Western Hunting & Fishing News - June 2021

HUNTING & FISHING WESTERN

NEWS

JUNE 2021

The Key To Successful Shooting...

HSM Ammunition Made in Stevensville MT. Available at your local retailer.

After 104 years as Montana’s outdoor outfitter we know a thing or two about adventures in our great state.

There’s no secret fishing hole, hidden trail, or exclusive camping spot that we don’t know.

But don’t worry, we keep those secrets close so you can discover them for yourself.

It’s the things learned along the way that make a journey worth the effort.

So, the next time you’re gearing up for adventures at Bob Ward’s, take a moment to recognize that local Montana knowledge. It’s in everything we do.

After all, we were founded in Montana, have grown with her, and we’re still in love with our Treasure State.

Thank you for your loyalty and patronage for the last 104 years!

Visit www.bobwards.com for our daily deal and be the first to know about new sales!

Plus, get free shipping on any order over $49!

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the best deals first!

CELEBRATING 104 YEARS

OUTFITTING MONTANA!

MISSOULA

3015 Paxson St. 728-3220

BOZEMAN

3011 Max Ave. 586-4381

HELENA

3323 Dredge Dr. 443-2138

BUTTE

1925 Dewey Blvd.

494-4452

HAMILTON

1120 N. 1st. St. 363-6204

Test Run - Get Your Gear Dialed Well Ahead of Hunting Season

By Zach Lazzari Hunting Gear Outfitters www.huntinggearoutfitters.com All photos credit Ryan McSparran

nvesting in high quality gear is important and modern Icomfort equipment can make a serious difference in terms of and performance in the field. Simply making the purchase however falls far short of being field ready. Testing and breaking in boots, packs, clothing ahead of the season is a critical step that will prevent blisters, failures, and general breakdowns when that gear should be helping you push harder on hunts.

Here are a few things to consider in advance of the hunting season: Testing New Clothing

New clothing might fit perfectly off the shelf but that does not immediately translate into all day field comfort. Every individual has a slightly different body type and wearing pants, shirts, socks and jackets on a few full day pre-season hikes will ensure everything feels great. The base layers are especially important because they make constant contact with your skin.

A baselayer that doesn’t fit quite right can form hotspots and cause discomfort on a long hunt. Test everything thoroughly, wash and test again. If the clothing feels good after a few days of hiking and moving around the woods, it will perform well on a hunt.

Don’t forget that great boots will never live up to their full potential with sub-par socks. Never wear cotton in the field. Instead, get a few pairs of merino wool or a merino-synthetic blend socks that are designed for hiking. We personally use Kenetrek socks.

Wear Your New Pack

Packs are often overlooked but the straps and general fit is really important while hunting.

This proves especially true on multi-day backcountry hunts that require full days of walking with a loaded backpack. Hot spots frequently form on the shoulder strap contact points and on the chest and waist strap regions. Rubbing on the back and lower back is not uncommon either.

Take a few summer hiking trips or ideally, backpacking trips. These trips serve a double purpose by testing the pack while creating an opportunity to play with weight distribution and hunting gear. Anything that proves as dead weight can be removed to lighten the load come hunting season.

Break In Your Boots

Hunting boots are your lifeline in the field and a pair that fails can ruin the entire trip. An ill-fitting pair of boots will discourage you from pushing over that next ridge and ultimately limits your range and hiking capabilities.

Anytime you purchase a new pair of boots, get them out on hikes throughout the summer to help along the break-in period. Even wearing the boots around town will help them conform to your feet.

Using new boots is obvious but what about that favorite pair of hunting boots that performed well over the previous season? Materials contract and boots that once fit perfectly can still require a few hikes before they feel just right again.

In some cases, it’s as much a matter of training your feet to work in the boots again. Work your favorite pair of hunting boots into a summer hiking routine that will ensure they are ready for opening day.

4 | Hunting & Fishing News

If the straps are rubbing hard, try adjusting the length to ensure your hips are absorbing some of the load.

The straps themselves are rarely the problem and training hikes are the perfect opportunity to find the sweet spot while conditioning your body to function with the pack.

Gear Up Early

Don’t wait until the last minute. Start your hunting gear prep now to avoid stress right before the season.

If you need suggestions, check out the gear we carry at www.huntinggearoutfitters.com. We only sell items that we personally use in the field. We’ve tested them all and we stand behind them. Please contact us if you have any questions at 303-798-5824.

Wolverine® RMAX™4 1000 LIMITED EDITION

REIMAGINE EVERYWHERE. REIMAGINE EVERYTHING. • • • • • • • • •

Wolverine® RMAX™2 1000 LIMITED EDITION

New, powerful 999cc parallel twin engine Auto inspired 2-seater cockpit with industry-exclusive soft touchpoints on the Wolverine RMAX2 Roomy 4-person cabin with configurable sliding rear seats for additional storage in the Wolverine RMAX4 3 D-Mode settings at the turn of a dial: Sport Mode, Trail Mode, Crawl Mode FOX® 2.0 iQS (Intelligent Quick Switch) shocks puts the suspension settings in the hands of the driver, allowing them to choose the preferred damping levels from a switch in the cockpit Integrated Yamaha Adventure Pro with GPS and adventure planning Transport up to 600 lbs. of cargo or tow a full 2,000 lbs.

Wolverine RMAX2: 30” Maxxis® Carnivore® tires and 14-inch aluminum wheels in a square setup Wolverine RMAX4: 29” Maxxis® Carnage® radial tires and 14-inch aluminum wheels

Blitz Motorsports 255 Village Center Lane, Bozeman 406-522-7533 www.blitzmotorsportsmt.com Staack’s Motorsports 102 E. Galena St., Butte 406-782-2623 www.staacksmotorsports.com

Steve’s Sports Center 4700 9th Ave. South, Great Falls 406-727-8607 www.stevessportscenter.com Al’s Cycle 619 Highway 93 N, Hamilton 406-363-3433 www.alscycleyamaha.com

Five Valley Yamaha 5900 Hwy. 93 S, Missoula 406-251-5900 See Us Online Townsend Marine 7809 Hwy. 287 So., Townsend 406-266-5700 www.townsendmarine.com

Shocks, Adventure Pro and Tires listed available on Limited Edition models only. Professional riders and drivers on closed courses. Side-by-Side (SxS) models are recommended for use only by operators 16 years and older with a valid driver’s license. Always wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Yamaha recommends that all Side-by-Side riders take an approved training course. For Side-by-Side safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ROHVA at 1-866-267-2751. Read the Owner’s Manual and the product warning labels before operation. Avoid excessive speeds and never engage in stunt riding. Always avoid paved surfaces and never ride on public roads. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; it is illegal and dangerous. Models shown with optional accessories. ©2021 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved • YamahaMotorsports.com

Hunting & Fishing News | 5

FINDING LUCK ON PUBLIC LAND HUNTS

By Anthony Wright Originally published at www.goHUNT.com

Photo credit: depositphotos.com

T

he 2020 hunting season is behind us, which means it is now time for reflection and preparation for 2021. I was fortunate enough to find success last year on the highly pressured public land here in Montana. And, as I sit with my coffee, reliving the past hunting season, there are some common variables in the equation of public land success.

Here’s what I’ve come up with.

The time to fiddle with your bipod or try a new technique is not while you need to focus on the task at hand. Know your equipment before the season starts. This will improve confidence and remove any negative variables when the time comes to notch your tag. I cannot stress this one enough: become proficient prior to the season’s eve.

Stick it out

Don’t be intimidated by other hunters

Something common that I used to do when heading out on the weekends would be to get discouraged immediately when I saw other parked vehicles in the vicinity of the area I chose to hunt. When rolling up to the parking area, trailhead or locked gate, don’t get discouraged. That’s part of the beauty to finding success on everyone’s land.

Just because there are other potential hunters in the area doesn’t mean they have the drive to go as far as you nor are they going to the same spot you’ve picked out. In the event that they are in the same area you’ve chosen to go to, take a step back, look at topography lines and think like the prey.

Where would you go if pressured?

Do what others won’t

There comes a time when hunting public land where it helps to get a little “western.” Lands across the West are as diverse and as vast as we are. This means that there are more than likely areas of units that most hunters chose not to venture to due to the difficulty. This is where having a wild hair can pay off.

Seek the nasty and possibly far-off lands to help increase your odds, view more game and likely see fewer people.

Get to those areas that others opt out of if you can. Nothing is guaranteed in hunting, of course, but doing what others won’t can certainly pay off.

Know your craft when it counts

I’ll be the first to admit that finding a true giant on public land does take a little luck. So, when the opportunity arises for you to make the stalk and execute the shot you must know your craft. Whether it is shot accuracy, weapon familiarity, navigation, etc., you have to be proficient.

6 | Hunting & Fishing News

Photo credit Anthony Wright www.goHUNT.com

This one is fairly straightforward: keep after it. I know first-hand the ups and downs of public land hunting — like most of you reading this — but there is also a rewarding feeling when you can find success. The easy thing to do would be to leave and head home once you find adversity, but once you get home the “what-ifs” will slowly sink in. What if I would’ve stayed? What if I would’ve hiked over the next ridge?

Don’t go home with the “what-ifs.” Leave nothing to question and grind it out.

Glass, glass, glass

If the country that you are hunting warrants the opportunity to glass, then do so. I would recommend at the least glassing from binos off a tripod. If there is a lot of country for viewing, then let your spotter and binos do some of the walking.

I’m a huge fan of glassing with binos off a tripod and it’s proven you will be able to pick apart the terrain better. It was a major advantage for me this past season. It’s definitely worth the additional weight!

I’m blessed to live in a state that has plenty of land for many of us to hunt. Sure, there are some highs and lows with the pressure, but hey! That’s public land. If you don’t like it, oh well! There are quality animals to be had if you’re willing to put the work in. One thing that separates those who are successful versus those who are not is how hard they worked.

With some sweat equity, strategy and a little bit of luck, you too, can find success. As always, stay safe and hunt hard!

E G N A R E IV T C E F F E R U O Y E REDEFIN WITH VORTEX OPTICS RAZOR® HD LHT™

One scope to rule them all. From dark-timber whitetails, to executing precision long-range shots on an open-country mule deer, and everything in between - there’s the Razor HD LHT. Stunning, High Definition optical system delivers a crystal-clear sight picture with tack-sharp resolution.

Turn every second of legal shooting light into opportunity. Take to the field with confidence knowing you’ve sacrificed nothing with the Razor HD LHT.

Shown: 3-15X42 HSR-51 (MOA) Reticle 30 mm Tube

UNLIMITED UNCONDITIONAL LIFETIME WARRANTY

Visit One Of These Dealers For Your Next Vortex Purchase

FULL CURL MFG............ www.fullcurlmanufacturing.com SHEDHORN SPORTS............. www.shedhorn.com MURDOCH’S................ www.murdochs.com SHIPTON’S BIG R................www.shiptonsbigr.com NORTH 40 OUTFITTERS.. www.north40.com SPORTSMAN & SKI HAUS.....www.sportsmanskihaus.com OWENHOUSE ACE.......... www.owenhouse.com

JOIN THE VORTEX NATION

www.vortexoptics.com

GET READY FOR THE

MOUNTAINS NOW

By Jake Horton Originally published at www.goHUNT.com

Lodge Like Atmosphere With Resort Amenities •Spacious & Comfortable Rooms • Free Hot Breakfast •Large Indoor Pools & Jacuzzis - All Hotels • Business Meeting Facilities •High Speed Internet Access • Exercise & Game Rooms •iPod Docking Stations In All Rooms •Refrigerators, Microwaves, Coffee Makers In Every Room • 42” or 50” Flat Screen TV In Every Room

BILLINGS - 800-655-1170 BOZEMAN - 866-782-2717 MISSOULA - 888-989-5569 www.cmoninn.com

Like us on

https://www.facebook.com/HuntingFishingNews Contests, photos, hunting and fishing news, recipes & more

HUNTING & FISHING NEWS

Have it delivered FREE to your inbox.

Just go to www.huntingfishingnews.net

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! Download Read Print Share

HOW TO CONTACT US:

email: huntingfishingnews@yahoo.com The entire contents is © 2021, 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 18 Issue 2 Cover Photo: ©Kahj19|depositphotos.com

8 | Hunting & Fishing News

All photo credits Brady Miller

I

... f you want to go hunting this fall, now is the time to make the commitment so you can be mentally, physically and financially prepared by the time September rolls around.

Here are some tips in order to help organize your offseason into a successful fall — no matter what or where you are hunting. In order to give yourself the most successful, most enjoyable and most memorable trip, your preparation must start now — not tomorrow...

Mental preparation

Mental preparation involves research, studying, having intimate knowledge of the area and being confident in all aspects of the hunt. Without a doubt, my research always starts on goHUNT Filtering 2.0. Living out West, in Colorado, gives me close access to a lot of western states and a lot of options as to where I want to go hunting. Some states allow you to apply and draw as early as December and some allow you to buy a tag at a local Walmart or sporting goods store the day you get there. Understanding what state you want to hunt is the first decision and this is based upon your location and all of the data in Filtering 2.0. For me, I always will hunt Colorado because it is a cheap resident tag; however, I also like to try to hunt elk out-of-state.

Using the filters to decide which state beside Colorado I can draw helps me keep my money in my pocket and helps me be successful in the draws. After I use the filters to find a unit, then I hone in on specific mountain ranges and drainages and come up with multiple plans for success.

Understanding which roads are accessible, which trails have a parking lot and what drainages are going to be over hunted are assumptions that I try to prove through some calls to local game wardens, biologists, forest service offices and any other local knowledge. My goal is to know as much about the area as the locals do so I can make good decisions as to where to hunt.

Mental preparation is about having confidence in your areas, knowledge, gear and body. This type of confidence is built throughout the entire offseason by your research, calls, practice and workouts and through previous experiences on the mountains.

MONTANA 2021-22 MIGRATORY BIRD REGULATIONS RELEASED MFWP

Physical preparation

When it comes to physical preparation for a mountain hunt, it needs to start today. Let me be honest with you.

I promise that anyone with a fully functional body can hike up a mountain; however, what separates a lot of successful hunters from non-successful hunters is their physical shape. Being able to gain thousands of feet of elevation in an hour or two is way different from the four hours of huffing and puffing someone who is out of shape will take. Being in tip top physical shape will also help with recovery and have you physically ready to hunt each day to its fullest.

Being in mountain shape will require work — and lots of it — but I promise if you start now, you will be hunting, hiking and killing machine who gets a way better experience than those people who wait until summer to start working out and shooting their bows or guns.

Financial preparation

Though elk hunting on public land is not extremely expensive, it can add up in a hurry. Buying the right gear, purchasing points and your tag, driving from areas as far away as the East Coast, butchering fees and, if you are lucky, taxidermy fees can eventually add up to a few thousand dollars.

The earlier you can start putting away money in preparation for the trip, the less financial stress your bank account will undergo in September. Personally, a cash stockpile, or one of those savings applications, help me get some money set aside throughout the year in order to be able to hunt multiple states while still taking care of all the important things in my day to day life. By running some quick calculations, you can easily understand how much money you will need to have around by the time you go hunting, then divide that by the number of paychecks between now and then and be sure to put it away weekly. Your spouse will be way more understanding when you save throughout the year instead of charging a credit card or draining your checking the day before your hunt. Getting some hunting buddies to go along for comradery and to split the bills is also an easy way to reduce the cost of hunting in the Rocky Mountains.

Just make sure you have good buddies and splitting the costs has been talked about prior to them saying yes.

Overall, when it comes to preparation for a hunt, everything you do will better your chances to be successful.

Using goHUNT Filtering 2.0 to find the best tag you can draw, understanding the layout of the land and being confident in your research, gear, and physical ability will increase your chances drastically. Making sure you start your training early and are in the best physical shape you can be will give you a better opportunity and a more enjoyable hunt. Having your finances in order and saving throughout the year will give you a feeling of accomplishment and increase the chances that your wallet and your spouse will let you go year after year. The time for preparation starts now, what are you waiting for?

The 2021-22 migratory bird regulations are now available..

A change in the Pacific Flyway and Central Flyway Zone 1 that hunters should note this year will be the lack of a split season. This change is in response to a survey of randomly selected Montana waterfowl hunters. The Central Flyway Zone 2 season dates are similar to last season, including the split season. In the Pacific Flyway, season dates for both ducks and geese will be Oct. 2 – Jan. 14. Pacific Flyway swan season dates will be Oct. 9 – Dec. 1. In the Central Flyway Zone 2 (Big Horn, Carbon, Custer, Prairie, Rosebud, Treasure, and Yellowstone counties), duck season dates will be Oct. 2 – Oct. 10 and Oct. 23 – Jan. 18, with goose season dates Oct. 2 – Oct. 10 and Oct. 23 – Jan. 26.

Zone 1 (the remainder of the Central Flyway) will have duck season dates of Oct. 2 – Jan. 6 and goose season dates of Oct. 2 - Jan. 14. The Central Flyway swan season will be Oct. 2 – Jan. 6 in both zones. Central Flyway swan licenses are now valid for both tundra swans and trumpeter swans.

Duck and goose bag limits in the Pacific and Central flyways remain the same as last year. In the Central Flyway, two additional blue-winged teal will be allowed in the daily bag for the first nine days of the season, Oct. 2 – Oct. 10...

Waterfowl outlook Good numbers of ducks the last two years mean a lot will be returning to breed this spring. Much of Montana is quite dry, as are parts of major duck production areas in Alberta and Saskatchewan, although there are some brighter spots. Duck hunting in Montana depends to a large degree upon local conditions and weather patterns. Local waterfowl production should be good, and hunters can expect good numbers and from ducks migrating into and through the state. Canada goose numbers remain high in Montana...

Visit http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/regulations for regulations.

Hunting & Fishing News | 9

ANTELOPE: A WESTERN HUNT FOR ALL

By Jake Horton Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

ntelope are often called the fast food of the West and A can reach speeds of up to 60 mph. Their oversized eyes can see over 300 degrees and they easily spot movements

multiple miles away. Their home range spans from southern Canada to Texas and from California to a portion of the Midwest.

Both bucks and does thrive in habitats consisting of grasslands, sagebrush, agricultural land and, really, any other open terrain that allows them to use their speed to obtain a quick escape from hunters and other predators.

A lot of times antelope share their home range with cattle and are commonly seen ducking under fences to move from pasture to pasture. In many western states, populations are relatively stable and hunting them can be a blast for hunters of any age and skill level. Rifle antelope hunting is a hunt for every age, every strategy and every skill level, and is a welcome adventure after a brutal September of archery elk hunting.

Typically, most states have an archery season, muzzleloader season and rifle season for antelope. During the earlier seasons when you need to be within a hundred yards or less for a shot, sitting on travel corridors, using terrain for stalks, using decoys to stalk or sitting on a frequented water source may be your best option.

Successful 2020 archery antelope hunt.

Photo credit Logan Summers www.goHUNT.com

During rifle season when you need to get within 300 to 400 yards to make a shot, you have a lot more options and should be seeing antelope anytime throughout the day.

Many of the older and youth hunters choose a drive and spot type hunt, which allows them to cover miles and miles of backcountry roadways. Driving either a highway vehicle or all-terrain vehicle (when permitted) can be a great way to see lots of bucks and doe daily; however, they will still likely be a ways off and require a stalk to get close. Overall, many hunters are successful this way. Yet, it is not my preferred method of hunting, especially not on opening weekend when most people out there are dressed in orange and doing the same thing.

Instead of driving around and trying to spot antelope, I prefer to use those hunters to my advantage. To do this successfully, you just need to find a spot that is at least one to two miles off any road, hike back and practice patience.

(continued on page 31)

Portable power, when and where you want it.

EU2200i

2200 watt 120V inverter generator with CO-MINDER™ Double your power with parallel capability

SEE WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU AT LewistownHonda.com 302 Truck By-Pass, Lewistown, MT. 406406- 538-9435

Read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment and never use in a closed or partly enclosed area where you could be exposed to poisonous carbon monoxide.

10 | Hunting & Fishing News

INVENTORY CHANGES DAILY. GIVE US A CALL OR SHOP ONLINE. OVER 300 UNITS IN STOCK.

2017 JAYCO NORTH POINT 315RLTS

LARGE SELECTION OF USED RVs FROM TOP MANUFACTURERS If you are looking for a quality RV and don’t want to pay a fortune, look no further than Rangitsch Brothers RV Center!

Whether you are looking for a used motorhome, used fifth wheel, used travel trailer, toy hauler or a used truck camper, Rangitsch has a great selection of used RVs at amazing prices!

Thinking about selling your RV? Let our experts help you.

We make the process easy and we get the highest $ for your RV.

Units that are just like new!

2018 JAYCO WHITE HAWK 28RL 2015 FOREST RIVER WILDCAT MAXX 24RG

2018 JAYCO PINNACLE 36FBTS

T R U S T E D S IN C E 1958 Your Jayco Headquarters

New Units arriving daily!

Rangitsch Brothers, LLC RV Sales Hours: Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm

Sat 9am - 5pm Sun Closed

SEE US TODAY FOR YOUR NEXT RV!

With our large selection, you are sure to find a floorplan that works for you!!

EASY FINANCING AVAILABLE ON USED TOO! We have a Large Inventory of New & Pre-owned Units & Are Western Montana’s Largest Jayco Dealer

2001 W. BROADWAY MISSOULA

1-800-823-2221 406-728-4040

www.rangitschbrosrv.com Hunting & Fishing News | 11

FISHING BROUGHT TO YOU BY FOR THE GEAR YOU NEED

In Missoula, Bozeman, Helena, Butte & Hamilton or 24/7 at www.bobwards.com

TEN CAN’T-MISS FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS FOR DADS WHO LOVE FISHING

By Rapala www.rapala.com

or this Father’s Day, skip the socks, the jumper cables F and by all means, the travel mugs. Give dad what he really wants: fishing!If you have a dad who is passionate

about fishing, he can never have enough fishing lures, fishing line and other accessories and apparel such as fillet knives, weigh scales, grippers t-shirts, caps, and grippers to help him catch more fish and bigger fish.

So, what should you get dear ol’ dad this Father’s Day? Here are ten gift ideas that will surely bring a smile to Dad. Rapala® Rap-V Blade – The Rap-V Blade is the most versatile lure ever from Rapala, the world’s most well-known fishing lure company.

This lure can catch any type of fish in any type of conditions at any depth. You can troll it, yo-yo it, snap it, grind it, rip it, jig it, you name it, you can do it with this lure – all year long,

All photos courtesy Rapala www.rapala.com

even for ice fishing. This extremely versatile bait produces instant vibration on the lift or retrieve that triggers fish to bite.

Sufix® Advance® Fluorocarbon Fishing Line – If your Dad tells a lot of those “The Big One Got Away…” stories, then get him Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon fishing line. Because there won’t be any more excuses for him in catching the big one. Developed with Gel Phase Technology™, Sufix Advance line is incredibly tough, offering superior knot strength and incredible abrasion resistance, while offering the suppleness and sensitivity to help anglers feel those “light” bites. With 50 percent lower stretch than standard monofilament line, Sufix Advance offers exceptional lure control, ultimate bite detection and firm hook setting power.

Rapala® Fish ‘n Fillet® Superflex Knife – Ready for shore lunch? After Dad comes back with the catch, make sure he fillets them to perfection with a Rapala Fish ‘n Fillet Superflex Knife, Made by Marttiini, the makers of premium Rapala fillet knives for more than 50 years, the Superflex knife features an incredible, extra-thin blade that allows the greatest flexibility and control ever. The razor-sharp hand-ground stainless steel blade features through tang construction and is securely anchored into a reinforced, hand-rubbed and baked-birch handle. Comes with a genuine leather sheath. For most anglers, the 6-in. knife is the perfect size.

Rapala® Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife Combo (with storage case) – If you think Dad needs a fillet knife with a little power, consider the Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Knife.

Its lithium ion batteries

12 | Hunting & Fishing News

provide a consistent speed and torque from fillet to fillet, without reduced power or slow down as battery power wanes, producing 80 continuous minutes of run time per battery without any loss of power. The Combo pack includes a cordless knife, two lithium ion batteries, 6″ & 7-1/2″ reciprocating style blades, and a wall charger — all packed into convenient EVA padded storage case.

VMC® Bladed Hybrid Treble Hook – Want to make all of Dad’s buddies jealous of how many fish he’s catching.

Give him the extra edge with VMC Bladed Hybrid Treble Hooks.

The VMC® 7548 Bladed Hybrid treble hook features a premium quality small willow blade, which is connected to the base of the treble by a swivel.

Dad replaces the treble hooks on a favorite fishing lure to give it more flash and vibration. You’ll turn Dad into a fish-catching machine. Consider either size No. 4 or No. 6 for most fishing lures.

Rapala® Fleece Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt – With dad’s new fishing gear, he’s going to be spending long hours on the water. Make sure he stays warm with a genuine Rapala Fleece Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt.

This stylish moisture-wicking fleece is designed with 100% polyester fleece for just the right amount of stretch. It features welded front

zippered pockets, and a 3-panel hood with rubber stoppers and drawcords. Available in sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL. Terminator® Popping Frog – Is Dad ready for the best bass season of his life? There’s nothing like the thrill of catching a bass on top water. The Terminator Popping Frog’s cupped face produces a loud, strong, bass- attracting “pop” with each jerk of the rod tip that drives bass crazy.

Rapala® Combo Pack – If you’re looking for an incredible value in a Father’s Day gift, you can’t beat the Rapala Combo Pack. It features all the tools a Dad needs in his tackle box, including a 6-1/2″ Fisherman’s Pliers, 5-1/2″ Forceps, 25 lb. Scale and a Rapala® Clipper.

Storm® Arashi® Glide Bait – If Dad wants to catch big bass, pike and muskies, then he needs a Storm Arashi® Glide Bait. It offers perfect, lifelike action and demonstrates a killer swim at slow and fast speeds. The Arashi Glide Bait delivers a fine-tuned, consistent, stable glide action at every speed. (continued on page 17)

Hunting & Fishing News | 13

In that case, a Current Cutter Jig tipped with an Impulse Core Swimbait is a great combination.

This bait can be worked faster and more aggressively without the bait coming off the jig, and usually several fish can be caught on one bait.

Current Cutter Jig

By Mike Frisch Northland Fishing Tackle www.northlandtackle.com

Pitching jigs works great to groups of fish holding in small Impulse Core Swimbait areas. If, however, they are more spread out, maybe they are scattered along the drop-off edges of a point extending out into the main lake, then I will opt for a bottom bouncer, plain snell, and hook tipped with either a nightcrawler or leech.

is often a great time to catch walleyes! These Jfeed,une fish are fully recovered from the spawn, are on the and are often not that tough to catch. Here are

I use a heavy bouncer (about one ounce per every 10-feet of water being fished), about a 3 ½-foot snell of line, and a #4 Super-Glo Attractor Hook

Photo courtesy Northland Fishing Tackle www.northlandtackle.com

JUNE WALLEYES some tips for finding and catching aggressive June walleyes.

Main lake structure starts to hold walleyes during early June. Shallower sunken humps and islands will often hold walleyes during June, with deeper water structure holding more and more fish as summer wears on.

Other good fish-holding spots on lots of lakes during June are major points that extend off the shore line break and jut out into the lake.

Regardless the structure being targeted, I use my fish-finding sonar and GPS navigation to quickly search and find structure-related walleyes. The CHIRP SideVision technology on my Raymarine units allows me to quickly move along looking off to the boat’s sides to find shallow fish-holding structure and the fish themselves. Combining that technology with CHIRP sonar and DownVision on other screens lets me also see fish holding under the boat. These technologies are easy to use, easy to interpret, and let me quickly and efficiently eliminate unproductive water, and spend more time fishing “good” water.

Once fish are found, I let their location determine how I am going to fish for them. For example, if a school of fish is found relating to a small area, maybe the tip of an underwater point in shallow water, I may hold the boat out off the end of the point and pitch a jig and minnow combination to them.

A Stand-Up Fire-Ball baited with either a fathead or shiner minnow can be pitched and slowly worked through these fish, particularly if they are a bit tentative.

If, on the other hand, the fish are active and aggressive, Stand-Up Fire-Ball a soft plastic bait pitched and worked more aggressively will often shine.

14 | Hunting & Fishing News

Super-Glo Jig

in either super-glo pink or super-glo orange colors baited with a nightcrawler or leech. The heavy bouncer allows me to cover water quickly searching for active biters, and the colored hook and bait combination has proven deadly when presented quickly behind a bouncer.

Mainly anglers choose the more traditional slip-sinker live bait rig in this situation. I have found, however, that I can cover water more quickly to put my bait in front of more fish utilizing this set-up. Another key, is that by keeping the bouncer fishing fairly vertically imparts a stuttering action to the bait that often triggers aggressive bites. I often fish this rig close to 1 mph, whereas traditional “riggers” often fish slip-sinker rigs at about half that speed.

June often means biting walleyes that can be caught consistently. Using the afore-mentioned tips can, in fact, help you get in on the “aggressive walleyes of June” this year. As always, good luck on the water and remember to include a youngster in your next outdoors adventure!

Mike Frisch is a western Minnesota fishing guide and co-host of the Fishing the Midwest TV series. Follow Fishing the Midwest on Facebook for more “fishy” information.

Brandon Wright caught the 22.5-inch-long fish Saturday morning while angling from shore with a worm on a hook and 6-pound test line. He officially confirmed the fish’s species, weight and length by contacting Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials and weighing it on a certified scale at Alberstons grocery in Billings Heights.

Wright, who has lived in Billings for about four years, said he usually likes to flyfish, but decided Saturday to fish at Lake Elmo. He arrived at the lake at a little after 10 a.m. and tipped a #10 Eagle Claw hook with a piece of night crawler. Then, Wright said, he sat back and started watching Tik Tok videos on his cell phone.

Within 15 minutes, the big fish took his bait and he was able to reel it ashore.

Brandon Wright displays his record largemouth bass after pulling it from the water at Lake Elmo in Billings Heights. Photo courtesy MFWP

Largemouth Bass Caught In Lake Elmo Sets New Montana State Record Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

9.575 lb. fish tops previous record by nearly a pound 4/26/21 – A largemouth bass pulled from Lake Elmo in Billings Heights Saturday is big enough to be a new state record. The 9.575 lb. fish tops the previous record of 8.8 lb. that has stood since 2009.

It was the first largemouth bass that Wright ever has caught. He plans to have it mounted by a taxidermist.

The last remaining step to declaring the largemouth bass a state record is a signature from the FWP fisheries division chief in Helena. FWP officials in Billings said the paperwork was in the mail to Helena Monday.

It has been a busy winter and spring for state fisheries recordkeepers. Other recent records included a chinook salmon in August, a smallmouth bass in October, a yellow bullhead in December and a brown trout in February.

People who think they have caught a Montana record fish should keep the fish fresh on ice but not frozen, document the length and girth with photos, contact FWP at the first opportunity for positive species identification, have the fish weighed on a certified scale and keep the certificate from the scale or an affidavit from the scale owner.

Hunting & Fishing News | 15

Drift Strategy

Slip bobbers are an extremely effective way for catching early season walleye. Pictured is author Jason Mitchell with a slip bobber walleye.

SLIP BOBBER TACTICS For W ALLEYE

By Jason Mitchell www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com

or some anglers, the thought of using slip bobbers seems F like a boring concept. Akin to watching paint dry on the side of the barn. Throw the bobber out, let the bobber sit and wait… and wait until a fish swims by. While you can just sit and stare, you can also fish slip bobbers with a much more aggressive mindset and if you fish slip bobbers correctly, you are hustling and adjusting the entire time until bobbers start getting dunked.

Slip bobbers can be so incredibly effective because of the precision involved. You can stick or drift through the “X” for long periods of time and let good live bait do the work.

A lively squirming leech or flashy shiner struggling in place is too much for most walleyes to resist. Especially early in the season before the water warms up, slip bobber presentations are one of the best techniques for triggering shallow fish.

Picking the Spot

While you can use a slip bobber in depths past twenty feet, they can really shine whenever targeting a specific piece of shallow structure that rises up from twelve to three feet of water. Shallow rock reefs or bars or any type of shallow structure that has debris on the bottom is a perfect candidate for the slip bobber presentation. Reason being is that you can slowly drift or work good live bait in front of the fish yet stay above snags or other debris that can ruin your presentation.

Early in the season, off shore reefs, bars and rock piles that come up into shallow water are great locations. Other top locations include shallow structure that is connected to the shoreline. Shallow points, rock piles, submerged timber or emerging weed beds can all be worth checking. A favorite location of mine are inside turns or troughs where a little bit deeper depression cuts up tighter to the shoreline.

Even on small spots, there are usually fairly small “spot on the spot” zones where most of the fish come. In some cases, there might be a school of fish holding on an exact tight location. Other times however, it often seems that fish pass through and over the spot and each pod of fish follows the exact same route and certain parts of the spot either funnel fish movements or stall fish as they cruise through.

This is why slip bobbers often seem to create spikes in activity where the fish come in spurts.

16 | Hunting & Fishing News

Each location seems to have specific zones where most of the fish come off of these small locations but what is interesting is that these “spot on the spot” locations can sometimes change daily on a specific piece of structure.

How deep the fish are moving along with wind direction and underwater currents change this recipe daily.

This is where the work comes in. Adjust depths and cover the spot with slip bobbers until a pattern develops. Let the slip bobbers drift through the zones and cover water.

When the slip bobber is drifting at the correct speed, they will be standing straight up. If they are leaning, the line is too tight. When you get the fish dialed in, you will eventually keep the slip bobber in a much tighter zone and will have to reel up the bobber and let it back out so it keeps drifting back through the productive area. As you get dialed in, the spots get smaller but even when the pattern develops, I still like to take at least one rig and keep roaming and covering larger amounts of water just to keep on top of things as fish locations change especially if the wind picks up or backs down.

In really strong wind, you will have to anchor so that the bow of the boat faces the wind for the anchor to hold but if you can anchor with two anchors and get the boat positioned perpendicular to the spot, you can widen the platform from which you fish which can help with slip bobbers because as the bobbers drift away from the boat or towards the boat, you want the slip bobber to drift to or away from the rod tip with a direct line of sight.

Kind of like spreading out lines when you are trolling. You do not want bobbers crossing or the lines crossing. The rod in the front of the boat has to be pointed directly at a bobber out the front of the boat. This way as the bobbers drift, you don’t tangle lines and have lanes to fight the fish.

When each bobber gets to the end of the productive drift, reel up and repeat. With multiple lines, especially with stronger winds or currents, this can keep you hopping.

The Set Up

Depending on where you fish, the main line can be either monofilament or braid. The advantage of using monofilament (8 to 12 lb. test for walleye fishing) is that the bobber stops grip monofilament very well. Some braids however work well for slip bobber fishing as well. I like to use 14 lb. Bionic Braid for the main line as it is extremely durable and if you leave a little tag end on your bobber knots and cinch them up tight, they hold on the braid decent.

Below the sliding slip bobber, I like to add a small egg sinker and bullet weight and below the sliding weight, tie on a small barrel swivel. Why the sliding weight versus split shot? I find that I can pop the weights out of the nets faster and get back into the water quicker versus having a bunch of split shot wrapping up in the mesh. Below the swivel, attach a snell of monofilament or fluorocarbon. Hook options include just a plain hook or small jig like the 1/32nd ounce Northland Fireball.

Here are a few considerations and tweaks. Early in the season especially with larger swells, you can sometimes catch more fish by subduing the up and down action on the rig. You can accomplish this by using the heaviest weight possible (that doesn’t sink the bobber) and using longer snells up to four feet depending on the waves and go with a plain hook. This longer snell cushions and subdues the up and down action. I rarely use really light rigs and small bobbers as I feel the larger floats and heavier weights give me a big advantage. Reason being, the rig drops down into the zone immediately and allows for more precise fishing where I don’t have to wait for the rig to pull line through the bobber and don’t have line blowing around above the water.

The set up time is extremely fast.

If you are drifting over rocks or boulders, use a small lead head jig and tie on with a Palomar knot. With the knot cinched tight, bend the jig down so that the hook is facing down with the bend, instead of riding horizontal.

This modification will allow the jig to ride over and through rocks a little better. When using plain hooks, don’t hesitate to hook the leech through the middle of the body for more swimming action. With minnows, you can sometimes get them to swim harder by just hooking them through the top of the mouth versus both lips. Reverse hooking through the hide under the dorsal fin also works well but the minnows don’t cast well with that hook placement.

Slip bobbers just plain work well especially early in the season.

With high gas prices, sitting on key spots is not all bad.

This presentation is a guide’s dream because your boat control is simple and you are free to interact and tend to the people in the boat. When a bobber goes under, set the hook with the reel. Crank on the reel handle until the rod loads and then sweep. You will catch many more fish by getting a good connection because remember there are times when fish swim towards the boat.

Slip bobbers have always been extremely regional with strong followings amongst anglers on a few noteworthy fisheries like Mille Lacs and Devils Lake but slip bobbers can be extremely effective on many fisheries and the results are the same. Stick good bait in front of fish and you are going to catch fish.

TEN CAN’T-MISS FATHER’S DAY GIFT IDEAS FOR DADS WHO LOVE FISHING (continued from page 13)

Developed to sink slowly in a slight head down position, it responds to the slightest line movement. Swimming in an exaggerated “S” action that piques interest of large predators, a quick snap of the rod tip turns the lure 180 degrees, triggering strikes from followers.

Available in one size, 7-1/2 in., and nine color patterns.

Giant Rapala® Lure – So you really want to tell Dad that you love him. Then go big with a giant Rapala replica lure. Every time his friends come over and see this lure, Dad will immediately become the center of attention.

This 29-in. replica of an Original Rapala® is a natural centerpiece in any guy’s Mancave. It comes packaged in giant replica Rapala® lure box carton.

Editor’s Note: The author, Jason Mitchell is a renowned walleye angler who hosts the outdoor television program Jason Mitchell Outdoors....More information on Jason Mitchell Outdoors can be found online at www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com.

The Ultimate Fishing Experience

Have A Boat You Want To Sell?

Ask About Our Consignment Program.

2021 LUND 2175 PRO-V LIMITED

This boat is loaded save thousands!!

Includes: All limited edition features, SS prop, Smartcraft gauges, Factory kicker with controls, Transom saver, Complete top set, Travel cover, 2 Electric downriggers, Rod holders, Aft flip seat conversion, Ski pole upgrade, Bow rails, Bow bait station, Washdown system, 4 step boarding ladder, 2 and 3 bank chargers wired to single location, Minnkota 112 Ulterra I pilot Link, Rock guard on trailer, Humminbird Solix 15 SI on dash, Humminbird Solix 15Di on bow, Humminbird Solix 10 in aft location, All have Lakemaster chips. Complete network of system, I troll installed on kicker.

Just add water this one is ready to go!!!

TOP 5 LUND DEALER IN THE WORLD!

7809 Hwy. 287 S., Townsend

GO WHERE OTHER BOATS CAN’T

Jet motor is elevated above the bottom of the boat while the tunnel design directs water to the intake, for outstanding shallow water performance. quality you can trust performance you can see satisfaction you can feel Your Authorized G3 Dealer

It’s worth a drive to Townsend.

Three Forks exit at I-90 or from Helena Hwy. 287.

7809 Hwy. 287 S., Townsend 406-266-5700 www.townsendmarine.com

406-266-5700 www.townsendmarine.com See us for our large selection of Boats, ATVs & Accessories.

Hunting & Fishing News | 17

Skinner Sights LLC ®

MACHINED FROM SOLID BARSTOCK STURDY SIGHTS

Rifle cases & more for your rifles

They have a plug in the digestive tract, and grass is especially helpful for clearing this obstruction as they pop out of hibernation mode.

If you focus on food sources and glass them hard, bears are likely to turn up. Look for fresh greenery to find bears. Budding plants and new green grass are prime for spring bears.

Work the Sweet Spots PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

WWW.SKINNERSIGHTS.COM P.O. Box 1810, St. Ignatius, MT. 59865

As the snow melts, a large portion of the landscape turns green and the hunting areas expand. As bears disperse and begin moving across the landscape, look to specific features for consistent action. Avalanche chutes are hot spots in the high country. Also look to logging roads and south-facing slopes for spring bears.

Spend an hour or so glassing an area and move on if you don’t find any bears. They are often easy to spot and look like stumps or visible clumps when out feeding. If you aren’t finding bears in an area, move on to a new spot until they turn up.

Spot and stalk hunts often require hitting multiple zones until bears turn up.

Plan on hiking and glassing until you find that sweet spot.

Photo courtesy Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment www.caribougear.com

3 Tips for Spot and Stalk Spring Black Bear Hunting

By Zach Lazzari Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Company www.caribougear.com

B

ear and turkey are the primary spring species in many states. Spot and stalk bear hunts offer special hunting opportunities that are both challenging and rewarding. The ability to spend weeks and in some states, several months chasing black bears is a treat after being cooped up for the winter. ...

Judge Carefully

Field judging bears is not easy and confusing boars and sows is common. Getting close makes a big difference because the details really count when it comes to judging bears. If you see cubs, the bear is a sow but some females are solos so don’t jump to conclusions on solitary bears.

A sow will have a big rear end while boars are front heavy and shoulder strong. Do an ear check to rough judge size as well. Small looking ears indicate a mature bear while large looking ears demonstrate a smaller skull and less mature bear. It’s not a perfect science and the only way to really become proficient is through time in the field with bears in your view.

Packing for a spring bear hunt? See our previous article “6 Items Not to Overlook When Packing for a Spring Bear Hunt” here: https://www.caribougear.com/blogs/ hunting-tips/6-items-not-to-overlook-when-packingfor-a-spring-bear-hunt for a few tips on what to bring.

This time, we have a few tips to help you get started as you begin the search for spring black bears:

Find the Food

States like Idaho, Montana and Wyoming offer over-the-counter spring bear hunting opportunities.

No matter where you’re headed, spring bear season is all about finding the food.

The bears have been cooped up all winter and they need to get their digestive tracts activated and working.

After a long winter, eating grass, plants and insects gets them up and running for the summer.

18 | Hunting & Fishing News

Photo credit Ryan McSparran

Gear for the Hunt

...For more resources, check out all the

great hunting gear we offer at our sister site, www.HuntingGearOutfitters.com.

If you need help or if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be happy to offer our best recommendations and make sure you’re ready for that upcoming adventure!

MAKE YOUR RIFLE FIT YOU Available June 1st: HOME WATERS IT’S IMPORTANT A Chronicle of Family

By Mark Boardman Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com

Whether you’re a hunter, a plinker, or a long-distance competitor, making sure your rifle fits your body is one of the easiest ways to get more accuracy and comfort out of your setup.

Rifle fit is paramount for accuracy and a positive shooting experience. The less you force and think about during the shooting process, the better you focus on the fundamentals of marksmanship, executing the most accurate shot possible. Refining fit variables to make your firearm an extension of your body, not something you have to fight, will make you a better shooter.

So how do you know if your rifle fits? It’s pretty simple really. Are you comfortable and able to achieve natural point of aim - a state where you can get behind the gun, close your eyes for ten seconds, open them, and still be on target? If the answer is yes, you likely have a rifle that fits pretty damn good. If your muscles are tensed, you have trouble getting a full sight picture, are contorting your body and generally working hard to get a sight picture that should come easy, some tweaks to your setup may be in order.

Below are five things to consider or potentially customize every time you buy or set up your next rifle.

LENGTH OF PULL: Length of pull is critical when it comes to rifle fit.

If it’s not right, nothing will feel right. Length of pull is measured from the center of the trigger to the center of the recoil pad/butt plate. You can check length of pull a few different ways.

•Method #1: With firearm confirmed unloaded/safe, extend your arm, and then bring the rifle back in with the butt resting in the crease of your elbow between your forearm and the base-edge of your bicep.

Next, see how easy or hard it is to access the trigger.

If you really have to reach to get to it, the length of pull is long. If your finger awkwardly overshoots the trigger, too short.

•Method #2: Confirm Rifle is unloaded/safe. With the optic somewhat loose in the rings, and the magnification turned to its highest setting – shoulder the rifle in a standing, natural position. The shooter should observe a full FOV without having to move his or her head from their natural position. Move the optic fore-and-aft while repeating this, until the FOV is perfect for that individual at that natural hold-point. If this is unachievable, you may need to consider a rifle with a different length of pull, or a different mounting solution.

•Method #3: With the firearm confirmed unloaded/ safe, measure the length of pull on a rifle that feels good and you shoot well. See how it compares to one you are looking at, or are not shooting well. If there is a discrepancy, note it and proceed accordingly.

(continued on page 28)

and a River

By John N. Maclean A universal story about the power of place to shape families, this beautifully written memoir details the Maclean family’s century-long love affair with Montana’s majestic Blackfoot River, which John’s father, Norman Maclean, made legendary in A River Runs Through It. Now himself past the age that his father published his bestselling novella, Maclean returns annually to the simple family cabin his grandfather built by hand, still in search of the fish of a lifetime. When he hooks it at last, decades of longing promise to be fulfilled, inspiring John, reporter and author, to finally write the story he was born to tell. With HOME WATERS, he offers a natural companion to his father’s beloved classic - a meditation on fly fishing and life along the river where four generations of Macleans have fished, bonded, and drawn timeless lessons from its storied waters.

A book that will resonate with everyone who feels deeply rooted to a place, HOME WATERS chronicles a family who claimed a river, from one generation to the next, of how this family came of age in the 20th century and later as they scattered across the country, faced tragedy and success, yet were always drawn back to the waters that bound them together. Here are the true stories behind the beloved characters in A River Runs Through It, including the Reverend Maclean, the patriarch who introduced the family to fishing; Norman, who balanced a life divided between literature and the tug of the rugged West; and tragic yet luminous Paul (played by Brad Pitt in Robert Redford’s film adaptation), whose mysterious death has haunted the family and led John to investigate his uncle’s murder and reveal new details in these pages.

A gorgeous chronicle of family and the land they call home, and a celebration of the art of fishing. Maclean’s memoir beautifully portrays the inextricable ways our personal histories are linked to the places we come from - our home waters. As he writes, “I do not fish alone on the Blackfoot River, ever, even though now I mostly fish it by myself.

When I’m on the water, and especially when no one else is around, I feel the presence of the generations of my family whose stories run through it.” (p. 245) HOME WATERS features twelve original wood engravings by master printer Wesley W. Bates, specially commissioned to illustrate the text. It also includes a map of the Blackfoot River region and a 16-page color photo insert with stunning photographs of the Montana setting depicted in the book.

ABOUT THE BOOK: HOME WATERS Custom House | On Sale: 6/1/2021 Hardcover | ISBN: 9780062944597| $25.99 Also available in E-Book and Digital Audio E-Book ISBN: 9780062944610 Audio ISBN: 9780062944627

Hunting & Fishing News | 19

Your Montana Toyota Dealers are

PA SSION ATE in their support of the outdoors, and groups such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation with its mission to conserve wildlife habitat and open space.

STYLE AS UNIQUE AS YOU ARE When your life revolves around more than just family, Toyota Highlander is ready to take on whatever you’ve got, all while bringing more refinement to the daily drive. Highlander seats up to eight while providing greater capability, comfort and safety than ever before. Whatever your life requires, there’s a Highlander that will fit your needs.

Prototypes shown with options. Extra-cost color shown.

PUBLIC ACCESS For hunters, anglers and others who enjoy experiencing the outdoors first-hand, it means everything. No access means no recreational opportunity.

A landowner who values wildlife and conservation donated 3,450 acres of high-quality habitat to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The sun-drenched, south-facing slopes are prime winter range and provide critical forage for elk, mule deer and whitetail deer.

Located north of Interstate 90 in the Bearmouth area of Granite County, the property is about 45 miles east of RMEF headquarters in Missoula.

The property also provides important connectivity since it lies within a vast landscape of public and protected land ownership. The landscape contains about four miles of perennial streams, including parts of three Clark Fork River tributaries that provide quality water for elk, moose, small mammals, songbirds, raptors and fish.

Not only is the land now permanently protected, it is also accessible to hunt since it is part of FWP’s Block Management Program.

BEARMOUTH LOCATION

PROTECTED

3,450 ACRES

Just north of Interstate 90 in the Bearmouth area of Granite County

Land donation protects 3,450 acres of Montana wildlife habitat

Breakfast Like the old saying goes, “Breakfast is the most

All photo credits Anthony Wright

FOOD OPTIONS IN THE FIELD

By Anthony Wright Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

on any multi-day hunt is paramount. In order to Lyourongevity spend days living out of your pack, you must replenish body daily with nutrients it has used. More than likely

on the hunt there will be a fair amount of uphills along with a healthy amount of downhills. In order to keep your body fueled for high output activity some thought must be put into which items you eat throughout the hunt. Through my time in mountain trail running, high endurance workouts and the military, I have found some foods very beneficial to help supplement an exerting mountain hunting diet. I prefer a “keep it simple” food menu; it’s not elegant, but it gets the job done. Some of the following items you may have seen before as well as some that may be new to you. Hopefully, some will fit into your field rations on your next outdoor endeavor.

important meal of the day,” this still holds true. I personally like to keep it straightforward with instant oatmeal and protein powder or breakfast bars. I don’t like to boil water unless needed, so, luckily, neither of these NEED hot water. Sure, oatmeal tastes better warm, but when conserving stove fuel it’s not so bad cold or lukewarm. I will typically take two oatmeal packets per day of hunting. Adding a half or full scoop of your favorite protein powder to each packet will aid in feeding and rebuilding sore muscles from the day before, stoking your body’s fuel tank of quality carbs and proteins.

The easier morning meal though is breakfast bars. Be sure the bars you choose are dense in macros such as protein, carbs and fats (I prefer the M.R.E. or Breakfast at the Ready Bars from RedCon1).

Lunch Tuna packets with small tortillas are my go-to. Not a whole lot of prep required for this little meal, but two packets of tuna in your favorite flavor and three tortillas is enough to keep me going. I don’t like my lunch to become overly filling, just satisfying. I packed the tuna and tortilla combo everyday in my go-bag on my recent deployment in the event we didn’t get a meal while on mission. Another dense option that could be used for both lunch or dinner is a ProBar Meal-on-the-Go. These bars offer a good amount of calories to keep your body in the fight during the day.

Dinner I learned from a buddy, Charlie, last season about the ramen noodles with tuna added as a replacement from the more expensive, dehydrated prepared meals. With the ramen, you get a lot of carbs and replace sodium you have lost from sweating throughout the day. The tuna gives you a lean source of protein. Just be sure to add it to the noodles AFTER the noodles are ready; tuna turns to a nasty paste if cooked in boiled water (ask me how I know). Dehydrated meals are an easy, yet more expensive option with a lot of

Socializing done right.

Polaris delivers the most complete lineup of customizable side by sides, ATVs and single-seat vehicles.

Let us help you find the right Machine for Your needs.

SEE WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU AT

LewistownPolaris .com 406-538-9435

302 TRUCK BY-PASS, LEWISTOWN, MT Warning: Polaris off-road vehicles can be hazardous to operate and are not intended for on-road use.

Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. All riders should always wear helmets, eye protection, and protective clothing.

Always use seat belts and cab nets or doors (as equipped). Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. All riders should take a safety training course. Call 800-342-3764 for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. ©2021 Polaris Industries Inc.

22 | Hunting & Fishing News

options for each individual’s taste and also fulfilling. If going stoveless, then a Meal Replacement Shake or Greenbelly Meal bar may be a more fitting option. The Greenbelly bar packs around 650 calories of high quality energy in all macronutrient aspects. These are great if trying to use less water and stay lightweight, yet be fueled back up at the end of a long day. I have also prepared bagel sandwiches the day before leaving and then wrapped them in tinfoil so they can be ready when hungry or reheated by fireside.

Snacks Trail mixes, Stinger Waffles, Larabars, jerky and nut butters are all options I use as snacks throughout the day or to help supplement my lunch or dinner depending on how hungry I am. Trail mixes and nut butter packets are great since they supplement a fair amount of healthy fat back into your system as well as give sustaining energy opposed to a quick shot.

Jerky adds protein with minimal fat. The Stinger Waffles and Larabars are popular choices not only for taste, but they also pack a lot of needed nutrition.

Energy Shot bloks/energy gels, candy bars, gummy bears and Strike Force Energy round out this area. While learning trail running tactics, I was introduced to energy gels and energy gummy blocks. There are a multitude of options in the energy block and energy gels categories so research which ones best fit your kit or food sensitivities. Candy bars/gummy bears or worms are fast burning, cheap and can deliver a helpful energy kick through, essentially, a sugar rush. On this recent deployment overseas, I was introduced to Strike Force Energy drink mix. Strike Force comes in to-go concentrated liquid single-serve packets for 16 oz of water. You just mix completely until clear. They have zero calories, zero sugar and 160 mg of caffeine (more than enough to crank out some vert!).

They come in four flavors; my favorite is original. Overseas, these performed great when getting tired and exhausted in the Middle East, which is why they will be added into my diet come hunting season.

Fruit Dehydrated fruit, That’s It bars, fruit leathers and dates are what I use to supplement my fruit intake. As much as I would like to enjoy a crispy apple while in the field on a ridgeline glassing elk, you won’t find me packing in whole apples, so these options will suffice. My favorite would have to be the That’s It bars, which come in a few flavors of compacted fruit in a small bar form. Vitamins from fruit are a staple for me personally. The healthy carbs and natural sugars they provide ensures a clean burn when demanding the most of yourself. Fruit leathers are also a lightweight option for those looking for their fruit fix.

Coffee Coffee is not required but it’s a nice creature comfort in the morning. I really enjoy a nice hot cup when preparing for the day. Dark Timber Instant Packs are perfect when it comes to that warm cup of joe in the morning or when the weather turns nasty. They have a few options. The Gravity packs have a single-serve, biodegradable cup attached pour over filter system, so, once finished, you can simply bury it and it will naturally compost. The Mt. Baker blend tastes like a mixture of hot cocoa and quality roasted coffee.

The Vapor instant packs are extremely convenient...

In Conclusion I’m a firm believer that you get out what you put in. In this case, it’s your body. Testing out foods that fit your individual body needs will make you not only feel better but also perform better. By testing food before you go hunting, you will find what your body prefers and what doesn’t agree with it. Be sure to try some kind of food/ calorie tracker to help gauge your current daily caloric and macronutrient intake like the MyFitnessPal App. This app is handy due to the plethora of foods already in their library, the option to UPC scan items and also add in your own home recipes. There are other apps out there that do this same task, but this is the one I am most familiar with.

Hopefully, I mentioned some items that will help you with some new additions for your next hunt/adventure...

NEW UNITS ARRIVING DAILY!

SAVE $ 7 , 489 MSRP: $42,439 SALE PRICE: $34,950

2021 DUTCHMEN RV KODIAK ULTRA-LITE 289BHSL

Private bedroom with second exterior entrance and a residential queen bed plus double size bunks next to full bath. Large slide out U-shaped dinette and sofa offer a dining area, a game playing headquarters, and sleeping space for friends. You will also find plenty of storage for all your things with the pantry, overhead cabinets, dual wardrobes and an exterior pass-through storage, plus outdoor kitchen.

NEW 2021 Keystone RV Cougar Half-Ton 25RES FIFTH WHEEL

JUST $ MSRP: $52,986 SAVE: $10,036

42 ,950

NEW 2021 Palomino Puma XLE Lite 25TFC TOY HAULER

ONLY $ 32 , 979

MSRP: $41,537 SAVE: $8,558

Arctic Fox, Aspen Trail, Carbon, Chaparral, Columbus, Cougar, Desert Fox, Fox Mountain, Fun Finder, Kodiak, Nash, Puma, Raptor, River Ranch, Rockwood, Sandstorm, Wolf Creek

View our inventory at

406-442-8542 1-800-246-8542 HELENA

We make buying an RV easy.

www.ddrvcenter.com

Author Tom Cooper (r) with his brother Bill. Photo courtesy Tom Cooper.

The Name(s) of the Game

By Tom Cooper

remember the old-timers telling hunting stories around the Ithose campfire, and I also remember I was a young hunter in days. Anyway, I recall stories about a buck or two

that for some reason, when the story was told, a name was attached to each deer. Fred and Jake both come to mind, but memory no longer allows me to match a set of antlers or hunt detail to either animal. Instead, mostly I recall how the old-timers referred to harvested big game animals simply as “the” bull on the long ridge, “that” buck in the narrow meadow, or “those” cows in the logged clear cut.

For the most part, “the, that, and those” don’t really improve the quality of the hunting stories or memories, even when retold over the years around the campfire.

Unintentionally, we selected our first official name for a harvested big game animal on a hunt during the Fall of 1981. I was about to complete an Air Force assignment in Utah and was scheduled for reassignment to Germany.

My brother (Bill) and I shared several hunting experiences during the previous three years. Either Bill traveled to Utah from his home in Western Montana or I made the 500-mile trip from Ogden to Missoula. We were raised and hunted in Western Montana from grade school through high school.

I completed college, entered military service, and left Montana in 1970. Since we did not expect to hunt together again until I returned from Germany one more Montana hunt was important to both of us. To make it as memorable as possible, we assembled a small tent camp at the end of a four-wheel drive road in the northern Bitterroot Mountains, southwest of Missoula.

On the second day of the hunt, I shot a young 2x3 bull elk.

In Montana in those days, an elk tag was valid for any antlered bull. We skinned the elk and packed the bagged quarters, along with the head/antlers to the closest road, about half a mile. Since camp was less than a mile down the road, we arrived with our elk in camp by mid-afternoon.

After caring for our elk and hunting gear and clothes, the three of us (meaning Bill, me and our elk) celebrated the successful event with a favorite beverage. While Bill’s version of the celebration varies somewhat from my recollection, we agree it was during the course of the celebration our elk was named “Wily the Wilderness Wanderer”. And with Wily’s name we began a tradition which continues 36 years later.

In death, a harvested animal earns a right to a proper name.

The selection of the name, always up to the hunter harvesting the animal, is usually determined prior to leaving the kill site, certainly prior to departing the hunting area. Over the years, for their major contributions to our hunts, we’ve selected names for elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, and moose.

24 | Hunting & Fishing News

Frequently we select names related to prominent landmarks in the surrounding countryside and noted on topographic or US Forest Service maps. Hence bull elk names such as Bitterroot Bob, Curtis of Colorado Mountain, and The Donald of Deadman’s Spring bring back fond memories of hunts in those specific areas. Bill stretched our criteria just a bit when he named a young bull elk, Forest, apparently in reference to Lolo National Forest. During the late 1990’s, Bill, my son Gary and I all drew Montana bull moose tags during a 4-year period. Thanks to the moose, all three hunts were successful and the result was the almost immortality of three bulls sporting the names: Quartz Creek Clyde, Spruce Hills Harry, and Marcus the Moose.

My son, not as concerned about the use of prominent landmarks as Bill and me, opted to select a name that sounded good with “moose”. Name selection works just fine that way too. A couple of years earlier, using similar 12-year-old logic, he named his first mule deer buck George the First.

Another option for names involves significant events during the hunt itself. For example, when the spike bull unexpectedly turned 180 degrees and moved toward me rather than continuing directly away to safety, I muttered to myself “that’s the wrong way”. Shortly thereafter, Wrong Way Ralph had his name.

Another example of this use of events occurred during late October 2010 (a couple of days after the San Francisco Giants’ World Series win).

In honor of Giants’ catcher Buster Posey, Buster the Bull was so named. As it happens I opted to use honor as criteria one other time when I named a spike bull, Victor P. Mills. I had taken the bull in Mill Creek, which helped make the connection. Victor was a comrade I served with in the Air Force in Germany and, sadly, he had passed away the previous year. The opportunity to honor Vic and his dedicated military service seemed appropriate and was my privilege.

Sometimes a harvested animal’s name allows for the use of nicknames. So as you might guess, the nicknames of the mule deer buck, Daniel of Doherty Mountain, could include Dan or Danny. However, there are rules associated with the use of nicknames. To refer to Daniel as Danny in conversation, a hunter must have participated in the hunt resulting in the harvest, the effort to transport the animal out of the hunting area, or during meat processing.

Hunters and non-hunters who did not participate in the successful hunt in some way should always use the formal name, Daniel. The intent is if you did not know Daniel intimately during the hunt or by helping process the meat, you are not entitled to the familiarity of a nickname.

I want to point out our naming process does not discriminate between males and females. Females of all species earn successful hunt names just like males. Cow elk names relating to prominent landmarks include Rosie Roe (Roe Gulch), Karen Klienschmidt (Klienschmidt Mine), Clara Clark (Clark Creek), and Darlene of Deadman’s Spring (yes, it’s the same Deadman’s Spring). For female deer we have noted a tendency to use names beginning with the letter D, apparently because first names such as Diane, Doris, and Dorothy just roll off the tongue nicely when followed with “Doe”. Gary opted to use the D in Dorothy for a cow elk as a reference to Doherty Mountain. Exceptions to the “D” rule for deer such as Cora Corbin (old mining town-site) and Katy Kady (Kady Gulch) also have a nice ring to them.

Of course, there was that unique double naming effort involving Bill’s son Jeff and my son Gary. As I recall it was the boys’ second or third year of hunting. We were whitetail hunting with Bill and Jeff sitting on a log rattling

horns while Gary and I walked a ridge moving toward them.

When a buck approached their log, Jeff fired. Thirty seconds later, Gary and I saw a buck trot past us. Even though the deer was moving fast, we decided to follow the tracks in the snow for a ways. When we studied the track, there was an obvious blood trail, and in couple of minutes Jeff and Bill arrived. They continued to follow the trail directly while Gary and I worked parallel through the timber.

THE BEST IN FULL-SERVICE METAL FABRICATION & POWDER COATING We can fulfill all your small and large scale manufacturing, welding and powder coating needs: fabricating small brackets to large gates, mig and tig welding using stainless steel, mild steel and aluminum, plus, cerakoting and powder coating projects of all sizes in our 30ft ovens.

Author Tom Cooper (r) with his son Gary. Photo courtesy Tom Cooper.

As luck would have it, Gary and I found the buck bedded but alive, and Gary’s shot ended the hunt. Since both young hunters participated in the successful hunt, both contributed to name selection. Jeff proposed Frank and Gary liked Howard. In this case, neither of the boys subscribed to the landmark or significant event methodology we use most often. Yet, their individual selections satisfied both of them and Frank Howard was honored appropriately.

On another occasion, we deviated from our own rules somewhat when we named an unharvested mule deer buck.

Bill had harvested a cow elk he named Lulu, just because it was a name he had considered several times over the years and finally elected to use. While preparing the elk for a game cart ride to the road, we built a small camp fire.

By the time we were ready to go, the fire was out, the snow had melted around the fire, and we discovered several bones. As we looked further, under a nearby Juniper tree and sitting on a cactus was the skull of a small four-point mule deer buck. Since the site was already Lulu’s final home, we simply felt obligated to provide these remains with a name and Cactus Jack it was.

By providing hunters with a successful and memorable hunt, harvested animals earn their names.

We stand behind our work.

132 Skalkaho Hwy, Hamilton 406.471.4883 ed@fullcurlmanufacturing.com fullcurlmanufacturing.com

As a hunter, once you decide to name harvested animals, you find it helps to recall those special hunts, camps, guns, bows, and even a few old hunting partners.

For those young or new hunters, selecting names for harvested big game animals helps to reinforce the idea that taking an animal is not over just because the shot was taken.

The meat should be properly processed (maybe with the animal’s name on each prepared package of meat) and consumed as appropriate. Use of the animal’s name continues during these phases of the experience as well. Doris or Ralph burger makes for better story-telling whether around a campfire or in the family kitchen. Further when a set of antlers or ivory teeth from a cow elk, are mounted on a finished piece of walnut and the name of the animal is proudly etched on a brass plate with the hunter’s name and date of the hunt, the memory is set in concrete. The total experience lasts as long as participants recall the animal’s name.

After all, memories are still important to most of us old-timers who continue to tell stories around a campfire.

Hunting & Fishing News | 25

HSM AMMUNITION

Hand-Loaded Accuracy Straight From The Box Pick up a box or more at your local sporting goods store.

PURVEYORS O F T H E F I N E S T AMMUNITION SINCE 1968.

FOR ALL OF YOUR SHOOTING NEEDS

RIFLE-BEAR LOAD-DANGEROUS GAME-HANDGUN-LEAD FREE-REDUCED RICOCHET-COWBOY ACTION RELOADING COMPONENTS-CLEANING SUPPLIES-FIREARMS-LAW ENFORCEMENT AMMUNITIONS A portion of each sale of our Bear Load ammunition goes to support events for our Veterans.

www.hsmammunition.com

Manufactured in Stevensville, MT.

STOP OVERCLEANING YOUR GUNS Vortex Nation Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com

ven if you hit the range every E week and put your gun through the ringer, there’s a big difference

between maintaining a firearm and cleaning a firearm.

We’re sure you’ve seen it. That buddy, or that guy at the range, who finishes shooting and breaks out a cleaning kit that needs its own range bag it’s so big. He’s got dental picks, blades, scrapers, and—God forbid—a Dremel with dozens of brushes for that deep, deep, oh-God-please-stop clean. Guy pulls on his white gloves, sets up his eight or nine different solvents and oils, and dives in with the zeal of a mad surgeon.

Here’s the thing: If his AR, pistol, or rifle could talk, it’d be yelling at him to put the dental pick down and put that scraper where the sun don’t shine. Why? Not only is it possible to overclean your guns, it’s almost the norm. Captain Dental Pick is just the extreme; at one point or another, many of us have been guilty of overcleaning our guns.

Here’s what can go wrong, and what you can do to practice better gun maintenance.

•Maintaining a firearm and cleaning a firearm are not necessarily the same thing. Rather than thinking of your routine as “cleaning your gun” start thinking of it as “maintaining your gun.” What does that mean?

Instead of just ramming a brush in your barrel and hosing your bolt down with solvent, take a quick look at every part of your weapon.

Is your AR’s charging handle in good order? Is your optic clean?

If you rely on a red dot or other battery-powered device, how long has it been since you replaced the battery? Cleaning a gun is only a part of gun maintenance; don’t spend all your time picking that speck of carbon off a lug when the bigger picture is so much more important.

•This one is so basic, we almost don’t want to say it, but, you know, people: Don’t clean barrel to breach.

That little tiny space at the very end of your barrel?

That’s called the crown, and it’s the last part of your weapon that touches the bullet. Like a quarterback’s index finger, it can be crucial for imparting that last touch of spin for a more accurate shot, and jamming a cleaning rod down your barrel can jack that crown up. Clean breach to barrel and, better yet, use barrel snakes for those quick cleans to avoid the risk of a cleaning rod jacking up the rifling or other parts.

•Some parts in your gun—we’re thinking rings and springs, but others too—can be damaged by too frequent/overzealous cleaning. What thousands of rounds of high velocity ammo can’t do to your gun’s insides, ten minutes of dental picking can, causing irreparable damage to the small parts that together, make your gun go bang. Absolutely use a high-quality oil and rag to wipe away any loose carbon or debris, but use those picks and scrapers with extreme caution. Sure, you might scrape away that little bit of carbon, but you’re just as likely to scrape away your component’s finish, setting the stage for even more damage down the road.

•Lubrication, lubrication, lubrication. Sometimes, lubrication is even more important than making sure a gun is super clean. You’ll hear it all the time: “Running a gun ‘wet’ will wreck it.” Debris will get all caught in the oil and cause all kinds of problems.

But here’s the thing: A gun simply and positively runs better wet than dry. That debris will get in there anyway, so make sure your gun has the lube it needs to cycle smoothly.

For frequent shooters, every weekend can be a torture test for your gun. But remember: It’s built for this stuff. You don’t have to break out the deep-clean kit every week.

In the end, it isn’t necessarily overcleaning that causes the damage, it’s improper tools and techniques; if cracking open your weapon after every range session makes you trust your gun more, more power to you. However, most today’s weapons do not need to be cleaned with the ferocity you often see at the range, or online.

It’s always a good idea to wipe down your gun if you shoot in the rain, or if you notice a change in performance or extra buildup. But when it comes to cleaning your gun, a little carbon is way better than a lot of damage.

To learn more about proper gun maintenance, check out our podcast on proper rifle maintenance. https://soundcloud.com/vortexnationpodcast/ep-62-rifle-maintenance Or visit www.vortexoptics.com

MAKE YOUR RIFLE FIT YOU IT’S IMPORTANT

(continued from page 19)

Once you know your optimal length of pull, you can select an appropriate off-the-rack commercial option, transition to a nonadjustable custom stock, add a spacer, change the recoil pad to one with a different width or select a rifle/stock with adjustable features. A stock with adjustability can be extremely versatile for achieving optimal rifle fit, particularly when shooting from a variety of positions (prone, off-hand, supported, unsupported, etc.) If you are sharing a rifle or multiple people are using it, adjustability built into the stock, allows it to fit just about everyone.

STOCK OPTIONS: No, not investments – well, unless we’re talking investing in accuracy. An aftermarket cheek rest, riser or adjustable stock can make a world of difference. They will refine your cheek weld and head position. Effectively they micro-adjust the comb height and contour of the rifle stock to work with your setup, body and facial structure. These can be as simple as the easy-to-install, economical, and highly effective Bradley Cheek Rest to more elaborate and expensive versions built into custom stocks or integrated into more expensive commercial rifles. Any way you go, these are stock options worth adding to your shooting portfolio.

GET A GRIP: The palm swell, overall shape, and angle of your grip affects how you hold and secure the rifle into your body. Like many things in shooting, the style of grip best for you is dictated by intended application. What works best for a precision rifle shooter, may not for a hunter anticipating quick shots in tight cover. Put some thought into your grip.

For more info on grip angle check out Vortex Nation Podcast #10 Minute Talk: Bolt Action Grip Styles.

RING HEIGHT: Contrary to your grand pappy’s Rem 7600 pump in good ol’ 30-06, them fancy peek-under rings may not be the optimal choice. Ring height directly affects cheek weld (how your face contacts the stock). If too high, you will lift your cheek off the comb of the stock to get your sight picture – not ideal. If too low, you’ll unnecessarily mash your face into the comb. Nobody likes that. You’re looking for something that just feels right - ya know, like mid-90’s R&B.

GEAR REVIEW

BeFree Gravity Water Filtration System 3.0L From Katadyn® The BeFree Gravity 3.0L weighs just 192 grams

and uses gravity to purify up to 2 liters of clean drinking water per minute. All you do is fill the flexible BPA and PVC free Hydrapak® hydration pack with water. The water passes through a 0.1 micron hollow fiber filter which reliably removes bacteria, cysts and sediment with its pore size of 0.1 micron (0.0001 mm). The practical carry strap makes fetching water from a river easier and the filter can be hung on a tree once full.

Yushan 2 Running Shoes For Men & Women From 3610

Designed to provide greater stability for the heel and

midfoot through the legendary MORHPIT System allowing runners to tackle any distance and all terrains.

Y2154-0956 Yushan 2: Black Scuba

Y2104-0928 Yushan 2: Black/Raft

Ariel Plus 70 & Aether™ Plus 85 Backpacks From Osprey

Made for backpackers who go deep into the backcountry

and journey beyond the reach for resupply, the Ariel Plus 70 for women and the Aether™ Plus 85 for men offer a large volume and a stable close to body carry for the heaviest of loads. Dial in the perfect fit with a Custom Fit-On-The-Fly Hipbelt and Shoulder Strap Constructed with high quality bluesign®-approved high-tenacity nylon and PFC-free DWR.

EYE RELIEF: Another scope-related mounting variable that makes a huge difference is achieving proper eye relief. This is critical for not only avoiding getting scoped (the act of recoil pushing the scope into your brow or forehead, resulting in a painful thump or blood-pouring cut). Getting scoped is painful, embarrassing, and best avoided. Just about any scope will give you a good sight picture on the low end of its zoom range – regardless of its fore and aft position. Crank it up to it’s maximum magnification and check your sight picture, that’s the true test. You should achieve the entire field of view comfortably and effortlessly. If not, slide it in the rings forward or back until you do - then tighten appropriately.

For more info on riflescope mounting check out Vortex Nation Podcast Episode 14: Scope Mounting – It’s Easy. https://youtu.be/9xZx8ZElp3Y The next time you buy, modify, or set up a rifle, put a little scrutiny into how it fits. If a rifle fits, you will get hits.

28 | Hunting & Fishing News

Ariel Plus 70

Aether™ Plus 85

See these and other fine products at one of the 5 Montana Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors stores or www.bobwards.com.

THE UNKNOWN BINOCULARS-RANGEFINDERS-RIFLESCOPES SPOTTING SCOPES-MONOCULARS TRIPODS-APPAREL & GEAR

FURY® HD 5000 AB 10X42

Carrying your binos and rangefinder in one package is smart.

The next generation Fury® HD 5000 AB is smarter. This rangefinding binocular takes the guess work out of dialing long-range shots with in-display ballistic data and built-in environmental sensors, which means less time calculating ballistics and more time putting rounds down range. With the Applied Ballistics® Elite solver built right in, you can pair with the Fury HD App to create custom ballistic profiles, and with popular Kestrel® and Applied Ballistics® and Garmin® devices for ultimate, real-time precision.

Put simply, it’s the smartest way to shoot.

GLASSPAK™ Purchase Your Vortex Optics at the 2021 Montana Vortex Dealer of the Year

INCLUDED

MISSOULA | BOZEMAN | HELENA | BUTTE | HAMILTON Visit www.bobwards.com for our daily deal and be the first to know about new sales! Plus, get free shipping on any order over $49! Sign up for our newsletter and receive the best deals first.

SALMON RECIPE: PECAN BUTTER CRUSTED SALMON

By Lindsey Bartosh a 12-gauge girl www.huntingandcooking.com

T

Photo courtesy Lindsey Bartosh www.huntingandcooking.com

wo years ago, my sister and brother-in-law relocated their family to Olympia, Washington. There were several reasons for the move, but I am pretty sure a main motivator for my sister was salmon fishing. She is a fishing fanatic, and the bigger the potential size of the fish, the longer we sit in the boat.

She is one of those people that will wait for hours for a bite, whether there is action happening on the other end of the line or not. I can’t count how many times I have been out with her, starting at the first peak of light over the horizon and staying until late into the day, and nothing has been happening. I give up. I will reach the point where I won’t even bait my pole anymore and start reading because it has been hours and hours with no action. And just when I think, “Finally! She is defeated and we are leaving!” there will be that inevitable tug, which most of the time I think she imagined it, and we have to start all over again. That “tug” is like the refresh button. The hours we have sat there are irrelevant because “Now! Now, we are getting somewhere and things are starting to happen!”

Your New Adventures Await.

Inspired by you.

valleybankhelena.com

30 | Hunting & Fishing News

Since her move to the Pacific Northwest, my sister has landed exactly zero salmon. This is not from a lack of trying, trust me on that one....Until this weekend!!! Anyway, in honor of my sister’s first official king salmon caught in the Pacific Northwest, I am going to share a recipe for pecan crusted salmon.

Salmon is one of my favorite eating fish. It has a very meaty, and filling texture but is also flaky. Salmon is an oily fish, which adds to the mild but buttery flavor of the meat. A very diverse fish, salmon is great in sushi, grilled, baked, and smoked.

For this recipe, I left the skin on the salmon since I was grilling it. If that bothers you, the skin is easy to remove and you can bake this instead of grilling it. I wouldn’t recommend trying to grill it without the skin though, as I am pretty sure the entire thing will just fall apart and you’ll lose all your fishy goodness to the coals.

Preheat your grill, whether charcoal or gas, to a medium heat.

It might also be useful to lightly oil the grate, which will help prevent sticking.

While the grill is preheating, prepare the salmon filet by dousing it in Worcestershire sauce, about a tablespoon will cover a pound of fish. Massage the sauce into the fish a bit, and then season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

When thinking about how much fish to prepare, I like to estimate a half pound, or eight ounces, per person. At our house, some people can eat a lot of salmon, and others not so much. The eight ounces per person usually balances out just right and everyone is satisfied by the meal’s end.

For the salmon topping, preheat the oven broiler to high.

Place a cup of pecans in an oven-friendly dish and let broil for five minutes. Keep an eye on pecans, as sometimes they will cook a little quicker than you intended and you end up with burnt pecans. I usually check mine after two minutes and see how things are looking. You will know they are ready when you open the oven door and are essentially overwhelmed by the nutty aromas filling the oven.

It smells amazing! Let the pecans cool.

In a food processor, add the cooled pecans, a quarter cup of unsalted butter, two teaspoons of Italian seasoning, and a teaspoon of smoked paprika. Grind it all up until a buttery paste is formed. This recipe makes a decent amount of the topping, it will easily coat a pound and a half of salmon.

If you like a bit thinner topping, you could stretch it to do two pounds. Top the salmon, coating evenly, with the pecan topping.

Well, all that is left to do is grill the salmon! Place the salmon filet skin-side down directly over the heat. Close the grill lid and allow to cook for seven minutes. I do a check at seven minutes to make sure the salmon is cooking properly, that my grill isn’t on fire, that my fish hasn’t fallen into the coals, you know, all the bad things that could happen. I check at seven minutes just to make sure they haven’t happened.

Anyway, depending on the thickness of the salmon, it takes about 12 minutes per inch of salmon to cook. The piece I used for this meal was about an inch and a half thick, so it took about 18 minutes to fully cook. You can tell the salmon is ready because it will flake easily off the skin with a fork, and it should also start to release some of the meat’s fats, which kind of look like mayonnaise (yeah, sorry, that sounds gross but it really is the best description).

Now all that is left to do is dig in! The pecan and butter topping pair perfectly with the oily, salmon. The Italian seasoning adds a twist that is somewhat unexpected, as it almost clashes with the pecans and fish flavor, but then somehow at the same time compliments the flavors. This is a very simple, fast, and delicious recipe that really lets the salmon shine!

Hope you enjoy it!

Eventually, other hunters will bump antelope your direction and, if terrain or vegetation allows it, stalking within rifle range is a lot of fun. During the opening weekend of rifle season, most antelope are deep in the rut and have not been overly pressured, especially not from a weapon that can shoot hundreds of yards. They seem to know that they are the fastest animal out there and let you get within a few hundred yards without getting too nervous -- at least some of the time. Once you get to a distance you are comfortable with, then it’s important to get within a good range and make your shot count. If the terrain doesn’t allow good stalking, then a more patient technique may be your best bet.

If you are a hunter who is capable of hiking and willing to get off the road, then your success during rifle season will go up tremendously — even in the flattest of terrains. Hunting opening weekend of antelope season can be a hunter’s best opportunity — if they are willing to get off the roads.

Since so many people seem to choose to hunt near roads, heading to a deeper section of the public land will prove to be your best bet. Set up near fence line intersections and wait for other hunters to push the bucks near you. Be sure to bring enough water and snacks because the sun can be brutally dehydrating and snacks never hurt. Patience can definitely pay off with a rifle and did so for me this year.

This year, in Colorado, I was blessed to go antelope hunting along with some good friends, Jared and Tyler. Hunting in pairs allowed us to be near each other, but not on top of each other and still have the comradery of hanging out.

We ended up finding a deep open travel corridor nearly three miles from the nearest road that allowed rutting herds to move between the fields and away from hunters all day long.

I shot my antelope at about 200 yards around noon on

opening morning as he moved through the corridor. While we were butchering it, a group of eight more came through the same path and Jared made it count on a nice buck at 130 yards. Waiting for antelope to come by you instead of trying to stalk definitely can work— especially on opening weekend when every rifle hunter and their cousin seems to be Photo credit Jake Horton driving the roads in search of an easy harvest. This also may be your only technique if the terrain or vegetation is not conducive to stalks. 2020 was very successful and we all ended up tagging out by 2 p.m. on opening day after being into antelope all day long.

In closing

Overall, rifle antelope season is a blast and a higher success hunt in most areas. I highly suggest using this season as a time to take a new hunter afield. Have a solid rifle, get off the roads and be patient; you will have a good chance for it all to come together. Nothing is more fun than hiking flat miles, hanging out with some good friends and seeing animals all day long. If you are unable or unwilling to hike, you can also have moderate success by driving around and spotting bucks, then making stalks or being patient and waiting for the buck to come your way.

START PLANNING YOUR NEXT ANTELOPE HUNT Using the research tools on INSIDER makes finding an antelope hunt extremely easy. When you combine Draw Odds with Filtering 2.0 and goHUNT’s 3D maps you have a big leg up to planning out a hunt that meets your needs and points.

An antelope hunt is one of the greatest western introductory hunts you can do with a new hunter since you can see a long ways, animals are prevalent and it’s easier on the body.

©KENETREK, LLC 2021

ANTELOPE: A WESTERN HUNT FOR ALL (continued from page 10)

Corrie 3.2 Hiker COMPLETE COMFORT AND CONTROL WHEREVER YOU GO...

Fifteen years of testing, modifying boots and listening to our customers led us to create a light hiker that feels agile, protective and handles like a dream. We started with our tough Mountain Boot Last atop the light and grippy Grapon™ outsole, and added K-Straps tying the base of the heel to the seven inch, double and triple stitched, padded upper, securing you in for the ride.

WWW.KENETREK.COM | 800-232-6064

Richard Mann wrote the following for Petersen’s Hunting regarding the .308: “It will work splendidly on whitetails – I’ve done that – and it’s sufficient for moose – I’ve done that, too . . . When properly zeroed it will allow to you hold dead on out to just the other side of 300 yards.”

John B. Snow, the Shooting Editor for Outdoor Life, had this to say on the .308: “It wasn’t that long ago that a .308 Win. would have been considered on the margins as an acceptable elk round, but with improvements to bullet design and cartridge technology, you have no need to worry.”

Photo courtesy www.guidefitter.com

Cartridge or Shot Placement Which Matters Most?

By Spencer Durrant Guidefitter www.guidefitter.com

Does your cartridge or shot placement matter more when it comes to cleanly killing big game like elk?

Elk with a .308 A few days into the late-season cow elk hunt here in Utah in 2018, my buddy Chad and I sat around his kitchen table.

Chad’s brother Clint was on the phone, which lay on the table between us.

You’re trying to kill an elk with a .308?” Clint’s voice garbled from the phone.

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Yeah. Why?” Clint sighed. “That’s just not enough bullet to kill an elk.”

I glanced at Chad. Between the two brothers, I reckon they’ve harvested north of 80 elk in their forty-odd years of hunting together. If anyone knows elk hunting, it’s Chad and Clint.

“Well what should I shoot?” I asked Clint.

“You can borrow my 7mm Remington Ultra Mag,” Clint said.

I raised my eyebrows at Chad. A 7mm Remington Ultra Mag felt like overkill for a cow elk, especially with how well I’d closed the distance on elk so far. If everything went according to plan, I wouldn’t need to shoot past 300 yards.

A week or so after that conversation with Clint, I shot my cow elk at 400 yards with Chad’s old Ruger .270 Winchester. She dropped with one shot.

Now, as I while away the rest of winter waiting for pre-runoff fly fishing and turkey season, I’ve thought a lot about that conversation with Clint. Was my .308 really not up to snuff for elk? Other friends of mine, elk hunters as avid as Chad and Clint, had recommended the .308.

My own research supported the .308’s capability.

32 | Hunting & Fishing News

Well John, I did worry. I worried a lot that my .308 wouldn’t answer the call for 2019, so I sold it for a Weatherby Vanguard Sporter .270. What’s really interesting, though, is that while I spent hours and hours deciding between a .270 or a .25-06, just about every article I read comparing the two cartridges agreed on at least one thing.

Any reasonable bullet – from the .25-06, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270, and yes, the .308 – will knock down an elk if that bullet hits true through the vitals. Remember, I took my elk last season with one shot from a .270.

That naturally brings up the question hunters have debated for millennia (I’m sure our cavemen ancestors argued over which arrowheads were better for saber-toothed tigers – a sobering thought). Does your cartridge or shot placement matter more when it comes to cleanly killing big game like elk?

Shot Placement Shot placement has the edge in my book – call it 70% shot placement, and 30% cartridge type. The consensus from articles I’ve read and hunters I’ve talked to is that any round using the .30-06 as its parent cartridge (as the .270 and .25-06 do) is a reasonable baseline for adequate elk-killing ammo. The 6.5 Creedmoor was built by modifying a .30 Thompson Center case to handle .264 bullets.

As long as you’re using a bullet with enough foot-pounds of force at 300 yards, the bullet you shoot doesn’t really matter when it comes to killing elk. Shot placement matters far more. A 7mm Remington Ultra Mag will punch through damn near anything, but it’s not likely to kill an elk if you shoot it in the hindquarters instead of the vitals.

Perhaps Bryce Towsley said it best in a 2010 article for American Hunter.

“First off, I know all too well that elk can and have been killed with little cartridges. I also know there are stories of at least one elephant being killed with a .22 Long Rifle, but no sane person will argue that the .22 LR is an adequate elephant cartridge.”

That elephant story sounds like more of a fisherman’s tale to me, but Towsley gets to the heart of the matter here – if you put an appropriate bullet in the right place, you’ll bag your game.

The debate around the “best” elk cartridge, I think, has more to do with where and how you hunt than the round’s actual knockdown power.

Do you agree or disagree?

How To Get Into Bowhunting If You Don’t Know Anyone Who Bowhunts

By Josh Kirchner

Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

owhunting was never something that I personally tried to B seek out as a kid. It honestly kind of found me. My dad archery hunted a bit in his early years and decided to get back

into it later in life. Naturally, as he got into it more, I built an interest. Once that happened, my dad got me into an entry level bow and the rest is history. It wasn’t until later in life when the bow truly captivated my attention, but the seed was planted early on. While a lot of folks share a similar story to this, there are many out there who aren’t so fortunate. They didn’t have a parent who got them into bowhunting or a friend/mentor who took them out archery hunting for the first time. These future hunters are starting from ground zero with zero guidance and, let’s be honest: that can be both intimidating and overwhelming all together. Not only is the endeavor of archery hunting just plain hard, but finding out quality information to point you in the right direction can be equally difficult. So, let’s dive into the weeds and suss this out.

Let’s see if we can cut out a path to help folks who want to get into bowhunting, but don’t know anyone who bowhunts.

This thing right here

If you happen to know absolutely nobody, I’ve got news for ya. This thing right here that you’re on, the internet?

Yeah, that’s a great resource for meeting like-minded individuals in the bowhunting world. It lets you be somewhat selective about who to try and connect with all the while expanding your network of possible hunting buddies.

All photo credits Josh Kirchner www.goHUNT.com

Not to mention — it doesn’t require you to even leave the house unless you’d like to share a coffee in person of course, which is always nice. Social media and forums are great places to start. Sadly, both of these come with their fair share of drama, but that isn’t all they’re about despite what some may say. I’ve met loads of great people just by chit-chatting with folks on these platforms. If this is what you decide to do, I’m going to drop some advice here. Know that this isn’t all about you. Just coming out and asking for things like hunting spots probably isn’t going to get you too far. Guidance shouldn’t be confused with guiding. Many of these hunters have put in a load of time out in the field and have earned their spots — spots of which they are proud of. With time, you’ll have the same.

Archery pro shops

Next on our list are archery pro shops. While it can be slightly intimidating walking into one of these as a beginner, I promise that it is worth it in the end. There is just something to be said about a good pro shop that you can count on.

These are folks just like you and I.

(continued on page 34)

BLACK BUTTE COPPER PERMITTED. PROTECTED. COMMITTED TO DOING IT RIGHT.

www.blackbuttecopper.com Hunting & Fishing News | 33

GEAR UP FOR ARCHERY SEASON! Serving The Lewis & Clark County Archery Community

The archery range

Where is a good place to find bowhunters hard at work?

The archery range is a pretty good bet. With most of us only being able to reach out to about 20 yards in our backyards, the range gives us the ability to stretch those arrows out to greater distances without trying to avoid missing our neighbor’s cat. The result from this is a place of gathering.

Bowhunters from all around your area come to exercise their archery skills for the coming seasons — just like you. And there’s all different skill levels, too.

I think this is awesome because it not only gives you a chance to meet advanced archers, but also to meet archers of the same skill level. These are folks who can sympathize with the learning process since they are well in it themselves.

Judy Adams Owner

More than a few hours have been spent drinking morning coffee and chatting with other driven bowhunters.

Hunting stories are told, arrows are flung and new friends are made.

BUFFALO JUMP

ARCHERYPROSHOP RETAIL•REPAIR•LESSONS•INDOOR & OUTDOOR RANGE Lewis & Clark Archery Club membership required

ELITE 3654 US HWY 12 EAST, HELENA | 406-449-3111

How To Get Into Bowhunting If You Don’t Know Anyone Who Bowhunts (continued from page 33)

The only difference is that their expertise lies in archery and bowhunting. You learn from others who are more experienced than you and a good pro shop can provide that. Not only can they get you set up with a good first bow, but they can also help in regards to shooting and, even, hunting tactics. The first time I went into the pro shop that I currently go to, I didn’t leave for over two hours. After setting up my bow and getting it tuned together, we chatted about hunting. Through the years, these conversations haven’t stopped in the least bit and some of them were instrumental in my hunting success. Over time, the relationship became a friendship, which is just awesome and I haven’t gone to another pro shop since. If you’re new to this, I’d highly suggest looking into the archery pro shops in your area.

Read reviews, talk to customers and check these places out. They are there to help, so I say let them.

34 | Hunting & Fishing News

I just wanted to touch a bit on another aspect of the archery range and that is 3D archery shoots. They aren’t too hard to find and happen throughout the year. These events are fantastic places to meet other archery hunters — all the while testing your skills on shooting 3D targets of critters.

If you haven’t tried it, I’d highly suggest it. It’s great practice for aiming at animals and the consequences of missing are much higher than on a regular big target you’re likely used to. You should know that you won’t be the only beginner aiming at those targets. Bowhunters of all skill levels show up to these events.

You don’t know if you don’t go

You don’t know what you don’t experience. And that is another push in the right direction towards being a bowhunter. All of the books in the world, listening to every podcast there is and talking to the most experienced bowhunters out there are all incredibly valuable. There is no denying that and we are lucky to have so much potent content at our fingertips. However, there is another teacher who crushes them all and that teacher is experience. The absolute best way to learn how to do this stuff is to go and do it. And when you fail — because you will — remember something: You aren’t taking a step back; you’re taking a step forward. These are the lessons that will shape you into a better bowhunter and to ignore them would be doing yourself a disservice. Roll with the punches as bowhunting has a way of knocking you down. All the while, learn from your mistakes and you’ll get that much closer to your goals.

Bowhunting is not a race; it’s a marathon.

CLOSING

Starting out in a new hobby is always a lot right in the beginning, especially if you don’t know anyone who does it.

Information is being guzzled down faster than you can drink, eagerness is at an all time high and everything is so shiny and new. This can be both an exciting time and a frustrating time as well. It’s easy to get discouraged when seeing so many others on social media filling their tags and all you have to show for your last hunt was a broken bootlace. Let me ensure this to you, though.

There are plenty of other folks just like you who are in the same position you’re in. Folks who are thirsty for knowledge and willing to talk to anyone to get it.

So, you’re not alone and there’s no reason you should be.

The bowhunting community is a helpful one and, with a little digging, you’ll be making friends in no time.

BOOK YOUR STAY TODAY

FOR MOUNTAIN FUN IN LINCOLN MONTANA

Make us your basecamp for fishing, hunting, hiking and off-trail riding.

Nestled in the heart of some of Montana’s most pristine wilderness All rooms have cable TV, microwave, refrigerators, coffee pot • Kitchenettes • Laundry room • Sauna • Free WiFi

LEEPER’S PONDEROSA MOTEL

Reasonable rates

110 1st Ave., Lincoln, MT

(406) 362-4333 Pets welcome

Photo courtesy RMEF www.rmef.org

Access Greatly Improved

To Remote Idaho Elk Habitat Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation www.rmef.org

is a ways off the beaten path, but a 1,300-acre slice of Iandtwestern Idaho elk country is now much more accessible greatly improves public access to surrounding federal

Hunting & Conservation News Proudly Sponsored By

Republic Services of Montana

and state lands as well.

Originally donated to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, it is now known as the Joseph Plains Wildlife Habitat Area (JPWHA) and lies high above the Salmon River near the small town of White Bird, not far from the Oregon border.

“We appreciate our partners at the Idaho Fish and Game Department (IDFG) and Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation (IFWF) for working with us,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “As snow in high country melts, hunters and others will now find it much easier to access this scenic landscape that’s teaming with wildlife.”

IDFG, IFWF and RMEF provided funding for the recent access work including fencing, gravel and installation of improved signage and kiosks leading to the property’s main entry point.

“It’s kind of a hidden gem—both secluded and gorgeous,” said Brandi Felts, IDFG Clearwater regional habitat biologist.

“You definitely need hiking boots and strong legs to take full advantage of it, but I challenge anyone to come here.

It reaches into your soul and grabs a hold of you, and instantly becomes a part of you.”

Lying at the head of the Sotin, Howard and Gregory Creek drainages, which flow into the Salmon River, JPWHA features steep canyons, sharp ridges and forestland that provide prime habitat for elk, deer, black bears, mountain lions and other wildlife.

RMEF holds a conservation easement that forever protects the property’s wildlife values. IFWF oversees management of the area by IDFG for both habitat and access with the agency’s help but if it ever seeks to dispose of the property, ownership automatically reverts to RMEF to ensure it stays intact and open to the public. Since the parcel is not officially state land, it appears as private land on ownership maps.

Zortman Motel & Garage

Located in the heart of some of the best deer hunting in Montana.

• RV Park • Laundromat • Kitchenettes • WiFi • Conference Rooms • Recreational Gold Panning Claims Book your stay today.

John & Candy Kalal 406.673.3160 zortman76@itstriangle.com

PRECISION HUNTING RIFLES Ready to go and custom builds. Call for a quote.

LW HUNTER

A lighter more conventional hunting rifle without sacrificing accuracy.

Your rifle built your way.

360.861.8195 | rbrosrifles.com Hunting & Fishing News | 35

Raising The Next Generation Of Hunters

SNS Outfitter & Guides www.huntwyo.com Photo courtesy SNS Outfitter & Guides www.huntwyo.com

he Hunting industry is currently booming. Many Americans T are realizing that the finest organic meat in the world roams in the wild. In the year 2020 more than 3 million

American’s who have never purchased a hunting license bought their very first one. This is incredible news for the hunting industry and our future generation of hunters.

As a parent or grandparent you may be wondering how to build an interest in hunting within your own children and grandchildren. This is our journey to build kids who love the outdoors and will respect the sport like we do.

From the time our Krew was 11 months we would throw him in a backpack every chance we had to get him out breathing the fresh air and taking in all Wyoming had to offer. We took him on these little day trips until he was 3 and joined in on his first Antelope hunting trip. My dad made the day a special one by buying him his very first “knife” a wooden toy that made him feel like one of the guys. This trip is one Krew still remembers nearly 9 years later. I am a firm believer that positive experiences early in life can shape a child in ways that will impact them greatly in the future.

We didn’t limit our time outdoors with our boys to hunting season and made sure that we got them out in the winter and summer months as well. One of their favorite winter activities has always been rabbit hunting with some coyote hunting mixed in. Their spring activities include turkey hunting and shed hunting in some of their secret spots.

During the summer months we get them in the high country to go horseback riding and fishing as much as time allows.

All of these little experiences have led to this moment, the moment Krew will finally have his turn being the hunter rather than the spectator.

This summer he will turn 12 which will make him eligible for big game hunting in Wyoming. This hunting season comes with a cumulation of planning to make sure everything goes as smooth as possible. The first step was finding the right firearm for him to use. After thoughtful consideration we landed on the 6.5 PRC, which ended being his big rite of passage Christmas present. His excitement on Christmas morning was enough to make the anticipation for this fall even more so. Now it is up to him to put in the work to make sure he has a successful fall. He will begin by taking hunter safety this March and spend plenty of time at the range to make sure he is capable of making a clean ethical shot.

Come spring he will put in for the Wyoming resident draw.

As a family we have had long conversations about what tags he will put in for and decided the focus this year will be on Antelope and deer with a possible cow elk. He has a desire to go black bear hunting so we have agreed this fall he can start his bait with his papa and dad, but he won’t be hunting that bait until next spring or the following fall.

Our hope is that this is an experience that builds a love of hunting in him. One that will show him he is capable of providing for his family, and one that will give him an appreciation of a hard hunt that has an even bigger reward.

If we end up successful we will have the bigger reward of raising the next generation of hunters that will pass the love of this sport onto their children and grandchildren.

GET THE B&C PLATE AND SUPPORT YOUR HUNTING HERITAGE!

Select Boone and Crockett Club’s license plate the next time you register or renew a vehicle in Montana and help us preserve your hunting heritage for future generations, maintain big-game records, promote hunting ethics, and continue our youth conservation and hunting education programs on Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front. B&C receives a $20 sponsor fee for each plate.

Thank you for your continued support!

www.boone-crockett.org

Photo courtesy Jason Mitchell www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com

Spring Jig Swimming For Walleye

By Jason Mitchell www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com

e often find walleye in less then ten feet of water early W in the year. Doesn’t matter if we are targeting pre spawn or post spawn fish, on many different lakes, reservoirs and

rivers…a good percentage of walleye will often be shallow.

Whenever walleye are shallow, swimming jigs can be deadly effective but the effectiveness of a slow swim seems even more effective in the spring.

As we are in the post spawn period right now, many shallow locations will often hold fish but shallow sand flats, weed flats and shallow gravel or wind-blown rock will all hold walleye shallow at times. Shallow walleye are often spooked from the presence of the boat early in the year. Just my own observations but it seems like when the water is still cool, less than sixty degrees…fish spook from the boat much more.

When the water warms up and the fish’s metabolism ramps up, the fish will become much less boat shy. Early in the year, it is often important to long line where the presentation is far behind the boat or to cast because fish often won’t hold right below the boat in shallow water. This is where swimming jigs can be so deadly.

There are many ways to fish a jig and the versatility of a jig is what makes jigs so effective all year long. For shallow fish however that are bumping off the boat, a slow swim is often simply deadly. With this jig swim technique, you don’t have to make a steady bottom contact. You don’t have to snap the jig or pop the jig between making bottom contact. The technique is more so just picking the right weight jig so that it glides along the bottom but doesn’t touch the bottom. Just a slow reel or slow drag behind the boat. This presentation is especially deadly around emerging vegetation. If you are fishing through eight feet of water for example and there are scattered weeds coming two to three feet off the bottom, simply cast and reel a jig that swims about four feet down. Fine tuning the presentation often means finding the lightest jig you can swim at a moderately slow speed while finding fish sometimes means using a heavier jig and simply reeling faster to eliminate water and contact fish.

Obviously, you can tip a jig with a minnow or half crawler.

You can also use soft plastics like a paddle tail or fluke.

Hair and marabou jigs are also extremely effective, especially early in the season. Not to say that you can’t mix in some snaps and pops with the jig to clean off vegetation or trigger a strike but so often on so many days, a simple slow reel or drag is deadly.

I believe that the effectiveness from swimming jigs in the spring come from the simple fact that you can fish extremely slow yet keep the jig up out of the bottom. There are many bottoms that are covered in slime and algae where heavy bottom contact fouls up the presentation.

38 | Hunting & Fishing News

You can creep a 1/16th or 1/8th ounce jig behind the boat or on a cast where the presentation just hangs off the bottom. The jig is near the bottom but not on the bottom.

The presentation is that simple, just cast and reel or drag and long line behind the boat.

This presentation also seems to perform much better with monofilament line. The mono seems to cushion the jig glide and floats through the water causing the jig to lift with a steady pull. Six-pound monofilament is my all-around favorite line for swimming jigs in shallow water.

In some parts of the country like northern Minnesota, jigs paired with shiners are a confidence bait but large rainbows or small chubs can be deadly because both rainbows and chubs swim pretty hard against the jig. Figuring out the pattern each day often means figuring out what size and type of minnow the fish are preferring. Some days, it doesn’t matter. While other days we see a specific preference for say a large spot tail shiner or a medium size rainbow.

If there is something often overlooked by many walleye anglers, it might be the effectiveness of hair jigs early in the season. Hair jigs do have a strong following but that following is very regional. There are many places where anglers refuse to use hair jigs but hair jigs are probably one of the deadliest spring presentations for walleye that many anglers don’t use.

The advantage of a hair jig is that bucktail or synthetic hair is much more durable than a minnow and the hair causes the jig to swim and glide very naturally. The hair pulsates and quivers very delicately. Now you can use a hair jig many ways and there are times when the fish want the jig snapping and gliding but catching walleye on hair jigs is often as simple as casting and reeling. The jig might not look like it is doing much in the water when you drag behind the boat or cast and reel but it sure does catch fish.

When using hair jigs, remember that most tackle manufactures tie too much hair on the jig to give the jig better shelf appeal. I find that most hair jigs work better if you pull about half the strands out to make the hair thinner.

The thinner hair dressings seem to have a much better action. A phenomenal hair jig on the market right now is the Northland Deep V Hair Jig. Also make sure that the hair is hanging straight behind the jig. If the hair is twisted or crossing the hook, it won’t pulsate or swim correctly.

Knot placement is crucial when swimming jigs. You can use an improved cinch or Palomer knot if the knot is perfectly centered so the jig swims straight. I find that a loop knot also works well as the jig will always be balanced and straight as it swims.

We see this swim jig pattern so prominent on many different walleye fisheries across the Midwest each spring. Swimming a jig off bottom and not maintaining bottom contact or finding bottom is difficult for some anglers as many anglers have been taught that jigs must be finding bottom to catch fish. Making bottom contact can be the answer at times but here is something to consider. In shallow water early in the year, walleye will often cruise or position slightly off bottom to soak in sunshine. These fish can also still see the jig swimming slowly above them and when there are weeds growing up off the bottom or rocks covered in algae, fouled up jigs seldom catch fish.

Swimming jigs in the spring is something I am extremely confident with. Could be as simple as making a long cast behind the boat with a 1/16th ounce jig and dragging the jig along eight feet of water or casting a 1/8th or 1/4 ounce jig and swimming the jig over a shallow sandbar or rock reef.

Use your temperature gauge to find the pockets of warmer water and slowly swim a jig. Chances are, there are going to be some walleye waiting for you.

FOR YOUR

ADVENTURES www.tiresupplysc.com

VISIT ONE OF THESE FINE DEALERS NEAR YOU TODAY FOR TIRES, BATTERIES, CHAINS, WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES, & MORE! Anaconda Billings Billings Bozeman Bozeman Broadus Butte

Butte

Darby Ennis

Gardiner Glasgow Glendive Great Falls Helena Kalispell Lewistown Missoula Plains Plentywood Polson Ronan Shelby St. Ignatius Stanford Thompson Falls Three Forks Victor W.Yellowstone Whitefish Whitehall Wolf Point Williston, ND Ashton, ID Rexburg, ID Rupert, ID Victor, ID

Lisac’s of Anaconda J&M Tire Lisac’s of Billings Eagle Tire Tire World Hi-Tech Auto Repair, Inc. Lisac’s Tire

American Car Care Automotive Solutions, Inc. D&D Auto

Yellowstone Dino Lube Arch’s Tire Berg’s Tire

Falls Tire Service Eagle Tire M&C Tire OK Tire Store Big Sky Tire Gary’s Glass & Auto Body Jones Tire, Inc. Beacon Tire Arnie’s Gas & Tire Center Mark’s Tire & Alignment Stuart’s Service Center 4G’s Tire & Repair Easy Street Auto & Tire Three Forks Motor Supply Grenfell Garage Jake’s Automotive & Tire Howie’s Tire & Alignment Full Circle Tire Pro Tire Distributors OK Tire Store Tri-State Tire Tri-State Tire

Nick’s Quality Tire All American Tire & Brake

406-563-6110 406-969-2075 406-656-7502 406-587-5414 406-586-0488 406-436-2378 406-782-4294

406-494-4450

406-821-3440 406-682-4234 406-848-9401 406-228-2258 406-377-5286

406-453-1418 406-443-5910 406-752-9662 406-538-5347 406-251-5988 406-826-4279 406-765-2698 406-883-6258 406-676-0400 406-434-5118 406-745-2190 406-566-2910 406-827-3808 406-285-3212 406-961-2424 406-646-9500 406-862-6666 406-287-5682 406-653-2400 701-774-0233 208-652-3344 208-356-9069

208-436-3900 208-787-8473

Go to www.tiresupplysc.com for SPECIAL OFFERS

ROAD OFF

ON AND

DYNAPRO AT2 (RF11)

On-/Off-Road All-Terrain durability and versatility in varying surface conditions. The tread compound is formulated to improve fuel economy and provide cut and chip resistance on rough surfaces.

Multi-directional grooves and sipes are arranged to find traction in any direction, while the independent tread blocks feature extra biting edges for grip off-road and in snow.

DYNAPRO MT2 (RT05) All-Season Tire The most extreme off-road tire Hankook offers to date, providing remarkable off-road traction maintaining on-road performance. Extended thicker shoulder, optimized off road compound, reinforced under-tread gauge, nylon-reinforced belts, high strength steel belt.

The civilized way to escape civilization.

The 2021 Subaru Outback.

®

Ready for Any Adventure.

The 2021 Outback is built to take you anywhere.

It features the confidence of standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with up to 33 MPG1 and the advanced safety of both standard EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology2 and the available DriverFocus® Distraction Mitigation System3. And it’s engineered to last, with 97% of Outback vehicles sold in the last 10 years still on the road today4.

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

1515 EUCLID AVENUE, HELENA, MT. 59601

Subaru, Outback, EyeSight, and DriverFocus are registered trademarks. 1EPA fuel economy estimates. Actual mileage will vary with driving conditions and your vehicle’s condition.

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 your owner’s manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. Requires automatic transmission. 3DriverFocus is a driver recognition technology designed to alert the driver if their attention to the road wavers or if the driver’s face appears to turn away. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness may be affected by articles of clothing worn on the head or face. See Owner’s Manual for complete details on system operations and limitations. 4Based on Experian Automotive vehicles in operation as of December 2019 for model years 2010-2019 vs. total new registrations of those vehicles. 2021 Outback Limited shown in Brilliant Bronze Metallic.

Take a video tour here: https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/outback/gallery.html