HUNTING & FISHING MONTANA
July 2018
Early Archery Antelope Hits Fall Whitetail Strategy
Fishing Montana’s Stillwater Lakes Complete Guide To GPS
Missouri Breaks Elk Survey
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GET THE JUMP ON YOUR
FALL WHITETAIL STRATEGY
By Mark Kayser
D
on’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. These are words of wisdom from the stately Benjamin Franklin. Unfortunately putting off is a credo of Americans, especially those weighed down with a harrowing job, summer yard chores and bustling family activities. One summer job you shouldn’t overlook is preseason whitetail prep. The hunting season will be upon you before you can finish reading another President Trump tweet, but your hunting success depends on not putting off whitetail tasks any longer.
LAY OF THE LAND
Spend more time in whitetail country if that species is your goal. To zero in on Montana whitetails, determine where they thrive. Most Western whitetails flourish along rivers, creeks and in pine-covered slopes at elevations below 8,000 feet. There are exceptions, but for the most part locate agricultural beltways throughout Montana real estate and you’ll discover whitetails staking a claim. On river or creek settings hunters are tempted to use treestands or ground blinds to ambush bucks along the ribbons of timber, but pressured bucks have long since vacated those premises before shooting light, especially on public lands. In addition to scanning the bottomlands, look high in the hills, breaks, gorges and canyons above the waterways for bucks perched in a sentinel position. More than once I’ve been glassing bottoms and swung my binocular high into the hills above to spot a whitetail buck hunkered in a plum thicket or curled up in an eroded gully resting smugly in the shade of a pine.
Mark Kayser and buck shot on an abbreviated hunt ©Mark Kayser
Oftentimes these elevated properties are managed by federal agencies while the bottoms fall under private ownership. Use hunting apps to determine property boundaries and then plan an ambush on the right side of the fence.
Montana whitetails have no aversion to heights and will vertically climb to escape hunting pressure leaving
pickup-driving flatlanders far behind. You’ll also find a different breed of whitetails, particularly those living on the fringes of the prairie and the mountains. These whitetails have no fear of escaping into the rolling prairie hills where sharp-tailed grouse and pronghorns frolic. Prairie bucks under pressure have a worthy ally; the vast, broken grasslands making up nearly two-thirds of Montana. (continued on page 35)
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MY TOP ARCHERY ANTELOPE HUNTING TIPS By H&F News Pro Staff
Iwant f you drew an archery antelope tag in Montana you’ll to start your preparation now if you want to have a shot at a trophy buck this season. Here are a few short tips to help you fill your tag.
Let’s start with the obvious, get into and stay in shape.
Considering it will be August when the archery antelope season starts, it is going to be very hot and dry, and with the heat, it won’t take long to wear you out. Start your hiking the hills now so you will have plenty of stamina for the hot weather season.
Practice shooting - A lot!
Most of the shots that you get this year will be from your knees. Classic tree-stand hunts are rare where antelope summer, so begin your practice shooting crunched down from your knees or set up a hay bale or a box (if you don’t have means to a hay bale), and shoot at your target from behind it, mimicking your stance out in the field. This will greatly benefit your release habits and help you to make a clean, lethal shot.
Hunt opening day.
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The entire contents is © 2018, 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 15 Issue 1 Cover Photo: ©By Dear Abigail Photo|shutterstock.com
6 | Hunting & Fishing News
In Montana, archery season opens in mid-August. Make it a point to be out in the field hunting your number 1 buck opening morning. This is the best opportunity you will have to hunt unpressured bucks. Unaware, calm antelope make setting up for a shot much easier than do highly-pressured bucks. Additionally, you will have some of the longest days of the seasons to hunt, with nearly 14 hours of daylight in August. Your odds of getting a decent shot or shots will be much greater now.
Start early, stay late.
When bowhunting antelope, specifically spot-and-stalk, you should get several opportunities in a day, but remember, each stalk may take up to an hour or more to get off a good shot. If you blow a shot or a stalk, you need to keep moving and find another buck that you like. Show up ready to hunt before the sun rises, and plan on hunting all day until last light. If you do this you will have ample opportunities to fill your tag.
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Spotting scope, binoculars and rangefinder
You need good optics on any hunt, and especially for antelope hunting with archery gear. ① Spot a good buck with a spotting scope ② Binoculars to view everything that’s around you once you start your stalk ③ Rangefinder always for a good, clean shot at your trophy. www.vortexoptics.com
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It may seem obvious, but as we all know, much of the landscape in the eastern part of the state (prairie country), looks the same. Whether you are hunting BLM, State, BMA’s or private land, have a map or GPS at your side. This will actually create more hunting opportunities as you get to the area you plan to hunt. We recommend onXmaps, the most extensive maps available with over 985 million acres of public land, 121 million private properties, 421 map overlays, and 400,000+ miles of trails. Use onXmaps when and where you need them—scout from a home desktop and explore with your GPS unit or mobile devices in the field. www.onxmaps.com
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Cooler
Long, hot days will wear on you. Have plenty of water and other fluids to keep you hydrated. Also, when you do tag your buck, a cooler or two will come in very handy, as you will need to get your meat cooled as soon as possible. Right now get 10% Off Orders $200/+ Use Promo Code: HFN at Siberian Coolers. IGBC Certified Bear Resistant. https://siberiancoolers.com
Camera
Always bring your camera (in your pack). With the amazing sunrises and sunsets in late summer, along with the beauty and striking markings of the antelope themselves, exceptional photos can be captured, but you have to make it happen. Think about the photos before you take them - sun (lighting), backdrop, remove as much blood as possible if taking photos of your trophy, and move the animal from its landing spot if necessary. Think about the photos you’ve seen in the past that were good photos.
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Three great Montana pronghorns. Photo Credit: Rob Marshall
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HUNTING HARD? 6 TIPS TO STAY STRONG ON A WILDERNESS ELK HUNT By Zach Lazzari www.lazyjbaro.com
You’ve been training all year for this and now the moment is real.
You are immersed in the backcountry wilderness, traversing ridgelines and glassing remote drainages. Like a finely tuned athlete, your body is still susceptible to cramps, fatigue and breakdowns. Here are six tips to managing your body throughout a wilderness elk hunt. 1. Nutrient Load Before Your Trip This doesn’t mean you should eat yourself sick before the big trip but definitely amp up the calories a bit. Focus on nutrient rich vegetables, high quality protein sources like Photo: Zach Lazzari Lazy J Bar O game and grass fed beef and wholesome carbs like wild rice. Starting at 2-3 days before the trip, eat an extra serving at each meal so you have more to burn on the trip. Also eat bananas and potassium rich foods to prevent cramps when you are hard on the trail. 2. Stretch Many hunters forget to stretch during the trip. You stretch before and after home workouts right? Stretch out throughout the day while you’re on the mountain. Take short breaks to stretch out and interrupt any repetitive movements. This is especially important when you hike long distances. 3. Move Slowly Avoid letting your excitement get in the way of good judgement. Move slowly and methodically to avoid overstressing your body and to prevent spooking game. Be observant as you walk and stop to glass, rest and stretch as you go. You can move slowly all day and be thorough on the mountain. 4. Hydrate This should go without saying but many hunters overlook hydration. Drink when water is available and drink even when you are not thirsty. I have a habit of getting side-tracked and forgetting to drink water myself. I notice that my muscles fatigue easily and take longer to recover when I am dehydrated. Drink regardless of conditions, including in the frigid cold. 5. Supplements Supplements are not a necessity but they don’t hurt either. I recommend testing supplements during the training process to see how your body responds. The last thing you want is a stomach ache in the field. Wilderness Athlete sells Hydrate and Recover packets that will help you absorb water and stay charged throughout the trip. Keep your supplement options simple and gain as much nutritional value as possible through your food sources. 6. Eating in the Field Dehydrated meals are lightweight and almost a necessity on an extended wilderness elk hunt. You will burn a ton of calories in the field so don’t hold back on your meals. Go for the most calories dense options available. Mountain House meals are popular and tasty and there are many great options for your hunt. Also carry protein bars, nuts and any other desired foods that are easy to pack and provide a good amount of fuel. Leave the potato chips and gummy bears at home, they won’t help you in the backcountry. For information on wilderness elk hunts with Lazy J Bar O Outfitters visit www.lazyjbaro.com or phone 406.932.5687.
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Client with a big 31” Canyon Ferry night walleye that crushed a jig/paddle tail combo
From Dusk til’ Dawn N By Trevor Johnson Kit’s Tackle Sportfishing www.kitstackle.com
o, this isn’t an article about a Quinton Tarantino horror movie; but it can sure feel like it fishing into the late hours of the night. I have had some real life Davey Jones Locker experiences out there. Now you are thinking to yourself, where the heck is Trev going with this?!?! Well folks, as we get into the HOT summer months and water temps start to raise, a lot of the big predatory fish become nocturnal. Just like a big spring bear or a late November whitetail buck. The good news is big walleye and brown trout both have excellent vision and predatory skills at night. I want to share with you a few of the tactics we have used to regularly catch these July and August fish at night. And as an added bonus, you will have a lot less company! Before we get into the tactics I would like to mention a few things about safety. Fishing at night isn’t
as easy as fishing in the day, believe me. You need to be on top of your game and fully alert about all your surroundings. When we do guide trips on summer nights fishing for walleye and browns, I never let my guard down for even a moment, especially with clients that depend on me for safety. Traveling both to and from spots should be done in a conscious slow manner and also use your GPS for reference.
KIT’S TACKLE SPORTFISHING
Having a GPS on your graph is nice because you can make a safe travel line in the daylight and use it at night. Remember though; never rely solely on electronics alone. Have both your bow and stern lights turned on at all times during the night; giving away your secret location isn’t worth an accident! A clear pair of safety glasses is also a must; jigs and cranks can come flying out of a fish’s mouth AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS WATCH THE WEATHER!! We got caught on the south end of Canyon Ferry last year in huge unexpected wind and lightning storm… the guy with me put on two life jackets..lol!!
The first and most fun method we use to target these summer fish is casting jigs or cranks to shore. In a previous article I talked about creating a
buffer zone between you and the shore. You just want to slowly contour the shore and cast within a couple inches of it. We use headlamps to see better if there is no moon or if it is cloudy. We have found
that huge walleye are not even the slightest bit shy of light, but for big browns..no lights! I have had 30” walleye follow my plug right to the boat and I can see them in my headlamp and after stopping my plug..POW!! Most hits will come within the first ten yards from shore though.
Our two favorite baits are jigs w/BIG PADDLE TAILS (essentially a swimbait) and crankbaits (my favorite for casting to shore is the Rapala shad rap). For the paddle tails we mainly use a 1/4-3/8 ounce jig head with a big obnoxious paddletail. Our favorite is the Keitech Fat Swing Impact in the 5.8” and 6.8’’ lengths. During the day we use the 2.8-3.8’’ but we bulk it way up at night! Even though they are proficient night feeders they can’t detect prey as well as during the day. When that big paddle tail motors by we think they can’t help but smack at it out of instinct! We cast the jig to shore and let it sink to the bottom and then do a slow lift and fall retrieve to the boat. Just a heads up, they don’t nibble when they smack a big swimbait at night. They about rip the rod out of your hand! IT TAKES PATIENCE, BUT IT IS REWARDING AND FUN!!
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For casting cranks to shore you are using the exact same technique only slowly reeling the crank back to the boat. The big key here that will catch you 10X the fish is making sure you PAUSE THE CRANKBAIT every couple seconds. Almost all the hits will come when the crank is paused. We use the #7 and #9 Shad Rap Rapala in both the original and if the fish are super active we like to use the jointed style. We cast the crank within a few inches of shore and always let it sit for a moment before starting the retrieve. We have had a couple huge walleye take the crank from the top of the water. This version of crank dives about 9-12’ and is also a floating style so when you pause the lure, it slowly floats up from the rocks or structure. The second method is trolling cranks in shallow water; again contouring the shore. For this method you can use either your electric bow mount motor or your kicker motor. In shallow water we utilize the electric bow mount as much as possible. We like to troll at a varying speed of 1.5-2 mph. On the inside rod we like to send a planer board up fairly close to the shore with a Rapala Husky Jerk. We use the model #12 and #14 which runs about 6-8’ deep. We like to let about 30’ of line out behind the board. Then at the boat proper we again like to use the same Shad Rap as mentioned above. The Berkley Flicker Minnow and Flicker Shad will also work just fine. These cranks will dive 10-15’ while trolling so it gives the perfect depth for under the boat. Here we like to use a long line presentation in case the boat spooks the fish a little. We use 8-10’ trolling rods and let out about 80’ of line. Sounds easy peasy right?!?! Fishing at night takes a little more patience and dedication than during the day. Everything from tying knots to running the boat gets much more difficult. You also have the heebie jeebies to worry about; I night fish alone a lot, but it is much more fun with a partner or your dog for company. I also recommend bringing a thermos of coffee or other caffeinated beverage. I personally do not drink alcohol when I fish, and I would highly recommend against it on these outings with all the factors and responsibilities! Even though titled “From Dusk til’ Dawn” we normally fish until midnight-two AM at the latest.
Catch this. Nothing is more satisfying than getting the perfect cast off. To ensure you don’t get caught in a bad situation, stay clear of electrical equipment and never cast fishing lines under power lines. When walking, carry your rod low and keep an eye out for low or downed lines. If you see a downed line, stay at least 10 feet away and call 911.
We have pulled all night missions, but the most success seems to come from dark to around midnight. Make sure to check the boating laws on the body of water you are fishing on. Be safe and go have some fun this summer! Trevor is the co-founder of Kit’s Tackle “Jiggin’ the Dream” along with his father, Kit. He is a true made in Montana fishing guide and owner of Kit’s Tackle Sportfishing, an insane outdoor enthusiast, a wild man in the woods and on the water and they even say he’s a quarter mountain goat. He’s a happy husband, a proud daddy to a beautiful little girl and boy, and two sweet dogs. When he’s not shoveling coal into the jig engine, you can find him on the water or leaving boot tracks in the wilds of Montana.
Ben C. Safety Professional, 4 years of service
Hunting & Fishing News | 11
BUILDING THE ULTIMATE HUNTING KILL KIT By Dave Barnett originally published at ill kit. This is a term that is commonly thrown around internet forums and social media. For those of you who have not heard the term, a kill kit is essentially a small bag (dry sack, stuff sack, zippered pouch, etc…) that houses all of the items you will need once an animal has hit the ground. The kill kit will keep your items organized, packed neatly, and provide go to access to whatever you may need during the field dressing process. In the following article, we will discuss what is generally found in the kill kit and what options are out there to customize your kit to meet your needs.
K
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THE BAG The basis of the entire kit is the bag or storage device. These can range from dry bags and stuff sacks to zippered pouches and, even, vacuum sealed bags. Generally speaking, I really like a small zippered pouch made of an extremely light material, such as silnylon. There are many companies making small organizing pouches that would work really well for this. This is the easiest step of building your kit and really requires nothing more than finding a good quality and lightweight bag that will hold your gear. A great bag to consider for its lightweight and waterproof properties is the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dryview Sack.
GAME BAGS
Photo credit: Brady Miller
Here is where some research and decision-making will come into play. The game bag industry is very competitive and there are a ton of options out there.
Photo credit: Dave Barnett So, the question begs, what are the best game bags for me? First, I consider the type of hunt I am going on and what species I’ll be pursuing. Sometimes I’ll need bags for boned out meat; other times I’ll need bags specifically for bone-in quarters. This can also be dictated by the species of animal I will be pursuing. Game bags will generally be found in three materials: canvas, cheesecloth and synthetic. Canvas game bags are exactly what you’d expect. These are generally the most durable and offer great protection from bugs, but they are extremely heavy and do not allow the meat to breathe very well. Cheesecloth type bags come in all shapes and sizes and will generally provide decent coverage. These are usually the lightest of the three options, but do tear easily, which can lead to bug issues rather quickly. Additionally, cheesecloth bags are usually not reusable due to the fact that bacteria will grow once bloodied. In my opinion, synthetic bags are
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the way to go. These bags will generally be marginally heavier than cheesecloth bags, but they are far more indestructible, breathe incredibly well, and provide excellent protection against unwanted bugs. Beyond that, synthetic bags are machine washable and reusable. My current set is on its seventh animal and, other than staining, is good as new.
In-depth comparison of game bag materials Material Pros Cons Primary uses •Truck •Very durable •Very heavy camping •Excellent bug •Not breathable •Horse Canvas protection •Bulky camping •Reuseable •Moderately •Cold •Washable expensive weather •Extremely •Prone to •All season Cheese lightweight tearing •Day hunting •Bad bug •Backpack cloth/ •Great breathability protection hunting cotton •Inexpensive •Not reuseable
•Lightweight •Very durable •Breathable Synthetic •Excellent bug •Moderately protection expensive •Reuseable •Washable
•All season •Day hunting •Backpack hunting
After deciding on what bag material will best suit your needs, it’s important to then decide what sizes and how many you will need. Generally speaking, nearly all of my hunts will take place far away from my truck, requiring most animals to be boned out to be efficiently brought out of the woods. Because of this, I opt to save a little weight and go with a shorter game bag as I do not need the extra length to fit an entire elk leg; this is not an issue with deer either way. That being said, I do keep a set up of full-length game bags in my pickup should the case arise that an elk is taken close to a road and the quarters can be brought out bone-in. For my uses, the Caribou Gear Carnivore III pack is excellent. For those of you who are planning on bringing out your quarters with the bone still attached consider the Muley or Wapiti pack.
Caribou Gear Carnivore III
For elk hunting, I will usually carry all five of the bags that come with the carnivore set. This will allow me to break the bull into four separate bags of boned meat and leave a remaining bag for additional scrap meat, organs or a cape. For deer, I like to pack three bags so I can put one half of the boned deer in each bag Photo credit: Brady Miller and have an additional bag for scrap meat, organs or a cape. Knives Another avenue that can require a lot of thought and planning will be in what knife or knives you will carry. Personally speaking, I am terrible at sharpening knives. Give me a great stone and an excellent blade and I will show you how to dull that thing up in less than a minute. Because of this and my general lack of patience, I opt to go with a knife that utilizes a replaceable blade. These knives are always razor sharp, ultra lightweight, and much less of a headache. However, if I could maintain an edge on a fixed blade steel knife there would be certain tasks, such as popping joints, that would be much easier.
10:30AM
11AM
(continued on page 44)
Hunting & Fishing News | 13
WHEN BULL TROUT WON’T BITE Change Your Approach To Make It Happen Zach Lazzari Lazy J Bar O www.lazyjbaro.com
The ability to legally target bull trout on the South Fork of the
Flathead doesn’t guarantee they will jump all over your flies. It’s hit and miss with these fish. Sometimes they are all out hunters looking to attack and consume everything in site. Other times they will lay low and completely ignore your flies. Floating and fishing the South Fork of the Flathead means you will cross paths and most likely have chances at some very large bull trout. The where and how of this whole game is unpredictable however. While they have the Trout in their name, Bull trout do not occupy a short stretch of river and sit in feeding lanes like most trout. The fish are migratory and do not hold their ground in a single run for long periods of time. Photo Credit: Zach Lazzari Lazy J Bar O
Bull trout spend a good chunk of the year in Hungry Horse Reservoir and migrate throughout the entire South Fork system spring through fall. You may not see a bull for the first several days of your float only to run into several on day three. In fact, when you find one, slow down as there are likely more in the immediate area. In many cases, you will actually see them holding in deep pools or locate aggressive bull trout as they attack a cutthroat on the end of your line. Ridiculous Flies that Work Most days, a big double bunny or oversized trout streamer is adequate. When your normal flies do not work and you know bull trout are present, go BIG. And by big, I mean bigger than you ever imagined necessary. I’ve seen a 30+ inch bull trout attack a 20 inch bull trout I was playing. Ideally, you will tie up some ridiculously large bunny type streamers in advance. If you are however caught off-guard and unprepared, simply string a few flies together to create one mega fly. Cut off the hook points so they are shank only with no more than two actual hooks in use at a given time. Do not hesitate to fish flies in excess of 10-inches in total length. A large bull trout will have no issue inhaling your largest patterns.
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Swing Deep and Slow Visually spotting bulls in deep water and watching them ignore your flies is frustrating but it does happen. In some instances, the fish are digesting a meal and in others they are simply sitting in the coldest available water. The only way to move one is to get close. Lengthening your leader and adding split shot will get your flies down quickly. I will simply add 10+ feet of 10 pound fluorocarbon and a few large split shot to get down in a hurry.
Photo credit: Zach Lazzari Lazy J Bar O
Alternatively, you can opt for a fast sinking line and a swinging technique. Position yourself upriver and swing the fly into the fish. Make a long pause at the end of your swing so the line can drop. Retrieve and repeat until a bull trout decides to attack. Working with a spotter is a huge advantage in this situation as they can gauge your fly position and verbalize adjustments until you find the perfect presentation. Lazy J Bar O Outfitters offers remote fly fishing expeditions into the Bob Marshall wilderness for bull trout and westslope cutthroat. For more information, visit http://www.lazyjbaro. com/fly-fishing/ or phone 406.932.5687.
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Venison Stir Fry Ingredients: 12 ounces of venison steak, (the cut is your choice) 1 TBSP coconut oil (for cooking) 2 cloves crushed garlic 2 tsp fresh grated ginger 1 tsp crushed red chili peppers 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup coconut aminos (or more soy if you prefer) Sriracha to taste 2 cups broth 5 cups of chopped fresh veggies Broccoli, Carrots, Bells Peppers, Snap Peas, Water Chestnuts, Onion and Mushrooms Salt and pepper to taste Starch to thicken to your desire (corn starch, tapioca starch) Cooked rice (best in instant pot) for serving Method: Mix the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, coconut aminos, broth and sriracha. Add the venison and marinate in the mixture for 15 minutes. Heat a wok to a high heat. Pan-fry the marinated venison for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the pan. Heat the coconut oil. Add the mixed vegetables, stir-fry until starting to soften. Return the cooked venison to the pan and toss to combine and heat back through. Serve with rice and enjoy! For more information on SNS Outfitter and Guides visit www.huntwyo.com or phone 307.266.4229.
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Say Hello To Success: Where to Chase the Fish This Month Brought to you by
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Slough Creek Yellowstone
July will be an outstanding month to catch fish here in the
Rockies. With the hundreds of rivers and streams that flow across Montana, anglers should see water flow conditions just right as we head into the hot summer months. Dry flies and light spinners and spoons will be the right choice now as bugs will hover close to area waters. Trolling big lakes and reservoirs will also become more effective as fish move to find cooler water temperatures. In the heat of the day, work the edgelines early and later in the day (and into darkness) for good fishing success, as this is when the fish will be most active. There is no shortage of exceptional options when it comes to fishing in Montana. Pack up your tent, gear and family or friends and enjoy the great outdoors this summer. “Some of the best summer spots aren’t where you catch a ton of fish, but it’s were you escape from it all.” RH Here are a few top summer producers where you will find excellent fishing and camping areas. Gallatin River - Trout: This famous river of western lore flows through magnificent parts of the American West, and most of it is extremely accessible along the highway going toward Yellowstone National Park. The Gallatin can be fished all year and is noted for its exceptional dry fly fishing. Some of the deep holes on the Gallatin are best fished with heavily-weighted nymphs to get down to the bigger fish. Start with a Montana stonefly nymph and keep on the move wading and stalking new water. There are plenty of big rainbow and brown trout in this system to keep you happy.
Trout want to eat as much as they can while exerting as little effort as possible. Small patterns that will catch giant trout:
• Parachute Adams, size 22, • Trico Spinner, size 22 • Royal Wulff, size 20 • House and Lot Variant, size 20 Flies of the Month - Elk Hair Caddis & Beadhead Prince: The Elk Hair caddis is a stand-by in most every western fly angler’s tackle box. It is one of the most productive patterns in the world for trout, and it can fool fish eating adult caddis as well as moths, which are a staple in a trout’s late-summer diet. This pattern floats well due to dry-fly hackle palmered the length of the fly, along with generous amounts of elk hair as the wing. The fly is easy to see when viewed from under the surface and is a must if you are fishing early-morning or late afternoons this summer. The Prince nymph is a stonefly pattern developed in the 1930s by Doug Prince. This fly was originally called the Brown Forked Tail. You can fish this fly anywhere there are stoneflies - including skwalas, golden stones, and salmonflies. It’s a staple for every fly fisherman who target trout. The Beaverhead River - Trout: By early July PMDs, golden stoneflies, and yellow sallies will be everywhere. Fishing San Juan worms will be a good option here. Productive areas can be just below Clark Canyon Dam all the way to Dillon. Big Hole River - Trout: Dry fly fishing will continue to be good here. Best spots to fish now will be from Divide to Notch Bottom. Rock Creek (East of Missoula) - Trout: In the summer anglers match the hatch - gray drakes, spruce moths, caddis, hoppers and terrestrials. High Altitude Trout: Montana’s greatest concentration of alpine lakes is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, southwest of Billings, straddling the Montana-Wyoming border. These popular lakes contain diverse salmonid species that include Yellowstone cutthroat trout, golden trout, and beautiful rainbows. Some of the Absaroka-Beartooth’s roughly 300 trout lakes produce trout naturally and some are stocked. The lakes that are stocked are planted with trout every three to eight years. Good backcountry options include Panther Martins, Mepps and Thomas Cyclones in yellows, reds and gold colors. Fly fishers can hook up with a floating line and a few black ants and Montana nymphs. Wait until late afternoons and fish into the night for the best bite. Early morning fishing is also phenomenal. Check your fishing regs when taking to the backcountry and be bear aware. Montana’s Top Summer Lakes and Reservoirs - Bass: On the Lower Clark Fork in Montana, you’ll find three reservoirs with largemouth and smallmouth bass - the largest being the 7,800 acre Noxon Reservoir, followed by Cabinet Gorge and Thompson Falls.
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Noxon may be your best bet for the biggest smallmouths with plenty of shallow, weedy water and steep drop-offs that the smallmouth bass prefer. You’ll find an abundance of crayfish due to the rocky shorelines which are ideal for both crayfish and smallmouths. Crayfish and perch patterned spinnerbait and Rapala lures work best, casting near these rocky points. Downstream of Noxon is the Cabinet Gorge Reservoir where anglers can pick up some 4 pounders. You can catch these bass using a mixed bag of traditional lures, including a variety of hard and soft plastic lures. Flathead Valley Bassin’: Several lakes are becoming destination lakes for bass in an area known mostly for its trout. A weekend tour of some of the better area lakes should include Bigfork’s Echo Lake. Big bass reside here. Pitch a jig and worm combo around the many docks and hidden structure. Blanchard Lake: Big largemouth bass inhabit this small lake located near Whitefish. Yellow, white or chartreuse spinnerbaits can collect bass in abundance here. Lake Mary Ronan: Now is the time to fish these bass waters. Early morning fishing can pay off big for smallies. The best bass gear includes simple rubber grubs, Powerbait or a worm. Anything that imitates a sucker or Kokanee is going to get bit. Trolling crankbaits can be effective for both trout and bass here. Kokanee anglers will also find the fish agreeable. Eastern Montana’s phenomenal fishing. In your haste to fish all the great waters in the West, don’t forget about the State’s eastern half. Nelson Reservoir near Malta is a tremendously productive fishery filled with large northern pike, perch, walleye, and an assortment of lesser known species.
Lower Yellowstone River: The lower Yellowstone River from Billings to the North Dakota border (the longest undammed river in the lower 48) is another premier warm water fishery you don’t often read about. In addition to walleye, sauger, and northern pike, it also offers freshwater drum, shovelnose, sturgeon and channel catfish. If you don’t have a boat, head to the mouth of the Milk River, east of Glasgow, as many fish congregate where this tributary spills into the Missouri a few miles below Fort Peck Dam. Fort Peck - Walleye: Locating walleye on Fort Peck Lake can get difficult as the summer heats up. Trolling spinner rigs baited with leeches is an excellent way to cover ground and pinpoint walleye locations. Once you’ve located some fish, which will likely be off points in the main lake, drift jigs baited with 3-inch shiner or sucker minnows. This will likely yield larger, battle-worthy specimens. Duck Creek, Skunk Creek, and off of Haxby Point are prime summer walleye spots. Walleye are dispersing widely from their spawning areas and will feed actively off main lake points that are strafed by the constant lake winds. Troll the mud lines off these points, but be prepared to fish structure, a drop-off or submerged humps on the deep water side of these points. These structures are where big fish will wait to ambush wads of baitfish. Northern pike numbers will be best found in bays around the lake. Another summer option is the Tongue River Reservoir State Park, home of the State’s top crappie fishery. Trout, bass and walleye can also fill up your holding tank here. Fresno Reservoir, Tiber Reservoir, Medicine Lake, and the Mussellshell River will also fish well during the summer months. Good fishing.
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THE BEST MONTANA NYMPH FISHING TECHNIQUES By Montana Angler For a guided fly fishing trip, call 406-522-9854 or visit www.montanaangler.com
N
ymph fishing is a bread and better technique when fishing Montana rivers. The vast majority (over 90%) of a trouts diet comes from subsurface sources such as immature insects, crustaceans and other fish. Day in and day out nymph fishing is often the most effective technique for racking up numbers. I would estimate that at least 70% of the time in the summer nymphing puts more fish in the boat than dry fly fishing or streamer fishing. In the winter it is closer to 100%. So while hanging some nymphs under a strike indicator with a few split shot may not be the most glamorous of the fly fishing techniques; most anglers spend a significant amount of time using this method since it is so effective. Although my favorite fly fishing strategies are dry fly fishing or streamer fishing, I still end up nymph fishing quite a bit. I don’t mind catching half as many trout as my buddies if I am dry fly fishing and they are nymphing, but when the ratio drops to 1:3 I usually throw in the towel and rig up some nymphs. Which nymphs to use and when is a complicated topic and probably the subject of some future posts. What I would like to focus on now is how much weight and how much leader to use when nymphing.
Tight line vs. dead drift
Most insect nymphs and larva are not good swimmers when they are drifting naturally in the current. You will read a lot about getting “natural dead drifts” when you read
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fishing rags or books about nymph fishing. Sometimes it is an absolute must to get a perfect dead drift. I find that when nymph fishing tail waters like the Bighorn or Missouri; or spring creeks like DePuy’s it is essential to get a dead drift. When dead drifting it is imperative that the flies have zero drag from the line and leader. Volumes have been written about casting and mending techniques that produce a dead drift. Slack line casts, reach casts, curve casts and stack mends all have their place when dead drifting. Not all aquatic food sources drift naturally when dislodged in the water. Some insects like caddis flies are good swimmers when they are emerging. Other food sources like crayfish and sculpins are frequently darting along the river bottom. To imitate these food sources some motion on the flies is beneficial. (continued on page 23)
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By Roger Phillips, Public Information Specialist Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game
T hese developed locations provide easy access to fishing and fun places to hang out. Idaho has a variety of fishing spots ranging from remote mountain lakes to giant reservoirs to rivers that run through the heart of Idaho’s cities. For families looking to get outdoors and enjoy a little fishing without having to travel long distances or hike or boat to a remote location, Fish and Game has some family friendly areas that are easily accessible, and many feature more than fishing. If the kids get a little bored and decide to chase frogs, catch butterflies, or venture into an adjacent park, good for them. The idea is to keep everybody happy and enjoying the outdoors, so check out these locations.
Panhandle Region Fernan Lake
https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/?id=11641
Located minutes from downtown Coeur d’Alene and the post-card perfect shoreline of Lake Coeur d’Alene, Fernan Lake has a decidedly different feel. It’s part rural pond and part backcountry lake with parks and amenities along with undisturbed natural areas. It’s big enough for power boating, but small enough that it’s not intimidating for canoes and kayaks. And you can’t ignore the variety of fish that will keep an angler busy and wondering what’s going to bite next.
Clearwater Region Winchester Lake
https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/?id=11909
As part of a state park that shares its name, Winchester Lake welcomes boaters, campers, anglers and others who want to enjoy a placid place that’s user friendly. Docks, boat ramps, picnic areas and bathrooms with flush toilets (and showers) await. You can even buy an ice cream bar in the park’s visitors center. Bring your RV, tent, or rent one of the yurts available through Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. Canoe rentals are also available at the park.
Southwest - McCall Horsethief Reservoir https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/?id=13264
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This reservoir is disguised as a mountain lake ringed by tall pine trees and with rugged peaks in the background. It’s a Central Idaho gem where the reservoir is managed by Idaho Fish and Game and well stocked with rainbow and brown trout. It’s easily accessible from Cascade, but also a stone’s throw from Idaho’s isolated backcountry and even more fishing opportunities. This is also a popular camping area, but it’s rustic camping with picnic tables, fire rings and outhouses.
Southwest - Boise Esther Simplot Pond https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/?id=66580
The J.R. Simplot Foundation spared no expenses to create a lasting legacy in Boise when it built and financed the pond and surrounding park. It’s a modern masterpiece that welcomes anyone to relax and recreate in its expansive 55 acres, which includes trails, docks, wetlands, boardwalks,
shelters, grassy open areas, a playground, bridges and restrooms. The pond gets regular stocking of rainbow trout, and there are also largemouth bass in the pond. This pond is located along the Greenbelt and minutes from downtown Boise.
Magic Valley Dierkes Lake
https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/?id=15603
Fish? Swim? Or cannonball off the diving board? If you pick all the above, Dierkes Lake is your destination. This gem near Twin Falls is a fishing playground or a playground with fishing. It’s a fishing/swimming hole located in a city park with a host of amenities, so when you’re done with your swimming and fishing, have a barbecue on the grill in the picnic shelter. It’s also a short ways from Shoshone Falls, which is spectacular in the spring when the flows are high.
Southeast Region Bannock Reservoir https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/?id=66565
You rarely hear “state of the art” applied to a fishing pond, but it applies to Bannock Reservoir in Pocatello. It’s part of the Portneuf Wellness Center in a multi-use outdoors complex, which is a fancy way of saying “a really nice park” that has sports field and courts, and a variety of other amenities. The pond wasn’t so much dug as designed so it’s deep enough to keep fish thriving year round and with an inlet stream that mimics the real thing. This is an old-school fishing hole with new-school amenities and a great place to spend a day fishing and hanging out with the family.
Upper Snake Region Rexburg City Ponds https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/?id=15048
Not that it’s a contest, but if it was, Rexburg steps into the ring with its 15-acre Nature Park, about half of which is ponds and natural areas. It is also adjacent to the South Fork of the Teton River, and it’s a place you can catch fish, watch the ducks, or ride at the Clair Boyle Skate Park. Still not enough? Bring your discs for the disc golf course in case the fish aren’t biting.
Salmon Region Hayden Creek Pond
https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/water/?id=13009
Sometimes, you just want to keep it basic on your fishing trip, and Hayden Creek Pond has you covered. This 1.7-acre pond gets stocked with trout monthly through spring and summer for nearly year-round fishing thanks to spring water that’s the perfect temperature for trout. The fish that don’t get caught right away continue to grow, which gives anglers an opportunity to catch some larger trout. The pond also has a picnic facility and bathrooms. Pack a lunch and drinks and plan to relax while fishing for trout.
Fishing Fernan Lake Father and daughter show why Fernan Lake is family friendly fishing.
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THE BEST MONTANA NYMPH FISHING TECHNIQUES
Indicator height and split shot
When tight line nymphing I prefer to either use no indicator, or an indicator at the very top of the leader. Since you have a tight connection to the flies, an indicator is not important as when dead drifting (but can still be important). When dead drifting I vary indicator height and split shot to get to the depth zone that I am targeting. One of the biggest mistakes anglers can make is to always fish directly on the bottom. While dredging the bottom is sometimes required, like when fishing some tailwater runs or during cold water months it isn’t always the best depth to fish at. When fish are active and on the feed they will move far for your flies. By fishing higher in the water column your flies are more visible to more trout and you will get less tangles. Split shot is more difficult to cast resulting in more birds nests and of course sometimes you snag flies on the bottom. By fishing farther off the bottom you spend more time fishing and less time untangling and re-tying. For fast water you need more leader below the indicator and more weight. If you are fishing a fast run that is 3 feet deep and you want your flies near the bottom you may need to set your indicator 6 feet above the flies with 2 or 3 split shot. For slower waters you may need to be just 1.5 times longer than the depth of the water and can use a bit less shot if you are trying to fish near the bottom.
(continued from page 18)
There are a few ways to add motion to your flies including stripping, swinging and tight lining. Stripping adds a lot of motion and is usually used for streamer fishing and swinging is often used to imitate emerging caddis pupae (I’ll save those topics for another day). Tight line nymphing is a more subtle way to add motion and it has several advantages. I prefer to tight line nymph on rivers such as the Gallatin, Madison and Yellowstone that have a large population of sculpins. The lower reaches of these rivers also have a large crayfish population. When tight line nymphing simply keep your line “tight” without trying to strip it or drag them through the water. The result is just the slightest bit of motion on the flies. This motion often catches the attention of trout and produces a more realistic imitation of sculpins and crayfish. It also produces a higher hook up rate since there is little chance a trout can spit the flies out since you are already tight. Tight line nymphing is especially effective when float fishing.
Leader Length
Nymphs just below the surface
The length of your leader is an important part of successful nymph fishing. I prefer to use a shorter leader (5-7.5 feet) when float fishing after runoff when the fish are tight against the banks. Shorter leaders make the casts under the willows more accurate and result in fewer flies lost. Most of the time I default to a 9 foot leader when nymph fishing. 9 foot leaders give a nice blend of range of motion on the flies, enough depth to get where you are going and are short enough to still control flies when casting. Long leaders of 12-20’ are generally used for deep nymphing when a dead drift is required on tailwaters while float fishing. When water is still high on the Bighorn or Missouri we go to very long leaders in order to get down to the fish.
One of the best places to fish is just a few inches below the surface. One popular way to achieve this is to drop a nymph below a dry fly using a “dry dropper” rig. I also like to use double nymph rigs just below the surface, sometimes with very large nymphs. A large unweighted zonker or sculpin with a weightless small nymph trailed behind is useful for probing shallow riffles that large trout feed in. On many Montana fly fishing trips anglers skip over water that is 6”-2 feet in depth when nymph fishing which is a big mistake. Another technique is to fish small nymphs just a few inches below the surface during a hatch with a very small tuft of yarn used as an indicator about 18” above your top fly.
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For more information about the M.U.L.E.Y Program in Montana, contact Tracey Manning, Youth Event Coordinator for the Mule Deer Foundation: youth4muleys@gmail.com.
Introducing, instructing and inspiring youth to increase involvement in shooting sports, conservation and hunting. Summer marks the beginning of MDF's Youth Event season in Montana. The MDF M.U.L.E.Y Program, Mindful, Understanding, Legal, Ethical Youth, was created in 2011 as the oďŹƒcial youth program of the Mule Deer Foundation. M.U.L.E.Y is designed to safely introduce and mentor youth in hunting and shooting sports, while educating the importance of wildlife conservation. Since its inception, M.U.L.E.Y has introduced and instructed over 90,000 youth in hunting and shooting sports activities. Each year, Mule Deer Foundation chapters throughout Montana host M.U.L.E.Y hunting camps, shooting sports events and wildlife conservation activities aimed to inspire the next generation of avid hunters, shooting sports enthusiasts and wildlife conservation advocates. This summer, MDF will help facilitate seven youth events across the state. Our MULEY trailer - a mobile airsoft pellet gun shooting range - will be making the rounds and molding the next generation of hunter-conservationists. Check us out in your area or give us a call to ďŹ nd out how you can help.
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The Complete Guide To GPS By Cavan Williams onXmaps www.onxmaps.com
T o most, hiking the backcountry means escaping the crowds and the rush of the city, but those looking to escape the tech
fueled world should rethink leaving their smartphone behind. Critics say smartphone GPS technology is great, until you’re in the backcountry away from cell service, rendering your maps useless, but in reality, lack of cell service is not an issue when using GPS in the backcountry. Understanding GPS Cell towers are needed for making phone calls and using data, but smartphones come equipped with an internal GPS and, when location services are activated, receive signals from orbiting satellites. All your GPS needs to function is a clear view of the sky. GPS technology was developed by the military in the early 70s as a means of navigation not limited by weather patterns. The more open, unobstructed, view of the sky means more satellite signals can be picked up by your phone regardless of weather conditions. Certain natural features can inhibit your GPS’ ability to retrieve satellite signals, however. Canyons with steep walls don’t allow for an open view for satellites, or prevent a strong connection by bouncing signals off the walls. With locations services on, your phone’s GPS looks for signals from the satellites and only needs three satellites to display your precise location on your screen. The more satellite signals picked up, the more accurate and efficient your GPS will work.
A look at the earth with latitude and longitude lines.
Coordinates are key Your exact position in the world
is found through the use of latitudinal and longitudinal lines, which cover the earth in a grid pattern. Latitudinal lines run east to west along the equator and help specify your northern and southern position, while longitudinal lines run north and south, specifying your east to west location. Your exact position on a GPS is represented numerically as coordinates, which are your location in regards to where the latitudinal and longitudinal lines cross. Latitude lines are based off the equator, which has a latitude of zero degrees and longitude lines are based on the prime meridian which has a longitude of zero. Every line of latitude moves north and south by one degree, until they reach the North and South Poles at 90. Longitudinal lines run vertically, north to south, and are based off the prime meridian, which holds a longitude of 0 degrees. Longitudinal lines moving east of the prime meridian go up by one degree, all the way to 180 and lines moving west of the meridian also move by one until they reach 180. When displayed via coordinates, all lines west of the prime meridian have a negative sign preceding them. Because many areas on the map will inevitably fall between latitude and longitude lines, coordinates can be broken down one of three ways for even more accuracy.
26 | Hunting & Fishing News
Latitude and longitude lines with the Prime Meridian, Equator, North and South poles labeled.
Breaking down coordinates 46° 52’ 44, 113° 27’ 64
Spaces between each line can be measured to the nearest decimal of one. 46° 52’ 44.44”N , 113° 56’ 27.64”W The above coordinate reads 46 degrees, 52 minutes and 44.44 seconds north/113 degrees 56 minutes and 27.64 seconds west. 46° 52.44’N , 113° 56.24’W You can also represent the time measurements in the form of a decimal. Spaces between each line are measured in time. The space between each line is 60 minutes and the measurements can be measured by 60 seconds. With the onX Hunt App you can toggle between all three setting types in the map settings feature. Your exact coordinates will be displayed on your Hunt App in the top right corner with the first number being your latitude and the second as your longitude. When a negative precedes the first number it means the coordinates are south of the equator and a negative preceding the second number means the coordinates are west of the prime meridian. Going Off-Grid You don’t need cell service to access your maps while using the Hunt App, either. Before setting foot on the trail, open the map of your destination and, using the Off-Grid feature, you can save hundreds of miles of land and have it available when it’s time to set foot on the trail, with the GPS displaying your exact position. All your waypoints, markups and layers you had displayed when saving the maps will still be accessible. Saving battery The Off-Grid feature also keeps your maps available during your whole trip by conserving battery life. According to Apple.com, an iphone carries up to 225 hours of standby time, or time the phone isn’t in direct use. This equates to slightly over nine hours of use. Your amount of hours will be less than that when using your GPS, but other factors can also be applied to conserve your power. When using your saved maps, always switch your phone to airplane mode first. Screen brightness is one of your phone’s largest drain on battery life. By lowering the screen brightness all the way down when you’re hitting the woods, your phone should last you the entire trip. Temperature can also have drastic effects on your power. Keeping your phone shielded from extreme temperatures will help keep your battery alive and your maps available. Technology has found its rightful place in the woods and it’s by your side, showing you the way to that next special place or moment. Make sure you don’t get lost or left behind by keeping the most accurate maps on the market in your pocket everytime you set foot off grid. Join onX https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt-app
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(Now, before you think that this is going to be about being selfish, put the brakes on.) As I continued farther down the hunting lifestyle road, I realized something. Serious hunters work their tails off to have the consistent success that they do. This was all too evident by my lack of success at the time. So much of my time was being put into researching, hiking, and glassing. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed—and still enjoy—every second of it. However, even by doing all of that stuff at the time, I still had very little to show for it, other than some much-needed tranquility that I received. At least, that’s how it felt at the time. I look back now and see I had way more to show for it than I thought. The puzzle pieces were being gathered, but I was too blinded by my desire to fill tags to see it. These seasoned hunters that I would chat with had already earned many of those puzzle pieces. Who was I to take those away from them? It’s up to me to put my own puzzle together. Like a lot of people these days, I wanted quick success with the absence of all of the work it took. No matter how frustrating that work can be sometimes, it is the very thing that shapes us into the hunters we want to become.
DON’T DENY YOURSELF GLORY
Photo credit: Josh Kirchner
WHY HUNTERS DON’T SHARE THEIR SECRET SPOTS By Josh Kirchner originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
Serious hunters usually have a “honey hole” or “secret spot.”
I know I do. I can remember when I first dove into the hunting lifestyle and the jealousy I felt towards these folks with “secret spots.” It seemed that they had it all figured out and I was envious. What I wouldn’t give to have my own “honey hole.” For a newbie, that can just be downright frustrating. I wanted to see success so bad I could taste it. From local hunting forums to private messages, I was willing to talk to anyone in order to squeeze out any bit of information. Most of the time I would get very general answers in response to my very specific questions. While I appreciated the interaction, I couldn’t help feeling a bit frustrated when I didn’t get a more specific answer. It wasn’t until years down the road when I realized why.
28 | Hunting & Fishing News
Instant gratification is huge today. If I want to know how to do something, I have the Internet at my disposal 24/7. Need to take care of Christmas shopping? A couple swipes of your finger and that’s that. Photo credit: Josh Kirchner Our lives have been built upon a foundation of convenience. These veteran hunters who were withholding information from me were going against that grain. Why wouldn’t they just tell me right where to go and what to do? Today, I thank them for not doing so. To deny yourself the hardships of the adventure is to deny yourself glory. I worked my tail off for three years before I finally got my first Arizona black bear. The feeling of accomplishment after it all came together was something that I will never forget. From the brutal pack out to the phenomenal company I had to share the moments with; I wouldn’t trade it. Had someone made it “easy” for me, that bear wouldn’t have meant what it did. Fast forward to present day and I have a very different frame of mind when it comes to getting information from people. I almost always want general answers now. Everyone wants success, but, now, I want to earn it. That genuine feeling of accomplishment is a feeling I will forever chase in the mountains and it’s one that you shouldn’t deny yourself.
TO THE SEASONED HUNTERS
To those of you who are successful year after year, my hat is off to you. You have no doubt put in the work and earned your stripes in the field. I am sure that if you are part of an online community on social media or hunting forums, there have been folks that have reached out to you. Photo credit: Josh Kirchner They are looking for information whether it is for hunting spots, tactics, etc. Here’s my take on that. Don’t be so quick to be standoffish with these people. A lot of them are the future of our lifestyle. No, you don’t have to give out your “secret spots,” but drop them a line with some general information. For instance, I will never give out specific areas, but I will talk bear habitat all day with someone. If someone is showing that they have put in the work, I don’t have any problem chatting about bears with them. Why? Because I see myself in that individual. I was where they are; we all were. That is the precise reason why I won’t give specific areas out. It’s because I want them to feel what I felt when I tasted success for the first time. Also, if you’re worried that you are sharing your hunting locations when you post photos online or text them to friends, you should check out this great article by Brady Miller called Are you giving away your hunting locations? https://www.gohunt.com/read/skills/are-you-giving-awayyour-hunting-locations
TO THE NEWBIE
If you are just getting into this stuff, then the biggest piece of advice I can give you is to soak it up. Soak up everything around you. Truly be in the moment and realize what’s sitting in front of you. Who cares if you don’t know what you’re doing. All of us started somewhere and you are no different. Your success will come in time and I promise it will be worth the wait. Tough hunts build character and make us better than we were before. Those hunts are the ones where you should be taking notes the most. If things always panned out for you right off the bat every Photo credit: Josh Kirchner time, you wouldn’t learn anything. Most people can learn how to shoot a bow or a gun. Most people cannot learn how to deal with tough grueling hunts. I think this is what separates the consistently successful from the unsuccessful. And, before you know it, you will have your very own “secret spots.”
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Hunting & Fishing News | 29
THE COMMON ERRORS OF
PHEASANT HUNTING
By Edgar Castillo Project Upland www.projectupland.com
Avoid these common errors of pheasant hunting.
L ooking out over the cut milo field, we could see
pheasants milling about for food. Mother Nature had laid out a new white canvas overnight. The fresh snow and the sparse cover made © David Mohn | Dreamstime.com the pheasants look like tiny black checkmarks on a recently graded piece of paper. Little did we know that in the field, just like errors on a quiz, mistakes would cost us, cost us birds in our game vests. The long-tails scooted in and out from under a thin cover of bent stalks and clumps of weeds. A nearby hedgerow on the opposite corner funneled pheasants from thick cover to their morning breakfast café. A field of milo. The sun’s rays would start crystalizing the snow, which would make our approach difficult. The crunching ice beneath our boots would give our positions away and signal a call to play hide and seek with the advancing orange clad army. Truck doors were shut and tailgates closed with little or no concern for noise discipline. We all piled into the field without formulating a plan; a makeshift line of assault quickly moved down each row. After twenty yards into the field, things started happening. Fast. Silhouettes of birds began darting into the air space and what was once a peaceful moment turned into a feathery flight of mayhem! Dogs went on point and pheasants flushed and shots rang out. But, the bird vests were empty. What happened? Too many errors. Maybe it was just first day jitters or being inexperienced hunters, but what played out is actually quite common. Hunters get into a hurry and don’t account for the small details. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still susceptible to making mistakes in the field. But I also know that I have become a better hunter by learning from my past errors.
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Here’s how: Go Public.
Early in the season, some public lands can be trampled on by hunter after hunter. That heavy pressure pushes those pheasant tenants to other areas. Sometimes those sanctuary areas where the pheasants migrate are right next door or relatively close. Some are not. Study the lay of the land and how cover, feed, roosting, and loafing areas all work cohesively together. Pheasants may be evicted from a field they are actively using throughout the day, but could return later. Hunters need to take advantage of these during those off times. Gun-wise birds sometimes use the public area as a bedroom, returning around dark to roost only to leave at the crack of dawn. Late in the season, when heavy snows have flattened sparser cover on private lands, public areas (especially wetlands) often hold birds again. (continued on page 33)
30 | Hunting & Fishing News
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THE COMMON ERRORS OF PHEASANT HUNTING (continued from page 30)
Location and Timing.
Know when to hunt, because the presence of pheasants depends on the time. Pheasants typically prefer to roost in thick, heavy grasses. Day break signals the onslaught of breakfast; colorful ring-necks and their drab, mottled brown female counterparts will walk or fly into grain fields to feast. Midday snacks keep pheasants hanging around in light cover near food. The afternoon dinner bell sounds off late in the day. Afterwards, birds will return to heavy roosting cover for the night. Around this time—when the sun is slowly making its way towards the horizon—is an ideal time to target feed fields. Hunters need to account for temperature and weather conditions, because these also affect the location of birds. When days are frigid and short, pheasants head for the fields at first light to load up on high-energy grain. Late in the winter, hunting roosting areas during the early morning could be a waste of time, since birds will be feeding during the cold night to replenish their energy. A windy, wet nasty morning is a different scenario. If you’re hunting the roost early as it’s spitting and blowing, chances are you may find pheasants reluctant to leave their warm, weedy roosts. Heavy winds will cause pheasants to stay hunkered down in low lying areas—ditches, trees, grain stalks, and clumps of weeds.
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Noise Discipline.
A slammed vehicle door and a closing tailgate are probably the most common noises that give away the presence of hunters. And talking can send pheasants scurrying or flying before the hunt even begins. Because of all this, start off by parking a little bit away from the field you’re about to hunt. This gives hunters a chance to get out, put on their vests, and load their shotguns. It also allows our canine companions to stretch their legs a little bit, especially after a long drive. Hunters need to be quiet once they arrive at the location. Keep noise and talking to a bare minimum out in the field, too. The approach should be executed quietly, particularly in the late season when pheasants are even more weary and skittish. Educated birds will sense the slightest noise and read it as a signal to evacuate. Winter months will have birds grouped up and may cause waves of them to rapidly disperse. This will happen if there is a cause for alarm (i.e. hunters traipsing through with no regard for noise discipline). I firmly believe that pheasants will hear hunters approaching no matter how hard they try to be quiet. Pheasants are constantly on alert to avoid being taken as a meal from the likes of foxes, coyotes—and those orange, tan bipeds with their four-legged trackers. The approach of footsteps crunching nearby grass is a signal for pheasants to decide if they should sit, run, or fly.
Blocking and Formations.
This is one error that is committed regularly. Hunters need to be patient and wait until a blocker moves into position in the field or area. The best course for blockers is to walk wide or use the edges to get into position. The most common way is to drop off the blockers at one end of the field and the pushers to drive back to the starting point. (continued on page 40)
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Mule Deer: Why Antler-Point Restrictions Don’t Work By Mike Hanback www.bigdeerblog.com Most western states and provinces have, over the years, implemented some type of antler-point
restrictions during mule deer hunting seasons. On the surface, antler restrictions make sense: If by law hunters cannot shoot young fork-horns and other immature bucks, those deer will grow older and bigger next year and the next. More mature bucks is good for the health of any herd, right? And most hunters want to shoot a deer with big antlers, right? Not necessarily, say experts with the Mule Deer Working Group (MDWG). These researchers and biologists report that antler-point restrictions have proved to have limited potential to produce more trophy bucks, and they result in a myriad of challenges and problems. For example: – Available data and experience from across the West suggest that antler restrictions result in no long-term increase in either the proportion or number of mature bucks in a herd, or the total deer population. Antler-point restrictions have been shown to actually reduce the number of trophy bucks in a herd over time by protecting only smaller-antlered young bucks. –Antler-point restrictions do not increase fawn production or herd population size. –Antler restrictions dramatically reduce hunter participation, success and total harvest. They can cheapen the value of young bucks by changing the threshold for success from “any buck” is good to a quest where “only a big buck will do.” Antler point restrictions may discourage hunters (especially beginning and young hunters) because it can be difficult to locate and identify legal deer. –WORST UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE: Antler-point restrictions increase the number of deer shot and illegally left in the field; this can be significant and has been documented in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Nevada, and Montana. The MDWG says that after decades of disappointing results, most western states and provinces have discontinued statewide antler-point restrictions (although some local jurisdictions still have them in limited areas). The two main reasons for abandoning them are: (1) unacceptable accidental-illegal kill, and (2) increased harvest mortality focused on the very age class of buck it was intended to promote. Today, according to the MDWG, most states and provinces have concluded that rather than antler-point restrictions, the best way to improve mule deer numbers (including number of mature bucks) and buck:doe ratios is to reduce the annual harvest through 1) a limited-quota licensing system that decreases overall total buck harvest while allowing for some level of doe harvest; or 2) setting a very short hunting season in early fall (before rut) when mature bucks are less vulnerable. Bottomline for those of you planning a mule deer hunt anywhere out West: Anticipate more draw/quota hunts, and perhaps more and shorter seasons in early to mid-October.
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(continued from page 5) Some of this ground is even enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. The tall grasses provide sanctuary for tight-sitting, pressured bucks. It also provides an escape to bucks courting a doe. Don’t be surprised to see a buck with a hot doe in a sagebrush flat a mile or more away from traditional whitetail habitat. Watch these oceans of grass at sunrise to spot bucks sneaking back to grassland bedrooms and when they bed, mark the spot and pray for wind to cover your stalk.
PERMISSION GRANTED
If you do find yourself staring at more private than public land, don’t be afraid to knock on some doors. It can be difficult to find hunting access, but whitetails aren’t looked at in the same respect as elk. You may be able to land hunting access, even if it is the last week of the season that coincidentally coincides with the whitetail rut. If you know the landowner call ahead and set up a meeting at their convenience. If you’re cold calling then consider a time frame where the landowner is likely not busy getting kids ready for school, not working and not eating. The hours right after the evening dinner period fit this description, but personal careers and seasonal work varies. You also don’t want to wait until the days or even weeks before season to secure permission. If possible, get the process started early. The “to-do” list on a working ranch rarely gets every item checked off as done. Instead, it just keeps growing and growing like a newborn calf. If you’ve failed at acquiring free permission from a landowner, yet still maintain an open dialogue, propose some sweat equity. Begin by just offering to help for some possible hiking, shed antler hunting privileges or even camping. Show them you’re willing to do some weekend work just to have a place to recreate. If they accept the offer you can then forge a stronger relationship by working side by side. Let them get to know you personally instead of just a few minutes of porch time. Bring your spouse or child along if they hope to get in on the hunting, and make it a family affair. And if you and your buddy have hopes of hunting together, make sure they are involved from the beginning. I know of few things that irk a landowner more than giving an individual permission to hunt and seeing a truckload of orange arrive on opening morning. After your sweat-equity offer and fulfillment of your obligations it’s time to ask permission. Your good deeds
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PRESEASON SETS
Once your scouting and trail cameras begin corroborating what’s been jotted on your hunting app it’s time to establish a few treestands, ground blinds or vantage-point sites for the upcoming season. Why do the work now? It’s all about timing. Any intrusions into a buck’s domain now will hopefully be forgotten by the time deer season arrives. In many regions of the West putting up a treestand or clearing a cedar-choked area for a blind requires laborious, sweat-generating work. Summer also allows you to view the landscape in its thickest wardrobe. With everything in full foliage you can clearly see the amount of trimming that needs to be undertaken for the cleanest shooting lanes and to leave the best stand cover. Besides cleaning out shooting lanes and adding, or subtracting backdrop to a treestand, or ground blind location; take time to redirect deer right past your ambush site. Deer prefer to take the path of least resistance so give them what they want. Use a machete and whack out a winding path past your ambush site to provide deer a no-hassle, upwind travel route. I do this all the time in thick, cottonwood river bottoms of the West and the results are always more traffic. Whitetails may not be as glamorous as Montana mule deer or elk, but Big Sky Country is home to some big whitetails. Planning now could put you within shooting range of one this coming season.
Hunting & Fishing News | 35
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FLY FISHING MONTANA’S LAKES: STILLWATER INDICATOR BASICS
Although the standard thingamabobber style indicator that we use for fishing in rivers is adequate for lake fishing, there is a special stillwater fishing indicator that actually does excel while “nymphing” in a lake. The slip float or “tapered slip indicator” works extremely well for fishing with a longer leader as the bobber “pops” and releases from wherever the angler has set the depth. This is especially helpful when a fish is hooked on a long leader and may be 10+ feet below the bobber. Having an indicator that slides down the leader and out of the way during the fight makes it easier to maneuver a fish within range of a net at the end of the fight. Otherwise it can be very difficult trying to land a fish that’s more than 10 feet from the rod tip, with a 9’ rod. There are many variations on this technique however the basic setup is similar to indicator fishing in a river. The float goes up near the top of the leader and is adjusted to the desirable fishing depth. One small difference is that a small swivel is typically used at the bottom of the leader, this swivel is crucial for not losing the little black peg that holds the float in place when fishing. Then multiple flies are tied inline off of the bottom of the swivel. Depending on local regulations 2-3 fly rigs are the most common.
By Montana Angler For a guided fly fishing trip, call 406-522-9854 or visit www.montanaangler.com
A
t Montana Angler they’ve got a wide variety of stillwater fishing options that add a fun and different option for their guided fly fishing trips. Stillwaters can actually produce some of the largest fish a fly fisherman may catch in Montana. They often target smaller lakes on large ranches that they have gained permission to fish with their guests that offer eager, large trout that receive little pressure. A few of these lakes serve as irrigation retention for large ranches and others are more naturally occurring. Lake fishing offers totally different challenges than fishing in moving waters. The surface of a river shows defined holding water and feeding lanes, no matter how subtle they may be. The surface of a lake on the other hand is a fairly featureless venue to the observer. The trout that inhabit a lake will cruise at varying depths and will inhabit certain more promising areas of a lake whereas other areas and depths may be less favorable. Understanding the basics of stillwater indicator fishing can help the lake angler find these locations and depths, and ultimately find more fish.
A big advantage to learning the basics of indicator fishing in stillwaters is that it enables the angler to probe the depths and narrow in on where a lake’s fish are feeding at and what they are eating. This static lake fishing technique is also a fun way to pass the time and have flies in the water when there are no fish visibly rising and no fish actively chasing stripped flies like streamers, leeches, and damselfly nymphs. A slightly longer 6 weight is the ideal stillwater indicator fishing rod. 9’6” or 10’ rods are popular as they give the angler a bit of an advantage when lifting and roll casting the long stillwater nymph rigs. Longer bellied, indicator fishing specific lines like the Rio Intouch Indicator and Scientific Anglers Mastery Anadro are also the most ideal choice for a dedicated stillwater nymphing rod. These lines, with their longer head lengths, excel at lifting and turning over longer indicator rigs.
Photo: Montana Angler
Stillwater trout can grow to impressive proportions!
Here in Montana we are limited to two flies on the line, so keep that in mind. Typically the heaviest fly in the series or 2-3 will be put on the bottom, and the others will go above. This way, the flies will hang fairly vertically under the float, thus making for a more sensitive indicator, showing even the most subtle of strikes. A specially designed fly for this purpose is Phil Rowley’s balanced leech pattern. The fly acts as an excellent point fly for stillwater nymphing as it is tied on a jig hook and has an offset beadhead that allows the leech to suspend in the water and remain oriented horizontally, more similarly to how a natural leech would swim. The most common flies for this static style of fishing include chronomids, leeches, and scuds. Stillwater trout can get
a very thorough look at your flies as they’re steadily suspended in the water versus trout in a river that only get a split second to decide whether or not to eat a fly. Things can occasionally get very tough when it comes to exactly matching flies for stillwater fishing if the fish aren’t aggressively feeding. Size, color, profile, and many other factors can be a consideration with stillwater fly fishing. More generic nymphs like pheasant tails, copper johns, and prince nymphs can also work well, especially on less technical fisheries like some of our private lakes. Admittedly, stillwater indicator techniques don’t sound all that exciting to the angler that hasn’t tried nymphing a lake. However with a little guidance, stillwater indicator fishing can prove to be yet another technique to make you a more well-rounded angler and more effective at catching fish in more situations. Montana Angler guides are experts at teaching their anglers and lake fishing is no exception, let Montana Angler take you to one of their private lake fisheries to hone your lake fishing skills!
Hunting & Fishing News | 37
Court Rules in Favor of Active Forest Management Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
The East Deer Lodge Valley Landscape Restoration Management project is a landscape project in the Pintler Ranger District on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest designed to improve forest health and reduce sedimentation in the headwaters of the Clark Fork River.
Photo credit: RMEF
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied
claims by several environmental groups and ruled in favor of a habitat management project in southwestern Montana. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and several other partners filed an amicus brief in support of the U.S. Forest Service and several other federal agencies. “We have seen environmental groups file frivolous litigation time and time again seeking to thwart efforts designed at improving wildlife habitat and overall forest health. That is the case here,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “We appreciate the court’s ruling and look forward to the implementation of this needed habitat stewardship work.”
The vast majority of lodgepole pine trees in this immediate area are dead. Many of them are already on the ground. Without forest management treatment in the near future, the forest floor will be covered with combustible material that will also impede the growth of shrubs and grasses needed by elk, deer and other wildlife.
The project calls for the removal of pine beetle-killed timber, forest thinning to reduce conifer encroachment and other treatments on riparian areas to protect and improve watersheds that will enhance both fish and wildlife habitat. “RMEF maintains litigation reform is necessary in order to allow agencies tasked with managing our forests the ability to implement active forest management that is so badly needed all across elk country,” added Henning.
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Picture by Region 6 FWP’s Brett Dorak
FWP REGION 6 ELK SURVEYS COMPLETED MFWP
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists have completed the 2018 surveys of the Missouri River Breaks (MRB) and Bears Paw elk herds in Region 6. The aerial surveys were completed in February and March by Region 6 biologists Brett Dorak, Scott Hemmer and Drew Henry. Overall, survey results found elk numbers in the Missouri River Breaks were down from the last survey, while elk numbers in the Bears Paw herd were up from last year. Elk calf numbers in both herds were near average during the surveys, indicating typical winter mortality. “Both management units are doing well,” said Havre-area biologist Scott Hemmer. “Fortunately, elk appear to have weathered the severe weather conditions we had this last summer and winter.” Missouri River Breaks (MRB) Elk The MRB elk survey across Hunting Districts (HD) 621, 622, 631, and 632, was completed in February and is done biennially. Neighboring Breaks districts are typically flown concurrently to limit the potential for elk to be missed or double counted due to movements between districts. A total of 2,294 elk were observed across the four districts, with 1,662 in HDs 621/622, and 632 in HDs 631/632. The total number of elk observed was 33% fewer than the 2016 survey and 20% below the long-term average, with above average calf-cow and bull-cow ratios. The management objective for the MRB districts is 1700-2000 elk. Due to elk numbers being chronically over objective, FWP implemented changes during the 2016 season for additional elk hunting opportunities, including 300 antlerless elk permits and 500 antlerless elk B “shoulder season” licenses... These opportunities have continued, and starting this season, the shoulder season dates have been extended from Dec. 15-Jan. 15. The additional antlerless elk hunting opportunities were designed with the help of the Breaks Elk Working Group to provide private landowners with more elk management options. Bears Paw Elk The Bears Paw elk survey, completed in March, is flown annually and includes HDs 680 and 690. There were a total of 647 elk observed, which is up 24% from last year and is currently 67% above the long-term average. Calf-cow ratios were average and bull-cow ratios were below the long-term average. The management objective for the Bears Paw is 250 elk. With elk numbers over objective in the Bears Paw districts, FWP implemented similar opportunities as in the Breaks districts in 2016, including 100 antlerless elk permits and 100 antlerless elk B “shoulder season” licenses...Again, these opportunities have continued and, starting this season, the shoulder season elk B licenses will be valid from Dec. 15-Jan. 15. With elk numbers above the population objectives across the Region 6 elk management units, hunters should look into additional elk hunting opportunities available through the drawing. It is also a good reminder to secure permission on private lands early to make the most of the 2018 hunting season.
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Hunting & Fishing News | 39
THE COMMON ERRORS OF PHEASANT HUNTING
Quarter back and forth. Zigzag. Loop back and re-work good areas again. Swing through corners and edges of cover that might hold birds. Take your time. Pause. Breaks while walking work to keep the pheasants off balance and stay guessing at your whereabouts.
Far ends of ditches, rows of unpicked corn and milo, and grassed waterways are where hunter-wise pheasants will run to and flush, putting as much distance between them and hunters. Make sure to cover these areas.
Pheasants are birds of grasslands, grain fields, and marshes, not timber. Nonetheless, pheasants will hide in the woods if they can’t go anywhere else. When heavy snow flattens the grassy fields, pheasants look for refuge in cedar rows and woodlots. The ideal woods have creek bottoms, bushes, or brush piles to hide in. Extreme weather conditions and lack of cover can push birds to roost and take shelter in tree lines. There have been several times where I have observed roosters sitting in trees, so don’t assume the birds will flush at ground level. Look to the branches as well. You may find them mimicking their north woods cousins, the ruffed grouse, and be perched up high.
(continued from page 33)
Pheasants don’t run or flush wild when they know someone is watching the back door, they hunker down and take their chances with hunters working the cover. So when you have a line of hunters walking, position the ones on the end at least twenty-five yards ahead. Their job is to make sure no scared running roosters sneak out the sides. The pressure of the U-shaped line will push the birds— and if some long-tails decide to flush early, they may be close enough for the outer-post hunters to take a shot.
Slow Down.
Hunters can get pretty hyped up when hunting pheasants, but they should keep their cool. Stop rushing! It’s impossible to move through cover quietly if you’re stampeding at 50mph like a wild herd. The solution is to reduce speed to a slow walking pace. Pause every once in a while. This momentary lapse of movement may cause nervous ring-necks to suddenly stop in their tracks because they can’t hear you coming. In turn, sometimes the pheasants will lose their nerve and flush. If you’re going to walk, don’t walk in a straight line. Walking in rows makes it difficult to avoid the natural path, but hunters need to weave in and out.
Look to the Woods.
Bird hunters need to realize the real trick to successfully hunting pheasants is NOT in bagging a limit of nature’s colorful escape artist. Instead, it is in relishing the satisfaction of those that end up in the game bag. Pheasants are hearty birds. They seem to be constantly on the run, always avoiding becoming the next meal for whomever. How many times have you sent a string of heavy load pheasant shot only to find the rooster still flying on unscathed? A rooster’s backside acts like a shield of armor protecting vitals as they fly away. Pheasants are worthy adversaries and should command a level of respect for their trickery in the uplands.
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40 | Hunting & Fishing News
DECOY PRE-RUT ANTELOPE By CJ Davis Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com
T here’s no doubt antelope decoys will draw in a buck like metal to a magnet during the peak of the rut. But that is not
only the best time to use a decoy. As early as mid-August in some areas, antelope bucks will separate themselves from the herd and stake claims to their territory – much like a whitetail does during the pre-rut. They won’t tolerate any gatecrashers in the area they plan to keep their does once breeding starts. So, how do you decoy an antelope during the pre-rut? It all starts with scouting. When water is scarce, you can bet an antelope buck will be close. But even when water is plentiful, you can still determine a buck’s territory by looking for scrapes. Pawing marks in the ground and fresh droppings/urine on it can identify an antelope scrape. It’s how they mark their territory, and if you can find a few in an area, it’s likely being patrolled by a dominant buck. Setup a blind around a water hole or active scrape. Or, use your binoculars to spot a buck and stalk within shooting distance with the help of a decoy. Even if you blow a stalk, mature antelopes are so territorial, they will often return to the area. If you make the decision to sneak up on an early season antelope, glass the high points of the area you’re hunting. Dominant bucks will often bed in areas where they can monitor challengers. Once you spot a buck, either bedded or on his feet, use the terrain to stalk as close as possible to his location (it’s best to get within 100 yards). Then, flash
Draw behind the decoy and lean out the side to shoot when hunting pre-rut antelope.
the buck decoy. If you are having trouble getting him to notice the decoy, use an antelope challenge call to get his attention. You’ll know whether he is going to charge or move off right away. If he moves off, it’s time to play on his emotions a little more. Get close once again, but this time, stake a doe decoy into the ground before showing him the Antelope Buck decoy. You can easily carry the Antelope Buck and Doe combo along with you. They weigh ounces and fold up to the size of a small plate to fit in your pack. Hide behind the buck decoy, as he will likely approach it first. As the buck comes into range, draw your bow behind the decoy and slowly lean out to the side to take a shot. Here’s a video of what the routine looks like: https://www.montanadecoy.com/news/decoy-pre-rut-antelope.
Try stalking an antelope with a decoy during the pre-rut this season. It’s the kind of adrenaline-loaded encounter you read about in magazines and the exact opposite of calm, water hole hunts. One charge, and you’ll be hooked for life.
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Hunting & Fishing News | 41
Procrastinator Alert:
START YOUR SHOOTING PRACTICE NOW Kawdy Outfitters www.kawdyoutfitters.com
Photo credit: Kawdy Outfitters
T
o all the procrastinators out there who’ve been busy with summer vacations, graduations and other distractions – summer may have just arrived, but hunting season is just around the corner! If you’ve taken a break from shooting your rifle or bow, it’s time to get back out there!
The clock is ticking down to the start of the fall hunting seasons. Now is the time to get in some serious shooting practice. Assuming you’re already sighted in, here are a few things that you should be working on before your next big hunt:
Step Away From the Bench
With your rifle or bow sighted in, it’s time to get a little more realistic shooting practice. Be sure you practice shooting from different positions and angles. Try sitting and kneeling. If you plan to use shooting sticks or other aids in the field, practice with those now. Make sure you can operate them quickly and effortlessly.
Put On Your Gear
It might be hot outside, but put on that jacket, rain gear, binocular harness and any other gear you’ll be wearing during the hunt. Make sure that you are comfortable shooting in all your layers.
Elevate Your Heart Rate
Finally, get in some practice with an elevated heart rate. When it comes time to take that ultimate shot, you may have climbed a steep ridge or you may be experiencing a serious case of bull fever. Do pushups or run a quick sprint. Then pick up your weapon and steady yourself for the shot. You’ve been planning this trip for a long time and you want to make that shot count. Whatever you do, don’t wait until the week before your trip and take a few shots from a bench rest. Get out there and get some real practice before your hunt! For information on guided hunts with Kawdy Outfitters visit www.kawdyoutfitters.com or phone 1-604-629-9582 July 1 - October 15 or 1-250-306-8624 October 15 - July 1.
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BUILDING THE ULTIMATE HUNTING KILL KIT (continued from page 13)
Havalon Piranta Edge For the past several seasons I have used Havalon Piranta Edge knives with great success. These are extremely sharp and the replacement blades are dirt cheap. Beyond that, they weigh virtually nothing and take up hardly any room in my kill kit. To save a marginal amount of weight, I ditched the nylon holster Photo credit: and slid my extra blades under the pocket clip Brady Miller to hold them securely. My favorite accessory for the Havalon style knives is the Blade Remover. This little tool can be the difference between a new sharp blade and a knuckle on the ground that was once attached to your hand. Tyto 1.1 Another great replaceable blade knife that has hit the market recently is from Tyto Knives. This knife uses the same 60A blades as the Havalon but comes in a fixed blade format undoubtedly adding some strength to the whole package. Additionally, the Tyto 1.1 comes in at an impressive 1.5 oz! Tyto also credit: offers a fixed blade version of this knife in the Photo Seth Webb Esee Izula. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Beyond my knives and game bags, there are also a few small items that will always be found in my kill kit. Rubber gloves is a new item I have started packing. Beyond protecting myself from any cooties I may contract—I nick my fingers a lot while processing an animal—these also make cleanup a breeze. I have used the gutless method on game for years and generally have very little blood to deal with, but now I virtually have none! I also keep all of my licenses and permits in my bag. Another staple that every pack should have—whether it’s in your kill kit or not—is 550 paracord. This can come in handy for tying animals off on a steep slope, for hanging meat or for attaching tags. Beyond that, it can be useful for emergency shelters, broken shoe laces and a million other uses. I always have fifty feet in my kill kit. Before beginning to work on an animal, I always get my first aid kit out and available. Additionally, I have electrical tape wrapped around a lighter that is commonly found in my survival/first aid bag that will sometimes be used to attach tags. WHAT AM I MISSING? Because the items you use to break down an animal is a completely personal decision I also wanted to include commonly used items that I do not pack. Admittedly, I am a weight nazi when it comes to my pack and I usually carry the bare minimum to get the job done. This has changed slightly as I’ve gotten older (I like to be comfortable!), but I’ve definitely gotten better at certain activities and have found items that I simply do not need. A ground cloth is something I get commonly asked about. Typically, these will be used to lay boned out meat on once removed from the bone. This provides you with a bigger working area and a place to keep the meat clean as it “skins” up before putting it into a game bag. Personally, I lay my meat out across available brush and downed trees or use additional game bags. I have used plastic sheeting as a ground cloth in the past, but have found that the meat tends to stick to the plastic and everything ends up wading into a ball before I’ve gotten the first shoulder done. I have heard of hunters using Tyvek with great results. This will be a far more durable option and this material can be used for a multitude of things while in the woods as an added bonus...
rugged and steep terrain that mountain goats inhabit, few hunters can tell you much about the day-to-day lives of these unique animals.
Here are a few things you may not already know about mountain goats.
1. A Unique Species First, it’s interesting to note that mountain goats share the same subfamily group with true goats. The subfamily Caprinae includes sheep, goats, chamoix and muskox. However, mountain goats belong to their own unique genus. True goats belong to the genus, Capra, which includes ibex. But mountain goats are the only members of the genus, Oreamnos. They are only native to North America, making them totally unique. Photo courtesy Kawdy Outfitters
4 Things You May Not Know
About Mountain Goats By Ryan McSparran www.kawdyoutfitters.com
M
ountain goats have become one of the most sought-after trophies in North America. While Mountain goats can be found in 14 different U.S. states and Canadian provinces, the best hunting opportunities are in British Columbia. Despite our own bias, B.C. has the quantity, quality and availability to make it the best mountain goat hunting destination on earth. Mountain goat hunting has become more and more in-demand over the past decade. As high-adventure mountain hunting has gained popularity, so has the interest in mountain goats. Despite that increase in popularity, most hunters know very little about them. Other than the
2. Survival and Defenses Mountain goats inhabit such harsh terrain because that is their primary means of safety. They are able to traverse cliffs and rugged mountainsides, keeping them out of reach of predators. As hunters, this makes mountain goat hunting a challenge. But it also provides opportunities. The broken terrain often allows us to stalk within range while avoiding a direct line of sight. The best approach for a stalk is often from above. 3. What They Eat Goats are opportunistic in their feeding habits. They can be grazers and browsers. During warm summer weather, they live on high, green slopes above timberline. They survive mostly on grasses, forbs and low-growing plants during this time. During the winter, mountain goats will descend in elevation to timberline. Mountain goat diets during the winter vary regionally, depending on what is available. But browsing on low shrubs is common during these months. 4. Identifying a Billy If you’ve never hunted mountain goats, one of the most difficult aspects can be learning to tell the difference between a billy and a nanny. But after some time studying them through binoculars or a spotting scope, you’ll get the hang of it. For an experienced mountain goat hunting guide, quickly identifying billies and nannies becomes second nature. Photo courtesy Kawdy Outfitters
A billy will be larger in stature than a nanny. The billy will also have heavier horns, most noticeably at the bases. A billy’s horns will have a gradual, even curve from the base through the tip. However a nanny’s horns will appear to extend straight up from the base and then curve closer to the tip. Mountain goats are undoubtedly one of the most unique big game trophies in North America. If you’d like to learn more about our guided mountain goat hunts in British Columbia, please visit Kawdy’s Mountain Goat Hunts Page at http://kawdyoutfitters.com/hunts/mountain-goat-hunt.
46 | Hunting & Fishing News
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Presenting the all-new 3-row Subaru Ascent.
Take a video walkaround here: https://youtu.be/cYkZgllmk18
The biggest Subaru SUV ever is here - The 2019 Subaru Ascent® Family-sized with flexible seating for up to eight passengers, standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity1. Subaru EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology2 comes standard. SUBARU STARLINK™ Multimedia and STARLINK Safety and Security3 services are included to keep you informed, entertained, and secure wherever the road may take you.
PLACER MOTORS 406-442-2603 | 1-888-433-0119
Love, it’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.
See our full line of Subaru vehicles.
1515 EUCLID AVENUE, HELENA, MT. 59601
Subaru, EyeSight and Ascent are registered trademarks. 1Maximum towing capacity varies by trim level. Trailer brakes may be needed. See your retailer for details. 2EyeSight® is a driver-assist system that may not operate optimally under all driving conditions. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors, such as vehicle maintenance, weather and road conditions. See owner’s manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. 3Activation with subscription required. Includes a three-year trial subscription to Safety Plus services and a six-month trial subscription to Safety and Security Plus services. The Concierge plan can be purchased annually or monthly. A credit card on file will be required for specific packages and for renewal purposes. See your retailer for details. 2019 Subaru Ascent shown.
