Mba winter 2014 issue

VOL. 42 #2 Winter 2014

Return service requested Montana Bowhunters Association PO Box 23611 Billings, MT 59104

PAGE 14

Three Does and 3 Bows – PAGE 9 MBA Member Profile – PAGE 10 MBA Survey Ballot – PAGE 11 Ontario Moose Hunting - Part 3 – PAGE 13

Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 120 Bozeman, MT 59718

MBA

Regional Representatives Region 1

Al Kelly

PO Box 219, Libby, MT 59923 ..................................... 406-293-2900 alman@frontiernet.net

Dan Moore

75 Haywire Trail, Kalispell MT 59901 .......................... 406-756-7395 bigdanmt@yahoo.com

Region 2 Marlon Clapham

4455 Hoover Lane, Stevensville, MT 59870 ................ 406-777-2408 mbaregion2@gmail.com…

Kim Blaskowski 426 Lynx Lane, Stevensville, MT 59870 ...................... 406-381-9112 turkeyfootgirl@aol.com

Region 3 Brian Koelzer Region 4 David Stratton

80 Jansma Lane Manhattan, MT 59741...................... 406-570-7997 rocknrollbowhunter3@yahoo.com

markschwo@gmail.com

Region 7 Region 8

MBA

officers PRESIDENT

Joelle Selk 6963 York Road • Helena, MT 59602 jselkmt@3riversdbs.net • 406-422-6798 1ST VICE PRESIDENT

Paul Martin 110 Sage Lane • Kalispell, MT 59901 paulhmartin99@gmail.com •406-261-4456

2120 3rd St. South, Great Falls, MT 59405 ................. 406-452-3238 destratton@gmail.com

Mark Schwomeyer 60 Hruska Ln, Lewistown, MT 59457.......................... 406-350-0173

Region 5 Vacant Region 6 David Moon

www.mtba.org

97 Aberdeen, Glasgow, MT 59230 .............................. 406-942-0659 djmoon9876@gmail.com

Bob Morgan

P.O. Box 1995 Colstrip, MT 59323.............................. 406-749-0706 robertredface@gmail.com

Jerry Davis

725 Middlemas Road, Helena, MT 59602................... 406-475-2226 pipelinejerry@gmail.com

AT LARGE DIRECTORS

2ND VICE PRESIDENT

Steve Schindler 134 Sawney Drive • Glasgow, MT 59203 sas@nemont.net • 406-228-9024 TREASURER

Jenn Schneider PO Box 23611 • Billings, MT 59104 mtba@mtba.org • 406-697-7668 SECRETARY

Marian Stratton 2120 3rd St South, Great Falls, MT 59405 mnstratton1@gmail.com • 406-452-3238

EVEN YEARS

Roger Peffer 2517 9th Ave So., Great Falls, MT 59405 – regorp77@msn.com ..................... 406-452-0911 Seth Rogers

1425 Prickley Pear, Billings, MT 59105 – srogers@lamar.com......................... 406-670-5435

PAST PRESIDENT

Jason Tounsley 8630 Longmeadow Dr. • Billings, MT 59106

ODD YEARS

Adam Barker 4871 Alpha Drive, Bozeman, MT 59718 – adam.barker@ge.com ................... 406-461-2792

EDITORIAL COMMENTS The MBA Magazine is a quarterly publication of the MBA and is intended to inform, entertain and educate its members on happenings within the organization and to bowhunting in general.

PUBLICATION DATES AND DEADLINES

Stories, photos, or cartoons should be sent to Al or Teri Kelly at PO Box 23611, Billings, MT 59104 or email teray1979@yahoo.com. All materials are the opinion of the author unless otherwise stated, and are subject to being edited. All photos will be placed in the MBA Photo Ablum and can be viewed at the annual conventions. Any questions as to policies of MBA please write the President.

FALL ISSUE, DEADLINE, July 15 WINTER ISSUE, DEADLINE, October 15 SPRING ISSUE, DEADLINE, January 15 SUMMER ISSUE, DEADLINE, April 15

MEMBERSHIP INQURIES

Please send new memberships or renewal memberships to MBA Tresurer, PO Box 23611, Billings, MT 59104 or call 406-697-7668, register online at www.mtba.org or ask a member.

Donated by Christie’s Adventures and Box M Hunts

Retail Value $5,000 3 Day, 2 Night Hunt for 2 Hunters\Professional Guide and Trophy Fees Included.

Your Choice of Two of the following animals per hunter;

Duiker• Steenbock • Spingbock • Red Hartebeest • Warthog Includes Transportation to and from the Airport — Additionl Days and Animals can be added to your Hunt at additional cost. Included is a night Jackal Hunt If only one hunter goes on the hunt, that hunter cannot claim the other hunters days and animals.

Purchaser must Contact Dave Mumby within 5 buisness days at boxmranch@gmail.com or call 406-890-5729 Available dates are Feb., March, April or Sept., Oct., Nov., of 2014 or 2015. This offer does not include Airfare, Preparation of Trophies, or Shipping

Call for References: Jim Noffsinger 406-862-4306, Clint McCulloch 406-697-2375, Trol Johanson 435-881-6492, Darcy Barrett 403-652-7968, Monte McCulloch 435-792-3150

MAGAZINE CO-EDITORS

Teri and Al Kelly PO Box 219 • Libby, MT 59923 teray1979@yahoo.com

WEB DESIGNER

Lyle Hebel www.pixelelk.com MAGAZINE DESIGN K Design Marketing, Inc.

Kimberly Kinsinger 1613 South Ave. W. • Missoula, MT 59801 kim@kdesignmarketing.com 406-273-6193

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VOL. 42 #2 Winter 2014

EDITOR’S NOTE

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Teri Kelly Joelle Selk 1st VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Paul Martin

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2nd VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Steve Schindler

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REGIONAL REPORTS

LEGISLATIVE REPORT THREE DOES AND 3 BOWS MBA MEMBER PROFILE MBA SURVEY BALLOT ONTARIO MOOSE HUNTING - PART 2 Cover Story: THE HUNT FOR A WOLF

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BUSINESS & CLUB

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opefully everyone had a great season this year. I was happy to harvest a little buck on opening day that I can tell you is mighty tasty. This is our third publication with the new format and each time we learn a little more about what we want to do with it so please give us your feedback and let us know how we are doing. In this issue, you’re being asked to complete a survey, and at this time, I want to share with you one of the reasons I feel it’s highly important that you complete it and return it. I recently received a survey in the mail, it was from a Wildlife defense organization and they wanted my opinion, and of course, a donation. Normally, I would take a survey such as this and round-file it because I don’t support this organization. In the letter it states they want my honest opinion and that this group needs my help to STOP the WRECKLESS killing campaigns that claim the lives of hundreds of wolf, including wolf pups. In fact, the theme of the letter mostly focused on saving the wolves. Of course, we all know what the goal here is, the questions are generic enough that most people are going to answer with the response that is desired. The group then takes these surveys to the powers that be and report that XX% of the people surveyed answered in this way so please stop the killing of wolves. So I answered it honestly and I mailed it back. Here are a couple of the questions.

Question #4 Are you concerned that some states are shooting and killing wolves? NO! Question #8 Should wealthy American trophy hunters be allowed to shoot polar bears in Canada just to use as wall decorations?

Seriously who is going to answer YES to that question? Of course no one wants to allow any animal to be harvested simply to decorate the wall of wealthy hunters. But we sure need to harvest them for game management and numerous other reasons. But that isn’t a choice you get to check, it’s either YES or NO. It’s all in the wording and it’s all in the numbers.

I have two points to make here. My first point is that, as members of a group, we have a voice, and now is the time for you to use your voice and express your preferences or desires when answering this survey. Our one voice with the majority decision will be used to leverage decisions made for bowhunters.

My second point is that, in the overall scheme of things, the voice of the MBA is weak when compared to the scope and reach of the anti-hunting groups that would like to see no hunting, no trapping, no access, etc. Our numbers are alarmingly low, especially when you consider we have 30,000 or more bowhunters in the state. We need every single one of those voices. We need to be vigilant in our efforts to ensure the future of bowhunting in Montana remains strong.

So fill out your survey, send it in and tell a friend about the MBA.

Teri Kelly

MEMBERS

FORM About the Cover

MEMBER GALLERY

Jay Sheffield of Libby with an amazing harvest of a wolf with his longbow!

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OFFICER’S REPORTS

First Vice

President’s Report

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Shall the girls and boys have their toys? There has been much ado about

Joelle Selk

President’s

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the latest decision of the Pope & Young Club. Just recently past president of Pope & Young, Mr. M.R. James, reassured us that the P&Y club is not headed down the wrong road, and the organization will fight to preserve our sport for this and future generations while honoring its rich heritage and traditions by promoting ethical fair chase bowhunting. So what does this mean for us Montanans? For many, not a darn thing, but for some, it’s everything.

Remember when P&Y accepted the 80% let-off on compound bows and allowed their entries in the record book with an asterisk by the name of the bowhunter?

After all those years it seems like that rule change has brought more women and youth into the sport of archery and bowhunters to the field. I believe in the safety of numbers, the more people into bows and arrows and the less into guns (or worse yet, crossbows, that have no place in archery season). That’s why all bowhunters should work together; if it is deemed legal archery equipment in the state of Montana, it shouldn’t make any difference.

s I reflected this week on my season thus far, I was reminded that all the opportunities I enjoy are the fruits of our labor, past and present.

Whether roaming around a block management area or enjoying time in an archery-only area, the efforts of our members continue to ensure our opportunity and success in harvesting the “trophies” Joelle each Selkof us seeks. This is particularly evident in this issue, as we feature members like Jay Sheffield, who harvested a wolf this season. His success is shared by all of us and we heartily congratulate him, along with the harvests of all of our members, whether they are “first kills” or trophy bulls.

Back to the lighted nocks and cameras on the bow. With last year’s 36,509 resident bowhunters and 5,401 non resident bowhunters in the state, the MBA needs all the input our members can give us on these two items. Let’s be thankful for the efforts of the MBA to keep our bowhunting safe, sane, and most of all, of fair chase.

Our founders’ vision ensured that we are not just a glorified archery club, but a fully engaged, legislatively active organization, able to influence bowhunting and wildlife policy in a broad-based fashion. We are respected and effective because we do not limit ourselves to narrow special interests, but get involved in the many issues which affect us both directly and indirectly. I am very thankful for their leadership and hope we lead in an equally effective fashion as we enter another legislative session. We’re developing strategy and will have a survey out prior to the session regarding bills with repercussions to our opportunity.

Paul Martin

This past hunting season brought another milestone in my hunting career, when I arrowed my first elk with a recurve, what makes this exceptionally sweet, is that Neil Jacobson was standing three feet to my right. Well, I never said I was a fast learner.

Our convention is scheduled for March 27-29, 2015 at the Northern Hotel in Billings. Convention preparations are under full steam, with a strong core of Billings members at the helm. Long-time member Sean Dunn is our convention chair and we’re fortunate to have Treasurer Jenn Schneider’s financial acumen close at hand. If you’re a Billings-based member, they can use your help to solicit donations and organize the details of the events. Contact Sean at 406-208-0517 or Jenn at 406-697-7668 and let them know how you can help.

We’ve included a short survey in this issue related to the question of lighted nocks and bow-mounted cameras. The survey is also being sent out electronically. Members can choose either the mail-in option or the electronic option to respond, as each method allows us to authenticate each unique vote and obtain an accurate count. Survey results will be published in the convention issue.

Enjoy the late season archery only opportunities and predator hunts! I know I’ll be spending more time in the coming weeks securely tucked into a treestand ready to put tension on the string. I wish luck to you all in your final 2014 pursuits and the best of times spent with family and friends during the holidays.

Yours in bowhunting,

Joelle Selk Region 8 Meeting Helena December 3rd @ 6:00pm at Overland Express.

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Paul Martin

OFFICER’S REPORTS

MBA Committees

Second Vice President’s Report

Legislative:

Joelle Selk, Chair

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s the 2014 season winds down and comes to a close, we’ve had a few factors come into play that had a huge impact on bowhunters and the hunt. First off, we had a tremendous rain a few weeks before the season that washed out bridges and roads all across the Missouri Breaks. Many of the main access routes were closed off right at the Highway. We’re talking major rain anywhere from 5 to over 12 inches of rain in a 4 day stretch. What happened next sort of took us by surprise, and that was the horde of mosquitoes.

It would be hard to put an actual number on the little blood sucking vermin, but it was hard to breath without sucking in a daily dose of protein with each breath. Needless to say, many hunts were ruined. What was needed was a good killing frost, and as of now, three weeks into October, we haven’t had the frost we need. It has been a bit cooler and the number of mosquitoes has been knocked back quite a bit, but they’re not gone and are still ruining hunts.

The Bullwhacker/Durphee Hills debacle is alive and well. At least the BLM has tabled the idea of giving the Durphee hills away and from the sounds of it the hills will remain in public ownership. The Lewistown Office of the BLM is on record for creating an access route into the Bullwhacker country. They have stated they will create an access route into these 238 sections of BLM Nat’l Monument lands this year, well as far as I can see, they had better get busy.

My close friend Jerry Davis drew a coveted Moose tag this year and I volunteered to help out on the hunt.

I’m a fairly well trained pack horse and don’t need to be staked out each night. The hunt took place in HD 100, the far northwest corner of the state, and in the course of the hunt I saw one moose and three Grizzly Bears. In fact, I have hunted this area three different times in the past few years and have seen four Grizzlies on these hunts. I believe it is time we start thinking very seriously about delisting the Grizzly Bear and create some sort of a Grizzly Bear season.

Lastly, I will make another pitch on counting Wolves. We are told by the FWP that the wolf populations are static or decreasing slightly, and I would like to point out, yes, that is true in about 1/3 of Montana, where they count wolves, but the wolf population is on the rise in the rest of Montana. I say, let’s count wolves in all of Montana and then we will know just how many wolves actually reside in Montana, and then we can manage accordingly.

Steve Schindler

Jerry Davis • Adam Barker Steve Schindler Marlon Clapham • Dan Moore

Tentatives:

Steve Kamps, Ex-officio Chair Adam Barker • Joelle Selk Paul Martin • Mark Schwomeyer Marlon Clapham Steve Schindler • Dan Moore

Financial:

Chair, vacant Jenn Schneider • Jerry Davis Seth Rogers • Joelle Selk David Stratton

Landowner/Sportsman: Mark Schwomeyer, Chair Dan Moore Mark Schwomeyer • David Moon

Nominations:

Chair, vacant Adam Barker • Al Kelly Paul Martin • Steve Schindler

Awards:

Roger Peffer, Chair Al Kelly • Steve Schindler Marlon Clapham • Jenn Schneider

Membership:

Chair, vacant Jenn Schneider Joelle Selk • Seth Rogers Kim Blaskowski

Convention 2015:

Sean Dunn, Chair Jenn Schneider • Seth Rogers Joelle Selk • Adam Barker Roger Peffer

Steve Schindler

Mark Your Calenders for the

Magazine:

Al & Teri Kelly, Co-Chairs Steve Schindler • Roger Peffer Joelle Selk • Kim Blaskowski

Website:

Webmaster, Lyle Hebel Joelle Selk • Jenn Schneider

2015 MBA CONVENTION!

Carp Shoot:

March 27, 28, 29, 2015

Al Kelly, Chair Marlon Clapham • Brian Koelzer Bob Morgan • Mark Schwomeyer David Moon

At The Northern Hotel | Billings, MT

Joelle Selk, Chair

Bow-Ed:

Winter 2014

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MARLON CLAPHAM KIM BLASKOWSKI Marlon Clapham

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DAN MOORE AL KELLY

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ver the last few years, I’ve seen an alarming change in hunter behavior during hunting seasons. Instead of sharing the experience, it has become, antagonize and challenge the other hunters around you.

During our Arizona hunt this year ,my buddy from Alaska had his tree stand pulled from his hunting site. I also spoke with hunters who had their trail cams stolen, and in other situations, hunters blocked the roads with their trucks for as long as a week at a time.

This is also going on here in Montana. This year, I had the chips taken from my trail cams here, during pre-season, and last night, I was in my stand when I saw a truck driving on the road below me. He drove up to my Razor, got out of his truck and walked up to my stand when he already saw that I was in the stand. He then turned and walked into the bedding area where the elk come from.

Why has our hunting turned into this?

Bowhunters stealing from other hunters! When I get to a spot that I intend to hunt and someone else is there, I go somewhere else. It’s hard to watch our hunting seasons turned into this “beat the other guy at all costs free for all” it seems to have become. I have been bowhunting for over 50 years and have never seen anything like this.

Let’s work to bring the sportsmanship back to our sport!

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riends,

Another bow hunting season is in the books. After getting out in the spring and harvesting a gobbler I really kind of lost interest this year. Not all at once, it just got that way after I spent a lot of time in the woods. See, me and the boys, my two young Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, hike every day that I get off with some daylight left to do it. We covered most of the places that I bowhunt during the season and we scouted some new country.

Now, the game populations have changed in Lincoln County, heavier now on the predators and light on the ungulate numbers. At least that is my observation and the experience of many of my friends. Because there was still a very good crop of grouse in the woods, it was a real easy choice to spend my time afield with the boys. These dogs live to be out hunting and exploring the world. It’s just like having kids all over again, so as it turns out I spent a lot of days afield with a shotgun instead of a bow. But that is what is great about our great state, there’s always something to get you outdoors and enjoying life. Does that mean I am done with bowhunting? No Way! I love to bowhunt and I will be amped up for bow season next year. And that is why I participate in the Montana Bowhunters Association. Still the best game in town.

Because I wasn’t highly productive during the season, it’s a good thing my wife got out and bowhunted because the deer steaks we had for dinner tonight were mighty tasty. Some of our members traveled to other parts of the state where game was more plentiful and harvested elk. Fred Sichting put a nice cow in the freezer. Wendy Drake harvested a dandy bull and lastly a big HOORAH to Jay Sheffield for taking a wolf with his longbow. Jay you da’ man!

Anyone else with stories or pictures please get them to us, this is your newsletter so lets share them!

Still hunting

Dan Moore

Al Kelly Region 1 Meeting Libby December 4th at 6:00 pm at the Frontier office alley entrance 114 East 4th Street.

Dan Moore

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ard to believe the 2014 archery season has come and gone. Of course, that doesn’t mean we’re done, we just put on the orange vest and carry on.

I want to give an update on the young folks we introduced to archery this past summer, and want to thank those of you who took some time to give us a hand. We handled over 750 new shooters, from the Youth Expo to Billings Elk Fever and home school programs, church youth group and grade schools and the Sheep Foundation to the MT. Plus, we drew in a few new members and a bunch of Youth members for the future, Thanks to Paul and MBEF. I haven’t heard from very many of the Reg. 2 hunters, but the ones I did have had some fun. New members Jerry and Becky Doyle took advantage of the cow tags. Jerry drew a 262 tag and filled it early in the season. Becky took her first elk with her bow down in the Big Hole. She never got it done until she joined the MBA. My hunting partner and bride didn’t waste any time filling her A tag with another nice Whitetail Buck. She passed on a nice 5x5 at 15 yards, only to harvest a 4x6 a day or two later. That makes four nice bucks in as many years. Me, well I’m just hanging in there. My opportunity will come. Both Merri and Cecelia have taken advantage of their Whitetail B tags to put tasty steaks in the freezer.

The survey will be coming soon, please take the time to fill it out. The board needs this information to conduct business. Our membership input is the voice of MT. Bowhunters. Make your voice be a part of the solution and not part of the problem.

I will be having a couple of meetings in November,

Marlon Clapham

The bowhunting has recently lost a leader who touched the lives of many.

In Memoriam Larry O. Fischer 1957 ~ 2014

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arry O. Fischer, husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, mentor, friend and business partner, set up hunting camp in Heaven’s backcountry, on the afternoon of October 18, 2014. He was sent on his journey surrounded by his entire family at home, after an undaunted and often humorfilled 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Larry was born in Richfield, Utah on March 22, 1957, the first of two children to Bernie and Pat Fischer. Growing up in the household of a traveling salesman, the family moved around a bit and then they finally settled in Boise, Idaho. Larry attended Bishop Kelly High School and after graduation, continued his education at Utah State University.

There he not only obtained his degree but found and married his true love and math tutor, Belinda Lee Shores. Larry and Belinda were married November 18, 1977. Their son Blake Owen was born in 1978, followed by daughter Diana Lee in 1980, son Jake Patrick in 1983 and daughter Rebecca (Becky) Nelle in 1985.

Larry and Belinda moved from Logan to Boise in 1980 and joined his father, Bernie, in partnership of B.A. Fischer Sales Company, Inc., a wholesale irrigation supply house. Blake joined the family business in 2000, making the company a third generation business supplying irrigation parts to dealers across the nation and into Canada, with warehouse locations in Boise and Preston, Idaho as well as Pasco, Washington.

Larry’s primary passion, after his wife and kids, was hunting, particularly bowhunting with traditional equipment. In 1989, Larry and his friends found a way to combine their passion with a business opportunity and founded Traditional Bowhunter Magazine (TBM). From the humble beginnings of working nights and weekends around kitchen tables, TBM is now distributed to subscribers world-wide with headquarters in Eagle, Idaho.

and Anglers, lifetime member and past President of Professional Bowhunters Society, past President of the Idaho Irrigation Equipment Association, past President of Treasure Valley Bowhunters, past President of Idaho Traditional Bowhunters, and active member of the Idaho State Bowhunters, Traditional Bowhunters of Montana and Traditional Archers of Oregon.

Larry is survived by his loving wife Belinda; son Blake, grandchildren Marlie Jane and Cash Owen of Meridian, daughter Diana (Hans) Buckner, granddaughter Oakley Rose, of Whitehall, Montana, son Jake (Sarah), granddaughter Charlee Elizabeth, of Peerless, Montana, daughter Rebecca (Hank Harrison) who just returned from Italy, his brother Tony, of Washington DC, and his mother, Pat, of Meridian. He was preceded in death by his bird dog, Buddy, and his father, Bernie.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to any of the following: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network - PanCan.org - to help fight Pancreatic Cancer or Backcountry Hunters and Anglers - backcountryhunters.org - to help preserve hunting and fishing on public land or Benefit4Kids - B4K.org - to grant outdoor wishes of terminally ill and life-limited children.

We would like to thank all of those who kept us in their prayers this past year and especially the exceptional doctors and nurses at MSTI.

Brian Koelzer REGION 3

Memories and condolences may be shared with Larry’s family on his webpage at www.summersfuneral. com Shoot straight and God bless,

Kim Blaskowski

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Memorial Services were held Friday, October 24, 2014, at Summers Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel. A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at the Basque Center. On Sunday, October 26, 2014, a potluck bow shoot was held in Larry’s honor.

Friends and family were invited to celebrate further by wearing purple.

Larry’s passion of traditional bowhunting took him all over the United States and around the world.

He took Belinda with him and they made lasting friendships everywhere they went. From Alaska to Hawaii, Canada to Texas, California to Florida, all the way to Germany and Africa, hunting was the excuse to see the world. Larry loved his travels but he left his legacy by purchasing land in the middle of Montana to make sure his children and grandchildren always had a place to hunt.

Larry was an involved and outspoken member of several organizations, including serving as a National Board Member of Backcountry Hunters

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BRIAN KOELZER

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irst off, I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe archery season this fall. It seems like only last week I was counting down the days till September, but as I sit by the fire tonight writing this whitetails are starting to show pre-rut activity and in less than 48 hours ghosts and goblins will be roaming the neighborhoods in search of candy. Lately, I’ve been pondering the question of “why do we hunt”? Being in the construction industry, hunting is usually one of the main subjects discussed during lunchtime and as I move from job to job, I get to hear a great many stories of success, woe, and close but not quite. To one a great weekend may be merely getting to hear an elk bugle in the distance while another would consider that a “terrible” weekend.

Whether it is looking to put meat in the freezer, horns on the wall or finding peace of mind and body, the reasons for an individual to hunt seem to be as numerous as individuals hunting. What I find troubling is the pressure that some put on themselves like there is something they need to prove to others by harvesting an animal. I firmly believe hunting is about the hunt and that any animal harvested with a bow and arrow under the rules of fair chase is a trophy. A good many of my most memorable days in the field do not have anything to do with harvesting an animal but may include getting chased by a moose, blowing a great stalk at the last second or maybe watching a companion fall in an icy creek. Whatever the reasons are that motivate you to take part in the circle of life, take a moment to make sure that they are in the best interest of the hunter and hunted. Now, completely off the subject I would like to leave you all with one last thought. How is it do you suppose porcupines go about mating?

Keep ‘em sharp,

Brian Koelzer Winter 2014

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he 2014 bow season seemed to come up quick again and fly by. The late rains made the mosquitoes very bad in the Breaks. I used two cans of bug spray in the first day and still could not keep them off. It sounded like lots off hunters were successful. With all the green grass and water, the animals had plenty of areas to use.

I got to watch three bulls taking turns sparring with each other. Two would spar while the otherr one watched. That was something to see and keptt them distracted for a stalk.

know everyone had a great time bowhunting or just bow shooting this year in God’s country, Montana. The MBA and TBM both had a booth at the first annual Elk Fever event in Billings on August 9th. There were lots of kids and young folks introduced to bows at the MBA shooting area for sure. Thanks to Marlon and the guys. We broke some rocks and had some self-bows at the TBM booth. There were lots of bows, but mainly kids and adults with around 1000 participants at the event. It was a beautiful sunny day and I hope to see others there next year.

Lots of arrows shot at the Moose Creek shoot this year as always. This year we had a ‘Fox Shoot’. Two arrows at the fox every half hour, first one to hit it won $100.00. Austin Rogers hit it on his second round of arrows with the first arrow. Great job, Austin. The fox, a stuffed animal, was up hill some 80 yards or so, fun was had by all. Also a few broken arrows as the fox had lots of rocks around his den.

Bob Morgan

I also got to hunt an area south of Livingston. I sure saw lots of wolf and grizzly bear tracks. I wish I could have hunted that area back when there were lots more elk there. It is a different kind of hunting.

The mountains are so steep, if you bump the elkk and they run over the ridge, you are going to have a hard time chasing them down.

Dave Moon

We manufacture the worldʼs best light-weight camp stoves which are flexible, compact, tough and sturdy.

Riley stoves have become standard equipment in the camping and outfitting industry and are the most sought after light-weight stoves. For the last 30 years Riley Stove Company has kept ahead of modern technology and has continued to improve their products and grow. There are now over 24,000 Riley stove owners who have stayed warm and cooked hearty meals in camps all around the world.

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WWW.MTBA.ORG

I had the opportunity to show the 5th and 6th grade students at the middle school in Colstrip how to make a bow out of a willow shoot and string it.

Then I taught them how to tie a flint head to a willow shaft with sinew. We had a line of different antlers, feathers, snake skins, horns and bones displayed and he students had to try and name them. But what they liked the most was the red okra face paint. Even one of the teachers had fun with that. They would not let the students shoot bows this year, “Bummer”. So I showed them how to shoot right after I let out my war cry, that got their attention.

My grandson and I went antelope hunting and we bagged a nice buck. He’s not old enough yet, but sure was fun having him along. He’s my photographer. We also caught some nice bass out of our lake. He loves fishing.

Some of the guys around here did tag a few elk and deer, but the turkeys seem to be all gone.

The magazine needs your photos and stories so write ‘em up and get ‘em to me or Teri.

Remember to keep ‘em sharp and shoot CBS, “close, broadside and standing still”.

Bob Morgan God Bless

The antelope I got this year with the longbow I won at the convention by Herb Meland

REGIONAL REPORTS

Legislative

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JERRY DAVIS

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ell it is that time again. Hunting has kept me busy since the beginning of August and now we are fast approaching the 64th Legislative Session, which will begin after the first of the year. Of course elections are right around the corner (as I write this) and I hope everyone voted.

It is a right that many fought and died for. I have always been told that I have no right to complain about government unless I have voted. So get out there and vote.

Tomorrow, October 28th, I will be attending a special meeting on FWP alternative funding mechanisms. The proposed Wolf Stamp was an attempt by FWP to seek an alternative funding source but it was met with such widespread opposition that FWP decided to withdraw the proposal.

FWP funds nearly its entire fish and wildlife management budget with hunting and fishing license revenues. License fees have not increased since 2005, but in that same time, inflation has increased about 18%. Legislation has been drafted for the 64th Legislative Session to increase hunting and fishing license fees. Those recommendations are fundamentally based on recommendations from the Licensing and Funding Advisory Council, a citizen’s advisory panel made up of persons with hunting and fishing interests.

But FWP is seeing an everincreasing cost of managing non-game species of wildlife. Much of the management is due to endangered species concerns and other federally mandated programs. Because non-consumptive wildlife is taking a larger portion of FWP’s wildlife management budget, FWP is seeking to have non-consumptive users of wildlife financially support wildlife management. The Wolf Stamp proposal was an attempt at doing that.

After withdrawing the Wolf Stamp proposal, FWP selectively invited a small number of individuals who had expressed various views on the Wolf Stamp and/ or have an interest in fish and wildlife management.

FWP hopes that by bringing people together with differing views on fish and wildlife management, a solution can be developed for finding additional sources to fund the management of Montana’s fish and wildlife.

The concern with many in the hunting arena is if large portions of FWP’s fish and wildlife management budgets are generated by non-consumptive users of wildlife there is a risk of an anti-hunting agenda being forced upon the agency.

But we must remember we live in Montana, where hunting is a way of life. Even those who non-consumptively enjoy wildlife are strong hunting advocates if they understand the history of fish and wildlife management in North America.

Prior to the early 1900’s hunting was not regulated and commercial interests did as they chose. America’s bison herd, her elk, her deer, and her antelope were nearly all annihilated by commercial interests.

Theodore Roosevelt founded the Boone and Crockett Club in 1887, which fostered the conservation of

The 2015 Legislative Session begins January 5 . As we approach the session, it is important to become familiar with various tools available for researching bill drafts and progress. The Montana LAWS site (Legislative Automated Workflow System) at http://leg.mt.gov is the authoritative source for legislator rosters and contact info, committees, bill drafts, status of bill progress, and links for audio and video coverage of hearings and floor sessions. Under the Bills section, one has the ability to track bills of interest by establishing a “preference account.” Legislator contact lists are typically available for download to aid in contacting legislators prior to committee or floor votes. th

Jerry Davis wildlife through regulated hunting. B&C memberr h Senator John F. Lacey authored the Lacey Act which was passed in 1900. It prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold. Keith Balfourd in the 2014 n Big Game Montana Sporting Journal’s Opinion n page summarized the dawn of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation when he wrote h B&C Club members “believed that someone with an interest in seeing wildlife recover, that witnesses first-hand the destructive ways of an unlimited take, someone willing to regulate themselves and pay into the system out of their own pockets needed to step g forward, someone who would see value in setting aside protected habitats and refuges for wildlife to recover, who would support the growing science off d wildlife management, someone that had honor and h code. That someone, you guessed, was the North American sportsman.”

The species we now enjoy, both to hunt and to n watch, are here because some farsighted sportsmen hunters joined forces to curtail the commerciall exploitation of our wildlife so that it could be shared by the everyday sportsperson.

For generations, it has been hunters and fishers who have funded wildlife management and enforcement of wildlife laws. Wildlife advocates who do not hunt but who understand the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation should not be considered opponents. We must work with others who do not know or understand the history of North America’s wildlife and the role the hunting sportsman has played in preventing the extinction of much of our wildlife.

Throughout the session, our legislative committee sends out watchlists with proposed positions and specific information on how to contact legislators to encourage their vote for our position.

Rapid response is important and we encourage your input throughout the session to guide our testimony. We communicate with members almost exclusively through email notifications and accurate email addresses are crucial to our effectiveness.

Please update your email address by contacting your local rep ahead of the session to ensure we have your preferred contact information.

Thanks,

Joelle Selk Sports bowhunters participate in during the off season.

We all share common ground. We want wildlife opportunities to exist in the future for our children, and grandchildren.

Now, to thank my friends, Steve Schindler and Al and Teri Kelly. Thanks for your support and help while I pursued my goal over in the Yaak. Success is not always defined in meeting one’s highest expectations but instead it is in finding and learning, but meat on the table is nice.

Thanks guys.

Jerry Davis

Who is this world renowned athlete?

Winter 2014

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Etched byGlass Dar

REGIONAL REPORTS

DirectorsAt Large

W

hat a great time of year it is. That is usually not the mindset of folks when they look at the calendar about now, but over the years I’ve really started to enjoy it. It’s a transitional time between one hunting year and the next for most people. It’s the time to reflect on all the blessings and adventures of last year and look forward with anticipation to what the next 12 months will bring. On top of those normal changes, I’ve also experienced and continue in some fluid times. I’m in the process of relocating my family, some major changes taking place in my wife’s and my career, and another new addition to our family. One thing that comes with each of those items is additional demands on my time. So, I find myself needing to pare down some items in order to keep proper balance.

I will be hanging up my MBA board member hat at the end of this term. Looking back I think it has been 6-7 years that I’ve had the privilege of representing bowhunters in my area. I’ve met some great folks along the way, and I’ve learned a lot. Be certain that I’ll still be an active member, but I can no longer commit the time necessary to perform the job of board member adequately. I hope that others will feel the pull to serve our great sport, and use this opportunity to fill the gap with my departure. Once I catch up with life, I hope to again have the time to commit to the board, as it is truly a fulfilling position. I can honestly say I’ve gotten more out of the tenure than I’ve put in. Best wishes to the board, you do some amazing work and it is much appreciated. Good luck in the draws – they are right around the corner!

Adam Barker

A

s I write thi,s the bow season has just ended and I am getting ready to go for a walk with my rifle. The season started off kinda “rough”. I was three miles back on Sept 5th and ready to hunt elk the next morning… but I had a little mishap and fractured my toe. Dang that hurts! That kind of wrecked the opener for me. About 5 weeks before the opener,I had knee surgery to repair a nasty lateral meniscus tear. The doctor said it would be fine for hunting… it wasn’t. The first month of season was not pleasant trying to walk thru the woods… but- I still went hunting! On top of all that, I did not get drawn for the area I usually hunt. But- there was a bright side. I was forced to explore a new area for elk. And guess what? I found a wonderful area. It has relatively easy access and a lot of screaming bulls. I was in on them every day but could not quite connect. But- it was a ton of fun. So when Life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Don’t get stuck in a rut… try looking for animals in a different area!

By the time you receive this edition of our magazine the State and Federal elections will be over. I hope you all took the time to get out and VOTE! Our democracy has been hijacked by special interests and the only way to overpower them is at the ballot box. Just look at all the dark money pouring into our state from CA and TX and the ultra-rich. I can’t support someone in the back pocket of the Koch Brothers. During the last legislative session there were bills to eliminate our streamside access laws, deny corner crossing from one section of public land to another, and a whole myriad of (as Schweitzer called them) “Bat-shit crazy” Bills. I hope you are paying attention. Numerous sportsmen’s groups have been keeping track of these politicians that support gun rights but yet have consistently voted against hunters and fishermen, public lands access and habitat for our wildlife resources. Hunting and fishing contributes over $6 Billion into our state economy yet many politicians seem bent on eliminating access to public lands for us to hunt and fish a public resource. Some want to sell off our public lands to the highest bidder. I think some of these idiots have the attitude of European aristocracy in the middle ages where the property owner owns the wildlife on the property. MBA will be paying close attention to this legislative session and we will need your help to put pressure on legislators when they come forth with some more dumbass bills.

Don’t forget the MBA Winter Convention will be here before you can blink. We are always in need of donations for raffles, auctions, games, etc. Please consider donating to this very worthwhile cause.

We need all sorts of items- not just hunting and fishing stuff. Art, jewelry, baked goods, clothing, gear, weekend getaways, and the list of possibilities is endless. Grab your wife, kids and friends and come out for a great evening of fun. MBA and the sport of Bow hunting need your support. Also, we have a membership drive going on. While you are out hunting, pass along a copy of the MBA magazine to a friend. Tell them about the importance of supporting MBA. For about the cost of 2 arrows you can join MBA and support your opportunity to bow hunt in Montana.

Contact me if you have any concerns about bow hunting issues.

Roger Peffer

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Montana

BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

830 South Sunset Bench Stevensville, MT 59879

406-381-8510

EtchedGlassMt@msn.com

— By Robb Sager

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“

an I have another hamburger?” my daughter asked me as I tended the BBQ during a family gathering last summer. I replied, “Sure you can honey,” and made a mental note to mention to my wife that we would need to shoot more deer this year to feed our kids. With three growing kids all year and my son with us over the summer, we have been going through meat at an alarming rate. Since none of my kids are old enough to hunt big game yet, the pressure to fill the freezer falls on my willing shoulders and, with help from my wife we manage to get enough to make it through.

My focus each fall is to first try to get an antelope to fill in some of the empty space in our freezer, which is usually almost empty by the time the season rolls around. Next, I turn my attention to hunting elk , praying I am fortunate enough to fill my freezer with one. Most years I end up with plenty of close calls but fail to bring one home. Finally I focus on deer, the most plentiful big game in our area.

The author and his family make their home in Red Lodge.

Doe #1 The author with the first doe of the season. He was thankful for the meat she would provide his family.

Doe #2 The author watched as this doe made here way back into the creek bottom where he waiting.

Doe #3 This deer was shot on a cold rainy evening.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has been fairly liberal with b-tags in our region so with some doe tags in my pocket I do my best to bring home some meat while holding out to fill my buck tag until the rut. This past fall started off the same as usual. Mid-August found us doing our best to fill our antelope tags. We were surprised to find the antelope numbers alarmingly low in the area we hunt and ended up calling it quits after just a few days of hunting. As our focus turned to elk, the growing emptiness of our freezer seemed to be just the right size for an elk but as with most years the elk had other plans and we went home with just memories.

Now our attention turned to deer. The first evening we headed out to sit in our treestands. We anticipated deer would filter by us on their way to hay fields surrounding the creek bottoms we hunt. I was hoping my wife Andrea would have a shot opportunity because coaching commitments limit her available hunting time in the early part of the season. As luck would have it the only deer to come near either of us this particular night was a small four point that I deemed to small to shoot this early in the season. Andrea would have gladly killed him if he had come close enough to her.

The following evening Andrea was unable to join me, I headed to a st stand that usually is a great early season spot for does. I hadn’t been in the st stand for more than 30 minutes before I saw the first group of does working th way down a trail in my direction. As they moved within range I looked their d down and admired the red elm wood bow I was using. The wood I had used to make it with has plenty of wood grain and the bow is in my opinion beautiful. I had used it the year before and was able to harvest a turkey and an antelope, now I hoped it would shoot as well as it looks and it did.

Headed home later that evening with a nice fat doe in the back of the truck, I could see the lights from our high school football game and I was reminded again that my own kids were growing up and this deer would help fill a spot in the freezer, but we would still need some more meat.

The next evening found me a few miles from the hunt the evening before. This evening, I was hunting with a new takedown longbow I had made and had yet to hunt with. It shoots very similar to my other bows and after some practice shots in the yard I was confident I would be able to kill any deer that came close enough. The evening was windy and most of the deer I saw moved by out of range. I was about to climb down and head home when I noticed a doe coming back into the trees from the hayfield she had been feeding in for the last hour. I assumed she was headed to the creek for a drink and shifted my feet so I would be ready as she walked through one of my shooting lanes. The string of the takedown bow came back with ease and soon I was field dressing another fine doe, more excellent meat to feed our family.

The third deer of this story came on a cold rainy evening the last week of the archery season. As the rain looked like it might turn to snow I was glad I was shooting yet another bow because this particular bow is a few pounds lighter in draw weight and I shoot it well when the weather is cold and I am wearing lots of clothes. The deer was walking and wasn’t showing any sign of stopping for a still shot so I shot her as she walked by. Over the years I have tried several things with walking deer such as whistling, bleating, and grunting to get them to stop with mixed results in all cases. I now shoot walking deer, as long as they are close, instead of trying to stop them because I feel getting them to stop only puts them on high alert. As she crashed off I knew she would not make it very far.

I called my dad on the way home and thanked him for introducing me to hunting at a young age, for showing me how to process the meat and provide for my family. After I hung up I thanked my God for giving me the ability and knowledge to hunt and for blessing me with meat to feed my family.

What a great place we live in to be able to hunt multiple species and animals each year. Let’s continue to work together to do what we can to protect and pass on all the hunting opportunities we enjoy in Montana. When you see one of the old timers who had the forethought to start the MBA, be sure to thank them and remember, because of what they did years ago, we enjoy the hunting we do today.

Andrea 1: The author’s wife, Andrea, settles in for an evening of deer hunting.

Andrea 2: Andrea sets out on an evening hunt for deer to feed her family.

On another note, my wife was able to kill a nice bighorn ram with her bow later this particular fall, and I did get a buck deer, putting the finishing touches on filling our freezer.

Winter 2014

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MBA Member Profile

MBA MEMBER PROFILE

Sage Kamps

How long have you been bowhunting?

About 2 months

What do you enjoy most about bowhunting?

Harvesting the animal and being excited and super happy.

If one of your friends asked you about the MBA and what it does what would you tell them?

The MBA is an association that helps keep bowhunting seasons as long as possible. Also so we don’t get over-shadowed by rifle hunters.

Why do you think the MBA is important?

If there were no MBA, we probably wouldn’t have a very long or no bowhunting only season.

Without the MBA I most likely wouldn’t have gotten my elk.

S

age is a 7th grader at Lincoln Public School, where she

holds a 4.0 GPA and participates in volleyball, basketball and track.

She also plays the saxophone in the school band and pep band.

When not at school, she enjoys grooming and riding her grey mule named Pearl. She likes crafting, swimming, and taking pictures too. Coming from a bowhunting and archery family, Sage has grown up with the sport and has been shooting a bow for about six years. If you ask Sage who she is most like, she says her Dad. From the looks of it, there shouldn’t be any doubt.

As a young person who bowhunts what do you think is important for your age group to know about the future of bowhunting?

I think it’s important to know that the future of bowhunting is in our hands and we have to try to keep the seasons open for as long as possible. We have to make sure that bowhunters of our generation and others in the future get a fair chance.

It’s extremely rare for an 11 year old to harvest a Pope and Young size 6 point elk in their very first archery season, but that’s just what MBA member Sage Kamps has done exactly one month before her 12th birthday. Then with more tags in her pocket, she focused her time outside of school on deer and harvested her first whitetail doe and first muley buck. And if you ask her, she’s not done yet. What a way to start off a lifetime of bowhunting.

Her smiles say it all!

1925 BROOKS ST. MISSOULA, MT 59801

HUNTINGGPSMAPS.COM

BY ONXMAPS GIVES YOU INSTANT COLOR CODED LAND OWNERSHIP MAPS FOR:

10

Montana

BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

SURVEY BALLOT

Please answer the following questions to provide your perspective about electronic equipment during Montana’s archery only season.

1. Do you support allowing lighted nocks during the archery only season?

Yes

MBA Official Survey Ballot

Survey Topic: Electronic equipment on bows and arrows

No 2. Do you currently use a lighted nock during the general season?

Yes No

Years ago, the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission asked the MBA to help define standards for legal archery equipment. Part of the criteria for legal equipment specifies that no luminous, electronic, or battery-powered devices be attached to the bow or arrow. The Pope and Young Club’s Rules of Fair Chase also held these restrictions. This spring, the Pope & Young Club changed their bylaws and created an exemption within their “no electronics” stance, allowing lighted nocks and video recording devices.

Following is the Pope & Young Club’s bylaws change, excerpted from their website:

Since the late 1980s, the Club has had a bowhunting equipment definition and Rule of Fair Chase that addresses electronic items. Among other things, it stated “no electronic devices attached to the bow or the arrow.” This is part of the Club’s bylaws constitution and governs the acceptability of animals for entry into the Club’s Records Program (“the record book”).

3. Do you support allowing bow-mounted cameras during the archery only season?

Yes No 4. Do you currently use any electronics mounted to your bow during the general season?

Yes No 5. What electronic equipment mounted to your bow do you use? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

The significant change, the result of much internal discussion/debate over many years, creates an exemption that reads as follows: RULES OF FAIR CHASE #7: [Not] by the use of electronic devices for attracting, locating or pursuing game, or guiding the hunter to such game or by the use of a bow or arrow to which any electronic device is attached, with the exception of lighted nocks and recording devices that cast no light towards the target and do not aid in rangefinding, sighting or shooting the bow.

6. General comments on this issue: ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

DEFINITION OF A HUNTING ARROW, EXCLUSION #1: No electronic or battery-powered devices shall be attached to the arrow, with the exception of lighted nocks.

Peel off your newsletter address label, affix it to this page and sign below to authenticate your ballot. Family memberships receive two votes, and each voting member shall sign below. Please return your ballot to Steve Schindler by January 1, 2015.

DEFINITION OF A HUNTING BOW, EXCLUSION #2: Electronic or battery-powered devices shall not be attached to a hunting bow, with the exception of recording devices that cast no light towards the target and do not aid in rangefinding, sighting or shooting the bow.

Mail ballot to: Steve Schindler 123 Sawney Drive, Glasgow, MT 59203

_________________________________________________________

Member signature(s): _________________________________________________________

Winter 2014

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SURVEY MUST BE MAILED IN AN ENVELOPE TO MEET FEDERAL POSTAL GUIDELINES.

12

Montana

BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

Ontario Moose Hunting TIPS BY STEVE SCHINDLER

Part 3 Where do we Hunt: When doing a Do It Yourself hunt, how do we find “the” place to set up? We aren’t going to be the first hunters who have hunted these particular lakes so the best way to find out where the moose are and how they react is to ask someone who knows. Of course the Outfitter is a good place to start, find out where on the lake the best spots are and where the moose come from when called. Do your research and find out what guide has the best harvest record for the lake. The Outfitter has had different guides working the lake, so ask what guide has the most experience on that lake. It’s been my experience that the guides on these lakes are willing to share info if you ask the right questions. Also, get a map of the lake in front of you and ask about the layout of the lake and where all the sandy beaches are. Look for tracks in these areas because even in the water you can see the hoof prints of a walking moose on the sandy bottom. Ask where the resident cows live on that lake but don’t hunt where she actually lives because we don’t want to run her off. Instead, hunt about a ½ mile off or even up to a mile away in a spot that you can access easy without alerting anything. What we want is to find the area where a bull is likely to be and then find the spot that has the most advantages for me as a hunter. We look at the huntability of the spot. Now get down to particulars, When you find out the best calling spot on the lake, mark that spot with the number ( 1) then ask what direction the moose generally come from. Ask where does the caller set up and where do the shooters set up, and where do we park the boat. Find out what wind direction is best for that spot. Now repeat the whole process for all the calling spots on the lake from #1 spot to the next best to the next and so on. When you’re done you should have a minimum of 3 spots, each of them mapped out for several different wind directions. You can have a few different calling spots all directed at the same moose, each spot will be better with different wind directions.

When scouting, check out the sand, check the creek inlets looking for wrangled tree’s and scat. Most of the moose activity will be near the lake shores or creeks.

Check out areas that have the most aquatic feed, the floating lily pads, pondweed, and horsetail grasses that can nearly choke out the small bays where the creeks drain into the lake and any shallow area that can have aquatic plants. Also, find your lake on a satellite mapping website, what you will see is a lot of smaller lakes, swampy areas very close to the main lake and you’ll see how all these smaller lakes are connected to the lake via small creeks or moose hiways. These are all great spots to call to from the main lake. These could be great places to make a couple of cow broadcast calls right at dark, come back in the morning and a moose could be there waiting for you. Of course you don’t want to set up right where you made the call the night before but down the shore depending on wind, the bull will come to you.

At the call site: When setting up for the hunt you will have a caller and at least 2 shooters, when a person calls at a particular spot he should be the only one that calls from that spot. Dominant cows claim a territory and do not let any other cows into it or at least call from it. The bull will expect to hear only one cow from that location.

Each of us has a distinct voice and if a bull hears you call from a particular spot and the next day hears your partner call with a different voice the bull might get suspicious. With an early morning hunt it’s also best not to call until its light enough to shoot, sometimes things happen pretty quickly. About 90% of the time it’s going to be dead calm in the early morning and sound carries very far so you don’t have to call very loud with your first calls. The best calls very early morning aren’t calls at all, but moose sounds, walking in the water splashing like a moose is very effective, walk 5 or 6 steps and then listen. A bull will respond to this sound and you might hear him grunt or walking in the water also. If you do, be prepared as the bull may be close and give you an opportunity. If you’ve heard no responses from your water work and 10 to 15 minutes has passed go ahead and give a soft 3 part cow call, each call lasting 4 to 7 seconds. Listen intently for 20 minutes and repeat. In between calls you can break a dry stick about an inch or so in diameter, it will make a pretty fair crack but also imitates moose sounds, then listen some more. If you have a decoy, set the decoy up so it is very visible, calling cows want to be seen.

Once a bull lays eyes on the decoy he will not lose sight of it and he will not swing downwind of the caller to get the wind in his favor, he will head right at the decoy and keep it in sight right up until he walks up to it. Of course we don’t want him to

walk right up to it we want him to walk by a shooter set up on the lake shore out ahead of the decoy. Here’s where hunting with a decoy differs from not using a decoy, when using a decoy along the shoreline of a lake have the shooter set up so the wind blows his scent into the bush away from the shore wading bull. If you are not using a decoy set up so the wind blows your scent out into the lake, the bull will use the trail that parallels the lake shore just inside the bush, maybe 5 to 10 yards from the water. So the shooter will be set pretty much the same way only without the decoy and the moose will try and use the trail. Without the decoy you will have to have a better blind, you’ll be pretty close to the moose and you don’t want to spook it before getting a shot. As with a bull elk, responding to an elk bugle or a whitetail buck being rattled in they are keyed up and won’t miss a single thing, don’t make any sudden moves. Be ready so that when the moose walks thru a shooting lane all you have to do is draw.

Decoys: There are a few different types and styles of decoys, silhouette, shoulder mounted and blowup full bodied. Most are probably familiar with the silhouette decoy. I have a trifold silhouette moose decoy patterned after the Mel Dutton antelope decoy. I also have a blow up full bodied cow moose decoy, it works similar to the blow up Christmas or Halloween decorations you see on front lawns. This moose decoy operates on a small 12 volt battery that powers a 12 volt computer cooling fan and will blow it up in 1 minute and 30 seconds. I have a remote on off switch wired in that I control with a remote FOB. The other decoy we have is pretty unique; it’s a shoulder mounted head and neck silhouette that we use in certain circumstances. The originator of this style of decoy uses a taxidermy form for a cow moose, he has it painted black and is fitted with shoulder straps to hold it on his chest. He also wears a black hooded sweatshirt for more effect. When he gets a response from a bull, he walks out almost in plain sight and lets the bull see the cow, then eases back into the bush and lets the bull come. With this decoy he can actually steer the bull to the shooters, he gives the bull glimpses of the decoy just enough to steer it towards the shooters. He lets the bull see the decoy and then moves past the shooters so the bull will follow. I used this decoy a few times this past year but I didn’t get a chance to use it in front of a bull. It’s in the arsenal and hopefully will get a chance soon.

Learn the Moose calls: The thing you hear most when somebody is talking about making a cow call is to be consistent. Moose calling isn’t all that difficult. Unless one is tone deaf, it is possible to learn to make basic cow calls very quickly. The secret is to be consistent with your own calls. Like people, moose have different voices. If your cow calls are consistent, they don’t have to sound like some other hunter’s cow calls - but they do have to be consistent. Beware of any tapes that say “practice until you sound like this”. Make the same sound all the time, this is your sound and it’s no better or worse than anybody else’s sound.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Winter 2014

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COVER STORY

I came to a full draw with my bow. The wolf started to leave and I gave a quick bark. This is usually a surefire way to get a canid to stop and look back. The moment the wolf looked back towards me I let the string slip from my fingers and sent the broadhead tipped arrow on its way. I watched the arrow arc the 28 yards to the wolf as if it were in slow motion. I saw the feather fletches bury in the fur near the last rib of the now quartering away animal. I watched the wolf spin and bite once at its side before taking off at a dead run straight back up the hillside it had just come down. It then disappeared over the hilltop and out of my sight. The other wolf also turned and ran, stopping at the top of the hill just long enough to bark at me several times before departing.

BY JAY SHEFFIELD

I

have been pursuing the dream of taking a gray wolf with my longbow since they were delisted in 2009. As an avid predator hunter and traditional archer for most of my adult life, it seemed like the ultimate challenge to try and take what is arguably the most elusive apex predator with one of the most difficult primitive weapons to master. I spent hundreds of preseason hours practicing and countless days in the field every archery season in pursuit of wolves but have never (until now) been able to put it all together.

Ask any predator caller and they will tell you that the most difficult part of predator hunting is often just locating an area that holds the species they are pursuing. This problem is greatly magnified when one considers the incredibly transient nature of a wolf pack whose territory can often cover hundreds of square miles.

The 2014 Montana archery season started on a Saturday and by one o’clock that afternoon I was hiking about 9 miles from the nearest blacktop. I found a pile of still wet wolf scat on the trail so I knew they had to be close. I set up quickly, my back to a small ridge, with a great view of the facing hillside and the shallow valley below. Both the wind and sun were in my favor as I began to blow on my predator distress call. Just minutes into my calling sequence I was startled to hear very aggressive barking about 50 yards directly behind me. You guessed it, a pack of 5 wolves had been bedded down on the ridge directly behind me and when they responded to the call they got a good whiff of my scent blowing right into their faces. Game over! They then seemed quite content to

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stay just out of sight up in the timber and alternately bark and howl at me for over 30 minutes before finally drifting out of the valley. Sadly, I must admit that I have experienced that same response from wolves on a number of occasions and they all ended the same way, a fun show, and a long walk home, empty handed.

Three days later, my work schedule unexpectedly cleared so I decided to take a quick morning trek back into that same area and give it another try. I am well aware that frequent calling in an area will quickly educate a wolf pack and ultimately make them even harder to hunt. However, on this day, I threw caution to the wind and decided to go back on the slim chance that they would still be in the same general area. As I approached the valley, I saw no fresh sign. I quickly selected a large tree to stand behind that would provide me some concealment, but was also well-situated for a good view of a nearby hillside and the trail running along the base of it. I shed my backpack and nocked an arrow; my Toelke longbow was now ready for action.

I started to blow into the call, doing my best to duplicate the sounds of some small animal dying a horrible death. Less than two minutes into this sequence I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Unbelievably, an adult wolf was racing straight down the hill towards the sound of my call. A second wolf was running about 40 yards behind the first. It all happened incredibly fast, but as the first wolf got within about 20 yards of me, it put the brakes on hard.

Apparently realizing that something was wrong it was already starting to turn and trot away. As the wolf had come to a stop, I let the call fall from my lips and

In the moments after the shot, archers will frequently replay the action in their mind. They try to visualize the spot that was hit, the reaction of the animal and its direction of travel. I was no different, and while I was very confident in the shot’s placement, I am experienced enough to realize that what looks like a good hit can occasionally result in a long blood trail, or even worse, a lost animal. I picked up my pack, gathered my gear and tried to calmly wait the recommended 30 minutes before following after the wolf. In reality, it was taking every ounce of my willpower to fight off the urge to rush over that hill and begin my search. I finally reached a compromise with myself and after a 20 minute wait, started to follow the blood trail. As I scaled the small hillside I found a fairly good blood trail with drops close enough that they were no challenge to even my limited tracking skills. When I got to the top I found where the wolf had followed a game trail on the spine of the ridge then the blood droplets suddenly stopped. To say that this was starting to look like my worst nightmare would be an understatement and a moment of panic set in. I took off my pack and was going to get out my flagging tape to mark the last known drops of blood. As I unzipped the pack I glanced over and not fifteen feet away was the now lifeless wolf sprawled over a small log. It had travelled less than 100 yards from where it had been shot. I let out a whoop that was probably heard in town 20 miles away.

All of the hours spent both at the range and in the woods had finally paid off. I had just fulfilled an incredibly challenging personal goal and at the same time I had also taken what may be the first modern day American wolf killed with a longbow. I sat there on that log just soaking up the sights, sounds and smells. It was an experience that I now shared with the wolf hunters throughout history and that was one moment I wanted to savor as long as I possibly could!

The details; the wolf was examined by both a biologist and a state game warden, a DNA sample was taken as part of the states wolf management plan.

It was an adult female in excellent condition (other than the fact that she was now dead). My bow is a 62” Whip Longbow crafted by Dan Toelke with a draw weight of 56lbs@30”. I was shooting a Carbon Express wood grain Heritage 350 arrow tipped with a Zwickey 145 grain broadhead. The arrow had entered mid-body at the last rib on the right side and exited through the left armpit taking out both lungs as it passed through.

Authors Note: This was the only wolf taken during the Montana 2014 wolf archery season.

ONTARIO MOOSE HUNTING — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Cow Calls: There are a few different calls we all should know to effectively call in a moose, the broadcast call is the long distance call letting the bull know you’re set up on the street corner and open for business.

This call is a 2 or 3 part call with each call lasting 4 to 7 seconds or so; one series about every 20 minutes is about right. When you get a bull response, answer back right away with a single broadcast call, and then don’t use it again. From this point on if you have to call at all, short soft calls are the best along with some minor branch breaking. Some have witnessed the cow bawling her head off right up until the bull is next to her. I look at this way, if the bull is coming and is grunting, no need to entice him anymore, especially if you are using a decoy and he is focused on it.

Bull Sounds In the bush country using bull sounds to call in a bull is tricky business. Using a bull grunt to call in a bull will probably do more harm than good. I’ve seen it work well in British Columbia but the bush country is different. First you have to know what you’re up against. If you have the dominant bull in the area, using bull calls that sound like immature bulls has more promise. If you have a dominant bull hung up then using a bull call that sounds like a much smaller bull also works well. You can scrape brush with small scapula along with an agitated cow call to give the impression the cow is being harassed by a smaller bull. The big boy usually won’t stand for anybody else picking his tomatoes. It’s strange when there is a dominant bull in the neighborhood the rest of the bulls won’t even make a peep. I’ve heard them wrangle brush, but not like they really mean it, they know their place and they don’t push it. We have shot the dominant bull and the 2nd in command steps up but it takes 3 or 4 days for the word to get out.

a reference spot and try to hit just behind it and maybe 4-6 inches higher. It’s been said that using the off leg as a reference point will not result in a good hit, I guess it has something to do with the leg of a moose being longer and the geometry is off.

I’m not sure how this works out but it’s something to keep in mind.

Moose for some reason are struggling in a lot of their home range; some of their troubles of course are natural predators, wolves and black bears mostly.

But there is something else going on and the science will figure it out in the coming years. It’s hard to believe, but in Montana there are more moose shot in Valley and Roosevelt counties on the Fort Peck Indian reservation than in all of the moose hunting districts in Montana combined. For as long as I can remember, moose have always been seen in northeastern Montana, but in the past 15-20 years the sightings have increased tenfold or more. The moose seem to migrate out of Saskatchewan and pass thru northern Phillips and Valley counties and when they hit the Reservation they are fair game.

They are averaging over 20 moose per year and have as high as 41 moose in a single year. Why are these moose leaving Saskatchewan and heading for parts unknown… who know maybe it’s part of the overall mystery of why moose numbers are declining in much of their home range.

This 3-part Moose hunting article is mostly aimed at hunting the Northwood’s or the Canadian bush, from Saskatchewan to Ontario, we have just scratched the surface on moose hunting techniques in the bush. There are a series of DVD’s by Alex Gouthro that will show you all you need to know about calling and setting up for moose. I consider them must have items. Alex Gouthro is the moose guru of the Northwood’s. I highly recommend them to anybody who wants to further their education on moose hunting.

The Shot: The average distance for moose shots in the bush is from 8 to 15 yards, keep focused on the spot, I use the point of the shoulder or elbow as

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DANNY MOORE Impala

LARRY FISCHER with a duiker harvest.

“Rest in Peace” 1957-2014

CASEY RIPPLE 2014 bull Public land, DIY General tag I actually spot and stalked this bull as he was feeding

WENDY DRAKE 2014 Bull

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MIKE BARRETT MT deer at 15 yards

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KARA KA ARA RA JENSEN JE EN NSSE NS EN EN September 14 8 Mountain Goat 20 yd heart shot

BLAINE BRENGLE and Crew 2014 Elk

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MERRI CLAPHAM’S 2014 whitetail buck – beautiful!

JOHN BILLIS 2014 Antelope

2014 Elk CHRIS BLASKOWSKI

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WHY EVERY MONTANA BOWHUNTER SHOULD CONSIDER JOINING THE MONTANA BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION • The MBA is the organization the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks consults on bowhunting issues that affect Montana bowhunters.

• Montana has the best bowhunting seasons of any of the western states.

We are continually working to keep these.

• The MBA is active in the Legislature to protect and fight for our hunting and bowhunting seasons and rights.

• The MBA produces a quarterly magazine informing you of local, state, and national bowhunting issues and events, and publishing great stories and pictures.

• THE MBA NEEDS MEMBER NUMBERS AND YOUR YEARLY DUES TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT WHAT YOU ENJOY EVERY YEAR. ISN’T WHAT YOU ENJOY EVERY FALL WORTH $25 A YEAR TO PROTECT? •

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Worked to get the first archery season started in Montana. Along the way, we’ve increased the seasons to what you enjoy today.

Worked to establish archery bear, lion and sheep seasons.

Worked to establish archery antelope 900 tag and August 15th opener.

Worked to establish archery only areas and hunting districts.

Proposed a special archery wolf season and endorsed the highest quota of wolf harvest possible.

Actively protects hunting & bowhunting seasons in the Legislature year after year.

Defended our archery seasons against the “Crossbows & Muzzleloaders” threats throughout the years.

Created the Modified Archer’s permit that now allows those with handicaps to use modified archery equipment to hunt; which kept any need for crossbows out of Montana and defended our archery seasons against other crossbow threats throughout the years.

Re-established the archery season after it was left off the regulations one year.

Actively works with FWP to protect archery seasons, our resources, and expand archery opportunity in Montana year after year.

What can you do for bowhunting in Montana?

Join the MBA at www.mtba.org to preserve, promote and protect bowhunting.

Photos by Denver Bryan / Images on the Wildside

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