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Underrated Late Season Elk Hunting Opportunities
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By Ryan McSparran Hunting Gear Outfitters www.huntinggearoutfitters.com
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recent years, conversations about western elk hunting IIt’snseem to be dominated by the September archery seasons. for good reason. Hunting elk in September is something
special. There’s nothing quite like calling in a bull elk. While it’s great to see the increase in archery hunting participation over the last decade, there are excellent opportunities for hunters willing to hunt during the later rifle seasons. Late season hunting comes with its own set of challenges. For example, the weather is cold. And unlike the over-the-counter rifle seasons here in our home state of Colorado, late season elk hunts usually require applying for a limited license. But on the other side of those challenges can be some very productive hunting.
Why Attempt A Late Season Elk Hunt? 1. Better Hunting Weather
First, late season hunts can provide more favorable weather than earlier in the year. And by “favorable”, we’re talking about sub-freezing temperatures and snow. During cold weather, elk will spend more time on their feet during the day. It’s often much easier to locate elk this time of year than during the mild days of October when they often stay bedded throughout the day.
2. Hunt Bulls on Their Own Terms
This can be a great time to pursue bull elk. Removed from the pressures of the rut, bulls will drift off alone or in small bachelor groups. Without a dozen set of eyes around, this is a great time for spot-and-stalk hunting tactics.
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Even as cows migrate toward winter range, bulls will stay high on the mountain. Don’t assume that a late season hunt means hunting on winter range. Bull elk will stay in their high elevation haunts as long as the snow allows. Find vantage points where you can glass timber edges, old burns, or the edges of aspen stands. Focus on steep slopes where bulls have both food and safe cover. It’s often a game of patience and persistence to glass up a late season bull. When you spot one, it’s time to plan the stalk. Late in the season, bulls aren’t likely to move far if they are not bumped. This gives you a great opportunity to get close for a shot.
3. High Success Cow Hunts
If you’re hunting cows during a late rifle season, you may focus on the transition zones toward their winter range Spot and stalk hunting tactics will also serve you well. Find vantage points where you can cover ground with your optics. These late season cow hunts often boast higher success rates than hunts earlier in the year. With the onset of cold weather and migration out of rough country, cows often become more visible - as long as there’s enough public land to hunt along these transition zones. (continued on page 30)
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Hunt Where The Deer Are, NOT Where You Think They Are
By Brady Miller Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
f someone tells you there are strict rules to finding mule deer Ideer—and during each season…run the other way. Hunting mule mature mule deer for that matter—is more of an art than it is a science. What a mule deer buck does in a daily routine throughout the year is rooted in science (feed, cover and water). But science can be thrown out the window when you are hunting an old mature buck that has seen years of hunting pressure.
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The road I originally tried to use was now snowed in. There was pressure from hunters hunting the lower country, but no one was hunting the high elevations. So we decided to relocate and backpacked to higher elevations where I had originally wanted to hunt. Hunting was tough, but we didn’t see any other hunters. Finally, after glassing the same piece of dark timber each day, a true giant emerged and I made the shot count.
Thinking backward to go forward
Here’s another example: it is well known that on later season hunts under ideal conditions, you should seek out migration corridors as that is where deer will start moving into once heavy snowfall blankets the mountains or the hint of the rut hits the air. But what happens if you look at those migrations routes backwards? What do you see? If you take note of a migration route, you’ll see that they start from a higher elevation and move downward. So, if you happen to have a chance at mild weather, you can use this to your advantage and hunt above the “typical” migration corridor. This is a great strategy on late October hunts too. What do mature deer do if they sense pressure from hunters and, at the same time, have all their nutritional requirements at higher elevations? They head to those so-called “unusual places.” What I mean by this is if mature mule deer sense pressure from hunters in late October and early November, why would they want to move to lower elevations where there are more hunters, more commotion and an increased chance that they will get shot? If higher elevations still have the nutritional requirements as well as safety, then a giant buck will not risk moving into the firing range. This is what I believe happened on my 2018 Colorado hunt.
“If you always do what 95% of the hunters do, then you will have success like 95% of hunters do. If you want to take a buck that maybe 5% or less of the hunters take, try to think outside of the box.” Get away from the crowds Several instances during multiple October and early November mule deer hunts over the past few years really hit this fact home to me. During those hunts, I’d taken a handful of bucks in places where people told me I’d never find bucks. And, by people, I mean certain friends who heard what I did after the hunt and others who told me that what I’d been accomplishing lately was due to luck. Here are several examples: In 2016, I shot my first real buck of a lifetime on a Colorado 3rd season hunt in November above 10,000’. This was a 3rd season hunt that was plagued by abnormally high temperatures. These temperatures were so warm that I was hiding behind small trees in the shade as I made my stalk on the buck I shot to avoid the burning heat of the sun. After I returned, I was told that, while I was still crazy for hunting that high, it was a fluke that I had success and that bucks “only” hang out between 6,000’ and 8,500’ elevations during that time of year. The key to my success on that hunt was hunting where the deer were, not where everyone thought they were. This set me apart and helped me avoid the crowds. I hunted higher elevations than what some would consider deer elevations during that time of year and had phenomenal success. Back to the fluke example I gave above…I’ll be the first to say that hearing that comment further sparked a fire in me to keep doing what I was doing as I knew that other people wouldn’t hunt the same areas I was hunting. In my head, if you always do what 95% of the hunters do, then you will have success like 95% of hunters do. If you want to take a buck that maybe 5% or less of the hunters take, try to think outside of the box. Fast forward to my next Colorado 3rd season hunt in 2018 when I again bucked the trends, resulting in me taking the best buck of my life. The hunt was a perfect storm of sorts: tons of snow and very cold temperatures. There was so much snow that I got a little worried we would get snowed in, so I made plans to pack up camp and get my truck off the mountain.
How it looks, might not be what it holds
One part of mule deer hunting that is hard for even me to let go is to stop being fascinated with how the area looks.
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Getting away from the crowds, lead to an unpressured area where this buck called home. Photo credit Chris Neville
Knowing that hunting mule deer is an art is the most important part of the deer hunting puzzle I’ve gained over the years; learning the nuances of the what and where and how to find big and mature mule deer. The science is still very essential to understanding the habits of mule deer, what type of feed they prefer and their yearly pattern of movement, but it’s the other parts that can ultimately pay dividends in your success. When it comes down to it, there is no right or wrong place or way to hunt mule deer. I actually 100% believe this to be true. That is why no matter how many articles you read, podcasts you listen to or videos you watch, mule deer will ultimately be where they are, not where you think they are. The last part of that sentence contains vital information that I’ve focused on over the years. You need to be hunting where the deer are during that particular week and, on a more micro level, you need to be hunting where they are that day in order to be successful. Learning that takes time in the field.
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A spot can look perfect, but still holds zero deer. You need to be focused on what the area holds and why it is holding deer there. If you think about the “why” once you find deer, you can start to piece together the puzzle for future hunts.
WRAPPING IT UP In the end, I really hope this article helps you to think outside the box. Remember that the end-all solution of any hunt is to hunt where the deer are. If you want a mature mule deer, you need to think like a mature mule deer and analyze the season, weather, and the hunter pressure you are experiencing. It goes without saying (and it’s easy to write this), but if you spend the time required to find the core zone where the bucks are, then, you will have the hunt of your life. Always remember that if you’re not finding bucks, you need to change how you approach the mountain. Keep in mind that sometimes it is not all about how far you can get from a trailhead, rather a steep hillside within a mile of a trailhead or road could be an overlooked spot. If the terrain involves a lot of uphill or downhill climbs, you instantly eliminate the majority of hunters. And this goes back to the title of this article, hunt where the deer are, not where you think they are. If you think mature deer are in the easy to access terrain, odds are, hunter pressure has probably pushed a mature buck out of that spot already. While writing this article, I kept seeing a common theme in my success and that was doing what other hunters are not willing to do. Now, I also agree that not every buck thinks this way and that is fine by me, but at least I feel like I am putting myself in the right mindset and position to have a great hunt when thinking outside the box. Keep in mind that mule deer hunting is a dance and the mountain always leads.
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Mid-Season Strategies: Post-Rut Elk and Pre-Rut Mule Deer By Ryan McSparran Hunting Gear Outfitters www.huntinggearoutfitters.com
Meanwhile, mule deer have not yet begun to show signs of the rut. During the month of October, bucks will remain solo or in bachelor groups, sticking to rough terrain and sanctuary areas where they can avoid most of the hunting pressure. By early November, hunters might see small bucks beginning to chase does. But the mature bucks will remain much more coy until later in the month. Here in Colorado, our over-the-counter elk seasons and most of our mule deer licenses are issued during this timeframe from mid-October through early November. Here are a few strategies that we like to remember during these challenging mid-season hunts:
Photo credit Ryan McSparran
western states, the general rifle hunting seasons place during the month of October, and into the first Ihalfntakemany of November. While these rifle seasons provide a great deal of opportunity and the tags are relatively easy to obtain, they also provide some of the most challenging hunting conditions for both elk and mule deer. Hunters can sometimes find bugling elk during the early part of the rifle hunting seasons. But as a general rule, the elk rut has subsided by the time most rifle seasons begin. Bulls will be silent, moving off alone or in bachelor groups to areas where they feel protected and can recover from the strenuous breeding season.
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1. Be Prepared to Work Hard Many hunters might enjoy a glorified fall camping trip, staying up late drinking beer around the fire with their friends. And while having fun is certainly part of the adventure, success during the rifle seasons also takes hard work. To consistently find mature mule deer bucks or bull elk this time of year, you need to be out of camp before daylight, and prepared to return after dark. To help with this routine, load your daypack the night before. Pack your breakfast, your lunch, and fill your water. Then, you can quickly be out the door of your tent in the morning. If it takes 30 minutes to walk from your camp to where you want to be at daylight, factor that into the equation and set your alarm accordingly. I like to be in position a few minutes before daylight. First, it allows me to arrive under the cover of darkness. And second, I have a few minutes to set up my tripod for glassing, and get comfortable. You should be ready to glass as soon as it’s light enough to see. Plan on glassing for the first couple hours of daylight during prime time. Then, you can take a break and eat your breakfast during the mid-morning lull. I even like to bring an ultralight stove like the MSR Pocket Rocket in my daypack to make a cup of coffee on the mountain. Hunt all day long. Pack a lunch so that there’s no need to return to camp in the afternoon. While game will be most active early and late, you might be surprised what you’ll spot during the middle of the afternoon. Finally, decide where you want to be during the prime hours before dark. Get set up early, and be patient. Continue glassing until you can no longer see. Even if you spot an animal after legal shooting light, this can provide you with a great game plan for the following morning. For several years, a few friends and I did an annual rifle season mule deer hunt together. In the span of four years, we packed out 12 bucks. No matter the weather, we were out of camp early, sometimes an hour before daylight to be in good positions. And on more than one occasion, we were packing deer quarters back to camp late into the night. Getting out of camp before daylight and staying out until it’s dark isn’t easy, especially if the weather is cold. But hard working hunters will give themselves more opportunities this time of year.
Spend those “prime time” hours at the beginning and end of each day in a good glassing position. Carefully glass the seams between bedding and feeding areas. Focus on timber edges, the edges of burns, or avalanche chutes. Don’t expect a big bull elk to be feeding out in the middle of a big flat meadow. Instead, he’s more likely to be hanging around the seams on steep slopes or other hard-to-reach areas. Bring a tripod and a mounting adaptor for your binoculars. Glassing for hours each day becomes much easier when your binoculars are on a tripod. And you’ll be surprised how much more clearly you’ll be able to see when your optics are stable. Even 8x or 10x binoculars benefit greatly from the stability of a tripod. Still-hunting can be effective during hot weather or during the middle of the day. And moving around can help break up the monotony of glassing. However, my experience is that more often than not, this results in seeing the rear ends of animals as they’re running the opposite direction. When given a choice, I’d almost always rather put myself in a good glassing position and spot them before they see or smell me. 3. Stay Positive Keeping a positive attitude on a challenging hunt is much easier said than done. When conditions are tough or when you’re not seeing animals, it’s far too easy to let your guard down. One of the best things you can do to increase your chances of success, is to maintain a positive attitude. I don’t know how many times I’ve become discouraged or frustrated on a hunt, forgetting how rapidly things can change. Then in the blink of an eye, I’m looking at an animal within rifle range. It literally takes seconds to change the course of an entire hunt. Unfortunately, I can think of at least two situations when these unexpected opportunities became missed opportunities, because I wasn’t ready.
Photo credit Ryan McSparran
When things are difficult, keep working, keep glassing and don’t quit. Try and remind yourself as often as possible that each moment could be the critical moment. And you need to be ready. When you mentally give up, you begin to create your own self-fulfilling prophecy. Success in hunting does take some luck. It often means being at the right place at just the right time. But the more you can persevere through challenges and continue putting yourself in good positions, the more “luck” you’ll create. And sometimes that biggest challenge is overcoming your own mental letdown. Mid-season hunting is tough. When I begin with that expectation, I find it easier to work through it, enjoy it, and stay positive even when things aren’t going my way. To learn more about Hunting Gear Outfitters visit www.huntinggearoutfitters.com
2. Be Prepared to Glass When hunting during over-the-counter or general rifle seasons, let your eyes do the walking whenever possible. Post-rut bull elk and pre-rut mule deer bucks may not travel far if you can locate them in protected sanctuary areas. Do your best to locate them first. Then, you can plan a careful stalk. Locating game this time of year can be challenging. Animals have felt the hunting season pressure, and they may not move far from timber or bedding areas to their feeding areas. Be ready to spend hours each day behind your binoculars picking apart the timber and glassing along these transition zones.
Hunting & Fishing News | 9
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hat I am going to relay flies in the face of just about W everything you have either heard or read about hunting pheasants. Old School is indeed cool. But, times they are
a changing. And, so is the behavior and survival skills of the most beautiful of game birds, the Chinese Ringnecked Pheasant. That being said, be prepared to throw out some old hunting habits and shift into high gear with a brand-new program. What I am referring to is the agonizingly slow approach that most folks take to hunting pheasants. I do not care to be disrespectful to those who came before us and graciously passed down a hunting heritage. I have no doubt that, at the time, the slow as you can go crowd were killing more birds than most. But with all things, time does alter conditions. To be consistently successful, our hunting tactics must adapt accordingly. Observations: I have been hot on the heels (spurs) of pheasants since the late 70’s in the county (Spink) where the first pheasant hunt was held in South Dakota in 1919 and even have the distinct honor of guiding my clients on the very land where the first successful release took place in 1908. In this time frame, I have witnessed and observed much. Most notably that the birds have evolved dramatically as it relates to their knack of evading us, our dogs, and a dose of shot. About 10 years ago, I began to notice that the roosters were cackling far less when busting from cover. I have also heard diminished crowing in the mornings or evenings. Furthermore, roosters are growing increasingly difficult for the pointing breeds to pin down for a solid point. And, when they do, they do not stick around long. The dogs need to regroup and track them for considerable distances. Often, right to the very end of the field. Why is this? My strongly held opinion is the birds with the traits of cackling and hesitating for points tends to get them quickly killed and removed from the gene pool. Hard for a bird to get safely out of range that announces his desire to depart. Same with a bird that cockily crows as you pull up to a field. Go the noise, make a booming noise of your own and his inferior genes are instantly eliminated. I am not a biologist, but I term what we are seeing as Darwinism in fast forward. Survival of the fittest on an enhanced scale. A very positive aspect is that our birds have also became even hardier than they already were. South Dakota winters can be notoriously nasty. 2018-2019 was quite bad, even by our standards. Heavy snow, blizzard conditions and extended periods of sub-zero temps were followed by heavy wet spring blizzards. Once it all ended, I was astonished-yet cannot explain-how most of the birds made it through. I contribute this to the Darwinism theory once again. Weak is soon weeded out. What remains are some real genetic superstars and gives me considerable hope for the future. Drastic changes in farming practices and even more telling, attitudes, have had a serious impact. There are no longer any fallow acres, weedy fence lines and few abandoned farms.
Tree claims wisely planted to temper our harsh prairie winds are now quite ignorantly being removed to gain a questionable number of tillable acres. Row crops now resemble sterile race-tracks for the birds to sprint down. Translating into far less nooks and cranny’s in which to tuck and evade predators. Those that endure, pass along the much warier traits needed to survive in their changing environment. The amount and makeup of predators have undergone many changes. In years past, red fox posed the main threat to pheasants along with raptors such as hawks and owls. In the 1990’s coyotes arrived in large numbers. They simply will not tolerate their more diminutive canine cousins and have either killed or driven most foxes out. As more formidable predators, coyotes have bigger bellies to fill and end up harassing more birds. Tactics: So, how does all this relate to our hunting strategy? As the birds have definitely upped their game, if you want consistent success, you need to as well. I “coach” many hunters and their dogs every season. The main theme is to put a sense of urgency and purpose in your hunting this season. Please note some of the major points that will have you hunting more quickly, and in the end, more efficiently. Have your dog(s) completely prepared before you arrive in the field. Strapping on e-collars, watering, etc. should all be done prior. If you are hunting with dogs that are in the field together for the first time, I strongly recommend having a period long before the hunt so they can go through the doggy meet and greet. Sniffing, growling, peeing and posturing. They can then hit the ground ready to roll on to some roosters. If you have young, high energy pups, it is a good idea to run them a mile or two beforehand. Helps burn off some of the natural teenage enthusiasm and their energy and concentration will be on the birds rather than youthful antics. As for you, there is plenty of time for rooster tales once you have rooster tails in your bag and the hunt is completed. Jabbering equals jumpy birds. Once you arrive in the field, get everyone quickly into place and start your walk just as soon as possible. Steady and focused is paramount. Move at a brisk pace with the dogs always well within gun range. By far-the biggest mistake and continual cause for concern is over-ranging dogs. A simple tap of an e-collar and stern voice command will soon have them using all that good vigor and eagerness to work in a more conducive side to side manner. Therefore, combing the cover more thoroughly in the process. Meaning, more opportunities for shots and less reason to have an entire hunting party pissed-off at the pups. We rely on what I term a V formation with hunters and dogs walking in a straight line perpendicular to the field with one or two (depending on group size) “flankers” about 30 yards ahead to the outside. Slightly ahead of the dogs is about right. This helps seal the birds in from either running or flying out ahead of the main group of walkers. If birds are busting out further ahead than that, say 75 yards, then stop your walkers and hustle the flankers up ahead to that point. They will be in perfect position to pop the flighty birds and quickly solve the problem. Once a bird is down, get the dogs after it and picked up just as soon as is possible. The more time spent dallying around only makes the birds more nervous and gives them time to get well ahead and out of harm’s way. A quick, under control and continual pace is absolutely key. It keeps the birds slipping ahead of you until there is a change in cover type or density, or they hit the end of the field with blockers in place. This is where your flankers can stop and post the sides. Now is the time to slow way down, let the dogs completely work out the remaining cover and allow yourself and hunting partners close shots. I would invite you to visit www.dakotapheasantguide.com for informative articles and videos...
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HOW To HUNT DEER In OCTOBER By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com
ome really good hunters I know don’t hunt their best spots S until around Halloween, and then they hunt them hard for the next two weeks. Their strategy is sound: put no pressure on bucks until they start rutting and moving more in daylight hours. Good in theory, yes, but I don’t believe that approach is practical for most of us. You’re busy…you bowhunt when you can. If that happens to be in October, great. The woods are beautiful, the weather is nice and there are fewer people in the timber than there will be come November. There are opportunities to get your buck, and here are some things to keep in mind.
Food in the Woods -
Grant Woods, one of the premier whitetail scientists in America and a seasoned archer who hunts as many days as he can in October, says to key on what the deer are eating right now. “If you’re not seeing deer in October, you aren’t hunting in the right places,” he says. “Deer change their behavior as they go from summer to fall patterns. Our telemetry studies don’t show any let up in feeding activity during the so-called ‘lull’ in October. You’ve just got to find them.” According to Grant, the main reason deer seemingly disappear during early October is a change in their diets, and subsequently a change in their movements. In summer and throughout September they fed often in crop fields, where they were visible. “But now many deer feed on
browse and mast inside the woods, and they aren’t as easily seen,” he says. “Mast is a very strong attractant, and bucks will abandon their summer forage patterns when acorns start dropping. Find the mast and you’ll find some bucks.” Photo courtesy Mike Hanback Most hunters know to look for bigdeerblog.com acorns. But an overlooked strategy is not to focus enough on thickets in the woods, and the cover and browse they provide for deer. As they meander through the October woods between bedding covers and mast trees and fields, bucks veer here and there to walk through thickets, where they linger and nibble leaves, buds and stems. Look for trails with recent tracks leading to and from thickets; fresh rubs and scrapes nearby make the setup even better. Play the prevailing wind, and hang a stand for an ambush.
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A study in west-central Tennessee found that two types of terrains—“valleys” and “secondary points”—clustered many more buck rubs than the surrounding topographies. You know what valleys are. The researchers found that swales and draws with brushy ground cover (big bucks love that) and mast trees with fresh acorns (all deer love those) had twice as many or more rubs than mature bottoms with large, open hardwoods. Researchers describe “secondary points” as small fingers of ground that drop off the sides of main ridges and slope down toward the valley floors. Bucks use the points as ramps for easy and hidden access from lowlands to hills and ridges, and they naturally blaze rubs as they come and go. (continued on page 38)
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The trick is to experiment and see what flies are getting followed. If it’s moving fish, stick with the pattern and play with different colors. Some days they follow and don’t strike but persistence pays off in the streamer game. Eventually, a big one will fall for your presentation.
- RECOMMENDED STREAMER RODS Among the Mystic staff, one of our favorite streamer rods is the Mystic JXP in a 9-foot 6-weight.
- WADE FISHING APPROACH Wade fishing before and after the spawn is productive. Be extra careful during the spawn and watch out for redds. If you see fish fanning gravel, move along and give them some space.
Photo credits Zach Lazzari
Get Your Streamer Game Ready for Big Fall Trout By Zach Lazzari Mystic Outdoors www.mysticoutdoors.com
all is the season for big trout and big brown trout F specifically. As winter approaches, packing on calories is essential and for brown trout, gaining
Some areas deserve extra casts, especially when fish are chasing - but staying on the move is my favorite approach. Cast, retrieve and take a step or two downriver. Cover ground and prospect until a fish turns up. Play with the retrieve and alternate between fast, slow and variable strip speeds. When one speed clicks, stick with that cadence. While boats offer a few advantages, I’ve caught and landed more fish over two feet while wade fishing. The ability to be very specific and repeat casts against the best-looking water and structure is very effective.
energy for the spawn requires aggressive feeding. While many rivers have great fall hatches that bring trout to the surface for small mayflies, dedicating a few days to chucking big streamers can produce thrilling takes and big fish that are difficult to find most of the year.
For a great streamer rod at a price that can’t be beat, check out the Mystic Reaper X in either a 9-foot 6-weight or 7-weight. Finally, if you want a streamer rod that can double as a big game or saltwater rod, take a look at our Tremor Saltwater rod in the 9’ 3” 7-weight. A perfect streamersaltwater crossover fly rod, the Tremor can handle big flies and stiff winds. Zach Lazzari is a fly fishing guide and an outdoor writer based in Montana. Zach has fished and guided in Alaska, Colorado and Patagonia. Zach is also the blogger behind The Busted Oarlock.
Idaho-Clearwater Coho Season Idaho Department of Fish and Game
eginning September 17, Coho fishing is allowed on B the Mainstem Clearwater River from Memorial Bridge upstream to the confluence of the Middle and South Forks of the Clearwater River, the North Fork of the Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam, and the middle Clearwater River from the South Fork Clearwater River upstream to the confluence of the Lochsa and Selway Rivers. For these sections, Coho fishing is only allowed Thursdays through Sundays until 11:59 p.m. on October 18, 2020. This structure allows ongoing evaluation of the overlapping fall Chinook fishery (which also closes October 18) and the steelhead fishery in these sections of the Clearwater River. Beginning October 19, all of the listed sections of river are open for Coho fishing 7 days a week. The season will close at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2020 or by emergency order, whichever comes first. Daily bag limits for all open sections are 2 Coho salmon, which may be adipose clipped or unclipped. The possession limit is 6 Coho salmon, which may be clipped or unclipped. There is no season limit on the number of clipped or unclipped Coho salmon retained during the open season, but all harvested Coho must be recorded on a salmon permit. Multiple permits can be purchased. All other rules pertaining to salmon fisheries apply to the Coho season. For more information, go to idfg.idaho.gov/ fish/coho/rules. To learn more about the coho run, read Clearwater Region Fisheries Joe Dupont’s detailed breakdown of the fishery. https://idfg.idaho.gov/blog/2020/09/coho-salmon-are-coming
- FAVORITE FLIES Fly selection is really a matter of preference. The biggest brown trout I’ve hooked in a river crushed a very small muddler minnow fished just under the surface. I wasn’t expecting such a large fish to grab a smaller streamer on a fast, shallow retrieve. Typically, running bigger streamers is the preferred approach, especially from a drift boat. But don’t underestimate the effectiveness of a smaller option like the slump buster, small wooly buggers and even two streamers fished in tandem. Sparkle minnows are also deadly on bright, sunny days. When the fishing is slow, try flies that push water and really create a wake. Not only are they meaty and attractive, the in-your-face style of fishing can trigger a territorial response. I really like fishing a bow river bugger on a sink tip or with a split shot a few inches above the knot. It wobbles and makes a wake that can coax big brown trout from undercut banks and log jams. The Sex Dungeon is another great option for a more aggressive approach.
14| Hunting & Fishing News
- USING BOATS TO COVER GROUND Streamer fishing from a raft or drift boat is an exciting game. You can cover a ton of ground and reach areas that are difficult for wade anglers. Plus, the elevated position offers a view of fish chasing down flies. When the fishing is hot, being in a boat is too much fun.
The most common approach involves fishing the outside bends. And while this is effective, it pays to make a few casts through the inside seams and even into the shallow tailouts and odd spots that are typically dead zones. Brown trout are migrating to spawning areas and you might cross paths with a big one in unexpected waters.
Hunting & Fishing News | 15
Fishing tips brought to you by
On some tough bites especially in clear water, I feel that I get more bites at times by dropping down to a snell as light as six-pound test. When you must use longer snells with chubs, clip off the tails and back fins with a line clipper so the chub doesn’t have so much horsepower. I find that I get the best action and durability if I run the hook just through the top lip. On big chubs, don’t be afraid to run a small treble off the back of the snell like a stinger hook if you are missing fish. Once you get dialed into the location, you simply hold the weight off the bottom and vertical below the boat where you are not dragging the weight on the bottom. Scoot forward ten feet and stop as you pick your way through the rocks. You typically know when you are about to get hit because the chub goes ballistic.
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FALL WALLEYE ON THE ROCKS
By Jason Mitchell Jason Mitchell Outdoors www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com ig boulders and rock locations can hold walleye through B the year but on so many different fisheries, these locations seem even more appealing in the fall. Boulders
in deep water (that might range from fifteen to forty feet of water) are especially productive. Deep structural elements like points or main lake reefs often hold fish and rocks and boulders seem to make these locations even better. As a rule of thumb, any rock is better than no rock come late fall, but boulders that range from two to four feet in diameter are often big fish locations. Fishing these rock locations is often a spot on the spot affair. The entire reef might be covered with some type of rock for example but we find that we catch more and bigger fish by picking these locations apart and analyzing them. Finding the sweet spots is often all about finding the right rocks. What we find on some northern Minnesota and Canadian Shield lakes is that some humps or high points on a contour map might simply be one enormous mass of rock that might be fifteen feet across or more. That isn’t what we are looking for. The best rocks might be on the outer edges of a chunk of rock that seems to be the size of a one car garage. Other locations might be covered with small rocks that are the size of a bowling ball or smaller and on one piece of the structure are the boulders as described above. The round rock that is the size of your desk. These types of boulders offer a lot of crevices and character. The sweet spots are often gaps or spaces in between the boulders or edges where boulders meet small rock, sand or even mud. You have to pick your way through this type of structure. You are going to get snagged and you must pay your dues figuring out these locations. Fish can also get lost in the bottom where it can become difficult to always mark fish. Side imaging can be a useful tool for gauging the bottom composition. I personally believe down view reveals fish the best in these types of locations and it becomes easier to distinguish fish from rock when the fish are not separating from the bottom but fish can show up on traditional 2D sonar particularly when fish are separating from the rocks. When fish do separate from the rock, these fish are typically aggressive but the bottom line is that it is easy to miss fish with your electronics when fish are hiding in crevices and blind spots. Lowrance has a feature called Fish Reveal that combines Down View with traditional 2D Chirp sonar that is helpful for finding fish laying low but there comes a point when you just have to fish through good locations without always marking individual fish when fishing boulders. You might have to slow down and fish the entire location to pin point the spot on the spot but once you get a few way points, I still find that a marker buoy is extremely helpful for
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16| Hunting & Fishing News
Fishing often just gets better in the fall. Deep rock and boulder locations are classic fall walleye producers with serious big fish potential. Photo credit Jason Mitchell Outdoors
pin point boat control. Because snagging is an issue, the key across the board is often simply fishing as vertically as possible. Prominent presentations include classic vertical jigging with either live bait like a chub or big minnow or soft plastics like a fluke tail. Live bait rigging big creek chubs is a classic fall presentation that accounts for so many big fish on a lot of different fisheries. Snap jigging horizontal swim lures like Rail Shads,Tikka Minos or Jigging Raps can also be extremely productive. The key with all these presentations is pinpoint boat control and a vertical presentation. Move the boat in increments and hover. In wind, I still love to back troll with a tiller but spot lock capabilities on many trolling motors have made boat control easier. Get straight up and down to feel your way through the rock. Must have pieces of equipment that are cheap and worth their weight in gold include a classic marker buoy but also have a hook file in the boat for keeping a point on hooks. You will be folding over the points on hooks nonstop. Some people like thin wire hooks on jigs just for bending out the hook on snags. The challenge with a premium hook point is that they do bend over easier on rock. Expensive hooks aren’t very durable. Despite that downfall, I still would rather use a stiffer wire on a hook and a premium hook point as I feel that I lose fewer big fish when the hook doesn’t bend. Compromises. I simply go through more hooks and touch up the hook as much as needed with a hook file. For deeper water over twenty feet, I love to use tungsten and feel that the advantages outweigh the expense. Whether I am using an egg weight to hold down a creek chub or a jig, tungsten is louder when you make sporadic bottom contact and besides the weight advantage of keeping your presentation vertical and in the cone angle of your electronics, I truly believe the added noise gets more bites. The Clam Pro Tackle Drop Tg Jig is ideal as this jig is built with a heavy pure grade tungsten and has a long shank premium hook. In many places where I fish, I have a hard time finding good minnows late in the fall so I like the long shank hook for doubling up minnows. Thread one small minnow onto the hook and nose hook a second minnow to bulk up the package. You can also bulk up with a soft plastic and add a small minnow on the back. When rigging big chubs, don’t be afraid to experiment with the leader length. Many anglers typically like to keep chubs on a short leash just to keep these athletic baitfish close to the bottom but there are simply times when you must go with a longer snell to keep out of snags. I like to start out with a larger size #1 or #2 wide gap octopus or Kahle hook on a twelve-pound mono snell and range my snell between two to six feet.
Snap-jigging high-action baits like the Salmo Rail Shad can be extremely effective. Catching fish with this type of presentation is all about the stroke and cadence. Over the past ten years, jigging horizontal swim lures has become extremely popular. These lures typically shine with an aggressive snap and cadence. What continues to amaze me is just how hard fish will hit these lures. A reaction strike that sometimes saves some days like turning on a light switch when other presentations simply don’t get bit. If I miss fish or am just getting soft bites and am getting frustrated with a spot, I always try to throw a Rail Shad or Jigging Rap down before I pull my hair out and leave. It is surprising how often this presentation can turn a day around. The fish are just there when you snap the rod tip back up. As you can imagine, rock is hard on these lures with broken fins. The Salmo Rail Shad is durable with a polycarbonate fin and has a wicked vibration that more resembles a crankbait.
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Snap-jigging high-action baits like the Salmo Rail Shad can be extremely effective. Catching fish with this type of presentation is all about the stroke and cadence. Photo credit Jason Mitchell
Clam Pro Tackle has a new lure called the Tikka Mino that is a solid construction zinc alloy that also features an exceptionally durable zinc bill. The key with all these lures is the cadence. After working these lures all day, I typically have blisters on my fingers. That is how hard I snap these lures to get them to work. These rock patterns often produce big fish for us and fall is often a prime time to fish these locations. While the general locations might not be a secret, the spot on the spot often takes some sleuth work to dial in. Some anglers get deterred by the snags and lost tackle but if you understand exactly where to fish with some of these methodical vertical approaches, these locations become less intimidating and less frustrating.
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Photo courtesy northlandtackle.com
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E
ver lost a tackle box? I’m pretty good at it as it turns out. So are my kids I’ve come to learn, they’ve got too many of my own genes. I’ve lost them tragically to a canoe capsize, which is a rough story I’d not like to recall. I’ve lost one to theft, and of course it was a box full of crankbaits. I’ve left them on the banks of rivers, in buddy’s cars and boats, and even lost them in my own messes. Those are the worst, when you lose an ice-fishing box in some other coat you rarely wear, only to find it a few years later. If you’re like me, you know the lump-in-your-throat feeling that comes with not just the initial loss, but the cost and time it takes to reassemble what you own. So it was this past week when my youngest son was granted my primary open-water panfish box, and lost it. It was loaded with stuff, which to a casual observer may look to be only a couple bucks, but careful examination and the rising price of tackle meant a few hundred dollars in every kind of panfish rig under the sun. As you might imagine, reassembly of 30 some years of panfish tackle is like telling a baseball card collector to just go out and replace his coveted McGuire and Griffey Jr. rookie cards. Some of that stuff they just don’t make these days. I’m lucky to work in the industry and at times am privy to deals on select tackle and brands, which certainly makes reacquiring tackle easier, but rarely is anyone showered with free goods just for being who they are. Usually, anything free is really payment for services, or with an expectation of services later. The same is true for discounts. Which of course, turns a simple jig into currency; a thought not lost on someone who just misplaced said jigs. Life goes on, and crappies and gills still call, so I went about putting that box back together. Step one was a nearly forgotten photo I’d taken a few years ago. I’ve been convinced by a buddy or two in the insurance industry to photo catalog everything I own at one point or another. Sage advice for a number of reasons, and while I was never planning on using those shots, I’m sure glad I had them. It was pretty easy to see each of the lures, colors, quantity, and other items in the box. It was even a great way to take inventory on what I “thought” I had vs. what I now feel like I could use some extras of. These days, it’s easier than ever to catalog your tackle. Most of us have smart-phones, and whether we know it or not, access to cloud storage. That could mean Dropbox,
Google Drive, or any other number of storage solutions that don’t involve having those photos only on your phone or point-and-shoot. Those pics are subject to any form of chaos like fire, water, or simple loss as well, so just having them on your phone isn’t the best way to ensure you’ll always have them. Start by laying out all of your tackle boxes at once, or in groups, and snap an overhead photo of everything. Then, get in close for multiple photos of the same box each. It’s amazing how different angles and shuffling the tackle a bit can reveal some new items previously unseen. Then, make sure at the end of the session that you move those photos offsite somewhere. I use Dropbox and with an app on my phone, can easily shift the photos I’ve taken to Dropbox online storage. It means I can access them from my phone again, but also from any other device should I need to look at them on the fly or when buying more tackle. Of course if you never lose anything, and can completely rule out fire, water damage, or any other general form of destruction, by all means forgo this step. I’m not that lucky, and also have a way of putting my stuff in harms way from time to time. That makes me (and my family) prime candidates for a photo-everything day. At this point, I’ve nearly restocked all of the panfish tackle save a few items that have been discontinued or I otherwise haven’t purchased yet. I put everything in a newer, larger box, and though I dreaded the task, my oldest who has lost his fair share as well did some penance and helped. We had fun dumping out the tackle here, there, and everywhere, generally playing fishing as we went. Fast forward to last night when I received a call. The old tackle box has been found. All of which means that this has simply been a training exercise, but it’s good to have that now and again too. It’s also good to know that it’s worth the time and effort to take a few photos, should (when) this ever happen(s) again. That and I have at least twice the amount of panfish tackle I’ll need for years to come.
Montana - Deadline For Fish Photo/Art Contest Is Oct. 16 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
here is still time to create your best art and send your T best photo to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks annual fishing regulation photo and kids’ art contest. Winners will
see their work on the front and back cover of the 2021 fishing regulation booklets. Photo contest: -Photo must be vertical (portrait) mode, or suitable for tight vertical cropping to fit the available space on the regs cover. -Photo must be a minimum resolution and size of 6 inches tall at 300 pixels-per-inch. FWP will feature your name on the front cover as credit. Please specify how you would like to be credited. Please include a short description of the photo, so we can provide some caption information. Ownership of the photo is retained by the photographer, who may use his/her image for other purposes. Please do not send photos of fish that have been mounted. Art contest Kids 12 and younger are invited to submit a colored drawing of a fish that lives in Montana. Please send in your best photo and drawing today. Email to fwpphotocontest@mt.gov. Deadline is Oct. 16. Winners will receive their photo on the cover, a subscription to Montana Outdoors Magazine and a Montana Outdoors t-shirt.
2020 FALL MACK DAYS
Sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
LAKE TROUT FISHING EVENT
on FLATHEAD LAKE September 8 th to November 15th Fish The Entire Lake
UP TO
$200 200,,000
CASH & PRIZES
(1)$10,000 & (3)$5,000 & (5)$1000 + over(9,000)$500-$100 Tagged Lake Trout Friday- Sunday-competitive Mack Days-lottery prizes, tagged fish, and bonuses Top twenty angler prizes: Pick your best 18 days out of 30 possible-Friday-Sunday
All it takes is one ticket (one for every lake trout entry) to win a lottery drawing 32 lottery drawings-$1,000-$400
Top ten angler prizes $800-$300-Fri-Sun-(18 best days of possible 30 days) Captains $250-(4 prizes),Smallest lake trout $250-(2 prizes),Largest lake trout $500 Top lady anglers $300, $200, $100. $100 -by total fish entered Youth anglers- (17-13) 1st- $200, 2nd-$150, 3rd-$75, 4-5th-$50 (12 & under)-1st-$100, 2nd-$75, 3rd-$50 Fri-Sunday Weekend Prizes-10@$100 per weekend Golden Angler Award (70 & older)-$200 & $100, determined by total fish entered Bucket Days-3 days of single/team-heaviest 4-fish-9/18-Friday, 10/10-Saturday, & 11/8-Sunday Monday-Thursday- 6:00 pm deadline to turn in fish – 10-$50, 2-$100 lottery drawings-2 tagging drawings $500, Siberian cooler tickets-1 for every 10 entries Mon-Thursday-43 days-also counts on bonus totals at the end of the event. ALL ANGLERS WHO ENTER 11 or more LAKE TROUT QUALIFY for BONUS $-the higher your total - the higher the bonus category - every day counts: Mon-Sun (69 total days) Fish the entire lake- Check in stations and times listed on the website -click on events at the top of the page-times will be listed there and are subject to change. Check the rules, prizes, bonuses, check in sites, & register online at
www.mackdays.com
Telephone 406-883-2888 Ex. 7294 or 406-270-3386 Applications will be available: Zimmers Tackle-Pablo, Sportsman & Ski Haus-Kalispell, Walmart-Polson Bob Ward & Sons-Missoula, Sportsman’s Warehouse-Missoula, Snappys Sports Senter-Kalispell, FWP-Missoula and Kalispell, Bretz RV & Marine-Missoula, CSKT NRD Offices-Polson, Westland Seed-Ronan We ask that all boats from out of the Flathead area be inspected for AIS.
Everything will be subject to changeCOVID concerns may cause issues that will have to be addressed as we move closer to the event. We remind you to follow all fishing regulations. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have a special $13 fishing permit for the south half on Flathead Lake that is available wherever fishing permits are sold.
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Gear Breakdown: What’s In My Kill Kit?
By Anthony Wright Originally published
at www.goHUNT.com Photo credit Anthony Wright
he kill kit. Something that is packed around all season T waiting to be used or, if you’re lucky, on the season opener. There are many different styles of kits from minimalist
to everything but the butchers block. Over the last few years, I have slowly started to nail down what items I liked, what I disliked, what is essential, and what is very handy when processing game for a pack ride when away from the truck. Now, I’m not telling you this is the holy grail of kill kits, but, instead, a way to give you ideas to help perfect your kit when getting ready to travel into the field in hopes of getting those nice white bags colored red.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s included in my personal kit. Game bags
When I first moved to Montana I was using the cotton bags; they did the job, but the problems I found with them is that they tore easily, stretched a lot and didn’t clean as well as I liked when going to reuse them. Over the last few years, I’ve been using game bags that are a synthetic blend, allowing them to breathe well along with being far more durable and easier to wash up than the cotton bags. Having the meat cool down is imperative to avoiding bone sour.
Knife
This area is one I’ve seen needs a change. Over the past decade or so, I have used a replacement blade knife. Now, the replacement options are nice for the fact that they are light and you can swap the blades in the field. The main issue I have with them is when it comes to the blade coming off (which some companies have addressed with recent models), but that doesn’t change the fact that they are susceptible to breaking. I have had enough break inside an animal and, personally, I’m not a huge fan of playing the game “find the surgical blade in an elk quarter.” So, in the upcoming season(s), I will be converting to strictly two fixed blade knives. This assures me that I won’t break a blade in half or have to worry about being too delicate when working around the joints. Also, I will add a small sharpener to keep them razor sharp for many years of abuse.
Reflective paracord
This is a must when working alone, especially on larger boned animals. Being able to lash some paracord around a leg and tie it off to a tree or rock is very handy. In the case of last year’s bear hunting as an example, I could’ve used some paracord to hold the animal upon the steep slope while also securing a leg to a tree to aid me in breaking the animal down. I’m also a fan of bringing items that can be used for multiple purposes. The reflective paracord is my go-to when having to secure meat in a tree to cool, tying up a personal food bag in bear country or using it as a simple guy line on my shelters so I don’t trip on them in the night. Paracord is a jack of all trades which is why it’s always in my pack.
Trash bag
I keep one or two of these in my kit, depending on the hunt. The large contractor bags are another go-to when slicing and dicing some organic protein.
(continued on page 32)
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Swedish Meatballs Recipe
any people associate Swedish meatballs with the M Swedish company IKEA, but like many things (such as French fries), the name doesn’t accurately depict
their origin. To be honest, all I know is that these little babies are GOOD, and I would endure countless hours of putting together IKEA furniture to have some of them. If you’ve ever had to build anything from there, then you know what a bold statement that is. Ground venison is a welcome flavor to the rich broth and perfectly flavored meatballs! Serve over egg noodles or spaghetti squash. For the meatballs 1 lb (455 g) ground venison 1⁄2 lb (224 g) ground pork 1⁄2 onion, minced Juice of 1⁄2 lemon 1 tsp Dijon mustard 2 tsp (8 g) coconut sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp garlic powder 1⁄2 tsp pepper Pinch of nutmeg 1⁄4 cup (25 g) almond meal 1 egg, beaten or bread crumbs For the gravy 3 tbsp (45 g) butter 1⁄2 onion, minced 1⁄4 cup (31 g) all-purpose flour 3⁄4 tsp salt 1⁄2 tsp pepper 3 cups (720 ml) beef broth 3 or 4 dashes of Worcestershire sauce 2 tbsp (30 ml) sour cream Egg noodles or spaghetti squash, to serve
To make the meatballs, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with foil or a Silpat. Add all of the ingredients for the meatballs to a large bowl and mix them together until everything is well incorporated. I like to do this with my hands and a fork. Using a large cookie scoop, scoop the meatball mixture and roll them between your hands to make them evenly shaped. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet so that they don’t touch each other. Bake the meatballs for 18 minutes, then remove them from the oven and set aside. To make the gravy, while the meatballs bake, add the butter to a large saucepan and let it melt over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until it starts to brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the flour, salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Add the beef broth and whisk the gravy constantly until no clumps of flour remain. Add the Worcestershire sauce and keep whisking the gravy, scraping the edges of the pan frequently. Once the gravy starts to bubble and thicken to the desired consistency, add the sour cream and stir it in completely. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the meatballs. Spoon the gravy over the meatballs so they’re all covered. Serve over egg noodles or spaghetti squash. Reprinted with permission from Venison Every Day By Allie Doran Page Street Publishing Co. 2020
Go here to find at your local store: https://www.indiebound.org/ search/book?keys=every+day +venison
Photo courtesy Matt Burgess thedudeblog.com
The BEST Elk Chili Recipe By Matt Burgess The Dude Blog www.thedudeblog.com
I
am always trying to find new ways to use elk burger! Sometimes it’s the bull in rut, sometimes it’s the delicious cow elk. Making chili, especially going into the fall and winter, is my favorite time for this recipe. It’s so cool to be able to harvest your own elk and often times you find yourself with massive amounts of elk burger. Some things to know about elk burger is that it is lean! The traditional beef versus elk, are different but in my opinion in a good way. Something is special about going on a hunt, harvesting that animal and making awesome meals with it. As Joe Rogan says, “There is no better meat.” I love hunting in the early elk season with my bow and making a kill knowing exactly from the kill to table where the meat has been. I like recipes like this that are so simple that after I have made them once or twice I can make it by memory every time. It’s also great to be able to add things in like onions and garlic powder.
Here’s my Elk Chili Recipe: Yield: 4 Cook Time: 15 minutes Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Ingredients 1 lb ground elk meat 1 15oz can of tomato sauce 2 15oz cans of chili beans 8 slices of American cheese (optional) 2 tablespoons of cumin Instructions Brown 1lb of elk meat in a stove pot on medium heat until cooked through. Add tomato sauce, chili beans, cumin. Add 8 slices of American cheese until melted. Stir and reduce heat to simmer. Allow simmer for 5 minutes prior to serving. Notes Cheese is optional but will add a salt flavor. Add salt and pepper to your liking.
24| Hunting & Fishing News
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Hunting & Fishing News | 25
Hi-Lift Jack
Before using a Hi-Lift jack…know how to properly use one! This jack system can be a little dangerous. In a pinch, the Hi-Lift jack is a lifesaver. I’ve used it before to lift a tire up to place logs and pine tree branches when I got my truck stuck in Montana.
PERFORMANCE PARTS & CUSTOM ACCESSORIES
Jumper cables
Late season hunts mean extra attention on gear items you keep in your truck. Photo credit Brady Miller
PREPARING FOR THE WORST:
LATE SEASON SAFETY GEAR
TO KEEP IN YOUR TRUCK By Brady Miller Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
season hunting brings lots of excitement and, Lyouate undoubtedly, a lot of challenges as well. On one hand, wish for the snow and cold temperatures, but, on the other hand, you hope it doesn’t snow so much that it makes it unsafe to get around in the mountains. To make things a little safer there should be several pieces of gear that never leave your truck during a late-season hunt. While you might never use all of these items on one hunt, trust me when I say that you will be glad you thought ahead of time to bring some safety items.
Here are a few items that I never leave home without on a late-season hunt:
Explore Your Wild Side.
Tire chains Battery jump starter box Snow shovel x 2 Jumper cables Hi-Lift Jack I’ve been using the Hi-Lift X-Treme 60” jack Hi-Lift jack Lift-Mate accessory strap Off-road base plate for Hi-Lift Tow straps Tire repair kit Wrenches A tool bag full of an assortment of wrenches Axe Hatchet Leather gloves If you have a diesel truck, you might want some other items, too. When I had a diesel truck, I used to carry around a small Big Buddy propane heater and had to use that and some tarps to get my truck started in Montana after I left it in the cold for three days.
Inspired by you. Photo credit Chris Neville
NOTES ON A FEW ITEMS Tire chains
valleybankhelena.com
26| Hunting & Fishing News
Make sure you get the right size for your vehicle and that you know how to use them. There is nothing worse than trying to put on chains for the first time in a bunch of snow when your fingers are frozen.
Photo courtesy goHUNT.com
LIFT KITS Jumper cables are essential! Photo credit Chris Neville
Don’t see what you are looking for? Give us a call.
Double and triple check you have them! In Wyoming, when hunting with the Born and Raised Outdoors crew for their Land Of The Free 2.0 film series, somehow my truck battery died after sitting for three days and we wanted to move locations. I searched in my truck and couldn’t find my jumper cables. Then, I remembered that I loaned them to a friend and forgot to get them back. I instantly thought all was well since we had two other vehicles…wrong! In a case of bad luck, Trent had a new vehicle and didn’t have jumper cables and somehow Zack didn’t have his jumper cables in his truck either.
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So we resorted to driving the other vehicles around the mountains until we came across a great guy driving a Forest Service truck who offered to help.
Snow shovel
Get Lit!
DIG IN. WINCH OUT.
HARD TONNEAU COVERS
Photo courtesy goHUNT.com
If you think you need a shovel…bring two. Trust me! A simple snow shovel is a lifesaver when you get buried. A standard snow shovel from home will work. I now also take along a foldable snow shovel from MSR. It packs up to nothing and I’ve even taken it on a backcountry hunt in Wyoming to shovel snow out of the way for our tipi shelter. Luckily, we rented llamas so they carried the shovel.
IN CONCLUSION
While I now carry more late-season safety items than ever before, keep in mind that these items add up fast—not only in money, but also space in your truck. Also, this list could get really long if you really try to prepare for everything, so think of the items you really need if space is an issue. This list has helped me a multitude of times when the temperatures dropped to get out of some scary situations... Best of luck and stay safe this late season!
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Hunting In The Rain Effectively By Alex Comstock Founder of www.whitetaildna.com
here are certain weather conditions that just seem to T scream “Go Hunting!”. A cold front passes through, everyone knows to be in a tree. High pressure days, I’d say most people agree that movement could be better than normal. But one weather condition that I don’t think enough people take advantage of is precipitation. Rain can be a great weather condition to hunt in if you can withstand being “miserable”. There are a few reasons that rain can present unique advantages to hunting, and below I’ll cover those, along with when to not hunt in the rain.
OPTIMAL STILL HUNTING CONDITIONS The first thing I wanted to cover is still hunting. Still hunting can be an effective way to hunt, but there are certain conditions that make it much more difficult (such as calm and still days) and there are certain times that make still hunting much more optimal (windy or rainy days). If there’s even a light rain, the leaves on the ground will be quiet, everything you walk through will be quiet, and it will allow you to sneak around much more effectively. If you haven’t ever still hunted, but are looking to give it a try, a rainy day is a great time to give it a try as well. Still hunting is a unique challenge, and sometimes you may not realize how slow you have to move and how quiet you have to be. With the conditions making it more favorable to be quiet, you can start to learn what it takes to still hunt effectively, and with the rain, you might get away with a little more.
YOU CAN SNEAK INTO THOSE TIGHT SPOTS Another advantage of a light rain is being able to slip into those stands that are in tight spots. Maybe you’ve got a stand setup within 50 yards of where you think a buck is bedded, but it’s near impossible to get in there quietly without busting a buck out of his bed. Just as with still hunting, in a situation like this, there are two times that might allow you to get into a stand like this and that’s high winds or rain. With the precipitation, you can move in quietly and slowly into that stand, get all setup, and practically be silent. If you have a stand that you think is hard to get into because of noise levels you make on the way in, waiting until a rainy day might be a great option. LESS SCENT IS LEFT ON THE GROUND A train of thought from a lot of hunters is that rain can wash away your ground scent that you leave behind. I’ve always adopted this mindset, and knowing that, you could use it to your advantage in a multitude of ways. For me, it seems as though there is always that one stand that is in the right spot, but the access is hard because you have to walk through an area you think deer will be moving through or you have to cross a major trail. It might even be enough to deter you from hunting there. In a spot like this, hunting it during a rainfall might be the perfect time to strike. Due to the ground scent being washed away, you could get away with more than you normally would. WHEN NOT TO HUNT IN THE RAIN About the only time I won’t hunt in the rain is if there’s a legit thunderstorm where it’s simply not safe or if it’s an absolute downpour. When it’s raining cats and dogs, that’s the only time I think it may not be worth it. Bucks usually are hunkered down (from what I’ve seen) and it can be downright miserable out there. If it’s raining hard, hunting right after the front moves through can be an exceptional time to be in the woods...
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28| Hunting & Fishing News
Underrated Late Season Elk Hunting Opportunities (continued from page 4)
Photo credit Ryan McSparran
The 4th rifle season dates are later in November and offer a great opportunity to hunt bulls alone or in bachelor groups. And since this season is limited by drawing only, you’ll be competing with fewer hunters than you would during the OTC rifle seasons. Even though you must apply for a limited tag, all but just a handful of Colorado’s 4th rifle season tags can be drawn with fewer than two preference points, even if you’re a nonresident. In fact, many units can be drawn with no points at all. Next year, consider applying for one of these late bull elk hunts.
2. Quality Cold Weather Gear Next, you’ll need to consider the necessary gear before attempting a late season hunt. Quality boots, quality clothing, an adequate tent and sleep system are all factors that you’ll need to think about. Hunting during cold weather is a ton of fun if you’re prepared for it. If you’re not prepared, it can be miserable. 3. Don’t Forget Game Bags We sometimes hear hunters say that they just leave the hide on their elk quarters during cold weather. If you like your game meat, this is a bad idea. Don’t underestimate the insulating power of an elk hide – even if the weather is cold. On your late season hunts, you don’t have to worry about insects. But you certainly want to remove that hide and get your quarters into protective and breathable game bags as soon as possible. A quality game bag will allow the meat to cool fast and form a protective rind. Where to Find Late Season Hunting Opportunities Here in our home state of Colorado, there are some excellent late season hunting opportunities for both bull and cow elk. Montana also offers some great late season dates.
Here a few late season elk hunting opportunities to consider: 1. Colorado’s 4th Rifle Elk Season Here in Colorado, elk licenses for the 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons are unlimited and sold over the counter. No application or drawing is required. These rifle seasons provide a great deal of opportunity. But they’re also known to attract big numbers of hunters. Hunting during the later 4th rifle season is a great way to avoid some of that pressure and catch elk moving during colder weather.
30| Hunting & Fishing News
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2. Late Season Cow Hunts in Colorado If your priority is bringing home elk meat and you’re willing to give up the chance at a bull, Colorado offers some antlerless late season hunts. These late season cow hunts often boast high success rates compared to the regular rifle seasons. The season dates vary from one unit to another, but many of these late season hunts extend into December or even January.
Things to Consider Before A Late Season Elk Hunt
1. Accessible Public Land When planning any late season hunt, first consider areas that offer accessible public land throughout the elk’s migratory transition zones. For example, if a unit’s public land is all above 9,000 feet and the valley floor is entirely private, this could be a concern. It might be fine for hunting bulls if there’s little snow. But it might be difficult to hunt cows in December. Units with accessible public land in a variety of habitat zones will give you more options, depending on weather, snow depth, and other seasonal variables.
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Like the 4th rifle season in Colorado, late rifle seasons require hunters to apply in the annual big game draw. Applications are due the first Tuesday in April. But don’t let the application process deter you. Even as a nonresident, many of these late season hunts can be drawn with no preference points. If you’re willing to save a preference point or two, you’ll have even more options. Additionally, cow elk permits may be available in cases of game damage on agricultural lands. These can be great opportunities for kids or first-time hunters. Check with local landowners about these depredation tags, or contact your local game warden for possible opportunities. 3. Montana’s General Rifle Season Dates Montana offers some of the most generous season dates of anywhere in the west. With a general license, you can hunt during the early archery season and then return for the rifle season if you haven’t filled your tag. If you’re able to take the time away from work and family, this offers the best of both worlds. What’s more, Montana’s general rifle season runs to the first of December. This provides hunters the chance to hunt solitary, post-rut bulls after the cows have drifted toward winter range. To draw a general license in Montana, you must apply. But with such a long season to hunt, it is worth the effort. Your general license in Montana even includes your upland game bird and fishing licenses. Montana’s application deadline is March 15. If you’re a nonresident, there’s a good chance of drawing a Big Game Combination License or Elk Combination License with no preference points. However, the demand seems to increase every year.
Don’t Overlook Late Season Advantages
We know; it’s fun to hunt during the rut. And purchasing an over-the-counter rifle tag here in Colorado might be the easier thing to do. But consider applying for a late season opportunity. You might just find fewer people and some great elk hunting conditions.
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Hunting & Fishing News | 31
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Simply spread them out for a clean surface to lay your quarters or deboned meat onto for cooling or cut them open for even more surface area. These can also double as a rain collection device, rain gear (if you forgot yours!) and, even, a sleeping pad footprint for extra pad protection. Latex gloves/band aids/alcohol wipes Keeping a few pairs of latex gloves, a couple of Band Aids and disinfecting wipes is also a good practice. They weigh very little and serve a great purpose for keeping you protected. I’ve personally heard of people cutting themselves while working and ended up in the hospital fighting off a staph infection due to blood to blood contact. So, do yourself a favor and slap some gloves on. In the event you do cut yourself; clean it as fast as possible, wrap a Band Aid on, throw a new glove on and get back to work! Electric tape Another item with 100+ uses! But, in this case, it’s great for easily securing your tag to the animal or carcass when transporting. Wet wipes Simple use: cleaning up when you’re finished working. As far as other uses, I’ll leave that up to your interpretation.
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32| Hunting & Fishing News
Tags Lastly, I throw my tags in the kill bag. This is just a personal preference. I figure that whenever I’m heading out hunting, I’m going to need a kill kit in case I am successful, so by keeping both together it ensures me I always have my tags. Just be sure that you have the tags required for the species you’re hunting — it’s always a good practice to double check! In the end, you will see what you like to keep in your kit or if you don’t want to pick and choose items you can simply buy the goHUNT Kill Kit https://shop.gohunt.com/collections/ gear/products/gohunt-kill-kit, which includes most of these items and comes in a handy sack ready to be thrown in your pack for your next hunting adventure!
The Gutless Method works on any big game animal, not just elk. Photo courtesy Corey Jacobsen and vortexoptics.com
Breaking Down The Gutless Method By Corey Jacobsen Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com
t usually doesn’t take more than a few seconds after Istate pulling the trigger on a successful hunt for someone to the obvious: “Now the work begins!” While there
can be months of hard work leading up to a hunt, it’s often the time directly after the shot that turns out to be the most difficult. The tasks of processing and packing are what typically lodge in our memory as being the most challenging aspects of the hunt - especially if we aren’t prepared. Time can be a precious commodity – particularly during the early parts of the season – when it comes to field dressing a big game animal. The steps of gutting, skinning, quartering, and deboning can be quite daunting, especially on larger animals like an elk. This process can literally take several hours for a single hunter. Being efficient at this task can ensure your hunt – and your meat – doesn’t get spoiled. Over the last few years, the field dressing process known as the Gutless Method has become increasingly popular. There are two primary reasons for its popularity – it saves time, and it saves a mess. The Gutless Method allows a hunter to completely break down an animal without ever opening the body cavity. This can save 10-15 minutes (or more), as well as keep the fresh meat from being exposed to the internal organs (i.e., guts). Using this method, every scrap of edible meat is still salvaged from the animal. Here is a quick breakdown of the Gutless Method: 1. Get the hide off. With the animal lying on its side, skin the hide off the entire exposed side from the knees to the backbone. This leaves the neck, front shoulder, ribs, hind quarter, and backstrap exposed. NOTE: If you are planning on a shoulder mount, you’ll need to adjust your skinning process to accommodate those needs. 2. Pull off the quarters. The front shoulder is attached to the animal only by muscle. Simply lift the front leg and begin cutting between the shoulder and the rib cage to remove the front shoulder. The hind quarter is attached by muscle and one ball joint.
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By cutting through the muscle along the hip bone down to the ball joint, you can remove the hind quarter. 3. Remove the rest of the meat. With the quarters removed, the neck meat, brisket meat, rib meat, etc., are all exposed. Remove these sections of meat, along with the backstrap. Have quality game bags readily available to place the meat in as soon as it’s removed from the carcass. This will ensure your meat is free of flies and dirt, and allow it to cool rapidly. Hang the quarters and meat, or arrange such that the air will be able to circulate around the meat to expedite cooling. 4. Don’t forget the tenderloins! Lastly, one small incision along the backbone just above the rear flank will expose the tenderest cut of meat – the tenderloin. Technically, you have to open the body cavity to get to the tenderloins, but you can do it quickly and cleanly with just one small incision. 5. Repeat on side #2. With all meat removed from the first side, pull the hide back over the carcass and roll the animal onto its opposite side. Repeat steps 1-4... BIO: For 7-Time World Champion Elk Caller, Corey Jacobsen, there is nothing like the high-country in mid-September. Corey’s passion for elk hunting also led him to create Elk101.com, a website devoted to elk hunting education, instruction, and entertainment. In 2014, Corey sold Elk101.com to Camofire.com to focus his efforts solely on Extreme Elk Magazine...
Hunting & Fishing News | 33
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Hunting & Fishing News | 35
The Greys River: Wyoming’s Mule Deer Hunting Capitol SNS Outfitter & Guides www.huntwyo.com
In addition to providing great habitat for mule deer, the region is also home to a healthy herd of resident elk that lives along the river year round. The Greys River elk herd has been growing steadily over the past several years. The area holds some impressive Wyoming bulls and a high bull-to-cow ratio has drawn the attention of elk hunters worldwide. “The Greys River area is one of my favorite places to hunt,” says SNS guide David Dandridge. “It is big, rugged country and it is a challenge. But those big mule deer get me excited more than anything else, and there’s nothing like being up there on horseback in that beautiful country.”
Glassing for mule deer on a rocky ridge in Wyoming’s Greys River area. Photos courtesy huntwyo.com
he Greys River in western Wyoming is a place of legend T for hunters across the globe, and is without a doubt, the state’s mule deer hunting capitol. The Greys River boasts
more record mule deer than anywhere else in Wyoming, and ranks number five in the world for producing trophy mulies. When you mention the words, “Greys River” to many hunters, it elicits images of heavy horned bucks in rugged country. The country in the Greys River region is certainly rugged. Steep canyon walls, high elevation peaks and rocky ridgelines make this ideal habitat for trophy mule deer. With its headwaters in the Wyoming Range about 45 miles south of Alpine, the Greys River flows north for over 60 miles before joining the Snake River. Bordered by the Salt River Range on the west, and the Wyoming Range on the east, this wild and scenic area is a paradise for both hunters and fly fisherman.
The peaks surrounding the Greys River reach upwards of 11,000 feet elevation. The area is dominated by steep timberline basins that tumble down into black timber, grassy hillsides, parks and isolated meadows. For hunters who venture into the heart of this wild country, the scenery is as memorable as the hunting, and the two are an inseparable part of the adventure. When the trip is over, it may be hard to decide the best part. Starlit horseback rides to your hunting area before dawn may be just as meaningful as leveling your sights on a trophy mule deer buck or bull elk. One thing is for certain. Those who visit the Greys River area of Wyoming almost always find an excuse to come back. For information on Wyoming mule deer hunts and elk hunts with SNS Outfitter & Guides visit www.huntwyo.com.
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36| Hunting & Fishing News
HOW To HUNT DEER In OCTOBER (continued from page 12)
Scout for points, fingers and tips of land that slope down off a big ridge and into hollows or creek bottoms. The thicker the cover in and around the secondary points the better. Generally you’ll want to hang a bow stand parallel to or slightly above a point where your visibility and wind are best, especially for morning hunts when the thermals rise. October Weather There are few things I love as much as sitting in a tree stand on an Indian Summer afternoon, enjoying life as a hunter. A good buck could wander by, but if not that is okay. As I enjoy the dry, warm air on my face, I check the weather apps on my phone and look forward to the coming cooler days when I know the bucks will move better. The first two or three days after a cold front blows through in October and drops the temperature from, say, 65 degrees to 35, are prime time to hunt. Bucks that were slow and sluggish a few weeks earlier get a spring in their step and move a little more. You’ll usually have to deal with moderate winds on the backside of a front, but you can live with it because the high-pressure that builds in for the next few days will put some mature bucks on their feet, increasing the chances that one will wander beneath your stand. Head to your best sets near acorns, thickets or crops. Find the Perfect Tree One October afternoon several years ago, Ontario bowhunter Shane Good shot the buck of his dreams,
a 171-inch giant. Two years later, on October 27, Shane ran his climber up the same tree and watched incredulously as another buck—bigger than last year’s—rolled onto the scene. His arrow was true; the main-frame 10-pointer scored 176! I emailed Shane and told him it would be some accomplishment to shoot a third monster from the same tree in a span of just a few short years. That October 28, he sent me this note: Mike, wanted to show you the buck I arrowed earlier today. You said it would be awesome to shoot three 170s from the same tree. I had to settle for a 162 this year, ha ha! Look deeper inside Shane’s incredible achievement and you’ll find three lessons that go to our theme here: One, Shane’s stand is set on the edge of a linear thicket on a ridge. He watched all three of the big bucks he shot (as well as other bucks and does) come from a distance and veer into the thicket to stage and browse the greenery. Thicket stands produce. Two, all things considered, the last week of October is the best week to plan your bowhunting vacation any year. The weather is starting to cool down, and the bucks are scraping and moving. The full moon this week this season will make the hunting better yet. Third, find a hot tree that produces and hunt it year after year around the same time each season. The three giants that Shane shot were not there by happenstance. They funneled by that tree while moving between feed and bed, and Shane was in just the right spot. You probably won’t shoot three monsters from your perfect tree, but you’ll get a good buck every year or so. That’s pretty darn good for October.
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