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December 2015
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HIT AND RUN PERCH S
www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com
chools of perch often seem to continually be on the move. When there are several mouths to feed, sitting in one location doesn’t work. A school of perch can devour everything in its path. I would hate to be a minnow or crawfish when jumbo and all of his friends roll through. Because schools of perch are typically here today and gone tomorrow because of their nomadic lifestyle, finding and getting on top of fish can be always fleeting. How do you land on a moving target? Sitting in a good location where fish are likely to roll through isn’t a bad strategy. If the fish are moving through and you have good traffic underneath you… why move? The other strategy is a run and gun mentality where you approach the ice much more aggressively and move when you are not on fish and move when you stop catching fish. If you are experiencing some success, cycle back through the holes until you wear out your welcome.
Finding and landing on fish is half the battle but the other factor that can enhance your success on the ice is how you capitalize on the opportunities.
Perch fishing is often intense where a ten percent window can often produce ninety percent of your catch. You can go from zero to hero in a hurry. This all depends however on how quickly you can get back down into the water and how long you can keep these drifters down below.
Author Jason Mitchell
The “turn around” is probably one of the most important factors that dictates how many fish you catch. How fast can you get the fish up into your hand and unhooked and how fast you can get back in the water. There are a few ways to increase the turn around. Choosing lures that fall fast is one angle. Fast dropping lures include the classic Buckshot Rattle Spoon and the Northland Tackle Puppet Minnow. On a really torrid bite, using lures that can be unhooked more quickly (one hook versus treble hook) can speed up the turn around. You can also bend out the hook slightly and pinch off the barb so that the fish can pop off the hook easy. Lures like the Forage Minnow or the classic Russian Spoons. The final way to increase turnaround is to speed up the elevator ride. Stiffer rods allow you to reel in fish faster, heavier line also allows you to lift the fish out of the water and can make you more efficient. So in a perfect world on top of a crazed school of perch, you want to throw a fast dropping lure with one hook on the heaviest line you can get away paired up on a heavier rod so that you can just windmill fish. Of course we don’t live in a perfect world all the time so often, we can’t get away with maximizing the turn around on every front. Usually, we can only incorporate pieces of the basic formula above. What can often happen however is that while the overall conditions or tone of the day might require more finesse like using three pound test and a Meat Stick, when the fish finally do get wound up, you can do a lot of damage having that extra rod nearby that is rigged up for total destruction. So often, we might get the school started on the more subtle and finesse and do the real damage once we get into a rhythm where we get the school to rise up higher and start competing. Besides being conscience of and manipulating the “turn around,” the other variable is how you can manipulate the school. Keeping fish around and staying on fish is much easier to do with a few other anglers. When you get a good school below you, get your friends in as tight to you as possible. Often, in shallow water especially…. I am not a big fan of drilling holes right next to somebody catching fish. If there are no holes close to you and you have fish stacked below, tag team the fish. When you reel up a fish, have your buddy drop down. That way there is a line in the water as you are unhooking the fish. When the bite gets intense, you can literally double the damage.
Besides keeping a line in the water, some other ways to increase your success is to pick fish off the top of the school, lift the fish higher in the water column by either fishing above the fish or using a fish on your line to pull fish up higher. All of these variables can enable you to maximize your opportunities. In the end, you have to take what the fish will give you but the more things you can get going in your favor, the more perch you can catch. Only on the best days do all of the factors above work. Usually, you can increase your success exponentially with each facet you can incorporate. December 2015
5
6 - Hunting & Fishing News
5 Strategies for Pressured Ducks
Dallas Land COMPANY
112 Willow • Helena, MT. 59602
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Delta Waterfowl www.deltawaterfowl.org
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C onventional wisdom dictates that late-season ducks are the most challenging to hunt. Nonsense, I say. The toughest time to put mallards on the strap is right now — the first quarter of the season.
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Many regions have not yet seen a significant push of migrators, and given the relatively mild weather, many fellow hunters are vying for local mallards and wood ducks. The ducks of late October and early November quickly grow wary of intense local pressure and become darn challenging to decoy. But with the right finesse, you’ll put educated ducks in the bag, no matter the month.
Tone Down Calling
I spent roughly eight years hunting the Potomac River on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., where blinds line the shore every 500 yards. As I listened to hunters wail on their calls, a curious observation emerged: The real ducks, pressured as they were, said very little on the water or in flight. So, one morning I pocketed my call and relied solely on my decoys — the positive result changed the way I hunt pressured ducks. I now rely on a brief 4- or 5-note greeting call and some soft quacks — or no calling at all — when the ducks are behaving nervously.
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Ditch the Duck Blind
Nothing beats the comfort of a box blind or well-concealed boat, but educated ducks learn to look for their unnatural dimensions. Therefore I find natural vegetation to be an underutilized, effective hide in times of intense pressure. If you’re hunting a marsh or slough, immerse yourself in the surrounding grasses, resting on your back to reduce your profile. When targeting streams or rivers, sit back at least 10 yards in the hardwoods behind a tree or brush. Your discomfort will be alleviated as mallards pitch in, oblivious to your presence.
Adjust Your Spread
When there are migrators on the move or I’m setting up for uneducated early season ducks, visibility is my goal. If I’m hunting a beaver pond, for instance, I’ll place most of the spread in the center of the hole so ducks can spot the decoys down through the trees. However, I opt for a more natural spread for pressured birds, positioning most of my dekes closer to vegetation, with just a few toward the center of the pond as if they landed and are swimming in. The setup compromises visibility for realism, but it fares better when the birds have tasted gunfire. Point is, when hunting pressured ducks, worry less about setting a classic spread such as a J- or U-rig and focus more on positioning your decoys just as real ducks would use your chosen location.
Skirt the Pressure
Hunting pressure doesn’t have to be your adversary. If there’s a heavily gunned public area or duck club nearby, all you have to do is find a secluded spot and wait for ducks to be driven to you. It could be a small, brushy pothole on the edge of public land or a narrow, well-concealed slough on an adjoining farm — any unassuming hideaway where ducks feel safe will work. Such spots require diligent scouting and a trained eye to find, as they often don’t hold ducks throughout the season. But the search is worth it. My aforementioned beaver pond is one such example. It holds few ducks on most days, but I’m sure to hunt it on Saturdays and holidays. When the guns starting roaring on the vast tract of adjoining state forest land, I ready my call for ducks seeking sanctuary. I also sit until at least noon, as hunters leaving the state land for lunch often stir up one last good flight.
Take the Shot
There’s nothing so beautiful as a mallard riding cupped wings in full committal, its chestnut breast exposed for an easy shot. However, unless you’re a purist, don’t hold out for such opportunities with pressured birds. If the ducks are in range on the first swing or offer a pass-shooting attempt, take it. No, I’m not suggesting you “skybust.” A skybuster knows neither the effective range of his shotgun nor his physical limitations. He’s just slinging steel. But you’ve patterned your shotgun and know your ethical shooting distance. If a cautious, pressured duck flies within range, take advantage. After all, despite all the careful adjustments to your strategy, educated ducks rarely make mistakes.
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7
4 Late-Season Deer Tactics By Mike Hanback
www.mikehanback.com
Hunt Hidden: Watch the brushy edges and draws of small, out-of-the-way pine cedar or honeysuckle thickets. Bucks sneak along those edges between bedding and feeding areas, moving in little places where they haven’t been spooked earlier in the season. And look for hidden “buck holes”: A beaver swamp near a gravel road…an old hog lot grown over behind a farmer’s barn…you get the idea. Check for a buck hiding out in a spot you and other hunters missed earlier. Keep Doe Watching: One December in Kansas, my friend Jim Riley spotted a doe being dogged by three bucks, but the brush was too thick for a shot. Jim returned to the tree stand the next morning. The doe came back, followed by 5 bucks, but none was a shooter. Jim hung tough, and on the third morning in the stand she was back, with just one buck this Mike Hanback and Jim Riley time. Jim nailed the giant 8-pointer pictured here.
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The lesson: In December one of the last hot does in a patch of woods will draw bucks sniffing around for one last shot of fun. As long as she hangs around, you hang around until a shooter shows up. Keep Rattling: For two years running in western Oklahoma,
I rattled up bucks just days before the rifle season closed in early December. I passed on the 7-pointer that came in, and shot the old 9-pointer that marched within 100 yards, bristling and with his ears pinned back. The point: Most hunters north of Texas give up on rattling too soon. Horn-knocking can work better in the post-rut because bucks prowl for and compete for the favors of fewer hot does. Keep trying the horns until mid-December.
Stink w/Scents: One December in Kansas, veteran bowhunters B.J. Clement and his son, Todd, dug mock scrapes and laid scent trails with both estrus doe and dominant buck through an area where they knew good bucks typically hang out. “When my dad went in to hunt his ground blind on the next Saturday afternoon a buck had torn the place to pieces with huge rubs and scrapes,” Todd said. That evening a big buck started for B.J.’s blind, but the deer spotted a doe and took off after her. Bummer. But 30 minutes later, B.J. saw the buck again. He rubbed a hedge tree, and then walked close. B.J. fired a perfect arrow. The 12-pointer netted 182, one of the top bow bucks in America that year. The takeaway: That Kansas monster was still rutting, checking does and rubbing trees. The Clements’ doe/buck scent strategy, which created the illusion of a late breeding zone, caused the big deer to hang in the area until B.J. got him. Try juicing your woods with some top-shelf deer scent this week.
Montana Late Season Hunts H&F Pro Staff Late Season Hunting Opportunities in HD 212, 260, 290 & 309
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H unting for deer and some brow-tined bull or antlerless elk hunts still exist here in Montana for late season hunters. It’s bow hunting or primitive weapons areas for those with general season unfilled tags.
Did you get out and hunt enough? If not, and you’re willing to tough out the harsh elements and maybe do a little traveling, you can put some steaks in the freezer this month, though limited. There may be damage elk hunts in certain areas. Check with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for any late news to come out in December. Make sure you read the Montana Hunting Regulations for opportunities that may exist for you. Here are some we have found. HD Unit 212 - North Flint Ridge There is a large amount of good country to hunt in this district, and it is one of the best options to fill a late-season tag. Deer: Either sex whitetail deer. Archery only. Prison Ranch only area. Elk: Brow-tined bull or antlerless elk. Archery only. Prison Ranch archery only. Open through January 1, 2016. HD Unit 260 - Bitterroot - Clark Fork Archery District Mostly private land. The access is difficult. You may have to knock on a few doors, but there are plenty of deer to hunt in these river bottom areas. Deer: Either sex - whitetail. Archery only. Elk: Brow-tined bull elk. Archery only. Valid for BTB-Elk only in that portion of the HD west of Highway 93 - Missoula County. BTB or antlerless elk. Archery only. NOT valid in that portion of the HD west of Highway 93 in Missoula County and NOT valid on Lee Metcalf Refuge. Open through January 15, 2016. HD Unit 290 - Helmville - Ovando Archery District This area offers another good opportunity to fill a tag, with plenty of quality deer and elk hunting available. Deer: Antlered buck mule deer. Archery only. Either sex whitetail deer. Archery only. Season ends December 15, 2015. Elk: Brow-tined bull or antlerless elk. Archery only. Season ends January 1, 2016. HD Unit 309 - Gallatin Valley - WRA Deer and elk hunting is restricted to archery equipment, shotgun, traditional handgun, muzzleloader or crossbow only, except on private lands,which are excluded from the weapons restriction. Map area available at FWP Region 3 in Bozeman or call 406-994-4042. Deer: Antlerless whitetail deer only. Elk: Antlerless elk only. November 30, 2015 - January 15, 2016. December 2015
9
This urgency often prompts a return to daytime feeding and can cause daily deer movements to become more visible and more predictable. And while it may not happen right away, once the shotgun and rifle seasons end, whitetails are less pressured and may feel more secure, further stacking the odds in favor of the savvy late-season muzzleloader or archery hunter.
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Food Sources
Because feeding dictates late-season deer movement more than any other factor, a successful late-season hunting strategy begins with an understanding of available food sources where you hunt. Picked corn and soybean fields may be the most important winter food sources available to deer, and will be used as long as snow cover is not too deep. Of course, any remaining standing crops trump picked fields wherever they exist and may draw deer for miles, especially in deep snow conditions.
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Lesser-known late-season food sources for deer include any vegetation that remains green and somewhat succulent. Throughout much of the Midwest, multi-flora rose, sumac and Japanese honeysuckle are important late-season food sources for deer, along with crab apples, persimmons and wild grapes where they exist. Of course, many hunters who enjoy the benefit of actively managing the land they hunt may plant a variety of food plots to attract and hold deer in the late season.
Hunt the Weather
Aside from the obvious benefits snow cover brings relative to cracking the code on deer movement, winter weather provides hunters with other odds-increasing opportunities. Rapidly falling barometric pressure associated with an approaching winter storm sounds the alarm bells for late-season whitetails, often spurring brief but intense periods of movement and feeding. Hunters can take advantage of this situation by being in the stand during those few hours before a winter storm arrives. Similar frenzied feeding activity may also take place immediately after the weather breaks. And while increased deer activity may be most obvious before and after storms, any change in an established weather pattern is a good time for late season hunters to be in the field.
Late-Season Set Ups
The best hunting locations for post-rut whitetails include many of the same travel corridors and funnels that are productive during the pre-rut early season.
Hosts of the hit television program, Driven TV on Outdoor Channel, Pat and Nicole Reeve relish the late season
Hunting Winter Whitetails
Want to tag a late-season buck? Make sure ample knowledge is packed in your bag of tricks. By Josh Lantz
A lot of deer hunters hang up their gear and retire to the comforts of the fireplace and football once the whitetail rut and conventional firearms seasons come to an end. Too bad. For those with remaining tags to fill and the fortitude to brave the frozen landscape, the traditional late hunting season of December through mid-January provides unique and exceptional opportunities to take down a mature buck.
Late-Season Behavior
Once the primary breeding period ends, whitetail bucks are literally run down – physically depleted by their unrelenting drive to chase and breed does. Their relatively poor physical state, combined with rapidly falling temperatures and the onset of winter weather, creates an urgency to feed and replenish energy reserves once breeding ends. 10 - Hunting & Fishing News
During periods of stable weather, mature bucks may spend most of their daytime hours in the relative security of thick cover, only moving to feed during low-light periods. So travel routes between bedding areas and primary winter food sources are key. Consider hunting closer to established bedding areas in the morning in order to ambush bucks headed back to their bedrooms. Deer can, however, become more active during afternoon periods at this time of year, so blind and stand sites on active fields, food plots and other late winter food sources are good bets for afternoon and evening hunts – especially immediately before or after severe weather.
Bag of Tricks
Ground blinds come into their own during the late season for a couple primary reasons. First, a tree with adequate concealment may not exist at a particular ambush point you wish to hunt. Secondly, ground blinds provide obvious benefits over tree stands when it comes to staying warm and comfortable – an important consideration for any late-season hunter. Ground blinds effectively block chilling winds, and allow the use of small portable heaters inside. Adequate clothing is critical to the late-season deer hunter, as long sits on stand are often required. Effective layering is key, along with high performance hand and footwear. (continued next page)
Mossy Oak pro Jonathan Turner maintains core warmth while still hunting
Choose moisture-wicking base layers to combat perspiration, along with high-performance fleece or wool mid layers. A waterproof wind-blocking outer layer typically completes the late-season wardrobe. Core warmth is of primary importance, but is too often overlooked. When your torso is warm, it readily releases blood to your extremities. When it is cold, however, it shuts down the blood flow, conserving it for the vital organs. While quality clothing can go a long way in maintaining core warmth, especially while moving, late-season stand- and still-hunters can greatly increase their effective core warmth and maintain it for longer periods through supplemental sources. Tenzing Outdoors has given stand hunters a top-performing option for maintaining core warmth through the release of their new TZ 721 Waist Pack. Aside from its function as a readily accessible place to stash all your hunting essentials, the TZ 721 features an insulated hand muff along with a series of integral hand warmer pockets at strategic locations inside the waist belt. These pockets accept any readily-available and suitably-sized air-activated or chemical-reaction hand warmer, providing the kind of cozy supplemental core warmth necessary for long, late-season sits on stand. Don’t let wind, ice, snow or freezing temperatures interfere with filling that leftover buck tag this winter. Remember, he’s driven to feed. So hunt the food, hunt the weather, and stay warm. You’ll be in the right place at the right time to bring down your late-season trophy while your buddies are all watching football by the fireplace. December 2015 11
LATE SEASON WATERFOWL T
By Bob Humphrey Yamaha Outdoors Tips
hanks to some favorable nesting conditions, waterfowl seasons now span well past the point where most fair-weather hunters hang up their waders and head for the deer woods. And some of the best shooting comes late in the season when hungry ducks and geese pile into ever diminishing habitat. Here’s a few tips on bagging late-season birds.
Find Open Water
Still water on ponds and small lakes may be frozen over but if you can find open water you’ll probably find ducks. Photo: Bob Humphrey Yamaha Outdoors Tips
Waterways - On rivers and streams, look for patches of fast-running water, in areas of steeper gradient or where smaller, faster-running streams enter larger, slower ones.
Water Bodies - The perimeter of larger lakes usually freezes first but you may be able to find open water around islands away from shore, where rivers or streams enter the lake or at the south end where the chop from prevailing winds inhibits freezing. Coastline - Folks living near the coastline have a decided edge when it comes to late-season waterfowling. Tide and salt water may delay or even prevent ice-up and waterfowl flock to the coast when inland waters freeze out. Estuaries are great places for jump-shooting on foot or in a canoe or kayak and coastal bays and inlets may provide a good location to set up a spread of decoys.
Make Open Water If you can’t find open water, sometimes it’s possible to make it. Break through thin ice in streams, pond margins and even flooded timber and if there are any ducks around, they’ll find it. And if the ice is just too thick, you could try the old trick of laying out sheets of plastic to simulate open water.
Dry Land Layout Waterfowl will remain in the area as long as there’s open water somewhere. If you can’t access it, set up a layout spread in nearby fields. This tactic is most often used for geese, but hungry ducks will land in fields as well, particularly in agricultural areas. Late-season spreads usually involve lots of decoys so load the bed of your Viking up with shells and flags and head for the field. 12 - Hunting & Fishing News
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Some Trapping Seasons Underway New Trapper Reporting For Bobcat, Otter, Swift Fox MFWP 11/6/15
M ontana’s furbearer season for trapping beaver, mink, muskrat
and otter opened statewide, Nov. 1. While land trapping seasons for bobcat, marten, and fisher in most of Montana won’t open until Dec. 1, a swift fox trapping season also opened Nov. 1 in a portion of northeastern Montana’s district 6. New this year for bobcat, otter and swift fox trappers is the requirement to bring unfrozen lower jaws that have been cleaned and air dried when presenting the pelts for inspection and tagging by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. This year, FWP will no longer require the submission of the entire skull. Instead, only the lower jaw is required to properly age the animal. Over time, the data on birth years allows wildlife biologists to develop a ‘reconstructed population’ that indicates years of high or low reproduction. When combined with trapper data from harvest surveys the population trends are used to adjust quotas and manage for long-term population health. Regulated trapping in Montana is managed by FWP through scientifically based regulations to sustain furbearer populations. FWP and the Fish & Wildlife Commission continually review and refine those regulations to ensure the use of best management practices for trapping activities. Licensed trappers also provide FWP with important information that assists with wildlife management programs across the state. Also in place this year are regulations designed to reduce the likelihood of lynx take in “Lynx Protection Zones”, all areas within portions of northwestern and southwestern Montana inhabited by lynx populations. The 2015 furbearer regulations contain details on all trapping district season dates and closures. Find more...on Montana furbearers and trapping regulations online at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Hunting” then click “Trapping”.
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s Pheasant opener has come and gone, the preferred destinations that many hunters flocked to early in the season are now left barren. Many people over look the excellent opportunity of chasing roosters in December presents. With temperatures hovering around freezing or below, pheasants tend to group up during this time period. Crops have been harvested and most areas in the country have received a blanket of snow, pushing pheasants to reside to other areas with better cover. This means a well thought out game plan before hitting the field should be put in place. From the opening of the season, pheasants receive heavy pressure and gunfire, meaning a vast amount of pheasants has been harvested. There are still plenty of roosters to be had, but a different approach needs to be taken as many of the uneducated birds have fell wayside to gun shot leaving the clever and battle scared birds as survivors. This means you need to be smart when chasing roosters in December. It is in my years of experience that I have found to be more successful when hunting in a smaller group of hunters. Hunting in a large group presents a number of challenges, such as miscommunication and pushing pheasants in the wrong direction. When I talk about a small group, I am talking about 4 to 5 hunters accompanied by a dog as it allows for a stealthy approach, increasing your chances of being fruitful by days end. Other considerations to keep in mind are keeping noise to a minimum. Make a lot of noise and you will find the birds are long gone. By learning to utilize hand signals in your hunting party you increase your odds of being successful. Another consideration is do not rush. Be patient and take note of what the birds are doing around you. By locating escape routes and patterns you can better coordinate with your hunting group where to set your blockers. Before you step foot afield to chase roosters this December, come up with a concrete game plan that your entire hunting party understands. Cold weather might require you to bundle up and add an extra layer, but the adrenaline rush you get from flushing bunched up roosters will leave you shaking in excitement, not from the cold. Get out there today and be greeted with fewer hunters and more pheasants. Good Hunting. December 2015 15
GET YOUR APPLICATION DUCKS IN ORDER By Mark Kayser
I
t’s the holiday season. Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror and Christmas is staring you in the face. And don’t forget about that New Year’s gathering you’ve been planning. Are you planning for upcoming hunting seasons as well? It may seem a bit early to begin thinking about this even before some hunting seasons have closed for the calendar year, but just as you are dreaming of a kid-sized Christmas present under the tree, begin to dream for that hunt of a lifetime. And dreaming is the first step to making that hunt a reality. Have you ever wanted to shoot a bighorn sheep, a Shiras moose, a trophy pronghorn or a 30-point buck? These goals, plus others are possible in Montana and surrounding states, but the dreaming doesn’t have to stop there. Maybe you want to hunt a desert bighorn sheep, a Dall’s sheep, a barren ground caribou or even a grizzly bear. The first step in hunt planning is to prioritize your goals. Once you have a bucket list in hand set up long- and short-term goals. Which of these hunts do you want to complete this year and which can wait until next year? Elk, deer and pronghorn are always on my short-term list. I may not always have a great tag in hand for all three, but the odds are high I’ll have one of the three and likely two or more to keep me busy hunting near home. What hunts are on your list that will require several years of savings? This is where outfitted hunts often show up on your list, but the extra years in waiting can pay off. In addition to stockpiling cash for a grander hunt the extra years will give you additional advantages. An obvious advantage is gathering more preference points. Some hunting opportunities are pay to play like in the case of landowner tags in states such as New Mexico. Fortunately, most premium hunts have a preference or bonus point system in play as you find in Montana. Each year you apply you get an additional opportunity in the following drawing. A preference system actually pushes you to the head of the line where a bonus point simply adds your name in for each year you’ve applied. Don’t overlook the helpful option of having your name show up more in the computer lottery to improve your odds of drawing a great tag. Acquire those bonus points. You also don’t want to overlook the years of time waiting for a license to use for DIY scouting or outfitter selection. It may take you several years to draw a coveted elk tag in a popular Montana unit, but you still can scout the area, learn the topography and even pick a great hunting camp location. If you prefer the services of an outfitter or they are required such as on an Alaskan brown bear hunt, use that extra time to vet guide services. Contact outfitters, check state outfitter boards for reviews and contact references. A little bit of effort now could save you thousands of dollars and a huge, outfitter-related headache later. Another reason to begin planning your hunts in the tinsel season is the fact many states have application periods early. Next door in Wyoming elk applications are due in January for nonresident hunters. In Montana special elk and deer permits are due in March. Nearly every Western state has winter or early spring deadlines for applications so don’t procrastinate. This is especially true if you plan on applying for everything from deer to sheep. Take elk hunting for instance. If you’re an elk nut applying for every elk hunting opportunity in every state means nearly a dozen applications for popular elk hunting states. It could also mean applying for a handful of new favorites like Pennsylvania which has been kicking out monster bulls with consistency in recent years. Putting in for that many species and a dozen or so states means you might miss the new season of the “Bachelor.” I know from my undocumented, informal survey that it takes a minimum of one to two hours just to research potential units. I then add another hour or two to understand a state’s application process. Add in another hour of application time to fill out forms, written or online and your nighttime spare hours may run into the next morning. That’s not a problem for insomniacs, but for the rest of us working folks it can be taxing on family, career and home chores. Of course if you’re familiar with a unit and the application system of each state the process becomes simpler year after year. Remember when I mentioned you’ll have time to save money for those grand hunts? When you apply for dozens of licenses you may need to fund some of those to the fullest even before you land in the lucky slot. You’ll get most, if not all of the money back after the draw, but depending on your application enthusiasm you may have hundreds, if not thousands of dollars out during the application period. Plan ahead and keep a small stash of cash for those applications. Is all of this making your dream sound more like a nightmare? If so, you may want to consider applications services like those offered by...the Huntin’ Fool. Other consultants and booking services provide similar assistance in this pay-for-application atmosphere. What can you expect for turning over your hard-earned dollars in addition to filling out applications? Consultants advise you on the best units for trophies, the best units for license draws and the process to build bonus points toward your goals. Prices vary with some starting at $50 per species and goes up from there depending on how many states, and how many species you wish to add to your shopping cart. Some services float your license fee while others ask for your credit card information. If you draw the license the services don’t end there. Most consultants can team you up with a qualified outfitter, suggest drop-camp options and answer questions about particular units. This means you can either consider a fully-guided hunt or plan a DIY hunt with advice from those that have been there. December is a season of dreams, especially those linked to the Christmas miracle, but if you want to have the hunt of a lifetime it’s also the season to begin dreaming big. Good luck! To keep up with Mark Kayser and new hunting tips: www.markkayser.com or 16 - Hunting & Fishing News
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Kayser/119789001392664
December 2015 17
© Steven Oehlenschlager | Dreamstime.com
Tips For The First-Time Canada Goose Hunter MFWP If you feel the urge to make this your first year to hunt the Canada goose, it is not too late to make that fantasy reality. There are a few basics a beginning goose hunter will want to keep in mind....
1) Try and find a friend with goose hunting experience in your area. Experience is priceless and will save you a lot of time. 2) Scout, scout, scout! Finding where geese roost and feed is 90 percent of the game! Geese roost overnight on water and may feed twice a day. They tend to leave the roost mid morning and head for a field to feed, return to roost mid-day, and then back to the field before dusk. On a very cold day they may not fly out to feed until early afternoon. 3) Find out who owns the land. The majority of fields will be on private land, so be certain you ask for permission to hunt. If you plan to hunt on water, find the closest public access points. 4) Obtain at least a dozen decoys. Decoys can vary from full-body, to shells, or even silhouettes. If the geese are naive, you won’t need a lot of fancy decoys. By combining decoys with a couple of friends, you can put out a respectable spread without spending a huge amount of money. 5) BB or BBB steel shot work well. A 12 gauge (or even 10 gauge) is ideal. You need to hit the front half of the body or the head and neck. Try to not shoot at geese at over 40 yards. 6) Find out where the wind is coming from. Geese will approach your spread into the wind. Pattern decoys the widest at the front of the spread where the geese will approach and narrow it behind, where you want them to land. Position yourself with the wind at your back. 7) Camouflage yourself in the decoy spread. If you do not have a layout blind for goose hunting, wear camouflage that matches the field you are in, or buy an inexpensive piece of burlap to cover yourself. If you are hunting over water, find good shoreline vegetation to hide in. 8) Buy a goose call and learn how to use it. An instructional tape is often included or can be purchased separately. Practice, practice, practice! If you don’t own decoys or blinds, the most inexpensive way to hunt geese is to find a location between their roosting and feeding areas where they will be flying low enough to the ground for you to shoot as they pass. Lastly, be respectful of your fellow hunters. Avoid shooting at geese that are heading toward another hunter’s decoy spread. Shooting at geese out of range will “educate” them and make hunting more difficult for you and for others. 18 - Hunting & Fishing News
LATE, GREAT HONKER HUNTING By Steve Hickoff Yamaha Outdoors Tips
Some of us have been hunting Canada geese since September and are done now. For others, there’s still plenty of honker hunting left. As always, your Yamaha ATV or SxS will help you transport gear and your hunt buddies the distance.
Here’s where and how to do it.
HONKER HOTSPOTS extended opportunities...
Check your waterfowl regulations for
FOOD SOURCES RULE Before you set your winter honker decoy spread, you have to find out where geese are feeding or where they might want to do it. Assuming you’re armed with a reliable shotgun, loads, and proven calls, here are some other basics. Winter has just arrived after a fairly mild...waterfowl season. Food had been widely available—now snow covers some of it.... If flocks are spread out, food sources might be limited and they’re looking for it. Cold weather patterns, the kind found in late season, can contribute to this. Sometimes these spots are on or near moving water. When a flock is packed in tightly, the food source might be abundant in that location. Birds are more sociable and maybe more susceptible to calling and decoying. It could also signal a coming weather change and shift from mild to frigid weather. Adjust accordingly. ROOSTING AND FEEDING As a result, you’re often better off finding their roost (where geese loaf at night, often on water), and where they like to hang out by day, which could be near the same winter spot (check with the landowner first, if it’s a private holding), or any other available huntable public location. This includes where you might call them out of the sky on their way from point A (the roost; often water) and point B (where they feed and/or linger during the daytime—also sometimes water). If you’re like me you favor natural vegetation near food sources for late-season blinds if possible. Look for other food sources, especially if the farmer has only cut back part the field late last year. Land forms like drainage ditches near watery feeding areas with brushy cover provide an option too. Many veteran waterfowlers also use shadows and sunlight for concealment—or at least try to pay attention to these natural factors. Blinds, layouts or otherwise, need to blend in with the natural landscape. It goes without saying that once set up, you hide inside that “invisible” structure until honkers wing into range. Or not. Ask any hardcore late-season goose hunter when they scout and they’ll likely say: “I never stop.” Find the birds now. Watch them. When do they leave an area? Where do they go? Soon enough, where you live and hunt, you can get on these late honkers with your decoy spreads. SUPER GOOSE SPREADS Your spread (the arrangement of your goose dekes) should reflect the situation you’re hunting. Full-bodies. Shell decoys. Silhouettes. Motion stakes for realism. Mix and match, or stick with one style. As fakes go, you should use the best you can afford. Add new options to the old reliable mix (often on sale now). If you hunt hard as many of us do, take care of your gear to and from your hunting spots. Decoy bags are a must. Some guys even put fakes in individual bags. Clean decoys with a bristle brush and water. No shortcuts. Do what it takes. It’ll put more geese in range. Late-season geese have been subjected to serious hunter pressure. Sometimes smaller sets work fine, sure, situation depending.
Bring out the 100+ deke spreads now with confidence though, as pressured honkers grow tougher well into winter. Be realistic as possible.
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Say Hello To Success: Where to chase the Fish this Month Brought to you by
O
pen water fishing opportunities will start to “freeze up” as area lakes and reservoirs in the Northern Rockies take on another winter here in the West. The upper elevated mountain lakes will begin to ice up around their edges, and then by Christmas most will be totally frozen over.
The open water action on most Southwest Montana rivers will continue through the winter, allowing for some exceptional trout fishing. You’ll want to check the Montana State Fishing Regulations on river closures that will take effect on some area waters in December. Early winter fishing trips can be a blast if you are willing to get out to enjoy them. Make the most of these short winter days, gather up a friend or the family, and hit the water - great memories are out there waiting for you!
EARLY ICE LAKES MONTANA As many ice anglers know, the first ice-up on lakes and reservoirs is one of the best times to fish, for two reasons One, the ice is generally clear, void of air pockets and eroded areas, and two, the fish are biting! If you are after a bit of early hardwater action, here are some ideas for “First Ice” fishing in Montana. These small lakes will generally ice up first.
Hunting and Fishing Outfitter Myron Kibler with his World Record Saugeye at 15.66 pounds. Caught through the ice on Jan. 11, 1995, on Fort Peck Lake near Devils Creek. The record still stands www.kiblercharterfishing.com
CLEARWATER AREA LAKES
LOWER STILLWATER LAKE
SALMON - SEELEY - ALVA PLACID - HARPERS
Near Whitefish, you can set up your ice huts soon and target the abundant perch, northern pike and trout using smaller jigs tipped with pink maggots for perch, and smelt for northern pike. Steel leader should be used on your pike set-ups to make sure that you don’t break off that once in a lifetime northern that could be swimming below.
These high elevation lakes north of Hwy. 200 are some of the best bets for early ice-up. These smaller compounds produce trout, kokanee, perch, northern pike and bass. Placid Lake should be primed by mid-December, if you are targeting kokanee. A Glow-Hook or a smaller Swedish Pimple rigged up with corn or maggots will attract the koks. If it’s bigger fish you’re after, head to Salmon or Seeley Lake, for aggressive northern pike, rainbow trout, or bass. Target the weed lines along the lake edges for pike feeding on bait fish. Cut bait like smelt or herring should attract these toothy critters. Spearing is open if you feel like trying this method on pike. Delicious yellow perch can be caught by jigging a worm along the bottom.
SPOON LAKE
North of Columbia Falls, you can hook into a lot of yellow perch, brook trout and smallmouth bass. Normal freeze up will be closer to January, unless we get a heavy dose of winter here in December. Target the weeds around the lake for phenomenal ice fishing here.
ECHO LAKE Just on the upper side of Bigfork, anglers can target whitefish, perch, bass, trout and northerns. Try Zimmer’s Rattle Snakies to catch the big shouldered whitefish that roam in the lake. The kokanee are also abundant here. It doesn’t get much better for the table fare than yellow perch, whitefish and a kokanee mix.
BROWN’S LAKE Brown’s Lake should be one of the first lakes in the region to ice up. This lake is located off Hwy. 200 near Ovando. It produces big brown trout and rainbow trout through the ice. Try dropping small spoons, Swedish Pimples or smaller jigs tipped with a nightcrawler or maggot. Even white corn can pull up many good sized fish.
EAST FORK RESERVOIR This Lewistown area small reservoir will be targeted by area ice fishing anglers that go after yellow perch or walleye here. Try a smaller 1/16 ounce Kit’s Tackle jig paired up with a worm, and you will likely land plenty of eager perch. Where there is one, you can count on plenty more to be biting, as these fish move in schools around the lake. There is no shortage when it comes to fishing smaller lakes here in Montana.
IDAHO STEELHEAD Steelhead catch picks up It’s cold outside, but Idaho’s steelhead season is just starting to heat up for the Steelhead “B” run now on the Clearwater and Snake Rivers, in December. Steelhead catch rates are picking up, and there is plenty of exciting fishing left. Steelhead fishing is unique, considering it is very good when catch rates are lower than 20 hours per fish caught. Recent angler reports show catch rates at 6 hours per fish on the Snake River downstream of the Salmon River, 10 hours per fish on the Little Salmon River, 10 hours per fish on the Clearwater from the mouth upstream to Orifino, 14 hours per fish on the Snake River from the Middle Fork upstream to the North Fork Salmon, and 20 hours per fish on the Salmon from Whitebird Creek to the Little Salmon. Limits on the Snake, Salmon, and Little Salmon are three per day and nine in possession. The limit on the Clearwater is two fish per day and six in possession. Anglers may keep 20 steelhead for the season, with the season ending December 31.
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Idaho - Commission To Consider Proposed Fish Seasons And Rules Changes Idaho Fish & Game 11/10/15
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission on Thursday, November 19,
will adopt a three-year fishing seasons and rules brochure for 2016 through 2018. Fishing rule changes for the next three years will be based on new biological information collected by fisheries biologists, and public input provided from angler opinion surveys and public meetings where input was collected on 41 proposed regional and statewide changes. Some of the proposed changes the Commissioners will consider include: Statewide: ·The “possession limit” will be three times the daily bag limit after the second day of the season. Currently, the possession limit is equal to the bag limit. Panhandle Region: ·Lake Pend Oreille - The Rainbow Trout daily bag limit will be reduced from 6 to 2; only 1 over 20 inches. Clearwater Region: ·Mann Lake, Deyo Reservoir and Spring Valley Reservoir, – Daily bag limit on bass will change from general (6) to 2 bass; none under 16 inches. ·Clearwater River, North Fork – Steelhead season; eliminate the July 1 catch-and-release season and open a harvest season for Steelhead from September 1 through December 31. Southwest Region: ·Payette Lake – Eliminate the Lake Trout daily bag limit. Include Lake Trout in the daily trout bag limit which is 6. ·Payette River, North Fork – Insert a catch-and-release season for trout from Smiley Bridge to Payette Lake beginning on December 1 through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. ·Boise River – Eliminate the 14 inch minimum harvest restriction on Rainbow Trout from Loggers Creek to East Boise River footbridge. Change the daily trout bag limit from Barber Dam to Glenwood Bridge to 2 trout. Magic Valley: ·Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir – Daily Walleye bag limit will change from 6 fish any size to 6 Walleye with only 1 over 20 inches. Southeast Region: ·Regionwide – Minimum size of bass that can be harvested under general rules increases from 12 inches to 14 inches. Upper Snake Region: ·Regionwide – Increase the daily bag limit on Kokanee from 6 to 15. ·South Fork Snake River tributaries – Allow harvest of any size Brown Trout (which will be included in the daily trout bag limit). Change the “closed to fishing” season to June 1 to June 30 (previous April 1 – June 30). ·Jim Moore Pond, Horseshoe Lake and Teardrop Lake – Current rule is 6 trout. The daily trout bag limit would be reduced to 2 trout on all three waters. Salmon Region: ·Wallace Lake – Reduce the daily bag limit for trout from 6 to 2... These proposed changes, if approved, will take effect January 1, 2016.
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For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: always wear a helmet, eye protection, and other protective clothing. Never carry passengers on any ATV not specifically designed by the manufacturer for such use. All adult model Can Am ATVs are Category G ATVs (General Use Models) intended for recreational and/or utility use by an operator age 16 or older. For your safety: wear a helmet, eye protection and other protective gear. ATVs and SxS are for off-road use only; never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Always remember that riding and alcohol/ drugs don’t mix. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speed and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Ride responsibly.
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Preparation Important For Duck Hunting With A Boat Idaho Fish & Game
©spittfire|istockphoto.com
H unters using a boat to get to their island blind, and hunters shooting from their duck boats…are going not only on a hunting trip. They are also going on a boating trip. It is critically important that they have all of the safety equipment that a boating outing requires. In addition to having safety gear, it is critical to consider the weight capacity of the boat being used. Almost every year, there is a boating accident in northern Idaho involving duck hunters. With water temperatures just above freezing, these accidents can tragically result in a fatality. The most common mistake waterfowl hunters make in their boating trip is overloading the boat. All vessels under 20 feet in length constructed after Nov 1, 1972 have a capacity plate permanently affixed. The plate will be in a location clearly visible to the operator while the boat is underway. The plate lists the maximum horsepower, maximum number of persons, and maximum weight capacity including all people, dogs and gear.
By the time you put on an outboard motor, add some hunters, a dog and hunting gear, it is very easy to exceed the weight capacity without knowing it. Exceeding the weight capacity of a boat creates a very dangerous condition. Overloading reduces the amount of freeboard, which is the vertical distance measured on the boat’s side from the waterline to the gunwale. Insufficient freeboard can lead to poor handling in rough water and makes it easier for the boat to swamp. Duck hunters are often out in the worst weather where whitecaps or the wake of a passing boat could quickly send water over the gunwale and into the boat. An excited retriever can unexpectedly move in the boat adding to the danger if a boat is overloaded. Often wearing waders and heavy coats, a duck hunter would find it very difficult to swim should their boat take on water or capsize. Add in the effects of ice cold water, and a mishap becomes an immediate life threatening emergency... Many companies now make camouflage life jackets and float coats that can be worn while duck hunting that do not flare birds. They are surprisingly comfortable to shoot in. If you are hunting from the boat, remaining seated while shooting will improve your accuracy and the stability of the boat. Hunters have been knocked out of boats from the unanticipated or underestimated recoil of heavy magnum waterfowl loads. Waterfowl hunting is a great way to get outdoors during the fall and winter. Good preparation and following basic guidelines can assure the outing is a safe one. 22 - Hunting & Fishing News
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RATTLE UP ICE PIKE
By Nathan Shore Lindy Fishing Tackle www.lindyfishingtackle.com
T hunder rolls through the water column. The boom isn’t caused by lightning, though, but by cracking ice. It echoes through the underwater world, then fades into cold silence. Another sound rolls through the “chamber.” The sound caroms off the ice above, bounces off the rocks below, builds to a rattling crescendo and then fades into the distance. It’s just Jonny Petrowske, playing with his Lindy Darters again. Petrowske is a northern Minnesota fishing guide with decades of experience on Red Lake, Lake of The Woods and other sprawling waters where pike inhabit featureless flats bigger than your neighborhood. There may be no more than 2 feet of depth change over 1,000 yards. With nowhere to hide, the fish can be anywhere, and covering such vast areas can become drudgery and time consuming. But Jonny P has a plan. “Utilizing rattles and sound as an attractant, I can cover a huge area under the ice,” Petrowske said. “And nothing makes more noise down there than the Lindy Darter. Pike can pick up indicators produced by struggling baitfish from unknown distances. Each sense has its own limitations—vision, the scent of blood, the lateral line, and sound. I can only imagine what range the Darter has for making long-distance calls, but sound is unquestionably the medium that travels farthest in water, especially under the ice.” In stained or cloudy water, Petrowske believes nothing draws pike better or from farther away than a Darter. “The deep, low-end, clunk-clunk rattles in the biggest Darter can pull a pike from at least 200 feet,” he said. “I know so because a friend and I were fishing 50 yards apart one day, running cameras and using radios. He called to tell me he had an old friend of ours—a one-eyed jack that would linger but never strike—under his hole. We saw him many times over the course of the season. I ripped my Darter and 40 seconds later, there was ol’ One Eye. We started playing around and realized we could draw this curious pike back-and-forth to holes 200 feet apart with our Darters.” How much noise can be called attraction, and at what point does it cause avoidance? Petrowske says that conditions dictate that. “After a cold front when the bite slows down, I turn up the speed and move faster,” he said. “Fewer fish are active so you need to cover more ice to find them. When conditions are good you’re hoping to lure bunches of active fish to the spread, but, even in stable weather some pike don’t eat rattle and flash. They almost always linger and watch, but many turn to leave. I can turn them around with erratic jigging and start another stare-down session. If I finally have to give up on a pike that won’t hit the Darter, I watch it slip away and—more often than not—the nearest flag pops within minutes. ” 24 - Hunting & Fishing News
The “spread” is a group of tip-ups baited with live sucker minnows or dead ciscoes on quick-strike rigs, manned by Petrowske’s clientele on the ice. He often arranges the spread with each tip-up 60 feet apart and surrounded by a diamond pattern of four holes. “Using only tip-ups or only lures results in half the fish,” Petrowske said. “Aggressive pike will smack the Darter without hesitation. Wary pike will come in and pick up the scent, vibration, and visuals of the bait dangling under a tip-up.” The diamond pattern becomes a pointed pathway helping Petrowske create a logical grid across the frozen landscape. The extra holes surrounding the tip-ups are for attracting pike (and often catching them) with Lindy Darters fished on 12-lb Silver Thread copolymer line and homemade, 20-lb wire leaders. Petrowske ties a Lindy No-Snagg Swivel to one end of the 16-inch leader and a Lindy Crankbait Snap to the other end. The rounded Crankbait Snap gives the Darter better action and more freedom to plane out and glide on the drop.
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The act of jigging a swimming lure for big animals like pike demands a few special considerations. “I fall out of the norm, using a slower action rod for pike,” Petrowske said. “My favorite is a 32-inch baitcaster with a medium heavy or medium power. Unlike most pike heads, I prefer a fiberglass rod with a slightly slower action. When it recovers, it really makes a Darter rip upward, adding vibration that I don’t think graphite can match.” The biggest Lindy Darter (size #4) can be worked aggressively like a vertical crankbait, or it can be subtle when forced to drop very slowly. It can be “dumped” and allowed to fall in swimming fashion to cover more water in a 10-foot-diameter circle, sending flash out farther from the hole than other lures. And, it can be “ripped” and dropped aggressively, sending wild pulses of noise out in all directions. “Everything ends up being a compromise,” Petrowske said. “I want to cover as much depth change as possible on slow-breaking waters like Red Lake. On lakes with a more complex makeup I want to cover the top, slope and base of the structure I’m working. I want every hole to be on an edge or transition. Pike on the prowl follow edges looking for easy, unaware targets. If the spread is too big you can miss pike on structure. The diamond unlocks the pattern pike are following by giving you the depth and types of edges they’re keying on. Once I feel I have a pattern, I move along that element, depth or edge. The diamond has done its job and we have a pattern to track.” Other Minnesota guides concur with Petrowske’s findings. “The Darter is like a magnet, definitely bringing more pike to the tip-ups for me,” says guide David Shogren. “I like the diamond pattern, too, but actively working Darters is the real deal. It gives clients more to do than just stare at tip-ups hoping for a flag to trip. After doing it for a couple years now, I know pike are drawn to the low, throaty ‘thunk’ of a Darter. I’ve seen it outdraw other lures, and it’s doubling the time spent battling toothy critters and taking photos.” Silence reigns in the dark, dense world under the ice. Waves of sound, accentuated by the icy “ceiling” above, roll out in all directions from a Lindy Darter. In the silence that ensues, predators turn and quietly hunt the source of that rattle. The hunt triggers instincts that practically guarantee something is about to get lunched...
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HUNTING & CONSERVATION NEWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to Downlist the Columbian White-Tailed Deer from Endangered to Threatened U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
I
RMEF Tops $1 Billion in Total Value of All-Time Conservation Efforts Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
T
he Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation recently topped $1 billion in the cumulative value of its on-the-ground conservation efforts. “This is an incredible milestone and testament to many people over a lot of years who are dedicated to ensuring the future of elk, elk habitat and conservation,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. The $1 billion total was determined by the dollar amount contributed by RMEF plus those partner dollars leveraged by RMEF for its land protection and access, habitat enhancement, wildlife management including elk restorations, research, and hunting heritage and conservation outreach projects. That lifetime total of those 9,738 projects has so far protected or enhanced 6,714,810 acres of vital elk habitat. Ironically, one billion seconds equal 31.6888 years. Given that RMEF was founded in May of 1984, or more than 31 years ago, that means RMEF accumulates roughly $1 of value per every second of its existence.
RMEF was founded in 1984 by four elk hunters in northwest Montana who combined their time, talents and resources to form a conservation organization dedicated to elk, elk hunting and the habitat they needed to thrive. Since then, North America’s elk population more than doubled in size. RMEF partners include the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), state wildlife agencies, universities, private landowners and many other governmental, tribal, civic, wildlife and sportsmen groups. “This is a tremendous milestone, and we congratulate RMEF on this accomplishment,” said Leanne Marten, USFS regional forester. “We deeply appreciate our partnership with RMEF and the work we have been able to do together with their organization and volunteers to improve the health and resilience of our National Forest System lands for the public’s use and enjoyment.” “We applaud the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s dedication to wildlife and habitat conservation,” said Neil Kornze, BLM director. “Their work has helped ensure that we have healthy habitats for many species of wildlife while supporting our country’s hunting heritage. I congratulate them on reaching this extraordinary milestone.” RMEF has also received tremendous dedication from its corporate partners, members and volunteers whose support has been and remains vital to the mission. As of December 31, 2014, RMEF has more than 205,000 members –including 11,000 volunteers– in 507 chapters across the United States. “We are extremely grateful for our passionate volunteers and members. While we recognize and celebrate this accomplishment, we will not take our foot off the gas pedal. We are excited to keep moving forward toward the next one billion dollars’ worth of conservation work,” added Allen. 28 - Hunting & Fishing News
Columbian white-tailed deer USFWS photo
n a move signaling the success of ongoing conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest and the benefits the Endangered Species Act (ESA) affords our most at risk wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to downlist the Columbian white-tailed deer from endangered to threatened. The Service is opening a 60-day public comment period on the proposal... “This combined effort between the Service, states, tribes and conservation groups demonstrates the success of the ESA in bringing stakeholders together to bring imperiled species back from the brink of extinction,” said Richard Hannan, the Service’s Deputy Regional Director. “By working together to reduce threats and establish secure subpopulations of Columbia white-tailed deer, their numbers are now at a record high. The continued conservation success in the Pacific Northwest illustrates what we can accomplish when we all work together.” The Service worked closely with the Washington and Oregon departments of fish and wildlife, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and numerous other partners to help restore Columbian white-tailed deer populations... There are two populations of Columbian white-tailed deer: the Douglas County population in the Umpqua River Basin of Oregon was removed from the endangered species list in 2003 due to recovery; this downlisting proposal applies to the Lower Columbia River population, which is found in Wahkiakum, Cowlitz and Clark counties in Washington, and Clatsop and Columbia counties in Oregon. The Columbian white-tailed deer was listed in 1967, due to habitat loss and modification by human activities, such as farming and logging, as well as commercial and residential development. Since then, the Lower Columbia River population has experienced significant recovery, going from about 450 deer in 1967 to more than 900 individuals today. The recovery was enhanced by the establishment of the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed Deer in 1971 to protect the deer. There are now three subpopulations at or near the refuge: on the refuge mainland, on the refuge’s Tenasillahe Island, and on private Puget Island. Risk of a recent levee failure threatened to put portions of the refuge under water. To reduce this risk to the deer population, hundreds of volunteers and staff moved 88 Columbian white-tailed deer over a three-year period to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, about 45 miles southeast. This newly translocated population is expected to grow and become a viable and secure subpopulation. Along with the downlisting proposal, the Service is also proposing a 4(d) rule under the ESA to exempt certain ongoing land management activities from the Act’s “take” prohibitions, when those activities are conducted in a manner consistent with the conservation of the deer. Take is a term under the ESA that includes harassing or harming listed species. If the proposed downlisting is finalized, the 4(d) rule would give states and private landowners enhanced management flexibility without reducing the effectiveness of conservation actions or the recovery of the species. As a part of the public comment period, the public is encouraged to submit any new information on the Columbian white-tailed deer and its habitat by December 7, 2015. For more information about Columbian white-tailed deer and to view the proposal and instructions on how to submit comments, visit http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/articles. cfm?id=149489413.
HUNTING & CONSERVATION NEWS
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Wild Sheep Foundation Driving Solutions To Congress To Stop Deadly Disease - Pneumonia Still Greatest Obstacle To Wild Sheep Restoration Wild Sheep Foundation
Pheasants Forever Annual Banquet
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he Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) recently met with members of Congress and federal wildlife agencies on solutions that create safe zones against the deadly pneumonia bacteria and viruses. Wild sheep were infected by first contact with domestic and goats during European settlement of the western part of the nation. New infections occur when wild and domestic sheep encounter each other in the wild. Legacy infections resurface as die-offs in previously-infected wild sheep herds even without new contact with domestics. “We’re losing hundreds of wild sheep to this disease every year and it is decimating herds across the west,” said WSF Director Kyle Meintzer. “For example, in 2013, 400 wild sheep in California were lost, and that’s 80 per cent of what was the largest herd in the state. This year,
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100% of the herd and later will repopulate with healthy bighorns. Having a disease-free zone around the new herd is necessary to prevent new infection and assure the success of restoration. This persistent disease is the likely result of contact previously with domestic sheep.” Meintzer added. Several representatives of WSF met with members of Congress in Washington, D.C... WSF is encouraging support for the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to move forward on identifying the high risk-of-contact domestic sheep grazing allotments across the west, as well as to identify alternative grazing allotments for domestic sheep where there would not be such a high risk-of-contact. Domestic sheep, which are largely immune to the bacteria and viruses but are carriers of the disease, can transmit the pneumonia to wild sheep with simple nose-to-nose contact where their grazing lands overlap. “We also wanted Congressional and agency support in putting together collaborative meetings in each ’sheep state’ where all interested stakeholders would be invited to participate to come up with the best possible solutions to minimize and/or eliminate risk of contact between wild and domestic sheep and goats,” said Meintzer. Meintzer said there is a directive included in the Fiscal Year 2016 appropriation for the Department of Interior and Related Agencies, Senate Report 114-70 (http://1.usa.gov/1WkE2lw), which emphasizes the USFS to take “prompt action to seek and enact multiple-use solutions to ensure our nation does not continue to lose substantial portions of either our domestic sheep industry or our bighorn sheep conservation legacy.” The Senate appropriation also includes a directive for the USFS to work with partners to schedule discussions with diverse stakeholders, including Federal land management agencies, domestic sheep industry representatives, grazing permittees, state wildlife management agencies, tribes, wild sheep conservation organizations and other parties interested in collaboration on strategies and solutions to address risk of disease transmission. Congress must reach agreement on all appropriations bills by Dec. 11, 2015, when current spending policy expires, or extend the deadline. “We are working state-by-state to meet with domestic sheep grazers, the Forest Service, and other interested parties. One of these meetings will be in Wyoming in December, and we hope to keep Utah, Nevada, and Idaho on a similar schedule,” said Meintzer. “We’d like to have decisions and agreements as soon as possible, but the key thing about these meetings is that we are pushing for a hard look at the areas of greatest risk of contact, and for all suitable and safe alternative grazing areas for domestic sheep.”
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Hunters Register 68,401 Deer During First Weekend M innesota firearms hunters registered 68,401 deer during the first three days of firearms deer season, according to the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Hunters are seeing more deer this year as we continue to build deer populations across much of the state,” said Steve Merchant, wildlife populations and regulations program manager. “We’ve issued a conservative number of antlerless deer permits, and because of this, many hunters are seeing deer they can’t shoot. However, patience this year should translate to more harvest opportunities in the future.” Final numbers from the first three days show that the number of deer registered rose 6.3 percent from 2014. Buck harvest during the first three days of the firearms season was up 8.5 percent from last year. Zone 1 total firearms harvest was up 8.2 percent, Zone 2 was up 5.9 percent and Zone 3 was up 3.2 percent. The DNR is projecting the 2015 total deer harvest to be between 140,000 to 155,000 deer. The 2014 total harvest after last year’s conservative season was just over 139,000....
Fish And Wildlife Commission Delists Wolves Statewide In Split Vote (4-2): 11/9/15 The Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to delist wolves from the
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state Endangered Species Act throughout Oregon today. The meeting began at 8 a.m. and adjourned at 6:44 p.m. About 106 people came to testify and they were limited to three minutes each... Chair Finley noted the many people “some in cowboy hats and others in t-shirts supporting wolves” who came out to testify on opposite sides of the issue because they care about wolves. “The Wolf Plan has been working well and you are all responsible for that,” he told the public still in the meeting at the end of the day. “We will remember the merits of the Wolf Plan and the next one will be as good or better. You can all help that happen.” With the Commission’s decision made, the rule will be filed with the Secretary of State tomorrow, Nov. 10. The filing removes wolves from the state ESA but has no other effect on wolf management at this time. The Wolf Plan continues to provide protection of wolves into the future. Any take of wolves is tightly regulated in all phases of the plan. Non-lethal preventive measures to prevent wolf-livestock conflict are the first choice of wildlife managers in all phases of wolf management. There is no general season sport hunting of wolves allowed in any phase of the Wolf Plan. Wolves in western Oregon will continue to be managed with ESA-like protections until they reach the conservation objective of four breeding pairs for three consecutive years. This is known as Phase 1 of wolf management.
REGIONAL NEWS Forest Grouse Are Everyone’s Game Bird I
By Roger Phillips, Idaho Fish and Game public information specialist
f you’re a big-game hunter, you may curse forest grouse as often as you praise them. They have an annoying habit of erupting at your feet and jolting you with an adrenaline rush usually reserved for a bull elk in your sights. Their tendency to hold tight and flush with a ruckus makes them like a forest-dwelling pheasant, and it’s a welcome moment for upland bird hunters. “It’s a fun experience,” said Rob Ryan of Coeur d’Alene. He hunts forest grouse with his pointing dogs, scouring the forest of North Idaho for the opportunity to hear the staccato flush and hopefully follow it with a shotgun blast and a bird in the bag. Forest grouse are among the mostly widely distributed upland birds in Idaho and commonly found on public lands, and they provide a hunting opportunity for nearly anyone. The season runs until Dec. 31 in most of the state and until Jan. 31 in northern Idaho. Hunters can take four forest grouse a day and have 12 in possession. See the upland rules booklet for boundaries and more details. Forest grouse are pursued by dedicated upland hunters, who hunt them with pointing dogs in classic fashion, and also by any other licensed hunter who comes across one in the forest and is handy enough to hit it with a shotgun, rifle, handgun, arrow, or “thrown missile” (i.e. rock or stick) if you’re feeling particularly sporting. Those unique rules recognize forest grouse’s long-time use as a tasty camp meal by big-game hunters who aren’t toting a shotgun when they encounter one. But forest grouse are worthy quarry for all hunters who love hiking in the forest and pursuing an interesting bird, or birds, in this case. Idaho is home to three forest grouse species: ruffed, dusky (aka blue) and spruce grouse. All can be found at mid-to-high elevations throughout the state with the central, eastern and northern portions of the state making up their core habitat. Each bird favors a different habitat. Ruffed grouse are often found in mid-elevation creek bottoms and other riparian areas, or in moist, brushy areas, such as north-facing slopes and draws. Dusky (blue) grouse are larger birds and found in Douglas fir forests during fall and winter. Spruce grouse are the least common of the three and are sparsely distributed in dense conifer forests. Ridges that divide north and south facing slopes and other places where timber meets open country are often good places to find grouse. Unlike other upland birds that sometimes flush well out of shotgun range, grouse often hold until you nearly step on them. After flushing, it’s common for them to light on a nearby branch and stare down, which makes them vulnerable to a well-aimed .22 rifle or handgun. That tendency also means hunters without a dog still have a fair chance at finding grouse and getting a shot. “But having a dog makes it a lot more fun,” Ryan said. “And it’s great for finding those grouse you might not otherwise see.” Forest grouse are known as excellent table fare. Their white meat and mild flavor makes them easy to prepare and gives you many cooking option. “Baked, grilled, fried, it’s all good,” Ryan said. One thing to remember, unlike other upland birds that are often found in large groups, forest grouse are often loners, or found in pairs or small coveys, typically a few birds and rarely more than six. “A lot of times you’re hunting a while for one or two birds,” Ryan said. You may have to cover a lot of ground to find them, but in Idaho’s beautiful forests and mountains, covering a lot of ground isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
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BOARD Sidalee’s first bear hunting with her grandfather Randy Stenson in the Lewistown area. “This is the very first animal she has ever got.” Both from Great Falls, Montana.
Tanner Harris with Elkhorn bull.
Jason Mattila of Butte with his first bear, bow at 32 yards. Photo submitted by uncle Thor Sichveland of Philipsburg.
ShiJia first buck taken 11/7/15. From her mom and dad Todd and Sheri Sullivan, “She did such a great job. We are so proud.”
Aaron Daniel of Lincoln Montana with his 2015 bighorn sheep.
32 - Hunting & Fishing News
Trevor Johnson of Helena Montana packing out his Montana bull elk.
Shannon Cooney with 43 inch moose. Photo submitted by husband Morgan Cooney. “Her moose was harvested after 6 days of hunting in Southwestern Montana with both of our sons ages 6,9 right by our side.”
Forrest Fawthrop of Helena Montana with his 2015 bull elk.
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T
he songdog population is on the high side throughout Montana and the West, and with the big game season just behind us, it’s the perfect time to stay out in the field to thin out a few predators. There is plenty of public land to hunt, and you can go just about anywhere to gain access on private lands as well. Generally, if you get out early in the morning, your chances of catching a coyote or two roaming about is high. Water is key when looking about, as predators will be hounding area deer and elk looking for an easy meal. You can take some pressure off these herds, by taking out a few coyotes before harsh winter days arrive. Calling is the best method now. Distressed rabbit calls work well if you put yourself in an area with high concentrations of wintering deer. Set up high on a knoll with a 360 degree visibility and watch for coyotes roaming the edges of wheat fields and feeding areas these deer occupy. A fawn distress call will pull the dogs out of the brush as well. Montana’s cattle country areas are great places to focus on for varmints. Consider the checker board pattern on State and BLM land in Garfield and Fergus counties in Central and East-Central Montana. The C.M. Russell Wildlife Refuge can also be a good spot to hunt coyotes. Rabbits and deer are numerous along scab-land drainages or prairie creeks that have a combination of sparse timber and dirt cutbanks. Callers who set up in these habitats and shriek the deer and bunny calls often score more dogs. So coyotes should be fairly abundant and receptive to calling. The slumping market for coyote fur is actually an asset for the weekend varmint hunter, as there is not a whole lot of pressure on them now, as in the past. Hopefully, those fur prices will increase in the near future. However, if you do get a truck load of coyote pelts, you can sell them. Western Montana Fur Center in Anaconda buys and sells year around. Call George Kortum at 406-563-7926 or 406-260-2643. Predator hunting is a lot of fun, and is an enjoyable way to spend a few winter days out in the field. It’s challenging, but that’s what makes it so much fun!
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Echoes From Little Vermillion By Dan Johnson
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he world is a mighty big place, with countless incredible destinations waiting to be explored. Yet despite the allure of exotic adventures, some less-glamorous, yet far more beloved places call us back year after year, and live in our memories for a lifetime. One of my personal havens is a small, northern Minnesota lake called Little Vermillion. It doesn’t look like much on a map. Just a tiny dot of blue amidst a sea of larger lakes sprinkled heavily across this section of the state. Yet this 140-acre slice of Heaven has been at the center of countless fishing and hunting adventures for four generations of my family, dating back over half a century. The lake holds a fine mix of panfish, plus toothy northern pike and the occasional walleye or musky that swims in from the nearby Mississippi River— which, at this point in its journey to saltwater, is but an inconspicuous, wispy ribbon winding through the pine and aspen forests. It’s a worthy destination any time of year, though in any given month, you’re likely to face a set of seasonal challenges courtesy of Mother Nature. August, for example, brings the joys of the deer fly hatch. And any month without an “R” is likely to yield repetitive air strikes from clouds of hungry mosquitoes. Perhaps due in part to the lack of insect life, one of our favorite times for a visit when I was in high school was during the Christmas holiday break. My father and his younger brother, Kenny, would take a few days of precious vacation time from their factory jobs at the Federal Cartridge-Hoffman Engineering complex in the northern Twin Cities to make the trip. The three of us, along with Kenny’s son Charlie, two years my junior, would heap gear into the back of Kenny’s old Ford pickup, pile into the cab, and head north. Actually, the ride up was a big part of the experience. This was before extended cabs and four-door trucks were the norm. We squeezed onto the lone bench seat for what should have been a 3½-hour ride, though the journey itself was an epic event that usually took all day. Stops at bait shops, grocery stores, bakeries, gas stations and at least one pit stop for a sandwich at a side road somewhere along the way made for a long and memorable ride. 36 - Hunting & Fishing News
We knew we were getting close when Kenny pulled off the blacktop onto a small township road, which in turn led to a nearly overgrown one-track that traced the bottom of a ridge through the thick forest for perhaps a mile. When the trees gave way to a small clearing, we were there. Like the lake itself, the lodging was unique. Another of Dad’s younger brothers, Arnie—a tireless dairy farmer for whom Charlie and I worked during the summer— had plucked an aging “summer kitchen” from a farmstead near home, hauled it the 160-mile trek north, and replanted it on a steep hill offering a full view of the beloved lake. Lacking modern amenities such as indoor plumbing and electricity, the cabin was nonetheless a cozy command post for our adventures. Thankfully, it did have a wood stove, which provided welcome heat when the temperature plummeted past 20-below outside. While the weather might have deterred more timid souls, surviving the harsh conditions became a badge of honor. When the snow piled up too deep for a neighbor to plow the driveway, we hiked in—pulling supplies on sleds like refugees fleeing the modern world’s stress apocalypse. We had the lake to ourselves, but accessing the fish was a workout. The simple act of drilling holes through 2- or 3-feet of ice was an epic undertaking, which hinged on expending ample physical energy on an ancient hand auger that only grudgingly churned portals to the underwater world. Sonar and GPS mapping were unheard of, so we relied on dead reckoning to judiciously punch holes over fish-holding areas. Likewise, these were the days before high-tech portable shelters. Instead, we had a relic, homemade canvas-framed contraption that actually functioned quite well—until the night Cousin Charlie and I stayed out too late, and in a fit of laughter at one of our jokes, one of us fell off his 5-gallon bucket and broke one of the spindly wooden corner supports, bringing down the house, tipping the lantern, and nearly sending the whole shebang up in flames in the process. Despite such misadventures and our crude tackle—which included broomstick rods bristling with thick, braided Dacron line and oversized jigs—we landed our share of fish, especially slab-sized crappies and bluegills perfect for a fish fry back at the cabin.
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We also explored the surrounding national forest—on skis, snowshoes and via snowmobile—and often hunted snowshoe hares with .22 rifles. One winter, when snow was absent, the hares were easy to spot against the brown background. Otherwise, success depended on spotting our quarry’s jet-black eye against the snowy surroundings.
While fishing and hunting were the stated purpose of our trips, my fondest memories were forged inside the cabin, where the four of us gathered to share hearty breakfasts before venturing outside—and again in the evening, to gather around the wood stove and hear Uncle Kenny’s tales of past trips and fallen comrades. Although we lost Kenny to the eternal hunting grounds just a couple of falls ago, his stories and laughter echo in the cabin to this day.
As one generation fades, another rises. So it is with our winter traditions, as my own sons, now in their teens, join my father and I on cold-weather outings to hunt and fish the northland. No matter where we roam, a part of my heart remains in a small cabin at Little Vermillion. I can only hope that my sons one day look back with a smile.
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Make Plans To Visit The Elk Country Visitor Center RMEF Editor’s note: With the holidays upon us, we thought it would be a good time to feature the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Elk Country Visitor Center. It’s a wonderful place to spend a winter morning or afternoon.
S tep into Elk Country at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Elk Country Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is more than just a museum; it’s an experience that reveals the beauty, diversity and importance of elk country across North America.
Elk Country Visitor Center Photo courtesy Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
They are open year-round and admission is FREE! Discover Elk Country Fun and interactive, the Elk Country Visitor Center exhibits invite you to learn more about elk, elk country and the role the RMEF plays in conservation. Discover the diverse wildlife that calls elk country home, explore the role we all play in conserving habitat, and connect with the rich heritage that makes the outdoors so important to so many of us. Along the way, you’ll hear elk bugle, test your knowledge of wildlife, identify animal tracks, feel the weight of an elk antler, and enjoy wildlife conservation films. Other highlights include an impressive display of trophy elk mounts and the gift shop featuring Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation clothing and merchandise, wildlife art, calendars, and more. A perfect place to stock up on holiday gifts. Use the coupon above and save $5.00. Outdoor Walking Trail Those wanting to stretch their legs will enjoy the beautiful, wooded nature trail that winds its way around the 22-acre RMEF property. Watch for the white-tailed deer, turkeys, bald eagles, owls, trout and other wildlife that frequent the property. Tours Sign up for a tour now by emailing tours@rmef.org or calling 1-866-266-7750. Please include a date, time, age of group, anticipated number of people and contact information when requesting a tour. Tours are given 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday. The Elk Country Visitor Center is located at the RMEF’s headquarters at 5705 Grant Creek Road in Missoula, Montana. From Coeur d’ Alene (West) I-90 – take Exit 101 and turn left on Reserve Street. Continue north 2 blocks and turn left at the bronze elk. From Butte (East) I-90 – take Exit 101 and turn right onto Reserve Street. Continue north 2 blocks and turn left at the bronze elk. 38 - Hunting & Fishing News
December 2015 39
A second to last day buck taken after an extremely long grueling hunt. Bad weather along with unseasonably cold temperatures made for a tough hunt. Photo Stephen Spurlock
How To Keep Your Mind Right On A Long Hunt Originally published at
By Stephen Spurlock www.gohunt.com
H unting isn’t easy. Any hunt can turn into a grind. Poor weather, low animal densities, and hunting pressure can all drastically affect the
overall scope of a hunt. Whether your hunt is on a premium tag, or an over-the-counter (OTC) tag, approaching a hunt with the right mindset can be key. Here are some tricks I have learned from hunters who are much more successful afield than me. Apply these little tricks and you just may be surprised at the results.
Pack early, pack often
Every hunt starts with the arduous packing process. Packing quickly or rushing to pack can set a negative tone for your hunt. The earlier you pack, the less pre-hunt packing stress you will encounter. Whether you are headed to the backcountry or truck camping, getting the packing process started a month before the hunt can help the flow of the hunt immensely. Pre-hunt meal planning is also critical. A good friend of mine is fond of saying that “half of huntin’ good is eatin’ good.” It doesn’t matter where you hunt -- eating well and eating enough is just as important as the rest of the trip. Make sure to review your meals well before your hunt to ensure that you are getting adequate nutrients. Little Debbie’s are fantastic, but trying to subsist on those alone on a hunt can make for a disaster.
The four week packing plan
Week 1 - Gather, wash, and begin packing your hunting clothes. Check optics to be sure you have everything you need. Remember to check batteries in each electronic device. Week 2 - Final bow or gun preparation before the hunt. Spend some additional time with whatever weapon you will be taking on the hunt. Make a list of any additional shooting supplies you may need and procure them (bullets, powder, arrows, broadheads, etc.). Week 3 - Organize camp supplies. Cooking supplies, paper products, plastic utensils, etc. Once again, make a list and make sure you have all the things you need. Week 4 - Food and personal items. During the final week leading up to a hunt the only items I want to have to worry about are perishable food items and personal items (books, magazines, iPod) I like to take on every hunt. Following this general packing plan may help you avoid some pre-hunt stress and will ensure that you do not forget any items that will be critical to the success of your hunt. (continued on page 42) 40 - Hunting & Fishing News
December 2015 41
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Whether your hunt is three weeks or seven days, sometimes it is necessary to take a break. If you do decide to take a day of hunt off, use the time to repair your gear, reorganize camp, and, most importantly, get some sleep! Days off are a great time to prepare more labor-intensive meals and make sure you are addressing all of your nutritional needs as well. Morale boosters such as a shower or a hot meal at a local diner are also great things to do during times you take off from hunting. While you may feel like you are wasting time, avoiding “burning out” with a day off can make or break a hunt.
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How To Keep Your Mind Right On A Long Hunt (continued from page 40)
Establish and stick to a routine
I find that reading about hunting helps with the anticipation of the upcoming mornings hunt a bit. Whether you are sitting around hunting camp or making your way through an airport to a hunt, nothing beats a good hunting book.
Maintain realistic expectations If you are lucky enough to have a “premium tag” in your pocket this fall it is important that you set and maintain realistic expectations for the hunt. Each year animals are taken in premium units that become viral on social media and other internet venues. The truth is that not every bull taken out of a premium elk unit is 400”. Not every buck taken off the Arizona strip scores over 240” either. That is the reality. Drawing a premium tag is major moment for all of us. There is no real gauge for the amount of time, energy and effort put forth when one of these tags magically appears. I encourage any premium tag holder to set some realistic expectations and focus on the “journey” of the hunt versus the “destination.” This approach will make the hunt more enjoyable and, hopefully, the result is one of the viral bucks or bulls we all drool over each fall.
Power of positive thinking
There is no greater feeling than the moment you walk up on a hard earned trophy. Photo Stephen Spurlock Once you arrive in your hunting area, establishing a daily routine is critical. Getting sufficient sleep and eating well are essential components to maintaining your mental edge throughout the hunt. No matter how you cut it, eventually fatigue will set in. Establishing a pace that allows you to consistently grind away without missing morning hunts is key. Organization and maintaining a clean camp can be a major part of maintaining this pace. There are few things worse than losing track of gear mid-hunt. Establishing a schedule for procuring water, taking trash to town, and locating a place to take a “nice shower” are all parts of establishing this routine.
This may sound a little goofy, but there is a quote I always remind myself of during tough hunts. It goes, “He who says he can and he who says he can’t are both usually right.” I’m not sure where I picked this one up, but a little research reveals it was originally said by Confucius. I think the general premise of this quote is extremely applicable to all tough hunts. No matter how tough things are, believing that it can happen can be the key to maintaining your focus. I try and remind myself frequently that the difference between a bad hunt and a good hunt is typically 30 seconds. That’s all it takes to turn you from a “zero to hero” on the hunt. Closing thoughts Going into a hunt with the right mindset can be just as important as going into a hunt in good physical condition. Whatever tag is in your pocket this fall, using the little tricks listed above may help make your hunt successful.
During early season hunts, this routine may include taking naps in the middle of the day. On hunts later in the year, your morning dressing routine is likely to take much longer due to cold temperatures. Whatever terrain or weather you are up against, establishing a solid routine will help with all aspects of the hunt.
Take a break, treat yourself
Odds are at some point on your hunt you are going to encounter conditions that just aren’t any good. This may be a weather event, you may have an equipment issue, or you might just not be feeling well. Take a break when these conditions arise. Going out in a rainstorm will generally lead to more problems than successes, especially if you are hunting alone. The same is true if you develop a cold or some other condition that if not addressed early on will inhibit your activity the rest of the hunt. 42 - Hunting & Fishing News
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The Story Behind The Monster Ontario Moose Hunt From Steve & Jacquie Shore
www.ammoland.com
O
ur hunt began months ago. This past spring, we contacted biologists, the Ministry of Forests, pilots and outfitters. Steve Shore with Ontario Moose photo courtesy www.ammoland.com
We knew we were going to hunt an area north of Nakina, Ontario. We were looking for specific areas with high moose densities and good food sources such as burns and high poplar bluffs. We also wanted to be in an area that was inaccessible to other hunters and people. We picked two lakes, one with a 5,000 acre burn and one with fantastic moose habitat with high poplar bluffs, swamps and a river running east and west just south of the main lake. After more research, we decided not to hunt the burn as it was too young and the saplings had not grown tall enough to be substantial food for the moose. Next we hired a pilot to fly us into this lake. The lake was roughly 1.5 miles across and 2 miles long. There was a long drainage at the east end and a long drainage at the west end that was very swampy. The only means of transportation would be our canoe. We arrived at the sea base around 11am in the morning and were loaded on the plane and headed to camp by 12 o’clock. It’s approximately a 45 minute flight and the pilot was kind enough to fly over the area a couple of times to give us our bearings. We soon realized we made the right choice, it was perfect moose habitat. We touched down at approximately 1pm quickly unloaded the plane and started our search for our campsite. No one had ever been on this lake before, so we also had to clear out our own campsite to set up our wall tent after a 14-hour drive and our flight. It was just the two of us so we found a campsite, set up the tent and made camp. By 6pm we were settled in.
At this point, we had been up for 36 hours and just wanted to get a good night’s sleep. It was a perfect night for calling and couldn’t help trying. We decided to paddle across the lake and make a couple calls to set up for the morning. Only 20 minutes after leaving camp, we made our first call. The bull responded immediately and was very close. Hitmen Canada camp photo courtesy www.ammoland.com
My PSE bow was still in the canoe, as we weren’t really expecting to see or hear anything so chaos ensued.
I grabbed my scapula, used for calling, thrashed once and that really worked up the bull. He came in very aggressively, stiff legged and waving his large rack side-to-side raking trees. Once the bull cleared the brush, I put a perfect shot on him at 12 yards. The Toxic buried deep into his chest, he turned and attempted to charge us but the Toxic had already done it’s damage. The bull expired at only 7 yards. Our hunt was over less than 30 minutes from leaving camp the first time. I fell to my knees, exhausted from the travel and overwhelmed with emotions of the hunt coming together. See the full hunt on Wild TV. Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/HitmenCanada. And visit our website www.hitmencanada.com. Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzRTb5WwfaA. 44 - Hunting & Fishing News
December 2015 45
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