Western Hunting & Fishing News FREE e-Magazine April 2022 Issue

HUNTING & F ISHING WESTERN

NEWS

APRIL 2022

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THE RESOURCES Before we get into the strategies for e-scouting, it’s worth explaining the resources we like to use when planning a western big game hunt. This is not an exhaustive list.

There are many more tools and systems available. Everyone has their favorites and we get that. Our advice is to try as many as you can and find a system that works for you.

These just happen to be some of our favorites...

When scouting for any hunt, we rely on a handful of tools, including: goHUNT Insider Filtering 2.0 OnX Hunt Maps Gaia GPS Google Earth State Agency Maps (e.g. Colorado Parks & Wildlife Hunting Atlas) These are my go-to resources for research and mapping.

Other hunters will have their own favorites. Each has its own unique strengths. And by cross-referencing multiple resources, you can form a more complete picture of any hunting unit before you set foot there. goHUNT

All photos credit Ryan McSparran

5 Steps to Maximize E-Scouting and Plan Better Hunts

By Ryan McSparran Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Company www.caribougear.com

The first place I turn when researching any hunt is the Insider Filtering 2.0 tools from our friends at goHUNT. Whether you’re deciding where to apply for a limited license or sorting through OTC options, there’s simply no faster and more effective way to filter through those options. This requires a goHUNT insider subscription.

And in my experience, it is well worth the cost.

Before the days of goHUNT, I kept my own spreadsheets and notes with draw odds, harvest statistics and other details on many hunting units. But now, goHUNT gives me all that information for all western states and every hunting unit right at my fingertips. I can say definitively that since joining goHUNT, I’ve drawn more quality tags and had more memorable hunts than I would have otherwise.

planning a western big game hunt this year, Iatfit’syou’re time to study the options. Some hunters will be looking limited license opportunities. Others might consider

over-the-counter (OTC) options. For many of us, our hunting season will include a combination of limited tags and OTC hunts.

No matter which boat you’re in, it’s time to do our homework.

Whether you’re trying to decide where to apply for limited licenses, or sorting through the OTC options, there’s a great deal of planning to be done. ...In this article, we’re going to tackle some strategies for e-scouting.

Fortunately, scouting from home has never been easier.

With resources like those from goHUNT, OnX Hunt maps and Google Earth, we can find new areas to hunt and learn a lot about those spots before ever leaving home.

Of course, nothing replaces boots on the ground experience. Inevitably, there are things you’ll learn when you arrive in an area that you wouldn’t have known otherwise. However, a good e-scouting plan can get you most of the way there – and way ahead of the curve.

4 | Hunting & Fishing News

OnX Hunt Maps Next, I like using OnX Hunt maps. Like goHUNT, this is a subscription-based software. But again, I’ve found it to be well worth the cost. OnX is great for seeing public and private land boundaries in clear detail. You can save pins and routes that will automatically sync between the browser version and the mobile version. This means I can scout on my large desktop monitor at home, but have all that information with me when I take my phone into the field.

Simply download the maps for the area before you leave home, and you’ll have everything you need without cell service. This turns your smartphone into a fully functioning GPS – only much better.

OnX is an essential tool for all of my e-scouting. It has up-to-date information on land boundaries, motor vehicle use maps and more. Before you ever visit a unit, you can get a pretty clear picture of the public access, roads and most trails.

It’s worth noting that the CPW Hunting Atlas also has overlays for each big game species. These include migration routes, summer areas, winter areas and more. But a word of warning - it should be very clear that these species overlays are very fuzzy representations. Remember that.

There’s a ton of great hunting for species where it shows nothing on the map. Instead, think of it as a general example of how animals use the terrain and how they tend to move across the landscape. From a very high level perspective, these maps are helpful. Don’t take them for more than that.

Gaia GPS The third tool I enjoy having in my toolkit is Gaia GPS. Similar to OnX this is a subscription-based software. And like OnX, your notes, routes pins and other information are synced between your desktop browser at home and the mobile version.

I find the real strength of Gaia is its wide variety of mapping layers. You can add many different overlays, including USGS topo maps, Trails Illustrated maps, satellite imagery, slope angle, shaded relief and much more. Each of these layers is on a slider, allowing me to fade them in an out to see how they compare to each other. This is very useful when getting to know an area. In many cases, trails appear on USGS or Trails Illustrated maps that don’t appear on others. I find these maps to be particularly helpful when scouting wilderness and other large roadless areas.

Google Earth Pro Last but certainly not least is Google Earth Pro. This is hands-down, one of the most powerful digital scouting tools available. Not only is it extremely helpful, it’s also free.

There are many useful overlays that you can add to Google Earth. For example, I’ve added overlays to show game management units in multiple states. You can also upload your pins, areas and routes back and forth between Google Earth, OnX and Gaia.

But the real strength of Google Earth is the ability to drill down and see your hunting unit in remarkable detail. You can fly over an area and then zoom in on a specific drainage to see stands of timber, grassy meadows and water sources.

You can even find water tanks, wallows, game trails and all sorts of other details. I can easily get sucked in and lose track of time when looking around on Google Earth.

State Game and Fish Agency Resources The next resource I turn to is state game and fish agencies.

On the Wyoming game and fish website for example, I frequently refer to the Hunt Area Info and Public Access Info provided for each unit. You can find these by searching for species and units on the Hunt Planner. Here in Colorado, I frequently use the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Hunting Atlas. It’s a free resource and you can find the link on the CPW website here. Using this Atlas, you can quickly identify public land in any big game hunting unit.

This is great for getting a feel for how a unit shapes up in terms of public access.

We’ll circle back to some of these resources and how we use them in the following e-scouting strategies.

(continued on page 26)

Hunting & Fishing News | 5

in so many states, I don’t need to rely on these “dream” hunts to hunt every year. I’m totally fine waiting it out in a few locations for a hunt that might be a dream hunt for me, only because I’m hunting other states each and every year.

States I apply in for mule deer:

Again, since I love hunting low point units, OTC tags, second choice tags, etc… I feel like this puts me at an advantage to have at least two deer tags in my pocket annually.

All photo credits Luke Dusenbury

Brady Miller’s 2022 “Year Of The Deer” Hunting Application Strategy

By Brady Miller Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

t’s no secret that I’m addicted to mule deer. So my entire Ideer. yearly hunting application strategy revolves solely around What follows is my 2022 hunting application plan, and also some insight into how I’m also ensuring I have mule deer tags in future years as well. This multi-state strategy has worked very well for me.

My 2022 application strategy

As most remember, I burn my mule deer points as often as I can and you’ll always hear me repeat this sentence I came up with when it comes to describing points, “You can’t eat points. Points don’t fill the freezer. Points don’t look good on the wall.” ​​I’ve always been a huge promoter of the “hunt now, not later” strategy.

In my opinion, I’d rather hunt more than continue to sit on the bench and wait to try to draw hunts that take a ton of points or what others consider “dream hunts.” You’ll never get those years back that you sat on the bench and just built up points applying for hunts that you hear people talking about as the best of the best, but are just unobtainable unless you’re willing to wait for a miracle to draw or you’re just fine with not hunting.

In my opinion, you should be taking advantage of OTC hunts, attempting to hunt units that take fewer points or picking up second choice units or even leftover tags if your ultimate goal is to take a giant buck.

You can pull a fairly decent tag every year if you want to adjust your strategy and set your expectations accordingly if you don’t have a ton of points. At least you’re out hunting, learning, and expanding your skillset each year. Hunting more often will lead to becoming a more efficient hunter.

Of all the mule deer tags I’ve had in my life. I have never drawn a tag with more than four points. And that tag I drew with four points, I actually burned my points on a very easy-to-draw tag that took way fewer points because I just wanted to hunt and I still took an absolute giant buck.

Keep in mind, while I love burning my points and hunting, there are some states that I’m fine waiting out the long game and acquiring lots of points and not hunting that state for a while. Why am I fine with that? The only reason I’m okay with this is I have a multi-state strategy and since I apply

6 | Hunting & Fishing News

ARIZONA This is a state that can either be my plan in the winter for over-the-counter archery options in December or January and/or draw hunts. Like other states, I do have a ton of deer points built up and so I think of Arizona as a very long-term strategy when it comes to using my bonus points. I typically apply for my unit of choice that I consider one of the best units in the state and just cross my fingers that I get lucky.

I’m nowhere close to being at the top of the point pool, so I just have to understand it is going to be a long waiting game. I was fortunate to have taken a truly giant archery Coues deer in Mexico back in 2014, so because of that, I’m not willing to ever burn my points on a Coues deer hunt in Arizona.

Again, the beauty of Arizona, if I don’t draw some tags in other states, I could pick up an OTC archery mule deer tag and make this a state to focus on.

IDAHO Back on December 1, 2021 I picked up a general season OTC tag for mule deer in Idaho. This is a state that has made a lot of big changes on the tag process and is not a fallback state by any means! I make a lot of effort to hunt Idaho and it is one of my all-time favorite mule deer states.

Even though I already have a general season mule deer permit, I will still apply for a controlled hunt mule deer tag in June. And if I draw a unit I’m looking at, I might consider turning my OTC tag in for the controlled hunt.

Then, depending on what I draw in other states, I might also look at picking up a second deer tag in Idaho during their leftover tag process later this summer if some nonresident deer tags get turned back in.

COLORADO Last year I burned my preference points in Colorado and so this year I’m starting back at zero. I routinely do this in Colorado and so this year I’m going to find a place that I can hunt with no points and might even look at trying to draw a muzzleloader permit or an easy to draw rifle tag.

There are so many opportunities in Colorado and I just want to have a tag in this amazing state!

I always feel like you never know what could happen in Colorado and even the easy-to-draw units produce giant mule deer. This is why I’ve never carried many points in Colorado. Give me a map and a tag and I feel like I can have a successful hunt. And if I’m not lucky in the draw, I’ll turn my focus to the secondary draw and/or the leftover list.

MONTANA Last year I burned my general nonresident combination deer preference points. In all honesty, it was a really tough year in Montana in 2021 and I passed up a ton of young bucks and ultimately decided to just eat my tag. Sure it might have just been a localized event with only seeing small bucks where I’ve typically been hunting, but I’ve heard the same thing from all my resident friends across the state about the low number of mature bucks. There will definitely be some mature bucks to be hunted in 2022, but at this point, I’m still undecided on what I will do in Montana in 2022.

NEVADA Being a resident of Nevada, I always have options. For several years I took advantage of archery mule deer hunting in Nevada and burned my points regularly. It was an easy fit in my schedule and I could even hunt on the weekends if needed so I didn’t have to burn my precious vacation time.

But over the years as most know I haven’t archery hunted as much. And now my strategy in Nevada has switched.

I now consider Nevada a “trophy state” like most people do and so I have adjusted to how I apply accordingly.

So this state I just shoot for the stars and apply for hunts that I’m okay with waiting it out to draw the unit I want.

to wait out and pull a tag I want, or maybe eventually I’ll just cash them in on on a unit I know I could draw. Then I use the general season hunt as a way to jump into the state every so often.

NEW MEXICO This is an interesting state. I have been applying in New Mexico for a lot of years for mule deer, and so far I’ve just been unlucky in the draw. I mainly apply for what I consider to be some of the best of the best units, so I usually don’t go into this state expecting to draw. When I look at my overall application strategy, I would be very excited to draw a tag here, but since I typically pull tags in other states, I don’t lean on New Mexico as a state I will typically draw, but you can’t draw if you don’t apply. But again, I’m currently weighing out my options in New Mexico and I might adjust my application strategy to try to pull a tag this year or just continue on the path I’ve been doing.

Other mule deer states I look at:

UTAH I have an absolute plethora of limited entry mule deer points in Utah and a decent amount of general deer points. I’ve had some great hunts in Utah in the past and I really think this might be the year I apply to burn my general season deer points. This state I go into it with two different strategies.

I know my limited entry points are going to be used for a hunt at some point either if I’m lucky in the draw, if I’m able

WYOMING There are a lot of different ways to approach Wyoming for mule deer. And it’s a state that I really enjoy hunting.

I’m applying with hopes to draw a mule deer tag in Wyoming, but I don’t exactly have the required points. If I pull the tag, I’ll make it work with my schedule, especially because you can’t turn back a Wyoming permit.

NEBRASKA I actually had plans in place in 2021 to hunt mule deer in Nebraska and grind it out on some of the public land areas that looked intriguing to me. But I decided a few weeks before I was going to hunt this state, that I should probably just get some more work done around the office and didn’t go on this hunt. So... with that said, I’m eager to make plans to hunt there again. At least I’ll have more time now to really hone in on where I’ll hunt and figure out the terrain and deer habits of that state.

OREGON I have only hunted mule deer in this state once, and I passed up every buck I found on the hunt. It’s a state I really want to hunt again, but the past several years I’ve just been building points. Again, I have a plan that I stick to my normal hunts, so I’m in no real rush to draw here. I’m going to just purchase a point in Oregon again in 2022.

(continued on page 38)

Hunting & Fishing News | 7

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

All photos credit Josh Kirchner

The Importance Of Non-Hunting Vacations

By Josh Kirchner Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

n general, I am an extreme person when it comes to my Iover passions in life. Obsession is something that washes me the more I dive into something and hunting is far

from immune to that. It invades my thoughts throughout the day and affects my attention span. My wife is on the receiving end of all of this and, sometimes, I obsess to a fault. Thankfully, she’s more understanding than I probably deserve. Most of my free time — or vacation time — goes towards hunting. A lot of my nights are spent in the field.

It’s my reset. However, it is not everything and taking time for some non-hunting vacations with my wife also needs to be on my radar. These are not only important for her, but also for me. They act as a reset from my reset.

Let me explain.

The natural tendency for someone who is into the outdoor lifestyle is to want to do those things on their vacations.

I’m not just referring to hunters going hunting either. Doing things under the same umbrella is often a fail safe for hunters.

Things like going camping, backpacking, fishing, etc. It might not be hunting, but at the end of the day, it isn’t much different from it. You’re still sleeping in the dirt and smelling less than a million bucks at the end of the trip. Doing something completely outside of that scope, though, is a great way to get out of your own head and hit the reset button.

For my wife’s birthday a few years back, we just randomly made a trip up to Seattle for a couple of days. There wasn’t really a plan in place; we just went. At the end of that trip, I remember feeling so refreshed. It truly broke the monotony of normal life back at home and that was exactly what I needed.

I tend to get caught up in my own head about hunting sometimes. Maybe I’m having a tough hunt and am not finding critters or I have a few misses under my belt that season. Escaping that for a moment is nice and I return better than before mentally.

THIS ISN’T ALL ABOUT YOU

“Why do we always do what you want to do?” I’m sure you’ve all heard that at some point in your life whether it was from someone you love or simply overhearing another conversation. It’s quite easy to fall into this habit. If you love hunting and the only vacations you’re taking your significant other on are hunting trips, something is off. Unless they are as much addicted as you are of course, but that’s a rarity.

It is important to spend time with the important people in your life enjoying their interests, especially if they spend time enjoying yours. It is a great way to strengthen your relationships. Keep in mind: that level of thinking doesn’t have to just apply to significant others. It should go for friends and other family members as well.

One of the things my wife loves to do is visit historic places.

On that trip to Seattle, we did an underground tour of the old city that lay beneath the actual city. I’ve got tot admit: it was pretty cool seeing that stuff. Another thing she loves to do is visit theme parks. That’s something that I never had an urge to do. Once experiencing it with her, though, I had a great time and look forward to more trips like that in the future.

Not only is it nice for me to experience something out of the norm, it brings me joy to see whoever I’m with experience it.

Whether it’s a best friend or my wife, happiness is infectious here.

8 | Hunting & Fishing News

THERE’S MORE TO LIFE We tend to be hermits.

In times like now, I understand that.

Why would someone want to pay attention to the craziness of what’s going on in the world today? It’s downright depressing.

Staying in our own bubble is much more comforting.

However, life does extend far beyond just hunting and the outdoors. And, as off putting as these current times are, there is still beauty to be seen and found. Whether it’s seeing a stunning historic structure, experiencing a different culture or witnessing the birth of your child. There is an undeniable value within those things. And those experiences give you a new perspective.

From time to time, I catch myself living in my own little world.

Closing off things outside of that realm is quite easy for me. For hunters, this is a common trait. Last year, my wife and I made a road trip out to see a favorite band of ours play for the first time in four years. They were involved in a terrible car accident that nearly cost them their lives.

The drummer lost a leg. These fellas needed to learn how to walk again and really how to live again. Watching them get back on stage after that horrific experience moved me.

It was inspiring to say the least. I came back from that trip with a new perspective. It reminded me that life is a precious thing that can be taken away at any moment.

And, for that reason, it isn’t worth complaining about most of the things we complain about these days — like how many inches a buck actually scored.

Closing thoughts

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NEVER MISS AN ISSUE! Yeah, this might not have been an article on how to get your backcountry set up more ultralight or long range archery shooting tips, but that was the point. It’s different — just like the non-hunting vacations that I’ve been talking about.

I’m not saying to go hunting less at all. By all means, do what you want with your time. However, making time for other stuff as well has its perks. As much as I love the hunting lifestyle, there is no doubt value beyond it, especially when you’re spending that time with loved ones. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my wife, great friends and family. They shaped me as did hunting. No matter how extreme my passions are for hunting, taking the time to do the things that, say my wife, wants to do as well needs to equally be on my radar. This world — no matter how big or small it is to us — doesn’t revolve around us. There are good people, amazing places and new perspectives that might do you for the better. In the coming years, we’re actually planning a trip to Hawaii for a family vacation.

I hear Hawaii also has some great hunting opportunities, so I could kill two birds with one stone there.

There goes that hunting stuff invading my thoughts again…

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The material and information printed is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. Nor does this material necessarily express the views of Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. All photo & editorial submissions become the property of Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. to use or not use at their discretion. Volume 19 Issue 4 Cover Photo: twildlife | depositphotos.com

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Hunting & Fishing News | 11

Tips To Improve Your Fly Fishing Game This Year

By Riversmith All photos credit Riversmith https://riversmith.com

https://riversmith.com From Mystic Fly Rods www.mysticoutdoors.com

“A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction

between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation.

He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing.

To himself, he always appears to be doing both.” Francois Auguste Rene Chateaubriand No matter where you find yourself in your fly fishing journey – from first-timer to crusty old veteran – there’s always more to learn or something new to try. Do the work of education and reap the benefits of recreation.

As you look to improve your fly fishing game this year, here are a few things to consider: CASTING AND FLY ROD FUNDAMENTALS Someone interested in becoming a boxer doesn’t step into the ring for the very first time and win by KO. It requires reflexes, muscles, and timing, and envisioning the opponent

12 | Hunting & Fishing News

with each swing. Moves that seemed awkward and difficult at the beginning become more natural and intuitive.

Casting is not so different from many other sports. It begins with simple repetition and muscle memory. Before you take it to the water, practicing on dry ground is a great place to start. Try tying a piece of yarn to the end of your leader (hooks get stuck in the grass) and work on your casting motion. You might even consider signing up for a casting class at your local fly shop. It’s amazing what a few simple pointers can do.

With confidence in your cast and your ability to deliver flies with some accuracy, you’ll be able to take those skills to the water with much less frustration. For many new anglers the next big challenge will be line management...

If you’re already an experienced angler, that doesn’t mean you can neglect the fundamentals. Keep at it and keep learning – many fly shops offer advanced casting classes.

Don’t wait to take your casting skills to the next level.

Improving your casting efficiencies will undoubtedly make you a better angler.

FISH FEWER PATTERNS You can have fly boxes loaded with patterns for the stages and life-cycles of every aquatic and terrestrial food source.

But if your presentation isn’t right – all the patterns in the world may not help.

Perhaps your goal this year is to fish fewer patterns and to focus on presentation. Take the time to recognize where fish are feeding in the water column. And then present your patterns accordingly.

By fishing fewer patterns, you are training yourself to think more strategically; practice around strategy builds intuition.

You can show up to any stream, be able to analyze the situation, and trust your instincts. When prospecting in unfamiliar waters, start out with attractor patterns. Adjust depth until you begin to recognize where the trout are keying in.

FOLLOW THE SEAMS Most fish prefer edge habitats – places where varying types of water or structure collide. That might be along fast and slow water; where a current collides with a cut bank, or a foam line along an eddy. In stillwater, this might be a drop-off from shallow to deep water or the edge of a weed bed. Follow the seams, and you’ll often find fish.

These are the places where fish can quickly move between areas of security and their breakfast buffet. Where fast water collides with slow pools, you’ll notice the formation of foamy, bubbly lines. Look for places like these where oxygen-rich water and abundant food sources collide with the safety of darker water or protective structure.

Remember, wherever there are seams, there is often life and action.

TAKE YOUR TIME TO LEARN One of the things we love about fly fishing is that there’s always more to learn. That might be knots, casting techniques, or the entomology and life cycles of aquatic insects. There are differences between rivers and stillwater situations. If you’re a trout angler, try targeting warmwater species like bass. No matter where you’re at in your fly fishing journey, take your time to learn more.

There are enough books, YouTube videos and online forums to fill your downtime for the rest of eternity.

To avoid analysis paralysis, pick one or two things this year you’d like to learn. Euro nymphing? Fish more streamers?

Focus on something you’ve wanted to try, and take the time this year to begin mastering it.

Not sure where to begin? Your local fly shop is an excellent resource.

FLY RODS AND EQUIPMENT If you’re learning to fish, consider investing in a quality fly rod and reel combo. If you’re working on a new technique like euro nymphing, stillwater fishing or spey casting, find the right rod for that application. Need help picking the right fly rod? See this...article on that topic: https://www.mysticoutdoors.com/blogs/news/mystic-flyrod-guide-how-to-choose-your-next-rod.

As you’re on the water more often, protect your investment with a R ​ iversmith​River Quiver roof rack. Keep your rigged fly rods safe and ready for quick deployment as you move from spot to spot.

This year, take your fly fishing game to the next level.

What are your goals? No matter where you’re headed, be safe, have fun and enjoy the journey!

Hunting & Fishing News | 13

Here are my top five ways to help you think more analytically about your fly fishing. These are basic tips that are talked about among the best anglers and guides that I know.

Photo credit Ryan Johnston author “A Reel Job - Short Stories & Thoughts From The River”, on Amazon

Being Analytical

By Ryan Johnston

Author “A Reel Job - Short Stories & Thoughts From The River”

“H ow can I catch more fish?” “Is there one trick that can help me become a better angler?” “How come guides out fish

most other anglers?” These are just a handful of questions that I hear all the time while I am guiding. Most of us want to be better anglers and become more successful on the water.

If this wasn’t the case, there would be no demand for magazines, how-to videos, local fishing clinics, or casting lessons. The majority of fly fishers are trying to improve their fishing skills, whether it’s to catch more fish or bigger fish. It’s true that 90 percent of the fish are caught by 10 percent of the anglers.

After 14 years of guiding, I have finally realized that the biggest difference between an average angler and a great one is a fairly small margin.

As I started pondering what it takes to be a great angler, I came up with one simple answer — being analytical.

Being analytical on the water means actually thinking about a strategy before you go fishing and then continuing to think about and revise it while you’re on the water.

The best anglers that I know all have the same common trait — they analytically think about what is happening, and they do so all the time. These anglers are actually paying attention as they fish.

I can’t tell you how often I see anglers out on the water who are just flailing away, hoping that a fish might bite their fly.

If you are going to take the time out of your life to go fishing, isn’t the point to feel the tug of a fish? Then isn’t the next goal to feel another tug? Then another one? The saying “The tug is the drug” has always led me to make one more cast in hopes of a reward at the end of my line. Of course, for some, fishing is a way to relax and check out from our stressful world, and that serves an important purpose, even if you get skunked. However, there is nothing quite like feeling a fish’s energy pulsing on the end of a fly rod. I love knowing that I am physically connected to something truly beautiful and mysterious.

14 | Hunting & Fishing News

Fish When Fish Are Feeding This seems obvious, but how many anglers lash the river to a fine froth all day long, but catch fish only when a hatch begins? Being analytical means fishing when fish are likely to be feeding. If you know that the hatch on River X doesn’t come off till 11:00 a.m., going out before then is a waste of energy. Why get there at 8:00 a.m., when the best fishing is still three hours away? For saltwater anglers, if the perfect tide is from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m., plan on being there in that time frame. Don’t show up at 1:00 p.m., when the tide is slack and the fish are not aggressively feeding. Time is a gift in this life, and we need to use it wisely. So rather than wasting three hours of your life waving a stick back and forth hoping a fish will eat your fly, you could be doing something else more productive. Sleep in and get some rest, or go have breakfast with your friend and really connect before getting on the water. And if you know the fish stop biting at 4:00 p.m., why stay out until dark? Sure, you might catch another fish or two by staying out those three extra hours, but think about all the time you are wasting, standing there hoping to get a bite. Guides don’t hope for a bite — we expect one. If you aren’t familiar with the timing of the best fishing in an area, then seek out help from a local fly shop, friend, or do some research on the Internet.

Weather Dictates Strategy One of the biggest things that you learn as you start guiding is that you have to let the weather conditions dictate how you fish. Many anglers go fishing with preconceived ideas about how they will fish and what flies they will use. For example, most anglers begin with the fly that worked well last time, a trusty go-to fly, what a friend said to use, or because a new fly looked pretty sitting in the bin at the fly shop. Sometimes this works, but there are times when preconceived strategies don’t work out. That’s because often, the weather conditions are just as much the factor determining whether we catch fish as what flies we are using. Often we anglers just go out there like robots and mimic our last outing without actually analyzing the difference in the weather conditions between the two days.

Being analytical means constantly analyzing weather conditions.

What is the weather going to be like for the day? Is the weather similar to yesterday? It was sunny this morning when I was catching fish. Now the clouds have rolled in, which may be why I’m not getting any activity. Streamer fishing in the clouds and the rain can be amazing, but not under cold, clear conditions. Egg fishing is great when the light is low in the morning and evening, but not in the middle of a bright, sunny day. If the first day you go fishing it is 75 degrees and the second day it is 65 degrees, expect the hatch to be later in the day. When fishing for bass, don’t expect great top-water fishing in the middle of the day unless the conditions are dark and cloudy. If the insects need bright sun to hatch and it is raining, don’t expect much of a hatch. Next time on the water, let the weather conditions dictate how you fish, and I promise you that you will be more successful.

Be Adaptable Being analytical means weighing choices and considering alternatives. Usually, when heading to the water, we have an exact spot or location picked out where we want to start our day. Unfortunately, so do a lot of other anglers, some of whom may be headed to the same spot. So when you get to your favorite spot — call it “the Fish Factory” — there are three people already there. Do you join the crowd and start fishing the same spot? Do you wait for people to leave and then fish it? Do you turn around and drive home?

Or do you say a few choice words and kick some rocks?

I have been known to mutter a few choice words under my breath when others are in the way, but that is not being analytical.

If you want to be more successful on the water, then be adaptable about where you fish. If “the Fish Factory” is occupied, then move on to “the Secret Spot.” Or find likely water that you haven’t explored because you always fish in “the Fish Factory.” Often you will be more successful if you can find water where the fish haven’t seen so much pressure. Even if the alternative to “the Fish factory” holds only half as many fish, the reduced pressure may result in more success. Then if you really want to fish “the Fish Factory,” go back after the people have left and the spot has been rested. Adaptability is just as important as the methods and techniques an angler brings to the game.

Believe You’ll Catch Fish Successful anglers don’t just go through the motions of fishing. They are analyzing every cast, every presentation of the fly. Because they are confident about their analytical skills, they believe that they are going to catch a fish. Once you lose faith in what you’re doing, you don’t pay as much attention, and your analytical skills diminish. So while being analytical helps you catch fish, believing you’ll catch fish puts a fine edge on your analytical skills.

This is such a basic concept that most don’t even think about it, but it is so vital to being successful on the water.

When you go fishing, you have to believe in what you are doing. That’s something that divides guides from occasional anglers. We have all experienced a hard day on the water when nothing is happening. At the start of the fishing day, you were hyped up and fishing hard. However, after hundreds of casts, it seems as if there are no fish in the water. Something changes after hours of not being successful. Once you begin to go through the motions, your body relaxes, and you start noticing the trees, the birds, or whatever else you shouldn’t be looking at when your line is in the water. The best anglers that I know believe in every cast. When you believe in your cast, you fish more analytically, and that results in more fish being hooked.

All of the best anglers believe they will catch a fish on every cast. Of course that doesn’t happen, but a full commitment makes you fish harder and more effectively. When you believe and fish harder, you end up catching more fish.

Stop going through the motions of fishing and push yourself to believe in every cast.

Think Ahead and Be Prepared Being analytical means spending time learning about where you’ll be fishing and preparing for what you’ll find there.

The main difference between guides and regular anglers is the amount of time a guide puts into becoming intimate with the water they are fishing. The guide knows the small nuances about timing, what kind of flies to fish, where to fish, and how to fish that particular water effectively. All of those important things have been learned by spending time on the water.

Time alone on the river is not enough, though. When you get out on the water, you need be analytical about what you are looking at.

If you are a saltwater angler, look at tide schedules and read reports online to see if you can get an idea of where the fish are holding. If you are a freshwater angler, thinking ahead about basic things such as entomology, river flows, and upcoming weather patterns that are all going to make you more successful. The more information that you can collect, the more prepared you are to be analytical on the water.

My biggest advice to become a better fly fisher is to a hire professional to teach you. To become a better caster, take

casting lessons. If you want to learn how to tie better flies, rig a rod properly, or learn about bugs, sign up for a class in your local fly shop. And if you want to become more analytical in your fishing, a guide can be your best teacher.

The great thing about fly fishing is that you can never truly conquer the sport. Analyze everything you do, and when it doesn’t go well — and there are times when it won’t — adjust your methods and analyze again. Constantly be evaluating what you are doing, and start thinking of fishing as a skill that you are going to refine over your lifetime. If you take that approach, in the long run, you are going to learn an immense amount that will give you a distinct advantage over the guy fishing next to you. Reflect and analyze — but also don’t forget to smile and have fun.

Check out Ryan’s recently published book, A Reel Job - Short Stories & Thoughts From The River, on Amazon. Click on the cover for more information and to purchase.

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Hunting & Fishing News | 15

Manitoba is home to big lake trout. Photo courtesy Jason Mitchell www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com

Top Manitoba Fishing Destinations For Trophy Fish

By Jason Mitchell www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com

anitoba has emerged as a primo destination for freshwater M anglers looking to target trophy-class fish. Northern pike, lake trout, and walleye are the big three that made this

province famous amongst anglers. What makes Manitoba fishing very appealing for us is the variety of opportunities.

There are luxurious fly-in camps with incredible accommodations along with more rustic economical options with a DIY feel.

There are drive-to camps accessible with good asphalt roads that also offer incredible fishing opportunities. There are of course fisheries or destinations that offer huge numbers of fish of course but what does make Manitoba special is the big fish potential. If your desire is trophy caliber lake trout, walleye, or northern pike…there are few regions that rival what Manitoba can offer.

Manitoba has a wildly popular catch-and-release program called the Manitoba Master Angler Program for trophy fish. This program is one of the oldest such programs in North America that recognize trophy fish. A very useful tool for not only identifying top fisheries but also encouraging conservation. Anglers fortunate enough to catch a big fish can get some recognition for the accomplishment. Since the program is a catch and release program today, the fishing quality is sustained. The requirements for the Manitoba Master Angler Program vary by species and thirty-one species are currently recognized. When looking at the big three; northern pike, walleye, and lake trout… the number of entries, the history, and the quality of fish are simply mind-blowing. The biggest walleye ever recorded in Manitoba was 39 inches long from the Red River.

That is one of the biggest walleyes ever caught anywhere.

The top pike was a massive 60.5 inches long from Apisko Lake. The longest lake trout ever caught and released in Manitoba is an incredible 54 inches long from Nueltin Lake. This is the place where dreams are made.

Walleye The minimum length requirement for Master Angler walleye is 28 inches. When it comes to producing big walleye, Lake Winnipeg is one of the top trophy walleye fisheries in the world. Manitoba’s longest walleye ever recorded at 39 inches was caught in the Red River which feeds into Lake Winnipeg. The Red River and Winnipeg River both have spring and fall walleye runs out of Lake Winnipeg that produce a lot of big fish. From my own experiences fishing both the Winnipeg River and the Red River, I would dare say that the Red River typically produces some of the very biggest fish while the Winnipeg River seems to produce more fish. Both rivers produce several Master Angler class fish, but the Red River seems to produce some of the very biggest. Anglers fishing the Red River have so many options around Winnipeg, Lockport, and Selkirk for accommodations with several great restaurants and hotels that offer boat parking. When fishing the Winnipeg River, we often stayed in the community of Pine Falls which has good hotels and restaurants. Great guides are available on both systems.

There are other great drive-to locations in Manitoba to target big walleye and the list is actually quite long. Some of our favorite locations where we have personally visited and left with a great impression include Wekusko Falls Lodge, Q Lake Lodge, and Harvest Lodge.

Wekusko Falls Lodge sits right in the middle of several top-tier walleye, pike and lake trout lakes including Wekusko Lake, Reed Lake, and Tramping Lake. I would argue that the owner of Wekusko Falls Lodge (Bryan Bogdan) is one of the very best fishing guides I have ever been around so anglers fishing out of Wekusko Falls Lodge have access to a lot of solid information. Q Lake Lodge is located on Quesnel Lake inside the Nopiming Provincial Park.

This drive-to fishing lodge has a remote wilderness feel but is really comfortable and well maintained. Besides quality walleye, this particular fishery is also one of Manitoba’s top smallmouth bass fisheries. Harvest Lodge is another easy-to-reach drive-to camp located on the Waterhen River which empties into Lake Manitoba. This system is a diamond in the rough with great trophy walleye and pike potential. When we stayed at Harvest Lodge, we enjoyed great home-cooked meals and great fishing is a very short distance away.

For fly-in fishing camps with a flair for luxury, nothing beats Budd’s Gunisao Lodge for producing staggering numbers of big walleye. Anglers visiting this fly-in camp are treated to great meals, comfortable cabins, and really good guides that put you right on the big fish.

Another Manitoba fly-in camp that blew us away was Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, perhaps one of the nicest fishing camps I had ever seen with beautiful cabins and great food. What sets Aikens Lake apart besides the accommodations is the big fish potential for not just walleye but lake trout and northern pike as well. You could realistically catch a master angler class fish of each species when fishing this water.

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Lake Trout Manitoba is home to big lake trout. The minimum requirement for lake trout for Manitoba’s Master Angler Program is 35” with the longest lake trout ever recorded in Manitoba measuring an impressive 54 inches, caught on Nueltin Lake.

We have had the opportunity to fish some of Manitoba’s best lake trout water and the fishing is impressive.

For drive-to camps, a few camps really stood out to us.

Kenanow Lodge is located on Kississing Lake and offers incredible lake trout fishing. Chris Matheson along with his wife Sheryl own Kenanow Lodge and we can tell you that Chris is a phenomenal guide who is dialed into the big lake trout while Sheryl prepares some of the best-homecooked meals we have ever enjoyed at a fishing camp. Weksusko Falls Lodge (mentioned above for top walleye fishing) is also located in the heart of some of Manitoba’s best lake trout fishing. Reed Lake in particular is very good lake trout water. Evergreen Lodge and Resort located on Clearwater Lake is also noteworthy. This fishing camp sits on one of Manitoba’s best lake trout fisheries.

Bakers Narrows Lodge located on Lake Athapapuskow is also top tier for drive-to lake trout water.

For fly-in fishing camps in Manitoba, check out Elk Island Lodge and Outposts on God Lake which not only boasts huge lake trout but also big brook trout and northern pike.

North Haven Trophy Fly-In Resort is also a top-tier lake trout destination located on Utik Lake. Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge mentioned above is also over the top with great lake trout opportunities for big fish. These guides and lodges are dialed into the lake trout bite all year but if you ever get an opportunity to fish lake trout in the fall when fish move shallow to spawn…you will experience life-changing fishing.

Northern Pike Not sure if you can find a lake or river in Manitoba that doesn’t have a strong population of northern pike… perhaps some of the isolated parkland lakes specifically managed for trout.

Point being is that northern pike are common in Manitoba but what is also noteworthy is the number of fisheries capable of producing big pike. A pike has to measure 41 inches to qualify for the Manitoba Master Angler Program. When you look at entries into the program, big pike seem to come from every corner of the province. The longest pike ever recorded in the program was an impressive 60.5 inch fish from Apisko Lake.

For drive-to fishing camps in Manitoba, Weksusko Falls Lodge would be at the top of the list with nearby Tramping Lake, Wekusko Lake, and Reed Lake. Other impressive drive-to areas include Lake of the Prairies and Cedar Lake, along with the Winnipeg River (Trail End Camp and Outfitters), and Wallace Lake Lodge located on Wallace Lake.

The number of drive-to camps with big pike potential is a long list but what is equally impressive is the number of fly-in fishing camps that specialize in trophy pike in Manitoba.

I would argue that Manitoba is home to some of the very best trophy pike fly-in camps in Canada. Dogskin Lake Lodge is a premier fly-in lodge for trophy pike. Gangler’s Lodge is an over-the-top destination for not only big pike but also big lake trout and huge numbers of walleye.

Final Thoughts As I finish writing this, I realize that none of these lists are fair…there is a lot more water left to explore with tremendous opportunities. I simply highlighted some of the opportunities I have personally fished in Manitoba or have secondhand information from people in my circle that have visited these fishing camps. We simply scratched the surface with this list and that is what makes Manitoba so impressive. Bottom line, there is a tremendous amount of water within Manitoba that produces some massive walleye, lake trout, and northern pike, and what is even more impressive… there are a lot of other species worth pursuing as well. Manitoba is a dream destination for anglers.

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Telephone 406-883-2888 Ex. 7294 Applications will be available: Zimmers Tackle-Pablo, Westland Seed & Sports-Ronan, Walmart-Polson, Sportsman’s Warehouse-Missoula, FWP-Missoula and Kalispell, Sportsman & Ski Haus-Kalispell, Bretz RV & Marine-Missoula, Bob Ward & Sons-Missoula, Snappys Sports Senter-Kalispell, CSKT NRD Offices-Polson Required that all boats from out of the Flathead area be inspected for AIS.

We remind you to follow all fishing regulations.

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

All photos courtesy Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com

4 Mistakes Hunters Make When Using Turkey Decoys Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com

urkey decoys work. There’s no doubt about that.

T But success is not as easy as staking a decoy, making a few calls, and pulling the trigger. Gobblers

DECOYS ARE PLACED TOO FAR AWAY

can be downright finicky; most of us know from first-hand experience. Knowing how to choose what decoys, poses, and placements can help your setup draw more gobblers this spring.

It’s not uncommon for a tom “hang up.” You’ve seen it - they strut, spit, drum, gobble, and carry on just out of shotgun range, waiting for the hen to come join.

If your decoy is placed 40 yards away, then a gobbler may not come within 80.

USING THE WRONG DECOYS

Solution:

The strutting tom decoy that worked so well on opening weekend is now scaring birds away. Inferior gobblers have been whipped a few too many times and don’t want to scrap with a dominant tom again.

It’s important to change the characters in your decoy setup by paying close attention to how the turkeys are acting as the season progresses.

Place your decoys 15-20 yards from your location.

If a gobbler hangs up at 40, you still have a chance.

If this problem persists with the same birds on multiple occasions, stake your decoy behind you where it’s visible to an approaching tom. Take a buddy who can sit back near the decoy and call to draw the bird closer to you.

Solution: Use a jake decoy instead of a tom to tone down the dominance display. The closer to breeding season a turkey gets, the less tolerant he becomes of his competition. Using a tom may spook subordinate birds that have been roughed up already. However, they will see a jake decoy as a chance to redeem themselves.

When gobblers stop responding to a strutting tom decoy, switch over to a jake.

18 | Hunting & Fishing News

One mistake hunters make when using turkey decoys is placing them too far away.

HE CAN SEE YOU For some reason, many hunters like to place their decoy directly in front of them, which is the sight line for most approaching gobblers. Sure, he’ll be focused on the decoy, but a turkey’s keen eyesight will allow it to pick up any movement in the vicinity. He may even pick out your silhouette.

Solution: Offset the position of the decoy to your shooting side.

Right-handers place it 30-45 degrees off your left knee and vice versa for the southpaws. Also, keep in mind that no matter what direction a longbeard approaches from, he will almost always try to position himself head-on with a male decoy. Use this to your advantage.

Photos courtesy Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com

Fred Eichler’s Tips For Bowhunting Turkeys

Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com

f you want to try hunting turkeys with your bow, or you Ibow, have tried unsuccessfully to harvest a bird with your here are some tips I have learned the hard way...

EQUIPMENT Turkeys have a small kill zone, so I advise using the bow you do all of your other hunting with. If you shoot multiple bows, use the one you are most accurate with. I also prefer bows with a flat or dull finish. If your bow is shiny, spray paint it or tape it up even if you are hunting in a blind. Although I use bright fletching, I think dull or dark feathers are advantageous if you are not hunting from an enclosed dark blind. For broadheads, don’t switch up or try adding something to prevent a pass through. Maximum penetration is always your best bet. Use the same broadhead you use for big game and always make sure it is razor sharp.

Try to avoid placing your decoys directly in front of your setup.

YOUR SETUP IS TOO CROWDED

Where legal I prefer to hunt out of a blind. My favorite is a pop-up style. Brush blinds work well also. Just be sure to use enough brush to break up your outline.

In my opinion, whether you are hunting spring or fall, decoys are a must. They give the turkey something to look at and hold their attention. You can also use them to help position the bird for a good shot. With good cover for drawing your bow, position your decoys a little closer than you would when shotgun hunting.

A turkey’s vitals are small. (continued on page 28)

There are times when three or four hen decoys in various poses paired with a tom or jake is a fail-safe option. However, if you bunch them together too closely, it can impair your ability to take a clean shot.

If a tom approaches the setup directly, you’re now having to shoot around some unnecessary obstacles.

Solution: Spread your decoys out. Even though most of the time a longbeard will try to run the male decoy off first, make sure you have a clear shot in front of the hens as well.

And give the gobbler room to strut and do his thing.

Hunting & Fishing News | 19

Y o u r M o n t a n a T o y o t a D ea l e r s a r e

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HUNTING HERITAGE In 2021, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partners allocated more than $2.7 million dollars in grant funding for wildlife habitat, research and hunting heritage projects across Montana.

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photos from the outdoors

Photo credit jill@ghostbear.org | depositphotos.com

Ricky Haggerty with a nice Washington steelhead.

Are Elk Smarter Than Elk Hunters?

By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com

recent study finds that elk herds know almost down A to the day when hunting season opens, and where they need to go to hide out until the season is over.

The study, published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, tracked the movements and patterns of 445 elk that were captured along Utah’s Wasatch range and fitted with GPS-tracking collars.

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The collars provided researchers coordinate information every 13 hours during the study period between 2015 and 2017.

Major finding: Elk reduced their use of public lands by 30% in rifle season, moving quickly to nearby posted private lands where hunter pressure was lighter, or non-existent.

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“It’s crazy, on the opening day of the hunt, they move (off public land), and on the closing day they move back (to public). It’s almost like they’re thinking, ‘Oh, all these trucks are coming, it’s opening day, better move,’” said BYU professor Brock McMillan, the study’s senior author.

Photos From The Outdoors will be included each month.

Send us your photos and a note about the photo.

E-mail to: huntingfishingnews@yahoo.com

Click here to read more about this study, and how its findings could fit into elk management plans not only in Utah but across the West.

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Idaho-Spring Black Bear Hunting Idaho Fish & Game https://idfg.idaho.gov/sites/default/files/seasons-rules-biggame-2021-black-bear.pdf

pring black bear hunting in Idaho offers the opportunity for S residents and non-residents to hunt black bear beginning April 1, 2022 in some units. Idaho offers both controlled

hunts and over-the-counter tags for black bear hunting in some of the most majestic country around.

General Rules: - Bag Limit: No person may take more than one black bear per legal tag in his or her possession.

- Female Black Bear With Young: No female black bear accompanied by young may be taken.

- Retrieving Meat: Hunters are not required to retrieve meat from a harvested black bear.

- Evidence of Sex: For black bears, external evidence of sex (either scrotum, penis, or testicles for males or vulva for females) must be left naturally attached to the hide until the mandatory check requirement has been satisfied.

- Capturing Black Bears: No person may trap, snare or otherwise capture or hold black bears.

- Dump Grounds: No person may hunt or pursue black bears at any time within 200 yards of the perimeter of any designated dump ground or sanitary landfill.

- Mandatory Check and Report: Any hunter killing a black bear must, within 10 days of kill: • Present the skull and hide to an Idaho Fish and Game regional office, official check point, or a Fish and Game conservation officer for removal and retention of a premolar tooth and to have the hide tagged with an official state export tag. No person, who does not possess a fur buyer or taxidermist license with appropriate import documentation, shall have, except during the open season and for 10 days after the close of the season, any raw black bear pelt that does not have an official state export tag attached (either Idaho’s or another state’s official export documentation).

• A hunter may authorize another person to comply with the above requirements if that person possesses enough information to accurately complete the necessary form.

Proxy statement required,...

• Please thaw your black bear hide and skull before bringing it in for tagging. Staff members may not be able to check a frozen hide or skull. Fish and Game’s headquarters office is not equipped to check in bears...

Controlled Hunts • Apply for spring controlled hunts Jan 15 - Feb 15 • Apply for fall controlled hunts May 1 - June 5 Resident Second Tags Residents may purchase a second black bear tag for Units 4, 4A, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 16A, 17, 19, 20, 20A, 26, 27, and those portions of Units 21 and 28 within designated wilderness.

Nonresident Discounted Tags Nonresidents may purchase two (2) reduced-price black bear tags for Units 4, 4A, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 16A, 17, 19, 20, 20A, 26, 27, and those portions of Units 21 and 28 within designated wilderness at the discounted price; or a nonresident may purchase one (1) full priced bear tag to hunt black bear in any general season in the state and one (1) reduced priced bear tag valid in areas listed above.

Bait Bait for hunting is any substance placed to attract game animals. Bait may be used to hunt black bears but only under the following conditions: • No parts of animals or fish that are currently classified as game animals or game fish in Idaho may be used as bait.

This includes game animals and fish that come from the wild and commercial domestic sources (i.e., pen-raised game birds/animals or hatchery-raised game fish).

24 | Hunting & Fishing News

• The skin must be removed from any mammal parts or carcasses used as bait.

• No person shall use salt in any form (liquid or solid) for bait.

Time: No bait or bait containers may be placed for the purpose of attracting or taking black bears before the opening of black bear take season, except in Units 10, 12, 16A, 17, 19,20, 20A, 26, and 27, where bait may be placed up to 7 days before the take season.

• All bait containers and materials must be removed, and all excavations refilled, no later than 7 days after the close of spring, fall, or dog training season.

Location: No bait site may be located within 200 feet of any water (lake, pond, reservoir, or year-round free-flowing stream or spring).

In all regions except the Panhandle and Clearwater regions, no bait site may be located within 200 yards from any maintained trail or any established roadway that is open to the general public for motorized traffic and capable of being traveled by full-sized automobiles. In the Panhandle and Clearwater regions, no bait site may be located within 200 feet from any maintained trail or any established roadway that is open to the general public for motorized traffic and capable of being traveled by full-sized automobiles.

An established roadway is defined as any road that is established, built, maintained, approved or designated by any government entity or private landowner for the purpose of travel by full-sized automobiles. An established roadway shows evidence of repeated use by full-sized automobiles, and may include a traveled way of natural earth with depressed wheel tracks and little or no vegetation in the tracks.

• No bait site may be located within one-half mile of any designated campground or picnic area, administrative site, or dwelling.

Containers: No bait may be contained within paper, plastic, glass, metal, wood, or other nonbiodegradable materials, except that a single metal container with a maximum size of 55 gallons may be used if securely attached at the bait site.

• No bait may be contained in any excavated hole greater than 4 feet in diameter.

Establishment of Bait Sites: Any structures constructed at bait sites and all materials must be removed by the permit holder within 7 days after the close of the spring and fall black bear seasons.

• All bait sites must be visibly marked at the nearest tree or on the bait container using a site tag issued by Fish and Game.

Baiting Permits: All persons placing bait must possess a baiting permit issued by Fish and Game. Baiting permits are issued by mail or in person at Fish and Game offices beginning March 1 of each year.

• Baiting permits will be valid in the calendar year for which they are issued.

• A hunter may possess only one Fish and Game baiting permit each year and may maintain up to three bait sites.

The number of bait sites maintained by licensed outfitters may be specified by the land management agency in the outfitter’s operating plan.

Bait site tags are valid for spring and fall seasons in the calendar year for which they are issued.

• No person may hunt over an unlawful bait site.

• Guides and clients of outfitters are not required to obtain a baiting permit, but they must have a copy of the outfitter’s permit in their possession while hunting over a bait site.

• Possession of a Fish and Game baiting permit does not exempt the permit holder from any restrictions placed on users of federal, state or private lands.

Hound Hunting Please see the section on hound hunting rules on page 101.

For questions on black bear hunting in Idaho contact Idaho Fish and Game at 208-334-3700 or e-mail licenses@idfg.idaho.gov.

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5 Steps to Maximize E-Scouting and Plan Better Hunts (continued from page 5)

TOP FIVE E-SCOUTING TIPS

The first thing to do is look at all the options. If you’re considering an OTC tag, that means looking at all the units available under that tag. If you’re considering a limited hunt, that means laying out all the options that you can realistically draw based on your preference point levels or draw odds.

“Realistic” is a relative idea, depending on your expectations.

For example, when shooting for a primo elk tag in a state like New Mexico, 10% odds might be considered good.

Whereas if you’re banking on drawing an elk tag this year so that you can go hunting, you probably want to find an option with much higher odds. Decide what your goals are, take your odds and preference point level into account, and then see what’s available.

The best way to get there is to use the Filtering 2.0 resources from our friends at goHunt. You can quickly and easily filter out all your options based on your points, desired draw odds, season or weapon of choice, and many more variables.

When scouting for a new area – whether it’s a limited unit that I’ve never hunted, or when looking for a decent OTC option – we use the following five steps. Most of these ideas are tips that we’ve collected from others along the way.

Hopefully, you can take away a few ideas and add them to your own scouting process. Have your own tips? Let us know!

We’d love to know how you approach e-scouting.

Of course there’s no right or wrong way to go about it.

There are many different ways to skin this cat and everyone will develop their own system for e-scouting.

When e-scouting for big game hunts, these are the five steps we like to follow: Identify a Specific Unit Locate Hunting Spots Within that Unit Prioritize that List of Potential Spots Ask For Advice from Local Experts Make a Game Plan

• Out of all the units available, which ones look like a good fit?

After you filter through the options, there might be only a couple of units that meet your criteria. If that’s the case, skip this question and move on to the next. If your filtering left you with a ton of units, or if you’re still staring at a long list of OTC units, you may want to narrow them down.

Ask yourself questions like, is there a particular type of hunt you want to experience? Would you enjoy a remote wilderness experience? Or would you hope for something with better road access? Up in the alpine or down in the open country? Also take a quick look at harvest stats from the past several years. A high level overview of each unit can often quickly tell you if you’re interested or not.

• What are the seasonal needs of the species I’m hunting, at the time of year I’ll be hunting them?

If you’re hunting elk in September, you may be looking for something very different than if you were scouting a hunt in November. So before you drill any deeper, ask what it is you’re looking for. If it’s a September elk hunt that’s probably shady, north-facing timber, with nearby water, perhaps wallows, and green grass. On the other hand if you’re hunting elk in November, you may be looking for windblown ridges or open, south-facing slopes where sunlight and grass are still available.

26 | Hunting & Fishing News

• Is there quality habitat on accessible public land that meets those needs?

The next important step is to check the availability of accessible public lands. If you’re planning that November elk hunt, but all the public land is up near timberline, it’s probably not a good bet. Before moving on, make sure there’s quality habitat for the specific season you’ll be hunting, on land that you can access.

•How will the season dates affect hunt quality? Do they work with my schedule?

This double barreled question is an important one.

When you’re considering applying for a specific limited tag, be sure and check the season dates. How will those dates affect the quality of the hunt? For example, check to see if there are any other concurrent seasons. A limited muzzleloader tag in a unit with concurrent OTC archery tags may not be the peaceful experience you’d hoped for. Or, perhaps the dates fall during a period when animals are not very active.

That might be ok, as long as you’re aware of it before you apply.

- 23 million acres of wildlife habitat and wild places for you to explore. The U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) together account for more than 95% of Colorado’s public land.

But in addition to federally managed public lands, there are also opportunities to hunt on some state managed properties. We’ll get into that and how that plays into your scouting below.

Federal Public Land When talking about big game hunting in the west, most of those opportunities are going to be on National Forest or BLM Land. Fortunately, these Federal public lands are the easiest to identify because the color shading used across different maps is fairly standard. On most maps, Forest Service land is shaded green. And BLM land is shaded yellow. While you’re free to hunt and camp on most of these federal lands, be sure to check for any localized closures or exceptions.

Most importantly, confirm that the dates would work with your schedule. There’s no sense in wasting time researching a hunt only to discover you can’t make the dates work anyway.

• How many other tags are issued (how much pressure)?

Finally, whenever you’re looking to apply for a limited hunt, make a note to check how many tags are issued for that hunt - both resident and nonresident tags. Compare that to how much public land is available. This can be a good indicator as to the quality of the hunt.

Identifying Public Land For example’s sake, let’s say we’re planning an OTC elk hunt in Colorado. Here in Colorado alone, we have more than 23 million acres of public land. That’s your land

State Land State lands are usually shaded blue or purple.

(continued on page 32)

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Fred Eichler’s Tips For Bowhunting Turkeys

(continued from page 19)

In my opinion turkeys are not the amazingly crafty birds they are often made out to be. I simply feel they fear everything.

Including anything out of place or any unrecognized movement or sound. I would be scared too if every land predator and most hawks and eagles considered me food from an egg to adulthood. These high-strung birds have incredible eyesight and use it as their main means of defense against predators. If you can fool their eyes then you’ve got the hard part licked.

stand out circling and calling is to scratch in the leaves with your hand. This will often fool the bird into thinking a hen is scratching for food causing him to close the distance.

The Shot Getting drawn on a sharp-eyed gobbler is the toughest part of turkey hunting and again decoys will help distract them. Even in a blind it is best to wait to draw until the head is blocked by brush or other objects that will keep your movement from being detected. Assuming you’re lucky enough to get drawn, bear in mind the kill zone on a turkey is only the size of a softball. On a broadside bird, I try and aim just behind where the wing butt attaches to the chest.

The other part of the equation is getting in range. I have hunted turkeys almost every way imaginable. I have stalked them, hunted them near food sources, water, strutting areas, trails, roost areas and called them in. Of all these, I feel the latter is the most productive.

Calling and Strategy The most commonly used calls are the diaphragm, box call, slate call or push button call. The easiest to operate are usually the box call or the push button type calls, but slates and diaphragms can be mastered relatively quickly with practice. When emulating a hen turkey you don’t have to sound perfect. There is no such thing. Just like human voices, hen turkeys all have varying tones and levels. The biggest mistake is overcalling. Especially in hard-pressured public land areas. If you’re not getting responses and no birds are sneaking in quietly you can try switching calls or tones.

Just like some human voices sound sexier than others, I feel certain tones sometimes just sound better to a gobbler.

I have seen birds ignore one call only to respond and come running in when I switched up. Some research shows that turkeys may respond better to a certain pitch. That could help explain why they shock gobble to loud noises like doors slamming or thunder. If your luck doesn’t change after switching calls, you should move to another area.

Whether I am guiding or hunting for myself, I prefer to try and roost birds the evening before hunting whenever possible.

Even in pressured areas, toms will often gobble once or twice after flying up in the evening just before dusk. After locating a bird, I try and set up quietly the next morning about one hundred yards from the roost. I like to wait to call until I hear the bird(s) start first. Then I like to call loudly with five to six yelps to be sure I’m heard. Then I’ll usually wait until I hear the birds hit the ground before calling again. My next series of yelps is usually ended with a few cutting calls.

Cutting is short, quick, loud yelps that hens make when they are excited or angry. After that I clam up. If the bird is responsive, odds are he will come looking for you without you having to make another peep. He may not come looking for hours, but he won’t forget where he heard that excited hen.

Based on the angle of the bird, I always try and make sure my arrow will pass through this softball-sized region of the chest located between the wing butts. Other lethal shots include the head and neck. This is a small target and usually the first part of the bird to move. So I prefer the larger chest cavity as an aiming point. Remember, no other animal will change how the vitals are presented like a turkey...from strutting, to slouching to standing alert, you have to pick the right spot!

After the Shot One common mistake made after connecting on a bird is to chase it. You will lose more birds than you will recover with this method. Just like any other animal you shoot, it is best to give the bird some time based on the hit before taking up the trail. Most chest hit birds will rarely go over forty yards before expiring. Occasionally, a lethally hit bird will fly a short distance. Just mark where you last saw the bird and begin your search from there. A bird shot too far back in the intestines will usually run a short distance and lie down.

If you push it the bird will usually run or fly and be lost.

Give these shots a good thirty minutes before following.

Most other shots can usually be blood trailed a short distance to your trophy. If you happen to take out one or both legs the turkey is usually rendered unable to run or fly as turkeys usually need to jump in the air to take off. A quick follow-up shot is often all that’s needed to anchor your turkey dinner.

I like to stay in the same location, letting out a few yelps only every thirty to forty-five minutes. If the bird you originally roosted doesn’t swing by another tom on the move may hear your calls and come in.

When turkey hunting you have to be constantly alert.

A good number of mature gobblers will come in silently without making a sound. That happens more often than not in heavily hunted areas. Another trick I have used with success on birds that won’t close into bow range but that

28 | Hunting & Fishing News

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There are places where federal lands can be “landlocked” by private land – meaning there’s no road to get to it.

This is a common occurrence in most western states.

Anywhere a publicly maintained road like a county road or forest service road touches a piece of public land, you have access to that land. If there’s no publicly maintained road going to it, unfortunately that means it’s landlocked.

OnX is typically reliable showing up-to-date county roads, as well as Forest Service and BLM Motor Vehicle Use Maps. (MVUMs). But keep in mind this information is not perfect – there are easements that don’t yet exist in digital formats. Always have a backup plan in case you arrive at a location and the access is different than you expected.

5 Steps to Maximize E-Scouting and Plan Better Hunts (continued from page 27)

Each state has different regulations for using state lands and those regulations can change from one property to another.

So be sure and check property-specific regulations before assuming you can hunt or camp.

Here in Colorado for example, CPW manages more than 300 state wildlife areas. Many of those state wildlife areas have big game hunting opportunities. They can also provide access to surrounding Forest Service or BLM land.

Regulations do vary from one property to another. Some are limited and require reservations. Others have specific uses and dates. So it’s important to check on those property-specific regulations.

Regulations for accessing State Trust Lands also vary from state to state and even from one property to another. In most western states, these are managed by State Land Boards to earn money for Public Schools. In Wyoming, state lands are available for hunting, but camping is only allowed in designated areas. Here in Colorado many State Trust Lands are completely closed to public recreation. Always take the time to find this information when scouting for a hunt.

This information is usually available on state fish and game websites. In Colorado, you can use the CPW Hunting Atlas or the Colorado State Recreation Lands brochure.

Locally Managed Lands Lastly, it’s worth briefly mentioning local county and city lands. In most cases, county open spaces and other locally managed lands are not open to hunting.

However, there are some exceptions. The best way to find out is to visit the county or city website.

For example, here on Colorado’s Front Range, Boulder County and Jefferson County offer some hunting opportunities. However, these are usually very limited.

In some cases, hunters must apply for a special permit.

If you see local lands on the map in your hunting unit, I’d recommend checking to see if they provide access to adjacent federal lands. For example, I once hunted mule deer in an area that had large blocks of locally managed land. It took some digging on the website, plus some phone calls and emails for confirmation.

But I eventually discovered that while I wasn’t allowed to hunt on that land, I was allowed to hike across it to access the National Forest behind it. That gave me access to public land that would have been impossible to access otherwise. And in that particular scenario, it led to a good mule deer buck.

Cross Reference Multiple Sources

Inaccessible Public Land One more caveat is worth mentioning - just because you see public land on a map, doesn’t necessarily mean you can legally access it.

32 | Hunting & Fishing News

Whenever scouting public and legal access points, it’s always important to cross reference multiple mapping sources. As you scout your hunting unit or units, use all the scouting tools available. In addition to the digital mapping tools we’ve mentioned, it might be worth looking at the Forest Service or BLM Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs). Then, you can form a complete picture of your unit that includes the available public land, the roads and access points, the wildlife habitat and where animals are likely to be at different times of the year.

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Once you’ve identified a specific unit, or at least narrowed it down to a small number of units, it’s time to begin locating potential hunting spots. I like to begin this step the same way I began selecting a unit, asking myself some of the following questions.

Make A List of Potential Spots

Questions to ask:

I’ll often start at a high level and then drill my way down into the details. Looking at a broad overview of the unit, find elevations, north or south exposures, slopes and other geographical factors that are likely to hold those habitat elements you’re looking for.

• What are the seasonal needs of the species at the time of year I’ll be hunting?

• What parts of my unit meet those needs?

• Where does accessible public land overlap with that habitat?

Resources: When working to pinpoint specific, quality hunting spots within a given unit, I’ll refer back to some of the same tools that I used for selecting a unit. I’ll primarily use Google Earth and OnX Hunt maps to make a list of areas that look like good potential hunting spots.

Using a combination of Google Earth’s detailed three-dimensional imagery and the public/private land boundaries in OnX, I filter everything through the three questions above.

Know What You’re Looking For Where is the quality habitat for the species I’m hunting at the time of year I’ll be hunting them? Early season or late season? Pre rut or post rut? If I’ll be hunting mule deer in November, I might be looking for brushy areas since deer are primarily browsers. In areas that receive snowfall, I may need to look at lower elevations, or on south facing slopes at higher elevations to find those late season food sources, and so on.

If you find a spot that meets the right habitat requirements, and there’s accessible public land in that area, add it to your list.

I’ll offer one caveat however – don’t get hung up on elevation alone. There are lots of other factors that make great habitat.

I think too often, hunters get hung up on the need to hunt high early in the season and low late in the season. While that’s often true – it’s not always true. I’ve had great archery hunting around 6,500 feet in September and great late season hunting above 9,000 feet in December. Elevation might be a contributing factor – but it’s not the only one. Use all the available info you have to find good habitat.

Once I’ve taken a broad inventory of the area, then I’ll start to drill down into the most likely areas. Google Earth is a great tool for this. It’s amazing what you can find on Google Earth when you start poking around. You might notice a wallow with game trails all around it. When you find little gems like that, don’t call it good and assume it’s your best spot. There is much more to consider.

Keep combing through the unit – anytime you find something that looks promising, add it to your list of potential spots!

The list might get long. But that’s ok. Next, we’ll prioritize that list to hone in on the spots with the best potential.

In other words, start by deciding what you’re looking for.

Then, go find it…

3. PRIORITIZE SPOTS When I feel like I have a pretty thorough list of the potential hunting spots in a unit, it’s time to prioritize that list. (continued on next page)

Hunting & Fishing News | 33

5 Steps to Maximize E-Scouting and Plan Better Hunts (continued from page 33)

This is the next step to being able to form a game plan.

In this part of the process, I will cross-reference each of these spots with all the other digital resources at my disposal, asking myself the following questions.

Which part of the area do you think might get hammered with pressure or which ones do you think other hunters might ignore? Move potential spots up or down the priority list accordingly.

Prioritize Based on Your Abilities & Expectations Additionally, think about your own abilities and expectations.

If it’s not realistic for you to walk several miles and pack out an animal, then rate the options accordingly. Look for possible areas that meet the animals’ needs and which align realistically with your abilities.

• Where are the access points for each spot?

• What areas might receive heavy use?

• What are my limits (distance and difficulty)?

For example, if you’re hunting solo, you might determine that one area on your list is too far to pack out an elk by yourself. That might help determine its place on the priority list. Designated trailheads, roads and campgrounds are all things to consider. Even where there are no designated trailheads, where are places you can use for access?

Resources:

Keep Cross-Referencing

In this step of the process, my primary resources are mapping applications like OnX Hunt Maps and Gaia GPS. I’ll use these to locate any roads open to motor vehicles, trails, trailheads, campgrounds, parking lots or other features that could affect access or hunting pressure.

Again, use all your resources and cross-referencing abilities to help paint an accurate picture. Note which roads are public (county roads and maintained Forest or BLM roads) and which ones are private ranch roads.

Questions to ask:

Cross-referencing with multiple resources here is important and can give you a more complete picture. For example, sometimes a Trails Illustrated map will show a trail that doesn’t appear on other maps. If you were considering hunting in that basin, this might change your mind. Take that into account as you prioritize your list.

Prioritize By Habitat & Public Access First, prioritize your list by taking a close-up look at the available public land. Make sure the habitat on accessible land meets the needs of your target species. Which areas have the best potential to hold game during your season?

Take into account food, water, cover, weather and other needs of that particular species. Put the best-looking areas at the top of your list.

It’s ok if that prime habitat overlaps both public and private.

In fact, hunting around those boundaries can sometimes be an advantage. But there needs to be sufficient habitat on the public side of the fence – otherwise, it goes to the bottom of the list.

Prioritize By Access & Hunting Pressure Next, cross-reference your list of areas with roads and access points. As you do this, consider where hunting pressure might come from and how animals will react. Will they head into the backcountry? Will they seek refuge on private land?

Are there other pockets where they can find safety?

In the end, try and decide which spots look awesome, which ones look pretty good, and which ones give you some concern.

With your prioritized list of spots, now you can go ask for some local advice.

4. ASK FOR ADVICE Now that you have a list of good-looking hunting spots and you’ve prioritized that list based on your research, it’s time to test your research and assumptions. This is a great time to talk to biologists and wildlife managers or federal land managers.

I prefer to contact these folks at this point in the research process because now, I know enough to ask intelligent questions. Ask good questions and you’re more likely to get helpful answers.

Questions to ask: • Are my assumptions accurate so far?

• Confirm the condition of roads or the locations of open/closed gates.

• Confirm the vegetation or habitat you think you see on Google Earth.

• What information am I missing?

Resources: • State Fish and Game Biologists • Game Wardens • Forest Service or BLM Field Office Staff • Local Business Owner I never like to ask where I should hunt. If they told everyone, you wouldn’t want to hunt there anyway.

Remember what you’ve learned through your scouting so far. You already know the good-looking spots. So instead, ask questions that confirm or correct the assumptions you’ve made, or that help fill the gaps in your knowledge of the area.

For example, “It looks like this area is mostly piñon and juniper.

Is that true?” Or, “It looks like this road will give me access.

34 | Hunting & Fishing News

Am I correct in thinking I can drive that road with my stock SUV?” Make a list of questions you’d most like answered and then start making some calls.

5. MAKE A GAME PLAN Finally, with the information you’ve gathered, plus the advice of some friendly wildlife managers and others, you can begin making a game plan for your hunt.

Questions to Ask: • How can I maximize my time when I arrive?

• What’s my Plan A for opening day?

• What are My Plans B, C, D, etc.?

One of the keys to a solid game plan is to maximize your limited time on the ground when you arrive in the unit.

For example, if the top two spots on your priority list are several hours apart, it’s probably not realistic to make those your plan A and B. You’d kill an entire day of the hunt if you have to pull camp, drive to the other side of the unit and set up camp again.

However, let’s say for example that the first and third spot on your priority list are in close proximity. That could make a great Plan A and Plan B combo. This can be the most difficult part of the entire process. But be realistic with yourself in making a plan that you’re able to execute effectively.

Finally, remember it’s highly likely that none of your plans go exactly as you imagined. And that’s ok! There will

inevitably be surprises along the way. Be ready to roll with the punches and keep moving down to your plans C, D, and so on. You’ll learn and grow. You’ll have fun. And you’ll get better at it for next time! As long as you’re out there enjoying our spectacular public lands and the company of friends or family – then the trip is automatically a great success.

Hunting Gear for the Adventure If you have questions or need help getting ready for your next adventure, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at hunt@caribougear.com or call 303-798-5824.

All of the hunting gear we carry in our shop is the gear we personally use in the field. We’ve tested it and we trust it.

If you have any hunting gear related questions, please let us know. We’d be happy to help you get prepared for that next big hunting adventure!

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Photo credit Randy King courtesy Idaho Fish & Game

Hunter Recipe: Ramen With Marinated Venison Flank Steak

By Ian Malepeai, Marketing Manager Idaho Department of Fish and Game

andy King is a recipe contributor to Idaho Fish & Game and lives R in Nampa, Idaho. He is a trained chef, passionate hunter and angler, author of the cookbook “Chef in the Wild,” and has

written food articles in numerous national publications.

Wedged into a rock outcropping above an aspen wooded valley, Ryan and I glassed a decent sized herd of mule deer.

The big buck was defending his territory at the end of October, his neck swollen, as his harem was being pounced upon by an invasive hoard of smaller bucks. He would run off one challenger after another in one-sided easily won fights. At about 300 yards this buck would have been a great wall hanger, but that was not the season Ryan and I were hunting. He had the “general season” tag that allowed him to shoot only “forky” bucks.

We had to simply watch the show and hope that a little buck would show himself. Alas, no shooter showed up and eventually the herd wandered down the drainage out of sight. Back to the truck we hiked.

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36 | Hunting & Fishing News

Eventually, about 3 p.m., we made a wide loop and came to the top of a long draw with a great view below...Soon a herd of deer was filing out of the draw below us. One after another I watched them, tail raised, run out of the draw. “Doe,” I said, watching the herd pass by. “Doe, Doe, Doe,” as they began to file past us in the draw below about fifteen total. Soon the herd cut back to a leafless aspen grove following a well-used game trail. Joining the initial herd was a new group of deer, appearing from a different section of the draw.

“Doe, Doe…a spike, I got horns!” I proclaimed.

One shot from his .285 rang out across the valley. Ryan, off a shooting stick, hit the buck just behind his left shoulder, sending the bullet through the deer’s heart. The buck simply crumpled, never knowing what had happened. Ryan tagged the buck then started back to the truck for the pack boards.

I dressed and quartered the deer – getting him into game bags quickly. Then we hauled him back in one fell swoop.

“Want any of this guy?” Ryan asked.

“Can I have the flank steaks?” I said.

“Really? That’s it?” he replied.

“I have an idea…”

Marinated Flank Steak with Ramen Sometimes making classy junk food is just fun, and when done right it can be delicious. Like many college students I have eaten an inordinate amount of “ramen” in my day.

At $0.25 each, they are a cheap way to fill an empty belly.

But with just a few extra items a bowl full of salt and starch can turn into a bowl of decadence. Cue this recipe for Venison Flank Steak.

Marinade ■1 each Deer Flank Steak (about 1 lb. of venison total, really any cut could work with this) ■1 tablespoon Gochujang (look in the Asian food section) ■1 tablespoon Honey ■1 tablespoon Sesame Oil ■2 tablespoons Water ■1 teaspoon Shichimi Togarashi, optional Add everything but the flank steak to a medium sized mixing bowl. Combine with a fork until mix is smooth and all ingredients are incorporated. Add the flank steak and coat evenly with the marinade. Cover bowl with clear film and leave in the fridge anywhere from 4-24 hours.

Heat grill to medium-high. Take the venison directly from the refrigerator to the grill, do not pre-warm the meat at all.

Cook flank steak no more than 3 minutes on each side.

Remove to clean plate and let rest before slicing. Slice thin and serve on top of the Ramen bowl.

The “Ramen” ■6 cups water ■1 tablespoon vinegar, white ■2 packages “Oriental” Ramen ■1 cup broccoli florets ■1 cup matchstick carrots ■1 cup chopped kale ■4 eggs ■1 mango, cored and sliced thin In one medium sized sauce pan add 4 cups water, bring to a boil. In a separate sauté pan add two cups of water and add the vinegar – bring to a simmer. Add to the ramen (including the flavor pouches, opened), broccoli, carrots and kale to the four cups of water. Bring back to a boil and remove from heat.

Crack, gently, the four eggs into the vinegar-water and let simmer until the egg whites completely set but the yolk is still runny, about 2 minutes.

Portion into four bowls the ramen, broth and vegetable mix. Top each bowl with a poached egg, sliced mangos and sliced flank steak. Enjoy!

Brady Miller’s 2022

“Year Of The Deer” Hunting Application Strategy

(continued from page 7)

GIVE UP OTHER HUNTS TO HAVE MORE TIME FOR DEER I know I’m going to strike some nerves with this statement, but if you want to hunt mule deer and get better at hunting mule deer, you should probably give up elk hunting.

So I’ll instantly follow that up with a caveat, the same could be said if you’re passionate about elk. If you want to be great at hunting elk, don’t hunt deer.

What I really mean when I say that is we all only have so much vacation time. So chose what you’re passionate about and pursue it. Or if you don’t care what species you get a tag for, then that is totally fine as well. Just apply for species and go hunt.

SOUTH DAKOTA I have a lot of points built up in South Dakota and one of these years I might cash them in. Again, I just need to find the time to possibly give up another hunt to hunt South Dakota. But the thought of hunting a new state and possibly new terrain intrigues me a lot! Like Oregon, I’m just going to pick up a point in 2022.

WASHINGTON This state doesn’t get a lot of love, especially when it comes to nonresidents. But it is a state that I really want to try out at some point. So this state is on my radar and I’ve been putting in a lot of time on GOHUNT Maps recently working on a strategy.

Stay scrappy and diligent

You’ll hear it a lot that certain units for mule deer or any species are easy to draw or have leftovers for a reason and caution should be taken when pulling these places.

Even though I hear that a lot and I’ve even mentioned that to others before, keep in mind that anytime you can put a tag in your pocket is a win.

I feel like I thrive off these easy-to-draw opportunities/tags people forget about. If I’m hunting mule deer, I’m learning about mule deer. If I’m learning about mule deer I’m adding to my mule deer toolkit. Each time I’m hunting mule deer, I’m making myself a more proficient hunter. And all those experiences add up. Sure I still have those hunts where I can’t find a mature buck or pass up animals. But every day I’m hunting with a tag in my pocket is another day when I might put the pieces of the puzzle together and learn something about that spot and find a hidden gem.

The other huge benefit to hunting easy to draw tags is you can essentially return them year after year.

That gives you a huge leg up! If you can hunt a spot year after year, or even every other year, you will eventually find the information that leads you to success.

This is why if the draws aren’t in my favor, or maybe that year I shoot for the stars on an application and don’t pull a tag.

You better believe that I lean heavily on these turned-back tag opportunities. You have leftover draws, first come first serve opportunities, etc. There have been several years where I have picked up these tags and had absolutely phenomenal mule deer success.

I watch Colorado’s leftover list like a hawk, I pay attention to Idaho’s returned lists, secondary draws and even Nevada’s first-come-first-serve list. Sometimes all it takes is a little dedication and you can add hunts to your schedule if needed.

38 | Hunting & Fishing News

So yes… each year I pretty much give up the thought that I’m going to draw elk hunts. But that doesn’t mean I won’t apply for elk. I’ll still apply for elk hunts, but my strategy is the long game. Since some states you just never know when you’ll draw, I’ll shoot for the stars and put my name in the hat to try to draw the very best elk tag. And I just realize that I’m not anticipating drawing, but since I need to either purchase a point or apply to get a point, I might as well apply for the best, that way if I draw, I could probably move something around in my mule deer schedule for a truly phenomenal elk tag.

And having the notion that I’m not “trying” to draw an elk tag, means the sting of not drawing is way less :) The other reason I have to be cautious with my elk points is I have very high double-digit point totals in every western state for elk. So I don’t want to just casually apply and draw a ton of elk hunts in one year and miss out on mule deer.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER SPECIES? I obviously apply for a lot of other species across the West.

After all, if I’m buying a required hunting license, it just makes sense to apply for more than just mule deer, especially when the point fee isn’t that much of an add-on for other species.

But I definitely look at the pros and cons to this as well.

It’s no secret that a lot of point systems are broken.

So I have taken a hard look at some of the costs of continuing to apply for certain species and what it would mean to build up points for some of those species across my lifetime. Would my money be better spent? And will I ever actually draw? Those are hard questions to answer, which is why there are states and species I do not build points for at all.

In summary While I apply in a lot of states, I do so mainly so I set myself up to have mule deer hunts each and every year, and at the same time, I try to ensure that down the road I can have tags as well. I have a random goal to take a mule deer in every western state and to accomplish this goal, I might have to skip out on some states I regularly hunt. But no matter what, my yearly plan stays the same. I try to put at least two mule deer tags in my pocket each year. Some years I’m lucky and I have three to four mule deer tags, but having more tags that are within tight windows means I’ll be stretched on time and can’t fully dedicate to each hunt. Which is why I have had the rare occasion where I have turned back in some tags.

Application is a phenomenal time of year! And in all honesty, it’s the time of year where I really dive in and look at each unit, dissect the terrain and the data to see if it’s a unit I want to hunt mule deer.

So, now is the time to dig in and do the research so that you ensure yourself an opportunity to go hunt mule deer this fall — your goHUNT INSIDER account has everything you need to put tags in your pocket!

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