GUIDE 2014
HUNTING OUTLOOK FALL
FISHING GUIDE GRIZZLY
SAFETY TIPS 2014 Cody Enterprise Publication
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CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 3
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G N I T N HU O O K L T U O
PGS. 38-43
GUIDE INDEX Nik Schmidt – Deer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Ron Harris – Survival . . . . . . . . . 6-7 Hunt safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Bob Meinecke – ‘Elusive Draw’ . 10-11 Dick Kosnik – Elk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Life in the mountains . . . . . . . . 14-15 Living the dream . . . . . . . . . . . 18-20 Ginger the English Setter . . . . . . . . 22 Hunter Koster – Deer . . . . . . . . . . 24 Brucellosis testing . . . . . . . . . . 26-27 Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29 Bruce Knapp – Turkey . . . . . . . . . . 36 Sighting in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Ted Ley – Deer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Bear safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35 Tristen Gerhardt – Antelope . . . . . 36 Wyo G&F – Hunting outlook . . 38-43 Tim Wade – Fishing outlook . . 44-45 Wade McMillin – Ducks . . . . . . . . 46 Bob Meinecke – Shooting . . . . 48-49 Harry Reichman – Mountain goat . . 50
P.O. Box 1090, 3101 Big Horn Ave., Cody, Wyo., 82414 (307) 587-2231 codyenterprise.com
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Editor: Amber Peabody AdvErtising: John Malmberg, Donna Merkel, Baely Lofink, Megan McCormick, Sara Reid and Bill McPherson Production: Cassie Capellen, Jeff Carter and John Sides (Wildlife photos courtesy Yellowstone Park)
4 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
DEER HUNT
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Nik Schmidt
Nik Schmidt shot this deer last year on private land outside Cody. (Intrepid Outdoors photo)
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 5
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6 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
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Dealing with Ron Harris has 18 years of experience with Search and Rescue and says common sense is important when doing any outdoor activity.
Hunting
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the elements
Harris survives being out overnight in -16 temperatures By AMBER PEABODY Special sections editor Most people stranded outside overnight in minus-16 degree temperatures might start to panic. But not Ron Harris. In late November last year he took two friends from California hunting west of Casper in the Rattlesnake Mountains. Harris, 67, spotted a herd of elk around 4 p.m. so he and hunter Duane Spickler took off after it while friend Dusty Engle waited in the truck. “We went down a ravine and the elk kept moving away from us,” Harris said. “We ended up quite a ways from the vehicle.” The two started back but it got dark and they were still about six miles from the truck. Armed with a flashlight, water, snacks and matches. Harris decided they should stop and build a fire in case the flashlight lost power. Harris found a spot with plenty of firewood that also provided some protection from the elements. “Duane was worried,” he said. “But it only took me two matches to build a fire. We took turns sleeping and throwing more wood on the fire.” Meanwhile, back at the truck, Engle was growing concerned. He called for help and the sheriff’s office began searching for the pair. “They asked him if we smoked because if you don’t you’re not as likely to carry matches,” Harris said. “They also worried about our ages.” The sheriff’s deputies came upon them about 6 a.m. “I was surprised to see them,” Harris said. “If they’d said anything about being lost I wasn’t going to go with them because I knew where I was. But they just asked if we were OK. I think Duane was tickled they showed up and we got a ride out.”
We went down a ravine and the elk kept moving away from us. Ron Harris Hunter
One of the reasons Harris remained calm throughout the ordeal is he volunteered with Search and Rescue for 18 years. “Most of the stuff they teach you is common sense,” he said. “You should always wear plenty of warm clothes and carry water so you don’t get dehydrated.” Harris also always has windproof and waterproof matches, and an old 35 millimeter film canister. “I put cotton balls saturated in Vaseline in it,” he said. “It’s a great fire starter because they burn for one minute. The Vaseline is also good for your lips.” He said some people carry pitch or flint with them, but there are many modern products on the market that make starting fires easier. “You don’t have to revert to the old days,” he said. “But you can hardly beat a bic lighter.” Another benefit is that Harris has been hunting since “before he could walk” and feels comfortable outdoors. When he was just 3, his dad and a friend were hunting and were close to reaching the limit on birds.
“On the 10th bird my dad shot it and crippled it and he wanted to go out with 10 birds and 10 shots,” he said. “He took off after it and told me to stay put on his jacket. Of course I wandered off so when they found me they put me in the truck and wouldn’t let me go with them. I was so mad I ate both their lunches.” He began hunting near Casper in 2006 with his nephew. Once when they were out together they saw what they thought was a dead coyote hanging on a stock fence. As they got closer, though, the two realized it was a yearling elk calf caught and hung upside down in the fence. “We thought it was dead but then we got closer and realized it was alive,” he said. “We cut it out and stood it up and it ran off.” Another year he bulldogged an elk when he and a group were hunting out of Big Piney. “Four people in our group hadn’t gotten an elk yet so the ones who had snuck around to drive a herd of elk toward the hunters,” he said. As Harris started down to push the herd, he startled a cow laying behind a tree. She ran off and they took off down the trail following the cow. She had been shot and had a broken right front leg. “She bailed over the side of a hill and I went around to head her off,” he said. “The next thing I know I’m right beside her. I just grabbed her neck and sat down with her until one of the others came over.” After last fall’s overnight adventure, Harris and Spickler continued hunting, but Spickler wasn’t able to get his elk. “I put him on some but he didn’t get one,” he added. “I don’t think he wants to come back hunting with me anymore.” n
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HUNT SAFELY Pack ‘common sense’ survival kit when going outdoors When hunting or backpacking in the winter, the Park County Sheriff’s Office recommends these minimal survival tips and gear. The listed items will easily fit into a backpack for hunting or hiking. You could survive the elements, if you had to, with this survival kit until help arrives. Remember the time tested saying: It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. • First and foremost, leave a written plan of your hunt/ trip information with friends and family, in the event of an emergency. Provide dates including departure and arrival, locations and hunt units. If the unexpected happens, then someone will be looking for you and they will know where to look. • Pack sufficient and appropriate clothing for the conditions especially in winter. Take along warm clothing (wool, fleece, thinsulate, gore-tex), gloves and blankets. And pack them in ziplock bags to insure they stay dry. • Take along at least two flashlights, a portable GPS (map capable), plenty of extra batteries, a compass and maps. • A cell phone with portable outdoor charger or an extra battery is especially helpful. Even in areas where you think service is not available, a 911 call may get through. And cell phones on enhanced 911 will pinpoint your position to emergency responders. If you are on a wilderness hunt and are 10-plus miles into the woods, the possibility of getting lost or injured is significant. Look into buying or renting a satellite phone for the trip.
First and foremost, leave a written plan for your hunt/trip information with family and friends, in the event of an emergency. • Also, an important piece of equipment (and cheaper than a satellite phone) for backcountry hunting or backpacking is an emergency “personal locator beacon” (SPOT devices) which can be bought or rented. These devices can summon help with the touch of a button. • The ability to start a fire can mean the difference between life and death. Always carry a fire starter kit that includes flammable tinder such as cotton balls soaked with real petroleum jelly stuffed in a film canister. There also are various commercially available tinder such as flammable paste or packaged tinder. Butane lighters are inexpensive and preferable to matches because they provide a stronger and longer flame. Carry at least two lighters.
If you decide to carry matches, be certain you have a sufficient supply and keep them in a waterproof container. • Always carry a first aid kit and, if possible, two space blankets. A Leatherman-type multi-tool also can be helpful in an emergency. Always carry a sharp knife. • A good water filtration system also is essential although melting snow, if available, can be done if a fire is available. • Always carry high energy snack foods for emergencies. Food such as energy gel, Cliff bars, protein bars and jerky are preferable. • Pack more than enough water and carry more than enough water during day trips, know where water sources are in your hunting area and, if possible, mark them in your GPS. In a hunting situation, you will have your hunting clothes on and your weapon with you. Keep all your gear with you and don’t start shedding and throwing away gear in an emergency situation. Your hunting backpack will weigh 15-25 pounds. Get in shape and exercise before you hunt. If you get separated and/or lost, hunker down, seek or build a shelter, start a fire and stay put until help arrives. If you continue to wander, you will use up needed energy and make it more difficult for rescuers to find you. And remember to pack your common sense. If it looks like a storm – don’t go out or at the least, stay in your camp. If it looks too dangerous – stay back. If it’s getting dark – go back to camp. By knowing your limitations and avoiding potential hazards, you increase your odds of your outing being just that – a good day out. n
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When going hunting make sure you are wearing warm clothing and carry a survival kit.
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THE
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ELUSIVE
No luck in 40 years of applying for mountain goat tag By BOB MEINECKE Enterprise outdoors columnist About the only big game animal native to Wyoming I have not been fortunate enough to hunt is the mountain goat. For more than 30 years I’ve put in for one of those elusive tags, but never was blessed to be drawn for that extremely limited issue. Now, due to the ravages of age and the sins of a mis-spent youth, it’s not even a consideration. The only way I could hunt one even if I drew one of those extremely scarce tags would be to hire a chopper and be heli-lifted into the mountains and set down a couple of hundred yards from a goat. Then I’d have to hope a .243 or 250 Savage would be enough gun to humanely harvest one of those beautiful beasts, because what’s left of my shoulders simply can’t stand heavy recoil anymore. Yeah, that’s not going to happen anytime soon and it’s probably illegal anyway. And really, that’s not a hunt, it’s more of an execution. Not to complain, because I’ve had my fair share of excellent hunting as a younger, stronger person, drawing two big horn sheep tags and, after 27 years of trying, pulling a moose tag. It’s time to pass the baton to younger, more deserving hunters. Still, in the almost 40 years I put in for a goat tag, I had hoped to luck into one. It’s especially perplexing when some folks draw a tag first time out. That and why is there no point system for mountain goat tags? It’s not like I don’t know about goats. I’ve spent many hours watching and stalking them through the years, but using a camera instead of a gun to collecct some fine specimens.
Which is, to a point, a relevant factor simply because I got to know them well enough that shooting one would have been somewhat anticlimactic. I get a kick out of these hotshot guides and celebrity hunters on TV who claim this species is the hardest to hunt of any of the popular North American big game mountain species. Not in my experience. The misnamed mountain “goats” are, as a general rule, dumber than a 2x4. They’re not even members of the goat family. Actually, despite the fact that they are somewhat closer related to true antelopes, basically they appear to be a separate species. That’s similar to the pronghorn antelope that isn’t even an antelope, but a species unto itself. Of course, most of the folks who go after the white beasts are usually flatlanders whose idea of a thrilling adventure is visiting Yellowstone Park. Nothing against the park, but you can’t even hunt there. Plus, it is far from being the only game in the mountains and, with their manicured trails, porta potties, information signs and park rangers to help if things get dicey, I can’t even consider it a wilderness experience. Not with several million humans visiting the place every year. Besides, in my humble opinion, true wilderness isn’t accessible by concrete and asphalt roads. No, after nearly 50 years of hunting the high country, to me the true mountain trophy is a bigracked mule deer, an 8- to 10-year-old behemoth of the species that seeks solitude in the more remote reaches of those granite spires that truly are the wild world.
Like Golden trout they are uncommon to the ninth degree and, when realized, a treasure to be savored. Still, like the humble brook trout, they are everyman’s game, within the grasp of all those who choose to try, blue collar proletariat or high roller. Another positive is that apparently they don’t do well in a high fence captive breeding program that many game farms have used to breed domestic mutant super whitetails. These are sold for mega-bucks to the egotists who have no concept of true fair chase hunting. Wyoming doesn’t have that. Ninety percent of the free range hunting that defines our state is solidly fair chase. Essentially, all it takes is a current tag for the deer, legs to get you there, arms that can hold a rifle steady, a back that can tote a heavy pack into and out of true wilderness and eyes that can see clearly through the rifle scope when the moment of truth arrives. Oh yes, and the abilities of an athlete to calm the shaking hands, control the adrenaline rush, and make the shot. That, my friends, is what hunting is and should be about. If you’re an archer, it’s even more sporting. I guess, after due reflection, that I haven’t had it so bad without realizing that elusive goat tag after all. Every year in the fall there was always those magnificent mountain mule deer to study and pursue through some of the most scenic country in the world. For a poor boy, it doesn’t get much better than that. n
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CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 11
DRAW The only way I could even hunt one of those extremely scarce tags (today) would be if they heli-lifted me into the mountains.
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ELK HUNT
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Dick Kosnik Dick and Linda Kosnick, with an elk he shot in October 2012 in the Big Horn Mountains near Ten Sleep.
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 13
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14 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
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Life in the mountains
Back in the day, (from left) hunting guide Gary Fales led Ed Webster, Dick Scarlett and Bill Scarlett at the top of Cougar Pass.
Fales follows parents into business, enjoys 53 years as hunting guide By AMBER PEABODY Special sections editor For 53 years Gary Fales spent each fall roaming the mountains as a hunting guide. “Being in the mountains is the place to be,” he says. “Working with the horses is the part I liked most – when you had 40 head of pack horses and 20 riders moving up the trail, clicking along.” Gary’s parents Glenn and Alice Fales purchased Rimrock Ranch in 1956. Every fall Glenn was busy guiding while Alice was the camp cook. “Guiding was how you extended your season,” said Gary, 70. “You hunted bear in the spring, had dudes in the summer and hunted in the fall.”
As he was growing up his father made sure he spent time with all the oldtimers including Freddie Garlow, Ned Frost, George Dabich, Phil Bates, Willis Bell and John Keller. “I wrangled for most of them and learned from every one of them,” he said. “Where trails lay and why creeks are named like they are. It was the history of how to do stuff.” When Gary turned 18, he purchased his guide license and joined his parents. “My parents were doing it, so I did it,” he said. “In 1963 there were not many opportunities in Cody other than hunting and riding.” Fales guided with his parents until 1973 and then went out on his own. When his parents retired in 1993, he returned to take over the operation.
He said he always looked forward to opening day. “Opening day is my birthday and I couldn’t wait,” he added. “It’s always fun.” He had camps around the Cody area wthroughout the years including on Rattlesnake Mountain and near the southeast corner of Yellowstone Park. “I’ve ridden all over and guided quite a bit of country,” he said. “I like the Thorofare, North Fork, South Fork, Greybull River and Sunlight Basin. “How can you beat that?” He’s guided his share of celebrities including former President George H.W. Bush, former White House chief of staff James Baker, First Lady Laura Bush and musician Ted Nugent.
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“You worry about how they’ll do because you want them to do well, but they’re also the most easygoing people,” he said. “There’s actually more pressure on you with the average hunter because often for them it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and they’ve saved for it their whole lives. “When they get their animal, it’s an incredible rush and is as much fun for me as it is for them.” He said there were good years and bad, but most of his guide trips were successful. “This area continues to have big herds of elk and the sheep always are good,” he adds. “Deer can be hit and miss.” He had his share of mishaps, such as horses getting loose, and a few close encounters with wild animals. “I’ve had a couple bears come at me,” he said. “Most of the time when they attack it’s a desperate bear with no teeth. But bears tend to stay in the same area and almost get to know you when you come through every year.” One of the most difficult parts of any hunt is whether or not a hunter is familiar with their gun. “You can adjust a hunt to their abilities, but if they can’t handle their gun that makes it difficult,” he said. Fales stepped away from guiding five years ago, but still owns Rimrock Ranch and Gary Fales Outfitting. “I’m OK with it at this point,” he says. “Of course, you’d like to be young forever, but I feel good about the group taking over. “They’re top notch.” n
A typical camp during a summer pack trip.
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Gary Fales leads a pack string over Deer Creek Pass near Suicide Point.
Pack horses water at Wiggins Fork.
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18 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
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Living the dream
Tim O’Leary shot this black bear in May 2010. He has been working as a hunting guide since 2010.
O’Leary prefers working as a hunting guide instead of desk job By AMBER PEABODY Special sections editor When Tim O’Leary graduated from college he had a choice – take the conventional path and become a high school biology teacher or try for his ideal job as a hunting guide. He chose the latter. “After high school I decided to go to college to get a degree for a backup
plan,” he said. “But I don’t like crowds and wouldn’t do well sitting at a desk. Guiding is something I’ve always wanted to do. I like hunting and being in the mountains.” He had some friends working for an outfitting business and got a job there too. Since then he’s also worked as an outfitter. His most recent camp is in Ishawooa and hunts take place mainly on the South Fork.
“I enjoy seeing other people get excited to fulfill their dream hunt,” he said. “To see them get super excited is fun.” One hunt that stands out is when a 12-year-old boy from Maryland came up to camp by himself. “His grandpa was from Cody and wanted his grandson to experience hunting here, but he was too old to go himself,” he said.
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CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 19
Guiding is something I’ve always wanted to do. I like hunting and being in the mountains. Tim O’Leary Hunting guide
So the boy’s mother met O’Leary, 29, at the trailhead and told him, “Take care of my boy.” They spent seven days hunting for an elk and a mule deer. He slept with all of us guys since he was by himself,” O’Leary said. “It was a tough week. It was cold and snowing and he stuck it out. I’ve had older hunters complain more than this kid did.” After a few misses the boy got his elk on the second to last night and his deer on the last night. “He never gave up,” O’Leary said. On another hunt O’Leary guided a man who was deaf. “We used a lot of hand signals and notes, and he could read lips too,” he said. “In the heat of the moment, when things were happening fast, it got difficult to communicate, but he was a cool guy and I’ll never forget that trip.” There’s also the occasional mishap. Once a hunter was loading a gun and it went off right behind O’Leary. “I don’t know how close it came to me, but it was stinking loud and scared me,” he said. Last year it was a struggle to get hunters’ tags filled. “It was an odd year with the weather,” he said. “Because of all the snow we had early, the elk left.” Two years ago 100 percent of his hunters’ tags were filled and the year before that the success rate was 80 percent.
Tim O’Leary shot this wolf in late December 2012. It was the first season wolves could be hunted in Wyoming.
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Tim O’Leary harvested this elk in October 2011. He doesn’t have much time to hunt himself because he’s so busy guiding others. “This year should be a good year,” he added. “We’ve had good moisture early and there are no fires. “But it all depends on the weather.” O’Leary began hunting with his father when he was young. He’s hunted his share of big game animals, including an elk that scored just under 350, as well as waterfowl and game birds. About four years ago he killed a bear and in 2012 he shot a wolf. “If you can hunt it, I’ll go try it,” he says. “The wolf was cool because it was the first year to hunt them in Wyoming.”That December the wolf
quota hadn’t been filled in an area so he and a friend decided to go hunt it. “It had snowed two inches the night before, but the wind didn’t blow so we were able to cut some tracks,” he said. “We followed them until my buddy got a shot and missed. “Somehow in the whole melee I was able to track one down and get a shot. There was a lot of luck in that.” Two years ago one of his friends drew an elk tag and their only time to go was at Thanksgiving. “The forecast was bad, but we went anyway,” O’Leary said. “A storm blew
in and it was cold and we couldn’t see anything.” After a couple of days the weather cleared and they ventured out. “We saw one elk and he shot it,” he said. “We didn’t realized how big it was until we got closer. It was the biggest bull I’ve ever been a part of killing.” Since he began guiding he hasn’t had much time to hunt himself. Last year he had three days, the most he’s had since he started. This year he drew a late season elk tag. “Some day I hope to get a sheep tag and a moose too,” he adds. n
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CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 21
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22 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
ON THE
Hunting
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HUNT
GINGER “Ginger,” an English Setter owned by Jake Stephens and Pat Shellady points toward a covey of chukars.
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CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 23
Enjoy your hunting experience in the Bighorn Basin-Be Safe!
24 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
DEER HUNT
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
Hunter Koster Hunter Koster shot her first deer on the South Fork in fall 2013 at age 12.
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26 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
Hunters in the Big Horn Mountains are asked to collect blood samples from elk immediately after harvest. (Photo by Cassie Capellen)
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 27
S I S O L L E C BRUGULATE FEVER & UN
Elk hunters in Big Horns asked to assist with surveillance In cooperation with the Wyoming State Veterinarian’s office, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will conduct brucellosis surveillance in the Big Horn Mountains by collecting blood samples from hunter harvested elk this fall. G&F is asking successful elk hunters to assist in this effort by collecting blood samples from elk immediately after harvest. “This is an opportunity for hunters to take an active role in helping us learn more about the potential of brucellosis infection in elk in the Big Horn Mountains,” said Tim Woolley, wildlife management coordinator with the Game and Fish in Cody. “The information gathered may also be used to keep livestock producers informed regarding the potential presence and distribution of the disease.” After two elk harvested in the Big Horns tested seropositive for brucellosis in 2012, surveillance efforts were substantially increased in the Big Horn Mountains. “Sampling in 2013 documented two additional seropositive cow elk from Hunt Area 40,” Woolley said. “Animals that test seropostive to brucellosis do not necessarily carry the disease; they could have just been exposed to the bacteria at some time in their life.”
Brucellosis surveillance efforts across the state rely on hunters voluntarily collecting blood samples from harvested elk. “Thanks to hunters, last year we received 793 blood samples from elk harvested across the entire Big Horn Mountains,” Woolley said. “Sixtyseven percent of those were useable samples, which was an increase in usable samples from 2012. To collect a useable blood sample, hunters should follow these tips: • Carry your sample kit with you in the field; collect the blood sample as soon as possible. • Blood should be collected from the neck, heart or chest cavity. • The blood sample should never be frozen; it should be kept cool. • Fill out the data section on the instruction sheet, providing specific information regarding the location and major drainage of your harvest. • Follow the packing and shipping recommendations. Use the postage-free mailer and drop it in the nearest post office box, or drop by the Cody or Sheridan Regional Offices. • Ship the sample as soon as possible (in one to two days) to prevent spoilage. A video on how to collect a blood sample from a harvested elk can be
found at wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/ wildlife-1000293.aspx. G&F will mail blood sample kits to elk hunters holding limited quota licensees for hunt areas in the Big Horn Mountains. If you do not receive one or are hunting in a general area, blood kits are available at game warden stations and the Sheridan or Cody G&F regional office. ■
Brucellosis Cell Structure
28 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
Hunting
ACCESS
2014
GUIDE
public program
Private Lands Public Wildlife ‘win-win’ for hunters, landowners The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s public access program, commonly known as the Private Lands Public Wildlife program, is a win-win for both hunters and landowners. Cody Regional Access Coordinator Dan Smith said that throughout the basin, 83 walk-in areas representing more than 51,000 acres and 11 hunter management areas representing more than 244,000 acres of access will be open to hunters this fall. In addition, access to approximately 10,000 additional acres of public land is accessible because of the hunter management areas. “The program provides public access to private land and for that access, landowners receive a modest compensation,” Smith said. “This is a win-win situation for both.”
Hunters are reminded that each property has a specific set of rules and hunter ethics and responsible behavior are imperative to the success of the program. “If hunters show respect for the land they are hunting on, the landowner is more likely to keep the property open to public access in the future,” Smith said. “Not only is it important to follow the rules, it is important to act responsibly. For example, if the ranch rules state a road is open to vehicle access, but it is so muddy that driving a vehicle down it will cause damage, it would be wise for a hunter to choose not to use the road.” Walk-in area rules and maps are available online. Unlike walk-in areas, permission slips are required for Hunter Management Areas and
also are available online, wgfd.wyo. gov/plpwhmprogram/default.aspx. Access Yes donations are the main source of funding for the Private Lands Public Wildlife program. “These donations are used strictly for public access; not to pay salaries, buy new equipment or pay for any other department expense,” Smith said. “We have more landowners interested in joining the program than we have money available. If every license buyer donated just one dollar for every license they purchase or apply for, the annual budget for access could nearly double. “This program provides an inexpensive way for hunters and anglers to dramatically increase their opportunities on private lands.” On average, each dollar donated opens four acres of access. ■
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 29
Good Luck This Fall! Have a safe & productive hunting season.
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30 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
TURKEY HUNT
Butch Knapp shot this Gould’s Turkey in Sonora, Mexico.
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
Butch Knapp
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 31
SIGHTin
for accuracy and ethics
Hunting ethics begin long before going afield “The responsibility and benefits of sighting in runs deeper than just having the personal confidence of knowing where your bullet will hit,” said Jim Dawson, hunter education coordinator for the Wyoming Game and Fish. “By taking the time to become a marksman, you show great respect for the quarry by having the ability to make the quickest, cleanest kills possible. As with most activities, taking the time to practice marksmanship will pay dividends while hunting.” Dawson encourages hunters to practice shots at a variety of distances to help prepare for a variety of situations that might be encountered afield. Ethics also pertain to shooting practice. Game and Fish receives occasional complaints of persons sighting in rifles by shooting off public roads into private land. Shooting off public roads is not only illegal, but it is also illegal to shoot on private lands unless permission from the landowner has been obtained. “Keep in mind that not every forest user is a hunter,” Dawson said. “If you target practice on the forest make sure you’re well away from other people and that you are shooting into a hill to stop all bullets. As with any activity, clean up all trash, even before the actual hunt.” Hunters are encouraged to sight in on public shooting ranges or to join a shooting club. Some private ranges conduct sight-in days where non-members can practice with their hunting rifles for a nominal fee. The G&F urges hunters to conduct themselves afield with the perspective of continuing the hunting legacy for future generations. ■
32 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
DEER HUNT Sarah Christensen (front, left) and husband Dusty helped friends Ted (back, left) and Mike Ley from California. Ted was 97 years old when he shot this whitetail. His son Mike harvested the other one.
Hunting
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GUIDE
Mike and Ted Ley
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 33
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34 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
BEARSafety By TARA HODGES G&F Information and education specialist
Hunting in grizzly bear country can present some unusual and challenging experiences. Hunters should realize they may be predisposed to sudden encounters and conflicts with bears and that proper preparation and metal preparedness is the key to reducing risk. Quietly pursuing game in the field, masking human scent, moving into the wind, and being active during dusk and dawn increase the probability that you will surprise a bear at close range and, in turn, a bear will behave defensively. Also activities such as handling a game carcass in the field or in camp and calling elk may bring a bear to you. Despite these predispositions, with preparation and the proper knowledge, there are many ways you can avoid conflicts with bears in the field including: • Always hunt or call with a partner and stay within sight of each other. • Remain alert and watchful for bear activity; avoid “tunnel vision” while pursuing game. • Learn to recognize bear sign such as scat, tracks and diggings. • Know where seasonal food sources are present and either avoid or be especially cautious in those areas. • Be aware that the presence of ravens and other scavengers is a good indication that carcasses or gut piles are nearby and a bear may be in the area. • Carry a defense readily accessible. The knowledge of how to use your defense should be automatic. Take special precautions when handling game carcasses in the field and in camp. The best way to minimize conflicts over a carcass is to pack and remove the game meat out of the field as quickly as possible. While field dressing game, have your hunting partner
Hunting
2014
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 35
GUIDE
STAYING SAFE IN BEAR COUNTRY act as a sentinel to watch for an approaching bear and have a defense readily available. If you must leave the carcass for any amount of time: • Separate the carcass from the gut pile with as much distance as possible. • Quarter and hang the carcass in a tree at least 10 feet from the ground and 4 feet from the trunk. • If you must leave the carcass on the ground, place it in plain view so when you return, you can see if a bear is present or if it has been disturbed prior to making your approach. • Placing something conspicuous on the carcass may help you detect if there has been a bear at the carcass. When returning to a carcass that has been left overnight, use caution. • Stop and view the carcass from a distance with binoculars. Approach the carcass upwind and make sufficient noise to alert a bear of your presence. If you detect disturbance from a distance or if the carcass has been buried, a bear has probably been to the carcass or may be bedded nearby. Never attempt to scare a bear off of a carcass it has claimed. In camp, store game meat, capes, and dirty tools/clothes at least 100 yards from your sleeping area and preferably down wind.
Bear Encounters
In most situation bears will avoid humans. If you encounter a bear in the field and it does not avoid you, you need to determine if the bear is exhibiting predatory or aggressive/defensive behavior.
In most situations, grizzly bears act defensively to protect their personal space, a food source, or their offspring. A defensive bear often displays stress behaviors such as moaning, woofing, jaw popping or paw swatting. Remember, the bear is acting aggressively to defend something and if you are not perceived as a threat, the bear should leave the area. If you encounter an aggressive/ defensive bear at close range: • Try to remain calm, slowly back out of the area, and have a defense ready. • Do not run or challenge the bear with any aggressive body language. • If the bear begins to approach, stand your ground and use bear spray if available. • If a bear makes contact or is about to make contact, drop and cover by lying flat on your stomach and inter-lacing your fingers and placing them on the back of your neck. Do not fight back. Unlike defensive bear attacks, a bear that is acting in a predatory manner is NOT defending anything. Predatory behavior is often recognized when a bear appears to be intensely interested in you or deliberately approaches you without displaying any stress behaviors. If a bear enters your tent, it is behaving in a predatory manner. In a predatory bear attack, you should fight back by any means necessary, do NOT drop and cover.
Camping in Bear Country
When you are camping, keeping a clean camp is the key to human safety and is the law on most
Forest Service lands in northwest Wyoming. Bears have a highly evolved sense of smell and are strongly attracted to human food, garbage, livestock feed and game meat. When a bear gains access to attractants in a camp, it is likely to become food-conditioned. Food-conditioned bears are less likely to avoid humans and can become destructive and even dangerous in their attempts to obtain human foods. A bear that has received a food reward from a camp will likely return or stay in the area, and may become a problem for other people. Attractants should be stored in vehicles, hard-sided campers or trailers, or bear boxes which are provided at most forest service campgrounds. Remember that attractants include stoves, grills, coolers, pet food and toiletry items as well as human food and garbage. It is best not to burn or bury any trash or left-over food in a fire pit. In a backcountry camping situations, hang food and other attractants from a tree or meat pole, 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet from the vertical support. Meat and food storage poles are provided at many popular campsite locations and should be located at least 100 yards from your sleeping area. With the proper preparation and knowledge, hunting in bear country can be an extraordinary and rewarding experience. Mental preparedness, utilization of techniques to avoid bear encounters and the knowledge of what to do in a bear encounter are all essential components of a safe and successful bear country hunt. ■
36 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
PRONGHORN HUNT
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
Tristen Gerhardt Tristen Gerhardt shot her first antelope last fall in the Big Horn Basin. (Photo by Best of the West)
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 37
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38 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
2014
Hunting
2014
G N I T N U OK H O L T OU
GUIDE
Hunting
2014
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 39
GUIDE
By GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT Populations are down in some hunting areas for various reasons, but overall conditions will be favorable this year.
Pronghorn
Pronghorn hunting in the Big Horn Basin is going to be tougher than previous years due to extended drought,. causing a reduction in pronghorn numbers and seasons designed to reduce numbers to address agricultural damage on private lands. All pronghorn populations in the southern Big Horn Basin which include the Copper Mountain herd (areas 76, 114, 115) and the 15-Mile herd (areas 77, 83, 110) are below target population objectives. Hunting seasons in these areas are going to be fairly conservative to either maintain or promote population growth. Damage on private lands from pronghorn in cultivated crops have subsided in recent years, therefore the 2014 hunting season will have fewer doe/fawn licenses in most hunt areas. In addition, type 1 and 2 license quotas will be reduced in hunt areas 77, 110 and
Mule deer populations have struggled due to harsh winters.
114. Prolonged snow cover and several sub-zero cold snaps in last December, January and February had negative effects on these pronghorn herds. Hunters should expect conservative seasons for the next several years to allow these herds to increase. In Hunt Area 80, both buck antelope and doe/fawn licenses have been reduced to allow this herd to grow. Areas 78, 81, and 82 should have similar seasons to 2013 and hunting should be good. Near Greybull, G&F suspects hemmorhagic disease also impacted overall numbers of antelope. They are seeing fewer antelope associated with private farm land so doe/fawn hunters may have to hunt a little harder. Hunters with a Type 1, any antelope tag should be pleased with the quality of buck antelope this year. Greybull Warden Bill Robertson said, “Buck quality is as good as I have seen it for several years and is likely due to good spring forage conditions.�
Deer
Mule deer numbers are still struggling in the southern portion of
the Big Horn Basin and because of this, the 2014 hunting season is predicted to be mostly fair to poor hunting. For the last few years, these deer populations have struggled with harsh winters along with yearly outbreaks of hemmorhagic disease. Because these deer populations are below target levels, doe/fawn license quotas have been reduced or eliminated in many areas to help build these populations. Some limited quota areas such as hunt areas 37, 119 and 125 should see fair to good hunting, while areas 116, 118 and 120 along with most general license areas will likely be tougher hunting. However, as long as hunters put forth some good effort, they still should be able to find a few deer. For those hunters looking to pursue white-tailed deer, you will likely see fewer deer than past years. In 2013, hemmorhagic disease caused a significant die-off of whitetailed deer in most areas. Because of this, most hunt areas will have fewer licenses and hunting opportunities in 2014. It will likely take a couple years for these populations to rebound, barring anymore disease outbreaks,
40 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
so hunters should expect reduced deer numbers and tougher hunting for a couple years. For the northern portion of the Big Horn Mountains, buck numbers have been holding steady with a slightly decreased buck harvest in 2012, and a slight improvement in 2013. The overall population still has not increased to levels seen in the mid 2000s so buck hunting will be fair to good, whereas the doe/fawn hunting opportunity will be less in some areas. Near Greybull, field personnel report numbers are down from previous years. There have been some nice older bucks observed but younger buck deer are not as numerous indicating poor fawn and yearling production/survival in past years. G&F reduced some doe/fawn licenses due to fewer damage complaints, but have kept many of those licenses in areas with chronic agricultural damage despite the population being under population objective. Mule deer hunters may have fewer older buck deer available in the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River this season. Deer populations are below desired levels and buck harvest was
relatively high during the 2012 and 2013 hunting seasons. A good fawn crop in 2012 translated into a good crop of yearling bucks in 2013, which should be noticeable to hunters in 2014. The nonresident quota was reduced and doe-fawn licenses remain at minimal levels in order to reduce harvest and increase the number of deer in these areas. Opportunities to harvest a mature buck deer in areas 105 and 106 will be good in both the later portion of the general season and the November limited quota season in 2014. Recent changes in hunting season structures should also increase the percentage of older age class bucks in Hunt Area 109.
Elk
Both the South Big Horn (areas 47-49) and Gooseberry elk herds (areas 62-64) still have plenty of elk, with numerous cow/calf licenses available in all hunt areas. Access in some portions of these hunt areas can be difficult. Hunter Management Areas are available in Areas 47, 62, 63 and 64, which provide additional hunting access on private lands. Overall, there is ample opportunity
Hunting
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for elk hunting in the southern Big Horn Basin, along with some good bull quality in most areas and we encourage hunters to take advantage of these great elk hunting opportunities. Hunters are reminded that G&F personnel will again be collecting blood and tissue samples from harvested elk this hunting season to monitor and test brucellosis seroprevalence around the Basin. The elk populations on the northern part of the Big Horns remains healthy and this fall there will be good opportunity again to harvest an elk. Good forage conditions on the summer range will hopefully hold elk on public lands later this year than in previous years so hunters will have a good chance to find an elk on the mountain. Bull hunting should be good for those hunters with a type 1 tag in their pocket, and success usually depends on weather and snow conditions. An early heavy snow may trigger their movement to private land, especially in hunt area 41. More licenses and longer seasons for cows (extended into December) should help cow elk hunters in 2014.
There is amble opportunity for elk hunting in the Big Horn Basin.
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
While elk distribution in Hunt Area 41 during the past few years may have discouraged many hunters, longer seasons should give hunters a better chance of harvesting an antlerless elk. Elk hunting near Cody has been excellent in most areas. In some areas, elk numbers exceed management objectives and antlerless elk hunting opportunities have been increased. In other areas, decreased calf survival has reduced herd productivity and required reductions in both antlered and antlerless harvest. Changes adopted in 2013 for hunt areas 55, 56, 59, and 60 will remain in place for 2014. This includes the conversion of Area 55 to limited quota hunting, a shorter twoweek general license season for nonwilderness areas in areas 56 and 59, and a rifle opening date of September 20 for Area 60. There will still be expanded
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 41
opportunities to hunt antlerless elk in Area 61 on limited quota licenses and Area 66 on a general license. The opportunity to hunt bull elk on a general license in Area 66 will be limited to the month of September in 2014. Hunt areas northwest of Cody have changed dramatically in an effort to better manage migratory and non-migratory elk population segments. Non-migratory elk that roam the area from the Shoshone Canyon to the Montana state line along Rattlesnake Mountain, Pat O’Hara Peak, Bald Ridge and the Beartooth face are all part of the same group of elk and were placed in the same hunt area (Area 54). This change involved adding the eastern portions of areas 50 and 121 into Area 54 and eliminating Area 65, resulting in a much larger Area 54. A similar change was implemented with the migratory elk of Sunlight and Crandall, as the western portion
of Area 50 and nearly all of Area 52 were combined to create a much larger Area 51. And finally, the western portion of Area 121 was added to the Dead Indian and Elk Creek drainages to form the “new” Area 53. Review the 2014 elk hunt area map closely or call the Cody Regional office for a more detailed explanation.
Moose
Moose numbers in hunt areas 9 and 11 in the Absaroka Mountains are still at low densities. Despite low permit levels, hunters have had good luck and harvested mature bulls with several nice (+45-inch) bulls being harvested. Although opportunity is limited, we anticipate the 2014 season will again have good success.
Bighorn Sheep
Sheep hunting in the Absaroka Mountains should be good for those lucky enough to draw a license. In
Sportsmen have had good luck hunting moose in the Absaroka Mountains.
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2013, hunter success in hunt areas 1-5 was at least 90 percent with average ages of harvested rams between 7-8 years old. G&F reduced licenses in areas 3, 4 and 5 as a result of documented winter losses. Fewer ram tags will also help maintain the overall number of older age class rams in the population. G&F also suspect higher than normal winter losses during 2010-11 in Area 5 and slightly reduced ram licenses there as well. Several classification/ trend flights have been conducted in Area 5 since 2011 and they have seen about 30-40 percent fewer sheep compared to the previous 10-year average. G&F predicts the 2014 season will be good, but hunters in some areas will have to put in more effort compared to previous years, especially if looking for an older ageclass ram. The number of type 6 ewe/lamb license in Area 5 is reduced as the need to decrease densities of sheep on specific winter ranges has lessened. Area 12 bighorn sheep herd in Devil’s Canyon continues to grow and do well, with several older class rams observed during summer and winter flights this past year. Hunters lucky enough to draw the coveted two licenses for this small herd will
have a great opportunity to harvest a mature ram.
Mountain Goat
Mountain goats in Area 1 are currently doing well and hunter success is generally 90-100 percent. Drawing a license is the hardest part of hunting mountain goats in Wyoming. The creation of Area 3 increased opportunity for hunters in hard to access backcountry with low densities of goats and the past three years hunters have had relatively good success there. The 2014 season should again see high success rates in the Beartooth goat herd.
Upland Game Birds, and Fall and Spring Wild Turkey
Upland game bird hunting for the southern portions of the Big Horn Basin consists of pheasants, chukars and grey partridge. Hunters shouldn’t expect much for upland bird hunting in 2014. Biologist Bart Kroger said, “2013 was likely one of the worst seasons for partridge and chukar hunting in the southern Big Horn Basin and 2014 will likely be about the same.” Few partridge and chukars have been seen this summer with no
Hunting
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broods being reported. Pheasant hunters may see a few more birds than previous years. Several pheasant broods have been seen this summer and it appears pheasants had a fair hatch and chick survival this spring and into the summer. Bird hunters are reminded that hunting has little to no affect on upland bird populations, and that weather and habitat play a much more significant role than hunting. Turkey hunter success was at about 50 percent this past spring with most hunters at least locating some gobblers. The spring of 2015 will be the first general license spring turkey hunt for the Big Horn Basin, excluding the Yellowtail WHMA which will remain a limited quota area. Because of this general season, hunters should expect to see a few more hunters in the field this spring, but hunter numbers will likely drop off after a year or two. G&F is seeing an expanding population of turkeys into new country, so if hunters do a little scouting and asking for landowner permission, they should be able to find a spot with some turkeys and no other hunter pressure. ■
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 43
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44 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
FISHING OUTLOOK
Shorter days, cooler temps lead to happy fish in fall By TIM WADE Enterprise fishing columnist Fishing in the fall is truly a special treat for anglers in the Cody/ Yellowstone region.
In the northwest Rockies, where everything begins at 5,000 feet or higher, fall can begin to show its colors in early September. The crowds of high summer have gone, leaving many miles of rivers and
streams free for the exploring during the hunting season – September through early December. Those that have hunted and fished the northwest corner of Wyoming the past several years have seen
Hunting
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good to excellent river and reservoir conditions, thanks to above normal snowpack those years. Fall is never a high water time, so anglers can enjoy great pocket water, riffles and runs all over the Absaroka/Beartooth region. Wyoming has been blessed with abundant rivers and streams to fish all year. Fall means shorter days and cooler temperatures. All bode well for happy fish once the hunt is over and there is time to wet a line. And there are still wild native Yellowstone cutthroat, as well as whitefish, rainbow, brown and brook trout to be caught. Despite an early beginning to the fishing season, the trout have had plenty of aquatic and terrestrial insects to eat which means the local wild trout are going into the fall months in prime condition. This means anglers that are out fishing in the fall will have some fat, strong trout pulling their line at some point in a day. Fishing in the fall is not much different than hunting big game animals – anglers study their quarry of choice much like a hunter and know the fish as well as hunters know game. The difference being, true anglers will be hunting big browns, rainbows and cutthroats found in the larger rivers in the area instead of big game or game birds and waterfowl. Those that were not removed from the rivers, lakes and streams have endured a summer of anglers and need to be approached differently than just a few weeks before, when the waters were higher and the leaves were not the brilliant shades of golds and reds, but green and fully leaved. Fly fishing really is at its best during the fall when hatches of caddis, blue-winged olives and midges have the trout rising most of the day. It is a great alternative when not hunting big game or upland birds, that is. The trout know winter is not far off and are eager to put on weight to sustain them for six months in frigid water.
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 45
True anglers will be hunting big browns, rainbows and cutthroats found in the larger rivers in the area instead of big game. Tim Wade Fishing expert
Big flies, big fish rules apply in the fall. Large grasshopper flies cast to a river’s bank will still yield big strikes from fish lying in ambush, if one is careful on the first cast. Streamer flies, sinking lines and stout fly rods are used by anglers pursuing the largest trout, especially brown trout that can look like alligators when in the net, to “dredge” the bottoms with these heavy rigs in hopes of hooking and landing a double-digit brown trout. Matching the hatch continues well into December, even January, on most waters in the region, especially on tailwater fisheries, such as the lower Shoshone River, which has excellent fishing below Buffalo Bill Dam to well past the town of Powell some 20-plus river miles away. During periods of Indian summer weather in the fall, when daytime temps can feel like summer, fishing small dries will continue to be productive on all waters that
remain unfrozen. Unfortunately, Yellowstone Park closes to fishing after the first weekend in November to give the trout a chance to fatten up more before winter comes in earnest. The loss of angling water in Yellowstone is no problem for there are still miles and miles of great dry fly, wet fly or streamer fishing found in the Cody area. Not everyone will pull out a fly rod when angling, but that is fine. Fall is a great time to use small spinners or spoons in mountain streams and creeks, while switching to larger versions on larger rivers. If you catch and release, it is much easier on the trout if you use a single, barbless hook at the back of your favorite lure instead of a potentially lethal treble hook. Lure action will not be effected by the change. Should you want to hit the high country for an elk, moose or bighorn sheep, or just explore the wilderness, don’t neglect those enticing glacial ponds and lakes found in the Beartooth and Bighorn mountains. The trout up high can provide hours of fun on high altitude lakes. Late afternoons, when the water is warmest is the best time to try flies and lures, leaving time for hunting or relaxing in camp. If the fishing is slow, the wildlife, setting and scenery will definitely keep one occupied. Trolling or casting from a boat also is an option at Buffalo Bill, Yellowtail and Boysen reservoirs, where not only trout are found, but also walleye, smallmouth bass, perch, crappie, carp and catfish. Boaters can use down-riggers or slow troll large diving plugs or spoons to target lake trout that could bottom the scales at 30 pounds, or larger, at Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Bounce jigs or throw plugs near structure for big walleye and crappie at Boysen, or walleye and smallmouth bass at Yellowtail. Shore anglers will find success, too. Be sure to check the regulations before fishing any waters with lures, bait or for harvest. There are restrictions to both in some areas. ■
BIRD HUNT
Wade McMillin
46 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
Wade McMillin shot this duck in a public access area outside Clark.
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 47
Sportsmen...
Love the Outdoors? Prove It! As an outdoor sports enthusiast, you should be aware of the impacts of noxious weeds. These non-native invaders are silently encroaching on Wyoming’s native habitat. Although some are pretty to look at they are truly a “Wolf in Sheep’s clothing”. “These noxious weed species lower the diversity of native plant communities that conserve vegetation that wildlife depend on for survival.” Only with your help will we be able to successfully control or eliminate these noxious invaders. Sportsmen (and women) can play an important role in the early detection of new invaders or infestations of known invaders to new areas. This allows Weed and Pest personnel to initiate a rapid response assault on the invader.
You can Help defend Wyoming’s Natural Resources! Fight Five! Learn to identify 5 noxious weeds. Prevent noxious weeds from spreading! Don’t be part of the problem. Ensure your property is noxious weed free. Avoid spreading any weeds you encounter by removing weed seeds from equipment, pets, and livestock before entering/leaving an area. Don’t drive ATV’s or vehicles through weed infestations. Feed weed free forage several days before you enter the backcountry. Report any noxious weeds or other suspicious looking plants that you may find to Park County Weed and Pest Control District 307-754-4521, nearest agency office, or private landowner.
For more information about invasive (noxious) weed species, to obtain free educational materials, or to schedule an on-site identification seminar, contact Park County Weed and Pest Control District at 307-754-4521 or find us on the web at www.parkcountyweeds.org
Learn Look Report
Use your Smartphone to report noxious weed infestations. Get the FREE app @ http://apps.bugwood.org/mrwc.html
48 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
HUNTINGvs SHOOTING
Hunting
2014
CODY ENTERPRISE • SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 | 49
GUIDE Long range shooting chancy, shows lack of respect for animals By BOB MEINECKE Enterprise outdoors columnist Maybe it’s an indication of my advanced age that renders me incapable of understanding why anyone would want to shoot a game animal at a thousand yards or more. Rocks yes, small steel targets OK, paper targets, surely. But flesh and blood animals that are casually wounded and left to die by long range shooters who have no moral compunction about doing the deed? Even if those shooters are technically capable of pulling off the shot, it’s still lousy. The longest shots I’ve ever taken were just under 500 yards – and that was back when I was regularly shooting iron sights and black powder out to 1,000 yards. There were three such shots. One was a big-racked mountain muley, at about 450 yards, in the open, down hill on the slope of the mountain. I was carrying my custom Browning model 78 in 30-06, with open iron barrel sights, a buckhorn rear sight and a Sheard post front sight. It was a totally calm day on the mountain, unusual for that area. There were two bucks feeding together on the slope and any chance of getting closer was a pipe dream. It had been a tough year and we needed meat, so I elected to try for the bigger buck. To be truthful, at the time it never occurred to me I could miss, as that rifle seemed to hit everything it was aimed at, regardless of size or range. Also, I’d spent that summer roaming the high country and making life miserable for rock chucks. I was prone, resting the rifle on my pack and the shot was steeply downhill, which somewhat alleviated trajectory considerations. At the shot, the deer simply folded and rolled downhill several yards. When we arrived at the deer several minutes later, I found I’d broken its back and it was still alive. A second shot settled the matter. As for the other two times, it was elk and I was using a scoped rifle of
The longest shots I’ve ever taken were just under 500 years – and that was back when I was regularly shooting iron sights and black powder out to 1,000 yards. the 30-06 persuasion. But those are stories for another time. That big buck was the last time I even thought about shooting a live game animal at that extended range, with anything, as I’d been dead certain the bullet was headed for a classic behind the shoulder shot. Upon reflection, it was apparent that only a fluke of luck put the bullet where it was and put the buck on the ground. It just as easily could have drifted into the paunch and a gutshot deer would have meant tracking it down, likely to be found in some distant hell hole, dispatched and packed back out. For those to which it matters, the buck measured 28 inches wides, a
4x4 typical that scored in the high 170s. If I had only wounded it and it escaped recovery efforts, I would have been sick at heart. Not simply because it was such a magnificent buck, which I didn’t know until we approached the animal, but because we, as hunters, should strive to stay within our ethical limits. Shooting targets at extended ranges is a totally different equation than hunting responsibly. And sometimes, just because it’s legal or you think you can pull off the shot, that doesn’t make it ethical. Somehow that truth escapes many hunters. That shot was at a buck, but does shouldn’t be shot at extended long ranges either. Many hunters disrespect does. Granted, does are less imposing and not as physically impressive as a bigger buck, but I enjoy hunting does and prefer them on the table. After nearly five decades of busting bucks, antlers or – as in the case of antelope – horns don’t much impress me anymore. These days I’d just as soon put an alfalfa-fattened white tail or antelope doe in the freezer. Another plus for those does is that given my busted up condition these days, they’re not half as hard to pack out to the truck and way quicker to process and put in the freezer. After all, isn’t that what hunting is supposed to be about – feeding your family? Not casually killing, wounding and maiming from more than one-half mile away when the target animal doesn’t even know death is in the neighborhood. Say what you want about archery hunters, but when you have to get close enough to smell their breath before you kill them, that’s what real hunting is all about. Long range is not only chancy, it exemplifies a lack of respect for the animals being shot and a lack of the real world skills one needs to be proficient in to call oneself a hunter. ■
GOAT HUNT
Harry Reichman
50 | SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 • CODY ENTERPRISE
Hunting
2014
GUIDE
Harry Reichman shot this mountain goat last fall.
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