Montana Woods N Water November 2014 by Montana Woods N Water

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November 2014

Publisher’s Notes

What’s Inside

Rifle season is in full swing, and tags and freezers are being filled. Trappers and cat hunters are chomping at the bit, and those die hard fishermen are getting those last few days on the water before the holiday season. Grouse hunters are still beating the brush and chasing dogs in hope of a grouse supper. Bear hunters are still trying to fill that tag before they head into hibernation. Water fowlers are trying to fill their big game tags, but have the decoys and equipment ready for the long awaited migrating birds from the north. I don’t want November to end. It is my favorite month of the year. Rut is, or will be, in full swing, and the truly big bucks make the mistake of chasing the girls and revealing themselves after staying cloaked and hidden most of the year. It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is only a few days away. We have so much to be thankful for here in Montana. We truly live the dream every day. This Veteran’s Day, and every day, keep in mind those service members past and present. Because of them, we still have the rights and privileges we have as American outdoorsman. Please be safe out there, and we at Montana Woods N Water wish you a very successful

hunting season. Remember to support our advertisers. They are the life blood of this publication. Our online, digital version is growing with leaps and bounds of followers. Times are changing how folks get their news and entertainment. Be sure and check us out at www.montanawoodsnwater.com and post those pictures of your trophies on our Facebook page. To all veterans, we salute you for your service you make Montana proud. Keep “Living the Dream!” Raf Viniard, Publisher Raf@montanawoodsnwater.com

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Hunting Trapping Montana Dan Fishing Talkin’ Trout Smoke Poles Sportsman’s Meds A Hunter’s Life Wing Shooters Local Celebrities Pink Camo Kountry Girls Campfire Talk Angela Montana Outdoor Politics Wings & Prayers Next Generation

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Publisher: Raf Viniard Managing Editor: Tanya Holzer Field Editor: Mitzi Stonehocker Sales and Marketing

From the Editor Montana Woods N Water magazine continues to grow at what feels like record speed. We’ve found ourselves stretching into new territory each month, and are overwhelmed by the amount of support we’ve received from readers, advertisers, and our fellow sportsmen. Make sure to check us out at www.montanawoodsnwater.com for exclusive content and offers, and to read full issues online. Thank you allowing us to live our dream. Keep living yours!

Director: Kori Erickson Lake, Mineral & Sanders Counties: Raf Viniard & Mitzi Stonehocker Lincoln County: Kori Erickson Missoula: Vacant Kalispell: Misty Loveless

Pro Staff Writers/Photographers:

Tanya Holzer, Managing Editor Tanya@montanawoodsnwater.com

New Flathead Sales Representative

Angela Gerych Dan Helterline Paul Fielder Toby Bridges Toby Walrath Jason Badger

Pastor Jim Sinclair Zach Butcher Montana Mitzi Sam Martin Jason Badger Tony Rebo

Contributing Photographers/Writers: Born and bred in beautiful Flathead County, I am no stranger to the outdoors and ALL it has to offer. Having been raised a loggers daughter, I grew up in the woods, hunting, fishing, camping, and traveling on dirt roads. I am very excited to introduce myself as your Flathead County sales representative! I hope you are all "Living the Dream" as I am. Misty Loveless Misty@montanawoodsnwater.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @mtwoodsnwater,or visit us on the web at www.montanawoodsnwater.com

Advertising Rates Kori@montanawoodsnwater.com 406-293-1478

Subscription Information www.montanawoodsnwater.com subscribe@montanawoodsnwater.com

Tim Patton, Cindy Peek, Michelle Freese

Graphic Designers Tanya Holzer Kori Erickson Carrie Schikora

Special thanks to our proof readers Paul, Andrenia, and Dave & Jan Harvey. Editorial Policy: Montana Woods N Water’s reserves the right to refuse to print any content submitted for publishing that does not include the author’s name, complete mailing address, and/or valid phone number or email address. Anonymous submissions will not be addressed or published.

Montana Woods N Water’s layout and graphic design is proudly done in Libby, MT.

HUNTING

Be a respectful hunter

Good manners and proper etiquette aren’t just for the table. –By Zach Butcher

ell, another archery season has come and gone and rifle season is upon us. For many of you that were unsuccessful with your bow, I’m sure your excitement and anticipation has been renewed. Now that you have a bang stick in your hands, that buck or bull that was just out of range for your bow won’t be so lucky the next time you meet. Just because rifle season has started doesn’t mean you have to hang up your bow. I know for myself, I still have some deer stands up and plan on hunting out of them with my bow. In fact, keeping the archery door open can give you some great opportunities. How many of you see animals on private land that you would love to harvest, but are afraid the land owner will say no if you muster up the courage to knock on their door and ask to hunt on their land? It’s okay to feel that way, and it may happen, but there are a few things you can do to help increase your odds of getting a yes. Don’t

knock on their door at 5:00 in the morning after seeing a big buck or bull in the headlights. Not everyone is a morning person, and they can be quite grumpy if you wake them up before they’ve had their morning coffee. Ask for permission at a reasonable time. I would say between 9:00am and 6:00pm is an appropriate time to knock on their door. How you dress is important too. You might not think so, but showing up in camo or dirty work clothes is not the best attire. Respect their time. If you catch them rushing out the door, ask them if there is a better time you can get back with them. When you do get to talk to the land owner, remember that it’s rifle season and when you ask for permission, they assume you’re wanting to hunt with a rifle. If they say no, ask them if they would be open to you hunting with archery equipment. You may just get a yes. If you do, be sure to talk with them about the equipment you plan to use,

such as a blind or a tree stand. Some land owners may want you to only hunt out of a blind, while others may be okay with tree stands. The big thing with tree stands is the type of steps you use to get into them. The land owner may not want you to use screwin steps, so a strap-on ladder system may be necessary. The last thing you want to do is kill the land owner’s tree. Asking these questions is important. Even if the land owner doesn’t have a preference, it shows them that you care and you’re going to be respectful of them and their property. I hope this helps you out this year. Remember that it is up to us hunters to keep eachother accountable for our actions and continue the tradition of hunting. So don’t be a sloppy hunter. Be respectful of one another and to the land and animals that live in our great state. Be safe, have fun, enjoy the beautiful country God gave us, and good luck this season.

Living the dream

Montana may just be the best place on earth. –By Raf Viniard

unting season is in full swing, and that makes November the best month of the year for this Montanan. Snow is flying at the higher elevations setting the Montana landscape that photographers and artists around the world try to capture. Neither camera lens nor paint brush can capture the beauty of Northwest Montana this time of year. Camo and orange-vested hunters dot the local towns, and 4 X 4 trucks pass on the highway loaded with hunters headed to secret places rarely shared. Friendships, family outings, and rekindled memories of previous hunts gone by are retold again with excitement and, of course, embellishment. Enter any store with camo on, and a conversation soon breaks out about failures or successes of the day’s hunt. Work days seem to drag until the next opportunity to hit the mountains. Last week, I was waiting on my truck to get some new tennis shoes (tires), so I strolled over to the local eatery and hunters filled the tables. Conversations ranged from politics to weather, but the conversation always came back to hunting.

A very dear friend took pity on me since I was not going anywhere until my truck was ready. My old buddy Dave Harvey had other plans for his horseless friend. With a much appreciated invite, I grabbed my gear out of my truck (I never leave home without it) and we headed up a mountain road in search of some meat for the freezer. We did not see the meat or antlers we sought, but we sure had fun as the old Ford rattled up and down the mountain roads. Trappers are already laying steel, and are in constant search of that marsh or ridge that holds the pelts they pursue. Paul Fielder, one of Montana Woods N Water’s professional staff writers, called and invited me to tag along the other day to check his muskrat and beaver sets. The weather was perfect, and as I sat in the canoe watching Paul pulling one muskrat after another from the cold water, I could not imagine a better way to spend the day; sitting in a canoe, looking up at the snow covered mountains with an old friend making memories, and muskrat and beaver pelts lining the bottom of the canoe. Firewood has been cut, gardens are harvested, and the daylight grows shorter.

Smoke from stoves and fireplaces drifts across our valleys and mountain sides. All but a few leaves hang in the balance, refusing to give up the last days of fall. As the good book says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). There is a time to sow and a time to reap. As my honey and I cut up the final leg of venison to be canned and the trimmings ground into sausage, a smile comes across my face that I have now completed the harvest of my first Montana deer. My B tag is filled, but the remaining folded pile of green tags reminds me that the harvest is far from over. As I drive these mountain roads thinking about where I am planning on laying another day’s leather, the pot-holed mountain road jars me from my tactical analytics to remind me that a big-racked trophy may be around the next corner and to pay attention. Scanning the distant, yellowing Larchlittered slopes, a smile comes across my face that God has allowed me to hunt another day. Not just anywhere, but Northwest Montana, where I’m living my dream. HUNTING |

NOVEMBER 2014

Out-smarten marten

TRAPPING

–By Paul C. Fielder

“

My favorite marten set consists of a 120 body-grip trap set on a coni-bracket nailed to a tree (with a duplex nail for easy removal) about 3-4 feet above ground/snow level.”

TRAPPING |

NOVEMBER 2014

he Pine Marten (Martes americana) is a North American member of the mustelid family. Mustelids have anal scent glands and include weasels, skunk, badger, mink, fisher, wolverine, and otter. Pine marten occur in forested regions from eastern Canada to Alaska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern New England, and in the Rockies, Cascades and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. Other marten species, or subspecies, occur in forested habitats in Greenland, Great Britain, and from northern Europe through Siberia and northern Asia (the latter being referred to as “sable”). Their fur is soft and luxurious, and makes premium fur garments. They occur at low elevations in some areas, but in Montana most marten are caught at high elevations. Pine marten are shaped like a large mink. They are 1 ½ to 2 feet long, and weigh 2-3 pounds depending on sex and region. Males are longer and heavier than females. Marten have fine, sharp, retractable claws and are excellent tree climbers. They generally live in the dark, conifer forests that have lots of deadfall and ground debris where they hunt mostly small mammals and birds. They also scavenge on dead animals. The long and thin marten body has more body surface area to lose body heat from, compared to a rounder body shape. This causes marten to have a high metabolism and high food and energy needs. Because marten need to hunt even when snow covers most prey sources, they often hunt in subnivean (under the snow) environments. Deadfall and downed wood increase the open spaces under deep snow where marten can find subnivean prey, such as mice and squirrels. Marten have low reproductive rates, so over trapping females is a concern. Marten travel over large areas, with the home ranges of males being much larger than those of females. This makes males more susceptible to trapping. If a trapper is catching more females than males in an area, it is best to pull traps and save the reproductive (female) part of the population for future trapping seasons. My favorite marten set consists of a 120 body-grip trap set on a coni-bracket nailed to a tree (with a duplex nail for easy removal) about 3-4 feet above ground/snow level. The trap is placed on the bracket so a marten climbing the tree could pass through the trap. I fasten the end of the trap chain to the tree high above the trap with a fence staple, or wire it to a branch. If the tree has a lean to it, I fasten the trap so a trapped marten will hang away from the tree (to not get pitch on the fur), and hang above the ground/snow level so mice and shrews won’t chew the fur. Next, I’ll take a baseball-sized piece of bait (beaver meat) and rub it on the tree bark between the trap and the ground. Pieces of meat and fat will stick to the rough tree bark and form a “chum line” for the marten to follow up the tree, through the trap, and to the bait. I then nail this bait about 6 inches above the trap. Finally, I drive a long nail about 6 inches above the bait so that the nail protrudes 3-4 inches. I hang conifer boughs (tips down) from this long nail so that a bough hangs between the tree and each spring. Next, I fold the springs toward the tree so they hold the boughs tight along the side of the trap and a marten cannot come into the bait from the sides. I then hang boughs down over the front and sides of the trap. This forms a conifer tunnel that hangs down, covering the bait (from bird’s view), and leaves the only opening to the tunnel guarded by the body-grip trap. A call lure (skunk essence mixed with petroleum jelly) makes a strong, weather proof lure that can be placed on a branch to call the marten to the area. A marten lure placed at the base of the tree at the “chum line” will put the marten in position to follow the chum line up the tree, and through the body grip trap on their way to the bait. If all works well, the marten should be hanging alongside the tree when the trapper returns. (Note: this is not a “leaning pole set” which requires trap and bait to be place 48 inches above ground/snow level in parts of Montana to minimize lynx capture). Please remove all nails when the set is pulled. I use 120 size body-grip traps because they kill quickly, the animal struggles less, and less fur damage occurs. Carry extra traps. Trying to remove animals frozen into traps will damage fur. Replace the trap with another and thaw and remove the marten later. My marten set uses a minimum of gear. I can carry gear for 24 sets in a 6-gallon milk crate on the back of my snowmobile (two dozen 120 bodygrip traps, hatchet, bait, lure, wire, fence pliers, and a big plastic jar containing coni-brackets, long nails, and fence staples). Marten often follow the same travel pattern for generations. Pay attention to tracks in the snow. Good marten sets or crossings will be productive year after year. Out-smart’en marten isn’t hard if you can find where they are, but you can’t trap them where they ain’t. I’ll discuss other marten sets next month in Part 2. 3

MONTANA DAN

all is in full swing now. Almost every season Montana has to offer is open, giving the avid sportsmen a cornucopia of fur, fins and feathers to go after. There are all the traditional big game animals to pursue, upland birds and waterfowl to chase, and as I mentioned last month, some nothing short of awesome fishing opportunities both locally and in neighboring states. One pursuit that is new to most Montanans, however, is hunting and trapping wolves. Thanks to our Federal Fish and Wildlife Service, we now have very healthy wolf populations over most of Montana. Like it or not, wolves are here to stay and the best we can do is

wolf trappers bought. This is a heavy duty trap capable of catching and holding wolves, but in my opinion, has a flawed trigger system. The pivot point for the pan is too far from the trap jaw to make it 100% effective. This design flaw is simple physics that creates a large dead spot in the pan. Set this trap and you can put as much weight as you want on the back 40% of the pan and it will not fire! When I explain this to trappers, I ask them if they would hunt with a rifle that only fired 60% of the time. I sure wouldn't! The Bridger #9, with its dogless pan and powerful offset jaws, is my favorite wolf trap. It is very simple in design, yet fast and strong. There are several methods to anchor your traps, either with a grapple or drag and a long length of stout chain, or to stake the trap solid at the set. Using a grapple and long chain has its place, but I prefer to stake my traps solid with a cable stake and a very short length of chain. Cable stakes are fast, light, and have tremendous holding power, especially in frozen ground. They require a special tool to remove from the ground, adding an extra advantage of discouraging trap theft. Cable stakes are also fast and cheap to make. When you have to leave one in the ground because it just won't come out, you are not out much money. Staking your traps short is important. This helps to eliminate the animal getting a big lunge and pulling out. Some trappers will also add a dampening spring mid chain to further reduce the amount of pull a wolf can get. All new trapping equipment must be degreased and then allowed to rust so it can be properly dyed and waxed. Degreasing is best done by boiling traps in water and baking soda. The grease can then be poured off before the traps are removed from the water. I will lay my degreased traps out by the edge of the lawn and let the weather help

“

It’s no secret that wolves are large, intelligent predators...There are few trappers that are skilled enough to catch them regularly.”

capitalize on the liberal seasons that Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has finally given us to help manage these alpha predators. It is no secret that wolves are large, intelligent predators that are very difficult to target with regular success. Some lucky big game hunters bag a few while out deer and elk hunting, but to specifically go after them and be successful takes a lot of time and effort. Trapping is no different. I would have to say that catching wolves is graduate-level trapping compared to all other fur bearers residing in Montana. There are very few trappers who are skilled enough to catch them regularly. Wolves have the keenest of senses, reside in very large territories, and are very strong, making them harder to hold in leg hold traps. With all this said, they are catchable and I was lucky enough to harvest two last year. I will try to share with you just what I know and used to trap these apex predators. Since Fish and Game only allows the use of foothold traps and prohibits snaring, I will only discuss foothold trapping. My two favorite traps are the Bridger #5 with modified offset jaws and the Bridger #9 with the same jaw setup. When Wolf trapping was first on Montana's horizon, there weren’t many affordable wolf traps available. The MB 750 was very popular, and this is what most aspiring 4

put a light coat of rust on them. Dirty traps from last year get power washed, inspected, repaired, and hand tuned. I can then boil and dye everything together. I would strongly recommend doing these steps several months before trapping season so the traps can be hung and allowed to air out after dying. Wolves have extremely keen senses, and it is paramount that all of your equipment be totally free from human and foreign odors. There are basically two types of sets I like to use with several variances of each; the hole set and a flat set. A hole set is a dirt hole set you would use for coyotes, but on a slightly larger scale. A flat set is anything from a pee post to a bone set. It uses mostly urine and/or gland lure to get a wolf to investigate, where as a dirt hole has more visual appeal. On a flat set, my pan center is 16 inches back and slightly offset from my lure. In a dirt hole, the trap is back the same distance in front of the hole. I like to have the trap slightly lower than the surrounding ground creating a step down effect, forcing the wolf to naturally step on the trap pan. Any canine urine can be used, and I collect wolf and coyote droppings whenever I find them. These all have good appeal when used in conjunction with urine and gland lure. When you see where a wolf marks something in the woods, look at the tracks and study where he places his feet. This will help you decide where to place your trap on a flat set. In your dirt hole sets, either a good commercial or homemade bait can be placed in the bottom of the hole. Make sure to dig your hole deep and put some dirt or Continued on page 5.

–By Dan Helteline

MONTANA DAN |

NOVEMBER 2014

MONTANA DAN Wolf trapping 101, continued from page 3.

debris over the bait so the animal has to work to get it out. Half a tainted muskrat carcass is a good, simple bait that will work for this, and gland lure can be placed on the backing, completing the set. There are many companies out there that sell trapping lure and urine. For wolf trapping, you want the highest quality urine and lure you can obtain. I use Ogorman and Forsyth Animal Lures almost exclusively. Both of these can be found on the Internet. Set location is huge when targeting wolves, and this is where a lot of beginning trappers fall short. Try to pattern wolf tracks whenever you see them in the woods. Wolves are habitual in their travels and will run the same trails and use the same crossings repeatedly. These are the

locations you want to target. Try to find a location that is naturally weather resistant, yet open enough the wolf won't feel crowded. Some of the greatest challenges in trying to trap wolves December until March is the constant freeze/thaw cycle and rain we get in the winter. Keeping your traps working under these conditions can be extremely tough. The use of waxed dirt or peat moss can be helpful, and finding that spot where the dirt is naturally dry can prove to be key. It is very important to have your trap bedded solid; it should not rock under any circumstances. Push on the trap jaw in several spots to make sure it is solid before covering and blending the trap. Making multiple sets at a good location is

important not to disturb the area after making your sets. If you are using a drag, put a stick vertically through the chain so you can tell from a distance if your stick is gone. Wolf trapping is very labor intensive and time consuming, but I can honestly say there is no better reward than seeing a wolf waiting for you at one of your sets. Wolves are easily dispatched with a .22 bullet through the lungs. There is little, if any, blood, and the hole a .22 makes is so small it will not have to be sewn up. A tanned wolf hide makes a beautiful addition to any oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. It is also very important to get our next generation involved in trapping, as well as our other outdoor pursuits. So take a kid

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When you see where a wolf marks something in the woods, look at the tracks and study where he places his feet. This will help you decide where to place your trap on a flat set.â&#x20AC;? also good. Often when one wolf gets caught, the rest of the pack will linger in the area for a while, and it is possible to make multiple catches. Although I have never scored a double or better on wolves, I have caught numerous coyote doubles, making me a big fan of gang setting. Try to make your sets so you can check them from a distance. It is

trapping with you and help perpetuate our rich trapping heritage. I am always willing to help new trappers get started and help with any questions they might have. After all, it is trappers who discovered and first explored Montana, and without them who knows where we would be!

MONTANA DAN |

NOVEMBER 2014

FISHING

Getting cleaned up for a new year Maintain your gear to maintain your fishing addiction. –By Sam Martin

any people underestimate the level of care that any fishing reel needs in order to function for a long, useful period. Too many times I see someone throw away a perfectly good reel after it fails them after only one year in service. That’s just money down the metaphorical drain. What would be my sincere hope, is that the reader heeds these next words carefully so that their (undoubtedly expensive) equipment may last them long into the fish-catching future. The Body of the Reel: This is perhaps the easiest part to clean, and the most obvious. A simple shammy and

“

The Guts and Gears: Every reel is different, but one constant is for certain. If the gears don’t turn then the line doesn’t move. This is why every winter it is essential to clean and re-grease/re-oil your reel’s mechanical components. This includes all gears, ball bearing assemblies, and everything else that spins. When cleaning, use gentle degreasers like WD-40. That stuff is more than a good fish attractant, and works wonders on grease. Make sure you use a cheap rag or towel, because this process will destroy any cloth you employ. Learned that the hard way.

equipment. That goes doubly for those of us with reels who’s price exceeds $100. The Drag: This is the simplest part of the entire operation. All you have to do is ensure that this whole assembly is clear of any grease or grime. You must make sure, however, that you use no cleaning products when preforming this task. As I said before, it can ruin the whole mechanism and destroy your expensive toy. On a side note, I’d just like to remind everyone to turn off their drags this winter. This simple act can prevent damaging

Every reel is different, but one constant is for certain. If the gears don’t turn, then the line doesn’t move.” some gentle cleaner does a great job to get the majority of the dirt off. If there is some stubborn grime, then use a bit of the heavy stuff. I'm a fan of watered down Simple Green, but remember to be ginger with it. Harsh cleaners can permanently damage a reel housing by peeling paint, or worse. For those of you with aluminum reels, make sure to remove any rust that may have formed. That stuff spreads like the plague so it is imperative to eradicate it in order to save the reel. Steel wool is a good bet for the light stuff and dentist tools help if a little heavier scraping is needed but, of course, remember to be gentle.

FISHING |

NOVEMBER 2014

When it comes to reapplying the grease, a more expensive tool is always better as this is a precision operation. Anything that lets you just put a drop into the place you want it to go is perfect. Remember, you only want to hit the gears with grease and the ball bearings with oil, because both those products can actually damage other portions of your reel. The drag, for instance, can become useless if it gets coated in oil. So just remember to be careful. There is specially made grease and oil for this task, which is the only variety ever to be used. Yeah I know it’s expensive but sometimes you’ve got to bite the bullet to save your

compression that could ruin your reel. Besides, it’s not like you’re using it so why would the drag be on any way? This is just a short list of good preventative maintenance, but these simple steps can help anglers everywhere guarantee the longevity of their reels. These pieces of equipment are the work horse of our sport and without them we would be stuck being, god forbid, fly fishermen. Who wants to wade in the cold water when you can just cast forty yards over it? So just remember to love your reel this winter, and maybe this spring it will love you back.

Christmas is coming! 10% discount on any order by November 1st.

TALKIN’ TROUT

Peas & carrots A good fishing partner can be hard to find, and even harder to replace. –By Toby Rebo

orrest Gump often referred to himself and his Jenny as peas and carrots. You couldn’t have one without the other; the taste of one only enhances the other. Well, what I know is this. Forrest must not have taken his Jenny fishing. If he had, he may have said something like, “Me and Jenny, we are like peas and carrots, except when I have to take her fishing.” You see, good fishing partners are a rare thing. They have to be able to keep secrets, be on time, and most importantly, be self-sufficient. Now this is where I throw out a disclaimer to protect the innocent (mainly for my own safety). I love my wife, and I love to spend time with her; however, I don’t remember in our wedding vows any promises that my lovely bride would become my fishing partner. This happened about three years ago when our youngest child left home. She was the last of the four children to leave home and seek her place in the world. This was very troublesome for me, as my kids were my fishing partners. Now what would happen in their absence? Who would fill the void? I spent years with each of them passing along secrets, and more

TALKIN’ TROUT |

NOVEMBER 2014

importantly, they each understood the rules. These rules could not be questioned, or even discussed. These rules were in stone, just like Moses coming off the mountain with God’s rules. I won’t ever forget the day my world changed. It was on a Friday evening, and I was talking aloud and complaining about having no one to go fishing with me. (I think alone may have broken my rules; I’ll have to look into that.) Anyway, my wife, being the concerned spouse that she is, suggested that she go along with me. Fellas, this was a crucial moment. If you ever reach this moment in your life, what you do next will be the most important decision you will ever make. I wanted to laugh at her request or make some wise remark like, “What do you know about fishing and the “rules”?” I wisely elected to not say this. Nope. I just smiled and said, “Wow, really? You would like to go fishing tomorrow with me? That is great. We leave at five.” Rule #1 was broken immediately. My wife looked at me and said, “Five?! Why are we getting up so early? That is just stupid.”

Once again, I made another mistake by trying to explain the reason to leave so early. So the next morning, I agreed to leave at nine. GRRRRR. By 9:15 Rule #2 had been broken. This is one of the most important rules in my book of rules - the AIS rule (ass in seat). We finally were on the road and headed to the Clark Fork River near Noxon, MT. The trip there was very pleasant as my wife was excited to go fishing. It brought back many memories of the kids’ first trip. I could barely keep up with answers to all the questions. What kind of fish are we fishing for? Do you think we will catch lots of fish? How big do you think they will be? I just laughed at her enthusiasm. Once we had the boat in the water, I explained to her Rules #3 thru #22. I have a plaque in my boat that reads, “I am the Captain of the boat, but my wife is the Admiral”. Never would I have ever thought she would take that seriously. For the next half of an hour as we headed up river to my secret spot, I explained a few more rules to my wife - #23 thru #42. We reached a spot on the river where there were many stumps and old logs that were surfacing out of the river. I explained to her that bass and pike would be hanging around the stumps and we would just coast up and cast around the stumps. I then explained Rule #43; how to properly use the pole and make accurate casts without hooking the Captain of the boat with a hook. That rule went along with Rule #44; when a fish is hooked, keep the tip of the pole up and pressure on the line. I realized that things were not going all that well as my wife did not have a notebook and pencil to write down the rules, and for some reason was not able to remember ANY of them. Her idea of fishing was this; take off her shoes and socks, and kick back while dragging a line over the boat. There was no casting, and when she did attempt a cast, for some unknown reason her reel would end up looking like a rat’s nest. On our first day out, I replaced the line on three reels and threw another away. The knots were done with a craft like I had never seen. In fact, I was going to publish a book on knot tying with my wife as the featured expert. The only problem was she couldn’t quite recall how it happened. Then, there was the issue of what she wanted to fish with. She looked into one of my tackle boxes and said, “I want to try that Continued on page 28. 9

SMOKE POLES

with a muzzleloading shotgun â&#x20AC;&#x201C;By Toby Bridges

uck and goose seasons are now in full swing across Montana, and while not many migrating waterfowl have made it down from the North this early in the season to Western Montana, where I live and do much of my hunting there are enough ducks and local geese to provide some enjoyable hunting. To add a bit more challenge and satisfaction, this year I'm leaving my 12gauge 3-inch magnum pump shotgun at home, and using a modern reproduction of an 1850's English-styled percussion ignition muzzleloading 10-gauge double. The shotgun is one of the great muzzleloading side-by-side smoothbores crafted by the Davide Pedersoli & Co. arms making firm of Bresica, Italy - and offered in this country by Dixie Gun Works of Union City, TN. Last spring, I used the big "Magnum 10-Gauge Double" to take a nice gobbler in Sanders County. While the 90grain charge of a modern black powder substitute, known as Black MZ, seemed potent enough to also power my waterfowl hunting loads, I was faced with working up non-lead steel shot loads for ducks and geese. I ordered a bag of the BPD-10 plastic wads from Ballistic Products Inc., of Corcoran, MN, and they proved to be exactly what was needed. These wads are offered either with slits for the petals, or without. The preslitted BPD-10 wads are cut almost to the very bottom of the shot cup. The non-slitted wads allowed me to cut the four slits, using a heavy duty set of scissors, as long as I

needed to produce the best patterns. The Pedersoli 10-gauge shotgun comes with very little choke in either barrel. The right barrel is improved cylinder, and the left barrel is modified. However, by cutting the sleeves of the wad only a little more than half the length of the shot cup, I was able to tighten patterns significantly. Loading with a 90-grain charge of Black MZ, the one-piece plastic wad is shoved down over the powder charge, and a 1 1/2-ounce charge of steel shot poured in through the muzzle. A fairly snug fitting thin .030" thick over-shot card wad is then pushed down the bore to keep that shot from rolling back out when the gun is carried muzzle down. (Note: A 1 1/2ounce charge of steel shot fills the BPD-10 wad. Steel is lighter than lead, and when this wad is used with lead shot loads for non-waterfowl game, the wad will hold 2ounces of lead shot.) The patterns thrown by the Pedersoli/Dixie Gun Works double, using the wad with custom cut petals or sleeves, were definitely better than "Improved Cylinder" and "Modified". With No. 4 steel shot, I felt confident that the right barrel of the shotgun would be ideal for those 15 to 20 yard passing shots at ducks, while the left barrel would reach out to about 35 yards and still put a duck down. With steel BB sized shot, later in the season I'll hunt geese with the big muzzleloading double, which should take Canada geese at 30 to 35 yards. During the first couple of weeks of duck season in early October, I managed to hit a

favorite spot along the Clark Fork River a half-dozen times, and brought home a couple of ducks each time. The first two, taken on opening morning, were a "One..Two" punch for the muzzleloading 10gauge. A flock of about 20 blue winged teal came flying up the river, maybe 10 yards above the water - and as I had hoped, when they came to the small island where I had thrown together a brush blind on the downriver end, the ducks swung to follow the smaller channel. As the teal shot past, I stood up, causing them to flare some. The right hammer was already at full cock, and I swung on and on past one of the ducks at about 20 yards. The 10-gauge frontloader bellowed and the duck folded. Instinctively, my thumb drew the left hammer into the full-cock notch. The bead caught up with the last duck in the string, and the left barrel folded that duck as well. That pair, with my first two shots, got my season of muzzleloader duck and goose hunting off to a great start. As colder weather sets in, more ducks will move into the area, along with migrating Canada geese. Once deer and elk seasons are over, I'll get out very often with the 10-gauge double. Duck and goose seasons in Western Montana run until January 21st, and come December, I'll be out with the old smokepole at least a couple times each week.

SMOKE POLES

NOVEMBER 2014

SPORTSMANS MEDS

Meditation: Seeing past the excitement –By Pastor Jim Sinclair

t was a really warm, early fall morning. Warmer than usual. I glanced out my front window and saw a nice 4x4 muley that was about 20 inches wide and 14 to 16 inches high. I grabbed my binoculars to inspect this fine specimen a little closer. Either my sight was failing me, or something wasn’t right with my binoculars. I just couldn’t seem to get a clear up close picture. Something was wrong with the focus or my eyes or both. I asked my wife, “Have you been messing with my binoculars? I can’t seem to get them focused.” “Maybe it’s because you’re looking through our front porch window!” she chuckled. I replied, “That can’t be it. I look through this window all the time with my binoculars.” There was a pause and then she said, “Maybe it’s because he is standing eight feet from you with a mouthful of my flowers. Not to mention, this looks like the same buck that has been eating your apples.” With bow season in full swing, I quickly decided this was my chance to fill my tag early with a very nice buck. As I darted off to find my equipment, I mumbled to her, “I think I can take him from the corner of the

house. 6 or 7 yard shot at most. Get the camera ready.” I was excited and running around getting stuff together when I heard those words of encouragement, “Are you kidding me? How are you going to show THAT picture; a beautiful 4x4 muley laying on our sidewalk with a mouthful of petunia’s. Not to mention the mess that will be on our lawn. I don’t want blood on those new pajamas either.” Well, she did have a point. I had deceived the buck over the course of the last few months with my presence in the yard when he was hanging around eating my apples. This nice buck had started to trust me, and to kill him would not have exactly been a fair chase. Once again, I began to reflect on what the Bible (The perfect rule of faith and conduct) says. Titus 3:3-7 “3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through

the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” NKJV Our heavenly Father will never deceive you nor forsake you. His love has no bounds or limitations. His love is pure and unconditional. It is us who get out of focus with our calling and purpose. Hunt ethically and remember your children will emulate what they are seeing and hearing. Stay focused on what is right in the eyes of your creator, and keep living the life.

Medicine: Staying focused Remember to take care of your most important hunting equipment...yourself. –By Raf Viniard

T I

n his article above, Pastor Jim informed us to stay focused on what is right in the eyes of our creator. That reminded me about our eye sight and how much we depend on it as hunters and fishermen. When I hit my late forties, my eyes were as sharp as they were at sixteen. At least that is what I told my son and myself. I refused to admit I might need reading glasses, and as a contractor reading a tape measure or blue prints, I probably should have swallowed my pride and got some glasses.

After I hit fifty, I could no longer bluff my way through it as my son would catch me pushing text further away to read it or asking him, “What does that say?” Threading a fish hook…forget it! I just did not want to keep up with glasses or admit my eyes were weakening. I have a hard enough time keeping up with my ink pen, cell phone, or that list of honey dos. Now, I have four pair of reading glasses and oftentimes find myself needing another pair because I forgot (another aging issue) where I laid the other three. One is usually on top of my head as I look around for them. The other day I was scouting a heavily forested area, and decided to check my topo map to see what the topography looked like ahead. Of course, it was a little darker inside the canopy of the trees. As I reached for my glasses in my front shirt pocket, I realized I had left them on the truck dashboard. I stood there staring as hard as I could, but I could not see the map details. No problem. I pulled out my GPS, but still could not see the contour lines. Houston, we have a problem. At that moment I

realized how much I had come to depend on my reading glasses, and it could determine my safety while afield. Now I have an emergency pair of reading glasses in my back pack. If it had been dark and I was turned around, it could have been a bad situation. If you are getting up in years like me, get your eyes checked by an eye doctor (Optometrist), not an eye checker that sells you glasses. Your life might just depend on it. Getting older requires a little humility that the body just can’t do what its used to. Whether it be your eye sight, endurance (that is why God created naps), or just jumping out of the bed of the pickup, admit it, you are getting older. However, I am getting wiser too. I consider that an upgrade. Now where did I put my sweet tea glass and that honey do list?

SPORTSMAN’S MEDS

NOVEMBER 2014

Why we hunt

A HUNTER’S LIFE

The hunter is always learning, always evolving. The reasons we hunt are just as numerous as the ways in which we hunt. –By Toby Walrath

ovember is an exciting time for hunters to be in the field with friends and family. It reminds me of crisp autumn days following my father around as he hunted small game like pheasants, grouse and rabbits. I also remember him leaving with his favorite deer rifle without me. He would often hang deer from the tree behind our house, and when I got older, he would let me cut out the tenderloins so we could fry them in butter with onions and peppers. Now that I’m a dad, it’s my turn to create the opportunity for outdoor memories for my son. I am lucky that my wife enjoys hunting and fishing as much as I do. Lucky because it makes it easier to share memories with my family when the whole family is hunting! The most recent hunting outing I enjoyed was a few days ago when my son and I dropped Mamma off to stalk a herd of antelope. We came back just after sunset to find her standing out on the prairie next to her antelope! Together, we field dressed and dragged the antelope back to my truck. My son is such a great helper! Every season brings new challenges and reflection from seasons past. We change our outlook on hunting and the reasons we are there while re-aligning our experiences with the things we hope to achieve. If someone, anyone, were to ask you why you hunt, what would you say? There are different stages of hunting that define the reasons we are in the woods. As the seasons change, so too do the reasons we enjoy the outdoors. We can find ourselves longing to shoot or hunt or to simply be out with our children enjoying the time we have with them. There are five stages of the hunter, and no matter which one you find yourself in this November, it’s important to keep it all in perspective. Stage one: The shooting stage This is the stage most of us start out in. I used to beg my dad to take me out in the yard to shoot tin cans with his .22. When he went to work, I would beg my Mom to let me take my Red Ryder BB gun out to knock those same cans over. Shooting is the platform for good hunting later. Stage two: The limiting out stage This is the stage we naturally migrate to once we become proficient shooters. It is great to test our shooting skills as we

A HUNTER’S LIFE

NOVEMBER 2014

further develop the skills we need to hunt. Filling our tags and limiting out is our measure of success in this stage. Stage Three: The selective stage Once we get the jitters out and prove to ourselves we can limit out and fill tags, the hunt becomes more about shooting mature animals or challenging ourselves in some way. Picking the green heads out of a flock of ducks becomes more important than shooting our limit. Looking for a four point whitetail buck and passing on the fork horns becomes more important. The quality of the animals we take becomes the focus. Stage Four: The method stage After achieving success on challenging game and being selective, it becomes important to further challenge ourselves in the field. Here, hunters my choose a particular hunting method or firearm, like selecting a muzzle loading rifle over a center fire rifle, or a bow over either. Further method restrictions could be using a recurve or long bow, and maybe taking it a step further, some hunters might choose to use self bows and wood arrows. In this stage, the challenge of the hunt takes precedence over the number of animals. Stage Five: The philosopher stage Passing our hunting heritage on to others is the only way to keep our cherished study of wildlife and outdoor experiences embedded in our culture. In this stage, the hunter values the outdoor experience with others over every other aspect of hunting. Helping others achieve success is the measure of the philosopher’s own success. This is the stage where we can all look back and remember someone who influenced us–who took the time to pass their knowledge on.

Stage one: Shooting

Stage two: Limiting Out

Stage three: Selective

Stage four: Method

Whatever stage you are in, be safe, have fun and enjoy the people you are with. The hunting experience is about accurate shooting, bagging game, challenging ourselves and passing our love of the outdoors on to others. So, why do YOU hunt?

Stage five: Philosopher 13

WING SHOOTERS

Early season ‘fowlers

With a little adjustment to your waterfowling strategy, the early season can yield big rewards. –By Jason Badger

believe most hardcore waterfowlers dream of those blustery fall days when rain and sleet are driven in sheets by icy north winds, chasing massive flocks of northern ducks and geese down from the vast Canadian prairies. Tired and disoriented, the birds will decoy willingly and straps will be heavy with plump greenheads and long-tailed sprig. But in reality, those days are very few and far between. For those of us in northern latitudes, the optimal weather window is very small and unreliable at best. One storm can bring the northern birds in, while the next pushes them on south. So how do we make the most of the early season? I’ve heard many waterfowlers complain it’s too warm, too calm, too early, too whatever. Early season shooting can certainly be slow and less predictable, but with a little more work, some additional patience, and perhaps a pinch of scheming, good shoots can be had throughout the early season. We just need to adjust our strategy and expectations a little. During mid-October, a couple friends and I decided to put together a duck hunt here

on the lower Clark Fork River. During my travels back and forth, I had been taking note of where I was observing birds and exactly what their behavior was at each location. I knew the weather forecast wasn’t favorable, but I was confident we could use that to our advantage. Instead of targeting one of the many bays we had observed the ducks feeding in, we settled on a series of points further down river where we could intercept birds as they moved to and from feeding and loafing areas. Additionally, I knew that on a blue bird day we would need a stiff breeze to keep the birds from rafting up mid-river. From past experience, I knew this location would provide a consistent downriver breeze that should serve us well. Luck met preparation in this case, and we experienced a great hunt. We kept our decoy spread small and realistic. Mallard and wigeon blocks, placed in pairs and small groups with plenty of landing holes, proved effective. We made a couple of adjustments throughout the day when the birds’ behavior dictated it. As is usually the case, we did very little calling, something I feel very strongly about. Perhaps most importantly,

we knew not to expect huge flocks of willing birds filling the skies at every moment. We knew the ducks and geese we would encounter had been in the area for some time, and most likely were familiar with their surroundings. Our strategy was to mimic a natural situation, which we had observed many times. We employed a small number of decoys, matching the species and gender ratios we had observed, in a location we knew the birds were using. When the feathers had settled, we had collected fourteen ducks and three geese between us. Perhaps these numbers wouldn’t be that exciting to some, but under the conditions, we were more than pleased with the results of our labor. I feel it is easy to get caught up in the need to harvest limits on every outing, but some of my most memorable hunts, like this one, finished short of full limits. In this case, we had observed the birds’ behavior, planned accordingly, executed our plan well, and the birds had cooperated. Combined with the great companionship, this made for one of the most enjoyable waterfowl hunts I have had in many years. This hunt was a perfect example of making something happen, rather than waiting for something to happen. We only get so much time in the field, and I’m not willing to waste a second of it. So get out there, do your homework, and make the most of it.

LEFT: Dr. Kurt Getzinger (L) and Jason Badger (R) show what a little hard work and patience can bring in the early season.

WINGED SHOOTERS

NOVEMBER 2014

PLAINS DRUG HealthMart

John Backs of St. Ignatius took this picture on September 21, 2014. According to John, there were 15 trophy rams in the bunch, with the smallest estimated at around 170 inches.

LOCAL CELEBRITIES

BELOW LEFT: Stephanie Wallace of Troy was please to have meat in the freezer after shooting thie whitetail buck. BELOW RIGHT: Michele Fowler harvested this nice muley buck just outside of Terry, Montana using a Nosin-Nagant with open sites at about 15 yards.

ABOVE: Tony Hochstetler of Plains took this bear with his bow during fall archery season.

ABOVE: Brenda Rebo landed herself this buck on an outing with her husband, Tony, near Libby.

LOCAL CELEBRITIES

NOVEMBER 2014

LOCAL CELEBRITIES

LEFT: Dustin Wagoner of Plains was lucky enough to draw a moose tag this season and harvest this awesome bull.

BELOW: JR Rebo of Libby landed this nice antelope buck.

ABOVE: Paul Dimond of Plains is all smiles after harvesting a whitetail buck.

We are always looking for photos of Local Celebrities enjoying all Montana has to offer. Send your photos to Tanya@montanawoodsnwater.com, subject ‘Local Celebrities’.

LOCAL CELEBRITIES

NOVEMBER 2014

PINK CAMO

–By Mitzi Stonehocker

ith fall hunting season here, families across America make memories doing what they love. My mother and I were hunting buddies. Hunting was a time to come together as mother and daughter, a time to reflect, a time to remember, and a time renew our love for the outdoors. We lived the dream–the very essence of our being, every breath reached far into our souls. Mom and I became one with the air, sky and trails we walked. God created a wonderful world, but Montana was His best. My mother passed away August 9, 1990 from cancer. I was with my mother the minute she died. I sat by her bed, holding her hand and quietly talking about the years we had shared our love of hunting. I told her I would walk every fall on the paths we had walked. Every hunting season would always be special because of the memories we had made together. I loved her, and the gift of the hunt would keep us close, forever. I felt a slight squeeze of her hand, and then she was gone. I was obsessed with the need to walk alone on the trails we had walked so many times in the weeks after Mom passed away. October came and hunting season had arrived. I felt lost without Mom. This year I would hunt alone. I felt her presence as I walked, but the hunt was not the same. The second week of November, my family decided I had moped around long enough and a wood cutting trip was planned. We drove to the Swan Valley, and after unpacking at the cabin, we went looking for wood. Our favorite place was a few miles from the cabin, and would prove easy to find a trailer load of wood. I was quiet as we drove down the familiar road Mom and I had driven many times. My husband sensed my need to go spend time alone with my thoughts, so I left my family busy cutting wood and hiked an old logging road. I felt especially in tune with Mom and my memories. I was glad to be alone, and I shed a few tears as I walked. After two hours, it was time to get back to the family so we could head out. Sure enough, they were about done and we squeezed into the pickup to enjoy the trip back in the pre-dusk to the cabin. The kids were chattering away and none of us were especially looking for game. We rounded a corner, and in a swamp several hundred yards off the road stood a

PINK CAMO |

NOVEMBER 2014

big 5x7 bull elk! My husband slammed on the breaks. I told the kids to stay put and he and I scrambled out as quickly as we could, grabbing our rifles as we made our exit. We both had elk tags. My husband shoots a 30.06 and is faster than I am when it comes to shooting game. He rounded the back of the pickup and moved off the road and fired. The bull just stood looking at us. He reloaded another round, and as luck would have it, his rifle jammed. I pulled up, fired, and missed. I reloaded, but this time when I raised my gun to my shoulder, a calm came over me as I have never experienced. I took several deep breaths. I looked through my scope and felt slight pressure on my shoulder. It felt like a hand, and then the words I had heard so many times, “Just hold it and squeeze.” Boom, down went the bull. My husband took off running over high brush and downfall. I took off with both kids following me. I was approaching the end of the swamp when I heard my husband say in a shallow voice, “Well I’ll be a son of a gun!” The bull lay dead with one shot through the heart. I knelt down. Stroking his neck, I felt Mom’s presence. I started softly crying as I gave thanks to God for the meat for our table and the clean shot I had made. The November light was fading fast. My husband instructed me and our daughter to drive back to the cabin to get cable, flashlights, and a lantern. My husband and son would field dress the bull and attempt to move him to the edge of the swamp. I tagged the elk, and tried to stay calm as we drove out in the fading light. At the highway, a check stand for all hunters had been set up. I stopped and excitedly told the men I had just shot a big bull and was going to get equipment, but would stop with him later. An hour later I was back with the cables, and the four of us dragged the bull to the edge of the little creek that ran though the swamp. There, we were able to reach him with the cable. At this time, a Fish and Game officer drove up. I was so excited I could hardly talk. I was asked several times who had shot the elk. I told him I had, but it was clear he did not believe me. The officer asked where the elk was, and I pointed into the pitch dark toward the swamp. He looked out into the dark and told me to stop on our

way out. After agreeing we would, he left. It took us another hour to get the bull across the swamp and loaded on top of our load of wood. Finally, we piled into the pickup and drove the short way to the check station. The crew was waiting for us to do a check, asking several times who had shot the elk. We repeatedly told them that I shot it, but they just weren’t buying. Finally, they accepted it and let us through. We were on the road headed back to the cabin when I noticed my son was really quiet. I asked him what was wrong. He shrugged his shoulders in typical sixteen year old indifference and said nothing. I kept asking him what was wrong (our son was not normally so quiet). He had seen something a sixteen year old teenager would not make up. He said he saw my mother standing behind me with her hand on my shoulder as I shot the fatal shot. I grew quiet as I digested what my son said, tears rolling down my cheeks. Yes, I had felt she was there, had felt her hand on my shoulder. and had heard her telling me to “Hold it and squeeze.” My son had seen her. I asked him how he knew it was Mom, and he said it was white clouds kind of floating around me but that he knew it was his grandmother. Total silence with a sob here and there filled the cab of the pickup as we headed back to the cabin. Was it Mom? In my heart I believe it was. What did my son see? Did I feel her hand on my shoulder and did I hear her voice telling me what she had told me so many times before? I know I did. I have told few this story. I cry every time I tell it, and am crying today, 25 years later. I know in my heart this was Mom’s final gift to me. A bull elk, something I would not forget and yet something so mystical and mysterious and yet very real. I carry on the tradition of hunting with my daughter every year. The first weekend of hunting is ours alone in the Swan Valley. I have never experienced Mom in my presence like that November day, but she is with me in my heart. The tradition goes on. Just mother and daughter and God’s creation, living a dream and making memories.

KOUNTRY GIRLS

Traditions Much like the seasons, we are always changing. The people we become in life, and the traditions we value, are shaped from our individual life experience. –By Kori Erickson

suppose a lot of people have their own little hunting traditions. Repetitive acts, performed for luck or just out of habit. I’m no different, and since mine involves giving thanks, I’m inclined to share it with you all this November. I wasn’t always a huntress. Once upon a time, I was an angsty 15 year old vegetarian,

“

half my head shaved and obsessed with The Sex Pistols. Truly, every parent’s worst nightmare. Then, oh, then, I met a boy. A boy who was smart, and cute, and tall, had good teeth, was funny, had his own truck…and he loved hunting. A lot. My pitter pattering heart yearned to spend every available minute with him. That

but unknown to me at the time. It struck me as so simple, but so respectful. It also helped me understand sustenance hunting on a whole new level. I decided to upgrade from target shooting to hunting, promising myself to give thanks when it was due. And I did. And I have every time since, for even the smallest of game like fish and grouse. I

...for even the smallest of game, like fish and grouse. I do it quietly in my head, placing my hand on the animal, conveying my gratitude.”

KOUNTRY GIRLS

entailed spending time with him doing what he loved to do, harkening back to the old adage, if you can’t beat them… I was surprised to learn I was not only a pretty good shot with a gun, but I really enjoyed it. Of course, my boyfriend wanted me to hunt, and I was mortified. Hurt and kill an animal? As much as I wanted to please him, I was scared. There weren’t many young girls hunting then (or even women), and pink camo was still at least 15 years away. I had very few friends to consult about any of this animal killing business, and any of the guys most likely would have scoffed at my being a softie. How does one detach to the point that it’s okay to take a life? Around the same time, I read the “Clan of the Cave Bear” book series. Hunting is a huge part of the stone age era books and at one point, the main character gives thanks and blessings to the animal she has just harvested, a common Native practice,

NOVEMBER 2014

do it quietly in my head, placing my hand on the animal, conveying my gratitude. It really only takes a few seconds, and I always feel a lightness in my heart afterwards. So, in this month of acknowledging so much, I am sure many will sing praises after a successful hunt; whether it be to a higher power, an accurate weapon, the best scope, perfectly loaded rounds, clothing that allows you to hunt in all weather conditions, that lingering light that holds on just long enough for you to make that shot, the four wheel drive rig that got you into the deepest of the brush, or just to a good luck token buried deep in a pocket. As for me, I hope to feel the joy that comes with cutting my tag out, and should I be so blessed, you can guarantee I’ll continue my 25 year old tradition of thanking the animal at my feet for enduring the greatest sacrifice. Giving itself so that my family and I may benefit from its nourishment. That’s how this girl gives thanks for a successful hunt.

Lynch Creek Animal Clinic Alan Marley, V.M.D. Rebecca Hopkins, V.M.D. amarley@blackfoot.net 7273 MT Hwy 200 Plains, MT 59859 406-826-3235 www.lynchcreekanimalclinic.com

CAMPFIRE TALK

Trophy down...now what? You’ve got a nice trophy on the ground, but do you know how to properly handle and preserve it? –By Tim Patton, Owner, TK Taxidermy

axidermists are artists, and making your trophy look lifelike is our goal. But we can’t make a trophy from an animal that has has been dragged across three miles of ugliness and left in the back of your truck for a day with flies on it. We are artists, not magicians. Your trophy care starts the minute it hits the ground, and is up to you or your outfitter/skinner to make it to your taxidermist in the best condition possible. Good field preparation and selection of an experienced taxidermist are essential for preservation of your trophy animal. Bad field preparations can ruin your trophy and incur unnecessary costs before a taxidermist ever lays hands on it. Most guides and outfitters know how to prepare your trophy. However, there are many hunters and fishermen out there that don’t know the best way to preserve their trophy while in the field. Take a camera to preserve those memories of your hunt. Take a lot of pictures, not only for keepsakes, but so your taxidermist has some reference points and is better able to give you some suggestions as to the pose and how the final product should look. Below are some guidelines to follow as we approach big game, turkey and waterfowl seasons. GAME HEADS Do not cut above or in front of the front legs when field dressing your trophy. After you have shot your trophy and the animal is laying there on the ground, DO NOT place a rope around the neck and drag it across the ground. You are destroying the hide and hair of your trophy. Rope burns and drag marks in the hair will not make a prized trophy mount. Those careless mistakes cannot be fixed. Once those marks are left in the hide, they are there for life. Cape the animal from mid-body forward, leaving plenty of hide behind the shoulder. Your taxidermist will cut the extra off when the animal is mounted on the form. If you are wanting a pedestal mount or any special requests for habitat, more is better. Watch those holes. Most of the time we can sew them up, but we can’t always make it like it never happened. Learn how to skin properly and keep the holes to a minimum. If the hole is too big, get ready to shell out some bucks for repairs or a new cape. That goes for bullet and broad head holes as well. If you are not sure how to prepare your trophy, please call your taxidermist for instructions or bring the animal to their shop for proper caping. After they get the cape/hide off, you can take your meat to the processor. If you are not absolutely sure about how to remove the skin from the antler area or face, PLEASE do not attempt to remove the hide. A small cut can cost a fortune to

CAMPFIRE TALK |

NOVEMBER 2014

replace the cape, if one can be found. Leave the hide on the face, and bring the hide and head with the horns attached to the taxidermy shop. In most cases, there is no extra charge to remove the hide. From the time it hits the ground, try to keep the animal cool and dry. Get the skin off and spread it out to get it cooled down as fast as possible. Get the hide to the taxidermist as fast as you can and do the same with your meat. Make sure you follow all State and Federal game regulations before moving the animal from the kill site or transporting. For most large species (such as bears), the skull must be skinned from the hide and both must be kept UNFROZEN until inspected. But you must still keep it cool and as dry as possible. VERY IMPORTANT: Capes should only be salted (non-iodized) if: they are skinned off the skull, eyes, lips, ears have been turned, and all excess meat has been removed from the hide. If unable to do this, the cape MUST be kept frozen. Contact your guide or outfitter ahead of time to discuss the care of your trophy while in camp. Skull plates may be split for easier transportation or shipping. Communicating with your taxidermist is very important in the preservation of your trophy animal. BIRDS Keep birds separated from one another. Panty hose is the best way to keep birds tightly wrapped and the feathers protected. When inserting the bird into the panty hose, ALWAYS put the head in first. This will allow the feathers to lay flat. Next, place the bird in a game bag for additional protection. If possible, get the bird cooled down as soon as possible. The decaying of the animal starts as soon as its heart stops beating, and the skin can spoil in a very short time. Keep birds cool and dry until you can get them to the freezer. Do not use paper to wrap a bird. Paper can stick to the blood and fluids of the bird. When the taxidermist goes to unwrap it, the feathers may be pulled from the skin or damaged. You can use thin plastic wrap, and only plastic wrap. Migratory waterfowl require special tags or stamps. Contact your taxidermist before shipping to ensure all laws, rules and regulations have been met. SMALL MAMMALS Small mammals should remain whole and frozen solid. Package animals in an insulated box or foam cooler. If you are shipping the animal, you can use fiberglass household insulation and overnight the package to ensure the animal will not spoil. Most taxidermists will not accept the animal if the spoil process has already started and the hair is slipping from the hide. Hide preparations are so important in the field before the animal is shipped or brought to

the taxidermist shop to insure a quality mount. FISH Do NOT place fish in a wire basket or on a stringer. To ensure good color of the fish, take plenty of pictures of the fish in detail. This will ensure proper color matching and a much happier customer once completed. Prepping: Place a wet paper towel in between the pectoral fins (located on each side of the fish, around where the head meets the body). Any part of the fish that touches the skin after removing it from the water, will begin to discolor and will be harder to match when painting. Get an old cloth, wet it, and wrap then entire fish with it, making sure the rest of the fins are flat before wrapping. Broken fins are often not repairable. Get fish into ice if possible. If not, keep them cool and away from other fish. If other fish come into contact with the skin of your trophy, it will discolor the fish. Once the fish has been wrapped in a wet cloth, place it into a plastic bag, and lay it flat in a cooler or freezer if possible. If you freeze your fish, be very careful with the fins. They become very fragile. Dropping items or moving your trophy fish around in the freezer may damage or break the fins off. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO UNWRAP YOUR FROZEN FISH. Damage will occur to the scales and body of the fish, and it will be very hard to repair. If the fish is damaged during or before the fish is given to the taxidermist, don't be alarmed. Most taxidermists today specialize in fiberglass reproduction mounts, and can bring your trophy back to life with a reproduction. REPRODUCTION FISH If you are a catch and release person and want that trophy catch mounted, but want to let the fish go for another day of fishing, don't worry, we can fix that too. Take a picture of your fish, along with the length and girth measurements to give to your taxidermist. You will receive a mount that is often hard to distinguish from a skin mount, right down to the scales. A fish will lose its coloration shortly after being caught. A good color photograph immediately after the catch may enable the taxidermist to duplicate the natural color tones of that particular fish. Most people cannot tell the difference between the reproductions and the real thing. Next month we will cover more about small animals, fish and taking care of your trophy once home. Good luck and we look forward to seeing your trophy.

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ANGELA MONTANA

Gearing up

for trapping season –By Angela Gerych

hile many Montanans are gearing up for rifle season, I have been busy waxing and dying my traps. I have also been out scouting for some good bobcat cubbies. With the help of a good friend, I have made my own muskrat colony traps, and will be putting together some coyote snares too. This year, I'm going after coyotes, muskrats, beaver, bobcats, raccoons, wolves and at least one otter. I have had success with muskrats and raccoons, to date, and I am looking forward to success with coyotes. I am going to have a "mountain man" hat made out of my first coyote. After that, I plan on making a quilt with the pelts. I also plan on making a muskrat fur throw blanket. My plans seem to translate into optimism about this year's trapping season! Trapping is not for everybody, and I don't try to convince people that it is. I actually got into trapping, in general, because of the wolf trapping season that opened in Montana a couple of years ago. I had never set a trap before I took FWP's mandatory wolf trapping certification class. I was inspired to learn how these mechanisms function, and ended up getting a couple of MB-750s as a birthday present. I was hooked. I ended up picking up some No. 4s and a few 110 conibears as well. After watching hours of YouTube videos about trapping and "learning the ropes" from other trappers, I still have SO much to learn. I did, however, have a successful trapping season last year, which included a couple of raccoons and a few

muskrats. I am going for gold this year. Montana's bobcat trapping season opens on December 1st, while the wolf trapping opener is on December 15th. The big ones I'm gearing up for now are Montana's otter, mink and muskrat seasons, which open on November 1st, and District 2's beaver season, which also opens on November 1st. With my favorite furs being otter and lynx (which you cannot trap in Montana), I plan on getting at least one otter this year. I would love to make an otter hat. Although trapping is my main focus right now, I will also be out elk and deer hunting too. I hope to bag a wolf while I'm out hunting, but I have not been successful even seeing one at this point, so I'm not exactly counting on it. I also have plans to do some mountain lion hunting with a buddy of mine. On top of the hunting I plan on doing, I am looking forward to ice fishing again this year too. What is not to love about this amazing state? I love Montana! Good luck to all of you trappers, hunters, anglers and outdoorsmen this season! If you are interested in learning more about trapping, please visit www.montanatrappers.org.

Peas and carrots Continued from page 9. pink one.” I told her no, and explained that pike and bass wouldn’t eat that. In which she replied, “Well, then why do you have it in the box? Why do you have so many boxes? How would the fish know which of these things tastes better than another? I think you’re just making this up, because you don’t want me to catch more fish than you”. That was it. “Fine,” I replied. “You can use the pink one.” My wife was using an old Zebco reel with 6 pound test line. The reel was on a 6-½ foot ugly stick. Oh, and she was using a pink salmon lure to try and catch pike and bass. For Pete’s sake, I gave up!!! I used one of my kid’s favorite sayings, “Whatever.” We drifted around the stumps for about 10 minutes with me reminding my wife to please be careful and not get hung up on the stumps. About the same time, her pole bends in half and she says, “Why didn’t you say something sooner?” I take the pole from her hands and give it a solid pull and nothing 28

happens. I hand her back the pole and I had to pry the fish from her hands to place explain to her that I will back the boat up to it in the live well. She retold her story over the stump and unhook her lure. As we and over, and described how the fish went approach the nearest stump, her line is from one side of the boat to the other. going outward towards the other side of the When we reached the shore later in the boat. Frustration kicks me in the head. Yes, I day, my wife proudly displayed her catch to yelled at her, “Keep the tip of the pole up so everyone. Once again, she retold her story that I can see where I need to go!” As I and this time she would add, “Hey, ask my traveled toward the new stump where I husband how many fish he caught.” Ha ha thought her line was, I noticed the 6 lb. test ha, whatever. line again going to the opposite side of the Since that day we have been out dozens of boat. I grabbed the pole from her hand to times, each trip better than the last. My wife end the battle with the stump. The pole has become my fishing partner. She can’t jerked and pulled nearly from my hand. keep a secret, get up early, or even try to Then, I realized she had a pike on. I gave her understand the rules, but she loves to go back the pole and after a 15-minute battle fishing. Fellas, be very careful when talking As a thanks to our customers, she landed a 15 lb. pike. out loud. You may never know what your sign about up for In all the excitement, I forgot theour $1000 wifeshopping will respondspree to. I, on the other hand, last two hours that I had spent being have to go and finish the laundry. I am also to be drawn in November! severely tortured by my wife. She was so going to BBQ some tasty steaks for dinner excited. She was taking pictures and sending with baked potatoes, and of course, I will Facebook posts. My word, she had the fever. have a helping of peas and carrots. ANGELA MONTANA |

NOVEMBER 2014

Outdoor politics

OUTDOOR POLITICS

An unbiased examination of the sale or transfer of public lands, and how it could potentially effect Montana sportsmen. It seems sportsmen are always being pulled into the fray of politics, whether we want to be or not. To sit on the side lines and not have an opinion is okay, but when your access to your favorite hunting grounds or fishing holes are gone or regulated with limited access and a mountain of restrictions, it is a little late to take a side. This land is your land and your taxes pay for it. You do have varying amounts of say through your State and Federal elected officials, appointed State and Federal agency Directors, Chiefs, Supervisors, and your donations to various non-profit organizations

or political party members. Before making that donation, make sure you research their positions on various outdoor issues, because they may or may not be working in your favor. Follow the money and you will usually find the reason an organization or political party leans one way or another on a certain issue. Recently the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation came out against the transfer of Federal Public Lands to the state. Keep reading to be better informed and educated about this issue that will effect each of you and generations of sportsmen to come. –Raf Viniard .

RMEF Opposes Sale or Transfer of Federal Public Lands Press Release MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is concerned about the continuing rhetoric and political posturing surrounding the wholesale disposal, sale or transfer of federal land holdings, and stands in opposition to such potential action. “Federal public lands are vitally important habitat for elk and many other species of wildlife. They are also where we hunt, camp, hike, and in some cases, make our living,” stated David Allen, RMEF president and CEO, in a recent letter to all members of Congress across the West. “The notion of transferring ownership of lands currently overseen by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or any other federal land manager to states, or worse yet to private interests, is not a solution to federal land management issues and we are

opposed to this idea.” RMEF maintains that transferring public lands to states to manage will not work for two primary reasons. The first reason is states are not equipped or prepared to manage these additional lands. The costs are enormous. Most states in the nation are in the red financially and do not have the funds to fight wildfire, treat noxious weeds and improve access. That shortfall will lead to the potential sale of public lands. The second major reason is transferring ownership of public lands does not address the real issues such as the lack of management or the constant barriers put forth by litigious groups. “Calls for transfers of federal land are rooted in disappointment and disgust with the lack of balanced use and management of these

lands today. Over the past decade, there has been a shift in the multiple use approach for the benefit of the most people and wildlife to a preservationist agenda advocated by small radical groups. Actively managed lands benefit people and wildlife, and in a specific case, reduce the impacts of wildfire, a national crisis at this time,” stated Allen. RMEF calls on all members of Congress to stand up for the ongoing federal ownership of land and to further improve the situation by enacting legislation that creates specific strategic goals for the Departments of Agriculture and Interior to implement sound, active federal management. “Federal public lands have always afforded the opportunity for Americans to hunt, hike, fish and enjoy the outdoors,” added Allen. “The RMEF wants it to remain that way.”

Public Land Sell Off Myth Put To Rest By Senator Jennifer Fielder – Montana State Senate District 7

In response to confusion caused by certain environmentalists that claim all our public lands would be “sold to the highest bidder” if federal lands are transferred to the states, leaders of the Transfer of Public Lands (TPL) effort from all western states recently gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah to set the record straight. Elected officials representing hundreds of thousands of Americans convened with leaders of public land user groups and a variety of experts at a national convention of American Lands Council (ALC) Oct 7-9, 2014 to officially define goals for transferring some federally controlled public lands to willing states. The resulting public policy statement, ratified unanimously, makes it clear the focus of shifting to state based public land management is centered on providing better OUTDOOR POLITICS

NOVEMBER 2014

access, health, and productivity on public lands while maintaining public ownership of the lands and protecting existing uses. National Parks and congressionally designated Wilderness areas are excluded from the requested transfer. There’s plenty of evidence supporting the viability of state public land management -too much to list here. But I will point out that western states, including Montana, already successfully own and manage millions of acres of state public lands, employing responsible natural resource management while providing a variety of beneficial uses and good jobs, enhancing wildlife habitat as well as recreational and hunting opportunities, and funding state and local government – all while protecting the environment. In sharp contrast, increased federal control and failing federal

policies have resulted in steadily declining access, health, and productivity on federally controlled public lands over the past several decades. Let’s not forget that it is the federal government that is in dire debt, and has the most motivation to sell the lands. Furthermore, because statehood Enabling Acts require 95% of proceeds from sales of federal lands to be deposited to the national treasury, states have little to gain by selling the lands. We could do far better by keeping the lands in state ownership and managing them efficiently to boost our natural resource, recreation, and tourism economies. And this is the key goal of transferring federal public lands to the state. Unfortunately, some public officials, candidates, and organizations, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, have taken 29

WINGS & PRAYERS

LEFT: All of us at Montana Woods N Water would like to take a moment and send our well wishes of a speedy recovery to an avid outdoorsman, Mark Doble. Mark was involved in a cement truck rollover in Kalispell early September. He suffered a severe TBI (traumatic brain injury) and is continuing his recovery in a facility in Denver CO. Mark has a beautiful wife, Kameron and three wonderful children, Garret, Bailey and Davin who would all like to get him home soon!

RIGHT: Montana Woods N Water’s very own Montana Mitzi’s husband, Ron, has undergone cancer and stem cell treatment. Ron and Mitzi are both a big part of the Woods N Water family, and we miss the dynamic duo dearly. Our thoughts and prayers are with both of them. Get well soon Ron!

WINGS & PRAYERS

NOVEMBER 2014

NEXT GENERATION

next generation RIGHT: 12 year old Jeremiah Allen shot his first deer on opening day just before dark outside of Plains, MT. FAR RIGHT: Morgan Manthey proudly poses with his first deer.

ABOVE: Bridger Bauer is all smiles over his first Rainbow.

ABOVE: Brooke (R) and Megan (L) Noteboom show us how its done in Eastern MT during hunting season. Great job ladies

ABOVE: Aedan Snead of Florence harvested a nice big buck opening weekend.

Want to see your picture here? Send your Next Generation photos to Tanya@montanawoodsnwater.com, or post them on our Facebook wall. 34

NEXT GENERATION

NOVEMBER 2014

OUTDOOR POLITICS

a position against the land transfer seemingly based on the “sell off” rhetoric promulgated by certain environmental lobbyists instead of hearing the whole story from credible officials most knowledgeable on the subject. Elected officials such as myself and representatives of the American Lands Council have been, and remain, available to meet with interested organizations and public officials to fully explain the economic, environmental and legal evidence favoring state management, answer questions, hear ideas, and work collaboratively toward meeting the objectives identified in the following American Lands Council Public Policy Statement: American Lands Council Public Policy Statement Ratified by unanimous consent Oct 9, 2014 at ALC Multi-State Workshop Salt Lake City, UT and Oct 20, 2014 by American Lands Council Board of Directors. 1. WE URGE THE TIMELY AND ORDERLY TRANSFER OF FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS TO WILLING STATES FOR LOCAL CONTROL THAT WILL PROVIDE BETTER PUBLIC ACCESS, BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, AND BETTER ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY; 2. WE SUPPORT EXCLUDING EXISTING NATIONAL PARKS, CONGRESSIONALLY DESIGNATED WILDERNESS AREAS, INDIAN RESERVATIONS, AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FROM THE TRANSFER; AND

OUTDOOR POLITICS

NOVEMBER 2014

3. WE SUPPORT EQUIPPING FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES WITH RESOURCES NECESSARY TO PLAN FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO STATEBASED OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF THE TRANSFERRED PUBLIC LANDS; AND 4. WE URGE MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES FOR THESE LANDS THAT WILL: i. IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS: Protect public access, rights of way, and multipleuses on public lands for all people including sportsmen, tourists, recreational users, subsistence and sustenance activities, and emergency access; and ii.IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: Reduce catastrophic wildfire fuel loads that threaten communities, infrastructure, watersheds, critical wildlife habitat, and our environment. Facilitate restoration of healthy forests, range lands, and waterways; and iii. IMPROVE ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY: Secure jobs and economic growth through responsible natural resource stewardship and use including tourism and recreational opportunities; and iv. RETAIN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF PUBLIC LANDS: Federal public lands shall become state public lands to be managed in accordance with state and local plans; and

prevention and control resources and develop interstate/interagency cooperative agreements necessary to combat wildfires effectively; and vi. INCREASE LOCAL INVOLVEMENT & ACCOUNTABLITY: Ensure state-based public land management activities are consistent with local government plans, policies, and objectives; and vii. PROTECT USE RIGHTS: Protect all valid existing rights and multiple uses, and enhance the viability of compatible, landbased livelihoods; and viii. PRESERVE CUSTOMS & CULTURE: Preserve and protect important wild, scenic, cultural and economic resources; and ix. INCORPORATE FEDERAL AGENCY EXPERTISE: Seek to utilize federal expertise and research through employment and/or cooperative agreements; and x. GENERATE SELF-SUPPORTING FINANCE: Foster compatible economic productivity to support essential government services such as local roads, utilities, emergency services, public health and safety, education, justice, and other civic functions while reducing tax burdens on citizens nationally and offsetting federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes and Secure Rural Schools funds.

v. IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF WILDFIRE CONTROL: Provide state, local, and tribal government with adequate wildfire