Hunting & Fishing News - September 2019

HUNTING & FISHING MONTANA

SEPTEMBER 2019

The Key To Successful Shooting...

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

Montana’s

Big Game

Hunting since Headquarters 1917

MISSOULA

3015 Paxson St. 728-3220

BOZEMAN

3011 Max Ave. 586-4381

HELENA

BUTTE

3323 Dredge Dr. 1925 Dewey Blvd.

443-2138 494-4452 www.bobwards.com

HAMILTON

1120 N. 1st. St. 363-6204

WE HAVE THE GEAR YOU NEED FISHING - HUNTING - OPTICS CAMPING GEAR - CLIMBING GEAR - MEN’S CLOTHING WOMEN’S CLOTHING - KID’S CLOTHING - FOOTWEAR WATER SPORTS - SPORTS GEAR - TRAVEL GEAR GOLF - PAINTBALL - AIRSOFT

MISSOULA

BOZEMAN

HELENA

BUTTE

HAMILTON

3015 Paxson St. 3011 Max Ave. 3323 Dredge Dr. 1925 Dewey Blvd. 1120 N. 1st. St. 728-3220 586-4381 443-2138 494-4452 363-6204 Visit www.bobwards.com for our daily deal and be the first to know about new sales!

Plus, get free shipping on any order over $50! Sign up for our newsletter and receive the best deals first, plus we give away a $25 gift card every month!

HOW TO HUNT EACH PHASE OF THE WESTERN WHITETAIL SEASON

By Stephen Spurlock Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

H

... unting seasons for Western whitetails are extremely liberal, with season dates ranging from September through January.

With the wide variety of Western whitetail options available, understanding the various phases of whitetail behavior is critical.

All photo credits Stephen Spurlock

SEPTEMBER

Across the range of the Western whitetail, September is a month of relative calm. Bucks typically remain in their summer range as summer food sources dictate deer distributions. Agricultural crops such as alfalfa, milo (grain sorghum) and sunflowers all play major roles in deer distributions.

Bucks are typically found in their summer bachelor groups and remain on their summer feeding patterns until the end of the month. Mature buck Early season whitetail. This buck was highly movement during visible during late September. Early season scouting resulted in mid October success September can be extremely slow. Focus your hunting efforts on locating mature buck bedding areas. Once these areas are located, it is possible to catch a buck slipping into or out of his bedding cover in the twilight hours of the day.

OCTOBER

Fall weather takes full effect during the month of October.

Cooler temperatures and shorter days bring the pre-rut to full swing. Bucks typically abandon their summer bachelor groups during this period as they shift from their summer feeding areas to their rutting grounds. This shift can range from less than a mile to over 10 miles, depending on the deer.

Deer movement during this period is generally highly weather dependent. Early cold fronts can make for whitetail hunting magic during the month of October. Pre-rut activity will ramp up as the weather cools. Rubbing and scraping activity will become very evident toward the end of October.

October can be a frustrating month to chase whitetails if the weather is warm. In most areas, the key to success is locating whitetail food sources. Most states have bow seasons during October. Consider using tree stands and ground blinds to harvest bucks as they move to and from their food sources.

GENERAL ANTELOPE SEASON OPENS OCT. 14

ANTELOPE ARE FAST, UPDATE YOUR OPTICS SMR HAS MOVED to its permanent location

394 OLD CORVALLIS RD, UNIT B (HAMILTON, MT) | SNOWYMOUNTAINRIFLES.COM | INFO@SNOWYMTNRIFLES.COM | (406) 546-8732

RIFLE SEASON OPENS OCT. 26

1/2 MOA CUSTOM LONG RANGE RIFLES (1/2 MO• GUNSMITHING • OPTICS or BETTER SMR will get you geared-up for opening day.

NOVEMBER

November is the month of the whitetail. In most of the whitetails’ Western range, peak-rutting activity will occur between November 8 and November 15. With rutting activity at a peak, November can be a great month to pursue whitetails with either a bow or a gun.

Just like early season hunting strategies, locating food sources and travel corridors is the key to success during this period, too. Bucks will cover large areas in search of does.

Midday movement is not uncommon during this period, especially if cold November weather moves in.

The rut does create some issues for hunters. Locating, patterning and harvesting individual bucks can be extremely difficult during this period. Buck movements can be characterized as “sporadic” during the peak of the rut.

If you encounter a large rutting whitetail this fall, persistence is the key. There may appear to be no rhyme or reason to his movements; sometimes the only way to pursue him is through consistently placing yourself in areas with high amounts of doe traffic.

DECEMBER/JANUARY

December is a month of cold weather and wind across most of the Western whitetail range. Many states have gun seasons during the beginning of December that can make for some excellent hunting even though the rut is typically over by this time of year. Occasionally, you will find mature bucks chasing does during this period as some does that may not have bred during the first cycle in November will come back into estrous. While relatively common, rutting behavior is not something you should count on during a December hunt.

Cold weather and post-rut conditions make December a prime month to pattern bucks moving to and from major food sources. Bucks are typically extremely worn down from the rigors of the rut and prone to make mistakes as cold weather plays havoc on their already depleted fat reserves.

Readily available food sources that provide high amounts of fat and carbohydrates will hold most of the deer in a given area during this period.

Hunt strategies during this season should all center around late-season food sources. Once a good food source is located, diligently manage hunting pressure to ensure that bucks continue to use the food source in daylight hours.

At this point in the year bucks have been hunted for several months. Deer sensitivity to hunting pressure is at an all-time high during this season. Make sure that you watch the wind and wait for the right conditions.

CHOOSING YOUR NEXT WHITETAIL HUNT

With this basic understanding of the phases of the whitetail rut, there are some broad conclusions I like to apply when scheduling all of my whitetail hunts. Whether in the Midwest, Deep South or in the far Western states, I apply these principles to planning my whitetail hunts:

HUNTING EARLY SEASON WHITETAILS Early November success: I was fortunate to have this buck come through a pinch point in early November in search of does.

I had not seen this buck before and hunted an area with a high concentration of does.

Toward the end of November, rutting activity will slow as bucks return to more of a feeding/bed pattern. This can be a great time to pattern and harvest mature bucks. Once again, locating food sources is the key to success. Key late season food sources are typically cut corn in agricultural areas. In areas lacking agriculture, do not overlook areas that have been recently logged. In these areas, natural forage becomes more concentrated as sunlight hits the forest floor, resulting in a number of desirable late season food species. Once a good food source is located, diligently manage your hunting pressure and watch for late November cold fronts that will bolster deer movement.

Most of the giant whitetails taken each year are taken sometime in the month of November.

This is due to a variety of factors, including that most states have archery season dates that encompass the peak of the rut and that mature bucks tend to be highly nocturnal outside of the rut.

The early season can be a difficult time to harvest mature bucks.

I define early season as any period in which mature bucks are still in their summer patterns or the beginning of the pre-rut. These hunts range in dates from early September to mid-October. For these hunts, I want my scouting-to-hunting time to be at least a 3:1 ratio (three days of scouting for each anticipated hunting day). Why the large number of scouting days? In my limited experience, it just takes that long to locate a mature buck. Buck movement is minimal and locating a mature buck is the hardest part of the hunt.

HUNTING THE RUT FOR WHITETAILS

Once the rut begins to take hold (late October to early November), scouting becomes less important. The key to success is locating concentrations of deer. Mature bucks will move to areas with does. Locating an individual buck during this period is not as important since all bucks will congregate around doe groups. These areas are relatively easy to locate, making hunting time much more valuable than scouting. For peak rut days I want my scouting-to-hunting ratio to be < .25:1 (less than a quarter of a day scouting to one day hunting).

HUNTING POST-RUT WHITETAILS

Late November success. This Kansas buck was the result of many hours of scouting.

After locating him using a remote wheat field, I was able to hone in on his bedding area.

With a little luck, and a lot of persistence, late November can produce some great bucks!

Once post-rut conditions hit, bucks once again disperse and scouting becomes critical. Locating mature bucks is the most difficult part of these late season hunts. Once again I refer back to my 3:1 ratio of three days of scouting for every one day of hunting rule. Food sources are the key to both early and late season success. As whitetail seasons approach each year, remember to reference rutting activity while planning your hunt and apply strategies that will best suit the phase of the rut your whitetails are in.

Hunting & Fishing News | 5

RIFLESCOPES-BINOCULARS-RANGEFINDERS-SPOTTING SCOPES-MONOCULARS RED DOTS-TRIPODS-APPAREL AND GEAR

Visit One Of These Dealers For Your Next Vortex Purchase

MURDOCH’S........................... www.murdochs.com NORTH 40 OUTFITTERS........... www.north40.com OWENHOUSE ACE.................... www.owenhouse.com SHEDHORN SPORTS................ www.shedhorn.com SHIPTON’S BIG R.................... www.shiptonsbigr.com SNOWY MOUNTAIN RIFLES...... www.snowymountainrifles.com SPORTSMAN & SKI HAUS........ www.sportsmanskihaus.com

WE ARE THE VORTEX NATION JOIN US TODAY! www.VortexOptics.com

1. Cardiovascular exercise: You will need endurance.

Start by exercising (biking, hiking, running, swimming) thirty to forty-five minutes 5-6 times per week to increase your lung capacity and strengthen your heart.

2. Muscular exercise: You will need stamina. Meet a hunting buddy at the gym and create a strength training program to prepare your body for carrying your hunting pack.

3. Healthy diet: There is nothing more stressed in a training regimen than a well-balanced diet. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and lean protein. And of course, drink lots of water!

Photo courtesy SNS Outfitter & Guides

Last Minute Physical Preparation For The 2019 HUNTING SEASON

By SNS Outfitter & Guides

www.huntwyo.com

T

here is no question you need to be prepared physically before heading out for your western hunting trip.

Western hunting tends to be tough both physically and mentally. You’re carrying a heavy pack and you’re spending early morning and late nights out in the field. You’ll experience drastic elevation and temperature changes while packing your gear through the high country. These Western hunts will require a different type of planning and conditioning routine than your usual daily activity, for most of us at least. With just a little over a month until the season opens here are four last minute training tips, at home workout suggestions, and recovery tips to help you be prepared for your trip west.

4. Be active in the off-season: In the seasons to come we recommend that you stay active year-round. In the winter months take on skiing or indoor swimming, in the other months of the year keep up with hiking, biking, running, and simply being physically active outdoors.

Below are 5 recommended exercises to instill good balance, muscle control, and precision in your movement – vital qualities in a good hunter. If you start these exercises today, you’ll be feeling prepared for your western hunt. Similar to your cardiovascular preparation, we recommend that you stay consistent and include these movements 3 – 5 times per week.

Bear Crawls 10-20x 25 yards Tire Drags distance varies Tire Flips 5×10 reps Weighted Step-Ups 5×10 per leg Burpees 3x 10 reps With these suggestions above we recommend that you check-in with your physician, these are simply suggestions and what has worked well in the past! Now, get out there and be active because the season will be here before you know it! We hope that you’re looking forward to the season as much as we are!

If you have any questions about western hunting with SNS Outfitter and Guides call 307-266-4229.

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

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

Thank you for your continued support!

www.boone-crockett.org

Photo courtesy Trevon Stoltzfus and Montana Decoy

UTILIZING ELK DECOYS; EARLY SEASON VS THE RUT

By Trevon Stoltzfus, Outback Outdoors Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com lk season out west always seems to conjure images E of reddish gold aspen leaves in September and bulls screaming out their love sick calls in the high county of the

Like us on

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

MONTANA HUNTING & FISHING NEWS Have it delivered FREE monthly to your inbox.

Just go to www.huntingfishingnews.net

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! Download Read Print Share

HOW TO CONTACT US: email: huntingfishingnews@yahoo.com or phone

Rick Haggerty (406) 370-1368 for ADVERTISING

huntingfishingnews@yahoo.com www.huntingfishingnews.net The entire contents is © 2019, all rights reserved. May not be reproduced without prior consent.

The material and information printed is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. Nor does this material necessarily express the views of Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. All photo & editorial submissions become the property of Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. to use or not use at their discretion. Volume 16 Issue 7 Cover Photo: © Stomer | Dreamstime.com

8 | Hunting & Fishing News

Rocky Mountains. For an elk hunter there is nothing better, and many a night is spent dreaming of that perfect set up where a huge unsuspecting 6 X 6 bull gets pulled to a mere 10 yards of the shooter by his buddy strategically set up calling behind him at 60 yards. I would like to tell you that that scenario is the norm when bowhunting elk with a bow, but for me its not. Although I have had a few amazing textbook set ups and interactions, where a bull came in on a string and I was able to get drawn back and make a lethal shot, most of the time the success has come from creativity and the ability to put myself in an ambush position to intercept the elk on their natural path regardless of whether its early or later in the season.

One tool I utilize from early season to later in the rut is a cow elk decoy from Montana Decoy, specifically the RMEF Cow Elk or the Eichler Elk.

These decoys work for me for a few reasons.

The first is that it allows me to think out of the box.

I like both of these decoys because they are compact and easily strapped to my pack for transport, and yet they expand to a large enough size that I can literally hide behind them and use them for cover.

Early season elk hunting can often times be hot and dry with little elk vocalization and elk movement can be limited, depending on the weather where you are hunting.

I use the cow decoy to move through open country as I seek to close in on elk that are transitioning from feeding and moving into their bedding areas. Using an elk decoy in this early season ambush type, spot and stalk, sparse calling mish-mash of techniques can truly allow you to close the distance to within bow range, assuming that you are primarily paying attention to the thermals and the wind direction. Once you are in close to the elk, the chess match begins and you have to just hunt.

This is where you have to read the situation.

Perhaps sitting silently, being patient, and waiting on the elk to make the mistake is your best bet, or maybe a gentle “lost cow” call will bring the bull into bow range.

As the season rolls on and the urge to breed seems to surpass a bull elk’s vigilance to stay hidden, an elk hunter can then transition into a more aggressive strategy.

If hunting solo, an archer can utilize a modified “button hook” method that has been made popular by elk hunters who call and hunt in pairs. The idea is to create a scenario where a cow elk is lost or separated from the herd.

A hunter can use the cow elk decoy to finalize the illusion by moving as close to the vocal herd as possible, presumably undetected and into the wind, and then set the decoy up on the edge of a small opening. This is where you want the bull elk to end up and by setting it near a small opening this allows the elk to have the visual cues necessary to facilitate the illusion. The hunter then does a short cow calling sequence and immediately, and as quietly as possible, moves forward towards the herd but a little off to the side. Just like a button hook route that a wide receiver might run in football.

A bull will approach with his nose into the wind checking to pick up the scent of the lost cow or any danger lurking ahead and this is why it is so important for the hunter to set up a bit to the side allowing for a broad side shot as the bull closes the distance on the lonely cow and yet remain out of his scent cone. In this scenario, just like in most solo hunting scenarios, practice and a bit of luck come into play.

But when it all comes together it is an amazing feeling to know that you have outwitted a wild animal on his own turf.

I would also recommend that you have a list of good buddies that you can call to help with the pack out!

Photo courtesy Trevon Stoltzfus and Montana Decoy

If you are fortunate to have a buddy along to help you “Tag Team” the calling, the difference in techniques is marginal.

Rather than leaving the cow elk decoy stationary, as in the solo scenario, the caller will actually use movement of the decoy, along with his calls, to get the bulls attention as he brings him past a willing and ready partner with bow in hand. (On a side note we have found that by “flashing” the cow elk decoy every so often rather than constantly holding the decoy up and in sight of the bull really does a good job of portraying elk moving through the woods as they will disappear and reappear as they make their way through the vegetation.)

Regardless of when you are planning your hunt, being in the elk woods in late August through September is a magical time and using a creative mindset and a few helpful tactics with elk decoys can give you a couple more tools for your elk hunting tool box. Remember this important fact…..You can fool their eyes and you can fool their ears, but you will never fool their nose.

WE’RE BUILT FOR

THE HUNT See us today for yours.

The Can-Am Outlander Mossy Oak Edition comes with a Rotax® 650 V-Twin Engine, Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering (DPS), Front, Center & Footwell Skid Plates and Heated Grips and Throttle.

1230 Euclid, Helena, Mt 406-443-7373

Full Parts & Service Departments www.mounthelenamotorsports.com ©2019 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ® TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, price, design, features, models or equipment without incurring any obligation. Model depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a 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 wear a helmet, eye protection, and other protective clothing. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Never carry passengers on any ATV not specifically designed by the manufacturer for such use. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speeds and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. All Can-Am ATV adult models are Category G ATVs (General Use Models) intended for recreational and/or utility use by an operator age 16 or older. ATVs with engine sizes of greater than 90 cc are recommended for use only by those age 16 and older, except for those designated as T14. BRP urges you to “TREAD LIGHTLY” on public and private lands. Preserve your future riding opportunities by showing respect for the environment, local laws and the rights of others when you ride. Make sure that all laws, regulations, and BRP’s warnings/recommendations for ATV passengers are respected. Ride responsibly.

Hunting & Fishing News | 9

All photo credits Stephen Spurlock

THE 30 DAY PLAN FOR A

SUCCESSFUL HUNT

By Stephen Spurlock Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

t’s that time of year. States across the West are open, IWhether and everyone is preparing for their upcoming hunts. you have an early October elk hunt planned

Bull of the Month #2 Montana Non-typical

BOONE & CROCKETT

Score: 429 1 8 Length: 48 6 8 ” Circ: 7 7 8” Points: 10 Inside Spread: 46 6 8” Location: Granite County Date: 1971 Hunter: John Luthje

View

720-0719-001

this magnificent bull and more at the Elk Country Visitor Center.

Directions: Take I-90 to Exit 101 in Missoula. Drive 1/4 mile north to 5705 Grant Creek Road. accessible with RV parking. Open year round.

For information, call (406) 523-4545 or 866-266-7750 or visit www.rmef.org.

10 | Hunting & Fishing News

or are gearing up for a rifle mule deer hunt, now is the time to finalize your hunt preparation.

Each year I divide my hunt preparation into three major categories: shooting, conditioning and field-related skills (field judging, glassing, calling, etc.). Since nearly 1,500 miles separate me from my hunting area, I take a nonconventional approach to my pre-hunt prep. Approaching the 30 days prior to your hunt with proper preparation will be critical to your success.

Here are some tips on how to approach this critical preparation period.

CONSISTANT SHOOTING

Now is the time that I like to refer to as “perfect practice.”

Every arrow or squeeze of the rifle trigger counts. Every shot should be approached as if it is “the shot.” This means less quantity and more focus on quality. Incorporating realistic

hunting scenarios into your practice is critical.

In my experience, I very rarely get shots in a hunting situation that are on a level surface from the standing position or in situations where I am under no physical duress.

As frequently as possible, I try to get in long distance shooting.

For me, this means three to four practice sessions per week at distances greater than 60 yards if I’m preparing for an archery hunt or 400 yards if I’m preparing for a rifle hunt.

I have also found that practicing at double your intended hunting distance is a great way to achieve accuracy. I hope I find myself within 30 to 60 yards of my quarry this fall.

This is why during practice, I try to focus on shooting between 60 and 120 yards with my bow. I try to keep the volume to a minimum. I shoot no more than five arrow groups at 10-yard increments from 60 to 120 yards for a total of no more than 25 arrows shot. I also integrate simulated fatigue into my shooting practice to accurately replicate hunting situations. Jumping jacks, push-ups and burpees between shots will help prepare for the most realistic “hunting” shots.

The biggest differences between eastern and western shooting are shot distance and angles. Most eastern hunters are used to taking downhill shots as they are very similar to shots taken out of a treestand. Make sure that you try different shot angles before you head out west! With such a different terrain, severe uphill or downhill shot angles are possibilities! (continued on page 34)

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Waited All Year For This.

HAND-LOADED ACCURACY STRAIGHT FROM THE BOX Pick up a box or more at your local sporting goods store.

THE HUNTING SHACK PURVEYORS OF THE FINEST AMMUNITION SINCE 1968.

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

www.hsmammunition.com

Manufactured in Stevensville, MT.

FOUR TIPS FOR BETTER SAGE GROUSE HUNTING

By Brandon Moss Project Upland www.projectupland.com

Photo courtesy Project Upland

here is a saying about upland hunting in Montana which T makes a lot of sense: “He that walks the furthest, wins.”

I’m not sure what you win: blisters, sore legs, chapped butt.

But I do know when hunting sage grouse be prepared to walk. Let’s change the wording of that saying just a little to something like, “He who hunts the smartest, has a better chance of finding birds.” I will admit there was a time when I set out to cover as much land as possible and as fast as I could. Little did I know I was pushing my dogs too fast and passing up birds along the way. I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was walking or much of anything.

I was just out to cover ground and as much of it as I could.

Observe Sage Grouse from a Distance

Taking some time, just sitting back and observing for a bit teaches you a lot. Early in the morning and later in the evening birds like to move. If I watch the area for a bit,

the birds would reveal where they would be going and coming from. It saved me lots of miles of senseless walking.

I’ve also observed that in the evening, they head to and from the feeding area to where they will be the next morning, a good starting point.

Be Mindful of the Weather

Watch the weather. If it’s hot they typically don’t want to move much. The birds will be closer to their feeding areas, allowing them to travel less and thus saving the most amount of energy they possible can.

Sage grouse don’t like to be out in the rain. At those times, look for some heavier sagebrush they could be hiding under. One time I got caught out in a heavy downpour.

My mission was to walk a straight line back to the truck as quickly as possible. My dogs loved the cooler weather and covered extra ground. As a result, I had a hard time making it back to the truck due to the numbers of birds the dogs were finding! Pretty much every find was in brush somewhat taller and denser than we had found them in earlier in the day.

You may not want to hunt them in the rain, but knowing where they will be when it stops gives you the advantage.

Where there is One there are often Many

Now you’ve found where to look for sage grouse, what to do when you encounter them? Many times the birds will hold well enough to get of a shot or two. They don’t always rise at the same time, however. Don’t assume the birds that just flew away are the only ones there. Keep walking and letting your dog work the area until you are confident no birds are left. It’s common to be surprised by a straggler or two after the first bunch rise. (continued on page 38)

Watch a video here

THE ULTIMATE HUNT PARTNER

2019 Ranger Crew XP 1000 Back Country Edition ®

BUILT TO HAUL

Haul up to 6 people and their gear.

See what’s in store for you at

LewistownPolaris .com 302 Truck By-Pass Lewistown MT 406-538-9435 ,

,

Warning: Polaris off-road vehicles can be hazardous to operate and are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate.

Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. All riders should always wear helmets, eye protection, and protective clothing. Always use seat belts and cab nets or doors (as equipped). Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. All riders should take a safety training course.

Call 800-342-3764 for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. ©2019 Polaris Industries Inc.

12 | Hunting & Fishing News

TROPHY HUNTING PROPERTIES FOR SALE Borders thousands of acres of Forest Service land

How to Hit Teal Photo courtesy Delta Waterfowl

By Kyle Wintersteen, Managing Editor Delta Waterfowl www.deltawaterfowl.org

HOTSHELL MANUFACTURERS have no greater allies S than blue-winged and green-winged teal.

The diminutive ducks destroy shooting averages,

confounding us with their unpredictable aerobatics.

Yet on paper, teal shouldn’t present the challenge we know them to be. They are in fact slower than many ducks, including mallards. Why do we miss them? Their uniquely erratic flight — which results in the perception of high velocity — causes shooting form to falter. But don’t worry.

These tips to hitting teal will help you get on target this season.

Slow Down -

Teal present the illusion of incredible speed, and the effect is exacerbated when hunters rush the shot. Slow down — you likely have more time to shoot than you think. Smoothly and deliberately mount your shotgun and ease it ahead of a drake. You’ll be astonished by how much the teal themselves appear to slow down.

Never Play Catch Up -

There are some great swing-through style shooters, but for most of us, if a teal gets ahead of our swing, he’s going to win. So avoid playing catch up. Start your swing as you mount the gun, and match your barrel’s velocity to the teal’s. You are now prepared to insert the barrel ahead of the teal for a sustained lead or directly upon it for a pull-away shot.

Maintain Extreme Focus -

Pick out a single drake and focus intently on its head.

Thus you are more likely to hit the front half of the bird and avoid being distracted by his comrades. As importantly, if the drake darts as only teal can, your eyes and in turn your gun barrel will follow. This instinctive shooting method is far more effective than aiming the gun barrel and attempting to track it with the teal. The latter almost always leaves you a step behind.

ELK GALORE

Build your dream lake home.

Trail camera of monster bull elk on property.

Potential for an incredible hunting retreat with elk roaming this property.

Three lots that total nearly 50 acres and offer incredible mountain views at Georgetown Lake. Septic approved with two wells. Discovery Ski Hill minutes away. Enjoy all of the recreational opportunities of Georgetown Lake and the Pintler Wilderness. Great investment opportunity or keep all the acreage for yourself. Three different purchase options offered with these lots. $300,000 MLS #21901320

160 acres of bare land only five minutes out of Butte. A nice mix of timbered hills & open grassy meadows with a spring that runs through a large portion of the property. Accessed off of a paved, maintained county road. Borders thousands of acres of public land.

Two additional adjacent 160 acre parcels also available and can be purchased additionally for a combined 480 acres.

Call Nick Dodge today at 406-593-2666 $325,000 MLS #21809867

LET US HELP YOU FIND YOUR MONTANA DREAM! CALL TODAY.

YOUR CLEAR CHOICE Thor Sichveland - Broker, Owner

OVER $2 Billion in Sales in the last 10 years

406-949-6966

thor@CMPMontana.com www.CMPMontana.com

Pattern Density Kills -

Given that greenwings are the smallest dabbling ducks in North America, a dense, gap-free pattern is essential.

Loads of No. 5 or No. 6 shot are ideal. Whereas a 1 1/8-ounce load of No. 2 steel contains about 140 pellets, 1 1/8-ounces of No. 6 steel comprises roughly 350 pellets — 2.5 times the density. No. 5 or No. 6 shot might not adequately penetrate a mallard at 35 yards, but today’s high-velocity offerings, especially, retain plenty of energy to drop teal.

MLS #21905165

Amazing herds of Elk call this land home. Here is your chance to own these 590 acres of private, timbered property bordering thousands of acres of Forest Service land in one of the prime hunting districts of Southwest Montana. Within stepping distance of the Middle Fork of Rock Creek, the property is easily accessed from Moose Lake Rd, off Skalkaho Highway (MT Hwy 38). The offering includes 2 parcels that touch at one corner. Approximate elevation in this area of the Sapphire Mountains is 6,000 feet. A small stream and pond are on the property. Come experience Montana’s mountain splendor outside the quaint, historic mining town of Philipsburg. $1,500,000

“We specialize in Premium Recreation & Ranch Properties.

Proud participant with Sports Afield Trophy Properties

As you gear up for your elk hunt, take a look at our recommended products at HuntingGearOutfitters.com.

We carry a selection of our favorite Mountain House and Peak Refuel Meals, plus our go-to lightweight stove systems, perfect for a backcountry elk hunt. The gear we offer is the same gear we use in the field. If you have questions about our gear or what to bring, please contact us.

ARIZONA ARCHERY DEER HUNTING

Photo courtesy Ryan McSparran

Two Over-The-Counter Hunts You Shouldn’t Miss

By Ryan McSparran Hunting Gear Outfitters www.huntinggearoutfitters.com f you didn’t draw a limited hunting license this year, Ihunting there’s still plenty of time to plan a memorable western adventure. Whether it’s elk or deer, rifle or bow, early season or late season, there’s an opportunity that’s right for you.

This year, you could be somewhere on our vast western public lands, enjoying a DIY hunt. While there are a number of over-the-counter (OTC) hunting opportunities available throughout the west, these are two of our favorites:

Photo courtesy Ryan McSparran

If a spot-and-stalk western deer hunt is high on your bucket list, Arizona offers outstanding over-the-counter opportunities.

Unlimited, over-the-counter archery licenses are available for Coues deer and mule deer.

If velvet bucks are your thing, consider Arizona’s early season OTC archery deer hunt. It runs from about August 23rd through September 12th. The OTC archery deer tag is valid for mule deer or Coues deer in a number of hunting units. This is a great opportunity to hunt desert mule deer or Coues deer early in the year when they are easier to pattern and stalk in their beds during the heat of the day.

Colorado is hard to beat for its OTC elk hunting opportunities.

Over-the-counter licenses are available for archery or rifle seasons and allow you to hunt much of the western part of the state, where there’s plenty of public land.

Alternatively, you might consider hunting the late archery season. This hunt runs from about December 13th until December 31st, 2019. Then, from January 1st through January 31st, 2020. This is a great opportunity to hunt both mule deer and Coues deer during the peak of the rut in Arizona’s desert country. Plus, sunny Arizona provides a great escape from winter weather elsewhere!

If you’re interested in hunting elk with a bow in September, Colorado sells unlimited, over-the-counter licenses that are valid for bull or cow elk. You can purchase these licenses online from Colorado Parks and Wildlife beginning on August 8th. The archery elk season in Colorado runs from August 31-September 29, 2019.

Keep in mind; you can’t kill two deer in the same calendar year. For example, if you kill a buck during the early archery season in 2019, you may not hunt during the December archery season in 2019. However, if you kill a buck in either 2019 season, you could still purchase a 2020 license and hunt again in January after the New Year.

If you’d rather hunt elk with a rifle, Colorado also offers unlimited over-the-counter rifle tags for its second and third rifle seasons (Colorado’s first and fourth rifle seasons are by limited draw only). The second rifle season runs from October 19-27, 2019. And the third rifle season runs from November 2-10, 2019. These bull-only licenses go on sale on August 8th.

The over-the-counter deer units in Arizona have plenty of public land to hunt. This is an exciting spot-and-stalk archery opportunity that requires no application or drawing.

COLORADO ELK HUNTING

For a map of valid OTC hunting units for the archery and rifle seasons, you can refer to the Colorado 2019 Big Game Brochure. To begin planning your hunt, we recommend taking a look at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunting Atlas. Here you can take a closer look at each unit using USGS topo maps or aerial imagery. You can quickly view public land vs. private land in each unit. You can even overlay elk summer range, winter range and migration patterns.

Begin Planning Your 2019 Western Hunt

With unlimited, over-the-counter opportunities for both deer and elk, and millions of acres of your public lands to explore, these are realistic opportunities this year. Get free shipping on all gear from Hunting Gear Outfitters and please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions.

We hope you have a safe and memorable hunting season in 2019!

Ryan is an outdoor writer based in Colorado, and is proud to be a part of the team at Hunting Gear Outfitters.

DEADLY STALKING TACTICS

To Remember When In The Field

By Josh Kirchner Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

s bowhunters, we are forced to close the distance A on our quarry. That means that we either need to let the game come to us or that we need to go to the game.

RELAX, RE-ASSESS, RE-ADJUST

When I first started trying to spot and stalk critters here in Arizona, I would often get super antsy during the whole process. Meaning, I would rush my approach, throw all thinking to the wayside and just plain mess things up for myself. Since then I have learned a lot and like to focus on what I call the three Rs: relax, re-assess and re-adjust.

Relax

Ok, so you just glassed up a bruiser of a buck a mile out from you. No need to rush things. Bring it down a notch.

That buck doesn’t know you are there and you’ve got the time to make a plan. By relaxing and not being in a state of chaos, you are going to be able to read the situation better.

This is going to let you make a much more thought out plan for your approach. I’d often get anxious when I was first starting out. My first thought was: “He’s gonna get away.”

Photo credit Jake Kirchner

In all reality, though, he doesn’t have a reason to do so at the moment.

Re-assess

Now, that you have calmed yourself, it’s time to start making a plan. When we are not calm, we often make rash decisions, which we later look back on and wonder why we made them in the first place. Big bucks make us do some dumb stuff from time to time and we get blinded by the overall majesty of them. Look at the terrain. What is the buck doing at the moment? Is he feeding? Chasing does? Bedded? If he is bedded, which way is he facing? Do you have an approach from behind him or one that will obscure you from his vision?

Don’t forget the wind direction. These are just some of the things that you need to take into account if you want to put your hands on that animal.

Re-adjust

There is usually a big difference between the plan that you made when you were in a state of panic and the one that you made after the fact. At least there is for me. After you have re-assessed the situation, now it is time to re-adjust your plan.

With a clear head, you should now be able to see the big picture that is in front of you. (continued on page 36)

©KENETREK, LLC 2019

Out West, we usually do this through spot and stalk methods.

We will get up high on a vantage point, locate game through our optic, and make a plan of attack from there on how to “close the distance” for a shot. After evaluating wind directions, terrain and animal behavior, it is then our chance to put our stalking tactics to the test.

There is no training facility for this, but the mountains themselves. The only way to get good at it is to go out and do it. Here are some stalking tactics that I have learned over the years that have brought success.

YOU CAN COUNT ON US...

We’re built like a tank but wear like a second skin. You can bank on our reliability and take our comfort for granted... and we’re here for the long haul. You want to make us happy? Just hunt.

Stay Focused with Kenetrek Mountain Boots kenetrek.com

KENETREK MOUNTAIN BOOTS

We’re hunters first. We became boot designers to fulfill a need we couldn’t find elsewhere.

We built boots we can trust. Boots that always feel good. And we keep hunting, testing, and advancing our designs. It’s what we do and we love doing it.

HARDSCRABBLE HIKER

MOUNTAIN EXTREME

MOUNTAIN GUIDE

Fishing tips brought to you by

For the gear you need. In Missoula, Bozeman, Helena, Butte and Hamilton or 24/7 at www.bobwards.com Shallow-running baits like Berkley’s Pitbull 5.5 are top options near shore. “It’s perfect for fishing close to the bank, keeping the bait in contact with the bottom in four to six feet of water,” says touring bass pro Justin Lucas.

Moving deeper, Lucas recommends slender shad imitations like Berkley’s Bad Shad, which he says is a tremendous weapon for cold-water techniques in water temperatures below 55 degrees. “There are two sizes,” he adds.

“The number 5 runs 6½ to 7 feet, while the size 7 reaches 8 to 9 feet.”

Berkley’s iconic Flicker Shad is also an option. The larger sizes routinely run 14 to 17 feet on slim superlines such as 10/4 FireLine, and are perfect for plying deep weedlines, structure and timber.

Photo by snehitdesign|depositphotos.com

FALL FISHING TIPS Berkley Fishing Tips www.berkley-fishing.com

TAP THE AUTUMN BITE FOR PANFISH, BASS, WALLEYES AND MORE oast to coast, fall offers ample opportunities to catch C a variety of gamefish, as cooling water temperatures spark hot bites for everything from catfish and crappies to bass, sunfish and walleyes.

To help you reap the autumn harvest, we offer the following tips to help you catch more fish and have more fun.

BASS BLITZ

Bass of all stripes strap on the fall feedbag. Many anglers believe bass gorge themselves in preparation for winter.

But biologists tell us the fish are simply reacting to invigorating declines in water temperature, and also taking advantage of seasonal concentrations of baitfish.

For example, as fall marches on, shad and other forage fish in many systems school in predictable places. When hungry bass move in for a meal, savvy anglers can enjoy epic action.

Classic reservoir hotspots where shad are the main course include coves, creek mouths, ledges, points and weedbeds or flats offering some type of woody cover. In natural lakes rich in minnows and small sunfish, weed edges and choke points that connect weedy backwaters with deeper water can be dynamite.

Rivers are often overlooked fall bass hotspots. Low water often forces fish to main-channel areas offering some type of modest current, but the presence of baitfish is key.

Also look for current breaks ranging from boulders and logjams to manmade structure such as riprap or pilings.

On the tactical front, a number of presentations take fall bass.

Crankbaits are lethal weapons for covering water and triggering strikes. To find fish fast, strain water in a variety of depths, starting shallow and working your way out.

16 | Hunting & Fishing News

FALL ‘EYES

Conventional fall walleye wisdom calls for fishing classic structural sweet spots such as steep main-lake breaks and rocky points. While these areas can indeed be goldmines, shallow weeds often hold untapped options other anglers miss.

As water temperatures fall through the 50s and beyond, shoreline weedbeds comprised of hearty stands of cabbage and northern milfoil that are still green and thriving attract oodles of baitfish including juvenile panfish, yellow perch and bullheads. Depending on the lake, productive depths range from 6 to 15 feet, and having deep-water refuges nearby is a definite plus.

Artificial softbaits are great choices for plying weed edges and open pockets in thick cover, where hungry walleyes wait to ambush passing prey. Top options include a 3-inch Gulp!

Photo courtesy Berkley Fishing Minnow Grub, 3-inch PowerBait Pro Grub, 3½-inch Havoc Grass Pig Jr., 3½- to 4-inch PowerBait Ripple Shad, or 4-inch PowerBait Split Belly Swimbait on a ¼- to 3/8-ounce jig head or Berkley Fusion19 Weighted EWG hook.

Cast to edges and openings, let the bait fall to bottom, then begin a steady retrieve spiced up with periodic lift-fall theatrics, which often push tentative ‘eyes past the breaking point.

Another option is slow-trolling baits along weed edges, keeping the rig just off bottom. It’s worth noting, however, that low light and wave action can draw aggressive walleyes high in the water column, so be prepared to cover a variety of depths.

Be forewarned that toothy northern pike are common bonus catches in fall weedbeds. Adding an abrasion-resistant leader of Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon helps reduce bite-offs and missed opportunities. (continued on page 38)

Trolling With In-Line Spinners

By Mark Romanack Fishing 411 www.fishing411.net

t’s interesting to note how some lures tend to get pigeon IWorden’s holed. In-line spinners like the iconic Rooster Tail by is a good example. Countless anglers all across

America and beyond have faith in the Rooster Tail as a bait that is ideal for casting up trout, salmon, bass, pike, panfish and a host of other species. The question is how can a lure that works so well for casting applications get overlooked as a trolling lure? The answer is, in-line spinners are great trolling lures in the hands of anglers who know how to get the most from these lures.

AVOIDING LINE TWIST Because the body of an in-line spinner rotates slowly in the water, line twist can become a problem. The simple solution to this problem is to use a quality ball bearing swivel.

Rather than attaching a snap swivel directly to the lure, consider rigging an in-line barrel swivel about 24 inches in front of the spinner. This rigging configuration eliminates line twist and keeps hardware to a minimum.

TROLLING WEIGHTS Because in-line spinners do not have a natural dive curve, it’s necessary to fish these baits in combination with gear that can help get the spinner to depth. Some of the common ways spinners can be presented to depth is by employing a downrigger, small diving planers such as the Jet Diver, Mini Dipsy or Big Jon Mini Disk, Tadpole Divers or keel sinkers.

When fishing an in-line spinner in combination with a diver a five to six foot leader of quality fluorocarbon line works best. Use a quality ball bearing swivel at the back of the diver to eliminate line twist and tie the spinner directly to the terminal end of the fluorocarbon line.

Photo courtesy Mark Romanack THREE WAY RIGGING Another excellent way to get in-line spinners to depth is to use the tried and true three way rigging option. To tie up a three way swivel rig, tie the main line to one end of the swivel, add a 12 to 24 inch dropper line with a lead pencil weight to the second end on the swivel and a leader to the bait on the third arm of the swivel.

This simple and effective rig can be used to fish in-line spinners in just about any common water depth simply by switching out the sinker as needed to maintain contact with the bottom.

ADDING FLASH In-line spinners work because they generate a lot of flash in the water. Adding a small flasher a few feet in front of the spinner is a great way to attract fish from a greater distance.

The 4 inch Big Al Fish Flash is a triangular shaped flasher that spins on it’s own axis creating tons of flash, but next to zero resistance in the water.

The Fish Flash can be added directly to the back of most divers and trolling weights creating pulsations of light that imitate game fish feeding among a school of minnows.

SUMMING IT UP In-line spinners are one of those lures that see a lot of action among casters, but trollers rarely use them. With a little help from some popular trolling aids, the in-line spinner becomes double deadly as a fishing lure.

THE ULTIMATE FISHING EXPERIENCE.

Take a video tour here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=_wpltxUUUrU

The 2019 1625 Fury XL Sport aluminum fishing boat has a spacious cockpit and a lot of power. It’ll scare the fish right out of the water. It’s also small enough to fit in most garages, making it the perfect 16’ boat.

TOP 5 LUND DEALER IN THE WORLD! See us for our LARGE SELECTION of Boats, ATVs & Accessories.

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

Hunting & Fishing News | 17

2019 FALL MACK DAYS

LAKE TROUT FISHING EVENT on FLATHEAD

September 20

th

LAKE

to November

10th

Fish The Entire Lake

UP TO

$150,000

CASH & PRIZES

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday are competitive Mack Days that include lottery, prizes, tagged fish, and bonuses.

Pick your best 15 days out of 24 possible, Friday-Sunday, for top ten angler prizes. The last day is separate.

Tagged Lake Trout-(1) $10,000-(3) $5,000-and (5) $1,000 plus over $9,000 with values from $500-$100 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday are bonus days. Eight $50 lottery drawings plus if you turn in live lake trout to the tagging boat you receive tickets for a special lottery drawing for (2) $500 prizes plus cooler tickets (1 for every 10 entries) Lottery Prizes: $1,000 to $400 (thirty-two drawings) Fri - Sun Top ten angler prizes $800-$300-Fri-Sun-(except last day, 15 best days of possible 24 days) Captains $250-(4 prizes), Smallest lake trout $250-(2 prizes), Largest lake trout $500 Top lady anglers $300, $200, $100. $100 -by total fish entered Youth anglers- (17-13) 1st- $200, 2nd-$150, 3rd-$75, 4-5th-$50 (12 & under)-1st-$100, 2nd-$75, 3rd-$50 Fri-Sat Weekend Prizes 5@$100 per weekend Golden Angler Award (70 & older)-$200 & $100, by total fish entered Bucket Days-3 days of single/team-heaviest 4-fish - 10/4, 10/19, 11/3 Last Day Only Drawings: $200, $150, $100 & Heaviest Mack weight under 30”-$200 & $100 ALL ANGLERS WHO ENTER ELEVEN OR MORE LAKE TROUT QUALIFY FOR BONUSES The higher your total, the higher your bonus. Every day counts: Tues-Sun (45 days)

See www.mackdays.com for complete rules We ask that all boats from out of the Flathead area be inspected for AIS.

Fish Fry for participants & families November 10th at Blue Bay 3:00 Awards Ceremony at 4:00 Entry forms will not be mailed out.

Enter online at www.mackdays.com

or pick up entries at local sporting good stores.

You can also enter when you check in your fish at the check in stations during Mack Days.

We remind you to follow all fishing regulations.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have a special $13 fishing permit for the south half on Flathead Lake that is available wherever fishing permits are sold.

Sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

FALL WALLEYES TIPS!

By Mike Frisch Northland Fishing Tackle www.northlandtackle.com

Photo courtesy Northland Fishing Tackle

he fall months have reputations for being some of the T best months of the entire year for fishing as most fish species, walleyes included, are actively feeding

during this time. While big, deep lakes are often thought of as “classic” walleye waters, small, shallow lakes often harbor good walleye populations that often go on the bite now too.

Typically, I like to target fall walleyes in shallow, weedy lakes by searching along the lake’s first drop-off, that area where the flat that typically extends out from shore starts to drop to deeper depths. On many of the small, shallow lakes I fish this drop-off occurs in depths from 5- to 10-feet deep.

Searching along subtle points and turns or finding bottom content changes along these drop-offs is often a good starting point. These areas are often good spots during the spring bite on these lakes and produce again during fall. As fall progresses, I start looking for still living, green weeds which often occur up on the flat and then extend down the drop off as well. In fact, an area of green weeds will often be the “spot on the spot” where numbers of walleyes of all sizes gather.

Incidentally, the areas where “good weeds” are present one fall, is often an area that will harbor weeds and fish in future falls as well. These areas are also often top winter ice fishing spots too, particularly during early ice.

The classic jig and minnow combination slowly trolled or drifted along a lake’s first drop-off is one way to find the subtle differences and/or living weeds that may host fall walleyes in good numbers. Simply drifting with the wind and swimming a light jig and minnow combination on a long line behind the boat is, in fact, my favorite fishing method on these waters because it helps me eliminate unproductive water and find walleye schools.

Once a school of marble-eyed fish is found along the drop-off, the catch can often be maximized by anchoring, either with an anchor or with a trolling motor ’s “spot-lock” feature and pitching jigs and minnows repeatedly to the fish. Shallow water pitching is a great way to work over a spot and catch a bunch of fish from a small area.

Jigs in the 1/16- and 1/8-ounce size range get the nod when drifting or pitching to shallow walleyes.

The classic Fire-Ball® Jig is available in these sizes and comes in a bunch of “fishy” colors as well.

Various minnows will produce fall walleyes,

but a scoop of fatheads is often all that is needed.

On flat calm days or in very shallow water, the 1/16-ounce size Fire-Ball® gets the nod, though I’ll go to the 1/8-ounce size if the wind kicks up. Incidentally, the Fire-Ball® will soon be available in several UV color patterns that will make these jigs even more appealing to fish in the off-colored waters often found in many small, shallow lakes.

Light jigs and minnows fish well on light line and spinning rods and reels. A quality spinning reel loaded with 6-pound test line and fished on a medium light rod in the 6 ½-foot size range works well whether trolling/drifting or pitching. CX Premium line works great when fishing light jigs as it’s a low memory, fluorocarbon-coated line that handles very well on spinning reels. The new Lew’s Custom Speed Spin reel features 10-ball bearings, is buttery smooth, and is perfect for light jig fishing.

If you are looking for some perfect fall fishing fun this year, consider heading to a small, shallow lake right now. Tie on a jig and minnow and look for the spots just described and you just might land on walleye gold yet this season!

Good luck with your fall fishing and, as always, remember to include a youngster in your next outdoors adventure!

Mike Frisch is a western Minnesota fishing guide and co-host of the popular Fishing the Midwest TV series.

Visit www.fishingthemidwest.com or follow Fishing the Midwest on Facebook for more “fishy” stuff.

CIOPINNO AND TARRAGON PESTO KOKANEE SALMON RECIPE

By Lindsey Bartosh A 12 Gauge Girl www.huntingandcooking.com INGREDIENTS: Photo courtesy Lindsey Bartosh Four filets kokanee salmon (deboned and skin on) One fennel bulb, diced One medium shallot, minced One medium onion, diced 2 tbsp oil Four cloves garlic, minced 28 oz can stewed tomatoes One cup white wine One bay leaf 2 cups seafood broth One to two tsp of all spice 1/2 cup cashews (add more if needed) 2 cloves garlic Handful fresh parsley Handful fresh tarragon Lemon, juiced and zested 1/3 cup olive oil 2 tbsp red wine vinegar Salt and pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS: For the Ciopinno Base - Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottomed pan over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, drop in the diced fennel, onions, shallot, and garlic. Cook for ten minutes, watching that the garlic doesn’t brown. Onions should be soft and translucent.

Deglaze the pot with a cup of white wine...Let simmer for two to three minutes. Add the two cups of seafood broth, the stewed tomatoes, a bay leaf, and the all spice. Let simmer with the lid on for 30 minutes.

For the Tarragon Pesto - To a food processor, add two cloves of garlic and pulse a few times to chop up. Add in the half cup of cashews and pulse a few times. Add the parsley and fresh tarragon. Pulse.

Squeeze in a quarter cup of lemon juice, add the zest, and the red wine vinegar. Let the food processor run and slowly stream in the 1/3 cup of olive oil. The pesto should be a creamy texture. Add more oil by the tablespoon if desired consistency is not reached at first.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

For the Fish - Season the filet kokanee salmon with salt and pepper.

Drizzle a little olive oil over the filets and seal tightly in aluminum foil packets. Place the packets directly on the grill over high heat and let cook for about seven minutes. The packets should puff up when finished. Carefully remove the fish filets from the skin.

To Plate - Add a large scoop of ciopinno stew base to a shallow bowl.

Lay a piece of grilled fish on top of the stew base. Top with a heaping scoop of the pesto tarragon.

WHATEVER YOUR PASSION, WE HAVE THE BOAT FOR YOU. Order your new 2020 models now for fall delivery.

FIND US AT OUR NEW LOCATION, 1310 BIRCH IN HELENA (a few blocks behind Sportsman’s Warehouse)

SEE OUR FULL INVENTORY HERE: www.HCBoating.com 1310 Birch, Helena, MT.

406.996.1225

Complete Parts & Service Departments

SCHEDULE YOUR

WINTERIZING NOW!

Hunting & Fishing News | 19

Your Montana Toyota Dealers are

Passionate

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

TOYOTA KNOWS TRUCKS. After all, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been building them for over 80 years. So you know when you buy a Tundra, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got the strength and dependability you expect. And we continually deliver on this promise of toughness.

PUBLIC ACCESS For hunters, anglers and others who enjoy experiencing the outdoors first-hand, it means everything.

No access means no recreational opportunity.

TIMBER GULCH ACCESS ROAD EASEMENT IMPROVED LAND ACCESS Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) purchased a permanent road easement across private land in the Timber Gulch area of McCartney Mountain, three miles east of Glen. The purchase secured public access to 3,400 acres of Bureau of Land Management ground in elk hunting district 340.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation provided funding from its Torstenson Family Endowment to assist with the project.

FWP conveyed the 0.14 miles of existing primitive road to the BLM. The primitive road connects a county road (Burma Road) to an open route on the BLM that is open year-round.

T I M B E R G U LC H LOC AT I O N

Madison County, MT

3,400

COMPLETED MARCH, 2018

005-0719-003

IMPROVED ACCESS ACRES

FWP’s BJ Kemp with a big female that was collected in 2017. Some of her offspring may be showing up on anglers line...MFWP photo

Fort Peck Reservoir Chinook Salmon Egg Collection And Stocking Looks Promising

MFWP ood news for Chinook salmon anglers: Fort Peck Reservoir and hatchery crews recently stocked record numbers of Chinook salmon fingerlings into Fort Peck Reservoir, with over 534 thousand being stocked this spring.

Initially, the outlook from the fall 2018 egg collection efforts did not look very promising. Due to fewer mature females being present in the system due to limited stockings during 2015 and 2016, FWP Fisheries and hatchery personnel were only able to collect just over 110 thousand eggs last fall.

On a positive note, with the few eggs that FWP was able to obtain on Fort Peck Reservoir, hatchery personnel did see a very good “eye-up” percentage. According to Wade Geraets,

G

River Runner

Pro V

Fort Peck Hatchery Manager, “Eye-up is a developmental stage in the egg where the actual eyes are seen and gives staff good indications that the eggs have been fertilized and are near hatching. The eye-up percentage was over 75%, which suggests that the female Chinook salmon were very healthy and mature and were able to produce good, viable eggs.”

In addition, due to collaborative work with the Dakotas, egg numbers were greatly increased. North Dakota was able to supply almost 400 thousand eggs and South Dakota 150 thousand, bringing the total to almost 650 thousand eggs that were then hatched and reared at the Fort Peck Multispecies Fish Hatchery over the winter...

According to Headley, Montana and North and South Dakota have worked collaboratively for many years, including supplementing eggs when one may be short and another had surplus. In addition, these salmon are the only disease-free certified Chinook salmon in North America...

Salmon were first introduced into Ft. Peck Reservoir in 1983.

Due to the abundance of their preferred forage fish, cisco, salmon have shown excellent growth, with males maturing in two to four years and females in three to four years.

This is the only Chinook fishery in Montana, so anglers travel from near and far in hopes of hooking up with these fresh water titans.

Headley hints that the salmon fishing in 2019 looks favorable based on stocking numbers in 2017 (345,000) and 2018 (377,000) as well as with numbers seen during 2018 fall surveys conducted.

“Crews noticed good numbers of two-year old male salmon that averaged a little over five pounds during the fall 2018 collection efforts,” said Headley. “This is an encouraging sign that improved numbers of larger, older 3-year old salmon may be more abundant this year.” ​

Sea Runner

Wallace Marine...Proudly carrying Hewes Craft boats for 24 years See us for yours today.

We Sell Fun

3505 10th Ave. So., Great Falls, MT. 59405 406-453-9392 www.wallacemarine.com 22 | Hunting & Fishing News

EAGLE HT 5th Wheels Starting at

$28,750

COMFORTABLE & LUXURIOUS LIVING SPACE

WELL DESIGNED KITCHENS WITH TONS OF STORAGE. Named one of RV Pro magazine’s Best of Show winners RESIDENTIAL QUEEN SIMMONS® MATTRESS 2018 RV industry show.

INDUSTRY LEADING OUTSIDE KITCHEN.

New (2018) 26.5RLDS

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

New Units arriving daily!

Rangitsch Brothers, LLC RV Sales Hours: Mon-Sat. 8am - 6pm

Sun 11am - 4pm

SEE US TODAY FOR YOUR NEXT RV!

Quality construction, floorplan design, and affordability.

The Jayco Way. We have a Large Inventory of New & Pre-owned Units & Are Western Montana’s Largest Jayco Dealer

2001 W. BROADWAY MISSOULA

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

www.rangitschbrosrv.com Hunting & Fishing News | 23

See the full line of YAMAHA SxS and ATVs at one of these Yamaha dealers.

BOZEMAN BLITZ MOTORSPORTS 145 Rawhide Ridge Rd. 406-522-7533

BUTTE STAACK’S MOTORSPORTS 102 E. Galena St. 406-782-2623

GREAT FALLS STEVE’S SPORTS CENTER 4700 9th Ave. South 406-727-8607

HAMILTON AL’S CYCLE 619 Highway 93N. 406-363-3433

MISSOULA FIVE VALLEY YAMAHA https://fivevalleyhondayamaha.com 5900 Hwy. 93 S. 406-251-5900

TOWNSEND TOWNSEND MARINE 7809 Hwy. 287 So. 406-266-5700

https://www.blitzmotorsportsmt.com

https://www.alscycleyamaha.com

https://staacksmotorsports.com

see us online

https://www.stevessportscenter.com

https://www.townsendmarine.com

Ask About Current Offers ATV Riders: ATV models are recommended for use only by riders 16 years and older. Raptor 700 / Raptor 700R recommended for experienced riders only. 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 wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing; never carry passengers. Side-by-Side Riders: Side-by-Side (SxS) models are recommended for use only by operators 16 years and older with a valid driver’s license. YXZ1000R is recommended for experienced operators only. Always wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Yamaha recommends that all Side-by-Side riders take an approved training course. For Side-by-Side safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ROHVA at 1-866-267-2751. ATV and Side-by-Side Riders: Read the Owner’s Manual and the product warning labels before operation. Avoid excessive speeds and never engage in stunt riding.

Always avoid paved surfaces and never ride on public roads. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; it is illegal and dangerous. Some models shown with optional accessories. ©2019 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • YamahaMotorsports.com

PRICING WHOLESALE ON RVS 2020 Northwood Nash 26N

Milk River buck. Photo courtesy Mike Hanback

2 AWESOME BOW STANDS SAVE $ 8, 022

By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com

orget the rut for now. The first days of your archery season F in September or October can be a great time to whack a 10-pointer. The bucks are relatively docile and locked into their summer/early fall bed-to-feed patterns. So long as you don’t press them too hard, they’ll keep moving reasonably well at dawn and dusk. Tweak these setups to your land and tag out early.

The Choke Point

One September I hunted in sprawling alfalfa and corn country where you could see deer coming and going for miles.

The only way to have a fighting chance with a bow in a big spot like that is to narrow the country down, way down.

During the middle of the day when the deer were inactive, I looked around for two hours and sized things up. Then I tucked a tree stand back in a shady edge where a tractor path crossed a strip of weeds. There was a thin strip of timber upwind of my stand, and another strip 40 yards east of the farm road. I figured any deer that came off the alfalfa the next morning would gravitate to this choke point.

If a shooter walked through there…

An hour after dawn, I glassed two racks a mile away.

It took them a while to get to me. Around eight o’clock, the bucks hit the dirt road and walked down it. They turned, took the weed funnel between the tree strips and walked broadside 30 yards below. I nailed the 8-pointer in the lead.

To me, bowhunting for whitetails is all about edges and choke points, or spots where old roads, strips of trees, pockets of weeds and other terrains and covers converge.

The more of these “fringe areas” the better. Deer walk the edges year-round, and they especially use them when traveling to and from food sources in archery season.

Set up where three or four strips and edges meet, and you’re apt to smoke a good buck like I did that morning.

Corner a Buck

Anytime I hunt a crop field I look for the nearest fence and walk it out to the corners. You can never scout too much, just be low-impact about it. Inevitably I find a corner with a lot of deer sign—tracks, a trail and maybe tufts of hair on the barbed-wire where deer are jumping it.

A fence corner is a natural place for deer to travel, and a natural spot for you to set up. A prime corner to hunt will have lots of brushy cover, and at least one stout tree nearby for a stand. But if the sign is there and cover is sparse, I’ll play the wind and set up a small brush blind 35 yards or so off the corner. On the ground makes it tougher…and all the sweeter if you stick your buck in the corner.

MSRP: $41,484 SALE PRICE: $33,462

2020 Northwood Wolf Creek 850

SAVE

$

5, 672 MSRP: $33,317 SALE PRICE: $27,645

Has a wet bath!

2019 Northwood Arctic Silver Fox Edition 35-5Z

SAVE $ 18 , 212 MSRP: $90,788 SALE PRICE: $72,576

Now Selling Puma Destination Trailers!

Alpine, Arctic Fox, Aspen Trail, Avalanche, Carbon, Chaparral, Columbus, Desert Fox, Fox Mountain, Fun Finder, Kodiak, Laredo, Nash, Pace, Puma, Raptor, Rockwood, Sunseeker, Wolf Creek

View our inventory at

406-442-8542 1-800-246-8542 HELENA We make buying an RV easy.

www.ddrvcenter.com

GEAR UP THIS FALL With Honda POWER YOU CAN TRUST

Honda Generators

Ask About The

Honda Power Equipment Credit Card:

Financing that Works for You

Portable Power When and Where You Need It.

Call 1-877-215-8756

EU1000i

• 1000 watts • Less than 29 lbs.

• Power for Fans, TV, Lights, Small Power Tools EU3000i Handi® and Appliances • 3000 watts Swing-Up Handle WT30 Pump •• Perfect for RV Supplemental Power, Home Backup Use and Camping

EU3000is

EG2800i • 3000 watts • 2800 watts • Electric Starting • Power for RVs including • Easy Connection for Home Backup 13,500 BTU AC and • Long run time - Up to Basic Home Backup 12.1 hours @ 1/4 load Power

EG4000CL

• 4000 watts • Honda commercial OHV engine • Honda-exclusive DAVR (Digital Auto Voltage Regulation)

NOTHING BEATS Honda’s LEGENDARY QUALITY AND RELIABILITY.

HRX217VKA LAWN MOWER

FG110 TILLER

• Self-propelled, variable speed Select Drive® • Easy Start Honda Engine • Easy starting, powerful Honda GCV200 engine • 9” Tilling Width • 4-in-1 Versamow System™ with Clip Director® mulch, • Less than 29 lbs. bag, discharge, and leaf shred Opt. attachments include aerator, edger,dethatcher Worry free lifetime and digging limited warranty tines NeXite® deck and 5 year mower warranty

HS720AA SNOW BLOWER • Single stage • Clears 20” wide • Up to 1800 lb./min.

• Throws snow 33 feet • Snow director chute control - easy control of distance/direction • Semi-self propelled auger drive

These are just a few of the Honda products we have available. Visit one of our stores near you today or shop online 24/7 at www.north40.com for our complete inventory.

GREAT FALLS

North 40 Outfitters 4400 10th Ave. South (406) 761-7441 www.north40.com

HAVRE

North 40 Outfitters 1753 US Hwy 2 NW (406) 265-9566 www.north40.com

Go to: www.powerequipment.honda.com to see the full line-up of Honda Power Equipment and http://powerequipment.honda.com/brochures for brochures.

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

Connection of a generator to house power requires a transfer device to avoid possible injury to power company personnel. Consult a qualified electrician. © 2019 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Dallas Land COMPANY

112 Willow • Helena, MT. 59602

443-5110

39 years helping buyers and sellers.

Let us help you today.

www.dallas-land.com Photo courtesy Ryan McSparran

3 TIPS FOR FALL STREAMER FISHING

By Ryan McSparran

Mystic Outdoors

T

here’s no bad time to throw streamers. But fall might be the very best time. Big, predatory trout are looking for easy meals as the weather begins to change. This time of year is a great opportunity to swing those big ugly flies in your box, and hang on for aggressive strikes.

When fly fishing with your favorite streamer patterns this fall, here are a few tips to help make your time more productive.

GET YOUR FLY DOWN In order to fish your streamers most effectively, you need to be getting them down in the water column.

This is especially challenging when fishing deep holes or in runs with a strong current.

Whenever possible, have a streamer rod rigged and ready with a sinking fly line. Choose a sinking with an aggressive taper, one that is designed to cast streamers and other large flies. If given a choice between different sink rates, go with one that fits your home river or your most common fishing situation.

Changing fly lines can be a pain, so if you’re on the river and don’t already have a sinking line rigged up, there’s a quick alternative.

Q uickly tie o n a s i n k i n g l e a d e r like th e Ve rsiL e a d e r fr o m R i o .

These sinking leaders come in a variety of sink rates to fit any river or situation.

www.mysticoutdoors.com

SWING AND THEN STRIP When fishing wide runs and large pools, I like to make a quartering downstream cast, allowing my fly to swing through. Keep your non-casting hand ready on the fly line for a quick s tr i p s et i f y ou f eel a s t rik e.

But don’t strip any line during the swing, as the current is usually moving the fly at a pretty quick pace.

When my fly nears the bank and reaches the end of the drift, try slowly stripping the fly upstream along the bank. If you don’t get a strike on the swing, trout will often attack the fly o n t hi s ups t ream ret ri ev e.

This allows you to fish against those cut banks, where big browns love to wait for an ambush opportunity.

DOUBLE STREAMERS Fall is streamer time. So, why not double down? Start by tying on a small or lightweight streamer like a Platte River Spider. Add about 18 inches of tippet to the shank of that hook and tie o n a l arger, heav y s t reamer.

This big fly following a small fly can be a killer setup to swing through long runs and deeper pools.

164 Acres - Borders BLM Lands

11 separate patented mining claims w/cattle grazing and excellent hunting opportunities. Serviced by a well maintained county road. $400,000 MLS# 21908340

48 Picturesque Acres

Good hunting area, 3 mining claims, old mining cabins & powder house. $100,000 MLS# 1303171

Gates of the Mountains Holter Lake, 2 acres, well and power. $91,500 MLS# 1297587

Possible owner financing

20 Acres - Lincoln Area Very affordable cabin site that is close to the Scapegoat Wilderness. $40,000 MLS# 21904778

RECOMMENDED STREAMER RODS For any fall streamer fishing exploits, we love fishing the new Mystic JXP fly rod in a 9-foot 6-weight.

Another popular streamer choice here among the Mystic crew is the M-Series 10’ 3” fly rods in either the 6-weight or the 7-weight.

Ryan McSparran is an outdoor writer, fly fishing and hunting professional based in Colorado.

Woodland Hills Estate

Multiple 20+ acre home sites starting at $6,500 per acre. Owner will carry a contract for deed. Call for details.

Call to list your property today!

Don Dallas 410-0406 Curt Dallas 410-0769 Glen Robbins 459-6441 Dan Felska 450-0184

Hunting & Fishing News | 27

GEAR REVIEW

RINEHART BIG GAME TARGETS BOG DEATHGRIP SHOOTING TRIPOD Engineered to be the most

®

MONTANA DECOYS

®

Featuring the radically superior

so real with these Big Game Archery Targets by Rinehart.

Features include: • Renowned, solid ʻself-healingʼ foam • Multiple Scoring Rings Available • Replaceable Self-Healing Insert • Patented Locking Inserts • Weatherproof/UV Resistant Available in elk, antelope, moose and other big game animals.

stable precision tripod on the market. Its aluminum legs have unmatched durability for hunt after hunt.

The patented clamp secures any weapon, hands-free, freeing the BOG™ hunter to glass or call on the hunt with ease.

HORNADY 300 PRC 212 gr ELD-X PRECISION HUNTER

Shooting 3D’s has never felt

The ultimate advantage for stalking, setting up or preparing to shoot.

These big game decoys help hunters set up the most realistic decoy scenarios possible while on the move. Lightweight, packable, and easy to carry on every hunt.

ELD-­X bullet with Heat Shield tip, Antelope Buck & Doe RMEF Cow Elk Decoy Precision Hunter is the ideal load The Antelope Buck & Doe combo gets you A portion of each sale for ANY hunting situation because set up for any antelope decoying situation goes to the RMEF. of its effective terminal performance you may find yourself in. Folds flat to fit at ALL practical ranges. inside your pack The Heat Shield tip defies the effects of aerodynamic heating and retains its shape to maintain the highest-in­-class BC over its entire trajectory. With high velocity, 0-­400 yard impact, the bullet continually expands throughout its penetration path. The thick shank of the jacket and high InterLock ring keep the core and jacket together providing 50­-60% weight retention.

Makes long range, mid-range!

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

COME SEE THE NEW NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC INVISIBLE BOUNDARIES DISPLAY Trophy Elk Display • Elk Country Wildlife Diorama • Wildlife Theater • Walking Trail

ELK COUNTRY

VISITOR CENTER Valid through September 30, 2019

$5 gift to you $5 off a single purchase of $10 or more at the Elk Country Visitor Center Gift Shop

720-0719-002

Coupon must be surrendered at time of purchase. One coupon per customer. Discount does not apply to memberships, gift cards, prior purchases, or in combination with any other discounts. No cash value. Reproductions not accepted. Certificate cannot be redeemed as cash or merchandise credit if merchandise is returned.

WWW.RMEF.ORG

Directions: Take I-90 to Exit 101 in Missoula. Drive 1⁄4 mile north to 5705 Grant Creek Road. accessible with RV parking. Open year round.

For information, call 406-523-4545 or 866-266-7750 or visit www.rmef.org.

T S E W O T T S A E E R E H W Y R E V E AND IN BET WEEN™

EORPEHSLR VIFIP LESC R

JOIN THE VORTEX NATION

Exposed elevation turret for quick dialing of long range shots.

6-24x50mm

 Advanced optical system with a 4x zoom range

 Built on ultra-strong 30mm one-piece machined aluminum tubes

LIFETIME WARRANTY.

 Field of view - 17.8-5.1 ft/100 yds Purchase Your Vortex Optics at the 2019 Montana Vortex Dealer of the Year

MISSOULA •BOZEMAN •HELENA •BUTTE •HAMILTON Visit www.bobwards.com for our daily deal and be the first to know about new sales! Plus, get free shipping on any order over $50!

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the best deals first, plus we give away a $25 gift card every month!

Skinner Sights LLC ®

MACHINED FROM SOLID BARSTOCK STURDY SIGHTS Rifle cases & more for your rifles

PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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

-

TIZER MEATS RETAIL STORE -

Beef, pork, chicken, lamb Over 100 flavors specialty meats Pop, beer, tobacco, groceries 2805 York Road - Helena

406-422-4822

CHECK OUT OUR •Variety Bundle Chicken, Beef, Pork $100 •Steak Bundle $75 •Beef Bundle $50 •Pork Bundle $50 •Camping Bundle $50

Give us a call or check out our weekly specials on Facebook

www.tizermeats.com

Hunting & Conservation News Proudly Sponsored By

Republic Services of Montana

Photo by Ryan McSparran

HUNTING MOUNTAIN WHITETAILS

By Zach Lazzari Lazy J Bar O Outfitters www.lazyjbaro.com

hitetails are most often associated with rolling hills W and flat woodlands in Midwest, south and eastern United States. In Montana and other western states however,

we find whitetails occupying a variety of different ecosystems, often overlapping with mule deer and elk. You have those who prefer the bottomlands, much like those in the Midwest and those who work up steep slopes and mountaintops.

This is a guide to finding and shooting mountain whitetails.

Pole Lines Power lines are not attractive but they provide feeding lanes and migration corridors for deer.

Powerlines also traverse some very steep terrain in the west and they provide clearings in otherwise heavily timbered areas.

You are not likely to cross a deer along the lines but they are great for walking and tracking. You can silently cruise along the openings until you cross fresh sign. Then you can jump into the woods or plan a blind/treestand setup.

Young Firs Find stands of young fir trees around waist

to head high. These stands are common in areas where logging was prevalent in the past and re-seeding practices are in effect. Walk through the young fir stands and you are likely to see ample sign. The trees provide cover and deer love feeding and bedding in these zones. If you find young fir trees near an old burn, prepare to cross some deer.

Blowdowns

Steep slopes lined with blowdowns are often associated with elk but they hold whitetails as well.

The deer use the blowdowns for protection while bedding and they feed along the lush north slopes. This makes them difficult to locate without a very quiet stalk or strategically located stand. Unlike their lowland cousins, these deer seem to move more and are difficult to pattern. Stalking these areas at a snail-like pace requires incredible patience but can turn up some nice bucks.

Draws You can almost always find sign and travel corridors

in steep, timbered draws. You have water, cover, food and travel lanes to feeding areas. Find the game trails, bring a saw to make shooting lanes and plan a tree stand or blind setup in these zones. Draws are difficult to stalk and playing the waiting game is your best bet. Early season game cameras can show you what’s moving through the draws and very few people will bush whack into these difficult zones.

At Lazy J Bar O Outfitters, they offer remote mountain hunts in some of Montana’s most wild country. Their guided Montana hunts include elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, black bear and bighorn sheep. For information visit www.lazyjbaro.com

30 | Hunting & Fishing News

Mule Deer, Whitetail Numbers Still Above Average In Region 7 MFWP

he 2019 winter T and spring aerial surveys of

deer populations in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 7 revealed above long-term average numbers for both mule deer and white-tailed deer.

Photo courtesy MFWP “We had abundant precipitation last spring and summer, which made for excellent forage conditions and deer going into winter in good body condition,” said Wildlife Biologist Melissa Foster. “The winter was mild up until February, when we got about six weeks of bitter cold and snow. Seems like most deer had enough ‘gas in the tank’ to make it through to spring green-up.”

FWP received no reports of widespread winterkills of deer.

“Mule deer are looking good,” Foster said of the most recent surveys. “They are 5 percent below last year but still 27 percent above long-term average.”

Foster determines long-term average by tracing survey data back to the 1996-97 season and harvest figures back to 1976.

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

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

For mule deer, biologists conduct aerial surveys of between 14 and 16 trend areas in Region 7, during the post-season and again during the “green-up” spring months.

Surveys show mule deer population density in Region 7 has been increasing since about 2012, when deer numbers began to rebound from a crash following back-to-back bitter winters. In 2015, deer reached the highest density recorded since 1976.

The recruitment rate for mule deer fawns is also solid, climbing steadily since 2010.

“We are sitting at 56 fawns per 100 adults,” Foster said.

“Similarly, mule deer buck harvest is 15 percent above long-term average.”

Buck-to-doe ratios dropped from last year’s 48 bucks per 100 does but remain at a strong 34 bucks per 100 does.

Whitetail populations aren’t quite as robust as mule deer, but numbers are still above average.

“Whitetails took a little dip this spring, with counts 26 percent below last year, but still 12 percent above long-term average,” she said. “Whitetail buck harvest was 3 percent below LTA last fall. Recruitment is still good at 54 fawns per 100 adults.”

“All in all, I’d say whitetail numbers are about average for our neck of the woods, and as is typical for whitetails, numbers are booming in some spots and way down in others, on a very localized scale,” Foster summarized.

Buck-to-doe ratios for whitetail are at 29 bucks per 100 does.

That compares to a whopping 71 bucks per does last year, but Foster said those buck numbers were “abnormal and super high.”

Hunting & Fishing News | 31

HUNTING, FISHING OR FOOTBALL Stock up here!

Designer Tackle Night Crawlers $2.75 dozen Walleye Hunter Tackle Fishing Gear & Bait - Coldest Beer Around Biggest Cigar Selection - Novelty Section

BIRDS AND BUCKS HOW TO HAVE BOTH

2 LOCATIONS

615 Helena Ave. corner Last Chance Gulch & Helena Ave. 406.443.8084

OR ON YOUR WAY TO THE LAKE

at 200 S. Montana Off Highway 12 East - East Helena 406.227.6519

Zortman Motel & Garage

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

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

John & Candy Kalal 406.673.3160 zortman76@itstriangle.com

u Think. o Y n a h T er Are Clos u achieve yours. ay. s m a e r D lp yo s tod Let us hene of our branche to Stop in a

32 | Hunting & Fishing News

Photo credit Tom Koerner/USFWS

By Jim Wooley, Pheasants Forever Senior Field Biologist (Emeritus) Pheasants Forever www.pheasantsforever.org

olks who acquire land for upland bird hunting often have F a secondary motive, and usually that’s white-tailed deer.

We regularly discuss strategies here to increase your bird

numbers. Here’s how to put a little deer spin into your habitat enhancement program.

Like most wildlife, whitetails prefer a habitat smörgåsbord with sunshine. This means that gangbuster gamebird cover in relatively open country works well. Odds for harvesting your wall-hanger (or my personal trophy – a yearling doe) increase as you diversify bird habitat.

Here’s a little planning trick to figure improvements for your target species: Consider home range along with habitat needs.

Pheasant and quail home ranges are small. Deer can be roamers, but will stick closer when their needs are met nearby.

Depending on its size, divide your acreage’s map into equal rectangles (40-acre plots are ideal) and examine the habitat mosaic in each. What’s lacking for roosting, woody, nesting and brood-rearing habitats, and wildlife food? Does connecting cover extend between grids? With a habitat visual of each block, and ground-truthing, you can formulate a plan that, grid-by-grid, will lead to better bird and deer habitat on the property.

Pheasants and whitetails both benefit with 65 to 75 percent of acres established in early successional herbaceous habitat.

Pollinator, legume or native grass/forb nesting and brood habitat all double well as bedding and fawning cover for deer, and as green browse. Broadleaves host high insect numbers for growing gamebird chicks. Maintaining a mostly bare understory with fire is important so that foraging chicks – and fawns – can move easily. Plant these areas as whole fields, firebreaks, or borders along landscape features.

In this era of antler obsession, you may also want to consider screening cover in your habitat plan. Concealing cover for deer (switchgrass is a good example) also serves as gamebird roosting cover in cold weather.

While open country suits deer just fine, beefy shrubs improve holding power. Diverse shrubs (dogwoods, ninebark, plum) several rows wide should comprise 15 to 20 percent of your cover. Shrubs serve as security habitat with vertical and horizontal protection, travel lanes, covey headquarters, loafing and escape cover … and woody cover also hides bucks from prying eyes. Add deeper brush thickets in odd areas and at the heads of draws, and widen spots along fully brushed-in fencerows.

Install food plots on 10 to 20 percent of your acres.

High-energy grain crops improve gamebird body condition and hold deer nearby. Food plots belong near bedding and roosting cover.

Cover interspersion – how your habitat features merge and link – matter. Fence-rows, waterways and draws should connect to each other and your other habitats. This boosts edge, which equals more birds and deer … a result that makes most landowner/hunters happy.

Photo courtesy Ryan McSparran

COLD NIGHTS – HOW TO GET MOVING Performance Parts & Custom Accessories PAINT PROTECTION EARLY IN COLD WEATHER

By Zach Lazzari Kawdy Outfitters www.kawdyoutfitters.com

unting season is accompanied by crisp fall days, H cold mornings and in some cases, very cold weather.

Yet the early morning hours are critical for hunters.

LIFT KITS

REMOTE STARTERS

Getting out of a warm bed and tackling the dawn is difficult.

But pushing through this entry into the cold will yield more opportunities or at the least, more opportunities to see game out in the open. When you are hunting from a tent in the backcountry, here are a few ways to get motivated and hit the trail early, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Build Your Bed with an Exit Strategy

The most difficult aspect of a cold morning is leaving your warm bed. Make this transition easier by limiting contact with the elements. This means sleeping in your base layer so your feet and extremities are already covered and you won’t catch a chill the instant you leave the covers. Keep your mid layer in the bed as well and get dressed while you are still covered up. Now your body temperature won’t take a major dip by simply leaving the bed. Keep your boots at the bedside for immediate entry. If it’s really cold at night, wrap your boots in a towel or jacket and keep them under the covers so they are nice and warm in the morning.

INCREASE HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE

SIDE BARS FENDER FLARES NERF BARS BED RAILS

External Heat Never Hurts

When possible, adding external heat helps you make the early morning transition. Drop a hand warmer in your boots and fire up a catalytic propane heater in the tent if possible.

If you’re lucky, your tent will have a wood stove. Stoke the fire early and it’ll be easy to get dressed and ready in the morning darkness. Whenever the opportunity for a quality external heat source is available at camp, take advantage of this luxury. If you are hunting the backcountry out of a pack, hand warmers and layers will have to suffice.

Keep in mind that sometimes cold air gets trapped in a small tent and it’s actually warmer outside where the air is moving. This can help motivate your brain in the early morning. Throw in a warm thermos of coffee or tea to drink while you wait on the sunrise and the cold isn’t so bad.

Do a Warmup Routine

You’ve pushed through the initial chill and are dressed and ready. Take another step and warm up your body to get the blood flowing. It’s tempting to jump back in bed after confronting the coldest mornings of the year. Do 20 jumping jacks, a few pushups and enough to raise your heart rate.

Adding a short spike to your heart rate is like drinking coffee.

It kicks your brain into gear and your body tends to follow.

Stretch out and hit the trail to find a great glassng position ahead of the sunrise and you might see a few animals that would have been long gone otherwise.

To learn about hunting opportunities in British Columbia with Kawdy Outfitters, visit www.kawdyoutfitters.com or phone 1-250-540-1179 (Oct 15 – July1) and 1-604-629-9582 (July 1 – Oct 15).

HEATED SEATS

SPRAY ON BED LINERS HARD TONNEAU COVERS

Get Lit!

HDX

BUMPERS

MORE POWER & TORQUE, SMOOTHER RIDE & IMPROVED MPG Lift Kits • Leveling Kits Leer Truck Caps-Tonneaus • Scorpion Spray On Bedliners 3M Window Tint & Clear Hood Protection (Helena’s Only 3M Dealer) Crystal Fusion (Glass Protection) • Paint Chip Repair Car Stereo/Electronic Department • Truck and Car Accessories Full Service Detail Shop • Custom Graphics • Full Service Sign Shop

WE SPECIALIZE IN CUSTOM ILLUSTRATED, ONE-OF-A-KIND GRAPHICS.

GIFT CERTIFICATES Visit our SHOWROOM. We have a

HUGE SELECTION

of accessories for your car, truck or SUV.

Schedule Your Auto Detail Today!

3242 Centennial St. Helena 406-457-0700

www.autoconceptshelena.com

THE 30 DAY PLAN FOR A

SUCCESSFUL HUNT

(continued from page 10)

While practice regimes will vary from one hunter to another, it is important to find a system that fits you. Do not forget to practice from different hunting positions since you never know when you will get the shot out in the backcountry.

CONDITIONING FOR YOUR SEASON

This is just as an important part of your hunt prep as shooting.

I am not an expert in this field, but I highly recommend finding a gym or personal trainer that is. As far as adjusting your conditioning training for the 30 days leading up to hunt, I turned to Stuart Shaw at CoreBlend Training and Wellness.

Stuart holds a Bachelors of Exercise Science and is a Doctoral candidate in Physical Therapy at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Aside from his expertise, he is a nice guy and a pleasure to work with. Stuart designed a two-phase program to help me with my pre-hunt conditioning. In phase one, we focused on building strength using primarily high weight and low reps to increase overall strength. In the section below, Stuart describes how he structured phase two of the program.

TIPS FROM STU WHEN IT COMES TO FITNESS Conditioning As you approach the 30-day mark before a hunt, I recommend that you change up your style of training to a more steady state muscle endurance style workout. Switch gears from heavy weights with low reps to low weight with high reps.

By working with lower weight and higher reps, your body will increase its threshold for developing lactate, thus allowing you to work harder for longer periods of time. This adjustment will help you as you rise to the challenge of the hunt without fatigue, soreness, cramps and all things associated with exhaustion.

Emphasis on recovery With the decreased amount of heavy lifting in the last month, your body should be able to fully recover for the coming hunt.

It is extremely important to allow your body to recover because nothing will make a hunt more miserable than having a nagging injury. The last few weeks before the hunt make sure that you spend 10 minutes before your workout and 10 minutes after your workout using a foam roll, to thoroughly, stretch and really dig into those tight trigger areas.

The last few weeks are critical to work out any nagging pains in the shoulder, hips, knees and lower back.

Nutrition Throughout this process, be sure to feed your body with the proper nutrients it needs to maintain adequate strength and energy. Make sure that you are getting adequate amounts of clean protein, carbohydrates, and fat. You can make dieting as complicated as you would like, but I find that keeping things simple is the most realistic way to go. Remember to get in your greens, lean proteins (fish, chicken, wild game) as well as good fats. Fats are going to play an essential role in fueling your body during the hunt. An example of good fats would be nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts). A good percentage for your daily consumption should be 30% fats, 45% carbohydrates, and 25% protein. This would allow your body to start storing some good fat to be burned during the long cardio during a hunt. It is also important to add that since we are not doing a lot of heavy lifting during this prep to also decrease protein consumption.

So QUIET They Won’t Even Know You’re There

POWER YOUR HUNTING CAMP with

Honda PORTABLE POWER FOR WHEN & WHERE YOU NEED IT

.

EU3000is

-Power for your furnace, fridge, microwave, most 13,500 BTU RV AC units, and more -Super quiet -Convenient electric start -Fuel efficient-up to 20 hrs on 3.4 gal of gas -Inverter-stable power for computers

SEE WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU AT

LewistownHonda.com

302 Truck By-Pass, Lewistown 538-9435

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

34 | Hunting & Fishing News

FIELD SKILLS

Field judging, glassing, and calling may play a role in your hunt. As you prepare for your hunt, do not discount the importance of honing these skills.

Field judging For me, elk are the hardest animal to judge. I enter every elk hunt aware of the reality that at first, every bull I am going to look at is going to be huge (they are all bigger than whitetails after all). I relish this, but I want to be sure that I am prepared to field judge animals accurately.

Since I have yet to find any wild elk in Georgia, I rely on scoring guides found on Jay Scott’s website for my scoring practice. This is a great resource as bulls of all shapes and sizes are covered.

Watch a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTjFBxy-RBo Special thanks to Jay Scott Outdoors for the video clip.

Jay Scott has also done a couple of podcasts on field judging elk that are very helpful. This is a skill that is honed over years of practice!

For whitetail hunters, judging mule deer will come much easier than field judging elk. To start out, make sure you are aware of how mule deer are scored. Before going on the hunt, try to have a mental image of what each size range of mule deer looks like. This is best accomplished by looking at harvest pictures with posted scores.

Be careful with this, as, like many fishermen, hunters may exaggerate scores slightly.

When it comes to field judging, try to enter your western hunts with a clear goal in mind. Adjust your goals based on the unit or area you are hunting and try to be realistic.

For me, I always set my goals based on the principle that I want to pursue animals in the upper 10% of whatever is available in the unit.

Glassing Glassing can be one the most important strategies for any hunt.

Well before your upcoming hunt, you’ll want to become very proficient with how to use your glass and your glassing techniques...

Calling If you’re hunting a season during the rut, you’ll definitely want to practice well ahead of the season to learn the ins and outs of calling strategies. Elk, for example, are extremely vocal animals. Learning the ins and outs of calling can help make your hunt more successful.

In order to properly replicate elk sounds, I once again refer to resources on Jay Scott’s website: http://www.jayscottoutdoors.blogspot.com Another great resource to learn more about elk calling is the Elk Module available at Roe Hunting Resources: https://www.roehuntingresources.com/Sign-up and Corey Jacobson’s University of Elk Hunting online course: https://www.elk101.com/onlinecourse/

CLOSING THOUGHTS

For me, preparing for one big western hunt each year provides me with year-round activities. The preparation 30 days leading up to any hunt are critical. To be successful on the hunt, a combination of shooting skills, physical conditioning, glassing and field skills are required. For most hunters, preparation is really half the fun. A hunt may only last five to seven days and you want to be sure to make the most out of every opportunity.

Whether you have a coveted draw tag or an over-the-counter tag in your pocket, take time to enjoy your early season hunts this fall.

Good luck!

Stihl waiting??? Get yours today.

STIHL®

MS251 CHAINSAW

w/18” B&C

$329.95

We packed it with everything you need, even a lower price.

All products backed by your full service dealer

442-1788 1650 ASPEN ST., HELENA mtnstihl@yahoo.com

Sales & Service

BOOK YOUR STAY TODAY

FOR MOUNTAIN FUN IN LINCOLN MONTANA

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

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

LEEPER’S PONDEROSA MOTEL

Reasonable rates

110 1st Ave., Lincoln, MT

(406) 362-4333 Pets welcome

Mountain States Collision Repair, Inc.

“Where Honesty & Quality Come Together”

Lifetime guarantee-Affordable prices All makes, models & toys including trailers, snowmobiles, boats & more.

We have the experience to get your vehicle back on the road in top shape, quickly so you can have more fun!

1944 Birch St., Missoula, MT Call for a free estimate (406) 721-0881 www.mountainstatescollisionrepair.com

With competitive rates and personal service, it’s no wonder more people trust State Farm.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

Call today for a quote on your car and home insurance.

JEFF BOLSTAD Agent

1040 W. Custer Ave., Helena, MT. Bus. 406-449-2545 jeff@jeffbolstad.com

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Indemnity Company Bloomington, IL.

Hunting & Fishing News | 35

DEADLY STALKING TACTICS

To Remember When In The Field (continued from page 15) I recently got two stalks on the same buck within a matter of about an hour. The first one was rushed and sloppy.

After coming back and re-adjusting my approach, I went in and killed that buck the second time around. Be a predator.

KNOW WHERE YOU’RE STEPPING

Here, in the desert, there are plenty of loud things to step on— mainly in the form of loose rock or gravel. You have to be on your “best behavior” when it comes to where you put your feet. Small rocks are no bueno and will make noise when you place your foot on them because they grind up against one another. Big rocks, though? Those are usually the ticket for us. The same goes for when you might be blessed with a wet patch of grass. Now that is dead quiet to move through. When I am on a stalk, I will look up ahead of me and plan out the next 10’ or so of my sneak.

Which way is going to both keep me concealed as well as lower the noise of my foot fall?

Three points of contact During this chess match of an approach, you might find yourself having to get down below the brush line to avoid being seen. I remember doing so stalking a big bodied 4×4 mule deer and actually losing my balance and falling during the stalk. I fell right over like someone pushed me. That buck bounded off laughing at me—with me. Since then, I have always tried to have at least three points of contact when I am going low and slow.

That means I will have my two feet on the ground as well as one of my hands to help balance and guide me. I also really like crab crawling, especially when going downhill.

Inch by inch, you can scoot your way closer to the game.

Slow down This is a given, right? It is only natural for us

to know that we have to slow down when stalking game.

Yet, saying so and doing it are two different things if you ask me. Getting wrapped up in the moment and moving too quickly when we shouldn’t will often break our stalk and give us away. “It’s just a few quick steps.” Those few steps might get you nailed. This really comes into play when you have the animal in view. Sudden quick movements will give you away like a sore thumb. Slow and fluid movements will not. Usually, if the deer sees something, you can halt your movement and remain still and the deer will go back to doing what it was doing. They see stuff move all of the time, but when it is unnatural, that is no good and the jig is up. Of course, it matters where you are at the moment and if you have cover.

Speed up Wait, you just told me to slow down. Now, you want me to speed up? Yes, I said speed up and didn’t type that wrong. If and when your approach is totally concealed, I am definitely on the team of covering ground quickly, especially if what you are stalking is on the move and you are trying to head it off. Take a draw for instance. I use draws often to move quickly into position. The same thing goes for other terrain as well. Maybe you are making a big loop around the animal and there is a mountainside that separates your vision. If they can’t see me, I am usually moving fairly quickly. It’s really about knowing when to do which; knowing when to slow down and when to speed up. This is only learned through repetition and experience.

THE NEVERENDING JOURNEY

If you have never experienced the thrill of stalking game with a bow, I highly encourage you to try it out. The feeling of creeping into bow range of an unwary animal is hard to beat and can easily make you come unglued. It is a test of wits and patience and, I promise you, that you will fail more than not. That is what keeps me coming back to it. Spot and stalk bowhunting is something I feel one will never master.

It is a neverending journey.

3 MONTANA LOCATIONS BOZEMAN

2214 Tschache Lane (406) 586-0100

HELENA

2990 North Sanders St. (406) 457-7200

MISSOULA

2323 N. Reserve St. (406) 523-9000

PORTABLE POWER FOR ALL OF YOUR ADVENTURES.

EU2200i and EU2200i Companion Read the owner’s manual before operating Honda Power Equipment.

FALL FISHING TIPS (continued from page 16)

FOUR TIPS FOR BETTER SAGE GROUSE HUNTING (continued from page 12)

SLAB FEST

If panfish are your forte, follow the seasonal migration from the outer edges of deep weedbeds onto nearby drop-offs and finally into deep holes, often in 25 to 35 feet of water.

Top presentations include small jigs in the 1/16- to 1/8-ounce class, dressed with a dainty, scented softbait such as a 1-inch Gulp! Fish Fry or numerous other Gulp! and PowerBait options. When the fish school in deep water, add small jigging spoons to your repertoire, tipped with Gulp! Maggots or Ice Waxies.

COOL CATS

Legendary catman Phil King says throughout the fall, schools of hungry, 5- to 10-pound channel catfish converge in shallow, current-swept shoals to feed at night.

To catch them, he fishes a Berkley DipWorm slathered in PowerBait PowerDip on a slip-sinker or three-way weighting system. For ease of use after dark, he favors stout, luminescent Berkley Glowstik cat rods spooled with 40-pound-test Berkley Trilene Big Cat line.

King notes that soaking your bait in high-percentage hotspots such as hard-bottomed areas at the mouths of incoming creeks, along with gravel shoals above islands, boosts your odds of windmilling catfish all night long.

Whether you target these ghosts in the darkness or any of the many other gamefish that are on the bite throughout autumn, putting these tips into practice can help make this your best fall yet.

Here’s a mistake I’ve made time and time again.

And will no doubt continue to make. The first bird gets up just at the end of gun range. So many thoughts rush through my head: “I didn’t walk this far not to shoot,” “I can hit that,” or “Only one bird?” I fire both my barrels at the one bird, which flies away untouched. Then the rest of the group gets up at half the distance the first bird did, giving me no time to reload. If that first bird is just a little too far, right on the edge of shooting range, keep walking. Chances are more birds are right there. Along with this scenario, reload fast and be ready.

The Rumor Mill of Sage Grouse

The last tip I would give is to ask ranchers and people who live in the area about the birds. Many times they will tell you places they have either seen them that year or in the past. Just this year on opening weekend, we stopped and talked to a rancher working on his tractor. I asked him if he had been seeing many birds, and he replied he hadn’t.

He did mention every day seeing a mother bird and three chicks, then pointed to where he had been seeing them.

We went down the road to the area he told us about and found the four birds. It was the only sage grouse we saw that day.

Thankfully, my hunting partner and I made the choice to let the rancher continue his meeting with all four birds each day.

According to Montana Department of Environmental Quality officials, the analysis of the Black Butte Copper Project found

“no impacts to water quality, air quality or aquatic life.”

Come see for yourself on an upcoming tour:

September 6th October 3rd Tours at 10 am and 2 pm Call (406) 547-3466 for information www.blackbuttecopper.com 38 | Hunting & Fishing News

www.tiresupplysc.com

Visit www.tiresupplysc.com for a $5.00 coupon off an oil change and a $10.00 coupon off an alignment valid at these locations.

Anaconda Billings Billings Bozeman Bozeman Broadus Butte Butte Conrad Darby Ennis Gardiner Glasgow Glendive Great Falls Helena Kalispell Lewistown Missoula

Lisac’s of Anaconda J&M Tire Lisac’s of Billings Eagle Tire Brake & Alignment Tire World Hi-Tech Auto Repair, Inc. Lisac’s Tire American Car Care Conrad Tire Automotive Solutions, Inc. D&D Auto Yellowstone Dino Lube Arch’s Tire Berg’s Tire Falls Tire Service Eagle Tire Brake & Alignment M&C Tire OK Tire Store Big Sky Tire

*See your local dealer for details.

406-563-6110 406-969-2075 406-656-7502 406-587-5414 406-586-0488 406-436-2378 406-782-4294 406-494-4450 406-278-3422 406-821-3440 406-682-4234 406-848-9401 406-228-2258 406-377-5286 406-453-1418 406-443-5910 406-752-9662 406-538-5347 406-251-5988

Plains Polson Ronan Shelby St. Ignatius Stanford Thompson Falls Three Forks Victor W.Yellowstone Whitefish Whitehall Wolf Point Williston, ND Ashton, ID Rexburg, ID Rupert, ID Victor, ID

Gary’s Glass & Auto Body Beacon Tire Arnie’s Gas & Tire Center Mark’s Tire & Alignment Stuart’s Service Center 4G’s Tire & Repair Easy Street Auto & Tire Three Forks Motor Supply Grenfell Garage Jake’s Automotive & Tire Howie’s Tire & Alignment Full Circle Tire Pro Tire Distributors OK Tire Store Tri-State Tire Tri-State Tire Nick’s Quality Tire All American Tire & Brake

406-826-4279 406-883-6258 406-676-0400 406-434-5118 406-745-2190 406-566-2910 406-827-3808 406-285-3212 406-961-2424 406-646-9500 406-862-6666 406-287-5682 406-653-2400 701-774-0233 208-652-3344 208-356-9069 208-436-3900 208-787-8473

2019 Subaru Outback

®

Built to take you to the places you’ve never been.

The 2019 Subaru Outback.®

It’s easy to get to all the action with standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, +32 mpg1 and EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology.2 Plus X-MODE® to take any terrain in stride.

Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

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

1515 EUCLID AVENUE, HELENA, MT. 59601

Subaru, Outback, Eyesight and X-MODE are registered trademarks. 1EPA-estimated highway fuel economy for 2019 Subaru Outback 2.5i models. Actual mileage may vary. 2EyeSight is a driver-assist system that may not operate optimally under all driving conditions. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors, such as vehicle maintenance, weather and road conditions. See owner’s manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. 2019 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited in Wilderness Green shown with accessory equipment.

TAKE A VIDEO TOUR HERE: https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/outback/index.html