HUNTING & F ISHING WESTERN
NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2022
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PRACTICE STALKS ON OTHER ANIMALS
Aside from the rut, elk are mostly active at night and bed during the middle of the day – the same time rutting mule deer and antelope are still on their feet. If you haven’t bedded an elk during your morning glassing session, practicing a stalk on other animals can be a great way to hone your skills for getting in close.
Photos credit Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com
5 Hidden Benefits Of Elk Hunting Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com
lk hunting is a one-of-a-kind experience. None of the E native big game species allow you the ability to call them like a turkey, pattern them like a whitetail, and stalk them like an antelope. Their abundance of meat and downright sexy wall décor are commonly what draw hunters from near and far. However, the experience of elk hunting shouldn’t be solely defined by a filled tag versus a bowl of tag soup. Below are five less-notable benefits for chasing one of North America’s premier game species.
HUNT OTHER SPECIES IN TANDEM
If a deer winds you, so would an elk. If an antelope sees you on flat ground, there’s a good chance a pair of eyes in a herd of elk would have also caught a glimpse. Practicing a dummy stalk can also help you learn which glassing locations offer a good jumping off point when a big elk is in sight. While this tactic might not work as well during the elk rut, it can be a productive and fun activity during the doldrums of post-rut midday hunting.
IMPROVE YOUR FITNESS
Nothing simulates the rigors of mountain hunting like hunting in the mountains. For those coming from flatter terrain, going off-trail on mountain ridges is especially tough to prepare for. While it’s easy to curse the mountain as you carry a weapon and a pack on unstable ground, the hardships are easy to stomach if you think about it as a workout. Hunting in general is a mental game. Dreading a difficult climb can cause hunters to avoid venturing into the toughest terrain that often holds trophies. If we should all exercise daily anyway, thinking of the tough hikes as your daily workout may better frame the crucible in your mind to be no different than your regular, daily routine.
For elk hunters, elk will always serve as the main course, but many states allow outdoorsmen and women plenty of tasty appetizers. All western states have corresponding seasons that could produce other hunting opportunities. In Colorado and Idaho, over-the-counter elk tags can be purchased during deer seasons. Montana also has a deer and elk combo tag. In Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho hunters can purchase a wolf tag that overlaps elk season. Likewise, in many western states overlapping OTC black bear tags can be purchased for a relatively small fee. While the thought of hunting predators may seem counterintuitive to an elk hunter, harvesting predators can not only offer an additional trophy but also serve as an important means of conservation. Not to mention, black bears can be pretty good table fare.
SCOUT TERRAIN
While elk don’t always simultaneously populate habitat with other game species, they do cross a lot of terrain that is frequented by other targets of opportunity due to their migratory nature. September archery elk hunts often take place at lower altitudes that contain an abundance of deer during the November rut. Post-rut elk trend towards higher elevations where early season mule deer maintain bachelor herds in velvet. Late season elk hunting can be a valuable time to scout prairies and valleys for a following year’s antelope hunt. All hunters know the benefits of scouting terrain before landing in an area. Scouting is a lot more fun while also maintaining a keen eye for other potential targets. Additionally, you can find points of interest – like a hidden water hole or a wallow - that can be helpful during other seasons.
4 | Hunting & Fishing News
The potential for big racks and a haul of meat aren’t the only benefits of elk hunting.
EXTEND YOUR HUNTING SEASON
One of the great benefits of elk hunting is its availability. Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon all offer OTC opportunities. New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada offer unit-wide landowner tags, and other states offer private-land-only landowner tags. Each year most states also have surplus tags that weren’t drawn during the regular drawing that can be acquired during a second drawing or through a first-come-first-serve basis. While some of these options sport a hefty price tag or aren’t a premier hunt, they all offer additional opportunities to extend your fall and winter hunting seasons. For a hunter that drew a coveted Colorado mule deer rifle tag, an over-the-counter DIY archery elk tag could provide the perfect opportunity to scout the terrain, sharpen their stalking skills, and improve their physical fitness all at the same time. Throw in an OTC bear tag during the hunt, and it’s off to the races.
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Sportsmen Just Gained Access To 23,000 Acres Of Public Land In North Idaho – Meet The Myrtle Creek Preserve By T.J. Ross, Regional Communications Manager Idaho Department of Fish & Game https://idfg.idaho.gov he Idaho Fish and Game Commission recently approved T opening the Myrtle Creek Preserve to hunting, fishing and trapping. What happened After an 85-year closure to hunting, fishing and trapping, Myrtle Creek Preserve is once again open and accessible by sportsmen thanks to approval by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission in July. The preserve is a vast piece of real estate in the Kootenai River Basin in the Panhandle, spanning nearly 23,000 acres or 36 square miles of ground. The preserve encompasses the entirety of the Myrtle Creek drainage, which flows off the east side of the Selkirk Range and into the Kootenai River. “With access being a continual challenge, opportunities such as this to open additional ground for sportsmen to recreate are very important,” Fish and Game Panhandle Regional Supervisor Carson Watkins said. “This will restore tremendous recreation opportunity in a wildlife rich part of the state, and the local public is supportive.” What it means for hunters, anglers and trappers The Commission’s decision to open Myrtle Creek Preserve to hunting, fishing and trapping is a win for sportsmen.
The reasons we all hunt are vastly different and deeply personal. But the one thing all hunters understand is that this great American tradition must be protected. Defended. Not for the sake of next year’s opening day but for seasons and generations to come. Because while the beauty of our wild places is boundless, it’s bounty is finite. And a thriving, diverse wildscape across North America is our purpose.
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The preserve is a mosaic of large burns, timber cuts and vast stretches of uninterrupted forest, leaving it with good habitat quality for game. It is home to nearly all big and small game species in the Panhandle, and Myrtle Creek itself offers anglers a chance at landing a variety of trout species. Although the initial intent of establishing the game preserve in 1937 was to protect wildlife from over-harvest, additional legislation was later adopted specifically to protect water quality, as Myrtle Creek is the municipal water source for the nearby town of Bonners Ferry. It is well accepted that recreation does not jeopardize water quality, so with written consent from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the City of Bonners Ferry, Myrtle Creek Preserve is once again open to hunting, fishing and trapping. Removal of hunting, fishing and trapping closures on game preserves in Idaho has happened often in the past. In fact, of the 33 game preserves established by the legislature in the former part of the last century, Myrtle Creek Preserve was one of only four that remained closed to hunting, fishing and trapping. What it means for fish and wildlife All hunting, fishing and trapping seasons and rules in game management unit 1 will apply to Myrtle Creek Preserve to ensure all species are “preserved, protected, perpetuated and managed”, consistent with the Fish and Game mission statement and State of Idaho Wildlife Policy. As such, Fish and Game is dedicated to ensuring that all fish and wildlife resources throughout the state of Idaho persist, including those within the bounds of the game preserve. Please contact the Panhandle Regional office for more information at 208-769-1414 and follow us on the Panhandle Region Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IDFG. panhandle for regular news and updates.
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Photos credit Kody Smith courtesy GOHUNT at GOHUNT.com
DIY Meat Care: Bottled Venison By Kody Smith Originally published at
GOHUNT.com
bottling venison 4 years ago and like many hunters, Ibutstarted I try to fill my freezer every year. My kids love elk and fish, for some reason they just have a hard time with venison.
I tried cooking it many different ways, but the end result was always the same until a friend suggested that I try bottling my venison. I had never done this and to be honest I could not imagine it tasting that great. I’ve seen bottled venison in the past, and it looked a little like a science experiment in a mason jar.
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The entire contents is © 2022, 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 19 Issue 9 Cover Photo: © Mikael Males | Dreamstime.com
After some thought, I made the decision to bottle half of my deer for the 2019 season. I found a decent recipe, purchased a pressure cooker and some canning jars. The first time bottling meat was a little stressful, since I had no experience with a pressure cooker, but even with my little experience I was able to bottle the venison with no problems.
This turned out tasting so good that I ended up bottling the entire deer, and my kids even love it and so do I. In the first year of bottling the venison, we finished all the bottled meat and have been doing it every year since. At my house, we eat the bottled venison on sandwiches and with eggs in the morning. The mason jars easily fit in a cooler, and are great to take on hunting or scouting trips. Keep in mind that there are a number of different recipes and ways to bottle venison. The recipe below is what we like at the Smith house. INGREDIENTS: Ingredient amount below intended for 1 pint jar 1/2 1/4 1 tsp 1/4
Jalapeno Yellow or white onion Ground beef bouillon Green bell pepper
QUICK TIPS *If new to pressure cooking, make sure to read the instructions *Additional ingredients can be added to recipe *Do not add water to the bottles *Pressure cooking times vary, depending on elevation *Tight seal on jars is necessary
8 | Hunting & Fishing News
(continued on page 38)
All photos credit Ryan McSparran
The Colorado Experience At Budge’s Wilderness Lodge By Ryan McSparran Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Company www.caribougear.com
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Lodge Like Atmosphere With Resort Amenities
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ATTENTION HUNTERS New Budge’s Wilderness Lodge owners, Ryan and Kelly McSparran, Nolan and Clara.
The lodge is nestled against the Flat Tops Wilderness, along the upper reaches of the White River. Caribou Gear founder, Ted Ramirez and his family, have been fishing and hunting in the Flat Tops for decades. It’s one of the largest wilderness areas in Colorado. And it’s a special place for those of us who have had the opportunity to explore it.
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THE CAMP AND ITS HISTORY The story of Budge’s actually begins in the mid-1920s when founder Ed Budge struck out on horseback toward the headwaters of the White River. He found an ideal location near the South Fork Meadows. (continued on page 36)
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ELK PLAN PUBLIC SCOPING (MONTANA) MFWP https://fwp.mt.gov Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is in the process of revising the statewide Elk Management Plan last adopted in 2005. At this step in the revision, FWP is seeking input on the existing elk population objectives and local elk management challenges that should be considered in the update. We will be hosting a series of public meetings this summer and fall to gather ideas about local elk management issues and population objectives. See meeting schedule https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/ elk-plan-scoping Below (link) you will find information relative to population objectives and some other things FWP would like your feedback on. You will also find links to comment on individual hunting districts. https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/ elk-plan-scoping/hd-info The public feedback that is gathered as part of this process will be considered as FWP develops proposals for the draft Elk Management Plan. Deadline: Comments will be accepted through October 15, 2022. Comment online at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/elk-plan-scoping/hd-info, email comments to FWPWLD@mt.gov, or mail to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Attn: Wildlife PO Box 200701 Helena, MT 59620-0701
Why You Should Arrive Early For Rifle Season By Jake Horton Originally published at
GOHUNT.com
All photos credit Brady Miller
ifle hunting out West is one of those annual treks and R adventures that so many people, including yourself, may take on year after year. You do your research, purchase your
tag and get your days off from work. In order to maximize your hunting days, you get out into the mountains the night before your five- to ten-day rifle hunting season. You wake up on time, go to your preselected shooting nob...Yet year after year, you struggle to find consistent success. For some of you, you may even consistently be unsuccessful at finding and harvesting a buck, bull, cow, doe or another big game animal. You are in a good unit and even look at the camp down the road that has multiple animals on the ground and wonder what they are doing differently and how can you be consistently successful, too? The difference between a successful hunter and an unsuccessful hunter comes down to a lot of small things, including luck, but there is one thing that can curb success in your favor this year and in years to come. It does not matter if you are chasing bucks or bulls with a rifle this fall, you need to plan to get to camp at least two to three days before the season opens and here is why.
SETUP The first reason you need to arrive multiple days before the season opens is to get your camp and gear set up in a non-stressful way. It doesn’t matter if you are in a camper, wall tent, small tent or sleeping in your truck, arriving the night before a hunt is a stressful way to start. No matter how organized you are, it always seems as though you are scrambling to find your headlamp, your knife, your water and multiple other things while you are trying to set up your tent and get your stuff organized. The light of the day is fading or it is already dark because it always takes longer to get there than you expected. Though it is only 5 p.m., the night is cold and the wind is blowing. You have a plan for the morning, but you need to get camp set up and dinner made before you can lay down and try to catch some sleep. I understand exactly what you are going through because for many years that was me. I wanted to maximize my days off by hunting all of them instead of thinking about the experience. Now, I have changed my tactics and arrive a few days before the opener, set up my camp during the morning hours and have time to spare where I can shoot my gun, organize my pack, crack open a cold one and heat up that last home-cooked meal my wife made me take along on the journey.
10 | Hunting & Fishing News
Having time to set up in a non-stressful way starts off the trip in a good way that transcends throughout the entire hunt. The best part is that if I forgot something like batteries or game bags, I can run into town and get it without wasting any of my hunting days.
CAMARADERIE The second reason you need to arrive multiple days before the season is for some camaraderie. Hopefully, you have a few hunting buddies in camp with you to make the experiences more memorable and the pack outs a little lighter. Hopefully, you also like these people and enjoy hanging out with them. Arriving a few days before the season opens allows you to have some moments that are not all business. Sharing some hunting intel, spots, stories and laughs is a great way to start your hunt. In a few days, the season will be open and you will be driven to harvest an animal so much that you will wear yourself out. Enjoy the days before the hunt when spirits are highest and everyone is excited about finding and harvesting the animals you are chasing.
FIND THE ANIMALS The final and most important reason to arrive early is to find the animals before the season opens.
It does not matter how good of an e-scouter you are, what happened last year or where you remember seeing animals, you need to understand that this year will be different. This is why you need to arrive multiple days before season to scout, glass and find a shooter buck or bull and have a plan in place to get after him on opening day. You can bet that other hunters are going to be out on an opening day and if you are the one that has an animal patterned you can also bet that you will be the one who gets the first shot.
By arriving before the season starts and hiking out to possible spots at first and last light, you can find out if the area is good or bad and make an alternate plan. Nothing hurts your high hopes and spirits more than an opening day of the season with no animal sightings. Spend a few days before season to scout and find animals and you will be in a great position opening day.
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Though arriving a few days before season may lead to fewer actual hunting days it will be well worth it in the end. Setting up camp, getting your gear around and getting some time to hang out with some buddies is just part of the appeal to being there early. The biggest reason I will be heading to rifle season a few days early this year — and you should too — is to find the deer or elk before the season opens. This gives me the best chance to be successful on the season opener, before hunting pressure messes with the animals and drives them down onto private land or out of the basin I am hunting. This hunting season, try to plan on getting out to camp early and find consistent success on the season opener.
To learn more visit fwp.mt.gov/passiton Hunting & Fishing News | 11
How To Hunt Mornings In Bow Season In September Mike Hanback’s Big Deer Blog wwwbigdeerblog.com n states where bow season opens early in September, many Irefuse hunters and archery outfitters I know are reluctant or downright to hunt the mornings. Their reasoning is that it’s tough
Photo courtesy Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com
to get back into stands near a bedding area without spooking deer that are already home and bedded from a long night of feeding in a nearby crop field.
Some truth to that, but when I’ve only got a few days or a week to bowhunt an area, I want to hunt the first two hours of each day, which literally doubles my chances of killing a buck. Say I’m on a 5-day hunt. Only 5 sits if I hunt the afternoons only, but 10 if I hunt the mornings. In a study in Oklahoma, researchers fitted bucks with GPS collars and monitored their movements using a technique called “fractal dimension,” which describes the complexity of travel patterns used by whitetails. Scientists found that in late summer and early fall, bucks stick to small home ranges (300 to 400 acres on average) and have complex mazes of movement, which are the result of many short-distance trips during which deer frequently circle, backtrack and change directions as they move from feed back to bed in the woods and thickets.
Here’s how to use that science to your advantage, and it opens up a morning option for the early season. Since bucks are moving shorter distances in more confined habitats, scout for the first rubs and the most heavily used trails on an oak ridge or back in a creek or river bottom. Be careful as you probe the woods, being as low-impact and scent-free as possible. Based on the biggest rubs and freshest sign you find, hang a tree stand near a high-interaction spot that deer appear to frequent a lot. When the wind and access allow it, slip in the back door early one morning and hunt the stand. While other people are sleeping in and waiting for the afternoon hunt, you might score big at sunup.
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Ain’t No Mountain (Stream) High Enough: A Guide To Finding The Perfect Backcountry Creekside Fishing Camp By Connor Liess, Public Information Specialist Idaho Department of Fish & Game https://idfg.idaho.gov overlook that high-mountain stream or creek next Don’t time you’re looking for a backcountry fishing adventure... For anglers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of town, or potentially crowded lakes and reservoirs, mountain streams are a gateway to peace and quiet. Idaho is full of long, meandering river systems like the Boise, Big Wood, Bear Valley, Salmon, Clearwater and St. Joe that provide hundreds of easy, accessible fishing sites. What’s often overlooked are the headwaters and tributaries of those famous trout streams. They’re typically teeming with trout, less crowded and provide an opportunity for solitude in the mountains. Naming names would defeat the purpose of discovering backcountry streams. It usually doesn’t matter what its name is, or how narrow it is, chances are good there are fish to be caught and memories to be made. If you’re new to the concept of finding mountain streams to fish, here are some pointers to help find the perfect creekside fishing camp...
Photos courtesy Idaho Department of Fish & Game
The long blue lines
Firstly, don’t overlook those tiny streams trickling through meadows or snowmelt creeks flowing into larger rivers. Often depicted as narrow, blue lines on a topographic map, these creeks and streams can provide ideal conditions for fish. Using Google Earth, paper Forest Service maps or your favorite outdoor GPS app, pull up an area you’re wanting to scope out. Maybe drop in a nearby designated campground in the search bar for quick and easy directions. Narrow in on widely used forest service roads that sometimes follow major waterways. Now you’ve got a starting point. Oftentimes, main roads skirting along a river sprout side roads that traverse smaller creeks and provide any number of camping and pulloff opportunities. (continued on page 15)
Hunting & Fishing News | 13
Have Your Best Fishing Season Ever With The Original Floating Rapala To Catch Hungry Fall Fish ®
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Rapala www.rapala.com thick of the Fall season means only one thing: Thefeedbag time! That’s when predator fish such as largemouth bass, smallmouth, pike, muskies, panfish and walleye move up from deeper depths to feed on forage fish, frogs and other critters to put on the weight to sustain them throughout the winter months. And yet, this is that time of year when a fair amount of anglers will put away their fishing gear to spend their weekend afternoons watching football. But not you! Because this is the year when you’re going to crush them. How, you may ask? Well, first by showing up and taking advantage of having more water to fish. And second, because when most of your fishing brethren are chucking the latest and greatest new lures, you’re going to zig by pulling out a tried-and-true classic – the Original Floating® Rapala®, the legendary tank tested and hand tuned balsa lure that has caught more world records – heck, more fish in the world – than any other artificial fishing lure ever made. Putting the Feedbag On As air and water temperatures cool, fall fishing goes through three phases, according to Mike Iaconelli, the legendary pro angler and Rapala fishing pro in a recent YouTube video — Early Fall, Fall Feed and Late Fall...
During this gradual cool down, forage fish such as minnows, alewives, and ciscoes move into the shallows to feed and spawn. Fathead minnows, for example, typically spawn when water temperatures reach the ideal temperatures of 60 to 65 F. And following close behind the baitfish are hungry predators – bass, panfish, walleye, trout, pike, muskies and other species – looking for a smorgasbord upon which to build the fat stores they need when they’re less active during the winter months. That’s why Iaconelli says it’s important to choose baits that imitate the forage fish in the waters that you’re fishing that predator fish are feeding on during this time of the year. To Rapala pro Seth Feider, who has been tearing up the professional bass circuit over the past several years, tracking the water temperature is key to successful fall fishing – and to knowing when to use certain lures. “When the water hits 65 degrees, that’s when it’s time to turn to hardbaits and crankbaits again,” said Feider in a recent YouTube video. And the best time to fish natural lakes during the Fall? It’s between 52 to 57 degrees, says Feider, when fish are sliding up into the shallows. Turning to a Time-Tested Classic In a world where there are so many fishing lure choices, why go to the Original Floating Rapala, a lure invented all the way back in 1936? Because, it works. The Original Floater is perceived by many anglers as an incredible spring lure, but it’s equally as effective in the fall because of its versatility, and the secret sauce that make it so special, that unique wobble that so closely resembles a wounded baitfish.“A topwater (lure) in the fall drives fish crazy,” says Iaconelli.
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Ryan DeChaine, a video producer for Wired2Fish demonstrated the power of the Original Floater for fall fishing in the video shown above.Working an Original Floater while fishing a small river during the fall, DeChaine catches healthy, chunky smallmouth using several different retrieves – slow and steady, which keeps the lure near the surface, and fast and eradicate, which forces the lure just under the surface. A simple set up including a spinning rod spooled with 10# Sufix® 832 Advanced Superline®, tied directly to a 10# Sufix® 100% Fluorocarbon Invisiline™ Leaders is a great all-around way to go. The Original Floater also is an effective search bait. It can be slowly trolled, where it’s legal, in 4 to 8 feet of water, to trigger bass, walleye and pike. Or, some anglers swear by trolling an Original Floating Rapala at night time during the Fall during a new or full moon.And that’s what makes the Original Floating Rapala so effective – during a season of change and transition, the Original Floating Rapala offers the versatility to allow anglers to offer multiple presentations to connect with more fish.
Ain’t No Mountain (Stream) High Enough: A Guide To Finding The Perfect Backcountry Creekside Fishing Camp (continued from page 13)
Photo credit Connor Jay Liess / Idaho Fish and Game Redband trout caught in a mountain stream
Hot Tip: You’ll often hear experienced anglers talking about “pools” when it comes to fishing on flowing water. These barely moving, deep pockets along a waterway are where fish like to hang out most of the time. Think knee- to chest-high water that you’d want to swim around in yourself. When you’re traveling along a road in search of a prime fishing spot, this should be the first feature you look for.
Oftentimes these ravenous fish will go after just about anything you throw in front of them. Anglers looking to head out on a backcountry fishing adventure in search of small streams and creeks should not be lugging along that 9-weight fly rod or a 25-pound test Chinook setup. Instead, you’ll want to keep your setup as light as possible. Short, light and sensitive rods are the ticket for big fun catching small fish.
Lastly, before you embark on a weekend getaway into Idaho’s deeper crannies, do your homework. Look for roads that best suit your mode of transportation and comfort level, and follow those blue lines on the map. Stick to wider, more-traveled dirt roads for passenger vehicles and 4x4, high-clearance mountain roads for more aggressive vehicles.
Choose your weapon There are two basic methods: fly rod or spin rod. Both are tried and true, and rely on different techniques to mimic fish food. Spin rod fishing is slightly more affordable and a lot more approachable for newer anglers who are testing the waters. Not only are spinning rods durable, their compact design allows anglers to cast from even the brushiest of shorelines. (If you’ve snagged a $10 lure on a pine branch it goes without saying). A 5- to 7-foot spin rod with lightweight line (4-pound test is a good starting point) can be picked up at pretty much any sporting goods store.
And just because a blue line on a map is pencil thin, doesn’t mean it won’t hold fish. A lot of times, it’s where the bite is strongest.
Bigger doesn’t always mean better When it comes to locating a creek or stream, bigger doesn’t always mean better. By late summer, a lot of the spring runoff has slowed to a crawl and streambanks are exploding with green grasses and willows. Trout keep a watchful eye for any insect, ant or grasshopper that falls into the water and provides a quick meal. While there are times when a hog of a trout winds up on the end of a high-country angler’s line, the majority of fish found in mountain streams and creeks are going to be modest sized. But what they lack in size, they make up for in abundance and eagerness... Fish in these waterways don’t see the kind of angling pressure that larger rivers and lowland lakes do. Their growing season is also a lot shorter.
A few aisles over and you’ll be hit with an almost endless selection of lures, spoons, spinners and bait to choose from. Remember, keep it simple. Tying on a barrel swivel that connects to a spoon or spinner is a great way to get a fish’s attention. Add a piece of worm to sweeten the deal. And keep in mind, alpine river fish like trout and whitefish aren’t used to seeing the angler’s same bag of tricks as say a 16-inch rainbow down at Arrowrock Reservoir. Dangle a little flashy lure and maybe a chunk of live bait in front of their nose and they’ll hit it like Conor McGregor. Hot Tip: If fishing with young ones, let their budding fascination with bugs run wild. Letting your kids connect with nature by way of both fish and bait is a great way to instill outdoorsmanship in a young mind. If your little fishing buddy manages to capture a grasshopper or cricket, use it as bait to better your odds at attracting hungry fish. Fly rods also provide a fun and challenging lesson in stream fishing. In general, a 7- to 9-foot-long fly rod spooled with 3- to 5-weight line is a good fit for alpine streams and creeks. Attach some 4X or 5X tapered leader to the end of your line, about 9 to 12 feet worth. (continued next page)
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Ain’t No Mountain (Stream) High Enough: A Guide To Finding The Perfect Backcountry Creekside Fishing Camp (continued from page 15)
Then, decide on whether you want to use dry flies or subsurface flies (nymphs or streamers). Fish in alpine waters can be picky at times, but if you find the right pool at the right time of day (generally early mornings or late afternoons) you might catch them while they’re active. Watching a fish go after a fly or lure is one of the most exciting moments in an angler’s life. Keep it simple and keep moving. If you don’t catch anything in one spot, move up or downstream. A good strategy is to pick a stretch of water, say a half mile or so, and try to get a lure or fly into every spot that looks “fishy.”
Your own private Idaho…beach Mountain streams and creeks also offer new and experienced anglers and their families abundant opportunities to “fish from camp.” For families in particular, this is an added benefit. With a streamside camp, children are safe from the road and can roam to their heart’s extent flipping over rocks, collecting treasures, observing wildlife and maybe even sniff out some insects for bait. It’s no secret that Idaho boasts one of the greatest camping opportunities in the country.
There’s no shortage of public lands, designated campgrounds, dispersed campsites and roadside pullouts to get yourself front-row fishing access right out your camp’s backdoor. When you’re researching places to go, look for rivers, streams and creeks that follow along forest roads. Once you ballpark a location, turn on the satellite image feature and zoom in to look for natural access sites. Roadside pullouts, large meadows, trails, gentle sloping banks and designated campgrounds can all be seen from the air and can be a great place to start. To take your backcountry adventure to the next level, try combining a day of fishing with a night out camping. Pick a spot along a mountain road that feels safe and accessible to the river. That basalt cliff might provide a sweet view at sundown, but it’s going to be nearly impossible (and unsafe) to reach the river. Oftentimes you can find cozy little cutouts with a rock fire ring and ample trees for shade. Once you establish home base for the night, it’s time to park the car and rig up the poles.
To the fisher go the spoils There’s one final element to backcountry stream fishing that can cap off the perfect outdoor experience: eating your catch. (Just double check the Idaho Fish Seasons and Rules booklet https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/fish to makes sure harvest is allowed on your stream.) The day is finally winding down and you start to feel the sun’s heat give way to the evening mountain shadows. Your skin is cooked and your feet are sore. For those anglers who pleased the fishing gods and walked away with a fish or two for the cooler, the reward for hard work and patience is minutes away from sizzling in a skillet. Hot Tip: If you’re steering more towards a camping trip, be sure to pack a few essentials in case you do haul in a few fish. A good cast-iron skillet with butter and herbs is a choice way to cook up some trout. Alternatively, you can stuff the fish with lemon and butter, then wrap it in a couple layers of aluminum foil to set over a low fire. There’s nothing quite like the taste of a wild-caught fish from mountain waters. Sure, they’re not the whopper that’s going to land you in the state record books, but they will surely fill up space in your scrap book. What they lack in size they make up for in flavor and memories. So next time you’re sitting around your streamside campsite wondering how to cure the boredom blues, be sure to include a fishing rod, some basic tackle, lures or flies and a few kitchen fixins to connect with nature in a fun, new (and delicious) way. To learn more and to check fishing regulations and rules, check out the 2022-2024 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules booklet available online, at license vendors or any Fish and Game offices.
16 | Hunting & Fishing News
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Paul Newman with his new Catch-and-Release State Record channel catfish. Photo credit Paul Newman for IDFG
Another State Record Falls With Monster Catfish From C.J. Strike Reservoir By Martin Koenig, Natural Resource Program Coordinator Idaho Department of Fish & Game
C
ongratulations to Paul Newman of Fruitland on setting a new Catch-and-Release State Record for channel catfish. Newman set out on C.J. Strike Reservoir on July 20 hoping to catch a sturgeon. While he didn’t land any sturgeon that day, he did take home a new state record catfish! At 42.5 inches long, Newman’s lunker easily swam past the existing record of 33 inches set by Reed Monson at Lake Lowell back in 2020. Before releasing the huge catfish back into the reservoir, Paul used a digital scale to weigh the fish at 37 lbs. While this fish will earn a Catch-and-Release Record, the fish was easily large enough to beat the current 32.9-pound Certified Weight Record set only a few weeks ago by Cody Kastner, also from C.J. Strike Reservoir! This has been a good summer for record catfish. Also in July, Jared Holt of Homedale set a Catch-and-Release record for flathead catfish...
Photo credit Jared Holt
(By Connor Liess, Public Information Specialist, IDFG Congratulations to Jared Holt of Homedale for catching a new state catch-and-release record for flathead catfish from the Snake River in Owyhee County. Holt hauled up the behemoth catfish on July 9 on the Snake River. The fish measured 43 inches long, just an inch longer than the previous record-holding fish caught by none other than Holt himself back in 2020.)
Learn more about other record fish and how to apply on the State Record Fish page at https://idfg.idaho.gov/fish/record.
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(Fridays - Sundays only) 32 lottery drawings-$2,000-$400=$28,600 and $4,500-$500 to $50 for merchandise prizes Top twenty angler prizes $950-$200=$10,800 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-(17-13) 1st- $200,2nd $150, 3rd $75,4-5th $50 (12 & under)1st-$100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50 Fri-Sun.Weekend Prizes-4 @$100 & 1 @$200 per weekend Golden Angler Award-(70 & older)-$300, $200, $100, 2@$50 determined by total fish entered Bucket Days-3 days of single/team-heaviest 4-fish-10/1-Friday, 10/16-Saturday & 11/7-Sunday SIBERIAN COOLERS-2 drawings-1ticket for every ten entries Fri-Sun Prizes and rules listed on the website www.mackdays.com BONUSES: ALL ANGLERS WHO ENTER 11 or more LAKE TROUT entries EARN BONUS DOLLARS The higher your total - the higher your bonus-every day counts: Mon-Sun (60 days) Bonus amounts are listed in the rules page on the website-subject to change Check the rules, prizes, check in sites, & register online at
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Telephone 406-883-2888 Ex. 7294 or 406-270-3386 Applications will be available: Zimmers Tackle-Pablo, Westland Seed & Sports-Ronan, Walmart-Polson, Sportsman’s Warehouse-Missoula, FWP-Missoula and Kalispell, Sportsman & Ski Haus-Kalispell, Bretz RV & Marine-Missoula, Bob Ward & Sons-Missoula, Snappys Sports Senter-Kalispell, CSKT NRD Offices-Polson All boats from out of the Flathead area must be inspected for AIS.
Special permits available for the south half of Flathead Lake available wherever fishing permits are sold.
Field Kit For Field Care Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com
nce an animal hits the ground, there are a few things O you’ll need to take it from “in the round” to ground round. Read on as we go over the tools of the trade, when to use them, and where they make sense to get your big game animal from the field to your home or butcher shop, in a manageable form for final processing. You can’t begin gutting or breaking down an animal without a good knife. Several styles of knives exist. They have similar functionality, but their individual features may make them shine in different scenarios.
Below are some of the most popular styles of cutlery to consider when prepping your pack: Fixed blade: Simple, strong, super rigid, can be sharpened, and ultra-versatile, they are truly one knife to do it all. Since the blade is always exposed, this style needs to be carried in a sheath. Unlike replaceable blade knives, fixed models require upkeep to maintain a sharp edge. Store a sharpener in your pack to keep your blade razor sharp while in the field. Locking folder: Locking folding knives have similar characteristics as a fixed blade knife but are more compact when folded and easier to carry in a pocket of your back, on your belt, or if they feature a clip, at the ready on the edge of your pants pocket. Folders are a classic design, but typically a bit heavier than other options.
Photos courtesy Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com
Replaceable blade knives: Scalpel sharp – because that’s essentially what they are and oftentimes ultralight, replaceable blade knives alleviate the need to carry a sharpener, know how to sharpen a knife or take the time to sharpen/touch up your blade. These minimalistic knives are optimal for those who want to shave weight and don’t want to fuss with sharpening in the field. Some models have brittle blades that can break when torsional force is applied. If the blade breaks and gets lost in the animal, it can be a hazard, so look for another kind of knife when jobs call for leverage to be applied, like working through a heavy ball joint. Replaceable blades do cost money over time, so keep that in mind. Knives with gut hooks: Some knives feature a gut-hook on the back of the main-blade, an auxiliary gut hook, or additional gutting blade with a rounded tip. These features are designed to prevent puncturing of the stomach/intestines, as to not create a mess and contaminate meat.
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Boning knife: The longer blade length of a boning knife is super handy for boning meat at home/final cuts when vacuum sealing. Boning knives have similar attributes to a filet knife, but are more rigid. They work great for separating large muscle groups, cutting steaks and following bones to remove meat. Bone saw: Not a necessity, but can come in handy, particularly for taking the ribcage out whole. The ribcage can be an underappreciated part of the animal – often trimmed and relinquished to the grind pile. A tree saw is unfortunately not a bone saw. The aggressive nature of the teeth on most tree saws causes them to clog with meat and bone and hang up. A bone saw has fine teeth perfect for the task. Outside of the cutting tools you decide will best suit your needs, a customized compilation of the following items will make the butchering and pack-out process more efficient and less of a chore. Game bags: Game bags can be described as a pillowcase, purpose-built to fit game meat. They help ensure you end up with an optimal food product when it could be hours or days before you get it to a commercial cooler or your freezer. They keep bugs off meat, keep meat clean and free of dirt/debris, provide a way to hang meat away from predators, as well as promote air circulation to prevent spoilage. Many game bags come equipped with a draw string closure that doubles as a way to hang them from a tree limb in the field, or temporarily in your garage at home. Most quality modern game bags are made from a lightweight synthetic material that’s durable, washable and reusable. Contractor-style garbage bags: Cooler temps and time of pack out permitting, you can put your meat-filled game bags in a contractor bag. This keeps your pack and other gear clean and sanitary. Contractor bags can be used for a multitude of things, including a tarp to set meat on during field processing, a makeshift umbrella for your meat - and in a pinch, rain gear, waders and or waterproof barrier between you and the ground. Keep one or two in your pack. You’ll likely be glad you did. Tarp: Provides a place to set meat while butchering that is clean, keeps your tools visible, organized and prevents loss. Tarps can also be used to provide temporary shelter from the elements when working on an animal, glassing or in an emergency. Backpack: Once you get your animal broken down, a quality backpack designed for carrying heavy loads as comfortably as possible is invaluable. There are two major styles of backpacks; external frame and internal frame. Less commonly used these days, external frame packs feature a tubular frame that exists outside of the generally square-ish main bag attached to it. The frame lends itself as a point for attaching items. Internal frame packs reign king in most of the hunt and backpacking world. As the name implies, the frame is located within the main bag, or the bag wraps around the frame in some fashion. Internal frame packs are generally lighter, have more features, are more adjustable, keep the
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load closer to your back, can feature a load shelf designed specifically for carrying meat, as well as separate from other gear you want to keep clean, and are much more sleek (Important in brushy conditions where you don’t want to hang up on your surroundings). Whatever style of pack you choose, fit is a major priority. Consult the manufacturer or a knowledgeable retail associate to find out if the pack you are interested in fits properly, or can be fitted to you. 550 cord or similar: With others or by yourself, some lightweight but strong rope/ cordage is super handy for tying legs off to adjacent trees/ rocks/branches to get them out of your way so you can work, as well as provide tension while cutting/skinning. You can also use it to hang quarters if your game bags do not have cordage integrated, lash meat, antlers or other items to you pack, and a multitude of other field tasks. Nitrile gloves: Keep your hands clean during butchering. Nitrile gloves are nice if there isn’t a water source nearby to wash up. Blood can dry your hands out. Gloves are a great preventative measure and carry a minimal weight penalty. Headlamp: Often, we get our opportunity at an animal at last light or find it after darkness has fallen. Do not forget your headlamp for the night shift. Fire starter: If temps are cold, starting a fire close to where you are working can make the job much more pleasant. You should always have fire starter anyway. Make sure the fire is out with no chance of spreading before you depart. Gambrel: If you can gut and get an animal out whole, a gambrel is great for hanging/hoisting your animal for skinning, cooling, aging and butchering. A gambrel is essentially a triangleshaped piece of metal with angled hooks on each side. Depending on the model, it may feature a simple rope, pully system or electronic winch-style hoist to get the animal off the ground, secure and hanging. To use, make an incision through the thin hide just above the hock and between the tendon and bone on both hind legs. Slip the gambrel’s hooks in the incisions and hoist away. It is important to remember to not cut the tendon, as that will compromise the hanging point. There’s more than one way to skin a cat, or in this case, a deer, elk, antelope, or other big game animal. Having the right tools for the job makes the process of processing a whole lot easier. Look to many of these items to build your ultimate kill kit.
Hunting & Fishing News | 19
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GOHUNT’s Chris Neville with his 2020 Idaho mule deer. Photo credit: Luke Dusenbury
Mule Deer Breakdown: Month by Month By Jake Horton Originally published at
GOHUNT.com
ule deer are a native species to North America that are M thriving all over the West. They can live at elevations above tree level to sea level. Mule deer can survive in lush,
forested environments as well as open desert sage. They indeed are the monarchs of the West with some bucks grossing over 200” in measured points. Some mule deer migrate to wintering and summering grounds and some keep a tighter home range. Hunters from all over the United States and the world head to the western states to chase bucks throughout the fall and winter; however, each month, mule deer bucks do something different. Here is a month-by-month breakdown of expected mule deer behavior from August through December. This breakdown can give you a good idea of what to expect and where you might find bucks hanging out during any given month for hunting season. AUGUST - During the month of August, bucks are typically in bachelor groups that range in size from two bucks all the way up to a dozen though many mature bucks will only hang out with a few other mature deer. Since March, they have been growing their antlers and, now, the velvet has pulled tight into their antlers. Bucks at higher elevations will hold onto this velvet into September, but some smaller bucks and other bucks that live at lower elevations will begin to rub off the velvet towards the end of the month. The days are hot, so bucks will typically seek the shade of trees and are often seen bedding out in the open under a solitary tree, scanning the area for danger. During this time of year, bucks mainly concentrate on feeding, staying cool and being near a water source. Mature bucks tend to prefer higher elevations since higher elevations are cooler and the prevailing winds keep the bugs to a minimum. If you are hunting during August, do a lot of scouting and watch open meadows an hour or two after first light and an hour or two before dark. Besides the rut, you will see the most daylight activity during this time of year. SEPTEMBER - During the beginning of September, bucks will still be in their summer routines, heading from feed to bed along a similar, patternable path. Once they start to feel the pressure of some hunters, they may be more reluctant to travel during the daylight hours and will most likely reduce their daylight activity level. Typically, towards the middle of the month, most will start to rub off their velvet — even at higher elevations.
22 | Hunting & Fishing News
Hunting along these rub lines may be a good idea, especially if you see some fresh rubs and good deer sign. Early cold nights will freeze some of the deer’s higher elevation forage and bucks may adjust their patterns to find better food. By the end of September, hunting pressure, weather and food changes will typically put mature bucks in some thicker timber and on a primarily nocturnal timeline. Many hunters choose to glass at first and last light and then still hunt through some thicker timbered areas mid-day, especially if they are carrying a muzzleloader. OCTOBER - By October, bucks have left their bachelor groups and are mostly traveling solo. They have also left the lush open, high elevation meadows and are finding protection and better food by utilizing the cover of thick middle elevation timber. Their antlers are hard, their daylight activity is at a minimum and they can be challenging to find during this time of year. Towards the end of the month, they may start transitioning to a pre-rut area — near zones that hold more does. Smaller bucks tend to do this first with bigger bucks following when they are ready. Snow can be a common occurrence during October; however, mature bucks can hang back in a foot of snow if it means they have better access to cover and protection from hunters. Try glassing at first and last light, still hunting through thicker timber mid-day, putting on deer drives and following fresh tracks in the snow to find success during this time of year. NOVEMBER - November can be a magical time for mule deer hunters hoping to harvest a mature buck because anything is possible. Bucks will begin to rut as does begin to show signs of estrus. The smaller, younger bucks will start to harass does first, but the big bucks will swoop in to establish dominance and breed with the does when the timing is right. It is common to see bucks on their feet any time of day during this season, pinning does down in less than ideal areas. Ultimately, your job is to find does and, eventually, the mature bucks will find them too. Elevation will be less and less during this month and bucks can be seen along highways, in agriculture, on the foothills and at higher elevations during mild winters. Hunting along ridges, saddles and funnel points near areas of high doe activity can prove very effective during this time of year. DECEMBER - The beginning of December can still produce bucks in rut behavior as some of the younger does continue to come into estrus and some does that were not bred come back into estrus. Some deer will be migrating while the rut continues since snow and lack of food will keep them moving towards wintering grounds if they are not already there. Bucks have been worn out throughout the last month because their number one concentration was on breeding and not feeding. During the middle to end of December, expect to find mature bucks in recovery mode. This often means they will seek out some of the best food in the area — usually a farmer’s agriculture field. Hunting private land can be very effective during the later seasons of December when it is common to see multiple mature bucks out feeding through the day, especially when temperatures are extremely low. Mule deer bucks follow similar patterns and behaviors year after year. Yet, it is important to note that the bucks in eastern Wyoming may act differently from the bucks in Arizona if the weather is drastically different. However, you can bet that bucks will go from bachelor groups to being solo, to chasing does and then into recovery and survival mode no matter where they are. Learning how deer behave and how to hunt them month to month can help you be successful this year and for years to come.
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6 Packing Hacks For a Multi-Day Hunt By Ryan McSparran Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Company www.caribougear.com
he process of packing for a multi-day backcountry hunt T can sometimes feel overwhelming. What do you really need? What can you live without? Keeping your gear organized, compact and lightweight certainly isn’t easy. By the time your pack is fully loaded, you may be wondering, “What on earth did I put in here?”
As you prepare for the upcoming big game hunting seasons, here are 6 tips to stay organized, save space and save weight:
1. Get Organized at Home An organized, lightweight and well-planned hunt begins with having your gear well organized at home. If your gear is an unorganized mess, it’s going to make packing that much more difficult. Everyone’s space and needs are going to be different. But as much as possible, consider dividing your gear into basic categories and keep a separate bin for each one. For example, you might have a bin for your camp kitchen gear – stoves, fuel, utensils, etc.
24 | Hunting & Fishing News
Photos credit Ryan McSparran
Organizing gear into separate bins is especially helpful for small items that are easily misplaced. For example, I keep a small bin with my headlamps, flashlights and spare batteries. I keep another bin with knives, replacement blades and field sharpeners. I have one bin that is dedicated to para-cord, tape, and repair materials. Next, label the outside of each bin so that it’s easily recognizable. This way, as you are packing for a hunt, you can simply pull the items from each bin that you need for that specific trip. And when you get home, it’s easy to reverse the process and put everything away. This can make packing for a trip very quick and efficient. When I do this, I am less likely to forget something that I need. And everything is right there when you need it.
2. Build Your Own First Aid and Emergency Kit Pre-made first aid kids are readily available from outdoor gear stores, drug stores and many online retailers. While these kits are an easy solution, they tend to be heavier than necessary. They may have items you don’t really need – or they might lack things that would be useful in your situation. Building your own first aid and emergency kit will certainly take more time. But ultimately, it will allow you to carry exactly what you need and nothing you don’t. Start with an ultra-lightweight and waterproof storage bag. Companies like SeaLine and many others make lightweight storage bags. Since you’re going for lightweight, you don’t need it to have internal pockets or any features. A basic nylon bag will do. Next, build your kit with the items that make sense for your adventures. Keep in mind that your First Aid/Emergency kit might vary from one trip to another. Keep all the “extras” in a small storage bin (see tip #1 above) so that you can quickly grab and go when packing for a trip. If you’re not sure what to put in an emergency kit, a quick Google search will give you tons of ideas. Besides the obvious things like Advil, Band-Aids, gauze and blister treatment, my kit usually contains things like, Quick-Clot, fire starter, lighter, water purification tablets and a Petzl E-Lite.
3. Create A Versatile Kill Kit On a multi-day backcountry hunt, time is a critical factor when you have an animal on the ground. Make it an efficient process by keeping all of your field dressing necessities in one convenient kit. Each hunt is of course a little bit different. But no matter where or when I’m hunting, the kill kit contains some basic items. First, my field dressing kit contains game bags for the species I’m hunting. Next, I always include a Hunter’s Tarp, which provides a clean surface to lay quarters while field dressing and also a pack liner for hauling meat. I always pack my field dressing knives and spare blades. In states where it is required, I will bring a zip tie (and usually a couple of extras) to attach the carcass tag. I usually bring a few gallon zip bags for the heart or any other organs or small parts that I intend to keep. And I always keep my hunting license and hunter’s safety card (again, in states where applicable) in a ziplock bag within my kill kit. As described above, I keep all of these kill kit materials in their own storage bin for quick, grab-and-go packing. And just like the First Aid kit, I use a waterproof, ultralight bag to pack my kill kit for the hunt.
4. Pre-Pack Food Bags For Each Day When you wake up well before daylight to begin your hunt, save yourself the trouble of trying to pack a lunch or snacks in the pre-dawn darkness. Plus, it’s easy to forget something when you’re half asleep. Before I leave on any hunt, I pre-pack food bags for each day of the hunt. If it’s a five-day hunt, I will have five gallon zip bags. Then, each morning while I’m hunting, I simply grab a bag, stash it in my backpack and leave the tent. Thinking through meals and snacks ahead of time helps eliminate over-packing and also helps ensure that I have enough calories to keep me going.
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5. Use Packing Cubes to Stay Organized While on a multi-day backpacking trip, have you ever experienced the frustration of looking for an item, and finally unloading the entire backpack to find it? We’ve all been there. In order to keep your gear compact and well organized in your backpack, use packing cubes or lightweight nylon bags. Keep separate cubes for your clothing, cook system, food, kill kit, and other main categories of gear. Any soft goods like sleeping bag or clothing should go into a compression sack. The rest can go into ultralight nylon bags. You might be amazed at how much easier it is to find things, and actually how much space you can save when you keep gear organized in packing cubes and compression sacks.
6. Carry Tape Without Carrying an Entire Roll It’s no secret that duct tape and electrical tape can sure be useful in a pinch. But there is no sense in carrying an entire roll of tape on a multi-day trip when you’re trying to cut every ounce possible from your backpack. Before leaving on any backcountry trip, I make several wraps of electrical tape around my lighters. And I make several wraps of duct tape around my water bottles. I can’t count how many times this has been useful. This allows you to carry a small stash of tape without any more weight than necessary. And when neatly wrapped around a lighter or water bottle, the tape will stay sticky for a long time.
What Are Your Favorite Packing Hacks? Have your own tips? Please leave them in the comments at https://www.caribougear.com/blogs/hunting-tips/6-packinghacks-for-a-multi-day-hunt. We’d love to learn what you do to stay organized, save space and save weight on your multi-day hunts. If you have questions or need help finding the right gear for your next hunt, please let us know. Check out the gear we carry here in the Caribou Gear Store at www.caribougear.com. And best of luck on all your upcoming adventures!
Hunting & Fishing News | 25
Antelope, Blue Cheese, Egg, Avocado Burgers Recipe By Brady Miller Originally published at
GOHUNT.com
is probably my favorite way to cook a wild game This burger. Simple, yet tons of flavor.
For this burger, I’m using the meat from my Nevada antelope, but you can supplement mule deer, elk or anything else. During the spring and summer, this is my go-to burger and while I used antelope for this version, it is fantastic with mule deer! When I processed my antelope I ground the meat with bacon ends and pieces and then added in some sage seasoning. I pretty much do the same with mule deer, elk, etc. Sometimes I’ll switch it up and use some hot seasoning. ITEMS NEEDED - Grill - I prefer a smoker style pellet grill. A trusty Traeger Tailgater has served me very well over the years - 2 lbs of antelope meat (or any wild game meat) - Blue cheese crumbles, if you’re not a fan of blue cheese, you can easily swap this - A couple of avocados - Several eggs - One egg per burger - Traeger Coffee Rub (coffee and black pepper) - Traeger Sweet & Heat BBQ sauce - Onion buns - Don’t go cheap on the buns (trust me here) - Olive oil
Your New Adventures Await.
Photo credit Brady Miller
STEP 1 Thaw the meat the night before. This makes it easier to work with the day you are cooking. STEP 2 Take the ground meat and mix a healthy portion of the blue cheese in with the burger. Then make several patties. STEP 3 Fill up the hopper with pellets and turn your smoker to the “Smoke” setting. Once this has run its course, crank up the heat to 375 or 400 degrees. These burgers were thick, so I changed the setting to 400. STEP 4 Coat the burgers in oil. This helps them get a little crisp on the outside. STEP 5 Place the burgers on the smoker. It should roughly take 5-7 minutes per side. When I make burgers I always tend to build them really hearty in size, so sometimes a little more time is needed to get them cooked to medium-rare. STEP 6 If you have a big enough pellet grill, I like to cook the eggs at the same time as the burgers. So once I’m on the second flip of the burgers, I’ll move the burgers to one side and place a cast iron griddle on the smoker. Let the griddle heat up, coat it with oil and then cook the eggs on the griddle. It shouldn’t take too long to cook the eggs, so just flip them once and you’ll be good. While cooking the eggs, I’ll coat them with some Traeger Coffee Rub. STEP 7 Once the antelope burgers are cooked to your liking, pull them and the eggs off. Now you can lightly toast the buns. Once they’re toasted, pull them off before they get burnt. Next cut the avocado into slices.
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26 | Hunting & Fishing News
STEP 8 The moment you’ve been waiting for! Place one of the antelope patties on a bun, add some avocado, then add some Traeger Sweet and Heat, and add an egg. If you want, you can also add some additional coffee rub and/or more blue cheese crumbles. Another great addition to this burger is adding some strips of bacon. Bacon goes good on anything!
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Hunting & Fishing News | 29
Archery Antelope Decoying Tips & Strategies By Jake Horton Originally published at
GOHUNT.com
PATIENCE PAYS OFF
When using a decoy, you need to play with the animal’s behavior. Often, this means using a less aggressive approach and even patiently waiting with your decoy visible. If you are using a buck or doe decoy, it may make sense to pop out in plain view — even if you are a half-mile or so from the antelope — in order to see what they do. Antelope have eyesight similar to looking through an eight-power binocular, so they will have no problem seeing your decoy. Time and time again, you will see bucks crossing hundreds of yards in a matter of seconds in order to take a better look at your buck or doe decoy. Hopefully, you will have ranged some nearby shrubbery and can get ready for the shot.
All photo credits Brady Miller
ntelope live in some of the most wide-open places in the A West, ranging from sage-covered rolling hills to outright flat grass prairies. They thrive in these open areas because
they use their speed to escape from predators. Antelope are so fast they can run up to speeds of over 60 mph for short bursts and easily trot at 30 mph for a long distance. Antelope live in areas that are tough to hunt because there are very few cover or terrain breaks to hide a hunter. This is why many hunters resort to using decoys to try to get close enough for the shot.
SELECTING A DECOY
For antelope hunters, there are a few decoys to choose from. You can decide to go with a buck antelope, a doe antelope or, even, a cow decoy to get in close. The next question is which decoy to choose and the easy answer is any of them, depending on the situation. Most antelope hunters choose a buck decoy when they are trying to attract the attention of a dominant buck and use a doe decoy when they are trying to attract the attention of a satellite or less dominant buck. Using a cow decoy can work as well, but only should be used in an area where there are a lot of cattle and the antelope are seen intermingling with them.
WHEN NOT TO USE A DECOY
Though using a decoy can be an effective way to hunt antelope, there are a few times that you should not use a decoy. The most important time to not use an antelope buck or doe decoy is if it’s a firearm season. Hunters carry long-range rifles during antelope season and an antelope decoy could easily be mistaken for an actual antelope. Another hunter could shoot you. If you want to use a decoy during rifle season, consider using a cow decoy because no one should be shooting a cow (but you should wear orange even if the state doesn’t require it). Another time to not use a decoy is if there is another way. If you have terrain breaks, creek bottoms, pinyon trees or high sage, a decoy may not be the best way. The best way to kill an antelope is to sneak undetected within range, not show yourself just because you have a decoy in your pack.
HOW TO USE A DECOY SUCCESSFULLY?
The trick to using a decoy successfully is that there is no single way that works every time, so you must adapt. Antelope are naturally curious creatures and will often come in closer to take a look whether you have a decoy or not. The most successful technique I have found with a decoy is to not walk directly at the animal. Instead, quarter towards the direction that the antelope is moving so you can attempt to intersect it. If there is adequate cover to get close, — I wouldn’t break out the decoy until you are close enough — and it’s necessary to draw the buck to you or to allow you to cover the last few yards before taking a shot. Antelope do not like being surprised, so try to ease the decoy into view, not pop up, flashing the whole body at 100 yards.
30 | Hunting & Fishing News
Overall, decoying antelope can be an effective strategy for getting within bow range. A buck or doe decoy will be most effective during the antelope rut, but can also work pre or post-rut. Working your way towards an antelope can result in some great experiences and some hunts that make you shake your head as the buck you are stalking sprints a few miles in a matter of seconds because he didn’t like your setup. It is super important to learn from your mistakes and adapt if you wish to be successful chasing antelope in some of these wide-open spaces of the West.
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Hunting & Fishing News | 31
Confessions Of An Elk-A-Holic By Jack Atcheson, Sr. with Michael Hanback
Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com
Photo courtesy Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com
Author’s note: Jack Atcheson. Sr. shot more bull elk on public land than any other hunter in North America. Jack was one of the top hunting consultants in the nation when I began my writing career 35 years ago; he took me under his wing and we enjoyed many long, tough DIY elk and mule deer hunts together. Jack passed away December 27, 2017 at age 85. My friend and I wrote this article together for Outdoor Life in 2001. hen I was 15, I worked for a lumber company and lived W alone in a tent in the Montana woods for a few years. That might sound rough for a boy, but in those days men started life early.
My idea of a big weekend was to hunt. One time we were over by Anaconda, in a place called Dry Creek. I walked out into a meadow and spooked some elk. They bolted, heads up and hooves thundering. I flung up my old .270 and shot and shot. I got my first elk, a fat young bull. I was a poor student, except in geography and biology. One Christmas I got a mail-order taxidermy course, and I spent all my homework time mounting birds and small game. I hunted every day I could. I talked to hunters and guides and read hundreds of books about animals and the places they lived. For as long as I can recall, I’ve been gathering information on animals and where to hunt them. I got out of the Army in the early 1950s and worked odd jobs around Butte for a few years. People kept asking me where to go hunting, because I hunted all the time. In ‘55, finally deciding there was enough money in it to live, I went full-time into the taxidermy and hunt-booking business. Cash was tight in the early years. We had one vehicle, a 1956 Ford. You’d be surprised where you can go in a car if you have a good set of chains and put plenty of weight in the back end. One time a friend and I went out and shot two large 6-point elk. We hung the carcasses on a pole between two trees, and I backed the Ford beneath them. The plan was to lower one bull, slow and easy, on top of the car and then lower the other elk onto the trunk. However, the pulley broke and both elk came crashing down onto the Ford. One bull landed squarely on the driver’s side. Luckily I am not a tall person. I drove slouched in the seat all the way home, with one bull riding in the caved-in roof and the other tied across the trunk. It didn’t bother me much, but the ’56 Ford belonged to my wife. Some things are hard to explain.
32 | Hunting & Fishing News
Some years ago near Gardiner, Montana, elk hunting was open every weekend through the end of February, and that is where I spent all my spare time. There were some big bulls hanging out on the high ridges above the Yellowstone River. Around 3:00 each morning my hunting companion, Jerry Manley, and I would start the long trek up. Depending on the snow, it would take three to five grueling hours to get to the elk. One morning we got a late start, but as it was bitter cold, way below zero, many elk had come down off a big mountain near Trail Creek. A couple of hours into the climb I spotted a couple of truly giant bulls. One I shall never forget. His royal points were about 25 inches long and flat like butter knives. There was no mistaking that elk. Then he whirled and was gone, heading for the high country with Jerry and me in hot pursuit. We followed a maze of tracks for hours and eventually crested a rise and peeked over into Bassett Creek. A herd of about 200 cows and 40 bulls moved along a ridge a couple hundred yards away. Most of the bulls were 5x5s, but two were exceptional 6-points, easily record class. None was as large as the Butter Knife Bull. “Those two bulls are the biggest we’re gonna get,” said Jerry. “We’re running out of time, and all this climbing is killing us.” We decided to wait until the last elk walked out of the timber. If the Butter Knife Bull didn’t show, we’d take a crack at the 6-points. The rising sun turned the snow a delicate pink, and beads of frost glittered like diamonds on the trees. The elk walked single file, streams of breath hanging two feet in front of their nostrils. Just as we settled in to shoot the 6-points, a roaring gust of wind blew up a whiteout. When the snow cleared the bulls were gone. “I don’t think the Butter Knife Bull came up this far anyway,” I said to Jerry. You head back down one ridge, I’ll hike down the other and we’ll meet up at the bottom at dark. We might jump him somewhere between us.” I laced on my snowshoes and headed out. A half-hour later I spotted elk moving toward me, less than 100 yards away. Fifty head emerged from the spruce timber, and the Butter Knife Bull was with them! Fixing to raise my rifle, I slipped on a patch of ice and took off down the slope like a bobsled out of control. The wild-eyed elk turned and trotted parallel with me. I somersaulted a few times and lost sight of the big bull. I knew he was headed in Jerry’s direction so I hollered, “He’s coming!” I slammed into a tree and ended up upside down in four feet of snow. Then I heard a single shot. An old hunter had driven his Jeep as far as he could up a two-track. He’d stopped and built a fire to sit by. That’s not a bad way to hunt. Jerry, who hiked through the area a few minutes later, found the guy with the Butter Knife Bull. “Not only did the old-timer shoot the elk, but it fell with its front feet in the fire,” Jerry told me. I heard later the bull scored 390. So much for my bad luck. The good luck belonged to the guy who did the shooting, and that is how you get the big ones.
Roger Stradley was a phenomenal Supercub pilot. All the fish and game people wanted him to fly them around when they did their game surveys because Roger just didn’t crash. For years I figured Roger knew where the big elk were. One day I saw him in a diner and bought him a hamburger. We made small talk awhile, and then Roger asked where I had been hunting the past few years. I told him. He almost choked on his fries and roared, “You’re hunting where I’ve been seeing two of the biggest bulls in all my years of flying over the West, including Yellowstone Park.” One of the enormous elk lived in immense, rough country near Ennis, Montana. I called him the Magic White Bull. His hide was very light and accentuated by his dark legs and mane. He was clever and had luck like you would not believe. The white elk hung out with two other bulls. One of his buddies had a huge foot, and the other one had a broken hoof. I almost hated to find those tracks. Once I did, I would follow them for miles. I would think of shooting no other elk. It became a wild obsession. One day, sneaking along below timberline, I spotted an elk bedded in the snow. The Magic White Bull, you couldn’t miss those towering antlers! I figured if I moved closer, the elk might get up and go in a long jump. If I whistled to make him stand up, he might just crash away. The bull was close, so I decided to kneel and aim at the snow line where the point of his left shoulder should be. I fired and a cloud of snow blew up. I was sure I got him.
I ran over and found the bull had vanished. He’d been lying behind a snow-covered log with a fresh bullet hole in it. Another day it was incredibly cold and windy, probably 40 below zero. Shivering on a mountainside I spotted a trio of bulls duck into some spruce timber a couple of hundred yards away. I swung my rifle over to a strip of meadow on the other side of the trees and waited. Out came the elk. First an enormous bull, then another monster. The white bull always brought up the rear, so when the third elk cleared the trees I fired. There was a big “whump” and down he went. Man was I excited!
I started over to the elk and there, not 50 yards away in the timber, stood the white bull staring at me. I couldn’t believe it. Never had I seen another bull traveling with the trio. The unlucky fourth one was a heck of a trophy, with 56-inch main beams. But he couldn’t compare with the three bulls I’d been hunting. All were record class, and the white bull was near the top of the book. That was my last chance at the Magic White Bull. I never worked so hard tracking elk. For eight years he took me on long hikes in country that was ungodly steep and rugged. I never got him, but I loved the chase.
(continued on page 38)
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In response, the Fish and Wildlife Commission increased bag limits, allowed snaring outside of lynx protection zones, and extended the season. Additionally, the commission also set harvest threshold numbers in each FWP region and at a statewide scale that required them to reconvene if those harvest levels were met. Ultimately, the commission closed wolf season in southwest Montana early because the pre-established threshold was met. “We are following the law,” Worsech said. “And are doing so in a way that provides certainty that wolf populations in Montana will remain off the Endangered Species List.”
Wolf Report Shows Stable Population Numbers Through 2021 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks https://fwp.mt.gov
olf numbers and distribution continue to be stable W across Montana, according to numbers released Monday in the 2021 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wolf Report.
“What the data shows us really isn’t surprising,” said FWP Director Hank Worsech. “Our management of wolves, including ample hunting and trapping opportunities, have kept numbers at a relatively stable level during the past several years.” In understanding this report, people must keep in mind that population trends are monitored by the calendar year, in this case 2021, which is consistent with how FWP and other agencies have tracked wolf populations since the 1980s and how wolf populations are tracked in other areas. However, the wolf hunting and trapping season ended March 15, 2022. The harvest realized during this first three months of 2022 isn’t reflected in the 2021 wolf population estimate.
Another interesting aspect of the data is that wolf trapping efforts were down this license year from past years. This means fewer trappers were on the landscape. Potential reasons for this include unfavorable weather conditions during the trapping season. The 2021 Montana Legislature approved a suite of legislation that added more tools for hunters and trappers for harvesting wolves.
The legislature also passed legislation directing FWP to manage wolves in a manner that would reduce numbers to a sustainable level above minimum recovery goals. 34 | Hunting & Fishing News
Photo credit Jim Cumming | depositphotos.com
By the numbers The estimated wolf population in Montana at the end of 2021 is 1,144. This is down 40 wolves from 1,181 in 2020. This is not a statistically significant difference. In the last 10 years, wolf populations saw an estimated high of 1,256 in 2011 and a low of 1,113 in 2017. The small difference in these two numbers demonstrates a population trend that is very stable. At the end of 2021, Montana had an estimated 192 wolf packs. This is down from an estimated 198 in 2020. In the last 10 years, estimated pack numbers have fluctuated from a high of 205 in 2012 to a low of 186 in 2017. Methodology FWP employed new population estimation methodology in 2007, called integrated patch occupancy model (iPOM). This methodology has undergone a scientific peer review both of its individual components and the cumulative process as a whole. iPOM pulls together a variety of different sources of data, including information from FWP biologists, to produce population and distribution estimates. Another important source of data come from hunter harvest surveys that are conducted by FWP every year. These surveys ask deer and elk hunters if they saw wolves while hunting and, if so, where. These surveys are done after hunting season and are necessary to make an accurate estimate. To see the latest wolf report and other wolf management information go to: https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/ wildlife-management/wolf.
Learning From Long-Distance Hikers: Tips for Endurance By Zach Lazzari Kawdy Outfitters www.kawdyoutfitters.com
hile most hunters won’t be covering 20+ miles W each day, picking up a few tips from experienced long-distance hikers only stands to help when the terrain gets tough.
Use Your Trekking Poles It sounds so simple but trekking poles are often left behind or strapped to a backpack when they are needed most. The poles take pressure off your knees and distribute the workload across your body. Sometimes, even using a single pole can help you balance on very steep slopes. While hiking longer distances between stalks and glassing points, always use trekking poles. Keep them handy for the short but steep climbs and descents as well. It’s worth the time to stop for a minute, take them out of your pack and use them in these situations. Over the course of a 10-day hunt, it can make a difference. Manage Your Stride on Moderate Terrain Injuries often occur while rushing through easy and moderate terrain. Trying to cover miles by extending your stride beyond normal can stress the hips and cause pulled muscles or a hip pointer.
Photos credit Ryan McSparran
and longer. The short but ultra steep routes can work for someone in tip top shape but most hunters and hikers will benefit from using breaks in the terrain and creating switchback patterns to work through a big climb. Take small steps while climbing or descending and take frequent breaks to stretch and rest. Slow and steady wins the race on vertical slopes. Of course if you’re hunting with one of our experienced guides, they will do their best to find the most efficient route. Know When to Stop One of the most difficult things on a backcountry hunt is stopping. There could be a record-book moose just over the next mountain and you want to get there. We all do. Just be aware of your condition and be careful not to burn yourself out early in the hunt. Sometimes, mountain hunts can be a marathon. Give yourself the ability to keep grinding, even after several days of hard hunting. That means taking care of your body along the way.
Focus on maintaining your natural stride. This is easier said than done when you’re approaching an animal or anytime the adrenaline is pumping. Stick to your natural pace, moving intentionally and consistently. Unless you’ve been training as a mountain runner, sticking to a comfortable pace will get you there without the injuries and agony. Make Adjustments on the Fly Recognizing issues and making adjustments in the field will prevent injuries and create a better overall experience. An uncomfortable strap can wear you down over time so stop and fix the problem immediately. Every now and then, your load will be uneven and you need to pull a few items and rearrange gear for several minutes. No big deal. When something isn’t right, continuing on the same path will only make it worse. If it hurts a little now, it will probably hurt a lot after several more miles. Take a short break, readjust and get back to the trail when you are ready. Steep Slope Strategies When you hit the steep stuff, stop and plan a route before moving forward. Oftentimes, there is a natural choice between shorter and steeper or more gradual
On the first day or two, stop and rest when necessary. Treat your blisters, take frequent breaks and stretch diligently. Then regroup and get back in the hunt when your legs and lungs are ready. On hunts here at Kawdy Outfitters, the horses do much of the heavy lifting, which is very helpful. Even so, listen to your body and make sure you can go the long haul on a 10-day backcountry hunt. To learn more about Kawdy Outfitters visit www.kawdyoutfitters.com. Hunting & Fishing News | 35
The Colorado Experience At Budge’s Wilderness Lodge (continued from page 9)
Whether it’s an elk hunting trip or a fly fishing trip, guests can choose from two types of adventures at Budge’s – they can do a trip based out of the main lodge. Or they can stay at a remote wilderness camp, complete with wall tents and wood burning stoves.
Receiving his first permit from the U.S. Forest Service in 1928, he began construction on the log cabins. Legend has it that Ed Budge was a wizard with an axe. Today, guests enjoy staying in those original log cabins. A few basic upgrades have been made over the years. But the camp maintains its authentic wilderness charm. It sits at the end of a long forest road, 40 miles from the nearest pavement and surrounded by Wilderness on three sides.
Lodge-Based Trips On lodge-based trips, guests stay in one of the historic log cabins. Each day, they will set out on horseback into the wilderness area, whether that’s in pursuit of elk, or the area’s native cutthroat trout. At the end of the day, guests return to enjoy a hearty dinner served in the main lodge, followed by a restful night in their cozy cabin.
THE FLAT TOPS WILDERNESS The Flat Tops is the second-largest Wilderness area in Colorado. Wilderness designation requires an act of congress, and is a set of protections that can be placed over National Forests and other public lands. Among other things, it prohibits the use of motorized equipment, vehicles and bicycles, preserving the wild and primitive nature of an area. Within the wilderness boundary, travel is by foot or horseback only. The Flat Tops is geologically unique compared to the rest of Colorado. Most obviously, these mountains are flat. From the parks and alpine tundra on top of the plateau, the area drops away along cliffs and into large U-shaped valleys. This area is also unique in that it belies Colorado’s typically arid, high-desert climate. The Flat Tops is covered in water, containing hundreds of lakes and hundreds of miles of streams. In large part, this is what makes it such rich habitat for fish and wildlife. The White River elk herd is known as the largest elk herd on earth, and the rivers and lakes are teeming with trout.
Wilderness Camp Trips Those who are feeling more adventurous can choose to stay at a remote wilderness camp. Budge’s has camp locations on remote parts of the river, on high alpine lakes, and in rugged elk country. Guests ride on horseback to the camp, where they will be dropped off to fish or hunt on foot for the duration of their stay, along with a dedicated camp host and/or guide who will keep the group well fed and help provide a memorable adventure. Caribou Gear Game Bags On hunting trips with Budge’s Wilderness Lodge, all guided hunters who harvest an elk will receive a set of Caribou Gear game bags. Meat care is an important part of the experience. For that reason, Budge’s elk hunting guides exclusively carry Caribou Gear game bags. If an elk is harvested on the trip, those game bags go home with the hunter so they can be washed and re-used on the next adventure. CONTACT US WITH QUESTIONS
THE ADVENTURES Budge’s Wilderness Lodge provides fly fishing, elk hunting and horseback riding adventures in the Flat Tops. Beyond the main lodge overlooking the river, there is 370 square miles of wild country. No roads and no motors, just you, your horse and the sounds of the wind and the river.
36 | Hunting & Fishing News
If you have questions about Budge’s Wilderness Lodge or planning your own Colorado adventure, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can learn more at BudgesLodge.com. We’d be happy to recommend gear or anything else to help make your next trip a success. The gear we carry in the Caribou Gear store are items that we personally use and have tested in the field. Let us know how we can help and good luck out there this season!
Confessions Of An Elk-A-Holic
(continued from page 33)
I couldn’t believe it. I had had a heart attack. There must be some mistake. “No, and if you hadn’t been so active, you would have had this heart attack 20 years ago,” my doctors said. Drs. Hubbard and Corbett loved to hunt. Corbett wanted to know which area I would recommend for sheep. “I’ll tell you after I come through the surgery,” I responded. Well, things went well. Dr. Corbett drew a sheep tag and shot a magnificent ram that fall, and by September I was hunting elk in Idaho again. That was 1989. Then in 1994 I had another heart attack. The grim word was that I would probably have to cut back on my mountain hunting. “You mean I will have to be a rabbit hunter now?” I asked the docs. That was the general consensus of opinion, and I did not like it. One great thing about Montana is that most of the docs like to hunt. The anesthetist, Dr. Parks, jabbered on about a hunting trip he was taking to Australia as I drifted off into a very dark world for a second time. When I woke up, I was alert and troubled. I opened my left eye and saw my son, Jack Jr., staring at me. “Forget the rabbits, Dad, you’re an elk hunter again,” he said. Those were the magic words I wanted to hear. That fall I hit all my secret spots in Montana and Idaho. I hunted for 33 days and passed up 35 legal bulls. I wanted a big 6×6. Although I was feeling well, a lot of people were concerned that I would wander off into the mountains and drop dead, and nobody would find me until my body washed out in the spring. But I wasn’t exactly pushing it. When you hunt slow and easy, you spot more elk. On one of my last mornings in Idaho, I cut a huge track in the snow and decided to give the bull a run for his money. The elk moved slowly and I even more slowly. Six hours into the stalk I spotted a glint inside a strip of timber. I froze, leaned left and saw brow tines. Once you spot a piece of an elk the whole animal pops into focus. The bull was bedded; as he worked the wind and swiveled his great rack, I could see six points on one side, seven on the other. My only shot was though a hole in the trees the size of a business card. I raised my .338 and fired. The bull never moved from his bed. I walked to the animal, trembling and thinking, “I’ve shot a lot of elk in my life, but this bull is as important to me as the first one I killed more than 50 years ago.” I smiled. I was, again, an elk hunter.
Author Mike Hanback of Big Deer Blog with Jack Atcheson Sr. and Mike’s Mule Deer Buck. Photo courtesy Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com
38 | Hunting & Fishing News
DIY Meat Care: Bottled Venison (continued from page 8) DIRECTIONS: Step 1. Cut venison into narrow thin strips about 4 inches long and a ¼-inch thick. Be sure to trim the fat and tendons from the meat. (I cut it this way so that the meat fits nicely on a sandwich). Step 2. Slice up peppers and onions. Experiment with the peppers, if you want a spicy batch of venison, I would suggest using some cayenne peppers. Step 3. Line out your jars so that it is easy to insert the ingredients. Step 4. Place your peppers, beef bouillon and onion into the jar first. Step 5. Stuff venison into the jars, you will want to try and pack as much meat into the jar as possible while leaving one inch of headspace. (Some people like to brown the meat prior to stuffing it into the jar, I feel this takes some of the taste from the venison). Step 6. Seal the jars, make sure each jar is sealed tight. Take a paper towel and wipe the top off carefully to remove any material. This will ensure the jars get a proper seal. Step 7. Fill your pressure cooker with water to the specified amount for your pressure cooker. I have a 23 QT pressure cooker, and I fill it with three quarts of water. Add 2 tbsp of vinegar to the water. The vinegar will prevent water stains to the jars. Water levels may vary with different pressure cookers, make sure you follow the instructions provided with your pressure cooker. Place the jars on the metal rack at the bottom of the pressure cooker. You may need to stack the jars two layers high. Step 8. I live at 6,000 feet above sea level, and my cook time is 90 minutes at 13 lbs. of pressure. Step 9. Once cooked, let the jars cool by placing them upside down on a flat surface. This allows the jar to cool and helps seal the jar at the same time. The bottled venison is now ready to eat. I store my jars in my pantry. I also like to eat it chilled, so I usually keep one jar in my fridge for sandwiches.
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