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One of the common questions we get is, “just how big do these fish get?” To date, the biggest sturgeon we have sampled between Lower Granite Dam and Hells Canyon Dam was 10 feet 8 inches long and bottomed out a 500-pound scale. We (Fish and Game, Idaho Power, and Nez Perce Tribe) have been capturing (through rod and reel and set lines) and tagging sturgeon in Hells Canyon for over 30 years. During this time, we have handled over 4,000 fish, and fewer than 10 of those exceeded 10 feet in length. In addition, Idaho’s current catch-and-release record sturgeon is a fish caught from Hells Canyon that was 119.5-inches long (a half-inch short of 10 feet). So, to say the least, catching a 10-foot sturgeon is rare.
Large White Sturgeon landed in Hells Canyon. Photo credit Don Whitney. Courtesy Idaho Fish & Game www.idfg.idaho.gov.
Hells Canyon Sturgeon Are So Big That Anglers Don’t Need To Lie About How Big They Are
A group of us were out sampling sturgeon this fall, and what we experienced was so amazing that I just had to share it with you. Now remember, 10-foot sturgeon are rare in Hells Canyon, and in fact, we hadn’t caught one for over five years – that was, until this amazing week.
By Joe DuPont, Fisheries Regional Manager Idaho Fish & Game www.idfg.idaho.gov
eing a fisheries biologist certainly can have its B perks. We may not make the most money, but sometimes we get paid to do things that others would pay a lot of money to do. Jet boating Hells Canyon and fishing for sturgeon is one of those things.
Fighting a sturgeon in Hells Canyon. Photo credit Joe DuPont. Courtesy Idaho Fish & Game.
Photo credit Mike Greiner. Courtesy IFG.
Although it may look like we are just having fun when were are out doing this, this research actually helps us learn important things about the Snake River’s white sturgeon population. Every year we spend time fishing Hells Canyon for sturgeon so that we can measure, tag, scan for previous tags, and evaluate the condition of sturgeon we catch. This work helps us better understand growth, movement, and mortality of these unique fish, and it helps highlight areas of concern where we may want to do more focused research in the future... 4 | Hunting & Fishing News
We were having difficulty hooking fish this particular day as the fish were biting very lightly, and if you didn’t get to the rod quickly, you missed your opportunity. So, we adjusted our strategy by staying focused on our rods, and when the rod moved we did not wait to set the hook. This strategy paid dividends, as not too much later, we hooked into a brute.
When it launched itself into the air, we all gasped at its size. An hour and 15 minutes later, we boated this monster that measured 10-feet, 1-inch long. Not only was this fish long, it was also fat. It taped 50 inches around its belly! Check it out yourself in the picture (next page). We had never caught and tagged this fish before which was surprising seeing it has been around a long time.
Large sturgeon landed in Hells Canyon. Photo credit Cecilia Spangler. Courtesy Idaho Fish & Game.
After working up this fish, we boated downriver to catch up to the other sampling boat to meet up for lunch (we were late) and brag a little. When we found them, they were hooked up into a large sturgeon of their own.
Over time, it became evident that it was huge, and an hour and a half after hooking this fish, they landed it just as the light was starting to wane. When we put a tape to it, it measured 10-feet, 4-inches in length. The picture below doesn’t do it justices as it was incredibly fat – 54-inches around! We didn’t have a scale with us, but this fish was probably pushing 500 pounds. It was also a fish that we had never caught and tagged before.
And it didn’t stop with the second monster from the depths. Over the rest of the week, we landed another 10 footer twice! The second time we caught it, it was a half-mile farther upriver. This was the sixth and seventh time we have landed this particular sturgeon. The first time it was caught was in 2010 and it measured 9-feet, 10-inches. Eleven years later, it now measures 10-feet, 4-inches. It was not as fat as the other two, but massive none the less. Judge for yourself. (photo at beginning of article) I have seen times when the big fish turn on and all you catch are fish over 8 feet long, but never have I seen anything like this amazing week. (continued on page 38)
Large White Sturgeon Landed in Hells Canyon. Photo credit Joe DuPont. Courtesy Idaho Fish & Game.
Hunting & Fishing News | 5
SECURING YOUR TAG After establishing the state, species, and season you wish to hunt it is time to focus on taking the proper steps to secure all of the proper licenses and tags. While researching, I would also suggest checking out our State and Species profiles. These can be excellent areas to quickly reference important dates and other information.
A view everyone dreams about when hunting the West. Photo credit Cody Boor.
Planning For Your First Out Of State Hunt By Dave Barnett Originally published at
I
www.goHUNT.com
n my line of work, I talk to a lot of our INSIDERS each year who are planning their very first western hunt. This can span from those on the east coast to those that have lived out west their entire lives but are deciding now to venture out of state. Growing up in Idaho and Montana I never really had aspirations of going out of state. I mean, I could buy deer and elk tags over the counter every year. What I was failing to realize, though, was that an out of state brought so much more to the table than just another tag; New country to explore, new animals to chase, new people to meet. Not to mention, a few extra hunts a year has really upped my ability to consistently fill tags and I feel like it’s really improved me as a hunter overall. In general, most people have the same concerns when a conversation turns to out-of-state hunts. It’s intimidating and overwhelming! Where do I start? How do I pick a state? Can I do this alone? Questions like these are exactly why goHUNT INSIDER was created and I hope that after reading this article the few remaining loose ends will become more clear. I’ve never had an INSIDER tell me they regret doing an out-of-state hunt and most wish they would’ve started sooner! DECIDING WHERE TO HUNT The initial starting point can be one of the hardest to overcome. What do you want to hunt and how do you want to hunt it? There are so many opportunities and hunts across the west that initially deciding where to even go can be a big hurdle. My recommendation is to first sit down and pencil out any and all hunts you might be interested in without focusing on states. Just a species and a weapon type. From here, you can begin to rank these in importance to your goals. Hot tip: Don’t be afraid to dream a little here, getting to experience new species in a new state is one of my favorite hunts to consider: Arizona Coues deer, Washington Blacktail Deer, Wyoming Antelope, New Mexico OTC Barbary Sheep, the list goes on.
Once getting your priority list the next step would be to utilize Filtering 2.0 to research what hunts are available in the various western states... 6 | Hunting & Fishing News
At this time, also be sure to thoroughly review your state’s regulations for important nuggets of information. Small things can easily slip by. As an example, if your hunter’s education card is not certified through Colorado Park and Wildlife then you must carry the physical card on your person. Or, some states require you to sign a tag in the field with a pen after the kill, some do not. The main point here, take this time to make sure you have all of the proverbial I’s dotted and T’s crossed. E-SCOUTING After getting your preferred tag it is now time to start e-scouting the unit and to begin formulating your hunting plan. Utilizing goHUNT Maps can be an excellent way to quickly begin narrowing down an area and the many layers available can make the writing on the wall a little more clear during your search. I would highly recommend checking out the extensive collection of e-scouting and other scouting articles located on goHUNT to seriously help in breaking down a lot of the initial hurdles beginners may encounter. A solid game plan put in place far before the hunt can really mitigate unknowns from popping up once the hunt has started. Any additional planning you can do at this stage will save you in the long run! HUNT LOGISTIC PLANNING A lot of the success of your hunt will rely heavily on the amount of logistics planning you can do prior to leaving for the hunt. At this point, I am focusing heavily on the type of hunting I’ll be doing and the gear centered around that. The gear I’ll need for a backpack hunt will be much different than what I’ll use on a hunt where I’m camping at the truck. During my younger years, I would often time wing-it when it came to the logistics side of my hunt. Essentially, if I had some water, my tags, and my bow/gun then I was good to go! The rest would sort itself out. As I’ve gotten older I’ve become much more aware of how my body reacts to changes and what I need to operate optimally. Things that I used to overlook have now become regular staples on trips. More changes of clothes than I think I need, an actual pillow vs a backpacking pillow, extra food, and goodies. Hot tip: Make a list of everything you are taking with you on your trip. Once you have returned, go over the list and re-evaluate everything. If the item was not used and is not a safety necessity then it gets removed. I’ll also keep a small notebook with me while on trips. If there is an item I wish I had then I‘ll note it.
During this time I am also going to look at my travel plans. How am I getting to where I am hunting? What type of vehicle concerns should I be considering. Will I need chains? This is also the time to evaluate any maintenance needs you may have. Check your front-end components, change your oil, check your spare tires. These are all things that can save you big time when addressing them prior to the trip. THE HUNT With your months of pre-hunt planning out of the way, it is now time to act on your plans. By this point, you should have a tag in your pocket, a solid e-scouting plan assembled, and all of your travel and logistical plans covered. All of the months of previous planning are going to make things so much nicer when you can hit the ground running upon arrival. While the hunt is finally here, there are other things to still consider that can keep your hunt on the tracks. Most hunters have likely broken down a deer in the field, but what about an elk? A full gown elk on the ground by yourself can be a daunting task and having some general know-how and a game plan can save a lot of frustration. Will you be dealing with long packouts? What about the weather? You may need to plan for warm weather meat care depending on your hunt. Beyond that actual kill itself, you also need to plan for post kill care. What size coolers do you need and how do you use those effectively... CLOSING THOUGHTS Really, planning an out of state hunt is a lot of work, a lot. There are no two ways around it. But, with a solid plan, the planning stages can be far more enjoyable, and even fun. Additionally, the more you continue to do out-of-state hunts the quicker, easier, and more comfortable this process will become. In the coming months, we will be releasing more articles to further enhance the knowledge on all of the above talking points. This year is the year to take all of your goals, aspirations, and dreams to a new state and to a new environment.
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If you want to learn some extra tips on planning an out-of-state hunt, be sure to check out the video with Brady Miller and Chris Neville below. https://youtu.be/rB49AhG9AN4
Hunting & Fishing News | 7
Make Realistic Goals
Get to work on your New Year’s resolutions just like you would when setting any other goals. Start with the end result and then work backwards to create a roadmap to reach that desired outcome. If you want to push through a DIY backcountry hunt next fall, developing the physical capabilities to make that happen is a very realistic goal. We still have plenty of time to train for our fall adventures. Having a spring bear hunt on the horizon can expedite this process, but most of our big game hunts will begin in August or September.
KEEP THE RESOLUTION: Training For A New Year Of Adventure
As you outline goals for the New Year, create realistic milestones that will help turn resolutions into realities. For example, if you struggle to hike three consecutive miles at an incline, make a resolution to cover that distance after a few months of training. That is a specific and attainable goal that you can reach. Then, you can expand that goal into longer distances. Of course your ultimate goal might be to harvest an elk, but use those stepping-stones throughout the year to work toward the larger goals.
Consistency is the Key
By Zach Lazzari | Photos by Ryan McSparran Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Company www.caribougear.com
Achieving any goal requires training. It’s a process, and the rewards may not come quickly. The downfall of many resolutions is a big initial effort, followed by a plummeting drop back to square one.
aking resolutions and keeping them are two M different things. If you’re a hunter, the consequences of these resolutions will become very
Skip the big burst and work gradually toward your goals.
real the next time you’re in the field.
What’s your goal for the New Year? Is it learning how to call elk? Is it a float trip down a river in Alaska? Or perhaps it’s your first big game archery animal. The resolution itself should function as a pathway to reaching these very specific goals. That pathway requires dedication, training and focus. Whether it’s reaching a better level of fitness and nutrition, learning a new skill or improving with your weapon, here are a few ideas for making (and keeping) goal-oriented resolutions...
If running a few miles is your limit but you attempt ten miles out of the gate, your body will have a negative response. Set a training plan that revolves around consistency and gradual improvement rather than immediate results. Consistency outweighs short-lived tenacity. It’s true for physical training and it’s also true at the archery or rifle range. Try shooting just a single arrow every day. Or set aside a couple of days each month on the calendar to go to the rifle range. Set a goal that you can maintain consistently from now until opening day. Small gains add up to big improvements over the course of a year.
Keep Your Eye on the Prize Long-term resolutions are great, but short-term goals will help guide your journey. If your ultimate goal is a big game hunt, what is required to reach that goal? Build out a quarterly or monthly training plan that starts small and leads to a peak during the hunting season. If you start now and stick with it, you can be your best by September. 8 | Hunting & Fishing News
All photos courtesy Table Mountain Outfitters www.tablemountainoutfitters.com
Why Wyoming Is THE Place For A Western Elk Hunt
By Ryan McSparran Table Mountain Outfitters www.tablemountainoutfitters.com
hen it comes to finding a classic western elk W hunt, several states offer good opportunities. You will find great elk hunts in Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and a few in California. Each state offers a different angle or ecosystem where elk roam, creating a diverse set of opportunities.
Wyoming however, has the perfect combination of opportunity, trophy quality and high success rates that all coincide with a classic western landscape that has continued to inspire hunters.
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Unbeatable Draw Odds for High Quality Hunts The downside to planning a western elk hunt in many places, is the draw odds and waiting times. Waiting for a decade or more to draw an Arizona or New Mexico bull tag is not uncommon. Those long waits often apply to high quality units in every state around the west. While you can find annual opportunities with over-the-counter hunts in places like Idaho or Colorado, the quality reflects the availability.
NEVER MISS AN ISSUE!
Wyoming is one state where your draw odds are reasonable for extremely high quality hunting units. If you would like to begin the process of drawing a tag here in the near future, get a hold of us now. We will get a file started for you. As a part of this process, we will help you with purchasing preference points or we will do it for you.
HOW TO CONTACT US:
Call us now at 307-632-6352 to get your file started. If you have 3 or more preference points and want to apply for the 2022 elk season, we need to start your application now. We can still get your application in, but the deadline is February 1st! (If you miss this date, you can still plan for future Wyoming hunts).
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email: huntingfishingnews@yahoo.com The entire contents is © 2022, 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, Inc. Nor does this material necessarily express the views of Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. All photo & editorial submissions become the property of Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. to use or not use at their discretion. Volume 19 Issue 2 Cover Photo: ©twildlife | depositphotos.com
(continued on page 33) Hunting & Fishing News | 9
Spawning can occur from December to late March, with most spawning happening mid-February through mid-March. Females will lay anywhere between 60,000 to 3 million eggs, each being the size a grain of sand. Burbot will often live to 8 to 10 years old, and even longer in other parts of the world. Unbeknownst to many Idaho anglers, burbot are a healthy sport fish living right here in our backyard, but it didn’t always use to be that way.
Bouncing back
Burbot caught by F&G fisheries research efforts on the Kootenai River. Photo credit Jorge Rosales. Courtesy IFG.
It’s Known As A ‘Kootenai Leopard’ And It Tastes Like Lobster. Introducing, The Burbot By Connor Liess, Public Information Specialist IF&G
R
... iddle me this: What lives in the Kootenai River, has the body of a cod, the meat of a lobster and the soul patch of Frank Zappa? No, that’s not a trick question. There really is a species of freshwater cod that calls the Kootenai River home, but that almost came to an end just 20 years ago. Herein lies the tale of one of Idaho’s strangest fish – the burbot.
What’s the deal with burbot?
Burbot – also known as bubbot, cusk, freshwater cod, ling, lingcod and eelpout – are the only freshwater cod species in North America, and they have a special place in Idaho’s heart. With a face that only a mother could love, these long-bodied, cold-water fish are not your run-of-the-mill sport fish. Burbot have flat heads and long bodies that sprout long pectoral fins just behind their gills. Their back-half is eel-like, with stumpy rounded fins. Burbot have brownish-yellow mottled skin,earning them the nickname “Kootenai leopards” among anglers. As the name implies, these “leopard-like” fish are predatory and feed during the night. They hang out during the day in deep, slow-moving pools, then seek out food such as crayfish or small fish in shallow water. With the help of inward slanting teeth and a funky little chin whisker called a barbel, burbot have no trouble scoping out and hanging on to prey. Burbot march to the beat of their own drum in more ways than one, but when it comes to reproduction, things get even weirder. Unlike most freshwater fish that spawn in spring or early summer, burbot prefer to do their business in winter. Some Kootenai River burbot will even migrate from watersheds up in Canada, roughly 75 miles away.
10 | Hunting & Fishing News
Just 20 years ago, anglers would be hard-pressed to hook a burbot in Idaho’s Kootenai River. It was estimated that only 50 fish remained in 2004. Thanks to an international, multi-state effort including Idaho Fish and Game, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and fisheries biologists from Canada and Montana, Kootenai River’s burbot population recovered. Research began in the 1990’s, with burbot fishing closed down in 1992 because of a decline in numbers. Biologists started using hoop nets – a non-invasive fish trap – to capture, tag and study these fish. Researchers also tagged burbot with PIT tags to track migration. In 2004, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho began operating a burbot hatchery in hopes of increasing the population. The Kootenai Tribe took Canadian-spawned burbot eggs back to the hatchery and hatched the tiny eggs from there. Once they reached adolescence, the young fish were released into the Kootenai River. From the decades’ long research, two important takeaways were found: Burbot weren’t very successful at spawning naturally, and hatchery-raised burbot were surviving but still relied on the hatchery to produce more fish for the population to continue growing. In 2019, the burbot population finally hit its restoration goal. Partners from the original recovery project are still monitoring burbot populations in the Kootenai River fishery.
You had me at lobster cod
Hit up your buddy to take the rods out on the Kootenai River and its tributaries in mid-winter and you might get a solid “no” before you can even finish your sentence. But tickle their fancy with a prized fresh-water cod that tastes like lobster and it might change their tune. Anglers will most likely find burbot between mid-February and mid-March when spawning is at its peak, but because burbot fly by night usually, it can be a little challenging to locate them. But before you cast off these unicorn fish as a myth, here are a few fishing tips to help you track down a “Kootenai leopard”: - Fish shallow flats (5-15 feet deep) at dusk or during the night. - Try river junctions where smaller streams flow into the mainstem of the river. - If fishing during the day, try dropping a line in 40-plus foot deep holes. Burbot like to rest in these deep pockets during the day. - Anglers can also try ice fishing for burbot on Bonner Lake. - Worms and shrimp work well for bait. - Use weights to get the line down deep towards the bottom. Fishing for burbot can be a great way to kick off any angler’s new year. Be sure to dress warm and bring extra layers in case that North Idaho weather takes a turn. Whether you land one of these leopard-like cod or simply use it as a way to get outdoors this winter, burbot fishing is not only a chance to put a delicious, native fish on the supper table, but a true reminder of the persistence and revitalization of one of our state’s fish species...
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How Far Apart Do Mature Bucks 6 Best Shed-Hunting Tips Shed Their Antlers? By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com
By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com
Photo courtesy Mike Hanback. Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com.
Find some bone this weekend:
First thing, just go…and go and go. A lot of people have no luck because they look on one or two properties where the deer may not even be this time of year, or maybe the animals are just passing through to a food source. Get permission to as many farms and woodlands as you can. Then start walking. One of BIG DEER’s best shed hunters, Kelly from South Dakota, told me he walked 19 miles last Saturday and found 8 antlers. Go! But make sure you walk where the deer are. Remember that as a general rule 90 percent of the deer are in 10% of the woods/fields/brush this time of year, where there is something to eat, so you need to narrow down your search areas. If you see 10 or 20 deer feeding and hanging around in a field now, some sheds are going to be there, or close. Prime food sources to check: 1) standing soybeans or a late-cut bean field where some pods are still on the ground; 2) thick, scrubby fields, with green shrubs and berries and maybe some locust trees with pods (deer love them this time of year); 3) alfalfa, clover or winter wheat. Standing corn or stubble is good, but if you don’t have a shed dog it’s tough. If no dog, walk every 2nd to 3rd corn row. Pay attention and look hard. Antlers stick out better in the corn with a light snow on the ground. Most of the best shedding is done in and around food sources and nearby staging areas, and from there branch out farther toward bedding areas. Hunt the connecting trails too. If you find several sheds in a spot one year, you will probably find more there next year. Mark spots where you find big sheds on a map. Good luck!
hed hunting season is coming, and here’s new S science to help you out. Nebraska researchers collected and analyzed cast bone in the Platte River Valley from 2009 to 2020. Here’s what they deduced from the 11-year project.
Generally, the distance between matched sets of antlers from bucks 2.5 years old or older is twice as far apart as matched antler sets of 1.5-year-old bucks. If you find one small antler, chances are the other little antler from that young buck is close by. Some matched sets of sheds from 1.5-year-old bucks were found less than 5 yards apart.
But when you find one big antler, you will likely have to walk and search farther to find the matching side. The researchers found that cast antlers from the same buck 2.5 years of age and older were located, on average, .3 miles or 517 yards apart. 12 | Hunting & Fishing News
Photo courtesy Mike Hanback. Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com.
Gourmet Panko Trout Recipe By Ian Malepeai, Marketing Manager Idaho Fish & Game
Easy, Gourmet Trout Recipe Catching trout is a favorite Idaho pastime, and a great way to provide healthy protein to your dinner table. Here’s an easy recipe to make your wild-caught trout a gourmet meal! Ingredients: Idaho trout ½ cup flour 1 cup panko 1 whisked egg 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper ½ stick of butter Garlic Choice of herbs Lemon Chopped pecans (optional) Step 1: Catch trout.
Finished Panko Trout
Step 4: Dip your fish in the flour, salt, and pepper bowl.
Step 5: Dip your fish in the egg wash.
Step 6: Dip your fish in the panko. All photos credit Ian Malepeai. Idaho Fish & Game.
Step 2: Mix a ½ stick of softened butter with a 1 clove of minced garlic and your choice of herb. For this recipe I used herbs I had in the fridge: chopped parsley, zest from my lemon, cilantro, and thyme. Step 3: Next mix the flour, salt, and pepper in one bowl. In a second bowl whisk your egg for the egg wash, and in the third bowl add your panko. If you choose, you can also add chopped pecans to your panko bowl for an extra nutty-sweet flavor.
Step 7: Fry your fish in the garlic & herb butter. Turn fish over until both sides are crispy.
Step 8: Finish your fish by placing in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Step 9: Serve with a lemon wedge and your choice of sides, or serve with crackers to make a delicious appetizer! Recipe courtesy of Hailey Malepeai
Hunting & Fishing News | 13
River Walleye Tactics:
How To Use Plastics For Spring Success By Jason Mitchell Jason Mitchell Outdoors www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com
or many walleye fishing enthusiasts, spring walleye F runs are the first game each season. Each river system has its own intricacies and nuances. There are obviously differences between river systems and each system has a unique personality. Regardless of the river system, the most important component of fishing rivers for walleyes in my opinion is simply being flexible and nimble. Fishing on the fly and adjusting to the day is perhaps more important on a river than anywhere else you might fish for walleye.
Where to Locate Walleye on Rivers
On many river systems, conditions can change through the day as current velocity pulses or changes. Water clarity can be a moving target. On top of the changes in the river itself, the fish are going through major changes. Typically before the spawn, we often find fish holding in holes of troughs of deeper, slower water. These spots can often be community spots and what is interesting is that some of the first boats on the water each spring often do well in these types of locations but these locations often fall off quickly as boats show up. Warming trends and sunshine can push fish up shallow but fronts or dips in water temps can pull fish down deeper. After the spawn, we will sometimes find fish out of the current more especially if there is sunshine and a warming trend. How fish position on a current seam can change by the hour.
If you fish a river in August, you might be looking for the fast water or the top The key to fishing rivers is simply being wing dam. Early in the flexible and fishing the conditions of the day. season, however, we often Photos courtesy www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com. find fish relating to a slower current or a seam where fast water meets slack water. Use your trolling motor to feel the pattern. If you need to have your trolling motor on five or six to pull ahead against the current, you might be in too fast of water. Don’t rely on ground speed when fishing a river as there is no magic speed to slip downstream or drag upstream. Use the power of the trolling motor to read the current velocity.
How to Target River Walleye
Few presentations catch more fish on a river system than a jig. Jigs and minnows traditionally catch plenty of fish and there are times when using real meat can catch more fish, especially when you have to slow down in real slack water. So often, however, jigs and soft plastics just make you more efficient. On most river systems, soft plastics are the first choice among many walleye anglers. Soft plastics put off more vibration, are durable and you can adjust the glide, profile, and color. You can simply fish through locations faster with soft plastics because of their durability. Pitching Plastics Because conditions can change by the hour on a river, you can simply sample so much water by pitching. You can touch the shallow water and still fish the water back to the boat and fish below the boat. Not only are you working the jig through different depths, you are also moving the jig through the seam and touching different current velocities as well. As you learn the location and fine-tune the exact spot where fish are holding, you can focus on boat position and find the perfect angle to cast to keep the jig in front of fish. Usually, the aggressive fish are positioned nosed into the faster water next to the seam or near the top or upstream portion of the slot or hole. Some bottoms have a sawtooth-type bottom that will hold several small nooks or depressions where fish can lay like what we often see on the Rainy River. Horizontal seams and eddies that can be visually seen are often a perfect candidate for pitching whereas big river bends, holes or locations that feature up and down structure that slow down current below are perfect for dragging jigs upstream or slipping downstream. Regardless of seam or location, jigs and plastics can often shine. For pitching across the seam or cross current, thin diameter lines and narrow plastic profiles often fish better as you don’t want the current to bow the line or push the plastic too fast downstream. For pitching plastics, I absolutely love Berkley Nanofil. Nanofil is a super thin braid that offers no stretch so this line not only cuts current extremely well but is also very sensitive and responsive. I often use a two to three-foot piece of fluorocarbon leader material tied to the Nanofil with an Alberto Knot. I believe that high-vis line that is easier to see gives an angler a big advantage for pitching jigs on rivers because you can watch the line.
14 | Hunting & Fishing News
Not only can you watch the line jump from a fish, but you can also watch the bend in the line. Too much bend in the line will cost you fish, so you have to change your jig weight or angle of cast to find that sweet spot. What I also like to do with high-vis braided line is run a black sharpie down the line just to make the high-vis line disappear better underwater. When we film underwater footage in a river, the amount of leaves, grass and debris that is tumbling downstream is significant. I really believe the walleye learn to ignore stuff floating past them that looks like debris. High-vis line looks a lot like this debris underwater and by just darkening the line above the leader, the whole package as far as the line seems to be much harder to see. Particularly when you have good water visibility which often coincides with some of the best river fishing, using an invisible leader material and darkening the high vis braid above the leader is something that can mean more bites and more fish.
Attention Steelhead Anglers: Spring 2022 Steelhead Bag Limits Have Been Reduced By Connor Liess, Public Information Specialist IFG
Angler with her steelhead. Photo credit Mike Demick. Courtesy IFG.
The Salmo Slick Shad is deadly for pitching current seams for walleyes as the narrow profile cuts the current extremely well. Use a long shank jig like the Northland Fishing Tackle Slurp! Head.
For plastics, think aerodynamic when pitching. Narrow and compact, current cutting profiles like ringworms, flukes or narrow paddle tails like the Salmo Slick Shad often fish better in current. Wide profiles or bulky profiles just don’t find bottom and often get pushed downstream faster. For fishing faster water or seams, the Salmo Slick Shad has emerged as my favorite. In fact, I caught the biggest walleye I have ever caught last spring using a Slick Shad by pitching an eddy off a submerged sandbar on the Missouri River in North Dakota. Other notable profiles include some of the ribbed paddle tail styles that exaggerate the profile but cut down on the bulk. Examples of these ribbed or spiked profiles include the B-Fish-N Pulse-R or the Salmo Spikey Shad. Dragging Jigs and Plastics
For dragging jigs upstream, I often find that I can get away with some bulkier profiles and sometimes find that the larger profiles work better in dirtier water.
(continued on page 38)
bag limits for 2022 spring season are not Reduced reflected in newly printed fishing rules booklet. Steelhead anglers are reminded that steelhead bag limits have been reduced for the 2022 spring season, but the reductions are not reflected in the new, 2022-24 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules booklet. Fish and Game commissioners set the default steelhead seasons and bag limits for the next three years, which are reflected in the new rules booklet, but those may be modified depending on run sizes and other factors.
Because of low steelhead returns in 2021, the spring 2022 season has a reduced daily limit in the Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers of two fish per day, and one fish per day in the Clearwater River basin. The changes for the spring 2022 season coinciding with the arrival of the new three-year rules booklet may cause some confusion for anglers, who are reminded the most current season updates can be found on the Idaho Fish and Game Steelhead Rules page https://idfg.idaho.gov/fish/steelhead/rules.
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The country looked perfect, but until my nostrils just filled up with javi stench, it had been a slow start. We got the wind and started making our way towards where we thought the smell was emitting from. Long story short: we ended up walking way farther than we’d intended, didn’t find the pigs and the sole of my damn boot peeled off. My hunt was over and it was gonna be a long walk back to the truck with my sole tied on with boot laces. Never would I skimp on boots ever again.
Photos courtesy Josh Kirchner and www.goHUNT.com.
Three Gear Items To Never Skimp On For A Western Hunt By Josh Kirchner Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
W
e are now staring directly in the face of application season! Many are already in the planning stage and looking forward to some incredible memories. Others are gearing up for several winter hunts. Part of that preparation involves acquiring some new gear. And it’s no secret that this stuff can really rack up a bill over time, especially if you buy the latest and greatest of everything. So, it’s likely in your best interest to pick and choose what you’ll “skimp” on and what you’ll pony up the most dough for. Some gear items are just more important than others and have a greater impact on your overall experience. I’m going to narrow down those items to what I call the “Big Three.”
Boots
“You smell that? I just got a whiff of javelina.” On a cold February morning here in Arizona, a friend of mine and I were out glassing on a javelina hunt. 16 | Hunting & Fishing News
For a western hunter, boots are high on the list of importance. We do a heck of a lot of walking through demanding terrain and our boots need to be as ready as we are. Our bodies can be as ready as possible, but if boots aren’t up to snuff, it can ruin a hunt in a hurry. A boot that is cheaply made can fall apart as discussed above. Boots that don’t fit or provide proper support can cause rubbing, hot spots, blisters and increased foot fatigue. The rub here (no pun intended) is that all of our feet are different, so we really need to try on a ton of boots to find what works for us. Going off of a recommendation from someone else is not enough. A great way to look at boots is like we do tires. Would you trust a cheap tire on an off road vehicle? I think not. Boots are no different.
Backpack Through the night, we trudged our way across snow-covered landscapes with elk meat on our backs. My dad had just shot a bull hours beforehand and we were finally making our way back to the trucks. Halfway through the hike we had to stop. Dad’s backpack wasn’t performing and was leaving him falling way behind in pain. So, between the four of us, we divided up what he was carrying to lighten the load. My dad is a hard dude. Strong. I knew it wasn’t him. It was the pack. Things don’t have to be like that in the hills. Early on, I went through the whole save money on a backpack thing. I was a young kid trying to figure out how life worked without a whole lot of resources. After all of that “saving,” I ended up spending way more in the end than if I would have just bought a good backpack from the start. I would have saved money as well as saved myself from the painful hikes I had with lesser backpacks. This is an item that you’ll wear most of your hunt similar to boots. It is what will carry all of your gear and, hopefully, your game meat back to camp. Having a subpar pack is a great way to create misery, decrease hunting drive and can even cause injury with heavy loads. A pack that isn’t distributing weight properly will put undue stress on your body, undoubtedly affecting your mobility. Good backpacks cost what they do for a reason. As expensive as they may be, another thing to pay attention to here is to make sure that backpack is truly fit to you and your body. The performance of a backpack will suffer if this isn’t taken into consideration.
Optics
Upcoming Montana BOW Ice Fishing Classes Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Ice Fishing 101 Helena, MT Saturday, Feb. 12 This class is for the beginner or intermediate ice angler who wants to learn or improve their fishing skills. You will learn about ice fishing gear, dressing to stay warm, and how to be safe on the ice. For more information see registration form. Morning and afternoon class to choose from. For more information and registration form visit: https://fwp.mt.gov/education/becoming-an-outdoors-woman ______________________________________________
It was late winter and a buddy and I were out glassing for deer in the deserts of Arizona. Glassing was still somewhat of a new thing for us, so our optics weren’t the greatest by any means. After hours of trying to find deer, both of us were just over it. Headaches and heartache is what it was. Each time we’d go to look through our binos, it was agonizing and would fuel the thumping pain in our heads. Glad I brought some Advil with me that day. I sure did need it. I also needed to buy a good set of binoculars for next time. And now for what can be the most pricey of them all. Optics are the pinnacle of credit card swipes. At least for good optics it is. And in the West, good optics turn up animals. The longer you can stay behind the glass, the more critters will walk through them. For spot and stalk hunting, it doesn’t get much better than watching an animal for hours on end doing their thing. It allows us to construct a calculated plan of action while the animal is undisturbed. This is a huge advantage. However, it doesn’t come by way of cheap optics. The only things cheap optics give is a sore neck, headache and a wish: a wish that you’d snagged some better glass. It may hurt when the card gets swiped, but it’s 100% worth it.
FINAL THOUGHTS Each of these things, while simple and basic as they may be, can put a damper on your hunt in one way or another, which is exactly why I chose to cover them. There can be an argument made for not skimping on all gear items, but where the rubber meets the road is where I wanted to focus. Insufficient boots can leave a hunter dreading each one of the steps ahead. Bad backpacks will make you feel far less capable than you truly are. Not to mention the possible injuries that could happen from insufficiently carrying heavy loads. You wouldn’t haul a mobile home with a Radio Flyer Wagon. And then there are optics. It isn’t as simple as just throwing the binos up real quick for seconds at a time. Hours of meticulous glassing are very normal for western hunting, which goes by much more swimmingly and productive with quality glass. In the end, you need to find the animal, get to the animal and pack the animal out. These items cover the majority of that. Happy hunting out there this coming year!
Ice Fishing 101 Missoula/Frenchtown Pond State Park Saturday, Feb. 26 This class is for the beginner or intermediate ice angler who wants to learn or improve their fishing skills. You will learn about ice fishing gear, dressing to stay warm, and how to be safe on the ice. For more information see registration form. For more information and registration form visit: https://fwp.mt.gov/education/becoming-an-outdoors-woman ______________________________________________ Save the Date: Kalispell Ice Fishing date Feb. 19. For more information and registration form visit: https://fwp.mt.gov/education/becoming-an-outdoors-woman
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Should Your Next Turkey Gun Be A .410 Bore? By Vortex Nation Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com
nce thought of as too light-hitting to take larger O game, the .410 is making a big-time comeback as a turkey gun thanks to new technology. The .410 bore shotgun has come a long way in recent years. Advancements in shotshells transformed it from a squirrel and rabbit killer to a strut-stopping turkey gun out to 40 yards. Weighing in at just over five pounds and offered in packages topped with a picatinny rail for mounting your favorite red dot, the .410 has proven itself as a viable contender. Whether you’re searching for your first turkey gun or further diversifying your repertoire, here’s a few reasons why the mighty .410 should be high on your list.
TSS SHOT SHELL OFFERINGS While admittedly pricey, Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) has made turkey hunters and wildlife agencies alike rethink the way we classify the .410 bore. According to Federal Premium, TSS is 56% denser than lead, which means a No. 9 TSS pellet provides comparable penetration to a No. 5 lead pellet shot from the same gun. Since No. 9 shot is significantly smaller than standard turkey loads filled with No. 4, 5, or 6, TSS loads pack more pellets into a shotshell than traditional offerings. A No. 9 TSS .410 shotshell packs 294 pellets into a 3-inch shell. Compare that to 236 pellets in a 12-gauge No. 4 Federal Grand Slam turkey load, and it’s easy to understand the lethality of the pint-sized .410. (For a deep dive into turkey shells, have a listen to this 10-minute talk.): https://soundcloud.com/ vortexnationpodcast/10minutetalk-turkey-loadsfor-your-shotty?utm_source=clipboard&utm_ medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
All photos credit Vortex Nation. Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com.
RECOIL Most turkey hunters grimace at the idea of patterning a 12-gauge shotgun. Simply put, they kick like a mule and aren’t enjoyable to shoot. The result is usually a flinch before pulling the trigger in anticipation of the wallop soon to be endured, which leads to missed turkeys and colorful language. On the other hand, a .410 is an entirely different shooting experience. The relatively tame recoil helps the hunter stay on target and pack more pellets into the target, making it especially ideal for small-statured hunters or those sensitive to recoil. Turkeys rarely walk right down the gun barrel and into the decoy spread, so hunters need to be ready to adjust on the fly for awkward shooting angles. A shotgun that produces lighter recoil will save your shoulder and help you be more effective, especially when shooting towards your weak side (extreme right for a right-handed shooter, or extreme left for a lefty).
SIZE AND WEIGHT Run-and-gun turkey hunters live and die by their ability to quickly and quietly cover ground. We do all we can to shave weight in our vests and sometimes even leave our precious decoys back at the truck because they’re too bulky, yet we’ll lug around an eight-plus pound broomstick that snags nearby branches. The .410 trumps all other turkey guns when it comes to maneuverability as it weighs just over five pounds and measures a mere 41.5 inches. Whether you’re bellycrawling over a ridgetop to anchor a hung-up gobbler or silently creeping through a swamp, you’ll be nimble and more effective with a less cumbersome shotgun.
CONCLUSION If you haven’t already, it’s time to re-evaluate the role a .410 can play in your hunting arsenal. This diminutive shotgun is lethal medicine for loudmouth toms when paired with a red dot and fueled by modern ammunition.
One of the biggest technologies that make the .410 a killer turkey round? Tungsten Super Shot, which is 56% denser than lead, allowing smaller Tungsten shot to hit as hard as larger lead shot. Pictured here, a 40 yard pattern on the left target, and a 20 yard pattern on the right.
Want to learn more about topping your turkey gun with a red dot? Check out this podcast: https://soundcloud.com/vortexnationpodcast/ep-119red-dots-on-turkey-gun?utm_source=clipboard&utm_ medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Hunting & Fishing News | 19
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STICK OR DANGLE? Among those who use stinger hooks there is an ongoing debate about how best to use them. Some guys feel strongly that one barb of the stinger hook needs to be imbedded into the bait or soft plastics being used. Another whole school of thought is that a stinger hook is most productive when left dangling free.
The author has been jigging with stinger hooks for 40 something years. Experience has taught him, use the stinger hook and learn to live with the extra snags and hassles. Photos courtesy Mark Romanack. Fishing 411 TV www.fishing411.net.
STINGER HOOKS
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
If every fish bit like this lake trout, stinger hooks would not be necessary. Unfortunately, fish often bite, but not with authority leading to short strikes. A stinger hook does a good job of hooking those light biting fish plain and simple.
By Mark Romanack Fishing 411 www.fishing411.net
hould I be using a stinger hook? That’s a common S question, especially in the winter time when fish can get pretty lethargic. I’ve had about 40 years of experience using stinger hooks to catch walleye, trout and a host of other species. In that time, the truth told I’ve probably cussed at stinger hooks as much as I have praised them. The one thing you can not get around when using a stinger hook is that extra hook is pretty handy at catching just about everything in or around a fishing boat. I get frustrated at times because it seems like the stinger hooks catch in the landing net, they catch on gloves, in the boat carpet and about a thousand other places. Every once in awhile, a stinger hook actually catches a fish and that is why we use them. To be fair, some days if you’re not using a stinger hook, you’re going to have a bad day on the water. Other days, the stinger is helpful, but not necessarily a deal breaker. The attitude of the fish makes such a big difference from day to day and bite to bite, it’s pretty hard to predict if the stinger hook is going to help or not. Because the activity level of fish is constantly changing, I’ve just come to the conclusion that for certain types of fishing a stinger hook is a necessary evil. If you use the stinger hook you are for sure going to have to deal with that extra hook catching on stuff you don’t want to catch. On the other hand, it might just catch you a few more fish and isn’t that what it’s all about? 22 | Hunting & Fishing News
Here’s my two cents on the subject. Back in the day, there was a treble hook “stinger” that featured one of the hooks pointed backwards and two of the hooks pointed forward. This unique hook was one of the best stingers I have ever had the pleasure of using. The hook that was pointed backwards was pierced into the minnow or plastic, positioning the other two hooks upright, pointed forward and ready for action. When a fish would bite, because the one hook was solidly imbedded in the bait, that hook was very resistant to tearing free. This in turn applied pressure to the hook points that were exposed when a fish grabbed the bait. This small amount of pressure on the hook points did an excellent job of sticking and holding most of the fish that made the mistake of biting. I liked these stinger hooks so much, I ordered hundreds of them. Unfortunately, the company eventually went out of business and that unique treble hook soon went away. I’ve never seen anything else that worked quite as well as this unique two hook forward, one hook backwards stinger hook design. After these hooks became unavailable, I tried for years to use ordinary treble hook stingers and to pierce one hook into the bait while fishing. The problem is that it’s almost impossible to keep that hook stuck in the minnow or plastic for any length of time, because pressure easily pulls the hook back out the same hole it was stuck into. Just the natural jigging action works the stinger hook free in a matter of a couple minutes.
So, I started just letting the stinger hook dangle and you guessed it, that option works as well. When the stinger hook is free dangling, the lightest part of the presentation becomes the stinger hook. Fish that try to inhale the bait, almost always get the stinger hook in their mouth and that’s what fishing a stinger hook is all about.
STINGER LENGTH In my humble opinion, a stinger hook should be long enough that when it is embedded into the bait or left dangling, the treble hook should be at or very near the tail end of the bait. If the stinger is too short, fish will be missed. If the stinger is too long, snags become a bigger problem. This is the very reason a lot of anglers prefer to tie their own stinger hooks, so they can precisely match up the stinger to the jigs they are using.
This simple system works as well as anything on the market. Golden Gator makes these stingers in varying lengths and hook sizes suitable for a wide variety of jigging applications. If you’re that guy who doesn’t want to tie his own stinger hooks, the EZ-Cinch is the answer.
STORING STINGER HOOKS Stinger hooks are one of those fishing tackle items that are tricky to store. I use a small clear plastic fly box that allows me to stick the treble hook into the soft foam lining. The box I use is two sided and I can store dozens of stinger hooks in one very small package. I’ve seen guys also use foam blocks to store stinger hooks. This works well until you forget and leave the foam block on the deck while running to a new fishing spot. Just that quick your stinger hooks blow out of the boat and are lost.
ATTACHING THE STINGER TO THE JIG There are a number of ways the stinger hook can be attached to the jig. Some are designed with small clips that attach to the line tie on the jig. Others are designed to fit over the hook point. I like a stinger to fit over the hook point because this option works to keep the bait on the hook better. I use this option exclusively when fishing with live minnows. A Michigan company known as Golden Gator Tackle, produces the EZ-Cinch Stinger that uses a small bead to create a loop that can easily be placed over the hook point, then cinched down tightly. The beauty of this system is the loop can be cinched up tight to hold the stinger in place on the hook, then by simply grabbing the bead and pulling, the loop opens and the stinger can be removed when it times to re-bait or add a different soft plastic.
Jake Romanack of Fishing 411 has grown into a world class jig fisherman. From humble beginnings as a kid who was frustrated with jig fishing, these days Jake is the guy in the boat to beat on any given trip.
LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM
The EZ-Cinch Stinger Hook shown here is easy to put on and take off when it’s time to bait or change plastics. This style of stinger does a good job of holding minnows on the hook as well.
Love them or hate them, stinger hooks are here to stay. Like I said, they are in my mind a necessary evil associated with cold water jigging and also deep water jigging applications. Those anglers who feel they do just as well without the stinger hook are welcome to that opinion. My 40 years of jigging experience suggests that if stubbornness prevents you from using stinger hooks, that same stubbornness is also costing you fish. Hunting & Fishing News | 23
Be mindful your shooting position setoff is the recommended distance from the sensors, make sure the unit is level, sensors are spaced the proper distance apart, you are shooting horizontal over the sensors, don’t shoot the unit itself and you’re off to the races. The biggest factor putting this style of chronograph in the “add-to-cart” category is price. They are generally the most affordable. They can also be used for arrow velocities – increasing versatility.
MagnetoSpeed:
Photo courtesy Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com.
SPEEDING THROUGH CHRONOGRAPHS
By Vortex Nation Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com
“
S
peed kills.” Says right on the ammo box sitting adjacent my amber-hued glass as I type. True, yes. But knowledge is power, and with a desire to shoot precisely at longer distances, knowing your velocity is as deadly as speed itself.
Simply put, you can’t shoot long range (accurately and consistently) without a verified and consistent velocity. It is a pivotal datapoint that without, renders any calculator, D.O.P.E. chart, riflescope turret, or ballistically-equipped range-finding device less effective. This in mind, it’s time to get up to speed on chronographs by covering the different styles, how they operate, and their pros and cons so you can pick the right one to fit your shooting needs.
Compact, accurate, lightweight and user friendly, the MagnetoSpeed is a great option at indoor and outdoor ranges. As the name implies, the MagnetoSpeed uses electromagnetic sensors contained within the highly durable bayonet-style unit to accurately measure the time it takes the bullet to pass between both sensors. The most common version straps directly to the barrel. Shims let you customize for proper fit. Works great – even when shooting near others at the range. Point of impact will shift with the unit in place, so shoot for groups and velocity separately – this may be the only drawback.
Labradar: Labradar is the newest tech when it comes to measuring bullet velocity. It uses Doppler Radar (sound waves) and is proven to be highly accurate - possibly the most accurate. To a degree, we are splitting hairs here. A Labradar can give multiple velocity data points out to 100 yards. A handy feature for the super-geeks of the shooting world. Lab Radar isn’t a one trick pony. It works great for bows and crossbows as well. An app lets you run the unit from your phone. From a multiple user standpoint, transitioning the unit from person to person is as simple as setting it down and getting to work. Chronographing more than one rifle per range sessions is a more fluid process with this unit as well. Downsides of Labradar are it is the most expensive of the bunch, can pick up shots from shooters around you giving false readings (accessories available to trigger the unit off only your shot), consumes comparatively more battery, and may not work on some indoor ranges.
Light Based: This style of chronograph features two light-based sensors to detect and measure the time it takes a bullet to pass across both sensors. Coincidently, lightbased chronographs can be sensitive to ambient light conditions. Moderate lighting will be your best friend. Think an overcast day. External light sources at your indoor range, dappled sunlight/shadows from trees and high sun can negatively affect its performance. Models may have features built in, or available accessories to mitigate potential issues. 24 | Hunting & Fishing News
For a deep dive with in-house experts Ian Klemm and Tony Palzkill all about chronographs tune in to Vortex Nation Podcast Episode 199 Get Up to Speed On Chronographs.
https://soundcloud.com/vortexnationpodcast/ ep-199-get-up-to-speed-on-chronographs?utm_ source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_ campaign=social_sharing
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A GLASSING TIP YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF By Brady Miller Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
Since that moment I’ve used his tip a ton on all my hunts this past fall. And I can say with confidence that it’s something that I wish I knew sooner.
Never lose where you glassed an animal again! That tip Ethan shared with me was using the degree reference indicator that’s available on all Sirui tripod heads. Check out the video below to see exactly how I use this glassing method when in the field. And more specifically, I’m able to use this glassing method on my all-time favorite pan head, the Sirui VA-5 and it also can be used on the Sirui VH-10 as well as any of the ball heads like the Sirui K-10X and the Sirui G-10KX
All photo credits Brady Miller.
Glassing is essential. There’s no doubt about that. I love learning and every so often someone brings something up that greatly solves a pain point I’ve experienced. Earlier this fall, Ethan Klein who is our Merchandising Specialist at goHUNT told me about something he does while glassing off a tripod and I was instantly speechless!
We’ve all been there where we glassed up an animal off a tripod with binoculars and then we switched to a spotting scope and in that process, the tripod head spun a bit (even can happen if you lock down the windage) and you lost exactly where that animal was. Then we had to remember what bush or exact rock that animal was next to. The time that takes to refind the animal could mean the animal has a chance to go into thick timber or even over a ridge and out of sight forever. Those days are in the past if you reference a degree indicator on your tripod head!
Watch here: https://youtu.be/0Crs7TBxBLQ 26 | Hunting & Fishing News
So how do you actually use this degree indicator?
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Noting the degree indicator is a huge help relocating animals when switching from a binocular to a spotting scope.
When glassing, if you pick up an animal, take a quick glance down and note on the degree indicator where that animal is. And an even better technique would be to note the degree and lock the horizontal pan lever down. Sort of one of those measure twice cut once tricks to ensure you don’t lose where an animal is.
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You see an animal but want to keep glassing Another use case for this is when I’m panning around glassing a mountainside. If I find a buck or even a group of does and let’s say it’s during the rut, I’ll keep scanning around the mountain quickly looking for other deer before they go out of sight, and then I’ll periodically check back on that deer or group of deer to see if a new buck shows up in that general area that might have been hidden from my view earlier. I can now easily reference the exact spot that was from the degree indicator.
Now when you switch from a spotting scope to binoculars or vice versa… you’ll know exactly where that animal is and then from there you only have to worry about the vertical component. This degree indicator trick is especially useful on extreme long range glassing sessions when you pick up a buck miles away. When glassing extreme distances, sometimes there are no discernable terrain features to reference where the buck or group of deer was. Now... I don’t have to worry about wasting time to refind an animal. This has helped me tremendously in my glassing efforts!
Also, there are times when you’re glassing with a friend and you find an animal and then you want the friend to come over and see it. But as your friend sat down he bumped the tripod and the tripod head moved. As long as you didn’t knock the tripod over, all you need to do is move the pan head to the correct degree and then find where the animal was at vertically and you’re back in business. You’ll no longer have to painstakingly try to locate the buck off some other hard-to-find reference point.
In closing Hopefully, this little tip will help you be more successful in your glassing efforts. I know it’s one of those tips that when I heard it, I wondered why I had never thought of it before! Hunting & Fishing News | 27
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Montana Considers Changes Oregon Ramps Up To Mule Deer Season Length CWD In Regions 1 And 2 Monitoring By Kristen A. Schmitt Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
By Kristen A. Schmitt Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
horter mule deer seasons are in the works in western ue to two recent positive cases of chronic wasting S Montana. Last week, the Montana Fish and Wildlife D disease (CWD) just across the Oregon-Idaho Commission advanced several proposals that would help border, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife struggling populations in Region 1 and Region 2 due to dwindling habitat, according to the Montana Standard.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that we’ve seen a decline in the overall mule deer population over the last decade, probably the last two decades, all across northwest Montana and I think that would apply to other states with similar habitat,” said Neil Anderson, Region 1’s wildlife program manager. Anderson noted that logging has decreased in those particular regions and “thick re-growth of forests” doesn’t support healthy mule deer herds and has, in fact, impacted “both distribution and numbers.” While Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) considered several different options to boost herds, the following breakdown is what has been advanced through the commission and will be open to a 30-day public comment period. The commission will vote on the final proposal in February. Region 1: Combine most of Hunting District (HD) 101 with HD 109 south and west of Eureka into HD 101. Mule deer hunting will be for bucks only and for general licenses during the first three weeks of the season. Limited permit tags will be open during the last two weeks of the season with a quota of 15. Region 2: Unlimited permits will be eliminated and shortened seasons put in place. HDs 204, 212, 213, 214, 215, 217, 240, 281 and 292 will be a three-week season (compared to the current five-week season). MFWP also wants to shorten the season in HD 285 and move HD 282 to limited permits. Region 3: MFWP proposed switching HDs 380 and 392 to limited permits. For more information on the proposed changes, click here https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/ reg-proposals/deer-elk...
28 | Hunting & Fishing News
(ODFW) is increasing its monitoring for the fatal disease within its own deer and elk herds. The two infected deer were harvested by hunters in Idaho in October and were taken in a hunt unit about 30 miles away from the Snake River/Oregon border, according to a press release. “The news of an Idaho detection is alarming, but we have been working for years to keep CWD out of Oregon and preparing to respond if it is detected here,” said Colin Gillin, ODFW’s state wildlife veterinarian. To understand the prevalence of CWD in the state, ODFW will be “ramping up” testing on deer and elk, particularly those in the northeastern portion of the state. This includes hunter-harvested animals as well as roadkill samples. And ODFW has already emailed hunters with tags for hunts in northeast Oregon so they can provide samples from any deer or elk they successfully harvest for CWD testing purposes. Barrels have been placed in several locations to make it easier for hunters to submit a head for sampling. Further, according to a press release, it will be “mandatory for anyone transporting wildlife carcasses or parts to stop at a check station” to have their animal tested starting in 2022. There is also a cervid parts import ban in place that makes it illegal to bring certain cervid parts into the state that contain brain or spinal cord tissues from known areas infected with CWD. For more information on CWD in Oregon, click here https://myodfw.com/CWD.
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It’s simple: Straight-wall cartridges are undeniably cool. These bad-boys push big, heavy pills and pack a wallop. Super effective on nearly all types of game at moderate ranges, straight-wall’s are seeing a resurgence in popularity - and for good reason. Straight-wall Specific Optics: The Vortex Crossfire® II Straight-Wall Riflescope boasts a BDC reticle optimized for the ballistic curve of most popular straight-wall cartridges – further enhancing down-range accuracy. History: The cases of straight-wall cartridges runnith over with history and nostalgia. Military adoption and use of the .45-70 Government in 1873 fueled its popularity among North American sportsman, Hollywood westerns gave straight wall’s glamour on the big screen and word of mouth accounts of their effectiveness sealed the deal. No matter the developments cartridges experienced over time, straight-walls were here to stay – and in recent years, some high-performing additions to the straight-wall family are giving hunters and shooters added performance they need in a straight-wall option. A better option for Deer hunting? For some folks – Yes! Deer hunters in state’s like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Indiana are reaping the benefits of game agencies rolling straight-wall cartridges into seasons previously resigned to shotguns and muzzleloaders. This is great news for hunters who put a premium on accuracy, increasing their effective range and want to own/use a firearm sure to be more versatile on out-of-state hunts as well. All this, while producing less recoil than their afore-mentioned counterparts. And when compared to a muzzleloader, straight-wall rifles are much easier to clean, load, as well as enable a fast follow-up shot if needed.
The .350 Legend is a modern solution to modern problems – or at least modern game regulations. Based on a lengthened .223 case and delivering a .357 diameter bullet, this efficient cartridge eclipses the 30-30 in performance with less recoil – serious attributes solidly falling in the plus category. Your Gun, Your Choice: Classic lever guns,...traditional bolt rifles, Ruger No. 1’s and even custom, long-range-styled rifles, you can find the form factor to match your style of hunting. What once was old, is new again when it comes to straight-wall’s and firearms chambered for these cartridges. Take advantage of the performance they offer and put the odds of a full freezer in your favor this fall. Hunting & Fishing News | 29
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Hunting & Fishing News | 31
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32 | Hunting & Fishing News
Why Wyoming Is THE Place For A Western Elk Hunt
(continued from page 9)
Low Hunting Pressure
Table Mountain Outfitters boasts an incredible 100% opportunity for elk hunters on both rifle and archery hunts. If you hunt with the guides here, you will see good numbers of elk and have opportunities to harvest quality animals. One reason for our exceptional success rates is the access to large, free-range ranches without any other hunting pressure. Table Mountain utilizes several expansive and historic western properties where elk funnel and spend the hunting season. Here, without the public hunting pressure, the elk still act like elk. You’ll hear them bugling during the rut and see them remaining in big herds throughout the season.
A Classic Western Hunt
Plan on walking through rolling hills with mixed timber and glassing over some wild terrain on the eastern flanks of the Rocky Mountains. The lack of development and large intact tracts of habitat allow for healthy big game populations. Elk and mule deer migrate freely through these zones.
The access to big ranches, lack of other hunters and abundance of game makes Wyoming the perfect place to plan a western elk hunt. Let’s plan your hunt now. The Wyoming elk application deadline is February 1st. We will submit your application for you. But to get started, you must contact us now. Call 307-632-6352 or email TMOHUNTS@gmail.com.
Hunting & Fishing News | 33
photos from the outdoors
Kenny Williams Southwest Washington Muzzleloader Bull Elk.
Thor Sichveland Of Philipsburg Montana With His Montana Bull Elk.
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FAQs: Big Game Licensing In British Columbia By Zach Lazzari Kawdy Outfitters www.kawdyoutfitters.com
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he system is easy to navigate and very T straightforward. If you have any issues or questions about tags and licensing, please feel free to contact us and don’t hesitate to ask questions while booking your hunt. We will help get everything in order so you are ready to roll upon arrival.
FWID Card The first step is obtaining a Fish and Wildlife or FWID card. This is essentially your account for the province and it will link to your online account for ordering licenses. (continued next page)
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One of the common questions asked by our hunters, is how licensing works for hunting in British Columbia. The process for obtaining tags here is very straightforward for non-resident Canadians and non-resident aliens. You can purchase everything in advance, making it easy to focus on preparing gear and training for the hunt.
Photo courtesy Kawdy Outfitters www.kawdyoutfitters.com.
Hunting & Fishing News | 35
FAQs: Big Game Licensing In British Columbia (continued from page 35)
The BCeID is the online account and the next step in the process. After getting the account setup, you can move forward and purchase a general hunting license and specific species licenses. Hunting big game in British Columbia may only be done with a certified guide. Primary License The primary hunting license is a straight forward purchase for both non-resident Canadians and aliens. The fee is also very reasonable at around 53-CAD for non-resident and 126-CAD for non-resident aliens. This price is always subject to increase along with the species licenses. It also has a small surcharge along with the license fee. The primary license does not make you legal to hunt specific big game species and you will need individual licenses for each species you intend to target. Species License When you begin the process of booking your hunt, we will help you walk through the options for combo hunt opportunities based on your primary objective, the time of year, etc. Even if your number one goal is moose for example, most of our hunters take the opportunity to make it a combo hunt, adding at least one other tag.
Moose and mountain caribou is the most popular combo hunt. But whether it includes mountain goat or stone sheep, we can help you with those options and expectations. When we’ve made these decisions, you’ll then know which specific species licenses we will need to secure. In addition to our primary hunts, many hunters also choose to add wolf and wolverine tags. These are well worth the small investment as you may incidentally cross paths with either species. In the case that you lose a license while traveling, replacements can be secured for a 10-CAD fee. Youth licenses are also available for anyone under 18-years of age joining a hunt. All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult, which isn’t an issue here since guides are always present.
Contact Us With Questions If you have questions about a hunt, licensing or any other details, please don’t hesitate to contact us. From start to finish, we’re here to help make sure you have a memorable hunt. To learn more about our hunts, please take a few minutes to explore our website at www.kawdyoutfitters.com or call us at 1-250-306-8624 or 1-250-540-1179 (Oct 15 – July1) and 1-250-651-1189 (July 1 – Oct 15).
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Hells Canyon Sturgeon Are So Big That Anglers Don’t Need To Lie About How Big They Are (continued from page 5)
Pitching jigs and soft plastics are extremely deadly for walleyes on river systems. Thin diameter no-stretch line like Berkeley Nanofil can help for cutting the current and maintaining bottom contact as you work the jig back to the boat.
River Walleye Tactics: How to Use Plastics For Spring Success (continued from page 15)
My favorite all-around soft plastic body profile for dragging jigs is the Scheels Pro Swimmer which is your typical round grub style body with a big thumper paddle tail. You can pitch the Pro Swimmer in light to moderate current but where it really shines is dragging upstream in faster current. Perhaps the biggest reason I like to drag upstream so much is because I can crawl slower than slipping with the current downstream and the paddle tail moves a lot of water and puts off vibration. Especially when there is rain, ice jams, or tributaries muddying up the water and cutting down visibility, dragging big paddle tail plastics upstream is a go-to tactic.
Choosing the Right Jig for River Walleye
Regardless of plastic, don’t be afraid to use a jig with a stout long shank hook. Also, if you typically use a jig and minnow and don’t have confidence with plastics or want to get confidence with plastics, increase the size of your jig at least one to two sizes when you switch from live bait to plastics. Plastics just usually take a little more weight to find bottom. In fact when I am looking for fish and just trying to figure out the day, I like to error on the side of heavy just so I can cover a lot of different water. When I don’t know where the fish will be, I use the heaviest jig I can get away with. Once I find fish, I like to use the lightest jig I can get away with. The Northland Fishing Tackle Slurp! Jig Head is a great long shank hook for pitching. For stronger current, Clam makes a tungsten round headed jig with a long hook shank called the Drop TG that is phenomenal for faster or deeper water.
Using Plastics is Simply a Fun Way to Catch Fish If you were to poll many walleye anglers, I would have to believe that pitching a jig to catch a walleye would rate at the top of any list for simply a fun way to catch fish. In my opinion, plastics make pitching jigs even more fun. Especially when using braid, the bites are often electric. The strikes can be so hard. Fish hit these plastics hard and there is often no question that you got bit. Besides being simply fun, plastics are so effective and versatile. There is no doubt in my mind that you will catch more walleye this spring if you get confidence in soft plastics.
38 | Hunting & Fishing News
Large White Sturgeon landed in Hells Canyon. Photo credit Joe DuPont. Courtesy IFG.
If you are wondering how old those fish are, it is hard to tell because these fish are old enough that they likely lived part of their lives when there were few dams and the salmon runs were larger (they like to eat salmon and their eggs). However, based on the growth rates we see now, their age is largely dependent on whether they lived in Lower Granite Reservoir for part of their life or not. If they lived in the reservoir, they are likely around 70-90 years old (they grow much faster there), whereas if they lived in the river their entire life, they would be over 100 years old!
Here are some tips if you want to go after big sturgeon. First, if you want to catch big fish, use heavy line. We like to use 60-pound test mono for the main line with 80-pound test leaders. Although you can fish with heavy braid (150-pound plus), I don’t like to use it because when it wraps around fish it can cut into them. Next, if you hook a big fish, it is important that you follow it closely with the boat. It is almost impossible to land a 10 footer from shore. You will often have to fight fish of this size for over an hour, and if you don’t keep the boat above it to keep the line off the bottom, the repeated wear on the line as the fish hugs the bottom will eventually cause you to break it off. Even when we do follow the fish around with the boat, after landing a big one, the line usually has significant abrasion on it. I also like to use big hooks. I prefer to use 12/0 circle hooks or “J” hooks 10/0 or larger. I have found that with smaller hooks you often don’t get a good bite into their lip, which will make it more likely that it will eventually pull out. Finally, you need luck in your favor. I suspect we have lost many more 10 footers than we have landed.
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