Virtual Tour
Virtual Tour
Virtual Tour
Virtual Tour
Publisher’s Notes By Raf Viniard I have had about enough of summer and smoke filled valleys. It is hard to focus on the upcoming hunting season with 80 & 90 degree days with a nose full of smoke. Hopefully we will get a break soon and get in the forest to thump some grouse for supper. Don’t forget about fall turkey season opens as well. Put some judo points in that bow quiver for those feathered opportunities. For those fortunate to draw tags...congratulations. It is time to start planning where you are going to fill that coveted tag. For you bear hunters you might want to run over to the range and make sure the old rifle it is still hitting where you want. Don’t forget your orange while rifle hunting! Not a hunter ...well Salmon snagging is about to open 15 September...time to smoke some Salmon...pardon the pun! Check local regulations! Don’t forget to support our advertisers. Without them Montana Woods N Water will not exist. We need their business for us to stay in business and keep you informed, entertained and educated.
Raf Viniard, Publisher
Guest Writer(s) This Month: Tom Fieber See Page 25 Outdoor Politics Alan Clarke See Page 13 Camp Fire Talk Front Cover Photo Provided By Mike Williams Photography This was shot the first day that I noticed forest fire smoke. I was traveling from Seeley to Missoula and this is from the Blackfoot River from the Highway 200 bridge where the old Roundup Bar used to be. Check out Mike’s Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/mikewphoto/photos To Contact Us: Montana Woods N Water 171 Clark Creek Loop Plains, Montana 59859 406-407-0612 Email: raf@montanawoodsnwater.com www.montanawoodsnwater.com
What’s Inside Hunting Fishing Family & Friends Trapping Montana Dan Camp Fire Talk Sportsman’s Meditation Next Generation Local Celebrities Fly Fishing Outdoor Vet Toby Walrath - Story Time Outdoor Politics Events
Staff
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Publisher/Editor/Layout: Raf - 406-407-0612 VP of Sales & Marketing: Pam - 406-540-3550 Field Editor, Lincoln County Kori - 406-293-1478 Director of Social Media Misty - 406-250-4191 Videographer/Photographer: Skeeter Johnston Productions Pro Staff Writers This Month: Pastor Jim Sinclair Dan Helterline Jason Badger Tony Rebo Kori Erickson Toby Walrath Chuck Stranahan
Editorial Policy: Montana Woods N Water (MWW) reserves the right to refuse to publish any form of content that does not include the author’s name, complete mailing address, and/or valid phone number or e-mail address. Anonymous submissions will not be addressed or published. MWW reserves the right not to publish anything we feel is not in good taste or appropriate. All content, material and graphics designed by Montana Woods N Water are copyrighted.
HUNTING
A Season Without Water By Jason Badger Like most hunters, I have developed by own hunting style and strategies over the years. Most of my knowledge has come from personal experiences and wisdom imparted by others. It’s no secret that there are three key components that are vital to successfully pursuing most game species; food, water, and shelter. But what happens when you take one or more of those key components out of the equation? 2015 has been a very strange year so far. The mild winter may have spared us from some snow shoveling, but it certainly didn’t do anything to help our moisture situation. Spring rains were insufficient for the most part. The impacts were evident to me during spring bear season. Some hunters I spoke to found decent numbers of bears early on, but as the season progressed it became tougher for many of us to find bears. I struggled the entire season. Most of my secret spots that consistently produce were more or less void of bear activity. Grasses dried up early and beastly heat drove the bruins into the heavy shade. Unfortunately for those of us that were banking on a decent fall season to produce our bear rug, conditions didn’t improve at all. The go-to play for my fall bear hunting game plan is glassing secluded huckleberry patches. This year, however, huckleberry crops are almost non-existent. On top of that, surface water is a little more difficult to find as well. The few berries that were produced are all but done now, meaning the bears will not be concentrated on those food sources. There are two ways to look at that. Since the bears aren’t concentrated they may be extremely difficult to find. Encounters may be more random chance than anything else. Conversely, without those consistent food sources, bears may be forced to move more to fill their dietary needs. This may increase the chances of one of those random encounters I mentioned earlier. In my experience, berry crop failures make for very tough bear hunting. So how does one adjust their hunting strategy to compensate for the lack of food and water? Unfortunately there is no text book answer to that question. Scouting is going to be even more important this year in my opinion. Time spent afield may reveal a secondary food source that attracts and holds bears. Continued on page 3.
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HUNTING CONTINUED Locating reliable water sources will give you a good starting point on your search. Bears must have a consistent water source so regardless of how far they are traveling to find food, they must be within striking distance of a water source. In past drought years I have found success when most other hunters were not by locating water sources close to older logging units. The rotten stumps and logs left behind are often rich in insect life. This high protein food source is quickly exploited by bears when preferred foods are not available. Keep in mind bear densities will likely not be as great as a booming berry year but there should still be some animals to be had. In all likelihood there will be more bears than usual in and around residences in northwestern Montana. Hunger will force them closer to towns looking for whatever food source they can find. Garbage cans, fruit trees and pet food will draw a lot of attention, as will some small livestock like chickens and rabbits. Still hunting some lower elevation areas may produce encounters with these bruins that are raiding human food sources at night, then hiding out during the day. Please remember to always exercise EXTREME caution when hunting near residences. Common sense and courtesy go a long way. Some land management agencies require a hunter to notify landowners if they will be hunting within a specified distance of a residence so always check the hunting regulations before venturing afield to make sure you are obeying all laws. Beyond the bear forecast, these drought conditions will likely affect hunting for other game species and predators as well‌for the same reasons. The lack of lush vegetation and surface water in the back country may drive some deer and elk down looking for a permanent water source and some green forage. With the prey species will be the predators. Wolves and mountain lions will follow the food source, and who can blame them? This could potentially lead to increased human/wildlife conflicts in and around residential areas. I think it will be even more important this year to be cautious and ever aware of your surroundings while at home and out in the field. Hungry animals become desperate, and desperate animals can potentially be more dangerous. If you have any questions about avoiding or managing large predator encounters, contact your local Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks or MSU Extension office. There is no sure bet to predicting this fall’s weather patterns, but all signs indicate a hot, dry season with minimal forage. In order to be successful, hunters will need to be versatile and adjust their strategies to the changing conditions. The basic needs of the animals we pursue will be the same, but how they meet those needs may differ. Remember to always think safety first and have a viable plan for removing all meat quickly. It’s not worth losing an animal to spoilage just to punch a tag. Happy hunting! 3
FISHING—TONY REBO
A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work… By Tony Rebo Now that our children have all grown and moved on in their lives, I am left with countless time on my hands. I spend a great deal of my spare time fishing. You could say that I am living the dream. Oh, I miss the days when I would travel Montana from border to border to watch the kids at school events. I must say that during those trips I had a great time spending it with my family. I would never have traded those days for anything. On many of those trips we would be passing Montana streams and rivers. I remember staring out the window at the water and saying to myself that someday I would be back, and that I would fish these streams. Well those days have arrived and I have made it back to those bodies of water, and I have fished each and every one. From Eureka’s Tobacco River to the Wise River outside of Dillon, I have fished the Yellowstone, the big Blackfoot, the little Blackfoot, the Madison, the Missouri, the Clark Fork and the Gallatin. Not to mention the dozens of small streams and lakes along the way. I have great memories with friends and family on each and every trip. Every trip was special and has a story, but the trips I enjoy the most are the ones that I spend with my kids. We don’t get to do it a lot because of their busy lives, but when we do, it helps remind me of the fun days traveling the state. This past Fourth of July I was lucky enough to have all my girls home for the holiday. My son was off fighting fires and couldn’t join us. My oldest daughter, Teri, was visiting from Hawaii, and since she traveled the farthest and hadn’t been to Montana in almost a year we let her choose how we would spend the holiday. When Teri claimed that her trip to Montana would be spent fishing, I can say that I was more than a little excited. Teri loved the outdoors growing up, but never had the burning desire to fish as much as the other kids. Her vacation would be spent fishing a high mountain lake in the Yaak valley, floating the Clark Fork, and an evening trip on the Kootenai. Our first trip was to a small 35 acres lake near the Canadian border. It was a short hike, only about a half a mile. The lake is filled with 10-inch red band cutthroat trout. Teri started out with a spinning rod throwing out small lures to retrieve the fish. Teri caught plenty, but was not overly impressed with the method of fishing. I was fly fishing and doing just as well by throwing out a Royal Wolfe. Teri inquired about fly fishing and asked if she could give it a try. I unpacked my second fly rod and was shaking with excitement. I couldn’t wait to pass on my bad habit. After a short period of time, Teri was casting like a pro and catching fish. The day wore on and the rest of our party grew tired of watching Teri and I catch fish, so we decided to head out and catch a bite to eat. On the way back to town Teri talked about the adventure and asked when we were going to go back out. Our second trip was to the Kootenai River, and we would be fly fishing for much bigger fish. I love to watch a new fly fisherman in action. It takes time to get the rhythm down and to be able to cast effectively. Teri snapped a few flies off because of her whip-like motion, and that was OK. Each and every time she would come to me and ask for help. I would tie on another fly and give her directions, “You have to slow down, treat the rod right, and enjoy the moment.” Continued on Page 5 4
FISHING -TONY REBO CONTINUED Teri, to say the least, is a perfectionist. She worked her tail off to get the perfect cast. I told her that it is all in the presentation, and with the right presentation a fish can be caught with every cast. I sat back on the rocks and I was admiring my daughter in action. She was knee deep in the water without waders. The Kootenai is bitter cold and even when it is 100 degrees out a body will be numb after about 10 minutes of wading in the water. Teri was working a hole just breaking off a big current; each cast had to be perfect to get the right presentation. The fly had to be thrown into the current and stripped backward into the hole. Teri told me that she would have to cast at least 50 times for one good cast, but each good cast would produce a fish. Her goal was to make each cast count. Sounds simple, but even the best of us don’t have the perfect cast each and every time. When that perfect cast came, a fish struck her line and raced back into the current. Now the one thing I forgot to mention was that Teri was struggling with retrieving her line. Since she always used a spinning rod she was use to just reeling in the fish. However, fly fishing is a little different. She couldn’t quite get the hang of what to do with all the line she was stripping. The big fish jumped in and out of the water and Teri would make ground only to lose it a moment later. She was tangled in a wad of line; it was wrapped around her legs as she worked the fish. Finally, she was able to get the fish close to shore, and it was a dandy. She was so excited and wanted to do nothing more than to show me what she had caught and accomplished. The fish was a giant and was played out. Teri was on cloud nine and was anticipating fish for dinner. However, that plan was foiled when at the last minute, the fish broke loose on the shore, jumped and swam back into the fast current. Teri was devastated and just stared into the water. Her dreams were crushed as she now had lost the trophy to prove her accomplishments. I listened to her re-tell the events and how big the fish was and if only… I reminded her that fishing was like that, it was meant to be about one person with a rod trying to outsmart a fish in the water. It was about the moment when that fish takes your line and screams down the current jumping all the way. It’s all about the excitement of landing the fish and winning the battle, and it is also all about releasing the fish to fight another day. I think that Teri understood for the first time why I am always fishing. It is not about bringing home the trophy or a bucket full of fish to brag about. It is the special moment you have when the perfect cast reaches the water and you watch the fish surface and take the bait. The pole bends and the fight is on. We spent the rest of her vacation floating the Clark Fork, and fishing for Bass and Pike. We had a great time and caught lots of fish. It was a vacation for Teri, but a memory for me that I will never forget. There is nothing better than getting to spend time with your kids after they grow up and leave, but it is a bonus when they want to spend that time fishing with their old man.
Teri is back in Hawaii now at work, and is quite the busy girl, but I did get a phone call from her last night and we talked for quite some time about life. Teri mentioned that she and her husband got their boat back and that it was now running quite well. Teri’s husband is serving our country and will soon be deployed overseas on his second tour. Teri has taken a course required to operate a boat in Hawaii and is excited to be able to take it out on her own. Last night the conversation turned to buying the right fishing gear. I guess you can take the girl out of Montana, but you can’t take Montana out of the girl. I can be proud that I have a family who knows how to live the dream. 5
FAMILY & FRIENDS
Family & Friends By Raf Viniard Last month’s cover celebrities was Tara Browning and Keaton Jones. Folks wanted to know more about these two young ladies so here it is. These two ladies were friends in high school and their relationship has moved on from high school pals to avid outdoor ladies. They started like most with a firearm and moved into the archery hunting realm. They both love to fish rounding out their outdoor lifestyle. Tara Browning formerly, Tara Baker, met her husband at work and the rest is history. Her husband, Douglas Browning is an avid hunter himself. Their beautiful log cabin home is adorned with several trophies validating his passion for hunting. Doug might even be borderline obsessed with hunting according to Tara. However, they are both biting at the bullet to get in the woods this fall. “A family that hunts together stays together” quote has a new meaning in this family. Most ladies take a break when the little ones come along but not Tara. Tara had twins but that did not stop her or her family from doing what they love. Tara strapped one on her back and Doug strapped the other one on his back. Tara said, “Today is more of a challenge now that they are older…when they were babies they slept for hours.” If firearms were involved the babies had their own hearing protection. If they got hungry Tara did the Mommy thing and fed them and then moved on with their hunt. This technique allowed Tara to practice with her bow and allowed both husband and wife to enjoy their passions and make memories with their kids that will last a lifetime. Now that Colt and Trace are 3 years old a little more planning has to go into a husband wife hunt but that doesn’t seem to be a problem as Tara and Doug have plans for a “Anniversary Hunt” this year…minus the twins. One of the primary reasons Tara hunts is because of the wild meat. Tara is a firm believer in the Paleo Diet. She states, It solidifies hunting for me, it is the perfect human diet.” Her goal this year is to harvest an elk, fill her deer B tag and a nice mule deer buck. Sounds like Doug had better get ready to move some of his stuff from those cabin walls. Moving on to the second half of this duo…Keaton Jones. Keaton also a 2009 graduate of Plains, Montana high school gives credit to Zack Anderson and Kelsey Grover (formerly Anderson) for getting her started into hunting her senior year. Keaton started bow hunting in 2010 about the same time as Tara. Already Keaton has taken a turkey and several grouse with a bow which is even hard for seasoned archers. Her goal this year is a deer and an elk. When asked why she didn’t mention a bear she paused, smiled and stated, “Hunting a bear with a bow is a little intriguing.” I sensed a little hesitation with her going nose to nose with a bear. I asked Keaton what her favorite part of bow hunting was and she said, “I like the close encounter. It is such a rush and totally different than rifle hunting. To me it is more of a challenge.” I know Keaton is getting ready and from the video she sent me she is deadly with that bow of hers. Keaton shoots a Diamond Infinite Edge with 100 grain Toxic broadheads. As you can see from the picture top left she is armed for bear...well deer, turkey, grouse and elk anyway. Continued on Page 7 6
FAMILY & FRIENDS CONTINUED All you young single guys…this little outdoor lady is available. I had to do a follow-up question to this story and guys she was cooking bourbon brownies when I called. However, if you have a problem with her out shooting you and killing bigger game than you, you might want to check that pride at the door if you want a date. On the other hand, if you have a boat, steady job, hunting rig and a passion for the outdoors just to name some of the criteria, then you might want to think about following up on this story. In the end, this story is about family, friends and making memories that will last a lifetime. If you hunt, introduce someone new to the experience. If you have never hunted because…you fill in the blank, don’t make excuses, pick up a gun or bow and get out there and enjoy the great outdoors. Even with a baby on your hip or back!
… yourself when out hunting. Before leaving the truck make sure you have plenty of water to stay hydrated in these hot dry conditions. Take a rain jacket in case it comes up a rain shower...I know it is wishful thinking. However, if you get wet it can quickly turn to hypothermia. Use a walking stick when traversing steep or rugged terrain. That little extra support might keep you from taking a bad fall and it gives me something to lean on while resting. Second, respect the game you are after. If you cannot get your game out before it spoils don’t kill it. The nights are cool but think about how far back you are and the temp before releasing that arrow or pull the trigger. Also, please respect private property.
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E-mail: peregrineemb@plainsmt.net 8
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TRAPPING
From speaking with the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Region 1 there are no trapping classes scheduled at this time. However, they will be coming out with an online certification in the very near future. One class MAY be held in December...stay tuned! If you already hold a wolf trapping certification, Dan Helterline an accomplished long line trapper (see photo left) will be holding a wolf trapping technique class this month. When: 12 September 8:00 AM—Until Where: Plains, Montana Costs: $185.00 per person. Call: 406-241-1467 with any questions & reserve your spot...class size limited!
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MONTANA DAN
Fire On The Mountain By Dan Helterline
I am writing this months contribution as I find time on the Parker Ridge Fire, spitting distance from the Canadian border, northwest of Bonners Ferry Idaho. As everyone is well aware we are in the peak of a historically epic fire season, while writing this I remind myself that today is the anniversary of the fire of 1910, a fire so unimaginably catastrophic that it burned to the ground whole communities and its scars can still be seen today in Montana and Idaho. Picture Taken By: Jake Tubbs on a fire north of Clark Fork, ID North Idaho is experiencing the worst fire season since 1967 and Montana is not far behind. The escalation of fire season has left me no time for any type of recreational activities to write about, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. My assignment on this fire should terminate in September giving me enough time to return to Missoula and complete my retirement paperwork, then, let the games begin! Hopefully September rains will arrive and give the woods some much needed relief and allow for a normal fall full of outdoor recreation that we are blessed with. There is another big chinook salmon run predicted to make its way up the Columbia this fall and if I can survive my retirement party I fully intend to meet them in the Hanford Reach near Desert Aire, Washington! I was successful last year boating about forty some salmon and I hope I can repeat that performance this fall. I still have a few openings available in my wolf trapping class in September if folks are interested in getting tuned up to trap some wolves this winter, Raf Viniard has my contact information if you need to get in touch with me. I sent some of the wolves that I had trapped to a furrier in Missouri after I had them tanned and had a coat made. It turned out fantastic, and if there are people out there that think there is no good use for a pack of wolves, they need to check out my coat! Continued Next Page 11
MONTANA DAN CONTINUED
I apologize for the shortness and lack of interesting content of my article this month but if I am successful in getting the Forest Service monkey off my back, next months contribution should be much better. Being a USFS smokejumper for 26 years was definitely an awesome job but my ego started writing checks my body couldn't cash and its time to turn the page in that chapter of my life. I hope everyone survives fire season and prepares for an awesome fall. Here are some pictures I took and they in no way show the damage caused by these fires. Montana Woods N Water wishes to thank all our firefighters and volunteers for their hard work!
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CAMPFIRE TALK
Is Your Rig Ready? By Alan Clarke It’s that time of year again when the days are getting shorter, the mornings & evenings are getting cooler, there is chaff in the air and a distant thunderstorm rumbling by. What does this mean to us in Western Montana? Fall is coming. We have been prepping for the coming season and this years bird or big game hunt by going on that extra hike (with a pack of course), sighting in our rifles, and practicing holding our draws without shaking too much. Getting to our secret spot to get the big one is all part of the fun. If you’re going to use your ATV, or side x side, you should probably check a few things over to make sure nothing gets in the way of your adventures. Here are some of the basics you can do to help ensure you have a great hunt and a reliable rig to get you there, haul out your trophy, and get you back to camp. CHECK YOUR TIRES - Inspect your tires for irregular wear and the correct pressure. Take the time to make sure all of the brakes are functioning, and that pads are in good shape. While you are there, check that the lug nuts are tight and that your CV boots and axles are in good condition with no cracks and that all of the zerks have been greased. This also gives you the opportunity to eyeball the frame, a-arms, and shocks to make sure everything is in order. CHECK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - No sluggish batteries! If in doubt take it in to be tested, the service is usually free. Check the lights, front and back. Check all of the switches and toggles for connectivity and insure all items are working properly. Don't forget the hand and thumb warmers, and winch if equipped. MAINTINENCE - Fresh gas! Ethanol gas has a shockingly short life and can cause all kinds of problems the least of which is poor performance. Most manufacturers recommend premium non-ethenol gas. It is a splurge but so worth it if you aren't using your rig daily to keep the lower grade stuff fresh. Check the oil and your service records to see if its time to change it. Air filters should be checked frequently especially when riding on dirt and gravel roads in dry conditions. It is also a great idea to check your front & rear differential fluid, spark plugs and belt. For the Boy Scout (you know the motto “Always Be Prepared” or the paranoid, have an extra plug and belt with you. Don’t forget, when repairing, or replacing parts, or servicing your machine you should either take it to a qualified dealer or specifically follow the guidelines in the owner’s manual…not following them could result in machine failure, voided warranties, and/or injury. Continued on Next Page
Archery Season Openers: 5 September 2015 Antelope ● Bear ● Bighorn Sheep ● Black Bear Deer & Elk ● Mountain Lion ● Wolf Go to www.fwp.mt/hunting.com to read the regulations. 13
CAMPFIRE TALK CONTINUED ON TO THE DREAMS - Now that you covered all your basic ATV/UTV prep, we move into the realm of dreams. THE ACCESSORIES. Accessories are the al a mode to the pie. The top wished for items for a Side x Side: Cab enclosure, heater, winch, blade, lift kit, dura clutch, chain saw & gun racks, B A tracks, and a personal favorite an LED light bar. You can turn the dark into daylight with that baby! Top wishes for the ATV rider: Rack extender, storage boxes, winch, tire chains, light bar, and the "once I had it, I couldn't live without it"- hand and thumb warmers.
One of the best inexpensive accessories is a multi-pocket storage bag packed with a first aid kit, a small tool kit, fire starter, water filter, and an extra quart of oil. Ensure a fun, safe, successful trip by doing routine maintenance, knowing your machine, and knowing your limits. And remember, no braggin' till your draggin'!
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SPORTSMAN’S MEDITATION
“A Closed Mouth Gathers No Foot” By Pastor Jim Sinclair Once again it was time to start looking for firewood for people in our community, every year we try to help the needy with firewood. Our church is fortunate enough to own a self-loading logging truck and a Cat 518 skidder, the hard part is locating a volume of wood to service everyone. I bounced around in my pick-up for two solid hours to no avail, it was early morning and at least we seen some elk and a few deer. As I drove a few more miles we came around a corner and I was AMAZED!!! At what I saw, I had just entered the Chippy Creek burn area, after further inquiry, I learned this area burned about seven or eight years ago. As far as you could see , it had been devastated. This fire burned in excess of 82,000 acres. Once again my mind started wandering, I remembered a similar situation in the bible. It’s found in the book of James, Chapter 3 Verse 5-7... 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches but a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. (NLT) I need a constant reminder to watch my tongue. My mother told me best, “Remember, Jim, “A closed mouth gathers no foot.”. Keep Livin The Life., Pastor Jim
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NEXT GENERATION
Pictured Left: Molly & Mason Gotham of Libby, Montana. Pictured Right: Annie Barnes also of Libby, Montana. These fish were all caught at the Libby Pond. These kids are truly “Living The Montana Dream!� Great job Molly, Mason and Annie...what time is supper?
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Mission Valley Archers 3D Shoot August 8-9 Polson, Montana
LOCAL CELEBRITIES
This 3 D Shoot Sponsored in part by: Spirit Quest Archery, Westland Seed & Flaming Arrow Archery
Left to right: Andrey Brauer, Izaac Normandeau, Zach Yerkes and Dawson Yerkes. Check out those prizes! Congrats guys!
Left to Right: Mamm Lippincott and Sarah Yerkes. Notice Sarah holding two bows!
Bryce Wehnli took top honors winning the pot!
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FLY FISHING - CHUCK STRANAHAN
An Angler’s September Song By Chuck Stranahan
As I write this, in late August, it seems that September is already here. Nights are a bit chillier than usual. There are a few scattered flocks of migratory geese making use of the field below my home – flocks that usually don’t arrive until mid-September. A few trees down by the river are already turning color. They, like the geese, usually wait until midSeptember. Here in the Bitterroot I can’t wait for the fall rains to come soon and clear the smoke from out-of-state fires. The urgency that I feel every autumn seems keener this year.. It comes in part with the need to store up enough fishing to last through the coming winter, but has more to do with other things. The whole earth will soon be getting ripe for harvest. The trees down by the river turn color; just a bit at first, hinting at what is to come. The river cools down, a few degrees at a time, and the seasonal procession of aquatic insects go through their brief rituals in rhythm with the changes in the river. I want to watch those subtle changes up-close, day by day, and bit by bit, and find myself being gradually surrounded by what becomes an overwhelming amount of beauty – beauty that won’t last forever. Miss it, and it’s gone.
As to the fishing, there is a cool, quiet, serene sense to the river in early autumn. The tourists have gone home, my neighbors divide themselves between wood cutting, hunting, and fishing. I have a prime stretch of river all to myself. All the trout are fattening up for winter. And they, too, like the leave on the trees above them, are changing color. The spawning browns have redder spots now, and their pale yellow sides have turned golden. The rainbows look as if their sides were splashed with a vermilion paintbrush. And what about the cutthroats? Why are their bellies so bright now, nearly crimson, brighter than their orange sides? Why are these trout so beautiful, now, amid all this other beauty? I cannot be here without being struck again by these questions. I find comfort in the answers they bring. The joy and wonder, the awe and humility that strikes me all at once can only have one source.
If I couldn’t fish, I might not be here, taking this walk along the river, regardless of the rejuvenation I find here. My fly rod gives me reason to be here, and I do intend to use it. So I wade in, and feel the tight chill of the current against my waders. My casting becomes automatic as I take it all in: the faint whiff of smoke on the air along with the scents of drying leaves and wet grasses mixed with the pines; I see a few fall drakes in the air and the lazy ring of a trout downstream that just rose for one; I’ll cast to him later. For now I stop fishing to do a one-eighty: I see the first wisps of snow on the mountain peaks above the bright changing colors in the long afternoon shadows along the riverbank. Some geese call as they pass overhead. I take that crisp, tart local Macintosh apple out of the pocket of my fishing vest and feel it break against my teeth. Continued on Next Page
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FLY FISHING CONTINUED - CHUCK STRANAHAN I toss the apple core where the birds can make a meal of it, and get ready to go do business with that trout. He might quit rising soon, and I know that this day, like the season, won’t last forever. I walk down the gravel bar and feel a smile break out across my face as I slow down, so as not to spook him. I start to cast again and it all comes together: This is where I want to be, doing this, right now.
September Hatches—Chuck Stranahan Fall brings a smorgasbord of insect activity on Western Montana rivers. Water levels are low and water temperatures are ideal. There will be a variety of insect activity to bring trout to the surface. It’s all good. Here’s the rundown: Tricos—The typical trico dry fly is a black-bodied whitewinged #20 that plasters into the surface film from 8AM until noon and is difficult to see. A way out of this is to fish another tiny but more visible fly, such as a pink-winged, purple-bodied parachute, ahead of a trico attached to about two feet of 6X leader Mahogany duns—Those slender-bodied, dark #14 mayflies will be around from mid-afternoon on, on most rivers, most days. You seldom see clouds of them, but they can occur in fishable numbers most anywhere. The purples - hazes, crazes, spectrals – work well enough for the mahoganies. So do purpose-tied mahogany comparaduns and the like. October caddis—This big moth-like fly is present in most of our freestone rivers, with concentrated activity just below gentle riffles. The giant orange sedge (another name for the October caddis) is one I often refer to as an iceberg hatch. That is, most of the activity occurs beneath the surface. From noon on, a #8 orange caddis nymph can work wonders fished as a dropper below a #8 orange stimulator. Or retrieve that nymph in a series of nine-inch, deliberate pulls, right through the middle of a run in the afternoon. Blue-winged olives—On overcast days, from 10AM until 3PM, these tiny #18 flies can come off like clockwork. There are places where you can set your watch by them. If you’re going to fish this hatch efficiently, (and it’s worth figuring out,) you’ll need to fish the stage of the hatch the fish are taking. Blue-winged olives hatch in droves. Trout will fix on the stage of the hatch that is most easily captured. That might be the nymphs as they come off the bottom in waves. Try a slender grayish nymph in #16 as a dropper below a blue-winged olive dry. It might out-fish the dry. On the surface the trout often grab the nymphs coming out of their shucks. Instead of a standard dry, fish a #18 snowshoe or CDC cripple and you might be surprised.
"Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn." ~ Chuck Clark 20
OUTDOOR VETS Last months print edition had a small snafu and these pictures did not make it to the print. We had to make it right and honor these local veterans for their service. Pictured Left—Left to Right: Airman First Class Mike Wigton, owner of Bucks Grocery, Hot Springs, MT and his military buddy Airman First Class Jeff Miller served together in Vietnam.
Pictured Right: Corporal Drew Carr during his tour in Greece. Drew works at Bucks Grocery also.
Our veteran’s profile is a little different this month. Instead of focusing on just one outdoor veteran, we’ve chosen two. A couple, Shaun & Jennie Speck, who met in the military and are now raising their children to hunt, fish, and garden; maintaining and carrying on the sustenance lifestyle to their kids. Jennie was born at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota and spent her childhood as a military kid. She joined the Air Force in 1994 and was active duty until 2004. Shaun joined the Air Force as well, with his service dates going from 1996 to 2007. Both Jennie and Shaun served tours as part of Operation Southern and Northern Watch, protecting the air space over Iraq. They met while stationed at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma in 1997 and it was far from love at first sight. However, Shaun’s persistence and gentle demeanor won her over and they’ve been by each other’s side since. Shaun had lived in Troy, MT as a teen and knew it was where he wanted to live with his family. Using his aforementioned persuasive demeanor, it wasn’t hard to convince Jennie. And by 2008, they and their children had established a home in Troy. Jennie and the kids quickly adapted to the lifestyle that Shaun was eager to share with them, taking up hunting and fishing with the passion so many of us share. They love the idea of providing for their family a wholesome, organic meal and enjoying quality family time is the proverbial cherry on top. Continued on Next Page 21
OUTDOOR VETS CONTINUED
Grouse and deer are the game of choice for the Speck family. Jennie and all three kids have had the honor of using the same gun that Shaun and his father used on their first deer, a trusty Winchester Model 64 .30-30.
Darby’s fish!
The Speck’s also love to fish, and living right on the banks of the Kootenai River has allowed them to feed their hunger for trout, but they refuse to reveal their secret bait. One of Shaun’s favorite fishing memories is while stationed in Panama, he and three others caught 142 Peacock Bass in four hours in a jon boat on the Panama Canal. They say their greatest accomplishment as outdoorspeople is raising their children to hunt responsibly and watching all three kids take their first animal. Their advice to the next generation is thus: “Take the time to enjoy the outdoors, turn off your electronics, and enjoy life. Hunting and fishing is not about the biggest harvest, it is about being one with nature.” Patriots and lovers of the outdoors, the Speck family is a pretty outstanding unit. Thank you for your service to our country and your fondness for the forests that you’re passing onto your children.
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STORY TIME - TOBY WALRATH
BAM’s CAMS By Tolby Walrath “How many BAM cameras did you buy Hoppy?” Trigger asked. “Well, there was a great sale on line with a 30% discount price and free shipping if I signed up for a credit card and with purchases of over…” “I asked how many you bought, not for your life story.” Trigger interrupted.
“Nine.” Hoppy finally answered. The two stood in the sporting goods store in front of the batteries. Hoppy didn’t account for the price of batteries when he maxed out his credit card on the new Buck Alert Machine (BAM) trail cameras. He blamed the late night purchase on his choice of beverage. Trigger thought it had more to do with volume than brand but he offered to buy batteries anyway. He was wishing now that he had all the information before he made the offer. Especially information like how many batteries these things were going to need. Trigger dropped the 18th 4 pack of D batteries into his shopping cart. “How long are these things supposed to last?” Trigger asked with a growl. “Tests have shown that they can last up to six weeks in temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. “ Hoppy said matter-offactly. “And what about if you live in Montana?” Trigger asked rhetorically. Knowing full well Hoppy hadn’t considered that temperatures drop below 70 degrees almost every day. Even if Hoppy had considered that fact, he avoided the answer. Trigger wasn’t in the mood to use technology to tell him when deer and elk were walking through his hunting area and he didn’t want a flashing camera spooking everything off. Hoppy assured him that the infrared technology wouldn’t spook game but Trigger decided he would rather hunt the old way, spending midday hours looking for tracks and writing his findings down on paper. “With this Buck Alert Machine you can know exactly where and when the deer is working the area and the data can be downloaded onto your PC through a remote network called…” Hoppy began.
Reminder: Hunters pull those game cameras by 4 September 2015. 23
STORY TIME CONTINUED - TOBY WALRATH “That sounds complicated” Trigger interrupted. “And I’m not relying on some piece of foreign plastic to tell me when and where to hunt. I want nothing to do with those BAM cameras.” Trigger stated. Hoppy ignored Triggers sentiment. He was excited to get trail cameras out and after spending a few hours reading the instructions and programming all the settings he began strapping them to trees all over the woods like a squirrel hiding nuts. Meanwhile Trigger hiked into his usual places and found fresh tracks and droppings along the edges of creeks. Freshly browsed leaves and grass proved that he was in a prime feeding area and he already picked out a couple good trees for his tree stand. Hunting with a long bow required close positioning. “Who needs some stupid BAM camera to tell a hunter how to hunt.” Trigger thought to himself. That evening Trigger stood in his garage with his sharpening stone working the edges of two blade broad heads, honing them to a razor sharp finish. Each broad head was tested by shaving hair from his arm. Trigger looked up when he heard a door slam and wondered why Hoppy had his lap top computer in his hand when he stepped out of his truck. “Hey! I’ve got two smasher bucks on my BAM camera! Wait until you see this!” Hoppy nearly squealed with excitement. He opened the lap top and there on the screen was a buck that Trigger had seen last season a mile from where Hoppy now had the cameras hung. The unmistakably wide 5 x 5 white tailed buck with a drop tine on his left side had emerged from the edge of a beaver dam and slowly fed past the camera at ten yards. It was the same buck that had walked past Triggers tree stand the previous season and fed slowly toward him for nearly twenty minutes. It was early September and the big buck walked past his stand at 40 yards, too far for his long bow to reach but close enough that the image of those antlers were seared into his memory.
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OUTDOOR POLITICS
Future Direction of FWP By Tom Fieber
Photo Taken By: Tom Fieber on Wildhorse Island
Looking back at the history of FWP in Montana I see positive things. Sportsmen can be proud of wildlife enhancements, access to private and public lands, dedicated personnel and many other accomplishments that FWP has done. Everyone had their own opinions. We hear complaints from fellow sportsmen from time to time but overall it has worked.
Working relationships with FWP personnel from my stand point has always been positive. As a hunting education instructor, a hunter, a fisherman, a trapper and general outdoorsman I have always been able to benefit from my experiences with FWP.
Montana probably has the most successful and diverse flora and fauna in the lower forty eight states. Due to habitat and careful scientific programs in the past we have enhanced what we had. Now we are struggling to continue on the path, special interest groups are trying to take control. My biggest fear for the future is rapidly becoming an urgent concern now. Politics!! Due to Anti- groups across the nation we are facing increasing pressure to forgo scientific research and proven means of managing our fish and wildlife. Instead a small portion of the population is against almost all forms of outdoor use. In other states they generally start with animals cruelty campaigns. This is a subject that can generate public sympathy and lots of funding. Last year anti’s tried to gather enough signatures to get a trapping ban in Montana. They did gather less than 9,000 of the needed 24,000 or less that 9/10s of one percent of Montana’s population. In states where they have won court cases or ballot issues they press on with their main objective. Every state that has tried to appease these groups has lost more and more control. Could this happen in Montana, it already has. Continued on Next Page
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OUTDOOR POLITICS CONTINUED Even with the problems and expenses that wolves have brought to Montana that will be a small hill compared to the mountain of what is to come. Anti’s past, current and planned lawsuits are costing millions of dollars to defend on state and federal levels. These suites involve Lynx, wolverine and sage grouse. Unlike wolves these groups are asking to completely restrict access and management of these species. The implications are huge compared to wolves. I have been told by FWP personnel in the past not to worry, that was before they settled in court a Lynx lawsuit recently that conceded certain trapping rights Photo Taken By: Tom Fieber on Wildhorse Island to parts of Montana. Now that Montana has admitted fault in court, contrary to US Fish and Wildlife Service, what else will the anti’s ask for and what is FWP willing to concede next time. Here in Montana FWP personnel are restricted from supporting themselves and sportsmen politically by directives from Helena. If I understand correctly, that is what legislation dictates. If that is the case we need to make changes there. The fact that FWP personnel cannot comment publicly on court cases or ballot issues is absurd. That takes away the validity of past and future scientific studies that have guided us in the past. State wildlife agencies should and do have the right to defend their studies and practices. All we need to do is to look at what has happened in other states. States that have political appointed personnel and commissions have been overloaded with good people that unfortunately are driven by emotions not science. California and Colorado are prime examples. Some states have not been attacked to date due to laws that protect or have rights to prevent them. All Montana needs to do is to follow those states and pass similar laws. Continued on page 27
Bam Cam Continued from page 24 Eleven different photos showed the buck meandering along taking bites out of green leaves as it walked past the camera two days in a row at exactly 6:30 am. “Man, I need to be in my tree stand by 5:30 so I don’t spook this buck.” Hoppy said. “How far is the buck bedding from where your camera is?” Asked Trigger. “I don’t know I didn’t want to walk into the bedding area and push him out of there. But I’ve got the spot surrounded with cameras now. And once I get the Geo Orbital Block Buck Enhancement Download, acronym: GOBBED - feature I’ll be able to monitor the bucks from home. Hoppy replied. “Don’t you think all that GOBBED technology takes away from the experience of hunting and gives you an unfair advantage?” Trigger asked.
“Are you saying you don’t want to look at the photos of thirteen different bucks that I’ve accumulated in the past week?” “Thirteen?!” Trigger yelled. “Let me see that!” Trigger said grabbing the laptop. “I thought you didn’t want anything to do with the BAM trail cameras because they give an unfair advantage.” Hoppy said. Trigger looked over the screen of the lap top. The screen showing a full color image of the drop tined buck that he couldn’t stop thinking about since last September. After staring Hoppy in the eyes he relaxed and smiled wide. “I just want to look at pictures on your lap top.
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OUTDOOR POLITICS CONTINUED States with large population centers and sparsely populated rural areas have convinced urban voters that have little experience with wildlife or nature to vote against established practices. People that live in the rural areas are outnumbered at the polls but are forced to live with the vote. It should be wildlife agencies that educate and promote management practices and show benefits to the urban voters. The state of Maine has fought a tough battle lately. Anti groups got a ballot issue in last year’s election to restrict bear hunting. Like most of these it was instigated by out of state groups. Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife management practices were supported on TV and other ads by the agency. That was challenged in court but was upheld. The agency supported their policies and sportsmen in the fight to maintain those rights. In the end voters voted no to the restrictions. Looking forward to the next ten years I would like to see FWP take a more powerful public stand on issues that would affect known practices. Spend more money on educating the public, then perhaps less on litigation. Select commission members that are outdoor oriented people that actually support established research not emotional politicians. Research what has happened in other states to prevent repeated failures. Can Montana wildlife benefit for the next ten years based on emotional agendas instead of scientific facts? After all the years of successful management my vote would be to follow the facts.
Montana Woods N Water Goes Blogging www.blog.montanawoodsnwater.com I know, I know, not everyone is into the digital age and the computer thing but it is here to stay and we have over 40,000 followers through our digital on-line publication and social media sites. For those that are digital gurus and smartphone fanatics we have just introduced our new online blog. Check it out! In the past we put out a digital issue every week...what a pain in the butt that was. It would never fail, just as soon as I got it posted, new information would come in and before the next week’s edition it was old news. We would rush to put it on our Facebook page but there was just not enough room to really go into any details. With our new blog we can post things as they happen and bring you into our outdoor experiences from scouting reports, local celebrities and the next generation with their most recent kills and catches. It is a more laid back type content with less formalities. I can literally post something to the blog sitting on the tailgate of my truck or atop a mountain if I have signal. It is educational, informative and entertaining and at the same time very current. With each print issue we will tease you with what is happening on our blog, for instance: this month we have: Two Videos: We have teamed up with Skeeter Johnston Productions to produce a “Low Water Fishing” tips video and our new “Promo Video” with some local stars. Several pics & articles past & present. It is FREE so sign up and get the latest updates. If you have video, pictures or stories you would like to share send them to me. Check it out!
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EVENTS
Grouse Season When: September 1st Where: Montana Archery Season When: September 5th Where: Montana Sanders County Fair & PRCA Rodeo When: September 3 - 6th Where: Sanders County/Plains, Montana The Annual Crawdad Festival When: September 4-7th Where: Dirty Shame Saloon, Yaak, MT Nordicfest When: September 11-13th Where: Libby, MT Fall Harvest Festival When: September 19th Where: Riverfront Park, Libby, Montana Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) Banquet When: October 10th Where: Trout Creek, MT/Lakeside Motel & Resort 28