Publisher’s Notes Wow...where did that hunting season go? Well at least we still got cat season and ice fishing fast approaching with the colder temps moving in. Don ‘t forget there is still time to get in some waterfowl hunting in as well.
What’s Inside
Hunting Predator Hunting Contest Winner Tea Party Montana Dan/Trapping Recipes Christmas is just a few days away and I Sportsman’s Meditation Cartoon am about as ready as I am going to be. Some asked me why are we always late getting the November and December Next Gen/Local Celebs Tony Rebo Unleashed edition out. It is by design. I like the publication as close to the holiday as possible. Family members come in for the holidays and if I put it out too early Outdoor Tech Mountain Memories it gets buried with all the sales catalogs. We will be back on track for the Food For Thought January issue if my clunky computer holds together. Things I Remember
2 6 7 10 11 12 13 15 (Many) 17 24 26 29 31
I closed my hunting season out with a filled bear tag and my whitetail B tag. I Only seen on our blog: didn’t get a shot at a bull elk and let too many small bucks go early on. I was “What’s Happening To Me“ being pretty picky on the size of buck I was after. Thank goodness for my B tag. Oh well, I sure had fun what days I did get to go hunting! I can’t wait for www.montanawoodsnwater.com/blog spring bear and turkey season. Staff Don’t forget our service members and first responders that have to work over Publisher/Editor/Layout/Sales: the holidays and maybe stationed away from home. A special thanks to the Raf - 406-407-0612 Cheri wishes everyone a Merry Christmas! And a Happy FedEx, UPS and USPS Photographers New Year...your patronage is greatly appreciated. folks you make a lot Robin K Ha’o/Bob Hosea of folks happy during Cartoonist the holidays. Be safe Jonny Hawkins out there! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone and thank you for reading Montana Woods N Water. ~Raf Viniard ~ Publisher
Guest Writers This Month: None...we have made them all Pro Staff Writers
Cover Photo By: Robert E. Hosea aka “The BobFactor” Christmas Spirit In Snowshoe Creek. Go to Bob’s Facebook page (TheBobFactor) to see all his beautiful Christmas pictures and others. He even has some videos on there for your viewing pleasure. We thank Bob for sharing his beautiful work with us. Bob does not photoshop his prints. To Contact Us: Montana Woods N Water 171 Clark Creek Loop Plains, Montana 59859 406-407-0612 Email: raf@montanawoodsnwater.com www.montanawoodsnwater.com
Pro Staff Writers This Month: Pastor Jim Sinclair Dan Helterline Tony Rebo Carol Cady Nathan Albertson Lori Goodman Jerry Berry Jay Sheffield Bob Pierson
Editorial Policy: Montana Woods N Water (MWW) reserves the right to refuse to publish any form of content that does not include the author’s name, complete mailing address, and/or valid phone number or e-mail address. Anonymous submissions will not be addressed or published. MWW reserves the right not to publish anything we feel is not in good taste or appropriate. All content, material and graphics designed by Montana Woods N Water are copyrighted.
HUNTING
O Cat Thirty
by Raf Viniard
It was the night before opening day of cat season, it was lightly snowing outside and all was quiet in the house except for the clicking sound of George and I texting back and forth talking about the next days cat hunting plans. Since neither of us drew a cat tag we would be helping Teresa Joiner fill her tag first and if time allowed help Isiah Joiner fill his tag. George Nass, the owner of Baldy Mountain Outfitter has some really good dogs so the odds of us treeing a cat on opening day with fresh snow was almost 100%. The dogs were ready, tracking collars charged, the truck loaded, radios installed and running lights positioned. A quick trip into town the next morning to fuel up and grab enough junk food to preserve our bodies into the hereafter and then it we would be off to find a smoking hot cat track in the newly fallen snow. As we were texting back and forth the topic finally came up as to what time we needed to leave. I was thinking maybe 6:00AM at the earliest. Boy was I wrong...the text screen showed, “I will be by to pick you up between 3:00-3:30”. Holy cat...that was only 3-4 hours away not counting getting my things laid out before I could crawl into bed. Let’s just say we wrapped up that texting conversation quickly and I was off to get my stuff laid out in the bathroom so I wouldn’t wake sleeping beauty at o dark thirty in a few hours. As I finally crawled into bed around midnight I was setting my alarm for 2:30am, Pam heard me mumbling and the glow from the phone lit the room. She asked, “What time are you leaving in the morning, (really it was today already)?” and I said “Around 3:00.” Things were quiet for about ten seconds and then all she said was, “Good luck, I love you .” and she was back fast asleep. As I lay there trying to get to sleep all I could think about was, “I hope my alarm goes off...I will never hear the end of it if I am not ready.” Finally I fell asleep, it felt like I had just closed my eyes and I was immediately awaken by that horrible sounding phone alarm. I made more noises trying to shut it off than the alarm itself but sleeping beauty never rolled over. I knew if I did not set my feet on the floor I would never get up. I bounced up ran into the bathroom with my phone to see if George had texted me yet. I looked outside and yep more fresh snow! I had just got dressed an sure enough my phone beeps alerting me of an incoming text, “You ready?”, George asked. Why of course I was ready this is opening day of cat season and Whiskey my pup needed some cat time and a chance to run with the big dogs. This would be his second year of cat hunting so we were ready to go. I grabbed all my gear and set it on the tailgate of my truck. Since we would be taking George’s truck I checked my gear twice to make sure I had everything. I went ahead and let Whiskey out of his pen...he immediately headed for the back of the house. Continued on page 4 Educate Your Legislator Using The Internet Class 8 Jan 2017, Sunday 2-3 PM Odd Fellows Hall, 502 Main St, Thompson Falls Call for information: 406-826-5318 2
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
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HUNTING CONTINUED Uh oh, I forgot the local outdoor community cat that likes to sleep on one of the back patio chairs was about to get her sleepy butt rolled out of bed. I heard Whiskey open up...the chase was on! During the day is one thing but at 3:30 in the morning neighbors don’t really want to hear Whiskey warming up his vocal cords. The cat couldn’t have headed back further on our property...oh no he headed next door to the neighbors. I had not put on his tracking/correction collar yet because we were not cat hunting yet...so I thought. Right at the property line the cat decided Whiskey was getting a little too close and scooted up a big pine tree. I didn’t need a tracking collar to hear he was treed. Well that was one way to start opening day of cat season. I finally got Whiskey calmed down and with a single bound he jumped in the drivers seat of my truck. I could tell he was thinking, “I get to ride up front with Dad today!” As George was driving up all the hounds lit up and Whiskey was ready to load up with his other stinky running buddies riding in the dog box. Off to town we headed, got food, fuel and set out for the Thompson River drain. Eyes were locked on the sides of the road looking for that big kitty track. Not another vehicle was out and about that we had seen. After about an hour of driving George said he thought he had seen a wolf track. This was not a good thing! He backed up, jumped out and came back to the truck and said, “That isn’t a wolf track but a big kitty track.” The dogs were catching the scent in the air and was letting both Sanders and Lincoln county know they smelled a kitty. Here it was 5:28AM and we were already on a hot cat track. George investigated the track and determined it had dropped down to a lower road. We turned around in the road and was off to find where he had crossed the lower road. Sure enough we found where the cat had dropped down and even laid of the road in the fresh snow. You can’t get much hotter than this. We could not officially let the dogs loose until 7:31AM so we dropped off Brandt, his son to claim the track until we got back. We made a quick trip up the road about a mile to let the dogs out to pee/poop and get ready to go to work. We got back to the track and waited and waited and waited and waited...the Z monster was all over my back...I had to fight hard to stay awake. That truck was so warm. My Mean Bean Monster drink was no help at all. I needed toothpicks to keep my eyes open. Finally 7:31AM arrived and then it was time to gear up the dogs and let them find this big kitty. George felt it was a large Tom by his stride and the size of his track, but only time would tell once the kitty was put up a tree. The chase started a little slow and then all heck broke loose. Within 32 minutes of releasing the dogs the cat had turned back northeast and had crossed within yards of where we let the dogs out to do their business earlier that morning. The GPS was showing all the dogs treed. This was going to be a quick morning hunt. We drove the truck within 60 yards of the tree and there he was. Word spread fast and before we knew it we had a gaggle of on lookers and supporters. The dogs milled around at the bottom of the tree baying and barking, the cat looked down onto his pursuers as if they were more entertaining than a threat. As time wore on the big Tom had just about had enough of the on looking and barking. The dogs were tied up and Teresa had got into position (which was five months pregnant) to place the shot and fill that coveted cat tag. Continued on page 5.
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HUNTING CONTINUED The rifle cracked and the cat came rolling out of the tree grabbing and snapping limbs on his decent. Snow fell and drifted from the big pine in all directions. The dogs were tied up but things got intense quick when the cat hit the ground, they wanted a piece of their kitty. Everyone just sort of stood there trying to take in what had just happened as the cat darted deeper and higher up into the mountains. After a few yards the cat was found and retrieved. The dogs were let loose to be rewarded for a good job. High fives and congratulations were passed around. Teresa was smiling from ear to ear, Isiah stood tall and very proud of his wife. Pictures were taken and my adrenalin rush was over, I was feeling bushed to say the least. This old man can’t keep up with the young dogs like he used to. I was ready for a cat nap. From my days of coon, rabbit and hog hunting hearing the baying and barking of hounds stirs up something inside that only hound hunters can understand. Now if those same hounds are barking at the deer or the neighbor that just crossed the yard it just doesn’t have the same notes and musical tone as a hound hot on a track. A special thanks goes out to George Nass, Teresa and Isiah Joiner for allowing me to tag along. Whiskey and I had a blast but I think next time 6:00AM is plenty early for this old cat. Publisher’s Note: The reason you get out so early to cat hunt is to claim the track first. If we had been another 30 minutes later we would have lost the track to another houndsman that drove up on us. MOST houndsman respect other houndsmen and claim to a track. As a professional houndsman if you find a track you always try to determine if someone else is sitting on the other end of the track or somewhere in between. Mixing dogs is not a good idea. Plus it is just good sportsmanship.
From the staff at Tires Plus we thank you for your business and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Old man winter is here so don’t get caught in the cold without your chains. Call us today about tire
Top Left: George Nass Isiah & Teresa Joiner.
chains for your vehicle.
Top Right: Teresa and Red Left Middle: Teresa & Isiah Middle Right: The Crew Bottom Left: Teresa “Living The Dream”
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PREDATOR HUNTING Montana Woods N Water would like to welcome Jay Sheffield to our Pro Staff team of writers. Jay and I have met from time to time as I scoot around the Libby/Lincoln County areas. I recently went to his office and his walls are covered in pictures and memories from local hunts to African hunts. Jay loves hunting from a mountain bike and that really perked up my interest...I love new ways of thinking about accessing the back country. Couple that with his passion to chase predators such as bears, lions, coyotes and wolves and my wheels started turning. Here is little background on Jay. Jay has served as the elected Lincoln County Justice of the Peace for the past 8 years, taught both Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education for the last 12 years. Jay was also appointed by the director of Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks to a 3 year term on the citizen advisory board and currently also sits on a bighorn sheep advisory subcommittee. He has been a dedicated predator hunter for 40 years, taking his first coyote in the desert southwest at the age of 15 using a P.S. Olt hand call and a Remington 700 in 30-06. Since then Jay has hunted many of the western states taking numerous coyotes, bobcats, bears, lions and wolves using a variety of weapons including handguns, rifles, shotguns and longbow Jay has also hunted bear, bobcat and lion in several states with his own hounds as well as the hounds of friends. To add to his arsenal of tricks he uses his own and use a variety of factory and custom hand calls and occasionally an electronic call. My most challenging hunts were calling and taking coyotes and finally a wolf with the longbow. The wolf was taken at 28 yards by hand calling in 2014 and is believed to be the first modern day American wolf intentionally hunted and taken with a longbow. He was voted Predator Masters “Hunter of the Month” five times and “Hunter of the Year” twice. Jay has written a number of articles on predator hunting for archery and hunting magazines. Jay has instructed a number of people in predator calling techniques but his greatest passion is solo backcountry predator hunting. Jay, welcome aboard team MWNW and we are honored you have chosen to write for us. I know our readers will love to follow you in your adventures and the wisdom you are about to share on predator hunting. If you have a topic or question for Jay send an email to Raf@montanwoodsnwater.com and we will
get him to address it in the next issue. Don’t do the email thing...call me at 406-407-0612 and I will pass your question on. I was very pleased when Montana Woods N Water (MWNW) offered me the opportunity to start a column on predator hunting. It is a pursuit I am very passionate about and I know there are a lot of folks out there who would like to either improve their technique or learn enough of the basics to at least get out and get started. Continued on page 9. 6
The staff at Minnie’s wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Minnie’s will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day!
CONTEST WINNER Mary Anne wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and thank them for their business. Happy Holidays Everyone!
November’s Winner: Derek VonHeeder the owner and inventor of the Mini Stump Grill has selected Caleb Eberly with his “Hoss” of a Shiras Moose killed north of Plains, MT as the winner of last month’s picture entries. The last Mini Stump Grill Winner will be selected from the December entries. Derek will once again have a tough decision with all the entries submitted. This issue is packed. Congrats Caleb...get a hold of Derek so he knows where to send you your Mini Grill. Hot Cocoa season is here! If you did not win a Mini Stump Grill during the October or November contest See Derek’s ad on page 36 to place your order. What a great Christmas gift idea!
Merry Christmas from the Dew Duck Inn!
Peggy wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and remind everyone it’s not too late to get those last minutes Christmas gifts such as embroidered hats, jackets, hoodies towels, etc. done...but ya got to hurry!
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These businesses want to thank you for your patronage and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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PREDATOR HUNTING CONTINUED My plan is to discuss seasonally appropriate topics so you can literally take that months information and immediately apply it in the field. MWNW has given me free reign to discuss everything from predator habits and calling techniques to guns, gear and calling safety. We live in an amazing place with opportunities to hunt a variety of predators that most people can only dream of. In the January edition we will explore the fundamentals of wolf behavior and calling strategies. I would like to share one of my first wolf hunting experiences. Hopefully you will find it both entertaining and informative and just maybe it will spark your interest to get out this winter for some late season predator hunting! The Montana wolf season usually starts the first week of September and wolves can only be hunted with archery equipment during that period. The general rifle season now starts on September 15th. I hunt with a long bow and was out at least part of every day during the archery season. I have no idea how many miles I walked but I never found any fresh sign or heard so much as a howl. By the time the archery season closed I was definitely feeling the pressure. When the general season opened I was once again out in the woods pursuing wolves but now carrying my rifle in an effort to increase my odds for success. Three weeks later I had time off from work and was hunting a very large drainage in the mountains north of my home. I had hiked in a little over 3 miles on a gated road when at about 9:30 in the morning I came to an intersection of three trails where I saw some old wolf scat. At least now I knew I was potentially in the right area. I went only a few steps further and found a pile of still warm (don’t ask) wolf scat and a wet urine puddle. Since the temperature was a balmy 21 degrees, I knew the wolves had to be very close. I stood there for a minute trying to figure out which of the paths they might have taken. After looking around a bit, I decided the best place for me to set up would be right there in that intersection as it afforded me the best visibility to see something coming in to my calls. I stepped off the trail into a cluster of large pine trees that would afford me a little bit of cover. I was using a Flextone rabbit distress call and began blowing a sequence of sounds on it. I had been calling for less than two minutes when I heard something crashing through the woods directly behind me and it was coming in fast. I knew it was going to be either a wolf or a bear coming in that hard since in my experience, coyotes and lions make little if any noise on their approach. As I spun around I was already bringing my rifle up to my shoulder. Looking back now, I clearly remember as I turned I could see a wolf bounding through the brush straight towards me. I also recall seeing in my peripheral vision, the movement of another wolf off to my right side. The wolf coming at me was a very large male with a dark face and bright golden eyes. At that moment I knew this was the wolf I had dreamed of for so many years. In the split second it had taken for me to turn and raise my rifle, the wolf had seen my movement and came to a complete stop at a distance of eighteen yards, staring straight at me. I will forever remember looking into those wild golden eyes as the crosshairs settled on the center of his chest. I don’t recall hearing the gun blast or feeling the recoil of the shot, I just remember seeing him go down. I automatically chambered another round and then ran forward to be sure that it was over. Continued on pg. 21 9
TEA PARTY
The Elections are Over!! By Bob Pierson It has been what seems like a long haul concerning this election cycle. But now it is over, except for the fear!! I feel that it is important to remember that ½ of the people are very afraid concerning our new President-elect. The other half is divided in fear, also. They are worried about the newly elected President, and what he is going to do, because he was only a 'least worse candidate' in their opinion, and are unsure also about the future of our great nation. It is important to recognize that the people who voted against the President-elect are fearful of having their rights taken away, just the same as we were when the present Bob’s 2016 Buck administration was elected in 2008. A great number of Republicans felt that the United States would not survive the present leader. Isn't it interesting that we HAVE survived, even though our Constitution has taken a number of heavy blows. We will survive this President, also. One of the things that I find most intriguing is the change that Progressives want, apparently just for the sake of change. One of the statements that is going around amongst those on the left is that the Constitution and all the founding documents are just old timey stuff. We need to move on to something more modern, something that is better suited to the present day situation. I am going to ask you to consider those founding documents and what they provide for each and EVERY citizen. Things that we all want, regardless of ideology. Things like the ability to speak your mind, and write about it (Freedom of Expression and the Press). The freedom to attend, or not, the church of your choice, and not have the government control your choice of churches, or force you to attend a church of their design. (Freedom of Religion). Freedom to protect your self and your family. (Second Amendment). The Right to Privacy, so the government cannot just walk into your house and look for things that they might use against you. (Fourth Amendment) These are some of the rights delineated in the Bill of Rights. All three of these have been violated by past and present Administrations. So, there are a couple of points here! We don't want ANYONE'S rights taken away. If they try, most of us will stand together to resist any form of tyranny! To quote the Declaration of Independence, “ We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men.” The Constitution is the framework to hold the government in control, so we can enjoy those rights. There are a lot of young college age folks that believe that socialism is the answer. That a good strong leader will fix everything and make it right. Well, it is possible to find a GOOD, strong leader. However, history would indicate that it is unlikely, and the person who comes behind that GOOD one, may not be so good. The same thing is true in our present situation. Many people have said, 'we just need ____ to use his/her executive authority (fill in the name), and everything will be solved. Here is the problem. Power given to accomplish what you want, may be used against you under the next leader! This is why our Constitution was designed the way it is. It didn't give the government any more power than necessary to secure our rights, NO MORE! It is good for EVERYBODY, right or left. Then we can ALL 'live the dream', whatever it may be. 10
MONTANA DAN/TRAPPING
Countless Coyotes by Dan Helterline In last month's issue I was just getting started with my annual coyote trapline, we had experienced one of the wettest Octobers on record and I was not looking forward to trapping in the mud. Even though starting out the conditions were less than favorable at the beginning of coyote trapping, my perseverance was rewarded and the perpetually wet weather finally broke and I was blessed with a good stretch of pleasantly mild and mostly dry weather in November. And just like the saying goes “you gotta make hay when the sun shines”, I went to making hay in the form of prime, pale coyote pelts. I normally don’t write about the same topic two months in a row but I had such a spectacular time trapping coyotes this year I felt I had enough material for a follow up article. Not only was November great for trapping this year, on the 8th, I-177 was soundly defeated during a landmark election for all sportsmen in “The last great place”, and our voice was heard across Montana. Freedom isn't always free and there was close to half a million dollars spent in the campaign to defeat the animal rights activists promoting this initiative to ban all trapping on public land. There were donations from sportsman's groups from all over the country that pitched in to help our cause and I am very appreciative and thankful for that support. Trappers in Montana can still hold their heads up high and be proud of what they do. The election results just added fuel to my fire as I continued harvesting coyotes at a brisk pace. Just like in any kind of trapping, location is always a vital key to success, you must have your sets in locations where your target furbearer will encounter them in their travels. On the properties where I have trapped in successive years, I have eliminated areas that were marginally or unproductive and focused on locations that were consistently productive. One technique that I have used in coyote trapping to up my success is “gang setting” , or making multiple sets in close proximity in good locations which enables you to make multiple catches in a shorter period of time. This year even more than previous seasons I had a large number of doubles, and on my best day I got my first triple, three coyotes in three traps all within sight of each other! I was flying high from that first and Alexis and I pulled up to a location where I had made six sets in three groups of double sets, and to my disbelief we had FIVE coyotes, all within sight of each other! I had never come close to this in seasons previous but that just proves the validity of gang setting! We still had plenty of traps to check and ended up with thirteen for the day, definitely a personal best! I had to cut my coyote trapping short when I took a fire assignment in Tennessee and North Carolina, the ground was starting to freeze and it was nearing the end of my productive window, so pulling my traps and heading south to go fight some fire down in the holler wasn't all bad. It ended up being my best coyote trapping season to date, and I was able to harvest 111 coyotes in just 25 days of trapping, not too bad considering the season started out less than perfect, with a considerable amount of wet muddy weather. By the time this issue hits the streets wolf season will be well under way and I can only hope my good fortune will carry over and enable me to harvest a few of the big dogs, in turn helping out the local game populations. Alexis successfully completed the wolf trapping class earlier this month and is now certified to trap wolves and can team up with me on my wolf trapline. Stay tuned hopefully next month's issue will be full of successful wolf trapping photos! Publisher Note: All photos in this article supplied by Dan Helterline. 11
RECIPES
Snow Ice Cream by Raf Viniard This brings back memories of when I was a kid living on the farm in Kentucky. We were told to never make snow ice cream from the first snowfall...some crazy thing about pollution in the snow but I am still alive today to write this article. Just remember don’t eat the yellow snow...use clean snow. Get away from driveways, roads, buildings, critters, chimneys, etc. and go and scoop you up a big bowl of fresh clean snow (about 8 cups). Me personally I like the fluffy stuff better than the watered down version of some snowfalls; so you might need about 10 cups...or more of the fluffy stuff! Get these ingredients together first and mix together: Milk ( I use the high octane version (whole milk)...none of that silly low fat stuff) I use about a cup more or less depending on how wet the snow is. You can substitute chocolate or strawberry milk if you want to deviate from the plain old vanilla version. 1/2 Cup of Sugar, again more or less depending on whether you are watching your waist line. I keep adding until I get the sweetness where I want it.
Orphan Girl Crème Brulee 1-Quart Heavy Cream 2/3 C. Sugar 7 Egg Yolks 1 1/2 Tb. Vanilla 4 oz. Orphan girl Bourbon Cream Liqueur 1/8 tsp. Salt
1 Teaspoon of vanilla extract. Here you can get creative with using other flavorings like almond, butterscotch or mint extracts. Me personally I use like the plain old vanilla version. This next item can be controversial. I like to add one or two raw eggs. You make that decision on your own. How I made it to the ripe age of 55 eating farm snow and raw eggs I will never know.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat heavy cream and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until very hot. Do not let it boil. In a separate bowl, combine egg yolks, Orphan Girl, vanilla, and salt. Add the mixture to the heated cream and slowly fold in until mixture is heated thoroughly. Fill Brulee ramekins and place in a ¾ inch water bath. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes or until the mixture has a jello consistency. Cool in the refrigerator for 5 hours. Once chilled, sprinkle the custard with sugar and caramelize using a hand torch. Enjoy!
If you want that Christmas spirit, add a little Green or Red food coloring...the kids love that. Snow ice cream will melt faster than normal ice cream so make sure you stir the milk, sugar, food coloring and vanilla extract together before gathering the snow. Stir in 1 cup of snow at a time until you get a consistency similar to ice cream. Don’t dittle dattle around...stir all the ingredients together, do a quick taste test, make adjustments to the ingredients to suit your palate, scoop in a bowl and grab your spoon and go at it. Eat it all because you cannot refreeze it. It doesn’t taste the same or have the same consistency when you re-freeze it.
Plains Liquor Store Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Watch for ice cream headaches. This old timey recipe will make your tongue reach up and smack your nose it is so good! Country folks can survive!
“Please Drink Responsibly! 118 East Railroad ● Plains, Montana Located inside Garden, Gift & Floral!
Picture
Wishing You a Merry Christmas/Happy New Year
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SPORTSMAN’S MEDITATION
Staying Focused This Holiday Season By Pastor Jim Sinclair I always love this time of year, things in my world are a little more relaxed for this month. With it comes all the fun of Christmas, you know, buying all those gifts for all the special people in our lives. One of the things I see from the culture we live in is the distorted view of what the holiday is about.
Pastor Jim Sinclair It is so easy to miss the target on Christmas, we are capable of shooting aimlessly at everything but what it really stands for. This holiday is about “The Birth of our Savior” yet it is so easy to miss that truth. We shoot and shoot at all kinds of targets, the many Christmas parties, Christmas dinners, gift exchanges, school programs, you name it. All of us have heard the common phrase of “Ready Aim Fire” this phrase has a good direction for hitting the target and we should always aim before we fire. Your sight picture must be clear. The problem comes when we “flip the words around, sometimes we rearrange this to, “Ready Fire Aim” meaning we don’t take the time to aim first, we must be careful we don’t miss this target. Isaiah 9:6 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (KJV) I ran into this story about a lawman, it seems to fit. On December 1, 1884, a town sheriff named Elfego Baca came face-to-face against 80 gunmen which became known as the Frisco Shootout. The battle started when Baca arrested a cowboy who had shot him. In turn the cowboy called upon 80 of his associates to murder Baca. Baca took refuge in an adobe house, and over the course of a 36-hour siege, the gunmen put 400 bullet holes in the house (some accounts say a total of 4,000 shots) without touching Baca. He in turn killed 4 of them and wounded 8. When the shooting was over as the attackers finally ran out of ammo, Baca strolled out of the house unscathed. Baca went on to a distinguished career as a lawyer and legislator and died in his bed in 1945, age 80. Are you kidding me, 4000 shots and he walks out unscathed. This clearly illustrates that “Aiming” cannot be overlooked. The bible says it this way. 1Cor.9:26 Therefore I do not run uncertainly without definite aim. (Amplified bible) None of us want to miss all the celebrations this holiday brings but one thing is for sure, I will aim first at the “Birth of our Savior”. So, is your aim off due to all the distractions? Keep “Livin the Life”. Pastor Jim
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NEXT GENERATION/LOCAL CELEBRITIES
ATTENTION HUNTERS & TRAPPERS! “Do your part…Help Save our Big Game” 3rd Annual Northwest Predator Hunt Registration Began—Dec 1st, 2016 $5 entry fee 100% payout to all participants
* You can register up ‘til the last day of the event *
Hunt runs January 13 through 29th, 2017
Watch the Quotas
ANY LEGALLY HARVESTED PREDATOR MAY BE ENTERED Register at: Lakeside Resort – Trout Creek Bootlegger – Superior TBD - Libby
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CARTOON Montana Woods N Water would like to welcome Jonny Hawkins to our pro staff. Jonny will be providing us with a monthly cartoon to entertain us and add a little something different to the publication. Welcome aboard Jonny and we are humbled that you would like to be a part of our pro staff.
About the Cartoonist Jonny Hawkins is a fulltime cartoonist whose work has appeared in over 900 publications since 1986. Places like Reader’s Digest, Parade Magazine, Guideposts, Leadership, Christianity Today, American Heart Association, Field and Stream and 76 Chicken Soup for the Soul books publications have featured his single panel funnies. He has drawn over 50,000 cartoons and has had 20 books published and has created 61 page-a-day cartoon calendars (over 700,000 sold), most of them for the world’s leading calendar publisher, Andrews McMeel. He works from his home in the country in Sherwood, Michigan with his wife, Carissa, and their 3 children and 8 cats.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us here at Baldy Mountain Tire!
Thanks again Jonny! 15
NEXT GENERATION/LOCAL CELEBRITIES
Due to the amount of pictures in this issue no bi-lines will be with pictures only their names.
Aleesha Bradeen
Amanda Martin
Steve & Amanda Martin
Beanka Scott
Braxton Yeadon
Bill Model
Brandt Nass
Ben McCann
Bruce Dimond 16
Bradely Wallace
TONY REBO UNLEASHED
Ten Mysterious Myths About Hunting By Tony Rebo Now that hunting season is over I am going to clear up some myths about hunting. Now from that opening statement you might think that I am going to write some rebuttal to the anti hunting clans. Not a chance, I am going to focus my story on the countless comments that all of us hunters have heard time and time again throughout our lives. Many of you will recognize these comments and if you really think about it you may just scratch your head and wonder out loud “I think you may be on to something”. Myth #10 We will need to be out in the woods before anyone else so let’s leave early! Why? Really what is the purpose of getting up at 4 AM only to drive to your spot and sit for another 3 hours until daylight only to have someone else arrive at daylight and walk in to the same area as you? Seriously unless you have night vision goggles and a rifle with a red laser sleep in. Myth #9 If someone is parked at a gate is it ok to park next to them and walk into the same area? No, No, No! It is not ok. They have been there since 4 AM, and just because they are sleeping in their truck doesn’t give you the right to sneak in past them. Two years ago while hunting in Wolf Creek I had someone follow me from the motel all the way to the gate. I spoke with the guy and apparently he heard us the night before at an eatery talking about all the elk we had seen. His plan was to follow us. So he got up at 3:30 not to miss me leaving at 4 only to watch me sleep at the gate until 7. Myth #8 I got a nice buck here once. Why is it that everyone has gotten a nice buck in my spot? If you disclose your spot to anyone they will respond with “oh yeah I shot a nice buck there once”. Even if you lie about your spot they will still tell you that they shot a nice buck there at one time. No wonder I never get a nice buck, everyone has shot all of them. I can’t even dream of killing a nice buck in some made up spot because someone was there ahead of me and killed a nice buck. Myth #7 There is a buck! Have you ever ridden with that one annoying hunter that always claims to see a buck at the very site of brown? Nope, that’s a doe. Nope that’s a stump. Nope that is a burning brush pile. Oh my word, a buck has antlers, and will you please learn the difference. Do you know how hard it is to get to your spot at 4 am when you are constantly stopping to look at something that may resemble a deer? Myth #6 I have this new gun that will allow me to shoot a deer at 800 yards. Why? Ok, first off in Libby Montana you can’t even see out to 800 yards. The lack of logging has created a jungle of timber and blow down that will not allow you to shoot past 50 yards. There are only so many spots in Lincoln County that have a shooting distance of 800 yards, and all of the guys that own these guns are there. Not only does this not make sense to me at why you want to shoot at something that far, but then you have to drag it back. That is 750 yards farther than the forest is allowing you. Continued on page 20
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Dan
Sam
Andy
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LOCAL CELEBRITIES/NEXT GENERATION CONTINUED
Cade Stinnett
Cree Lulack
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Caleb Dowell
TONY REBO UNLEASHED CONTINUED Myth #5 I can gut out a deer in 5 minutes. This is one of my favorites, if you can gut a deer in less than 5 minutes then stop talking and get it done. I always laugh as it is usually the hunter who is watching the chore that will make this statement. This is the same hunter who spotted a dozen deer in my made up spot and shot a buck at 800 yards just to brag about being a surgeon. I would bet you that you drug the guts from the deer in your 800 yard retrieval and only had a minor cleanup afterwards. Ok that may be one advantage to shooting deer at 800 yards. Myth #4 If you are driving down a road and another vehicle pulls up behind because they want to travel at a faster speed than that of 5mph should you pull over? Seriously do I have to address this? Road hunters please understand that there are only so many roadways that give hunters access to the forest. Many hunters are looking to shoot something at 800 yards and they need to get there. If you are road hunting and looking for game take a hunter form myth #7 with you, you will only have to travel 50 yards off the highway and they will spot a buck for you. However please don’t be a road hog if you don’t have a spotter. I followed a truck this year for over ten miles at 5mph. I had no choice in the matter as it was the only way out. The truck spotted me and probably heard me as well, but yet refused to pull over. I just wanted to go by was all; I had no interest in watching the hunter stop 20 times while he tried to make a buck from a stump. Next year I am going to mount a rocket launcher on my hood to remove the road obstruction. Myth #3 I have everything in pack that I would need to survive. Oh my word I am sure you do, but we are only going 50 yards to recover the deer. I have had some hunters whose packs weigh in excess of 100lbs. Now I agree if you plan on dying in the woods then by all means take everything with you. I watched a guy once pull out from his pack a mini TV and solar pack only so he could watch a sporting event. I have watched others unpack a kitchen to prepare a meal while I eat a can of Vienna sausage. Seriously do you really need all that gear? Myth #2 I always shoot my deer right in the head. Ok, sorry to all of you anti hunters out there as this may be a bit graphic. Come on man, at 800 yards you can’t even make out the head. I have yet to see a deer that has a bullet hole in the head, every deer that I see has a hole in the side, which by the way is the correct location for a shot. I always wonder when I hear someone bragging about this skilled shot if they know that they are in need of glasses. Continued on page 22.
Tony and Harley 20
PREDATOR HUNTING CONTINUED As I stood there looking at that amazing animal, I immediately heard the short howl of another wolf and then the very sharp alert barks of at least two more hidden nearby in the timber. The barking from the other wolves subsided after a few minutes as they retreated back into the wilderness. Once the woods became quiet, I realized I was literally shaking from excitement. I sat down on a log near this magnificent predator and just soaked in the beauty of the woods and the features of the incredible animal now lying at my feet. In all of my time hunting, I have never experienced an emotion like that. This hunt was truly the culmination of years of planning, preparation and countless miles hiked into the backcountry. It was at that moment I understood what all of the successful hunters throughout time have understood, it had all been worth it! Merry Christmas and until next month‌
FOOD FOR THOUGHT ARTICLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30: One more thing needs done after all this. A prayer to God, thanking Him for his wonderful creation I enjoyed this fall. And an extremely fervent prayer of thanks for a wife and family that permit me to roam the timbered mountains, bow or rifle in hand, supposedly to fill the freezers, but honestly, just to let me breathe and clear my head of all the stress, strife, and worry of everyday life. Once all that is accomplished, my lists will be complete and it will be time to start making a new list. Christmas gifts for Mother and the children. Lists on what need to be done for 2017 and plans throughout the next year. As I write this though, I think of one more thing I will start adding to the lists I make. A prayer of thanks as a listed item, as there is much to be thankful for in our lives! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, dear readers. May the Lord bless and keep you and yours into the coming year with His endless grace, mercy, and love.
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TONY REBO UNLEASHED CONTINUED Myth #1 Are Vienna Sausages safe to eat? Now when my kids were little and they would go on a hunting trip I would provide each of them with their own can of Vienna sausage. I would tell them that this was much lighter in the pack then all that survival gear and dried food. I also explained to them that after eating one can of sausage that they would not be hunger again for hour’s maybe even days. Somehow that special gel in the can would provide you with extra nutrition. I also told them that nothing is better than sitting in your favorite spot at 4 in the morning drinking coffee and having your first can of Vienna sausage. To this day my kids despise the fact that I would ever consider bringing Vienna sausage on a hunting trip. They have proven to me that starving kids in Africa will also not eat it. I hope I cleared up some concerns that many of you have had. The hunt is over and I can now focus on the prize; it is the beginning of ice fishing and you can catch me at 4 am somewhere on the lake.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Rebo family!
Carolyn Pierson
Alexis Helterline
Eldon Phillips
Dan Borntreger
Eric Gilroy
Thomas Roark 22
Conner Borntreger
Dylan Buckner
Dave Borntreger
Darby’s fish!
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OUTDOOR TECH
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WATERFOWLING/RECIPE
WANTED NW Montana Waterfowl Hunting Stories/Pics! Waterfowl hunting doesn’t get much coverage in our part of Montana. As a old Mississippi River flyway waterfowler myself we are going to try and do a better job of covering waterfowling. So with that being said let me hear from all you waterfowl hunters and your canine side kicks out there. You still got time to bag that Christmas goose, so here is a recipe submitted to us by Dee Teske of Libby, MT. 2-4 goose breast in crockpot 1 stick butter 1 pkg. Au jus mix 1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix 2 cups water Add veggies as desired Place breast and veggies in crockpot with butter then just sprinkle both packet mixes over the tip and add water. Cook on low for appx. 8 hours or until tender...amazingly it taste just like beef stew! You can leave out the veggies and shred meat when tender and put on a hoagie bun. Use the juice for dipping! Publisher Note: I think duck would be good cooked this way as well!
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MOUNTAIN MEMORIES By Carol Cady Lots of images come to mind when I think of a MONTANA Christmas. The usual: snow, presents, family, friends, etc., but when digging a little deeper remembering how each Christmas dinner was determined by what was in the freezer from hunting season. It could be roast Pheasant or Grouse or maybe marinated Venison Roast or if we were lucky, a wonderful Elk rump roast! Sometimes 2 or 3 of the items listed above, but I can truthfully say, hardly ever did we purchase a turkey at the supermarket. Presents consisted often of making something to give so utilizing hunting season, friends and family often got a large jar of rendered bear fat (pure white, I might add) or some great venison jerky. Usually every year, a lucky family member got a nicely mounted Elk or Buck rack that we had harvested from a previous year. My daughter Amy Lynn started a “tradition” that is still being practiced on Christmas to this day. When Carol and Bill would like to wish everyone December 1971 - Flocked Christmas Tree she was little, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year she made up a “Lincoln County Trivia Test”, which all of us were and thank you for a wonderful year! Stop “required” to take in order to eat Christmas dinner. And well, being by, grab a coffee, chat a spell and pick up the competitive family that we were, we all wanted to “win” (Giant those last minute gifts! candy bars being the prize) and I might add…these tests were not easy. As the years progressed, they developed into considerably harder questions. Christmas’s come and go and never is one better than another. When with family, they are all memorable. Merry Christmas everyone!
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LOCAL CELEBRITIES/NEXT GENERATION CONTINUED
Glenn Stoll
Heidi Hochstetler
Dan Borntreger
Jennay King
Izzy & Caleb Butcher
George Nass
Izabella McQuiston
Dan Borntreger Jon Borntreger
Jon Borntreger
Joe Lundberg
Jon Hochstetler Jared Wright 27
LOCAL CELEBRITIES/NEXT GENERATION CONTINUED
Katie Gilroy
Marissa Nass
Twyla Bauer
Wes Randolph
Paul Yoder
Kristan Randolph
Wes Randolph
Shelby Willoughby
Theresa Mondale
Norm Borntreger
Leslie Foss-Herman
Ryan Miller
Lexi McCann
Richard Adam King
Seth,, Lilly & Amy Stinnett 28
Stacey Calloway
Travis Ellis
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Makin’ a List & Checkin’ it Twice! By Nathan Albertson Was I the only one? The evening of November 27, 2016, the closing day of the firearm’s portion of big game season here in Montana; was I the only one who brought my hunting stuff from the truck into the house/garage/shop and dropped them in a pile, with very little motivation to put them where they belong? I wanted rest! Like many of you, the hunting season is an opportunity, which I try, desperately, to take full advantage to fill my tags, primarily for the freezer. Although I did not get out quite as much this year, the fact that I started with archery season in September, has brought me through roughly 90 days of trying to balance hunting, work, family time, and other personal responsibilities. I am guessing I am not alone. Moreover, I will tell you a secret, about midway through November, I start looking forward to the end of the season, if only to take a few days to rest before the bobcat trapping season starts up on December 1. But what about that pile of hunting stuff? Oh, I will get it put away, eventually. Some years I do not do that as carefully as I should or with the pre-planning with which I ought. This often leads to frantic calls to the manufacturer of my backpack, asking if they can turn around a repair in two weeks for the opening of bear season in the spring. Or, I miss the opportunity to replace needed or broken items in my hunting pack by placing them on my “Wish List” for the Christmas season. Loved ones are always asking my wife (lovingly referred to as “Mother” in our household), “What does he want for Christmas?” At some point, you amass all the gloves or socks one needs for a while, do you not? Right now is a good time to do it. Once the traps are checked, the critters skinned and stretched, the wood brought in for the evening fire, there are plenty of hours of darkness to take an evening and unpack things and make notes about next year. I will plan to replace the batteries in my headlamp and small flashlight next fall. I always try to start the archery season with fresh lithium batteries in those devices. The knife I use for my skinning and deboning will certainly need new replaceable blades. I buy them in bulk, so I will place a few in the small Altoids tin I use so they do not cut up my pack. Other knives may need to be sharpened. The emergency supplies were, thankfully, not used, so other than checking them and ensuring expiration dates on water purifying tablets are okay, I will pack them away. Then there is the small stove and fuel, I need to replace the fuel canister before next spring. The emergency food, energy bars, snacks, etc., would do well to be put into the truck for those days I am running late and need something in my belly while checking my trap line. The rifle and pistol need cleaned, some years that is the toughest chore to remember. Oh, I remember to swab the barrel and wipe them down, but now they need to be torn completely down, cleaned, oiled, and I use a little microcrystalline wax/polish on the wood and metal to help them weather the next rain or snowstorm. After completely disassembling, the rifle especially, I need to remember to go to the range and double check the zero before bear season. It would not hurt to go ahead and load up a few more rounds for next year, while I am thinking of it and have a little extra time on a winter’s evening. Of course, there are pack, boot, and jacket repairs that may need done. My father once told me I could tear up an anvil in the middle of a wet plowed field with a rubber hammer. Something I use seems to always be in need of repair! Then I will need to start getting my pack together for the next season, ensuring it is ready to go, making those lists and checking them over to make sure everything that needs to be present will be at the appropriate time. Continued on page 30. 29
FOOD FOR THOUGHT CONTINUED There will also be some photos to store away and back up with digital media. I take several pictures every year and the children enjoy looking through some of the photos from Father’s hunt. One more thing to make sure I get checked off my list, time with Mother and the children. Several years ago, I quit hunting on Sunday mornings during the Montana season for two reasons. Number one, I wanted to praise the Lord with my family. But number two, I have hunted so hard in the past, during the week; I do not get a lot of time with them. After church, we eat lunch as a family and then I may or may not go out hunting that afternoon, depending on the weather or how I feel. Still, my time away during hunting season is significant. Yes, sometimes they accompany me on an outing, and I love those times, but between other commitments, school, etc., they are not as often as I would like. Perhaps it is time to take Mother on a date, to let her know how very much I love and care for her and thank her for helping to run the house and take care of our children, without whom I could not enjoy as much hunting and the passion for the outdoors I do on a regular basis. In addition, a movie night with the kids, complete with pizza, is never a bad idea. I might just even put aside my disdain for large crowds and take them to town, even with the occasion of holiday shopping; they enjoy the people and all the pretty lights. Continued on page 21 bottom right corner. Tis the season to be thankful for those in our lives, for whom we make our Christmas Lists to be checked twice!
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THINGS I REMEMBER
"The New Rifle" By Jerry Berry One of the basic rules during hunting season has been to never take a new rifle out hunting until you have sighted it in and fired a few rounds through its chamber. Failure to follow this basic rule cost me a trophy-size mule deer buck. In the predawn hours of a cold November morning in 1982, I left home in Eureka before daylight and headed for the upper Graves Creek area to hunt mule deer. My plan for the day was to hunt along the Gibraltar Ridge trail for good-sized mule deer, which were known to inhabit the area. Earlier that summer, I had purchased a second hunting rifle--a Remington model 700 BDL 30-06 caliber bolt action rifle. My long-time favorite since 1964 had been a Model 70 Winchester caliber 30-06. I had the Remington bore-sighted, and fired several rounds through its chamber at that, but hadn't taken the time to do any serious test firing prior to that day's hunt. After traveling several miles up the Graves Creek road, it began to snow quite heavily. The weather was in my favor, because any tracks encountered would be fresh. As I traveled farther up the roadway in the vicinity of the Birch Creek Campground, I spotted fresh deer tracks indicating that several deer had crossed the roadway headed to higher elevation, I surmised that the deer had been down drinking from Graves Creek and were on their way back to their feeling and bedding area. Mentally recording their location, I continued to drive toward higher elevation and the Grbralter Ridge trailhead. I wanted to be headed up the trail at first light. About a mile above the Birch Creek Campground, the snow floor became deeper than I cared to negotiate, so I decided to abandon my original plan to hunt the Grbralter Ridge trail and check out the fresh deer tracks I had seen at Birch Creek Campground. It was beginning to break daylight when I came upon the fresh deer tracks crossing the road toward higher ground; so I pulled over, grabbed my pack and rifle, and began following the fresh tracks. The fresh tracks led up the ridge, and as it got full daylight, I discovered that the animals were following an old game trail through thick brush laden with fresh snow. Suddenly, I came to the edge of an old logging unit with regeneration (young trees approximately 5-6 feet in height) scattered throughout the clear-cut. As I stood at the edge of the opening and took my time glassing the tracks I was following, I spotted a large mule deer buck to my right standing along the fireline on the edge of the clear-cut. It was the largest mule deer buck that I had ever laid eyes on in the wild. My heart rate doubled! I eased over to an old downed burned log covered with snow, took my pack off, laid my rifle across my pack, took careful aim, and took the 200-yard shot. The loud sound of the shot broke the stillness of the early morning and echoed across the valley. The mulie buck gave no indication that my bullet had hit him, or near him; so, I assumed my shot was too high. I lowered my cross-hairs a few inches and fired again--same results! I fired a third round, and the buck never moved. As the monster buck continued to stare with his head up looking toward the far side of the clearing, I fired a fourth round. The buck slowly turned 180 degrees and began to walk leisurely back down the fire line toward the Graves Creek Road. In my excitement, I took careful aim and squeezed the trigger...."click"! I immediately jerked the bolt back to eject the misfired round, then realized that the Remington 300 held only four rounds! I grabbed four more rounds from my pocket, quickly inserted them into the rifle, and started blasting away--firing four more rounds with no results! Overcome with panic, I jerked open my pack and pulled out the box of remaining cartridges--only seven rounds left, and loaded four more into the rifle. I continued to take shots at the walking buck with no results! By the time he had reached the corner of the clear-cut--still walking the fire line--I had fired a total of 12 rounds at that buck! To my amazement, the buck had not even been "spooked" by all the shooting, and had now turned and began walking in my direction along the old fire line, less than 100-yards from me. Realizing that I had only three cartridges remaining, I forced myself to take my time using the remaining rounds. The first round produced results! The buck momentarily stopped and looked my way, but then continued to walk in my direction. I could not believe what was happening to me! After taking a few more steps, I took careful aim and squeezed off the second round. That crazy buck didn't even stop or look my way; he just continued on toward me! Continued on page 32.
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THINGS I REMEMBER CONTINUED By this time, the buck was within 35-40 yards of my position, and I squeezed off the last round. Suddenly, a "puff" of snow exploded from some nearby brush approximately 10-feet above the deer's head! The buck stopped and looked in my direction. I stood up in disgust and watched my trophy mulie buck "bound" into the thick timber below the fire line! Disgusted with myself, I grabbed my pack and headed back down to my truck. I threw my new rifle into the passenger side, switched headgear, reached behind the seat, grabbed my trusty Model 70 Winchester 30-06, grabbed a couple boxes of cartridges; and headed back up the trail to the clear-cut, hoping to cross paths with that trophy buck again. On the edge of the clear-cut, I took time to glass the entire area and found no animals; so, I decided to cross the clear-cut and hunt the timber area for the reminder of the morning. I had made it about half way across the open area, when a doe came walking up out of a depression about 25 yards ahead of me. She suddenly looked back toward me, and then I see this huge rack (antlers) coming slowly up out of the depression behind her. When the buck had walked about half way out of the depression, he stopped and turned broadside to me. Opportunity knocked; I fired. The buck dropped instantly, and the doe took off for the far side of the clear-cut. After concluding that the buck was dead, I walked over and poked him with my rifle barrel--he didn't move. I laid my rifle down and took out my hunting knife, so I could cut his throat to bleed him out. As I grabbed hold of his anthers, he suddenly came alive. As the buck attempted to regain his footing, I quickly grabbed my rifle and fired another round into him. This time, I made sure that he was REALLY dead. Jerry's Birch Creek Mulie shot with is Model 70 Winchester 30-06
After tagging the mulie buck, I dragged the animal down to my truck and headed home with my prized trophy. Back in town, I stopped by the newspaper office, was interviewed for an article, and the editor took a photo of me and my mulie buck. The subsequent article incorrectly indicated that the harvested buck was the first animal that I took so many shots at with the new Remington rifle I was holding in the photo.
After some investigation, I discovered that the scope on my new rifle had somehow been knocked off setting. I determined that it was off-target about six feet at 100-yards! I had fired 15 rounds at that first trophy mulie buck and didn't even came close to hitting him. The End
* Watch For Dinner Specials *
Montana Woods N Water would like to welcome Jerry Berry of Libby, MT as one of our newest Pro Staff writers. So who is this Jerry Berry for those that don’t know him? Jerry is an avid outdoorsman and is going to share some of his hunting adventures with us. Jerry is a published author. Read below to learn more about Jerry. Jerry grew up on a farm in the Mississippi Delta near Greenwood. He enjoyed the typical barefoot, adventuresome lifestyle of the fictitious characters of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer as described by the author, Mark Twain. When he wasn't in school or working in the cotton fields, his days were spent exploring the vast hardwood forests, open meadows, rivers and lakes surrounding the family farm. Autumn afternoons and weekends were spent hunting fox squirrels, rabbits, wild turkeys and white-tailed deer. Living within the Mississippi Flyway also offered an excellent opportunity for hunting the large numbers of ducks, geese, and waterfowl that frequented the many bean and corn fields, as well as the lakes near his home. His life was abundantly rich with the rewarding experiences offered by the great outdoors. He graduated from Valley High School in 1963, attended Holmes Junior College, the University of Alabama, Mississippi Sate University, and Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. Jerry married his wife Donna in Greenwood, Mississippi in June 1969. They spent their honeymoon on a fire lookout tower on the Pierce Ranger District, Clearwater N.F. in Idaho--"We both got paid, during our honeymoon", says Jerry. He served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam (1967/68), as a paratrooper-rifleman in the 3rd Battalion, 506th Airborne Infantry, 101st Airborne. After completing his tour of duty in Vietnam, he returned to the northwest to continue his career with the U. S. Forest Service, retiring as a Staff Resource Manager/Wildlife Biologist on the Three Rivers Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest in 1997. During his career with the two federal agencies, he held positions as a forestry technician (timber management; a range and wildlife technician, a wildlife biologist, para-professional archeologist, and district staff officer for range, wildlife, including threatened, endangered and sensitive species), fisheries, hydrology, archeology, and special uses. He is the author of numerous newspapers and magazine articles, and the author of five books, "Psychological Warfare Leaflets of the Vietnam War"., “The Stand Alone Battalion, A Pictorial Chronology of the 3-506 Vietnam Odyssey (1967-1971), “My Gift To You”—The Stories of soldiers who died in Vietnam while serving with the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 506th Infantry (Currahees), 101st Airborne Division; and "In The Company of Heroes"--The Memoirs of Captain Richard McCallion Blackburn. Jerry currently resides in Libby, with his wife, Donna, of 47. They have four grown children—Stephanie, Jennifer, Heidi, and Christopher. Jerry's website is: www.currahee.org. He can reached at: jerryberry@currahee.org Welcome aboard Jerry...we look forward to reading your adventures!
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LOCAL CELEBRITIES/NEXT GENERATION CONTINUED
Sami Jo Kinzie
Rachel Doble
Thomas Roark
Nick Farrar
Kristan Maxwell
Pat Roth
Shawn & Stephanie White
Toby Walrath
Pastor Mannie Troyer
Pastor Wendell Beachy
Thomas Roark
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Thomas Roark
Karen Berry Repine
Tate Stinnnett
Mike Maxwell
LOCAL CELEBRITIES/NEXT GENERATION CONTINUED
Richard Lyons Goat Hunt
Rob Bates
Rob Bate’s Callie Two pictures to right: Richard Lyons states, “I was lucky enough to draw a goat tag and even luckier to be able to share the experience with my dad George and brother Steve and Zach. The first few days were tough hiking and bad weather with many miles put on in knee deep snow ( there was no snow the day we showed up we got it over night) finally the third day of the hunt we spotted my Billy with a small break in the weather and my brother Steve and I were able to put a stock on him to 350 yards at 10,000 feet elevation and I was able to put three rounds through him while my dad and brother Zach watched through glass it was a dream come true for me having always wanted to harvest a goat more than any other animal in MT but even more so to do it with my family and favorite hunting partners present! He is a 9
Cade Stinnett
inch Billy and a trophy I will never forget mentally and physically!”
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Congrats Richard!