Publisher’s Notes Thank You Advertisers! I cannot thank our advertisers enough for their continued support...please support our advertisers and let them know you appreciate Montana Woods N Water. Couple that with an awesome team of writers and a loyal following and we have been blessed...thank you! We continue to grow our ranks every month thanks to you. Last month found us at the bullseye of the anti crowd but we over came and thanks to them our reach has grown by thousands. I will discuss that matter more in depth on page 2. For those of you that are starting to think about shed, bear and turkey hunting you are not alone, I can’t wait. Shed hunters are already scooping up some bones so get out there and get some exercise. It is addictive so be fore warned. If it keeps getting warmer I am also thinking about mushroom picking and for you gardeners...start flipping that dirt and getting ready. For you fishermen...we are almost there so get those boats, rods, tackle and waders ready. Hunters don’t forget to get those tag applications in and renew those license as needed. 3D Archery shoot schedules are out so check with your local archery shops. Local trap clubs are already busting skeet so if you like to bust clay birds contact your local club. Wolf season will go out 15 March and cat hunters still have a few more days to chase the kitty. Paul Fielder will bring you up-to-date on the wolf harvest stats. We are getting a lot of requests for a subscription service so be patient as we get things ready...our web page is being totally redesigned by All Systems Go out of Troy, MT. This month we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day so if you are throwing a few back remember...no drinking and driving. We got another hunting season coming up and we would hate to see you miss it. Many of us we will celebrating one of the most important days of the year...Easter. Because he has risen we will never taste the sting of death...can I get an amen? Keep those pictures and stories coming and be safe out there! Raf Viniard Publisher Guest Writers This Month: Jennifer Fielder, Pg.7, Disaster Preparedness Class / Robert Pierson pg. 24 , You & America & Marty Weaver pg. 24, No Dogs For This One . We want to thank our guest writers for their contribution this month to Montana Woods N Water!
Front Cover Photo Provided By: Dan Helterline aka Montana Dan Dan stated that every time he killed one wolf five would come to his buddies funeral. Looks like the wolves had to attend a lot of their own funerals this year.
To Contact Us: Montana Woods N Water 171 Clark Creek Loop Plains, Montana 59859 406-407-0612 Email: raf@montanawoodsnwater.com www.montanawoodsnwater.com
What’s Inside Hunting Local Inventors The Root Cellar Trapping Montana Dan Sportsman’s Meditation Local Celebrities Next Generation Tony Rebo Unleashed Fly Fishing Sportsman’s Meditation Too Tea party & Cat Hunting Mountain Memories
Staff
2 4 7 9 11 13 14 16 17 19 23 24 27
Publisher/Editor/Layout/Sales: Raf - 406-407-0612 Director of Social Media Misty - 406-250-4191 Our Newest Field Pro Staff Jessica Parker - 406-334-3778
Pro Staff Writers This Month: Chuck Stranahan Pastor Jim Sinclair Dan Helterline Tony Rebo Pastor Cam Foote Carol Cady
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
Devil Dogs and Haters By Raf Viniard As some of you know, our Montana Woods N Water Facebook site was attacked last month by the wolf and cat lovers and we are still getting a little bit of chatter at the time of this writing. Swing over to our Facebook and take a look. We love the attention. We have been posting harvested animals for two years now…they finally found us. What started it all was when I posted a picture of two wolves that had met their demise. One was trapped and one was shot while it was trying to attack a local outfitter’s cat hounds. I was right in the middle of laying out the February issue when I got a call from my neighbor saying I needed to check my Facebook because the comments/arguments were getting really ugly and threatening. I dropped everything and took a peek. “Wow” is all I can say...America is in deep trouble...so much anger! I have never seen such vileness, hatred, ugliness, demeaning and blasphemous comments. I called my “keyboard commando” Misty that helps me with Facebook and we started deleting and blocking the vilest. I have Adam King a Marion, Montana rancher with a no problem with folks sharing their viewpoints and having a civil discussion, but it black beauty. Adam filled his quota of five was just getting to disgusting. My hope is that we might be able to educate some folks on the destructiveness these “Devil Dogs” and the damage they are doing to wolves this year. Congrats Adam and we local ranch herds, pets and our wildlife. After reading some of the comments I have appreciate you! determined that sometimes you just can’t fix stupid. I went over and investigated some of the haters’ Facebook pages and with one glance you could see the problem and I will leave it at that. We alerted the local Sheriff as to the threats. These keyboard lunatics are brave miles away but if they mouthed off like that to your face the outcome would be a lot different. By the FBI’s definition of domestic terrorism, they fit the bill to the “T” and some of these nut cases need to be locked up in Guantanamo Bay! I had to sit on writing this article for a month so my emotions did not take over the keyboard. In short, we are an outdoor publication and if our content offends someone then they need to move on to a more feel good Facebook page/publication…we are not the one for them. Our Facebook page is for like-minded individuals. We will not apologize for our way of life. Often times we think of a Californian or “Coasties“ being the culprits and that is not always the case. The anti-comments were from folks from all over America to include some so called sportsmen. We even had haters from England and Australia in the exchanges. Just so you will know...we had some California and Oregon sportsmen in there scrapping with the antis and defending our legal right to harvest these demon dogs. Sportsmen from all across America and Canada came to our rally cry. Just a note of warning to any haters that are on our Facebook…you mess with a Montana or an American sportsman, you will get the horns they will not be attacked and curl up inn the corner. As my Momma used to say “If you don’t have nothing nice to say, then don’t say anything.”, just move along. I want to thank all the sportsmen that come to our defense. True like-minded sportsmen if backed into a corner will come out fighting for what they believe in. Thanks to the anti’s, our Facebook “Likes” increased by thousands and in a two day period alone we had over 235,000 Facebook engagements. So in short they helped Montana Woods N Water more than any paid for advertising…so thank you anti’s for the business boost. I recently received a handwritten letter from a gentleman who lives in Columbia Falls, MT. Mr. Michael Dickens shared his thoughts and some words of wisdom that maybe both sides of the argument should consider. “There are good/social wolves and bad ill-tempered wolves, just like people. They are not dogs and cannot be treated as such. Concerning wolves- think of a road, it has two ditches. One side says “Kill them all.” and the other side says “Preserve them all.” and both are wrong. God commanded us to use and take care of the environment – not abuse it. The ditches are abuse.” Thanks Mr. Dickens for the letter, I truly enjoyed the read, be watching your mailbox in the future. Continued on page 3. 2
HUNTING CONTINUED The wolves are here to stay and must be managed. As sportsmen we have the legal right and obligation to manage these wolves for the elk , deer and moose sake. If you like that Montana beef steak then we need to help our ranchers as well. During the recent 2nd Annual NW Montana Predator Hunt I had an opportunity to talk to Adam King (pictured on previous page) a local rancher up in Marion, MT. Since they have started harvesting the wolves they have seen calf production increase by 30% or more. Some city folks, liberals and tree huggers have no clue what it takes to run a farm/ranch and with each livestock kill by a mountain lion, wolf or bear they lose money. It would be like a thief damaging or stealing their property. It really goes much deeper than that, ranching and farming is a way of life. If you have never seen a wolf or cat kill, it is not a pretty sight and with the wolf it isn’t always for food. The anticrowd needs to stay focused on their suburbia lifestyle and big city problems and let us worry about our state and resources. Montana takes in millions of dollars every year from resident and non -residents sportsmen alike. If our state government wants that to continue, then wolves must be better controlled. The word is spreading fast that the wolves have decimated our deer and elk herds and sportsmen are choosing other states to hunt elk and deer. Even some local sportsmen no longer buy tags because the herds have been decimated to the point it is not worth it. To all you haters, we promise not to get on your Facebook page, cuss you out and tell you how or where to live…in fact we really don’t care. We assume it is none of our business as to the lifestyle you choose to live or your beliefs. We promise not to meddle in your suburbia/city matters that has technically displaced millions of animals so you have a place to live and play. You have destroyed your wildlife but here in Montana we are trying to manage ours so when you come to visit us you can actually see what “wildlife” looks like in its “natural” habitat. For you folks that don’t want predators killed. Keep this in mind as you fly over Montana heading off on your next adventure. If your plane crashes in OUR mountains…all those redneck, country bumpkin, hicks, monsters, murders and other names you wish to call us will be the ones dragging your dead or broken body out of the mountains since our Search and Rescue units are volunteers made up of those same folks. Our communities will come together to help you in any way we can even though you hate us. I just hope we can get your body out before the critters start to pack you off...dead or alive. I see thousands of vehicles a year from out of state flying down our roads paying no attention to the dangers of the wildlife crossing such as turkeys, deer, moose, sheep and elk. If you are lucky enough to live through a high speed impact with one of these big wild animals guess who is probably going to be the first one on scene? Note: We don’t have cell coverage everywhere out here in Hicksville (as you refer to it) and houses can be miles apart unlike your neighborhood. The first one on scene will probably be one of our local sportsmen or women. When we do finally get a 911 call out, our local ambulance crews are probably made up of outdoor men and women. Oh, and those sheriff deputies that show up…most of them live for hunting season. But hey, we will do all we can to help you even though you just killed our wildlife and look down your nose at us and our way of life. Hopefully your crumpled up car did not damage the meat bad enough that a local family can pick it up and have some fresh meat on their table. Yeah we do that! Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree. However, if you just can’t get over it and persist in pushing your agenda you might want to read the article next month “Walking on the Fighting Side of Me!” to give yourself a little more clarity about us country folks across America I think we have just about had enough of the political correctness and the liberal agendas. Have a blessed day! 3
LOCAL INVENTORS
Chuck Clinkenbeard, Plains, MT - Inventor of Carry Right Handle By Raf Viniard
Chuck with a nice bull! Field Testing the “Carry Right Handle”.
Last fall I was with my buddy George and we were heading up a dusty mountain road when we saw Chuck walking towards the road packing his rifle like he was carrying it by the scope. I thought to myself...that’s not smart, even though I had done it myself many times to give my shoulder or arms a break from the weight. Upon closer inspection I saw that he had a handle mounted on top of the scope. Now this was a new idea I had to learn more about. Chuck was just in the final design and patenting phase and was testing it making sure his idea was solid as he had hoped. After thousands of dollars later, four years of field testing he is now ready to market his new invention. With patents, product and testimonials in place it is now available to the pubic.
So what does this “Carry Right Handle” do. The most simplest purpose is to allow you to carry the rifle like a tool bag or suitcase. It replaces the top portion of your scope rings and is screwed down to the scope ring bases. For Leupold and Ruger Z bases it comes as a complete set of rings ready to mount. For all others it is recommended you have a competent gunsmith install it since there is some drilling that needs to be done on the “Carry Right Handle” rings. The top ring must mirror up exactly with the bottom bases so I wouldn’t recommend you try this. They are available in both 1 inch and 30mm tubes. It comes in black or Aluminum finishes. The “Carry Right Handle” only weighs 2.2 ounces and is made of 6% glass filled nylon. It has been pressure tested and has a limited lifetime warranty. The bolts in the handle are stainless with nylon locking nuts. The rifle pictured above in the ad I packed around the yard to see how it balanced. The rifle automatically points down to the ground at about a 6 degree tilt. The balance was almost perfect. If you are in steep rugged terrain or in a hunting situation where you need to have the gun in a “ready position” it is right there. I quickly mount the rifle to my shoulder and get on the target faster than if it was slung over my shoulder. I can really see where this “Carry Right Handle” could save your scope if you fell or if you needed one Pastor Jim Sinclair of Plains, Montana giving it a field test. “I love it!” hand free to traverse steep rocky terrain or carry a walking stick. Continued on page 5. 4
LOCAL INVENTORS CONTINUED One would think you could knock your scope off by carrying it by the scope handle but the scope rings bases are solidly attached to the rifle and the top scope rings (Handle) are solidly attached to the bases, so there is no movement of scope, rings or “Carry Right Handle”. Jump over to the CMC Sports Product web site at www.cmcsportsproducts.com or their Facebook page to learn more about the “Carry Right Handle”. Feel free to call Chuck at 406-241-3701 to learn more and get pricing.
“The Carry Handle”
By Raf Viniard Some things you run across just have to be shared. I met Derek VonHeeder the inventor of the Minnie Stump Grill in a local gas station and as he was showing everyone his latest invention . My mind started turning how this could be used other than just an awesome touch of Montana home décor or that perfect Montana gift. The concept is a takeoff of his bigger version of the Stump Grill in which we will cover next month. Each grill and stump is handmade and of course the coffee mug can be ordered and personalized with anything you want on it, such as logos, pictures., sayings/words, etc. They make awesome gifts. Each grill is stamped with a serial number and you can have up to 15 characters stamped along the edge, for events such as birthdays, anniversary, promotions, names, places, etc. Each grill slides up and down to get as close to the flame as you want. It even rotates out of the way to change the tea candle. To change out the candle simple push a ink pen up from the bottom hole and it will pop right out. Insert a new one, light it and go. The antler handle is a nice touch as well. Don’t drink coffee...you can also use it to keep your tea or hot chocolate warm. You can also put some scented oil in a glass tea candle holder and heat the scented oil to make the room or office smell fresh. At a recent Super Bowl Party it was used to keep dips warm. Your imagination is the limit. These little jewels could be used in a survival lights out situation. I would hate to have to cook a meal on one...you might get pretty hungry between bites. So what does one of these customized made in Montana Minnie Stump Grills cost? You can get just the Minnie Stump Grill for $35.00. If you want a personalized mug add an additional $15.00. They can be shipped anywhere in the United States. Call Derek to get a price on shipping and handling as the price varies based on quantity shipped. Want to learn more about other Stump Grill products go to www.stumpgrill.com or visit him on Facebook. To reach Derek VonHeeder call him at 406-370-2570. Next month I will tell you about the “Lil Hiker” and “The Original” stump grillers. Before I could write about it I had to have a demo, so Derek hooked me up with a locally raised Montana Longhorn T-Bone steak cooked to perfection within 6 minutes from flame to fork.
“Outdoor Quality - Indoor Comfort!” 5
LOCAL INVENTORS CONTINUED
GUNRACS by Raf Viniard Publisher’s Note: I ran this article back in December but felt it needed to be re-run while we were on the topic of “Local Inventors” How many of you while riding the mountain roads hunting place your rifle with the barrel pointed down in the floor board? First it is bad news for the end of your barrel and secondly if you did have an accidental discharge you might need a new transmission. How many of you have it sitting in the floor board with the barrel pointing up? Better...unless you are the guy riding in the back seat...makes one a little nervous. How many of you lay it on the dash? Good idea until you start up that steep hill and it slides/rolls back in your lap knocking over your drink and creating a hornets nest response to try and catch it before it knocks your scope out of whack, thus driving off the side of the mountain or hitting that big pine tree head on. Not to mention the possible scratches on your dash or gun. How many of you have a gun rack in your back window? Not many...that is old school. How many put them in a gun case in the back seat? Great idea and in fact probably the safest and protects the gun the best. However, have you ever tried to get out of the truck, get that zipper undone or case open as that elk heads up the mountain side while at the same time trying to dig it out from underneath all the other stuff that has it has been piled on it. Glenn Devolder has patented a vehicle gun rest that simply slides
down into your existing headrest holes of the drivers and passenger seat. Glenn may be a disabled U.S. Army Vietnam Vet but his brain is still as sharp as a tack. He designed and patented this GUNRACS system himself out of necessity. Him, being an avid hunter himself found a need for this type of gun rack. The GUNRACS are fabricated from sturdy metal except for the coating on the arms that hold and protect the gun from scratches. It is fully adjustable to any vehicle with headrest. Still confused, look at the diagram below for a better understanding. He is offering a special on these new GUNRACS for only $99.99. They are regularly $149.99. They can hold from 1-3 guns depending on what you order. Very easy to install yourself. You can store guns in the GUNRACS either on the front or back side depending on how you install them. No holes to drill in your vehicle or tying it to your seat. Give Glenn a call if you have any additional questions or need more information. Call Glenn at 406-826-5689 or email him at: wacko_mt@yahoo.com
6
THE ROOT CELLAR
First Preparedness Day far Exceeds Expectations! By Jennifer Fielder Every good outdoorsman knows how critical it is to be prepared for a variety of things that can happen in the field. If you head out for a hunt without your essential items, a good day can turn bad in a hurry. 150 people attended Sanders County Preparedness Day on February 20 to apply the same principals in day to day life. Whether at home, in the field, or on the road, we are all a lot better off if we have the right tools, equipment and skills to deal with tough situations that may arise. In fact, being prepared could mean the difference between life and death in some cases. Whether it is a power outage, flood, wildfire, earthquake, auto accident, social upheaval, or some other form of emergency situation… being able to take care of yourself and your family in times of trouble is one of the most important abilities you can possess. Citizens who take self-reliance seriously are not only better able to care for themselves, but are in a position to help others if and when an unfortunate emergency strikes. Like the Boy Scouts, we should all give serious creed to the motto “Be Prepared”. Montana Woods n Water and I were privileged to co-sponsor Sanders County Preparedness Day with the Sanders County Sherriff’s Office, Sanders County Office of Emergency Management, Sunset Hills Funeral Homes and four nonprofit organizations including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Clark Fork Valley Tea Party, Mineral County Tea Party, and Plains VFW Ladies Auxiliary. The event included a wide variety of demonstrations, displays, vendors, and lessons designed to help area citizens think about and become better prepared for emergencies at home or on the road. The organizing committee had been working since September to plan this event, with the idea we would learn from this experience, pick up new ideas, and gauge interest in doing future preparedness events. Interest was so high the meeting room filled up and unfortunately not everybody who wanted to take part could get in. The organizing committee is offering a repeat workshop for those who missed out on the February event (See side bad ad). Judging by the response pf participants, the event was a huge success. Attendees said they learned a lot and appreciated the quality of information presented. “I have attended preparedness seminars in other states,” said Rich Wallace of Thompson Falls, “but this one was by far the best.” Continued on page 10
7
Business Card Directrory
8
TRAPPING
Ponderings By Paul Fielder TRAPPERS MEETINGS – coming up April 16th. Trappers Region 1 Spring Meeting will be at the MFW&P office in Kalispell, starting at 10am. This will be a combined meeting of Montana Trappers Association members, non-members, and MFW&P biologists and wardens. We will discuss: 1) furbearer harvest this past season, 2) furbearer quotas and regulation changes for upcoming season, 3) news, issues, and ballot initiatives that can affect our trapping activity, 4) future events that trappers should be aware of, and 5) anything else trappers have on their mind. Region 2 will be having their spring meeting at the Missoula MFW&P office the same day. Try to attend your region’s trapper meeting and have a say in your future trapping. May 20-21. The National Trappers Association, Western Regional Rendezvous will be held at the Missoula County Fairgrounds in Missoula this spring. The Montana Trappers Association is hosting the event this year so that trappers from all over the western states can gather to share their knowledge and learn from each other. Many of these trappers will be scheduled to demonstrate their tricks and techniques for a variety of furbearers that can make you a better trapper, predator hunter, and fur handler. There are always new things to learn at these events. Lots of vendors should be present so you can re-stock your trapping supplies and try some new gear. Support the groups that support your activities. Don’t miss this one! SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WOLF HARVEST Two hundred and two wolves have been harvested so far this season in Montana, as of this writing (Feb 25 th). Thirty-four percent of that total was trapped. The other 66% were taken by hunters. Northwest Montana (wolf units 100-150), accounted for 35% of all the wolves harvested in Montana. Trappers took 47% the NW Montana wolves harvested. The rest of the wolves harvested were taken by hunters. What is noteworthy is that the wolf HUNTING season in Montana is 6 months long and the wolf TRAPPING season in Montana is 2 ½ months long. There are far more hunters afield that could harvest a wolf in Montana than there are wolf trappers. When compared as day-for-day and man-for-man effort, trapping seems to be more effective at controlling wolves than hunting. Both methods, when combined together, allow Montana to harvest over 200 wolves annually to reduce livestock losses and to protect big game herds from excessive predation. But without BOTH hunting and trapping, wolf harvest in Montana would drop drastically and these efficient predators would further reduce our big game herds. We sportsmen ought to remember the benefits that trapping provides in controlling the predators of our game animals when we are asked to sign a petition (I-177) that would ban all trapping on public lands in Montana. The MFW&P and legislators should be making the use of “trapping as a wildlife management tool” more efficient and effective to use, instead of placing more and more restrictions on it. For some of our big game populations, it can be a matter of life or death. BEAVER CASTORS IN DEMAND – Fur market have dipped a lot this year. Less than 50% of the beaver pelts have sold at major auctions, and those are averaging about $11. Beaver castors, that are well handled, are selling for $60 per pound. Save and put up all those beaver castors with your beaver pelts because, pound for pound, the castors are worth more than the pelts. Considering the amount of work that goes into putting up beaver, expect beaver harvest to decline and the demand for castors to keep going up.
9
ROOT CELLAR CONTINUED Seven vendors were on hand offering high quality preparedness goods that ranged from survival books to emergency medical kits, water purification systems, backpack sized solar chargers, fire starters, long term food supplies, essential oils, and portable radios. Lessons included wilderness first-aid tips, reloading various types of ammunition, self-defense techniques, firearms safety, equipping your vehicle and backpack with the right stuff, emergency communication systems, alternative energy, barter items, safekeeping important documents, and how to grow, gather, and store food. Bill Naegeli with the Sanders County Office of Emergency Management reported the most likely emergencies to hit Sanders County are Wildfires, Severe Weather, Hazardous Materials, Earthquakes and Flooding. Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel recapped last summer’s wildfire threats and praised the effective way residents helped each other during the evacuations, noting that it is how people respond in times of crisis that make a real difference in how things turn out. In a discussion about potential mass shooting scenarios, Sheriff Rummel emphasized the importance of staying alert, watching for out-ofplace behavior, and being ready to take cover. He warned that a person who might draw a firearm to shoot a bad guy could be mistaken as the bad guy by police. His suggestion was to get proper firearms training and think very carefully about the gravity of your actions if an active shooter situation occurs. At the end of the day, participants offered suggestions for future workshop topics and took home an in depth self assessment form to help them rate their own level of preparedness and identify areas in which they might like to do better.
Pictured Above: Sanders County Sheriff Rummel speaks of emergency situations he has dealt with in Sanders County.
Pictured Above: Charlie & Judy Woolley teach water purification techniques.
Kimberly Joner of Plains, MT: If I could learn one thing I could use, then it would be a successful class.
Josh Eckberg with a Zyon System go bag.
Tony Muro of Thompson Falls: I am here to learn more. “Wise man knows his limitations. I am here to soak it up like a sponge” Pictured Above: The Thompson Falls LDS with long term storage food options.
Are you prepared for an emergency? 10
Jeffery & Regina Reed of Trout Creek: To learn as much as we can about being prepared.
MONTANA DAN
Spring Fever By Dan Helterline Winter is on its way out and hopefully spring is just around the corner. With spring comes an abundance of fishing opportunities, I finally caught my fifth wolf in mid February and was more than ready to get my boat out and start doing some fishing. Trapping season was good, but trapping wolves is a ton of work and by the time I finally tagged out I was ready for a break. Ryan Spiekermeier had recently been up to Lake Koocanusa, north of Libby, and done exceptionally well on big rainbows and bull trout. I had never fished Koocanusa out of my own boat so I was anxious to get out and try a technique that was new to me but very successful on that body of water when targeting trophy trout. In late winter and early spring the big trout are in the upper portions of the water column due to water temperature and the abundant bait fish that allow these Kantor Pogreba of Conrad with a 12 trout to reach pound rainbow caught while fishing trophy size. This with Ryan Spiekermeier in mid time of year they February on Lake Koocanusa. can be caught using a variety of plugs and large flies trolled near the surface using large planner boards pulled off each side of the boat. I had yet to try this method of fishing so this first trip would definitely be a learning experience. The theory behind using planner boards is with the clear water and the fish being near the surface you need your lures out to the side, and far back behind your boat to keep from spooking the fish as you troll. Your planner boards are attached to a large reel that is usually mounted on a mast or fishing tower, then as you let line out from the reel, the planner board pulls out and away from the side of your boat. After you deploy the planner boards into position you then let your lure out quite a distance, clip on to your line with a mini downrigger clip that is then attached to the planner board line with a shower curtain ring. The forward momentum of the boat allows the ring to slide down the line until you engage the reel and stop it. You then place your rod in a holder and you are now fishing. If you have several people on the boat you can use two rods apiece and can troll with multiple rods. When you are using more than one rod off of each side you simply put the furthest lure out the longest distance behind the clip and the closer one a shorter distance, this is where trolling reels with line counters are essential. In theory, if the furthest lure out gets hit and the fish pulls the line out of the clip, it will then swing around the shorter inside lure and the fish can then be played to the back of the boat without entanglement to the rest of your spread. You can slow the boat down while you fight the fish but the boat must keep moving forward to keep the planner boards out to the side. The big rainbows are trolled for at a pretty fast clip, usually around three miles an hour, and using lures that resemble baitfish. Lyman plugs have been the go to lure for catching big rainbows and are made in Canada for just that purpose. They come in colors that imitate Kokanee and Northern Pike minnows, and have a tantalizing erratic action when trolled fast. Downriggers can also be used to troll lures deeper if you start marking fish suspended in the water column. After putting most of my trapping equipment away for the year I was able get my boat out and double check everything, then load up and head north to Libby. If Koocanusa is too far to travel there are plenty of great fishing opportunities in the Clark Fork and lower Flathead. I was told that the water temps are getting close to the magical 50 degrees that will stimulate the walleyes below Thompson Falls to move onto their spawning beds and start biting. I have seen plenty of fishermen out along the river hitting their favorite northern pike holes and the start of the annual Spring Mac Days is just around the corner. With the onset of nice weather and the coming of spring, there should be no shortage of fishing opportunities to help cure a case of “spring fever�! Continued on page 12. 11
MONTANA DAN CONTINUED I had convinced a couple of friends to go along to help me land all of these monster trout we were sure to catch. I wanted to fish for two days, so overnighting in Libby was my plan, Koocanusa stretches north clear into Canada. Most people think that Koocanusa is an Native American name but that is only partially true. The lake was named by a contest winner when the Libby Dam was under construction, “Koo” was for the Kootenai River that was being dammed to form the lake, “can” for Canada where the upper half of the lake originates and “usa” for the United States of America that contains the lower half of the lake and Libby Dam. When these three abbreviations were combined they spelled Koocanusa, giving the lake its current name. When we drove through Libby we stopped at the Venture Inn and made a reservation for the night. The Venture Inn is a great place to stay and is right on Highway 2 making it easy to access, it also has an attached restaurant, in addition, Rosauers Supermarket and Libby Sports are right down the road, in the event you need any last minute supplies. We decided to launch the boat at Rocky Gorge Campground, half way up the east side of the lake on Highway 37. That would give us the option to fish north towards Canada or go south to the dam. There are several launches on the east side of the lake along the highway, all with ample areas to camp if a person choose to stay right on the lake and, there is a paved road on the west side of lake also, but it has fewer developed access points. The first day we fished was a Friday and the weather was beautiful, sunny with no wind and temps in the low 50’s, pretty nice for the end of February. The expression “Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.” must have some validity to it, because all of the lunker trout I was confident we were going to catch failed to materialize. After five plus hours of trolling we had only landed one bull trout that was about four pounds. There is currently no retention on bull trout from Lake Koocanusa, so they must be promptly released. Any fish that I release, I try to leave in the water, remove the hook quickly with pliers and send them on their way. The less they are handled and removed from the water, the greater is their chance of survival. The Montana Fish and Game has made a change to the fishing regulations and will allow anglers to keep one bull trout starting June 1, 2016 with a Lake Koocanusa Bull Trout Catch Card in possession, but we were obviously too early to take advantage of that. Since it was such a sunny day, I told my fishing partners that must have been the problem, it was just too nice out. The next day was predicted to turn cloudy with a chance of rain, surely that would make all the difference, and we would do much better. The next day turned out like predicted, cloudy and a little rain, and the fishing was definitely better. We landed five bull trout with the largest about six pounds, but the trophy rainbows eluded us once again. The fishing was great but the catching was a little slow. Like they say, “A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work.”, right? It was a fun trip though, I got most of the kinks worked out of using planner boards and all of my gear seamed to operate correctly using this new found fishing method. Maybe in a few weeks I can convince a couple of new friends to head up to Lake Koocanusa and help me catch some trophy rainbows.
Lake Koocanusa at sunset.
Catch and Release or Catch and Eat? By Raf Viniard We recently posted a picture of someone with a big bull trout caught below the Libby Dam. It was a beauty! The issue of how to properly handle fish that has to be released to ensure its chances of survival was discussed. Page 10 of the 2016 Montana Fishing Regulations discusses this issue more in depth, so you might want to read up on the laws and procedures. I called and spoke with Gamewarden Ben Chappelow about the issue. He said, “The biggest complaint we get is people catching Bull Trout and their survival rate.” He went on to say, “It is legal to take pictures but the more you keep it out of the water the greater the chance of mortality.” He wanted to remind everyone to get off the bridge below the dam as soon as you hook up and try to keep the fish in the water and not play it any more than you have to.” He also said, “There has been a lot of discussion on this issue but they didn’t want to take the opportunity away from anglers.” So...use caution when handling your catch if you are going to release it. For me I am going to target fish I can eat...I am more of a catch and eat person...have you had a good mess of yellow perch or pike lately? Thanks Keith Meyers for bringing this to our attention. 12
This painting was done by Shannon Strawn of Plains, Montana. It amazes me as to the talent here in Northwest Montana from antler carving, woodworking, photography, etc. Who says us country folks don’t have culture! Thanks Shannon for sharing...absolutely beautiful! Don’t forget about us little folks when you make it big!
SPORTSMAN’S MEDITATION
Just Earthly Noise By Pastor Jim Sinclair It was one of those beautiful clear sunny mornings not long ago, I stepped out side to get some wood. I just stood there for a minute and listened to all the sounds that were around me. All kinds of them...I could hear the train going down the tracks, the neighbors dog barking, and the distinct melody of several meadowlarks and then my wife letting me know the fire needed tending. As I was addressing the wood stove I couldn’t help but hear some of the current news clips on the television. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but every politician has the right answer, it was unbelievable to hear that they are all right on every issue. Just ask them. Let me just say, there is a lot of noise out there, there is a lot of voices screaming at us. As I pondered all the “noise”, I remembered a story that was appropriate. Two men had gone moose hunting up in Canada for a week. Their week of hunting was over, and a pilot had flown in to pick them up, as arranged ahead of time. The pilot taxied the plane down the grass landing strip to where the hunters stood with all of their equipment and the two moose they had shot. The pilot got out of the plane and looked over the men’s equipment and the two moose. He then said, “I am sorry men, but we cannot take both moose back with us. There will be too much weight, and the plane will never get off the ground.” The two hunters looked at each other for a moment, and then one of them said, “We think it will be all right. Last year we came up here with the same equipment and shot two moose about the same size as these. The pilot who picked us up had a plane about the size of yours, and we got off the ground just fine.” The pilot thought for a moment, and then said, “Well, if you think it can be done, we will try it.” So they loaded up all the equipment and the two moose, climbed aboard, and the pilot taxied as far back on the grass strip as he could. He headed down the strip as fast as he could and began to pull the plane up. The plane bounced a couple of times, and then finally lifted off the ground, flew a short ways, and crashed. About fifteen minutes later, one of the two hunters regained consciousness. Soon the other hunter regained consciousness. They looked around for a moment, and then one of them said to the other, “Where are we?” They took one more look around and answered, “Oh, about two hundred yards farther than last year.” Two hunters with their voices and one pilot. The pilot should have listened to what he knew to be true. With all the noises around us there is one clear choice to listen to, it is the perfect rule of faith and conduct. God’s word...I’m thankful that in a world of gray, there is a sound voice, the bible says it this way. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. That’s a promise, Keep livin the life Pastor Jim
27 March 2016 “He is risen; He is not here.” ~(KJV) Mark 16:6
13
LOCAL CELEBRITIES
Picture Top Left: Chad Gullingsrud of Libby, MT with a wolf taken in the Thompson River Drainage a while back. Congrats Chad and please tell us you got another one or two or three this year? Pictured Top Right: Jerry C. Shivley of Thompson Falls, MT with a wolf he caught in a MB-750. Jerry thanks, all us elk and deer hunters appreciate the time, money and effort you put into making that happen.
Attention Sanders and Mineral County Wolf Hunters and Trappers: Glenn Ferren is offering a FREE European wolf mount for wolves taken before 15 March with a trap or gun. Got a few days left so make Glenn happy! For more information call Glenn at 406-678-0795. Thanks Glenn for offering your services. From the desk of Stacy Philbrick with the Montana Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife (MT-SFW): For the past two years we've held a predator hunt in the Trout Creek, MT area. We're already gearing up for the next hunt to make it the biggest and best so far! We're expanding the hunt areas and are inviting other sportsmen groups and individuals to come aboard. There is an event/hunt planning meeting on Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 at the Lakeside Resort in Trout Creek at 1pm. We encourage all who can to come OR participate via Skype or phone. Please RSVP for the planning meeting to one of the folks listed below. We have some ideas but would like to get other groups' and individual's input. So far some ideas are: 1. Expand the hunt to include ALL of western MT and the Panhandle of Idaho (from the northern border to the Salmon region and all inbetween.) 2. Have multiple check-in areas throughout the regions at local hot spots 3. Have an online registration to make it more convenient for participants 4. Keep registration at $5 5. Advertise earlier - one flyer to encompass all 6. Start collecting prize and money donations earlier 7. Have the hunt run for a longer duration 8. Include all legally harvested predators The more ideas the better! We need motivated individuals to help make this next hunt really great! If you're interested in helping, have ideas or to RSVP, please contact myself at stacyphilbrick@gmail.com
14
NEXT GENERATION Pictured Left: As I was headed back from Libby it was sprinkling rain and a typical February day. As I crossed a bridge, I glanced over and saw kids running up and down the banks casting here and there and Mom trying to get a line in the water herself. Have you ever tried that with three boys? A little rain did not deter the Mullet family from wetting a hook Pictured Left to Right Front Row: James, Caleb, and Jared. Pictured in back Linda Mullet aka “Mom”. Thanks Linda for corralling these boys long enough for me to take a picture.
Pictured Center: Alexis Helterline (on left) and Grace Horton (on right) measuring up a nice size slab. Grace you keep hanging around Alexis and she will have you trapping next. Looks like you little ladies were having fun. Picture submitted by Dan Helterline Thanks for sharing Dan!
Next Month’s Montana Woods Water Articles… Bear Hunting Turkey Hunting Morrel Mushroom Hunting Shed Hunting Thefts Across Northwest Montana The Kalispell Boat Show Kootenai Valley Friends of the NRA Dinner Sam Martin Ask Some Good Questions Kalispell Boat Show Missoula Sportsman Show Beautiful Pictures Ram Pictures From Bob Stickney and much, much more...
The Smooks put the smack down on the venison! Pictured Above: Jesse Smook took his first buck outside of Libby, MT Pictured Right: Not to be out done Jada Smook filled her tag as well. Congrats to the Smooks for a job well done. 16
TONY REBO UNLEASHED
Only in Montana By Tony Rebo Here lately there has been quite a bit of controversy with the life styles of the outdoorsman or outdoorswoman. We seem to be constantly under attack for our way of living. We are portrayed as a bunch of backwood hicks that run through the woods shooting and killing everything we run into. We are seen as uneducated savages. Raping and pillaging the land. Now I for one, like many of you take offense to that statement. Well unless of course you were at my last family reunion and then I understand your confusion. Many of my outdoor friends are frustrated to no end by the constant bantering from these sophisticated, over educated, folks from all over the world and California. I am here today to tell all of my outdoor friends to hold the phone wait a minute and ponder this thought. Oops sorry to my backwoods friends; ponder means think about. I would like you all to ponder on my story and then the next time you are confronted by one of these word mongers you may not become so angry. You may have a better understanding of why they think the way they do. I want to share some stories about the environmentalist that I have dealt with over the years. Back in the summer of 1988 we had a night like no other. The sky was filled with lightning bolts and for hours the sound of thunder echoed the valley in Libby, Montana. When the dust cleared and the morning sun rose in the sky the forest was on fire. One of the biggest fire years I can recall on the Kootenai forest. With the fires came the personnel to fight the fires. One such man who came to save the day was an environmentalist from the Statue of Liberty Island from NY. From day one this guy pointed out to anyone who was listening how the loggers were ruining the forest, and after spending days in the woods seeing animals he was appalled by the fact we hunted these beautiful creatures. It wasn’t long and he was off off everyone’s Christmas list. Until the day he spoke to our crew, I also wanted to send him packing. We were all sitting around at lunch enjoying a nice break from the heat of the fire when this dude pulled up to check on us. He exited his truck, looked about and walked towards us. I know that he was very uncomfortable with our group as we were made up of local loggers who hunted. He stopped just short of our group and bent over and scooped up some scat from a very old pile of elk droppings. We all waited with anticipation as he began to speak. “Boys, you know that I know that in about a year a fawn will turn into a deer”. “What I am not positive about is the time frame it takes a deer to turn into an elk”. Without hesitation one of our group responded with “About three years”. “Yep that’s what I thought”. Said the highly educated forest Ranger from NY. I still laugh every time that I recall the incident. My whole impression of the guy changed at that very moment. I know, I know, right now there are two thousand environmentalists asking themselves “you mean deer don’t grow up to be elk”? Mind blown…….. A couple of years later I was hunting during the last week of rifle season. I was hunting near a logging landing. On Sunday when these hard working family men would devote a day to God and family, hunters would hunt near logging units in search of elk. Terrorists would arrive and vandalize the equipment of these hard working men. Back in the day these terrorists could destroy thousands of dollars of equipment in an hour. I encountered two of these enviro terrorists on this day. Continued on page 18. 17
TONY REBO UNLEASHED CONTINUED They were standing in the back of a work truck and what I thought at the time was that they were stealing tools from the truck. I startled the two and asked what they were doing as they poured a bag of sugar from their grip. The brave one explained to me that he was saving the world and the forest and that he would destroy every piece of equipment he encountered to stop the destruction of our forests. “Well that all sounds fine, but why are you filling his tool box with sugar”? “The gas tank is the other square box with gas cap on top”. Just saying……Hmmmm, seems to be a trend here. I was hunting down on a piece of state land when a young guy ran up to me and started shouting ‘Stop, stop, stop, why would you ever kill these deer that roam these hills”? Well, to put meat on my table. I also just like to get out and enjoy the same beautiful wildlife you do. I am not out here just to kill something, and in fact I am really out just to be out. Anyway what is it that you want? He told me that he was going to follow me and if I raised my weapon to fire at an animal he would yell and scare off the animal. I told him that I would love the company and that he would be a great help dragging the animal back to my truck. As for yelling if we were to see something, well no, that won’t work and the only yelling that would be made would be from him when I shot him in the foot. I told him that the bullet would probably tear his foot clean off and that he wouldn’t be able to walk back to his car, and that with all the yelling and screaming he would attract wolves. I explained to him how the wolves would circle him first, testing if he would be able to flee. Then they would come closer snapping their jaws and howling. I explained to him how the wolves would kill him slow and probably start to eat him while he was still alive. This is what wolves do. Guess what he said? “Oh no, a wolf would not attack me because I am here to help and save them, and a wolf would never eat me, I am here to help”. Ok then, boy you are a special kind of stupid aren’t you. Wow! Once again right now there are two thousand environmentalists laughing and saying “Wow this guy thinks a wolf would eat someone trying to help them”. You see fellow hunters; this trend explains the odd behavior of those who don’t understand our way of life. How many times have you heard “Why can’t you just go buy your meat at the store like everyone else does”? I am pretty sure the American Natives had a hard time finding a Safeway back in the day. It is a heritage that keeps us in the woods. It is the balance of nature from the beginning of time. So the next time you are confronted by these special people remember the source and instead of growing angry try to put yourself in their shoe, a left one at that. They just don’t get it, and they never will. Forest Gump said it best “Stupid is as stupid does”. Keep those pictures coming, Montana is a great place and we love to hunt and fish and we also like to share our memories with our friends. For those who don’t understand, well just remember “a deer turns into an elk in about three years”.
18
FLY FISHING
The Spring Tackle Ritual By Chuck Stranahan
For me, it’s time for the annual spring tackle ritual. A quick look at my fishing vest a couple weeks ago was nearly embarrassing. I’d have a hard time getting through a day’s fishing with things as they are. Safety and comfort items come first:. First, I’ll dump the remains of the crumbled energy bars, stale and dirty peanuts, and petrified raisins from the inside pockets. I’ll make a note to replenish those energy-boosters with fresh stock. I’ll check and re-up my mini first aid kit, carried in a waterproof pill bottle. That small pill bottle contains a couple of broad band-aids, spindled Chuck with a Brown Skwala Demon. against the side of the pill bottle, and in the space remaining there’s room for a small half-empty tube of antibiotic ointment, half a roll of Tums, a few Advil, and some antihistamines. If there’s a physical emergency that these few items won’t cover I need to get off the stream. For those latter situations, I recommend two things: update your first aid training, and improvise with what’s at hand. With the contents of that pill bottle and a good knife, knowing what to do will get you out of more jams than you think. The rest of the safety and comfort checklist consists of a fresh small pack of facial (?) tissues (bury it – leave no trace or whiff,) a stowable raincoat, a fold-out locking knife that is sharp and carried where it’s accessible, and a water bottle carried in the back pouch of the vest. If you spend much time outdoors the cost of a good water bottle (about $10) is worth it. Cool water on a hot day is a blessing. Quenching your thirst on a hot day with water that has warmed to beyond air temperature in a plastic consumer bottle will keep you alive, but isn’t too pleasant. A note here: drink until you slosh before you fish – and carry about twice as much water as you think you’ll need. Have a plentiful supply available in back your rig. Next comes tackle, carried in the outside pockets of the vest. I’ll check the tippet spools first. Same with all those old tapered leaders I’ve been saving for too long. I’m still kicking myself about a huge trout I lost a few years ago on a float with Alex Hibala. I knew when I tied on an old, brittle leader I was bending Murphy’s Law. I had that fish on long enough to see the breadth of his shoulders and feel his sheer weight. After a couple minutes I forgot about that old leader and leaned back against him, well within the limits a fresh leader would have managed. You know how the story ended – in a snap, just above the tippet knot. I’ll make notes as to which leaders and spools of tippet I need. Anything I have the slightest doubt about, though, gets pitched. Next, I check the levels of my floatant bottles – one gel type, the other a powder floatant for sprucing up a waterlogged fly. Replace as needed. Clipper, check. Forceps, check. I prefer flat-jawed forceps that also serve as barb-pinch pliers. Nail knot tool, check. Hook hone, check. Not enough anglers carry and use a good hook hone. A sharpened hook can make the difference between fish and no fish on any given strike. Continued on page 20.
19
FLY FISHING CONTINUED Fly boxes get checked for contents – for me, that chore turns into pleasant daydreams and remembrances as I linger over the flies. When I snap back to reality, I make note of what I’m missing, and make a vow to get busy behind the vise. Reels get cleaned and lubed, fly lines get pulled off the reels into a dry plastic bucket, and then rewound on the reels through a cloth drenched in a cleaner and plasticizer sold as 303. Guides use it on their rafts. It’s also the best fly line dressing I know about. Rods get taken out of their cases, joined, and waved around – with each one it’s a little like shaking hands with an old friend. As needed, the graphite rods get their ferrules cleaned and dressed with a thin, thin, coat of paraffin. Wipe off excess. My waders need patching. I remember the wet legs I put up with last fall. This spring the water will be cold. One way or another, I’ll remember to patch the waders. The soles and laces on the wading boots are fine. New UV’d and polarized sunglasses and a new fishing hat are on the list. Sunglasses for fishing must protect your eyes from both UV light and glare. Make sure your shades have both. Wife Jan has seen enough of my old hat. Since she’s my best fishing buddy, I’ll have to heed her wishes, but by the time a new hat gets properly broken in, she’ll find it embarrassing to be seen with me and she’ll be after me to buy a new one. I’ll keep the old hat under the truck seat, though, for the days I fish alone.
20
PLEASE SUPPORT THESE BUSINESSES
21
PLEASE SUPPORT THESE BUSINESSES
Darby’s fish!
22
SPORTSMANS MEDITATION TOO
The Impact of a Child By Pastor Cam Foote I am always impressed at how God uses the circumstances around us to make us aware of His Presence. When my sons Christopher and Kody were younger I used to pray with them before we would leave the truck hunting. One episode comes to mind above all others. It was spring bear season and the boys had never been bear hunting with me. We had left early in the morning heading up the McGinnis Meadows area and spent most of the day driving and glassing. As the day crept on Kody said to me “Dad we forgot to Pray.” So I said “go ahead son, ”He thanked God for the time with me and then he prayed that he would be able to spot a bear that I could harvest that day before we got home. It wasn’t fifteen minutes later when Kody said, “Stop dad I see a bear!” and sure enough down in a meadow at the bottom of Wapiti Mountain there was an adult bear sunning itself. I was able to help both the boys across the creek in the bottom and up the other side to make a stock on this bear. As we all inched our way up the road the bear came into sight and I was able to rest the gun on my coat and make a perfect shot. When we neared the bear, Kody said “Dad we need to thank God for this animal.” So this time I prayed a prayer of thanks. Now twenty one years later I was reminded again this year, as we prepared to leave the truck, those valuable words “Dad let us pray!” John 16:24 Jesus said: 24 So far you haven’t asked for anything in my name. Keep asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” (NIV)
23
TEA PARTY & MARTY
You and Government By Robert Pierson
Recently an investigative reporter for the Blaze Network traveled to the University of Texas at Dallas. He asked students there if they could define socialism. Only one woman came even close, the others could not. This concerns me greatly, because the question at the end of the interview was who they thought they would vote for, if they could. They all thought Bernie Sanders, an admitted Social Democrat, would be their choice for President, if they could vote. Obviously they do not understand the concepts he is espousing, but believe he would be a good President. So I thought I could provide a little insight. There are 5 basic types of government. Dictator, oligarchy, democracy, republic, anarchy. Dictatorship is really an oligarchy, because one person is unable to manage everything, so he must delegate some of his authority to a small group of trusted people. Democracy is a short lived form of government, because it is rule by man. One person, one vote. When you can emotionally sway enough people to your beliefs, you change the government, which ends up transitioning into an oligarchy, too. Anarchy is the same thing. It starts out being NO government, but the chaos created by this becomes unbearable to the population, and they soon want someone to stop the unrest. Usually the one who steps up to say they can do that, is the very one who caused the chaos in the first place, and another oligarchy is formed. This leaves oligarchy and republic as the two basic forms of government. A republic is different in that it is government by rule of law, not rule of man. In a republic, everyone is supposedly treated the same. No one is supposed to be above the law. Socialism, a form of oligarchy, in it's purest Marxist form, promotes violent revolutionary overthrow of a capitalism system, leaving a government that will nationalize all business, redistributes wealth so everyone supposedly has an equal income, no matter how hard they work...or not, and purports to provide everything for everybody. Social Democracy is a term coined in the late 1800's to reflect a shift to a more palatable non-violent evolutionary change in government, nationalizing only big business, railroads, energy, media, transportation, etc. This would supposedly end up in the same place, but with less bloodshed. This also would include areas of social justice. A constitutional republic is a system based on a rule of law. When the U.S. Constitution was ratified, it provided a basic set of laws (the Constitution) that we all agreed to abide by. It acknowledged that there were rights human beings had before there was such a thing as government, and that government was formed to protect those rights, and very little else. Other forms of government do not see these rights as natural, but as provided by them, which can thus be taken away as they see fit. Even our own government has been taking away our rights for well over 100 years, mainly because we have allowed them to. Try buying raw milk for human consumption. Government is FORCE!!! Try not paying your property taxes and see what happens. This is why the Founders wanted a government that was kept to an absolute minimum and constrained by LAW ( the Constitution). That is why you need to choose our leaders very carefully. YOU need to be informed and vigilant. Give up on the notion that you don't need to be involved, because God will handle it. He will, but only through you. REGISTER AND VOTE. If you believe in this country, choose someone who speaks of the Constitution. The primary is far and away the most important election. And don't just vote for President. Think globally, act locally.
No Dogs For This One By Marty Weaver One day about the middle of November it was the kind of day that was made for hunting, four inches of fresh snow and overcast. I parked at my favorite deer hunting spot close to Trout Creek and made my way towards some clear cuts to try and fill my buck tag. I soon heard a strange loud meowing sound coming from the far side of the clear cut. I determined it was not a bird and had to be either a bobcat or mountain lion. I discovered I could very closely imitate the sound with my mouth. The cat answered back to me several times as I heard it was moving up the ridge just inside the timber and then all was quiet for a few minutes. I took a few steps and glassed the upper edge of the clear cut and to my surprise a mountain lion was sitting on top of a clump of dirt left by a skidder. I knew it was already watching me so I slowly got down on all fours and crawled about 10 yards to a stump, I took off my back pack and laid it on the stump and nestled my trusty old 308 onto my pack and got a good solid rest. At 234 yards I was able to make a good hit. It turned out to be about a 90 to 100 lb female. And with a little research I determined it was a mating call. So the next time your out there deer and elk hunting listen for that peculiar cattie sound and be sure you have your $19 dollar general cat tag (where legal) in your pocket and you might just add a fine trophy to your collection. I love to hunt with dogs, but this was also a very great experience. I am very thankful to be able to live, work and serve the Lord in a place like Northwest Montana. Marty is the owner of Grocery Surplus in Thompson Falls, MT, stop in get his autograph! 24
25
PLEASE SUPPORT THESE BUSINESSES
Click Here For Virtual Tour
26
MOUNTAIN MEMORIES
By Carol Cady Spring is just around the corner and that feeling starts to spring up inside you. The snow is melting and the woods are opening up and unveiling all its secrets. The desire to head for the mountains emerges deep from within. Horn hunting becomes a top priority for a lot of avid woodsmen, including myself. It’s like treasure hunting, it just keeps driving you on over the next ridge and down deep into each gully. It is very addictive. Each year during the early part of spring (March) my daughter Amy Lynn and myself always meet halfway between Happy’s Inn and Libby and four wheel all the backroads. Of course me being a Mom I am constantly reminding her to drive carefully, as she only has one mother! Our adventure is about looking for horns, taking pictures and of course eating. I never venture out into the backcountry without packing a lot of goodies. You know those types of goodies that has little protein or nutritional value but are just fun to eat. This give us a lot of time to eat and reminisce, laugh a lot and plan our upcoming summer activities. Speaking of reminiscing this reminds me of a little deer hunting story from a couple of years ago. We were hunting in some whitetail deer country when we came upon a small three point buck. Amy whispered to me “Mom…shoot it!” I whispered back to her, “You shoot it!” I wanted to save my tag for something bigger. She whispered again, “Please…we’ve been hunting for two days and haven’t got any meat yet and I don’t want to use my tag!” As she looked down her scope she again whispered, “Janette Turk could make a really nice horn basket out of that set of horns.” Being a typical Mother who can’t say no to her kid, I settled the cross hairs and shot. We got up to the buck and Amy started dressing it out while Ole Mom sat on a log nearby watching as my daughter worked vigorously. I mean after all, I did shoot the buck! I started thinking about the conversation just before I pulled the trigger and began to laugh. Amy straightened up from what she was doing and says, “What’s so funny?” I told her, “If anyone could have heard that conversation…two girls hunting for meat while at the same time checking out things for the home décor.” So this spring…get out there and make some memories so that you can tell to your grandkids. After all you just might find a rack made for a basket. Pictured right: Janette Turk and a antler basket. Pictured bottom left: Amy Lynn.
Reminder: Always ask for permission before entering private property to look for sheds. 27
PLEASE SUPPORT THESE BUSINESSES
Click For Virtual Tour
Click For Virtual Tour
28