Montana Hunting & Fishing News - September 2016

Montana

UNTING &

News

September 2016

IN PURSUIT

OF ELK

ANTELOPE 101: GUIDE TIPS ACTION PACKED FALL FISHING

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4 - Hunting & Fishing News

5 OF THE BEST EARLY SEASON ELK HUNTING TACTICS BEFORE THE RUT By Ron Elmer Originally published at www.gohunt.com arrow a bull off of water if the situation is right. If you’re aware of scent control and cover, it can be done.

4. SLIP IN EARLY AND HUNT BEDDING AREAS

F or some of us archery elk hunters...we have to deal with hunting elk during the early part of August and early September. This means hunting Photo credit: Ron Elmer of BonedOut Productions

them way before the rut starts and, usually, before the bulls have gathered cows and may still be living with other bulls. Now, if you’re the guy that lives and dies for hunting elk while they are screaming their guts out and chasing cows all day, this can be a huge shock. [These] elk will prove to be almost impossible to hunt successfully like you would in states with later hunt dates. Over the years, I’ve had to find ways to hunt them without any rut action and without the use of calls or the opportunity of chasing bugles.

Below I will outline five of my favorite tactics for early season elk hunting.

1. TAKING ELK UTILIZING SPOT AND STALK

If you’re familiar with spotting and stalk mule deer hunting then this first tip could prove to be the way to get an arrow in an early season bull this year. With elk, hunting them using the spot and stalk method can sometimes be very effective and, in many ways, a lot easier than stalking a wise old muley buck. You can put them to bed and wait for the wind currents to steady by late morning or mid day and try your luck at arrowing him in his bed. I will warn you: this can be very hard to do with elk.

As most elk hunters know, elk prefer the timber to bed in and it can prove difficult keeping the glass on them while they choose a bedding area.

A different tactic that has proven to be more successful is stalking them while they are feeding. Over the years I have found that I can get away with a lot more movement with elk than I can with deer. Elk are big animals and it’s amazing how focused they can get on feeding this time of year.

If you can get the wind right and move fast you can get within bow range of a lone bull a lot easier than you can a feeding muley.

Bedding areas can be money if you have done your homework with some prior scouting and know where the bull or bulls are bedding everyday.

I have taken advantage of this for more than just hunting elk. I have hung trail cameras in these areas and captured some amazing photos. These bedding areas are very effective for killing a good bull if you know that he is going to be there. You should realize, though, that you will most likely get only one chance at him and he will never bed there again. The beauty of these bedding areas is that the elk are usually on the water or feeding up a ridge in the morning. If you set up your camp right you can slip in early as the sun rises and the elk will follow shortly behind. This has honestly been the most effective way I have harvested both cows and bulls during the early, and hot, dates we deal with here in some of the western states.

5. ESTABLISHING MINERAL SITES

...you should check your state regulations and see if it is legal to hunt off of a mineral site. If it is, this is another great opportunity to do more than just hunt, but also scout and hang trail cameras...

IN CLOSING

Although all of us elk junkies would strongly prefer hunting a big bull while he is chasing cows and bugling his guts out, sometimes, we don’t have that option. Don’t let that stop you from harvesting a bull or a cow in an over-the-counter unit you can hunt every year with early dates. There is a lot of opportunity to hunt elk during early seasons and, with a little out of the box thinking or approaching the hunt like a mule deer hunter, you can be just as successful during these dates as you can during the peak of the rut.

Try out a few of these tactics that have worked for me over the years.

Good luck in the next few weeks as the western archery hunts start to open.

2. LOCATING AND HUNTING TRANSITION AREAS

One major opportunity to keep in mind with elk is they have to water everyday. Unlike deer that can go a day or two without water, elk are big animals and need water everyday. This has proven to be a huge weakness for elk over the years. Typically, I will watch them for a day or two in order to find out where they are watering. After I have established a water source I will set up in their transition areas between water and bedding.

This works for either coming off the water in the morning or heading to water in the afternoon. When doing this, be aware of the wind. They will typically move with their nose into the wind and, if this is the case, do not get too discouraged. I’ll go back to the spot and stalk technique while they are feeding and I’ll possibly sit lower or higher on the mountain.

After they have passed one direction or the other I will flank them while they feed to or from the water source.

3. SITTING A WATER SOURCE OR WALLOW

If there is no possible way to sit a transition area or stalk them to or from a water source, I will inspect the water they are using as an option to lay in wait to arrow a bull during the midday hours. This can get a little tricky if you’re hunting drainages or in steep terrain due to wind currents.

Almost always, the wind will swirl over water sources. Whether it’s in a bottom of a canyon or in the middle of a ridge I have found it difficult, but not impossible, to sit a water source for a length of time without the wind giving up my position. This is not my first option, but it is possible to September 2016

5

FALL BEAR VS. SPRING BEAR HUNTING onXmaps

www.huntinggpsmaps.com

W hether it’s finding bears, size of bears, quality of coats, or flavor of meat, opinions vary regarding which season makes for

the best bear hunt. While there may not be a conclusive right or wrong time of year to chase down bruins, both fall and spring have their advantages.

Doug Joppa has guided spring bear hunts, with Stockton Outfitters, in Montana’s Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness for the last four years and says there’s no better time than early spring to be glassing for bears. One reason Joppa prefers spring is the concentration of food sources for waking bears, keeping them from wandering, like he said they do in the fall.

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Joppa said when bears wake from hibernation, they eat green grasses as a means to jump start their digestive systems, which shut down during hibernation. To take advantage of this he recommends thoroughly glassing avalanche shoots, timber lines and anywhere else with grass. Access to public lands can be more difficult in the spring, however, especially after heavy snow years. Be sure to scout spots well before the season starts to make sure you’re not met with a wall of snow.

Note: Late winters, or cold springs can keep bears in their dens for extended periods. Some lingering winters may even keep bears asleep well into bear season.

After getting the digestive system back in gear with grass, Joppa said bears start targeting newborn fawns and elk calves.

This is when distress calling becomes very effective for luring in large bears.

“When you set up and you are blaring a calf distress or fawn bleat and you have a bear come in, you can pretty much bet that (it’s) going to be a good sized bear,” he said.

“Once they begin to change to meat and start hunting calves and fawns just begin hunting where the elk and deer are and you have a pretty good chance.”

It’s not just finding bears that makes for a good trophy, however.

Hunting bears at the right time of year, to get the best coat possible, is also important to hunters.

Owner of Game Trails Studio taxidermy, Steve Brett, said the time of year that produces the best coats is late fall. Brett has seen, and tanned, his fair share of bear hides and said bears taken as late in the fall as possible will have brand new coats, full of long winter hairs, which haven’t gone through the loss of fat stores associated with hibernation.

Brett doesn’t limit fine coats to the late fall, however. Catching a bear early in the spring means the winter coat will still be thick and full after hibernation, just not brand new. Brett advises to find a bear as early as possible, however, because the closer spring gets to summer, the more fur bears will rub off on trees. Brett sees the most bear pelts come into his shop during the spring, because hunters are targeting bears specifically opposed to the fall when he says taking a bear is more a matter of circumstance.

Bear meat is one of the more heated debates among hunters.

Some people won’t dare touch a piece of bear meat, after eating a particularly rancid piece in the past, while others swear by the flavor.

Author and host of MeatEater, Steven Rinella, says bears in general vary so much in flavor, it doesn’t hurt being a little picky when harvesting one to eat.

Rinella said his only real issue with the spring is taking a bear in a marine environment, like the Alaskan coast. Dietary factors like eating fish or massive amounts of carrion are the reasons bear meat tastes bad, he said. While in the fall this can work in your favor as a high mountain, berry fed bruin will taste almost sweet.

In coastal regions where fish is a primary source of food, Rinella will only hunt bears in the first few weeks of spring. This way their fat deposits, which carried any fishy flavoring, have been used through hibernation and they are still grazing on plants to jump start their digestive tract. While he would prefer to eat a berry fed fall bear, he enjoys spring hunting for the opportunity to hunt when there are no other seasons open and said he has eaten more spring bear meat than fall. Areas like the Rockies, he added, offer little difference in flavor between spring and fall.

However, he advises to take caution with bears that have gorged themselves on rotten carcasses in any environment.

“You are always rolling the dice with bear meat...I’d rather eat skanky meat, than feel like I’ve wasted meat.”

If you’re unlucky enough to harvest a rancid tasting bear, he suggests trimming all fat deposits off and rendering them down for future use. Rendering the fat will mitigate any ill flavoring and offer a cooking aid superior to butter, he said.

Regardless of season, though, always get your bear meat checked for the microorganism Trichinella Spiralis, a type of worm, which infects bears and even Rinella himself.

There may be no definitive best season to hunt black bear.

And even with the variability of bear flavor, it’s a rare case when an animal is too rancid tasting to eat...

September 2016

7

HUNTING FOR A REASON E

By Babe Winkelman

www.winkelman.com

very year while preparing for the upcoming hunting seasons, I find myself pondering the nature of hunting. In my travels, people who hunt almost always surround me. Yet seldom do we take the time to openly discuss or debate the nature of our passion to hunt. So it has become apparent that hunting is so personal that there is no consensus to answer the question of why we hunt. Besides the fact that hunting has become a large part of my livelihood, that is not the reason I started or continue to hunt. So let me take a moment to try to explain why I choose to hunt.

First I need to acknowledge that I believe I am a higher form of mammal in the animal world. With that understanding I think it becomes much easier to explain why I hunt than to explain why I wouldn’t hunt. While carnivores seek out other animal matter for life sustenance and herbivores concentrate on plant matter, omnivores by nature seek out food that is both animal and plant matter. Therefore as an omnivore, I choose to eat steak with a salad on the side. Think about your favorite restaurant for a moment. Does the menu include a selection to appease the appetite of man? Hamburger and fries or steak with vegetable soup and a salad on the side is common. So, the restaurant business as well the USDA food pyramid understands what the human race needs and wants in its diet. I can’t explain ice cream and chocolate cake.

Just like every other member of the animal world, I try to survive. To survive I must eat. So by nature I am a predator. I predate on animal matter and plant matter. Neither type of food has more intrinsic value to it than the other. They are equal in the fact I require or at least prefer to eat both to survive. Eating both plant and animal matter tends to keep an omnivore the heathiest, so again by nature or instinct I am driven to consume vegetable and animal matter.

I grew up in a family that harvested much of what the family ate. Whether it was vegetables from the garden or chicken from the hen house, we ate what we produced. As a predatory species, the family engaged in both hunting and fishing. I believe that growing up in a hunting environment gives me a much different perspective on life than a non-hunter. When I kill an animal that my family then consumes I am well aware of the actions that I took to take the animal from field to the table. Whereas there are many non-hunters who just think that the steak they eat merely comes from the grocery store. They do not consider how the animal got to the store. So here is my point. As a meat-eating predator I was born and raised with the instinct to hunt. Had I been raised in an environment that was void of hunting I probably would not have the desire to hunt. Any animal that is taken out of its natural element will quickly lose its survival technics and desire to hunt. If an animal has never been introduced to its natural elements it may well grow up with only the desire to eat but not the instinct to hunt or find its food. It has been proven over and over again that an animal has very limited chance to survive in nature once domesticated.

And finally there is the element of pure enjoyment of the hunt. Spending time with family and friends, blending into nature, and anticipation of the harvest are some of the main reasons that I hunt. It is very hard to rationalize the feeling I get when I hunt so I won’t try. In my life it simply seems more natural to hunt than not to. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I am sure that there are many scholars who can better define the purpose and rational for hunting. So my reasoning may not totally enlighten the public. In the end, my reason to hunt does not have to mirror yours. We just need to agree that hunting is what we do and we will happily support each other in our quest to enjoy the opportunity. Have fun out there!

8 - Hunting & Fishing News

SEPTEMBER TACTIC: GRUNT A BUCK

By Mike Hanback

www.mikehanback.com

A few years ago in September Taylor Fitzpatrick traveled to the Milk River in Montana to bowhunt with our friend Luke Strommen. The then 19-year-old Taylor climbed into his tree stand super early one morning, about 3:30.

The air felt great, 42 degrees cool, and the full moon hung in the sky like a big pie.

Taylor began seeing deer in the moon glow, moving back to their beds for the day. A 10-pointer that would score 155” walked beneath his stand and got him fired up. The sun came up hours later and he kept seeing deer. A buck with hard, fresh antlers cut across a corner of a distant alfalfa field.

Taylor raised his call and floated some loud grunts.

“The buck looked up and walked to me on a string,” Taylor said.

Taylor did what any good bowhunter would do—drilled the animal through the boiler room at 20 yards. The 130” buck ran back out into the alfalfa and tipped over dead.

Here, the story gets interesting.

Taylor watched as another P&Y buck approached the dead 10-point, fuzzed up, pawed and roughed up the fallen animal, poked him in the belly and tried to flip him over!

Luke has a theory. Right after velvet-stripping time bucks feel a jolt of testosterone, and they get aggressive for a few days as they try to sort things out in the buck hierarchy (they’ve been buddies all summer but now begin to get antsy and less tolerant of each other). Taylor was hunting smack in the middle of this “sorting out” time. Luke figures the buck responded to those grunts and attacked the dead buck to show his dominance.

The episode proves another thing: Carry a grunt call from September through January, and don’t be afraid to use it any time, any day. A few grunts will never spook a buck, and you never know when a buck will like what he hears and come closer to your stand.

September 2016

9

HOW TO CREATE SUCCESS ON DIFFICULT ELK HUNTS

By Ron Niziolek

E

Originally published at

www.gohunt.com

lk hunting and the associated difficulties are like fire and fuel -- you cannot have one without the other. Understanding what to expect when chasing elk in the mountains is important. It can be a grueling task and makes you gauge your personal fitness, fears and commitment.

WEATHER DIFFICULTIES Inclement weather can cause significant difficulty while bowhunting for elk. If it is too hot, it may decrease daytime activity. Warm temperatures combined with a full moon can lead to a dramatic decrease in activity. The dryness can make stalking difficult or impossible, but finding an active water source or wallow with predictable wind can salvage your hunt.

I have taken a couple of good bulls over wallows on hot afternoons. Another tactic is to concentrate your efforts on north facing timbered slopes that are contoured with bedding area benches.

Multiple calling setups near bedding areas may be your only effective choice during warm weather.

Photo credit: Ron Niziolek

The flipside is too much rain and/or snow. I’m not talking about the typical afternoon thunderstorms that are prevalent in the mountains, but serious storms lasting for a couple of days or more. Prolonged cold and wet conditions will challenge your mental commitment to continue hunting. If hunting from a base camp with a trailer or tent and a wood stove, having the ability to dry gear can be a huge mental boost. When confined to a bivy shelter or backpack tent, drying gear is all but impossible, and unless you are dressed in wool or the wide array of technical clothing available, you will be miserable. The upside is that stalking conditions will be perfect.

Since I prefer spotting and stalking, my favorite weather conditions are after a fresh snow has melted.

RUGGED TERRAIN Elk hunting terrain varies widely depending on location, but typically ranges in elevations from 5,000 to 13,000 feet.

There are areas in places like Arizona that are more flat and may allow you to hike 10 to 20 miles per day. Years ago, I learned that while this is physically easy elk hunting, without a functional GPS unit, I was easily turned around. The alternative elk terrain is the incredibly steep mountainous country found in other western states, with the toughest terrain found in Idaho. Lung searing hikes at high altitudes can cause altitude sickness (AMS), lactic acid buildup and blisters from endless uneven ground. Most problems can be avoided or minimized with proper physical conditioning, nutrition and comfortable boots. You should be aware of the symptoms of AMS so you can recognize if your health is in jeopardy. Headaches are the most common complaint and resting for a few days should improve symptoms. (continued on page 33) 10 - Hunting & Fishing News

September 2016 11

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CALLING AND DECOYING ELK IN TIMBER From Montana Decoy

T

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he bow season for elk generally begins September 1. It’s the pre rut, and most bulls are rubbing the velvet off of their hardening horns if they haven’t done so already.

They’re also thinking about cows, plural. As the bachelor herds begin breaking up in exchange for as many of the opposite sex as they can gather, a bull will be ready to fiercely guard his harem once it is formed.

During this time of year, elk are sticking to the coolness of shadows and dark timber as much as possible. They’re feeding mostly at night and visiting watering holes during the day when they do move. Vocalization increases though bulls are more receptive to cow calls rather than bugles in the early season. It’s time to take advantage of the testosterone levels that are rising at a quick beat. An elk’s behavior depends on several factors, including temperature, food availability, hunting pressure and of course the phase of the rut they’re in. If it’s a pre rut, early season hunt you’re going on, plan on calling and decoying elk in the timber where they’ll most likely be spending most of their days.

The Cow Call

You should have a cow call in your pack at all times. Even if a bull is satisfied with his harem, a cow call can also be used to at least locate a herd or stop a bull when you’re ready to shoot. Stopping him in the right shooting lane while hunting the thick timber is crucial to making a lethal shot.

The Calf Call

Much like whitetail does, cow elk will respond to the bleating of a lost calf. Once a bull has his harem fleshed out to a dozen or so lady friends, he’s not as likely to respond to your calling. While he may bugle from time to time, the chances of separating him from the herd is unlikely.

12 - Hunting & Fishing News

Playing the part of the calf, there is a good chance the cows’ curiosity will get the best of them and they’ll come looking. Not wanting to let his harem get separated, the bull will follow. If you hear the cows coming closer, get ready as the bull is probably close behind.

Don’t Panic

Ever hunted turkey in the fall?

Or busted up a covey of quail? Then did you notice what they started doing?

That’s right. They began calling to each other in order to regroup.

Elk are the same way.

If you accidentally walk into the middle of a herd, don’t try to immediately go after them.

Let the woods quiet down.

Softly begin cow calling.

Being natural herd (social) animals, the rest are going to look for the separated cow. This is not something that will happen in minutes.

It could take hours, so exude patience.

Increase your chances of calling and decoying elk in the timber by utilizing an ultra-real, easy-to-carry cow elk decoy. The Eichler Elk or RMEF Cow Elk decoys are great throughout the season.

Weighing only 2lbs. 10ozs., this photo-realistic decoy opens up to create a 48- by 50-inch portable hunting blind that is ideal for the forest, scrub brush or open country of the West.

Or, on the lighter side the Elk Rump weighs next to nothing and can easily stay in your pack year-round. It folds down to a 12-inch disc yet stands 48 inches tall when opened.

As with most animals, the use of decoys and calls are implemented to help.

However, if overused, they can certainly disway an elk from coming into bow range.

Nobody ever said it was easy, but if you can use the tools to increase the chances of eating delicious elk meat for the next year, then why not?

September 2016 13

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Sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 14 - Hunting & Fishing News

T he leaves fade from the green that we’ve become accustomed to into shades of oranges and yellows. Cool morning temperatures and

shortening daylight hours become as consistent as the bugles that break the mountain’s morning silence. Frost reacquaints itself with your cracked windshield as your camo and winter coat replace the flip flops and beach bag by your front door. Trout aggression is through the roof as big males come out from their summer havens and go to war over the affection of redd building females, as bull elk and deer spar it out over hot cows and does. Fall is the perfect season for all outdoor enthusiasts to hunt that trophy, whether finned or 4 legged.

How will you spend your weekends this fall is the question. Chasing aggressive spawning trout or pursuing echoing bugles and rut crazed deer? - This is the mental battle that occurs in outdoorsmen every fall, including myself.

If you’re unlike most and can pull yourself away from the timber line on a few cloudy days to pursue fall spawners you could very well hook into the trout of a lifetime. This is the time of year big fish seem to throw caution to the wind as they come out of their summer retreats to spawn. Here are a few tips that will help you hook into that lunker.

Dress for success - Keep in mind you are fishing in the fall months in Montana. Weather can be very unpredictable and it’d be a shame to have to put the rods away early because of an early-winter snow storm that caught you unprepared. Cloudy, stormy and more chilly days will also prove to be more productive due to big brown trout’s love for lower light conditions. This is the time of year where being tough and riding the storm out can bring that giant in.

Throw BIG meaty streamers - Go big. There have been numerous occasions where 20”+ trout have been caught after just eating fish as big as 15”. Don’t underestimate a big hungry brown trout’s appetite in the fall. I recommend throwing big flashy streamers, with a lot of action between 5”-10” long. Try swinging these streamers and slow stripping them back to you, getting the meal right down in the trout’s face. He wont be able to say no. You wont catch many smaller fish throwing these but you stand a chance at turning the trout that has been haunting your dreams.

Fish egg patterns - If you’re in a run where you know the fish are heavily concentrated, try nymphing egg patterns. Although a giant won’t move as far to scoop up one of these as they would for a streamer, they are not opposed to a little egg snack due to their high nutritious value.

Timing - Start pursuing these spawners from mid September all the way through November. Mid October is when things start to get real hot and heavy though. Try fishing at dawn and dusk and even into the night. Trout seem to be more active around these times, due to their affection for low light conditions.

With these few tips, a heap load of patience and dedication and some luck, you’ll be sure to net that ‘magazine cover’ trophy.

So how will you spend your weekends this fall?

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Fall Funnel Walleye

By Jason Mitchell

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C urrent attracts walleye any time of the year and

Look for current created by funnels and bottlenecks this fall and you will often find some incredible and often overlooked walleye fishing.

16 - Hunting & Fishing News

what might surprise many anglers is just how much current affects walleye location and movements throughout the season.

Even large natural lakes have currents that occur as wind pushes water to one side of the lake.

Even after the wind lies down, there can be current that is created as the water levels off and moves back the opposite direction. The current factor on reservoirs and flowages is even more obvious. Of course rivers always have obvious current.

Current can be a big drawing card for walleye throughout the season but current can be one of the most important variables for quickly finding walleye in the fall. Walleyes love current in the fall and often congregate into any incoming tributary or river system thus becoming more accessible to anglers. Many anglers have referred to this fall run in rivers and reservoirs as a false spawning run as this movement resembles the same spring migration of fish but I don’t believe this movement of fish is simply practice for procreation. The amount of baitfish that concentrates in current when the temperatures fall is incredible and walleyes are simply opportunistic.

These fall migrations are all about forage.

Walleyes running up river systems in the fall is a classic fishing opportunity but some of the most overlooked and sometimes productive fall walleye fishing patterns happen on natural lakes and flowages where walleye concentrate around bottlenecks and funnel areas that concentrate current.

On many lakes, causeways and bridges that are built between lakes focus a current that attracts walleye during the fall. Many narrow gaps that connect lakes are prime fall walleye locations. If there is any depth and moving water in these types of locations, there will almost always be walleye around.

Other top locations that enhance or concentrate current can be bottlenecks that are created by islands or points that basically neck down the water to increase the current flow. If there is visible current, there is enough current to attract walleyes and we have seen good locations that range between five feet of water to thirty feet of water. What makes these locations so good is the simple fact that these spots keep recharging with new fish and this can often be a big fish location… some of the biggest walleyes caught each fall come from these scenarios.

Presentations and fishing strategies can run the gamut but fall walleye fishing can often revolve around jigs and cranks. Some fisheries produce after dark bites for big fish where shallow running stick baits can be either trolled or cast from shore or by using waders. Anchoring or slipping the current with jigs is another proven strategy. Daytime bites often occur in deeper water where as after-dark patterns often happen in shallow.

Some incredible bites can develop particularly after dark for anglers either fishing from shore or with waders. Many of these locations can be fairly unassuming to anglers not in the know, simply a small bridge connecting two lakes is all that it takes.

People often tout spring as one of the best opportunities for cracking a trophy caliber walleye arguing that spring spawning conditions concentrate fish and the simple fact that big female walleyes are at their heaviest prior to the spawn. Fall fishing opportunities around current can be just as good.

Fish are often in prime condition from the ample fall feeding opportunities, females are starting to carry egg mass and the fish can often be concentrated.

Trophy walleye hunters covet the fall.

As a general rule of thumb, fall presentations need to be bulked up in the fall. Shallow running suspending stick baits and swim baits shine in less than seven feet of water. Larger stick baits like the Salmo Suspending Sting have loud rattles and two larger treble hooks (which work well for keeping big fish pinned up). Large four to five inch swim baits can also work extremely well. From my own experiences, I have often done better throwing the swim baits during the day and have done better on shallow running hard baits after dark. Swim baits like the Kalins Sizmic Shad with large thumping paddle tails are usually the ticket.

Deeper patterns can also occur depending on the location and jigging below the boat was often productive whenever working specific current seams or troughs that combined depth and current. There are times where the fish would be laying out in front of the current in the deep hole or break line in front of the bottleneck. These fall funnel locations are not necessarily always shallow or right immediately in the bottleneck.

For numbers of fish in particular, the deep water close to the moving water often loads up during the fall. Since these locations can be tight and small, staying over the top with a jig can be very efficient.

Because of the competition outdoors with so many facets of outdoor activities, fall walleye fishing opportunities can often be overlooked once hunting seasons kick in. Pressure falls off drastically as many outdoors enthusiasts trade in fishing rods for shotguns but for the committed anglers still fishing through the fall, these current patterns can produce some of the best walleye fishing of the season and some of the biggest fish are a real possibility.

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September Rifle Hunts

Backcountry hunts - Hunting districts (HD) 150, 151, 280, 316

By H&F News Pro Staff

f you are willing to cover some miles over mountainous terrain, you can hunt elk and deer with a rifle in September here in Montana (and in some backcountry units in Idaho and Wyoming). Rifle hunters can start hunting September 15 - well before the state’s general rifle seasons October 22, 2016 opener. These wilderness hunts are the real deal, as you have to get into this raw country on foot or on horseback, and be ready to handle any obstacle on your own. But the experience and solitude of being in these pristine wilderness areas are what draws hunters back each year.

There are four units in Montana that offer backcountry hunts - Hunting districts 150, 151, 280 and 316. The first two are in the famed Bob Marshall Wilderness and the other two are located in the Scapegoat and Absaroka Wilderness (bordering YNP) areas.

Montana Canvas wall tents provide excellent shelter and How to hunt: To be successful in these hunts, you either need to book with an outfitter or be in very good physical shape, comfort in the high country. have plenty of time, and have good backcountry gear. The size of these wilderness areas can be daunting.

Montana Lodge shown.

Pick an accessible drainage or two to focus on, watch for elk feeding in open areas at first light, then still-hunt through www.montanacanvas.com the timber and other cover during the heat of the day. In the evenings, glass until you find game. Pursue if you have time or make a plan for hunting in the morning at first light. The “Bob” in districts 150 and 151 has slightly more hospitable habitat, but probably less elk densities. Still, big bulls inhabit these drainages. You can get in these areas by scaling the Swan face from the west side or hiking or horsebacking in up the Teton or Sun River from the east. Either way, it’s miles of hiking and climbing to reach the unit.

In HD 316, you’ll need to hike in from the Beartooth face, up any of a dozen small drainages that fall off the huge shoulders of the Beartooth Plateau, it’s nearly 700,000 acres of high-elevation splendor. No other U.S. mountain range south of Alaska has as much terrain above the tree line.

The alpine plateaus and mountain basins here are among the most dramatic and beautiful to be found anywhere in North America.

Once you are on top, you may wonder where the elk are. It’s primarily a windswept, boulder strewn alpine tundra with little timber, but the elk are here in pockets of timber and along the border of the Park. Try to call rutting bulls or employ the oldest, most effective way of hunting elk: wait for them near a game trail and ambush them when they come by.

An added bonus of these backcountry hunts is that the deer season is also open. Some very large mule deer bucks inhabit these remote basins.

These bucks can be found near timberlines in small bachelor groups. To locate and stalk them in this rugged country is high adventure.

Mature 4x4 bucks wtih heavy racks are obtainable here if you are willing to work for them.

Montana’s wilderness areas are bear country. Black bear hunting is legal in both the Beartooth and the Bob. You may also encounter grizzly bear in both areas, so be bear prepared. Make sure you check MFWP game laws for antler restrictions and use a GPS and onXmaps (www.huntinggpsmaps.com) for boundary lines near the Park. The backcountry rifle season runs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 27, 2016 in Montana. Good hunting.

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Sizzlin’ Smallmouth A

By Eddie White

s bow hunting season starts in September, the smallmouth fishing here on the east Yellowstone is so hot, it’s sizzlin’. With days of well over 100 fish, it’s hard to not spare and spend a day fishing for them. The average is 10 to 16 inches, but I am here to testify, even the smallest of these fish is like a firework exploding on the end of your line. Here are a few tips and techniques to simplify your chasing smallie decisions.

Slip bobber: Since I can remember, the excitement of watching a bobber go down still gets me pumped. A good ol’ slip bobber is a very tried and true technique done for years and years to come.

The bigger the slip bobber the better, and longer casts one can get. Be sure to adjust the slip after a few drifts if you do not have any bites. Other than a slip bobber, #6 to #1 hooks and a hand full of split shots is all that is needed.

Drop shot: When searching for smallies, this can be a great tool for finding the school. Typically when you find one, more are willing to follow.

The simplicity of this rig is very effective. You will always want to stay in contact with the bottom. If the rig continues to drift, add a heavier weight.

As for a hook, go 12 to 18 inches above the sinker. An octopus hook up to 1/0 is all that is necessary.

Tube baits: When the smallies are on the crawfish feed, these cannot be beat. A tube bait in brown craw is my go to, and I will always start the day with one. There are so many different companies that make so many different colors and style of jig heads. Find what works for you and stick with it.

Water and location: Water temperature can play an important role for the fall bite. As the water dwindles to 40 degrees the bite will slow and almost come to a halt. For location, they will tend to stack in front of diversion dams. Always a great place to try. Riprap banks and rock piles cannot be overlooked. For those with boats, gravel bars will hold numbers of fish as well.

Bait: I fished right next to two guys one day. The day before I had killed them drop shotting a nightcrawler. The day of, well, they had minnows and I had nightcrawlers. I did not land a fish as I watched them both limit out in less than an hour. So, from then on, both come with me.

Minnow size I think really depends on the fisherman more than the fish. I will use 2 to 3 inch minnows, and have the same success as the guy using bigger baits.

For those that have not eaten bass, with a mild flavor and a flaky flesh, they are just as good as any other of the mild flavored fish in the state.

Whether deep fried, seared in butter, or baked, it is a tough fish to beat.

Eddie White owns and operates The Minnow Bucket in Huntley Montana, also a writer, seminar speaker and tournament angler.

Contact Eddie at: montanaminnowbucket@yahoo.com on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheMinnowBucket or by phone at 406-696-1281.

18 - Hunting & Fishing News

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Say Hello To Success: Where to chase the Fish this Month Brought to you by

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eptember easily ranks as a favorite among Western anglers.

The morning air bites a bit more, and as local rivers and creeks continue to run low, the trout feel the change in the air and continue to feed more aggressively now as we enter the early fall.

The chilly night temperatures are cooling down the water and bringing the fish that were deep all summer long up to a depth where they can be caught on lighter gear on lakes and reservoirs. Bass, walleye, trout and northern pike all will start smashing baits along the surface near shorelines as we cool off after a long, hot summer.

If you enjoy solitude, try heading to a wilderness area - take simple gear, forget the cell phone and just relax. It’s a great time to set up camp along a waterway and enjoy the best of why we live in this beautiful state. Pack your long underwear and a bow or shotgun and make it even more of a fun outing.

Here’s a roundup of a few solid areas that should provide exceptional fall fishing.

ALPINE TROUT: Montana holds more than 1,000 mountain lakes that hold productive trout fisheries, and one of the greatest benefits of fishing these alpine area lakes is a meal of fresh trout, which often have delectable pink meat that comes from eating zoo plankton and scuds (freshwater shrimp).

Montana’s largest concentration of alpine lakes is in the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness area, southwest of Billings, straddling the Montana-Wyoming border. Yellowstone cutthroat trout

golden trout and arctic grayling are among the fish species that are caught in the roughly 300 trout lakes that inhabit this area.

TACTICS: Anglers have three options: fly fishing, spin-fishing, or bait fishing. Fly fishing gear will include terrestrial patterns such as ants and grasshoppers, nymphs #12 or #14, brown Hare’s Ear with (or without) a beadhead, pink scuds and elk hair caddis dries also do well.

Pack a variety of dry flies.

Spin fishing gear should include a #2 Mepps Aglia, #1 or #2 Blue Fox, and a 1/8 or 1/4 ounce Kamlooper spoon.

Color combinations that work are with silver or bronze blades. A black Rooster Tail with a silver blade is a good starter, but if that is slow, try different color combinations until something starts to catch fish.

For mountain trout anglers who prefer bait, half a nightcrawler on a single hook will normally do well in alpine lakes. Pack a small backpack stove and you’re in business when dinner time rolls around.

Other productive alpine lakes include the Jewel Basin in northwest Montana just northeast of Bigfork or the Beartooth Mountain range. Be sure to check the MFWP fishing guide for information and catch limits.

YELLOWSTONE RIVER: Between Gardiner and Livingston is about a 50 mile stretch of river that fishes well for rainbows, cutts, and big browns.

Top flies include grasshoppers, beetles and other terrestrials, as September could be the peak for the hoppers this year. The Yellowstone has always been one of the premier rivers for throwing large streamers for trophy trout. Yellowstone National Park comes into play as well with very good baetis emergences that come off on the Madison, Firehole, Lamar, Soda Butte Creek and Slough Creek. These fish are a bit

picky after a few months of heavy fishing pressure, but cannot help themselves but to gorge on the Fall Green Drake which emerges, and that the trout love to gobble up.

There is nothing better than casting dries to rising fish as a bull elk Trevor Johnson, owner Kit’s Tackle Sportsfishing (www.kitstackle.com) and bugles in the client Aaron Adams with a chunky chrome rainbow trout. background. in eastern Montana. It’s not the LOWER CLARK FORK RIVER: big walleye I’m talking about, Fall can present really good fishing it’s the larger lake trout that are along I-90 west of Missoula. stacked up on the face of You can put in at the FAS at Fort Peck Dam in preparation for Forest Grove, and fish below the their late-October and November Alberton Gorge all the way to spawn. It’s one of the rare times Big Eddy near Superior. you can fish from shore on this Top flies include baetis and huge lake. Throwing large spoons mahoganies for predominately can take fish up to 18 to 20 lbs. or rainbows and some cutthroat.

MIDDLE FORK OF THE FLATHEAD better. Lake trout are holding tight to the cobble of the dam.

RIVER: The West Glacier area will The eastern end of the dam is be an excellent choice now as the best. Practice catch and release weather starts to cool. Good river access for boats is on Moccasin Creek, fishing when you can, because the larger lake trout are rare.

Cascadia, and Essex. The 35 mile Other exceptional Montana stretch follows Highway 2 from waterways that are waiting for you Bear Creek down to West Glacier. to camp, fish and hunt include Top flies include emerging the Georgetown Lake area, blue-winged olives, hoppers, some Clark Canyon Reservoir, PMDs, and October Caddis. All will come into play for big Montana trout Noxon Reservoir, Seeley and Swan Lakes, the Bighorn River, ranging from 16 to 22 inches.

Holter Lake, Lake Koocanusa, You’ll find mainly cutthroat and and Hebgen Lake to name just a rainbows, with a few browns on the few. prowl as well.

FORT PECK LAKE: One of the Have fun exploring and enjoy most neglected big-fish spots in the the fall fishing. fall will be Fort Peck Reservoir

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Columbia River Fall Chinook Fishery Set To Open Under Some New Rules

FALL FISHING STARTS NOW!

Washington Department Of Fish And Wildlife

C olumbia River anglers preparing for the fall salmon season should be aware of several new rules scheduled to take effect when the popular fishery gets under way Aug. 1.

Approximately 960,000 fall chinook salmon are projected to return to the big river this year, well above the 10-year average, said Ron Roler, a Columbia River fishery manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). However, some coho and steelhead runs are expected to be down this year.

“A big part of the challenge this year is to conserve coho and steelhead, while providing a full fishing season for chinook salmon,” Roler said.

“As always, we want to protect wild salmon and steelhead populations, while providing great fishing opportunities for abundant hatchery fish.”

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Key changes in this year’s fall fishery on the Columbia River and its tributaries are noted below: Steelhead limits: Anglers are limited to one hatchery steelhead per day on the lower Columbia River below Bonneville Dam starting Aug. 1.

This restriction is due to low projected upriver wild steelhead returns and will be extended upriver to McNary Dam starting Sept. 1, then up to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco beginning Nov. 1. As in previous years, only hatchery steelhead with a clipped adipose fin and a healed scar may be retained.

Buoy 10 chinook rule: State fishery managers estimate that anglers will catch nearly 48,500 chinook salmon by Labor Day (Sept. 5) in the Buoy 10 fishery, which takes place in the lower 16 miles of the Columbia River.

In this fishery, anglers will be required to release wild chinook on Sundays and Mondays to meet federal conservation guidelines for chinook runs listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

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Ventral clipped chinook: Anglers may retain chinook salmon with either a clipped adipose or left ventral fin through Dec. 1 from Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam. Chinook salmon raised for release in the Youngs Bay off-channel fishing zone in Oregon and marked for identification with a clipped ventral fin have been found straying into natural spawning areas elsewhere in the Columbia River Basin. The new rule will enable the recreational fishery to help reduce the number of fish that stray.

Snake River chinook: The daily catch limit for adult chinook salmon has been reduced to two fish from the Steamboat Landing Dock in Washougal upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco to conserve wild ESA-listed chinook bound for the Snake River.

Coho limit in tributaries: In previous years, anglers were allowed to keep up to six adult hatchery coho salmon in tributaries to the lower Columbia River. This year, with the run projection down 27 percent from the 10-year average, the daily limit will be two adult hatchery fish. As before, unmarked coho must be released. The new daily limit will affect fisheries on the Cowlitz, Deep, Grays, Elochoman, Toutle, Green, Tilton, Cispus, Kalama, Lewis and Washougal rivers.

Strays on the tributaries: For the first time, anglers will be allowed to keep hatchery chinook and hatchery coho during designated hatchery steelhead seasons on numerous smaller lower Columbia tributaries to remove stray hatchery fish from the spawning grounds.

Fishing regulations in effect throughout the state are described river-by-river in the 2016-17 Sport Fishing Pamphlet at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/ regulations/. Anglers are also advised to check that site for emergency regulations adopted since the pamphlet was issued.

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IN SEPTEMBER

M any avid anglers target September as their preferred month for fly fishing in Montana. Once kids go back to

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school the amount of tourist traffic visiting the Big Sky state drops off dramatically so the casual anglers sneaking in a guided day of fishing on their Yellowstone Park vacation almost vanishes and the rivers are left to more serious fly fishers. Locals also begin turning their attention to the fall hunting season so the trout see relatively few flies in the Autumn months. September also offers some of the most pleasant weather of the year with dry weather, crisp mornings, and warm days. Fortunately the fishing can be very good in September with a mixed bag of dry fly fishing, streamer fishing and nymph fishing.

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Where to fish? All of the favorite classics that fish well in the summer are still a good option in September.

Legendary rivers like the Upper Madison, Yellowstone, Gallatin etc. still produce. One of the perks about fishing in September is that several of the lower elevation rivers also become a good option. Waters such as the Lower Madison, Upper Missouri, Jefferson and Lower Gallatin often get too warm in the popular mid summer months to produce good fishing. Once the nights become longer and temperatures begin to drop a bit these fisheries often hit ideal trout temperatures and once again become productive. The lower elevation waters often have lower trout counts per mile but often produce some of the larger brown trout in the region with a ten-pounder a possibility for a very lucky angler. Spring creeks are also an interesting choice for September.

By the end of the month the fall baetis hatch is producing steady mid day match the hatch fishing. Earlier in the month terrestrials are the main dry fly staple...Usually the famous spring creeks near Livingston only have a few rods a day in September so you can have all of the best runs available without a lot of other anglers around (just be prepared for technical fishing).

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Dry fly fishing September offers ample opportunities for anglers that enjoy surface action. In the beginning of the month the terrestrial fishing with ants, hoppers and beetles is often the most productive. Although everyone starts to get really excited about hopper fishing as early as late July, some years the hopper fishing doesn’t hit its prime until September.

Terrestrial fishing is generally good the entire month, especially on the warmer sunny days which make up the bulk of the days during this dry and mild time of the year.

By the middle of September we begin to see some of the mayfly hatches in the region that can get the trout very excited.

Tricos are still on some of the waters in early September, but by mid September we begin to see baetis mayflies, mahogany duns, grey drakes and ephrons.

Even sparse hatches in September can provide some nice dry fly opportunities.

A nice Lower Madison brown that fell to a streamer.

September streamer fishing brown trout are just beginning to get colored up but are not really on the move yet prior to spawning and will get more aggressive moving into October. Streamer fishing can still be a good option in September. Since the mornings are arriving later with the longer days it is easier to get to the rivers at first light which is often the window to get nice streamer action on a sunny day. Of course if you have cloud cover or a front pushes in streamers can be effective throughout the day. Generally September sees a few cold fronts that come in and produce a bit of precipitation for a day or two which can really turn some big fish when stripping bunny fur.

Nymph fishing - It’s no secret that trout take the majority of their food subsurface so nymph fishing will always produce regardless of the season. In September we often try to find dry fly opportunities but we still do a lot of nymph fishing. On some of the lower elevation rivers mentioned earlier there are some really big trout and even if a few trout are rising we often still nymph big sculpins and crayfish patterns with a smaller baetis nymph dropper to try to entice some of the trophy trout in these waters. September is certainly high on the list as a great time to [enjoy] Montana. If you are looking for a time of year that produces dry and mild weather with fewer anglers on the water then it should be high on the list. The diversity of opportunities that can be experienced in the early fall is also a bonus to traveling during September.

- See more at: http://www.montanaangler.com/montana-fly-fishing-blog/2012/09/montana-fly-fishing-in-september#.dpuf

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orthern pike are adaptable predators that go where the food is, provided water temps don’t get too hot and oxygen levels hold up.

Such flexibility means you can find bruiser pike cruising deep weed edges and offshore structure —but it also means they sometimes show up surprisingly shallow...

But shallow patterns are an option elsewhere right now as well, including shallow, windswept lakes or large bays offering an abundance of forage fish. Keep in mind that some pike may be deep in the main lake, while others hold much shallower in connected arms, bays and estuaries.

Key depths vary depending on water clarity, weather conditions and other factors, but anywhere from five to nine feet typically has potential in such setups in September. Weed growth can be a plus, but the absence of greenery isn’t a deal breaker as along as baitfish abound.

Casting is a great way to cover small slices of structure, but trolling excels when pike and forage species are scattered across featureless bottoms on big flats.

When wind stirs up sediments or late-season algae blooms cloud the water, noisy baits with hard-thumping blades, hard-wobbling gyrations or built-in rattle chambers attract pike relying on their lateral lines and hearing to home in on prey from a distance.

Lindy’s M/G Muskie Tandem spinnerbait and River Rocker crankbait are two classic options that create enough commotion to lure passing pike into striking range.

Since pike have the feedbag on, don’t be afraid to spice things up with aggressive rod sweeps that accentuate the bait’s action and trigger following fish to attack.

- See more at: http://www.lindyfishingtackle.com/lindy-land/lindy-land-blog-september-pike/#sthash.TZHUfoXI.dpuf September 2016 23

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By Luke Strommen www.mikehanback.com

xcellent guest blog and advice from Montana traditional archer Luke Strommen, a charter member of the Big Deer Hunt Team: To all the BIG DEER Bloggers: Here is story and a lesson I have learned. Hope it helps you find a big buck and shoot him this season.

One time I spotted a gnarly 6×6 during my scouting and glassing routines in the summer. The mature whitetail used his primary core area throughout July and August. I saw him many times and took some distant digital images of him from one of our tree stands. He would browse in an irrigated alfalfa field, and having completed his evening ritual, he’d sneak off to spend the night in a 20-acre corn field nearby.

He continued this pattern into the early archery season in September, consistently passing by one of my stands, but late. I waited for the wind to be right and sat the stand three times in early September, only to have the buck come by on the 16-yard trail just after legal and ethical shooting light.

This “12-point” as my Eastern friends would call him wasn’t the largest buck I had seen that summer on the Milk River, but he was a much sought after 6×6. A clean 6×6 is hard to come by, especially for a recurve hunter like me.

As the season progressed, the buck’s pattern changed, and he became less visible and more unpredictable.

He would spend a week or 2 in different “sub-core areas” in the vicinity as food sources changed with the late-fall weather pattern. Remember that, because any big deer you find now might do that in a few months.

But ultimately the buck came back to his familiar, primary core area where I had spotted him all summer, to the place where he felt most dominant and comfortable.

I figured he would do that and I was right. I spotted his

12-point rack whirling and twirling early in the afternoon of November 1.

He was warding off inferior bucks, posturing his antlers like weapons to the stubborn invaders of his domain.

Since I had scouted this area so much, I knew how the buck used the place, and where he liked to travel. It paid off. That was back in the mid-2000s when there were a lot of deer on the Milk River, and when I was guiding a few bowhunters on our farms.

I put a hunter from Texas in the same spot where I had spotted the 6×6 several times in low light in September. On the 2nd of November, with the pre-rut kicking into gear, the buck was a lot less cautious as he strode by the stand with 45 minutes of shooting light to spare.

The hunter placed a sharp broadhead right through his oxygen tank.

The big lesson: Scouting your buck early and often in the summer pays off, even if you can’t connect on him during the first weeks of archery season. You might “lose” your mature deer for a few days or even weeks, but the rutting phases of the fall will generally bring him back to his primary core area, where one day he might finally make a mistake.

One day in November or even December you might finally kill the buck from one of the stands you hunted way back in the first week.

Good luck this fall.—Luke

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Shhhh …

Quiet Please For Elk

By Mark Kayser

Mark Kayser with a satellite bull taken on a quiet hunt. ©Mark Kayser

You just can’t help yourself. The moment your hands wrap around an elk bugle or cradle the cup of a cow elk call the temptation takes over.

You have to blow on it. Tooting on elk calls is the epitome of archery elk hunting. You use them to locate elk and hopefully lure a bull into bow range in classic style. Unfortunately elk, like many species, learn and adapt quickly to tactics. Thirty years ago elk oftentimes ran to a call.

Today they are just as likely run away.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t use a call. Most bulls engage in a bugling response from a distance. Whether they feel safe or the wilderness gap makes the call that much more believable is your call. Nevertheless, calling at dawn and dusk can still be an effective tool in locating elk.

But be prepared. As you move in and continue the toot-a-thon, elk may zip a lip and disappear with the wind in their noses.

September elk hunts oftentimes come down to one bugle at dawn and possibly another short series at dusk. You may catch a flurry of midday bugle brawls as cows come into estrus at midmonth and you always have the chance to call in a raghorn bull any time during the season.

With that in mind, your odds of fooling a mature veteran are about as good as Hilary Clinton getting a job at Google as the head of email security. Armed with meager verbal clues you better arm yourself with a strategy to overcome the silence associated with educated elk.

Begin your archery season by locating summer nursery herds made up of cows and calves. The bulls tend to avoid these female-pheromone crowds in the summer, but they begin visiting the areas during the opening days of the season. Young bulls move in and out of with adolescent exuberance. Eventually old bulls join the herds knowing that cows will be coming into heat soon.

These summer herds will stick in a summer routine for a week or more into the season depending on weather, and hunting pressure. While scouting note all trails, meadows and water sources the summer herds utilize. You may be able to ambush elk on their way to these attractions.

This tactic will have a brief window for success as herds begin to break down and bulls move cows away from crowds, and summer patterns.

Despite the short window, a summer elk pattern could carry over into the early season for success.

As the herds disperse away from summer patterns begin to look for areas that elk visit with frequency. Remote and removed from human activity is your goal. Hike away from the human hubbub with a 2-mile spread at minimum. Now look for areas like lush meadows to ambush or stalk a feeding elk. Elk are grazers so most of their nutrition is found in open areas unlike deer that are browsers and may nip in shaded refuge.

Also be on the lookout for other natural attractions such as mineral licks. They occur throughout elk range and if you ever stumble across an area of earth, especially a bank dug out by elk hooves, you may have found a gold mine. I’ve stumbled across several over the years and it’s obvious when you find it due to the amount of digging going on.

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Water may or may not be a hotspot to mark as a waypoint. In many elk areas you can find water in every drainage, but studies in Utah have shown that elk prefer summer habitat within 1/3 mile of water and another 3-year study in central Washington indicated that even in a dry year elk distribution “was limited to within 805 meters (0.5 miles of water).”

What goes hand in hand with water? If you said “what are wallows” you won that round of Jeopardy. By late summer and through archery season elk wallow in traditional wet zones and new sites where elk decide to splash.

During the rut a muddy elk wallow serves as a way for elk to cover themselves in scent. They roll in the mud and urinate on themselves to create an odor that offers hunters one of the few opportunities to smell their quarry before seeing them. Why do they do this? Biologists tend to agree it is a way to promote presence, dominance and willingness to breed. It’s almost like a whitetail scrape, but it’s mobile and moves with the animal to advertise. You can still-hunt near wallows, build a ground blind or even put up a treestand. It’s one of the top quiet approaches you can utilize for elk.

Lastly, if you do hear an elk blowup, stay silent and slip close to the herd in a downwind fashion. If there is an estrus cow or two in the herd the activity can be close to chaos as bulls compete. Follow the bugles and move swiftly, but be on the lookout for elk as you close the gap.

You’ll likely run into cows on the edge of the herd and possibly into satellite bulls hoping for a chance at breeding. If you’re not picky a satellite trophy may just be the way to end the season. If you have larger antler goals wait for the elk security team to move on and continue your stalk.

As a last resort, pull out your calls. A squealing bugle from within the herd could be just the stimuli to make a big bull roll into bow range.

Several years ago on a high-country hunt a buddy and I broke through the security of a herd after nearly two hours of following them without calling. Despite our best stalk ever I couldn’t get a shot at the herd bull due to the swarm of cows between us. With nothing to lose my partner bugled once and a young 6-point bull ran into the opening. Without hesitation I drew back my Mathews bow and launched. I figured one in the backpack was better than two in the bush and a silent approach except that lone bugle spelled success.

September 2016 25

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Hunting & Conservation News Proudly Sponsored By

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HUNTING & CONSERVATION NEWS

Sage Grouse Hunting Open Again In Montana For Month Of September

By Greg Lemon, FWP Information Bureau Chief Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

E

xpanded opportunities for sage grouse hunting will be offered this year in Montana as bird populations have rebounded well after two years of favorable spring weather conditions.

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Though the brief decline and subsequent bounce back of sage grouse numbers can likely be attributed to weather and normal cycles in bird populations, the population numbers and quick rebound are encouraging, said Catherine Wightman, wildlife habitat and Farm Bill coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

“These kinds of population cycles are normal, what we’re hoping to do with our habitat conservation efforts and monitoring work is to keep the dips in population from being so dramatic,” Wightman said.

Sage grouse season opens Sept. 1 and runs through the month, closing Sept. 30. The bag limit is two birds with a possession limit of four.

Sage grouse populations struggle with habitat fragmentation, impacts from energy development and the conversion of sagebrush steppe habitat to cropland. However, decades of efforts at monitoring sage grouse and conserving their habitat in Montana has paid off. In 2015 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided the bird didn’t warrant listing on the Endangered Species List because of ongoing habitat conservation work in Montana and throughout their range.

Under the FWP Sage Grouse Conservation Plan, adopted in 2005, FWP will recommend to the Fish and Wildlife Commission sage grouse hunting season closures when populations dip below 45 percent of their long term average. However, before 2014 the Commission had yet to use that rationale to close sage grouse hunting in the state.

In fact, the plan outlined conditions for closing hunting, but didn’t have provisions for when hunting would be re-opened. When the hunting season was closed in 2014, the Commission approved conditions for the season to be re-opened. One of the conditions being that sage grouse lek counts were higher in one year than the long-term average.

That condition was met this spring, Wightman said. Leks are locations where sage grouse males conduct their mating rituals, which is comprised of strutting, fanning tail feathers and making popping noises with their bulbous air sacs.

Weather watching Weather conditions play an important role in sage grouse numbers from year to year, particularly during the time when sage grouse hens are incubating eggs in the nest and when the chicks are first hatched, she said.

“After they hatch, they’re so vulnerable,” Wightman said. “They can walk, but they’re downy little fuzz balls walking through the sagebrush.

They can’t fly and they don’t have adult feathers to insulate them.”

After several years of wet springs with flooding and hail, the juvenile recruitment was way down in 2013 and overall numbers dropped to some of the lowest since 1980.

However, one good year of recruitment made all the difference.

Weather was favorable for sage grouse in the spring of 2014, so while the overall number of adults were down, the crop of new birds was really good. The males born in the spring of 2014 were displaying on the leks in 2015. This year lek counts in all three FWP sage grouse management areas were above the long-term trends by an average of 17 percent statewide.

28 - Hunting & Fishing News

HUNTING & CONSERVATION NEWS

Photo: Chuck Carlson

Counting leks For trend data and management decisions, biologists count displaying male sage grouse during the mating period on leks around the state.

The birds return to the same leks year after year, and while there are hundreds around Montana, FWP biologists focus on 88 for their counts that influence management decisions, Wightman said.

These 88 leks have long-term data strings with some going back to 1980 and provides a solid foundation for analyzing sage grouse numbers.

“We use those as barometers for population trends,” she said.

Hunting and management While some may be concerned that sage grouse hunting is re-opened, especially considering the effort FWP, the state and landowners have made and continue to make in ensuring populations numbers remain within naturally fluctuating ranges to keep the birds off the ESA, the fact is hunting has little impact on bird numbers.

In the past 16 years, FWP biologists have collared about 1,300 adult birds in areas where hunting was allowed. So far only nine of those birds have been killed by hunters, said John Vore, FWP game management bureau chief.

“That’s a very low number,” he said. “The effects of hunting, at least in Montana, are very minimal.”

Additionally, though the Montana management plan allows for a more standard hunting season with a bag limit of four birds, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, with recommendations from FWP staff, decided on a conservative season structure with a two-bird bag limit and a season only open from Sept. 1 – Sept. 30.

The conservative approach seemed prudent considering the sage grouse in Montana and the rest of the region will have another ESA review in 2020.

Still, Montana’s sage grouse success story is one worth applauding.

“We’re the only state in the West that’s completely open for sage grouse and we have the longest hunting season,” Wightman said.

The continued focus from a management standpoint will be on habitat conservation and making strides toward maintaining stable long-term trends – to especially try and keep the numbers during the low years from getting too low, if possible. The fact is you can still have good years in terms of population, but have declining numbers over all.

“Conservation of habitat is important so we can ensure the long-term trends of the populations are stable,” she said. “We aren’t trying to get back to the sage grouse populations of the 1960s, but we think we can maintain a steady population by maintaining good habitat and that’s the goal.”

September 2016 29

- REGIONAL NEWS -

Wyoming Hunter Recognized For Record-Setting Elk

Outfitter, Three Accomplices Sentenced For Poaching A Trophy-Class Mule Deer...

By Mike Porras C

CPW NW Region PIO

olorado Parks and Wildlife is releasing details about the two-year, multi-state investigation that solved the case of a large, trophy-quality mule deer poached in November of 2014. It began with an anonymous tip to Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and ended in early July with the sentencing of a Colorado outfitter. His three out-of-state employees were all sentenced earlier this year for their role in the wildlife crime.

Local wildlife officers say the trophy sized mule deer could be one of the largest bucks taken in the area in the past few years...

The defendants conspired to kill the buck at a ranch south of Craig toward the end of the third rifle season two years ago. One of the men used another’s license after he killed the animal, an illegal act known as ‘party hunting.’

“It was definitely one of the largest mule deer bucks I’ve ever seen,” said District Wildlife Manager Evan Jones of Craig. “It’s one that anyone would be lucky to see in his or her lifetime, not to mention the chance to actually harvest a deer this size. It is a real shame that a licensed, ethical hunter was cheated out of the opportunity by these individuals.”

To read the entire article visit http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/ News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=5854 30 - Hunting & Fishing News

A

lbert W. Henderson of Burlington, Wyoming was recently honored by the Boone and Crockett Club for his trophy typical American elk. The elk, taken with a crossbow in Fremont County during the 2014 season, scored 408 and received a first-place award at the Boone and Crockett Club’s 29th Big Game Awards Banquet.

“I’ve hunted in Wyoming my whole life,” said Henderson. “There are good elk all over the state in each area, but I’ve never taken an elk this big before.”...

Every three years, North American big game trophies taken, entered, and accepted into Boone and Crockett Club’s big game records-keeping program are assembled for public display followed by a banquet and award presentations. A judges panel comprised of senior Boone and Crockett Official Measurers verified each trophy’s final score, which is the sum total of a comprehensive series of measurements taken of antlers, horns, skulls, and tusks, depending on the species. The Boone and Crockett system of scoring big game trophies originated in 1906 as means of recording details on species thought to be disappearing because of rampant habitat loss, market hunting, and unregulated harvest.

“I took my elk in a general area. This should be encouraging to all Wyoming hunters. You can still get a good bull on a self-guided hunt in any area with hard work and dedication,” said Henderson.

Henderson’s elk will be listed along with over 4,000 other trophies in the Boone and Crockett Club’s 29th Big Game Awards book available this fall.

- REGIONAL NEWS -

Idaho Hunters In For Another Great Big-Game Season

By Roger Phillips, Public Information Specialist

Idaho’s fall hunting season is likely to be outstanding. Coming on the heels of an all-time record white-tailed

deer harvest in 2015 and the highest harvests in more than a decade for mule deer and elk, hunting this fall should be similar [to] last year.

Let’s take a quick look at the 2015 hunt. Deer hunters had a 43-percent success rate in general season hunts and a 61 percent success rate in controlled hunts. They took 68,768 deer, which included a record 30,568 whitetails that topped the previous record of 29,800 whitetails set in 1999. It was also the largest deer harvest Idaho Department of Fish & Game Photo since 1991, and 36 percent above the 10-year average harvest.

Elk hunters weren’t far behind. They harvested 24,543 elk in 2015, which easily topped the 2014 harvest of 20,700 which was considered a pretty good year. It was also 35 percent above the 10-year average, and the largest elk harvest since 1996. General-season elk hunters had a 22 percent success rate, and hunters with controlled tags more than doubled that with 46 percent success. Combined, the average success rate was 27 percent for elk hunting.

With a little luck, elk hunters this year could top 25,000 elk during fall hunts,which has only happened three times in the last 40 years.

And that new whitetail record may be short-lived. The 2016 harvest could “easily match” last year’s, according to Fish and Game’s big game manager Jon Rachael. With whitetail hunting growing in popularity in Idaho and whitetail populations strong, this year could break another record.

Mule deer hunters won’t get left out of the bounty. Herds are healthy and growing throughout much of the state and should provide an above-average harvest. With a little help from the weather in fall, it could also be an exceptional year for mule deer hunting.

A variety of factors affect the big game harvest. Winter survival – particularly fawns and calves – is an indicator of the upcoming hunting season, as well as summer forage, [and] fall weather that affects hunting conditions and predation.

A harsh winter can severely impact big game herds. Deer are most vulnerable, especially fawns, and last year’s fawns become this year’s young bucks that make up a large portion of the fall harvest.

In most parts of the state, Idaho had a normal winter, but snow came earlier than in recent years, and there was a cold snap in late December and early January that brought sub-zero temperatures to parts of the state. That likely contributed to lower winter survival than the previous two winters, which were unusually mild.

Fish and Game captures and puts radio collars on mule deer fawns each winter, then tracks how many survive through mid spring. Statewide survival of radio-collared fawns was 64 percent, which is down from a record-high 83-percent survival in the 2014-15 winter, and 78 percent the prior winter.

However, last winter’s fawn survival still tracked above the 10-year average of 58 percent.

In addition to fawns, F&G also radio collared 472 adult does, tracked them throughout winter and early spring, and 93 percent of them survived, compared with 95 percent the previous two winters.

Deer and elk harvests were both higher in 2015, and there were also more hunters. Deer tag sales jumped by 5,978 tags between 2014 and 2015, and elk tag sales increased by 4,297. However, success rates for deer and elk hunters both improved in 2015 over the previous year.

Idaho hunters get lots of general-season hunts, a rarity in Western hunting these days, so hunters can buy a license and deer and elk tag and go.

Not only that, general season hunters do very well. They took 83 percent of the deer and 59 percent of the elk harvested in 2015.

That’s not to say hunters who drew coveted controlled-hunt tags were not successful. Elk hunters who participated in controlled hunts were more than twice as likely to harvest as those with general-hunt tags (46 percent vs. 22 percent), and 61 percent of deer hunters with controlled-hunt tags harvested a deer vs. 43 percent for general seasons.

Deer harvests have made a significant jump in the last two years, thanks in part to consecutive mild winters that resulted in more deer available for the 2015 and 2014 hunting seasons, and more hunters. Deer tag sales also jumped by 5,978 tags between 2014 and 2015, which shows interest in deer hunting corresponded.

Fish and Game nearly sold out its nonresident deer-tag quota in 2015, which includes both nonresident and second tag sales (residents and nonresidents can buy unsold nonresident deer tags as second deer tags at the nonresident price).

With the bulk of big game tags being sold in the fall, it’s hard to tell how many will be sold this year, but midway through summer, tag sales were up compared with the same time last year.

Not only were deer harvests up, but there was a good proportion of mature bucks with 44 percent of the bucks harvested during general seasons being four-points or larger (Western count).

Idaho’s deer hunters have two good options this year. Abundant whitetail populations in the central and northern parts of the state provide lots of either-sex hunting, long hunting seasons, and an opportunity for a mature whitetail buck.

Despite a record harvest of whitetails in 2015, mule deer were still a higher proportion of the deer harvest (55 percent vs. 45 percent).

But whitetail hunters have higher success rates than mule deer hunters, thanks in part to long seasons for whitetail hunting that extend into the November rut and generous opportunities for either-sex hunting. The top 10 hunting units based on success rates were largely found in the Panhandle and Clearwater regions, which are predominantly whitetail country.

There’s also no reason why hunters couldn’t top last year’s record whitetail harvest because populations remain strong in those core areas.

“Everything looks good, and I wouldn’t be surprised,” said Dave Koehler, regional wildlife biologist for the Clearwater Region. “Our whitetail harvest has been on a steady, upward trajectory for a long time.”

He said a mild winter was followed by a cool, wet spring that has kept forage green into summer and provided excellent growing conditions for deer.

He also noted with the growth of whitetail herds has attracted attention from more hunters and more hunting effort could mean a larger harvest this year. (continued next page) September 2016 31

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Idaho Hunters In For Another Great Big-Game Season (continued from page 31) Mule deer hunters in the southern and eastern parts of the state, and where the animals overlap with whitetails in northern and central Idaho, are also seeing healthy herds in most areas. Mule deer hunters will find a mix of general season hunting opportunity and controlled hunts that offer excellent success rates and chances for mature bucks.

Mule deer hunters should see hunting comparable to last year.

“I don’t see any indicators that mule deer harvests will decline,” Rachael said.

The wild card for mule deer hunters is usually fall weather since most hunting seasons take place in October, especially general, any-weapon seasons that account for the most of the harvest.

Warm, dry October weather can make hunting challenging, which often reduces the harvest. Conversely, wet weather and early-season snow storms mean better hunting conditions, and storms can also drive deer out of the high country and into more accessible areas, which usually increases the harvest.

Idaho Department of Fish & Game Photo

Despite a record whitetail season, improved elk hunting in Idaho may be the biggest news.

Elk hunting fell on hard times from 2008 through 2013 when annual harvests ranged between 15,155 and 17,470 elk, which were the lowest numbers since the mid 1980s . But elk hunting came roaring back in 2014 when the harvest topped 20,000 for the first time in seven years, and 2015 easily topped that with 24,543 elk taken.

Idaho’s elk harvest could top 25,000 this year, which has only happened three times in the last 40 years.

Elk tag sales have shown steep growth in the last four years, jumping from 71,634 in 2012 to 86,175 in 2015, and resident and nonresident tag sales are strong this year. The reason for all this is simple: There are more elk.

“Elk are not doing as well as we would like everywhere, but in most of the state, numbers are stable or have been increasing over the last few years,” Rachael said.

Hunters are seeing more elk, and there also are more complaints from farmer and ranchers who are dealing with large herds of elk on their agriculture lands and asking for relief. This is an important detail for hunters because Fish and Game issues controlled hunt tags to deal with that situation.

“It’s no surprise that harvest went up last year,” Rachael said. “We issued more elk tags in areas where landowners have been experiencing conflicts with their crops and rangeland to provide relief from those depredations.”

Most of those are antlerless (cow) tags, which have a much higher success rate than general season tags for bulls, so they can quickly drive up the overall elk harvest.

But that doesn’t mean only hunters with controlled hunt tags are getting elk. The success rate for general-season hunters increased in 2015, and a respectable 31 percent of the elk taken during general hunts had six or more points, which likely means there are plenty of mature bulls out there, too.

Fish and Game is doing more intensive elk monitoring to track population trends. It recently expanded its winter monitoring to include both elk calves and cows. Crews radio collared and tracked 274 calves and 607 cows in different regions of the state. Calf survival was 74 percent, and 96 percent for cows through winter.

He noted elk are less susceptible to winter conditions than deer, so if deer survival is better than average, “elk are probably going to be doing even better.”

32 - Hunting & Fishing News

HOW TO CREATE SUCCESS ON DIFFICULT ELK HUNTS (continued from page 10)

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PREDATOR PROBLEMS Wyoming, Montana and Idaho are home to wolves and grizzly bears. These predators can have quite an impact on your selected hunting area so be prepared with Plan B and Plan C. In northwest Wyoming, there are high concentrations of wolves and grizzlies. I have watched elk and wolves together in the same valley — even the same meadow at times — with just a cautious reaction from the elk. I have also seen a pack of wolves completely clear out a valley and the elk do not return for days. Elk recognize the hunting behavior of the wolves and react accordingly. Keep that in mind as you hunt these states. One day may be the best hunting you have ever experienced and the next day you may not see a single elk. Wolves can definitely impact your hunt.

Grizzly bears may also cause difficulties. I have had my share of encounters with them. My best advice is to be aware at all times, but do not let the thought of bears prevent you from hunting where you would like. Either carry bear spray or wear a gun on your belt so that you are prepared should you encounter a grizzly. Personally, I carry bear spray since I can flip the safety off quickly and spray right from my hip if needed. I also like the peace of mind that a handgun or shotgun gives me at night when I am alone in my tent.

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The most significant way a grizzly may impact your hunt is after an elk goes down and you must track it, find it, and break it down to pack it out.

Bears find kills quickly, so the faster you can bag the quarters and move them away from the carcass, the better. Try to move them at least a couple hundred yards and, if possible, leave them where you can observe the kill site. On your return trips, you will feel more comfortable if you can glass the carcass for bears rather than run into one while loading your harvest.

THE DIFFICULTY OF SILENT ELK Every bowhunter’s nightmare

is a week-long vacation without any bugling activity. You cannot change your plans this late, so what do you do? Try to make the best of a bad situation! Yes, it is infinitely more difficult to find and hunt silent elk, but that does not mean it is impossible. The key is to cover ground and look for very fresh sign — possibly even bumping some elk in the process!

Again, dark timbered north facing slopes are important. Look especially hard where drainages converge for water or wallows. Search out rub trees. If you find a significant number of rubbed trees in close proximity to each other, you are most likely right in the bull’s bedroom. Take advantage and try some cold calling. Try not to give up too soon. Many times bulls will remain quiet and sneak in. I recommend a couple of calling sequences, then sneaking forward 50 yards and staying quiet for 20 minutes or so.

You may put yourself within range if a bull comes in and hangs up a distance from your original setup.

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Ron Niziolek with a bull elk

SUMMING IT UP Staying positive and remaining persistent will help you overcome elk hunting difficulties. Remain committed for the duration of your planned hunt. Remember that every hour spent in the woods could be the one when it all comes together. When you are holding those antlers, any difficulties you have encountered will become part of the story you tell when you talk about your memorable hunt.

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STAY IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE

By Bill Badgley

W e are often told to get out of our “comfort zone” to make progress in life, but there are also times when we really need to stay in it. Bowhunting is one of those times.

What I’m talking about is knowing your limits, and your equipment’s limits, and not shooting at deer beyond them.

As soon as I started giving this some thought, it occurred to me we actually have to think about it as two zones. One is your comfort zone where you know what you and your equipment are capable of under perfect practice conditions. The other is what we’ll call your “ethical zone,” which is knowing and understanding the limits of you and your equipment under real-world hunting conditions.

First we need to define accuracy for hunting deer with archery equipment. That old “wisdom” of three out of five arrows in a pie plate at 20 yards is good enough to hunt makes me cringe. If you accept 40 percent of your arrows outside of an eight-inch target at 20 yards, you can expect to wound a lot of deer. In this day and age of ultra-precision compound bows, you can and should expect what we’ll call an “archery minute of angle.” This is just a modified version of the firearms minute of angle, accounting for the less powerful, less accurate weapon. Because archery equipment requires hunters to get much closer to the deer, our minute of angle for archery is defined as three arrows in a 1-inch group at 10 yards, 2 inches at 20 yards and 3 inches at 30 yards. It’s hard to maintain this minute of angle much after 40 yards because, unlike a gun on a bench, the human factors become almost insurmountable at these longer yardages. You may not get to this minute-of-angle accuracy with your bow, but it can be done.

By now I’m guessing you are wondering why I’m advocating such fine accuracy in view of the fact that deer in most regions have about 10 inches of vital zone. (Actually, in some regions where whitetails express below-average body size, the vital zone is even smaller).

Here’s the reason. Your accuracy under perfect practice conditions is going to be reduced by some factor when you are out hunting deer in the real world. It’s called the “multiplier effect.” I wish I could give you an absolute formula for this, but I can’t. It is different for each hunter, just as each hunting situation is different. My goal is to help you understand it and believe it.

So what are the multiplier effects? Just about everything involved in hunting. Sure, everything works perfectly once in a while, but we have to be prepared for most of the time, not once in a while. More than likely the wind is blowing, but at different speeds and different directions, and the tree we’re in is swaying. The light is poor. It is raining slightly. And that voice in your head is saying things like: 34 - Hunting & Fishing News

Oh my God, that buck is huge!

He’s not going to my opening!

I wish I had trimmed that limb.

Is he 20 yards or 25?

Will he stop, will he look my way?

Man, my heart is pounding!

Another deer is coming. Will it spook the first one? Is it a bigger deer?

It’s cold. I can barely feel my fingers.

Sure wish the bugs would stay out of my eyes while I draw.

You get the point. These and a hundred more factors are the multiplier effect.

Not that any of us want hunting to be easy. If it was easy, it wouldn’t be hunting. So how do we deal with this multiplier effect? We start by getting our equipment as precise as possible. The more accurate the equipment, the more forgiving it is, plain and simple.

How big is this multiplier effect? Most of the time, a lot bigger than you think. Archery is a little different from firearms in that we don’t sight bows from a bench. The human factor is always there. As I stated earlier, we are asking and expecting less accuracy from our bows and arrows because of it. We are also accepting that we must get much closer to our deer to compensate. From my observations, I would say the multiplier effect is at least five.

What this means is: a 2-inch group in practice multiplied by a factor of five equals 10 inches. This multiplier effect may be greater as distances get beyond the 20-yard mark, and indeed it will be less at closer distances.

If you are shooting an “archery minute of angle” with your bow when practicing under perfect conditions, then expect your groups to open to around 10 inches in the real world of hunting at 20 yards.

If this seems a bit much, just think about the deer you have killed with your bow or other people’s kills you have seen. Did the arrow always hit right where you were aiming, or where the other hunter was aiming? Yes, the deer was recovered, but how long before you hit one poorly and lose it? Hopefully a long time, and maybe never, if you understand and accept the reality of the multiplier effect. Once you do, then you can allow for it and better define your comfort zone and ethical zone for future hunts.

If you can only shoot two minutes of angle in practice (a 4-inch group at 20 yards), that’s fine, but understand that you are risking an arrow going outside that 10-inch vital zone if your deer is 20 yards or farther when you shoot. You should be willing to get a little closer before you shoot at a deer with your less-accurate equipment.

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This article is about accuracy, and I have not mentioned the reality of physics. You must also consider your arrow’s weight and momentum when determining your comfort/ethical zone. It would be unethical to shoot at a deer at 30 yards with a low-momentum arrow. It simply doesn’t have enough power to penetrate all the way through the deer, especially if you have a marginal hit. Refer to my article “Momentum Beats Speed for Lethal Arrow Hits” for more information about arrow momentum.

Ultimately you will need to define your own comfort zone. Doing the right thing when no one is looking is a good place to start. If you refuse to take a risky shot, I promise the sun will come up the next day. You should never have to convince yourself to take a shot. You should always strive for more accuracy, but understand you will never be as accurate in hunting situations as you are in practice. In a nutshell, draw your limit at the point beyond which you can’t shoot all your arrows into a 10-inch vital zone with the multiplier effect included.

There are people who will continue to wound deer without caring how or why. They are few, we hope, and becoming fewer. The future of hunting belongs to hunters who constantly educate themselves, who are always striving to be better, and who – when it comes to that crucial moment – are willing to stay within their comfort zones.

This article is reprinted with permission from the website of Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat, and our hunting heritage. To learn more about deer hunting and managing deer habitat, visit www.QDMA.com.

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Favorable Spring Weather Conditions Lead To Good Upland Bird Numbers For The Fall MFWP Jthrough ust the thought of wings exploding into flight across the prairie or the pine forests is enough to get the average upland game bird hunter’s heart racing.

And fortunately from end to end, corner to corner Montana has upland bird opportunities for the casual to the die-hard hunter.

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36 - Hunting & Fishing News

Upland season starts Sept. 1 with mountain, sage and sharptail grouse along with partridge. Pheasant hunting starts Oct. 8. All seasons end Jan. 1, except sage grouse, which ends Sept. 30.

Gray (Hungarian) Partridge While no formal surveys are conducted for huns in Montana, weather and habitat conditions suggest huns across the state will range from slightly above to well below average this season, depending on the area of the state. Observations in Regions 4, in the middle of Montana suggest average numbers. In FWP Region 6, northeastern Montana, numerous pairs and broods have been observed so hunters can expect hun numbers to be good given favorable 2016 nesting conditions that likely improved nest success and brood survival. Localized summer hail storms in Regions 4 and 6 likely affected bird numbers resulting in the aforementioned spotty distribution of birds. In south-central Montana, FWP Region 5, conditions were in flux and bird numbers in most of the region will be below average.

A series of mild winters the past few years has generally allowed huns to increase in distribution and numbers throughout Region 7. Although Hungarian Partridge occur throughout the region, their distribution tends to be spotty. The most robust populations can be found where there is a good interspersion of grain, alfalfa and rolling grassy hills or grass ways.

Hunters can expect numbers of Hungarian Partridge to range from poor to excellent, depending on localized weather and habitat conditions.

Mountain Grouse Mountain grouse, a catch all term that includes ruffed, spruce, and dusky (or blue) grouse, are fun to hunt and good to eat. The last few years have been good for these birds in Regions 1 (northwestern Montana), 2 (western Montana), 3 (southwestern Montana) and parts of 4.

Particularly in northwestern Montana biologists have been seeing lots of birds and broods. Preliminary information from Region 5 suggests that dusky grouse numbers are better than last year but still below average and ruffed grouse will be at or slightly above average.

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Pheasants Montana is experiencing a large decline in CRP acreage along the northern tier of the state, which may have an impact on hunting experiences in Regions 4 and 6. Based on crow counts and brood sightings in Region 6, along with near ideal summer conditions, pheasant numbers continue to be above average, particularly in the northeast corner of the state.

In good pheasant habitats in central Montana—such as around Conrad and Lewistown—pheasants are “overall pretty good minus those localized areas hit by weather events,” according to Region 4 Wildlife Manager Graham Taylor. Likewise in Region 5 and 3 where the season should be average and better than last year. In Region 1, brood survival appears to be good on the Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area and good moisture through the spring and summer should improve habitat over last year’s dry conditions. Numbers in the Flathead Valley are holding steady.

In Region 7, mild winter conditions resulted in high over-winter survival.

Spring crow counts indicate the population going into nesting season was 20 percent or more above long-term-average. However, peak hatch for pheasants occurs around mid-June, which corresponded with extensive thunderstorm activity in southeastern Montana. Overall, pheasant hunting should be average this fall and comparable to last fall, with the best numbers where storm activity was lowest and cover is best.

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Sage-Grouse Sage grouse are another bright spot this year in Montana. After declining lek counts between 2008 and 2014 numbers have really picked up, which is consistent with normal population fluctuations and is a result of favorable weather conditions for hatching and brood rearing in 2014 through 2016. Statewide, male attendance at leks, or sage-grouse breeding grounds, averaged about 17 percent above the long-term trends. Consequently, the Fish and Wildlife Commission opened sage grouse hunting across the state this year for the month of September, with a daily bag limit of two and possession limit of four.

Sharp-tailed grouse Like pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse in Region 6 have been affected by a reduction in CRP acreage, meaning with CRP loss, there will likely be fewer birds and hunters will need to be more mobile in some traditional areas. Lek counts indicate birds are still well above average in eastern Region 6 but are below average in the western portion of the region.

In general, however, across the northern part of the state lek counts and other observations show that hunting should be good this fall.

In the central part of the state in Region 4 things look good because the past few years have had favorable conditions for production and survival. In Region 5, numbers are likely similar to last year.

Again, warmer-than-average March temperatures kicked breeding off early in Region 7. Nesting conditions were favorable. In general, sharp-tailed grouse distribution is fairly even across the southeastern part of the state. Lek counts and other observations show average numbers; overall the sharp-tailed grouse population continues to be robust, providing good hunting opportunities this fall.

Hunting should be good this fall, keeping in mind that severe weather events may have negatively impacted populations in localized areas.

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T he American pronghorn antelope is a notoriously skittish animal with excellent vision. Approaching them across open country can sometimes

present a significant challenge to hunters. They are also one of the most difficult animals to judge on the hoof, presenting an even greater challenge to those seeking an antelope buck of trophy quality.

We recently sat down with a few of our guides and asked them for their number one tips when it comes to successfully hunting antelope.

Here is what they had to say.

1. Vision is an Antelope’s Best Defense The biggest trick to getting within range of an antelope is not being seen. An antelope’s greatest defenses are not the same as other animals. An antelope has eyesight and speed. Those are the defenses they rely on.

Hearing and smell are often secondary when it comes to antelope hunting. You can stalk antelope with the wind at your back and still be successful. And you can make noise unlike you could with an elk or a deer. But if they catch you moving, even at long distances, you’re likely to get busted.

2. Planning the Perfect Stalk Since the most important factor in antelope hunting is staying out of their line of sight, it is critical to plan a stalk and find an approach that allows you to get close enough for a shot. Ultimately, that plan will depend on the antelope. Wherever he is and whatever he is doing, you must plan your stalk around that.

The terrain may look flat but when you look more carefully, you’ll often discover undulations and features that can allow you to get close.

Use anything you can to get within range. Usually, that means having to do some crawling on your hands and knees.

3. Difficult Stalks Can Mean Long Shots Because getting within range can be difficult, that makes shooting skill even more important. Sometimes your only shot is a long one, and the more comfortable a hunter is with their rifle at long distance, the better their chances of taking a quality antelope.

This is important with any type of big game hunting, but we stress this all the time for our Wyoming antelope hunts. You should be shooting your weapon year-round and be extremely comfortable with its performance out to 300 yards.

4. Never Give Up on a Great Buck One of the most important things to remember about antelope, is that you can blow a stalk and still get another chance. When an antelope takes off at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour, he’ll cover a lot of ground. But to that antelope, out of sight is out of mind. Eventually he will forget about you, and you might be able to get a second chance.

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September 2016 41

BEAR ON ELK MOUNTAIN

By Trevor Johnson Kit’s Tackle and Kit’s Sportfishing www.kitstackle.com

I was only about a week into archery season and I was already running

ragged. Having not missed a moment since the season kick-off, the miles were fierce and the sleep was scarce. I was on the hot pursuit of rutting bulls with my unit 339 special bull elk permit that I had waited over ten long years to draw. Although the tag isn’t near what it used to be, out of spite itself, I kept putting in. And trust me, you didn’t hear me complaining…I wanted my chance.

I was headed into a new spot for the afternoon hunt. Blasting up a vertical ponderosa and spruce covered mountain, I passed by a few gargantuan rubs. I slowly ran my hand across the fresh sap bleeding from the mutilated ponderosa pine tree and said to myself, “This ain’t no kid bull.” Closing my eyes, I watched a full feature video of a 350” class bull doing battle with this stick with branches. Coming back to reality, a little hot and bothered, I hunkered down in the thick of it and waited for the witching hour.

42 - Hunting & Fishing News

In the always magical anticipation, I chuckled to myself how blessed I am to have the health and ability to be where I’m at chasing my most raw passion.

As the evening sun slowly retreated from the high sky, I decided to crown the tallest ridge to glass and listen. By the time my Kenetrek boots touched down on the open grassy ridge the wind was howling like a hound dog on a lion hunt. With a two to three hour trek back to the pick-up and only a crisp hour of light left…I knew my time was limited, but perfect. It is what I call the witching hour, the hour of magic, the time when the mountains come alive. It is the time that the elk crawl out of gopher holes…I’m not kidding, I’ve seen it!! Feeling as if I was on top of the world, I raised my glass and started eating with my eyes.

After half an hour had passed I packed my water bottle and granola bar wrapper into my pack and decided to head out. Standing up, I took one last glance up the ridge and saw something strangely unusual to me in the mountains.

On the wide open wind swept ridge was a large black object. At first glance, it looked like a dumpster on its side. I instantly thought to myself, holy bugling big bull crapoli…that has to be a black bear!...In a matter of about twenty seconds, I had made my full and final decision. I would put a stalk on the bear and if I could close the gap to an ethical range I would make the hunt.

I started my pursuit up the ridge for an up close and personal hunt.

The bear was 400 yards away so I dropped off the back side of the ridge and stayed crowned to the top so I could close the gap to 100 yards or so. Making it to my decided destination, I dropped all my gear except my range finder and my bow. Placing my bow on my butt, I started the belly crawling through the cactus up the ridge. Arriving to the crown of the ridge, I slowly kneeled up to take a peek. “HOLY MOLY” I said to myself, the beast was within 60 yards rolling rocks and foraging across the hillside.

I had the wind in my face and it was stout…like a dark Scottish ale stout!

I had a great chance to make this hunt happen.

I had to pass through a small depression to make it to the next crown.

As I quickly scrambled forward I wondered if the bear would still be rummaging the ridge. Summiting the crown, I knew I had to kneel up to take a peek.

Slowly peering up over the cat-tailed sizes grasses, I saw black ears turning from side to side. With my heart beating at 110 million beats per second, I knew I was within 30 yards of this magnificent animal.

Not being able to range the bear, I ranged where it was headed at 27 yards and I then knocked an arrow. Being this close to an amazing predator with nothing but a stick and string was an overly exhilarating experience. Waiting for the bear to turn its head, I took a deep breath and drew my bow back. Becoming part of the moment, I focus on the importance of true hunting and the bear entered my lane. I let the creature turn perfectly broadside and I settled in like a rock. As my finger released the arrow the bear jumped straight up into the air and then started growling and biting at its side where the arrow had made a perfect pass through.

The bear then stood up on its hind legs looking around franticly for something to attack. Dropping back to all fours it quickly ran off while I checked to see if I had pooped my pants! Realizing how lucky I was that the bear hadn’t charged me, I nested in and started waiting the long wait.

The sun was now gone and I looked at the wooded jungle the bear had ran towards. My heart sank thinking about following a blood trail into the thickest forest I had ever seen in the complete darkness. I did my best to swallow my doubts, I sent a “game down” message and GPS coordinate from my SPOT MESSENGER (all hunters need one of these) to my dad and wife, and dug out my head lamp.

I took ten long steps and then not more than 20 yards down the hill, right before the timber was my bear. I had made a perfect pass though heart shot. With my cell phone almost dead, I quickly snapped a timer photo.

Before I could review my shot, the phone had died completely. I sat beside the beast and said my prayers. Killing gets harder for me every time, but if you’re a hunter you have to focus while in the critical moments to be ethical and successful.

Knowing my dad would be coming up the hill with the “game down” text, I started preparing the beast for the pack out. EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO BEARS WE TAKE EVERY MINUSCULE OUNCE OUT OF THE WOODS. After making some very precise preparations I saw a head lamp bouncing across the bottom towards the mountain I was on.

Cheers to Mother Nature, baby-

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September 2016 43

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Deer Hunt Lesson #1: See a Big Buck, Take Him

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R ead between the lines of every big deer shot by a hunter, and you’ll find lessons—lessons that might help you shoot a dream buck.

This is the first in a series of key hunting tips for the 2016 season.

Rob from Arkansas told me about the massive whitetail he shot in Alberta years ago.

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It was November 29, and it was cold, around 0. Rob’s guide (Americans must by law hire an outfitter in Canada) took him to a secret spot that hadn’t been hunted all season.

Trail cam pictures had shown several good bucks in the area.

Thirty minutes after daylight Rob caught a flash of hide, and then a big chunk of antler bone. He knew the second he saw it that this was a big-bodied shooter.

All he could see was a patch of front shoulder. Rob fired a bullet at that spot and the buck never moved.

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44 - Hunting & Fishing News

Rob’s buck only had a 14″ inside spread, but he made up for it with an incredible 50 plus inches of mass. The animal had 21 points and scored around 220 NT. The brute weighed 300 pounds.

Two lessons here: –You already know this but I reiterate—any time you can hunt a new spot where nobody else has been hunting your odds of seeing a big deer moving in daylight go way, way up.

–Most importantly, Rob got that giant because he didn’t fool around and wait for the whole animal to pop out of the cover so he could marvel at it. The second you confirm your target as a deer…a buck…a big buck, and the instant you have a safe, open shot at the vitals, pull the trigger or trip the release.

If you are indecisive and fool around, looking at a buck too long and trying to better size him up, he’ll get away. That is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in all these years of deer hunting. You’ve got to be doubly sure of your target and backdrop–safety first of course–but once you’ve checked those off the list, take him!

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Your account must be open and current to be eligible for this offer. Eligible purchases will be charged no interest for 6 months from purchase date. Thereafter, you will be charged your Standard APR (either 12.99% - 22.99% or Variable 15.24%-23.24%). Variable APRs as of 6/1/16 and apply to accounts opened on and after 11/6/09. Minimum Interest Charge $1. Dealer remains responsible for complying with all local and state advertising regulations and laws. **Purchase a new 2016 Wolverine or Grizzly between 7/1/16-9/30/16 and receive a Free 18 month Y.E.S. (Yamaha Extended Service) Contract for a total of 2 years Genuine Yamaha Coverage. Includes 6 month Factory Warranty + 18 month Y.E.S. or a 3000 lb. Vantage Winch with mounting kit. Offers available through participating Yamaha dealers only. Dealer participation may affect this offer. Installation not included. Offer good only in the U.S., excluding the state of Hawaii. Dealer remains responsible for complying with all local and state advertising regulations and laws. ATV model shown is recommended for use only by riders 16 years and older.

Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. 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 avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never carry passengers. Never engage in stunt riding. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix.

Avoid excessive speed. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Always protect the environment and wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the owner’s manual and the product warning labels before operation. Professional riders depicted on closed courses. Shown with optional accessories. ©2016 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • YamahaOutdoors.com September 2016 45

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Glock vs 1911 …Or is the 1911 Just DOA

By Don McDougall

A

www.ammoland.com

local range/gun store asked me to put together training for their employees who carry at work.

That’s pretty much everyone on the floor and the range offices.

There are plenty of handgun proficiency tests around, including a couple good ones here on Ammoland. So putting the basic together was not too hard.

The issues started when a few of the employees wanted to carry 1911’s.

Some of the younger employees objected saying that 1911’s are not safe and that they’re obsolete; that only Glocks are safe.

46 - Hunting & Fishing News

They didn’t want to be around 1911’s that were locked and cocked.

Who knew there was a “Safe Space” for Glock owners.

Few of the employees under 30 even owned a 1911 and they had zero intention of every buying one. The 1st real pistol most of us owned Mail Tribune Photo Jamie Lusch Reprinted with permission from ammoland.com is now not even in the discussion for new shooters. The “kids” impression of 1911 is an old obsolete heavy metal gun that has long been passed by.

When given the option to wear one on their hip, however, it was the “Bad Ass” gun of choice.

A Glock is about as good a gun as a mil-spec 1911. The reset for the striker on the Glocks means the gun wants a trigger in the 5lb range.

For a 1911 my competition guns were right at the 2.2 lb limit.

The 1911 triggers lack creep and pre-travel when done properly.

The Glocks reliability comes from generous tolerances. (This is the same for the mil-spec 1911) The more play there is with a gun, the more likely it is to go “pew” every time.

There are myths about both guns. There’s no proof ever of a Glock surviving 300,000 round tests, and a .45 ACP will not just kill you it will kill your soul the round is SO powerful. That too is a myth.

(It just messes your soul up a bit.)

I find a 1911 to be a safer firearm, the external safety and the hammer being visible provides a lot of trusts to be in the gun and its condition.

But that is just me.

The declining love of the 1911 is due to other factors: Cleaning – Shooters these days are lazy, and stripping and cleaning a 1911 is more work than a Glock.

Sales – Younger sales reps sell what they know. That means they direct their 1st-time gun buyers to Glocks.

9mm Vs .45 – Let’s be blunt a 9mm is a lot like a .22. You can shoot them all day and it takes little to no effort. The .45 ACP can get tiring after 200 rounds. Plus 9mm ammo is cheap.

Weight – The 1911 is heavy, and the .45 ACP round is heavy. Hauling the gun, mags, rig and 300 rounds to a match can be a challenge all by itself.

“Well known among firearm enthusiasts, the name Elmer Keith is synonymous with gun writing, magnum cartridges such as the .357, .41 and .44 Mags, and of course we can’t forget his Old West personality.” ~ Guns And Ammo Lastly the single biggest issue is that Elmer Keith is dead. Precision shooting is left to NRA Bullseye shooters and the Olympics. Stop by after-hours at the range and you’ll find the employees on the line seeing who can empty a magazine the fastest in a target that is 10 feet away.

Back in the day we would put the target out to 10 meters and see who could shoot the smallest group. It is not that the Glock is a better gun than a 1911, it is that the games shooters play have changed and that precision shooting is no longer a valued skill.

Most of the Glock Clones have tighter tolerances; they shoot flatter and tighter groups. They’re also just not popular. They require a bit more care (cleaning) than the original. See the pattern yet?

Remember, both the 1911 and Glock started as battlefield weapons.

The 1911 was designed to allow a US soldier to drop an adversary on the battlefield. The Glock was made to provide a handgun to an Austrian Army that is more of a show piece, as well as a reliable choice in community policing.

The Glock is a fine weapon for the purpose it was built, a reliable minor caliber gun for personal protection. The 1911’s long history of service speaks for itself. As a major caliber man stopper with accuracy, there is nothing better.

There will always be a market for the 1911, but its dominance as the American Pistol will continue to decline as long as dumping a mag into a target at 10 feet is seen as more desirable than hitting the X ring at 10 meters.

September 2016 47

Decoy Tricks for Early Season Waterfowl How to stay ahead once the pressure sets in

By Sammy Bruce

With liberal limits and plentiful birds, early season hunts can be memorable. Once hunting pressure takes hold, top waterfowlers stay ahead of the game by employing numerous decoy tricks.

I

... t’s incredible how fast ducks and geese get wise to hunting pressure. A true credit to the resilience of nature, these birds often change daily patterns immediately with the first sign of hunting and become reluctant to land anywhere but in the neighborhood park.

Hunters can up their odds in a number of ways. Staying concealed is always the first order of business when waterfowl hunting, and accurate gunning is a key component to putting birds on the strap. But first, however, ducks and geese must buy what we’re selling, and decoys are central to this grand scheme of deception.

Along with good calling, it’s decoys that catch the attention of the birds we hunt. Moments later, the same decoys convince the birds to take a better look. And, in the end, it’s our decoys that bring our quarry, feet-down, into gun range.

Today’s blocks are the most realistic ever built, but there’s more to sealing the deal than seductive poses and pretty paint. The real key to decoy effectiveness isn’t their individual appearance; it’s their overall look.

The Look We all want our decoys to look like real birds. Marty Dietz, a Minnesotan with a bad case of goose fever, says the best way to accomplish this is to record and study images of live birds. “When scouting, take pictures of birds in the field you’re hunting,” he advises. “This allows you to see the numbers, locations and positions of individual birds.” By basing his decoy spreads on his photos, Dietz knows he’s exactly mimicking the real thing.

Early season groups of geese usually contain numerous small family groups that often land and feed on their own. Decoy spreads should match, with small clumps of a half-dozen phonies spaced throughout a field.

This is the time of year when feeding is heaviest, as geese are hitting numerous food sources and packing on the pounds while the weather allows.

For this reason, veteran goose hunter Dee Draper of Utah does all he can to match such feeding scenarios. He advises mimicking live birds in the area, and key observations help do so. “A tighter spread indicates a lot of food, while an open and scattered spread indicates less.” When representing heavily feeding birds, Draper recommends using a high proportion of feeding, head-down decoys.

The overall look of an individual decoy is largely determined by its design, manufacturing process and finish. These variables are, perhaps, most important in the early season.

“With a lot of sun in the early season, and the light dew around dawn, a painted decoy will shine as the sun comes up,” Draper claims. This immediately educates honkers. For that reason, Draper and all other experts interviewed, rely on Avian-X fully flocked AXF Honker decoys.

Michigan’s Joe Robison, a waterfowl biologist-turned-hunter, agrees. “On sunny days, fully flocked decoys absorb sunlight and appear more natural than painted versions. Avian-X decoys finish birds right in your lap… far better than any others I’ve tried.”

While the ultimate goal is to set your blocks on The X – that spot on the spot where birds always seem to want to land – that’s not always possible.

When he can’t be right on the mark, Draper presents two other decoy rigs to fool birds.

The Loafing Rig Big western river systems often congregate birds between feeding stops. Draper scores big in such locations by creating a resting-type atmosphere on a sand bar or island. Draper advises that, especially early in the season, geese like to drink and rest in areas just out of the water, and are often on low alert while doing so. Mimicking such mid-morning loafing activity often brings geese in on the first pass.

The Traffic Rig The right decoy spread in the right location can cause passing geese to change their plans. Draper and his hunting companions often employ a traffic rig to bring in geese traveling between their roost and primary feeding grounds. Again, utilizing fully flocked decoys, Draper attempts to create a scenario mimicking a group of birds on a hot feed. To do so, he uses a larger number of tightly-spaced decoys. The spread employs mostly feeding poses along with a single, head-up sentry. “An effective traffic rig portrays a lot of food,” says Draper.

Early Ducks Geese aren’t the only game in town during the early season. To consistently score on teal, realistic decoy set-ups are just as crucial.

While teal come and go quickly, they do so across the entire continent, and often see multiple decoy spreads in a single day. For these reasons, teal become educated extremely quickly, adding to their already jittery behavior.

Adam Campbell of Louisville, Kentucky gets his fair share of blue-wings in the late summer period, but does so by going against the grain, and matching the birds. “I use Avian-X Early Season Teal decoys,” he states. These blocks have an overall drab appearance to perfectly match September conditions.

“I tend to stay away from full plumage drakes, as we get mainly blue-winged teal, and the males are not in plumage.”

Campbell’s teal spread is meager in comparison to those of the honker hunters. “I only use six to 12 decoys and a single spinning wing decoy,” he says. Teal are generally suckers for motion, and the spinner helps draw them in from long distances. In jurisdictions where spinners are illegal, a jerk string can often be magic to teal that otherwise buzz around without committing.

Decoy placement is important, especially as it relates to shooting angles for each hunter in the blind. To maximize your take on teal, have as many barrels on them as possible once they get in close.

Dee Draper has it down to a science. “I prefer to shoot finishing birds crossing, not facing,” says Draper, who does so by utilizing clumps of decoys, spaced with numerous landing holes in between. He hunts from a crosswind set-up, so landing birds approach from left to right, or right to left, rather than directly towards Draper’s hiding area. This focuses the birds on the decoys, rather than on the hunters. Do it right, and as the birds settle into the landing zones, each member of the hunting party is presented with an easy shot directly in front, maximizing the barrel-to-bird ratio.

Novice waterfowl hunters imagine skies filled with stupid birds during the early season. Veterans, however, know the truth: Oftentimes, the jig is up by day two.

To prolong opening-day success levels for weeks to come, take a lesson from the birds. Focus on what’s most important to them.

And remember, all eyes are on the decoys.

48 - Hunting & Fishing News

September 2016 49

50 - Hunting & Fishing News

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