Montana Hunting & Fishing News - March 2016 by Western Hunting & Fishing News

HUNTING & FISHING Montana

News

March 2016

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4 - Hunting & Fishing News

Tips for Montana’s Very Own Blue Ribbon Trout Water – Rock Creek By Drew Baker

Spring (March-April)

The March Brown Drake hatch will be one you will not want to miss out on this spring. Though short in duration (ranging around 1 to 2 hours), can make for an incredible afternoon of fishing if your timing is right. (Try to be on the water between 1 and 3 p.m.) Once the hatch tapers off, try dead drifting a nymph down on the bottom using some weights. Stripping or dead drifting a streamer through deep holes works as well. Flies to consider- Size 12-16 burgundy bodied Parachute, Sparkle Dun, big Hare’s Ear Nymph, Copper John, Pheasant Tail Nymph, peacock bodied stimulator, Green Drake, Purple Haze.

Summer (May-August)

Mid-May to early June marks the start of the river’s famous Salmon Fly hatch. Try fishing adult insect patterns during emergence, fishing nymphs ahead of the hatch, and fishing nymphs and drowned salmon ﬂies behind the hatch. Terrestrial patterns also work very well from June until the end of the summer. When fishing nymphs, try casting upstream and walking the nymph along the bottom towards the bank. After the chaos of the Salmon Fly hatch wears off around July, Caddis patterns work well in the mornings and evenings and PMD patterns work well in the afternoons. Use extreme caution in the early summer months when wading and ﬂoating due to high run off that time of year. Flies to consider- Bullethead Salmon Fly, Cat Puke, Bug Meister, Madam Max, Golden Stone Fly Nymph Imitations such as a Bitch Creek or Montana Stone, cream or yellow Parachute Adams, light and dark Caddis variants, ants, beetles, moths, grasshoppers (more towards late summer).

Fall (September-November)

During the fall months, Rock Creek becomes infested with aggressive spawning Brown Trout. To get these aggressive browns to the net, try stripping or dead drifting big, colorful, streamers on the bottom along undercut banks and other obstructions and through deep holes. Dead drifting a big nymph along the bottom can also draw a strike from a big brown. Flies to consider- Big streamers, Goofus bugs (spruce bud moth pattern), orange and yellow Serendipity Nymphs.

Winter (December-February)

Try fishing the winter months in the afternoon with the cooler temps. Any number of nymph setups will work, but a double nymph rig with a larger stoneﬂy pattern on top of a prince nymph or a small copper john have proven to be very productive. Try to target the seams of the water. Don’t be afraid to throw big streamers either (yellow or white in color seem to work well). Fish are lethargic with the cooler water temps so presentation is key to enticing a trout to eat. Though most stick to the nymph and streamer game, I caught rumor from a P-burg local that a Griffith Gnat does awesome in the winter months.

Rock Creek (especially lower) gets a lot of pressure, so make sure you make your presentations as PERFECT as possible. Don’t be afraid to throw BIG streamers. Big fish are generally found on the bottom, so get your streamers and nymphs down there to them. As a general rule, fishing with smaller bugs will catch more fish, but throwing bigger bugs will catch bigger fish. Don’t forget to stop into the Rock Creek Mercantile to get the daily fishing forecast and pick up some bugs! Have fun!

March 2016

Hunting Sharpens Hunting:

EVERY HUNT IS THE HUNT OF A LIFETIME

Incorporate OTC Hunts In 2016 By Stephen Spurlock

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T he off season is all about improvement. It is a time for reﬂecting on the previous season, setting goals for the year to come, and improving

skills that will better serve you next fall. The off season is a great time to get back into shape and to finely hone your shooting skills. It’s also a good time to expand your research for the next hunting season and eventually start scouting. You may have some lofty goals for 2016 (I know that I do) and as you start to plan your application strategy for 2016, I suggest taking some time to review the over-the-counter (OTC) opportunity hunts that are available. There is a guy at the gym I go to that usually wears a shirt with large block lettering that says, “iron sharpens iron.” Try to disregard the testosterone-filled imagery there and focus, instead, on the lesson: if you want to get better at something you have to do it. A lot. I think the same principle applies to hunting. If you want to be a more successful hunter, the best practice is hunting. Yet, in today’s world of limited entry draws, preference points, and lottery systems, the reality is that great tags in trophy units are hard to come by and if your first elk is on a limited entry unit that took 15 years to draw… it is safe to say that you are most likely going to struggle on the hunt due to lack of experience. But there are some hunt options that you can incorporate into your 2016 season that will get you afield and ready for when those rare trophy tags come along.

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TOP FIVE REASONS TO CONSIDER AN OTC HUNT

1. Tag availability

Drawing a premium tag each fall is not a reality. No matter how strong your application strategy, or how many bonus points you have there are going to be years when you won’t get your hands on a great tag. During these years, keep fresh by challenging yourself on an OTC hunt will help you make the most of the premium tags when they do, eventually, come along.

2. Annual hunts create continued success

Not all of the OTC units in the West are without trophy potential. Many of the OTC opportunities out there can lead to opportunities at trophy animals. By doing your research and investing the time, trophy potential is there! Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing a lot of research lately on INSIDER by filtering out OTC hunts and using the Trophy Potential slider on Filtering 2.0 to narrow down the units. From there I can then start to research more on those select units that fit my specific criteria.

3. Nothing like doing the real thing

Many of us spend countless hours preparing for hunting season, but the reality is that there are skills that we can only develop by hunting. Glassing techniques, stalking prowess and accurate game shot placement are skills that only time afield can hone.

4. Testing your gear

There is nothing more aggravating than arriving in your hunting area and not having the right equipment. Model your OTC hunts after the premium entry hunts you are after and use your time afield to learn your gear inside and out.

Time afield with my dad in 2013 provided memories that will last a lifetime.

MUST TRY OTC HUNTS

5. The joy of the hunt

Unlike premium units, OTC units provide ample opportunities to hunt with friends and family. Many of these hunts are very affordable and, with a little planning, a group hunt is no problem. There is nothing better than spending quality time afield with friends and family.

Arizona deer

A lot has been written about the OTC deer opportunities in Arizona and the state offers OTC opportunities for both mule deer and Coues deer. With an OTC Arizona deer tag, you have the opportunity to hunt some units in the August/September season as well as the December/January season. www.gohunt.com/insider MTHUNTFISH

(continued on page 15) March 2016

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Find Next Season’s Buck Now By Brian Grossman

N othing is more depressing to a die-hard deer hunter than watching the sun set on the last day of deer season. Regardless of how good

or bad of a season it was, you always wish for one more opportunity to sit in the stand. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and once you’ve accepted the reality of the season’s close, it can be real easy to settle into “rest mode” and wait for turkey season. The truth is, though, there is no better time than now to start preparing for the next deer season.

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The first step in finding next season’s buck is simple and doesn’t even require leaving the comfort of your home. All you need is a pen, paper, maps of your hunting areas, and a little quiet time to reﬂect on the previous deer season. I know it may sound a bit goofy, but with all the happenings of the recent deer season still fresh on your mind, this is the perfect time to sit down and think about the deer activity that you witnessed, and to consider what went right and what went wrong. Think about the answers to some of the following questions, and write them down or make notes on your map for future reference: •Did I see the number and quality of deer that I was hoping for this past season? If not, is there something that I could have or should have done differently?

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•Did I pinpoint the key bedding and feeding areas, and did the deer move between the two as expected? If not, what was different about the deer movement?

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•How did deer sightings and movement change as the season progressed? Did I take the necessary actions needed to stay on the deer?

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•Did I see any bucks that will be potential shooters in the upcoming season and what do I know about their habits and movement?

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huntingfishingnews@yahoo.com www.huntingfishingnews.net The entire contents is © 2016, 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 the printed 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 12 Issue 12 cover photo: Drew Baker

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A great way to strategize for next season is to sit down with a good map and aerial photo of your hunting area and to make detailed notes on them about deer activity that you have observed, deer sign that you have located, and any potential feeding and bedding areas that you know about. continued on page 44

BOWHUNTING SETUP: HUNT A DITCH By Mike Hanback

www.mikehanback.com

O ne mid-October morning in Montana, I froze as an 8-pointer trotted toward me through the woods. He was moving fast, trying to get back to his bed along the Milk River before the sun got too high. Something ﬂashed behind him—a 10-pointer pushing 150 was bringing up the rear!

I was hunting on the ground, and the wind was right. Those woods were ﬂat as a pool table and pretty open, but I wasn’t too worried. I let the bucks come close and step into the ditch in front of me. When they disappeared, I drew my bow and stepped out from behind my hiding tree. The 8-pointer popped out on my side, and I ran an arrow through his lungs at 16 steps. He never knew what hit him. Why didn’t I wait for the 10-point giant? You take the first good buck you can get when bowhunting on the ground, man!

Since that day, a good-sized ditch, old creek bed, or dry irrigation canal that runs through a block of timber has become one of my favorite bow setups. Many other times I have watched bucks get down in those trenches and maneuver through the woods. You might get a shot by hunting on either end of the runway, where it enters or runs out the woods. If you walk and scout the entire length of a ditch or creek drainage, you will find at least 2 points where trails come together and funnel across it, and those are killer spots for a set. I like the crossings better than the ends on days when the wind is right. Hang a tree stand or hunt on the ground if the situation seems right. March 2016

MARCH SCOUTING FOR

BLACK BEARS

By H & F News Pro Staff

s we approach the 2016 black bear hunting season here in Montana, you have to ask yourself one question, “How badly do I want to notch my tag this season?” More so, probably than any other big game animal, a black bear is likely one of the hardest tags to fill. They are hard to find without being able to use bait or hunt with hounds here in Montana. So what can you do to improve your odds? Scout before the season starts. Here’s why: - The mild weather we’ve experienced this winter will allow hunters to get to open areas which are normally very hard to get to due to snow. - Black bears should be out earlier than normal searching for food as we head into April. Therefore, leaving you fresh scat, which will allow you to locate areas that are holding bear.

PRE-SEASON SCOUTING TACTICS:

Come Enjoy Our Local Secret!

Scouting should precede your bear hunt. Scouting is how you will find an area that has bear present, and will determine the areas you intend to hunt during the season. If you start your season on opening day trying to locate a bear and bear sign, your odds of tagging out will decrease significantly as you try to locate the “right” bear to shoot. Concentrate your scouting efforts on areas that have an abundance of natural foods like grass and clover. This is the time of year a bear will strongly act to the pangs of hunger. Bear feeding areas are more likely to be close to streams and ponds. Bear frequent water sources surrounded by dense forest cover. Target these areas on paths or logging roads that surround the area. Take notes of each spot that you are scouting for future reference. This will help you narrow down the areas you will hunt come opening day.

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Glass, glass, and glass. Cover as much area as possible during your pre-season scouting trip. Set up high off of a logging road, landing or hillside and scan for anything that may look like a “bear area” or territory. Trees or stumps that have been recently clawed at or tore up will be holding a bear. If you find scat piles in the road, stop to glass if it’s open country. Dress warm, pack a thermos. Early season scouting in Montana will be normally cool, windy and either a bit of snow or rain in the air. Dress for the elements so you can stay out longer. Driving around in a vehicle usually does not cut it when you’re looking to find a bruin. (continued page 32)

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MAKE YOUR DREAM HUNT A REALITY By Mark Kayser

lan now for your dream hunt later. That statement sounds simple and to some it may not have any merit because you are happy hunting deer in your Montana backyard. But you only live once and if you haven’t started applying for choice hunts in premium units or mapping out a grand adventure you better start now. Begin by daydreaming and putting your fantasy hunts on a bucket list. Do you want to hunt Alaska/Yukon moose in the Northwest Territories? Is Africa on your mind? Do you want to shoot a desert bighorn? If any of these or others sparks a fire then stop dreaming and begin planning for your dream hunt. Make a decision. Now make a commitment. First, consider if your dream hunt requires bonus or preference points. Many do so you need to begin acquiring those points now. If you have a child interested in hunting start acquiring points for them as well. I use Cabela’s (www.cabelas.com) Trophy Guide and Application Service (TAGS) to help me manage my dream hunts and I’m on my way to some very cool hunts before anyone prepares a eulogy about me. BUDGET Unless you live off of a trust fund you’ll have to set aside enough funds each year to pay off your dream-hunt addiction. Don’t kid yourself; the trophy hunt of a lifetime will cost you unless you have enough luck to consistently win the Powerball lottery. I didn’t so I’m still saving money for my next dream hunt. A good way to start saving is to set up an account that is strictly for hunting. Your dream hunt may be years away, but putting a few hundred dollars away each year is a start. And if you feel guilty it might be wise to look into some extra work or side jobs that won’t rob the family of income from your normal job. 12 - Hunting & Fishing News

Some dream hunts will be DIY while many will require the cost of an outfitter. Africa trips can run nearly $10,000 with travel and trophy shipping. Alaska Dall’s sheep or moose cost even more. Get an idea of what the hunt will cost and then set your funding goals to match. You may even want to consider consulting with an investment specialist to have your money make money while it is sitting for your dream to begin. RESEARCH You can’t shoot a dream trophy unless you hunt where the trophies live. Do your research while you’re waiting for funds to grow and points to accumulate. The best source to pinpoint trophy-producing, North American areas is Boone and Crockett club records. They offer an interactive service on their website to accentuate your search. You can search by species, year, state, county, province and even by the name of the hunter. You’ll need to back up this information with local information, outfitter reviews and game density trends from year to year. Stay on it. Trophy areas change constantly and your favorite choice may suddenly go sour due to natural conditions. It’s also wise to follow online forums to see what animals are being posted and what current hunters are experiencing. Modern technology and the sharing nature of hunters equal hunting updates like never before. It still amazes me how much hunting information hunters are willing to share even when they know you might be invading their secret spot. GET THE BEST EQUIPMENT If you’ve made up your mind to hunt for the trophy of a lifetime, you better not hit the fields with your grandpa’s model 94 Winchester or your uncle’s 1982 compound bow. You’ll need to research and purchase the best equipment available to hunt during the season. This means purchasing accurate firearms (www.bergarausa.com), quality optics (www.nikonsportoptics.com), sizzling ammunition (www.hornady.com), modern hunting clothes (www.cabelas.com), high-rated bows (www.mathewsinc.com) and other essential gear to propel your crusade forward. Once you have your arsenal ready get out and practice. That means knowing your weapon intimately. Your shooting regimen should be year-round and involve target practice that encompasses all possible hunting scenarios. Shoot at various distances from various positions and discover your shooting limitations. Once you know your lethal range, don’t push the envelope because it could cost you a wounded trophy. Getting the best equipment also includes your physical conditioning. Most dream hunts require strenuous ascents, long hikes and packing out large loads if you find success. It’s no secret that the majority of you aren’t in top shape. According to the Centers for Disease Control 68 percent of Americans are obese or overweight. There’s no time like the present to have a physician review your health and get you started on an exercise program that will put you on track to dream-hunt success. BACKUP HUNT READY Lastly, have some backup hunts waiting in the wings. Your dream may be to shoot a Cape buffalo, but there’s no reason to pass on an African plain’s game hunt if the price is right. Some booking agents offer low prices on canceled hunts and there’s always the chance you’ll draw that sheep tag in Montana, or across the border in Wyoming. Being prepared for your dream hunt will keep you ready if another great hunt shows up as a Powerball surprise.

March 2016 13

14 - Hunting & Fishing News

Hunting Sharpens Hunting: Incorporate OTC Hunts In 2016 (continued from page 7)

KODIAK

HUNT & FISH IN THE LAND OF GIANTS

MIKE CARLSON’S LARSEN BAY LODGE

(AS SEEN ON THE HISTORY CHANNEL SERIES, “THE HUNT”, OUTDOOR CHANNEL, ESPN AND THE FOOD NETWORK

HUNTING

A happy client with a giant OTC archery Arizona mule deer taken with Big Chino Guide Service - a goHUNT Business member There are a wide variety of areas to hunt on these tags and healthy deer populations. Many of you purchase a Arizona hunting license each year in order to build points toward a coveted Arizona trophy unit tag. With this in mind, the only additional cost (if you purchase a license annually) is minimal. More information on these hunts can be found here http://www.gohunt.com/read/INSIDER/get-in-the-game-arizonas-endless-bowhunting-opportunities

Idaho whitetails, mule deer and elk Whitetails

The panhandle of Idaho is well known for its whitetail population. Historically, these panhandle units produce some great bucks! Costs for these hunts are around $460, including the tag and the license. For more information, refer to this article http://www.gohunt.com/read/INSIDER/ the-complete-guide-to-unlock-idahos-over-the-counter-whitetail-hunts

Mule deer

Idaho is full of OTC mule deer opportunities. A quick look at the units that offer OTC tags in Filtering 2.0 reveals that most of the state is open to OTC hunting for archery and riﬂe. Historically, Idaho is a producer of great mule deer and, with a lot of research and a little luck, there are OTC opportunities in Idaho that can produce quality bucks. These units range in terrain difficulty, hunting technique and population densities so make sure that you are prepared. OTC deer tags in Idaho run around $460 for nonresidents.

Elk

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Larsen Bay Lodge - PO Box 92 - Larsen Bay AK 907-847-2238 800-748-2238 www.larsenbaylodge.com Email: larsenbaylodge@aol.com population objectives. There is some truly remote and wild country in Idaho and the state is definitely worth a look if you find yourself without an elk tag after the draws. An OTC elk tag in Idaho runs around $575 for nonresidents. Explore the early archery, late archery, early muzzleloader, late muzzleloader, early riﬂe and late riﬂe opportunities in depth on Filtering 2.0. For more information, you can refer to this article http://www.gohunt.com/read/INSIDER/how-to-hunt-idaho-every-year-and-why

Colorado elk

Colorado is home to the largest elk herd in the West. With hundreds of OTC elk options, Colorado provides a plethora of good hunts for the hunter willing to spend time researching and learning backcountry. The units ranging from the north central part of the state down to the southern edge provide some great OTC hunting. You can check out the OTC units for archery, 2nd riﬂe, and 3rd riﬂe on Filtering 2.0. The cost of these tags is around $630 for nonresidents. If you aren’t lucky enough to draw an elk tag this year, Colorado is worth a look. For more information, you can refer to this article http://www.gohunt.com/ read/INSIDER/everything-you-need-to-know-about-colorados-otc-hunts

Montana

The last several years Montana has leftover deer and elk tags that are available after the draw results. Each year less and less people are applying for tags, so these are becoming OTC type hunts. These tags are then available on a first come first serve basis. The great thing about Montana… general season deer and elk tags are valid in almost every Hunting District in the state. The cost of a nonresident deer tag is $597 and $851 for elk.

Conclusions Idaho provides a number of great elk hunting opportunities for the OTC hunter, with opportunities ranging from the northern end of the panhandle down to southeast corner of the state. Despite the presence of wolves and bears, most of the units in Idaho still meet their state mandated

OTC hunts can be tough. There is no doubt about that. Fighting the crowds and finding game isn’t always easy on these hunts, but in attempting them you will grow as a hunter. The off season is the time to start planning OTC adventures. With a little research and a lot of hard work, an OTC hunt next fall may help fill your schedule and maybe even your wall! March 2016 15

2016 SPRING MACK DAYS LAKE TROUT FISHING EVENT On FLATHEAD LAKE

Fish The Entire Lake

March 18th

through

THE BIG RIVER IS CALLING

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

May 15th

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Competitive Mack Days -lottery, prizes, tagged fish and bonuses Pick your 18/27 best days Friday-Sunday to count for top ten angler prizes Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: bonus days and tagged fish only (51 days total)

Up to $225,000 in CASH & PRIZES 1-$10,000, 3-$5,000, 5-$1,000 & Over 6,000--$100 to $500 Tagged Lake Trout

UP TO $30,000 Lottery Prizes ($1,000-$200)-all it takes is one fish/ticket to win Plus-Top ten angler prizes $700-$200-18/27 best days Fri-Sun. count-last day is separate Captains $250-(4 prizes), Smallest lake trout $250-(2 prizes), Largest lake trout $500 (Fri - Sun) Top lady anglers $300,$200, $100, $100, by total fish entered (Fri-Sun) Youth anglers- (17-13) 1st- $200, 2nd-$150, 3rd-$75, 4-5th-$50 (12 & under) 1st-$100, 2nd-$75, 3rd-$50 will also be entered in the lottery drawing. Weekend Prizes-$300 & $200 (Fri-Sun) drawn and announced weekly; also merchandise prize drawings (NEW) Golden Angler Award (70 & older)-$200 & $100 (Fri-Sun) determined by total fish entered 3 days of single/team-heaviest 4-fish 4/1-Friday, 4/23-Saturday, & 5/8-Sunday - Prizes listed on the website Last Day Only: $300, $200, $100, & $100 & Heaviest Mack under 30”-$200 & $100

BONUSES: ALL ANGLERS WHO ENTER 11 OR MORE LAKE TROUT WIN. The higher your total is at the end of the event-the higher your bonus- (every day Tues-Sun (51) counts) Fish Fry for participants & families-May 15th at Blue Bay 3:00pm Awards Ceremony at 4:00pm

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. It is easier if you enter before the event begins. Phone 406-883-2888 Ex. 7294 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.

A s I begin this article, it is in great anticipation. I am leaving for the big river tomorrow and I can’t concentrate past lifting my coffee mug to my lips. “AND I FOLLOWED YOU, BIG RIVER, WHEN YOU CALLED” ~Johnny Cash

It all started when I was just a young little squirt on my first trip to the Columbia River with my father (Kit), my grandpa (Poppy) and my great uncle (Herb). Although I was too young to fully embrace the fishing side of things, it still drove a vicious passion deep into my veins. I promise you the eleven pound walleye my dad caught that trip was amazing… but not half as amazing as sneaking over and feeding the horses next to our motel a bag of brown sugar with Poppy. I can still see those horses running around drunk on a five pound bag of brown sugar and my grandpa giggling like a little kid. You see, this trip can be a very tough fish and also very intimidating especially for youngsters or new walleye anglers. With that being said, if you can pack a cooler full of patience and some good snacks, you will find out why some of my ashes will be spread in this bodacious river one day. Loosing track of the great river for a couple years; I was in college and decided it would be a fun spring break trip for dad and I. We traveled to the town of Umatilla, Oregon and stayed at the awesome marina campground in our wall tent. From our home town of Helena, MT it is roughly a 500 mile drive. They have a wonderful shower house and electricity hookups for the boat or camper. It was our first trip we coined the catchy slogan “Jiggin’ the Dream” while fishing the stretch we call boulder alley. We had just caught a walleye over fifteen pounds and it was nearing dusk on a magical Oregon evening. There was another boat on the water that had “Livin’ the Dream” on their boat and I looked over at dad and said, “We are “Jiggin’ the Dream”. It stuck like a glass minnow in the roof of a big walleyes mouth!! And we have returned to the Columbia together every year since. The time to go is the months of February and March into early April. We are targeting the PRE-SPAWN females this time of year. This is a trip you take to catch a fish of a lifetime…not rack up the numbers. We will take what we get, but we generally expect 1-5 bites a day this time of year. The water surface temp is in the low to mid-forties. Once you hit the upper forties the fish are in the spawn and it’s all over. The big pre-spawn hens don’t want to work hard for a meal so

FISHING SLOW IS KEY THIS TIME OF YEAR!!

We lift our jig no more than 10’’ off the bottom and set it back down. And even though I will catch a tremendous amount of ﬂack for this, we are going to share our biggest secret to catching the monster Columbia River walleye. GLASS MINNOWS!! LOL..WHAT IS

EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IS DRIFTING THE SAME SPEED AS THE CURRENT. USE YOUR ELECTRIC BOW MOUNT OR KICKER MOTOR TO FIGHT THE CURRENT TO KEEP YOUR JIG PERPINDICTULUR TO THE BOTTOM. We have kept this

Sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and sanctioned by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks 16 - Hunting & Fishing News

a secret for a long time, but I sincerely want YOU to experience what I have on this river! It is also important to keep your eyes glued to the sonar and work the break lines and cups. This is a tremendous amount of work, but will pay big slimy gold bars in dividends!

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The “Walleye Goddess” aka Carly Rush with her 1/2 ounce “Juicy Goby” Glass Minnow equipped with a 3’’ Gulp Minnow that landed her a HUGE 16.5 lb Walleye this spring! Tackle and Equipment: -6-6’3 medium/ex-fast action jigging rods -Size 2500 Shimano spinning reels or comparable (we use the Ci4 Stradic) -8 lb stren maganthin (mono) -8 lb ﬂorocarbon (we use about an 18’’ leader connected to a ball bearing swivel) -Ball Bearing Swivels -1/2 ounce Glass Minnows -Berkley GULP -Crawlers -CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a Google Earth map of the three drifts that we concentrate on. We usually drive to the Irrigon ramp which is about six miles from the Umatilla campground. Trust me…those miles are more friendly in a vehicle than in a boat with huge waves and current! From the Irrigon ramp you are minutes from all three drifts. We will fish these three hot spots for an entire 3 or 4 day trip! We concentrate on anywhere from 15-35 feet of water. And just to get your blood pumping a bit more…we have caught walleye here to seventeen pounds. One night while jigging a 1/2 ounce “Yellow Perch” Glass Minnow with a crawler I hooked a walleye so big I couldn’t move it off the bottom. When I finally started to gain on it…the jig popped out. It was the heaviest fish I have ever felt. So what are you waiting for??? Go catch her and cheers to “Jiggin’ the Dream” on the big river. AND PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE ON THE PRE-SPAWN FEMALES!!

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Trevor Johnson is the co-founder of Kit’s Tackle “Jiggin’ the Dream” along with his father, Kit. “I am a true made in Montana fishing guide, an insane outdoor enthusiast, a wild man in the woods and on the water and they even say I’m a quarter mountain goat. I am a happy husband,a proud daddy to a beautiful little girl and two sweet dogs. When I’m not shoveling coal into the jig engine, you can find me on the water or leaving boot tracks in the wilds of Montana. March 2016 17

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“Springin’ into Sauger”

By Eddie White

T he warmer longer days should now get the sauger on their way to spawn. Prespawn sauger are very important to the Yellowstone, as there are no stocking efforts made on the river system in Montana. The surface temperatures will slowly rise, into the 40’s, and get these fish moving to their prespawn locations. Sauger prefer gravelly or rocky areas to spawn, in shallows or rifﬂes. Generally speaking the spawn starts at 50 degrees.

This is the time to wipe off the jiggin’ poles that collected dust all winter long. For river jigging I prefer a heavier jig. Half ounce is typically the heaviest I will go, with three eighths being my average. Gates Custom Jigs (www.facebook.com/GatesCustomJigs) are most definitely my choice, as every part of the jig can be ordered custom to fit my needs. I will tip my jig with a 3 to 5 inch minnow. Running the hook through the bottom to top lip coming out at just above their nostrils. Sauger tend to be more tolerable of turbid or even stained water. When picking a place to fish, I generally pick the river apart based on depth and water temperature. Typical depth this time of the year, with water temps just below or rising above 40 degrees, is 8 to 12 feet. Anchoring in a current seam, with slack water on one side or the other. A dead stick rod to the side of the slack water, is a must. Drop the dead stick jig to the bottom and reel about 6 inches up (a half ounce jig comes in handy here). Then pitch your other jig into the current seam and slowly work it up. I tend to pop it a few times, then let it sit and wait for a pick up. Jigging all the way to the boat can be vital as a fish will tend to follow, and just under the boat can be the tipping point. However, more often than not, my dead stick rod will out fish my jigging. The hook set. It can take a beginner some time to grasp on to their generally light bite. Training yourself to feel the fish pick up and load the rod before attempting to set the hook can be, and still is, frustrating! Once hooked, do not try and muscle them in, as it seems easier for them to come unbuttoned. Set the drag so that you can give about a medium pull on the line. Once to the boat, they usually tend to give their final headshake, which is the make or break of landing the fish. This time of the year, I release any sauger I can. Sure, I love the taste, they are as excellent to eat as their cousin the walleye. With a self sustained fishery it is wiser to let them spawn this time of year as their numbers can only go up. Eddie White owns and operates The Minnow Bucket in Huntley Montana, also a writer, seminar speaker and tournament angler. Contact is as follows: montanaminnowbucket@yahoo.com www.Facebook.com/TheMinnowBucket or 406-348-2440 18 - Hunting & Fishing News

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March 2016 19

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

As we move into March, it looks as though the mild winter will allow an early open water fishing season here in the north country. March marks the beginning of another long Montana fishing season, and the hungry fish that have been trapped below the ice are about to go crazy as the temperatures slowly start to rise. A feeding frenzy will begin soon, and you’ll want to make sure that you cut out some time in your schedule to take advantage of some of the best fishing of the year here in the coming weeks. High elevation lakes such as Georgetown and Seeley Lakes will continue to hold their ice caps a bit longer, but with this winter’s weather patterns, you can look for open water sooner rather than later this season. Here is a look at a few March honey holes for you to consider. BITTERROOT TROUT:

In the heart of some of the best and most famous trout fishing in the west, ﬂows the beautiful Bitterroot River, and this is the time of the year for which it is most famous. The magical Skwala Stoneﬂy hatch dazzles anglers from all around. Big brown and rainbow trout go crazy in the feeding frenzy that ensues here in March and continues into most of April. Most of these bugs will wind up in the river as they fall off of vegetation that grows along the banks of the river, and the trout love these bugs. The best time to be on the water will be in the afternoon and into the evening, as the air temperatures rise. Bugs will begin to appear in the Clark Fork drainages of Western Montana that includes Rock Creek, Bitterroot and the

CLARK CANYON RESERVOIR:

Photo courtesy Brian McGeehan Montana Angler Fly Fishing www.montanaangler.com

Clark Fork River that flows for many miles. Stonefly patterns in olive will work great for some of the best dry-fly fishing of the year on these streams.

LOWER BIGHORN RIVER: RAINBOW - BROWN TROUT Switching gears and heading to the southeast corner of the state, lies the Bighorn River, which fishes well all year. Anglers are assured of open water on good stretches of the Bighorn below Afterbay Dam. Here, anglers will chase after trophy brown and rainbow trout this time of year. There are 20-inch plus trout to be caught here. Most of the fishing is done from a drift boat, but there is also quality fishing from the shorelines. The big advantage this time of year is that there are very few anglers to compete with. Target undercut banks that the fish use to escape predators. Browns grow bigger than most rainbows in these warmer lower river stretches. The fishing is fantastic and the scenery is incredible in this part of the state.

TROUT - LING Ice-out trout that will average around 18 inches are eager to bite in this Red Rock River impoundment, located just south of Dillon. It is mostly fished for its big rainbow and brown trout that exist in the lake. Burbot (ling) can also be caught this time of the year in this system. Early season tactics that work best are bait fishing along the shorelines or baited up jigs dropped along the bottom. Lightweight spinning gear can produce some great fishing as well. A Kit’s Tackle Marabou jig will help to fill your bag here in the early part of the year. An angler with a light, fast action spinning rod and a pocket full of Kit’s jigs will be set up for a memorable day on the water. Best colors are typically a perch pattern followed by the egg-sucking leech and rainbow trout patterns. The Zonker jig is a variant of the Marabou jig that is a proven winner as well.

NOXON RESERVOIR:

BASS - PIKE You can expect exceptional fishing conditions in this fare-weather area of Montana in March. A hot pre-spawn bass bite will occur from now and into early spring for both small and largemouth bass. Fish along the lake that warms up the fastest, also target the back bays that exist here for bass and feisty northern pike that co-exist in this fine lake located in Northwest Montana near Plains. Toss out chartreuse colored spinning gear for bass tucked away beneath weeds and along the rocky bottoms. Slow down your retrieval speed a bit in early spring for more effective catch rates. Pike numbers are good here, as well as the rainbow trout and walleye that live in the reservoir.

FLATHEAD LAKE:

MACKINAW Trophy lake trout will be fished for this spring here in Montana, mainly in the Flathead area on the huge Flathead Lake and Lake Kucannusa near the Montana/Canadian border of Libby. Mature lakers will often suspend under schools of Kokanee salmon that exist in these waters, waiting to pick off the struggling fish. You’ll want to troll in an “S” pattern right through the Kokanee, so your bait emerges from the school like an injured fish. This will attract the lake trout looking for an easy meal. Covering multiple levels of the water column will also increase your odds of getting bit. Good electronics is a must on these big lakes. Plugs like Flatfish, Rapalas and Kwikfish in colors matching the local forage work best - rainbow patterns to match the rainbow trout that are stocked in the system - blue and silver to match the Kokanee they’re after - or try gold, white or blue combos to match the whitefish they feed on. Also, remember that the 2016 Spring Mack Days Lake Trout Fishing Event will start up in March and go through May on Flathead Lake. www.mackdays.com

HOLTER LAKE:

TROUT, WALLEYE, PERCH You can expect things to heat up in the “Gates” here this month for some extraordinary rainbow trout fishing. Some of the best fishing in the west is right here in this Missouri River system. Huge trout can be had with the jig/nightcrawler or Gulp bait combo dropped down to catch rainbows or walleye and perch that are so prominent in these waters. The most popular Gulp bait for vertical jigging include the Minnow or Minnow Grub in pumpkin or chartreuse colors.

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IDAHO STATE:

STEELHEAD Although the fishing on the Clearwater River in Idaho was less than stellar in February, I’m sure the fishing Gods will smile down upon us and the steelhead fishing will improve through March as the water temperatures warm up, ﬂows increase and the fish become more active. Most successful bank anglers will be drifting roe, or fishing jigs under bobbers. From the boat, it will be back trolling plugs or sand shrimp behind a Spin and Glow. Fly fishers are drifting the usual egg patterns under an indicator or swinging a leech pattern for good success. The Salmon River will begin to have good angling results on the upper reaches as the warmer weather arrives. Most steelhead spawn in March and early April, so anglers fishing the North Fork of the Clearwater River (below Dworshak) and the Main Clearwater just downstream from the North Fork will have good opportunities to catch more fish in the next few weeks. The same phenomenon will occur in the Salmon River, as steelhead continue to move up the system toward the places they were hatched or released.

HAGERMAN WMA:

TROUT Idaho Fish and Game’s Hagerman Wildlife Management Area opens for fishing March 1, and anglers are in for some big surprises. Clear Springs Foods in nearby Buhl donated hundreds of trophy-sized trout averaging about 6 pounds, and Fish and Game will stock

another 5,000 catchable trout at the WMA before the opener. “This is going to be a great year to catch big fish, the best year in the 21 years I’ve been here,” said Joe Chapman, Hagerman hatchery manager. “If you want to catch fish, this is the place to come.” Clear Springs Foods and Idaho Trout Company, two commercial trout growers in the Hagerman Valley, donated 12,000 pounds of the trout (approximately 2,000 fish based on a 6-pound average), which have been planted in the ponds on the WMA and throughout Magic Valley waters. “Wherever you fish, you’re going to have the opportunity to catch a big one,” Chapman said. “I am confident there are some 10-pound fish out there.” He also pointed out that if an angler wants to get his or her name into Fish and Game’s new catch-andrelease state records that started this year, they will have a good opportunity to land one at the WMA. Hagerman has long been a favorite destination for early season anglers thanks to its mild climate, scenic beauty and excellent fishing amenities. The WMA has about a dozen ponds and lakes along with bathrooms, picnic tables, handicap accessible dock, fish-viewing pond, and more. Opening day takes on a festive atmosphere as families spend the day fishing and relaxing. Anglers will also see better fishing access and fishing conditions at Riley Pond on the WMA. Last year, Fish and Game hired a contractor to excavate silt that had accumulated over 50 years. Excavation created a deep-water trench from the pond’s shoreline to about 30 yards out that created excellent fish habitat that’s easily accessible for shore anglers...

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SPRING INTO EARLY SEASON

PIKE

By Neal M. Cote

Chasing warming water temps can be your key to some of the best pre and post spawn ﬁshing!

pring is a great time of year, everything is starting to shake off the grip of the ice and snow of winter. Days are getting longer and thus trigger many changes in the coming weeks. For us die hard northern pike nuts, this is probably one of the best times we have to get some of the largest fish of the year. Figuring out how to locate the warmest water on any given day, on the body of water you are fishing, can mean all the difference. Starting as early as the last week of February and the first few weeks of March, water temperature starts to warm up slightly. The last few hours of each day will be the warmest and as the days lengthen, and trigger pike to start moving towards their spawning grounds. This is not the move to the spawn, but a move to staging locations next to those spots. 22 - Hunting & Fishing News

As their metabolism speeds up, so does their appetites. This is the first big feeding that these fish indulge in of the year, so catching them is pretty easy as in most locations they have seen little fishing pressure. LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.......So where do you start? You need to look for the warmer water that is close to possible spawning locations. Northern Pike like shallow weedy bays and backwaters for spawning. Water temperature that pike can start spawning in can be as low as 44 degrees. In many locations in Montana this can be as early as the last week in March to the first week in April. Great places to start your search are in the transition zones between these spawning bays and adjacent flats. Water depth from 2-6 feet is pretty universal, but don’t be afraid to try deeper. Also look at the spawning areas as well. Some of these locations will hold fish for quite a while before the spawn. I have found these spots will hold fish before the weeds grow up. Look for any type of structure element no matter how small to possibly hold a fish. Stumps, fallen trees, and rocks can all hold fish. Places to go are pretty numerous, but in the west think rivers and reservoirs. Flathead and Clark Fork Rivers drain into Noxon, the sloughs in the upper Flathead River from Kalispell to Flathead Lake, the south end of Canyon Ferry and up river to Toston Reservoir can hold some huge specimens, just ask the Fish and Game, they keep catching them in the walleye traps!!! Other spots that the ice comes off of early like Francis, Tiber, and Fresno can be good as well. ANGLE OF THE DANGLE So you have the locations down pat, now the question is what gear should I use? Well I have always told people that I will fly fish before anything else. When properly employed, flies will hands down out fish almost any other tactic besides live minnows, and there have been a couple of times where it even beat them. Big streamers that are weighted for a wide variety of water depths and retrieve speeds will get you bit for sure. There are tons of manufacturers making pike flies out there, I am partial to my Bite Me Flies, I make them as “tooth proof” as possible so you will catch many fish on one fly instead of the fly getting wrecked after just a fish or two. The biggest differences from one manufacturer to the next is its sink rate. Make sure to have some light, some medium, and some heavyweight, so you can fish various depths from shallow to deep. If you are not a fly fisher, a medium to medium heavy spinning rod with 10 to 12 pound mono will be perfect. Soft plastics teamed with different weighted jig heads will fish almost as good as the flies. Bite proof leaders are good insurance and can very from wire to high poundage fluorocarbon. I use titanium tipped leaders because their smaller diameter hides them from the fish better. Make sure to have a set of mouth spreaders and needle nose pliers for removing deep hooks. WEATHER, WIND AND TIME This is the one time of the year where the early bird does not get the worm. Water temperatures will be at their warmest from mid day to afternoon, so take your time getting to the water. Always keep in mind which bank the sun hits for the longest time, it will be a degree or two warmer and draw pike from all over. Large rocks, submerged trees, and rip rap rock banks will hold heat longer and warm up enough to get crayfish and smaller fish moving. Also look at wind direction and how it relates to those banks. The wind can push warmer surface water away from the above banks, and move it into the backs of bays or against the opposite bank. Pike are like heat seeking rockets this time of year, so as the warmer water moves, so do they. So as the days grow longer, and the ice starts to melt, get ready and get out after those slough sharks!!! NEAL COTE IS THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF BITE ME FLIES OUT OF MISSOULA MONTANA. HE HAS BEEN TYING HIS “TOOTH PROOF” FLIES SINCE 1992. FOR ORDERING INFORMATION CONTACT HIM ON FACEBOOK, OR E-MAIL HIM AT mrpikemt1@yahoo.com

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Spring Creek Trout Fishing A

By Brian McGeehan Montana Angler Fly Fishing

www.montanaangler.com

s winter begins to wind down the desire to hit our local rivers and streams hits with full force. Water temperatures are still cold and many of the larger rivers are still in their winter time patterns. One of the best options for fishing at this time of the year is to target spring creeks. Several Montana spring creeks such as DePuys, Armstrong, and Nelson spring creeks feed larger rivers such as the Yellowstone. Rainbows spawn in the spring and move into the creeks out of the larger rivers in late March and April adding to the resident fish to produce very high fish counts. In addition to the famous spring creeks near Livingston there are many smaller spring creeks in valleys across Southwest and Central Montana that will now be open in early spring with the adjustment in fishing regulations by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks over the winter. Many of the smaller private spring creeks are on private ranches and require permission from the land owners. The trout in the spring creeks have also had less pressure during the winter and are as “dumb” as spring creek trout can get. The high density of trout and warmer water temperatures of the spring creeks result in outstanding early spring fishing. A nice perk fishing this time of year is that the creeks near Livingston offer off season rates of $40 per angler. When fly fishing Montana at the end of March and into April you can readily spot large rainbows in the riffles. If you look closely you will also notice large circular patterns where the gravel is lighter in color. These features are trout nests called redds and it is important to leave fish that are on their nests in peace. Furthermore it is very important that you avoid wading in these spawning areas to avoid crushing freshly laid trout eggs that are in the gravel. The good news is that there are plenty of trout that aren’t on the redds in the deeper runs and slicks that are fair game. Fishing techniques vary in the early spring and can include nymphing, slow twitching streamers and dry fly fishing. Midge hatches in the late morning can produce decent dry fly activity depending on the wind and weather conditions. Nymphing is always productive with the pattern selection fairly straight forward compared to later in the season. You can generally get away with san juan worms, egg patterns, sow bug imitations and midge larva patterns. It might not be as glamorous as dry fly fishing but it is definitely productive. Spring creeks are known for tough fishing conditions and low catch rates. Early spring is often an exception to this. A decent angler can often hook up on 20-50 fish in a day when the stars align and conditions are just right....this is unheard of later in the season! DePuys Creek - Photo Courtesy Brian McGeehan, Montana Angler Fly Fishing 26 - Hunting & Fishing News

Holter Lake Rainbow Trout

Trout Numbers Remain High in Missouri River MFWP Missouri River trout surveys

indicate rainbow numbers remain above the long-term average and brown trout numbers are near average between Holter Dam and the town of Cascade, said a state fisheries biologist. State fisheries crews last fall estimated 4,073 rainbow trout greater than 10 inches long per mile near the town of Craig on the Missouri. Not only is that above the long-term average of 3,307 rainbows per mile, but continues a trend of above average numbers for the fifth consecutive year. The population was bigger in size and slightly lower in abundance than the past several years, said Fish, Wildlife and Parks fisheries biologist Jason Mullen, which is typical as the current population reaches its maximum size. “This year,” Mullen said, “the most abundant length group of rainbows in the Craig section was 18 inches, with 43 percent of the population being 18 inches long or longer.” Brown trout in the Craig section at 10 inches long and greater were estimated at 433 per mile. The long-term average is 572. Downstream in the Cascade section, near the town of Cascade, the estimate for rainbow trout 10 inches long and greater was 1,862 per mile. The long-term average is 1,600 per mile. While estimates include only fish 10 inches and greater, crews also handle fish less than 10 inches, and rainbow trout of this size were much more abundant in 2015 than the last several years in this section. Brown trout in the Cascade section 10 inches long and greater were estimated at 476 per mile. The long term average is 397... March 2016 27

RMEF Project Protects Montana Elk Habitat, Expands Public Access RMEF

Located in the heart of elk winter

range in Montana’s Madison Valley, the Madison-Wall Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is now approximately 10 percent larger thanks to a land transfer from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). “This is a tremendously unique project because we not only protected and conserved important elk habitat but actually improved it after removing a 3,000-square-foot home from the site,” said Blake Henning, RMEF vice president of Lands and Conservation. “This is a classic example of a trophy house in the wrong spot. It was an intrusion on elk winter range but through creativity and partnership, we removed it and left behind open habitat for elk and other wildlife in perpetuity.” In late 2014, RMEF acquired 631 acres of grassy rangeland 24 miles south of Ennis immediately adjacent to the WMA. The entire southern edge of the property borders the existing WMA while the eastern edge borders Bureau of Land Management land that runs clear to the Madison River. RMEF recently conveyed the property to FWP. “This is such an exciting addition to Wall Creek considering everything and everyone that benefit,” said Julie Cunningham, FWP area biologist. “First you have the 2,000 elk that use the WMA as crucial winter range, then the hundreds of mule deer and antelope that migrate through and – of course – the hunters who will now have access to hundreds more acres of huntable public land.” RMEF oversaw a bidding process in 2015 that led to the removal of the house from the premises. FWP will use the remaining structures for management and administration purposes. The actual home site will be reseeded and a small man-made pond will be reclaimed. In addition to preventing subdivision, the transaction improves and enhances public access to the now 7,188-acre WMA. It also expands hunting and fishing recreational opportunities, further protects the Madison River watershed, and allows for more elk tolerance by helping to prevent game damage issues. 28 - Hunting & Fishing News

Pheasants Forever Annual Report: 1.7 Million Wildlife Habitat Acres Impacted in ‘15

Hunting & Conservation News Proudly Sponsored By

Republic Services of Montana

Pheasants Forever

n 2015, Pheasants Forever, Inc., including its quail division, Quail Forever, worked with more than 35,000 individual landowners and its chapter affiliates completed more than 12,700 wildlife habitat projects, which combined to improve habitat for pheasants, quail and other wildlife on more than 1.7 million acres. Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever president and CEO, says the organization’s chapter volunteers - there are 582 Pheasants Forever and 154 Quail Forever chapters across the country – continue to spearhead habitat results. “Our chapters lead local projects, are active in conservation advocacy, and help build and support partnerships necessary to habitat successes in the 21st century.” Pheasants Forever’s accomplishments also come with as little overhead as possible, and the nonprofit continues to be recognized as an exceptional charity by Charity Navigator, the largest charity evaluator in the country. Wildlife Habitat Projects Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Farm Bill wildlife biologists – who help interested landowners enroll in voluntary conservation programs – made 35,809 landowner contacts in 2015, leading to nearly 1.4 million acres of habitat improvement for wildlife. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapter projects - nesting cover, upland & wetland restoration, food & cover plots and land acquisition projects - accounted for 320,666 acres of improved wildlife habitat in 2015. In total, the organization’s efforts improved 1.7 million acres for wildlife habitat in the United States and Canada. Land Acquisition / Permanent Wildlife Habitat Protection Because of 32 land acquisition projects in 2015, 4,615 acres of wildlife habitat have been permanently conserved by Pheasants Forever. All these properties have or will be turned over to state/federal natural resource agencies and opened to outdoor recreation, including hunting. Youth, Education & Public Awareness Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters held 1,459 youth events in the last fiscal year which attracted more than 75,000 youth participants and 22,000 adult-onset hunters, a new organizational record. Chapters hosted youth hunts, sponsored shooting teams, helped with youth pollinator projects and held family field days in their communities. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Membership Records A record-setting number of members now belong to Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever at the end of 2015. From the humble beginnings of “The Habitat Organization” in 1982, Pheasants Forever’s membership has now reached a record high of 146,965 members. Included is a new record mark for Quail Forever at 15,899 members. Quail Forever’s 10th Anniversary August 10th, 2015 marked the 10th anniversary of Quail Forever, the leader for quail conservation efforts in the United States. The nonprofit organization boasts 15,899 members and 154 chapters in 28 states – all current organizational records – support that has helped Quail Forever improve more than 600,000 acres of habitat for quail since 2005. Pheasants Forever, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Pheasants Forever’s full Annual Report will be published in the Spring 2016 issue of the Pheasants Forever Journal of Upland Conservation.

Rescue The Duck Factory Passes 100,000-Acre Milestone Ducks Unlimited

T he sight of grasslands around his ranch being converted to cropland helped one Emmons County, N.D., landowner decide to protect his native prairie with a grassland easement funded by Ducks Unlimited. “I felt, that’s the way it was. What gives me the right to break it up?” he said. Ducks Unlimited donors have made this easement and others possible as the Rescue the Duck Factory campaign passes a major milestone. DU has surpassed the 100,000-acre mark in its effort to respond to the interest of landowners wanting to permanently protect grassland and wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region.

Prairie wetland Photo by Jim Ringelman

“This milestone represents great investment from our donors and the [U.S.] Fish & Wildlife Service in protecting native prairie, and a lot of hard work by DU and our partners in the field securing these easements with landowners,” said John Childs, president of Wetlands America Trust. RDF campaign progress: -Campaign launched in September 2008 -Nearly 102,000 acres of permanent easements purchased or optioned -Easement costs total almost $29 million -$4.9 million of RDF contributions have been spent to date -Additional dollars came from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Federal Duck Stamp program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund -Recent commitments have increased the DU major donor pledge amount to $22 million DU has been partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on purchasing perpetual easements since 1997, when DU launched Grasslands for Tomorrow, an aggressive effort to protect 2 million acres of the best-of-the-best waterfowl breeding habitat in the U.S. prairies. That partnership has resulted in 890,000 acres of exceptional breeding habitat secured through easements purchased or optioned from landowners in the prairies. “Securing high quality breeding habitat in the prairies is one of the most important things DU can do to achieve our vision of skies filled with waterfowl, today, tomorrow and forever,” said Dale Hall, DU’s CEO. RDF was launched to help accelerate DU’s easement work. This campaign set an objective of responding to the 600-person backlog of landowners on the easement waiting list. Land offered up for easements amounted to 300,000 acres, and it was estimated that $40 million in private funds would be necessary to leverage a total of $120 million to purchase these easements. Interest remains very strong among landowners. “As more landowners learn about the program, we continue to get new interest in protecting more grassland acres,” said Steve Adair, director of DU’s Great Plains Regional Office. “Progress towards our grassland goals continues to be primarily driven by our rate of investment.” March 2016 29

R EGIONAL NEWS

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DNR To Begin Elk Research Project In Northwestern Minnesota A new research project on free-ranging, wild elk of northwestern Minnesota aims to improve understanding of elk movements and habitat use.

“This research project is the first of its kind in Minnesota,” said Dr. Gino D’Angelo, deer project leader with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “We know very little about elk in Minnesota. Our goal is to improve understanding of the species and ultimately develop management programs that benefit elk and their habitat, while also minimizing conﬂicts with landowners.” The study is being conducted by researchers from the DNR and Minnesota State University-Mankato and will run through June 2018. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) and approved by the state Legislature. The DNR and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are also providing funding.

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As part of the study, beginning Feb. 15 and weather permitting, the DNR will collar approximately 20 adult female elk in northwestern Minnesota, from three herds in Kittson, Roseau and Marshall counties. Elk will be temporarily restrained and fitted with a GPS collar and identifying ear tags; body measurements and other biological data will also be collected. The elk will be released at the site of capture. The GPS collars will collect locations of the elk every 4 to 6 hours during most of the study. During key biological periods, such as when calves are born, locations of the elk will be taken every hour. The locations will be uploaded to satellites, and the researchers will receive email messages with elk locations daily. “The information collected will aid researchers in tracking elk movements and determining habitat use during different seasons,” D’Angelo said. “The primary objective of the research is to develop a basic understanding of elk movements and habitat use by combining the collar data with field surveys that identify the primary types of vegetation that elk use.”

Elk are managed to maintain a free-ranging, wild population in northwestern Minnesota. Three herds totaling an estimated 130 animals roam portions of far northwestern Minnesota and comprise the state’s entire elk population, according to the DNR’s most recent population survey.

Available At Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors 30 - Hunting & Fishing News

The DNR’s draft Strategic Management Plan for Elk in Minnesota for 2016 to 2020 has a long-term vision of enhancing the size and range extent of Minnesota’s elk population and to provide increased recreational opportunities, while maintaining positive coexistence with private landowners. More information on elk management in Minnesota is available on the elk management page. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/elk/index.html

R EGIONAL NEWS

S outhwest Montana Chapter

29 TH ANNUAL BANQUET AND FUNDRAISER

Double-Dipping Deer Poacher Pleads Guilty A deer poaching case involving a distinctive vehicle, an alert citizen, and a groundswell of public interest has concluded with fines and

license suspensions for a Roosevelt, Utah man. And a Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) call started it all. In early November of 2014, a concerned citizen called the CAP hotline to report what he thought to be an illegally-taken mule deer. While fueling his vehicle at the Boise Stage Stop on Interstate 84 east of Boise, he visited with two men driving a brand new tan Ford Raptor pickup truck. A tarp-covered mule deer buck in the back of the Raptor caught his attention, and motivated him to report his observations. Just days later, Fish and Game investigators identified one of those men as Mark Richens (34) of Roosevelt, Utah. It was also determined that Richens had just purchased a duplicate deer tag, reporting to the issuing license vendor that his original unit 40 late-season buck tag had been lost. Shortly afterwards, it was determined that Richens was back in Unit 40, actively hunting trophy mule deer. Officers eventually located both Richens and his hunting partner where they proved to be less than cooperative during an interview, suggesting that officers “contact our attorneys.” On December 19 2014, some case information and photographs were released to the public via standard media as well as the Fish and Game Southwest Region and CAP Facebook pages, with an appeal for additional information that might bolster the case against Richens.

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Public reaction was both rapid and overwhelming, as the post was quickly relayed from one Facebook user to another. “We had an amazing response from the Facebook world,” Fish and Game regional investigator Kurt Stieglitz noted. “I received a message the very first evening from a caller who identified Mark Richens as the driver of the Ford Raptor and provided other case details.” Additional information funneled into Stieglitz’ office in the days that followed, allowing him to seek a criminal complaint against Richens for attempting to take a second trophy mule deer. Mark Richens was eventually charged with one count of hunting/unlawfully taking a big game animal in Owyhee County, Idaho, and one count of hunting with an invalid tag. In early October 2015, the invalid tag charge was dropped as part of a plea agreement by which Richens was ordered to pay $665 in fines and court costs. Owyhee County Magistrate Judge Dan Grober also handed down a two-year hunting license revocation which included the provision that Richens cannot be in possession of a firearm while in Idaho, nor accompany another hunter in the field in Idaho for the two-year period. A 90-day jail sentence will be imposed should Richens fail to comply with these conditions during his one-year probationary period. Fish and Game officers did the legwork, but the real heroes in this case were ordinary citizens. “We developed a solid case thanks to citizen involvement,” Stieglitz said. “It’s gratifying to know that so many Idahoans value the state’s wildlife and will move quickly to defend it.” Persons with any information about suspected poaching activity are encouraged to call the Citizens against Poaching (CAP) hotline at 1-800-632-5999, twenty-four hours a day. Callers can remain anonymous and cash rewards are often paid for information leading to the successful conclusion of a case. In addition to the CAP hotline, persons may also contact their local Fish and Game office with information regarding a suspected poaching case. March 2016 31

MARCH SCOUTING FOR BLACK BEARS (continued from page 10)

Ask for help. After you’ve determined which area you are going to be hunting, it’s always good to talk to local Montana Fish and Game biologists who know the area. They can help you to narrow down your search for a black bear. Sometimes, right to a specific road or area to start. Locals also know the scuttlebutt, so don’t be shy - stop by the local sporting goods store. Oftentimes, if you talk to the right person, they can help you, if you don’t know the area well.

Your scouting gear bag should include:

Backpack: Fill your pack with what you would normally take with you on a hunt. This will help you to get in hunting shape faster.

Sizing up a bear:

The relative size of the bears ears and the shape of the head are the best indicators of large bears. The smaller the ears appear to be and the larger the head is, will normally be your shooter bear. Bears with narrow faces and long noses are usually sub-adults. Take time to size up your bear before you take a shot.

Final analysis:

Join us April 16th for the Bitterroot Chapter Banquet

where fun and fund-raising combine for a memorable event - all in a spirit of camaraderie shared by folks who love the outdoors. 1st Interstate Event Center Ravalli County Fairgrounds - Hamilton Doors open at 4:30 pm Celebrating One Million Dollars Raised.

Hunting black bears in the spring without hounds or bait will require a lot of scouting and a familiarity in recognizing bear sign and foods. Find the abundant food production areas, and you will find the black bear. Scouting and persistence are the keys. Vortex Razor HD 10x42 binoculars A good set of binoculars is essential when scouting. www.vortexoptics.com Optics: The best set of binoculars you can afford. A spotting scope will also help after you locate a bear, to see if it is a shooter, as some bears can look bigger than they really are. Boots: Is it time to break in a new pair of boots? If so, now is the time. Get ‘em broke in before the actual hunt starts.

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32 - Hunting & Fishing News

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The rewards of scouting are numerous. It gets you out in the field, it helps to get you into hunting shape, and it will help to find you more game come hunting season. Good luck this season!

MONTANA 2016 SPRING BEAR HUNTING SEASON OPENS APRIL 15th CLOSES BETWEEN MAY 31ST AND JUNE 15TH DEPENDING ON THE BMU. AS ALWAYS CHECK CURRENT MFWP REGULATIONS. http://fwp.mt.gov/

After-Season Maintenance

Hunters Specialties www.hunterspec.com

lk season has...come to an end; we are all slowly falling into that deep depression of cabin fever. Well here are a few things to keep your mind occupied and prolong the thoughts of the past elk season. So I am somewhat of a tinker; I like gadgets and love tinkering with my hunting equipment. Also, I get labeled from most people I hunt with as that anal organization freak. Sorry, it’s who I am, but I also think it helps in my success while in the woods. We all should be familiar by now how beneficial scent elimination is. The process of washing your clothes, storing them in scent safe bags, and showering in Scent-A-Way soap should be a regular practice for any big game hunter. Below are a few tricks that help build my confidence; they might be a little off the beaten path but might help add a little success for years to come. One of the things I find myself doing this time of year is looking at all my equipment and making the necessary repairs from the hard-fought battle in the elk woods. First on my list is my pack or as my buddies refer to it, my “MAN BAG.” I wouldn’t dare venture into the woods without it. It has taken a fair amount of abuse and usually needs a good once over, so I completely empty my pack. More often than not you will find a few surprises, like maybe a month old sandwich or possibly the fun size Snickers bar that is now brown chalk and not chocolate. After my pack is completely empty, Scent-A-Way Max detergent is poured into the washing machine and in goes my pack. This way my pack is washed scent free and ready to go next fall. As I go through all these miscellaneous items in my pack, my knives usually need a little TLC. Hopefully it needs sharpening and there’s still a little blood on it from this year’s harvest. Most would just throw them in the dishwasher with that nice citrus dish soap. It kind of defeats the purpose of washing that pack in Scent-A-Way detergent, so I wash all my knives by hand in Scent-A-Way soap. Little steps like this really boost my confidence that I have thought about every little detail. Now that the pack is washed, repacked, and organized, I can place it in the Scent-Safe travel bag for winter storage. If you have done much backcountry hunting your sleeping bag probably has B.O. from many treks up the mountain and jumping in the rack after late nights. Most sleeping bags on the market that are backcountry worthy come with a pretty good price tag and most manufacturers recommend not using a washing machine to clean them. One trick I have found works well is opening your bag up on an outdoor clothes line and spraying the bag down, inside and out, with Scent-A-Way Max Continuous Spray. It seems to do the trick. I then hang up my bag in a closet to help with loft issues, as most manufacturers recommend. March 2016 33

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Photo courtesy AmmoLand

ears ago, there was a TV commercial about how “a day without orange juice, was like a day without sunshine.” Bring that philosophy into the world of smoking meats, fish, poultry, sausage, jerky, vegetables and other favorite eats, and it ought to translate to… a smoker without good wood is nothing but a low temperature oven! Good wood for all your smoking adventures is absolutely critical to the process of turning out everything that comes off your BBQ or out of your smoker. Use woods that are not designed for smoking or BBQing, and at minimum you are likely to cook otherwise well prepared foods that the dog is going to run away from. Or, you’re going to make yourself extremely sick with toxic and noxious resins, paints or chemicals. In the world of woods used for meat or fish smoking, there are literally hundreds of species throughout the globe that have been used over the last several million years. Today, there are dozens of wood types that are commercially available to the backyard BBQer, each with an often distinct flavor that compliments a variety of different meats and delicacies. Many say it is somewhat like choosing the right wine (red or white) and then selecting that perfect flavor (sweet, dry, mild, or bold). In many ways, it probably is, but without the “snootiness” of having to be a grape snob! To begin with, let’s look at what types and kinds of woods that should never be used for smoking! Many of these may be okay for the campfire or for outdoor pot/pan cooking, but these should be avoided for use when smoking: * Conifer/Evergreen wood—pine, fir, spruce, redwood, cedar, sweet gum, and cypress. They are loaded with resins that are bitter, will ruin your meats, your smoker… and can make you sick! * Wood pallets—these are often treated with chemicals or poison. * Scrap lumber/old furniture or painted/stained wood—paint with plastics or lead, stain, poly coatings, and poisonous chemicals are going to mess up your food flavors and likely make you ill. * Old woods, even smoking favorites if they are covered in mold or fungus. They are likely to impart a bad/nasty taste to your meats. * Others to avoid—Elm, Eucalyptus, Sassafras, Liquid Amber and Sycamore. And while we are on the subject of “what not to use,” let’s also dispel the old wife’s tale about wet wood versus dry wood. Dry wood is always, always going to give you better results... Adding moisture to your wood, or presoaking it does nothing but slow the smoking (burn/smoldering) process and can cause a very uneven burn of the woods in your wood pan or receptacle. If your wood is heating too quickly and simply igniting into flames, your heat source or heating element is just way too hot. Move your chips/chunks a little further away from the gas or electric element... Another word of caution is… don’t over-smoke your meats and foods. Sometimes, less is more. While you want to taste the smoke flavor and have it compliment your meats, you don’t want it so overpowering that the flavor of the meat is gone...

This guide will help explain some of the most common and commercially available wood varieties and the flavors they impart when used for smoking... Many of the commercial bags of wood chips, chunks and pellets, such as those produced by Smokehouse Products are actually a blend of wood types. Their Alder flavored wood is 100% “alder only,” but their others are actually a blend that uses a mix of alder with other wood flavors such as Hickory, Mesquite, Cherry, and Apple. Regardless of your favorite flavor or wood type, always make sure that the woods used are all-natural and contain no artificial flavorings, chemicals or preservatives! A lot of their woods are available through most of the big-box sporting goods stores, or directly from their website at www.smokehouseproducts.com. In some cases, “wood connoisseurs” will actually blend or combine several types for different tastes. If you’re starting from scratch, experimentation is a good thing. It’s also a good idea to keep a log book or journal of your smoking attempts and adventures. THE FAVORITE WOODS AND FLAVORS Hickory: This wood is the “King” of smoking woods and is the most popular of all the types. It is a hardwood that puts off a heavy, pungent and some say bacon-like smoke flavor. It’s most popular for smoking ham, bacon, pork roasts, sausages, big game steaks and jerky. Its flavor is strong, so use it sparingly until you figure out what suits your taste buds. Apple: It was originally most well-liked in the northern U.S., but has grown to be the second most popular wood smoke flavoring across America. It has a slightly sweet taste that is ideal for smoked turkey, chicken, poultry, game birds and even waterfowl. It has the strongest flavor in the fruitwood category, and is great for pork, ribs, sausage and any game bird jerky. Mesquite: Once considered little more than a “thorny and nasty Devil Tree,” this scrubby tree/shrub is now the third most popular BBQ and smoking flavor in the nation. Seven different species inhabit the American Southwest and it’s praised for its strong flavor which is characterized as being a little sweeter and milder than hickory. It’s a top choice for pork, beef, lamb, poultry, big game and jerky. Mesquite is a favorite for also making smoked almonds, pecans, and other nuts. Alder: A longtime favorite throughout the Pacific Northwest, it is a mild-flavored wood that is the “top favorite” for salmon, trout and virtually all fresh and salt water fish. Alder imparts a light, delicate smoke flavor that enhances but does not overpower the natural taste of fish. It’s also excellent for pork, chicken/turkey, game birds and waterfowl. Cherry: A favorite fruitwood that is ideal for a sweet, full-bodied flavor for beef, big game, waterfowl and jerky. It’s also a great choice for cold-smoked cheeses. It is most popular in the Northwest and Northeast United States. Oak: It’s a popular favorite with a “middle of the road” flavoring that is lighter and more delicate than hickory and great for smoking pork, beef, BBQ ribs and poultry. It’s one of the most popular woods used throughout the country in BBQ restaurants, as it seems to please a wide variety of pallets and taste buds. Ground up old whiskey and wine barrels are often considered a prized find by smoking wood aficionados! Pecan: A favorite throughout the Southeastern U.S., pecan has a strong and nutty flavor that works great with pork, turkey, and other game birds. Not as strong as hickory and a little sweeter. Citrus: Obviously most popular in the states where they grow lots of orange, grapefruit, nectarine, lemon and lime trees. This family of citrus wood has a light sweet and tangy flavor that works great on all types of fish, turkey, chicken and light-meat game birds. Sugar Maple/Birch: These woods are a medium-hard wood that add a light and subtle smoke that works well with game birds, pork and fish. Sugar maple is a favorite for salmon and trout. Because the flavor is light, it often requires more chips or chunks than with some of the stronger flavored woods. As you will soon discover, there are lots of other wood types out there and available commercially. Some are good and interesting. Others should be avoided like the plague!...Try different recipes and in small batches to begin with, until you find your favorites... What’s really great about trying all of these unusual offerings, is that when it’s time to come home to smoke, cook and BBQ, you even more greatly appreciate all the quality and consistent wood flavors in the Smokehouse chips, chunks and pellets. The hard work and blending is already done for you, and all you have to do is cut open the bag, and pour!

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Thanks to improved water conditions and other fortuitous factors, many lakes and reservoirs across Lindy Land are primed for great fishing in 2016. Ferreting out top destinations has gotten simpler in recent years, thanks to a proliferation of online sources of information. Savvy anglers on the hunt for the next hot bite can glean valuable intel from fishing guides, state fisheries department reports, forums, social media posts and other digital gold mines. This time of year, some states offer annual fishing forecasts, which provide detailed notes on fish populations in their respective waters, and often rate the best potential destinations.

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Nebraska’s 2016 Fishing Forecast, for example, provides the lowdown on fish sampling results, a guide to the best waters for catching big fish, and the prognosis for 17 species of fish. If walleyes are your pleasure, Cornhusker impoundments like Merritt Reservoir are a great bet, both for numbers of eaters and a chance at ’eyes of trophy proportions. Lewis and Clark Lake, meanwhile, is loaded with oodles of walleyes fit for the pan, while McConaughy is rated higher for top-end size than sheer numbers. While scouring the web for fishing information, keep in mind that many river-run reservoirs of the American West are ﬂush with water and fish this season. Lindy pro Brent Kemnitz reports North and South Dakota’s Lake Oahe is enjoying a resurgence in fish abundance and water levels right now, and promises to produce fine fishing for a variety of species.

“We’re in really good shape right now,” said Kemnitz. “Our forage base has bounced back, spawning habitat improved and populations of top predators like northern pike are booming.” Much the same story is playing out on Sakakawea, Fort Peck and other similar systems. There’s more good news around the region, and if you’re willing to dig a little you can find happening hotspots sure to fuel rewarding fishing adventures all season long.

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6 SIMPLE STEPS TO PROPERLY LOAD YOUR BACKPACK By Aron Snyder

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Y ou would think loading a backpack would be as simple as stuffing a bunch of gear into a bag, but this type of thinking will make for a painful hike in to your hunting area. There’s actually a method behind the madness, and getting the most comfort from your backpack has a lot to do with how and where your gear gets put inside. Most backpack hunts and hunters will require roughly the same type and amount of gear, so I will try and generalize how and what gets loaded with a step by step process.

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1 — Make sure to put your light and bulky gear at the bottom of the pack; my sleeping bag normally goes at the bottom, but you can also pack jackets or clothing to fill the void if needed. 2 — Your food and water will normally be the heaviest items in your pack, and the heavy stuff needs to be as close to the center of your pack and up against your back as possible. My water bladder goes into a sleeve that sits against my back and I stow my food tight against that sleeve. 3 — The chances of your food and water fitting perfectly in the pack are slim, so you’ll need a few bulky, yet lightweight items to go around them to keep them in place. I normally use my extra clothing, sleeping pad, game bags and things of similar size to perform this task. 4 — Stoves, water purifiers and the like should be loaded towards the top of the pack. This is to keep them from getting crushed, but also makes them a little more convenient when needed.

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5 — Keep in mind you may need some of the items in your pack during the hike in, so make sure things like toilet paper, headlamps, and snacks are located in external pockets for immediate use. 6 — After you’ve got the pack loaded, make sure and take a few hikes to confirm all of the weight is distributed equally. This is also a great time to confirm that you have everything you may need quickly in an area you feel comfortable with. Once you’ve practiced loading your pack several times you will quickly find your own exact method, but the principles of “light at the bottom and heavy against your back” will never change. Everything else can be tweaked for your own liking. Just make sure and follow the simple steps I’ve listed above and you’ll be in great shape for your next adventure. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Spending more than 150 nights in the backcountry each year, Aron Snyder is a highly-regarded expert in backpack hunting, gear, and wilderness survival.

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Up Your Turkey Hunting Ground Game By Lance Davidson

Ground blinds can be especially helpful when hunting with a buddy, videographer or kids. The author’s daughter, Emma, took this jake at 8 yards from a ground blind last season, while her dad and brother watched. Photo by author.

Today’s hub-style ground blinds are more portable, easier to set up, and contain more hunter-friendly

features than ever before. These modern, high-tech hides are invaluable tools for any hunter, but can be especially helpful to the spring turkey hunter who knows when, where and how to use them.

When

The opening days of spring turkey-hunting season provide prime opportunities for taking a gobbler. Turkeys that haven’t been hunted in months can up the odds for success during this period, but unpredictable early season weather can present difficult hunting conditions. A ground blind provides welcome protection from wind, rain and even snow during days when Mother Nature shows her worst. There’s a lot less cover in many areas during the early spring season, too, making concealment challenging. Couple this with the fact that turkeys are often less vocal at this time, and a ground blind becomes a key tool – one that provides critical concealment in the absence of natural cover and allows hunters to more easily reposition for a shot when that old, silent tom suddenly appears where he isn’t expected. Overall, the early season may be the best time to use a ground blind for turkey hunting success, but they can come in handy throughout the entire season, especially when hunting with a buddy, videographer or kids. Blinds provide ample room for extra people and gear, and excel at hiding nervous or excited movements. Where Turkey hunters new to ground blinds often have questions about how noticeable these structures are to the birds themselves. Most experienced blind hunters agree: As long as the blind doesn’t shine in the sun or flap in the breeze, a ground blind isn’t going to alarm a turkey one bit – regardless of where it is set up. A portable, hub-style ground blind can be set-up in seconds almost anywhere, regardless of cover or terrain, placing the hunter in spots he or she wouldn’t otherwise be able to hunt. For example: Turkeys often feed on waste grain during the early season in agricultural areas, and plenty of gobblers are killed each year from ground blinds placed in the middle of wide-open fields. Of course, more traditional locations like food plot edges, fly down areas and established strutting zones are also prime locations for ground blind placement, so let good scouting dictate your setup for any given hunt. How A lightweight, hub-style ground blind is simple and easy to deploy, but steps can be taken to maximize its effectiveness as a turkey-killing tool. Try to place your blind with its back wall facing the direction from which turkeys are least likely to approach. If possible, consider placing the back wall against trees, brush or another feature turkeys would naturally have to navigate around. Such a backdrop will also break up your blind’s outline when viewed from the front or sides. Completely close the back windows or curtains if your blind is so equipped in order to avoid being silhouetted by light entering from the rear. Finally, consider forgoing standard hunting camo in favor of black clothing, facemasks, hats and gloves to help you disappear into the shadows of your blind’s darkened interior. Take a few seconds to clear the area immediately beneath your blind of leaves, sticks or any other debris that might make noise once you are inside. Go ahead and add some natural vegetation to the blind’s exterior to break up its outline. Some models like Ameristep’s new Element and Crush Silencer Blinds have sewn-in brush loops for this purpose. What’s more, their proprietary NS3 (no scent, no shine, no sound) and Durashell Plus fabrics are exceptionally dull, non-reflective and won’t shine in the sun. If yours does, consider taking some time to rub it down with a bit of mud or dirt. Ensure that you’ve packed in comfortable chairs for yourself and any hunting companions. Ameristep’s new Compaclite Tellus Chairs are a great choice; rated for 300 pounds, packing down to 15”x4”x4” and weighing in at only 5 pounds. With respect to decoys, orient them so they’re facing your blind. If a tom spots your decoys from a distance, his stubborn and narcissistic ego will want your decoys to come to him. Don’t give him a reason to hang up out of range. If he believes your decoys can’t see him, he’ll close the distance to make sure his magnificent presence is known. Ground blinds aren’t just for bow hunters, hunting in bad weather or taking kids afield. Today’s high-tech, hub-style blinds are powerful and versatile pieces of gear that can help all manner of hunters find increased success… including those who take to the spring turkey woods.

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March 2016 41

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SMALLER CHINOOK RUN EXPECTED, BUT ANGLERS LIKELY TO GET SIMILAR FISHING OPPORTUNITY By Roger Phillips, Idaho Fish And Game Public Information Specialist

F ishing for spring and summer chinook will probably happen in the same places as last year if pre-season forecasts are correct,

Photo courtesy Idaho Fish and Game

but the run size is expected to be smaller than last year, and anglers could see shorter seasons and/or lower bag limits.

Idaho Fish and Game anticipates 59,000 chinook bound for Idaho hatcheries to cross Lower Granite Dam about 25 miles downstream from Lewiston. Lower Granite is the last dam fish cross before reaching Idaho, and hatchery chinook with clipped adipose fins are salmon anglers can harvest. Last year, 81,700 hatchery fish returned to Idaho. Fish and Game officials will continue to monitor salmon returns as the fish cross the dams, and the commission is scheduled to set spring fishing seasons at its March 10 meeting in Boise. While numbers are down, last year was the third-largest spring/summer return to Lower Granite since 1975 when fish counting started at the dam. When coupled with a near-record return of fall chinook (1,387 fish shy of the 2014 record), 2015’s total chinook return was the second-largest since 1975 at Lower Granite. If the 2016 forecast is correct, this year’s run will also rank among the top 10 returns for spring/summer chinook at Lower Granite. That would provide enough hatchery fish to allow fishing from Lewiston to Stanley including the Snake River and Salmon and Clearwater rivers and many of their tributaries. Fish and Game’s goal is to have as much area as feasible open for salmon angling to allow anglers to have good access to them. Last year’s season set a record for angling effort with anglers logging 325,000 hours fishing for chinook and harvesting about 20,000 fish... Salmon forecasts are educated guesses based on several factors, including the number of juvenile “jacks” that return the previous year. Jacks only spend a year in the ocean, and they are indicators of the run of chinook to follow that spend two years in the ocean. Biologists forecast the total return of wild and hatchery salmon to Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Forecasts tended to be conservative in recent years. In the last five years, forecasters underestimated the total run* four times and overestimated it once. - 2011: Forecast, 57,600; actual 90,800 - 2012: Forecast, 123,900; actual 79,500 - 2013: Forecast, 36,600; actual 42,800 - 2014: Forecast, 80,400; actual 90,200 - 2015: Forecast, 89,400; actual 116,900 (*Total spring/summer chinook that returned to Lower Granite Dam including hatchery and wild fish)

42 - Hunting & Fishing News

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Find Next Season’s Buck Now (continued from page 8)

These are just a handful of questions you can mull over, but what it all boils down to is - how did this past season work for you and what can you do in the coming season to improve your odds for success? Part of that improvement can come from spending a little time in the field post-season to get a better idea of what the deer are doing in your area, and what caliber of bucks you have to look forward to in the fall. Let’s look at a few ways to get this done and still leave you plenty of time to wet a line or chase some longbeards this spring.

INVADE THEIR SPACE

A wise deer hunter knows that a trip into a mature buck’s “sanctuary” during the season is a good way to push a buck into full nocturnal mode and kill any chances you have of putting a tag on him. That is why the winter months following deer season are the absolute best time of the year to get out there and stomp around your hunting ground, checking out all of those spots that you avoided during the season. If you bump some deer this time of year, it’s not likely to cause any long term issues, as the deer will have all spring and summer to forget about your visit. The best part about post-season scouting is that deer sign usually sticks out really well this time of year - trails are easy to spot and follow, and those rub lines and scrapes are a lot more visible with all the leaves off the trees. Since you already have a good idea of what the deer activity was like in the areas where you hunted, you should use this time to check out the areas that you didn’t get around to hunting, or may have overlooked during the season. Just take your time and cover the area thoroughly, looking for and making note of any signs of deer activity - specifically those that can be attributed to a big buck. Be sure to mark down what you find either on your map, or on a GPS for future reference.

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

Deer trails, such as this one, really stand out in the post-season, especially if you can get out when there is snow on the ground.

When scouting after deer season, Another great way to scout in the off season is with the use of trail cameras. be on the lookout for signs of buck While a lot of guys are pulling their trail cams this time of year and putting them activity – especially sign that points away until late summer, I like to leave mine out for a month or two to a mature buck, such as large rubs and scrapes. after deer season, just to see what made it through. Not only will this give you a good idea of what kind of bucks should be around come fall, but it can also clue you in to when they drop their antlers, so you can get out and enjoy some shed hunting - which we will discuss in more detail in the next section. One of the easiest ways to maximize the effectiveness of your trail camera in the post season and to insure that you see a good representation of what is in your hunting area, is to use some type of food attractant to lure the deer into camera range. What that attractant is has a lot to do with what your state laws say regarding “baiting.” If allowed, it’s hard to beat shelled corn - it’s cheap, readily available, and the deer love it. If baiting or feeding is not allowed where you hunt, then you will have to focus on trails running in and out of available food sources. Focus on natural funnel areas such as corners or pinch points that will increase the odds of the deer having to pass within sensor range of your camera. Unless you are hunting a really small property, or you have the money to invest in lots of trail cameras, then you are going to need to move your cameras around to really get a good idea of which bucks are roaming on your hunting property. From my experience, two weeks seems to be enough time to get a pretty good representation of what deer are in the area, without your camera spending too much time in one location. You can always bring the camera back to the same spot at a later time, but the idea is to cover as much of your hunting area as possible.

SHEDDING SOME LIGHT

Nothing can fire up a deer hunter about the upcoming season more than finding a set of monster sheds on one’s hunting property. Not only is this proof positive that the big boy made it through the season, but you now have a cool souvenir to remind you of that fact during the off season! Not to mention, shed hunting is just a great opportunity to break the “cabin fever,” get outdoors and get a little exercise. You can even get some of your hunting buddies together and make a friendly competition of it. Since you are most likely to find sheds in the areas where deer are spending the greatest amount of time, I tend to start my search at prominent food sources. If there are food plots or cut grain fields on your hunting property, then that is a great starting point, and the open terrain lets you cover a good deal of ground in a short time. Be sure to take along a pair of binoculars to scan those open areas and investigate anything that looks similar to a deer’s antler. From the food sources, search along the trails that lead back to the bucks’ bedding areas, paying particular attention to fence crossings and other structures that the deer may have to jump or slip under, as these are perfect places for an already loose antler to give way. Be sure to move slowly and scan your surroundings with each step you take, as even the largest shed can blend in amazingly well with the surrounding leaves and branches. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER The final step in finding next season’s buck brings you right back to where you began - in the comforts of your own home. It’s now time to take all that you’ve learned from last season, along with all the new found knowledge from your post-season scouting trips, trail camera pictures and shed hunting excursions, and to begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Laying all this information out on a map of your hunting area should begin to reveal some travel patterns, overlooked feeding or bedding areas, or better yet - that monster buck that you never knew existed. This information, combined with some smart preseason scouting, could put you in the perfect position to fill that buck tag come opening day. Brian Grossman, Communications Manager for the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). Follow Brian on Twitter at @BrianLGrossman 44 - Hunting & Fishing News

March 2016 45

46 - Hunting & Fishing News

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