Hunting 2015 by Moscow-Pullman Daily News

A special publication of

OUTDOORS SECTION FRIDAY, SEPT. 18, 2015

SECTION

HUNTING 2015 Elk outlook is a tale of two ecosystems  PAGES 5-8

Muzzleloading is old-fashioned but every bit as lethal  PAGES 9

Just because the ﬁres are out does not mean it’s safe  PAGE 14

Biologist makes a ﬁlm about what it means to hunt

It’s shaping up to be a banner year for deer

 PAGES 16

 PAGES 2-4 S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E M O S C O W - P U L L M A N D A I LY N E W S

outdoors / HUNTING 2015

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OUTLOOK: IDAHO DEER

A target-rich environment Spate of recent mild winters have blessed hunters with a glut of ungulate possibilities By ERIC BARKER of the Tribune

he good old days you hear about could be right here, right now when it comes to deer hunting in Idaho. On a statewide basis, a string of mild winters has led to good over-winter survival of deer and an increasing population. That is especially true for mule deer. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game conducts annual winter survival surveys of mule deer in the southern half of the state. Last winter, bioloProspectus gists recorded an 80 percent survival rate, the best since an intensive monitoring program began 15 year ago. By comparison, the worst winter survival of the last 15 Mild winters years was just 25 have lead to percent. good deer “There should populations. be more mule deer But there is than we have seen some concern in a long time,” over EHD and said John Rachael, how it will imgame manager for pact whitetail the department at numbers. Boise. That survey doesn’t cover northern Idaho hunting units, but George Pauley, wildlife manager for the department’s Clearwater region, said the upward trend in southern Idaho mule deer should be reflected north of the Salmon River. He said whitetail deer should also reap the same survival benefits. “We had a mild winter last year and that undoubtedly helps with everything,” he said. Last year Idaho hunters killed 28,200 whitetail deer, a jump of 5,100 over

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Idaho Fish and Game

Mule deer numbers are abundant in both Idaho and Washington, according to state game officials. 2013. The department has recorded an uptick in whitetail harvest in five out of the past six years and projects hunters this fall could top the all-time record of 29,800 set in 1996. Even though whitetail populations are healthy, the long, hot summer produced conditions where the disease EHD can run rampant. The department has received reports of dead or dying deer showing the symptoms of EHD in parts of the Clearwater Re-

gion over the past few weeks. Dave Koehler, a biologist of the department’s Lewiston-based Clearwater region, said the reports have centered around Juliaetta, Kendrick, Deary, Troy, White Bird and the lower South Fork of the Clearwater River. But thus far, the disease does not appear to be widespread like it was in 2003, when hundreds of deer throughout the region died of EHD. “So far we are just getting a few

Outdoors EDITOR: Eric Barker / ebarker@lmtribune.com / (208) 848-2273

here and a few there,” Koehler said. “It’s probably not a population-level effect, but the potential is there.” The disease is spread by gnats that breed around water sources. It will likely continue until the first hard freeze of the season. Pauley said the disease can be expected to pop up on an annual basis. “We are always going to have at least a few deer dying from EHD every year,” he said. 

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OUTDOORS / HUNTING 2015

O U T L O O K : w a s h i n gton D E E R

Steady, but diseases are X factor Recent outbreaks of EHD and blue tongue could still knock down whitetail numbers By ERIC BARKER of the Tribune

eer numbers in Washington’s District 3 are stable or increasing, but wildlife biologists say recent reports of EHD and blue tongue have potentially put a dent in the whitetail Prospectus deer population. T h e district includes Asotin and Garfield counties as well as CoDeer herds in lumbia and Washington Walla Walstate game la counties. Districts 2 and The Wash3 appear stable ington Debut threat of partment disease could of Fish and put a damper Wildlife on enthusiasm. doesn’t conduct deer population surveys like it does for elk, and instead monitors populations largely through harvest information from previous hunting seasons. Paul Wik, the wildlife biologist for the district, said mule deer and whitetail deer hunting op-

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Tribune/Eric Barker

A parade of mule deer ford the Grand Ronde River at Rogersburg in this photo taken in 2007. portunities this fall should be on par with the opportunities from recent hunting seasons. Much of Idaho is seeing a near record number of mule deer because of mild winters. But Wik said mild to moderate winters are the norm in the district. Even so, mule deer hunters are likely to have a good chance of taking an animal, he said. “We have been seeing a good number of mule deer and quality mule deer bucks,” he said. “I would expect mule deer harvest pretty similar to last year.” Reports of deer showing

symptoms of EHD and blue tongue, gnat-driven diseases that can hammer whitetail deer, have been modest in District 3. But he said they could continue to rise until the first hard frost of the season. “It could go on for a while,” he said. Game management unit 145 ranks as the top District 3 rifle deer hunting location when harvest numbers, hunter density success rates and access are averaged. It is followed, in order, by units 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 169, 172, 175, 178, 181 and 186.

More information about deer hunting prospects for the district is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/ prospects/2015/district03.pdf. In District 2, harvest trends point to slightly increasing numbers of deer in Units 142 and 139 and game managers say populations appear to be stable to slightly increasing for the entire district, which includes parts of Whitman and Garfield counties as well as Lincoln and Spokane counties. However, EHD reports have been more plentiful in District

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2 as well as District 1. The department’s District 2 hunting outlook for 2015 points to Units 142 and 139 as among the best for mule deer and unit 139 is among the top spots projected for whitetail deer. The entire district is comprised largely of private land, meaning hunters choosing to hunt on private property will first have to get permission from individual landowners. More information is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/ prospects/2015/district02.pdf. 

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OUTDOORS / HUNTING 2015

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TACTICS: deer A young whitetail buck tends a scrape. Hunters can set up in a feeding area and wait for the animals to come off their beds in the late afternoon or try to catch them in transition areas between feeding and bedding areas. Tribune/ Steve Hanks

Be still and let the game come to you By Eric Barker of the Tribune

eer have eyes positioned on the sides of their heads. That gives them a wide field of vision but poor depth perception, which means they have a hard time telling how far away something is. Hunters can use this to their advantage. Tiege Ulschmid, a wildlife biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and a traditional bow hunter who depends on getting close to deer, said even if a deer sees you, you can move closer to the animal as long as it doesn’t see you when you are moving. But the trick is getting closer without the animal seeing you move. Deer are wary animals, especially if they sense something is wrong. They will often look as if they are relaxed, sometimes returning to feed only to bob their heads back up. That means staying put and staying still are key deer-hunting strategies. Pick a good spot and wait for the deer to come to you.

“I spend 90 percent of my time being very still,” Ulschmid said.

HEARING Deer have big ears but those ears have to filter a lot of different sounds. They key in on the sounds of predators such as creeping footsteps. That means a hunter trying to sneak through the woods will sometimes make subtle sounds that put deer on alert. “The thing they are listening for is crunch,” he said. One way to counter the problem of sounding like a predator is trying to walk in a way that mimics a hoofed animal, using a heel to toe sequence. “It kind of represents four hooves hitting the ground,” he said.

SMELL “The nose is the number one thing you are never going to be able to evade,” Ulschmid said. Deer can pick up smells at 50 yards depending on weather conditions. Hours after a hunter has passed, they can still smell footsteps. To counter this, Ulschmid recom-

mends avoiding game trails when hik- tion area,” he said. ing into a hunting spot. He also pays Water sources are another good attention to wind direction and sets up places to wait for deer. Deer can go for in areas that are downwind of an area water any time during the day. he thinks a deer may appear. “It’s a place you can spend all day,” he said. OTHER TIPS He recommends deer hunters spend Ulschmid said the most successful time scouting and getting to know the deer hunters learn the habits of their areas they plan to hunt. He recomprey. mends paying attention to game trails For example, deer like to bed in while in the woods on nonhunting brushy areas. They can’t see well in outings like picking berries or mushtheir beds but anything that comes af- rooms in the spring and summer. ter them is going to make a lot of noise. Other things to look for are deer That makes hunting bedding areas scrapes, where they clear the ground in tough. But if hunters know where deer small circles, and rubs where they use bed, they can position themselves to small diameter trees to rub the velvet catch the animals coming to or leaving off of their antlers. Both bucks and does the areas. Deer bed during the day and mark scrapes like dogs mark territory. feed at night. If hunters go into their During the rut, in mid- to late Novemhunting areas before daylight, they can ber, bucks are more active and move often catch the animals on the move. along game trails and scrape lines. Hunters can set up in a feeding area An abundance of rubs tells you and wait for the animals to come off there is a buck that likes to frequent their beds in the late afternoon or try the area, especially if there are multo catch them in transition areas be- tiple years of rubs. A rub on a tree the tween feeding and bedding areas. diameter of a human forearm means it “I would spend time in this transi- was left by a big buck. 

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OUTDOORS / HUNTING 2015

O U T L O O K : w a s h i n gto n e lk

Spike bull numbers 3rd best on record Calf-to-cow ratio is also up, as is mature bull count but permits will stay the same as in 2014

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record. of the Tribune “There should Prospectus Although elk be a good number once roamed Wildlife managof yearling (spike) OR freely into ers expect ample bulls available to lower elk populations in hunt for,” said Paul elevation Washington’s disWik, District 3 wildgrasslands, tricts 2 and 3 that life biologist. NV they are now encompass southThe number of found eastern Washington. mature bulls is also General tag primarily CA There are an esup, but the increase hunters should close to timated 5,307 elk won’t be reflected in see good numheavily in District 3, which increased branchbers of spike; forested consists of Asotin, antlered bull permature bulls areas. They Garfield and Walla mits this fall and inforage in also are up Walla counties. That stead will be a factor clear-cut compares to a fivein future years. But openings. year average of 5,267. The those who did draw mature district has a calf-to-cow ratio bull permits for this fall could of 31.5-to-100, the third high- have good luck. bulls to hunt for,” Wik said. est ratio recorded since 1991. “The people who drew Overall, Wik said the number The number of spike bulls branch permits this year of elk available for harvest was also the third-highest on should have good numbers of this fall will be similar to what

By ERIC BARKER

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it has been for the past several years. The department’s official hunting outlook for the district is available at

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/ prospects/2015/district03.pdf. In District 2, which includes portions of Whitman, Lincoln and Spokane counties, elk numbers have been stable to slightly increasing, with most elk found in the remote northern portions of the district. But numbers have been increasing in game management units 139 and 142 in Whitman and Garfield counties since 2010, although both show recent dips, according to 2014 surveys. Both units are characterized by mostly private land and the elk herd moves back and forth between Washington and Idaho. More information about hunting prospects in District 3 is available at http:// wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/ prospects/2015/district02.pdf. 

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OUTDOORS / HUNTING 2015

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O U T L O O K : i d a ho e lk

Region’s units continue to struggle Survival rate is a positive but the bull count is still lagging By ERIC BARKER of the Tribune

daho elk hunters had a good 2014 and game managers think that bodes well for this fall. Last year, elk hunters had a success rate of 24 percent, the highest since 2005. The 20,700 elk taken by Idaho hunters amounted to a 20 percent increase over 2013. The number of elk tags sold in Idaho is also on the rise, an indication that the state is climbing out of its elk tag sales doldrums that have been attributed to higher prices for out-of-state hunters, the poor economy of the Great Recession and widespread concerns about the state’s wolf Prospectus population and the effect it is having on elk numbers. Combined with a string of mild winters and 1,300 wolves being killed since 2009, game managMixed bag: ers from the Idaho Populations Department of Fish are positive in and Game are hopemany places, ful the state’s elk but herds in population will reLolo and Selway sult in a harvest that zones are still tops 20,000 this fall. in the tank. “Things are going really well in a lot of

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the state right now,” Fish and Game’s state game manager Jon Rachael said. But those are statewide projections. Elk herds in some of the Clearwater region’s backcountry units continue to struggle, the result of wolf predation and habitat changes. The population in some of the other Clearwater units should give hunters fair opportunity. George Pauley,

regional wildlife manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Clearwater region at Lewiston, said elk research conducted last year pointed to good survival of calves in Unit 10A, which ranks in the top 10 units of the state for the number of elk taken. “It’s an elk producer,” Pauley said. He said survival was good in Unit 15 as well, and the number of elk in Unit 14 is looking up compared to longterm data. However, Pauley said bull numbers could be better in the unit. There is no reason to ex-

down quite a bit.” All in all, he said elk hunting in the region should be similar to what it has been in recent years. The mild winters have helped, but the lack of rainfall this spring and summer could bring bad news for the 2016 hunting season. Pauley said the dry spring stunted vegetation growth, which likely means elk did not put on as much fat this summer and will have a more difficult time surviving the winter. “It will have an adverse impact on deer and elk this winter and we will see that next year,” he said. 

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pect improvements in places like the Lolo and Selway zones that have seen long-term downward trends in elk numbers. There are a few isolated spots where the department has removed wolves that have seen a positive response in elk numbers, but wolf packs remain abundant in much of the Lolo and Selway zones. “For the most part, across the eastern side of the region, we haven’t been doing anything with wolves and (wolf) harvest isn’t very high and we expect elk populations to be similar to what they have been in the past and that is

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TACTICS: ELK

Tribune/Eric Barker

Mike Schlegel of Grangeville demonstrates elk bugling to a couple of youngsters at an Idaho Department of Fish and Game hunting expo.

Defenses include keen hearing, broad vision and uncanny nose

caller can set up behind the hunter. That way the animal doesn’t have to get as close to the source of the calling and is less likely to spot the caller. He also likes to mix in cow calls to give the impression to an approaching bull there are cows to be won. “Give them a little more they make a lot of noise, so I cially during the rut. Elk are By Eric Barker of the Tribune don’t worry a lot about noise,” known to respond to calls, incentive to come in and take he said. both bugles from bulls and the cows away,” he said. He also believes it helps to lk have excellent hearing When he is moving and cow calls. But Schlegel said but they are large animals making noise, such as walk- elk have adapted to the pres- rattle bushes and give a visual that make a lot of noise ing into a hunting spot, he will ence of wolves. Like hunters, clue to a bull that there is another bull there. It sometimes while moving and that can sometimes throw out a cow wolves key on elk bugling. make them less cautious to twig call or two so any elk that hear “It’s like ringing a dinner gives them the extra assurance to keep coming. snaps or the rustling of brush him assume the noise is from bell,” he said. “When a bull comes to a than many hunters think. Of all another elk. But there is a lim“The wolves know what an their defenses, retired Idaho it to this strategy. elk sounds like and when they bugle, a lot of times if he can’t Fish and Game elk researcher “Even with a cow call, you hear one, they go to it and the see something, he will hang and bow hunter Mike Schlegel don’t want to overdo it,” he elk have figured that out a bit.” up and become a lot more cauof Grangeville, said he worries said. When calling, Schlegel tious,” he said. When pursing a bull that least about their hearing. Hearing can be used to a stresses the importance of “Elk are big critters and hunter’s advantage, espe- hunting with a partner. The already has several cows with

him, Schlegel said it takes persistence. A calling hunter almost has to harass the bull to get it to leave its cows. “I can kind of tell when the bull has decided he’s had enough and wants to settle the issue of being chased,” he said. “Sometimes it will take a couple of hours of just being chased and chased.” He sometimes interrupts the bull by calling at the same time the animal is bugling. “That really seems to infuriate him when he doesn’t get any respect, so to speak,” he said.

SIGHT Like deer, elk have eyes set on the side of their heads. This gives them excellent field of vision. Whereas humans mostly see straight in front of

> See elk, page 8

outdoors / HUNTING 2015

F R I D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5

elk

getting a shot at an elk. This is especially true for archery and muzzleloader hunters or any others who hunt elk in close quarters. “The wind is the most important,” said Schlegel of factors elk > Continued from Page 7 hunters should pay attention to. Many hunters use a squirt of themselves, ungulates have a much broader picture, not 360 degrees, but powder from a plastic bottle to debetter than 180. The downside for tect subtle air currents. Schlegel them is poor depth perception. They uses a down feather attached to a piece of thread that is tied to his are not good at discerning detail. George Pauley, wildlife man- bow. It allows him to keep track of ager for the Idaho Department of wind direction while keeping his Fish and Game, said many hunters hands free. The hunting market is flooded have experienced deer or elk that spot them but don’t immediately with products designed to elimirun. That is often because the ani- nate or mask human scent. Schlegel mal isn’t sure what the hunter is. If doesn’t put much stock in them and a hunter doesn’t move, the animal for proof he points to drug-sniffwill often stay put. That can pres- ing dogs used by law enforcement ent a problem for hunters who are agents. He said they routinely find in range but have to draw their bow contraband that drug smugglers try or shoulder their rifle to get a shot. to drown out with scent maskers. Instead of trying to erase or cov“They look right at you and you can tell they never figure it out un- er his scent, he tries to make sure less you draw or move and then he is downwind of elk. “If you don’t have the wind in they are gone.” your favor, I don’t think it matters SMELL what you are using,” he said. Even in still conditions there Like a lot of animals, elk have a sense of smell that is much more are subtle diurnal wind currents. acute than what we humans possess. Cooler morning and evening temHunters who pay attention to wind peratures cause downdrafts. As currents that carry their scent will the temperature rises during the give themselves a better chance of day, wind currents lift. 

Idaho Fish and Game

A herd of elk gather around a watering hole. Prospects for elk hunters are varied this fall. Many areas have good numbers of elk but some places like the upper Clearwater Basin continue to see low numbers.

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OUTDOORS / HUNTING 2015

WEAPONRY

A BLAST FROM THE PAST Muzzleloaders are vintage, old-fashioned weapons, sure, but they can be just as effective — and fun — as their modern counterparts

nyone who may be looking for a way to add some challenge and fun to their hunting experience should consider giving traditional muzzleloading guns a try. The old-time weapons are a hoot to shoot and, in the right hands, fully capable of harvesting any North American big game animal with a single, wellplaced shot. Before going any further, let’s be clear — I have no problem with what anybody chooses to shoot and hunt with, so long as they are obeying all applicable game laws and regulations, and are pursuing their hunt in a safe and ethical manner. Also, let me note that I have shot and hunted with modern weapons for more than 40 years. I still enjoy plinking with my Ruger .22-caliber and my last deer COMMENTARY rifle, was killed with a Marlin, lever-action .3030 rifle. But for many years, my most enjoyable times afield have been while carrying traditional muzzleloading firearms. To be sure, embracing traditional muzzleloaders also means accepting some inherent limitations with the oldfashioned guns. It also means committing the time necessary to become familiar with the weapon and how to make it shoot reliably and accurately. Such familiar phrases as “hang fire” and “flash in the pan” are testament to the quirky nature of front-stuffers. But it would be a mistake to be put off from traditional muzzleloaders because of their perceived unreliability. Handled properly, the guns will fire just about every time, and a big

John Pierce

Tribune/John Pierce

The lock area of a Northwest trade gun, or smoothbore ﬂintlock muzzleloader, shows one of the two main ignition systems for traditional muzzleloaders. part of the fun of shooting the traditional guns is learning how to load and handle them so they have the best chance of going off. Admittedly, even when you do everything right, they still sometimes fail to fire, but not as often as many people might suppose. Traditional muzzleloaders come in two basic ignition systems — percussion and flintlock. The long guns can be rifled or smoothbore. Rifled barrels allow better accuracy at longer ranges, while the smoothbores can be loaded with shot, for small game and birds, or round balls for big game. Most shooters start out with percussion guns, as they are slightly easier to handle than flintlocks. Many traditional shooters move on to flintlocks as they gain experience with the smokepoles. Either system is capable of getting the job done, both at the target range or in the field.

There is a fairly steep learning curve when it comes to shooting traditional muzzleloaders. Having an experienced hand to shoot with can certainly accelerate the process, but each gun is an individual, and it is up to the shooter to develop the load their gun likes best, and that takes time on the range. But there’s nothing wrong with a good excuse to spend more time shooting, is there? Along with the standard rules for safe gun-handling, another thing to keep in mind while shooting muzzleloaders is never to use anything but black powder or black powder substitutes in a front-stuffer. Smokeless powder should never be used in a muzzleloader, and any such use will certainly damage the firearm, at best, and at worst, the shooter and bystanders could be injured or killed. Old-fashioned the traditional guns

may be, but they are not toys. Wars have been fought and continents settled with muzzleloaders, and they have killed animals the size of bison, grizzly bears and even elephants. Handle them with the same respect and care as you would treat any firearm. What muzzleloaders lack in muzzle velocity, they make up for in projectile size. The two most popular calibers for big game hunting are .50 and .54; a round ball of the smaller caliber starts out at a half-inch in diameter. Pushed along with an adequate powder charge, the round ball creates a substantial wound channel as the big, soft lead ball expands as it passes through the animal. Loose black powder, typically sold in 1-pound cans, is labeled by an F system denoting the coarseness of the

> See BLAST, page 10

outdoors / HUNTING 2015

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weaponry (Cont.)

blast

Traditional muzzleloaders require some accoutrements to keep them shooting. Shown here, clockwise from bottom, are a buffalo powder horn, leather lock cover (also called a cow’s knee), round balls, a tin of lubed fiber wads, a turn screw and spare flints, powder measure and vent pick and a bag to carry it all in.

> Continued from Page 9 individual grains of black powder. The coarsest is 1F and is not commonly available. It is used in cannons and really has no practical application for sporting purposes. The next two grades, 2F and 3F, are the ones to use in rifles and smoothbores, while 4F, the finest-grained powder easily available, is used for priming flintlocks. A general rule of thumb is to use 2F powder for the main charge in muzzleloaders of .50 caliber or larger, while using 3F in .45-caliber and smaller. This is just a rule of thumb; I use 3F powder in my .62 caliber/20 gauge flintlock smoothbore, both for the main charge and to prime the pan. My usual load is 70 grains of 3F. The advantage here is that I only have to carry one grade of powder. But, as I said earlier, each muzzleloading firearm is an individual, and shooters will have to experiment to find the load that works best in their gun. Another rule of thumb is to start with a load of powder equal to the ball diameter. In other words, for a .50-caliber smoke-

Tribune/ John Pierce

> See blast, page 11

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> Continued from Page 10

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Tribune/John Pierce

A buffalo powder horn makes a convenient and safe way to carry a supply of loose black powder. available for those who prefer scatterguns. Properly loaded and handled, these guns are good for grouse, pheasant and waterfowl, and pack a ballistic punch that is almost on-par with modern, cylinder-bored shotguns. Many shooters, myself included, have discovered the joy of shooting flintlock smoothbores. My gun is a semi-custom replica of the Northwest trade gun, which was sold by fur trading companies to American Indians and white hunters by the thousands during the frontier era. Other smoothbore shooters prefer guns with French influence, and still others fancy a firearm from a particular historical era, such as the model 1803 Harper’s Ferry rifle rumored to have been issued to Lewis and Clark for their journey to the Pacific Ocean. I haven’t even touched on handguns; there are plenty of muzzleloading pistols for shooters to choose from. They can be carried as a companion piece to a rifle or smoothbore long gun, or used in their own right, perhaps to hunt rabbits or birds. Be sure to check regulations before using pistols for hunting. As you can see, the world of traditional muzzleloading firearms is diverse and fascinating, and there is something available to appeal to almost any shooter. So, if you are ready for a fun challenge, and the chance to add new dimensions to your shooting and hunting life, consider traditional muzzleloaders. ——— Pierce is a Tribune copy editor and former member of the American Mountain Men. He can be reached at jpierce@lmtribune.com.

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pole, start with 50 grains of 2F for the main charge and work upward from there, without exceeding the manufacturer’s recommendation for maximum load. There is a point of diminishing returns, where more powder just adds to recoil and fouling, without an appreciable increase in muzzle velocity. A load of 75 grains of 2F or 3F is enough to put a ball clear through a good-sized deer. Unlike smokeless powder, black powder is loaded by volume, not weight. Guns should never be loaded directly from a powder horn, flask or other bulk container. Pour the powder into a measuring device, then pour it down the barrel. I use an antler tip that has been hollowed out and holds 70 grains. Another factor to keep in mind when choosing a muzzleloading rifle is the rate of twist for the barrel. Many commonly available frontstuffers have a rate of twist of 1:48; in other words, there is 1 inch of twist for each 48 inches of barrel length. This is a good compromise rate of twist; slow enough to provide good accuracy with patched round balls with decent hunting loads, but also fast enough to stabilize conical slugs often used in muzzleloaders. As a person gains more experience with the old guns, he can choose a rate of twist that suits his needs. For instance, a slower rate of twist would be good for someone who wanted to shoot patched round balls with fairly heavy powder charges. Many of the semi-custom and custom muzzleloaders have barrels with rates of twist from 1:60 to 1:72, or even slower. These rifles work well with the patched round ball, but generally speaking, the twist is too slow to adequately stabilize a conical projectile. Those who primarily plan to shoot these slugs, say for elk, moose or bear, might do well to specify a faster rate of twist than the standard 1:48. Of course, muzzleloaders aren’t just for big game hunting. Many people enjoy hunting small game with front-stuffers in the .32 caliber to .40 caliber range. The smaller-bore guns take proportionately smaller charges, and can be a good choice for someone who just wants to do some target shooting or add some small critters to the larder. The smaller charges and projectiles make these more economical to shoot, although even the larger bores are a bargain compared to some modern cartridges. Black powder shotguns are also

OUTDOORS / HUNTING 2015

F R I D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5

458384iR-15

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OUTDOORS / HUNTING 2015

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OUTDOORS / HUNTING 2015

F R I D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5

SAFETY

Fire’s out, but the danger isn’t Outdoors enthusiasts who venture out into the region’s wildﬁre-damaged forests need to be aware of the lingering threats, ofﬁcials warn By ERIC BARKER OF THE TRIBUNE

orest Service officials are warning hunters and others venturing into areas recently reopened following wildfires that hazards abound and it’s best to avoid fresh fire scars. Hazards include fire-killed trees, also known as snags, that can topple with little warning, and booby-trap-like holes that result from burned stumps and root systems. Following fires, roads and campgrounds are generally surveyed for hazardous trees before they are reopened. Sawyers cut any tree they think has the potential to fall. But Joe Hudson, ranger of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest’s Moose Creek District, said the hazard tree surveys are not a guarantee that all dangers have been mitigated. “It’s probably not 100 percent. There is always the chance of trees falling,” he said. People traveling roads through burned areas are advised to take along chain saws in case the road becomes blocked by downed trees. While roads and campgrounds are subject to hazardous tree “I would not mitigation, the same is not true of trails. camp within “We don’t normally snag out trails so it’s use at your own risk,” he said. “You an area that need to be really, really careful about burned. I where you are going and if you don’t would ﬁnd an need to be on those trails it’s probably a idea not to be there.” unburned area good He said the danger is heightened during weather events like wind and rain. to camp in. “If the wind comes up, you probably The risk will be don’t want to be in burned areas and want to get to unburned areas as quickly as posa lot less.” sible,” he said. “Rain will also many times bring trees down in burned areas. GenerJOE HUDSON, ally you want to stay away from burned areas as much as possible, especially if NEZ PERCE-CLEARthere is wind involved or stormy weather WATER NATIONAL of any kind.” FOREST RANGER People wandering off trails should be on the lookout for hot spots and places where roots and stumps have burned underground that can cave in when walked over. “I would not get off the trial going through burned area at all,” he said. He said campers should make sure they aren’t placing tents or trailers near burned trees “I would not camp within an area that burned,” he said. “I would find an unburned area to camp in. The risk will be a lot

> See DANGER, page 15

U.S. Forest Service

Burned trees pose a danger to hunters and others venturing into ﬁre scars. The snags can easily topple.

F R I D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5

o u td o o rs / H U N T I N G 2 0 1 5

safety (cont.)

High Heels with High Standards Motivate | Inspire | Encourage

2015 Palouse Womens Expo ‘

at Best Western Plus University Inn, Moscow

U.S. Forest Service

Trees like this one with burned roots are prone to falling over.

danger > Continued from Page 14

U.S. Forest Service

When fires burn underground through roots and stumps, they can leave behind traps like this one that can trip up hunters.

less.” Although fire danger has been greatly reduced from a few weeks ago, Hudson said there are still places with active burning. He said people should pay attention to their surroundings and the weather conditions. “The chance of a major run is significantly diminished this time but they need to be aware of where they are and where fire is around them.” Up-to-date information on which roads and trails are open can be found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/ nezperceclearwater/ for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest and http://www.fs.usda.gov/ umatilla for the Umatilla National Forest. 

The Palouse Women’s Expo is designed to make a significant difference in the women’s lives. Bringing together resources that will help them flourish and succeed in all aspects of their lives professional and personal. Giving Expo presenters and attendees alike, the opportunity to focus on each other, to inspire, educate, empower and have fun! The 2015 Palouse Women’s Expo will be EVERYTHING WOMEN! Business and finance, fashion, health, shopping, relaxation, pampering and empowering others. We strive to provide you with the tools you need to learn and grow as women in all walks of life. The Palouse Women’s Expo invites you to discover your style, rejuvenate your body and mind, and explore new ideas!

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Tickets available for purchase in person at: Lewiston Tribune: 505 Capital Street | Lewiston, Idaho Moscow-Pullman Daily News: 220 E. Fifth St. Suite 205 | Moscow, Idaho University Inn, Best Western: 1516 Pullman Rd, Moscow, Idaho or by calling: (208) 882-0550 BECOME AN EXHIBITOR! For info and package pricing, email akay@lmtribune.com.

OUTDOORS / HUNTING 2015

F R I D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5

FILMMAKING

Embracing the challenge

Photo courtesy Clay Hayes

Clay Hayes and a compatriot talk around the campﬁre. Hayes, an Idaho Department of Fish & Game biologist and avid bowhunter, has made “Untamed,” a short ﬁlm that explains what hunting means to him.

hunt with rifles, coming up to me and saying, ‘Thank you. This film gets at why I hunt,’ To watch “Untamed” by Clay Hayes, visit and they don’t hunt with a trahttps://goo.gl/u0y9fn or scan the QR code at ditional bow, so I think it kind right with your smartphone. of transcends the weapon.” things the old-fashioned way. By ERIC BARKER While making it over a couOF THE TRIBUNE To hike long distances across rough terrain. To limit them- hunter. Hayes produced “Un- a wide range of hunters and ple of years, he purposefully or some people, hunting is selves to traditional weapons. tamed,” a short film that was nonhunters alike appreciate sought to show another side about the challenge — the To make the hunt last as long shown on the Hunting Film his message and his approach. to pursuing game than is often more difficult the better. as possible and have a mean- Tour this year and is now “I expected to get a good portrayed by hunting shows. They eschew the advantag- ingful interaction with nature, available on Youtube through reception from the traditional He strived to explain what it is es of modern technology that whether they fill a tag or not. his website Twistedstave.com. bow hunting community be- about hunting that captivates have brought comfort, conveThat’s the way it is for Clay In it, Hayes attempts to show cause that is the base of the him and that the hard work nience and a higher likelihood Hayes, an Idaho Department what hunting means to him. He film,” he said. “I had people that goes into the hunt, the of success to the hunting expe- of Fish and Game biologist geared the film toward fellow from the entire spectrum, from rience. Instead, they want to do and avid traditional archery traditional archers but found non-hunters to people who > See ‘UNTAMED’, page 17

In order to distill what the pursuit means to him, biologist Clay Hayes makes a ﬁlm that is well received by a wide spectrum of sportsmen

> VIDEO ONLINE

F R I D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5

o u td o o rs / H U N T I N G 2 0 1 5

filmmaking (cont.)

‘Untamed’ > Continued from Page 16 preparation, scouting, honing of woodsmanship skills and the lessons it yields, is vitally important to the experience. “The big reason I wanted to make that film and make it the way I did with the message it carries is because I didn’t feel like there was very much out there in the way of hunting media that really represented what I felt hunting was about.” He acknowledged quality has improved of late but for a long time, hunting shows and videos focused too much on taking trophies and not enough of the process. They are often hypercommercialized as well. “For a long time hunting shows were nothing but, in my opinion, infomercials. It was just like you had all these hunting pros and they were saying, ‘I couldn’t have killed this 190-inch Boone and Crockett buck without whatever gizmo they were promoting at the time.” “That is not what hunting is about. For me hunting is about beating an animal at their own game.” Hayes grew up on a cattle ranch in the swamp land of Florida where he took to hunting almost by accident. His folks didn’t hunt, though he had two older brothers who dabbled in it only to later give it up. As a kid, he spent as much time as he could outside, often fixated on getting close to and understanding the habits of wildlife. “From a very young age I was very drawn to hunting,” he said. “I started hunting cottontails and bobwhite quail with a BB gun whenever I could get out by myself.” Later he picked up a recurve bow that one of his brothers purchased at a garage sale. As a teenager he started hunting big game with a compound bow. “I didn’t know anybody who shot traditional so when I started bow hunting big game

ABOVE: Hayes uses a draw knife to craft a traditional bow. LEFT: His bow and arrows slung over his back, a hunter uses binoculars to scout out game. Photos courtesy Clay Hayes

and taught himself to shoot. It’s a more difficult way to take game but also more satisfying. Hayes likens it to fly anglers who tie their own flies and make their own rods. “When you are able to go and cut a tree down and make everything from the beginning and then to take an animal with that, no matter how big the animal is, the first deer I ever killed with a bow I made was a year-and-half-old whitetail doe and I remember that deer probably more so than if I had killed a 190-inch buck with a rifle.” That is the message he delivers in “Untamed.” In the film he says, “We hunters as a group are constantly looking for something to make it easier and the whole time we are robbing ourselves of the satisfaction, of the joy, of accomplishing something difficult.” Hayes is working on a second film, this one about hunting mule deer with traditional He was looking for some- trapping and hide tanning. archery gear in the midst of I bought a compound and I hunted with that for a couple thing more basic, something Eventually he found a book a rifle season. He hopes to of years and I killed a couple much closer to the roots of and started making his own unveil it next year and again of deer with it but it was never hunting and everything sur- bows. By the time he was 18 have it accepted on the Huntrounding it — woodsmanship, he had crafted two long bows ing Film Tour.  really what I was after.”

outdoors / HUNTING 2015

F R I D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5

bird dogs

Preaching prevention When it comes to first aid, veterinarian urges bird-dog owners to carry a few small items and a healthy supply of common sense By ERIC BARKER of the Tribune

ou might think a bird hunter who also happens to be a veterinarian would carry a canine first-aid kit stuffed with bandages, medicine and other life-saving equipment. But Keith Eggert, a small animal doctor at Riverview Animal Clinic in Clarkston, travels light and says prevention is the best medicine a bird dog owner can buy. “My everyday hunting first-aid kit weighs about 10 ounces,” he said at a canine first-aid clinic that was part of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Hunt Idaho Expo last month. Its base is a human first-aid kit augmented with EMT Gel designed to stop bleeding, super glue to close small cuts, a stapler for larger lacerations, a small bottle of Betadine, an antiseptic solution, some Benadryl for insect bites and stings, an anti-inflammatory like Rimadyl and a small hemostat for pulling porcupine quills and clamping an artery. He also takes along a heaping dose of common sense that can head off potential catastrophes. “A lot of it is prevention,” he said. “If you have good safety, you don’t have to practice first aid.” For example, he uses an electronic collar that allows a dog handler to correct a pooch heading for trouble. That might be a dog making a

Tribune/Eric Barker

A bird dog points a bird in the brush. Dog owners should be aware of a variety of factors when out in the field, including their animals’ hydration levels, nearby traffic and the presence of snakes and other critters. beeline for a highway or road, one that’s about to slam into a barbed wire fence or one looking to tangle with another critter like a badger, porcupine or rattlesnake. “E-collars have saved a lot of lives. This is a dog’s brain right here,” he said, displaying a collar that can send a shock to a dog or an audio or vibrating signal. It’s an attention-getter when an excited dog isn’t responding to a shout or whistle blast.

A leash can also come in handy. “ ‘Heel’ is great. A leash is better,” he said. Early in the season, when temperatures are still warm and snakes have yet to head to their dens, he hunts in the mornings and quits before the heat of the day. It helps keep dogs cool and reduces the chances of an encounter with a snake. “If it’s over 75 degrees, you shouldn’t be bird hunting,” he

said. Dogs are enthusiastic and often won’t regulate themselves even when the sun is blazing. Heat stroke is a devastating way for a dog to meet its end. “It’s an ugly death.” He recommends frequent breaks when the temperature is an issue. Dogs don’t sweat like humans do and have a difficult time shedding heat. “They have to blow it out their mouth,” he said. “They are getting rid of all their heat

by panting.” Dogs need one ounce of water per pound, per day, without exertion, he said. If they are working hard, they need twice that. “You can never carry enough water.” If a dog does overheat, but survives, Eggert said there can be long-lasting effects. “Once a dog gets heat exhaustion or heat stroke, it’s

> See prevent, page 19

F R I D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5

PREVENT

WHAT’S IN DOC EGGERT’S BIRD DOG FIRST-AID KIT?

> Continued from PAGE 18

more susceptible to it the second time. It’s like frost bite,” he said. Other preventive measures include vests to prevent puncture injuries and cuts, a dog bootie that can keep a dog in the field after minor cuts to the paw and rattlesnake vaccinations that lessen the effects of venom. “It works,” he said of the vaccinations. Eggert has treated eight dogs who were vaccinated before getting bit. Sometimes rattlesnakes will bite without injecting venKeith Eggert om. But Eggert said these dogs were venomated. They experience reactions like swelling but it was reduced by about 75 percent. The shots cost about $27 and a two-dose regime is required that can be followed up with a one-dose booster. He said the vaccination lasts about six months. Most dogs that are struck by a snake can be treated with anti-inflammatories and IV solution. But if the bite is bad,

OUTDOORS / HUNTING 2015

2 3 1

anti-venom may be needed. A single dose costs about $3,400. Benadryl is not effective and devices designed to suck venom out of flesh aren’t worth the money. “Throw them away — they don’t work,” he said. He also recommends snake aversion training that teaches dogs to avoid rattlers. “It’s a lot cheaper than a vet bill,” he said.

Keith Eggert, a veterinarian at Riverview Animal Clinic in Clarkston, is an avid bird hunter. For canine first aid he starts with a small human first-aid kit that can be purchased from any outdoor store. He augments it with the following items: 1. EMT Gel, a product designed to stop or slow bleeding. 2. Super Glue to close small cuts. 3. A skin stapler to close larger cuts. 4. A small bottle of Betadine, an antiseptic solution. 5. Benadryl for insect bites and stings. 6. An anti-inflammatory like Rimadyl. 7. A small hemostat for clamping an artery. 8. A Leatherman-type tool with pliers for pulling porcupine quills. Other items he carries not associated with a first-aid kit include plenty of water to keep his dogs hydrated, a leash to control dogs near traffic, livestock or other situations where they may be tempted to disobey and an electronic collar to correct a misbehaving dog.

Skin staplers, accompanied with a healthy splash of Betadine, can close up a cut and in some cases allow a dog to continue hunting. If the wound is both small and clean, Eggert said the dog might not need a follow-up visit to the vet. In other cases, the dog may still need medical care, but a few staples can close a wound and keep it clean until the animal is out of the field.

“We always recommend seeing a vet if there is any doubt,” he said. Staplers are available at pet stores, hunting retailers and from some veterinarians. Items like bandage material, moleskin and tape, which generally are included in human first-aid kits, can be used to administer to a wide range of injuries. 

We are proud to support local outdoor enthusiasts.

outdoors / HUNTING 2015

F R I D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 5

O U T L O O K : up l a n d g a m e b i r ds

A rebound among the feathered Well-timed showers this spring aid region’s winged populations By ERIC BARKER of the Tribune

t might be a good idea to get your bird dogs in shape and hit the trap range to brush up on your shooting. Idaho could be looking at its best pheasant population in a decade, according to recent surveys by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The numbers for Hungarian partridge are also on the rise and anecdotal information indicates it will be a good fall for chukar hunters. Ring-neck populations have been mediocre at best, sometimes much worse, of late. But according to counts conducted by wildlife biologists, this fall could mark a significant turnaround. Biologists counted 115 pheasants and 13 broods during late summer surveys. Each August, employees of the department drive set routes in the early morning and count the number of game birds they see. This year’s pheasant tally represents a 423 percent increase from the 22 counted last year. It’s also an increase of 147 percent over the 10-year average of 46.6 pheasants. It’s the highest count recorded since 2005, when biologists counted 199 pheasants. The rebound is likely attributable to a spring that saw moderate temperatures and just the right amount of rain at just the right time, said Idaho Fish and Game biologist Dave Koehler. “We’ve had favorable weather conditions a couple of years in a row and they are building,” Koehler said. “It’s what we wanted to see.” Many upland game bird populations can hinge on spring weather. A blast of cool, wet weather during the first week or two after chicks have hatched can spell doom

Could pheasant numbers be set to take flight? Idaho could be looking at its best pheasant population in a decade, according to recent surveys by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. 199

200 180

115

Pheasant

160 140 120 100 80

AVERAGE: 64

Broods

40 0

2004

2005

2006

2007

Quail

300 270 240 210 180 150 120 90 60 30 0

294

AVE: 182 55 ’04

’06

’08

’10

117 ’12

’14

to the population. Koehler said pheasant chicks are vulnerable to hypothermia in cold and wet weather. When it hits for a brief period of time, hens can stay on the nest and keep their offspring warm. But during prolonged periods of bad weather, the hens have to leave

2008

2009

2010

2011

Huns

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the nest to feed, leaving their chicks vulnerable to exposure. “They can only hunker down for so long,” he said. But an absence of rain can be just as bad. Normal spring showers spur growth of grasses and other vegetation the birds need. It also leads to

Pheasants are looking better than they have in years, chukars look good and Hungarian partridge are on on the rebound following a disappointing year. But quail are below average.

was close to an inch of rain.” Hungarian or gray partridge 13 also appeared to have benefit2 ed from the weather. Biologists counted 176 partridge, an increase of 189 percent over 2012 2013 last year and 87 percent over the 10-year average of 94. Doves Quail didn’t see a bump, nor 800 did they take a dive. Biologists 724 720 counted 118 quail, compared 451 640 to 117 last year — a virtual tie. 560 The tally is 38 percent below AVE: 429 480 the 10-year average of 191. 400 The department no longer conducts chukar surveys along 320 the lower Snake and lower 240 474 Salmon rivers. But Koehler 160 does keep tabs on reports 80 from people who spend time 0 ’14 along the rivers and on their ’04 ’06 ’08 ’10 ’12 breaks. All of the reports have been promising. A California quail surveys its “We haven’t had really anybody who spends appreciable wet surroundings atop of a time out in the canyons or out stump outside of Genesee. on the rivers saying they are Tribune/Steve Hanks not seeing birds and broods. I had many more people than normal (deliver good reports) healthy populations of insects unsolicited because they were impressed by what they saw.” the young birds depend on. Wildlife biologists from the “Some of the best conditions are some of the wetter years,” Washington Department of he said. “You just don’t want Fish and Wildlife are predictto get the moisture at the time ing pheasant numbers will be up compared to last year. it causes chick mortality.” They expect the same of quail North central Idaho and and partridge. southeastern Washington saw Chukar, Hungarian para long hot summer with barely tridge and quail seasons open a drop of rain. But Koehler said in Idaho Saturday and run well-timed showers in June through Jan. 31. Idaho’s pheaswere just enough to produce ant season opens Oct. 10. vegetation growth and insect Partridge and quail seasons production and it happened open in Washington Oct. 3 and just before pheasants hatched. run through Jan. 18. Pheasant “We had a pretty good rain season opens Oct. 24 and runs shower very early in June. It through Jan. 18. 

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Being respectful a simple key to gaining access By ERIC BARKER of the Tribune

Some of the best upland game bird and big game hunting is on private land but getting access to those spots can be daunting. Andrew Mackay, a wildlife biologist with the Idaho Department of Land at Lewiston, said there are some simple tips to gaining permission from landowners. Hunters first need to do their homework to learn who owns a particular piece of property. Then they need to make a good impression. He said the most important thing is to be respectful and look presentable when asking for hunting permission. Many landowners have had bad experiences with hunters who either don’t ask for permission or don’t respect land by doing things like driving in fields, leaving trash behind or leaving gates open. Despite that, many will still grant access with a simple request and a handshake. “Often times, a lot of producers do not have any problem letting people hunt, as long as you are respectful,” he said during an Idaho Department

of Fish and Game hunting expo last month. Finding landowners can be done simply by knocking on doors near the land you hope to hunt. But some landowners don’t live near their property and figuring out who to ask can take a bit of detective work. Hunters can go to county assessors’ offices to look up land ownership records. Both Idaho and Washington also have programs that help hunters gain access to private property. Idaho has its AccessYes! program. The program pays some landowners to open their property to the public for hunting and fishing. Some are open without first talking to the landowners and others require advance notification and permission. Information is available at http://bit.ly/1JbX5XJ. Washington has an extensive public access program that includes a huntby-reservation system, properties where hunters must register to hunt, some “Feel Free to Hunt” properties where no permission is required and others where hunters must get verbal or written permission. More information is available at http://wdfw. wa.gov/hunting/hunting_access/ 

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Spokesman Review

John Bruce (right), founder of the Columbia Plateau Wildlife Management Association, fastens a sign on a new 325-acre property his group has leased for public hunting by permit near Cheney. At left is association President Gerry Hickman and in the middle is group Treasurer John Phillips.

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Ducks appear to be plentiful despite drought conditions By Rich Landers Spokesman Review

A record number of ducks counted on the northern breeding grounds should deliver plenty of action for waterfowlers this season in Washington and Idaho. Hunting opportunities approved by the states will be similar to last year, but the 2015 drought has left some traditional wetland hunting areas short on water or high and dry. Washington’s split statewide duck season will be open for 107 days, starting Oct. 17-21 and continuing Oct. 24-Jan. 31. Washington’s youth hunting weekend is Saturday and Sunday. The hunt is open to youth up to age 16 who’ve passed their hunter education requirements weekend. Idaho’s duck season in the Panhandle will run Oct. 17-Jan. 29 with exceptions for scaup. Goose hunting will open in northern Idaho Oct. 17-Jan. 29

with some exceptions for light geese. Idaho’s youth waterfowl season is Oct. 3-4. Idaho’s season will open a week later than the 2014-15 season in response to hunters who want to hunt as late into winter as possible to take advantage of flights coming out of the north. Federal surveys estimate that 49.5 million ducks were on the northern breeding grounds this spring in Canada and the United States. That’s slightly more than last year’s record of 49.2 million ducks on the breeding grounds. In Washington, limits for mallard, pintail, scaup, redhead, goldeneye, harlequin, scoter and long-tailed duck will remain the same as last season. But the commission raised the daily bag limit for canvasback from one to two per day because of increasing numbers throughout North America. Goose hunting seasons will vary among management areas across Washington, but most open mid-October and run through late January. 

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Bird dogs need preseason conditioning too By Rich Landers Spokesman Review

Bird dogs are tough and have a passion to go, but they’re not invincible. Dogs need a handler’s attention before, during and after a hunt to get the most out of a day and maximize the animal’s years in the field. A hunting breed is like any other athlete, said Dan Hoke, pro trainer and owner of Dunfur Kennel near Cheney. They’re more likely to rip tendons, tear muscles and run their feet raw if they haven’t been conditioned. “We started conditioning our dogs for the hunting season at the beginning of August,” he said. “But there’s still time to get reasonably tuned up for seasons that open in mid-October.” Here are more dog management tips from Hoke, who’s learned a few things after dealing with bird dogs and bird dog hunters month after month for decades. l Practice with electronics,

Spokesman Review

Hunters need to spend some time in the field with their dogs prior to hunting season. such as training collars, tracking equipment and beepers, prior to using them in the field. “Having tracking equipment and not knowing how to use it is a waste of money.” Check batteries and do range tests before going hunting.

l Contact information should be on every dog’s collar before turning it loose in the field for training or hunting. l Gun shyness prevention is critical. Work with shooting gradually through training. “It’s a lot easier to prevent gun

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and other seeds getting between toes and into ears. Cotton stuffed in ears can help prevent trouble. Q-Tips and saline solution used by contact lens wearers can be squirted to irrigate and extract stubborn seeds that get under a dog’s inner eyelids. l Field food supplements help balance a dog’s energy level through longer days. Purina Pro Plan Sport Bars work. Experiment with them in training. “Break them up and give little portions during the day. Don’t give the dog the whole deal at once or he’ll go nuts.” l Carry water, leash, forceps for cactus spine and quill removal, and Nutri-Cal or honey in case the dog runs critically out of juice. l Keep expectations in check. If the dog didn’t get any training during the summer, don’t expect it to have improved since last hunting season. l Keep in mind that usually the only thing keeping a good bird dog from being great is the hunter who owns it. 

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shyness than to try to fix it.” l Train with real birds, not with scents. “Shooting preserves work quite well. Homing pigeons or pen-raised chukars work fine. Wild birds are best whenever you can get your dog onto them in a controlled manner.” l Use succinct commands in the same intensity during training as well as in the field. “The dog isn’t going to know dog commands just because it’s a dog. … Dogs don’t respond well to rambling rants or conversations.” l Trim toenails. Don’t let them get long and break off. l Upgrade food to higher protein and calories as activity increases. l Snakebite inoculations should be considered. Ask your vet. l Keep hunts short, especially in warm weather. Even fit dogs can suffer heat exhaustion, which could set them back for weeks or months – or worse. l Check dogs for seeds in eyes and be wary of cheatgrass

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