Publisher’s Notes By Raf Viniard We had a few days of cooler weather and my mind has been on scouting and getting in the woods...it is getting harder to concentrate on work. My buddies aren’t helping either. My favorite time of the year is the fall...hunting season. I didn’t think it would ever get here but spring and summer just flew by. I again find myself scrambling to get everything done around the house and at work to ensure I am ready to go opening day. As I sat down in a huckleberry patch last week picking and munching on the little purple gifts from God, I thought about a buddy of mine that used to get excited as me about the upcoming hunting season...Steve Pardee. Steve’s big smile and that big heart is surely missed. I can still see Steve sitting in those bib overalls nestled down in that huckleberry patch grinning from ear to ear talking about the bears using the berries as bait to lure us in. Steve, this huckleberry shake is a salute to you. See you on the other side old buddy. Don’t forget to support our advertisers. Without them Montana Woods n Water will not exist. We need their business for us to stay in business and keep you informed, entertained and educated. Raf Viniard, Publisher
We Won’t Forget! Front Cover Photo Provided By: Raf Viniard Tara Browning and Keaton Jones of Plains, Montana. This hunting duo is getting ready for archery season...are you? To Contact Us: Montana Woods N Water 171 Clark Creek Loop Plains, Montana 59859 406-407-0612 Email: raf@montanawoodsnwater.com www.montanawoodsnwater.com blog.montanawoodsnwater.com – Going Live August 2015
What’s Inside Hunting Fishing Fly Fishing Trapping Montana Dan Archery Talk Sportsman’s Meditation Next Generation Local Celebrities Angela Montana Toby Walrath Sam Martin Outdoor Vet Campfire Talk Events
Staff
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Publisher/Editor/Layout: Raf - 406-407-0612 VP of Sales & Marketing: Pam - 406-540-3550 Field Editor, Lincoln County Kori - 406-293-1478 Director of Social Media Misty - 406-250-4191 Videographer/Photographer: Skeeter Pro Staff Writers This Month: Angela Gerych Pastor Jim Sinclair Dan Helterline Paul Fielder Sam Martin Tony Rebo Toby Walrath Chuck Stranahan
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HUNTING
Game On! By Raf Viniard
The bucks and bulls are getting ready…have you got your game plan yet? As I travel around Northwest Montana talking with hunters and outfitters, it is clear the fall hunting bug is starting to creep into their systems. Especially, in the archery hunters. The smiles are starting to reappear across their faces as they talk elk hunting and tactics to finding elk. It has been so hot and dry many hunters have had a hard time getting into the spirit but hot dry weather can actually narrow your game plan to specific areas that has that so precious H2O.
George Nass of Baldy Mountain Outfitting glasses a ravine in the distance for late afternoon elk. Photo by Raf Viniard
Some parts of Northwest Montana have seen more rain that others so adjust your tactics to your local conditions. Often times higher elevations may have much different temps, forage and water sources than down in the valleys or lower elevations. For those areas that have not seen much rain, focus on the available water sources. Forage for the animals will also be thicker and tastier around these areas. With a month or less until opening day of archery season, archery equipment is being prepped in anticipation of chasing that big bull. In the next thirty days rest assured local guides will be checking their old haunts and wallows for sign and activity. Game cameras are already going up to watch these honey holes and to save on the shoe leather and from disturbing these areas. With each day the bulls and bucks antlers are getting harder and bulls will become more vocal early and late in the day. Just remember the early bird gets the worm or least learns where the elk are bugling and hanging out. Leave the house well before daybreak and sit and listen for bugles to alert you where they are and possibly how many may be in an area. Take that spotting scope and binoculars so you can start examining the bulls for antler size. Could all this change before opening day of archery season…absolutely. There are many variables that can cause a bull or a herd to move out of one area into another, seemingly overnight. Just to name a few; predation, competition, scouting pressure, water/food sources, fires, etc. Keep tabs on your hunting area, but at a distance. In dry areas focus on the dark timber near water sources. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, have two or three areas under tabs in case conditions change…rest assured you will not be the only one out there looking and listening for a bull in the next few days. Continued on page 2.
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HUNTING CONTINUED Make sure your archery equipment is tuned and ready to perform. By the end of this month your plan should be to consistently hit/group your arrows in the target at the ranges you are comfortable with. Learn to judge distance or buy yourself a range finder. Judging distance and shooting at the local 3D range or your backyard is totally different than standing in the brush looking up or down a mountain side. Learn to shoot from different positions, angles and with your pack on your back. Practice, practice, practice. Also, tune up your body and make sure you are in shape for the demands of hiking up and down the mountains with a pack. If you got a new pair of boots this summer make sure you break them in BEFORE you start chasing that big bull. Double check your backpack to ensure that you have everything in it you would need in case you have to spend the night. Practice your calling, but not in the forest. Educating a bull will only make your job harder opening day. If the wife doesn’t want to hear it…go in the garage or take a drive but sharpen up those calling tactics before opening morning. When scouting, do so quietly and with purpose. Leave the dog at the house. Be mindful of the wind thermals and use good scent and noise discipline. If you have game cameras, strategically place them to Baldy Mountain Outfitter Specials verify your hunches…just be sure and pull them before opening day of archery season. If dry conditions are in your hunting area find the wallows and watering www.baldymountainoutfitter.com holes and focus on those resources. 406-291-7656 (See Ad Back Inside Cover) Your dedication and physical abilities may determine your success this fall. To For our Montana Woods N Water readers we climb 3-4,000+ feet may mean the difference between a rag horn and a true trophy. have worked you out a special offer. Price However, make sure you know your limitations and have plenty of water or a way does not include tags, lodging or travel. to purify it. Dehydration and hypothermia can go hand in hand and you need to be Archery Combo Elk/Deer - $3568.00 conscious of both when hiking hard and long distances in steep terrain. Take 6 Days—Regularly $4460.00—20% Savings quality snacks/food that fuel your body to replace the calories you are burning. Fall/Spring Bear (Bow/Rifle) - $1784.00 If you did not get a spring bear, grab a bear tag and stuff it in your pocket. The odds are good you will slip up on a bear stuffing his face with huckleberries. With that being said be “Bear Aware” and ready to defend yourself if you walk up on a sow with cubs that is in a foul mood. Continued on page 3.
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HUNTING CONTINUED Check those tree stands out before opening day. If hunting from a tree stand, use a safety belt and make sure the stand is safe BEFORE stepping onto the platform. Check that stand over to make sure there is not a yellow jacket nest hanging around. Always maintain three points of contact in case something goes wrong while climbing. Buckle Up! Yellow Jackets – These little vermin can inflict great pain and quickly. Disturb a nest and they will unleash a fury of hate in short order. While skinning your harvest be prepared to fight for your meat. Place your meat in a game bag as quickly as possible. If you are allergic to bee/wasp stings make sure and carry Benadryl/Epi Pen to counter act the allergic reaction. Do your part and purchase a wolf tag. The elk, deer and your fellow elk hunters will thank you if you get the opportunity to fill that tag. Still need a plan B? Grab a grouse and turkey tag for an opportunity to provide some fresh lunch/supper vittles. Plan C, if you are hunting up near mountain lakes/streams that might hold a nice trout, purchase a fishing license and throw a fishing pole in your backpack. This can pass the time during the day when the elk are bedded down. Just keep in mind of the “Fire Warnings” for your area before cooking over an open flame to feast on your fowl or fish!
Make a plan and start getting ready, opening day of archery season is right around the corner and rifle season is just a few days behind that. In fact, bear rifle season opens 15 September. Visit your local archery shop or outdoor sports center and it might just remind you of something you need to purchase or replace. Not to mention, you might as well start your Christmas shopping list so your honey knows what to get you this year! One thing hasn’t changed this year, like every year, elk are where you find them and a good food and water source with close cover is your best bet to finding your next elk. So, get your game plan together and get out there and do what Montanan’s do, “Live The Dream!” The game of cat and mouse is on! The Highly Sought After Elk Wallow!
Depending on who you talk to...there are many theories to hunting elk wallows. Hang a camera near one of these and see how often it is visited and by what. You might be amazed at the other critters visiting the wallow to water as well. By hanging a camera you will better able to see the times it is being visited. Wallows inside timber cover are best. A heavily used wallow can also be hunted by hanging a tree stand near by. When hanging your stand keep in mind of the wind direction and the incoming trails to that wallow. Make sure the stand has plenty of cover so you are not silhouetted against the skyline. Wear that safety belt if hunting from a tree stand. 3
FISHING-TONY REBO
Man Overboard! By Tony Rebo and His Better Half! Last month’s article of “He said, She said” was a big hit. My wife felt that her voice was finally heard and that the truth was finally told. It was such a big hit, that I agreed to try it again. This time I let my wife pick the topic and I made sure she was up to date on her medication. My wife thought it would be good idea to talk about the number of items I lose every year at the bottom of the lake. No fault of my own of course, but I have lost a number of poles, reels, a fish finder, shoes, glasses, keys, knives, and my favorite harmonica. Which did I mention was to no fault of my own? Most of the items I have lost are down an ice fishing hole or over the side of the boat. So with that being said, here is this month’s version of “He said ,She said” Man Overboard. My wife thought that it would be a good idea if I lied first and then she would correct the story. Right away she goes straight for the jugular. So yes, it is true I have lost a few items over the side of the boat, and most recently a fish finder. We were trolling for salmon on Thompson Lake when the incident occurred. The incident I am referring to was trying to teach my wife how to troll and catch salmon. My wife when fishing has two means to hooking a fish. Method one is to jerk so hard that you just reel in the head and method two is to jerk even harder and have the fish land in the boat from 100 yards away. The second method usually results in me getting smacked alongside the head by a flying fish. I tried to explain to her that the reason her cow bells were in the giant knot was because she was jerking so hard. All I can say is that through this whole discussion the word “jerk” was mentioned several times. After getting absolutely nowhere in my plea I decided that we should try out in deeper waters. I run my boat with two fish finders, one being mounted on the dash and the other is a drop pole that is mounted by a clamp attached to the back of the boat. I motored around the lake looking for fish; we would find a school and slowly troll back and forth over the school catching salmon as we made each pass. It wasn’t long and the school of fish had moved on and we needed to relocate to the other side of the lake. Continued on page 5.
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FISHING CONTINUED—TONY REBO Moving to another spot is very simple; we reel in our lines and place our poles in the rod holders. I then pull up the front trolling motor and lower my big motor. My wife’s job is to secure the fish finder and any lose objects about the boat. When I am all set I smile at her and ask “are you ready babe”? I get the go ahead sign and off we go. We were about 100 yards from where we started when I heard the thump sound. I looked back and didn’t see a thing. I then slowed up to our next spot and started to get the gear ready to troll. I went to place the back fish finder in the clamp and realized it was nowhere to be found. I smiled and looked at my wife and asked “babe do you know where the fish finder is”? “Nope haven’t seen it”. She replied. Really, well let’s see. Your only job is to secure the finder. How could you possibly do that and not know its where about. You see guys I think that this is a fair question. I feel that I am in the right and that the score is me 1 and wife 0. Right, she calls a time out and gives me the business. “If you’re the captain of the boat then you should be aware of your gear”. I just realized that she threw the challenge flag and the call is reversed and the score is now me 0 and wife 1. I don’t know how these things happen. So I calmly asked her if she had any idea where it fell off. She pointed back in the direction we came from and said that it was closer to the shore line. “Ah ha so you did see it fall off the back of the boat”. We traveled back to the shoreline and scoured the water for a glimpse of the finder. The whole time we argued as to its possible location. Finally my lovely bride spotted something in the water that somewhat resembled an object of sort. I knew it was a branch at the bottom, but wasn’t totally sure as I really wanted to find my fish finder. Now as we hovered above the object I set up a pole with a snagging hook and tried to retrieve the object at the bottom of the lake. I was having no luck and that was when my wife suggested that I just jump over board and swim down and get it. My wife glared over the side of the boat into the water and then made this statement “it doesn’t look that deep, how deep do you think it is”? “Gee I don’t know, but I bet if you didn’t let the fish finder fall off the back of the boat I could tell you”. Continued on page 6. 5
FISHING CONTINUED—TONY REBO
Now the score is me 1, wife 1. It was pretty silent in the boat for the next half hour, which was fine with me as I prepared to get up the courage to jump into the lake and try to retrieve the fish finder. I made it to the side rail and was staring down at the cold water. I then felt a sudden jolt to my back side which caused me to lose my balance and fall overboard. As I plummeted to the bottom of the lake I realized it was much deeper than I thought. It was a lot darker down here then I realized and I had zero vision. I reached the bottom and started to feel my way around looking for my finder. I soon was out of breath and panicked as everything soon turned black. My last thought was “why didn’t I just secure that darn fish finder”. I remember the snagging hook catching my shirt and my wife reeling me up to safety as she proclaimed “Look at the size of this big sucker!”. New score, me 1, wife 2. She helped me in the boat and started CPR which consisted of first slapping my face and yelling “stop acting like a baby and breath”. Then she stood on my chest and forced the water from my lungs. After that near life and death event I was just grateful to be in the boat. My loving wife through all the smirks and giggles asked if I was going to be ok. I thanked her for her concern and proclaimed that I was giving up on finding the fish finder. My wife thought it was a good idea as well, besides she said I actually think it fell off over there pointing to the south. New score, me 1 wife 3 game over. Oh and by the way did you kick me over the side of the boat? She said: It’s hard for me to tell my side of the story as I am bent over in tears from laughing at the day’s events. Some of what Tony says is true, like we were fishing, and he did lose his fish finder, and he may have got kicked off the side of the boat. Oh my word, you should see him when it comes to getting wet. He was standing on the side shivering like it was 10 below zero. He hadn’t even touched the water and was whining. I just helped him with the process. Continued on page 7.
Fergie’s Pub & Grill 213 Main Street Hot Springs, MT 59845 406-741-2416 Owners: Charlie & Joe Ferguson
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FISHING CONTINUED
Speaking of process; why in the world does there have to be so many darn rules about catching fish. If one bites your hook pull him in. If the fish hits you in the side of the head then you should have ducked. Why do you need so many gadgets to catch fish, he has two gas motors and one electric motor. Two fish finders, an underwater camera and all kinds of other nonsense in the boat. I can’t believe he even noticed that he lost something. My job is to provide lunch and to catch the fish, which someone in the boat has to do or we would be going home empty handed. Burn; I think the score is now Tony 1, Brenda 4. Ladies you need to be listening to your man and what he says to his friends. I bet there are a number of fish stories out there that are slightly exaggerated. We are going to spend the weekend down in Heron on the river, and then next week we are traveling up to Canada to fish in the ocean for red snapper, ling cod, and maybe some salmon. I will let you know how it goes, and give you the real story. The ocean is much deeper than the lake, so Tony might not want to drop anything over the side of the boat. Until next time‌ good luck and good fishing.
E-mail: peregrineemb@plainsmt.net 7
FLY FISHING
Taking Low Water Trout By Chuck Stranahan We’ll remember this dry year of 2015 for a long time. Many of our rivers are under “hoot owl” restrictions. The trout need protection when water temperatures get dangerously high in the sweltering afternoon heat.
Flies like Chuck’s Sculpin, shown here, can score on big trout when fished early and late during low water. Photo by Jan Stranahan
As a fly shop owner I have to bite the bullet. The closures affect my business – but without the fishery resource I’d have no business. The good people at Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks have done the right thing.
There is still plenty of good fishing to be had. It may not be there for the angler who wants to float “banker’s hours” and expects to see fish rising to big dry flies in the heat of the day. The angler who changes tactics to meet conditions, though, can still score – and score big. Fish early, fish late... When a hot day is anticipated, the best time to fish might be as early as you can. I sometimes tell people to get on the water as soon as they can see their hand in front of their face.
This is not the time to go exploring, however. Do your scouting in broad daylight. Choose familiar territory where you won’t stumble around and hurt yourself in the pre-dawn light. Find a place where the current will accelerate and force sculpins and other baitfish out of the tails of pools and over drop-offs into deeper holding water. I like to use my sculpin pattern for this sort of fishing. Sculpins are nocturnal. In low water the current velocity gathers and washes them out of the tails of pools as they feed. Big trout, trout that may not feed at all during the day, tend to notice. I rig up for them on a sink-tip line with a short, stout piece of leader. Four feet of 8# test Maxima is about perfect. Comb the water out, making short casts at first, placing the fly as close to the drop-off as you can without snagging. Short and quick erratic strips, with just enough speed to overcome current speed, will let the fly fall into the deeper water and appear to struggle. Even if you can’t see what’s going on, don’t worry about detecting the strike. It will come as a solid ta-tap or a heavy jolt. In either case, you’ll feel it. Where the regs permit, this isn’t a bad way to end your day – even if there is no insect activity on the water. Continued on page 18.
“Don’t tell fish stories where people know
(406) 529-5492
you, but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.” — Mark Twain 8
TRAPPING
By Paul C Fielder Most trappers don’t want to get involved in politics. But, if you found someone stealing your traps out of the back of your truck or your furs out of your fur shed – I bet you’d get involved. Well, there are people trying to steal our trapping rights. And they are doing that politically. This winter’s legislative session was a prime example of who is stealing your trapping rights. House Bill (HB) 212, sponsored by Republican Representative Kirk Wagoner, passed into law when the Governor took no action on it after 10-days (neither signing it nor vetoing it). HB 212 defined “harvest” as the legal take by means of angling, hunting, and trapping. Our Montana Constitution contains a Preservation and Harvest Heritage clause. That clause states that the Opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals shall be forever preserved to the citizens of the state. Senate Bill (SB) 334, sponsored by Republican Senator Jennifer Fielder, survived a total 12 votes in the committees and floor sessions of the Senate and House. Then it went to Governor Bullock’s desk and he VETOED SB 334 because of “unknown unintended consequences”. SB 334 would have defined “game animals” as big game animals, upland game birds, migratory game birds, and furbearers. It would also have moved raccoon, red fox, and badger from “nongame animals” to “predatory animals”. The benefits of HB 212 plus SB 334 would have been that our right to harvest (by means of trapping) game animals (including furbearers) would be protected by our state constitution and statute. It would be harder for Animal Rights Groups to bring about anti-trapping ballot initiatives. Less than two months after Governor Bullock vetoed SB 334, Animal Rights Groups filed a ballot initiative to ban all trapping on all public lands in Montana. During the final vote on SB 334, all 29 Republican Senators voted YES and all except two Democrat Senators voted NO. Then, Democratic Governor Steve Bullock vetoed the Bill. In the House of Representatives, all Democrats voted against SB 334 during every vote. Surprisingly, several Republicans also voted with the Democrats against SB 334 two or more times: Representatives Christy Clark of Choteau twice, Rob Cook of Conrad three times, Geraldine Custer of Forsyth four times, Steve Fitzpatrick of Great Falls twice, Dan Salomon of Ronan four times, and Jeff Welborn of Dillon three times. Senator Bruce Tutvedt of Kalispell was the only Republican Senator to cast NO votes against SB 334 and HB 212. Some elected officials support trappers and some don’t. The “unintended consequences of SB 334 should be that we trappers and sportsmen will remember who supported trappers and real sportsmen and who supported Animal Rights Groups. You’re voting for your trapping future and to keep traps in the back of your truck and furs in your fur shed. Choose wisely. In meantime, we trappers can now struggle against another ballot initiative by Animal Rights Groups that seek to ban all trapping on all public lands in Montana. It seems that we can thank Governor Steve Bullock, most of the Democrats, and a few others for that.
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MONTANA DAN
Whitefishing on Flathead Lake By Montana Dan After spending three weeks in Alaska, a week at Bonners Ferry and Priest Lake on wild fires, I was finally able to escape to the big pond with my boat and take part in the long awaited whitefish bite that was just starting on the south end of Flathead Lake. The whitefish in Flathead are of the Lake Superior variety and grow much larger and fatter than the mountain whitefish that inhabit most of the rivers and large streams in Western Montana. Most of the lake whitefish in Flathead will average 3-4 pounds Dan with a nice fish from his Alaska and some will even break the 5 pound mark, it doesn't take many fish that trip! This was fish was taken along size to come up with a good mess of fillets to eat fresh or smoke. In addition to having mild white flakey flesh, making them super table fare, the Yukon near Tanana. the Lake Superior Whitefish are hard fighting and are a pure joy to battle on light tackle. In Flathead they feed on perch fry in the summer months and only present themselves in catchable numbers when the perch population peaks. It's been almost ten years since the lake conditions lined up to produce a good bite, so when Zimmer’s Tackle predicted that the perch population in Flathead was building to levels that would produce a good whitefish bite his summer, I have been eagerly awaiting its onset. If the bite builds as summer proceeds, whitefish should be catchable in many location across the lake, but as for now the only places reporting good catches are Big Arm and the Elmo Bay areas. The best fishing is usually found in that magical 50 foot mark and usually the fish can be found with the help of a good fish finder. Find 50 feet of water look for fish on your sonar and throw out the anchor. Since the whitefish are feeding on perch fry, vertical jigs that resemble small perch work the best, sometimes with a perch pattern fly tied on a dropper a foot or so above the spoon. Zimmer Tackle of Pablo sells their own custom spoons for jigging that are called “Rattle Disasters”, these spoons seem to be a local favorite for catching whitefish. Dick at Zimmer’s Tackle is always a good source of information for what’s happening on Flathead or surrounding lakes, and their staff is never too busy to talk fishing. Continued on page 11.
These whitefish are so delicious that I had to bring along a my guard dog “Vesper” just to watch the cooler.
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MONTANA DAN CONTINUED If the fishing is good, catching can be nonstop, and coolers can quickly be filled full of these tasty fish. With their mild white flesh and less bones than their mountain cousins, fillets of Lake Superior whitefish can be consumed a wide variety of ways. They can be fried or baked fresh and make wonderful fish tacos, which is a favorite way to eat them according to Libby legend Cougar Ray Baenen. I've had great luck smoking and canning the fillets and then eating them on crackers with or without cheese, this method is always a crowd pleaser and a jar of smoked whitefish will rarely last long once opened. If I am successful this year I would like to try pickling and canning some of the fillets, I have a recipe for pickled pike that is very good and I think that these whitefish would pickle up wonderfully.
On the second day of my whitefish pursuit the bite was substantially slower than the previous day so my fishing parter Steve Wagenius suggested we try trolling for lakers. We had barely lowered the downrigger balls into position and we had our first laker on! Within a hour of trolling we caught five eating sized lake trout, not a bad way to salvage a slow day whitefishing. It sounds like the bite has been hit or miss, some days guys are filling coolers and the next day barely catching any. This definitely seemed to be the case with my two day attempt, I guess that is why they call it fishing. If predictions run true the bite should build and only get better. If you are in the need of some hard to beat eating fish that put up a worthy battle on light tackle, I would definitely head to Flathead and try your hand at jigging for Lake Superior whitefish!
Steve Wagenius and Vesper on Elmo Bay waiting for the bite! Dan Helterline aka “Montana Dan� holds a pair of beauties up for the camera. Vesper on point!
Smoke Jumper legend John Kovalicky has some pole bending action and contributes to the cooler. 11
ARCHERY TALK
Listen, Observe & Adapt By Raf Viniard I slipped by Trophy Taker, my local pro archery shop to check on Zach Butcher our resident archery expert. As I expected he was covered up with archers dropping off their bows and he was busy trying to get their bows tuned and prepared for opening day, which is only about 35 days or less away depending on when you read this article. I asked Zach if I needed to remind everyone to get their bows in for a tune up and he stated, “They should have already done so… we are already busy and it may take a few days to get it back.” When it comes to bows and archery gear, Zach is our local “Go To” man. However, if you really want to get Zach’s attention just start talking about elk or bear hunting. Zach has taken both with a bow and his knowledge base is not only from his years of experiences but from the staff at Trophy Taker and the locals that visit with him at the shop. Dan Evans the owner of Trophy Taker is well known nationally for his knowledge of elk hunting tactics. First, I picked Zach’s brain about a haunt I have been exploring this year to see if my focus was in the right area and to see how much pressure it gets during archery season. He shared his opinion of the area and it boiled down to “If you can handle the walk and climb there is a good chance of bagging a nice bull/buck.” That really lifted my spirits and confirmed some of my own findings. Armed with new confidence I knew I had his attention. As we walked through the store looking at all the scents, game bags, arrows, bows, sights, targets, calls, etc., I decided to pick his brain about the phases the average bull elk goes through from opening weekend of archery season until late season…our discussion was strictly from an archery hunting standpoint. Since our spring and summer came early this year and from the long range forecast it is looking like fall may come early as well. I was wondering would this change when and how the elk would alter their breeding or behavior. Here is what Zach shared with me, so adapt accordingly and be ready to adjust your plan on the fly. Continued on page 13.
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ARCHERY TALK CONTINUED Early Season (September) - Bulls are not real vocal since the cows are not yet in heat but that can change overnight. Focus on the water sources and listen early in the morning /break of daylight for bulls to start bugling. Once the bugling starts and the cows start coming in the game is on. Rubs will start to appear during this early season. Hint: Watch and listen the end of August closely. Mid Season (September/October) – This is the time of feeding and breeding. Now is the time to get close but be quiet doing so and watch the wind. Shadow the herd until you can get within range to close the deal. Be patient. The bigger bulls will be busy keeping the smaller satellite bulls away from the cows. Running into one of these smaller or a challenging bull is likely. Late Season (October) – This is when the 2nd rut kicks in and this is their last chance to breed. The breeding action slows down for a few days but those last few cows can fire the competition up again. The action can get hot and aggressive. Be mobile, use scents and watch the wind. Use the wind to your advantage in dispersing scents. Keeping these three periods of elk activity in mind: listen, observe and adapt your game plan to what the elk are doing based on pressure, food and breeding activity. If you are in the Plains, Montana area you need to stop into Trophy Taker and not only check out their line of sights, quivers, broadheads and other bow accessories but their very impressive trophy room. It is filled with HUGE elk that Dan Evans, the owner of Trophy Taker has taken over the years. While you are in there, be sure and thank Zach for sharing his knowledge of archery elk hunting tactics. If you have some elk hunting knowledge you would like to share for our September issue, shoot me an e-mail at Raf@montanawoodsnwater.com. Good luck this archery season and send us those pictures.
Archery Season Is Almost Here!
5 September 2015 Antelope Bear Bighorn Sheep Black Bear Deer & Elk Mountain Lion Wolf Go to www.fwp.mt/hunting.com to read the regulations.
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SPORTSMAN’S MEDITATION
Hop To It! By Pastor Jim Sinclair I was sitting in my chair watching a hunting show on the Pursuit channel. With hunting season approaching my mind is starting to dwell on the upcoming days of chasing that big buck or bull. It was a little cooler this particular Saturday and my lovely wife interrupted my relaxing afternoon with her usual Saturday honey do lists, “Are you going to mow the lawn?”, she asked. I have to mention that I wear these incredible headphones that let me only hear the T.V. or so she thinks, I can usually deflect her first few requests, but the jumping jacks in front of the T.V. were hard to ignore.
I hop up and head out to my garage and hop on the old John Deere lawn mower, rip out of the garage and onto the lawn. I hadn’t gone more than five feet into the task and I couldn’t see anything for all the hopping grasshoppers. The air was speckled with hundreds and hundreds and maybe thousands of hopping and fluttering grasshoppers… they were everywhere. The more I drove around the yard the more they filled the air. It was hard staying focused on the tasks at hand…I felt like I was in something from a sci-fi movie. I continued to mow the yard but I remembered a time in the bible where there were ten plagues, one of which was locusts, or grasshopper like insects, but the one that would be hard to take would be the plague with the frogs. Exodus 8:2 - 2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs. 3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading troughs. Can you imagine frogs in your bread dough? But the most astounding fact about the story is the King’s reply, Exodus verses 8-9. Let me paraphrase, the king says take the frogs away, Moses says, tell me when to pray for them to leave, and the king said, ”Tomorrow”. The question is why not today? Some people are stubborn! In other words, let me live with this problem one more day. Just give me one more night with the frogs. Sometimes we are that way. Stubbornness keeps us living one more night with (fill in the blank), jealousy, hate, envy, pride and the list goes on. Never forget, those things you tolerate will not change. So hop to it, and ask God to help you to change those things in your life that are holding you back from being a better more caring person and having a personal relationship with your creator. Keep “Livin The Life”
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NEXT GENERATION
Adrian Nass and Montana Woods N Water mascot “Whiskey” after a hard day of scouting. Both loaded up into the truck and was out before we got turned around!
Every puppy should have a boy. ~Erma Bombeck~
Harlee Huisenruit of Troy, Montana with a nice Savage Lake bass. Harlee what’s your secret to catching bass like that? Good job! Pictured Right: Kiara Thrasher of Troy, Montana brings in supper with this nice trout from Lake Creek! Congrats Kiara!
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LOCAL CELEBRITIES
Top Left: Adam Tallmadge of Troy, Montana checking wetting his fly line on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.. He caught and released several Brown Trout during his relaxing afternoon of fishing the Bull River. Top Right: Cole Duncan an avid outdoorsman just recently moved here from Texas. He was offered a job in Missoula as an engineer. During the picture taking session Cole landed a beautiful Cutthroat. As he went to wash it off and before I could snap a picture it got away...added a whole new meaning to catch and release. Welcome to NW Montana Cole. Bottom Left: Bob Brown, aka “Fajita Bob� of Thompson Falls, MT put in a little saltwater time and landed this beautiful NW Pacific Salmon. Thanks for sharing Bob! Is that smoked, grilled or baked on the menu Tell me you not making a Fajita? Bottom Right: Juan Lulack of Plains, MT shows off a nice trout. What time is supper Juan? 16
ANGELA MONTANA
Well Poop! By Angela Montana I put in for antelope in eastern Montana, and I must have checked the website every day in anticipation for the drawing results. So, earlier this week, the results were posted, AND......I was disappointed to find that I did not get my tag...well poop! So, unfortunately, this article is not about my excitement for the upcoming antelope hunt I have been daydreaming about for the last couple of months--BUT, I do have an antelope story that came to mind of a fellow hunter. It is the story of a man's first antelope with his bow. You may, or may not, throw some toilet paper in your pack when you go out hunting, but has toilet paper ever actually helped you get your animal--even if you didn't realize it? A veteran Montana hunter actually put toilet paper in the bush he was kneeling next to and the wind whipped it around next to him. Within no time, a curious buck spotted the movement, as it must have resembled a female running. Travis took his first antelope buck home that day with his bow and made some pretty tasty antelope jerky with that curious buck. Getting your trophy animal can be as simple as using the resources you have. Keep that in mind during your next hunting trip, and congratulations to all the hunters who were drawn for tags this year!
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FLY FISHING CONTINUED Long, fine leaders...As the day lightens up, look for a hatch or fish terrestrials. Switching from the sink-tip to a floating line and making careful, delicate casts may be quite a switch for your brain to handle, but it could pay off. Low clear water calls for long leaders. I generally fish about twelve feet, minimum, during late summer. The front thirty inches or so should be tippet – light enough to give me a decent presentation, but as heavy as I can get away with. I don’t want to overplay a trout that is already stressed by warmer water. Stalk your fish…Low water trout are vulnerable – and they know it. They’re skittish. Turning a rock every now and then as you wade during post-runoff conditions might not spook a fish that will hear and feel rocks washing downstream with heavy current, but the crunch of gravel moving under foot when the water is low and clear might send them scurrying. Wade and walk the banks slowly, silently, and out of sight. Don’t push a wake. Cast carefully. Make that line and leader fall where they won’t spook the lie you’re fishing.
And, even more important, let your cast drift all the way through before picking it up – and make that pickup as gentle as possible. A sloppy cast, for all a fish knows, could be a small cottonwood branch falling into the water. The fish will spook, but might be back in a few minutes. But a pickup that yanks line and leader out of the water where a fish is holding and sends spray flying isn’t natural at all. That fish will stay spooked. When there’s rain, fish...Thundershowers, thankfully, are part of August fishing. They can reduce the water temperature on moment’s notice to a point that will make lethargic trout suddenly become active. Every now and then we’ll get a few hours of steady rain. When that happens, I want to be out in it. If it’s a thunderstorm, I’ll wait until it passes. Fishing under an overcast in the rain is one thing. Waving a lightning rod around in a thunderstorm is quite another. It could ruin your day. My wife Jan put it all together on a recent trip. We waited out a thunderstorm, and when it cleared the trout in front of us began coming to the surface for mayflies. She tied on her favorite Brindle ‘Chute pattern, made a stealthy approach to water I had fished unsuccessfully earlier, and started making careful, delicate casts to a lie where, as she said “There’s gotta be a big one – right there.” There was. It took her third cast after she let the first two drift through and picked them up with the sneaky cunning of a pickpocket. After she watched a subtle take explode into ferocity after the hook-set, she put on the pressure and in a few minutes had a nineteen-inch rainbow in the net. Not bad, for late summer low water fishing.
Careful stalk, long leader, delicate cast led to this big rainbow doubled in the net for Jan Stranahan during low water. Photo taken by: Chuck Stranahan
Chuck Stranahan is a writer and fly designer from Hamilton Montana where he lives with his wife Jan and runs Chuck Stranahan’s Flies and Guides. 18
ADVENTURE
Trigger and Hoppy SLAM-BAM! By Toby Walrath “What is that thing you’ve got there Hoppy”? Trigger asked with a confused look. “It’s a new Skill-Less Auto-Matic, a.k.a. SLAM.” Hoppy said holding it up with pride. “Hmmph, looks expensive. “ Where’d you get the money to buy that thing?” “I traded my washing machine, a propeller for a 50 horse Johnson and three fishing rods for it.” “How will you wash your clothes now?” Trigger asked raising his hands in disgust. Hoppy wrinkled his nose. He obviously hadn’t considered that conundrum. Soon realizing that no one really needs clean clothes during the summer anyway Hoppy dismissed Triggers accusatory tone and continued clamping the devise onto the gunwales of Triggers boat. Trigger lifted his rod and tackle box from the dock and slid them across the stern, out of the way of Hoppy’s inevitable mess that usually ended with something being lost, broken or somehow smashed to H-E double hockey sticks. “Hey Hoppy?” Trigger said with one eyebrow raised. “Yeah?” “Where are your fishing rods?” “I told you man, I traded them for the SLAM.” Hoppy said with a chiding tone without looking up from his task of twisting the final screw into place. Trigger figured that skill-less gadget must have more features than it appeared but he wondered where the rod and reel was contained inside that machine. He’d likely find out soon as he pulled the lever into reverse and slowly navigated out of the boat slip and onto the lake. Clouds hung low over the water and the wake from the boat rolled away ending with a slap against the rocks settled along the shoreline. The temperature was just right for a flannel shirt and a hot mug of coffee held in Triggers left hand as he found the rocky point that stretched out at least one hundred feet before dropping off to the deepest part of the lake. “Hey man, can I use your rod?” Hoppy asked with a hurried voice. “There’s like 23 fish under the boat right now!” His excitement growing and his eyes glued to the screen. “What am I supposed to fish with?” Trigger growled back instantly. “No man, seriously I need your rod. I’ll be able to watch the fish chasing the lure on the screen; it’s going to be awesome!” Trigger was just curious enough about SLAM to offer up his rod but not without clarifying a time frame first. “I’ll give you five minutes to catch a fish then I want my rod back.” “Yeah, Yeah – just hand it to me.” Hoppy demanded, grimacing when he noticed the reel was on the wrong side. “Why do you have your reel upside down?” “Shut up and fish hippy, I mean Hoppy. You’ve got four minutes.” Trigger smirked as he looked at the screen trying to decipher all the lines and squiggles. Continued on page 20. 19
ADVENTURE CONTINUED Hoppy tied a small jig on the end of the line and dropped it into the water, stripping line rapidly. A small green light appeared on the screen sinking through blobs of red and blue. Suddenly one of the red blobs moved and Hoppy jerked the rod hard enough to pull the lips off a tarpon and reeled at lightning speed. “Did you get ‘em?” Trigger quizzed. “Nah, but did you see that fish chase it?!” Hoppy yelled. “Chase what? What fish? All I saw was a green blob and a bunch of red blobs floating around on that blue screen. “Trigger said, unconvinced. Hoppy flipped the bail on the reel and began lowering the lure into the deep water. Look at all those fish man and there’s the lure.” “What fish? This is ridiculous, give me my rod back!” Trigger yelled angrily. “No way man, I’ve still got three minutes left to catch a fish.” Hoppy said as he held the rod over the boat with arms like an orangutan. “That Fish O’Matic has got your brain fried Hippy!” Trigger said as he leaned over Hoppy trying to wrestle the rod from his arm. He pushed down hard trying to get the rod close enough to grab, but Hoppy’s arms hung out over the water. Suddenly the rod doubled over with a jerk and the reels drag screaming for a second just before the rod plunged into the water. “Wow! Did you see that?!” Hoppy exclaimed. “See what? My favorite fishing rod falling into the lake?” Trigger asked. “No! That fish was huge! It took up like, three inches on the screen and it was orange! That means it’s huge!” Hoppy yelled with excitement. A big smile stretched across his face. “Hey look, you can still see the rod and reel right there, that fish is still hooked!” “I told you this was going to be awesome!” Hoppy said as he leaned in pointing at the screen. “You needed that stupid screen to tell you that when a fish pulls my rod out of your hand that it’s big?” Trigger asked with a grimace. “No but the orange line is proof that it’s at least 40 inches long. It only shows orange when its 40 inches man.” Hoppy said, still staring at the screen with a big smile on his face. Trigger bent forward, staring at the blobs and lines arranged in a rainbow of colors on the screen and then stared blankly into the dark water. “I liked it better when fish filets and photos of people holding fish were the only proof! At least we can still have cold beer and sandwiches while we’re fishing …Hey ah Hoppy, where’s the cooler?” Trigger asked. “Huh? Oh, I traded my cooler, bow and three rifles for a Buck Alert Machine, a.k.a BAM! It sends alerts with photos directly to your cell phone when a big buck walks by. You can program it so it will only send alerts for 4 points or bigger and calculates deer movements so you can determine the best time to hunt. It will be here in three weeks and man it’s going to be awesome!” Hoppy exclaimed. “So let me get this straight; you traded your fishing and hunting stuff for machines that prove when there are fish and game nearby called a SLAM and BAM?” Trigger asked. “Well, uh yeah man but it’s going to make fishing and hunting easier. It’s going to be awesome!” Trigger rolled up his sleeves and said, “I’d like to demonstrate the SLAM-BAM that I’m familiar with and it doesn’t involve batteries!” 20
FISHING—SAM MARTIN
By Sam Martin Walking into a fishing tackle shop today is much like making a random google search. There are near limitless options for any manner of gear an angler could want, with an equally diverse range of options in each category. But what about one of the most critical components in a fisherman’s arsenal… their line. How does one decide what to buy when there are so many options to choose from? Well there are a few critical points to consider when making a purchase that can help anyone make smart, fiscal decisions that fit their needs. Chief among these is what kind of line to buy as that can often be the biggest deciding factor in the “why” of purchasing new fishing line. Line Type: In the fishing world today there are numerous varieties and styles of fishing line to choose from, however there are only five specific styles of line from which these categories can spring. Those being; Monofilament, Fluorocarbon, Co-polymer, Braid and the recently developed Fusion lines. But how does one find out which style is right for them. Hopefully the following information can help any fisherman or fisherlady make the right decision for them. Monofilament: The granddaddy of all modern fishing lines. There isn’t an angler in the Union who can’t credit a fish catch to this aged contender. It is soft, supple, has a fair amount of stretch and floats quite well with higher quality lines even being moderately abrasion resistant. The biggest factor though is its cost. Monofilament is the cheapest line style on the market today with prices for a two hundred Yard spool running as low as $5. Of course it can be much more expensive depending on the desired quality but it is still a contending factor for the rebate doctors out there. Monofilament preforms well in all situations with many specific variations. It does, however, excel in the realm of topwater fishing, due to its floating ability, as well as fishing crankbaits, with its stretch aiding in the softer hookset needed to prevent a plug from tearing out of a fish’s mouth. The stretch factor also aids in fishing for our state’s numerous species of panfish by softening hook sets for their delicate mouths. Fluorocarbon: This line, to the untrained eye, appears exactly similar to monofilament. It is, however, far from that. For one thing fluorocarbon sinks due to the tighter bond of its molecules. This strong bond also lends some other qualities that differs fluorocarbon from monofilament. For instance, fluorocarbon is extremely sensitive and has a far smaller diameter than equally tested monofilament. It is also quite a bit more durable than monofilament. Despite its advantages, though, this variety of fishing line does have some drawbacks. Cost springs first to mind. Fluorocarbon costs about double to any monofilament of equal quality. It also has a tendency to be quite stiff and brittle in lower quality samples which almost requires any angler to fork out the money for more expensive brands. Continued on page 24.
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OUTDOOR VETS
Left to Right: Howard Buck and his father John Buck, founder of Buck’s Grocery
Buck’s Grocery Still Serving Country & Community By Raf Viniard Hot Springs, Montana is known for its “hot springs”, heated mineral waters that bubble up from the depths of the earth. Around 1910 it was not uncommon to see a gathering of settlers that often walked several miles to enjoy these hot waters. Approximately ten years later Buck’s Grocery was established to service a growing community. The photo above was taken around that time and was actually located across the street. Buck’s moved to it’s current location in 1938.
Howard and Eddie Buck, the sons of John Buck went off to serve during WWII. Both boys eventually returned and rejoined their Dad working in the store. In short, this store has a long history of military service to our country.
John Buck’s sons. Left to Right: Howard and Eddie Buck.
Eddie Buck later had a daughter by the name of Trudy who fell in love with a man in an Air Force uniform...Michael Wigton or better known to the locals as “Mike”, the owner of Buck’s Grocery. Mike married Trudy Buck
on 24 October 1970.
Mike served in Vietnam from 1969-1970 and completed his military service in 1971. Mike also served as a Polson police officer from 1971 – 1972 and from 1972 until 1977 he worked at Flathead Electric. In 1977 Mike took over Buck’s Grocery from the Buck family. Continued on page 25. Left to Right: Airman First Class Mike Wigton and Airman First Class Jeff Miller served together in Vietnam.
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Darby’s fish!
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FISHING CONTINUED—SAM MARTIN If someone was to spool up fluorocarbon line, however, they would find it excels in numerous situations. Due to its smaller diameter fluorocarbon is an excellent choice for any clear water situation, just ask any fly fishermen, they know. Its sensitivity also lends it to do a very job fishing any bottom bouncing baits as it aids in detecting very light bites. The abrasion resistance is an all-around plus for anyone fishing potentially heavy cover. Co-polymer: If monofilament and fluorocarbon happened to lock eyes across the store shelves and decided to get hitched, copolymer would be their baby. Essentially what it is is a monofilament line with a fluorocarbon coating, conferring both advantages and disadvantages from each parent line. It is the happy medium that anyone looking for compromise will love, with its traits running right down the middle all the way from cost to stretch. Because of its median-ridding, copolymer is a perfectly suitable line for any application but does not excel in any category. Its fertility makes it perfect for any angler who owns only one rod and is looking to try many different techniques. Braid: Imagine a climbing rope and then scale it down to the size of fishing line. That is essentially what braided line is. Braid, also called super-line, is a tightly wound cord of fibers that is extremely tough, very sensitive, supple as a wet noodle and smaller than monofilament in diameter. Despite its advantages, though, it suffers in several key categories. One, because it is made of fiber it can soak with water after prolonged use, causing it to weaken and loose its buoyancy. Two, it is extremely visible, due mostly to the fact that it is a literal rope, which requires it to be fished with a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader in most situations. It also falls into the pricy end of things, following a pricing scale slightly higher than comparable fluorocarbon. Due to its distinctive qualities, braid can be used in many unique ways. Many anglers enjoy using it as a main line due to its sensitivity but usually have to furnish their rigs with a clear leader to avoid deterring wary fish. Its most widely known application, though, is in heavy cover where its brute strength can pull hidden bass or powerful northerns from their snaggy haunts. Fusion: This is the newest line to come out onto the market and is being lauded as the line of the future. It is essentially a fused braided line which is both of a smaller diameter than regular super-lines but also renders the highly visible cord clear under water. Add onto that the remarkable castability of braid and its unsurpassed sensitivity and any angler could agree that this line is near perfect. There are, however, some drawback. Primarily there is the cost. Fusion lines as sold in small quantities and at prices that would make top quality fluorocarbon look cheap. There is also the fact that these lines are still very much in their infancy, with many metaphorical kinks still in their development. As for use these lines function well almost everywhere except for with crankbaits and topwater lures. But then again, it must be said that these lines have really yet to come into their own so it’s hard to say where they will be in the next decade.
My biggest worry is that when I’m dead and gone, my wife will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it. ~Koos Brandt~
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OUTDOOR VETS CONTINUED This history within itself is very intriguing, but what really makes Buck’s Grocery a shinning star is not their great buys on groceries and their friendly home town service, but their “Wall of Honor”. So how did this “Wall of Honor” begin? David Campbell, an employee of Bucks who was also a veteran wanted to honor veterans from the Hot Springs area. This “Wall of Honor” can be seen when you visit Buck’s Grocery. Currently, there are two other veterans that works for Mike. Let’s take a look at these two fellow veterans.
Left to Right: Drew Carr, David Campbell and Buck’s Owner Mike Wigton. Background: The “Wall of Honor”
Drew Carr, born in Seattle, WA. Drew’s family homesteaded in Montana in 1910. Drew served in the USMC from 1990-1995. Drew served four operation tours and separated as a Corporal. Drew is an avid outdoorsman and loves to hunt elk and whitetail deer. Drew’s gun of choice is his 30-30, 30 -06 and a compound bow. Drew enjoys fly fishing for brook trout, Mack and pike.
David Campbell, born in Portland, OR but has lived in Hot Springs, since 2005. He served in the US Army from 1979-1983 as a Private 1st Class. David states he is so busy working he doesn’t have much time for any hobbies. Mike & Trudy Wigton have two daughters (Melissa and Maria) and a son (Scott) and a sonin-law Don Vandenbussche who is still currently serving in the USAF as a Lt. Colonel and is stationed in Dubai. Don is married to Mike’s daughter Melissa. Mike loves to fish for trout with a good old earth worm as his bait of choice. Another fishing hole that Mike enjoys spending time at is the Hubbard Dam, located in Marion, MT. Corporal Drew Carr during his tour Thanks Mike for recognizing our local veterans...salute! in Greece.
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CAMPFIRE TALK—OPTICS
All Bino’s Are Not Created Equal By Ed Beachy, Owner Eds Outdoor Store Hunting season is just around the corner, so now is the time to get our gear rounded up and check to see if we have everything we need for the season. Your binoculars are one of the most used items of all your hunting gear. How often have you looked through another person’s binoculars and it was obviously better than yours? You are saying to yourself, “Man, I wish I had that pair of bino’s!” What makes one binocular better than another you might ask? The better one has better glass, which allows more light and color to pass through and therefore has better resolution and you can focus more clearly on very small objects, thus reducing eye strain and make for very comfortable viewing for extended periods of time. Very cheap bino’s cause eye strain because your eyes are trying to focus clearly and your cheap bino is not allowing you to do so. So what is considered cheap and what is expensive? Binoculars can range from as low as $50 up to $2500 and almost every $100 increment in between. Most binoculars today are sold to hunters that costs between $200 and $500. So, what do I recommend? It depends on your budget. My suggestion is to buy the best glass you can afford, because you only have to purchase it once in your lifetime. Many brands have a lifetime warranty such as Swarorski, Leica, Zeiss, Minox, Vortex, Alpen, Leupold and Pentax. Continued on page 27.
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CAMPFIRE TALK CONTINUED—OPTICS Understanding the numbers 10X42….what do the numbers mean? The first number is the magnification, meaning that a 10 power brings the image 10 times closer. The second number (42) is the diameter of the objective (big) lens in millimeters. The most popular size for hunters is the 10X42. I suggest buying a Roof Prism style (straight barrels) versus a Porro Prism style (offset barrels). If you are reading this on the Internet click on the ad on page 26 and that will take you to our catalog. Look on page 31 of the catalog for some samples. If you don’t do the Internet thing call me and I will send you a FREE catalog and be glad to answer any questions you may have.
Here are some optic specials I am running for Montana Woods N Water readers. For the lady huntress that loves pink: Alpen Optics Pink 10X42, regular price $185, Montana Woods N Water price $175 Hunter Specials:
Alpen Shasta Ridge 10X42, regular price $185, Montana Woods N Water price $175 Vortex Diamondback (Sold Out until the Fall) 10X42 $220, Montana Woods N Water price $195. Alpen Apex XP 10X42, regular price $369, Montana Woods N Water price $295 Alpen Teton EDHD 10X42, (#1 Best seller), regular price $479, Montana Woods N Water price $395 Mixox (German made) 10X42 (2nd Best seller), regular price $590, Montana Woods N Water price $550 All optics are priced with delivery/shipping included.
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