Montana Woods N Water Oct 2014 by Montana Woods N Water

October 2014

is for the

Publisher’s Notes

What’s Inside

Thank you advertisers! As you can see, we have grown again…more pages, content and copies. We have added two new staff members, Kori Erickson & Misty Loveless, as well as two new pro-staff writers, Jason Badger–Wing Shooters, and Tony Rebo– Talkin Trout, to our pro staff. Each brings their own unique talent to Montana Woods N Water. Kori Erickson is our new Director of Sales & Marketing, and is already planning a spring surprise for NW Montana. September saw us moving into new market areas thanks to you, our advertisers, and our awesome field reps. We strive every month to do it better than the previous month. Tanya, our Managing Editor, takes us to new heights with every edition as you can tell by the quality of our publication. We have growing pains like any new venture, but this is a good thing and we embrace the challenge. Starting this month we are moving away from trying to hit the street at the very beginning of each month, and moving more to the middle to allow our production schedule to better line up with our work flow. Not to mention, it is hunting season and the staff like to hunt and fish too. Depending on when you read this, rifle season is just days away. I have seen where several nice archery bulls, bucks and a few bears have hit the ground this season despite the warmer temps. It is getting cooler and that is stirring that urge to get into the woods. Trappers and cat hunters are getting ready as well, and patiently await their opportunity to

do what they love. The staff and I have not had much time to hit the woods, but we slip off every chance we get. Get those rifles and freezers ready. We will be out there with you, so if November is late getting to the shelf or your door, you know why; we are hunting too. Fishermen, in a few days you will pretty much have the water to yourself as hunters head for the deep forest in search of big bone. Don’t winterize that boat just yet! Stay safe out there and send us those pictures and stories about your day afield or on the water. Follow us on Facebook or order a subscription today to see what your fellow NW Montanans are up to. Straight shooting and keep “Living the Dream!”

Hunting Trapping Fishing A Hunter’s Life Smoke Poles Sportsman’s Meds From the Badges The Next Generation Local Celebrities Pink Camo Campfire Talk Montana Dan Angela Montana Outdoor Veterans Kountry Girls Wing Shooters

Raf Viniard, Publisher 406-407-0612 Raf@montanawoodsnwater.com

Publisher: Raf Viniard Managing Editor: Tanya Holzer Field Editor: Mitzi Stonehocker Sales and Marketing Director: Kori Erickson Lake, Mineral & Sanders Counties: Raf Viniard & Mitzi Stonehocker Lincoln County: Kori Erickson Missoula: Vacant Kalispell: Misty Loveless

Pro Staff Writers/Photographers: Angela Gerych Dan Helterline Paul Fielder Toby Bridges Toby Walrath Jason Badger

New Sales and Marketing Director I have spent the majority of my life in NW Montana and cannot see myself living anywhere else. I’ve been hunting and fishing since I was a teen, and it has become a huge part of my life and that of my two kids. I take great pride in my knowledge of the area and all it has to offer recreationally. I’m beyond excited about this opportunity to help Montana Woods N Water grow and prosper. They’re a great bunch of people and I’m looking forward to watching the magazine take off. Kori Erickson, Sales & Marketing Director 406-293-1478 Kori@montanawoodsnwater.com

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

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Montana Woods N Water’s layout is proudly designed in Libby, MT.

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

Contributing Photographers/Writers: Ruth Fenn, John Davis, Phil Kilbreath, Wyatt O’Day, Mark Kroll 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.

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HUNTING

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;by john davis

ike many bowhunters, my addiction started at an early age. After bucking bales all summer at the age of fourteen, I spent my first twohundred dollars on a Martin Tiger compound bow. Not having a mentor to show me the ropes, I spent a lot of time at the local archery shop trying to learn all I could about my new hobby. It didn't take long for me to realize that archery and bowhunting were going to be a part of who I was the rest of my life. After countless hours of hanging out in the shop and learning the trade, I quickly went from customer to employee. Working part time at the pro shop gave me an opportunity to meet and be influenced by some amazing sportsmen. Still being in school and involved in sports, I did not have time to hunt for myself. Nevertheless, I soaked up every bit of information I could get from the many successful hunters that came through the doors every fall. I soon realized that a select few bowhunters were consistently filling their elk tags every year. I was drawn like a moth to a

flame to their stories and adventures. I made it my goal to be one of those guys that "got it done" in September. I spent quite a few Septembers stumbling around and scaring off more elk than I ever saw. It was obvious that if I wanted to be successful in September, I needed to learn how to speak their language. I purchased my first diaphragm elk call at a small sporting goods store. I spent a few days trying to make sounds with it, only to realize I had it in my mouth backwards. Wanting to master the art of deceiving big bulls and calling them in close became my obsession. Having only a few short weeks every year to practice on actual rutting bulls makes learning the language a longterm process. I practiced year round, honing my skills, trying to emulate every sound an elk could make. After being somewhat successful and notching a few tags over the years, I took the advice of a friend. He told me if I wanted to be a better caller, I needed to go to some elk calling competitions and learn from the best.

My first competitive entry was at a local sporting goods store. I managed to take second place and, more importantly, learned an enormous amount of knowledge from the other callers about their techniques and tactics. I continued to enter various competitions for the next few years in the off-season. In 2012, I managed to place in the Top Ten at the RMEF World Elk Calling Championships in Las Vegas. These competitions truly helped me learn and attempt to perfect the art of calling elk. I was blessed to harvest my first bull in September of 2001, which just fueled my addiction to elk hunting. There are a lot of different ways to "skin a cat", as they say. The same goes for bowhunting elk. I have tried just about every way possible, from tree stands to Spot and Stalk, you name it I've tried it. I found my personal niche in backpacking solo in the wilderness. The high country has a special draw all its own. And when you add a bugling bull to the scenario, it is my idea of perfection. HUNTING

OCTOBER 2014

HUNTING

Like most public land bowhunters, I am faced with the challenge of filling my tag on a limited amount of vacation time from work. Because of this, I found that by hunting the backcountry, away from other hunters, my opportunities for encountering mature bulls would increase. However, backcountry solo hunting is not for everyone. Parking at a trailhead, hiking five miles in the dark, and sleeping on the hard ground under a tree in Grizzly country is not a lot of peoples' idea of a vacation. But, it is exactly what I live for every year. My particular style of hunting is to cover as much ground as possible, with my camp on my back, in search of an aggressive bull. Not having to return to a base camp allows me to follow the path of their travel and sleep in their "bedroom," wherever that may be. Locating a herd bull and spending the night on top of the ridge as he bugles below puts me right where I want to be for the morning hunt. Well before daylight, I am packed up and dropping into a canyon with the wind in my favor and hopes of an opportunity to notch my tag. This scenario played out perfectly in 2013 when I embarked on my annual hunt in the backcountry of Western Montana. Getting off work at 3am, I had a groggy drive to the trailhead. The excitement and anticipation of a longawaited encounter with a mature bull is what kept me awake on the drive. My Monster energy drink may have helped a little too. Leaving the truck with my headlamp, camp, and four days worth

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OCTOBER 2014

of food on my back, I set out on a familiar 5-mile stretch of trail. The 4,000-foot elevation change was one that I had experienced many times before. Arriving at daylight to one of my favorite hunting areas, my first bugle of the season was met with disappointing silence. Three days, dozens of miles, and hundreds of

thought to myself, "If I leave now, I could be home by midnight, have a hot shower, and sleep in my warm bed". I decided I was too tired to make it to the truck that night. Just before dark, I let out a locator bugle into an unfamiliar drainage. I was expecting the same result as the previous three days. To my surprise, I heard a faint bugle below

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I nocked an arrow, and positioned myself for a shot. I could hear brush breaking in front of me but couldn’t see him yet.”

bugles later, I had yet to hear a responding bull or locate a single elk for that matter. Temperatures were soaring into the upper 90s during the heat of the day. The places I had located elk in the previous years seemed to be desolate and abandoned. The rubs and wallows that were usually torn up were now nonexistent. All the usual discouraging thoughts were running wild in my mind. Had the wolves run them out of that country? Had the local Outfitter over-hunted it the previous year? Should I go back to work and save my vacation? Is it way too hot? Trying to stay positive and not get discouraged, I found myself pushing on deeper into the backcountry to an area I had not previously hunted or even scouted. I was sitting on a knife ridge looking down towards the valley floor contemplating whether or not I really wanted to spend another sleepless night on the hard ground. I

me in the distance in the bottom of the drainage. It was so faint I wasn't really sure I even heard it. A few minutes later I heard it again. This time I was sure it was a bugle. I was immediately re-energized, as only the sound of a bugling bull can do to an exhausted hunter. Only having 30 minutes of daylight left, I knew I couldn't make a play on the bull until the following day. I positioned myself on the ridge well above the bull and set up camp for the night. The alarm on my watch woke me up long before daylight the following morning. With great anticipation, I packed up my camp and sat patiently in the dark, waiting for the bull to give up his location. As daylight silently came and went, I decided to let out a locator bugle. I was discouraged when I heard no response. Where had he gone? "He was here 8 hours ago!", I said to myself. Continued on page 5.

HUNTING

Continued from page 3. After multiple bugles, cow calls, and still no answer, I dropped into the drainage. I discovered a lot of fresh sign and hoped there were still some elk in the area. I quietly worked my way further down the drainage, softly cow calling every few minutes. I discovered a fresh wallow that appeared to have just been disturbed. I sat nearby, waiting, and took a much needed break. Logging the coordinates into my GPS, I pondered my next move. I needed to be back at the truck by dark and I was still five miles in. Just then, I heard a far off bugle that happened to be in the direction of my truck. I quickly gathered my gear and closed the distance as quietly as possible. Not wanting to give up my location, I hoped the bull would bugle again on his own. A few moments later, I heard him bugle and could tell he was working his way back up the drainage toward me. He continued to bugle every few minutes and I could tell he was getting closer. I had yet to see the bull due to the thick timber and underbrush. I could tell by his direction of travel that he was going to pass by me without giving me a shot. Quietly, I let out a few soft cow calls, which were answered with an enraged response. Immediately after his bugle I heard logs breaking and antlers clanking their way towards me. I estimated him to be about 40 yards away and coming fast. I nocked an arrow and positioned myself for a shot. I could hear brush breaking in front of me but couldn't see him yet. At approximately 20 yards, I got my first glimpse of him and came to full draw. I could tell it was a mature 6-point bull with heavy dark antlers that were covered in mud. I picked out a shooting lane ahead of him and waited for him to walk through it. I had a very small 6-inch window between two trees that I could shoot through. As he entered the lane, I let out a soft cow call and he stopped broadside at just 6 steps. I heard the familiar hollow sound of my arrow passing through his chest cavity and the bull lunged forward. As I cow called again to stop him, he only ran 10 more yards and stood there looking around intently for what had just happened. With the bull less than 20 yards away I sat, quivering, with adrenaline pouring through my veins. I waited patiently for him to make a move. Seconds later, he slowly walked off and began to stagger. Just after he HUNTING

OCTOBER 2014

went out of sight, I heard the distinct crash as the bull went down for good. I sat in disbelief of what had just taken place. After about 30 minutes of just sitting there reliving the moment, I found my arrow buried in the hill just past where the bull had been standing. Only a bowhunter can appreciate the beauty of a blood soaked arrow shaft.

cool over night. I am always a bit nervous leaving meat overnight in bear country and try to avoid doing it whenever possible. But this time, it was my best option, being 5 miles from the trailhead. I managed to get back to the truck by 8pm and was headed home in hopes of recruiting some help. I found the meat just how I left it the

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I could tell it was a mature, 6-point bull with heavy dark horns that were covered in mud. I picked out a shooting lane ahead of him and waited for him to walk through it.â&#x20AC;? As I followed the short blood trail, it was obvious the arrow had done its job. Looking down the hill I spotted a dark main beam sticking out of the brush. Walking up to the bull, the rush of emotions was overwhelming. I felt blessed to have been given the opportunity to harvest such an amazing animal, and sober with regret for taking the life of an animal that I have so much respect for. After taking a few pictures and three hours of butchering, I hung the bonedout meat in a tree above the creek to

night before which is always a relief. I am not a trophy hunter and filling the freezer is always my first priority. Elk hunting solo in the backcountry is something I will do every year as long as I am physically able. For me, the rewards and satisfaction of harvesting an elk this way are immeasurable. I am blessed to have an amazing wife that understands and supports my crazy addiction and am looking forward to the day when I can share my passion with my children out in God's great wilderness.

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

TRAPPING

Trapline Safety –By Paul C. Fielder

“Be careful,” my wife says, as I leave for a day on the trapline. Truer words are seldom spoken to us trappers. Bring someone with you if you can, but many of us trap alone and the dangers we face are many. We face the wild animals we trap and the many vermin, diseases, and bacteria they can carry; drowning; hypothermia; frostbite; getting caught in your own traps; cuts; falls; being stranded by equipment failure; firearm mishaps; and gosh knows what else. We work in a dangerous world and accidents never happen when we are expecting them. I’ve taken a wilderness first aide training class, twice. This class is designed for when you can’t call 911 and it helps you think of how to prepare and how to react in an emergency - yours or someone else’s.

f you’re trapping alone, always tell someone reliable, where you’re going (maps help) and when you’ll be home, and that you will contact them when you get home. And then, contact them when you do get home. Carry a charged cell phone in a waterproof bag. Different kinds of trapping have different dangers. Most trapping occurs during harsh, winter weather. Trapping marten up high from a snowmobile is different from trapping muskrats from a canoe, but all have dangers. Equipment failure can leave you stranded. Bring snowshoes to let you walk out or at least move around in case of snowmobile problems. Carry a compact shovel with your snowmobile. The basics for life are food, water, shelter. Do you have food, water (or something to melt snow in), gear to make a shelter with, and fire making gear (not just waterproof matches)? Darkness occurs every day. Have a light and extra batteries. A simple handheld whistle can lead searchers to you. Carry a basic first aid kit and add a big, wide roll of adhesive tape. Hypothermia and frostbite are constant dangers. Hypothermia can occur during temperatures in the 50s and 60s if you are wet. Carry spare wool socks, gloves, knit cap, an “emergency space blanket”, and 2 large, heavy duty trash bags to keep you dry and trap your body heat if need be. A spare wool shirt is a good idea too.

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OCTOBER 2014

Wool can keep you warm even when wet. Water trappers always face the threat of drowning. A personal flotation device (PFD or life vest) only works if you’re wearing it. I wear a “float coat” when water trapping or on ice because I’ve experienced too many drowning “opportunities” so far in life. My son and I really like our Mustang float coats (a PFD certified weatherproof jacket with pockets). But they are not cheap, so you have to ask yourself if you’re worth the cost. When trapping on ice, a pair of ice picks (shortened to about 1 inch) attached by a string across the back of your neck can save your life. Ice fishermen use a similar safety tool. If you break through ice and are left clinging to the hole, getting back up onto the ice is very tough. The handy picks can be jammed into the ice to get a grip and help you pull yourself hand over hand out of the water onto the ice again. Then continue to lie flat (to spread your weight) as you squirm your way to safer ice and the shore. Avoid crossing ice on flowing waters because if you fall through you can get swept downstream and be trapped under the ice. I carry a long pole, in a horizontal position, when walking on ice. A pole with a 3-4 inch hook on it is helpful for getting up muddy banks, retrieving traps, and many other uses. Body-grip trap setters are handy, but I use a rope with a looped end for

setting 330 body grip traps because I can set a 330 with one hand if I have to. If you catch your hand in a 330, a rope with a looped end can save your life. Put one foot through the rope’s loop, thread the rope up through the trap spring loops, back down through the lower spring loop, and then pull up until the safety hook catches. Do the same with the other trap spring and you can remove your hand. I always use a body grip safety tool (about $5) on my 330s to keep my hands safe in case of a misfire while positioning the trap. The animals we trap can all hurt us. Don’t ignore bites or scratches because, aside from pain and bleeding, infections can occur. Raccoons, foxes, and skunks are common rabies carriers. Rabies is an airborne virus, so don’t shoot those animals in the head and vaporize the virus into the air. Trapped animals carry a variety of parasites and diseases. Fleas, ticks, mites, lice, tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms can all cause health problems you don’t want. Large plastic bags with flea and tick powder or spray applied to your catch can kill most of these parasites before skinning. Wearing disposable rubber gloves during fur handling is a simple form of “affordable health care insurance”. Trapline safety is something you owe to your family. Be careful out there.

FISHING

Save a deer, catch a fish Fall is a great, and often overlooked, opportunity for some awesome fishing. –By Sam Martin

ften when I stop at a convenience store on my way to enjoy some autumn fishing, I encounter hunters headed the opposite way. They’ll look me up and down in my fancy cold weather gear and laugh, saying something about how only crazy people go out on the water during the cold months. I just smile and nod my head, giving no heed to their amusement. Later in the day when I return to that same convenience store to grab a warm coco for my trip home, I typically see those same hunters. More often than not, their truck bed is empty and their faces in disappointed frowns. I ask them how their day was and they typically respond with remorseful profanity. They ask me the same in turn, expecting me to open an empty live well. Instead, I flip open my phone and sift through a myriad of pictures displaying my days liberal catch The comment they make is always the same. “Wow, I never would have thought someone could catch fish during the cold.” What amazes me is how many people actually do say that. Ever since I have been fishing by myself, I've known of the fall’s profitability to an angler and am amazed so few else do. So I figure now is a better time than any to enlighten my fellow outdoorsmen on the opportunity they are passing up. During the fall, fish are in a feeding frenzy. Much like their land-dwelling associates, they require a large enough fat reserve to last through ice-over and Montana's long winters. This means almost Pirana-like ferocity and dogged pursuit of bait schools. Now, while most any lure and location becomes effective this time of year, there are a few specifics that can help turn a great day into an amazing one: Target the Bait. During the fall, many species of baitfish school together for protection. In turn, the predators congregate in great numbers to take advantage of this literal buffet. Usually this takes place on secondary points in creek arms where the water is deep enough to not have been effected by the gradually dropping temperature.

In these situations, matching the feed is a perfect strategy. White crankbaits and spinner baits are dynamite when thrown around pods of small squawfish or nearly any other species. If sunfish or perch are your resident baitfish, then fire tiger and green plugs are a must. Typically in both regards, you want to twitch your bait intermittently to give the sense that your lure is an injured fish and therefore easy pickings. Eyes, Ears and Electronics. Pay close attention to your senses and expensive instruments this fall, as finding the fish can be as important as throwing the right lure. When visually scanning the lake’s surface, look for patches of apparently boiling water. These are schools of bait right on the surface. Similarly, if you hear what sounds like rain, then a school is not too far away. With regards to electronics, a dual function is played. First, you want to be looking for those hidden humps and points in fifteen to thirty feet of water where fish tend to congregate this time of year. Next, you need to be on the look out for clouds of bait beneath the surface. Often these look to be a solid mass in the shape of an inverted tear drop. If one is lucky, you may even see the telltale arc of predators around the school indicating the potential of active feeding. Dress the Part. Finally, it’s going to be cold and wet out, so don’t joke around with the rain gear. There’s nothing that will ruin a fishing day faster than being soaked in a fall wind. Ensure you bring extra clothes as well, just in case. That is a lesson I learned the hard way far too many times. It is important to remember that this advice is only effective if someone is willing to commit their full strength to the outing. Fishing in the cold is not for the faint of heart, and can often be miserable for someone who does not prepare properly. I don’t want anybody catching pneumonia because I said fishing was a good idea. Then again, I've got less insulation than any human on the planet, so y’all should be fine. I’ve done my best to incentivize you diehard hunters out there to drop your

guns and reequip your fishing rods. However, like a Viagra commercial, this is a limited time opportunity so don’t wait around and end up missing all the fun. So instead of freezing your buns off this fall by looking for an elusive buck, come and join me on the water for a day of taught lines and big smiles.

FISHING |

OCTOBER 2014

A HUNTER’S LIFE

October is for the birds –By Toby Walrath

he elk are calming down from a month of bugling, white-tailed deer are in their annual lull and it’s a little too early to trap. October is for the birds! Waterfowl season is underway and this is the best time to hunt resident birds. Small creeks and ponds make for great jump shooting opportunities and setting up along rivers can offer

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few tips on early season waterfowl hunting: Do what the ducks do. If the birds are flocking up in big groups, use bigger decoy spreads. If you don’t have a lot of decoys, scout the areas where the ducks are going to and coming from. Set up between the feeding and bedding sites or wait to intercept them. Hunt fowl in foul weather. When the skies are clear and bright there will be little flight. Rain and wind get birds moving. A little cold weather helps too. When you see the weather changing, it’s time to go hunting. Walk. Small ponds and streams hold ducks and geese. It may only take a half hour to get to the best hiding places on foot. Jump shooting is a great way to get birds and challenges your reflexes. Another great attribute about waterfowl hunting is that it is an activity well suited to conversation and camaraderie. It’s only when putting a sneak

Then suddenly someone breaks the commotion with “bird left, bird left!” and everyone crouches in silence looking toward the sky.” excellent pass shooting opportunities. It’s also a great time to find flocks of unpressured geese feeding on open fields or the edges of grassy rivers. You don’t need hundreds of decoys or $200 calls to successfully hunt waterfowl, contrary to the information force fed to us through television shows and catalogs. A good bird dog helps, but a pair of waders and a little motivation can be a reasonable compromise. The best option might be to bring a young teenager along. They seem to be adept at retrieving birds enthusiastically and it is always a good idea to introduce a young person to hunting. Here are a

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OCTOBER 2014

on birds, or when birds are coming in to your spread, that everyone in your hunting party needs to be quiet and still. Some of the best story telling I’ve heard has been while sitting in a duck blind in October. The sharing of past experiences carries on with laughter and regret of the big one that got away. Then suddenly someone breaks the commotion with “bird left, bird left!” and everyone crouches in silence looking toward the sky. A quick “quack, quack” from a duck call will often be followed by a circling group of ducks. When the hunters can clearly

see the feet of the birds someone makes the call; “Take ‘Em!”. Hopefully, ducks are raining down on the water as gunshots echo across the river bottom. Then the air is filled once again with words of excitement, the conversation changed from that of days gone by to the immediate present. Encouraging words are said, like “good shot” and “man did you see that bird lock up his wings?” If the air is filled with silence following a round of gunshots and the hunters notice but a few feathers falling to the ground, there’s still a change in conversation that lends itself well to excuses about the lifting of heads and not following through with the shot. The good thing is that it often leads to an invite to the range later to “knock the rust off”. Remembering to lead a close bird by ten feet becomes routine with practice. Either way, waterfowl hunting takes on a cadence of conversation, silence, eruption, and conversation in varying tempos throughout the morning until all are satisfied with the experience. The plucking of birds and fine table fare round out the occasion as plans are made for another day. October is a good month to be in the woods and on the water. With fowl held in hands and warm memories embraced in hearts, the fabric of friendships is woven as hunters old and new relive the events of the day for years to come. Make October a month to remember.

L to R: Tyler Goss, Toby Walrath, and Kris McLinden. 9

SMOKE POLES

Small game takes a small bore A small bore muzzleloading rifle can lead to big yields. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;By Toby Bridges

grew up running the woods of Southern Illinois, which is far different country than the huge cornfields of central and northern Illinois. The rolling hills and high ridges are covered with towering oak, hickory, black walnut and a variety of other nut and wild fruit-bearing trees. Here is where I honed my rifle shooting skills, taking special precaution to make clean head shots on fox and eastern gray squirrels to insure I did not ruin much edible meat. As a teenager, I relied mostly on an old Marlin Model 39 lever-action .22 rifle to harvest hundreds of squirrels for our family table. However, as I grew into a young man who had become fascinated with muzzleloading rifles, I began turning to small-bore .32 and .36 caliber rifles loaded with light powder charges to help keep my own family fed. Squirrels and rabbits became a staple food in our house. My personal experience with hunting game as small as squirrels or rabbits has been that the .32 caliber is much better suited for taking game for the table. That's totally due to the higher

thick patching), or a patched .315" diameter Hornady swaged lead ball (using .010" thick patching), the rifle is deadly accurate at 25 to 50 yards. The .310" ball weighs 45 grains. The .315" ball weighs 47 grains. Loaded with a 20-grain charge of GOEX FFFg black powder, the .310" ball gets out of the 32inch barrel of the Crockett Rifle at 1,221 f.p.s., with 148 footpounds of energy (f.p.e.). The same amount of powder gets the slightly heavier .315" ball on its way at 1,210 f.p.s., but due to Using a small-bore muzzleloading rifle is a great the couple of grains of added weight, it generates 153 f.p.e., way to put a few cottontails on the dinner table. which is not enough to be of any significant performance difference. small creek a hundred yards from our Last November I decided to take the camping trailer. .32 Crockett Rifle with me when I Finding the first cottontail took about headed to Montana's Missouri Breaks 10 minutes, and holding center of the for a 7-day deer hunt. The area around head, that first shot at about 20 yards where we camp is loaded with cottontail put cottontail No. 1 in the bag. The next rabbits, and I decided that during mid couple of shot opportunities stretched day lulls in deer hunting, I'd see if I the distance to maybe 40 yards. I could use the Traditions small-bore readily admit that I missed both. I had percussion rifle to bring a few home for jumped a number of other rabbits that I a couple of good ol' hassenhadn't seen until nearly stepping on pheffers (rabbit stews). them. Then I watched as a big rabbit First order of business was to eased out from between a couple of see if I could get the rifle to shoot large rocks to sun out of the wind. accurately with less than 20 The cottontail was close to 50 yards grains of GOEX FFFg black away. Instead of attempting a shot, I powderâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;to produce ballistics used the heavy sage and grass growth very similar to the ol' .22 Long for cover and eased to within 25 yards of the him. Using the limb of a small Rifle. Setting my adjustable tree to rest the forearm of the lightbrass powder measure as weight .32 rifle, I took a very careful precisely as I could by eye aim, and at the shot the rabbit flipped between the 10- and 20-grain into the air. marks, I was pleased to weigh a Before the week of deer hunting was charge and find that it was right over, I had sniped six cottontails with at 15.2 grains. That light charge Loads for a small bore .32 caliber muzzlethe .32 Crockett Rifle and exceptionally would get the patched .310" lead loading small game rifle will duplicate the light load. Taking those rabbits for the ball out of the muzzle at 1,043 ballistics of a .22 long rifle cartridge. dinner table brought back memories of f.p.s. - which translates into about hunting when I was a much younger 110 f.p.e. at the muzzle. levels of energy that even light loads man. I know I'll be doing it again this That first morning in camp, the snow produce from .36 caliber bores. One of was flying horizontally, and I put rabbit year. Maybe this season I'll even try my current favorite .32 traditionally hunting on hold. That night temperfilling my fall turkey tag along the styled muzzleloading small-game rifles atures dropped to -17 Fahrenheit, but Musselshell with the .32 muzzleloading is the percussion ignition Traditions the skies were clear and sunny the next rifle. Crockett Rifle. day. After a cold morning of watching Loaded with either a patched .310" whitetails, I stoked up the .32 Crockett Hornady swaged lead ball (using .015" Rifle and slipped along a sage bordered SMOKE POLES

OCTOBER 2014

SPORTSMANS MEDS

Meditation: Wedges –By Pastor Jim Sinclair

‘m always glad that Montana has four seasons, at least most of the time. I think it was Mark Twain who said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in Montana.” But most outdoorsman see the fall months as spectacular. It was one of those brisk mornings, and myself and three friends were headed to the woods for firewood. Previous recon had yielded three huge Doug Fir not far off the road. We arrived and got our gear together, which consisted of a 066 Stihl with a 32-inch bar, falling axe, bar wrench, and wedges. The first victim would have just a little over two cord in it. Standing at the base of the tree and looking up told me the tree was leaning toward the sun. Most timber will grow and lean toward its source of growth. That being said, it was also leaning away from the road. We decided to push it against its lean and make it go

in a direction we wanted. The saw was running great and the undercut fell out, so I started the back cut. It wasn’t long until the tree was setting back. This is where I am always amazed. I placed a small piece of plastic, a “wedge”, in the back cut, hit it a few times, and like magic, this huge tree is falling away from the sun. A tree that has stood for 70 or 80 years falls prey to a piece of plastic called a wedge. I remembered hearing about some other wedges that would push people away from the SON. They are listed in the bible and there are many: jealousy, forgiveness, lust, hate, greed, anger, and the list goes on. All of these wedges push us away from our source of growth. Scripture beckons us to be aware. Solomon said it

this way: Song of Solomon, 2:15 Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines. (NKJV) Watch for the little “wedges”.

Medicine: But honey... Hunting is challenging. Maintaining healthy relationships can be even more challenging. –By Raf Viniard

he pastor talked about wedges in our life. Hunting season can cause some serious wedges on the home front. I have seen some nasty arguments and hurt feelings over the years. I have witnessed arguments that range from the amount of money someone spent on a new rifle to being gone all the time. Forgetting to do things around the house that need to be done, or missing an important family event, can put you in the dog house fast. As we gear up for hunting season, don’t forget about your family. If they hunt with you, you are set. However, not all spouses or kids enjoy hunting or fishing and may feel they have taken a back seat to your obsession. Spend time with them before and during hunting season. Lay out a tentative schedule as to what days you plan on being afield so others can plan. Always let your family or friends know when you expect to return and where you will be. This will reduce their

stress level while you are away playing. Be considerate and appreciative of the fact they worry about you when the sun goes down. If running late, call as soon as you can. If you have a spouse that supports your passion for hunting, let him or her know how much you appreciate their support with some kind words or gestures. Guys, a new skillet, hunting knife for the kitchen or dehydrating machine is not a kind gesture…forgo that extra box of bullets and get her something nice to remind her/him of you when you are gone for hours or days at a time. Now on the other hand, some spouses are elated that you have finally gotten out from under their feet and found something to do. However, even hard core hunters need to know their significant other misses them when they are gone. Remember, tomorrow is no guarantee. If you both hunt and have kids this

might be a “rock, paper, scissors” moment. If you have family or friends in the area, this might be an option. But even friends and families have their limits with your obsession…tread lightly. If you make a kill and drag the meat home, think before you lay that bloody back strap on her nice clean counter top or sink. Those blood splatters on the floor just might be yours when she sees them. All that hunting gear you dump on the floor when you come home exhausted from a hard day of hunting…might not want to lay it there…just saying. That bloody cape and big rack that you left lying in the middle of the garage floor as she is trying to pull in the garage on a rainy day…somebody else’s head is going to roll. What is your wedge? Oh, you think I am cute when I am mad??? Well get ready. I am about to become gorgeous!!!

SPORTSMANS MEDS

OCTOBER 2014

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

FROM THE BADGES

Tis the season Tips and reminders for a safe, successful hunting season. –By Phil Kilbreath, Game Warden

all hunting season is finally here! We are sure lucky in Montana to have all the hunting opportunities that we have. In Lincoln County we have only three months–June, July and August–that don’t have some kind of a hunting season going. That’s nine months that you can be in the field hunting something. I think that’s pretty amazing. Plus, we have fishing for the rest of the year. We really do live in a paradise here. Here are some reminders to our hunters out there getting ready to go hunting this fall. Whether you like a leisurely stroll in the woods and giving your rifle some air, or are one of the maniacal, obsessive elkaholic’s who use alpine climbing to pursue elk in the Cabinets, the same rules apply. When it comes to Montana’s hunting regulations, we really are lucky they are not all that complicated. I hear every year that you need to be a lawyer to understand our regulations but it’s really not all that bad. Take a look at California or Washington’s hunting regulations sometime and you will understand how nice ours are. What follows are a few friendly reminders about our regulations that come from what I see in the field as a Game Warden every year. This article is NOT a substitute for the hunting regulations. You still need to get the current copy and read them and make sure you understand them. This is part of your responsibility as a Montana outdoorsman. First, and probably the most common violation in Lincoln County, is shooting out of vehicles and shooting off the roadway. A lot of people do this, and we catch some every year. Remember, unless you have a permit to hunt from a vehicle, you have to get out of whatever you are driving or riding on before you shoot, including ATVs. Once you are out of the vehicle, you have to get off the road as well. On all of the dirt Forest Service roads, you need to get out of the gravel and into the natural vegetation before pulling the trigger. If it’s a paved road, get out of the ditch and out of the easement which means 30 or so feet from the center of the road. For all you grouse hunters out there, you have to get off the road to shoot a grouse. Always make sure you know whose property you are about to shoot something on. Hunting without landowner permission is another very common hunting violation in Montana. We are lucky that most of the land around us is public, but there is plenty of private land around here as well. Make sure you ask permission before hunting, even if it’s not posted. You are

responsible for knowing whose property you are on at all times regardless of whether there’s a fence or signs. I recommend hunters get a GPS unit with a map installed. These are really handy for property lines and are relatively inexpensive. You can get a good GPS unit with a map for less than the price of the ticket for trespassing. Tags can be problematic for some hunters. First, make sure you remember to bring your tag when you go hunting. I left my deer tag on my dresser when I shot my first deer, and had to sit in the cold for hours with the deer while my very grumpy father drove home to get it. Second, remember to notch out both parts of the tag correctly. That means completely cutting out the month and the day. If you’re the person who makes a slice, pokes a hole or uses a pen to color out the notches, you should know that is not sufficient according to the regulations. There’s a nice photo in the hunting regulations that shows exactly how to do it. Lastly, you must attach the tag in a visible manner to the carcass. The best way to do that is to bring tape. Remember BRING TAPE. Don’t be the hunter who loses his tag dragging out the deer, and is stuck trying to convince the Warden that it must slipped off somewhere in the last five miles. Everyone likes looking at pictures from their trail cameras. However, the use of trail cameras for hunting during hunting season is illegal. They are great for scouting, but once you start hunting they need to come down. I know it’s tempting for some of you to put out some bait by your stand, especially if the season is off to a slow start. But hunting over bait will cost you dearly if you get caught. Don’t litter. Simple enough, right? One aluminum can tossed out a window or left in camp is enough to get you cited for littering. Littering while hunting comes with a mandatory one year loss of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges. Don’t risk it. Pack it in, pack it out. Montana is a great place to live, and no doubt the vast hunting opportunities play a large role in that for many of us. I hope to run into many of you as successful, legal hunters this fall, and you can tell me all about the great time you’re having in the woods. Don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions about the regulations, and please turn in any violators that you encounter.

FROM THE BADGES |

OCTOBER 2014

PLAINS DRUG HealthMart

NEXT GENERATION

y love of bowhunting started around the age of four, when my father got me my first bow. Every night I’d go out and shoot with him. As a kid, I dreamed of the hunt and when I would kill my first bull elk with a bow. By the age of six, my father started taking me elk hunting with him, and I was able to watch him hunt as he called in an killed multiple bulls in front of me. Finally, the year I had been waiting so long for had come; the year I was old enough to hunt! The first year I had several encounters with bulls, but I was never presented a clear shot. The second year I had a total of six nocked arrow encounters with bulls, but still no shot. Finally, the third year rolled around. I was 14 now and more than ready for my first bull. On the first morning, my dad and I went to a spot that he has hunted a lot over the years and taken many good bulls out of. My father lets off the first bugle of the year and immediately a deep loud growl of a bugling bull fires back. The chase was on! We quickly stumbled down the steep mountainside to get in position and intercept the bull. My father quickly points to a tree and tells me to set up there while he backs off about fifty yards to begin calling. I quickly nocked an arrow and got ready as I heard the bull charging down the mountainside towards me. By this time the bull was less than forty yards from me, but I couldn’t see him because of

NEXT GENERATION

OCTOBER 2014

the thick brush. My knees quickly turned to jelly as I heard the brush start shaking not fifteen yards from me. Again, the bull let out another deep bugle. I knew this bull was well within range, but I couldn’t see him because of a big limb and tall brush blocking my view. He stood there for a solid two minutes, and sensing something was wrong, he quickly high-tailed it out of there. Continuing the hunt, we had just started walking a long ridge back to the truck when we jumped a small bull and a little 5x5 with a few cows. I nocked an arrow and stood up on a small fallen log to try and get above the tall brush. My father began to coax the small bull in with soft calls. The bull was coming in slowly and carefully, but at least he was coming. I drew back as he stopped. Again, I let my nerves get the best of me. I began to shake. I tried my best to control it, but just couldn’t. I settled my pin just behind the bulls shoulder and squeezed. I missed, and the bull took off up the hill and disappeared into the thick timber. My dad and I did the same hike the next day, but it was a little slower and quieter than the day before. About halfway through, we spotted two small bulls; one spike and one little rag horn. We stopped and messed with them a bit and tried to call them in, but it was no use. The third day was a great day to elk hunt. It was a record cold day and we had a good, hard frost. I almost didn’t

want to leave the warmth of the truck, but I knew I couldn’t kill a bull sipping coffee in the front seat. We gathered up our gear and started down the mountain, bugling to see if we could get a bull to answer back. It was strangely quiet for such a promising morning. We reached the spot where I had the encounter with the good bull the first morning. We stopped and bugled, but nothing answered. Carrying on I heard movement, not knowing if it was a squirrel running around collecting pine cones, or the movement of an elk. I let it go and told myself it was a squirrel, but not ten steps later I heard it again and knew it was an elk. I stopped my father and told him what I had heard and pointed directly to where I had heard it. At the end of my finger tip was antlers moving in the brush. We both got down on our knees and nocked arrows before standing back up. Up walked the bull. He took three steps and started to rub a small bush. I heard my father whisper ‘draw’. We both drew, I settled my pin, took a breath and released. To my surprise, I saw a hole open up inside the bulls chest. I looked down and I didn’t have a arrow nocked. I looked over at my dad’s bow and he still had his nocked. Just then I heard the voice of my father saying, “You smoked him!” Those were the words I had waited eight years to hear. It was a perfect forty yard pass through. We started to look for blood, my father looking to the right and I to the left. I took one step to the left, looked down and there he was. I turned around, looked at my dad, smiled and hugged him. I had done it I had killed my first bull, and with a bow! He didn't even make it forty yards. I was astonished at the sheer mass of the bull. I counted his tines over and over again. He was a perfect 7x7. I thanked my dad for all the close calls he had given me, and for letting me shoot this bull. We started to take pictures and he congratulated me. When all that was finished, the real work began! It took us five trips each to get him out, but it was well worth it. I’d do the whole thing over again if I could!

ABOVE: Wyatt poses with his 2014 bull taken during Archery season. Send your Next Generation photos to Tanya@montanawoodsnwater.com, subject ‘Next Generation’. 17

rifle season opens

october 25th!

LOCAL CELEBRITIES

ABOVE: John Hochstetter of Plains got his first elk bow kill.

ABOVE: Nate Stephens of Troy dropped this beautiful, symmetrical bull after calling it in to six yards

ABOVE: Chad Radabah poses with his nice bull taken with bow and arrow.

ABOVE: Wendy LaCosse Drake, of Libby, took this nice Montana bull with a PSE! BELOW: Rob Diekman poses with his first bull.

ABOVE: Eric Grotjohn of Livingston (left) proudly poses with his Fall 2014 bull elk. 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

OCTOBER 2014

PINK CAMO

–By Mitzi Stonehocker

ife cycles with the seasons. As fall returns in late September it is a special time of the year for me. Beautiful colors emerge, days get shorter and cooler, school starts, birds head south, and hunting season begins. At sixty, I have experienced many fall seasons and have a lot of memories to fall back on. Many people in Montana hunt; some for food, others for pleasure or maybe for that big rack. For me, I hunt to honor my mother’s memory. I grew up hunting in the Swan Valley and surrounding Bigfork area. My early fall memories include bird, deer and elk hunting. Once in a while, a bear would cross our path and become sausage and “bear grease” for water proofing our boots. Bear grease makes some of the flakiest pie crusts you have ever put in your mouth! It also makes great chocolate chip cookies, which almost got me kicked out of home economics class my senior year. But that is a story for a later edition. Why do I call my page “pink camo”? Many reasons, but the most important one is my best friends. Both my friend Laura and my mother had breast

cancer. I know the battle Laura had, and in the end the cancer took her life at the age of 45. My mother survived and that remains my strength in many situations life has thrown at me. October is breast cancer awareness month and the pink ribbons remind us of the struggle women face every day. I take that a step further with my pink camo, in which I am well known for. Mom had breast cancer in the early 1950’s and survived with the removal of one breast and radiation therapy. At that time medical treatment did not promise a long life after having this form of cancer, but my mom did survive and lived a reasonably long life. She was 4’ 11”, 100 pounds of pure determination, and was an avid outdoor woman who loved to fish, camp, ride horses and hunt. Her feminine side produced wonderful food to eat and beautiful clothes to wear. I believe it was God’s plan to show me through her many life trials the strength she possessed and set an example for myself. An amazing surprise was the birth of my younger sister, Marsha, only 3-4 years after the breast cancer. At 43, she had once again beat the odds by having a baby in middle age after breast cancer and treatment. Mom continued to ride horses, hunt every fall and fish whenever she could. She never quit and remains my hero today. My tribute to her memory is to wear pink and call my page “pink camo”. October reminds me of beautiful colors, rustling leaves, apple cider, pumpkin pie, hunting, and mom. Why leaves turn such beautiful colors amazes me, and I have sat for hours watching a tree and its leaves fall to the ground. Hot cider with a dash of cinnamon and pumpkin pie…that is fall at its best. I think the smell of spices and

the loads of whip cream makes me love fall even more. My daughter and I, who hunt together each fall, have a ridiculous ritual that includes pumpkin pie, whipped cream, fake deer antlers, loud music blaring and lots of laughter as we drive the back roads looking for fresh deer sign and talking about old times. We always come home with fresh meat for the freezer and a host of new memories! Halloween may be for the little ones, but I remember one Halloween my husband and I had a lot of fun and laughter giving out candy to people we knew. We had an old car our friends did not recognize. We dressed as ugly old hags and went from house to house ringing the door bell, handing the person who answered a big bag of candy, running back to the car and quickly driving away. They would stand at the door in shock wondering who, what and why? We “tricked and treated” them. Yes, October is a month I look forward to each year with thoughts of hunting and family. It is a time to reap the harvest and a time to reflect on October‘s past. Next month we will talk wild turkey dinners and chasing a big bull with my mother and her 300 Savage rifle.

PINK CAMO |

OCTOBER 2014

Camp fire talk

CAMPFIRE TALK

In the rush to be the first one in the woods, hunters can overlook even the simplest and most potentially life-saving basics of Hunting 101. –By Raf Viniard & Paul C. Fielder

inally…hunting season is here and the game is on. We need to think about some things before miles of dirt roads are put beneath our tires, the lead starts flying and deep dark forests are explored. Road Hunting–Not everyone can walk 3-5 miles a day and pack out a freezer full of elk, so they drive the roads looking to spot something a little more manageable. Just keep in mind the rules, laws and regulations on hunting from a vehicle or near a roadway. Once you depart the vehicle, make sure you have your orange on. If you decide to take a legal shot, make sure you know what is behind the target. Another road/trail may lie in your bullet’s path or a father and son could be walking out. Hunt smart and hunt legal. Let Someone Know– Whether you are road hunting or walking in a few miles, let someone know where you are going, or leave a map in your vehicle so if you do come up missing someone knows where to start looking. Posted Property–Respect it. Ask permission to hunt private property. The worst they can say is no. When in doubt, ask permission anyway. Property owners post and mark your boundaries clearly to alert hunters of your desires. NO TRESPASSING signs are more enforceable than NO HUNTING signs. Contact authorities if you have a trespass issue. Gates/Barriers–There is nothing worse than hiking back in a mile or two to have an ATV or dirt bike pull up beside you that has driven around the locked barrier. If you are not sure if you are supposed to drive behind a gate that is open, refer to your forest service map or call your local warden. If you can’t get a hold of anyone, go to plan B and hunt somewhere else and check with authorities at a later time. Make the Shot Count–Chasing wounded game is no fun and may cost you that freezer full of winter meat. Take your time and make a clean kill. If an animal is wounded, follow up the best you can or call in buddies that are good at tracking.

CAMPFIRE TALK |

OCTOBER 2014

Meat Care–Once the animal goes down, the work begins. Keep the meat as clean and cool as possible. Get the hide off of it–they skin easier when still warm. Open up the throat and remove the wind pipe, and open up the front legs to ensure optimum quick cooling. You owe it to your quarry. Don’t drive around all day showing off your trophy laying in the back of the truck. Depending on temperature, it will not take the meat long to spoil. Hunting Rig–Check that rig out to make sure it is road worthy and safe. Stock your rig with a spare tire, lug wrench, flashlight, shovel, saw, axe, chain/tow rope, tire chains, a basic first aid kit, sleeping bag, water, fire starter and some snacks in case you do have a break down. Carry some basic tools, even if you aren’t much of a mechanic. A good Montana country boy might just be able to get you back on the road. A CB or two way radio may be a good idea as well. Don’t forget the meat cooler…we call this the power of positive thinking. Game Check Stations–Remember you have to stop whether you killed something or not. A lot of information can be gathered from other hunters and the folks that work these stations. You have to stop, so you might as well ask some questions and see how other hunters are doing. You might just get a good tip. Let There Be Light–Make sure your flashlight batteries are new and carry a fire starter of some sort. Don’t leave home without either of them. Sportsmanship–Yes, we are all out there to chase bone or fur. However, if you think someone is in trouble, stop and check on them. You may be the last person they see. If it was your family, what would you do? That could be a loaded question, but you get the drift. Anti-Hunters–There are hunters, anti-hunters, and those with no opinion. Don’t make the undecided into anti-hunters. Dispose of carcasses and bones in out of the way places, not right along the road at some easy pulloff place where they can be easily seen

by the public. Don’t drive around with the animal set up for obvious public display. Be discrete with your harvest. Act like it’s not your first harvest and you don’t expect it to be your last. Outdoor Politics–In November we get the opportunity to vote…make it count. You will be stuck with that person for many months or years. If you don’t vote, you really can’t complain because your vote may have changed the results. Do your own research and see if the candidate really has your best interests in mind as a NW Montanan, rather than Washington’s or the political party’s interests. If they can’t deliver you a simple yes or no answer and start talking political jargon…you might want to rethink your choice.

MONTANA DAN

Fall is for fishing

Sometimes an outdoorsman needs to recharge by putting down the rifle and picking up a pole. –By Dan Helterline

ell it has finally arrived; the season we wait all year forfall. Most outdoorsmen’s thoughts are consumed by hunting this time of year, but fall is also the best season for fishing. Montana and the surrounding states offer an unlimited amount of opportunity for some outstanding fishing this time of year. Several species of trout, as well as salmon, spawn in the fall making them feed and strike more aggressively, as well as move into areas where they are

“

caught trolling over points that contain underwater humps. Bank anglers can catch lakers on the face of the dam while casting spoons. On good years, Chinook salmon can legally be snagged by the dam or in the marina bay as they come in to spawn. Set lining is also legal in the reservoir, which is a great way to catch fish while you are out hunting for the day. Fort Peck supports a very diverse fishery, and the opportunities are too numerous to capture in this article.

If the warm fall weather has got you singing the blues because the elk won’t bugle or you are afraid of meat spoilage, change your tune and load up and go fishing.” easier to target. Pike are on the hunt trying to fatten up before winter, which also makes them feed more aggressively. Flathead Lake is a great spot to fish in the fall. The lake trout are moving into shallower water to spawn and can be caught trolling the lakes’ many rocky points. Mack Days is in full swing and you never know if you might get lucky and catch a tagged fish and win up to $10,000. The website, mackdays.com, is full of information on fishing Flathead, including several free videos with the area’s top fishermen giving detailed information on how to target lake trout. It’s well worth checking out. If you get tired of fishing and need a break, head to Wild Horse Island and go for a hike. The island has some fascinating history. The wild horses there are said to be ancestors from the same ones there when the Salish Indians swam out to the island to hide from their rival tribes. The island also has a healthy population of bighorn sheep containing some magnum rams, and some very impressive mule deer. If you are lucky enough to have drawn a Missouri Breaks elk tag or an antelope tag in the vicinity of Fort Peck Reservoir, turn your hunting trip into a "cast and blast trip". Fort Peck offers a huge variety of fishing this time of year. Pike and walleye can be caught in the numerous bays throughout the reservoir, and lake trout can be

If you are a little more adventurous and want to travel out of state, the Columbia River is experiencing a tremendous salmon return this year. As I write this article, my truck is loaded up and I will be headed that direction when this article is finished. The Columbia River is only two hours west of Spokane on I90, which makes it very easy to get to and is closer than many places in eastern Montana (including Fort Peck). When I was there the end of September, there were five other trucks in the campground with ‘35’ license plates. I wasn't the only Montanan that had traveled west to cash in on Washington's salmon crop. To date, almost one million Chinook salmon have crossed Bonneville Dam, and over 80,000 have made their way up and over Priest Rapids Dam–which is where I have been fishing. Washington's nonresident licenses are very reasonable, and the salmon return has been so good this year they have raised the limit to 3 fish a day almost system-wide. The fish are in great shape, ranging from ten to twenty pounds with rumors of giants up to fifty pounds. Their fillets are bright orange and make some unbeatable table fare, either on the barbecue or smoked. If the warm fall weather has got you singing the blues because the elk won't bugle or you are afraid of meat spoilage, change your tune and load up and go fishing!

ABOVE: Dan proudly shows off two of his incredible fall catches, while (BELOW) his wife Marie and daughter Alexis display their keeper.

MONTANA DAN

OCTOBER 2014

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DOH!

ANGELA MONTANA

Being well prepared can help you avoid some common “Doh!” moments. –By Angela Gerych

ast weekend, I was out the door by 4:45AM, sporting a different camo pattern for each article of clothing I was wearing which included my shirt, fleece, pants, boots and my hat. I realized it probably looked like I let a two year-old pick out my hunting attire, but at least I would blend in if there were five different types of vegetation in the places I would be taking my bow for a hike. The wind was particularly aggressive and the rain seemed to literally spit at us, trying to persuade us to turn around and go home, but there was no way that was going to happen. My hunting buddy and I were on a mission. We got a lead about an area that had plenty of wolf, bear and elk activity, and were going to check it out regardless of what Mother Nature threw at us…or so we thought. By the time the morning sun lit the gunmetal tinted clouds with its pale glow, the wind had died down quite a bit and the rain had dissipated. We drove for close to an hour to a particular spot we had been wanting to check out for some time, all the while discussing our taxidermy plans for the end of our (what we hoped to be) successful season this year. As we got closer to the area a big old tree lying across the road stopped us in our tracks. Now, for years we have been saying we really need to remember to put the chainsaw in the toolbox because of the potential of running into situations like this. Our first “Doh!” moment of the day. Here we are, years later, saying the same thing…we should have put that chainsaw in the truck. Lack of planning more than likely prevented us from continuing on to tour potential honey holes where huge bull elk were probably frolicking. Unfortunately, we were still a good twenty miles from our honey hole, so hiking wasn't an option. On to Plan B. We turned around defeated and checked out another spot we had previously seen elk sign. We parked and loaded up for the hike. Just as we threw our packs on our backs, I experienced another "Doh!" moment. I accidentally put my GPS in my other hunting pack the night before. Now, to a normal person, this wouldn't be an issue. But to me, having no internal compass whatsoever, this was an issue. I get lost walking from the house to my vehicle in the morning, if that tells you anything. Since there was private property mingled within the public land, there was no way we were going to risk trespassing on private property. We did, however, take a peak in the areas we knew were public land close by. On to Plan C. By now it was approximately 1PM. Just because we didn't see any animals didn't mean we couldn't still shoot some

things. So, I got my fully charged, digital camera out of my pack and "Doh!” I had left my memory card in my laptop after I transferred all of the old pictures to my computer. They say things happen in threes, and this had proven to be true on this particular day. At this point, all I could do was laugh. I did have my cell phone, so I used the camera on that. I did get in some shooting...successfully! If there is anything you take from this story, I am hoping it would be to be prepared–more prepared than I was. Yes, common sense, I know, but sometimes it’s those little things you don’t necessarily count as a requirement that become a need. Three times in my case. Always double check you have everything you might possibly need. You know those tire chains and that chainsaw you were putting off throwing in your hunting rig? Just toss them in the back of the truck the night before you leave...and leave them there! For other smaller items you might need, set them next to your rifle so you can grab them when you leave in the morning Regardless of whether you're hunting, fishing, trapping or even just recreating in big sky country, make the best of your time out there, even if things don't go as planned! Remember that it's always good to double check your inventory BEFORE you leave for your next Montana adventure. Keep the “Doh!” moments to a minimum.

As a thanks to our customers, sign up for our $1000 shopping spree to be drawn in November!

ANGELA MONTANA |

OCTOBER 2014

ABOVE: Senator Jennifer Fielder had some opening day success this fall archery season.

OUTDOOR VETERANS

A broken bike, best buds, and big bulls –By Mark Kroll “Living the dream” it said. I was weekending at my cabin in the Yaak when I first picked up a copy of this publication at the local mercantile and smiled as I read those words, knowing I was abundantly blessed to be doing just that. As a small boy growing up in the northwoods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I spent many memorable days with my grandfather at his log cabin on eighty acres of hardwood and hemlock bisected by the Tacoosh River. When I’d get home, I’d build a blanket tent over my bed and imagine I was living in a log cabin in the Rockies. Fast forward a little over a decade, graduating from my Air Force tech school and eyeing the choices of bases out west. Great Falls, Montana looked promising… fishing the mighty Mo and hunting its flyway, the fabled Rockies an hour’s drive away, big grain fed whitetails aplenty, and maybe a crack at a monster mulie or the legendary wapiti. When my ’66 Impala topped a rise east of Cut Bank and I saw the Shining Mountains for the first time, I got pretty choked up. I was ready to start living the dream. Trips to all the missile sites as part of a maintenance team afforded many opportunities to get familiar with the country while helping to keep the cold war just that. After my hitch was up, I migrated to Libby when a co-worker told me his stepdad lived there, and had told him you could stand on the main street and hear elk bugling in the surrounding hills. With 36 years under my belt in the forested hills north of Libby, my log cabin is home just like in my boyhood dream. I‘ve built a lot of memories with their corresponding tales. Most of those are for another time, but one that comes to mind is about a broken bike, best buds, and big bulls. A few years back, I got the bug to take the old Harley on an early October road trip over to the Rocky Mountain Front where I’d once, in my twenties, worked for an elderly lady on her guest ranch (she was the widow of the gent who first guided Bob Marshall into the country that now bears his

name). The fall colors were full, the any way my hunting partner, A RABID skies were clear, and I still had a VIKINGS FAN, and I could do a little couple of weeks before rifle season hunting over here?” It took a second opened. The old sled had over 160,000 or two for his answer to register with miles on the clock, but it ran sweet me, “You bet, it’s all on block and had never let me down. Long story management and you can hunt it all shorter, I spun the clutch on a long you want.” I was living the dream! steep hill and found myself stranded Tony showed up- with his Vikings ball on a dark road at 9:30 with no cell cap on- and the two of them hit it off service and less traction. After a like long-lost lodge brothers. He gave truckload of bowhunters (God bless us maps, told us how well his elk herd the bowhunters) trailered my lame had been doing, and said he’d have all iron horse to a little hotel in the the permission paperwork ready for us closest little town, I texted my best when we got back there in two weeks. bud Tony up in Libby that I was in a We reserved a cabin at the little hotel helluva fix. It was after midnight but complex, loaded my wounded scoot on his text came right back, “I’ll hook up the trailer, and headed north with the trailer and take off at daybreak.” visions of ridiculous racks and full Next morning, I hiked on down to freezers dancing in our heads. the local watering hole to get some The place has proven the talk to be breakfast and, as it was Sunday, feed true, and we’ve gradually learned more my NFL football addiction while I of the country and become good waited for Tony to hit town. The only friends with this landowner in the other guy in the bar was obviously ensuing years. Tony and his son took devoted to this place and its products, three beautiful bulls in the first four and to the Minnesota Vikings as he seasons. There have been miscues, was wearing an autographed jersey blown approaches, and long hikes with and watching his team on the vintage no joy at the end of the day (mostly TV above the back bar. We introduced mine). But over all, it’s been an ourselves, I told him of my dire indescribable hunting experience, and misfortune with Milwaukee’s finest, a lot more about friendship than fourand remarked that the friend who was leggeds. We really are living the on his way to haul me home was also a dream, due at least in part to a broken rabid Vikes fan. bike, best buds, and some big bulls. As time and quarterbacks passed, I learned that he managed his family’s 8,000 acre spread of timber, high mountain parks, grassland, and creek bottom that touched the plains and butted up against the Continental Divide. After several hours of such talk, Moose Drool wasn’t the only drool in my glass, and my mental clutch was now spinning, trying to figure an angle that would result in Tony and me planting our hunting boots on this elkinfested piece of real estate. Bolstered by multiple sources of courage (I’d been shut Mark Kroll (L) and Tony Rebo (R) gather down by ranchers in the past), I their fishing gear from their Harley’s popped the question: “Is there saddlebags.

Editor’s Note: Mark Kroll served in the U.S. Air Force from 1971–1974 as an E-3 Missile Systems Analyst. OUTDOOR VETERANS |

OCTOBER 2014

KOUNTRY GIRLS

Honey...get your gun Some hunting stories are so good, you couldn’t make them up if you tried! –By Kori Erickson

t seems everyone around here has a favorite hunting story. As the season nears, the stories run rampant, each one told more enthusiastically than the last in anticipation of creating a better (and bigger) story this season. Some are funny, some are scary, and some are outright unbelievable. I happen to think stories from women are among the most entertaining; usually to the dismay of any men present. As much as they try to invoke the seriousness of hunting in us, we always find a way to make it just a little bit more fun and interesting. As this magazine grows and becomes more widespread, it would please me beyond end to have women contributing their fondest outdoor memories, which we would in turn share with the rest of you. Here is one of mine: A few years back, a girl friend (who shall remain unnamed) and I had grandiose plans to get up early opening day and hunt hard. We had the tip on a hot place to go from a reliable source and wouldn’t you know it, 2:30 am the

KOUNTRY GIRLS

OCTOBER 2014

night before and we were just stumbling into bed. Needless to say, our early morning plans were thwarted and we didn’t get rousted and out of the house until mid morning. After a stop at the local convenience store and back to the house because I’d forgotten my tags, we were finally on our way. We hadn’t made it two miles out of town when my friend said she saw a deer out my window. We were on a state highway, so I continued an eighth of a mile or so to a road and turned around. Drove back to where she saw the deer and there stood the biggest whitetail buck I’ve ever seen on the hoof. Not 60 yards of f the highway. I told my friend very enthusiastically to shoot that deer. I may have even used an expletive or two. After she untangled her riflescope from the several device-charging wires, she was on her way out the door. I had told her to be sure and get far enough off the highway. She went down into the wide ditch and back up the embankment. I heard her chamber a round and heard her safety come off as she shouldered her gun. Then…. silence for what seemed like forever. I can see the deer’s body, so I know he’s still there, not 35 yards from her. She turns towards me and says, “It’s a decoy…” I asked “What?!” more incredulously than having not heard her correctly. “It’s a dummy deer!!” , she hollers at me. She unloads her gun and comes back to the truck, a bit angry and very discouraged. I turn

the truck around and we head back the direction we had originally been heading. We start joking about taking a selfie with the decoy and decide to do so. We turn around, yet once more and head back to the decoy. We spot it easily enough, kind of hard to miss. I park off the highway; we get our cell phones and head down into the ditch. As we crested the embankment, I look up just in time to see that “decoy” trot off. Silently, without so much as a spooky movement or even a tail flashing, like a ghost. I’m in utter shock, and reach out to tap my friend, who is looking at her phone. “He’s gone…” She quickly realizes this “decoy” was in fact a trophy buck that had just gotten very lucky and gotten the best of us, her in particular. In her defense, he didn’t move a muscle (which I’ve since been told is a defense mechanism of big bucks), not a twitch of an ear or even a flare of a nostril. As early in the season as it was, his neck was skinny, and looked even smaller with that big rack above it. There was orange road cones set up on the highway around us. It seemed too good to be true, and it was. I was on the verge of shaking her shoulders or slapping her to get her out of her momentary bout with hysteria when she finally calmed down. “We NEVER speak a word of this! We don’t tell anyone!” I reiterated this to her several times. Of course, being hunters…we had told our story by the end of the day.

WING SHOOTERS

with a Western twist Fall turkey hunting can be both challenging and rewarding. –By Jason Badger

Jason Badger poses with two nice, Northwest Montana Tom’s he harvested while employing still hunting tactics during the fall season.

f you’re like me, there is an unacceptably long wait between the last gobble of one spring turkey season and the opener of the next. So how can we get our fix? Simple… give fall turkey hunting a try. I’m not just talking about buying a tag in case you stumble across a bird while deer or elk hunting. I mean actually targeting turkeys, autumn style. If you don’t have a trained turkey dog or experience with conventional fall tactics, stick to what westerners do best… still hunting. While not as likely to cause cardiac arrest as chasing thunderous gobbles across the emerald green spring landscape, employing still hunting tactics for fall turkeys not only provides a reprieve from the arduous wait for spring, but gives us a chance to hone our stalking ability before the general big game season opens. It’s a chance to get reacquainted with the rhythm of nature after a summer of lawnmowers, baseball games, and barbecues. These tactics are really no different than those used on larger game. Success hinges on knowing where to expect turkeys to be at that time of year. Once a likely area is located, a slow, quiet stalk with minimal movement can put you within easy range of a feeding flock. At this time of year flocks will either be comprised of hens and the current year’s poults, or a bachelor group of toms, but rarely both. Be mindful of this before you pull the trigger, as a large poult may appear to be as large as the hen, but body mass will be significantly less, resulting in fewer leftover turkey sandwiches. Still hunting turkeys is anything but easy. One September 1st opener, I belly crawled all over the countryside south of Thompson Falls shadowing a mixed family group of hens and large poults. They seemed to sense something wasn’t quite right, but were unable to identify me. After a long game of cat and mouse I dropped the hammer on a nasty old hen that lingered a little too long behind the rest of the flock. She may not have been as glamorous as a shimmering longbeard, but she made great homemade turkey pot pies that winter. If you’re a turkey junky like me, and are looking to fill the void between spring seasons, give fall turkeys a try. I think you will be surprised by the challenge and pleased with the rewards. Happy hunting and good luck!

WINGED SHOOTERS

OCTOBER 2014

Congratulations Sophia Colyer! 2014 Youth Gun Giveaway winner.

As I rounded the corner inside the store at Superior Antiques and Sporting Goods, Sophia Colyer was standing there with her mom and dad grinning from ear to ear waiting patiently to see her new Marlin 30-30 rifle she had won during Montana Woods N Water Youth Gun Giveaway essay contest. You could not have scrubbed that smile off her face with a Brillo pad and a can of Ajax. Trying to conceal her excitement with an onlooking crowd, Sophia held the rifle and the grin just kept getting bigger. Her mom’s grin was just as large and it was clear she was very proud of her daughter. Dad was taking it all in with his chest bulged out as a proud parent…yeah that’s my girl! Along with the rifle, she won a 3 X 9 scope and sling. If she chooses to have the rifle scoped and fitted for her, Dennis Olsen Gunsmithing of Plains, MT will adjust it for her free of charge and assist her with any scope mounting needs. Her winning did not stop with just a rifle. Superior Antiques gave her a new folding knife and a pair of rain pants to help in that skinning of her first deer or elk. I am sure we will be seeing Sophia’s picture very soon in Montana Woods N Water with her first elk or deer. The competition was stiff from the many entrants representing NW Montana’s next generation of sportsmen. However, Sophia’s essay convinced six of the nine judges she was the lady for the job…or should I say rifle. Here is her essay that led to her holding a brand new rifle and one step closer to hunting with her parents and Grandpa Colyer of Plains, MT. My name is Sophia Colyer and I am 11 years old. I am from Bonner, Montana and I want to hunt with my Mom, Dad, and Grandpa in Plains. I just passed hunter safety and I am excited to be able to hunt this year. I am the oldest child in my family and this year I will be able to hunt and provide food for my family. We rely on deer and elk to feed our family and this year I get to be a part of it. I really want to win this rifle because I do not have a gun of my own and my mom and dad’s guns are way too big for me to shoot. My parents can’t afford to buy a gun for me so I am trying this essay to be able to get a gun for myself. I really want to help my family and be able to get a deer and help feed my family. A gun is a big responsibility and I have been trying really hard to prove that I can be responsible and kill a deer respectfully. I am thankful to live in a country where I can have a gun and hunt and have the chance to feed myself and my family when times are tough. Sophia Colyer’s parents are Jason & Laura Colyer, formerly Sellers of Bonner, Montana. Jason was raised in Plains and Laura was raised in Missoula. This is a true outdoor Montana family that depends on hunting to support themselves. Laura stated, “I am so excited to go hunting with my daughter. Her dad and I are so proud of her.” Laura is a very good shot from what I hear and has filled the freezer many times over the years hunting with her family and her late grandpa. Hunting traditions are passed down from generation to generation and it is nice to hear stories how the women are taking a more active role in mentoring their daughters to carry on the Montana tradition. The Montana Woods N Water staff wants to thank Superior Antiques & Sporting Goods, of Superior, MT and Dennis Olsen Gunsmithing of Plains, MT for making this gun giveaway possible. Keep reading Montana Woods N Water for our next gun giveaway.