HUNTING & F ISHING WESTERN
JANUARY 2022
NEWS
PUBLIC ACCESS For hunters, anglers and others who enjoy experiencing the outdoors first-hand, it means everything. No access means no recreational opportunity.
There are 244 more acres for hunters and others to explore as they roam across Montana’s largest wildlife management area thanks to a joint project between Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, private landowners and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The new property is now part of the 56,000-acre Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area at the base of the Anaconda-Pintlar Mountains in Deer Lodge County located south of Anaconda and west of Butte. Not only is it an integral part of a key wildlife migration pathway but it also provides calving grounds in the spring, summer range and security for elk in the fall. The transaction also improves public access on the east side of Grassy Mountain, a popular hunting area, and follows on the heels of a 2019 RMEF project that added 160 acres to the WMA.
MOUNT HAGGIN LOCATION
PROTECTED
244 MORE ACRES
Area located southwest of Anaconda in Deer Lodge County
An addition to the 56,000-acre wildlife management area
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F&G Commission Sets 2022-2024 Fishing Seasons & Rules
fall Chinook salmon, and Coho salmon could all be harvested at the same time
D
Courtesy IDF&G McCall Area Alpine Lakes Brush, Crystal, Lake Rock, Long, Serene and Tule lakes reverted back to general fishing seasons and limits (6 trout bag limit, no length limit)
By Connor Liess, Public Information Specialist Idaho Department Of Fish And Game
uring their meeting on Nov. 16, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the 2022-2024 Fishing Seasons and Rules proposals presented by Fish and Game fisheries staff. Fishing seasons and bag limits are established on a three-year cycle, which last started in 2019 and is expiring this December. During spring 2021, Fish and Game conducted an extensive public outreach campaign with virtual open houses and web surveys to collect ideas for potential changes to existing fishing seasons. During summer, regional fisheries managers proposed changes for fisheries across the state, and under the Commission’s direction, gathered public input on those proposals. After reviewing the extensive public input, the Commission adopted the upcoming 2022-2024 fishing seasons and bag limits. Anglers will see about 23 changes to seasons and bag limit throughout the state. These changes will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2022. Steelhead rules have also been modified for spring 2022 seasons, which will not be reflected in the 2022-2024 Fishing Seasons & Rules printed booklet, but the changes will be reflected online. The 2022-2024 Seasons and Rules brochure will be available online (digitally) and in printed booklets at Fish and Game regional offices and license sales vendors near the end of January 2022.
Here’s an overview of what anglers will see beginning on Jan. 1, 2022.
Panhandle
Pend Oreille River Boundary Boundary changed for the Pend Oreille River boundaries to include: from Highway 95 bridge at Sandpoint downstream to Idaho-Washington border, including tributaries and sloughs to the edge of flat water Lake Pend Oreille Creek Mouths The 100-yard fishing closure removed at the mouths of Gold, North Gold, Granite and Trestle Creeks on Lake Pend Oreille
Clearwater
Tolo Lake The “electric motors only” restriction removed. Fall Chinook Salmon seasons The fall Chinook Salmon seasons and limits for the Snake, Salmon and Clearwater Rivers are included in the 2022-24 seasons and rules booklet. Coho Salmon Seasons Clearwater and Snake rivers seasons will be incorporated into the updated seasons and limits booklet. Snake River Steelhead Catch and Release Season The catch-and-release steelhead season in the Snake River was extended by opening the season one month earlier on July 1 Clearwater River Basin Steelhead Seasons and Limits New season schedule provides better opportunities for catch-and-release and harvest-oriented steelhead anglers. Anglers will be able to fish during each of the two runs of steelhead that use the Clearwater River and will provide a time (September 10 through October 14) when steelhead,
4 | Hunting & Fishing News
Southwest – Nampa
Dick Knox Pond Trophy bass regulations adopted where bass limit is 2, none under 20 inches
Magic Valley
Anderson Ranch Reservoir Kokanee daily bag limit reduced from 25 to 15 Baker Lake Minimum length and bait/barbless hook restrictions removed, but maintained the 2-trout limit
Southeast
Southeast Idaho “No Motors” Restrictions “No motors” restrictions removed on Bannock Reservoir, Winder Reservoir and Dike Lake Southeast Idaho “Electric Motors Only” Restrictions “Electric motors only” restrictions removed at Foster Reservoir Weston Reservoir Boating Restrictions Boating access restrictions will be posted locally at the reservoir as a condition of access through private property, and will not appear in the fishing regulations Kokanee Creek Fishing Closure Existing fishing closures on Kokanee Creek removed Portneuf River Open fishing on the section near Lava Hot Springs from the Center Street Bridge upstream to the East Main Street Bridge Bannock Reservoir, Edson Fichter Pond and Montpelier Rearing Pond General fishing seasons and limits adopted, increasing the trout limit from 2 to 6 per day Blackfoot Reservoir Size, bag and possession limit restrictions removed for bass Bear Lake Harvest of either adipose fin-clipped (hatchery origin) or unclipped (wild origin) Bonneville cutthroat trout allowed. The 2-trout daily bag limit remains the same. Snake River (section from Eagle Rock to American Falls Dam) Simplified seasons and limits by changing gamefish harvest, bait and barbless hook restrictions as follows: Oct. 16 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend – limit is 0 for trout, catch-and-release. Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Oct. 15 – trout limit is 2
Upper Snake
Henrys Lake Current fishing season extended from Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Feb. 14 (the trout limit is 2), and adopted a new catch/release season from Feb. 15 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend (the trout limit is 0, catch-and-release)
Salmon
Lemhi and Pahsimeroi rivers The 14-inch minimum length limit on trout was removed, but maintains no harvest of cutthroat trout Stanley Lake The lake trout daily bag limit was reduced. Of the 6-trout bag limit, only 2 may be lake trout.
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Photo credit Jared Richardson | Dreamstime.com
Four Reasons To Say Yes To Antlerless Options By Jake Horton Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
or many of us, our nightly dreams are filled with F big bucks and bulls. We cannot wait for September to come around, allowing us to chase rutting elk and moose, and for November, so we can get after those whitetails and mature mule deer bucks. We all want to be successful at drawing tags, hunting and harvesting animals each year. I love wild game meat and the opportunity and accomplishment of harvesting it myself. That is why I apply for my annual bull elk and buck tags and also apply for antlerless options. Since my family primarily eats wild game, applying and harvesting antlerless elk, deer, moose and other species allows me to ensure a better chance at a full freezer. Some states allow you to purchase an antlerless tag in addition to your antlered tag or even use your tag for either sex.
There are a lot of reasons you should apply for an antlerless tag this next year. Back in 2018, goHUNT launched antlerless draw odds on INSIDER. This opened the door to figure out what antlerless hunts you can draw. They recently just now expanded this offering to showcase all antlerless hunts on Filtering 2.0!
Filtering 2.0 allows you to identify a lot of antlerless options, look at draw odds and harvest stats for western states. Seeking out antlerless hunts is an excellent option for a new hunter, a young hunter or a hunter who is more worried about filling his or her freezer than the wall. If you know a hunter like this or are a hunter like this, then consider chasing cows and does this fall to increase your chances while reducing your costs. If you’re unfamiliar with INSIDER, you can learn more here: https://join.gohunt.com/try/insider/ 6 | Hunting & Fishing News
1. Tag availability In most states out West, the antlered options for deer, elk and moose have become difficult to draw — at least in a good unit. Of course, there is always Colorado for over-the-counter (OTC) elk, but those seasons are often overrun with hunters, especially in the more popular units. However, when applying for an antlerless license, you almost always have a better chance to draw. You are nearly guaranteed to draw an antlerless license in most states if you put it as your first choice. This means that you can hunt year after year in the same or similar unit without having to have multiple backup plans. Even in states that offer fewer female sex tags than males, the odds are almost always better when applying for the female tag. 2. Harvest opportunity The second reason you should say yes to an antlerless option this year and for the years to come is the harvest opportunity. Most males to female ratios out West are between 10 to 100 up to around 40 to 100. This means that there will always be more antlerless elk, deer and moose out there for you to find. While most hunters are trying to harvest the one bull or buck hanging out with a dozen females, you will be looking for one of those dozen females to put down. For a hunter hunting hard in a western unit, the odds of you harvesting a female animal are nearly always going to be better. 3. Cost When it comes to applying and hunting out West, the cost of tags is getting ridiculous. Personally, I have spent so much money on nonresident tags that I could have bought a vehicle or put a down payment on a house. Here is another benefit of drawing and hunting female or antlerless tags: typically, in most states, they cost less. In Colorado, an antlerless elk tag is nearly $150 cheaper than an antlered bull tag. In Montana, the antlerless option is around $600 cheaper than the bull elk tag. The trend is similar for nearly all species in all states. Overall, this savings could be enough for you to hunt another species this year or in a future year or maybe enough to take your husband or wife out on a nice vacation when you get back home! 4. Meat Since the draw odds are better, the harvest opportunity is better, which means that your odds of bringing home some meat for your family are also better. Not only are your chances to bring home meat higher, but you will also have better tasting meat. In my experience and many other hunters’ experience, female animals taste better. Maybe it’s just because they are often less mature than the bucks and bulls I harvest or, perhaps, it’s due to less testosterone rolling through its body, but I love the taste of female animals. OVERALL If you are looking for a western hunt you can draw every year, which has an excellent opportunity to harvest, has lower upfront costs and increases your chances of bringing home some tasty meat, look no farther than an antlerless hunt.
How do you find out which units you can draw at your point level? There’s no better way to sort through the options than using the Insider tools from our friends at GoHunt. It would be difficult to overstate the value of this resource when planning any western hunt. If you’re not ready to pay for a GoHunt Insider membership, go to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife deer statistics page and open the most recent draw recap report. It takes a little practice, but learn how to read these tables and you’ll see a recap of last year’s draw for each hunt code, including the total license quota, how many licenses went to residents and nonresidents, and how many points it took to draw. This will allow you to create a list of the units that are available at your point level. All photos credit Ryan McSparran
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Mule Deer Hunting By Ryan McSparran Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Company www.caribougear.com
M
ost of the western states offer great mule deer hunting from Idaho and Montana down to the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona, there are a myriad of opportunities to hunt this classic western species. Being from Colorado, we’re fortunate to have some of the best mule deer hunting in the country right in our own backyard.
When it’s time to apply in the spring, have your plan ready. If you’re hoping to hunt that same fall, apply for a license that can be drawn at your point level. If you simply want to save a preference point for a future year, you can apply for a preference point only. You can accrue one point for deer each year. Preference points are species-specific. But they are not specific to a unit, weapon or a season. If you’re unsure – just apply for a point!
A point this year will open up more options down the road. You can always decide how to use your deer preference points later. When you apply for and successfully draw a first choice license, you’ll automatically use any accrued preference points. (continued on page 32)
We frequently receive questions from friends and customers about mule deer hunting here in Colorado. From drawing a license to planning the hunt, there’s a lot to consider. It’s not too early to begin planning your next mule deer hunt! For simplicity’s sake, this discussion will be limited to the western part of the state where most of Colorado’s mule deer hunting takes place. There are certainly some good mule deer hunting opportunities on the eastern plains. But the added complication of private land makes that a discussion for another day. In this article, we will be referring primarily to the mountain units west of I-25. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Colorado mule deer hunting: 1. What does it take to draw a mule deer license? The most important thing you should know is that it doesn’t take years of preference points to draw a good mule deer license in Colorado! Sure, you could save preference points for 10 years and have a great hunt. But even if you’re a nonresident, there are many good mule deer hunts that can be drawn with very few points. Unlike elk in Colorado, there are no over-the-counter licenses for mule deer. All mule deer tags are issued in the annual big game draw. The application deadline is the first Tuesday in April. Colorado’s big game draw uses a preference point system, meaning the hunters with the most points are first in line when applying for a specific license. There are certainly downsides to any system. However, one nice thing about this system is that it’s fairly predictable. With a reasonable amount of accuracy, you can determine how many points it takes to draw any given tag.
Hunting & Fishing News | 7
Dreaming Of Elk Hunting; We’ve Got You Covered! SNS Outfitter & Guides www.huntwyo.com
This is the perfect hunt for those of you needing your elk hunting “fix”! It is economically priced, plenty of licenses are available, it doesn’t require any preference points, and still gives you a real hunting adventure with a few days in the field, riding horseback in pursuit of filling your freezer full of quality, organic elk meat.
All photos credit SNS Outfitter & Guides www.huntwyo.com
he questions is: How do you fulfill the urge to go elk T hunting even when you don’t have enough Wyoming preference points to pursue a bull elk? SNS Outfitter & Guides
has the answer! The solution is a Wyoming Cow Elk Hunt. This is the perfect hunt for those of you needing your elk hunting “fix”! It is economically priced, plenty of licenses are available, it doesn’t require any preference points, and still gives you a real hunting adventure with a few days in the field, riding horseback in pursuit of filling your freezer full of quality, organic elk meat.
If you’re still needing that extra push to convince you that SNS cow elk hunts are the solution, we’ve got more good news!
Cow elk licenses draw at 100% rate. Additionally, for clients who choose to book after the January elk application period, we are able to buy left over tags to meet your needs. Our Wyoming Cow Elk hunts have gained a lot of popularity. We have several clients who opt to hunt cow elk with us annually while building up their preference points for bull elk. Although our cow hunts success rate isn’t quite 100%, we do take pride in a lifetime success rate of 77% on all our elk hunts. SNS conducts our cow elk hunts in both October and November. The October cow hunts are a 4 day, full service hunt. Full service hunts include professional hunting guide services, lodging, meals, airport pickup and transportation of your meat to our preferred Casper meat processor. The late season 3 day cow elk hunts offer fewer services, however are still a fully guided hunt with less cost to you. You can find many more details available on our website at www.huntwyo.com under the Hunt #3 section.
8 | Hunting & Fishing News
In order to ensure a spot to hunt cow elk with SNS and the dates that work best for your busy schedule, it’s a good idea to book early. Give us a call at 307-266-4229 or email sns@huntwyo.com to let us know which cow elk hunt you prefer.
Photo credit Kawdy Outfitters www.kawdyoutfitters.com
Winter Reading List To Inspire Your Next Hunt
By Zach Lazzari Kawdy Outfitters www.kawdyoutfitters.com
inter is here and that means it’s time to sit by a warm W fire with a good book. Numerous great hunting-specific books are readily available along with plenty of naturalists
and region-specific literature. Order up a pile of books or read them on a kindle to get yourself inspired and excited about future hunts! Mountain Sheep Hunting in British Columbia – Wilfred Klingsat The die hard sheep hunters will love the stories and detailed insights in this book. New hunters will also find great information about gear and strategies, woven into well humored stories about sheep hunting in Canada. If you’re looking to check a stone sheep off the bucket list, read this book to get yourself excited for the adventure. Great American Hunting Stories This collection of hunting stories is gathered and edited by Lamar Underwood. It has a great group of hunting stories from various authors. Some of the stories come from famous authors like Zane Grey, Theodore Roosevelt and the legendary William Hornaday. There are a few great books with short story collections and this is certainly one of the best on that list. A Hunters’ Heart: Honest Essays on Blood Sport Another great collection of stories, this one is edited by outdoor writer David Peterson. A few of the author’s include Rick Bass, Terry Tempest Williams and Tom McGuane. It even has an essay from President Jimmy Carter. This is an excellent collection and one of the favorites among a long list of hunters. It’s also easy to purchase on Amazon and is carried by a wide variety of bookstores. Meat Eater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter – Steve Rinella This introspective book follows ten different hunts where the author makes connections between nature, modern life, family and the history of hunting in America. It’s an excellent read that should have a place on every modern hunter’s bookshelf. If you want to learn about this book and the other books by the same author, head over to the Meat Eater website. Naturalist Books If this is your first trip to British Columbia, learning about the local flora and fauna will only enrich the experience. The same goes for repeat visitors. The Plants of Northern British Columbia is an excellent starting point and much of the content is focused on species that are encountered during a Kawdy hunt. Birds of British Columbia by David Stirling is another to consider. You will be spending plenty of time behind binoculars looking for game. Identifying the occasional bird is always fun during these glassing sessions. Pockets are also nice because they travel well.
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Hunting & Fishing News | 9
A Hunter’s Guide To The Off Season: 4 Things To Stay Dialed
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Photo credit Ryan McSparran
By Zach Lazzari Dark Timber Outfitters www.darktimberlodge.com
t’s that time of year where everything freezes and after Ienjoy a long haul in the woods, we take a nice long break to family, friends and all of the beautiful meat harvested
throughout the fall season. Just because the hunts are over however, doesn’t mean it’s a long vacation. The trigger pull happens in a moment but preparing for the hunt is a year-round event. Here are a few ways to stay active and ready for the next tag and opportunity that crosses your path. Keep on Shooting Many hunters hit the range a few weeks ahead of the season to sight in rifles and practice. While this helps, shooting year-round will simply make you better and more capable. This doesn’t mean you need long distance shooting abilities. But becoming very comfortable at a reasonable range will make you a more effective hunter. Hit the range once a week or so and practice shooting from different positions and rests that reflect real-life field scenarios. Work on different angles and elevation changes as well. Practicing for specific scenarios will seriously improve your game and it can payoff bigtime in the field. Rather than struggling through a workout regimen a month ahead of your hunt, simply maintain a reasonable level of fitness throughout the year. Keep on hiking and work your legs and core regularly. Even a single hour of exercise each day can make a huge difference when the fall season approaches and you want to ramp things up and hit a nice peak before the hunt. Exercising in your hunting gear on occasion will also ensure you know how everything performs, which translates into a more comfortable hunt.
HOW TO CONTACT US:
Cook Last Year’s Game Hopefully the busy fall hunting season left your freezer full of excellent meat that will keep you and your loved ones fed throughout the year. You can easily cook basic meals that are delicious but consider experimenting with new dishes to really test your limits while making the most of your meat supply. Pick up a few wild game cook books and work through the recipes to discover new and exciting ways to enjoy your harvest.
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 1 Cover Photo: © Nathan Allred | Dreamstime.com
New Gear and Next Year’s Hunt Calendar Shooting and training during the off-season are much easier with a little motivation. Take some time and plan your next year’s calendar and set goals for hunts, conditioning and training throughout the year. Knowing you are working towards another great hunt will serve to really keep you going strong throughout the entire year.
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Questions About Colorado Elk and Mule Deer Hunts If you have questions about hunting elk or mule deer with us at Dark Timber Lodge or Timber to Table Guide Service, please send us an email to timbertotable@hotmail.com or call Adam directly at 208-691-3014.
10 | Hunting & Fishing News
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Hunting & Fishing News | 11
Why A Quality Bipod Is Important On Your Hunting Rifle By Brady Miller
Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
hen it comes to a rifle accessory that I can’t live without, W it is hands down a bipod. Plain and simple, a bipod makes you a better shooter. If something can make me a better shooter, you can bet that I will have it on my rifle.
There are definitely some situations when you might not need a bipod (hunting thick timber comes to mind) but I like to always have a bipod on my rifle for those “just in case” moments. What goes into a quality bipod
All photo credits Brady Miller
These examples are why I like a bipod leg design that is fluid on the length and allows for quick adjustment of a leg if needed. Then with that fluid length adjustment, I’m also able to lock that length in place with one quick motion.
There are a ton of options out there when it comes to rifle bipods. Some are okay, some are great and some are just about perfect.
IN MY OPINION, A QUALITY BIPOD HAS TO HAVE A FEW KEY PIECES: Swivel design with a locking lever
A rifle bipod for hunting, in my opinion, needs to be able to cant from side to side to get the gun level (having a bubble level on your riflescope is key). Once the gun is level I then need to lock the bipod down tight. When I say lock it down tight, I want the ability to remove any play in the bipod for a solid base, but still have the ability to adjust the tension quickly if I need to pick the gun up and move it. This is one of the biggest reasons I’ve been using a Rugged Ridge Outdoor Gear Extreme Bipod since 2017. Note: I’m still using the Gen 1 version, but the Gen 2 version has some great improvements! Fluid leg length adjustment I’ve used other bipods in the past, but I was always frustrated at the pre-determined length the legs clicked out to. On those bipods, for me, the pre-determined length was almost always not the right position I needed. I haven’t seen a spot in the mountains that is perfectly level, but to get around this, you can always just adjust one bipod leg to a In the above photo, I had to adjust one different length if needed. leg due to the terrain.
12 | Hunting & Fishing News
For simplicity’s sake, some people might prefer how quick it is to just pull a bipod leg and have it lock into small adjustments. So depending on your use case, like everything, there are pros and cons to each that you need to consider. If you like a leg design like this, take a look at the Harris SBRM 6 to 9 inch or even the Harris S-LM 9 to 13 inch. Both of those give you the ability to swivel and have locking leg lengths. Add more length if needed Another great feature of a bipod is to add more length if needed. 90% of the time for my style of hunting a 7 to 10” bipod is perfect. But if you ever were to need more length, leg extensions are a great option.
Rugged Ridge makes this easy with two different leg extension options. You are able to get 5.5 inch or 17.5 inch extensions. Note: these extensions will only work with the Gen 2 bipod version due to different threads. More on the length of a hunting bipod later...
Ability to shoot steep uphill shots and downhill shots Most bipods on the market can be used for a downhill or uphill shot. But a feature I really like having is the ability to rotate the bipod around for an uphill shot which then allows the claw feet to come into contact with the ground a little more solid. This is all achieved by the ball and socket design that a bipod like Rugged Ridge has. Or you could also use this feature with the bipod in a normal position when shooting steep downhill shots off a cliff. There hasn’t been a lot of situations where I’ve had to flip my bipod around to take a steep uphill shot, but I have that feature if I ever need it. Able to attach to a picatinny rail
Rugged Ridge bipod and chronograph attachment on picatinny rail.
This might just be a personal preference of mine, but I prefer a bipod that attaches to my gun with a picatinny rail. I typically install a 4” picatinny rail on my rifles and muzzleloaders. This allows me some flexibility on where I put my bipod and also gives me some freedom to also add a pic rail mount for my Magnetospeed Chronograph.
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For example, this past spring while black bear hunting I was anticipating a bear to come out on a hillside that would have needed a very steep uphill shot. From the position we were glassing from, the only real option was to try a taller bipod. So I asked my friend if I could toss his bipod on my gun to practice a bit before the bears started moving. I swapped the bipod over and while it could have worked, I just wasn’t comfortable with the amount of flex in the legs and the movement. So right then and there, it was determined that if a bear came out in this area we were going to try to find a better spot to shoot from. Also in this situation I tried to see what shooting off my backpack placed vertical would be like, but I didn’t feel that was a great option either. A bipod is meant to allow me to be extra steady and closer to the ground. Which is why for all of my hunts I use a bipod that goes from 7 to 10 inches. If I need something taller, most likely I won’t be taking a further shot and can lay my gun on my backpack.
If you prefer a bipod that attaches to a sling stud in the stock, then by all means go that route. Either method works great. SO THE BIG QUESTION, WHAT SIZE BIPOD SHOULD YOU GET?
This exact scenario happened on a past mule deer hunt. The snow was so deep that trying to use my Harris bipod was impossible. So I just tossed my backpack down and was able to still make the shot count.
This is probably the most common question when it comes to rifle bipods. What size bipod should you get? And just like everything, there are personal preferences and pros and cons to all of them. While there are certain bipods out there that offer a ton of length adjustments, but when they get on the taller side you are sacrificing stability. That turns me off. They might work great for close shots, but those legs when in a longer position will start to flex. A lot of this is due to the design of the legs having to be a smaller diameter to allow the extra leg sections to stack inside each other.
Also figuring out what size bipod you need could come down to comfort and your body type too. For example, if you have a deeper upper body/chest, it might be uncomfortable trying to get really low in a 7-10” bipod. 7-10” bipods • Ideal for shooting in the prone position • The most stable bipod height • Not great when hunting in taller vegetation • Not ideal for shooting steep uphill shots 10-14” bipods • A great option for varying hunting situations • You can shoot off your backpack if you need to get lower • Can shoot over tall grass/sagebrush • Potential to be a little less stable (continued on page 38)
Hunting & Fishing News | 13
Picking Away At Perch In Weedy Areas Northland Fishing Tackle www.northlandtackle.com
If you are in the middle of towering weeds then it will take the fish swimming in close proximity for it to see your bait. Eventually it will happen but your chances of a lot of encounters drop off significantly. They do swim around and cover a little ground on most weedbeds, but there will always be a hot zone where they will frequent more often. This is where it pays to do a little underwater research of the adjacent area. Drilling a lot of holes and then hole hopping can certainly help you out here, but there is a better way. Getting an actual picture of what is below is well worth the efforts in this type of shallow water ice fishing. And when it all comes together it makes for an unforgettable day. Often times I will target weedy flats of the main lake basin anywhere from three to ten feet of water depending on the water clarity of the system. I’ll use my GPS to get close to the weedbed and then drill a couple exploratory holes.
Photo courtesy Northland Fishing Tackle www.northlandtackle.com
y son’s favorite fish to pursue under the ice is perch. M Active imaginations need something to keep them interested. Perch, along with some other species aren’t
too picky about food that is placed in front of their nose. So, naturally you stand a chance of catching fish and lots of them. Often times perch will not stop trying to get the bait until they can taste it in their mouth. So if you swing and miss on the hook-set, just drop the presentation back down and you get another chance almost immediately. The only exception to that is the really, really big ones as they tend to give you one shot at it and then they move on. You have to make those hook-sets count. But all in all, perch fishing is almost a guarantee for stretching your string. In the winter, yellow perch can be found throughout the water column from out in the depths to two feet of water. They have the perfect natural camouflage to blend into weedy environments which gives them protection from predators such as walleye, bass and pike. The weedy environment isn’t just for hiding though, it also is a great place for them to find breakfast, lunch and dinner. Water insects, tiny invertebrates and minnows will also be around this cover. Find it and you will be in for a treat as many full-grown perch will occupy this space. Catching perch in and around cover can be a little tricky if you are looking for numbers. They can be caught in almost any weedbed throughout a lake, provided that there is a decent population in the system. The trouble is getting to an area where it is easy for the fish to see the bait. If you can set up on the edge of where they are, such as a clean bottom area that can be a gold mine. Any time you can be in an area where the perch can easily see the bait, they will swim over to investigate.
Once the holes are drilled, I immediately drop the Marcum Pursuit camera down and do a quick scan. Then onto the next hole to do the same. I’m looking for the edge of where the thickest cover is and where a good blend of weeds are. From those two quick scans its either time to drill a few more exploratory holes or take what you learned and drill close to the good area. Keep in mind that you want to be near to the cover but open enough that nearby fish can see your bait.
In order to be seriously dialed into the spot, cameras are a must. Once you find the spot, you can continue to use the camera to fish as perch are not bothered by cameras at all. Or you can simply look into the hole if the water clarity is good enough or use your flasher. The key is to get setup in the really good area so you can pick away at the perch as they patrol around the edge of the weedbed. You can literally catch perch on all kinds of baits such as the smaller buck-shot rattle spoons, the Glo-shot Fire-Belly spoons or Eye-Ball spoons down to the small ice jigs such as the Impulse rigged Mini Smelt. Perch have a pretty diverse diet so be more concerned about where you are over what you are using. If there is weed cover close to the bottom, be sure to keep the bait slightly above them. If it is presented too low then they won’t be able to see it very easily and if you are up too high then often times they will see it but never go after it. This is very common especially if there are predatory fish nearby as they do not want to become their lunch. Pay attention to what they prefer and then exploit it as much as you can. Picking away at perch in the shallow water is both entertaining and effective. Make sure that you plan to give it a try sometime this winter.
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The Mobility Spectrum By Jason Mitchell Jason Mitchell Outdoors www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com
hould I stay or should I go? That is the biggest question S we probably ask ourselves each day on the water. Should I sit in a spot or should I keep moving, keep looking?
There are plenty of adages like never leave fish to find fish. Over the past few decades, mobility has been a mantra preached in ice fishing. People brag about drilling a hundred holes per day. People talk about the importance of moving to find fish. If you are not catching fish, it must be because you are not moving enough to find the active fish. Here is what I can also tell you. The worst days I have ever had fishing were indeed days where I drilled well over a few hundred holes. The toughest days on the ice are often the days where all you do is drill holes and move. Some of the very best or most memorable days were days where I drilled a few holes and sat in those same holes all day catching fish. So, when do you drill holes and when do you sit? We obviously sit when we feel like we are on top of fish. In order to sit in one location and catch fish, we need to be able to run traffic out of a few holes. Two things often need to happen. There must be a lot of fish moving and usually, you must be alone or have very few people fishing around you. If the fish are not moving and you are not moving, and the fish are not right below you… you will not catch them. If fish are moving and you are in a key location where these fish will move through, you can run traffic and catch them. If you are surrounded by several anglers however, many of those fish will get caught before they ever get to you. These movements can also be dictated by timing. Walleye for example might only move through a spot in the mornings and evenings and the middle of the day might be slow. Sitting works best when you are on a good location when the fish are moving. If you are alone, sitting works that much better. What are factors when sitting doesn’t work so well? Realistically when you are not on fish. When the fish are not moving and if you have a lot of people around you.
When tasked with trying to find fish, there is often no substitute for simply drilling and fishing a lot of holes until you find fish. Mobility shines for breaking down water. All photos courtesy Jason Mitchell Outdoors www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com.
The best days ironically are when we don’t have to drill a lot of holes and we can run traffic for long periods of time out of a handful of holes on one location. The best situations often require you to be alone on a location. About mobility and the notion of drilling a lot of holes to find fish, remember that the big moves find fish whereas the small moves catch fish.
Catching fish is often about sampling water. We can often create bites by simply working hard and dropping a line down as many different holes as we can. Drill grids of holes and move until you contact fish. There is a time however when this run and gun mentality of aggressively drilling holes can work against you… shallow water with spooky fish. One of the most difficult situations for catching fish regardless of species is shallow clear water with thin, clear ice. Every time you move, every time you drill a hole, you just push these fish further away. We have seen this same situation unfold in several states on several different bodies of water for several different species of fish. Reclamation lakes in Iowa, perch sloughs in South Dakota, walleye backwater river flowages in Illinois and Wisconsin. If you don’t identify these factors and make the right adjustments, catching fish in these shallow situations can be extremely difficult. Finding fish when fish are spooking from overhead noise is more methodical. You must slow down and give a spot half an hour. Let the area settle down and let fish come back to your hole. At times, these situations create low light bites but not always. The degree of just how spooky some of these fish are can vary. We have seen the typical light line requirement but besides the finesse of the presentation, there are also some other adjustments. We have seen shallow bites where we couldn’t catch fish inside a flip over shelter or near a large sled that could be seen from below. We have seen situations where long rods were necessary because the long rod positioned the boots and angler further away from the hole. We have seen situations where we had to leave slush in the hole. We have seen walleye bites where we had to use tip ups set away from where we physically sat and waited. Running and gunning in the conditions described above can leave you fishless. On the flip side, not drilling enough holes and finding active fish can often be the kiss of death when the circumstances or conditions change. Let the conditions dictate your strategy.
Hunting & Fishing News | 15
FWP Fishing Access Site: Stuart Mill Bay Fishing Access Site Day use parking for ice fishermen during winter months. Directions: 13 miles west of Anaconda on Hwy 1, turn onto Georgetown Lake Road and travel southwest about 1.5 miles to FAS sign.
Photo courtesy MFWP
Ice Fishing Georgetown Lake, Montana
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks www.myfwp.mt.gov eorgetown Reservoir is a high elevation reservoir located in southwestern Montana, about 8 miles south of the town of Philipsburg. It is approximately 2088 surface acres at full pool making it the largest still-water body in the upper Clark Fork River drainage.
G
Contact: Region 2 Fas Manager Rory Zarling rzarling@mt.gov (406) 542-5561 Region 2 Fish Biologist Bradley Liermann bradley.liermann@mt.gov (406) 825-5225 Fishing Pressure: Year Angler Days 2011 61659 2013 64264 2015 56530 2017 76168
Std. Error 4261 5815 5318 10445
Fish Species Family Class Native to MT Brook Trout Trout Coldwater Introduced Kokanee Trout Coldwater Introduced Lake Trout Trout Coldwater Native Largescale Sucker Sucker Warmwater Native Longnose Sucker Sucker Warmwater Native Rainbow Trout Trout Coldwater Introduced Redside Shiner Minnow Warmwater Native Westslope Cutthroat Trout Trout Coldwater Native
Haylie with a nice Georgetown Lake Trout.
16 | Hunting & Fishing News
Hunting & Fishing News | 17
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xtend your home-state hunting opportunities, take advantage of out-of-state, increase draw-odds in premier units, enjoy decreased hunting pressure for a more solitary experience, and have a hell-of-a-lot of fun doing it by picking up a muzzleloader. Muzzleloaders run the gamut from traditional flint locks, to custom-built inlines topped with the latest long-range riflescope, featuring proprietary ignition systems built to shoot smokeless powder and full-bore diameter, high ballistic coefficient bullets. The style of muzzleloader you select will be dictated by state regulations governing the hunt, how far you intend to shoot, budget and what you’re looking to get out of the experience. Muzzleloaders falling into the afore mentioned long-rang custom category can cost thousands. They are muzzleloading marvels and certainly have their place. However, most hunts are well suited for moderately priced, but still very modern, inline muzzleloaders hitting the sweet spot of the price/performance curve – the focus of this article. With a modest setup, providing you can use optics (which many states allow), accurately shooting to 300 yards and even beyond is very realistic. Essentially, you’ll be holding the equivalent of a single-shot rifle that loads from the front. Make your first shot count though, because most critters won’t stick around for a reload. All muzzleloaders operate under the same basic principles. Pour a measured powder charge down the barrel, seat an appropriate-sized bullet on top and prime it from the rear. How you perform these steps, the components you use, and with what degree of precision is where the magic happens. There is no reason to settle for lackluster performance. Send yourself afield confident when you squeeze off the shot, a follow-up won’t be necessary. Powders: Most modern muzzleloaders are designed to use a black powder substitute. They come in two forms; pelletized and loose. Pelletized charges are premeasured, easy to load and generally yield acceptable accuracy. You will be limited to 50 grain increments. Loose powder charges can be measured by volume or weight. To measure by volume, pour the powder from its original container into a powder dispenser, then carefully and as consistently as possible, dispense it into your powder measurer. Measuring by volume isn’t as accurate as measuring by weight. The powder can settle differently between charges and other factors are at play as well. It will get you pretty close. Measuring powder charges by weight is where the real accuracy magic happens. This is where you essentially begin the process of creating a highly accurate, consistent, custom load for your muzzleloader. You can use a powder scale and add/subtract with a powder scoop by hand, or use a digital powder dispenser like the Frankford Arsenal Intelidropper. The Intelidropper is truly a revolutionary device making measuring exact charges to the grain a breeze. An item well worth the cost in our opinion.
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Not all black powder substitutes are created equal. Some run dirtier than others, some are more corrosive, and some even have an unpleasant sulfur smell when fired. We’ve found Blackhorn 209 to be the best black powder substitute. It only comes in loose form, but if you’re looking to get the best results, you’ll want to weigh your charges anyway. Premeasure and store powder charges in plastic tubes designed specifically for the task. Bullets: The three most common styles shot in modern muzzleloaders are: Polymer base: Examples of this style are the Federal B.O.R. Lok, Hornady Bore Driver FTX and Power Belt brand. The polymer base has a recessed cup on its end. When fired, the base expands, seals the bore and engages with the rifling. They are accurate and easy to load. Saboted: Saboted muzzleloader bullets feature a polymer case around the exterior of the bullet. When fired, the polymer sabot fully engages the rifling, stabilizing the bullet for accuracy. Since the polymer sabot engages the rifling, the actual bullet will have a smaller diameter than the bore. A 50 Cal saboted muzzleloader bullet will likely feature a .45 cal projectile. Examples of saboted muzzleloader bullets are the Hornady MonoFlex, Barnes TMZ/TEZ, Traditions Smackdown, Thompson Center Shockwave. Full Bore Conical: Full bore diameter bullets are bore size specific. Some models like the Fury Star Tip MZ and Thor Hammer require the user to use their test sizing pack to determine which bullet size is optimal for your specific muzzleloader. Benefits of this style are a custom fit for accuracy no polymer fowling and increased accuracy. You can take this bullet style a step further by using a sizing die to custom suage bullets like the Fury Star Tip 2P (One of our favorites). With custom-sized Fury Star Tip 2P bullets, it is recommended you use a wad between the bullet and the powder. You will see better results if you do this. Don’t be afraid to try multiple bullets and multiple, but modest powder charges when seeking ultimate accuracy. Primers: Muzzleloaders continue to evolve and advance. At this time, most moderately-priced inline muzzleloaders use 209 shotshell primers to ignite the powder charge. Primers from Federal and Winchester work great. The intricacies and nuances of muzzleloaders are many. That is part of the fun when it comes to making one as precise and effective as possible. Do your research and head to the range to your smoke-pole set up for success.
Hunting & Fishing News | 19
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To Hire A Guide Or DIY? By Jake Horton
Photo credit Chris Neville
Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
rowing up in the eastern United States I always dreamed G of chasing bulls and bucks in the Rocky Mountains but never thought it was possible without a guide. No matter
what anyone tries to tell you, it is incredibly overwhelming to pick one state, one unit within that state and hope to find animals there — sometimes without ever stepping foot in that state prior to the hunt. Though it can be intimidating when you first start diving into the process, you do have an option of paying a guide instead of doing it yourself. Not everyone has the money to pay for a guide and not everyone has the time to plan a do-it-yourself (DIY) hunt so you need to decide what is right for your situation. When assessing what is best for you, it is important to understand and be honest with yourself about your investment ability (both financially and time-wise), your expectations and the experience you are after. With all the tools available on goHUNT — from the statistics to the 3D maps — it is way easier to plan a DIY hunt than it was 10 years ago. Yet, DIY hunting might not be for everyone. Time investment When it comes to hunting — no matter where you go — there is a time investment that goes along with it. Hunters wishing to be successful need to put in the time to scout, train, travel and hunt. For the DIY-style hunter, the scouting portion often takes the most hours and days. Preseason scouting, especially before hunting a new area, can be very time consuming if done correctly. It’s important to determine which state you will hunt, which unit, which spots, what is a trail versus a road and how deep is deep enough to find animals based upon your experience level. You must understand where you plan on going and have multiple backup plans daily for unforeseen circumstances. This type of scouting takes some experience, phone calls with local forest and game wardens and a lot of guesswork. The goHUNT platform takes countless hours out of preseason scouting thanks to Filtering 2.0 and the 3D mapping; however, to truly be successful on day one of your hunt really requires a complete understanding of an area. This complete virtual immersion in an area takes time and also takes understanding that you may find out that you are wrong about a spot when you arrive. Some place you thought would hold elk or deer may have none and that is okay. When you are a DIY-style hunter, your mindset needs to be that it’s important to understand that learning where elk, deer, bighorn sheep, etc., are not is just as important as finding them. If you are not OK with that or don’t have time to invest preseason, then maybe a guided hunt is a better option for you. If you expect to get into your quarry every day, then maybe a guided hunt is more your style. Overall though, financially, it costs more, you put in way less time
22 | Hunting & Fishing News
preseason scouting when you do a guided hunt. During a fully guided hunt, you should expect that your guide has done the scouting and understands where your quarry is going to be in order to give you an opportunity at a harvest. After all, that is what you are paying for. Financial investment Hunting, in general, from the guns, bows, gear, tags, processing, travel and countless costs is an expensive lifestyle. When it comes to hunting out West — especially out of state — these costs often double if not triple. However, a DIY-style hunter can go out West and hunt for a fraction of the cost of a guided hunt. If you choose to go on a guided hunt, there are different styles, ranging from fully guided to partially guided to drop camps and more. Each of these styles of guided hunts have a different dollar amount associated with them, but they all are more expensive than a DIY hunt. Many times there is some shaming done by DIY hunters towards hunters paying a guide; however, I wish this was not the case. Of course, it should be recognized by any hunters that most of the time DIY public land hunting is extremely more difficult than private land or a guided hunt; however, hunting is hunting and these are our brothers and sisters supporting the outdoors. If you have the financial stability to go on a guided hunt and you are unable or do not wish to put in the time to preseason scout and hunt public areas then that is okay and your choice. It is everyone’s free will to hunt on public or private land with permission. After all, if we had access to private land out West to hunt, I would certainly be on it as much as possible even though, as of today, I solely hunt western public lands. Experience Understanding and having the correct expectations before going out West is a vital part to going home feeling that your experience is successful whether you filled a tag or not. When you are a DIY-style hunter, expectations can be high even though, often, during the first year in a new area, it’s mostly a learning experience. Yes you may get lucky and shoot a bull or a buck, but this is the exception not the norm. Your experience on a DIY-style hunt is what you make of it. From the lodging, food, gear, plans and backup plans — it’s all on you to plan. What type of lodging works for your hunt and works for you? Will you be staying in a camper, truck, tent or hotel? What will you eat? On the contrary, when paying for a guided hunt, typically, the guide and outfitter will take care of everything for you. You will be told where to sleep, what is for dinner and where to hunt. The luxury of the outfitter planning everything does come with a financial cost, but also comes with your expectation that you will have an amazing time. There are a lot of great outfitters out there, but also a lot of not so great ones. Make sure to do your homework, call around and understand what you should expect and what their success rates are before you invest your time and money. Paying a guide or doing it yourself is something that everyone struggles with during their first year out West in a new area. Is it worth the financial investment to have someone telling you where to go, where to stay and what is worth shooting or is this all part of the experience for you? goHUNT has made planning a DIY-style hunt so much easier, but there is still some virtual work that needs to be done to determine where to go, stay and hunt if you choose this option. If you don’t want to put in the work or can’t, then hire a reputable guide and get out in the mountains. Personally, the financials of a guided hunt do not work for me so I would rather plan and pay for a DIY hunt every year instead of a guided hunt every couple years. Overall, it’s every hunter’s decision on how they wish to get out West. How they choose to plan it, pay for it and experience it is up to them. No matter what you choose, I wish you the most success this fall and in the upcoming years ahead.
How Much Time Do You Need On A Western Hunt? By Josh Kirchner Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
pplication season is now! Many of us have already A started planning our adventures for the coming year. While it may not be us out in the actual field, these times
are exciting to say the least. They are the fuel that feeds the fire of our anticipation. Some of you have dreams of heading out of state on big western adventures, taking in a level of wild that you won’t get anywhere else. These trips are an investment in both time and money. One of the most common questions surrounding all of this, though, is how much of that time does someone actually need to invest? Some head out for weeks at a time while others only set aside a few days. And everyone wants to find success with a tag in their pocket, right? The answer is going to vary from hunter to hunter, but here are some things to consider when blocking days off of the calendar. Scouting While not everyone is going to be able to get out and scout for their hunt beforehand, if you can, I suggest doing so 100%. Scouting will not only shed light on the country, but it will absolutely increase the odds of notching up that tag and your overall experience. These trips don’t need to be nearly as long as an actual hunt. A few days or, even, a day, really, will help out — even if it just tells that the area you were planning to go isn’t nearly what you’d expect and causes you to look elsewhere. That’s saving hunt days right there. If this would have happened at the front end of a hunt, you’d essentially lose a day because you don’t know what you don’t know. And let’s not forget about what we’re looking for in terms of animals. It is a warm feeling heading into a spot that you know holds the game you seek.
All photo credits Josh Kirchner
The more time someone can invest ahead of time, the more efficient hunt days they’ll have in their future. Going a day or two before season opens might not be a bad idea either. It gives a hunter the opportunity to have a look around right before their hunt starts. In the end, though, if that’s going to mean fewer days hunting, I’ll scoff at the scouting and take more hunt days. Hunt days vs. travel days When planning one of these big western adventures, a common number that gets thrown out there is 10 days. What many fail to consider though is how many of those days are going to be hunt days versus travel days. Blocking off 10 days essentially means someone is giving themselves eight full days of hunting with a travel day at each end. If you actually want 10 days of hunting, you’ll need to set aside 12 days of vacation. Be sure to think this through before requesting days off from your boss or scheduling out jobs. You don’t want to cut yourself short when it’s too late.
(continued on page 36)
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Great American Outdoors Act Paying Big Dividends Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation www.rmef.org
Photo credit Morgan Timms
an effort to raise awareness about one of the most Ithenimportant conservation landmarks in recent memory, U.S. Forest Service recently unveiled a story maps
Wasatch Mountains, Utah – visit: https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/utah-wildlifehabitat-migration-corridor-permanently-protected/
Signed into law in August 2020, the act permanently and fully funded the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which appropriates $900 million annually from federal offshore drilling fees for the protection of important land, water and recreational areas for all Americans to enjoy.
RMEF worked with a landowner to protect nearly 4,900 acres of elk habitat in north-central Utah. Not only does it provide spring, summer and winter range for elk and other wildlife but it is also an important calving area and migration corridor.
about the Great American Outdoor Act.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation used LWCF funding over the years to help protect more than 168,000 acres of important elk habitat and open access to more than double that amount of land across a dozen states. Below are several recent 2021 examples. Eel River, California – visit: https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/nearly-12000acres-of-eel-river-peninsulas-tule-elk-habitatprotected-opened-to-public-access/ RMEF worked with a landowner to protect and place nearly 12,000 acres of tule elk habitat into the Mendocino National Forest. The transaction builds upon the Eel River Peninsula Conservation Strategy to protect up to 70,000 acres of northern California’s coastal wildlife habitat. Southern Elkhorns, Montana – visit: https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/access-expandedhabitat-protected-in-montanas-elkhorn-mountains/ RMEF and several partners acquired 1,418 acres of wildlife habitat in the southern Elkhorn Mountains and conveyed it to the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest. It provides year-round winter habitat for elk, deer, bears, moose and many other wildlife species. 24 | Hunting & Fishing News
Northern New Mexico – visit: https://www.rmef.org/elk-network/new-mexico-elkmigration-corridor-protected-opened-to-access/ RMEF worked with three families to protect nearly 1,200 acres of elk habitat and convey it to the Bureau of Land Management. The property is part of a landscape used by about 10,000 elk that move back and forth between Colorado and New Mexico. RMEF played an intimate, key role in the process. In March 2020, Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana) and Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) secured a meeting with President Trump and several staffers in Washington D.C. Daines then reached out to RMEF to acquire high-quality maps, photos and other details about RMEF’s Falls Creek project, (https://www.rmef. org/elk-network/rmef-partners-open-door-to-26000acres-of-public-access/) which permanently protected 442 acres of wildlife and riparian habitat along Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front and greatly improved access to 27,000 acres of public land beyond. During their meeting, Daines shared project details with the president including how $250,000 in LWCF funds helped close the transaction. President Trump then stated that “sealed the deal” for him and he called on Congress to send him a bill to provide permanent, dedicated funding to LWCF.
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Montanans Launch Changes To Late Elk Shoulder Season Elk Management Coalition Photo credit David Burke | dreamstime.com
Currently In Effect
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks https://fwp.mt.gov ith general season at an end, elk hunters still W have opportunity with late antlerless elk seasons in many hunting districts around the state. Earlier this year, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved changes to elk shoulder seasons in several hunting districts and hunters interested in participating should review the updated regulations online. Elk shoulder season changes made by the commission include: a shoulder season in hunting district 314 that applies to elk B license 314-00 only and is not valid on public lands; extending shoulder season to Feb. 15 for HDs 262, 290, 298, 314, 390, 391, 393, 411 east of Montana Highway 238 only, 417, 502, 510, 511, 520, 530, 540, 560, 575, 580 and 590; including public lands in expanded shoulder seasons in HD 411 east of highway 238 and HDs 417, 530, 540, 580 and 590. These public lands include the Yellowstone Wildlife Management Area. The commission made this change in an effort to determine whether hunters would see more harvest with shoulder seasons being valid on public land. Elk shoulder seasons provide the ability to harvest more antlerless elk. Several hunting districts remain above population objective even with late shoulder seasons. The extension applies to all elk licenses and permits valid for shoulder seasons in these hunting districts except in HD 314, where license 314-00 is now valid through Feb. 15. The 2021 Deer, Elk, Antelope Hunting Regulations posted on the FWP website, show the changes. See the attached list of 2021 late elk shoulder seasons. For more information on elk shoulder seasons, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/elk-shoulder-seasons.
By Marcus Strange Montana Wildlife Federation
ontanans have traditionally worked together to solve M thorny issues related to wildlife conservation and public lands. That’s the Montana way. But, unfortunately, conflict
has replaced collaboration as the status quo. In recent years, elk management has become one of the most divisive issues in the state, dividing groups who once worked together towards shared goals and harming our hunting traditions. Elk, in particular, have become politically charged. It’s time that the citizens of Montana take back elk management from the politicians and unelected bureaucrats who seek to change our hunting opportunities and wildlife management practices fundamentally. That’s what we’re going to do. In 2022, we will be traveling across Montana to work with folks interested in finding a better path forward. We will be sitting down with ranchers, farmers, hunters, and outfitters. We strongly believe that there is more that unites us than divides us. Only by stepping away from today’s toxic politics will we achieve positive steps forward for all Montanans regarding our big game herds and hunting opportunities. “In eastern Montana, elk populations have grown, but the management prescriptions haven’t caught up. For example, Region 7, over 30,000 square miles,has a herd objective of only 750 elk. That’s so far out of line with what the vast majority of Montanans want to have as an objective that it’s silly. It’s time for a new Elk Management Plan that will be implemented fairly and equitably for all,” said Justin Schaaf of Glasgow Montana, Volunteer President of Keep It Public and a former member of the FWP Elk Advisory Working Group... “The current drive towards a ‘pay to play’ scenario where the general public loses hunting opportunities in favor of paying clients is part of the reason that we’re in this situation. We’ve all experienced it: you’re hunting public land in spots your family has gone every year, and the sign is there, the smell is there, and the elk are there too, they’re just on the other side of a fence that nobody can cross. Landowners have every right to control access to their land, but those decisions have consequences in terms of herd management. Until we address that issue, along with so many others, we’re just going to have the same fight, with more frustration, anger, and conflict,” said Chris Marchion, long-time conservation advocate and Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame inductee (Anaconda)... To find out more information, visit www.montanaelk.org.
Hunting & Fishing News | 25
Build The Ultimate Hunting Arrow With Ranch Fairy Vortex Nation From Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com
Photos courtesy Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com
o questions asked pass-throughs, bone splitting down-range N performance, and short blood trails when your perfect “plan A” shot turns into a “plan B” hit – The Ranch Fairy
arrow philosophy. When it comes to applying the undeniable laws of physics, biological science, and analyzing in-the-field arrow impacts on one of the toughest built critters going (feral hogs), Troy Fowler, AKA “The Ranch Fairy” is putting in the work. They say the line between insanity and genius falls on a razor’s edge. Watch some of Troy’s videos on his growing YouTube channel, and this might ring true. But for Troy, you’ll have to be more specific about what razor’s edge he stands on – because it will undeniably come in the form of a single-bevel two-blade broadhead. When you boil down the variables that make up the recipe for optimal arrow flight, penetration, and overall lethality, it’s simple. Getting the recipe right for your setup can take some work. Can a person go to extremes? Absolutely. The trick is finding the sweet spot for your overall setup, hunting style and what you want to accomplish. Below are a few basics of the “Ranch Fairy’s” fundamentals. Tune in to Episode #191 of the Vortex Nation Podcast for a deep dive straight into the FOC/heavy arrow rabbit hole. Tune in here: https://soundcloud.comvortexnationpodcast/ ep-191-get-focd-with-the-ranch-fairy/s-JgdVPcsY4cX 1. FRONT OF CENTER (FOC): FOC is the percentage of an arrow’s total weight positioned in the front half of the arrow. The higher the percent of weight up front, the more forward the arrow’s center-of-balance. Research done by The Ashby Foundation, which Troy references quite a bit in his content, shows after achieving 19% FOC, every percent gained thereafter resulted in additional penetration. Higher FOC considerably, and positively, affects arrow stability as it passes through the air. A heavy arrow isn’t enough, it needs to have a strong FOC component to work to its fullest potential. 2. PERFECT ARROW FLIGHT: Now that you are as hyped about FOC as the rest of the world, you’ll need to come back down to earth. Perfect arrow flight reigns supreme. You can crunch the numbers and have the absolute best blend of structural integrity, FOC and total arrow weight on paper, but if it passes through the air erratically – you have nothing. This leads us to bare shaft tuning. 3. BARE-SHAFT TUNING: Bare-shaft tuning is essentially paper tuning your arrows unfletched. If you can get perfect bullet holes through paper without the stabilization fletching’s provide, you will be well on your way to perfect arrow flight when you glue those bad boys on.
26 | Hunting & Fishing News
4. NOCK TUNING: If you get outlier arrows that don’t shoot like the rest, turn your nock and reshoot. That simple tweak can get them grouping with the others. 5. THE KINETIC ENERGY FALLACY: We hear and talk a lot about Kinetic Energy in the archery world. It makes sense on the surface – and to be fair, is still an important number. KE is the total energy of an object in motion (i.e. your arrow). However, your arrow’s total KE isn’t telling the whole story when you think about it in terms of arrow killing efficiency. KE is the total energy of the object moving in all directions – which can include backward upon impact. Even sound given off by the moving object is a portion its total KE number. 6. MOMENTUM IS WHAT REALLY COUNTS: I think we can agree, when it comes to shots on game, physics and numbers that denote how effectively an arrow passes through the animal are what we really care about. Momentum is a linear measurement of work moving in a direction – essentially how hard the object pushes once it hits another object. In the end, you want the front of the arrow to “pull” the rest of the arrow through the animal. 7. STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY: Probably should have led with this, but the system must be durable enough to withstand the abuse you and the animal will dole out. Period! If it fails for any reason, much of the potential work of your arrow is lost - and possibly your quarry along with it. 8. THE POINTY PART: Breaking down broadheads, and possibly some shoulder blades in the process - Troy recommends a 125 to 200 grain Single bevel, cut on contact two blade broadhead. Oh, and it better be beyond razor sharp. Single bevel broadheads continue to rotate after entering the animal, are more likely to split bone and continue penetrating. All good things if you unintentionally hit a shoulder blade or rib. 9. LEARN HOW TO SHARPEN: The edge of that single-bevel cut-on-contact broadhead can degrade over time. Things like pulling it in and out of your quiver will dull that edge. It’s imperative it’s as sharp as possible to cleanly sever everything in its path. Sharpeners specific to your chosen brodhead, a leather strop and knowing how to use it will make a big difference. 10. A GOOD BASELINE TO SHOOT FOR: For an average deer hunting setup (Modern Compound, 28 to 29 in. Draw, 60-65 lb. Draw Weight), 19% FOC with approximately a 550-grain arrow (300 grains up front) is a solid starting point. This is a guideline and not gospel. It’s up to you to experiment, tweak and develop a custom blend of attributes to make your perfect hunting arrow. The animals we pursue deserve our best effort to kill them quickly and efficiently. Dialing in our bow setups for optimal penetration is part of that best effort.
photos from the outdoors
Macartney Earl with her Eastern Montana Mule deer. Emily Earl with her 2021 Mule deer from Eastern Montana.
Nikki Manlow, her best Blacktail to date and her 5th Roosevelt Bull in 7 years.
Photos From The Outdoors will be included each month.
Send us your photos and a note about the photo. Nic Lindgren of Missoula, Mt. with his 2021 Mule deer buck taken with 1 shot at 80 yards.
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Chad Bauer of Missoula, Mt. with his 2021 Montana Mountain Goat.
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Anyone that consistently hunts predators has experienced stubborn coyotes. Just as a deer or turkey hunter doesn’t score on every outing, you can expect it to be much the same with coyotes. “Often times, coyotes just won’t come in,” Chrisman said. “They’ll just sit there, out of range and bark like a stubborn puppy. Although this can be frustrating, I think it’s fun to try and figure out what they’re thinking. That’s when decoys really become helpful to bring them in range.”
Choosing the Right Firearm
All photos courtesy Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com
How To Hunt Coyotes With A Decoy Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com
oyotes are sly and sneaky from birth, making them C tough creatures to hunt. A hunter’s success hinges on an eternal awareness of the wind direction, attention to camo pattern in relation to the landscape, and the tools employed. Of course, patience helps too. Then, when all of those things fall into place, and a coyote closes the distance on your hunting decoy, the anticipation of a clear shot is a feeling unlike any other.
This is really dependent on what’s in your gun safe. Because hunting coyote means trekking through sprawling landscapes, that means you’re going to shoot at long distances. Choose a rifle with a 50-200-yard range for this kind of predator. There are some hunters who would prefer to use a shorter range like a shotgun, handgun or bow, but realistically, the evasive coyote requires a firearm that can reach from long distances.
Set Up Your Decoy Coyotes have likely heard many distress calls. But even if the dog is leery, it will still be likely to investigate. Call for 10-20 minutes, then pause. Pressured coyotes will find a vantage point and remain hidden while they search for what’s making the sound, which is where using a coyote hunting decoy comes in handy. The best predator decoys pair well with calling to grab their attention and hold it while you setup for a shot. If you’re using electronic calls, set up your decoy next to your call and conceal yourself 50 to 75 yards away in order to reduce the likelihood of being spotted.
Do it yourself coyote hunts can be challenging yet rewarding when your efforts pay off. Sure, there are guided hunts that might run $150 to $500 a day, but with the use of decoys and modern calls, anyone can find an excuse to head afield with hopes of adding skins to the barn wall or a piece of clothing to your closet.
No matter your tactics, it’s important to remember that the keys to killing more coyotes are mimicking the calls of injured prey and a good set of decoys.
How to Find Coyotes Coyotes inhabit a variety of landscapes, including suburban areas, and of course, the expansive woods, but there has been a noticeable population increase in agricultural areas. First things first, take some time to scout for coyote sign on your property. Start by searching for scat and tracks. You may even find the remains of a recent kill. Look to large fields and river bottoms, especially areas where rodents, a coyote’s main food source, are abundant. Coyotes like to communicate with one another, so keep a howler call on you at all times just to see if one answers. And if you’re going to carry a call, might as well have a rifle on your shoulder and decoy in your pocket. Check out this sample of a coyote howl: https://www.montanadecoy.com/uploads/general/yellYELLCoyotes20160505SM31.mp3.
Embrace the challenge.“Coyote hunting presents a different kind of challenge and is completely different from other hunts,” said Dusty Chrisman, an avid coyote hunter. “It’s also a great way to stay outdoors when other seasons have died down.” 28 | Hunting & Fishing News
Hunting with a coyote decoy will give them the visual they need to commit to your calling. Using the all-new Song Dog Coyote Decoy, whether you’re on the western plains or in the southeastern hardwoods, will give you more chances at nature’s toughest target. Add in some yips and howling to give coyotes within earshot the impression that others are inspecting your spread. During the spring, male coyotes pair up with a female for breeding purposes. Breeding has more than likely taken place, and momma needs to eat, so locate and set up in these denning areas. Don’t be surprised when two dogs come running to your calls - the female will often lag behind the male. Also important to remember is that most whitetails give birth to fawns late April into May. The coyote’s diets are said to switch to a predominantly fawn diet during this time. So using the Song Dog will give the impression of a competitor in the area. (continued on page 30)
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How To Hunt Coyotes With A Decoy (continued from page 28)
Hunter Recipes: Gramma’s Wild Turkey And Rice Casserole By Ian Malepeai, Marketing Manager Idaho Department of Fish & Game
The decoys provide the assurance that what they hear is real. As with most situations, two are better than one. There is a better chance of the coyote spotting at least one of the decoys and it draws their attention as they work their way in.
Work With the Wind and Habitat As we mentioned earlier, coyote habitats vary. So no matter what terrain you end up in - rolling dairy hills, grasslands, or wooded river beds - always remember to set up across fields or open areas to give yourself the best view possible. Call into thickets, ditches, or other areas where coyotes may be prowling for their next meal. Be stealthy, silent and stay low when approaching a good spot to set up, because coyotes have a keen eye. Pay attention to the direction of the wind. It should always be in your face. A challenge of hunting coyotes is wind, especially in the west where it’s likely to blow for days on end. Swirling winds that carry human scent all across the prairies will only make the dogs more cautious and unresponsive. Don’t give up on days like this, though. You never know when a coyote will present itself. Just be ready to make quick, long-range shots.
Night Hunting If your state laws allow both nighttime hunting and the use of a spotlight, this can be an effective way to kill coyotes. A major advantage to hunting them at night is that they are mostly nocturnal, meaning they are most active after the sun goes down. Unlike hunting during the day, which can be slow at times, nighttime hunting for coyotes can be fast-paced while giving you the opportunity to see more animals in the field. Use a light with a range of at least several hundred yards. As you’re scanning the darkness with a light, the coyote’s eyes will emit a bright reflection that’s easy to see, but do check twice that it’s a coyote before you start shooting. A predator’s eyes are typically brighter than a deer’s, but there are always variances.
OTHER COYOTE HUNTING GEAR YOU’LL NEED Scent-Free Camo Coyotes can see and smell really well. Wear scent-free camo from head to toe, including a face mask and gloves. Once you’re set up, only allow your eyes to move, scanning the landscape, until it’s time to shoot or leave. 30 | Hunting & Fishing News
Photo credit: Ian Malepeai - IDFG
ho doesn’t love a good ol’ casserole with canned soup? W Like many of you, I’m guessing that we all have a go-to casserole recipe that can be easily adapted to wild game. This is one of my in-law’s favorites...
After a couple years of trying to “figure out” how to hunt turkeys, my good friend and I were able to harvest our first turkeys together. We both got shots and filled our first turkey tags within seconds of one another. The feeling of accomplishment seems funny to think about now – but learning from so many self-imposed errors provided a gratifying sense of accomplishment. That friend was with me on this hunt as well, and we’ve enjoyed reliving the memories of our numerous-failed-attempts over wild turkey dinners! Ingredients: 1 onion 1 bell pepper 1 box wild rice, cook according to directions 1 can cream of celery soup 1 can diced water chestnuts 2 cups diced wild turkey (cooked) 1 can French-cut green beans ¼ cup mayonnaise Juice from 1 lemon Salt & pepper Shredded cheddar cheese Directions: Dice and sauté onion and green pepper in a splash of olive oil, salt, and pepper Mix all of the ingredients (except the cheese) together in a cast iron pan or casserole dish Add additional salt and pepper to your liking Cover with shredded cheese Cook at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, or until casserole bubbles
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Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Mule Deer Hunting (continued from page 7)
3. How do I find a place to hunt? In Colorado we are fortunate to have a great deal of public land. Once you decide on your preferred weapon and have a list of units that are available in your preference point range, it’s time to look at the available public land in those units. The best tool available for this research is OnX Hunt. These maps will show you public and private land boundaries and public roads. You’ll also be able to view both topographical maps and satellite views. What’s more, you can overlay other pertinent map layers like recent wildfires, wilderness areas and more. You can make notes and save pins that will automatically sync between your desktop and mobile versions. When you go into the field, you can download the maps and use them offline, turning your smartphone into a fully functioning GPS – only better. OnX does require a subscription. Another useful tool that’s totally free is the Colorado Hunting Atlas. Here, you can also see those public and private land boundaries along with the topographical map and satellite view. There’s no mobile/desktop syncing and the Atlas is much more limited than OnX. But it will give you an accurate picture of the available land to hunt in a particular unit.
2. When is the best time to hunt Mule Deer in Colorado? Deer seasons in Colorado begin with archery and then muzzleloader in September. Rifle seasons begin toward the end of October and run through mid to late-November. There are pros and cons to each of these seasons. The archery and muzzleloader seasons give hunters the opportunity to hunt deer in their summer patterns in September. This makes a great spot-and-stalk adventure for bow hunters. Many bow hunts can be drawn with few preference points. Having just one or two points will open up great options. By the middle of September when muzzleloader season opens, deer might be moving to cover at lower elevations. But these movements are highly dependent on the weather and the particular area. Colorado’s first rifle season is for elk only. That means the next opportunity to hunt mule deer is the second rifle season, which usually opens in mid to late October. The downside of this rifle season is that it’s arguably the most difficult time to find a mature mule deer buck. It’s before the rut when bucks may not be moving very far from cover. On the other hand, the great thing about this season is that it typically offers the easiest tags to draw. Hunters can draw tags in some great units during this season. But they must be willing to work hard to find bucks!
When you’re looking for a place to hunt mule deer, consider the time of year you’ll be hunting and where that prime habitat overlaps with accessible public land. In some places, mule deer tend to concentrate at higher elevations in the summer and then migrate down with weather and hunting pressure. However, that’s not always the case. In many areas, resident deer will live at the same elevations year-round. All that to say – consider elevation as a factor when looking for places to hunt. But don’t become stuck in thinking that you have to hunt high in the early seasons or low in the later seasons. Keep in mind that deer will use quality habitat whenever and wherever it’s available. 4. How should I handle logistics and meat care? When you’re planning a hunt, you need to think about how you’ll transport your gear, weapon and other equipment to the hunt. Then, you’ll want to make a plan for getting meat home in case you are successful in harvesting a deer.
Next is Colorado’s third rifle season, usually in early November. This time of year, the rut is getting close and bucks are starting to be on the move. It’s still pre-rut, but hunters have a better chance at seeing those mature deer up on their feet. However, that makes these tags a bit more difficult to draw. Still, with just one, two or three preference points, hunters can find some good third rifle season hunts. Finally, Colorado’s fourth rifle season takes place in mid to late November. Not all units offer a fourth rifle season, depending on management objectives. These are excellent rut hunting dates when the biggest bucks are on the move. However, they are among the most difficult licenses to draw. It can take many points to draw one of these fourth rifle season hunts. So, what’s the best time of year to hunt mule deer in Colorado? It depends on your preference of weapon and your specific goals. There’s always a balance between quality and opportunity.
32 | Hunting & Fishing News
If it’s realistic with your schedule, driving is usually the best option. This gives you the most flexibility in terms of packing gear and getting meat home. One large cooler in the 120qt range should be enough to hold the meat from a single deer. But if you’ve got the space, a second cooler might be nice, so that you have plenty of room for ice. We recommend using block ice or frozen water jugs. This will make it easier to keep the meat cool without being soaking wet.
(continued on page 38)
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Hunting & Fishing News | 33
Spring hunting Who says only fall is for hunting? There is plenty of hunting to be had in the spring. Spring bear and turkey are great opportunities to shake off the cobwebs and get out in the woods. Both bear and turkey hunts out West take work and some serious distance to find. If you want to have a reason to train during the off-season, buy a spring bear or turkey tag and get to work. WAYS TO STAY IN SHAPE Half-marathon
All photos courtesy www.goHUNT.com
Reasons And Ways To Stay In Shape In The Off-Season By Stefan Wilson Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
ight about now, application season is in full swing. Going R forward, it seems to be nothing but months of waiting, planning and dreaming. It might seem as though there is
no reason to start working toward next year, but that is not true. Your health and your fitness level should not suffer during the off-season. In fact, there are plenty of reasons to maintain your fitness level and continue working toward new heights in your overall fitness. If you are like me, you need something to train for because sometimes training for the sake of training can get boring. With this in mind, I have a few ideas of things to train for that will keep you motivated during the early off-season. Whatever you do, do not let your fitness go by the wayside. REASONS TO STAY IN SHAPE While there are more reasons to stay in shape than I could reasonably list in this article, here are some of the more important reasons: Health We don’t exercise for hunting alone. Exercise is part of the fit lifestyle that will improve your overall health and quality of life. Additionally, it is very unhealthy to train hard for a few months and then take six to eight months off. This can actually lead to your body breaking down over time as opposed to getting stronger. Staying in shape will ensure that you are at a lower risk of injury, heart disease, diabetes and cancer as well as a myriad of other health issues. Fitness improves everything else When your fitness level is high, everything else will follow suit. Your quality of life will improve, your skills in shooting will increase and your general mood and motivation will improve. Letting your fitness slip often leads to lethargy, apathy and, in general, every aspect of life will suffer to some extent. Don’t let lack of training be the reason that you don’t enjoy the off-season as much as you could. Next season For me, the end of hunting season is the beginning of next year’s season. As soon as the season closes, I start planning for next year. Fitness should be a part of this planning. Not only will this increase your anticipation for next year, but it will also help you to reach new heights you otherwise would not have reached. As you continue to train during the off-season, you will build on your foundation and you will only improve your fitness level.
34 | Hunting & Fishing News
Hunters are results-oriented by nature. With this in mind, part of training for hunting is having the mindset needed to push through barriers and difficulties in order to reach your goal. Training for a half-marathon takes preparation, discipline, proper nutrition, and a whole lot of work… and that is all long before the race begins. It is a 1 1/2 – 2 hour long race for someone in moderately decent shape so it is no small commitment; however, the benefits reaped after finishing far outweigh the work invested in training and execution (sounds kind of like hunting, doesn’t it?).
3 benefits to running a half-marathon: 1. You will be in the best shape of your life by the time you finish the race You cannot run a half-marathon in so-so shape. You have to be in good shape to run 13.1 miles. The process of getting there takes work, but the end product is you being in tip-top shape. 2. You will find willpower you didn’t know you had Running long distance brings every person who tries to the do-or-die moment where one decides if he or she will continue or not. When you reach that point during training or in the middle of the race and you push through it to finish, you train your mind to never give up until you reach your goal; a decision that will pay great dividends in the backcountry. 3. You will be more confident in who you are and what you can do Anyone who has decided to do something big like running a half-marathon has had the thought: Can I even do this? But through discipline, persistence and hard work, they realize that they can and they will. Your body can do just about anything you want it to do; you just have to realize that in your mind. When you realize that, no landscape seems too difficult to traverse for the prize of a filled tag. Confidence in your abilities is half the battle in the backcountry. Running in a half-marathon will prove that you can do whatever you set your mind to.
CHANGE THINGS UP Changing your approach to fitness will keep things fresh and will help you break plateaus. If you typically workout in a gym or run, try spending three months doing CrossFit (or vice versa). If you want something totally different, join a MMA gym or boxing gym. Find something new and interesting and do that for a few months. This will keep you motivated to stay in shape and it will make it enjoyable along the way. Train to Hunt Challenge The Train to Hunt Challenge is a multi-day combination archery and fitness competition that takes place all across the Western U.S. The challenge has three phases: the meat pack, the 3D archery course and the challenge course. The meat pack involves carrying anywhere from 30 to 100 lb (depending on your class) on your back and in your hands for 1.5 miles. The 3D archery course involves taking multiple shots at 3D targets across a large array of terrain and situations. The challenge course is the culmination of the competition and involves a timed race where there are multiple checkpoints in which either a physical fitness exercise must be complete for reps or a 3D archery shot must be taken. To put it bluntly, you have to be in hunting shape to be able to complete the Train to Hunt Challenge event. This is a great opportunity to push yourself to your limits as well as train your mind to overcome fatigue while delivering a kill shot on an animal. To check it out, go to www.traintohunt.com.
Total Archery Challenge The Total Archery Challenge is another 3D archery competition. Many of the venues take place at high altitudes that require a heightened level of fitness to compete. While the Total Archery Challenge does not involve the same physical demands as Train to Hunt, you still need to be in good physical shape to compete well. Learn more at www.totalarcherychallenge.com. Scouting Scouting is crucial for backcountry hunting success. If you don’t know where the animals are and where they are going, you will have a tough time harvesting one. One of the best ways to train for hunting in the backcountry is to get out there and hike as you scout. No gym can perfectly replicate this kind of environment so make the most of your scouting time and use it as a way of training for your hunts. Shed hunting Hunting for antler sheds is a fun, rewarding way of getting out into the backcountry during the downtime of the late winter and early spring months. You can look for deer sheds in January and February and elk sheds in March and April. To be successful, you have to cover a ton of ground, which is a great way of maintaining your fitness while having a blast doing it. You are also able to gain valuable information for your hunts later that year. IN SUMMARY There is a myriad of other reasons and ways to stay in shape during the off-season that I have not listed in this article. If none of these seem appealing to you, hopefully this article at least gets you thinking creatively on how to stay in shape...
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How Much Time Do You Need On A Western Hunt? (continued from page 23)
Another thing to mention here, specifically regarding bear hunting, is check-ins. If you’re going bear hunting in a state that requires hide and skull to be checked in with the local game and fish agency, then this is something you’ll need to figure into your time. Notate locations of game and fish offices around your hunting area and be ready to check in your bear before heading home. If that means having to stay an extra day, then you need to do that, as check-ins are mandatory. Your comfort level If I had a dollar for every 10 to 14 day expedition hunt I’ve watched via film or heard about one someone else doing, I’d have quite a few dollars in my pocket. Hearing about and seeing these hunts on film are both inspiring and entertaining. That inspiration lays way for many others out there who want to experience these hunts themselves, which is great. Chase your passions. I’m going to throw some honesty your way though for a second. While these dreams of extended backcountry adventures seem enticing, you might not be like these people and that’s okay. Not everyone was built to hack out 10 days on the mountain. Some folks are weekend warriors at most and there’s nothing wrong with that. What I’m getting at here is to be honest with yourself and your comfort level, especially for folks just starting out. If 14 days sounds like a lot, then don’t do that. There’s no shame in just going out for five to seven days. Being away from home for extended periods of time can be difficult mentally. Folks get homesick or just fill with worry about how their family is doing. I’ve seen it both. Do what’s comfortable and add from there in the future if you’d like. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
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Your expectations Expectations are going to be all over the map here. Some hunters are going to be turning over every rock to find a certain caliber of animal, changing camps multiple times and displaying a heavy amount of patience. Others are perfectly happy simply embracing the adventure of it all without a burning urge to be successful in filling up the cooler with game meat. Neither is a wrong way to approach these hunts, but they are something to consider when setting days aside. If you have lofty goals of finding that 190″ mule deer, then not only should pre-season scouting be considered, but more time in the field should be set aside as well. Great things take time and a big buck like that is a great thing. Setting high standards like this for a three to five-day hunt is likely a recipe for disappointment — particularly with archery hunting. That’s another thing to take into account. What weapon you’re planning on hunting with definitely has an impact on the likelihood and timeliness of killing that animal. Lining out your expectations in reflection of your time is a much more realistic approach. If you’re backpack hunting… This is solely geared towards the folks looking to backpack hunt. Backpack hunting is surely one of the most exciting and demanding ways to hunt. It’s the full package of adventure and hunting. Living in the dirt with buddies for a week is hard to beat. Backpack hunting takes time though. It’s a commitment packing in somewhere and also a commitment packing out. This means that not only are there travel days you should consider, but there are days that will mostly be for just packing in. Of course, it matters how many miles someone is planning on heading back, but it’s still an investment in time. For you to move areas and pack in somewhere else, you’d be losing quite a bit of hunt days when all is said and done. So, when planning out your trip, factor in the time it’ll take to pack in and then pack out possibly to head to a plan B spot. Stuff like this is why many hunters plan out 10+ day hunts. Pack out days This past November, I was archery elk hunting in a pretty rugged spot here in Arizona. On the 11th day of hunting, after going on a lengthy, but fruitless stalk, I had a harsh realization. With it being my second to last night, if I had shot a bull the following morning, I wouldn’t make it home in time for my daughter’s first Thanksgiving. The pack out would have taken me days being solo. This is something that I normally wouldn’t pay mind to, but I wasn’t about to miss that day with our daughter. So, I pointed the truck towards home and left that beautiful ruggedness behind. Pack outs — especially for bigger critters like elk — need to be taken into consideration. If you’ve got a wrecking crew of hunting partners willing to help pack meat, then you’re likely fine. However, if you’re solo, you might spend days just packing out meat — days that need to be taken into account when planning. Success rates might be low, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t plan on being successful! WE’RE IN THE THICK OF IT! These adventures we go on are ones that stick with us for all of time. From spending quality time with friends and family to ingesting the beauty of the country around you, it is time well spent. The duration of that time is totally up to you and your schedule. Obviously, the more time in the field, the better chances you have at filling your tag. That’s not everything that this is about though. So, go out as long as you can go out. If that’s 14 days, awesome. Maybe it’s only five. That’s fine too. The important part here is to enjoy each one of those days that you get to spend out there. Go out with realistic expectations and there will be no such thing as disappointment. It’s planning season and we’re in the thick of it. Good luck and I hope you all draw the tags you’re after!
Why A Quality Bipod Is Important On Your Hunting Rifle (continued from page 13)
12-27” bipods • Perfect for shooting while sitting down • Able to shoot over tall brush much easier • Too tall for shooting while laying down for most people • If you need to take a more stable shot, you can just lay the gun on a backpack • Not as stable due to the height at those longer leg lengths • Better for taking steep uphill shots Now to throw a curveball… Let’s say you don’t have a bipod, but you want the ability to shoot off something to be more stable. This could either be for shooting while seated or standing up. For these situations, there’s a device that can be attached to a tripod that can make you very steady and can allow you to take a comfortable shot that might not have been previously possible. That product is a Triclawps Solo Rifle Saddle and Tripod Mount plate. To use this, you will also need to attach a tripod plate to the bottom that fits your particular tripod head. Attaching your rifle is very simple. Just place your rifle stock in the clamp and tighten it down. Then from there, you will use your tripod head to get setup on an animal then lock the head down. This is also a great tool for kids or anyone who might need a solid shooting platform. And one more curveball, if you absolutely don’t want a bipod, you could always use shooting sticks like the Swagger Stalker Lite. IN CONCLUSION There are definitely times when a bipod isn’t needed and you could lay your gun across a backpack or even on a log or tree. I’ve done that plenty of times. I’d rather have a bipod and not need it, than need it and not have it. If you’re going to use a bipod on your hunting rifle, I can’t stress enough how important it is to practice shooting off a bipod and even tossing in some hunting type situations in your practice. Learning how to use all the function on a bipod and practicing with it will definitely increase your accuracy while hunting this coming year.
One little hint, the goHUNT Gear Shop is carrying Atlas bipods. https://shop.gohunt.com/search?type=product&q=atlas+bipod
38 | Hunting & Fishing News
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Mule Deer Hunting (continued from page 32)
Speaking of meat care, don’t forget a set of high quality Caribou Gear game bags. This is our bread and butter, so we’re happy to admit that we’re totally biased. But it’s the only patented game bag on the market for a reason. You won’t find another game bag that matches ours for the combination of breathability (ideal for meat care), durability, lightweight design, and the ability to wash and reuse them. A set of Caribou Gear game bags will truly keep your meat in the best possible condition – and they’ll last you for a long time! For a mule deer hunt, you have a few different options for game bag sets. For backcountry hunters and high-country archery hunters who plan to bone out their meat, take a look at the newly redesigned Carnivore set. You can use the Carnivore to hold anything as big as a mature boned-out bull elk and it will work just as great for a boned-out mule deer. If you like to keep it lightweight but you’d rather leave meat on the bone, pick up a set of our Muley game bags. This set is designed to hold an entire mule deer buck on the bone. It includes four quarter bags and one meat parts bag for the loose meat. If you’re interested in our most robust system, then have a look at the Small Magnum Pack. In our Magnum Pack series, the small size is designed for deer-sized game and is also great for antelope or bear. Just like the Muley pack, this magnum pack is designed to hold an entire buck mule deer on the bone. However, the Magnum Pack bags are cut slightly larger for better air circulation. Additionally, it includes a bag for your cape and an extra camp meat bag for carrying some meat back to the campfire. 5. Other Important Considerations As you’re planning a Colorado mule deer hunt, there are a few other things you ought to consider. First, remember that Colorado offers over-the-counter (OTC) elk licenses for many units during the archery, second rifle and third rifle seasons. On the positive side of this, there are opportunities to have an elk tag in your pocket while you’re hunting mule deer. You might want to pick a unit where you have a chance at either species. However, there’s also a negative side to this. OTC elk seasons usually mean more pressure and more people. Either way, it’s something to consider when you’re picking out a unit and a season for your deer hunt. The last thing we’d like to stress is that while all deer licenses are on a draw in Colorado, it doesn’t take a lot of preference points to have a great hunt. In fact, consider this: if you’re a nonresident with five or fewer preference points, you can hunt all but 7 units in the entire state! If you’re a resident, you can hunt all but 3 of Colorado’s units with five points or less! Yes, you might have to hunt a less desirable season, like the second rifle season in some of those higher quality units. But that’s a ton of units and seasons that are open to you. If you have just one, two or three preference points saved up, you have some great options available. Sure, you could wait a decade or more and draw a great tag. But consider using those points more often. You can hunt more frequently, which probably gives you just as good a chance to kill a quality buck in Colorado!
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