HUNTING & FISHING MONTANA
April 2018
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Spring Fever In Montana! W
By Trevor Johnson Kit’s Tackle www.kitstackle.com and KT Sportfishing ell if any of you are feeling like me, it’s going to feel dang good to get out exploring and hit the open water this April! There is something about the spring, the birds chirping and fleeing franticly or maybe the sound of ice melting and dripping into an overhanging eddy of a river. The warm sun is gleaming on your face as you snap your rod tip up in hopes of intriguing a big Montana trout to strike. Maybe, it’s just the fact you can see the light at the end of the tunnel to a long and harsh winter. Whatever it is, it is a magical time to be with Mother Nature and one of the BEST times to go fishing! In this article, I would like to share with you a few springtime Montana gems that I have enjoyed over the years. •The Big Blackfoot Throughout my college years this was a staple in my spring activities! Let’s just say my seat was empty quite often during class on the nice April days. We still sneak away to this little paradise almost every spring! We focus on the Johnsrud Park area and a few miles up! It is a fantastic retreat with lots of willing trout. It also has a diversity of cold water species. Almost every day we fish this stretch we catch rainbow trout, brown trout and always a couple bull trout (they are not legal to target in this stretch, but inevitably we do catch them) which makes it super exciting. It is mostly a walk in adventure from the magnitude of parking areas along the river. It is the Montana Mountains in her finest along a beautiful and breathtaking stretch of river. What to use: If you are going to be spin fishing we recommend an ultralight rod with 4-6 lb Stren Magnathin. For the bait we always use Kit’s marabou jigs or glass minnows or a similar jig product. Of course a worm would work, but not half as effective as a jig and 100% less fun! These trout will smash jigs even in the cold water and fight like freight liners. Technique: We cast jigs slightly upriver and use a popping motion while the current sweeps it down the river. The fish will always hit when the jig is falling, meaning when you pop it back up, it’s game on! We try and target the deeper holes or slower moving water in the springtime. Fly fishing will also work very well, just watch that back cast. Rarely in April is there an opportunity to float the river. Streamers work best, but nymphing can also be very effective. Any of the spring scud and sow bug patterns will work great and also the balanced leech.
•Gates of the Mountains (Upper Holter Lake)
This one is a boat needed fishery for the most part and the dearest to my heart and my favorite place to fish. We catch flack all the time about not keeping this a secret, but there is a lot of water to explore with a multitude of fish. The month of April can be pretty dang fun for catching numbers of BIG rainbow trout and also a shot at some of Montana’s biggest walleye. Every April while guiding, we catch multiple walleye over 10 lbs with fish surpassing the mid teen mark on a rare occasion. We catch lots of rainbow trout from 3-6 lbs and the occasional big brown trout. Both the rainbow trout and walleye are making a migration from the lower stretches towards the river to spawn. Anywhere through the first few miles of the canyon is an excellent opportunity to jig fish for trout and a shot at a trophy walleye. And with the exploding perch population, we catch a lot of these beautiful oversized pan fish as well. There are not many places to catch multiple warm and cold water species in the same day. Not to mention, this is one of Montana’s most scenic places.
What to use: Again, we mainly pitch Kit’s marabou and glass minnow jigs. If specifically fishing for trout we DO NOT tip the jigs. If we are targeting walleye we will add a piece of cutbait (cured sucker meat) or something like a Gulp minnow. We believe scent for walleye is key in cold water situations. This is not an area to catch numbers of walleye, but a shot at a once in a lifetime fish. The big trout will keep you entertained if the walleye elude you! Due to the size of the fish here, we would bump up to a medium light 6-6’3” rod with 6-8 lb Stren Magnathin line. New from Kit’s Tackle Technique: We cast jigs to shore 2018 Disco Lemonade and hop them down the drop offs and different structure. We also target underwater islands and the sides of the main channel that runs through the canyon.
•Crooked Creek Recreation Area (Fort Peck Lake)
Always save the best for last right! If it’s a full blown adventure you want this is YOUR destination!! It is a long drive down a semi mediocre road that can become treacherous and impassable in bad conditions. But heck, that’s what makes an adventure right!? This is where the river section turns to lake on Fort Peck. This is home to a huge diversity of hungry warm water species and April is usually the month of ice out! This area can be fished from shore, but to fully explore what it has to offer a boat will get you out of the bay and into the river channel. You can travel both up river and down river, but you won’t have to travel far from the bay to find action! You will have an opportunity to target walleye, plentiful amounts of northern pike and smallmouth bass, crappie and catfish! Crooked Creek Marina has cabins and a store for general necessities and fuel. I recommend calling ahead to get a road report, make sure the ice is gone and talk fishing! The number for the marina is 406.429.2999 (ask for James). What to use: It is a little harder to narrow down one specific bait or technique on Fort Peck, but I can assure you jigs will be king this time of year. Glass minnows are definitely the go to bait in Fort Peck country! Here you are allowed to use live minnows, so make sure you have a dead rod out (rod with a bottom bouncer and a 4-5’ snelled #1 or 2 Gamakatsu hook with a lip hooked minnow) dragging along under the boat. We again like to tip the glass minnows with a minnow or cutbait. Even in the cold water, pulling Berkley flicker shads up the river channel can be effective for both big walleye and northern pike. For jigging rods, again, time to bump it up! We like to use a 6-6’3” medium power to do battle with the Fort Peck Monsters equipped with 8-10 lb Stren Magnathin or 6-8 lb Berkley Fireline in Crystal color. Technique: I would recommend pitching the shallow points adjacent to the main or secondary river channels. You want to fish the edges of the channels and even out into the channel a ways. Most of the water you will be fishing in this stretch will be sub 15ft. Again, we mainly focus on jigs and dead rods, but cranking can also be effective. With the water being shallow you can long line 100 feet or so of braided 15lb test. Pull up river at 1-1.5 mph for best results. Don’t be afraid to have a big chunk of cutbait on a dead rod either..this is state record catfish country! And if you’re a fly rod junkie, there is not a better time of year to cast big streamers shallow for trophy pike and bass! We hope to see you on the water this April! Cheers to “Jiggin’ the Dream” and have a safe, productive and educational 2018 season!
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©2018 BRP US Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®,™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. Offer valid only to qualified buyers on purchases of engines bought for recreational use only. Excludes engines purchased under commercial, professional, and government programs. Offer is valid in the USA only on new and unused Evinrude E-TEC engines purchased, delivered and registered between 11/1/17 and 4/30/18 at an authorized, participating Evinrude dealer. *10-YEAR COVERAGE: Subject to all exclusions, limitations of liabilities, and all other terms and conditions of BRP’s standard limited warranty and B.E.S.T. contract, including without limitation the exclusions of damages caused by abuse, abnormal use or neglect (see B.E.S.T. contract for specific details of coverage and exclusions). Offer effective on all new and unused 15 H.O. and above Evinrude E-TEC outboard engines. Eligible models will receive 10-year coverage (3 years of BRP Limited Warranty and 7 years of BRP Extended Service Terms [B.E.S.T.] coverage) subject to a $50 deductible on each repair. Benefit offered to Florida residents is a 10-year BRP Limited Warranty. Evinrude Jet Series engines are eligible for 6-year coverage offer on the upper unit only. The jet pump assembly will only receive a 3-year BRP limited warranty. All rigging components purchased on the same bill of sale as the engine, will be covered under the same BRP Extended Service Terms as the engine. **Approximate retail value of 7 years BRP Extended Service Terms coverage is based on number of HP and is up to 7,500 USD for a 300 HP engine. Offer subject to change without notice. See your authorized, qualified Evinrude dealer for details. Terms and conditions apply. Offer may not be assigned, traded, sold or combined with any other offer unless expressly stated herein. OFFER VOID WHERE RESTRICTED OR OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Bull of the Month #2 Montana Non-typical
BOONE & CROCKETT
Score: 429 1 8 Length: 48 6 8 ” Circ: 7 7 8” Points: 10 Inside Spread: 46 6 8” Location: Granite County Date: 1971 Hunter: John Luthje
View
this magnificent bull and more at the Elk Country Visitor Center.
720-0218-006
Directions: Take I-90 to Exit 101 in Missoula. Drive 1/4 mile north to 5705 Grant Creek Road. accessible with RV parking. Open year round. For information, call (406) 523-4545 or 866-266-7750 or visit www.rmef.org.
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WILDERNESS FLY FISHING TIPS: CAGEY TROUT IN CLEAR WATER By Ryan McSparran Lazy J Bar O www.lazyjbaro.com
O
ne of the biggest challenges of fly fishing in the crystal clear waters that are typical of wilderness environments, is casting to trout in very clear and often shallow waters. Whether a clear running river, a beaver pond or a high mountain lake, it can be difficult to conceal your movements from skittish trout and adjust your casting technique to these transparent bodies of water. The trout that live in these environments are extremely wary and sensitive to outside movements. They have very little protection when feeding and are easily seen by raptors and other predators.
They survive by being extremely vigilant in spotting intruders from the banks or from the air. On the Lazy J Bar O’s fly fishing trips in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, this is a common challenge. Late in the summer when water levels are lower, anglers must be especially careful.
Here are a few fly fishing tips to help you navigate clear water situations. HOW TO CONTACT US: email: huntingfishingnews@yahoo.com or phone
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The entire contents is © 2018, 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 14 Issue 10 Cover Photo: Tom Reichner|Shutterstock
6 | Hunting & Fishing News
Techniques for fishing these waters begin with a careful approach. Simply walking up to the water’s edge will send trout-shaped shadows darting for the far side. First, study the water from a distance and decide where you intend to make your first cast. Then, imagine a 20-degree angle coming from the surface of the water. Keep your head below that imaginary line as you approach. The closer to the water you get, the lower to the ground you’ll have to go. If fishing a stream, always start on the downstream end of a run or riffle, and work your way upstream. Remember that the trout are facing upstream, intercepting insects as they arrive on the current. Positioning yourself below the trout and casting up to them gives an additional layer to your concealment.
Only approach as close as necessary in order to cast. Depending on the situation, you may be forced to crawl into position or cast from your knees several yards back from the bank. This is very true in open or grassy areas where your silhouette will stick out. Whatever you do, keep a low profile and resist any temptation to stand up and peer into the water. The trout will spot you first and they never look twice. Keep in mind that trees or tall brush surrounding a body of water can work to your advantage. These will break up your outline and allow you to move more freely. A lake in the timber can be easy to move around, especially if it’s deep. But even with a backdrop, it’s best to keep your movements slow and limited. Once in position, you must execute a delicate cast that won’t spook a cagey cutthroat. Around beaver ponds or open streams, Photo courtesy Ryan McSparran where you’re most likely to be kneeling, casting can be difficult. Be sure and keep your elbow high and your forearm at 12 o’clock. This will keep your line high and help you avoid snagging grass or brush behind you. Then on your forward cast, as you’re about to place the fly on the water, stop your casting motion abruptly and even draw back slightly instead of following through to the water’s surface. The abrupt stop in your motion and slight retraction will stop your fly in mid air. Your fly will then float the last couple of feet, straight down to the glassy surface as gently as a snowflake. When you get a strike or hook a fish, the rules don’t change. Keep yourself low and fight the fish from the same position. Each spot can produce a number of fish as long as you don’t stand up and announce your presence to the rest. A grassy bank makes it easy to stay on your knees as you land and release the fish. You can then continue fishing the same hole from your concealed position. Fishing these waters has the potential to be frustrating as you watch fish evacuate each hole you approach. But with a low profile and a gentle cast, every spot has the potential to produce a surprising number of trout. For more information on fly fishing trips in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, please visit the Lazy J Bar O website at www.lazyjbaro. You can also contact them for more details or specific availability at 406-932-5687.
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Hunting & Fishing News | 7
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Hunt along waterways to locate turkeys in heat. ©Mark Kayser
MONTANA TURKEYS By Mark Kayser
W
ild turkeys weren’t native to Big Sky country, but after being introduced there in the 1950s they definitely call the state home. You can find the Merriam’s subspecies of turkeys throughout most of the state in varying populations. Since Montana’s terrain varies from lowland farm fields to towering mountain peaks expect those Merriam’s to inhabit cottonwood river bottoms and pine forests. That flexibility opens up ample opportunities for the turkey hunter who wants to travel for a spring turkey hunt, especially with a roaming, public-land mindset.
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Approximately 40 percent of Montana is publicly owned through various federal, state and county entities. Locating and researching opportunities on those properties should be a first priority. Teaming your Garmin GPS with onXmaps and adding a hunting app to your smartphone, like ScoutLook Weather, definitely advance your mapping skills to navigate on those properties.
Where you hunt depends on how far you want to travel. Initial turkey introductions included the Judith Mountains, the eastern Long Pines and the Custer National Forest in the southeast. Since then wild Montana turkeys have been trapped and transplanted to other locations within the state. Hotspots today include those areas, plus northwest counties such as Flathead and Lincoln. Northeastern rivers, like the Milk River, also hold populations of wild turkeys on scattered public lands. And if you’re looking for a big adventure you can always chase longbeards along Fort Peck public lands that border Missouri River turkey habitat. As a note, especially if you hunt turkeys in Custer National Forest of southeastern Montana, be aware of the tribal boundaries since reservations manage their own wildlife resources and regulate accordingly. Hunting turkeys is a tiring experience, especially if you hunt them traditionally with an early-morning ritual of targeting the roost. That noted, locating accommodations close to your hunting area should be a priority. Keep in mind that camping is restricted on most state lands scattered across Montana, but on many federal lands, national forests and BLM, you can find camping areas or primitive camp virtually anywhere. This allows you to locate turkeys and move camp as close as possible to maximize opportunities, and sleep. If you do find a huntable population of wild turkeys you’ll likely find hunting competition. You don’t have to run from your fellow hunters, but you should be strategizing for ways to set yourself apart from the crowd. Large expanses of forest in the northwest and southeast offer you plenty of areas to get lost in turkey country. (continued on page 42)
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SOFT HACKLES
By Brian McGeehan Montana Angler Call 406-522-9854 or www.montanaangler.com
There are few things in fly fishing that are more satisfying
Call 406. 235.0176
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10 | Hunting & Fishing News
than tying flies that adhere to the adage “less is more.” Soft hackle flies are a perfect example of flies that play off of simplicity, clean lines, and perfect proportions. They’re also very fun and effective flies to fish that work on both the dead-drift and while swung under tension. Some of our Southwest Montana Rivers are fantastic rivers for soft hackle fishing as they have prolific insect hatches and water that lends itself to swinging flies.
The Missouri River is one of Montana’s most ideal rivers for soft hackle fishing
LEARN and HAVE FUN Spin and Flyfishing In The Same Day For Multiple Species
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Photo courtesy Montana Angler
Photo courtesy Montana Angler
The soft hackle is a very straightforward fly style more than it is a specific fly pattern. The hackle for the soft hackle is typically tied with webbier, softer feathers as opposed to the stiff-fibered feathers that are used for dry flies. The fibers of the softer feather will soak up water more so than the stiff dry fly feathers and will flow and pulsate more when the fly is swung through the current. This soft, absorbent hackle also encourages the fly to swing a little bit under the surface film while being fished, rather than skating along on top of the film. The hackle feathers for soft hackle tying are commonly taken from the India hen, grouse, Hungarian partridge, or the starling. All are affordable options and offer slightly different colors and patterns. Naming soft hackles tends to be more a description of the fly itself rather than what it may be imitating, if it imitates anything at all. A couple of the most common and historical soft hackles are simply called “the grouse and orange” or “the partridge and olive.” These straightforward names simply describe the fly’s color and the hackle that it’s tied with. A personal favorite is the “pearl soft hackle” which is simply a pearl flashy body, a bit of dubbing, a bead, and -big surprise, a soft hackle. Soft hackles can definitely be tied and fished to imitate emerging insects like caddis and mayflies, however their usage extends far beyond “matching the hatch.” In much the same way streamers will elicit curiosity or aggression
strikes, soft hackles will also hook fish when there is no apparent hatch going on. Traditionally, soft hackles aren’t really weighted as they’re more or less intended to be fished right under the surface film. However, some very effective and more “modern” soft hackles do incorporate brass or even tungsten beads in their design. A small bead or just a little bit of flash may add to a soft hackle’s effectiveness if it’s tied for those times in between hatches when a little sparkle may get more attention from the fish.
Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail
Pearl Soft Hackle
Wade’s Starling Softie
As most of our Montana trout aren’t super picky, I tend to tie my soft hackles a little larger than some. I will tie some as large as size 6, although mine are generally sizes 10-14, which is a fun and easy size to tie. On some rivers effective soft hackles may be diminutive size 14-18s depending on what size of insects the fish typically eat. Master fly tyer Charlie Craven illustrates an excellent method for tying soft hackles on his website....His ultra-clean tying and simple three or four material fly in the demonstration are exactly what makes tying and fishing soft hackles so fun. “Less is more” is a perfect way Charlie Craven’s Purple Soft Hackle to describe the fly in Charlie’s post and the simple tying technique demonstrated can be altered in dozens of ways to make for your own unique flies. Soft hackles can be fished a few different ways, whether it’s cast upstream and dead drifted under a strike indicator or swung under tension in more of a down-and-across swing. Another popular and effective method for fishing soft hackles is the “drift and lift,” a technique that combines the upstream cast and drift, with a bit of a swing and lift under tension at the end of the presentation. Personally, I opt to swing soft hackles on light spey rods, it can be a very fun way to cast and step down some likely holding water, waiting on the exciting “grab” while the fly is swung under tension. The added reach gained by fishing longer spey and switch rods also allow the angler to have more room to mend the line and control the fly’s swing. A couple of our favorite Montana rivers for fishing soft hackles are the Madison and Missouri. These two fisheries lend themselves to swinging soft hackles because they’ve got such large insect populations with consistent, large hatches, and the character of the rivers lend themselves to the fishing techniques more closely associated with fishing soft hackles. The riffles and runs in these The author fooled this nice rainbow with a small, sparse soft hackle swung on a spey rod rivers make for great holding water to swing soft hackles through. Both rivers have wide sweeping runs and long riffles that hold fish and provide great habitat for insects. At Montana Angler their guides are well versed in all things trout fishing and soft hackle fishing techniques are no exception. If you’d like to learn more about fishing soft hackles book a guide trip with them and let their all star guides show you how fun swinging soft hackles on our Montana Rivers can be!
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Will Ammunition Hoarding Resume? If You’re Smart YOU NEVER STOPPED By David LaPell www.ammoland.com
So now we seem to be in a time of ammunition plenty. Even here in New York, I can get as much .22 LR ammo or anything else I want for very cheap prices. You can find .22 Magnum ammunition again when a little more than a year and a half ago, I didn’t see a box of it on a shelf anywhere for over six months. No one is rushing out to line up at the local big box store waiting to see when the truck delivers the ammunition so they can get their three boxes, but we should be very mindful that those times can very quickly come back again. To Horde Ammo or Not? The truth is, no one should wait until a disaster or when you need it at that moment to go out and buy that ammunition. I also don’t mean you should be panicking and running out and grabbing every box off the shelves either, panic buying is part of what got us into the mess of high prices and no ammunition in the first place, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have something on hand. If you have a .22 Long Rifle, I can’t tell you how much ammunition you should have at all times, but I would indeed have more than a couple of hundred rounds, the same with .22 Magnum. When you go to the gun shop, and you have a few extra dollars in your pocket, grab a box of one or the other while you’re there.
Iabout recently had a discussion with a gun owner the other day the availability and cost of particular ammunition that
was only a couple of years ago not only very scarce but expensive when you could find it. We were talking about if he thought that the availability of conventional ammunition could ever get bad again? He laughed stating that with Donald Trump in office, gun control laws at the federal level were likely to be impossible and that there was plenty of ammo out there. So what was there to worry about and why bother with ammunition hoarding. So is the ammunition hoarding crisis over? Have we nothing to fear, or are we just lulling ourselves into a false sense of security? With the start of a new year, we have new ammunition laws in parts of the country, and if you live in California, that means new bans on ammunition buying. Starting on the first of the year, residents of that state will now have to get their ammunition from a licensed dealer...You will have to hope your dealer has what you need in stock or you will have to pay him for a fee to get ammunition for you. This of course is only phase one, phase two of the plan is that starting on January 1st, 2019 there will be a background check to be completed when you buy your ammunition which will include a processing fee, which you can bet will drive up the price of that box of shells for your gun... Up until the last year or so, the availability of ammunition in many places was scarce, especially for popular calibers like .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum, and the cost, to put it mildly, skyrocketed for a single box of either. Ammunition purchases were rationed, there were stories, some proven true, of big box store employees hiding some for their friends, while many people tried to hunt down what they could just to have on hand. I remember seeing a single fifty round box of Federal .22 Long Rifle ammunition with a price tag of $22 on it. I recall another shop taking five hundred round bricks of .22 LR and the owner splitting them up and putting a hundred rounds in a ziplock bag and asking $15 for each bag. There was a lot of hoarding going on, and there was a lot of price gouging to go with it.
12 | Hunting & Fishing News
Photo courtesy www.ammoland.com
Paying a few dollars here and now is better than paying three or four times that much if you really need it and there are ten guys after the same box. It is like investing in your IRA, a little at a time pays off big. One thing you can be sure of and I hope this isn’t prophetic, if there is another ammunition shortage, another hoarding spree, you can bet it will be worse than the last one. If in only a couple of years we endure another change in power in Washington you can bet the repercussions for gun owners could be disastrous, the same in individual states if power swings one way or another [IE: New Jersey in 2018]. Not to mention localized disasters like hurricanes, flooding, or something man-made could cause people to run to their local gun shops in hopes that they can find something, anything to defend their homes and families. What at one time might have been far-fetched, is now getting more like a probability, eventually, somewhere at some time in this country, there will be another ammunition shortage. If there is another ammunition shortage and another ammunition hoarding spree, you can bet it will be worse than the last one. So to those who say that ammunition right now is plentiful and cheap, that’s true, but that doesn’t mean it will always be the case. You make an emergency kit with food and water stored in case of a disaster, you put snow tires on your car when winter comes, and you put smoke detectors in your house in case of a fire, why wouldn’t you at least keep some ammunition aside? You don’t wait until you’re in an emergency before you try to get the means to deal with it. I say ammunition hoarding is a good thing and I plan to keep stocking up.
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HUNTING SKILL: HOW TO SKIN A BEAR By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com www.mikehanback.com
Most of the hunters I hang out with are good at peeling the hide off a deer, but put a furry 300-pound bear
down on the ground in front of them and they’ll step back, scratch their heads and ask, “Uh, now what?” But skinning out your rug is not hard. With our quick and easy 3-step plan you’ll have your hide ready for the taxidermist in less than an hour. The Main Incision Roll the bear onto its back and lay it spread-eagle. A buddy or two holding and stretching the legs are a big help, or you might tie a couple of outstretched paws to trees. Just get the animal flat and wide. With a sharp knife, make an incision in the hide near the short tail. Insert your blade and cut all way up and over the belly to the bottom of the bear’s head and jaws. TIP: Stick your forefinger and middle fingers into the incision and just under the hide, and use them to guide your knife as you work toward the head. This greatly helps to make the 60- to 70-inch-long incision straight and clean. Now at the underside of the front legs, cut straight out two feet or so from the body incision and stop at the knees. At the hind legs, start at the bottom of the main cut inches from the anus and slit straight out to the knees. The Leg Cuts Saskatchewan bear outfitter Grant Kuypers taught me this trick. At the point where your leg cuts end, cut and work through all four knee joints with your knife (or a small saw) and leave the lower leg bones in the hide with the feet, paws and claws. “A lot of taxidermists like that because it gives them something to hold onto as they skin out the lower legs to the claws,” says Kuypers. We tried it and like it because it gives you four good hand-holds as you roll, lift and turn the bear for a full-body skinning job, which is what you do at this point. Simply pull the hide, skin with your knife, tug and skin some more until you peel the entire hide free from the body and legs. Skin and pull the hide up and tight as you can to the back of the bear’s head. The Head Skinning Skinning a bear’s head is just like caping a deer, so go for it. “Except that it’s easier because you don’t have to work around antlers with a knife or screwdriver,” adds Kuypers. Remember one rule and you’ll do fine: Go slowly and methodically and cut as closely to the skull as you can. Run your blade under the hide and right along bone and you can’t go wrong. Skin up and over the back of the big, wide noggin until you come to the ears. Simply lop the ears off whole tight to the skull. Continue working down to the eyes. TIP: Insert a finger into the sockets from the fur side to get a good feel for where you’re cutting. Carefully cut under each eye socket; be careful to leave the entire membranes ringing the sockets on the face hide. Keep skinning down the cheeks and through the tissue to expose those big, sharp teeth. Cut and skin as close as you can to the jaws. Leave lots of lip tissue inside on the hide. Once you separate the skin from the gums, skin down the snout, cut straight down through the nose cartilage and separate the whole hide from the skull. You’re done. Never stick your hide in a plastic sack, but rather carry it in a breathable game bag. Get the hide to a taxidermist or freeze it asap. “Definitely the same day when it’s warm in May or June,” notes Kuypers. “The rug you get back in several months will look just awesome.”
Photo courtesy Mike Hanback
PLANNING TIPS FOR A REMOTE WILDERNESS RIVER FLOAT TRIP
By Zach Lazzari
Lazy J Bar O www.lazyjbaro.com
Wilderness river float trips come with the luxury of packing more gear than you would on
your back. Even trips packed in on horseback will have room for a few beers, camp chairs and comfort features. This doesn’t mean you should throw in the kitchen sink and overload. On a wilderness float trip, strategic packing, campsite selection and camp setup is important and will save you a few headaches on the river. HERE ARE A FEW QUICK TIPS... Break out your gear into categories and pack each in a separate dry bag. One bag will carry your sleeping gear, tent, toiletries. Another will have the kitchen setup and dry food. Another for day items that sits on top for easy access throughout the day. Fly fishing gear should also stay separate in its own category, as you’ll be using that throughout the day. Consider a waterproof backpack or sling pack to keep your extra fly boxes and other fly fishing tackle. Separating everything makes it easy to create stations at camp. You will have a cook station which typically doubles as the social station, a sleeping area and bathroom zone that is private and well removed from camp. Selecting Campsites Look for good, level sites as you float the last hour or two each day. Gravel bars work for kitchens but you will want something softer for sleeping. Sandy beaches with some trees and natural cover are ideal. If the nights are cold, recess your camp off the river and sleep in the trees. This will reduce condensation in tents and cold weather from any wind pushing downriver. Trees, boulders and logs all work as nice windbreaks. In the heat of summer, you can opt to throw a paco pad on the bank and simply sleep under the stars as well. Trash, Refuse and Fires Always practice Leave No Trace ethics and pack everything out. Having a dry bag just for trash prevents it from leaking and spilling into your boat. Some rivers require fire pans for fires and other less used rivers do not regulate fire pits. On the South Fork of The Flathead, fire pans are recommended (please check updated regulations for specifics). If you make a fire pit at camp, douse it with water and fill it in before leaving. Having the fire on a gravel bar that will wash out with the next high water is a good practice. On the South Fork of the Flathead, you may dig a pit for your bathroom and cover everything when finished (again, please refer to the latest regulations). More regulated rivers may require a toilet system to pack out all refuse. You can rent these if needed. Bathing is optional and often neglected but if you choose to clean up, use biodegradable soap. Summer means swimming and it’s easy to do a quick cleanup in the river. Wet wipes suffice during cold weather. Call Lazy J Bar O to learn more about their guided trips at 406-932-5687 or contact them online.
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- REGIONAL NEWS -
Public Input On Grizzly Bears Guiding Management Priorities WG&F The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is moving forward with the next steps for
grizzly bear management in Wyoming, thanks to lots of great input from the public. Wildlife managers are now developing and revamping priorities for management guided by input from public discussion forums held across the state this fall and winter. These meetings brought out hundreds of people with many helpful ideas on the main components of Wyoming’s Management Plan; research, education, population monitoring, conflict management and hunting... The major themes from the meetings included prioritizing: •Population monitoring: population estimates, conflict mitigation, technology and climate impacts •Research: accurate population counts, impact of hunting on behavior, interactions Photo WG&F with other animals, predation, ecology and body condition •Conflict management: education, relocation, hunting, livestock, costs and department transparency •Bear Wise-Outreach and education: increase visibility, more information, public involvement •Hunting: education requirements, regulations and draw requirements, impact on behavior, buffers/protections, bear spray usage, tourism and considerations of no hunting...“The public was actively engaged, thoughtful and also respectful of the many different viewpoints on grizzly bear conservation and management,” said Dan Thompson, Game and Fish large carnivore section supervisor. Thompson said the Large Carnivore Section has already begun to implement suggestions from the public, especially the desire for more information and resources. Bear Wise Wyoming, the Game and Fish bear education program, recently hired a full-time, permanent coordinator to help develop information on safety and resources for the public. “Bear Wise is the foundation for grizzly bear management and preemptive conflict management,” Thompson said. “The public can anticipate more information on grizzly bear management and hope folks will make time to attend Living in Large Carnivore Country Workshops in coming months.”... “Multiple protections continue to occur for grizzly bears, and any hunting program will ensure grizzly bear populations remain healthy and well above recovery standards while allowing for regulated hunting opportunity and management of this iconic species,” Thompson said. “While there is a lot of focus on this topic the other suggestions do not require Commission action so we can move ahead with those now.”... “Moving forward we are committed to a more accurate estimate of the population and have always been committed to reducing conflicts; but we are already digging deeper into our understanding of bear behaviors and management actions and will be analyzing and publishing results on some of our current activities to forge the future of the program,” said Thompson...
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- REGIONAL NEWS -
States Set Initial Fishing Seasons For Columbia River Spring Chinook WDFW Salmon
Moose Population Remains Low But Stable For A Seventh Year Minnesota DNR
managers from Washington and Oregon have approved sportfishing seasons for spring chinook salmon on the Columbia River, setting the stage for the first major salmon fishery of the year... According to the preseason forecast, approximately 248,500 spring chinook salmon will return to the Columbia River this year – an increase of 20 percent from 2017. That number includes 166,700 upriver fish bound for waters above Bonneville Dam and 81,820 fish expected to return to rivers below the dam. Bill Tweit, a special assistant for Columbia River fisheries at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), noted that the upriver forecast is up 44 percent from last year, but still 10 percent below the 10-year average. “This year’s fishery appears to be shaping up as a fairly normal season,” Tweit said. “Even so, we always have to take a conservative approach in setting fishing seasons until we can determine how many fish are actually moving past Bonneville Dam.” Based on the preseason projections, the two states approved initial fishing seasons for waters both below and above the dam: Below Bonneville Dam: Catch guidelines approved today allocate 6,680 upriver fish for a 38-day fishing season below Bonneville Dam from March 1 through April 7. The fishery will be open to both boat and bank anglers from Buoy 10 to Beacon Rock, and to bank anglers only upriver to the dam. Above the dam: Spring chinook fishing will also be open March 16 through May 7 from the Tower Island power lines upriver to the Washington/Oregon border near Umatilla. The season will run for 53 days with an initial catch guideline of 900 upriver chinook. Bank fishing will also be allowed from the dam upriver to the power lines. In both areas, the adult daily catch limit will be one adult hatchery chinook salmon, as part of a two-fish daily limit that can also include hatchery coho salmon and hatchery steelhead. Anglers fishing the Columbia River will be required to use barbless hooks, and must release any salmon or steelhead not visibly marked as hatchery fish by a clipped adipose fin. Tweit said this year’s initial catch guidelines include a 30 percent “buffer” in the preseason forecast to guard against overharvesting the run. If actual returns meet or exceed expectations, fish held in reserve will become available for harvest later in the season, he said. Fishery managers will likely meet in May – when half the run has historically passed Bonneville Dam – to determine if this year’s fishing season can be extended. To participate in this fishery, anglers age 15 and older must possess a valid fishing license. In addition, anglers fishing upriver from Rocky Point must purchase a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement. Revenue from the endorsement supports salmon or steelhead seasons on many rivers in the Columbia River system, including enforcing fishery regulations and monitoring the upper Columbia River spring chinook fisheries...
Photo MDNR
Results of the 2018 moose survey indicate the moose
population in northeastern Minnesota remains stable but relatively low for the seventh year in a row, according to the Department of Natural Resources. “While the population appears stable, low numbers of moose are still a major concern for the DNR,” said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr. “We continue to pursue the best science, research and management tools available to us to help Minnesota’s moose.” The 2018 aerial moose survey estimated 3,030 moose in northeastern Minnesota, statistically unchanged from last year’s estimate of 3,710. The survey is statistically sound, but there is inherent uncertainty associated with such surveys, because researchers will never see and count all of the animals across the 6,000 square mile survey area. Statistically, the DNR is 90 percent certain that the population is between 4,140 and 2,320 moose. “The stability of moose numbers in recent years provides a reason for some optimism – after all, we’re not facing a significant decline,” said Glenn DelGiudice, DNR moose and deer project leader. “But this year’s results would be more palatable had they reflected the beginning of a turnaround in the population trend.” Each year the population estimate is compared to 2006, because the state’s highest moose population estimate of 8,840 occurred that year. Currently, northeastern Minnesota’s moose population is estimated to be 65 percent lower than the peak estimate of 2006. “While the trend of stability is encouraging, it does not allow us to forecast the future trajectory of the population,” DelGiudice said. Reproductive success and adult survival have the greatest impact on the annual performance and dynamics of the moose population over time. “Our field research has shown that annual pregnancy rates of adult females in this population have been robust,” DelGiudice said. “But it is a challenge to maintain a high number of adult females that can become pregnant, produce calves and rear them to 1 year of age.” Survey results also indicate that calf survival to January has been relatively stable, but consistently low. Field studies have indicated that it is even lower by spring, translating to low numbers of moose calves living through their first year. Importantly, the DNR’s detailed investigations have shown that wolf predation has consistently accounted for about two-thirds of the calf mortality compared to one-third of the adult mortality... This year’s survey involved flying in 52 survey plots distributed across northeastern Minnesota’s moose range from Jan. 3 to Jan. 13. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and 1854 Treaty Authority contributed funding and provided personnel for the annual moose survey. More information about moose is available on the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov/moose.
Hunting & Fishing News | 17
SPRING TRAINING FOR FALL HUNTS: 7 TIPS TO HELP YOU PREPARE By Zach Lazzari Lazy J Bar O www.lazyjbaro.com
It is officially spring and time to start thinking about conditioning for your fall hunts. Waiting until you
are a few weeks out is no way to prepare and is costly in the backcountry. We don’t expect you to run marathons, but being in good shape is a big help on our backcountry hunts. We use horses to our advantage in Montana and Alaska but you still must walk steep hills and be prepared to chase game across rugged terrain. When you can manage a steep mountainside littered with deadfall, your chances of scoring a big bull elk increase. HERE ARE A FEW SIMPLE TIPS TO GET ON TRACK FOR THE UPCOMING HUNTING SEASON. Limber Up Flexibility prevents injuries and helps your body perform at an optimum level. Stretch every single day to keep your body healthy. You can even join a yoga class a few times a week. It doesn’t sound like a natural association with hunting but yoga is difficult and it will increase flexibility and core strength. Hit the Trails Start hiking at least one day each week on rough terrain. Ideally, you will hike 2-3 days a week. Hikes ranging from 1-5 miles are a good start for the spring. You can train on pavement and treadmills but they do not build the same muscles as uneven terrain. Go explore, climb steep hills and walk on uneven ground. Take your time and build stamina throughout the summer by adding a few longer hikes. Wear a Load Get an idea of the load you will carry while hunting and wear it on your hikes. On our horseback hunts, you won’t need a huge pack. We recommend something in the 1,500-2,000 cubic inch range. Wear the same pack you are bringing to get used to the straps and load placement. You can make adjustments while training and be comfortable on the hunt. Cross Train Break up your training routine by staying active in different ways. Monotony is the enemy when it comes to staying in shape. Do a trail run, join a pickup basketball league, play flag football or hit the racquetball court before work. Staying active in a fun social environment will boost your energy and enthusiasm. Short Workouts Rule Short on time? We all get busy and it’s easy to put off your workouts. Don’t underestimate the power of short, intense workouts. You can join a CrossFit gym or go do sprints on the high school track. You will get the blood flowing and keep in shape with workouts that last less than a half hour. Load Up on Nutrition You don’t need a special diet or a million supplements to get ready for a hunt. Simply eat healthy and listen to your body. Enjoy a diet full of vegetables, healthy grains and meat. If you have some game left from last year, you are eating some of the healthiest meat on the planet. Lay off the sugar and junk and you’ll be just fine. Get Rest Avoid overtraining and get plenty of sleep each night. You want your body to recover after hikes and workouts. Ideally, you can go to bed early and exercise first thing in the morning. Your hunts have early starts and it’s nice to have your sleep schedule aligned with an early morning routine. Call Lazy J Bar O to learn more about their guided trips at 406-932-5687 or contact them online.
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Getting in the Saddle Before Your Hunting Trip By Ryan McSparran Kawdy Outfitters www.kawdyoutfitters.com
B
efore your next big hunting adventure, there are a number of important things you can do to prepare. We like to talk about being in good physical condition, shooting your rifle and testing your boots and other gear. But there’s one other thing Photo courtesy Ryan McSparran that we think can make a significant difference on your hunt. If you don’t have very much experience riding horses, spending some time in the saddle before your hunt might be a game changer. We’ve had a few clients recently ask us questions on this topic and it’s something that we’d like to address in a little more detail. HERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HORSEBACK HUNTING TRIPS: Anyone Can Do It Like the rest of your fitness training, horseback riding becomes easier with repetition and practice. Anyone can prepare for a horseback hunt. If you’ve had bad experiences on horseback trips in the past, it doesn’t mean that you’re hopeless. Cardio exercises aren’t easy at first. Neither is horseback riding. It just takes some time. Riding Is Different Just because you’re in peak pre-hunt condition doesn’t mean you’ll find riding easy. It requires a totally different use of your muscles. Hunters who are in excellent shape might be frustrated when riding kicks them in the rear. Like many activities, you’ll probably be sore the first couple of times you do it. That’s normal. Get In the Saddle If at all possible, work the kinks out before your trip. If you have access to a horse, spend as much time riding as you can. If you’re able, you might consider taking a lesson. A few helpful tips can greatly reduce fatigue. Try taking a half-day ride. Then take a full-day ride. Stick with it and you will notice the improvement. Best of all, you’ll be in much better shape for riding that first morning when you saddle up for your hunt! Hunting vast expanses of wilderness on horseback is an incredible experience that you will never forget. Getting in better riding shape before your trip will make it all the more memorable! If you have questions about hunts at Kawdy Outfitters, please explore their website at www.KawdyOutfitters.com. They offer remote hunting in northern British Columbia for moose, mountain caribou, mountain goat, stone sheep and grizzly.
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Your Flies are Down!
By Montana Grant www.montanagrantfishing.com
H aving your Flies down is no excuse! There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a great hatch and you run out of the special lucky fly. All of the Gink in the world can’t bring back a drowned, wore out fly. Searching for one more fly in a
crowded and disorganized fly box just wastes more time while the hatch ends. Years ago, before I could tie flies, I would head to a local trout shop to pick up several “killer and cheap” flies. With luck, I would have a little of Grand Mom’s Christmas money to purchase what I needed. Boy how times have changed. After a lifetime of fly fishing and guiding, I have acquired a drift boat full of flies and fly boxes. Ironically, it seems like I really only use a half dozen patterns in most seasons. These “Killer Flies” tend to be in short supply. Now is the perfect time to bring your fly inventory back up! First, clean and organize your fly boxes. I usually have many boxes for nymphs, streamers, dries, midges, terrestrials, hoppers, stoneflies/ salmon flies, and assorted other stuff. Ideally, you want space between each fly when in your box. This way, hackles don’t get crushed, flies stay dry, and you can see what you have. This has always been a challenge for me. I tend to jam, cram, and shove as many bugs as I can into my boxes. To organize your flies, use an egg carton or two to sort out your patterns. Inspect each fly for loose threads, busted hook points, and issues that will not help you to catch fish. Repair the flies, add some head cement as needed, and sharpen every hook. You will be amazed how this chore will turn into catching more trout more quickly. One year, a friend and I decided to guide for an entire season using just ONE pattern. We chose the Royal Coachman fly. We simply tied this classic fly in all sizes, variations, and as nymphs and streamers. Which fly to pick was greatly simplified and we never had a client get skunked. This challenge demonstrated that you don’t have to match the hatch, or use specific patterns on specific waters. Instead the secret was revealed that the most important thing to consider when fishing is PRESENTATION! I still have a ton of Royal Coachmen’s in my boxes and when all else fails, I drop back and tie one on. Focus on just 6 or 7 patterns that you tend to have the most success and confidence with. Maybe a Coachman, caddis, hopper, serendipity nymph, wooly buggers, brown rubber legs, and an Adams. These choices will cover most hatches, crayfish, minnows, and terrestrial scenarios. Tie each in the variations and sizes that you prefer. Make this fly box the one that lives and fits best into your vest. I call this box my “Whoop Ass Box”! You can name yours accordingly. Another fishing buddy calls his the “Agent Orange” box and has it painted bright orange. Now is the time to tie what you need to reload for the upcoming season. Clear the decks and set up your fly tying station. Get organized and ready to go. If you are not a fly tier, then you can discover many tying classes or opportunities to learn. Tying flies extends the season and enhances the sport. There is something special about using your own flies and rigs. Never tie less than a dozen flies! I use magnet strips or refrigerator magnets to attach to my bench. These help keep the hooks separated and ready to go. If you are making bead head variations with your nymphs, slide the beads on ahead of time. Clear the desk of anything that is not related to what you are tying. Once you start tying, you will find that somewhere in your dozen flies, you will get 6 just right. The rest can be backups or giveaways. I was once told that you don’t know how to tie a proper pattern until you have tied it 1000 times. After a lifetime of tying professionally and for my own fun, I have to agree. Staying in tying shape is also important. Using hand cream, nail clippers, and decent glasses helps also. Tying your own flies, building rods, and addressing all of your gear and tackle needs helps you to become a better fisherman. Practice makes perfect. Time is money! Being organized is important. I also find that great lighting and a plain white poster board background helps with the quality of my ties. Simply create a 1/8-inch groove along a flat board that allows you to slide the white board into. Work hard to play hard! Our outdoor time is vital and precious. Wasting time is a sin. During the off season, you need to stay in the game by tending to your gear, tackle and flies. Clean your reels, rods, and equipment. Inspect each item for wear, damage, or repairs. Become a “Student of your Sport”. Read, attend fishing club meetings, surf the net and study to become a better fisherman. I have found the U-Tube fly tying videos are amazing. Most fishermen are A.D.D. and learn best by visual and hands on learning. Tying technique is easy to understand when you can see it live, rewind, and do it again. Exploring new fishing destinations and products is fun when online. GOOGLE IT! If you hate the internet, searching for fishing information may just be the bait you need to get engaged. The next time that you are watching fishermen at work, look closely at how they spend most of their time. You will discover a lot of non-fishing going on. Many are futzing with a tangle or trying to tie a knot. Others are looking for a fly or lure. There tends to be a lot of wasted time going on. There is not just one thing that makes us a better fisherman. We will never be experts. There is always something new to learn. Embrace the sport and be open to new ideas, gears, and flies. Tie one on and rip some lips! Montana Grant For more Montana Grant, visit his blog at www.montanagrantfishing.com
20 | Hunting & Fishing News
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Hunting & Fishing News | 21
Say Hello To Success: Where to Chase the Fish This Month Brought to you by
Gates of the Mountains at Upper Holter Lake in Montana © Radkol | Dreamstime.com
Pre-run off fishing can provide anglers with some of the
best fishing action of the year on Montana rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs. Above average snowpack, coupled with Montana’s fickle spring weather will make predicting this year’s run-off not an easy task. And while nobody can predict the timing nor the extent of this year’s mountain water run-off, one thing is for certain: You won’t catch fish until you drop a hook into the river.
Here are a few of Montana’s best bets for early in the spring. HOLTER LAKE - Trout, Walleye, Perch Thanks to a relatively slow warming in the Canyon, walleye should be stacked up in the shallow areas along banks that hold any warmth through the spring. Jig or slow-roll a bottom-bouncer with a plastic worm or nightcrawler for plenty of action in this fine fishery, located just north of Helena. From Log Gulch to Indian Trail and up to the dam, will all be excellent fishing.
FORT PECK RESERVOIR - Lake Trout
Fish from 5 to 15 pounds and sometimes larger hold 10 to 30 feet down around spots like Haxby Point, York Island and the face of the dam. Good lakers are slow-moving and will not chase bait too far. Quality electronics and downriggers that can get in front of a fish are necessary on the big lakes that hold lake trout in Montana. Match the forage that these fish are feeding on - blues and silvers work here to mimic the cisco that are in the lake.
ENNIS LAKE - Trout
Sight-fish and cast to cruising browns and rainbows. This area is especially good just after ice-out, which should come fairly early in this shallow lake. Light tackle will attract these hungry fish. Try throwing a beaded red/gold Mepp’s or dry-fly fishing here on cool, cloudy days.
KOOTENAI RIVER - Rainbow Trout
You can fish the famed Kootenai River this spring for great fishing days. Focus your efforts below the Libby area using a variety of tackle. Black and olive beadhead
Wooly Buggers, sizes 4 and 6 will take trout as will a variety of smaller spinners along the gentle flowing inlets along river banks. Other flies that have proven worth packing are the Beadhead Prince, Hare’s Ear and Zug Bugs according to locals who fish it quite often.
KALISPELL AREA - Bass, Northern Pike
The bass fishing will be picking up in the Upper Lakes in northwest Montana now. Echo Lake (near Bigfork) will be primed for good fishing as water temperatures slowly creep up. Use plastic baits - worms, spinnerbaits and cranks to pull in hefty bass now on these smaller inland lakes. The Thompson Chain of Lakes fishing will also be kicking in. Fishing for hard-hitting northern pike in the Flathead River Sloughs will be exceptional in the spring. The tasty and plentiful yellow perch will be starting up now on the east shore of Flathead lake, as well as the mackinaw (lake trout). You can catch plenty of kokanee and bass on Bitterroot Lake. For kokes, jigging in 40 to 60 feet of water is key. Smallies and pike are starting up on Noxon Reservoir, and you should find kamloops rainbows, lake trout, and plenty of kokanee on Lake Kookanusa.
BIG SPRING CREEK (LEWISTOWN) - Trout
Big Spring Creek arises near Lewistown and is a prime early-season destination for large rainbow and brown trout. It flows some 30 miles with plenty of access and drag-free drifts. This is one of the bigger spring creeks at some 30 to 40 feet wide in places and fish that average 14 to 16”. Streamers are always a good option as early bugs can hatch in profusion now. By mid-April, scuds and caddis patterns should also be successful. Small spinners, Mepp’s in brown trout patterns or Panther Martins will also be good choices, but keep your distance from the edge of the creek, as to avoid spooking these clear-water trout. A hook-up with a high jumping double-digit weight rainbow will likely make you forget about the windy chill of early season fishing.
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CANYON FERRY RESERVOIR - Rainbow Trout, Walleye
YELLOWSTONE RIVER - Cutthroat Trout
DEADMAN’S RESERVOIR - Tiger Muskies, Trout
BIG HOLE RIVER - Arctic Grayling
Magnum rainbow trout can be hauled in now as the spawning season for rainbow trout is upon us. Mid-to-late April and into May is the season for big trout on Canyon Ferry. Jigging is most effective as these rainbow trout are protecting their spawning beds from other egg-robbing trout. Local tackle maker, Kit’s Tackle’s egg sucking leech marabou is a perfect option, as well as the Fire Tiger glass minnow. 1/16, 1/8 or 1/4 oz jigs are proven fish catchers on Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Small walleye will also start feeding heavily on the southern end of the big lake. A smaller jig set with a piece of nightcrawler along the edges will pick-up these sweet tasting walleye here in the springtime. You can cast big baits into the shallows of Montana’s Deadman’s Reservoir for the biggest tiger muskies in the state. This is a good month to tangle with these big, aggressive predators. Head to the warmest, weediest water to find minnow-binge eating muskies. Just about any pocket along the perimeter of the lake can hold good sized muskies. The face of the dam on the eastern side of the lake can also be good. The most reliable method is to fish large swimbaits, spinnerbaits and shallow-running crankbaits. Top-water baits can also be great, though the prime time to engage in this surface combat is in June, when the warming water makes these fish more active. Rainbow trout, white and silver Rapalas are good choices, but many anglers take larger fish on yellow, white, blue and rainbow pattern spinnerbaits.
The pre run-off bite is exciting and anticipated in early spring, and the Yellowstone is a great floating river. Anglers catch brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout, along with a few whitefish here. During April, the crowds are lighter, and there are good hatches throughout the spring as warm weather will get these trout to feed all day long. Fly fishing is best using caddis, Pale Morning Dun (PMD) and mayflies. Hook sizes range from 22 for midges and blue-winged olives, to size 2 streamers if big trout are looking to eat meaty prey fish or the water is murky. As the season progresses and the run-off commences, fish darker-colored streamers along the bank. That’s where trout lurk in search of food, and it’s also where the water tends to clear soonest. Catch a sail fin. Lost amid the discussions about conserving river arctic grayling in southwestern Montana is the fact that anglers can still fish for these beautiful salmonids in the Big Hole River. The Big Hole is the only river in the lower 48 with a healthy population of arctic grayling. Fish for them as you do trout: dries and small nymphs for fly anglers, and small size 0 Mepp’s or other spinners on a 4 pound test for spin fishing. Bend down the barbs of your hooks to avoid injuring the fish,
WHICH MUST BE RELEASED.
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Hunting & Fishing News | 23
Open spaces. Who needs them?
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QUALITY WILDLIFE HABITAT As a Toyota customer, you know the value of quality wildlife habitat and open space. Unfortunately, urban sprawl has created a constant threat to the areas we all cherish and the habitat mule deer require for survival. Critical fawning grounds, migration corridors, and winter range are shrinking each year. The MDF is working hard to improve these areas through permanent land protection efforts while creating new habitat through restoration projects and research. We are also dedicated to protecting public lands for everyone to access and enjoy. Join us in the fight to conserve the quality habitat mule deer need while protecting the open spaces we all can enjoy. Attend an event or become a member today by visiting: muledeer.myeventscenter.com.
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT Lindy Fishing Tackle JIG WEIGHT www.lindyfishingtackle.com Round-head jigs like the Lindy Jig are fish-catching machines that hook
walleyes, panfish, trout and other gamefish on the cast, troll and when fished in a vertical manner. That is, if you choose the right jig weight for the depth and conditions at hand. Truth be told, there’s no secret formula for selecting jig weight at specific depths. Too many variables come into play, including line thickness, current, wind and waves, retrieve speed and the size of whatever live bait or soft-plastics you thread on the hook. Often, jig weight selection becomes a balancing act that involves picking the smallest size possible that allows you to reach the desired depth and, with many presentations, periodically tick the lake bottom or the tops of vegetation or other cover. “Also take into account the skill level of the angler fishing the jig,” says longtime guide and Fish ED TV host Jon Thelen. “Anglers new to jigging may be more successful at feeling bottom and detecting bites with heavier leadheads than are needed by experienced jig fishermen in the same depths and conditions. “Don’t forget about your desired fall rate, either,” he adds. “If you’re casting and want the jig to slowly pendulum toward bottom on semi-slack line, choose a lighter head than you would when you want a fast vertical drop.” When trolling or drifting, Thelen also advises considering how far you want the jig from the boat. “When slow-trolling a weedline in clear, shallow water, I want the jig to trail well behind the boat, with the line at a 45-degree angle to the water,” he explains. “To help make that happen, I may switch from a 1/4-ounce head to an 1/8- or 1/16-ounce jig.” Due to the many variables that can dictate different jig weights, it’s smart to stock your jig box with a variety of sizes so you can adjust as conditions change, without missing a beat — or a fish.
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The Live-Bait to Plastics Transition for Walleyes Northland Fishing Tackle www.northlandtackle.com
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the single quickest abandoned pattern in a walleye angler’s arsenal is the shallow jig bite, and I plead “guilty” to the above charge. Anglers that have six boxes with nothing but jigs in them for opener, forget what part of the garage they’re now in collecting dust. Early in the season, shiners are purchased not by the dozen or the scoop, but by the gallon, as the simple act of just threading one on the correct-sized jig will instill confidence throughout the north-country and beyond. One week later, anglers flee the shallow shorelines, developing weedlines, and near-shore rockpiles for the hope of greener pastures out deep, and more familiar, longer-lasting summer patterns. Rigging, slip-bobbering, pulling crankbaits, anything but jigs seem to get the nod as temperatures rise and fishing heats up. Yet, there’s plenty reason to keep those jigs around, and even tip them with minnows in the weeks after opener. What’s more, is that there are a number of developing shallow bites right now that keep jigs in play, just maybe with some different meat threaded onto the business end.
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I asked famed guide Tony Roach what was getting him bit, and his response was simple. “Everyone sees me up shallow in 4 -8 feet of water. They think I’m bass fishing, but I’m whaling on walleyes right now with a simple jig and plastic combination.” Truly, there are strong segments of the walleye population in most lakes that never leave the shallows for the entirety of the year. That’s news for technical fishermen Photo Northland Tackle that use electronics to pick apart deep water structure and dissect off-shore features during this time of year. As the lake system ramps up biologically, fish need food, cover, and oxygen, with the greatest limiter being food. Developing weeds, especially cabbage, are magnets when interspersed with rock or other hard bottom. These locations always hold some bait, and typically always hold some walleyes throughout the season... Current is the great equalizer, as high skies, bright sun, and no wind still translates into a great day when fishing current seams, eddies, and riffles in rivers. The same conditions that absolutely kill other patterns, especially in clear water natural lakes, don’t seem to hassle the river fish that are taking advantage of current that sweeps unsuspecting invertebrates, bait, and terrestrials downstream and into their gullets. Long-lining and leadcore staples that typically produce good numbers of fish during this time of year were poor in comparison. The bite ebbs and flows, with low-light periods still shining brightest, but moving water is a great savior to an otherwise weary day of walleye fishing. In both scenarios, the classic pitch and run technique utilizing jigs and shiners were tweaked if only slightly. “As the water warms up, there’s a transition to where plastics become just-as, if not more effective than shiners or other minnows,” mentions Tony. “It’s something I see every year. As people move to the mud or mid-lake structure to rig, I simply switch to jigs with a Northland Impulse Smelt or Paddle Minnow to get these fish to chase a bit more,” explains Roach about his shallow techniques...Roach is a big fan of this pattern, “Plastics allow me to fish more quickly, cast further without losing bait, and keep on a hot bite without pausing to re-bait.” Those valuable bite windows can be small and precious, especially in unfavorable conditions, so staying with the heavy part of the bite and not missing out on fish becomes crucial to making a decent day into a great one. Visual cues put off by paddle-tails, ringworms, and even minnow shaped flukes go well beyond your average minnow, especially in the colors and hues available. Nowadays, our choices for colors to pique a fish’s curiosity are nearly limitless, and often we can mimic forage that doesn’t even resemble our offering just by switching colors. For example,an orange jig and grub combination looks nothing like a rusty crayfish, but don’t tell that to Lake of the Woods walleyes that were coughing up blaze-orange crustacean parts all over the live well last summer. Those fish happily engaged that offering crawled near bottom on many of the rock reefs and points that we fished. Plastics design has come a long way...Color and flash give way to vibration, flicker, and quiver all throughout the very lifelike baits on the market today. The end-result is an attraction based not just on visual cues, but key components in the way a bait pulsates that trigger fish’s predatory instincts. As walleye’s lateral lines pick up these distinct tremors in the water column, I’m convinced that the heavy thumpers truly call in fish from a distance to warrant a close investigation at the very least. Fishing a jig is a rewarding way to get bit, and offers a few more weeks of great near-shore fishing for walleyes. Just remember that as a lake’s “metabolism” gears up for the best fishing of the year, the bite becomes both more effective AND efficient when pairing those jigs with plastics.
2018 SPRING MACK DAYS
LAKE TROUT FISHING EVENT on FLATHEAD LAKE
Fish The Entire Lake
March 16 th to
May 13th
Up to
$225,000
CASH & PRIZES Tuesday through Sunday: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are for the contests, bonus amounts, and tagged fish. Tuesday - Thursday bonuses, tagged fish, Yeti tickets and 6 ($50) drawings. All it takes is one ticket to win in the lottery drawing (Fridays through Sundays only) (1)-$10,000 & (3) $5,000 & (5) $1000 + over 6,000 $100 to $500 tagged lake trout Top ten angler prizes - $800 to $300 pick your best 18/26-days count on Friday through Sunday (except last day) Captains $250-(4 prizes), Smallest lake trout $250-(2 prizes), Largest lake trout-$500 - (Friday - Sunday) Top lady anglers $300, $200, $100 - $100-totals used (Fri.-Sun.) Youth anglers - (17-13) 1st-$200, 2nd-$150, 3rd-$75, 4-5th-$50 (Fri.-Sun.) (12 & under) 1st-$100, 2nd-$75, 3rd-$50 (Fri.-Sun.) Weekend Prizes-$100x5 (Fri.-Sun.) drawn and announced weekly Golden Angler Award (70 & older) $200 & $100 by total fish Bucket Competition - 3 days of single/team heaviest 4 fish 3/30 Friday, 4/21 Saturday, 5/6 Sunday Yeti Cooler ticket: 1 for every 10 entries Tuesday through Sunday Last Day: $300, $200, $100 PLUS Heaviest Mack under 30” BONUSES: ALL ANGLERS WHO ENTER 11 or more LAKE TROUT WIN Every day counts: Tues. - Sun. (51 total days) See www.mackdays.com for complete rules We ask that all boats from out of the Flathead area be inspected for AIS.
Fish Fry for participants & families May 13th at Blue Bay 3:00 Awards Ceremony at 4:00 Entry forms will not be mailed out.
Enter online at www.mackdays.com
or pick up entries at local sporting good stores or you can even enter when you check in your fish at the check in stations during Mack Days. We remind you to follow all fishing regulations. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have a special $13 fishing permit for the south half on Flathead Lake that is available wherever fishing permits are sold.
Sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
Hunting & Conservation News Proudly Sponsored By
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Boone and Crockett Club photo
B&C CONFIRMS WILD HORSE ISLAND RAM IS NEW WORLD RECORD
ANTLER LAMPS, CHANDELIERS, WINE HOLDERS NOW BUYING ANTLERS
By Kristen A. Schmitt Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
...The Boone and Crockett Club (B&C) confirmed that
Doug Foster Creations - Lewistown, MT. Phone 406-366-2661
https://www.facebook.com/crazyhorn1
You are invited to attend the
28th Annual Gallatin Chapter
Big Game Banquet & Celebration April 7, 2018
MSU SUB Ballroom Doors open at 4:30
M.C. Randy Newberg of “FRESH TRACKS”
Silent & Live Auctions, Raffles & Games
For Tickets: Advance Call Becky Arbuckle 285-3819 tickets only! email: tfemt@aol.com Buy your tickets now! Don’t wait .
or purchase online at http://events.rmef.org
28 | Hunting & Fishing News
the bighorn sheep ram that died of natural causes on Wild Horse Island in Montana is a new pending world record. The ram’s skull, which was discovered by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (MFWP) officials last year along with two others, was officially scored at 216-3/8” B&C. The previous world record ram, which was struck by a vehicle on an Alberta highway in 2010, scored 209-4/8”, according to a B&C press release. Now, B&C officials await a certified inspection of the new pending world record ram, which will take place before a special panel of senior B&C officials ...at the Wild Sheep Foundation’s World Headquarters. ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP OVER 200” NET SCORE ALL TIME Montana
26
Alberta
14
British Col. 4 Wyoming
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Montana’s numbers include the 216”, 209” and 205” rams from Wild Horse Island As goHUNT previously reported, MFWP found three bighorn sheep skulls on Flathead Lake’s Wild Horse Island last year. Wild Horse Island is home to roughly 100 bighorn sheep and its 2,163 acres of prairie grasses make it the perfect habitat for bighorn sheep to thrive and grow, which seems to be the case for these particular sheep. The skulls were preserved in a freezer when they were found by MFWP officials and recently completed the 60-day drying period required by B&C before the official measurement can be recorded. The other two skulls have been “officially scored, entered and accepted by B&C at 205-2/8 and 209-0/8,” according to a B&C press release. “Any animal making our minimum score is a testament to great habitat but potentially the largest sheep ever is something special,” said Justin Spring, B&C’s director of Big Game Records. “It’s significant to sportsmen, wildlife managers, conservationists and anyone who appreciates what nature is capable of...
GUIDE ILLEGALLY KILLS BIGHORN SHEEP UDWR
A well known hunting guide won’t be hunting in Utah — or 46 other states — anytime soon. In addition to losing his hunting privileges for the next 10 years, the guide and outfitter has paid more than $30,000 in fines and restitution.
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In July 2017, Larry Altimus of Pearce, Arizona was found guilty of wanton destruction of protected wildlife–trophy desert bighorn sheep, which is a 3rd degree felony in Utah. An eight-person jury in Kane County listened to three days of testimony before finding Altimus guilty of illegally obtaining a Utah resident hunting permit and then using the permit to kill a desert bighorn sheep ram on the Zion hunting unit in southwestern Utah. “Kane County Deputy Attorney Jeff Stott did an outstanding job prosecuting this case,” says Mike Fowlks, director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. “Hats off to the attorneys in Kane County. Stott and Kane County Attorney Rob Van Dyke did an amazing job.” Acquiring a permit through fraud Every time a hunter applies for a Utah big game hunting permit, but doesn’t draw one, he or she receives a bonus point. Every point a hunter obtains increases the odds the hunter will draw a permit in the future. By 2013, Altimus had earned 21 desert bighorn sheep bonus points in Utah. Even with a high number of points, the chance he’d draw a non-resident bighorn sheep permit were still slim. “But,” Fowlks says, “if he claimed residency in Utah, he knew he had a good chance of drawing a permit reserved for Utah residents.” In August 2013, Altimus rented a house in Kanab, Utah. In March 2014, he used his Kanab address to apply for one of 10 desert bighorn sheep permits available to Utah residents that year. In May 2014, he drew the permit. In June 2014, he moved back to Arizona. In October 2014, Altimus came back to Utah where he killed a huge desert bighorn ram using his fraudulently obtained permit. Severe penalties Fowlks says Utah is one of 47 states that are part of the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact. “If you lose your hunting privileges in one of the states,” he says, “you automatically lose your privileges in all of them. Altimus won’t be hunting in any of the 47 states for a long, long time.” In addition to losing his hunting privileges for the next 10 years, Altimus paid $30,000 in restitution and a $750 fine for killing the ram. And Utah DWR investigators seized the head and horns of the illegally taken ram...
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Our banquet has over 25 games with many of them for firearms! We have games and auctions to satisfy the young and old. Please bring the whole family.
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For Tickets, Sponsor Or Banquet Information please call Colette Critelli at 406-498-1722 or email: ColetteCritelli@yahoo.com If you would like to donate items for use at our banquet as an auction or raffle item please call Sonya at 406-565-1985 Hunting & Fishing News | 29
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Photo: Montana Grant
LOSING YOUR HEAD SHED HUNTING By Montana Grant
D
www.montanagrantfishing.com
eer, elk, and antlered critters lose their heads every spring! I am not talking about a mindset but rather their actual headgear known as antlers. Antler is an amazing and fast-growing head bone that quickly regrows every year. They are rooted from a pedicle on the skull of deer. The growth of antlers is mainly found on males but can also be found on some females of the antlered species. Caribou, reindeer, and other critters sport male and female headgear. Bulls, Bucks, and Stags generally find antlers more exclusive to males. The purpose of antlers is survival, mating, and status in the herd.
30 | Hunting & Fishing News
Antler growth is stimulated by hormones and daytime length. Male hormones and diurnal cycles begin and end antler growth. Antlers begin growing each spring and increase in size during the abundance of summer. Antlers can grow inches a day during this high time. As the days begin to get shorter, the growth ends. Blood flow to this area seizes and the antler covering membrane, known as velvet, falls off. Only a boney head of antlers will remain. These antlers will help the males mate, breed, and fight through the fall. At the end of winter, the cycle will end. Shed season is now. Last years headgear will simply fall off the critters head. Finding these sheds is a rite of spring. You do not have to kill a deer to retrieve their antlers. Uses of these natural resources abound. Native peoples used antlers for tools, weapons, and decoration. Asian cultures consume the powdered antler as aphrodisiacs. Antlers adorn our homes and gardens. They symbolize nature and our beautiful outdoors. Hunters celebrate and memorialize their hunts with antlered critters. Shed hunters retrieve these creations and sell them to craft businesses, pharmacies, or just to place in their gardens and homes. Elk antlers can weigh several pounds and a matched set has even more value. It is no wonder that this heavy headgear falls off. Finding sheds begins with finding places where antlered deer spend their winters. This will be where there is food, shelter, sun, and water. Deer often herd up in these protected wintering areas. Some of these places are on public land while many are on private. Make sure you have permission before entering. Some areas are not open to shed hunting until certain dates. Know the laws, limits, and regulations. Simply contact your state Natural Resource agency with any question. I tend to find more left side antlers than right. Don’t ask me why. Rarely will you find both antlers from the same deer. Many antlers are unique and special. Shed hunt along fence lines and near hay piles. Bedding areas also are good places to look. These areas are usually facing the sunny slopes and fields. Dogs can be trained to find sheds using scent and sight. They also find sheds to be wonderful chew toys Crop the sheds of any sharp tines and edges before giving them to your pet. Finding a shed never gets old. You will never find enough antlers in your life just like we never seem to catch enough fish. These healthy addictions are a perfect excuse to venture outdoors each spring, especially after a long, lazy, winter. We leave our winter caves to find beautiful antlers waiting for us. Take a few found antlers and hide them in the area you plan to search. Teach shed hunters what to look for. I have found sheds sticking in hay bales, hanging in trees, and laying in the wide open. Binoculars are useful spotting aids once you know what you are looking for. I like to shed hunt on sunny days when the bright antlers seem to shine. Sometimes good hunting is found after a rainstorm when wet antlers seem to reflect more light. Hunting is a wonderful sport. Finding a limit of sheds, arrowheads, agates, gems, or whatever you desire is simply great fun. It requires exercise, being observant, and motivation. We all hunt for something during our lives. It does not have to be with a gun, bow, or weapon. Hunting antlers is just another outdoor season we can celebrate. Just remember that we only have so many seasons in our lives. Head outdoors for your antler fun! Montana Grant For more Montana Grant, visit his website at www.montanagrantfishing.com.
HOW AND WHY DEER
JUMP THE STRING By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.mikehanback.com
Mike: Wondering if you could settle a friendly argument. A buddy and I were discussing deer jumping the string. I say it is all noise related and they instinctively react; he says it could also be visual—they see the arrow coming. Wondering your thoughts? Also, do you ever see a bow being fast enough that you don’t have to worry about them jumping the string or is that impossible? Thanks and keep up the great work! Jake in WI You win, it’s an instinctive reaction. I heard a guy say one time, “It’s like when somebody sets off a firecracker, you jump.” Good way of illustrating it. I’ve heard people say that some deer might see the arrow and move, but I don’t buy it.
©Bruce Macqueen | Dreamstime.com
Jumping the string is actually a misnomer. It should be called “duck and roll.” A doe or buck hears your bow go off, drops its chest down and whirls to run in one motion. Can’t see it with the eye, but watch a slo-mo video and it’s amazing! Some (most) whitetails drop at the bow sound, others don’t. The unpredictability has to do with the distance to deer, quietness of bow, foliage that does/does not muffle sound, etc. You never know, so hold the correct sight pin on bottom third of a buck’s vitals. Deer drops, you pierce mid-lungs; deer does not drop, you lance heart/low lungs. Either way, you kill deer. I think deer duck and roll more in the East and South than in the Midwest or West, though they do it everywhere, and it’s unpredictable. I understand the speed of sound is 1,126 fps while a fast compound shoots an arrow at 320-plus fps. So I am reasonably sure there will never be a bow that propels an arrow that at least some deer will not jump (or rather duck :)
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bighorn sheep south of Malta and transport the animals more than 500 miles to help improve a herd near Plains. With wind chill temperatures hovering around negative 45 degrees in mid February, FWP staff worked with a helicopter crew from Quicksilver Air Inc. to capture 20 bighorn sheep – 18 ewes and 2 yearling rams – in Hunting District 622 south of Malta. HD 622 is home to a healthy and abundant bighorn sheep herd. As a core part of FWP’s mission to monitor and maintain healthy wildlife populations, biologists occasionally transplant bighorn sheep from areas where there are healthy herds, such as HD 622 and Wild Horse Island State Park, which recently produced the largest ram on record. Animals are safely captured and studied for general health conditions before being transported to areas where populations have declined. The bighorn sheep population in Hunting District 122 southeast of Plains has shrunk dramatically in recent years from roughly 100 sheep to barely 20-25 animals. “That population saw a decline in numbers about three years ago and we did some work to see if it was a disease-related issue. The sheep that we did test came back clean, so we saw a great opportunity to go in and augment the population and try to build it back up to the objective of about 100-125 sheep,” said FWP Region 1 Wildlife Biologist Bruce Sterling, who participated in the recent capture. “It was a very successful project and fun to do.” During the recent capture, FWP staff collected general health through nasal and tonsil swabs, blood collection, fecal samples, and weighing the individual animals. An ear punch was also taken from each sheep for genetic work and ear tags were attached to identify individual sheep. Before being transported the long distance, the animals were given an antibiotic, dewormer and vitamin injections. FWP staff from Region 6 that helped on the ground included Scott Thompson, Drew Henry, Heather Harris, Kenny Plourde, Ben Morin, Andy Matakis, Todd Tryan, John Huberty, and Brett Dorak. FWP veterinarian staff on hand included Jennifer Ramsey and Keri Carson. Sterling, based in Thompson Falls, participated from Region 1 and relocated the sheep to HD 122. Visit FWP Region 6 and Region 1 Facebook pages to view a video of the recent bighorn sheep capture. https://www.facebook.com/MontanaFWP.R6/
32 | Hunting & Fishing News
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Top Early Spring Montana Bear Hunts By H&F News Pro Staff
S pring is here, finally!! and after a long, cold winter, it’s time to get outdoors, climb a few mountain ranges and get after an old, cagey Montana bear. Below are a few of our recommended areas for spring bear hunting in Montana. Noxon/Trout Creek/Plains Focus your hunts on closed logging roads in any direction for a spot and stalk spring bear hunt. Hunt open, sun-drenched canyons off of any timber stands with creek drainages.
Troy/Libby The Cabinet Mountain Range as well as the Yaak River drainages will hold plenty of black bears just coming out this spring. Focus on newly developed grassy slopes as the bears will be feeding on grasses to help with their digestive system when they first come out.
Seeley-Swan Region One of the greatest densities of black bears can be found around the Seeley Lake and Swan Valley region, and north to the Kalispell area. Depending on the spring green-up, (which will be late this year) with all of the snowpack. You can find black bears in all of these areas at lower elevations. St. Regis/Superior The high mountain ranges of Western Montana will start to create it’s own magic as the warmer days bring life back to creeks and river drainages here. Although elk and deer numbers have taken a dramatic hit in recent years from predators like black bears, wolves and mountain lions, you can find excellent bear habitat in this region. Follow and hunt the snow line up as these black bear will follow the green-up down these mountain drainages. Meadows with lush green grasses are good places to set up and glass in the evening. Beaverhead - Deer Lodge National Forest The bear hunting in Southwest Montana will again be good this season. Spectacular country awaits and you can hunt a few select HD’s here through the middle of June. Other favorite Montana bear hunting areas include the Madison Range, Big Snowy Mountains, Crazy Mountains, and the Snowcrest and Gravelly Ranges. Depending on the spring warm-up, you’ll probably find the bear hunting better as we get into late April, and mid-May. However, good things can happen quickly (if things warm up fast), so be ready for the April 15th opener!
4 TIPS FOR SPRING BEAR IN MONTANA: Tip: Hunt right to the end of legal shooting time. The biggest bears often roam right at the edge of darkness. Tip: Set-up a bear camp, hunt for as many days as you can to increase your success rate. Tip: Most of your successful bear hunts will center around field edges, in big timber slashes or along secluded logging roads.
© Michael Chatt | Dreamstime.com
Tip: Regardless of the area you plan to hunt, the key is finding a place that offers an early season natural food source for the bears.
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A STORY 16 YEARS IN THE MAKING
BEFORE FINALLY DRAWING THE COVETED TAG
First glimpse of the buck through his spotter. Photo courtesy Jake Fife
By Jake Fife Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
It all started in late June when the unwavering excitement came over so many hunters across the state—myself included—as we
anxiously awaited the draw results. I sat there with my information typed in, waiting to press the login button in hopes to finally see that “selected.” I held my breath like I do every year, expecting to see “not selected,” but after 16 years of applying and never drawing a deer tag, I finally saw it, SELECTED! I knew I had my work cut out for me as I had very little experience in the unit but, as a school teacher, I knew if I ever drew the tag I would have a lot of time to scout in the summer in hopes of making up for that. PRESEASON SCOUTING I made it out for my first day of scouting on July 21 and spent the better part of the next five days scouring over different areas in search of a mature buck. Yet, over the course of the next five days, it began to sink in that this wasn’t going to be an easy hunt. I really wasn’t seeing the number of animals I had hoped and it was 100+ degrees out every day by lunchtime. After a week or so of only seeing a few scattered bucks here and there, I decided it was time for a new game plan. Not only to keep checking other areas but essentially I wanted to start gridding the whole unit. I figured that eventually, I’d have to run into some big deer somewhere, right? It wasn’t until my ninth day of scouting that I had finally found an area where I was seeing consistent numbers of deer, but not “the one.” About this time I was thinking, there’s got to be big bucks in this area. Where are they? I encountered a beautiful tall 4 point that was probably a 170” deer. That got me extremely excited as it was the first “shooter” I’d seen. I thought, “Well that’s a buck I would be proud to take,” but it was getting later in the morning and now I was eager to keep following these big deep draws and glassing into them in hopes to see some more deer before it got too hot out. Within the next 10 minutes, I had traveled maybe another 500 yards and ran into a bachelor group of six bucks. “Whoa, that’s a nice buck, there’s another nice buck, and another and then a couple smaller ones…” I was really starting to feel good about finally seeing some nice bucks! Then, out of nowhere, a different deer stood up and immediately caught my attention. I thought, “Whoa! That’s a really big buck,” but it wasn’t until I pulled up my binoculars for a good steady look that my jaw instantly dropped. Oh my god, there he was! The biggest, most majestic, beautiful deer I had ever laid eyes on in perfect velvet at 150 yards looking right at me. All I could see was a massive body, massive frame, and points sticking out everywhere! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I instantly called my best friend and hunting partner, Trevor Dallman, and told him I just found the buck I want to shoot. I tried to explain to him what this deer looked like but just couldn’t find the words. Giant….he was a giant. Over the course of the next two weeks, I can’t even count how many hours or how much time I spent driving out to this area in hopes of seeing this deer again and possibly start trying to figure out his pattern. My hunt started in exactly two weeks. In the next 10 or so trips I had made out there (not to mention countless hours’ worth of gas money), I was able to narrow in on this buck’s home but wasn’t able to figure out his pattern. He was a wanderer; he rarely would get water from the same place or even be working the same trails. Often, he was with a couple other nice bucks, constantly watching one another’s backs. I finally concluded that my best option would probably be to spot and stalk him after he had bedded down in the morning after he was done feeding. I glassed and glassed and glassed—so much so that I thought some days my eyes were going to bulge out of my head, but I just couldn’t stop looking at this buck! I tried to keep tabs on him every day leading up to the first day of the hunt, rushing home after work to grab my gear and head out to the hills and coming home in the dark. It made for some long tiring days, but I knew it would all be worth it if I somehow was able to get it done on this deer. I was infatuated; obsessed. I would lay in bed at night thinking about hundreds of different scenarios that could happen, losing countless hours of sleep at night thinking about this buck and waking up the next morning for work extremely tired, but looked forward to going back out in search of him again that evening. OPENING DAY Fast forward to opening morning. I was exhausted as soon as my alarm went off because I literally don’t think I was able to get even five minutes of sleep the entire night. Restless, the scenarios played over and over in my head as I couldn’t stop thinking about hopefully being able to harvest this buck. As the sun started to rise on the first day of the hunt, I began to see a few deer popping up and about 15 minutes later, there he was. I watched him feed for a couple hours before finally watching him bed up in a draw by himself! “This is too perfect,” I thought. For once, he was by himself, but then again, so was I—without a spotter. I left the truck for my first official stalk on this deer and he was in a prime location. As I approached closer and closer to the top of the brushy draw he was bedded in it began to sink in. I just might pull this off on the first stalk on opening day! At this point, I figured that I had to be within 100 yards of the deer, but he was bedded in some thick stuff and I couldn’t see. Even so, I had pinpointed the bush that he was laying under or so I thought. I ranged the group of sage at 70 yards. “Alright, this is good,” I thought. “I have the wind at my face and need to cover another 20 or so yards.” I was going to stand him up at 50 yards. I took that first step to close that last 20 yards and out of nowhere, he stood up behind a different sage at 30 yards! We locked eyes. I tilted my head down as subtle as I could and got my release on the string. I pulled back to full draw and as soon as I got to full draw he took off, gone, not stopping and not looking back. (continued on page 40)
36 | Hunting & Fishing News
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5 COMMON MISTAKES EVERY BOWHUNTER MAKES Photos and article by Josh Kirchner Originally published at
www.goHUNT.com
how me a bowhunter that says they have never made a mistake and I will show S you a liar. From top to bottom, bowhunting is filled with opportunities for us to fall short of our goals. Whether we get anxious and push too quickly on a stalk
or fail to pay attention to the wind; sometimes we just plain mess up. That’s OK, though, because with every mess up comes a lesson, and with every lesson comes an opportunity for us to get better. The ball is entirely in our court; whether we decide to pay attention to that is up to us. This is a game of inches many times and if things aren’t properly lined up, tag soup might be waiting for you back at camp. I like soup, but prefer venison stew.
1. SLOW YOUR ROLL
Before I ever even shot a bow, my dad was teaching me how to stalk and still hunt through the mountains. I would beg him to take me out while on camping trips and, most of the time, he did. My training as a bowhunter began before I even realized it. He taught me how to move slow, where to step, and how to step in order to sneak up on deer. He got us so close at times that I actually feared the deer running into us. After these nature walks, I remember how sore my leg muscles were from moving as slowly and controlled as possible. Going through those motions as a kid not only gave me some very fond memories, but taught me patience. Most folks I see move way too fast, whether stalking or still hunting. This is only natural for us because that is the pace of the civilized world we live in. We are used to convenience and things happening quickly for us. Something that needs to click with us as bowhunters is that a deer—or any animal for that matter—doesn’t have anywhere to be. They don’t have to be at their mom’s house at 3 p.m. to pick up their child. They have all the time in the world. The principle can be applied to the forest in general. Everything moves slower out there and it is up to us to move with it, not ahead of it. A great way to make yourself slow down is to remove your boots on stalks. I don’t do this all of the time, but when I do, slowing down is the only option. I’ll keep an extra thick pair of wool socks in my pack for this very purpose; they help cushion my steps a bit when I throw them on over the socks I am already wearing.
2. WIND
Ah, yes! The dreaded wind! This can both be your best friend as well as your worst enemy. You can do everything right on a stalk or setup, but if the wind is bad, all is lost. For that reason, it is super important that you pay attention to it. Even though I say that, I can recall many times where I failed to pay attention. A theory I have is as you grow more desperate, your likeliness of considering the wind might tend to shrink in order to try and make something happen. I’ve had quite a few instances where I have three-quarters of a stalk under my belt and then the wind decides to shift. I tell myself, “I’ve already made it this far. I just need to move up to that bush and I will get a shot.” You can probably guess what happened after that. I’ll put it to you this way; my quiver was still full. While it might not be what you want to hear or do, backing out and either changing your stalking path or waiting for a better opportunity might be in your best interest. No, you won’t get the shot you were hoping for at that moment, but you are putting the odds in your favor of getting another opportunity later.
3. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
This is a big one and one that I think many hunters overlook. It is really easy to pick up your bow and fling a few arrows in your backyard at 10 to 20 yards. For some reason, though, a lot of folks don’t do it. They think they have the 20 yard mastered and there is no reason to keep proving this to themselves. I was like that, too, at a time. I’d pick my bow up a month before the season and start shooting. I missed a lot because of this on actual hunts. The key here isn’t the distance you are shooting. It’s building muscle memory. If you have never actually been at full draw on a live animal, you might find this hard to believe, but it is a completely different experience than doing so in your yard. Your adrenaline is through the roof and you suddenly forget how to do things. Building muscle memory for this exact moment is critical so you don’t have to think as much about a shot. Even if you are only shooting one arrow a day for practice, you are helping yourself. Don’t get complacent with your shooting at 20 yards. You will start to develop bad habits and once bad habits are developed, it is very hard to realize they are even there. Treat that measly 20 yards exactly as you would 60 and execute a great shot. You will be happy you did when your hunt rolls around.
4. TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
As bowhunters, we have the privilege and added challenge of getting close to our quarry in order to have shot opportunities. Nothing makes my heart race like the feeling of an unwary animal at spitting distance. These are moments that I cherish and tell tales about on brisk nights around a crackling fire. The closer we get, the more the intensity grows, as does our love for those moments. (continued on page 44)
38 | Hunting & Fishing News
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SurroundView™ 270° Blind is the Blind Without A Blind Spot™. It’s constructed with exclusive one-way see-through walls that let you see all of your surroundings without being seen. Now you can spot all the movement you miss with traditional blinds, yet remain just as concealed. The SurroundView 270° comes with three one-way see through walls and one rear blackout wall, loaded with Double Bull features like: shoot-through ports •7 •3 max view openings •Dimensions: 55 in x 55 in x 70 in •Weight: 21 lbs. w/bag •TRUTH camo specifically designed to hide ground blinds in any terrain
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A STORY 16 YEARS IN THE MAKING ... (continued from page 36)
I sat down as quickly as possible to watch and see where he might go only to watch him disappear two ridges over. I couldn’t believe what I had just done. I had blown it. I had ranged the wrong bush and had no idea I was within 30 yards of him at that time. “Wow,” I thought. “That might be the only chance I get.” For the rest of the day, I looked and looked for him until nightfall with no sight of him at all. My stomach churned over and over all day; I was sick to my stomach. I couldn’t eat or even drink anything as I replayed my screw up over and over in my head. As I drove home that night I was having a little bit of a pity party for Photo courtesy Jake Fife myself until it dawned on me that it was only day one and I had a lot of time. This wasn’t the time to feel sorry for myself or give up. I was determined. I would find this deer again. And I did. THE FOLLOWING TEN DAYS For the next eight days, I played cat and mouse with this buck; often times, getting within 100 to 120 yards of him with no play. I often ended up sitting in a bush for hours, roasting in the sun only to see him get up and feed over a nob and out of sight. Some days I would glass for hours before he stood up and showed himself; other days I would find him in 10 minutes. Most of the time he was with three other bucks and I had no play. They would bed up out in the open with no play or be strategically bedded to where there was no way to get in close enough. I decided I wanted to play this one the right way; it would have been easy to just go put a stalk on him every time I saw him, but I knew I needed to be smart and patient and wait for the perfect moment, especially after already bumping him pretty hard that first day. I prayed to god I would just get one more chance to find him by himself again. I wouldn’t screw it up again. I couldn’t screw it up. September 10, day 10 of the hunt, I got to my usual glassing spot and spotted something sticking out of the brush that just didn’t look right. As I looked closer, I could see it was him with a bright blood orange colored rack from freshly rubbed velvet towering out from behind the sagebrush. He had rubbed most of his velvet off throughout the night and it was as fresh as it gets. I watched him feed, then rake his horns on and off every five minutes for the next two and a half hours. It was amazing how he darkened his horns up in such a short amount of time. I then realized this just may be the perfect time to get him since he was by himself! As I went to leave the truck for my stalk, I spotted a doe and a fawn feeding right where I needed to walk in the bottom of the draw. Not good. I waited for another 10 to 15 minutes and luckily, they fed up and to my side of the draw above the buck about 20 yards. I knew I had to slip below the does first. If I could make it past them I would be able to get close enough to the sagebrush that I had marked to shoot from. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH Trevor and I discussed the game plan as I had perfect wind coming up the mountain and I needed to stay right at the bottom of that draw. It was time! I made my way down the mountain, staying out of sight, and noticed I had a steady 5 to 7 mph wind coming up the draw I was working down. Perfect. Once I figured I was about 150 yards from the buck I took my shoes off and continued inching my way through the bottom of this brushy draw, ignoring the cheatgrass and stickers burying themselves in my feet; I kept going. I crawled on my hands and knees just low enough to slip by the does. I could literally see their ears as I belly crawled below them, moving about an inch a minute. After 10 agonizing minutes, I had made it. I ended up passing them into a deeper pocket of the draw and I was able to stand and take a breath to try and calm my nerves. About that same time I glance over and noticed the bush I had marked to shoot from; I was only 15 yards from it! Now, the adrenaline kicked right back in and I could feel my heart pounding and beating my ears. As I took my first step toward that bush all of the sudden a jackrabbit exploded out of a bush right next to my foot and took off down the draw, running right by the buck! I stood still praying that the deer wasn’t going to blow out. Luckily, he was still there, but had his head up, alert. I waited another minute or two for him to relax. As I snuck up to the bush just uphill out of the draw I could see his antler tips, but couldn’t get a range on him because there was too much brush in the way. Secondly, which I’ll admit, I was shaking like a leaf. I decided this wasn’t going to work. I saw a little sagebrush on the opposite side of the draw and was able to range it at 43 yards. I figured the deer was right at 40. OK, here we go. “This is it, I told myself. Don’t screw this up!” I pulled back my bow while crouched behind the bush and then stood up and took a half step out from behind it. Immediately, the buck whipped his head right towards me. We locked eyes, but I was still pretty hidden by the bush. We had what had to have been a 10-second stare down. All I could see was his head and rack with my 40-yard pin right between the eyes. There was no way that I was taking that shot. I was starting to get shaky and wasn’t in the best posture or balance for a shot. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting for the buck to stand, my bowstring tried to jump on me! Instantly, in that moment, I thought, “This isn’t going to work.” I picked up my left foot from behind the bush to get a firmer stance, stood up tall and planted myself rock steady at full draw, knowing he might dart out of his bed and I’d have no shot. I stayed locked in on my 40-yard pin and he stood up and stomped his foot down. As soon as he did that I let it fly with a perfect broadside, slight quartering away shot. I watched my arrow fly true, hitting perfectly right behind his shoulder and disappearing! I smoked him! Perfect shot! I was pretty sure it was a perfect lethal shot but realized it wasn’t all said and done as I had hoped. The deer took off like a rocket, showing no signs of being hurt whatsoever. I called Trevor. I told him that I smoked him and I thought it was for sure a lethal hit, but if anything it might have been a bit low. “Better a bit low than high,” I thought. (continued on page 46)
40 | Hunting & Fishing News
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TRAVELING FOR MONTANA TURKEYS
(continued from page 9)
First, get away from roads and hunt turkeys that have moved a mile or more into roadless parcels of land. Turkeys feel pressure just like deer or elk. They’ll quickly transition to remote areas as snowmelt progresses or move to adjacent private grounds. I’m constantly amazed at how high turkeys migrate early in the spring to hang out on high slopes and feed on pine nuts, and other nutrition they can scratch up. Your scouting may take you on a 1,000-foot ascent or across a mile of prairie, but it’s worth the sweat to separate yourself from hunting pressure.
Second, scout every possible piece of public land available. That means you should look at massive forest parcels, such as the Custer, Flathead and Kootenai, among others, plus BLM and state properties. Large public parcels attract lots of attention. “Bigger is better” equals more hunting ground and possibly more turkeys hiding within. That’s true, but those big parcels could be congested and overhunted since others may have that same idea. That’s why it is important to look at small parcels whether you hunt east or west. The thing to remember about turkeys is that you can call them off of nearby land. Unlike other species that stay put on a piece of ground, the spring mating season means turkeys will cross property boundaries if the breeding urge is strong enough. A turkey gobbling on private land may walk over to your public parcel to give you a shot opportunity. With the tremendous pressure turkeys feel today it only takes a few weeks of spring before most have heard the latest sounds by you and your buddies. That’s why it is important to think outside of that box if the trending sound isn’t igniting any turkey fires. Calling less, staying longer, using new sounds such as gobbling, fighting and contentment should also be added to your sound arsenal. Don’t be afraid to change sounds in the middle of a setup either. If yelping isn’t attracting a nearby tom consider adding a fight to make it sound like males are fighting for breeding rights. Finally, be a forward thinker and ambush ready. You need to set up where the turkeys want to be when you’re hunting. Scouting will help you discover these locations. Try to discover where turkeys are feeding, roosting, loafing and even getting water if it’s a dry spring. In arid areas of eastern Montana it is not uncommon at all for turkeys to travel to a spring for a daily drink after the snow melts. Montana offers ample opportunities for spring turkey hunting. Whether you hunt western, central or eastern areas, you’re bound to discover a gobbling experience that you won’t soon forget.
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42 | Hunting & Fishing News
4 MISTAKES HUNTERS MAKE
WHEN USING TURKEY DECOYS CJ Davis Montana Decoy Co. www.montanadecoy.com
T
urkey decoys work. There’s no doubt about that. But success is not as easy as setting up a decoy, making a few calls and pulling the trigger because gobblers can be downright finicky. From choosing what decoys, poses and placements to use, the best hunters take great care in getting their turkey decoy setup just right.
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Using the Wrong Decoys -
The strutting tom decoy that worked so well on opening weekend is now scaring birds away. Inferior gobblers have been whipped a few too many times and don’t want to scrap with a dominant tom again. It’s important to change the characters in your decoy setup by paying close attention to how the turkeys are acting as the season progresses.
Solution: Use a jake decoy instead of a tom to tone down the dominant display.
The closer to breeding season a turkey gets, the less tolerant he becomes of his competition. Using a tom may spook subordinate birds that have been roughed up already. However, they will see a jake decoy as a chance to redeem themselves.
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Decoys Are Placed Too Far Away -
It’s not uncommon for a tom “hang up.” You’ve seen it - they strut, spit, drum, gobble and carry on just out of shotgun range, waiting for the hen to come join. If your decoy is placed 40 yards away, then a gobbler may not come within 80.
Solution: Place your decoys 15-20 yards from your location. If a gobbler hangs
up at 40, you still have a chance. If this problem persists with the same birds on multiple occasions, stake your decoy behind you where it’s visible to an approaching tom. Take a buddy who can sit back near the decoy and call to draw the bird closer to you.
One mistake hunters make when using turkey decoys is placing them too far away.
Photo courtesy Montana Decoy
He Can See You -
For some reason, many hunters like to place their decoy directly in front of them, which is the sight line for most approaching gobblers. Sure, he’ll be focused on the decoy, but a turkey’s keen eyesight will allow it to pick up any movement in the vicinity. He may even pick out your silhouette.
Solution: Offset the position of the decoy to your shooting side. Right-handers
place it 30-45 degrees off your left knee and vice versa for the southpaws. Also, keep in mind that no matter what direction a longbeard approaches from, he will almost always try to position himself head-on with a male decoy. Use this to your advantage.
Your Setup is Too Crowded -
There are times when three or four hen decoys in various poses paired with a tom or jake is a fail-safe option. However, if you bunch them together too closely, it can impair your ability to take a clean shot. If a tom approaches the setup directly, you’re now having to shoot around some unnecessary obstacles.
Solution: Spread your decoys out. Even though most of the time a longbeard will
try to run the male decoy off first, make sure you have a clear shot in front of the hens as well. And give the gobbler room to strut and do his thing.
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Hunting & Fishing News | 43
Wild Turkey Tagliatelle Recipe a 12 Gauge Girl, Lindsey Bartosh www.huntingandcooking.com
Ingredients: 1 fully-cleaned, skin-off wild turkey breast 4 tbsp unsalted butter 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 small onion, diced 2 small zucchini, julienne-style 2 cloves garlic, crushed 3 sprigs fresh marjoram, minced 1lb tagliatelle noodles Shaved parmesan cheese Salt and Pepper, to taste Instructions: For the turkey breast - Preheat the broiler to high. On a large baking sheet, lined with foil...place the turkey breast. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Broil the turkey breast for 25 minutes. Set aside to cool briefly. For the Turkey Tagliatelle - In a large pan over medium high heat, melt the butter with a tablespoon of the olive oil. Once the butter is melted, add the diced onions and cook until they are soft and slightly translucent, about five minutes. Add two crushed garlic cloves. For the zucchini, cut into julienne strips or use a spiral noodle cutter. Place the prepared zucchini into the butter and onions. Coat with the butter mixture. Add the marjoram and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cool for two to three minutes. While the zucchini are cooking, dice the roasted turkey breast into large, bite-size pieces. Add turkey to zucchini and cook for eight to ten minutes. While turkey is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Season with a pinch of salt. Cook tagliatelle noodles according to instructions on the box. Add cooked noodles to turkey and zucchini. Serve the turkey tagliatelle with shaved parmesan cheese...
5 COMMON MISTAKES EVERY BOWHUNTER MAKES (continued from page 38)
There is such thing as too close though. I know that sounds counterintuitive, but it’s the truth. As we cut the distance, we are also cutting our room for error in terms of movement and noise. In order to shoot our bows, we have to move and, when we shoot our bows, there is a noise. There is no way of getting around that. By staying back a bit—say around the 30 to 40-yard mark if you can—we are increasing our room for error and the likeliness of shooting at an unaware animal versus a possibly on edge one. An unaware animal is more likely to give you more time to aim and shoot as well. I would way rather shoot at an animal that has no idea I am there than one that does. Then there is the intensity that comes with the close quarters that we talked about. As I expressed, I love this intensity, but it comes at a price and that price is keeping a level head, which brings me to my next topic.
5. KEEP A LEVEL HEAD
This is way easier said than done and something that drives me actually. I never want my heart to stop pounding or the excitement of bowhunting to go away, but in order to make good shots and decisions, we need to try and maintain a level head while in the woods. I think this all comes back to slowing down. Things can get frantic in a hurry, but I think that is where a lot of mistakes are made. Sometimes, we just need to pause and take in a situation. In these awesome moments, a lot of us simply aren’t thinking straight and I am no doubt one of them. That makes me think of a recent bear hunt I was on this past August. I had a beautiful black bear at 18 yards, straight below me working a bluff. When it came time to draw my bow and go through my shot sequence, it was as if my memory was wiped clean. I completely forgot to level my bubble before aiming at the steep angle and straight missed this bear twice! I think back on that and ask myself, “What in the world were you thinking?” I didn’t keep a level head for fear of the unaware bear walking out of my life and, as a result, didn’t keep a level bubble and missed left on both shots. In the end, that was an amazing experience and one that I no doubt learned from. The shadow walkers win again, as they should.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
By choosing to hunt with a bow, we are choosing to stack the odds against us and be challenged. Because of that, there is never a time when I am not trying to learn on my hunts. Something my father has always told me is, “Don’t ever think you have it all sewn up.” That rings in my head often during bow season and humbles me alongside the critters I chase. It reminds me that there is always room for improvement—no matter the activity. So I say, keep your eyes and ears open. You never know when that next “ah ha” moment is going to present itself or the hidden doe that you failed to spot is going to blow your whole operation. Time in the field is our greatest teacher; let’s strive to be great students. Eventually, you will get that A+ you’ve been working towards.
44 | Hunting & Fishing News
A STORY 16 YEARS IN THE MAKING ...(continued from page 40)
For the next half hour, I searched all over in the draw for my arrow and blood. I didn’t see anything. Now I was really starting to get in my own head and second guessing what I knew I had seen. I never found the arrow, but I did spot the tiniest little specks of blood towards the top of the draw; now I was getting worried. Trevor asked if I was sure that I hit him because he was running so hard but then said that he seemed to slow down and look hurt right before he lost sight of the deer going into this sagebrush over a little knoll. I was still second guessing because my spotter hadn’t seen the deer go down and a bit paranoid as I thought of the worst possible things that could have happened like I missed his vitals or something. I knew what I saw though; it looked good. I told Trevor I was going to wait 30 more minutes to make it a full hour since I shot. Then, at 12:30 p.m. (I shot at 11:30 a.m.) I had him lead me down to where he last saw him. After the longest hour of my hunting career had finally passed, I decided it was time to go find this buck. I followed an almost non-existent blood trail for about 250 yards. I was getting close now and tiptoed my way in, hoping the deer would be dead and I wouldn’t bump him into the next county. I got to 20 yards from the sagebrush pocket and knew if he was alive he should have got up or I should have seen him. I took a few more steps and I couldn’t believe my eyes. There he was—even bigger than I had ever dreamed of him being. Laying there under a sage was the buck of my dreams. I looked back up the mountain to Trevor and raised my arms. I had done it! I had finally harvested the buck I had been dreaming of and spent so much time with. After all the video, pictures, and time spent behind the spotting scope glassing this deer he just kept growing on me. I was in shock. I was overjoyed and I felt so many emotions I didn’t even know what to say or think. He was a giant—an absolute giant of a buck and I was so thankful I had the opportunity to harvest this deer, let alone even see him and be able to hunt him. Trevor made his way down to the deer and I gave him a giant hug and we just stood there in astonishment looking at the deer. We couldn’t stop smiling and laughing and re-telling our perspective of the hunt. After taking what seemed like a hundred pictures, it was time to get to work as I am very particular about making sure to take care of the meat quickly and properly. We were able to get the buck packed to the truck within the next hour and a half and it was all done. This hunt will be forever etched in my memory as I got to share it with my hunting partner. We have been fortunate enough to share a lot of success over the years and I look forward to hopefully much more in the future, but I think this one will always stick out. A true Washington State public land giant. I am so very humbled and thankful I was even given the opportunity to hunt and harvest this deer. This was the hunt of a lifetime; the buck of a lifetime. *SIDENOTE* The buck was scored by Todd Peyser of Peyser Taxidermy the day it was harvested on September 10, 2017. It gross scored at 234 7/8”. Three inches of deductions put it at 231 7/8” green score net. It had 45 ½” of mass. After the 60 day drying period, the buck has an official net score of 229” which makes this the new Washington archery state record nontypical!
46 | Hunting & Fishing News
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