliers, they can be easily diverted into rivers, especially on windy days. Afternoon winds on sunny days are a daily occurrence as warm valley bottom air rushes upriver to replace the cooler air in the headwaters. The combination of lots of grasshoppers with breezy afternoons results in some of the world’s best hopper fishing.

The large size of a typical grasshopper sometimes induces larger trout to the surface, and the size of the fish combined with the often exciting takes produces some of the year’s most satisfying surface fishing.

Follow these five tips to improve your odds during hopper time.

Tip 1: Don’t give up on hoppers, try them throughout the day Hopper fishing is usually very slow in the mornings, but can improve dramatically as the day warms and the winds pick up. Hoppers do not become active until the morning warms and the dew burns off the grass.

Some days fish are on hoppers much more than others and they can quickly turn from off to on. Don’t make the mistake of trying hoppers early in the day and then give up on them because they aren’t producing.

I prefer to have a hopper rod strung up and waiting on float trips so that we can test it every half hour. Anytime it gets very windy, it is almost a given that fish will eventually turn onto hoppers at some point in the afternoon. Pay special attention to crosswinds as these produce the best hopper winds of all.

Tip 2: Avoid the tendency to focus exclusively on the banks The classic hopper cast that everyone envisions is to splat a hopper a few inches from an undercut bank and watch as a giant brown rushes from his lie to crush your fly. While there are definitely a lot of fish on the banks looking for hoppers, there are several reasons why only casting at the banks on a Montana float fishing trip is not always the best strategy.

First, strong hopper winds will blow the insects to all reaches of the river, not just the banks so most of the trout in the river will eat them (not just trout on the banks). Second, the best trout habitat in the late summer months is not always bank habitat. This varies greatly from river to river, or from run to run. As rivers drop in the summer, some of the undercut banks become marginal or disappear completely as they recede from the banks. Under these conditions, the majority of the trout will move off the banks into other habitat areas like around boulders, into riffles or into glides. It pays to fish where the trout are. The third reason to fish other water besides banks, is that fishermen are conditioned to cast hoppers at banks. On rivers that receive even moderate pressure, trout have seen more than their fair share of foam hoppers drifted overhead within two or three weeks of hopper seasons beginning. The trout that are holding in other positions in the river have seen far fewer hoppers and are more likely to fall for your imitation.

Tip 3: Give your hoppers action Sometimes trout want to see a hopper twitching. This is especially true on some of the more famous Montana fishing rivers later during the hopper season. Once a trout has had a bad experience with an artificial, they become a little more selective with their takes. Natural hoppers kick and swim aggressively to get back to the banks. Several years ago, I had some clients fishing a small trophy trout reservoir in the middle of August.

Normally the fishing is best in the morning, and gets more difficult as the day progresses and the fish go deeper. After a great morning of site fishing with nymphs, it had appeared that the fish had moved to deeper water. After lunch, we moved to a different reservoir to give it a try.

While waiting to launch the drift boat, I saw the hoppers that I was flushing out of the bushes getting blown into the pond by a very stiff crosswind. An idea struck me, and I began running up and down the bank flushing hoppers out of the sage brush.

Within a few minutes hundreds of hoppers were kicking for their lives while 24” trout left wakes across the water as they bull rushed the defenseless arthropods. We quickly launched the boat and enjoyed a ten minute window of great fishing until the surviving hoppers all made it back to the banks. We repeated the process for an hour and a half, each round producing a monster trout or two.

I was amazed how aggressively the hoppers in the water were swimming and how quickly they were able to make it out of the water.

One of the ways that selective trout differentiate between real hoppers and an angler’s imitations is the presence of motion. By twitching your flies periodically, you can often produce many more strikes than a dead drift. This is especially effective later in hopper season. The best way to twitch hoppers is with a

micro mend combined with a very short strip. The strip causes the hopper to twitch and the small mend allows the hopper to immediately dead drift after the twitch. With practice, it is possible to get the hopper twitching almost continuously across the surface.

Tip 4: Be patient with your hook set There are two types of hopper strikes, the aggressive bull rush and the relaxed sip. On an aggressive bull rush takes you should set the hook quickly and aggressively. These type of strikes often occur when you twitch your hopper. Since the fish has entirely engulfed your fly, there is no need to be patient with the set. On the slow sipping takes which are very common when fishing hoppers, a quick set normally results in a missed fish. Often trout will come up right behind a hopper and actually put their snout right under the fly before sucking it under. On these slow and casual takes you will get a much higher hook-up percentage by delaying your set by at least one full second. A Canadian friend of mine that guides on Alberta’s Bo River gave me some great advice for hopper fishing: repeat the phrase “God save the Queen” before setting the hook.

Tip 5: Try different hopper patterns and sizes Montana fly fishing guides know that grasshoppers come in a variety of different sizes and colors. If you look in any guides terrestrial box, you will undoubtedly see at least a dozen compartments devoted to hoppers from size 10 to 4. I have noticed that most out of state anglers always default to smaller flies when given a choice. This is probably because they have been conditioned to highly pressured trout on their home rivers that don’t respond well to large flies. Montana trout still see light pressure compared to fisheries in almost every other state in the lower 48 and they will still eagerly eat big bugs. One of my favorite strategies is to fish two hoppers on the same rod. We will fish a size 6 as our top fly and drop a smaller size 10 about 18 inches behind.

On many days the larger pattern out fishes the smaller hopper.

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WHAT TO DO WHEN THE HUNTING MORAL LINE IS GRAY By Stefan Wilson

Originally published at

www.gohunt.com

H ow do you decide what is right and wrong? For some, right vs. wrong is merely an issue of preference. For others, making the right decision

is based on the letter of the law and they will not stray from that letter regardless of the circumstances. But what about when you are not sure if something is okay or not? What do you do when the lines are blurred and the choice is not clearly black and white?

The truth is that hunters face moral choices every time they set foot in the field (and many times well before they even leave their home).

This is why it’s important to discuss ethics, especially with regard to making the right choice, and how to approach certain hunting scenarios that many of us will face. There are different ways to approach these scenarios and how we approach them shows the differences in each person’s decision-making process. Understanding what your natural tendencies are when it comes to making ethical decisions is critical to determine how to make the right decisions — even when those decisions go against your natural tendencies. Finally, it is important to determine the best way to go about making ethical decisions when hunting.

DIFFERENT MOTIVES IN ETHICS

Photo credit: Brady Miller

1. Ethical egoism

Everyone has a different motive behind their decisions. Here is a list of some of the most prevalent ethical systems/approaches that people take. While it’s not an exhaustive list, it is comprised of the primary systems of thought that many decision-making processes fall into:

This is the heartbeat of most unethical behavior. Egoism is the belief that something is right if it benefits you. An egoist will make a decision strictly based upon his or her perceived needs and wants. Laws and rules hold little bearing on an egoist’s decisions; they are, at best, a mild hindrance to getting what one wants. Poaching can easily be summed up in this ethical approach. To the egoist, it doesn’t matter that poaching is illegal; instead, that animal represents bragging rights, attention, acceptance, a filled freezer, or whatever else the poacher feels is more important than doing what is right. Egoism is wholly selfish and, as the name implies, based strictly upon one’s ego.

2. Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is based in the idea that the most ethical decision is one that has the most beneficial end for the greatest number of people. Under this system of thought, the idea that the “ends justify the means” is often used as justification for one’s actions. For example, the North American model of wildlife conservation is a utilitarian-based ethic. Many oppose hunting as a means of conservation; however, the North American model, which uses hunting as the vehicle for conservation, has been proven to be the most effective model for conservation. Though animals are killed in the process, the combined result of managing herds through hunting and the funds brought in through associated fees has allowed North American wildlife to flourish beyond any other type of conservation effort. This model clearly shows that the end result has justified the means.

3. Principle-based ethics

Principle-based ethics (also known as deontological ethics) is the ethical system where principles should regulate ethical behavior. A set of rules determines what is ethical because these rules are based on principle — not personal feeling or thought. For example, people who point to faith as a basis for their ethical decisions are exercising principle-based ethics because they believe that ethics are established by their religion/God (hence, deontological ethics). For those who hold to principle-based ethics, the law is the minimum standard for ethics and a perceived higher authority (such as religious views or additional social norms) will reinforce their adherence to the letter of the law.

4. Relativism

Relativism (also known as subjectivism) has gained popularity over the last few centuries. Based upon the idea that there is no universal or objective basis for truth, relativism is based on the idea that right and wrong for one person is not a fair assessment of right and wrong for another person; ethics is relative from person to person. For example, let’s say that two hunters are out and they see a mule deer with antlers. Only problem is that the deer is a spike and they are not sure if the antlers fork or not (a requirement in many states for a buck to be legal). One hunter might say he would never take the shot because he isn’t sure. The other hunter, being a relativist, might say that he would take the shot because it is meat for the freezer and others would understand; he will just hope that a game warden doesn’t stop them on the way home. His relative idea about the extent to which the law applies to his situation has influenced his understanding of the situation.

This example might seem like a clear cut unethical decision. Yet, you may be surprised how many people feel that laws are not ultimate and, instead, base their hunting decision on relative beliefs and see themselves as the exception to the rule.

HUNTING SCENARIO

Now that the most prevalent ethical systems have been discussed, let’s take a look at a scenario where you might have to make an ethical decision.

Imagine that you and a friend are out hunting mule deer together. You come over a ridge to find a large herd of deer feeding. You draw the short straw and are the first one to take a shot.

Your friend glasses up a nice, big-bodied buck and you locate him in your riflescope. After you squeeze off a shot, the herd immediately scatters.

As you and your friend walk up to the buck, you discover that due to the angle of sight and the size of the buck, you did not see a smaller buck standing directly behind him, feeding with his head down. Consequently, you killed two bucks with one shot. Both bucks are legal in the sense that they have forked antlers; however, the second was taken illegally since Photo credit: Shutterstock the bag limit for a hunter is one antlered deer. Your friend still has a tag, but it would be illegal for him to tag the second deer since he did not shoot it. What do you do?

HOW WOULD THE ETHICAL SYSTEMS RESPOND TO THIS SCENARIO? Ethical egoism hunter The egoist would do one of two things: he would either tag the bigger buck and leave the smaller one to rot or he would tag the bigger buck and “let” his friend tag the smaller one. Either way, his decision would be solely based on what benefited him the most. Neither option is legal and neither option, at least based upon the reasoning, is in any way ethical.

Utilitarianism hunter

The utilitarian would understand that he made a mistake. He would debate whether or not he should turn himself in and pay the fine. Ultimately, the utilitarian would decide that the best option would be for his friend to tag the smaller buck.

This would be based on a few reasons: The buck would not be wasted.

The friend would be able to bring a deer home.

There would be no fine since it would appear to everyone else as though they both legally shot their own bucks.

This decision reveals a subtle understory to utilitarian ethics though; ultimately, the decision was selfish.

Decisions based on the biggest benefit for the biggest group are often made by placing oneself in said group so as to be the benefactor. While one could make a case for this being ethical, it is still illegal and the nature of it being acceptable is debatable at best. (continued on page 40)

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The Truth About “Goat” Guns

By H&F News Pro Staff

Most misses on antelope occur because hunters don’t believe they’re as close as they are and shoot over them...

• Antelope Range: The common cure for this mishap will be to always use a laser rangefinder to get your distance down before you take your shot. Once you’ve completed your range and are confident in the shot, it’s time to take a good rest and follow through with a good shot.

• Goat guns tried and true: Antelope are not big, the bucks range from 90 to 120 pounds and stand about 3 feet at the shoulder.

They are not hard to kill, but a good shot placement is critical, unless you want to be trying to track a wounded goat all day.

Good antelope cartridges run from the .243 and 6mm at the lower end to the .270 or .270 wsm at the top. Other qualified calibers include the .257 Roberts, 7mm/08, 6.5x55, .260 Remington, and the .25/06.

Between all of the above mentioned, my preference would be the .243 win or quite possibly the .25/06. They are both wonderfully light, they are light kicking, and have plenty of velocity, but not so much as to ruin a lot of meat. These guns can also double very nicely if you are planning a whitetail or mule deer hunt on an extended hunting vacation.

Whichever caliber you decide on, be sure to get quick-expanding bullets, as you don’t need a great amount of penetration on goats, but you’ll need quickness to get the job done. My personal choice is the HSM (thehuntingshack.com) Trophy Gold .243 win in a 95 grain Berger.

I’ve had great results shooting it. I prefer a lightweight rifle backed up with a Harris bi-pod (harrisbipods.com) for steady accuracy.

Top it off with a quality riflescope, 8x-10x or 3x9x40, a quality rifle sling (for comfort), Butler Creek (www.butlercreek.com) is my choice, and a good set of 10x binoculars or a spotting scope (for judging a trophy from a long distance), my choice is Vortex Optics (www.vortexoptics.com).

Shooting tip: Learn to use your day pack, or to use a sling from a prone position.

The pronghorn antelope is not the most difficult big game animal to hunt, but the open and seemingly flat country they inhabit make them a challenge to get close to...but that’s the fun part!

8 - Hunting & Fishing News

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August 2016

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Blue Ribbon Trout Fishery?

By Drew Baker

W hether you’ve just passed through this great state a time or two or you’re a born and raised local, you may have come across the term

‘Blue Ribbon Trout Fishery (or stream) and pondered what that entails.

Did it win a blue ribbon in a competition or something of the sort?

As a guide on a few of Montana’s famed Blue Ribbon fisheries, I get asked this question, amongst similar questions on the regular.

In the past, Blue Ribbon Trout Fisheries have been a designation made by each state to categorize exceptionally high quality recreational fishing.

A handful of states besides Montana, such as Michigan, Missouri, and Utah all have official Blue Ribbon Trout Fisheries as well. And although each state has it’s own set standard for designating this label, the criteria is all very similar.

This criteria listed below was rumored to have begun in Missouri and has since filtered into other states and typically addresses the following elements: Water quality and quantity: A body of water flowing or flat, warm or cold, will be considered a Blue Ribbon fishery if it has sufficient water quality and quantity to sustain viable fish.

Water accessibility: The water must be accessible to the public.

Natural reproduction and spawning capacity: The body of water should possess a natural capacity to produce and maintain a sustainable recreational fishery. And there must be management strategies that will produce fish of significant size and/or numbers consistently to provide a quality angling experience.

Angling pressure: The water must be able to withstand angling pressure.

Specific species: Selection may be based on a specific species.

You would think that with these general elements listed above, many of Montana’s fisheries would be deemed with the Blue Ribbon classification, but there are only a handful with the official label. Over recent years many water sheds have even picked up the trademark as a way to attract the attention of sportsmen and women, tourists and media.

But many of them do not meet the listed qualifications . However that doesn’t make them a bad fishery. They could just hold a lesser rating than a Blue Ribbon, but still provide exceptional fishing while being less crowded.

Although it may sound like the Ribbon System is set in stone amongst angler talk, Montana has developed a new, more intricate system in recent years to replace the ribbon color classification by means of using numbers: 1= outstanding, 2= high value, 3= substantial value. If you’re interested in finding out more information on this classification scale visit http://fwpiis.mt.gov/content/getItem.aspx?id=29756 and check out pg.15.

No, a Blue Ribbon Trout fishery doesn’t guarantee you’re going to bring tons of giant trout to the net but it can provide some very excellent opportunities for anglers with the basics down, to have an above average day on the water while still standing a chance at netting a monster.

So get out on some of Montana’s famed Blue Ribbon fisheries such as the Big Hole, Blackfoot, Madison or Rock Creek and don’t forget to stop into the local fly shops to get the inside scoop on gear, bugs, and fishing reports! Good luck!

10 - Hunting & Fishing News

August 2016 11

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Walleyes in a Snap

By Jason Mitchell www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com The author believes snap weights are an incredibly simple tool for getting lures much deeper in the water column while enabling an angler to closely follow structure and sharp break lines.

T rolling patterns that cover water and break down big locations with crankbaits often seem to dominate the walleye scene come mid summer.

As fish pull out over deep contours or basins and in some cases suspend over open water, nothing beats a crankbait for eliminating water.

12 - Hunting & Fishing News

Part of what makes trolling crankbaits so effective as we move towards the heart of the summer is that a crankbait is the fastest presentation you have.

With speeds that can range from two to over three miles per hour, you can simply cover more water. Once the water warms up beyond 70 degrees, you can often get away with faster trolling speeds that surpass two miles per hour and my recommendation is to troll as fast as the fish will let you get away with because catching fish is often simply just eliminating water (you eliminate more water when you can troll faster) and running a lure in front of as many fish as possible.

Over the past ten years, one hot trend on so many inland lakes and even some reservoirs has been running smaller hard vibration lures like Salmo Hornets behind lead core line. Over the past five years, we have also seen another trend gain some serious momentum and that is using big snap weights. In fact, using snap weights as large as four or five ounces that get out quickly and fish closer to the boat is actually starting to replace lead core which has been a staple for walleye anglers.

Now snap weights have been part of the walleye trolling routine for quite some time but many of the old snap weight methods mirrored the Great Lakes origins. That is clips with varying weights that ranged from ½ ounce to four ounce sizes where anglers employed a 50/50 rule where the lead to either the crankbait or spinner harness was always the same (50 feet) and anglers changed the snap weight size to vary the running depths as anglers typically ran several lines out to the sides of the boat with inline planer boards.

With off shore trolling roots from Great Lakes fisheries, this snap weight trolling method has morphed into something completely different as you move west.

Four to five ounce snap weights are often fished six to ten feet in front of the lure and these heavy weights can often be fished right below the boat.

The set up time with this heavier system is so dramatically quick. There is no waiting.

The speed of set up is one of the greatest advantages over traditional lead core.

Because of the tighter and closer proximity to the boat combined with this much quicker deployment time, we can often have an easier time of following tight outside and inside cuts as we follow a contour.

The snap weight is never far from the transducer. While snap weights will lift and fall as boat speed changes, the lift and fall of such a heavy snap weight is not as dramatic as what you would find on smaller snap weights or lead core. Big waves or outside and inside curves will cause the lure and snap weight to surge and stall but speed will do little to adjust to changes in running depth.

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Because of these characteristics, these heavier snap weight systems shine whenever you need to follow a specific depth range that is beyond twenty feet of water where the boat has to follow the contour. Because of the speed of deployment, anglers can often fish tighter areas than where you would typically dare to use lead core.

Fishing these magnum snap weights can sometimes feel more like bottom bouncer and spinner presentations than traditional trolling.

Drop the snap weight down to the bottom and reel up until the snap weight isn’t touching the bottom and the crank bait is running clean and free.

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Sometimes referred to as a “poor man’s down rigger,” you can effectively use snap weights to efficiently fish down to sixty feet of water pretty easily. You are essentially putting cranks right behind and below the boat and can deploy extremely quickly. Another advantage to using snap weights is the simple efficiency where you are fishing closer to the boat and don’t have as much line to reel up when catching a fish.

If you can reel a fish up on fifty feet of line, you will lose fewer fish than if you have to reel up a fish on a hundred feet of line.

Typically, extremely clear water like you find on the Great Lakes fisheries or bodies of water with zebra mussels require much longer leaders between the lure and the snap weight but most inland waters will suffice with a lead that is the length of the rod. Seven to ten feet of line will work and the shorter lead between weight and lure sure makes netting fish easier without having to remove the snap weight.

Most anglers will use a ten or fourteen pound braid for the main line for the added sensitivity. Even with the snap weight, you can still usually tell if the lure is fouled or out of tune. Line counter reels are necessary paired up with a trolling rod like the Jason Mitchell Pro Walleye Series Great Lakes 8’6” Trolling Rod (JM861GLMH) which is a great all purpose trolling rod for running boards, snap weights and lead core with a retail price of less than sixty bucks.

Of course with your trolling spread, you can mix up some snap weights with lead core, wire, Dipsy Divers or flat lines. Most inline planer boards will handle up to three ounces of lead depending on the amount of line, speed and height of the waves.

In my opinion, snap weights really begin to shine in July and August when the water warms up as the pendulum action you get with changes in speed often seems to trigger fish.

Often noticed that lead core would often shine on the “off” days where as snap weights would kick in when the fish are on.

In states where multiple rods can be used, anglers often run smaller shad profiled baits off snap weights while long lining deep divers further out the back of the boat to stagger the lures. One of the most impressive deep diving crankbaits on the scene right now for long lining in deep water is the Salmo Free Diver. This particular lure will reach about forty feet of water without adding weight and has a loud rattle.

Because of the exceptional dive curve of this particular lure, the Free Diver is a nice compliment to snap weights to sneak an extra line or two behind the boat.

This summer, make sure to incorporate snap weights into your walleye-trolling arsenal. Snap weights have a way of simplifying trolling in that you drop a heavy weight behind the boat and reel up the lure off the bottom. A simple and effective way to get your favorite lures into the zone in front of fish.

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A ttacking structural walleye sweet spots the wrong way could cost you countless hookups with marble-eyed beauties.

Veteran guide Jon Thelen, host of Lindy’s popular Fish Ed television and online programming, says many anglers approach classic structure in reverse order.

“When fishing offshore summer walleye structure like a rocky hump, it’s pretty common to focus on the bottom foot of the water column and work your way from deep water up to the shallowest spot,” he said.

“The strategy works. But you can often catch more fish from each spot by starting at the top and working your way down.”

For example, when Thelen pulls up to a rock pile that tops out 10 feet below the surface, he begins the assault with a crankbait that runs midway down the water column, to pick off aggressive, high-riding walleyes deeper baits might miss.

“Lindy’s Wally Shad is a great choice for this phase of the game,” he said, noting the bait runs six feet on the cast and features a tight-wiggling action and high-pitched rattles hungry ’eyes can’t resist.

“Next, cast a bait that runs a bit deeper—like the ¼-ounce Lindy Wally Demon,” he said. “Then finish your attack on the top of the hump with a lure that runs just above bottom or even ticks the tops of the structure, like the ½-ounce Wally Demon.”

By catching the highest riding walleyes first, Thelen’s top-down approach avoids spooking other fish holding on the hump.

Often, Thelen continues the downward progression by throwing crankbaits that dive even deeper, such as the Lindy Rally Fish, allowing him to fish the sides and base of the structure, along with flat-bottom holding areas nearby.

“Attacking summer structure in such a manner can help you catch the most walleyes possible on every spot, and every trip,” he said. “Give it a shot the next time you’re on the water.”

14 - Hunting & Fishing News

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David Hale: 5 Bow Tactics For Big Bucks

By Mike Hanback

www.mikehanback.com

B

ack in 1972 Kentucky farmer David Hale sold his tractors and cows. He teamed up with local barber Harold Knight, and they started building and peddling turkey, deer and duck calls.

It worked out. Knight and Hale has become one of the most successful game-call companies in America.

My good friend David, with whom I have hunted many times and have always thoroughly enjoyed it, has become a legendary outdoorsman. He enjoys all types hunting, but his passion is bowhunting whitetails.

David offers 5 tips for bowhunting the early season: David Hale, Knight and Hale

1. Most bucks don’t travel far in September or October. If you spot a big 8 or 10-pointer, he’ll almost certainly live close by for the next few weeks. Heck, he might stay within 500 acres or so all month, or even all season.

2. A big buck loves to walk along or through cover for as far as he can. Look for a weed ditch, brushy fencerow or head of timber that juts out into a field. Any little bit of cover that sticks out into the crops is a good spot for a tree stand.

3. Hunting back off a field or food plot can be an effective way to ambush a buck before dusk, but don’t penetrate more than 100 yards back into the surrounding woods. If you push any deeper than that you’ll probably bust deer. Does and bucks bed tight to the feed in early fall.

4. The falling barometer associated with a cold front makes bucks get up and move. Watch your barometric pressure; hunt the afternoons when it starts going down.

5. Scout for clusters of big, shiny rubs. Then look out from those for smaller rubs that show a buck’s travel route between his bedding area and a food source. Hang a tree stand in between for an ambush.

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When Texas-rigging, he threads a ¼- to 1-ounce sliding sinker on 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon mainline, ties on the hook and pegs the sinker tight to the knot. “I like throwing this rig on a 7½-foot, heavy baitcasting outfit,” he says, explaining the setup engenders pinpoint pitches and total control over the presentation, while providing ample firepower for hooking and fighting big bass in thick cover.

Lucas works quickly and methodically through prime lies. “Flip the bait out and let it fall to bottom,” he says. “A lot of times bass hit on the first fall. Don’t expect a crushing strike, though. Bites often register as nothing more than a soft and spongy feeling on the line.”

However the fish hits, Lucas advises setting the hook immediately.

“Set hard, right away,” he says. “Then get the bass moving up and out of the cover.”

If nothing bites on the first drop, Lucas recommends using your rod tip to raise the bait slightly off bottom and shake it once or twice.

“If you don’t get bit, reel in and flip it out to the next spot,” he says.

Lucas notes that the technique works in weeds thick and thin, as well as around laydowns and in shady areas under docks. “Finding isolated spots that concentrate bass is the key,” he adds.

#2 Feeling Shaky

When largemouths and smallmouths roam offshore weedlines and rocky structure, Lucas leans on a slightly shakier approach.

“Twitching a slender soft bait along bottom on a shaky head jig imitates crayfish and other forage, triggering strikes from bass that pass up crankbaits and other faster-moving presentations,” he explains.

S

ummer is a great time to target bass. Sag-bellied largemouths and smallies slide into predictable post-spawn patterns that allow savvy bass fans to enjoy great fishing on a variety of lakes virtually across the U.S. and southern Canada.

Berkley pro Justin Lucas knows the drill.

The lifelong bass junkie earned his stripes on the diverse fisheries of northern California, and currently crisscrosses the continent competing on the Bassmaster Elite Series.

“Summer patterns are pretty universal,” he explains.

“It’s a matter of identifying the best combinations of food, cover and structure that a particular lake has to offer, and then figuring out the most effective presentations for fishing each situation.”

To help anglers nationwide savor more hookups this summer, Lucas offers a trio of his favorite strategies for putting bass in the boat.

#1 Green Party

“Largemouth bass love vegetation, from shoreline slop to offshore weedbeds,” he says. “If conditions are right, they’ll set up in the grass and stay there all summer.”

One of Lucas’ pet presentations for plying productive salad is a relatively flat-bodied bug- or beaver-style soft plastic like Berkley’s 4½-inch Havoc Change Up. “It’s perfect for flipping into weedy cover,” he explains. “The split tail and wriggly appendages give the bait plenty of bass-attracting action, both on the drop or when you barely shake it.”

Lucas typically rigs the Change Up Texas-style on a 4/0 Heavy Cover Berkley Fusion19 hook. “It works really well on a jig, too,” he notes.

“Go with the system you’re most comfortable fishing.”

16 - Hunting & Fishing News

His go-to is a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait Shaky Snake. “The bait has a lot going for it,” he explains. Indeed, Berkley designers graced it with unique, corkscrew ribs to give the slender body and cone-shaped tail a subtle, undulating action.

“The ribs also create more surface area, which aids in the delivery of PowerBait scents and flavors,” he adds. “This encourages bass to hang onto it longer than they would other baits.”

For this tactic, Lucas switches to a 7-foot, medium-heavy spinning outfit spooled with 8-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon. Water depth dictates jig weight, with common sizes ranging from 1/8- to ¼-ounce.

Thin wire hooks aid in hook-setting, while the angle of the head affects bait action and resistance to snags. In general, 90-degree heads enhance shaking, while 60-degree heads tend to slide more cleanly across structure.

Once you’re rigged up and in position, Lucas advocates fishing the shaky setup with a slow hand. “Cast out, let the jig land and slowly move it along bottom, shaking it with the rod tip,” he explains, noting that the approach also works wonders in shallower strike zones such as around docks.

#3 Tube Time

For summer smallmouths, Lucas also favors the time-tested tube jig.

“Drop-shotting is deadly, too, but it pays to always have a tube rod rigged up, so you can show the bass something different,” he says.

TACKLE TIPS: Dropshotting Made Simple Tube jigs excel at imitating crayfish, which drives smallies crazy. Lucas’ top choice is Berkley’s PowerBait Power Tube. Along with tantalizing tentacles and PowerBait scents and flavors, it features a slightly flattened torso, which yields a smooth glide on the fall.

Tubes are extremely versatile baits, allowing a variety of retrieves ranging from basic bottom dragging to variations of swimming, shaking, bouncing and deadsticking—along with combinations of all five.

Lucas recommends experimenting with different moves, without getting overwhelmed. “The simplest approach is to drag the tube across the bottom, similar to a shaky head,” he says. “That will put smallmouths on the line all season long, everywhere in the country.”

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Should You Shoot Does Early In Bow Season?

By Mike Hanback www.mikehanback.com

Milk River filming 2010 Luke DoeIf a big fat doe walks 30 yards under your stand during opening week, should you shoot it?

This QDMA article makes some solid biological points about why you should, but the first comment that follows the article makes, I feel, an even better point about why you shouldn’t:

ELPzee wrote: I’m still waiting until December to fill my freezers.

Here’s why. Pressure! If you shoot does early in the season you’re pressuring your herd before the rut, reducing your chances of killing that monster buck.

In regions where (hunter) densities are high and tracts of land are small…waiting to harvest does makes your land become a sanctuary, especially if you are surrounded by trigger happy hunters (on neighboring lands). That’s why I see more deer as the season goes on while everyone else is scratching their heads wondering why they only saw deer the first two weeks of the season. They aren’t seeing deer because they tagged 7 does in the first 2 weeks, while I let my spot become a sanctuary.

When you shoot a doe with your bow, you climb out of your stand and track it a ways, sometimes a long way…then you gut and drag it out, or bring in an ATV to haul it out. All this pressure creates movement, noise and scent in the woods that mature bucks react to.

Will the pressure of shooting one doe during the first weeks of bow season make a big buck in the area change his pattern and/or turn him nocturnal? Maybe, maybe not. But why take the chance?

Now if you hunt a huge tract of land with many stand options for hunting multiple bucks, it probably would not hurt to shoot a doe or 2 in September or early October. You kill the deer, get it out and rest the stand for a week or so while you hunt other spots.

This will not put too much direct pressure on the deer.

Also, if you hunt public ground with other hunters, and do not have any bucks patterned or on camera, it makes sense to shoot the first big doe that walks by. This is especially true if you have only a few days to hunt this season.

But as ELPzee noted above, if your goal is a big buck, do not shoot a doe early if you hunt a small tract of private land, like millions of you do. Especially don’t do it if you know a shooter buck is working the immediate area, and double especially don’t do it if you have a recent trail-camera image of a big deer lurking.

To shoot a doe and possibly mess that opportunity up makes absolutely no sense...

Do you think you’ll whack a doe early, or wait until later in December or January to fill the freezer?

Summer Spinner Tips

www.lindyfishingtackle.com

S

pinner rigging is a great way to catch big numbers of warm-weather walleyes on lakes across Lindy Land.

Let these five tips from Lindy pro Mike Christensen help you spin up more ’eyes all summer ...

1. Know When To Spin: Shun close quarters. Spinners rule when walleyes roam flats, weed edges, breaklines and other relatively large areas where covering water is key.

2. Bait Smart: Crawlers are all-around favorites and particularly deadly during a bug hatch. Switch to leeches or minnows when walleyes key on them as a food source.

3. Double Down: When minnows are on the walleyes’ menu, try trolling a two-hook harness with a small fathead on each hook.

4. Sinker Savvy: Weighting systems abound.

Deploy bottom bouncers for pinpoint positioning along well-defined contours. In-line options excel for suspended fish, while lead-core line is a clear-water threat and split-shot are allies when storming the weedtops.

5. Avoid Speed Traps: Don’t let conventional trolling wisdom dictate your pace.

Spinners work wonders from .6 to 2.5 mph; experiment with different speeds until the fish tell you how fast (or slow) they want their meals moving at the moment.

- See more at: http://www.lindyfishingtackle.com/lindy-land/ summer-spinner-tips/#sthash.

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Say Hello To Success: Where to chase the Fish this Month Brought to you by

Otter Creek, Missouri River Catch hungry browns on the Missouri with something that will sink and go to the bottom. Spawn sacks work as good as anything right now, or night crawlers can be the staple as well. Wooly Buggers or hoppers on the fly rod can catch some awfully big fish. Elk hair caddis is another option here. Stick to the bank and put the flies right in the riffles for some exploding action when a big brown hits. Further downriver as the water warms, expect walleye, pike and smallmouth bass to be the most prominent. Holter Dam on the Missouri is another premier August destination for brownies.

SUMMER TROUTING

These hot, sticky days in August will force most anglers to get on the water bright and early or late throughout the rest of the summer here in the Rockies, and for those of you who do, you’ll find great fishing opportunities.

There are a whole lot of lakes with a whole lot of variety across Montana, and you will need to fish a bit harder and a bit deeper in the water columns to find the big fish that are holding in the bays of lakes and reservoirs now. One of the added bonuses that summer fishing allows is the longer days anglers have to head out after a work day to their favorite fishing hole to fish at dusk for big rainbows and brown trout that are eager to bite right before and after dark. A variety of bug hatches coming off throughout the day also make fishing in August very exciting.

Here is a look at a few spots to consider.

Montana pre-spawn brown trout The Madison, Bighorn, Missouri and Marias Rivers are getting set for big brown trout action as we head into late summer. Once water levels drop to around 1,000 cfs or below, browns will start to hole up on the banks or hanging behind normal eddies as they start to get more territorial and in pre-spawn mode.

Mid-August is a hot time for “hopper” fishing and nymphing for giant brown trout.

Madison River The upper Madison from Mcafee Bridge to Varney. The Mcafee FAS is 30 miles south of Ennis on Hwy. 287, then 1 mile west along a gravel road to the entry site.

Shay, age 11 of Helena with a great catch

Bighorn River There are plenty of fish in the Bighorn River system, and it’s mainly nymph fishing for the best results here in August. Fish early morning or do a late afternoon drift starting from the FAS at Two Leggins, 6-1/2 miles south of Hardin on Hwy. 313, to the Yellowtail Dam Afterbay.

Marias River For browns on the Marias, fish the first 3 to 4 miles below the Dam at Tiber. The best access is at the Loma Bridge FAS 10 miles north of Fort Benton, off Hwy. 87. You can use an assortment of flies and hopper patterns or try throwing out a bright colored Panther Martin if you’re a spinner angler.

Gardner River Yellowstone National Park’s Gardner River gets less pressure than the famed Madison or Yellowstone Rivers.

You can fish along Hwy. 89 south down to the Wyoming border for browns or small brookies in the Gardner River drainage. The roadside stretches towards the town of Gardiner feature side channels, deep plunges and large boulders which break up the current, allowing beefy trout to lay low and wait for a meal on their way upriver. Your fly box should include gold and black stoneflies, a variety of nymphs and streamers. If you prefer lures, try yellow and black colors and use something that will sink fast. Be sure to check regulations when fishing in the Park, as well as any river closures in the area that occur during the late summer.

Seeley and Salmon Lakes While these lakes are definitely not at their prime during August, they should not be overlooked.

Northern pike are still swimming around, and they still need to eat.

Early morning is the best chance at

a beefy northern. Get on the water before it has a chance to warm and you can catch fish still hanging in their shallow water haunts trying to ambush baitfish. Throwing such standards as Rapala Husky Jerks, spinnerbaits, and weedless spoons are all good choices here. Fly anglers will do well with a sink tip line and a big fly.

Georgetown Lake The lake is quickly starting to fill with growing weeds, but fishing should stay strong through the month. A fly rod is really the weapon of choice up here, because in addition to the storied damselfly hatch occurring most evenings in August, you also have Georgetown’s other marque bug - the traveling sedge - a large caddis bug that emerges at dusk. Trout key on these bugs and attack with a vengeance. The key is to fish a large - usually #8 buoyant pattern and retrieve it across the surface at a steady pace. Strikes can be fierce, so be ready!

Kootenai River The Kootenai is another tail water fishery that’s worth taking a look at when the summer heat keeps you off your favorite local river. It doesn’t get as much press as its cousins, but it ranks right up there with the best of them as a quality fishery.

Wading and floating are both good options, but floating allows an angler to cover more water. August is a great month to throw hoppers on this river for hard fighting resident rainbows. These larger than average meals bring some of the rivers bigger residents out of hiding.

A bullet head hopper with a nymph dropper is a good combo, along with the usual caddis and mayfly patterns.

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Other options: Hot Montana fishing destinations include Flathead Lake with its much anticipated lake whitefish bite, Canyon Ferry - still a productive fishing option for August, Ashley Lake - a great summertime getaway for oversized trout and kokanee salmon. The Sun River can be a spectacular late summer destination for cutthroat, rainbows, and big brown trout.

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Dworshak Kokanee And Bass Provide Steady Action

By Mike Demick, Conservation Information Supervisor

By Sean Wilson, IDFG Fishery Research Biologist, Lewiston Idaho Department of Fish and Game

S

ummer is...here and a lot of folks have been taking advantage of the warm, sunny days by spending a day fishing out on the lake.

Dworshak Reservoir is one of the most popular fisheries in the Clearwater Region and anglers have been busy chasing “bluebacks,” “smallies,” or whatever else may bite. Here’s the lowdown on the kokanee this year and how the fishery is shaping up.

Kokanee Last year we estimated there were around 1.7 million of the older (two and three year old) kokanee in Dworshak Reservoir during July.

This shattered the previous record of about 1.1 million, set in 2006.

In a typical year, there are around 200,000 fish of this age. With all those fish, you might expect that fishing was really good. The problem was, with so many fish out there, they grew slowly. This meant that early last year, most of the fish weren’t big enough for anglers to catch resulting in poor fishing success. Fortunately, the plankton these fish feed on was very productive last year, allowing them to put on some decent growth, and by late June people started documenting high catch rates of kokanee greater than eight inches.

With normal survival, we should expect over 450,000 two and three year old kokanee this year. This is more than normal, but nowhere near the number we had last year. The good news is that these fish, while not large, are already bigger than last year. As a bonus, we expect around 100,000 of these to be three year old fish, which would be the most we’ve ever seen. These fish will be just a bit larger than the two year old fish that anglers typically catch. In early April, the fish were a little over eight inches on average, with some pushing ten inches. With typical growth, by July these fish should average ten inches, with some as big as eleven.

It’s always best to get a firsthand look at how things are going, so over Memorial Day weekend, I took the kids out for an afternoon to see if we could catch enough kokanee for dinner. It took us two and a half hours to land a dozen fish, but we lost a lot more than we landed. We had consistent action while running one ounce of lead and about sixty feet of line, including several doubles, for which we failed to land a single fish.

Downriggers at 25 to 30 feet only produced two of the fish we landed, but most of the fish we marked were in the 15 to 20 foot depth range.

Of course, the depth the fish are holding at can vary daily, so fish different depths and use your fish finder to zero in on them.

Most of the fish we caught were between nine and ten inches.

Smallmouth If you’re not a kokanee fisherman, there’s still plenty of action.

Bass fishing was good last spring, and so far this year has been a repeat. Catch rates in April were just as good as last year at about a fish an hour. The data from early May indicates fishing got even better.

While fishermen report releasing most of the bass they catch on the reservoir, the fish that were harvested in April averaged 14 inches, with the biggest we recorded at just over 18 inches.

One of the tournaments we visited in late May produced fish up to six pounds. However, these big fish are finishing their spawn and are moving out into deeper water where they are more difficult to catch.

However, there will be plenty of action for small to medium size fish all summer long, and the big fish are still there for anglers that know where to find them.

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By Eddie White

he dog days of summer are upon us and I was offered the opportunity of my 89 year old grandfather to join me in a week of fishing.

A little background on “gramps”. To say this man is my hero would be an understatement. Growing up in the 1940’s he lived the depression. After the war, he married my beautiful grandmother and they had 3 children. A hard working steel mill worker, for all the years till he was forced to an early retirement. This man has lived through heart attacks, cancer, two knee replacements, and a broken hip. To say he has been through it all, well, is a good possibility.

Growing up, gramps had a huge influence on who I am today. This man was my pro. He was my fish finder.

He was my passion. I would await calls weekly, watching bass fishing early Saturday mornings, as other kids would watch cartoons. All I ever thought about, was going fishing.

It has been a great number of years since gramps and I have had the opportunity to do any fishing together. 12 years to be exact. My excitement was through the roof. Day dreaming of his arrival, and all the bodies of water we would go to, all the fish we would catch, brought me back to my youth.

To the river we rolled, as fast as the speed limit allowed us. Kenny, a friend of mine, cruised along to help out with the old man. Gramps was intimidated with getting into the boat, as his movement is not as limber as it once was. Loading him into the boat, we are ready to rip! Up river I head as fast as the throttle would allow. To a hole I knew was holding some fish. When we arrived, gramps looks at me and says, “you showed this spot on one of your boards.”

I smiled as I realized, he was paying attention at a seminar of mine he had attended, probably to put me to the test. It was the heat of the day and the fishing was too slow for my liking. With 4 fish between 6 and 10 pounds it was time to move. I venture us down river, to an inside bend, I was not too sure of.

Anchor is out, and it’s time to get a line in the water. The sun was finally taking on a slow set, and turning the few scattered clouds into a pink, only beauty the big sky could manage to provide. If it was not for the action we were about to encounter, the setting provided that evening would have been a distraction.

There had not been minutes that went by, and poles were loading all over the boat. If there was ever a time the river was on fire, this was it. There was never an opportunity to have all of our lines in the water, without one of us 3 having a fish on. With several double headers, and even a triple, our work was cut out for us. The last fish of the evening was the biggest and gramps was on her. As he was reeling in his 12 pound trophy, you could see the tired in his arms, hear the gasping in his breath, feel the struggle of the fight. The fish hits the net, and gets hoisted into the boat. The biggest catfish gramps has ever caught. I don’t know that we ever counted how many cats we landed, what I do know, is it was too fast for us to care. The smile on this old man’s face, was not that of an 89 year old grandpa, it was of a young man. When he said to me, “you taught people how to fish, and came out here and proved it,” it was a seal on my attempt of making him proud of me. As we motored back to put the boat on the trailer, I myself had the smile of a young man, a kid, that was fishin’ with gramps. The days of being a kid, with tangled up lines, baiting the hook, and patience, were all returned to my gramps that day, as I took care of him, as he always did me. Take the time to make the memories, as there will come a day, when that is all that one may have.

Eddie White owns and operates The Minnow Bucket in Huntley Montana, also a writer, seminar speaker and tournament angler.

Contact Eddie at: montanaminnowbucket@yahoo.com on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheMinnowBucket or by phone at 406-696-1281 22 - Hunting & Fishing News

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August 2016 23

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Not all dealers carry all products. © 2016 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. www.powerequipment.honda.com August 2016 25

Photo courtesy RMEF

RMEF on Public Lands Transfer Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

I

n light of recent legislative efforts seeking the sale or transfer of federal lands to state ownership, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation strongly maintains its opposition to such proposals.

“Nearly one-third of our nation’s land is in public ownership and that includes the majority of key elk habitat,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Transferring or selling these lands to states will do nothing to solve federal land management issues.

It may also close the door to public access for hunters, anglers, hikers and others. We all want better public lands but this concept is not the answer. We take this issue very serious.”

RMEF Land Transfer Official Position The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation remains opposed to the wholesale disposal, sale or transfer of federal land holdings.

Federal public lands comprise vital habitat for elk and other wildlife species. They are where we hunt, fish, camp, hike, ride and recreate. Transferring ownership of federal lands to states is not a solution to federal land management issues; it is a shell game to avoid the heavy lifting of establishing proactive land management policies in the US. What is the core issue motivating the transfer of these lands?

Lack of Active Management. People are frustrated with public land management for a variety of reasons, including: catastrophic wildfires, diminished access for recreation and sustainable resource development, incoherent game management policies that favor individual species over balanced wildlife conservation, endless litigation preventing active land management, executive orders creating national monuments and more.

What prevents active management of these lands?

Lawsuits – This is the era void of adult conversations taking place, avoiding any balanced remedies achieved. There are others who subscribe to “keep land management issues tied up in litigation” while the clock runs out; no matter what, do not negotiate, compromise or work together and nothing changes. Sadly, this is the era of political posturing using our natural resources as pawns; meanwhile the greater American outdoors is losing and so is the public. An overreaching use of environmental agendas exists to eliminate any consideration of multiple use in many public forests and the health of those national forests is suffering as a result.

26 - Hunting & Fishing News

Lack of Resolve – Some within public land management fundamentally oppose active management of forest and range resources in favor of “preserving landscapes.” RMEF believes certain landscapes must be conserved and managed to develop the types of diverse ecosystems elk and other wildlife need to thrive. Man inhabits the landscape thus we have an obligation to steward and manage our natural resources. Additionally, there is a diverse public who wish to recreate in the outdoors yet many are being restricted or limited today by special interests and agendas that strive to either substantially diminish use of our public lands or eliminate it all together.

Why can’t states manage these lands?

States cannot afford to manage federal lands on multiple levels.

Land transfer proponents argue states can manage lands at less cost per acre than do their federal counterparts, while at the same time generating revenues for economic development and public schools through a “best use” determination.

Recent studies show states would need to increase timber harvests, mineral and other resource development well beyond sustainable levels to afford the management of these lands. And states would be forced to defend the same frivolous lawsuits the federal government currently faces, not to mention adherence to overreaching uses of the Endangered Species Act and other federal policies are not being discussed.

One question not being addressed at all is what will happen to hunting, fishing, camping, trapping, grazing and other current public land uses in some states should those states assume control over 100 percent of public lands within their borders?

The simple answer is those activities will soon cease, causing a cascade of other complications and issues for wildlife and our public lands. The simple truth is groups like the Humane Society of United States (HSUS) and others would relish the idea of exerting political influence and litigation in various states to eliminate many uses of our public lands.

This must never happen.

What are the solutions?

First, acknowledging the true problem is a must. We have critical land management issues that require solutions.

Second, a commitment to truly resolve these issues must supersede special interests. RMEF believes the solutions lie in addressing obstacles to pro-active land management and providing federal land agencies the leadership, tools and direction to properly manage lands for a variety of environmental, recreational and economic interests.

A true dialogue and course of action to provide real forest management reform and multiple uses of public lands and forests is a must. The shell game of transferring or selling public lands is not a solution.

These are public lands, owned by the public and it must remain that way.

August 2016 27

ACT LIKE A MULE DEER HUNTER AND TAKE MORE ELK

By Zach Henderson

Originally published at

www.gohunt.com

S

pot and stalk elk hunting isn’t a tactic you hear hunters using very often. With as many resources as there is today, learning how to find and call for elk is much more common. Yet, one method for elk hunting doesn’t get enough coverage: spot and stalk.

Having hunted my entire life, I’ve used various tactics and styles through the years to hunt elk. Bugling hard while running and gunning is a fairly common elk hunting tactic that has proved itself to work for many hunters time and time again. Yet, I’ve always hunted with a more patient, “looking for love” style, which utilizes many cow calls with a small bull bugle. This method has always helped me find success and following blood trails each year.

EXPLORING NEW TACTICS While I’m still a huge fan of the typical bugling and cow calling style of elk hunting, I tried something different this past season that made me completely change the way I look at hunting elk. Mule deer hunting

has been my true passion for as long as I can remember. For most of the hardcore mule deer hunters, sitting and glassing for hours feels as good as sitting on a beach drinking a cold beer. In comparison, hardcore run and gun elk hunters have a hard enough time sitting still for five minutes, waiting for the next bugle to chase.

It is important to be adaptable and I have always felt like that was the key to success. I also don’t think there is only one way to hunt any given animal. This particular story takes me back to hunting a brand new area in my home state of Oregon during the 2015 season.

As I strapped on my pack to start hiking in the day before opener, I had no idea what I was in store for over the next five days.

The area I was hunting was different from anything I have ever elk hunted in. The large expanse of sage-covered hills peppered with sparse juniper trees had me wondering if I would even find an elk in this country. Yet, as I dropped onto the bench where I planned to set up camp, I ended up running into about 30 bedded elk!

It was a relief to find some elk so quickly! After bumping them, I finished my descent and set up my spike camp. Hiking to where I wanted to hunt was a short walk around the ridge and I found a good vantage point to set up and glass. That night I ended up spotting several branch antlered bulls. As you can imagine, I was pretty stoked to say the least. As I observed the elk, I noticed that once they dropped into one of the canyons they would hold up in there for a good period of time. I also noticed that, in the morning, they would be out in the open with no possible way to sneak in or even get close enough to call.

This is when I realized that I needed to hunt these elk like mule deer.

28 - Hunting & Fishing News

Having not ever hunted elk with a mule deer spot and stalk style before, I wasn’t sure exactly how things would pan out. This style, over the course of the next three weeks, proved to be the most fun and most action packed elk hunting I’d ever done.

We would sit at our vantage point overlooking miles of terrain all morning long for hours, waiting for a group of elk to move into a good stalk opportunity. The trick was glass, glass and glass some more. The elk would find a good north facing slope to bed on every afternoon and, from that point on, it was go time. It would take us about 45 minutes to reach the furthest canyon, which seemed to be the hot spot for the elk (a.k.a Death Valley). We would wait for them to bed, then we’d pack up and make our move. Sneaking into the canyon was the hardest part about it.

We would sometimes wait for hours in the blistering heat under a tree waiting for the thermals to switch so we could move further in. Once we were in the red zone, we would start picking apart the sage looking for elk. If we spotted them we would try to get as close to them as possible without bumping them and wait until evening to start calling. This is the part that’s different from many other hunters’ elk hunting style. Sitting and watching elk through a spotting scope all afternoon isn’t what many hunters would choose to do. Having patience and adaptability is the key with this style. We would wait until evening and the elk would get up to feed. From that point, we would start our calling sequence; soft cow calls trying to coax a lonely bull into range.

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Over the course of three weeks, we harvested three bulls using this modified mule deer hunting tactic. All three of us harvested our bulls in “Death Valley.”

It was a fantastic year with crazy results. This article isn’t to brag or say that this is the only way to hunt elk. Actually, quite the contrary.

I think there are many ways to be successful. In fact, I think that a run and gun style elk hunter could have eventually killed a bull in the country we were hunting. The purpose of this article was to share something that was a little different from what you read about all the time. It was a different area to hunt elk in using a different style to do it. We even had to use a different way of thinking what elk hunting is.

While mule deer hunters understand the excitement of slipping our boots off and being that silent killer, I think everyone understands the excitement of hearing a bull bugle and being able to earn an opportunity on a DIY backcountry elk.

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Whether we are hunting elk, mule deer, or any other animal, it is important to always try to learn from them. Read the animals, study their patterns and habits, and think outside the box. That’s the key to success in the backcountry.

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August 2016 29

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Backup Your Pronghorn Archery Hunt

By Mark Kayser

T here’s no better way to jumpstart hunting season than an archery pronghorn hunt in August. The season kicks off in mid-month and is the perfect venue to test your camp and gear for elk and deer season ahead. It’s also the perfect window to bond with young hunters before they head back to class. If you want to guarantee success on an August pronghorn safari have a backup plan in place in addition to your traditional hunting style.

Pope and Young Montana Pronghorn ©Mark Kayser

For many pronghorn bowhunters two strategies top the list. Those two are waterhole watching and spot and stalk. They are perfect starters or great backups if another strategy falls short.

First, consider a water watch. Pronghorn evolved in a semi-arid environment. During some years water becomes scarce and only available from reliable sources like springs, reservoirs or creeks that drain from nearby mountains. If you find yourself planning a pronghorn hunt during an epic Western drought or even a typical Montana summer, pack the ground blind.

No other single source puts pronghorn in an X-marks-the-spot location as water does.

Temperatures can soar in August when many archery seasons kick off. I’ve hunted pronghorn when the dial has read 100 degrees in eastern Montana. And in pre-rut anticipation pronghorn show their true marathon spirit. They have to re-energize like athletes by drinking up to four quarts or more of water per day. Be particularly analytical of the location of the highest density of tracks.

Ponds generally have a muddy edge and one that’s more hoof friendly. Pronghorn, like most animals, shy from sinking too far into the muck and they rarely bust through cattails to reach water.

30 - Hunting & Fishing News

Next, determine the prevailing winds to set your ground blind up downwind of where most of the drinking takes place. Lastly, look for any objects that may help fortify your ground blind. A tree, fence post or even a well house could be used as a cornerstone to secure your ground blind.

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Are you looking for a classic pronghorn hunt? It takes a special kind of sneaky to slip up on any big game animal and shoot it with an arrow. It takes an especially kind of sneaky to do it on a pronghorn, North America’s fastest land animal. Rugged equals success whereas road-kill-flat country puts the odds squarely back in a pronghorn’s corner.

Think loner. Stalking up on a herd can be nearly impossible when you do the math on all of the eyeball security involved.

Late in the summer bucks still roam by themselves or in small groups.

Try to approach any pronghorn from behind so it is looking away.

This is key since you’ll only be able to bring the bow to full draw when the animal has its head facing the opposite direction or when its head is hidden by grass, or another obstacle. Try it any other way and those big eyes will help a speedy pronghorn achieve 0 to 50 faster than a Ferrari.

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Next, consider decoying. There are two main animals to mimic in pronghorn decoying attempts. You can use the decoy deception of a pronghorn itself or if you simply wish to sneak in without bringing attention to yourself you can hide behind a bovine decoy.

A pronghorn decoy, specifically a buck, can attract other bucks during the heat of the rut.

Rinehart’s new Dolomo Pronghorn decoy (www.rinehart3d.com) is a great selection. Prior to the rut the sight of a decoy may also attract other bucks simply for socialization.

You can prop up a decoy near a waterhole to possibly incite more curiosity to a pond, but as the rut heats up a portable decoy allows you to bring pronghorns into bow range as testosterone pushes bucks into dominance duals.

For the best chance at success, sneak to within 200 yards or less of the herd, and stay out of sight. Next, peek and when pronghorn eyes are diverted slowly erect your decoy. Stake it sturdily to anchor it from pesky prairie winds and wait for someone to notice it. If they don’t see it, slowly move it back and forth so the sides reflect light to imitate a moving animal.

Once they spot it, stake it firmly again so your hands are free to operate your rangefinder and bow.

If you seek a more subtle approach, consider a cow caper.

Livestock roam the range and cattle decoys, such as Montana Decoy’s Moo Cow, can provide camouflage as you masquerade behind it like a grazing cow. Move slowly and stay downwind of your target.

It may take an hour or more to ease into archery range, but pronghorns feel right at home with livestock, oftentimes allowing them to graze by their side.

A few seasons back I hunted with an outfitter and they used live decoys in the form of horses. The horses were led around and we hid behind their stout bodies to creep slowly within shooting range of pronghorn.

I shot my buck at 36 yards standing side by side with Mr. Ed. You backup your computer files. You backup your smartphone data.

Shouldn’t you backup your pronghorn hunt?

August equals pronghorn season and you can boost your bowhunting success with a backup plan.

Contact information: More hunting strategies from Mark at www.markkayser.com

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Helena 406-449-3111 www.buffalojumparchery.com

Dragging Deer: Good, Hard Work

By Mike Hanback

www.mikehanback.com

I

wrote this in an article many years ago:…any lazy butt who kills a deer and then has the audacity to complain about the work when the animal is down will never hunt with me. If you are doing it right, gutting a buck and then wrestling it around and over logs, up and down hills, through a creek, all the while sweating a river and stumbling and bumbling back to your truck is strangely fun and invigorating, whether it takes you 10 minutes or 2 hours.

Hunting was harder back then. I didn’t have a 4-wheeler, and so I drug my deer, sometimes a mile or more. One of my favorite stands was way down an oak ridge in a beaver slough. Man that was a buck hole, and I killed some good animals down there. The pull up out of there was hell and took hours. Sometimes I used ropes or a strap drag, but most of the time I just grabbed one side of the rack and took off (if the rack was small or with a doe, I grabbed the front legs). I slipped, sweated, fell, got bloody, cussed…and when I finally got to the truck and wrestled one of those suckers up into the bed, I felt great and complete. The drag was a big and important part of it.

We have it too fat and easy these days. Last fall I killed 5 bucks—we drove a truck up to 4 of them, and my buddy Sheldon came in on his big quad and roared right up to my Saskatchewan 10-pointer. I didn’t haul any of those deer more than 20 yards! Thinking about it now, I was a lesser hunter for it.

This fall I’m gonna work harder for my bucks, both before and after the shot, because deer hunting is supposed to be good, hard, dirty fun.

Does that make sense?

August 2016 31

HUNTING & CONSERVATION NEWS FWP Region 6 Mule Deer & Whitetail Deer Aerial Survey Findings Released MFWP

©Twildlife|dreamstime.com

M ontana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists have completed their 2016 winter and spring aerial surveys of deer populations across Region 6

in northeastern Montana. The surveys indicate a continuing increase in numbers for mule deer, and mostly stable populations of whitetail deer across the region.

MULE DEER For mule deer, 11 trend areas in Region 6 are typically examined each year from the air. The winter “post-season survey” was completed in January, and the “spring survey” was conducted in late March and April.

While total deer counts tend to be variable, FWP Biologist Ryan Williamson of Outlook said the 2016 surveys indicate mule deer are above average.

“Mule deer trends continue to show a steady recovery across the region in the last few years,” Williamson said.

The post-hunting-season surveys showed the region-wide mule deer population at 49 percent above average, and 17 percent above the 2015 surveys. The spring surveys showed region-wide populations at 47 percent above average, and 29 percent above the 2015 survey.

While regional numbers indicate above average mule deer levels overall, differences are seen across the region and in isolated areas as well.

According to Williamson, mule deer trend area numbers in the eastern half of the region (Glasgow area and east) are at or above the average.

The western half of the region (Malta and Havre area), however, is more variable across the trend areas, ranging from below average to above average. This same trend was seen in the deer fawn-to-adult ratios that are also conducted during the spring survey.

“Fawn to adult ratio is an indicator of over-winter survival as well as new recruitment into the population,” Williamson said.

“The 2016 survey showed 58 fawns to 100 adults across the region, which is slightly above the average of 53 fawns to 100 adults. The eastern half of Region 6 saw the higher number of fawns to adults, with 65 fawns to 100 adults, while the western half was at 49 fawns to 100 adults, indicating a slower-growing mule deer population.”

32 - Hunting & Fishing News

HUNTING & CONSERVATION NEWS “Data collected during mule deer surveys are only one factor in deer management recommendations,” Williamson further explained. “The prior year’s harvest, weather and habitat factors, as well as additional input gathered from landowners, hunters, the general public and other agencies are all considered by the Fish and Wildlife Commission for season and quota setting decisions.”

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Another pressing factor in managing deer populations is the threat of chronic wasting disease (CWD) that is moving further south in Alberta and Saskatchewan toward the Montana border. In 2014, FWP initiated a mule deer telemetry study north of Chinook in Hunting District (HD) 600 to gather data on the movement of deer between the U.S. and Canada.

“It is just a matter of when and where CWD will be detected in Montana,” says Williamson. “Higher deer numbers tend to influence the spread of the disease, so we take that into consideration when developing hunting season regulations.”

For 2016, all Region 6 hunting districts will be managed under the standard regulation for mule deer, which includes either-sex for a general deer license (A-tag), as well as additional doe/B-licenses.

“The exception to this is hunting district 652 which is a limited permit, mule deer buck-only hunting district,” Williamson said.

“Hunting Districts 620, 630, 631, 632, 640, 650, 651, 670, 680 and 690 had a conservative number of mule deer antlerless/B-licenses available this year, with the license application deadline on June 1.”

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WHITETAIL DEER In regards to whitetails, Williamson said surveys have been completed in six areas across Region 6. Due to more uniform habitat, the whitetail surveys tend to look at deer density, as opposed to total numbers, for trends. The 2016 year’s survey show whitetail deer density is at an average of 6.7 deer per square mile across the trend areas, which is approximately 39 percent below the long-term average of 11 deer per square mile. The 2015 survey showed whitetails at 47 percent below average.

“White-tailed deer densities continue to recover in the eastern part of the region, but are still 25 percent below average, while the western portion of the region is 58 percent below the average,” Williamson said.

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Prior to 2010, whitetail densities were as high as 40 – 50 deer per square mile in some areas. “This was an unsustainable level that was causing problems for landowners and also degrading habitat conditions,” Williamson said. “EHD outbreaks and other factors in the following years reduced the whitetail population across Region 6 considerably.

With whitetail numbers increasing across Region 6, and in accordance with Fish and Wildlife Commission rule setting, a single-region antlerless whitetail B-licenses will be available for over the counter purchase starting August 8, 2016. The licenses will be limited to one per hunter.

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REGIONAL NEWS Sheep Poacher Receives Lifetime Hunting Ban/Jail Time

Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game

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34 - Hunting & Fishing News

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2015 Poaching suspect Paul Cortez (right) is interviewed by Fish and Game Conservation Officer Brian Perkes about the poaching of a bighorn sheep along the Salmon River in November, 2015. Photo by Roy Kinner, IDFG

Idaho County Judge sends strong message to “others in your situation”

A lifetime hunting ban, jail time and thousands of dollars in penalties are the price a Nampa man must pay for last year’s poaching of a trophy bighorn sheep along Idaho’s Main Salmon River.

Appearing in Idaho County Court on June 6, Paul Cortez (53) of Nampa stood silent as District Court Judge Gregory FitzMaurice handed down the poaching sentence. In addition to a lifetime hunting license revocation, Cortez received 30 days in jail, a $10,000 civil penalty, fines/court costs totaling $753 and four years of probation.

On November 6, 2015 while on routine jet boat patrol along the famous river, Fish and Game conservation officers Roy Kinner, Craig Mickelson, Dennis Brandt and Brian Perkes contacted Cortez at his hunting camp.

Cortez’s hands and forearms were bloody, and after a brief conversation, Cortez admitted to shooting the bighorn ram from his camp as the animal came to the river for water. He then field dressed and stashed the carcass among rocks above the river. The poaching location is in Hunt Unit 19, where the bighorn sheep season closed on October 13.

Perkes then cited Cortez for unlawfully killing a trophy big game animal, possession of an illegally taken bighorn sheep, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. An April plea agreement with Idaho County Prosecutors allowed Cortez to plead guilty to one felony count of unlawfully killing a trophy big game animal, which included 15 days in jail. The second felony count and other charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.

In his comments during sentencing, Judge FitzMaurice noted that, “It’s my view that you’ve been given fairly lenient treatment.

My view is that a signal needs to be sent out to others in your situation.”

At his discretion, Judge FitzMaurice then doubled Cortez’s jail time to 30 days. Cortez addressed the court only briefly, stating that he “made a huge mistake in my judgment. I regret it.”

Cortez also asked the Judge not to revoke his hunting privileges for life, but the request was ignored. “The [illegal] killing of animals, especially rare animals, has serious consequences in this state,” Judge FitzMaurice said.

Only a remnant herd of bighorn sheep now traverse the rocky canyons above Idaho’s Salmon River. As such, lawful hunting is highly regulated, with only four bighorn tags allotted in Hunt Unit 19. “Only a handful of those applying for one of these coveted tags got their chance at a bighorn sheep during the 2015 hunting season,” Perkes noted.

“This poaching crime robs legal hunters of next year’s opportunity to pursue this prized nine-and-one-half-year-old ram.”...

REGIONAL NEWS Mule Deer Population Rises Thanks To Good Spring Moisture

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T he mule deer population is on the rise as a result of good spring moisture for the past three years. The doe:fawn ratio

has shown a favorable increase in the last two years, leading biologists to take notice.

“For mule deer, research has shown we need a ratio of 66 fawns for every 100 does to maintain or increase the population size. The average number of fawns in key mule deer herds statewide over the past two years has been 75 per 100 does,” said Ian Tator, Wyoming Game and Fish Department statewide terrestrial habitat manager.

“This is likely a result of the good moisture we’ve received in the months of April, May and June.”

Early spring moisture impacts wildlife fawn production most significantly. The moisture received during those months contributes to nutritious forage production at a time of year when wildlife need it the most-after a long Wyoming winter.

Mule deer emerging from winter with good spring forage can recover necessary fat reserves for fawn rearing. Likewise, shrubs produce nutritious leader growth as a result of spring moisture which will prove to be a vital food source during the subsequent winter for mule deer on transition and winter ranges.

“In addition to mule deer, pronghorn populations have also benefitted as a result of good moisture,” said Tator.

“We’ve been lucky with the timing of precipitation as it has contributed to the above-average fawn production we’ve seen the last two years.”

Even when it isn’t raining, Game and Fish is working to increase mule deer populations through the Wyoming Mule Deer Initiative.

The Initiative works with partners to improve our understanding of limiting factors to mule deer population growth including identification of key habitats necessary to sustain populations and implementation of habitat improvement projects within key mule deer herd units statewide. To learn more about mule deer efforts in Wyoming, visit the Wyoming Mule Deer Initiative website.

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ob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors’ 13th Annual Shooter’s Weekend, held on August 6th and 7th, is a fund raiser for non-profit organizations.

This year Bob Ward’s has selected the Special Forces Association “Devil’s Brigade Chapter” and the Butte Gun Club to share the proceeds from this event. Bob Ward’s has teamed up with several of the top brands in hunting and shooting to raise funds for these great organizations.

More about both non-profits can be found at their respective websites: (www.operationvalor.com) (http://www.buttegunclub.org/) On Saturday, August 6th, the shoot will be held in the Missoula area at Deer Creek Shooting Center. On Sunday, August 7th, the shoot moves to the Butte area and will be held at the Rocker Gun Range. Times for both events are 10am – 3pm. There is no charge for spectators, but there is a charge to demo guns and shoot...

Shooter’s Weekend is an opportunity for enthusiasts to experience hands on demonstrations of a variety of rifles, shotguns, and handguns from many different manufacturers. Shooters are encouraged to bring friends and family, as this is an event for everyone from novices to experts.

Bob Ward’s experienced staff, vendors and volunteers will be on hand to assist all shooters. Children under 18 years must be accompanied by a parent in order to shoot.

The world’s top firearm manufactures will be represented along with several more exclusive brands. In addition to the usual rifle, shotgun, and pistol stations, Shooter’s Weekend will feature a suppressor station and a large caliber station...

Bob Ward’s and the manufacturers provide firearms and ammunition and request that the public not bring their own.

Bob Ward’s is Montana’s oldest and largest sporting goods retailer with stores in Missoula, Butte, Helena, Hamilton and Bozeman, and online at www.bobwards.com.

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EARLY OPTIMISM FOR THE 2016 PHEASANT HUNTING SEASON

By Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever www.pheasantsforever.org

I

... already find myself daydreaming of autumn days behind my bird dogs in fields of waving prairie grass as a rooster cackles to wing and flushes into a baby blue sky. I’d love to live a year of Octobers. While the earliest pheasant seasons are still months away, my excitement is escalating as conditions continue to point toward another improved year for the birds. Here’s why: Mild Winter: Last winter was not “perfect” for the birds. There was localized heavy snow events and some bitter cold stretches.

Overall, however, last winter falls on the milder side of the scale and likely only produced localized pheasant mortality. For most of the pheasant range, there should be good carryover of adult birds and hens should have reached nesting season in good health for reproduction.

CRP Signup: On its face, it’s incongruent for me to list the recent Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup as a reason for optimism given its historically low acceptance rate of acres enrolling into the program considering the 20+ million acres of habitat destroyed in the last 8 years. Allow me to explain. The good news is that farmers, ranchers, and landowners came out in droves to try enrolling in CRP. Albeit an optimist’s point of view, I believe the pendulum is swinging back to an embrace of conservation. The news is filled every day with stories of degraded water quality, plummeting pollinator and monarch populations, and a desire for a higher quality of life associated with a healthier environment. In fact, most big seed sales outlets are already out of pollinator seed mixes - a great sign for pollinators, monarchs, pheasants and quail alike. In the end, CRP remains America’s best tool for delivering a wide array of wildlife and natural resource benefits, as well as an increase in pheasant and quail habitat to boot.

Early Spring: Like last winter, this spring hasn’t been “perfect.”

Pheasant Country has had heavy rains, hail, cold stretches, and inclement weather events. However, warm temperatures and rain arrived earlier than normal to green up prime nesting cover habitat and start insect production which is the primary food source of young broods. At Pheasants Forever, we started receiving brood reports in early May, which is more than a month prior to the standard peak of the pheasant hatch (roughly June 10th). Any early hatch is good news for potential re-nesting efforts of hens losing their egg clutches early because of a weather event, nest disturbance or predation.

While we’re not out of the woods yet, I’d estimate this current nesting season is in the “slightly better than average” category.

Bird Dogs: With one veteran bird dog entering her 10th hunting season and another entering her 3rd – and the prime of her hunting career – my favorite bird hunting partners are eager to taste feathers.

Come August, I’ll read the roadside counts and study the population maps. I suspect we’ll get some exciting news when those reports come out, but in the end, I’ll be jacked to enjoy the freedom and joy of a day spent afield no matter the prospectus. I’m surely not alone in that sentiment.

The Pointer is written by Bob St.Pierre, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever’s Vice President of Marketing. Follow Bob on Twitter @BobStPierre...

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WHAT TO DO WHEN THE HUNTING MORAL LINE IS GRAY

(continued from page 7)

Relativism hunter

The relativist would view this situation as not an issue of legality but, instead, an issue of his personal feelings on the matter. The relativist would debate the reasons why he should not be penalized for not knowing that there was another buck and would give reason as to why he never would have thought his bullet would have penetrated that well in the first place. He would come up with reasons as to why he is the exception to the rule and decide that he does not have to tell anyone about what happened. He would also not hold his friend to any decision either and would let his friend decide if he wanted to tag the second buck or go find a different one. Ultimately, the law does not matter to the relativist, as it is, in his mind, relative.

Principle-based ethics

If the decision were based upon principal, the decision would be easy: the one who pulled the trigger would make a phone call to the game and fish department, pay whatever fine was assessed, and go home. While this might very well be the right decision and clearly the least suspect, the question remains: Is adherence to a principal-based system the only way to make a decision? For some, the answer is an emphatic “Yes!” For others, perhaps there is a different process for making a decision that would land on an equally ethical decision that would also allow someone to think through the decision in a meaningful way.

Which of these did you identify with? Or, perhaps, a better question is which of these most accurately summarizes your initial reaction to the scenario?

HOW TO EFFECTIVELY SOLVE ETHICAL ISSUES

Since only one of the responses to the scenario mentioned above can be seen as being clearly ethical and in line with the law (principle-based), let’s discuss how to make an ethical decision in order to consider all of the information and ensure that we are always making the right decision.

This is where thinking through things is better than adherence to a system. While you may still come to the same conclusion, you can arrive there with confidence, knowing that it was a well thought out process that led you to that decision.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the number of steps below. Instead, these steps serve as an overview of the factors that must be considered when faced with an ethical dilemma. In reality, these steps will mentally occur in very rapid succession:

Gather the facts

You illegally shot two legal animals. You were only allowed one buck and you accidentally shot two. Taking two legal bucks is against your state laws.

Determine the ethical issue

The ethical issues at hand are: •Whether one must follow local laws.

•Whether one must tell the truth.

•Whether one should allow an animal to be wasted due to a mistake. (continued on page 44) 40 - Hunting & Fishing News

Top 6 Phrases Heard Last Duck Season

By Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor Delta Waterfowl www.deltawaterfowl.org

T he 2015-2016 duck season was one spent waiting: on cold weather, on migrating ducks, on opportunities to call the shot. Record-high

temperatures challenged the fortitude of waterfowlers across much of North America. Few duck straps, it seems, were filled with any consistency.

Still, I’m not prepared to call it a bad season. I may have fewer mallards in the freezer than last year, but several high points are engrained in my memories: My dog sticking his head underwater for a cripple, a buddy scoring his first duck band, and a friend’s elation after bagging a canvasback over his own hard-carved decoy, to name a few.

Even in a slow year, what other pursuit provides such lifelong memories?

I could further describe the season, but I’ll allow other waterfowlers to do so.

Here are the top six phrases spoken by duck hunters last season.

“It’s finally getting cold. Ducks should be here soon!”

How often did we assure ourselves that a chilly forecast would surely result in the promise of mallards? And yet, occasional cold snaps came and went, bringing small pushes of ducks before yielding to mild temperatures.

“They must be hammering ducks up north.”

If we aren’t shooting ducks, then someone else must be. That seemed to be the consensus last season, as hunters everywhere assumed that the slow migration was surely resulting in heavy concentrations “up north.”

However, whether you talk to hunters in North Dakota or Arkansas, Washington or Utah, it was tough sledding for everyone. Even in areas with a lot of birds, high temps and ample water spread them thin.

“I need to take a layer off.”

Usually by mid-December I’m layered up like Ralphie’s brother in “A Christmas Story.” Yet this year I donned thin, breathable waders and a light parka — and still I was often too warm. I can’t recall another season when I’ve spent more time sweating than shivering.

“This is the day.”

We duck hunters are an optimistic bunch, sometimes to the point of irrationality. Perhaps our survival in the sport depends upon such positive thinking. Case in point: Every morning when the 4 a.m. buzzer rang, I was convinced a terrific hunt was in store, no matter how many duck-less days preceded it.

“The heck with the scouting report, let’s hunt.”

What do you do when scouting turns up nary a duck? You’re a duck hunter. It’s duck season. And so you hunt. Last season revealed the truly committed waterfowlers — those willing to continue chasing birds regardless the odds stacked against them. It didn’t always work out in our favor, but hey, it’s always better to be in a duck blind than sleeping in.

“Finally!”

In late January, a winter storm broke through El Niño’s defenses, providing duck hunters with a last-minute hurrah nearly anywhere seasons remained open. I finally shot a limit of greenheads on the closing day of the Pennsylvania season, and the next week I gunned canvasbacks, bluebills and redheads with a buddy in southern Virginia.

For those who experienced it, the finale was sufficient to wipe away much of the season’s frustrations, and its remembrance will sustain us until fall when another duck season opens anew.

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Best Wind Meters for Hunters & Shooters

By Jason Reid www.ammoland.com Jason Reid lists his pick of the best wind meters on the market for hunting & shooting.

L

ong range hunting and shooting has not only increased in popularity but has become much more efficient since military grade technology has been made accessible for the consumer markets.

For making shots in access of 500 yards, wind drift becomes a serious concern.

Windage or wind meters, as they are commonly called, are readily available, reasonably priced and tend to not take up much room in your pack.

In no particular order here are my picks for top wind meters for hunting and shooting.

Kestrel Elite Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics with LiNK The Kestrel Elite Weather Meter with Applied Ballistics with LiNK product provides shooters what they need to make an educated decision on where to shoot down range, Nikon Spot On Ballistic Wind Meter Photo courtesy ammoland.com but the real power of this system hides in its phone app.

With bluetooth technology linking to smart phones, the Kestrel Elite Weather Meter runs on 1 AA battery and provides a variety of features which take most of the guess work out of sending lead towards extreme down range targets. Shooters can use the free app to upload their gun and ammo combinations to the device before heading to the field and features Aerodynamic Jump, Spin Drift and Coriolis corrections. Kestrel 5700 Elite takes every bit of environmental factors and your gun & ammo selection into consideration.

The app provides the ability to create custom drag curve modeling which can be useful when shooting at targets beyond the supersonic range of the round. With models priced between $609 & $860, you had better be truly committed to the art of long range shooting to invest in this piece of equipment. www.kestrelmeters.com Nikon Spot On Ballistic Wind Meters One of the simpler wind meters on the market, The Nikon Spot On Ballistic Wind Meter gives you the information you need right on your smart phone.

Just plug the Nikon wind meter into the headphone port of any smart phone and download the free Spot On App to your mobile device. After choosing your gun specs on the app and either connect to your nearest weather station for the closest data if you are in cell range, or if you are on a backcountry hunt, log the temperature, pressure and humidity manually.

After capturing the wind speed you simply select the wind direction and the app will show wind drift in either clicks, inches or MOA and show you where to hold.

With an MSRP of 39.99...the simplicity of this system can help you shoot better without the complexity of other meters. www.nikonsportoptics.com Weatherflow Weathermeter Utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) the Weatherflow Weathermeter allows shooters to have weather data such as wind speed and direction, temperature, wind, heat index, pressure air density, altitude and other important factors sent to any mobile device from up to 100 feet away.

Calculations are made in the BallisticsARC app which is free for Apple devices. With an MSRP of $84.99 and a 3 year battery life, this meter comes with a hard case for safe storage and includes a 3 year warranty. www.brownells.com WeatherHawk SM-28 Skymaster Weather Meter: Don’t want to rely on a mobile device for long range shooting? The WeatherHawk SM-28 Skymaster Weather Meter shows all the information you need to have on the small display on the meter. With a jackknife design to protect your meter, this design helps give you a much more accurate reading since the design prevents any heat from your hand from impacting its read.

Featuring an easy to re-set barometer, the Spymaster also displays current, maximum and average wind speed in addition to wind speed, temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind chill, dew point altitude and heat index. WeatherHawk SM-28 Skymaster Weather Meter is available on the Long range hunting store for $142.00 (less $ online). www.longrangehunting.com The Caldwell Wind Wizard II Meter: Building on the frame and the feedback of the original Wind Wizard, the Caldwell Wind Wizard II Meter provides shooters with simplicity and value.

With a rubberized non-slip coating, the Wind Wizard ll reads wind speeds in a variety of different units of measurement: mph, ft/min, km/h, m/s, and knots.

Reading temperatures in both Celsius and Fahrenheit this product can be used by every hunter regardless of location and has an LCD backdrop light to help you make a shot count in low-light conditions. With an MSRP: $54.99 ($32.98 online), the Caldwell Wind Wizard II Meter provides great value to shooters without breaking the bank. www.btibrands.com ...

As shooters, we have the responsibility to make ethical shots and having the right information to make a long range shot is imperative. If having a wind meter helps you become a successful shooter, find which one works best for you, practice and become comfortable with your equipment on the range before heading to the field.

42 - Hunting & Fishing News

August 2016 43

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE HUNTING MORAL LINE IS GRAY

(continued from page 40)

What principals have bearing on the situation

•Honesty is an obvious one since you would have to decide whether or not to tell the truth about what happened.

•Next, integrity since it is related to honesty, yet gets at the deeper heart issue of why one would choose to tell the truth or not. Integrity is about character and lying reveals a flawed character.

•Third, the purpose of hunting as conservation should be considered since you are no longer an agent of conservation if you are fine with killing more animals than legally allowed. You are now acting outside of the bounds of the conservation system and, thus, cannot with integrity say that you care about conservation if you are willing to violate this principle.

•Lastly, adherence to laws is a principal that is over-arching as no hunter should ever feel as though he or she is not bound by the same laws as everyone else.

What are the alternatives?

Photo credit: Brady Miller

There are a few options: 1. Call the game warden, tell him/her what happened, and take the consequences.

2. Ask your friend to tag the second animal and let him take the meat home.

3. Leave the animal to rot and go find a different deer so that your friend can shoot his own.

4. Call the game warden, explain the situation, and ask what your options are, agreeing to be amicable to whatever he/she says is acceptable.

Do the alternatives allow for the principals to remain unviolated?

It is pretty easy to say that options two and three violate the principles at hand as well as violate multiple state laws. Options one and four maintain integrity and honesty and are in-line with state laws while option four allows for other suggestions at the discretion of the state official. Maybe he/she will offer another solution, maybe not; but you won’t know unless you ask.

Consider the consequences

There are clear consequences with all options though the consequences for options two and three would be worse than the consequences of options one and four because you would have been trying to cover up the offense and mislead government officials, which is also illegal.

Make a decision

You have to make a decision at some point. Now you have to decide and act on that decision.

CONCLUSION

No one can make ethical decisions for you on a hunt. You have to make them on your own. My hope in writing this article is that you have a better understanding of what true ethics are — not just what is beneficial, but what is morally right. If you can think through your situation with integrity, you can make ethical decisions every day. Hunters face ethical issues all the time (whether or not to trespass, whether or not to take a shot that they are not 100% confident in, etc.) and should not base their decisions only on their own way of thinking. There is an objective standard for ethics that can be found when one adheres to state and federal laws while also thinking through their decisions.

44 - Hunting & Fishing News

August 2016 45

46 - Hunting & Fishing News

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Lisac’s of Anaconda J&M Tire Lisac’s of Billings Eagle Tire Brake & Alignment Hi-Tech Auto Repair, Inc. Lisac’s Tire American Car Care Conrad Tire Automotive Solutions, Inc. D&D Auto Berg’s Tire Falls Tire Service Eagle Tire Brake & Alignment M&C Tire Big Sky Tire Arnie’s Gas & Tire Center Mark’s Tire & Alignment 4G’s Tire & Repair Jake’s Automotive & Tire Howie’s Tire & Alignment Full Circle Tire Pro Tire Distributors OK Tire Store Tri-State Tire Tri-State Tire Nick’s Quality Tire All American Tire & Brake

406-563-6110 406-969-2075 406-656-7502 406-587-5414 406-436-2378 406-782-4294 406-494-4450 406-278-3422 406-821-3440 406-682-4234 406-377-5286 406-453-1418 406-443-5910 406-752-9662 406-251-5988 406-676-0400 406-434-5118 406-566-2910 406-646-9500 406-862-6666 406-287-5682 406-653-2400 701-774-0233 208-652-3344 208-356-9069 208-436-3900 208-787-8473

NEW

Tire Supply Service Centers are locally owned and operated tire stores in the Northwest, offering nationwide tire and repair warranties and the best quality products and services at the best price.

Visit our website at www.tiresupplysc.com for

$10.00 off alignment

Get up to $100 Back Mail-in Rebate: Rebate is issued in the form of an American Express® Reward Card when you purchase a set of four select Hankook Tires.

For complete details, visit www.hankooktireusa.com or ask your dealer. ©Hankook Tire America Corp.

and

$5.00 off oil change August 2016 47

The road to happiness isn’t always paved.

The 2017 Subaru Forester.® Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive + 32 mpg.1 Available EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology.2 Plus, it’s enabled with SUBARU STARLINK™ Safety and Security connected services.3 It’s the best way to get where you’ve always wanted to go.

Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

PLACER MOTORS 406-442-2603 | 1-888-433-0119 See our full line of Subaru vehicles.

1515 EUCLID AVENUE, HELENA, MT. 59601

Subaru, Forester and EyeSight are registered trademarks. 1EPA-estimated hwy fuel economy for 2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i CVT models. Actual mileage may vary. 2EyeSight is a driver assist system that may not operate optimally under all driving conditions. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors such as vehicle maintenance, weather, and road conditions.

See Owner’s Manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. Please remember to turn off EyeSight when going through a car wash. 3Activation with subscription required. Includes one-year trial subscription to Safety Plus connected service. See your retailer for details.