Fair Game 2024 - Belgrade News by Bozeman Daily Chronicle

FAIR GAME

MONTANA HUNTING OVERVIEW

BIG GAME HUNTING FORECAST

UPLAND GAME BIRD FORECAST

GUIDE TO HUNTING RESPONSIBLY

UPLAND GAME BIRD ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

TRAPPER EDUCATION

BEAR THREATS AND WHAT TO DO

SAFETY TIPS WHEN ENCOUNTERING WILD BABY ANIMALS

HUNT ? IS YOUR VEHICLE READY FOR THE BIG HUNT ?

IS YOUR VEHICLE READY FOR THE

• 4 ELK STEAKS

• 1 CUP WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

• 1 CUP FRESH SQUEEZED LIME JUICE

• 1 CUP SOY SAUCE

• 20 MEDIUM JALAPE Ñ O PEPPERS

• 10 SLICES BACON

• 12 OUNCE HERB&GARLIC FLAVORED CREAM CHEESE, ROOM TEMP

• AS NEEDED HONEY,

(OPTIONAL)

Mix the lime juice, Worcestershire and soy sauce together in a large bowl. Alternatively, you can pour the ingredients directly into a large resealable bag. Add sliced steak, cover and let sit for 4 to 6 hours, or overnight.

When ready to cook, set Traeger temperature to 350° and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes.

Remove the steak from the marinade and thinly slice into bite-sized pieces so they are approximately the same width and length as the jalapeños.

Cut the jalapeños in half lengthwise. Remove seeds and center membrane, then set aside.

Cut the bacon in half crosswise. Set aside.

Spoon cream cheese equally into all jalapeño halves.

Lay one slice of marinated elk on top of each jalapeño. Wrap each jalapeño popper with one piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick if needed.

Place on grill, cut-side up for 10 to 15 minutes, or until elk is cooked and jalapeños are tender and lightly charred.

Remove from the Traeger and optionally drizzle with honey before serving. Enjoy!

Strategize, prep, and plan for this season’s

Big game hunt

By Abby Weingarten

Make big game hunting season smooth and successful this year with the right gear, the best plans, and a proactive approach for exploring Montana’s vast 147,164 square miles.

Start by stocking up on gear; getting familiar with the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) interactive hunt planner map (fwp.mt.gov/gis/maps/huntplanner); devising a strategy; and ultimately working toward an abundant harvest.

2024 Big Game Hunting Seasons

Antelope

• 900 series Aug. 15 – Nov. 10

Archery Sept. 7 – Oct. 11

• General Oct. 12 – Nov. 10

Bighorn Sheep

• Archery Sept. 7 – Sept. 14

• General Sept. 15 – Dec. 1

Bison

Black Bear

Nov. 15 – Feb. 15, 2025

• Spring April 15 – June 15

• Archery Sept. 7 – Sep. 14

• Fall Sept. 15 – Dec. 1

Deer and Elk

• Sept. 7 – Oct. 20

• Youth, deer only Oct. 17 – Oct. 18

• General Oct. 26 – Dec. 1

Backcountry – HDs 150, 280, 316*

• Archer Sept. 7 – Sept. 14

• General Sept. 15 – Dec. 1

*HD 316 does not have an archery-only season

Moose

• Archery Sept. 7 – Sept. 14

• General Sept. 15 - Dec. 1

Mountain Goat

• Archery Sept. 7 – Sept. 14

• General Sept. 15 - Dec. 1

Mountain Lion

• Archery Sept. 7 – Oct. 20

• Fall Oct. 26 – Dec. 1

• Winter Dec. 1 – April 14, 2025

Spring Light

Goose Conservation

Order Season

Wolf

March 1 - May 15

• Refer to regulations that will be printed in late summer

2024 Upland Game Bird Hunting Seasons

Mountain Grouse

Partridge

Pheasant

Sage Grouse

Lakes

Sept. 1 – Jan. 1, 2025

Oct. 12 – Jan. 1, 2025

Sept. 1 – Sept. 30

Sharp-tailed Grouse Sept. 1 –Jan. 1, 2025

Turkey

Spring

Fall

April 15 – May 31

Sept. 1 – Jan. 1, 2025

2024 Montana Fishing Seasons

Open entire year

**some rivers are open entire year; check fishing regulations

Rivers** &

Streams

Open third Saturday in May - Nov. 30

2024 Montana Furbearer Seasons

TRAPPING DISTRICTS 1, 2, AND 3

Beaver Nov. 1 – April 15, 2025

Bobcat Dec. 1 – Feb. 15, 2025*

TRAPPING DISTRICTS 4, 5, 6, AND 7

Beaver Sept. 1 – May 31, 2025

Bobcat Dec. 1 – March 1, 2025*

PORTION OF TRAPPING DISTRICT 6 Swift Fox Nov. 1 – Jan. 15, 2025* Fisher,

(where open) Dec. 1 – Feb. 15, 2025*

Nov. 1 – April 15, 2025*

2024 Application/Purchase Deadlines

Antelope

Bison

Crane

Deer and Elk

Special permits

Special licenses

Moose

June 1

May 1

June 1

April 1

June 1

May 1

This year, FWP will continue Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance and monitoring in Priority Sampling Areas across southwestern, central, and central-eastern Montana.

• Carcass disposal requirements: Carcass parts, such as brain, eyes, spleen, lymph glands, and spinal cord material, should be left at kill sites whenever possible. If an animal is transported for taxidermy or meat processing, the brain and spinal tissue must be bagged and disposed of in a Class II landfill. A carcass may be transported within the state regardless of where it was harvested if the carcass parts are disposed of in a landfill after butchering and processing. This requirement applies to all deer, elk, and moose carcasses wherever they are harvested in the state by hunters or as vehicle-killed salvage.

• CWD sample submission is voluntary in most places statewide. Testing is required for all animals harvested using the Deer B License 199-20 in HDs 100, 103 and 104, or Deer Permit 103-50 in HD 103. All hunters who want their harvested animal sampled can submit samples themselves by following steps on the Montana CWD Submission Guide or by visiting a CWD Sampling Station.

Mountain Goat

Mountain Lion

May 1

Special licenses July 19

Paddlefish

Super Tags

Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Bison, Deer, Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat, and Mountain Lion

March 22

July 1 Swan

June 1

• Hunters who intend to use scents to mask human odor or attract deer and elk should be aware of the regulations regarding which scents can be legally used. Hunters are safest when using artificial scents, but there are also scents that are certified by the Responsible Hunting Scent Association (identifiable by the DPP✓ or RtQUIC✓ labels).

• Certain areas of the state are designated as Priority Sampling Areas, where hunters are asked to voluntarily submit a sample from their animal. For instructions on how or where to submit a sample, visit fwp.mt.gov/cwd.

• Report sick-looking deer, elk, or moose. Hunters who shoot an animal that looks diseased or sick should limit handling it and report it immediately to a local FWP office for further instructions. FWP staff will need to diagnosis and verify diseased or sick harvested animals to determine if an animal is fit for consumption or eligible for a replacement tag.

For a more detailed big game hunting forecast, continue to check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) site for updates: fwp.mt.gov/hunt.

Cover your bases with the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program

By Abby Weingarten

Enhancing upland game bird habitats is a key priority of the stewards of Montana’s lands.

That is why Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) developed the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP) – an initiative designed to work with landowners to improve land (close to 700,000 acres) that is open to upland game bird hunting.

A comprehensive Projects Access Guide currently lists all active initiatives that are administered through the program, including open fields, habitat management leases, food and cover plots, shelterbelts, and grazing systems.

FWP officials urge hunters to use caution due to extremely dry conditions and to extend a “thank you” to all Montana landowners who collaborate on access opportunities that benefit wildlife and public hunters. Hunters are encouraged to be ethical in order to ensure good landowner relations and future program success.

To help preserve Montana’s hunting heritage, follow these rules:

• Treat the lands as a guest and act responsibly.

• Obey the safety zone concept, even if there are no signs. Leave a buffer when hunting near any building.

• Hunting season is harvest season. Park only in areas that do not block gates or roads from passing farm equipment.

• Leave gates as they are found.

• Be aware of fire danger. Avoid parking in tall grasses, especially early in the season. Open-flame or outdoor grilling is not allowed.

• Remember to thank landowners for enhancing habitats and providing hunting access.

• Never shoot toward buildings, homes, or livestock.

• Do not leave cleaned game remains near parking areas, roadways, or roadside ditches.

• No driving off-road.

• No hunting or parking in unharvested grain fields.

• Do not litter. Pick up all spent shot shells. Deposit solid human waste in holes dug six to eight inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, buildings, or trails.

• Game bird habitats in western Montana and along the front range can also be suitable grizzly and black bear habitats. Carry bear spray, look for bear signs, and be aware when out in thick cover. Make more noise than usual and consider putting bells or beepers on dogs.

For more information on the program, visit fwp.mt.gov/ conservation/habitat/upland-game-bird-enhancement-program.

Zero in on a plan for the upland game bird hunt this season

By Abby Weingarten

Hunting upland game birds requires its own meticulous plan. It’s best to brainstorm long before venturing out into the Montana wilderness and, of course, be sure to check the forecasts and maps.

The variety of upland game birds in Montana is vast and includes sharp-tailed grouse, blue grouse, spruce (Franklin) grouse, prairie chicken, sage hen or sage grouse, ruffed grouse, ring-necked pheasant, Hungarian partridge, ptarmigan, wild turkey, and chukar partridge.

Familiarize yourself with the most up-to-date regulations in the area with information from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). Always remember that access to private lands is part of hunting throughout the state, so respect private property, stay safe, report violations, and protect the hunt.

The Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP) is another vital component of upland game bird awareness for hunters. The initiative provides financial assistance to cooperators interested in enhancing habitats for upland game birds, and the projects include:

• Aspen Regeneration. To improve long-term habitat productivity for ruffed grouse, old and dying aspen stands are rejuvenated through logging practices.

• Grazing Management System. A rest-rotation grazing system provides undisturbed hiding cover on approximately one-third of the grazing system area each year. These projects are mostly geared toward sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, and gray partridge, but they may also benefit pheasants.

• Nesting Cover. Nesting cover projects are associated with the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), in which UGBEP cost-shares or provides other incentives to the landowners to promote the use of beneficial grass mixes.

• Wildlife-Friendly Practices. Incentivizing practices that make agricultural operations more beneficial to game birds include planting cover crops, rotational haying, lightly disking grass stands, and leaving tall wheat stubble using a stripper-header.

• Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters. Open Fields provides additional incentives to landowners to maintain the CRP on their land. The CRP provides important cover for Montana’s game birds and other wildlife.

• Habitat Management Lease. Habitat management leases focus on smaller, high-value sites including riparian areas, old farmsteads, established shelterbelts, a mix of idle cover, or other productive habitats.

• Shelterbelt. Shelterbelts are shrub and tree plantings designed to provide winter cover for pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, and gray partridge.

• Winter Food or Cover Plot. Diverse mixes of annual grains, legumes, and flowers provide food and cover during winter weather.

For a more detailed upland game bird hunting forecast, continue to check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) site for updates: fwp.mt.gov/hunt.

2024 Upland Game

By Abby Weingarten

Terrified of grizzly bears? Lean into that fear and use it to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Grizzlies can be found anywhere in the western twothirds of Montana (west of Billings) and their distribution is becoming even more widespread. Areas with denser concentrations of these bears are accessible to hunters, especially during archery season, so it’s critical to stay aware when hunting. Here are some tips:

• Be sure to remain alert, especially when hearing and visibility are limited. Stay on the lookout for environmental indicators of bear activity. Make other hunters aware whenever any bears, or signs of bears, are obvious. If there has been a recent sign of grizzlies in the area, consider hunting somewhere else.

Master bear safety tips and stay vigilant this season

• Practice using bear spray. Always keep the spray supply within reach, just in case a grizzly shows up and the need for immediate usage abruptly arises.

• Follow food storage regulations. Reach out to the applicable agency, such as the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, to learn which food storage rules apply to particular hunting areas in the state.

• Travel and hunt in groups. Create casual noise to alert bears of a human presence; this is a tactic that may increase the chances of survival in the event of a bear encounter or attack.

• Stay away from any carcass sites, as well as concentrations of ravens and other scavengers. • If you are harvesting an animal, remove it from the field as quickly as possible.

• Bring the proper equipment with you for processing

and disposing of carcasses when hunting.

• Anglers, do not clean fish at campsites. Pop the air bladders and dispose of the fish entrails in streams or lakes.

• Pack hunted meat as soon as possible and avoid cutting up carcasses at dusk or evening. If you kill an animal at dusk, be prepared to cut up the carcass in the dark by carrying efficient headlamps.

• If a bear has claimed your animal, do not attempt to haze or frighten the bear away. Report any lost game to the officials at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). • Bird hunters, be extra careful when walking in and along areas of brush. Grizzly bears use thick cover for day beds. Walk with the wind, carry bear spray, and keep a close eye on hunting dogs.

For more bear safety tips, visit fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlifemanagement/bear/be-bear-aware.

“I still enjoy it just as much”

Local hunter Bill Berg shares the perspective of a life-long hunter

By DEB HILL | Reporter

Bill Berg’s been hunting for a few years now, since he was 8 or 9 years old, and plans to keep on hunting in some fashion for as long as he can get there. Over the decades he’s had some memorable adventures, spent a lot of time hiking the backcountry in search of game, and enjoyed great partnerships with beloved hunting dogs — he wouldn’t change a single hunting experience.

“My dad took me bird hunting almost every weekend when I was young, growing up in North Dakota. Bird hunting is different. With big game hunting, you get your deer and you’re done. With birds you can keep going. I remember distinctly shooting my first duck in the big marsh where we hunted all the time. It was a hen mallard. That was a proud moment. My dad made a big deal out of it. My mom was a good game cook, too,” Berg remembered.

Back then there weren’t organized hunter education classes. Young hunters learned from family members.

“Gun safety was a big thing. Don’t have your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Only point your gun in a safe direction. We were disciplined pretty well if we didn’t do it, but I don’t recall any accidents,” said Berg, who later taught hunter education to youngsters for years.

With plenty of rabbits, squirrels, partridge, grouse and ducks, hunting the prairie country of Berg’s childhood was nearly a daily activity, in that time before devices and the internet.

“I would go with friends after school. It was more spontaneous, something you could do in a couple of hours. If land wasn’t posted, you could hunt it, which is different than today,” Berg said. “You could get permission to hunt for the entire season on a place, not just one or two days. Other than playing football, in the fall there wasn’t much else to do than hunt.”

MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES

Back then a young hunter had to be 14 years old before deer hunting was an option, and it was a family affair.

“My uncle had a cabin at Devils Lake. Hunting was a reason to get together, and there were a lot of activities that went with it, like card playing. I remember we would write on the walls of the cabin; it was like a diary of who shot what, how it was cooked, the dates. That uncle had a Polaroid camera and took black and white photos, which are the first ones I remember of our hunts,” Berg said.

A cousin had an uncle, a priest, who sometimes joined the hunting camp.

“He hunted with us and would do a Mass at the breakfast table where he blessed the hunt. I always liked it because it only lasted about 10 minutes,” Berg said.

In the 1980s Berg moved to Montana and then to Lewistown, where he’s spent 37 years. It started with a career move, but Berg came to love the Central Montana area, including hunting here.

“It’s fun, it’s a challenge,” he said.

But nothing here so far has approached the level of a hunt when he was 21 or 22, back in North Dakota.

“It was an archery white-tailed deer hunt. I had seen a really nice buck coming out of a marshy area a couple of times. I made a path through the marsh back to a deer trail and waited. I got him with my bow. He was a big one, in the record book for that time. I still have that mount in my cabin,” Berg said.

Local hunter Bill Berg, and hunting dog Bodi, survey the results of a successful day in the field.

FRIENDS AND COMPANIONS

Hunting dogs are a huge part of Berg’s favorite hunting experiences.

“I’ve had springers and labs, but I’ve always been mostly a lab guy,” Berg said. “You remember the epic retrieves. Every dog has a retrieve or a flush you always remember. Last year I shot a pheasant and it hid on the side hill. I thought I could see it, but the dog went up the hill and over. I’m thinking, ‘hey, it’s right there,’ but the dog is gone. Then she came back with the bird. As you get a little older you trust your dog more. Now, hunting with a good dog is almost as important as hunting with a friend. I enjoy seeing the training I put into them in action.”

NEW PERSPECTIVES

Looking back on decades of hunting, Berg thinks things are different now, both for the better and for the worse.

“There’s been a shift in the ethics of a hunter, for the better. Back 50 years ago, most poaching was because someone wanted to eat. Now there are poachers who don’t take anything or just the trophy parts. But we police each other a bit better than we used to, and hunters will report when they see something that doesn’t sit well.

“But we’ve also got some dynamics going on that are changing things we took for granted, like access. With

so many big ranches being bought for use as private recreational properties, hunters are pushed more onto public lands than in the past. I’m not sure where that trend will take us.”

But that’s not stopping Berg from gearing up for another season in the field, along with his 8-year-old lab, Bodi.

“I love that it’s not just the hunting, but later the preparation of the game meat, maybe a venison dinner or making elk sausage in February. While maybe I don’t hunt as hard physically as I used to, I still enjoy it just as much.”

Local hunter Bill Berg, and hunting dog Bodi, survey the results of a successful day in the field.

Responsible hunters help Montana’s wilderness thrive

By Abby Weingarten

No one loves an irresponsible hunter. There is always room for self-improvement, so strive to be the safest, most respectful hunter you can this season.

Each year, there are reports of hunters trespassing, littering, and vandalizing Block Management Area (BMA) boxes. Considering this unfortunate reality, staff members from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) are always urging hunters to follow these guidelines:

• Avoid littering. Not only is littering careless but it is also against the law (this includes improperly disposing of toilet paper or managing human waste).

• Leave gates as you find them. If a gate is closed, close it behind you. If the gate is open (pulled back to the fence), leave it open. If you are unsure, contact the landowner or public land agency.

• Know your target and beyond. When hunting, be sure of what you are shooting (species, sex, etc.), and know what lies beyond your target (houses, outbuildings, livestock, vehicles, and other hunters).

• Be aware of standing crop. Do not hunt, walk, or drive in fields that have not yet been harvested.

• Stay weed-free. Check clothes, dogs, and vehicles for weeds and weed seeds to help prevent the spread to other private and public lands.

• Do not drive on muddy roads. Unless you encounter a well-graveled road, walk.

• Avoid ridge driving and driving to overlooks. Not only is this a poor strategy while hunting, but it is also considered driving off-road if the area is not already an established trail.

• Do not park on roads or gateways. Move off the roads to avoid people who might be moving farm equipment. Find a designated parking area or an approach that is clearly not being used for equipment.

• Be vigilant about driving off-road. While hunting on private property, do not drive off established roads or trails without landowner permission. Off-road travel on public land, including game retrieval, is prohibited unless it is designated as open. Consult the appropriate land agency or land maps for specifics.

• Ask for permission to hunt. Montana law requires permission for all hunting on private land. Even if the land is not posted, hunters must have permission from the landowner, lessee, or agent before hunting on private property.

• Completely fill out BMA slips. Hunters who do not correctly fill out block management slips are hunting without permission.

• Know your location. Whether you are hunting on public

land, private land, or land enrolled in an access program (such as block management), it is your responsibility to know where you are to avoid trespassing. Maps are always available, as are GPS chips and cell phone apps for orientation.

• Familiarize yourself with the rules about accessing public lands. Access to public lands (on a private road) through private land requires permission from the private landowner, lessee, or agent.

• Camp responsibly. Camping is allowed on most public lands, but permission is needed to camp on private property and BMAs.

• Prevent fires. Be aware of fire danger at all times and use precautions.

• Know the overall rules. Consult BMA maps for specific rules on block management property, including driving on roads, parking areas, no-shooting zones, walk-in-only areas, camping, number of hunters allowed, and game retrieval. Rules for most land agencies can be found on maps and brochures. Go to the appropriate agency website or local office for more information.

Report trespassing, vandalism, or other criminal activity to 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668).

By Abby Weingarten

Trapper education in Montana has become more important than ever, and the state’s wildlife experts are making sure the public has the right tools to succeed this season.

Online coursework and in-person field days from the instructors at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) are available for interested hunters. There is a little bit of everything in this customized program – from history lessons to interactive training experiences.

Trapping is considered one of the oldest methods for harvesting wildlife. Since prehistory, humans have trapped wild animals for food, fur, and sport. In the United States, Native Americans were the first trappers; their catches provided meat for consumption, and fur and leather for clothing. When European explorers first arrived in North America, they discovered the plentiful fur resource and wanted to profit from it.

So settlers from England, Holland, and France set

up a fur trade with Europe. Clothing made from North American beaver and mink became popular in Europe, and fur trading became a thriving business. The selling of fur led to the expansion of North American colonies, and trappers were hired to explore the deep wilderness to trap more furbearing animals. Trading posts expanded into major cities and, by the 19th century, the fur trade was an enormous industry.

All of this rich historical information is part of the FWP’s

trapper education program. This type of trapper education is actually required for residents ages 12 and older wishing to purchase a Montana Class C trapping license (specifically hunters who have not purchased a trapping license in at least three prior years). The course also satisfies the educational requirement for wolf trapping in Montana.

The self-paced, online, course is available to anyone ages 11 years and older. Once the online course is completed, students must attend a required in-person field day. Upon successful completion of both components, including a written test, students are eligible to purchase a Class C trapping license.

Montana residents must be at least 12 years old to purchase this license. Children ages six to 11 years old must purchase a Class C-3 trapping license and are exempt from the requirement to take trapper education courses (they also have limitations regarding which animals they can trap).

Trapper education field days are taught by skilled FWP volunteer instructors, which allows students to gain handson experience with equipment and learn about safety, laws, regulations, ethics, and fur handling.

It’s never too early to learn about trapping – exploring the lessons of the method’s past in order to ensure a

Properly Dispose of Game Animal Carcasses

Carrying on the tradition of wild game cooking

By Derrick Calhoun | APG Montana

In Montana, like all across the world, cooking is an important skill to have. In Montana, though, there is a long tradition of hunting not only as a sport, but also as a way to provide food for families. The tradition of cooking wild game is still going strong. Justin Clearwater is someone who loves to cook and makes a lot of meals using wild game. Clearwater, 31 of Miles City, says he is pretty much a self-taught cook.

“I have basically a sixth-grade education, so everything I have learned is from God sending people into my life,” he said. I have also learned a lot from watching YouTube videos, the biggest influence probably being Gordon Ramsey.” Clearwater has been cooking since he was around 13 years old, but really started to get good at it around 10 years ago when he obtained a smoker. “I had always wanted to get a smoker, and once I finally did I started using it all the time,” Clearwater said. “I burnt a lot of meat on the way to getting it right.” Clearwater said he has even accidentally lit himself on fire a fair number of times during his learning period.

His experience with cooking with wild game started after he had developed quite a few cooking skills. “I got into hunting a little late, around when I was 18 years old, so didn’t do a lot of cooking with wild game at first,” he said. “I have been fishing since I was eight, so I can fish anything.” At 18 years old, Clearwater went hunting for the first time, thanks to his guide Jack Layton, and that experience was not only the beginning of a love for hunting for Clearwater, but also a love for cooking with wild game. Cooking with wild game can be challenging, according to Clearwater. “It really takes a lot of skill, especially with wild game, to not overcook it or turn it into a rubber ball,” he said. “It takes a lot of time and discipline to cook it well, and that’s how I live my life, disciplined.” Clearwater also explained that when it comes to wild game, every part of the process is important. “Even the way you process the meat, the whole process all goes into how it tastes,” he said. “What the animal was doing, if it was running, it all affects the flavor and quality. Same for how the animal is cleaned and prepared.” The same is true with fish, and how not cleaning them the right way can all go into its taste, he added. “It’s really important how you treat the animal from life to death,” he added. Clearwater has experience cooking almost any type of wild game and fish native to the area. He has cooked elk, antelope and whitetail deer, to name a few, as well as in his words “any fish in the

river that you can think of.”

Sturgeon is probably his favorite fish to cook, starting with how challenging they are to catch. When it comes to preparing sturgeon, Clearwater noted it really takes a delicate knife to filet them. “The meat is a little more dense, like chicken, it holds up better,” he said. “It’s delicious.” He also said that he has worked a lot with antelope, despite it being a bit unpopular with some people. Clearwater explained that it really comes down to knowing how to cook it right, just like any other food. Clearwater’s favorite thing to cook is backstraps, something he said most hunters will say is their favorite. A recent dish that Clearwater worked on was an elk sirloin tip roast. He explained how he decided not to cook it in a crockpot but to sear it on all sides instead while laying it on a cut clove of garlic that the meat sat on while it was cooking. For seasoning, Clearwater explained that he usually always goes with what he calls GPS: garlic, pepper and salt. “You can’t go wrong with those,” he said. Follow Clearwater Kitchen on Facebook to learn more about the food Clearwater cooks.

ELK ROAST RECIPE

Thaw meat properly. Sear it on all sides.

Cut garlic or onions in half and set them in a cooking dish that is at least four inches deep and big enough to hold the roast. Put a few pats of butter on top of the roast.

Preheat oven to 325°F

Season roast with garlic, pepper and salt (GPS) generously.

Let the roast cook in the over until the internal temperature reaches 130°F

When it reaches that temperature pull it out and let it rest for 10 minutes (the meat’s internal temperature will rise another five degrees as it sits).

While the roast is sitting you can use a spoon to scoop up the juices from the roast and butter and spoon it over the top of the roast to add to the flavor.

Grab a sharp knife and slice the roast into half inch to oneinch thick slices.

Spoon more juice over the individual slices for bonus flavor.

Don’t let the cuteness of wild baby animals fool you!

Stay safe.

By Abby Weingarten

It’s only human to look at a fuzzy, furry baby animal and want to pet, snuggle, and love it. But think twice.

The best way to help baby animals survive in the wilderness throughout Montana is to completely leave them alone, according to the experts at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). Any efforts to help these animals could end up harming them and reducing their chances of surviving in the wild.

Wild animals care for their young much differently than humans do, and this approach needs to be treated with understanding and respect.

One strategy that some species – particularly those that are typically preyed upon by other animals, such as deer, rabbits, and birds – use is to distance themselves from their young for many hours at a time. This method helps animal parents keep predators away from their babies.

Fawns, for example, are born without a scent, so it is safer for them if their mother, who has a scent, is not nearby. This strategy also can distract a predator into focusing on the doe rather than its offspring.

Wild animals are best suited to stay in areas where they have plenty of food, water, shelter, and space to roam.

Baby racoons, ground squirrels, and rabbits can also carry zoonotic diseases that can infect humans, including plague, hemorrhagic diseases, and tularemia. The potential to spread disease is as much a concern as the fact that, once a human picks up a baby animal, that animal usually cannot be rehabilitated.

FWP does not accept, hold, or rehabilitate moose, deer, elk, and most other animals, including waterfowl. If you bring a deer or elk to officials at FWP, you will be asked to take the animal back to the site where it was found. If the animal cannot be returned, it may need to be humanely euthanized.

So resist the urge to cuddle or comfort a baby animal in the wild if you happen to encounter one. Instead, let nature run its course.

For more information about living with wildlife in Montana, visit fwp.mt.gov/conservation/living-withwildlife.

HUNTING

Want to be a strategic hunter in Montana? Here’s how.

By Abby Weingarten

Hunting is a learned skill and approaching it masterfully is an artform. The state of Montana has some of the longest hunting seasons in the West, with abundant herds of game and access to vast and stunning acreage.

Wildlife managers throughout the region have structured the hunting seasons to provide a plethora of enjoyable and bountiful experiences. The experts at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) suggest that hunters refer to the guidelines below to achieve the most success this hunting season:

• Enroll in a hunter/bowhunter education course or sign up as an apprentice hunter. For those born after Jan. 1, 1985, hunter education certification information must be completed before purchasing or applying for a Montana hunting license. The apprentice hunter program allows anyone ages 10 and older to hunt for up to two years without completing a hunter education course. Certain restrictions may apply.

• Decide which species to hunt. The state of Montana manages populations of game animals, including antelope, elk, deer, ducks, geese, swans, game birds, and furbearers.

• Choose where to hunt. Montana’s 147,164 square miles of land is divided into seven administrative regions, and each region is broken down into hunting districts. The regions are numbered 1 through 7, with the hunting districts in the region corresponding to that number. Example: Region 1 hunting districts start with 1 or 001, and Region 2 starts with 2 or 002. Check unit descriptions in FWP’s Hunt Planner Map.

• Have a clear idea of when to hunt. Montana offers a six-week archery season, a 101-day waterfowl season, a five-week general big game season, spring and fall turkey and bear seasons, a six-month wolf season, and a liberal upland game bird season.

• Pick a method for hunting, such as archery or general weapon. Montana has seasons for archery and rifle/ associated methods. Check the legal restrictions and requirements.

• Get those required licenses and permits. In Montana, there are two primary types of licenses: general licenses that can be purchased over the counter, and special limited permits and licenses that are available through drawings. The availability of special limited permits and licenses is dependent on the hunting district and/or species, as well as the hunting equipment (such as rifles or archery tools).

• Know the legal boundaries of the hunting sites. The law requires every hunter to have permission from the landowner, lessee, or agent before hunting on private property, regardless of whether that land is posted.

For more information, visit fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/ hunting-licenses.

Hunt Quietly

focused on squelching today’s “hyper-commercialized” hunting culture

By Derrick Calhoun | APG Montana

Hunt Quietly is a movement with the goal to restore the grassroots traditions that haver defined hunting in America which they feel are being displaced by a “hyper-commercialized pay-to-play model.”

This movement was founded by Dr. Matt Rinella, a research ecologist and lifelong hunter from eastern Montana. Rinella cohosts the Hunt Quietly podcast with Jim Durkin, an environmental scientist and lifelong hunter from western Pennsylvania.

“Hunt Quietly is based on the premise that hunting in America is becoming much more challenging, which is something that has been happening over the course of my whole life in my view, and I am 53 years old,” Rinella said. “I have never encountered a period in which it has gotten better in terms of the things that everybody cares about: access, crowding, the ability to get tags, all sorts of things.”

Rinella added the movement was born out of his feeling that organizations in the country that are tasked with trying to protect and preserve hunting largely contribute to the problems.

Rinella got a look behind the scenes of one of these groups while he was on the Montana chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers board. Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is a nonprofit organization that’s mission is to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters, and wildlife.

“That gave me a peak into how hunting non-profits work, and that solidified my view that whereas they do some good, they also do a lot of bad for the existing grassroots hunting community,” he said. “So I decided that if I am going to do advocacy, I am going to try and address the problems that I see, so I started doing this.”

Hunt Quietly has 10 members who work on the different aspects of their group, which includes their podcast, doing research, a Reddit page, and an Instagram account.

One of the biggest issues that Rinella and Hunt Quietly think is harming the hunting culture is hunting content creators on social media.

“Their hunting content we feel is extremely deleterious to the future of hunting,” Rinella said. “It has turned access into a commodity that people are going to pay a lot of money for. That is why we believe that leasing has become more prevalent and outfitting. Because hunting content, like all forms of

advertisement, has created a pretty competitive market for the thing that is hardest to get when you want to be a successful hunter. That isn’t a nice bow, or good hiking boots, it’s a place where there isn’t a lot of hunters and there’s a lot of game. That is the thing that gets commodified.”

Rinella added that he thinks there are a lot of hunters in the country that see this lease-land hunting and outfitters as kind of illegitimate.

“Some hunters feel like it should be about getting something to eat by your wits, and the hide, horns and meat and the personal satisfaction,” he said. “It shouldn’t be about drawing attention to yourself and getting sponsors on Instagram.”

Rinella said that he will consider one of their goals achieved if they could be successful in convincing a sizable part of the hunting community that consuming hunting content is bad for hunting.

“We want to get people to realize that by watching this stuff you are feeding into the hyper-commodification of hunting,” he said.

Rinella explained that even in Montana there are content

Dr. Matt Rinella, a Montana research ecologist and lifelong hunter who founded the Hunt Quietly movement.

creators who lease out expensive hunting property using money they made from sponsors for their content. In some of these cases, that leased property was once a part of FWP’s Block Management Program, which incentivizes private landowners to provide free public hunting access.

“The hunting industry paid for this,” he said. “The hunting industry has kind of abandoned their fiduciary responsibilities to their clients, and that is a big impetus for us doing what we do.”

Rinella continued that social media hunting content goes beyond the issues with the hunting industry.

“We believe that Instagram and Facebook, Youtube, has turned hunting into a popularity contest,” said Rinella. “Where Jim got a bigger buck than Joe, so Jim decided he better lease some more land so he can get the better one next year. There are all these outward facing motivations for hunting that weren’t there prior to social media. There is no leadership being provided on this by the organizations, they all have Instagrams themselves. They all have accounts and feed into the same ethos that defines hunting in America today

5 tips for archery hunting success

From FWP

Montana’s archery hunting season for deer and elk began Sept. 7, and just like in every other form of hunting, being successful while hunting with a bow requires careful planning and preparation.

If you plan to hunt during the archery season, here are five tips for being safe, responsible and successful:

• Practice, practice, practice. Being proficient in archery takes patience and repetition. Practice shooting your bow in the same manner in which you’ll be hunting. Begin practicing well before the hunting season. Know and respect your personal limitations and effective range while hunting.

• Know the rules. Purchase a bow and arrow license, and know what, where and when your license allows you to hunt. Be sure your archery equipment meets state requirements for hunting. Questions? Check the current hunting regulations or contact FWP.

• Plan to get meat out of the field and cooled. Because archery hunting season occurs earlier in the year, temperatures can still be warm, day and night. Be prepared to remove and process your harvested animal quickly so the meat does not spoil.

• Be sure before you shoot. Only take a shot if it is safe and ethical to do so. Ensure that there are no unsafe shooting conditions, obstructions or significant wind; and that the animal is within your effective range and is in a position for you to make an ethical shot. Be sure that the animal you intend to harvest meets your license’s requirements for species, sex and antler/horn class.

• Be bear aware. Bear attacks are rare. However, occupied grizzly bear habitat is expanding in Montana. So, watch for bear sign. Hunt with a partner and carry bear spray. Pack out your harvested animal as quickly as possible.

To purchase a Montana bow and arrow license, a hunter must provide a certificate of completing the National Bowhunter Education Foundation course, or provide any prior year’s bowhunting/archery stamp, tag, permit, or license from any state or province. To become certified, please visit fwp.mt.gov/education/ hunter.