Hunting & Fishing News - December 2012

HUNTING & FISHING Montana

December 2012

News

LATE SEASON HUNTS

Plan Your 2013 Hunt Now! Cold Weather Waterfowling

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Hunt Below the Dams for Montana Waterfowl T

Don’t miss the 30th Annual Helena Boat Show February 15, 16, 17

By Rick Haggerty

hree sections of Montana’s Missouri River can be excellent here in December for waterfowl hunting.

Below Toston Dam, south of Townsend, below Holter Dam off Interstate 15 between Helena and Great Falls or Fort Peck Dam in northeastern Montana, are all exceptional destinations for a December hunt.

You have until January 3, 2013 to hunt ducks in the Central Flyway and January 13, 2013 for geese, with the exception of January 7 - 8, 2013 closed to all goose hunting.

As we enter the final month for waterfowling, there are numerous places to find ducks, but there are few places more consistent during the winter freeze than below these dams for open water opportunities.

Ducks and geese can get educated in a hurry at all of these locations, but with so many birds coming © Schlag | Dreamstime.com from the north this season, the opportunities to bag many birds will be spectacular.

You can hunt the river with a spread of floating decoys. Get access to nearby grain fields, and decoy with a field set-up, or just hang in the weeds to shoot passing birds as they enter or leave the river.

If you’re on the river as a winter storm descends out of Alberta, you’ll have closer and more frequent shots. Look for weather patterns such as these, and hunt them as they come in and out.

•Holter Dam - Holter Dam’s discharge keeps the river ice-free for about 50 miles downstream of the structure, which keeps honkers around all winter.

Good hunting points will be near Pelican Point or downstream to about the mouth of the Dearborn River, or down around Hardy Creek. From Pelican Point down to the towns of Craig and Ulm, you’ll find many more geese, and plenty of mallards. You can also float the river with the many take-out points for a phenomenal day of hunting.

•Fort Peck Dam - This area of Montana has the best of both worlds; plenty of birds and very few hunters. The downfall is very few take-out spots, few amenities for hunters, and it is a massive area. Still, there are many spots to set-up decoys in nearby fields or to hunt the river. Expect ice free conditions from the dam downstream to Poplar. Hunt the Dredge Cuts to the School Trust FAS above the mouth of the Milk River.

•Toston Dam - Located just off of Highway 287, this area has plenty of duck hunting action. You can hunt from the bridge at Toston all the way downstream to the head of Canyon Ferry Lake, or up to the dam. This section of the river hosts mainly northern mallards, shovelers, green winged teal and golden eyes. The goose will feed in the fields then return to the river in heavy numbers. You can decoy ducks in sloughs and deep bends, and the tail-outs off islands.

Mother Nature and the weather patterns will play a factor in duck and geese hunting these areas in December.

4 - Hunting & Fishing News

200 Second Ride!

By Mark Rohlfing, Sponsored by Victory, Goat Tuff, Tru Fire, Arizona Rim, S4 Gear, MyTopo, Barnett Crossbows Reprinted with permission from bowhunting.net. For more information, please visit www.bowhunting.net

Aaboutfter25harassing this bull all afternoon, we finally got to see him crossing a sage meadow with cows. We watched as they fed away from us heading down a canyon. If their course stayed true we could cut them off 1⁄2 mile from camp. The sun was setting and it was worth a try.

We were hopping down a 45-degree side hill when the bull let out a loud bugle, maybe 100 yards away. We quickly found a couple spots in the shadows of the scattered Douglas fir trees. Instantly, Author with his trophy bull a cow elk crested the hill with her head down feeding our way. The evening thermals hit me in the face. We had a chance. One question remained, would we be able to penetrate the cow fortress before our scent gave us away?

Cows began moving lower on the slope with the bull in tow, now 25 yards from my buddy. The bull did not cooperate for a shot, staying in thick cover.

Another group of cows began feeding above me, some merely 20 yards away. The stillness of the evening held us riveted, hoping to remain undetected.

The elk were now in a horseshoe formation around us.

I watched as the bull slowly followed a cow to an opening. I came to full draw. A cow threw her head up and stared me down. Luckily she began grazing again in about 30 seconds. The bull needed to take a couple of steps before I could release the arrow.

Briefly enter my head for this 200 second ride at full draw: 30 seconds, “I’ve got this, you’re done buddy”; 60 seconds, “This is easy, squeeze the shoulder blades, I’ve got all day”; 90 seconds, “Do it for Hannah (my daughter), kill this bull so you can go home”; 120 seconds, “Bonehead, what did you draw so early for, quit shaking, this is getting tough”; 180 seconds, “Good Lord help me keep this bow at full draw! I think I’ve only got 30 seconds before I will involuntarily let this arrow go”; 200 seconds, the bull cleared the tree, “Don’t rush it, settle that top green pin, slight quarter to, keep it tight to the shoulder, squeeze”. Thwack!

I remember seeing the Victory arrow buried deep to the fletching tight to the shoulder 6 inches above the brisket. Given the angle, it looked good to me!

We found the bull, although it was not as easy as planned. All in all, another great ride on the elk hunting roller coaster. Don’t jump off in the middle and you’ll be fine. Perseverance ... still the greatest element of success. Thanks for reading!

December 2012

5

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GOOD MORNING; GOOD NIGHT

By Tom Neustrom

Focus on the bookends of the day to maximize your walleye catching success

Cutting to the chase, there are two exceptional times to catch walleyes – sunup and sundown. Sure, there are tinged water ‘daytime lakes’ that potentially produce any ‘ol

time. And the most crystalline of the clear lakes generally promote overnight activity. But regardless of the color of the water, to stack the deck in your favor, set your sights on the openings and ends of the day.

Suck it up and get up early if you want to tap the morning bite. My old creaky bones move at a slow pace, but mentally I’m prepared to fly, because I want to be setup and fishing before sunrise. And that includes prepping my gear the night before so it’s turn the ignition, warm up the truck, fill the coffee mug, and roll.

Get out there early and settle on a spot. This isn’t a time to explore. I’ll drill two or three holes and then silence the StrikeMaster. This is more about timing than finding fish. Concentrate on tried and true spots, even bucking your desire to fish away from the masses. Community holes aren’t there by accident. You can beat the regulars at their own game, though, by hooking a walleye before the first light flickers in a hard-house window.

Realize, too, that there are two types of morning bites. One version is where fish move up on key structures during peak feeding times. They move up, eat, and exit stage right...or left. Elsewhere, fish are in the general area all day, and the feeding switch flips at dawn and dusk.

I prefer the first scenario, readying for a preemptive strike, getting out in front of incoming walleyes. This requires that you identify the lanes or entry-points fish use during feeding runs. Think of a catcher waiting on a pitch that’s coming right down the pipe.

One such spot is a significant weed edge that drops off into deep water. Find the sheerest, weeded break and you’re onto a primo opening spot. Typically, on northern natural lakes, it’ll be in 12 to 20-feet of water, specific depth dictated by water clarity – the clearer the lake, the deeper the weeds.

Weed edges are easily diagnosed on my Humminbird ICE 55 portable flasher. The six-color, fiber-optic display reveals green bars and flickers splaying from the bottom – that’s the vegetation. More flickers mean more weeds, and that’s good. Check one more hole over and the green is gone – I’ve located the edge. Time to fish.

Another low-hanging-fruit-location for early ice is an abrupt shoreline break, weeded or not, especially when it’s associated with a point – rocks making it even a stronger candidate. Specifically, rocks the size of human heads or smaller, like red-stitched softballs. (Gigantic boulders are visually appealing, but not the preferred structure of winter walleyes).

For reasons I honestly can’t explain, morning walleyes tend to be bigger fish. You might not get bit as often, but the rewards are greater. So put your eggs in the morning basket if it’s trophies you seek. (continued page 16) High definition sonar is critical, nearly mandatory for spying the crisp weedlines that walleyes utilize.

Humminbird’s ICE 55 and its spectacular six-color display make seeing the greens child’s play.

Photo by Bill Lindner Photography 6 - Hunting & Fishing News

Countdown to Ice From Frabill

Frabill fabricates a faster,

finger-friendly ice tool.

New 241 Straight Line Combo merges Bro Series blanks with advanced “no line twist” reels.

Only one season ago Frabill hit the reset button on ice fishing reels. Spinning reels still reign, and are core to the sport, but the radically different Straightline yielded an advantage that simply couldn’t be spun out previously: line twist. The friendly-flow off the Straightline reel keeps line in its original, off-the-shelf, untwisted condition. Now, the ice-heads at Frabill have taken the same principles and amped up the technology, designing the Straightline 241 Bro Series Combo.

Commencing at the reel, the lightweight composite techno-tool is built to provide strength and durability – and all the while remaining lightweight. The unique composite design offers the additional benefit of not feeling cold to the skin in frigid temperatures.

Line waterfalls gracefully from its balanced spool, while an amazing 2.4:1 ratio retrieves line at a rate never seen before in a fly-fishing styled reel. Its oversized handle eliminates fumble-fingers, even for guys with oversized paws. Lastly, like all of Frabill’s premium reels, the 241 is infused with Sub-Zero® lubricant to keep parts moving fluidly regardless of the air temp.

“It’s like holding the future in my hands,” says combo collaborator Brian “Bro” Brosdahl. “I thought Frabill put itself clearly out in front of the pack with the original Straightline reel. Now, we’ve entered hyperspace at lightspeed. The 241 is so advanced,

so fishable, so ahead of its time...”

The matched rods are similarly special. All Straightline 241 Bro Series Combo blanks are technique and species specific – bluegills to crappies to perch to walleyes. Line flows effortlessly through durable and dynamic aluminum oxide guides. Each model also features a unique aluminum reel seat to securely fasten the 241 reel to the rod.

The Straightline 241 Bro Series Combo is available in six technique-types: UL 24” Panfish Jigging Application, 24” Quick Tip (panfish), 30” Quick Tip (panfish), L 30” (finesse walleye/larger panfish), 36” Quick Tip (panfish) and L 36” (finesse walleyes/larger panfish).

December 2012

7

Taking Care Of Your Investment How To Clean Your Firearm A

By Jeff Davis, Editor, Whitetails Unlimited. www.whitetailsunlimited.com single firearm costs hundreds of dollars, but can easily last a Repeat with solvent on a patch, and then wait a couple of minutes to let lifetime if properly cared for. Protect your investment by properly cleaning the solvent soak. Push a brush through the barrel (in one direction only) your firearms.

3-6 times. Follow with patches (or a Bore Snake) wet with solvent until they come out clean. Then use dry patches until all the solvent is TIP 1: SAFETY FIRST Always clear the chamber and insure the gun is removed from the barrel and the patches are completely clean. unloaded before starting, and even if disassembled, treat every firearm, at all times, as if it is loaded.

TIP 7: SCRUB A DUB Use a small nylon brush soaked in solvent to thoroughly clean all accessible areas in the action, and wipe with a clean TIP 2: STAY ORGANIZED Work in a well-lighted, ventilated area. cloth to remove any remaining solvent. Be careful to keep solvent from Assemble all needed materials in advance, and eliminate any seeping into enclosed areas of the action. distractions. Use a gun cleaning pad which is lint-free and prevents spills from soaking through onto the table underneath, and can be washed to TIP 8: LIGHTLY LUBRICATE Use a clean patch with a small amount remove oil and solvent. of oil on it to lightly coat the inside of the barrel, and then use a small amount of oil on a clean, lint-free cloth to lightly lubricate all moving parts TIP 3: LOOK FOR PROBLEMS Disassemble the firearm as much as and all surfaces that have been degreased by the solvent. possible, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. No not disassemble beyond what is recommended. As you prepare the firearm for cleaning TIP 9: TOGETHER AGAIN As you reassemble the firearm, make sure inspect thoroughly for cracked parts, rust, signs of excessive wear or you remove any fingerprints with an oiled cloth. Do not apply too much oil. other problems. Contact a trained gunsmith for any necessary repairs.

While all metal surfaces need a coating of oil to prevent rust, too much oil will attract dust, lint and debris, and can drain into the action and gum up TIP 4: FOLLOW THE GUIDE Clean the firearm from the breach end moving parts. Store the firearm muzzle-down, so excess oil will not drain whenever possible, which can prevent solvents, oil or debris from getting into the action. into the action. If it is necessary to clean from the muzzle, use a muzzle guide to keep the cleaning rod from rubbing on the crown.

TIP 10: LOOK AT WHAT YOU’RE MISSING If you haven’t checked the cleaning supply rack in a sporting goods store in a while, stop and take a TIP 5: SIZE MATTERS Use the proper size rod, brush and patches. look. There are many new products that make this chore faster and Use a one-piece coated or composite rod to avoid metal-to-metal contact more efficient. Bore Snakes can replace patches, oil bottles with long, with the rifling. needle-like dispensers will put a scant drop just where it is needed, TIP 6: ONE-WAY ONLY Saturate a patch with solvent and pass it cleaning pads also protect the kitchen table, and rods that can’t damage through the bore in one direction only. Pulling a dirty patch (or brush) back your firearm are just a few recent improvements. through the barrel can redeposit material or put debris into the action.

8 - Hunting & Fishing News

Show Waterfowl Where to Commit

F

Photo and article by Steve Hickoff, Yamaha Outdoors

ood matters when you want to pull sky-bound ducks and geese into your spot. The spread you set is obviously defined by the calculated way you place your decoys in front of your gunning position. Most of all, it’s crucial to making that location all it can be.

The key: set it up so that incoming waterfowl can pick an open spot to try and land where they already want to be -- or where they realized they want to be on seeing your fake birds out there, enhanced by calling. Shoot them as they cup and commit.

Place that open spot so that it’s in a shooting lane you desire. Then wait, calls ready if needed.

Rough It Up: Ducks and geese don’t envision the pretty geometric spreads you do the night before while tossing and turning in a camp bunk. Sometimes you’ll need to set up ragged spreads to represent geese and ducks that have landed and are feeding comfortably -- even though tight spreads might also suggest a concentrated food source...

How Birds Move: What’s the flight path of your local waterfowl? Study it on your four Yamaha wheels. The spot you pick to hunt has to be in the reliable path of geese and ducks that move from where they loaf at night to where they might feed in the morning. Places like pastures and even marshes qualify here.

Zero-grade rice fields and possibly unfrozen river systems do too.

Learn the Alphabet: Terrain and traditional approach depending, some guys prefer a “C” spread of decoys, with the geese and ducks encouraged to land in the open area. For others, an “X” works, and gunners hide at the center of the set. Still others employ a “V” shape for their decoys, pointing that into the wind (weather depending). Others prefer the fishhook “J” way of putting out fakes. Tweak it as you hunt, especially as the breeze shifts.

No Spread: Let’s face it: not every casual waterfowler is as enamored with fancy decoy spreads as the rest of us.

They might not even call to birds. They just want to kill a few. Instead, they wait near a food source where they’ve seen ducks and geese recently -- or consistently in previous seasons. You can too...

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For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. ATV models shown are recommended for use only by riders 16 years and older. Raptor 700R recommended for experienced riders only. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887.

ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For you safety: Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing: never carry passengers: never in stunt riding: riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix: avoid excessive speed; and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Professional riders depicted on closed courses. ©2012 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • yamaha-motor.com 10/12 December 2012

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WATERFOWL FLASH HUNTS T ime is limited, we all know that.

If you’re a waterfowler who likes to fill your days with some hunting along with the rest of your daily duties, listen up.

HUNT DAYBREAK Rise early, drive to your spots, ideally where you’ve nailed down some ducks or geese by flash scouting. Set your decoy spread

and wait for the morning flight.

Most of you’ll agree that first legal light (the “false dawn” period) and roughly an hour after that is the best time of the day. Get in.

Get out. Get some waterfowling action.

Now get yourself off to work.

JUMPSHOOT MIDDAY River and pond ducks especially

Photo and article by Steve Hickoff, Yamaha Outdoors

like loafing between the hard feeding they do at daybreak and in the afternoon. A walk into a spot you know holds ducks can provide a nice little “hunting lunch.”

Stash your chest waders in the back of your truck. Walk to your spot. With luck, you’ll find groups of birds settled in along the slow-moving edges of creeks and waterways, farm ponds and the like. Think of this as a bonus hunting deal.

Kill a few? Simply put those birds in your truck cooler and finish out the day at work. The memory of sneaking in a little hunting action might even make that afternoon more tolerable.

HUNT LATE AFTERNOON The same goes for leaving work a little early to get one quick finish in during the last hour of legal hunting.

A lot of this will be of the pass shooting kind of action, as ducks and geese move from feeding areas to roosting spots, but you can still scratch out a little hunt.

It also helps let you know where birds might be for your waterfowl hunt the next morning.

10 - Hunting & Fishing News

Ammo • New & Used Guns • Optics Fishing • Stoves • Farm & Ranch

FOUR-WHEELED FLASH HUNTS Load the decoys on the back of your Yamaha ATV or Side-by-Side.

Drive down to your spot. Set out your decoy spread. Wait for the morning or afternoon flight. Haul up your fakes. Get yourself home to that duck or goose dinner you’ll make. Life’s good. Time’s short.

Flash hunts satisfy.

ADVERTISING

RICK HAGGERTY (406) 370-1368 Publisher - Amy Haggerty - Helena, MT. huntingfishingnews@yahoo.com www.bigskyoutdoornews.net The entire contents is © 2012, all rights reserved. May not be reproduced without prior consent. The material and information printed is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure. Nor does the printed material necessarily express the views of Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure.

All photo & editorial submissions become the property of big sky outdoor News & adventure to use or not use at their discretion. VOLUME 9 issue 9.

Cover photo: ©Tom Reichner|shutterstock

Thank you for reading the Hunting & Fishing News.

Please support the advertisers you see in this publication and let them know you saw their advertisement in the Hunting & Fishing News.

DECOYS FOR DEER – YES OR NO?

By Bob Robb

I have a love/hate relationship with deer decoys.

sponsored by Wildlife Research Center

Like many bowhunters, I love using decoys for big gobblers, and after the dust settled following this year’s spring turkey season my mind had already fast-forwarded to the coming deer seasons. (I know, I know, it is an illness!) What about decoys for whitetails. Do they hurt, or help you?

Gary Clancy is one skilled, experienced whitetail hunter who has had so much success using deer decoys that he has become something of a fanatic. His classic 200-plus page book, “Rattling & Decoying Whitetails” has become a sort of bible on the topic.

While there are several nuances to using decoys successfully, Clancy stresses three things above all else: 1) Decoy placement is the most important part of the game, even more important than what brand of decoy you use. “The wind must always be blowing from the decoy to your stand, for obvious reasons,” Clancy said. “Also, always face a buck decoy towards your stand and a doe decoy away from your stand. Never mind all of that ‘sage’ advice which says to never face a decoy towards your stand. Those guys have never decoyed deer. When a buck deer approaches a buck decoy, it will virtually always circle the decoy until it is nose-to-nose. When that happens, it is facing away from you and giving you the shot angle you need. Conversely, a buck deer will almost always approach a doe decoy from the rear, checking her for estrous.”

2) After setting up the decoy spray it down with an odor neutralizing spray. “Using a decoy that smells like a human won’t cut it,” Clancy said.

“Wear rubber gloves when handling the decoy, then after it is in position spray it down liberally.”

It is critical to spray down your decoy with a quality scent eliminating spray before going to your stand. If a deer smells you on the decoy, it is all over.

3) The more visible and the greater distance at which the decoy is visible the more effective it will be. “The farther away a deer sees a decoy when it first spots it, the better the odds that it will commit to the decoy,” Clancy said. “Decoys in heavy cover scare more deer than they attract.” Field edges, dry creek bottoms and sloughs, and fence lines are great decoy spots, as are open stands of mature woods. In fields, place the decoy up on a small hillock or mound, especially if you are hunting a depression or hollow, so it will be visible to deer no matter where they enter the area.

Clancy believes that your chances of having a mature buck come to your decoy are best during the 10- to 14-day period just prior to the first estrus. During this time bucks are actively scraping and roaming, and seem to respond to both grunting and rattling, which is a very effective way to draw a buck’s attention to a decoy that it might otherwise not see.

During the peak of the rut, when most of the mature bucks have already found does to breed, it is possible to decoy in immature bucks, but the chances of pulling in a whopper are greatly lessened.

Some hunters like to use scent, like rutting buck or doe-in-estrous, in conjunction with decoys. If you do use scent, instead of putting it on the

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decoy itself, take a small stick, jab it into the ground underneath the deer’s belly, and place a scent wick on the stick. This may hold deer around your decoy longer, which of course can help when you are waiting for them to move into position for a shot. Whatever you want to use a good place to shop is Wildlife Research Center.

My experience with decoys over the years has been mixed. I have tried them in many different environments, from the wide-open prairies of the Dakotas to the agricultural-rich Midwest to the timbered mountains of the West, as well as some use in the Deep South and western Canada. When the decoy craze first began in the early 1980’s, we stumbled about using crude 3D targets as decoys and essentially terrified far more deer than we excited. Then, as knowledge was gained through experience and the decoys became more sophisticated, successes became more prevalent.

(This is especially true if you can add a little motion to the decoy). The one thing I did learn is that, like all things whitetail hunting, nothing will guarantee a close encounter with a mature buck each and every time you try it.

Deer decoys can help you get a shot at a mature buck under the right circumstances, but like all things whitetails, it doesn’t work all the time.

That’s why today, while I still use decoys from time to time, I pick my spots judiciously. The timing has to be right, local buck-to-doe ratios strong, the terrain conducive to the deer seeing the decoy from afar, and it has to be possible to haul a decoy into position, then set it up, quietly, with little fear of spooking deer in the process.

What about you guys? Are you decoy believers, or not?

December 2012 11

Where To Find The

T iger Muskies A

tiger musky is a cross sterile hybrid between a northern pike and a muskellunge. These fish aren’t easy to find, but when you do, you are sure to enjoy a good fight. Because they are sterile, they must be stocked from hatcheries.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has stocked Deadman’s Reservoir with tiger musky in an effort to control sucker fish. The current Montana State tiger musky record was caught in Deadman’s Reservoir and was 50 inches and weighed 38.75 pounds. Leon Cantin caught the record fish on September 2, 2011.

MFWP

Deadman’s Basin Fishing Access Site is located on Deadman’s Reservoir, 20 miles east of Harlowtown or 9 miles west of Ryegate on Hwy. 12.

Largest LUND dealer

Game Fish Opportunities for Deadman’s Reservoir include: Kokanee, Rainbow Trout, Tiger Muskie

in the

I

Pacific Northwest

daho offers tiger musky fishing in Blue Lake (7 on the map). Just a short drive west of Missoula, Montana.

Located in Bonner County, this 80 acre lake also offers fishing for northern pike, largemouth bass, crappie, yellow perch, bullhead catfish, and pumkinseed.

Jerkbaits, crankbaits and large spinnerbaits work for tiger muskies. Try casting from rock outcroppings near the shore along weedlines. Let it float down to the bottom, jig and bounce up. These fish often short-strike, and they can be difficult to hook.

Don’t spend more than 30 minutes or so in one area.

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12 - Hunting & Fishing News

Idaho Fish and Game Map

Idaho’s record tiger musky was caught on Hauser Lake, Idaho in June of 2001 by Douglas Butts of Eureka, MT. using a Mepp’s Bucktail Yellow.

The fish weighed 38lb. 7oz.

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CLEARWATER REGION FISHING REPORT Idaho Department of Fish and Game from November 13, 2012

T his report highlights a few of the best places to fish, what anglers are using and what they are catching. The information is compiled from

regional Fish and Game fishery managers, local tackle shops and anglers.

STEELHEAD

Steelhead are well distributed region-wide now, and the Clearwater, Snake, and Salmon rivers are fishing well. Recent catch rates were 16 hours per fish caught in the Clearwater River below the Orofino Bridge, 8 hours per fish caught in the Snake River downstream of the Salmon River, and 8 hours per fish caught on the Salmon River from the Little Salmon downstream to Whitebird Creek.

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Boat anglers are having good success back trolling dark plugs and side drifting eggs and sand shrimp. Bank anglers are consistently producing fish by drifting bait or with float and baited jigs. Fly anglers, both sink tip and dry line users, are also catching fish using large nymphs, egg patterns, and colorful dry flies. With steelhead fly fishing, it’s more about getting your fly in front of a willing fish than the particular fly used.

BODY WORK WE CAN HELP Call us 1st

Lakes and Reservoirs Late fall and early winter fishing can be very good at all lakes and reservoirs, and you may have it all to yourself. Winchester, Spring Valley, Moose Creek, Elk Creek, Mann, Soldiers Meadow and Waha Lakes provide good fishing opportunities for stocked rainbow trout and various warm water fish.

Rivers and Streams November can be very productive fishing the Lochsa, Selway, North Fork Clearwater rivers, and Kelly Creek. Fly anglers should focus on the deeper pools and use smaller nymphs to find fish.

These streams have harvest and gear restrictions to protect the easily caught cutthroat, so please review the regulations before you go.

If you’re looking for something new, the hard-fighting, yet under-appreciated whitefish is very common in the region and can grow to 20 inches. The Clearwater River below Orofino, the Selway, Lochsa, and North Fork Clearwater rivers all have excellent populations of this sporty fish. Small wet flies fished just off the bottom in riffle areas works very well.

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National Wildlife Refuge WATERFOWL HUNTING

Opportunities around Fort Peck Dam for waterfowl hunting will be

exceptional, as long as the wheat benches that surround the lakes lower portion don’t drift over with a December snow. If the fields get snow, expect most of the birds to head south in search of better forage. You can catch orange-legged mallards that are using the lake and the open water Missouri River just below the dam.

USFWS - The Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge is the crowning glory of this area, extending 125 airline miles up the Missouri River from Fort Peck Dam. The Refuge contains approximately 1,100,000 acres, including the 245,000-acre Fort Peck Reservoir. Waterfowl hunting is allowed on the Refuge in accordance with State seasons and limits.

Hunters must use and may only possess steel or other approved non-toxic shot in the field while hunting waterfowl on the Refuge. The use of dogs for hunting waterfowl and upland game birds is permitted.

Camping is allowed on the Refuge, except where designated as closed.

Camping (other than backpacking) must take place within 100 yards of the waters of the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir or within 100 yards of numbered roads that are designated as open. Direct access by mechanized vehicles from a numbered road is permitted to and from temporary overnight campsites within 100 yards of numbered roads designated as open. Select the most direct access to avoid damage to soils and vegetation. ALL camping is limited to 2 weeks within any 30 day period. If you’re looking for another option, consider the Duck Creek Campground.

DUCK CREEK CAMPGROUND - visitmt.com Duck Creek Campground is located on the scenic Fort Peck Lake near the town of Fort Peck. This primitive camping area has 15 designated campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. Amenities include vault toilets and a boat ramp. Enjoy a location with easy boating access. Duck Creek Campground is also just a few miles away from where you can buy gas, bait and fishing licenses. Season: All Year Directions: Duck Creek Campground is located 2 miles west of Fort Peck on Highway 117, then southwest on Highway 24 about 1 mile, turn south or left on Duck Creek Road travel 2 miles, turn left on access road to recreation area.

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By Roy K. Keefer

Reprinted with permission from Bowhunting.net For more visit www.bowhunting.net Another great blacktail falls to author

One day I looked at the list of states I had hunted and realized one state I was missing was not too far away. So in November my wife, Shelby, and I were on the road to hunt

blacktail deer in Oregon. That would make 23 states that have sold me a hunting license.

If you have never been there, it’s beautiful. Mountains, streams, and thick forestation are eye catching. One drawback – it rains a lot in Oregon. Without it, the thick vegetation would not exist. Being aware of the weather, we included good rain gear in our bags.

I had done some homework before the hunt, and one individual was recommended by more than one of the people I called. Steve Lee owns a small piece of property in the southern part of the state. Steve is not an outfitter or guide but simply charges for trespass rights. His farm is small, however, one unusual aspect of the property is that deer tend to migrate through it as winter comes on.

First to pass through are the does, followed by the bucks since the migration occurs about the same time as the rut. All of this makes for some great hunting opportunities.

We got settled in our motel and the next morning met Steve, and agreed to follow him to the hunting area. As I mentioned. there are mountains in Oregon and we drove on a narrow, winding road up a mountainside in the dark. Finally we topped out, parked and walked to our blind.

We video most of our hunts, and hunt out of a Double Bull blind whenever possible. The blind allows us to move freely while filming and offers shelter from bad weather. Thank goodness we had the blind to keep us out of the rain we encountered during the hunt.

As daylight came, we immediately began to see deer moving around us. Lots of does and fawns fed on the mountainside and kept us entertained in the early hours. From time to time, we saw bucks, but nothing that piqued my interest. I was fortunate to have taken a nice blacktail a few years before in California, so I was going to be picky.

At the end of the day, we had seen many does and a few small bucks.

On the second day, we set up in the blind and were smothered by fog. The fog came and went several times. When it finally cleared we saw a decent size buck following some does. The rut was definitely on. He kept his nose to the ground as he trotted from one doe to the next never letting them out of his sight. The buck followed some does to a wooded area to our left, and remained there for some time. Not finding any does that were interested in him, he decided to move on and check out some other does. As he did, he moved in front of our blind, stopping at 20 yards broadside.

In no time, I had my bow drawn, aimed and released the Victory. The buck took off to our left followed by some of the spooked does. I felt confident I had made a good shot, but nonetheless, we waited for an hour before we attempted to follow him.

Intermittent rain had pretty much obliterated any chance of following a blood trail. We asked Steve to help us track the buck, and we scoured the mountainside.

Shelby is the better tracker of our duo, and she again proved it on this trip, finding the buck lying in the bottom of a ravine about 100 yards away. It was a nice buck, full bodied and sporting a nice set of horns. Later I had him scored for Pope & Young. He grossed 113” and netted 108-1/8”, exactly the same net score as the buck I had shot in California five years before. In case you don’t know, the minimum for inclusion in the P&Y record book is 95”.

We’ll be going back to Oregon one year to collect a buck for Shelby, and it will be my turn to carry the camera. If you get a chance, give Oregon a try.

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December 2012 15

Love to catch fish, or know someone who does?

Nearly 575,000 Chinook Eggs Collected from Fort Peck Reservoir MFWP

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff collected 574,229 Chinook salmon

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Good Morning; Good Night

(continued from page 6)

Assuming I’m sitting over high percentage holes, there’s no reason to mess around with untried baits. Out comes a #7 Rapala Jigging Rap. The classic lure is responsible for uncountable numbers of walleyes, and its effectiveness never wanes. Fish simply can’t smart up to a lure that’s so realistic in looks and deeds.

Color-wise, blue and chrome and black and chrome – long-established producers – are the real deal in clear water. Rapala’s new UV patterns get the job done in darker water. The radiant colors simply pop the brightest, and grab the attention of walleyes that are conditioned to feed more by feel and silhouette.

My jigging motion consists of a one-foot jerk followed by a brief freefall. The Jigging Rap swims a tantalizing half circle and then settles into the death zone. Walleyes have a knack for attacking on the drop, just before the Rap goes still.

Pairing with matched fishing line is important as well. For the sake of sensitivity and strength, I jig with Sufix’s new 832 ICE. It’s unmatched in sensitivity and sheds water like Gore-Tex, which is no coincidence, since the water repellant is actually in the line’s blend of materials.

Now as much as I embrace the feel of a superline, I also respect the need for intentional stretch and invisibility in a line. Consequently, I factor in an 18- to 24-inch span of Sufix fluorocarbon between the spooled line and lure. The extra tether is transparent in the water and yields just the right amount of shock absorption to properly penetrate a walleye’s maw. Connecting the two lines is a translucent, self-lubricating, and lightweight InvisaSwivel. The rotating InvisaSwivel also serves to eliminate line-twist, which unattended to, can adversely affect a Jigging Rap’s intended action.

Jigging and managing the bait and line is a 28- to 30-inch rod with a tip soft enough to let a walleye self-set before I give it the serious hurt. Stiff rods set too hard, and too abruptly, so either the lure snaps free or the fish spits out the bait on account of abnormal resistance...

I’ve beaten the morning drum to death, but for good reasons. First, it’s the best bite of the day. Secondly, the same principles apply to late-in-the-day walleyes: choose a high-percentage spot; drill just enough holes to be dangerous; operate with a Jigging Rap; and man your station well before the sun smooches the tops of the trees.

16 - Hunting & Fishing News

eggs this fall from adult fish that were attempting to spawn in Fort Peck Reservoir.

That didn’t beat the record of 610,230 eggs collected in 2010, but it came close, said Heath Headley, the reservoir’s fisheries biologist. The number also was about double the eggs collected last year.

FWP began stocking Chinook, also called king salmon, into Fort Peck Reservoir in 1983. They were introduced to offer a unique angling opportunity and to utilize the coldwater habitat, as well as to feed on a growing population of cisco -- also known as lake herring -- that inhabit the reservoir.

Roughly 75 percent of the anglers that visit Fort Peck Reservoir target walleyes, but creel surveys show that Chinook salmon are the next most targeted species there -- beating out other popular fish like northern pike, smallmouth bass and lake trout.

Currently, this is the only Chinook population in Montana. Headley noted that anglers will travel from as far as the Dakotas, Wyoming, and western Montana to partake in this unique fishery.

Shortfalls in habitat conditions in the reservoir prevent the fish from successfully spawning on their own, so their eggs and milt must be collected and mixed manually when the adult fish congregate each fall near the Flat Lake boat ramp, the dam and the nearby marina.

“We rely exclusively on an electro-fishing boat to capture the spawning adults,” Headley said. “It involves intentionally sending an electric current into the water where the fish are congregating, which stuns them and makes them easier to net. That’s proven to be most effective because it allows us to easily locate and collect a lot of salmon at once.”

The salmon in Fort Peck Reservoir typically show up in shallow areas near their original release sites once water surface temperatures hit 60 degrees. Peak spawning activity doesn’t occur until surface temperatures hit about 55 degrees.

After collection the eggs are disinfected, counted and placed into incubation jars or heath trays, said Wade Geraets, manager of the Fort Peck Multi-Species Hatchery...

After a month, eye pigmentation begins to develop in the live eggs. At this ‘eyed stage’ the eggs are then physically shocked before picking.

This is done by siphoning eggs from their incubation vessel and striking them against the side of another container.

“Infertile or undeveloped eggs are tender, and the shocking causes water to enter the ruptured egg and coagulate the egg yolk turning the egg white,” Geraets said. “These eggs are then picked out with a tool that separates the live eggs from dead eggs. The live eggs are then placed back into the incubator or heath trays until they have hatched and the young have used up their egg yolk.”....

“Once the Chinook salmon have used up the nutrition found in their egg yolk, we’ll begin feeding them a processed fish food,” Geraets said. “The management goal and stocking requirements are to grow the fish to 4.5 to 4.75 inches long at the hatchery prior to releasing them into the reservoir in early June.”

To help supplement the Fort Peck egg take, the facility this year received 69,000 eyed eggs from the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery in North Dakota. Headley said that Montana and the Dakotas are currently the only source for disease-free Chinook eggs in the Lower 48 states. That’s why the annual egg-taking effort on Fort Peck is critically important to the continued existence of a healthy fishery.

“Condition of the adult salmon in Fort Peck in 2012 was excellent due to an abundance of cisco in the reservoir,” Headley said. “Males averaged 10 pounds, and females averaged 15 pounds. The largest salmon collected during the operation was 27 pounds. Younger salmon were also present, which indicates improved growth and survival over the last few years and a positive sign of things to come in the near future.”

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Zero In On ‘The Zoo’ Bite Downsize to microplastics for more panfish this ice season

By Scott Glorvigen

Ibenefits n the 1990s we discovered the of downsizing to

1- to 2-pound test and using Rat Finkies and Hornets for hardwater panfish. It was incredible—we began to experience unprecedented bites on tiny horizontal jigs while guys near us fishing minnows struggled to put fish on the ice.

But it wasn’t good enough that we were catching lots of fish.

Since I have a hard time accepting that fish eat just for the sake of eating, I had to find out why we were catching so many fish.

It was odd. You’d catch a bunch, keep a few, clean them and find nothing in the stomachs. But I knew they had to be eating something. So I started cutting their bellies open, dumping the milky stomach contents into Mason jars of water to better examine the contents.

What I found were tiny, dead, translucent and white zooplankton.

I’ve since learned that these minute crustaceans have names like Daphnia and copepods.

Definitely explained the “empty” stomachs.

It was a mind-bender. We had no idea crappies and bluegills were eating so many of these organisms.

I also noticed the tiny critters had two tiny black dots on one end – exactly like the white spikes we had been tipping our jigs with.

A light bulb went off: Here’s a predator/prey relationship. But that was only part of it.

Years later, as camera technology advanced, I submerged an HD underwater camera to capture footage of panfish bites to learn more about jigging techniques.

After all, the best teacher in the world is watching fish actually respond to baits.

18 - Hunting & Fishing News

As soon as I started reviewing the video the screen filled with thousands of tiny white specks moving to and fro. It was like looking at a petri dish under a microscope. Based on what I had found in crappie stomachs years prior, I could’ve guessed they’d be there, just not that many.

The camera allowed me to study how zooplankton move—and how panfish feed on them—which filled in another piece of the puzzle. I watched both bluegill and crappie responses to the colors of jigs we used.

The video confirmed that white, pearlescent and glow drew more bites than pinks or chartreuses when fish were feeding on zooplankton.

Simply, these colors more closely resembled the food.

Steaks Vs Shakes The next big revelation was noticing how panfish feed.

I observed both crappies and bluegills moving through clouds of zooplankton, filtering in the tiny white organisms, which motored around in chaotic patterns.

You see, fish don’t eat zooplankton like they’re eating a steak. They have to filter it. It’s like the difference between eating a milkshake and a steak.

The calorie content is about the same but they’re too very different ways of eating.

The way panfish feed on zooplankton is very refined. If they open their mouth too much the zooplankton goes through the gills and out, it doesn’t go into their stomach.

This explained the almost undetectable bites, and why a super-light jig with horizontal orientation, super light line, and the right color were keys.

The fish were coming to the baits off the horizontal plane and creating a suction to draw the bait into their mouth cavity. They weren’t attacking the baits. They were filter feeding, much like a whale. Also explained why a spring bobber was essential.

This is when I realized that fishing microplastics really aggressively might work a lot better than live bait.

Top Picks For ‘The Zoo Bite’ I think a lot of guys miss out on some phenomenal fishing by not paying attention to what’s going on. The fish may be on a wide-open bite but if you’re sitting there sinking a minnow for crappies, you’re just not going to catch numbers of fish. The fish aren’t shut off or going negative; chances are they’re aggressive and eating as much zooplankton as they can get.

But switch over to 1-pound test, a tiny Northland Gill-Getter, Mooska or Tungsten Fire-Ball UV Jig and there’s a good possibility that you’re going to leave the guys fishing big baits with heavier gear in the snow.

One of the best jigs out there is the Gill-Getter. The head is like what you’d find on a mayfly, a wiggler or a hellgrammite but it sits very horizontal.

It has the right shape and a 60-degree bend to the Mustad Ultra-Point hook. Tie to your line with a Palomar or improved clinch and it should sit perfectly horizontal.

The past couple of years we’ve had huge success with all of the above ice jigs in Northland’s Slug color, which is basically white with a hint of pink. Glow White also works well. And there’s no better microplastic currently available to take full advantage of the ‘Zoo Bite’ than the Northland Impulse Micro Mayfly in Glow White.

However, if the bite slows I’ll switch to a Brown Micro Mayfly on a Woodtick-colored Gill-Getter to tap fish that may be getting conditioned to my presentation. It works well with fish that are transitioning into or out of a ‘Zoo Bite’ for other forage. I’ll ice two or three fish with the dark color and then move back to the white. It’s a great switch-up tactic.

Go For It Make sure that you spend some time experimenting this winter with ‘Zoo Bite’ techniques. Don’t abandon vertical presentations and sinking minnows for crappies, or waxies and larger larvae for ‘gills, but do pay close attention to what the fish are doing, especially when you see tons of fish on your electronics, but they just won’t bite. Make sure you’re set up with a spring bobber, 1- or 2-pound test and super-small jig heads and microplastics. We’re willing to bet you’re going to discover some great panfish action in situations where you would’ve been scratching your head!

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

W inter fishing in Montana can be a challenge, but it can also be

an outstanding time to enjoy a terrific day on the water. Snow on the mountains, mixed in with a bit of sun on a mild winter day is hard to beat. By Christmas most or our area waters will be iced over, and the ice huts and augers will be out.

December is transition month in the West, so before setting foot on any water during the winter months, check Montana’s fishing regulations.

While most rivers remain open to fishing year round, many tributary streams are closed from December 1st until the third Saturday in May. Here are a few ice fishing options.

BROWNS LAKE

Seeley Lake for aggressive northern pike action, as some truly big fish come through the ice here. Fish along weed beds in 4 to 14 foot depths using whole smelt or whole herring just underneath the ice.

For jigging, use something colorful with a Twister Tail. If we have open water, go with lures or big Fluttering Spoons.

Spearing is open for northern pike.

Only hand propelled spears are legal through the ice.

SMITH LAKE This lake, located west of Kalispell gives folks ample room to spread out. It’s not very deep, but most anglers have good success fishing above the weeds. You can catch perch in the 9 to 11 inch range with regularity, using a bright colored jig tipped with a maggot. Northern pike will hit on smelt through the ice.

Most of these fish will be in the 2 to 5 pound range.

Browns Lake, located on Highway 200 east of Missoula near Ovando, can produce big fish through the ice with not a lot of fishing pressure. Try fishing with small spoons, Swedish Pimples, Buck-Shots, and jigging with maggots, or a bit of nightcrawler bait to bring in big trout. Try different colors until you hit on the right This reservoir located near Malta will combination. You can set up a tip-up start to ice up in December. Target as well and expect to catch big trout. pike, walleye, and perch with tip-ups and sucker minnows, after the ice is safe. This can be the best fishing of the year on Nelson Reservoir, as the The high lake areas like Rainey and lake hasn’t received much pressure Alva Lakes will ice over first, followed over the last few weeks and the

by Salmon, Seeley and Harpers fish are fairly well spread out. Fish Lake. For trout try Rainey, Placid, around 12 to 15 feet for walleye and Alva or Harpers Lake. Jigging a bit shallower for pike and perch.

Swedish Pimples, Buck-Shots or Nelson is a good ice fishing small jigs tipped with a maggot destination once the ice has formed. will work on trout. Placid Lake will Look for another deep freeze in produce good numbers of Kokanee, December to make the conditions which readily take a Glow Hook or just right. The fish will be very a small Swedish Pimple tipped with eager during the winter, and fishing corn or a maggot. If it’s bigger fish should be brisk. you’re after, head to Salmon or

NELSON RESERVOIR

CLEARWATER LAKES

FLATHEAD LAKE You can catch lake trout from the shoreline on massive Flathead Lake this month. Find a spot with large rocks on a point. Fish can be found in shallow water from 20 feet to 80 feet now. Good fishing spots here include: Angel Point, Painted Rocks, the shoreline of Wild Horse Island, Steamboat Rock and the tip of Finley Point. Use larger spoons like Zimmer’s Country Mile Spoon, Kastmaster’s, Kamloops, or drift jig a 2 ounce Lead-A-Gator baited with cutbait.

You can also hit on the Lake Superior whitefish that will bite on maggot baited jigs and spoons. Fish off the Polson Bridge on the southwestern end of the lake for a whitefish/laker combo.

The Flathead rarely freezes in December, and the fishing can be tremendous this month.

The Flathead River action on whitefish should be very good this month too. You can fish the traditional hole at the Old Steel Bridge Fishing Access, or upstream at Pressentine Bar. Try using a dark green jig. Bounce it in front of the lie, and you should get action from fish in the 3 to 5 pound category.

They are scrappy fighters and very good to eat.

ECHO LAKE Located eight miles north of Bigfork, this lake may not freeze up until January, so if you would like to fish open water for a while longer, you can target largemouth bass, perch, whitefish, pike, kokanee or rainbow trout here. For whitefish and rainbows fish the southeastern side of the lake. For bass and pike, fish the Deer Island area. Anglers targeting

Dave Willman|Dreamstime

bass may connect on jigging Rapalas, smelt for pike, Swedish Pimples tipped with maggots for perch and trout, and the lake whitefish will hit on Zimmer’s Rattlesnakies.

REGULATING RESERVOIR

Located near Hauser Lake in Helena, you can expect better fishing here in December. Ice conditions will be similar to the Causeway area, and will harden up faster than larger area lakes. Kokanee and perch can be caught here using jigs tipped with a maggot or Swedish Pimples.

Fishing should be solid as temperatures begin to drop and the ice is safe.

FORT PECK

Massive Fort Peck will usually not ice over until sometime in January if all goes as normal. Until then, you can fish for oversized walleye, lake trout, smallmouth bass and northern

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pike. Trolling crankbaits in silver colors to mimic the cisco these fish are feeding on should work well.

The lake trout will be spawning in less than 20 feet of water this time of the year. Big walleye, chinook salmon, and smallmouth bass will also spawn. A bit of pre-planning, and a good buddy to share it with can make fishing Fort Peck a ton of fun. Watch for changing weather conditions as a heavy winter storm can change things in a hurry here.

For current conditions, try calling Clint or Deb Thomas at the Hell Creek Marina at 406-557-2345.

LOWERSTILLWATERLAKE

Located fifteen miles north of Whitefish on U.S. Highway 93, you can expect to catch some perch as well as northern pike and trout here.

Try using small pink jigs tipped with maggots for perch in front of weedbeds at the lower end of the lake, especially on the north bank.

For notherns, smelt dropped below the ice works well. Pike spearing is allowed. A mild fall has slowed the cooling of lakes recently, but once it does freeze over the fishing will be remarkable.

GEORGETOWN LAKE Upper Madison River Some of the best fishing will occur once the ice builds up on Georgetown Lake by mid-December.

Most anglers will fish small jigs and Rat Finkies, Nuclear Ants and Rocker jigs tipped with maggots for kokanee trout. Fish early in the morning at Piney Point, Rainbow Point, Denton’s Point, and the Sunnyside area. It’s worth the trip to Georgetown. The winter fishing is exceptional and the mountain scenery is stunning.

The Madison is open year-round from Hebgen to Quake Lake. This area has seen a lot of calm, cloudy days recently and fish seem to be more active now. Try Wooly Bugger, Copper Johns, Pheasant Tail Nymphs or tiny eggs patterns. During the cold weather months, the trout won’t swim for a meal, so nymphing a size 18-22” midge pattern or San Juan worm should work. Late afternoons seem to be the best time to fish this water now.

ICE FISHING LOCATIONS & SPECIES TO TARGET Trout - Brown’s Lake, Canyon Ferry, Clark Canyon, Hauser Lake, Holter Lake Kokanee - Ashley, Georgetown, Regulating Reservoir, Lake Mary Ronan

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2012 Fall Mack Days Final

By Cynthia Bras-Benson 2012 Fall Mack Days ended November 11th after a grueling last week of the events twenty eight days. Frigid windy winter weather set in the last six days of the fall fishing event.

Ice freezing on the boats and equipment was a concern that all anglers had to deal with.

The few that continued the last few days were out in some of the coldest days on the water during any of the Mack Days Events. A total of 14,367 lake trout were entered in the event. photo mackdays.com Top ten anglers at the end of the event were: Max Martz-Stevensville-1st with 1,111 lake trout entries and a 59.2 fifteen day average-$700. Second place went to Mike Benson of Lonepine with 981 and 50.6-$650, 3rd-Terry KrogstadKalispell-699 and 46.6-$600, 4th-Scott Bombard-Missoula-959 and 46.4-$550, 5th-Craig Morigeau-Polson-622 and 33.9-$500, 6th-Don Beville-Lakeside-490 and 32.6-$450, 7th & 8th-Phil Meredith-Kalispell-645 and 32.4 and Steven Benson-Four Lakes, Wa.- 531 and 32.4-$325, 9th-Tim Mooney-Missoula-452 and 27.6-$250, and 10th-Nick Fister-Kalispell-488 and 25.3-$200.

Top lady angler went to Jeanee Mooney-Missoula with 167-$300, 2nd-Julie Vacca-Florence-100-$200, 3rd-Deana Knipe-Polson-72-$100, 4th-Kim McMillie-Ronan-71-$100, and 5th-Susanne Albrecht-Polson-63-$100.

Eric Sams-Polson won the 13 & over category with 36, Brett Hereford-Missoula 2nd with 23, Cody Asbury 3rd with 5, and Tom McDonald-Niarada and Wyatt Jensen-Polson with 3 each. Garett Vaughan-Charlo-was the winner in the 12 & under with 62, 2nd-Mark Herzog-Missoula-20, Christhten Huges –Missoula came in 3rd with 16.

Glen Hoffman-Missoula won the $200 Golden Angler Award and Mel Clendenin of Polson won 2nd and $100.

Two anglers were recognized with Spirit of the Event Awards. Custom made fillet knives were given to Scott Bombard and Mike Benson for their support and dedication to the events.

Total lake trout entries during the event came to 14,632. Five hundred fifty anglers entered the 2012 Fall Event and two hundred forty anglers turned in fish during the twenty eight days of fishing.

Bryan Gregerson-Kalispell-with thirty nine entries in the lottery drawing was a lucky winner of $1,000. Terry Krogstad-Kalispell-$1,000 -was also a top draw.

Jeanee Mooney-lady angler from Missoula-won $950. Other winners of $950 were Richard Kreis-Huson and Steven Benson. Tyson Cottet-Charlo-was a $900 winner along with Max Martz-Missoula angler. There were fifty lottery drawings that went down to $200 with several different anglers winning prizes.

Go to www.mackdays.com for a list of all prize winners.

Mack Days Events are sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and are sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. The events are used to slowly reduce the numbers of non-native lake trout in Flathead Lake.

One hundred eleven tagged lake trout were caught and anglers split $13,000 in tagged fish awards during the event. There were no high dollar tags caught. Top award for a tagged fish was $500.

Smallest lake trout awards of $250 went to Mike Benson-158mm lake trout and his brother Steve Benson for a 159mm lake trout.

No large lake trout over 36” and 24 lbs. was turned in during the Fall Event which has happened several times before.

Mack Day Events are made successful by the dedicated hard working lake trout anglers who participate. We would like to thank each and every one of them. We continually work on improving the events to improve them and would appreciate any comments or suggestions sent to us.

22 - Hunting & Fishing News

ICE TIME!

By Mike Frisch

«¬«¬«¬«¬«¬«¬«¬«¬«

T he open-water fishing season is about over for another year. While that is a bit depressing, the good news is that ice fishing is not far off!

With that in mind, this is a good time to look at “what’s new” in the ice fishing world that can help us be more successful this coming season.

New lures are probably the first thing people think of when the topic of “what’s new” comes to mind. It seems that some new lures quickly become “the deal” when first introduced, probably because they offer an action, profile, etc. that the fish haven’t seen before and aren’t conditioned to.

Walleye anglers searching for the next hot lure may want to consider the new Macho Whistler Spoon. This lure features a Macho Minnow body, along with sound-producing beads, and a whistling prop blade.

The Macho Minnow has been a hot spoon the past couple years and the added noise and vibration of the beads and prop blade offer anglers a chance to call in fish from an even wider distance. Not only are walleyes susceptible to this lure, but perch and pike anglers will probably want to take a look as well.

Walleye anglers have new options, and so do panfish pursuers. The past couple years, tungsten jigs have been the rage amongst many panfish anglers. Tungsten is denser than lead, so tiny jigs that fish “heavy” are possible when made with this ingredient. Pressured, finicky panfish often prefer very small lures.

Last winter, I landed some of the biggest bluegills and crappies of my ice fishing career using Mooska Tungsten Jigs. This year, the new Tungsten Fire-Ball UV Jigs will be added to my panfish tackle box. These jigs are compact, offer an ultra-fast drop through the water column, and have glow-in-the-dark UV patterns that make them very visible in deep water and during low-light fishing times.

Panfish jigs made from tungsten can be fished even more efficiently with some of the new rod and reel models now on the market. Traditional spinning rod and reel combinations in ultra-light actions are used by many panfish anglers. One problem with spinning reels however, is that jigs dropped in the water often spin from line twist. This spinning motion can turn fish off, especially finicky, pressured fish.

Last year, “straight lining” using non-spin reels and sensitive rods gained a great deal of popularity and appears to be the hot new technique amongst winter anglers. Frabill, one of the leading companies in ice fishing innovation, is now offering a pair of straight line rod and reel combinations designed to allow anglers to present baits without jig spin.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a Straight Line 241 combo, load it with light line, and tie on a tungsten jig!

Walleye anglers looking to upgrade their rod and reel combos might want to consider one of the new Team Northland Ice Rods. I used these high modulus 100% graphite rods in the medium and medium light options for jigging last winter and was impressed with their sensitivity. Pairing one of these rods with one of the new Laser Lite Speed Spin spinning reels from Lew’s will make the ultimate walleye ice jigging rod and reel. Lew’s reels are known for their quality and affordability and these new micro reels should prove to be great tools for winter anglers.

New tools help those who spend time on the ice do our jobs better!

If your goal is to be more successful in your job, you might want to consider some of the tools just mentioned for your 2013 ice fishing trips...

MFWP

Sportsmans Bridge Fishing Access Site on the Flathead River MFWP

S

portsmans Bridge Fishing Access Site is located on the Flathead River, 6 miles south of Kalispell on Hwy 93 to mile marker 104, then 6 miles east on Hwy 82. The Flathead River represents the combined flow of hundreds of headwater creeks funneled from the glacial cirques of Glacier National Park and other wild places within the U.S. and Canada. This cold, clear water flows into the North, South and Middle forks of the Flathead, which merge together near Columbia Falls to begin a southward journey...About 20 miles into its journey, after flowing down the gentle, south-sloping gradient of the Flathead Basin floor, the river empties into Flathead Lake. The lower mainstem Flathead River drains from the southwest corner of the lake and draws waters from an arid valley basin throughout its 75-mile course. The Flathead River finally empties into the Clark Fork River at Paradise. The Flathead River System offers hundreds of miles of pristine waterways, while Flathead Lake is a scenic and recreational mecca. A diversity of fish and wildlife complement the land and water resources, and contribute to both the natural and cultural values of the Flathead Basin environment.

Total Length: 158 miles FWP Region 1 All Species Present: Black Bullhead, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Kokanee, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Largemouth Bass, Largescale Sucker, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Mottled Sculpin, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pike, Northern Pike Minnow, Peamouth, Pumpkinseed, Pygmy Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Redside Shiner, Slimy Sculpin, Smallmouth Bass, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Westslope X Rainbow, White Sucker, Yellow Perch December 2012 23

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Trophy Mule Deer and RMEF Habitat Projects RMEF

Trophy Mule Deer and RMEF Conservation Work Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has helped conserve more than

2 million acres in and around the 50 counties that reign as America’s best areas for trophy mule deer. Average production of record-class muleys across these counties has trended upward since RMEF launched in 1984—and the counties showing the greatest improvements are those where RMEF has helped protect and steward the greatest amounts of habitat.

“The data show a striking correlation,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Of the Top 50 mule deer counties in Boone and Crockett records, 36 are seeing an upward or even trend in trophy buck production.

In each of these counties, we’ve conserved an average of about 48,000 acres. In the 14 remaining counties that aren’t faring as well, our average project acreage is currently less than half that amount.”

“We’re proud that our efforts, along with those of our state and federal agency partners as well as private landowners, are contributing to increasing quality in some of the West’s most prominent mule deer herds,” added Allen.

Trophy trends were identified using Boone and Crockett records for typical and non-typical mule deer. The combined Top 50 counties were included in the research. Upward, even and downward trends were based on the number of record-book entries before and after 1984, when RMEF began its work to ensure the future of elk and other wildlife.

Allen acknowledged that many factors influence mule deer herd health, recruitment of males into older age classes, sustainable harvest objectives and other elements of sound wildlife management and fair-chase hunting.

“But habitat quality is a major consideration,” he said. “Our mission statement directs us to ensure a future for elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage. After elk, mule deer are perhaps the species most affected by our work, and it’s gratifying to see quality mule deer herds alongside healthy elk herds.”

RMEF so far has invested more than $10 million on conservation projects in and around the Top 50 trophy mule deer counties. Funding from RMEF helped leverage additional support from partnering agencies and organizations, resulting in an overall conservation effort valued at more than $236 million. Projects include prescribe burns, treating noxious weeds, thinning overgrown forests, restoring riparian zones, constructing wildlife drinkers, conducting research, brokering land deals that protect open space and improve public access, and more...

24 - Hunting & Fishing News

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10 Reasons to Invite a Newcomer to Hunt and Shoot National Shooting Sports Foundation

...The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reminds experienced

hunters and shooters that autumn is a great time of year to invite a newcomer, whether a youth or adult, to experience the rewards of hunting and target shooting...NSSF also provides an easy, fun way to ask someone to join you on your next hunt or target shooting outing. Send a themed postcard by email from NSSF’s Invite Someone to Shoot and Invite Someone to Hunt websites...

10 Reasons to Send that Invitation Build the Base: Where will the next generation of sportsmen and women come from who will support our firearms, hunting and shooting freedoms?

Of course, they will be the ones who you introduce to our sports today.

Invite someone to hunt or target shoot.

Top Factor: More than 90 million U.S. adults 18 and over expressed at least some interest in participating in hunting or target shooting, according to NSSF/Harris polls. The top factor in getting them to participate was an invitation from a friend or family member.

Peer Power: Approximately 15 million youth who are not hunters or target shooters and are between the ages of 8 and 17 would consider giving these activities a try if asked by a peer, according to a study commissioned by the Hunting Heritage Trust and NSSF and conducted by Responsive Management...

Approval: Approximately three-quarters of youth and adults approve of hunting and target shooting, so it is not surprising that people are purchasing firearms and participating in the shooting sports in records numbers.

Safer Than Golf: Hunting is safer than golf and many other sporting activities, according to injury statistics. As for target shooting, accidents are extremely rare.

Generosity: Educate a new hunter that he or she can donate venison to charitable food outlets to help feed those in need. Hunter donations make possible about 11 million venison meals annually.

Giving Back: By purchasing firearms, ammunition and hunting licenses, sportsmen and women contribute more than $1 billion annually to protect wildlife and habitat and fund shooting range development.

This funding mechanism has helped restore populations of species such as the Wild Turkey and White-tailed Deer that were struggling to survive 100 years ago.

Elevate Ethics: Firearms ownership and participation in both hunting and target shooting help youth and adults develop an ethical, responsible approach toward wildlife and wild places, and toward firearms. Learn more at http://www.nssf.org/lit/EthicalHunter.pdf Did You Ever Consider? With their newfound knowledge and perspective on hunting, target shooting and firearms ownership, newcomers can respond to misinformed statements about these topics at work and social gatherings with a simple, “Did you ever consider this?”

Preparedness: Self-reliance is a core American value. Whether you learn to shoot for recreation, hunting or personal and home defense, you will have gained a new and valuable skill.

Learn more about the shooting sports, firearm safety, conservation and other topics mentioned here at www.nssf.org.

December 2012 25

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Regional News Mountain Lion Hunting Now Open ©Dennis Donohue|Dreamstime

M

ountain lion hunting is now open in Colorado. The season runs the day after the close of the last combined deer and elk rifle season through March 31, except for GMU 61, 62 and 70 which runs the day after the close of the last combined deer and elk rifle season through January 31.

Hunters are required to call the 1-888-940-LION (5466) number for GMU closures prior to any hunting trip. You must check daily to make sure the unit you want to hunt is open. Units close when harvest limits are reached. Call no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before your hunting trip for a recording of closed units. If a unit is closed, you must pick a different unit. It is unlawful to hunt in a unit after it is closed.

All mountain lion hunters are required to obtain a Mountain Lion Education Certificate issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, attesting to successful completion of CPW’s Mountain Lion Education and Identification Course. Hunters must carry the certificate while hunting lions. The written portion of the course is available as a PDF file (1.5MB) or from CPW offices.

2012 -2013 Fees For individuals over 18 and under 65, a $10 Habitat Stamp is required with the first license purchase for the year (April 1 - March 31). For more information, read about the Habitat Stamp. If you are disabled, you may not need a Habitat Stamp.

Resident Non-Resident $41.00 $351.00 Fees include a .25 cent search & rescue fee, and a .75 cent PEAC charge. $10 Habitat Stamp will be added to 1st license purchase of the year (April 1 to March 31). Purchase online at http://wildlife.state.co.us/ShopDOW/AppsAndLicenses/Pages/totallicensing.aspx, call 1 (800) 244-5613, or buy in person at a Colorado Parks and Wildlife service center or license agent.

For more information call (303) 297-1192, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. MST. 26 - Hunting & Fishing News

Wolf Trapping Seasons I

t is that time of year again when trappers and hound hunters will be out and about in the wilds of Idaho.

People with pets should know how to release a pet that is caught in a foothold trap or neck snare. While trapping has been part of the landscape in Idaho, Fish and Game reminds hound hunters, hunters with bird dogs, and people with pets that trappers have an increased interest to be in the woods because of the wolf trapping season.

Wolf trapping rules have changed since the 2012 Big Game Seasons and Rules brochure was published. For new trapping rules please see the 2012-2013 Wolf Trapping Seasons and Rules pamphlet available at license vendors, Fish and Game offices and online at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/docs/rules/ wolfTrapRules.pdf.

The wolf trapping season opened Thursday, November 15 and runs through March 31 in the Panhandle zone, except for units 2 and 3; in the Lolo zone; in the Dworshak-Elk City zone, except Unit 10A; in the Selway zone; in the Middle Fork zone; and in units 19A and 25 of the McCall-Weiser Zone.

Trapping season opens February 1 through March 31 in Unit 10A of the Dworshak-Elk City Zone.

All other zones are closed to trapping.

Trappers must complete a required wolf trapping class before they can buy wolf trapping tags.

Licensed trappers may buy up to five wolf trapping tags per trapping season for use in those zones with an open wolf trapping season. In addition, up to five wolf hunting tags may be purchased per calendar year for hunting. Unused wolf hunting tags may be used to tag trapped wolves in wolf zones with an open trapping and hunting season. Trappers should note that bag limits are not the same for all the wolf zones.

Only three wolf trapping tags may be used in units 19A and 25 of the McCall-Weiser Zone.

Wolf tags cost $11.50 for resident hunters, and $31.75 for nonresidents.

Trapping tags are valid for the trapping season, but wolf hunting tags are valid for the calendar year.

Additional details on wolf hunting and trapping seasons and rules are available online at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/rules/?getPage=63, and on Page 66 in the printed 2012 Big Game Seasons and Rules brochure...

Regional News Due to the

severe drought conditions in many parts of Wyoming, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is warning people that regardless of winter conditions, there may be significant losses to wildlife this year. Mule deer and pronghorn are already in poor condition going into fall and there is simply not much for them to eat on their winter ranges. “This is one of the worst droughts in history, and according to some individuals who have lived here their entire lives it is the worst they can remember,” says Jason Hunter, Lander Regional Wildlife Supervisor. Virtually all wild animal populations experience significant and dramatic fluctuations. People commonly make the mistake of thinking feeding mule deer is just as beneficial as feeding other wildlife. Individuals who advocate feeding mule deer are well intentioned, but feeding mule deer can cause problems for the animals and their habitats.

• Mule deer will likely still starve when fed in the winter. Mule deer are highly selective foragers, at least in part due to their specialized digestive system. Specific types of bacteria in their rumen are required to aid in the digestion of naturally occurring foods. Often, because their digestive system can’t adapt quickly enough, supplementally fed mule deer die with stomachs full of undigested feed.

Supplemental feeding programs have been effective for other species like elk because their digestive systems are more adaptable to different kinds of forage.

• Supplemental feeding may increase predation and prevalence of disease and parasites. Winter feeding programs create artificially high concentrations of mule deer at feeding stations or locations, creating ideal conditions for increased loss due to predation, diseases, and parasites.

• Supplemental feeding can reduce the winter range’s carrying capacity. If mule deer numbers remain artificially high through supplemental feeding, it can result in habitat degradation where feeding occurs creating a situation where these habitats support fewer wildlife.

Both proponents and opponents of winter feeding have the deer’s best interest in mind. However, even well designed and executed winter feeding programs do not significantly increase mule deer survival. It’s necessary to consider the biological impacts to the habitat, to other species, and to mule deer in the long-term. We must focus on the sustainability of the mule deer population for generations to come...

WGFD Officials Say Wolf Hunt is Going Smoothly Officials with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department say the state’s first wolf

hunting season is going smoothly, and that wolf harvest has been evenly distributed throughout the Wolf Trophy Game Management Area (WTGMA) and Seasonal Wolf Trophy Game Management Area (SWTGMA).

As of November 13, 34 wolves had been reported harvested in the WTGMA and SWTGMA—the total quota for these areas is 52. Three of the 12 hunt areas within the WTGMA have been closed because individual quotas in those areas have been reached. Wolf seasons in the areas that remain open will close on December 31 or when the quota for an individual area is reached. An additional 16 wolves had been reported taken in other areas of the state...Bruscino...indicated that wolf harvest has been evenly distributed throughout the WTGMA and SWTGMA with harvest in many different packs. “No one pack is bearing a disproportionate amount of the harvest,” he said.

“Wyoming’s first wolf hunting season is a conservative approach to wolf management in northwest Wyoming,” said Bruscino. “It is designed to help reduce the population slightly while keeping it well above the minimum required to ensure that wolves remain off the Endangered Species list in Wyoming.

The WGFD is also mounting an aggressive monitoring program, which includes capturing and collaring wolves, to ensure accurate estimates of Wyoming’s wolf population and genetic interchange among wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountain region.

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FourTrax® Rancher® AT / FourTrax® Rancher® AT with EPS honda.com UTILITY ATVs ARE RECOMMENDED ONLY FOR RIDERS 16 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. ATVs CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. FOR YOUR SAFETY, BE RESPONSIBLE. READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. BE CAREFUL ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN. ALL ATV RIDERS SHOULD TAKE A TRAINING COURSE (FREE FOR NEW BUYERS. ASK YOUR DEALER OR CALL ASI AT 800-887-2887). NEVER RIDE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, ON PAVED SURFACES, ON PUBLIC ROADS, WITH PASSENGERS, OR AT EXCESSIVE SPEEDS. NO STUNT RIDING. RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN RIDING. FourTrax® and Rancher® are registered trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (12/12) December 2012 27

You’re Invited to Attend

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Pheasants Forever Annual Banquet GATEWAY CENTER 1710 National, Helena

Thursday - February 7, 2013 5:30pm

Buffet Dinner, Games, Raffles, Silent Auction, Live Auction, Wildlife Art, Hunting, Fishing, Camping Gear

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CALL 406-431-1525 For information or to register

January 15 Is The New Deadline For Pheasant Release Applications MFWP M

ontana landowners interested in raising and releasing ring-necked pheasants next year have until January 15, 2013 to submit an application to the state wildlife agency. This new application deadline is among several recommendations made by a citizens’ advisory council and now a part of Montana’s Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program’s strategic plan.

“The new deadline is aimed at improving the flow of program logistics,” noted Debbie Hohler, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ UGBEP’s program biologist.

“Once the release sites are evaluated by wildlife biologists, FWP can authorize the number of pheasants for release at a time that coincides with when pheasant raisers are ordering their chicks.”

Under FWP’s Upland Game Bird Release Program, landowners who attempt to establish pheasant populations in suitable habitat can be reimbursed for raising and releasing pheasants. Landowners may apply annually for up to five consecutive years to establish pheasants. Projects must comprise at least 100 contiguous acres of land and contain a combination of habitat components—including cover and food—that upland game birds need to survive.

Lands enrolled in the pheasant release program must allow free public access to hunt upland game birds during the season the releases take place.

Mail applications by Jan. 15, 2013 to: FWP–Wildlife Bureau, Attn: UGBEP Pheasant Releases, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701 Program pheasants are usually released between Aug. 1 and Sept. 15.

Hunting preserves, lands that host a commercial hunting enterprise and lands where hunting rights are leased or paid for are not eligible.

For more information, and an on-line application form, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov—search “Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program,” or contact Debbie Hohler at: 406-444-5674, or by e-mail: dhohler@mt.gov.

28 - Hunting & Fishing News

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hen temperatures drop below freezing, my thoughts generally turn to ice fishing. My wife’s thoughts on the other hand, turn to ways to keep me from testing the newly-formed surface of local waters. And as we usually do in our marriage, we have reached a nice compromise on this issue. In the days

By Nick Simonson between Thanksgiving and the weekend http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/ late-season-compromise.php where I get the go-ahead from her to walk on water, she okays my forays afield after late-season roosters.

While the hunts are often the most ©Kelly Nelson|Dreamstime memorable of the year, and the most enjoyable for me, the challenges of winter pheasant hunting are numerous. There’s quite a few less roosters after two months of open season and those that do remain are very spooky. The slightest noise – a truck door closing or a voice command – can send birds from their cover 100 yards away. On top of that, pheasants are generally bunched up tighter in the late season, and as soon as one takes flight, the rest aren’t far behind. I’ve watched several dozen birds at a distance explode from the cattails one after another as soon as one detects the crunching of snow some distance off.

The weather provides a test of a hunter’s mettle too. Snow, ice and wind all factor into the layers added on to keep warm during the hunt, and those layers in turn subtly change shot mechanics. The butt of a shotgun might not find the familiar crook on a jacketed shoulder that it did over the sweatshirts and maybe even t-shirts a few weeks ago. Gloved hands might not grip the trigger area in the same manner, slightly altering the shooting angle one might have been used to for the past few months. To find late-season success, one needs to adapt to these changes.

But the change that winter brings isn’t all bad as factors come into play that even the playing field somewhat. The cold weather keeps the would-be hunters safe and warm at home, or circling your favorite chunk of CRP in their pickup trucks instead of actually walking out into it to face the elements. More of your favorite management area might be accessible too, thanks to a hard freeze which locks up a previouslysoaked slough in ice, allowing you (and the birds) more room to roam. Just make sure to avoid any weak spots, or you might end up with a chilly ankle bath.

Another advantage that winter brings to the late-season hunter is the ability to track pheasants in the snow. Their tell-tale four-toed print which points in the direction they’re heading shows you what your dog has smelled for months – that pheasants move in the most unorthodox manner. They duck under branches, loop around clumps of grass, tear through cattails and take off and land with their wings and tails hitting the ground, leaving a distinct impression that lets you know where the pursuit ends and where it begins again.

Since the weather has gotten colder this year, I’ve noticed that my yellow lab, Gunnar, has had an inordinate number of points. He’s probably pointed at a three-to-one ratio the number of roosters we’ve come across, as opposed to those birds that would have normally flushed in the early weeks of the season. The late season birds that don’t take off at the slightest hint of trouble seem to hold tighter, providing an exciting explosion of grass, snow and feathers that has left me rattled – missing more pointed birds than I care to admit!

Bagging one winter rooster is a victory, and taking your limit is really something to be proud of in December. Adjusting to the elements and reading the signs on the ground with the help of your trusted four-legged interpreter can produce exciting results...

Compromise

Start Planning & Applying For Out-Of-State Tags Now

By Jim Neiberger

Be it a bull or a buck it is always twice the enjoyment to be able to hunt two or more states each year.

In my case, I would enjoy shooting more than one bull or buck deer or antelope. Possibly spend a couple of days wearing out South Dakota’s pheasant population, since it is the number one pheasant state in the US, and it is just out of the state’s eastern back door. Or Colorado has almost 300,000 elk. I wouldn’t believe they would miss one if I took it out of one of those easy to access elk hot spots.

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A place they would like to hunt in their lifetime, “Out West.” We take it for granted what we have here in Montana, and if that isn’t enough, a short drive and we can be out west in a different state.

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It is not uncommon to require up to 3 points to draw a license. The month of November (when the whitetail rut is on), is the archery season, which makes archers very successful. They also have an “unlimited” muzzleloader season, and two shotgun seasons. Notice there is no rifle season in Iowa so the long range weapon is Wyoming with it being the state with specialized muzzleloaders. more antelope than people, speaks Idaho is much better, close and for itself for antelope. much like Montana in hunting What about Nebraska where a buck terrain, just steeper. The wolves are there, but the hunting is good. Just mule deer, whitetail deer license is be certain that where you hunt the less than $10 for my son, and the buck license for me is only $200 for wolves don’t have it on their weekly route and it will be fine. Idaho is a non-resident. North Dakota and a great state to hunt with multiple the east half of South Dakota drawing options. are archery only for deer for non-residents. From this, there is a pearl hiding. Western South Dakota Do all of these different regulations by state sound confusing? It can is non-resident friendly. They will allow us to hunt deer and antelope be, so the best plan is to begin early with a rifle. In eastern South Dakota and research which animal and which state provides the best you can hunt federal waterfowl if hunting for what you are after, and you draw a $100 limited days go from there. This will also help waterfowl permit. with the states that use the North Dakota is what I call a “not a preference point system, because non-resident friendly state” for you will need to build them or buy non-resident deer hunting. an expensive landowner voucher if Statewide non-residents cannot use you don’t do some preplanning. The a rifle to hunt deer. The regulations only one that doesn’t, and has over seem friendly, and will let you apply; the counter licenses is Nebraska but you just don’t draw a rifle tag. they are limited. (continued page 42)

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December 2012 29

LATE SEASON ARCHERY Opportunities Are Still Available

By Rick Haggerty

Late Season Archery Opportunities in HD 212, 260, 290, 309 and 630

T

here are still hunting opportunities here in December to fill your general deer or elk tag. Several hunting districts allow late archery hunts. Here are some of the late season district options.

ARCHERY HUNTERS CAN STILL FILL A TAG IN DECEMBER ©Twildlife|Dreamstime

30 - Hunting & Fishing News

HD UNIT 212 - NORTH FLINT RIDGE Deer Either sex mule deer. Archery only.

Either sex whitetail. Archery only.

Elk Brow-tined bull or antlerless elk. Archery only.

Prison Ranch Archery only area open through January 1, 2013.

There is a large amount of good country to hunt in this district, and it’s one of the best options to fill a late season tag.

HD UNIT 260 - BITTERROOT - CLARK FORK ARCHERY DISTRICT Deer Either sex whitetail. Archery only.

Elk Brow-tined bulls or antlerless elk. Archery only.

Not valid on Lee Metcalf Refuge.

Open through January 15th, 2013.

Mostly private land. Access is difficult. You may have to knock on a few doors, but there are plenty of deer in the river bottom areas.

HD UNIT 290 - HELMVILLE - OVANDO ARCHERY DISTRICT Deer Antlered buck whitetail deer. Archery only.

Either sex mule deer. Archery only.

Open through December 15, 2012.

Elk Brow-tined bull or antlerless elk. Archery only.

Open through January 1, 2013.

You’ll have a very good chance to fill a tag in this area. There are plenty of whitetail and elk in these hills. (continued page 45)

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Game Check Stations Play An Important Role MFWP

O fficials at game check stations gather information needed to help manage the state’s wildlife resources. When hunters stop

at check stations, FWP representatives ask a variety of questions that may include how many deer, elk or antelope they saw and in which drainages or where in general they hunted. The information is cost-effective to gather and helpful in managing wildlife.

In 2010, FWP Region 1 began a check station-based moose study. FWP check station personnel asked hunters who had spotted moose to mark the location of the sightings on a U.S. Forest Service district map and provide any additional information they might have such as the sex, and estimated age of the moose.

The tabulated results show hunter moose sightings in 18 hunting districts, including the two that FWP annually surveys by helicopter for moose.

“The hunter survey results were very interesting and exceeded the number of moose bulls, cows and calves observable by helicopter, even given that some moose may have been reported by multiple hunters,” said John Vore, a FWP biologist in Kalispell who compiled the results. “We will continue to gather these hunter reports at the check stations until we can get a feel for the relationship between hunter moose sightings and the annual surveys.”

Vore explained that an alternative source of information helps biologists verify trends, or if there is an obvious conflict it points out something that should be investigated further.

In addition to gathering biological information, FWP game wardens, biologists and other department personnel can also provide hunters with useful information and updates on the hunting season. They will also check to make sure that any animals taken are properly tagged and that all other laws and regulations governing the taking of that animal were observed. State law requires hunters to stop at all game and biological check stations on their routes of travel to and from hunting areas, whether they have harvested an animal or not. Failure to stop at a check station when personnel are on duty is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine.

This fall, thousands of hunters will spend a few minutes sharing information about the hunting season and enjoy the knowledge that they are contributing to big game management in Montana.

December 2012 31

32 - Hunting & Fishing News

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TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL GROUND BLIND BOWHUNTING

By Babe Winkelman

M ore and more hunters are coming out of the trees and pursuing their game from eye level. That’s because hunting from a blind has so many advantages over tree

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34 - Hunting & Fishing News

stands. Portable hub-style blinds like my Barronett go anywhere, set up quickly and quietly, and provide unmatched concealment. They also block the wind and rain and allow you to hunt in total comfort. The result... you’ll hunt longer and improve your odds for success. Here’s a quick rundown of blind-hunting tips that will help you make the most of this season...

WHICH BLIND? Choosing the perfect blind for your hunt is very important. There are basically two styles of fully-enclosed blinds: frame-style and hub-style. In my opinion, nothing beats a hub blind, because the hub system pushes the fabric as tight as a drum to eliminate wind flap and unwanted movement. Hub blinds also give you more interior room since the hubs bow outward. There are many manufacturers of high-quality hub blinds, and each offers unique window configurations. I really like the way Barronett [BarronettBlinds.com] has laid out their window design for concealment and customization for different shooting scenarios.

PROPER PLACEMENT Success absolutely depends upon where you place your blind.

Naturally, for big game hunting, you want to set up downwind of travel routes and at the distance you want for your shot. For bowhunting, 20-25 yards from a trail is a perfect distance. Whenever possible, position the blind within existing cover and avoid “skylining” the blind on a hilltop or ridge.

PREPARATION When you’ve determined the perfect spot, clear away all debris where the blind will sit. With all sticks, leaves, crunchy snow, etc. out of the blind, there’s no way to inadvertently snap a twig or make a sound when maneuvering inside. Another preparation includes spraying the blind, inside and out, with Scent-Away spray to neutralize odors. To enhance concealment, Barronett includes brush straps that allow you to affix nearby brush, branches, etc. to add a natural, 3-D effect to your set-up.

Once inside the blind, set up your gear (bow, rattling antlers, calls, food/water, etc.) in an organized way so everything is within easy reach, yet out of the way when the moment of truth comes for a shot.

ROOM WITH A VIEW Arrange your shooting and viewing windows thoughtfully.

Many hunters make the mistake of opening every window. This lets in a lot of light and silhouettes you inside the blind. The best approach is to open only the windows you could conceivably shoot through, and keep everything else closed. This creates a “dark-house” effect to cloak you in shadows.

DRESS DARK With the dark-house effect achieved, the optimal clothing to wear inside the blind is a black shirt or jacket, along with a black face mask and black gloves. The inside of my Barronett blind has a matte black finish – so by wearing black myself it literally makes me disappear inside the dark blind. You can get away with a lot more movement if your dressed dark.

PRACTICE SHOOTING Most bowhunters practice shooting from a standing position.

That’s great, and necessary. But when you’re hunting from a ground blind, your shots are usually taken from a seated or kneeling position. So be sure and practice that way!

And actually practice from INSIDE your blind, so you’re used to the act of shooting through a small window opening. It might seem like a hassle, but if you practice shooting from your blind you’ll be glad you did when that buck-of-a-lifetime steps in front of your window!

S-L-O-W... As with all kinds of hunting, move like a predator when you’re blind hunting.

Keep your movements smooth and slow, whether you’re reaching for your bow or just raising your binoculars to do some glassing. All big game animals are totally in-tune with spotting movement. Always ASSUME there’s a set of eyes on you at all times, even when you see nothing, and move with total stealth.

I hope these fundamental ground blind hunting tips are helpful to you. And if you haven’t done it already, pick yourself up a good hub blind and get out there at ground level with those deer. It’s effective, exhilarating and a great way to bowhunt! Good Hunting!

Babe Winkelman is a nationally-known outdoorsman who has taught people to fish and hunt for nearly 30 years. Watch his award-winning “Good Fishing” and “Outdoor Secrets” television shows on Versus (VS.), Fox Sports Net and many local networks. Visit www.winkelman.com for air times where you live.

Bigger, Better Elk Camp 2013 COMING TO NEW VENUE

A

RMEF

new year, a new venue, and new features highlight Elk Camp 2013 when the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation transforms the Las Vegas strip into the Elk Hunting Capital of the World. RMEF’s annual expo and convention is set for February 28 - March 3 at the Mirage and the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“We are excited to return to Las Vegas and build on the progress and enthusiasm from a year ago,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We have plenty of accomplishments from 2012 to officially recognize, including one that is a real game changer for us. And hosting Elk Camp at the Mirage gives us the opportunity to celebrate elk and habitat conservation in ways greater than ever before.”

RMEF relied on the excitement and energy of past Elk Camps over the last 28 years to incrementally set the stage for renewed efforts to better carry out a mission of enhancing elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage.

“We can’t wait to get to Vegas to be with our members and volunteers from across the country,” added Allen. “The synergy and support we will generate together from Elk Camp 2013 is vital to propel RMEF toward another year of success in achieving our conservation goals.”

In 2012, since its inaugural Elk Camp in Las Vegas earlier that year, RMEF helped permanently protect and enhance thousands of acres of habitat, bolstered elk populations east of the Mississippi River, contributed funding toward predator-ungulate research, supported wolf hunts in six states, applauded the increasing numbers of hunters nationwide and the delisting of wolves in Wyoming, received several conservation awards, and introduced thousands of youth to hunting and conservation.

For more visit www.rmef.org

RMEF Launches Revamped Website RMEF

T

he Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation launched a completely revised website at www.rmef.org that offers new features, easier access and up-to-date information on elk, conservation efforts, habitat enhancement projects, and hunting-related issues. “This website is the elk authority on the Internet. It provides the best source of everything you need to know about elk, elk country, and elk hunting anywhere.” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO...

New or enhanced features of the site include the Hunt Planner, an interactive map that shows current or historic elk range; current weather conditions; the latest state hunting rules, regulations and license information; and the locations of hunting districts. RMEF members can create and save more detailed maps that highlight public and private land boundaries. Other new improvements include a predator management and control section with updated nationwide news on wolves, lions, bears and other predators; and a news ticker that tracks conservation, habitat, hunting and other elk-related issues as reported by outlets around the country.

The site also features membership and donor information; the latest on RMEF conservation efforts, hunting heritage programs and scholarship opportunities; media coverage about RMEF; the latest on state and chapter events for members and volunteers; elk biology; and offers transparency and accountability by opening the books on the organization’s financial operations. RMEF members will also be able to access the entire issue of Bugle magazine online. The site will include additional content and new features such as a legislative ticker in the months to come. “As we, as an organization, work to further our mission of enhancing the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage, our new website helps us better inform our constituents worldwide exactly how we’re doing that,” said Allen.

December 2012 35

honk if you love goose hunting

By Babe Winkelman or a bird believed to be extinct 50 years ago, the Canada goose is doing very well, thank you...

As for hunters—well, hunters still love them. In recent years US sportsmen have harvested about 2 million Canada geese annually. That’s more than any other goose species, including the dangerously over-populated snow goose that are hunted in spring.

For the record, there are so many sub-species of Canada geese that even scientists can’t agree on how many, and only the giant sub-species was thought to be extinct prior to the discovery of a small resident flock in Minnesota. And—yes—the birds are known as Canada geese, not “Canadian geese.”

You’d think a bird that nests in city parks, makes daily hikes across golf courses and hangs around airports would be easy to hunt. Sometimes they are. Mostly they’re not.

Amazingly, the seemingly domesticated bird that will eat popcorn and potato chips from the hands of strangers in town can be as wary as a mallard when it heads out to feed. When it comes to hunting Canada geese, the old expression “wild goose chase” still applies. Here are a few tips for hunting America’s most popular goose.

Scouting tips the odds in the hunter’s favor. Sportsmen who can locate a field where the geese are feeding undisturbed at night know there’s a pretty good chance the birds will be back the following morning.

Decoy spreads don’t have to be elaborate. A dozen to two dozen magnums are all it takes to attract a family group of honkers. Full-bodied decoys are great, but shells get the job done. Wind socks work well if there’s enough breeze to keep them moving. Two or three big socks add a lifelike dimension to any decoy spread.

When scouting, observe feeding geese. The first thing hunters will notice is that when the birds are tightly bunched with their heads up, they are usually alarmed and probably about to take flight. For that reason it’s a good idea to keep some space between decoys and to use mostly feeder heads, placing a sentry or two on the outside perimeter of the spread.

Hunters have different opinions about calling Canada geese. I’ve met experienced hunters who refuse to use a call, period; others insist on calling until their cheeks are about to burst.

I believe the best approach is to call only in response to incoming birds. When a group of geese is on a bee-line to your decoys and not saying anything, it’s best not to do any talking. If the lead goose lets out a single “hawruuunk” a single response is appropriate. Gear your calling to what the birds are saying—nothing more and nothing less. Waterfowl calling is something of an art, but calling geese doesn’t require the skill or range of vocalizations necessary to attract ducks. Under most situations, a simple two-note call will get the job done when geese are showing an interest in your decoys. Callers will want to be more animated when trying to get the attention of disinterested geese off in the distance. Don’t worry about foul notes when the geese are on the horizon, just make a lot of noise.

Flagging is another attention-getting gimmick that sometimes brings geese from great distances. Flagging requires two black pieces of cloth attached to dowels or laths. Flags waved overhead resemble wings from a distance. Start by waving the flags aggressively on outstretched arms. If the birds respond, lower your arms waist-high. The closer the birds get, the lower and slower you should flag until finally the flags are dropped completely.

For concealment, use whatever nature provides and choose a suitable camo pattern that matches the conditions. I like to wear my Underbrush leafy camo for geese, since it does such a great job of breaking up the human silhouette.

Dressing in black and sitting amongst the decoys can also be effective. If there’s snow on the ground, dress in white coveralls and sit next to the decoys. With Canadas, it’s even possible to hide along a weedy fenceline or in a rock pile.

Some hunters just hide under a super-magnum decoy shell.

Even when you do everything right, there will be days when the birds just won’t decoy. But that, friends, is why they call it hunting. Good Hunting.

F

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You can up your odds with the proper gear to bring more coyotes in for a shot. Early in the morning you can find coyotes near open fields, normally feeding on small game such as mice, rabbits and birds.

Try setting up on a small bluff with good visibility and using a distress call to lure in a curious coyote.

Wounded jackrabbit or cottontail distress calls work well.

Hunt with a hunting partner if you can. One of you can be the caller and the other can be the shooter.

It is essential to use good camo to blend into the countryside, and to not make any sudden movements that will get you busted. Coyotes are very smart, and will not let you shoot them easily; any sudden movement and they are gone.

Matt Fry of Helena with his recent coyote taken in north central Montana

Prime Time For COYOTES

By Rick Haggerty

D on’t put your rifles away just yet. December is one of the best times of the year to go out predator hunting in Montana.

There are reports of heavy coyote numbers all across the state.

Coyote numbers need to be thinned a bit to help our suffering deer herds rebound.

On a recent deer hunt into the Missouri River area in north central Montana, my hunting partner and I saw 10 different coyotes in three days. We were able to kill only one. These predators are very cagey and know when to leave the area in a hurry. Most coyote hunters are opportunists, shooting these critters when they spot them from rural roads.

38 - Hunting & Fishing News

Hunt the same areas you’ve been hunting that have deer, and you’ll find the coyotes. You can often gain access from landowners that want to thin out any predators on their property. Start with landowners that are enrolled in the Block Management Program. There are many areas around the state enrolled in the Block Management Program, and many of these areas are open into December for hunting, Another area to target is ranches that you know have large numbers of deer in the area. Contact the owner or land manager to see if you can hunt varmints. You might strike up a relationship that allows you to hunt for deer or elk in the fall. These spots that normally have high populations of deer will also have good numbers of coyotes. Look for song dogs in pasture lands that have cattle or sheep, and set-up your hunt nearby. Start early in the morning calling and glassing. If you do not find coyotes within the first half hour of your hunt, pick up and relocate to another spot, covering as much area as possible.

River bottoms are also choice places to hunt.

Coyotes like to hunt where there are opportunities for food and areas along the rivers and creeks hold scads of small game and rodents.

Look for good hunting around areas on the Hi-line around Great Falls, Havre, Glasgow, Jordan and Scobey. Fair amounts of BLM land exists between private property here. These are all choice areas to call in coyotes.

Keep your hunting mode on through the winter. You’ll have plenty of fun, sharpen your hunting skills and help our deer herds rebound faster by taking out a few coyotes.

Good hunting.

Dominate the game.

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®2012 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. All rights reserved.® ™ Trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products or its affiliates. Always consult your snowmobile dealer when selecting a snowmobile for your particular needs and carefully read and pay special attention to your Operatorʼs Guide, Safety Video, Safety Handbook and to the safety labeling on your snowmobile. Always ride responsibly and safely. Always wear appropriate clothing, including a helmet. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Donʼt drink and drive.

General Ice Thickness Guidelines Photos and article from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

For New, Clear Ice Only

Ice Chisel The ice chisel or “spud bar” is one of the oldest methods of making a hole in the ice. In Remember that these its simplest thicknesses are merely form, it consists of a metal rod guidelines for new, clear, solid with a sharp, flat blade welded ice. Many factors other than onto one end that is driven into thickness can cause ice to be the ice in a stabbing motion. unsafe.

Depending on the sharpness of the blade, the thickness of the CHECKING ICE THICKNESS ice and the strength of the user, it can make a hole in the ice No matter what you are going fairly quickly, especially when to do once you get on the the ice is less than a foot thick. ice - like fishing, snowmobiling, Ice Auger skating or even ice boating, There are it’s a good idea to contact a several local bait shop or resort on varieties of the lake about ice conditions. ice auger.

It’s also important to do some Some people checking yourself once you get like the hand there. Several factors affect the auger for its relative safety of ice, such as low cost, light temperature, snow cover and weight and currents. But a very important low noise factor is the actual ice factor. The thickness.

2” or less - STAY OFF 4” - Ice fishing or other activities on foot 5” - Snowmobile or ATV 8” - 12” - Car or small pickup 12” - 15” - Medium truck

40 - Hunting & Fishing News

disadvantage of a hand-powered auger is that after a few holes, operator exhaustion becomes an issue.

Some folks like an electric auger, with its low noise level rivaling a hand auger, with the advantage of a lot less work for the user. An electric auger does, however, need an external 12-volt battery, which can be something of a nuisance to lug around. Gas augers boast the fastest speed in drilling through the ice, but are heavier, noisier and generally more costly than hand or electric models.

Cordless Drill There is one tool, that many households have hanging on the pegboard in the basement or on a shelf in the garage that can make checking ice thickness a quick and easy task - a cordless rechargeable electric drill. With a cordless drill and a long, five-eighths inch wood auger bit, you can drill through eight inches of ice in less than 30 seconds...

Tape Measure ...use a tape measure or...an ice fisherman’s ice skimmer handle with inch markings to put down the hole and hook the bottom edge of the hole to determine the ice’s true thickness.

Winter Tips Tips For Your Vehicle From Gomer’s/US Diesel Parts W ith winter in full swing, we would like to take a moment to share some products we believe will enhance your vehicle’s performance, reduce fuel costs, and maintain it’s interior.

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Vehicle Repair and Installation Appointments We are always taking appointments for all performance upgrade installations and basic vehicle maintenance and repairs. Just give us a call at (800) 823-4444 to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed and experienced technicians.

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Start Planning & Applying For Out-Of-State Tags Now (continued from page 29) Across the board, all of the other states have left over licenses after the application draw process so there is some light at the end of the tunnel if you don’t have any preference points.

Basically, the applicants with the most points have the advantage of drawing a license. The cost of the licenses are as follows: Antelope $286.00 / $526.00, Deer $326.00 / $566.00, Elk $591.00 / $1071.00, To an outsider, the Wyoming Game and a non-refundable application fee & Fish Department’s Non-Resident of $14.00. This is included in the amount to be remitted for each big License Application Booklet game license applied for in the initial can be a bit overwhelming, if not drawing. While the draw system is intimidating. A non-resident must complicated, and you have to front apply for a hunting license in a the money, at least they spread the drawing and be successful in that drawing before being eligible to hunt draw for each species out, so you can use the money over and over in Wyoming. For non-residents again if not successful with your first Wyoming conducts two separate draw. With very high quality animals draws; the “Regular Draw” (less and generous allocations of expensive) or the “Special Draw” non-resident tags Wyoming has (more expensive). Applicants for some promising prospects.

Full Price Elk, Deer and Antelope licenses are given the option of Weather, wolves, politics and the accumulating a preference point. economy are slamming a quadruple By checking the preference point whammy on the budgets of fish fee option and remitting the proper fee(s), the applicant will accumulate and game agencies in Idaho. The Idaho Fish and Game Department a preference point if unsuccessful in drawing a Full Price license as a watched $3.5 million in license first choice. However, an applicant revenue vaporize last year, because who draws a Full Price license as a it could not sell all of its allotted second or third choice will retain all non-resident deer and elk tags, accumulated preference points and according to Craig Wiedmeier, license division manager. also earn an additional point.

42 - Hunting & Fishing News

Idaho’s sales of non-resident deer and elk tags have steadily declined each year since 2008. The trend apparently hasn’t bottomed out.

Last year, sales of non-resident Idaho deer tags were down 22 percent from 2010 and elk tag sales were down 23 percent, Wiedmeier said.

for any tag in Idaho a non-resident must first purchase a non-refundable hunting license, which will set you back $154.75. You then pay $14.75 as a non-resident for a controlled hunt permit and if you draw, you’ll then pay the cost of the actual tag.

The deer tag is $301.75 and an elk tag is $416.75. Idaho does not have a preference point system, but The number of tags sold this year is a straight up random draw, which down about 18 percent from August 2011, means that you have as good a but hunters who book through an chance at drawing a tag your first Idaho outfitter will find that it’s easier year as a guy that has been to obtain deer and elk tags, if you putting in repeatedly for years. have the extra money. Each year Non-residents can draw up to 10% the Fish and Game Commission of the available tags for each sets aside and allocates elk and species with the exception in units deer tags for non-resident hunters that have fewer than 10 tags who book with licensed outfitters. available. Idaho looks pretty inviting This system insures that Idaho with bull elk in the 300-340 class outfitters have tags available long range and 170+ bucks combined after states, such as Wyoming, with some gorgeous scenery you have sold out. These non-resident can’t go wrong. allocations are available to residents after a certain date if they are not With a little planning, you should be sold out to non-residents. Deer and able to find the perfect out-of-state elk tags can be also be used to hunt. harvest a cougar, black bear or a wolf. Idaho’s big game fees for Good hunting. non-resident hunters are competitive, but in order to apply

December 2012 43

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Check out our website! westerntrailersales.com 44 - Hunting & Fishing News

Eastern Plains Colorado Mule Deer

By Bob Fromme Sponsored byVictory Archery Reprinted with permission from Bowhunting.net For more visit www.bowhunting.net Author with his high scoring Mule Deer buck.

IAtkinsons t was October 1 and I was hunting the eastern plains of Colorado with Expeditions. My buddy and expert guide Jeremy Fiscus had

been doing a lot of scouting in this area and found an exceptional buck hanging out pretty consistently in a volunteer Sorghum patch. The closest Jeremy had ever glassed him was a mile and a half since he didn’t want to take a chance of bumping him out of his pattern. He figured the buck was in the 195′′ gross range which was what I was hoping to hunt.

After a good nights sleep, we hit the coffee and then hit the ground running ready for some great mule deer action. We picked up a big framed buck the first morning, but due to hazy conditions we were not sure if it was the buck Jeremy had been watching. We watched as he walked over a small ridge and bedded down out of sight. We knew the general area, but were not sure of his exact location. We discussed strategy and decided to go ahead and make a stalk.

The conditions were perfect for a stalk. No other deer that we knew of were near him and a 15 MPH wind blowing the Sorghum leaves helped cover our approach. Wes Atkinson (owner and master guide who was filming the hunt), Jeremy and I slowly closed the distance, methodically picking apart every patch that was big enough to hold a deer. It took several hours, and at 65 yards Jeremy made an incredible spot of his antler tip. I nocked an arrow and kept ranging his location in case he caught us and I had to act quickly. I would have stopped at 40 yards, but the heavy cross wind that was helping us get close was also going to make it harder to make a perfect shot so I moved closer, finally stopping at 30 yards.

I took my Tight Spot quiver off to minimize the effect the wind would have on my trembling bow. Now it was a waiting game, no rocks, whistling or game calls this time. I have waited a long time to shoot a buck like this, and a couple more hours wasn’t going to kill me, just him.

I decided to stand instead of kneel to be more comfortable, I knew I couldn’t do 8 hours on my knees. After 30 minutes I could see the buck’s antlers sway as he started to stand. As he did, I came to full draw before he completely stood up so he wouldn’t catch the movement. He looked right at us with only his massive antlers and throat showing and the rest of his body hidden behind the Sorghum leaves. His body language was not overly tense, but after 15 seconds I knew he wasn’t going to relax and step out so, my instincts took over. I settled my 30 yard pin where I hoped his vitals were and executed the shot. The hit sounded solid and as he bounded into view a large red dot kept enlarging right in the sweet spot as both my boys acknowledged the hit with a “You smoked him!”

The massive buck bounded about 100 yards, did a little right turn and folded. Wes was the first to comment on his antlers being a little ‘Over sized’. As we followed the ridiculous blood trail that the Ulmer Edge tipped Victory VAP created our anticipation of what class of buck we had just taken was blown away.

He is an 11 by 7 with a 226-4/8” SCI official score, a 209′′ main frame and a P&Y green sore of 203′′. For you spread guys his outside on the stickers is 29-3/8′′. It took a lot of research, preparation and team work to make this happen and I feel both lucky and blessed to have been able to close the deal on such an exceptional animal.

Late Season Archery Opportunities Are Still Available (continued from page 30) HD 309 - GALLATIN VALLEY - WRA Deer Antlerless whitetail deer only.

Archery only.

Elk Antlerless elk only. Archery only.

Open through January 15, 2013 Note: Weapons Area Restriction Map is available at FWP in Bozeman or phone 406-994-4042.

Archery, shotgun, muzzeloader, traditional handgun or crossbow only.

HD 630 - SOUTH VALLEY Deer Antlerless mule deer. Archery only at the Fort Peck Dam site.

Antlerless whitetail deer. Archery only at the Fort Peck Dam site.

Note: A portion of the CMR Refuge at the Fort Peck Dam site is open to archery only as posted.

Check Montana Hunting Regulations before you head out to hunt. ©Scromer|Dreamstime

December 2012 45

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Deer and Elk Harvest in Warm Weather Brings Out Hunters; RUT HELPS WHITE-TAIL HARVEST MFWP Northwest Montana MFWP arm temperatures, calm winds and clear skies brought hunters to the field Deer and elk harvest in northwest Montana is slightly ahead of W in south central Montana over the weekend – the first time this year that hunter last year, according to check station results around Region One. From November 20, 2012

At the six northwest Montana check stations through Sunday, November 18, a total of 13,976 hunters checked 605 white-tailed deer (532 of these were bucks), 101 mule deer, and 67 elk for a 5.5 percent rate of hunters with game. Harvest was up slightly as compared to last year when 5.1 percent of hunters checked game. The number of whitetail bucks checked is up 8 percent, mule deer numbers are up 40 percent, and elk are down 23 percent as compared to last year’s check station results at the same point in the season. Hunter numbers are down seven percent.

The counts at the six northwest Montana check stations represent a sampling of the harvest and do not represent the complete number of animals taken...

Wolf Harvest: Hunters have taken 19 wolves in Region One to date.

Statewide, hunters have taken 66 wolves. This is a complete count of the number of wolves taken as of November 18. ©Tony Campbell|Dreamstime

46 - Hunting & Fishing News

From November 19, 2012

numbers have exceeded last year’s count. All three regional check stations run by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reported more hunters than the same weekend a year ago.

At the Columbus check station, FWP wildlife biologist Shawn Stewart reported the most hunters and largest number of white-tailed deer for any weekend so far this year – and far more than the same weekend in 2011. However, the percentage of hunters with game was down from a year ago. On Saturday and Sunday, 239 hunters stopped at the Columbus check station. During the same weekend last year, only 128 hunters appeared. Hunters checked 63 white-tailed deer, compared to 36 in 2011. They had 39 mule deer, the same number as a year ago.

The white-tailed deer rut is in full swing, so half of the checked animals were bucks, including many large bucks, Stewart said.

At the Lavina check station, FWP wildlife biologist Ashley Beyer checked 280 hunters – 20 more than the same weekend last year. The deer harvest was nearly identical to 2011, however, with 25 white-tailed deer (the same as last year) and 33 mule deer (one more than in 2011) checked. Overall, 24 percent of hunters who stopped at Lavina had harvested animals, down five percentage points from a year ago. Of the deer checked, 72 percent of muley bucks and 63 percent of white-tailed bucks were 2.5 years old or older.

At Big Timber, FWP wildlife biologist Justin Paugh reported that the number of hunters was up sharply over last year – 142 this past weekend compared to 108 during the fifth weekend of the general season in 2011. The deer harvest was nearly identical to last year, with 32 white-tailed deer (same as last year) and 29 mule deer (one fewer than 2011) counted. For the weekend, 43.7 percent of hunters had harvested game compared to 63 percent a year ago.

With the rut in full swing, 97 percent of checked mule deer and 66 percent of white-tailed deer were antlered bucks...

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