VOL. 43 #1 Fall 2015

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

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

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MBA Officer Bios PAGE 14

Sweet Spot and Stalk

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Canyon Ferry Carp Safari 2015 VOL. 43 #1 Fall 2015

MBA

Regional Representatives Region 1

Al Kelly

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

www.mtba.org

MBA

officers PRESIDENT

Joelle Selk

6963 York Road • Helena, MT 59602

Region 2

Marlon Clapham

4455 Hoover Lane, Stevensville, MT 59870..........406-777-2408

jselkmt@3riversdbs.net • 406-422-6798

mbaregion2@gmail.com…

1ST VICE PRESIDENT

Region 3

Brian Koelzer

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

Barrett Haugan

560 Clovehitch Road Belgrade, MT 59714 .......... 406-539-0602 btreasurestate@aol.com

Region 4

David Stratton

2120 3rd St. South, Great Falls, MT 59405 .......... 406-452-3238

Vacant 2ND VICE PRESIDENT

Steve Schindler

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

destratton@gmail.com

Mark Schwomeyer 60 Hruska Ln, Lewistown, MT 59457 ................. 406-350-0173 markschwo@gmail.com

Region 5 Region 6

TREASURER

Jenn Schneider

PO Box 23611 • Billings, MT 59104

Vacant

mtba@mtba.org • 406-697-7668

David Moon

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

SECRETARY

Marian Stratton

Region 7 Region 8

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

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

pipelinejerry@gmail.com

AT LARGE DIRECTORS MAGAZINE CO-EDITORS

EVEN YEARS

Teri and Al Kelly

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

PO Box 219 • Libby, MT 59923 teray1979@yahoo.com

ODD YEARS

Paul Martin

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

Ray Gross

355 Antelope Drive Dillon, MT 59725 – raygross0144@gmail.com ............. 406-660-1019

Dan Moore

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

WEB DESIGNER

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.

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.

PUBLICATION DATES AND DEADLINES

FALL ISSUE, DEADLINE, July 15 WINTER ISSUE, DEADLINE, October 15 SPRING ISSUE, DEADLINE, January 15 SUMMER ISSUE, DEADLINE, April 15 Stories, photos, or cartoons should be sent to Al or Teri Kelly at PO Box 23611, Billings, MT 59104

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.

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

Fall 2015

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EDITOR’S NOTE TABLE OF CONTENTS Teri Kelly

On the Cover

VOL. 43 #1 Fall 2015

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Teri Kelly Joelle Selk TREASURER’S MESSAGE

Jenn Schindler

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Lucas Zemlika in 2013 with a nice South Dakota Whitetail

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2nd VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Steve Schindler REGIONAL REPORTS WILKS PROPOSAL - LAND-SWAP CONCEPT MBN OfFFICER BIOS MBA DONATED TO SHOOT FOR THE CURE CANYON FERRY CARP SAFARI 2015 SWEET SPOT AND STALK

Mike Prescott MBA MEMBERSHIP FORM MEMBER GALLERY

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oly cow where did the time go! Here it is archery season all over again and I’ve barely gotten all my summer projects done. Hopefully everyone had a great summer. Ours was filled with family, friends and great times. We had our first experience bowfishing for paddlefish which was awesome fun. Thanks Steve and Rick for your hospitality and guide services! We also attended several 3D shoots which is a great time and opportunity to work on my shooting skills as well as connect with old and new friends.

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Sadly, you’ll notice we don’t have a great hunting story in this issue. Unfortunately I have none to share, which is truly sad because I’m sure there are members out there who are harvesting game and having great adventures and misadventures that we would all enjoy hearing about. In the past we’ve also had some great articles on equipment, hunting methods, shooting techniques, places to hunt and how to hunt them. We are always in need of photos, articles and stories so don’t be shy about sharing. Please take the time to put your fingers to work and type something up. It doesn’t have to be perfect; we can help with any editing. As always, if you need some assistance, feel free to contact me and I’m happy to help. If you have something you’d like to see in an upcoming issue, let us know and we’ll work on it.

We’ve added a section to the issue that includes biographies from the board and all the folks who volunteer their time at the MBA. Hopefully it will give you a little glimpse of who they are and why they do what they do.

We also generally try to include photos by each person’s article/report so you are also able to put a face to a name. Good luck to everyone this hunting season and we’ll look forward to seeing the photos and stories that will follow.

Teri Kelly 2

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OFFICER’S REPORTS

President’s

Joelle Selk

Message

Ballot Update

MBA Committees Legislative:

As you read this, we are wrapping up our survey on lighted nocks and bow-mounted cameras. Similarly to the Pope & Young Club, we have long grappled with the issue of advancing technology in archery season.

Late last year, our member survey showed an increased interest in allowing electronics during archery seasons. During the general meeting in March, members directed us to send out an official ballot to determine our ongoing position on the matter. The ballot results will dictate whether or not we approach the FWP Commission with a change to our “no electronics” position.

Tentatives proposals must be submitted to the Commission by this fall for consideration during the upcoming Tentatives cycle next spring. More information will be published in our Winter newsletter regarding the outcome of the ballot and our future position.

Elk Shoulder Seasons FWP is revisiting the issue of extended rifle elk hunting seasons. They are calling these “shoulder seasons” since they will be oriented outside of the five-week general season. The season will include either antlered or antlerless elk harvests and would begin as early as August 15th and extend as late as February 15th.

Comments were due August 10th, and we submitted our concerns regarding these extended seasons and their potential negative impacts to archery only seasons. Final adoption of the proposal will occur at the October Commission meeting.

Apprentice Hunter FWP also sought comment on a proposed rule to implement the new “apprentice hunter” law enacted earlier this year by the state Legislature. Under this proposal, youth aged 10-17 would be allowed to begin hunting without taking a hunter education course as long as they are accompanied by a mentor. FWP solicited comments on the completion of hunter education, how to establish mentors and their responsibilities. During the session, we expressed concerns that bypassing hunter education was a dangerous precedent. Although at this point the regulatory change does not impact bowhunter education, it may encourage such a movement in subsequent sessions. We submitted comments encouraging rigorous vetting of mentors and setting strict guidelines regarding how mentors will manage the responsibility of guiding their apprentice hunters. As an organization, we will always stand by the value of the hunter education programs in fostering responsible hunting practices in our youth.

2016 Convention Update

Joelle Selk, Chair Jerry Davis Steve Schindler • Ray Gross Marlon Clapham • Dan Moore

Tentatives: Chair, vacant Joelle Selk • Paul Martin Mark Schwomeyer Marlon Clapham • Steve Schindler Dan Moore • Steve Ray Gross Schindler

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 Al Kelly • Paul Martin Steve Schindlerr

Awards: Roger Peffer, Chair Al Kelly • Steve Schindler Marlon Clapham

Membership: Chair, vacant Jenn Schneider • Joelle Selk Seth Rogers • Ray Gross

Convention 2016:

I’m very excited to announce that the next convention is being held at Fairmont Hot Springs, April 1-3, 2016. This is a great family destination and I thank Brian Koelzer and crew for working out the contract details with Fairmont. Mark your calendar and start looking forward to a great time!

Joelle Selk

Treasurer’s Message

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Brian Koelzer, Chair Jenn Schneider • Sean Dunn Joelle Selk • Barrett Haugann

Magazine: Al & Teri Kelly, Co-Chairs Steve Schindle Roger Peffer • Joelle Selk Brian Koelzer • Jerry Davis

Website:

reported at the general meeting this year that we were doing well and healthy in the checkbook. The numbers came in from the convention and they were a lot less than we had hoped. We made money, just not much. The checkbook is still healthy and we are still abiding by our budget, but if this is a trend, we may need to rethink our main avenue of income.

Webmaster, Lyle Hebel Joelle Selk • Jenn Schneider

The Carp Shoot was a successful venue this year and it sounds like fun was had by all. Maintaining this organization monetarily may take more than just showing up at the convention every once in a while. Get your friends involved, bring them, sign them up, purchase some merchandise, maybe even bid on an auction item. I see lots of observers in this organization and less contributors; it doesn’t run itself and it definitely won’t fund itself.

Joelle Selk, Chair

Have a great and fun hunting season, enjoy it!

Carp Shoot: Bow-Ed: Al Kelly, Chair Marlon Clapham • Brian Koelzer Bob Morgan • Mark Schwomeyer David Moon • Ray Gross

Jenn Schneider 406-697-7668

Fall 2015

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OFFICER’S REPORTS

Second Vice President’s Report

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As I write this article summer is great, the fish are biting and things look pretty good. As you read this, our lighted nock and bow mounted camera survey is not yet done so I don’t have any results, but I would hope when you complete this survey if you haven’t done so yet, you give it some serious thought. Think the benefits and the consequences of these 2 items. A good friend of mine uses this guideline to help decide on issues that will influence issues that impact the future; “What are people going to think 10 or 25 years from now?” Are they going to say “Man I’m glad they did this” or “Wow I can’t believe they did this”. Our actions and decisions are not always about us, we always have to keep in mind how our actions will impact future bow seasons.

I did some very informal research on hunter success rates for our bow seasons; I wanted to know if our newfangled equipment and technology has had an impact on our success rates. What I found surprised me in that our success rates have been pretty static for the past 40 years. But our harvest is increasing because we have more and more hunters every year. How this all relates to managing our hunting seasons is slowly working out.

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WWW.MTBA.ORG

I certainly hope everyone attended every 3 D shoot you could this summer as that is about as good a practice as you can get. It is always fun to attend these functions, you are surrounded by likeminded people and often meet new friends and renew old friendships.

Steve Schindler

OFFICER’S REPORTS

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AL KELLY

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ur time is near; we will all be out in the field soon pursuing the game we have all been dreaming of during the last month’s preparations. What a great country we live in. Thank you to all the veterans who have served our country and protect our freedoms. I really do feel blessed to live in the best state, in the best country in the world. That is why I try to do what I can to help my fellow bowhunters keep the opportunities that we have. When you are out in the field this year give a little thought to how you might contribute. You already do by just being an MBA member. Sharing what it means to participate with a friend and encouraging a new member is a great way to be involved. We all don’t have to do something huge, the little things add up.

Happy hunting

Al Kelly

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Marlon Clapham

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MARLON CLAPHAM

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pring Black Bear season has come to a close.

Merri and I hunted Idaho for the entire season, we put several good bears on her bait but they stayed mostly nocturnal. We’ll do it different next year for sure.

Even though the water in Canyon Ferry was full pool the fishing from the shore was slow but we still had a good time.

The 3D shoots are winding down and BowEd is nearly finished, the FWP is already working on Tentative issues. Close to home here in the Bitterroot we have several important issues. HD 250 has been very restricted offering only 25 bulls for several years. With the bull to cow ratio slowly improving, we were thinking that the general population would want to bring back the either sex hunting. But it was just the opposite; more resident land owners and hunters liked what they are seeing and want to see it get back to historic numbers.

Even over in 270 and 240 there was push for the objective numbers to go up along with the bull to cows. So the FWP is going to set the new numbers along with explanation out for public commit. The new HD 262 is another matter, it is 98 percent

private land and the elk are over running the fields in large numbers. We are working on getting the cow elk hunt back during the general archery season to harvest a cow on your reg. elk license without having to draw anything. You just need permission from the land owners. HD 260 archery only is again under fire because we can›t get to the elk because the landowners there will not let anyone hunt. So those elk hide in the river bottom and feed up on the bench during the night. So because of the non-hunters in the river bottom the need for an elk number objective will be set at 50.

Because of access problems we will never be able to get the elk numbers down to this objective. But all this is the early stages and will all go the public for comment.

I hope everyone filled out their ballet and got them returned in a timely manner. It gives the board the direction we need to operate.

Well it›s time to get serious with the scouting and putting plans together. So sharpen those broadheads and shoot-em straight.

Marlon Clapham

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BRIAN KOELZER BARRETT HAUGAN

Al Kelly

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here are my rambling thoughts for this newsletter: Well hello there hunting season, I’ve missed you so.........I’m not one to wish away summer but it’s mid-July and I already have camo laid out to be washed and am getting packs organized! By the time you Brian Koelzer all read this that magical time will be upon us and hopefully you will all have ample time to enjoy the making of memories and the filling the pools, waterslides, great restaurant/bar, tennis of freezers from nature’s larder. Having hired a new courts and golf courses. Don’t miss out on this employee late this spring who hails from the state one and get your rooms reserved early at the great of Pennsylvania has once again reminded me how discounted rates they provided the MBA. As I’m incredible we have it here in MT. A bowhunter himself, sitting here writing this tonight, family is starting he was in awe when I gave him the rundown on how to come through the door because at any minute we hunt big game for 10 months straight every year. there is going to be another bowhunter born into (Thank you MBA!!!) He was also quite happy to hear this world. No not mine but I’m gonna be an uncle about the swift kick in the groin that we gave and will and our other region 3 rep Barret Haugen is gonna continue to give crossbows. They are legal during be a dad! God bless the USA, pledge allegiance archery season in his state and in his words they “ruined and remember that every day in this great country it”. hmmm...............I’m happy to announce that our is a gift from all those who’ve fought and died for 2016 Convention will be held at Fairmont Hot Springs us. To quote John Berger: life’s good! the weekend of April 1st. For all of you that have been there before you know what a great venue it is between

Brian Koelzer Fall 2015

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REGIONAL REPORTS

Region 3 Continued from page 5

Girl Scout shoot in Bozeman

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e had a great bow class this last month. I was asked to teach an archery class for the Girl Scouts and a couple of good friends of mine helped out for the day, Jason Matzinger and John Crickmere. We ran 61 girls thru the course. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. I really enjoyed teaching these young kids the sport of archery.

Barret Haugan and his newest hunting partner daughter, Taylor Marie

I would like to thank Joel for targets and other items for the class. I would also like to thank Marlin for letting us borrow all the bows and arrows for the class. It was a huge success.

Barrett Haugn

REGION 6 very crunchy. You can sure see how it gets spread by vehicles as it follows all the roads.

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unting season is just a few months away and again I am not as prepared as I would like to be. I like to have plenty of arrows made so if any break during practice I will still have enough to hunt with. They have really fixed up our local archery range so that will be a good place to practice.

I have been seeing more antelope and deer while driving around. I have also noticed that the sweet clover is growing a lot this year. I think it always makes it harder to hunt areas as it dries out and is

By now everyone has found out if they have drawn any good tags or not. The antelope tags always seem to come in just before the season starts.

I see where FWP can no longer buy land for hunting and fishing access. I have heard mixed feelings on that, but I think the average person is going to lose out on that deal. I mostly hunt public land and Block Management. I have a few private areas I am allowed on and I am very thankful to the true Americans who are that generous to let me be a guest on their property. The problem is that there are getting to be less and less of this kind of people and more and more of people and organizations who do not want to let people on. If FWP owns it, then the public gets to use it. If someone else or an organization buys it then no one knows.

Dave Moon

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Some of the guys I met this summer joined the MBA and TBM. This is the day that the Lord has made let’s rejoice and be glad in it. The suns shining, the wind blowing, the grass is green and the sky is blue. I was fortunate to spend some time teaching some young folks how to shoot a bow. Let’s keep archery alive, take a youngster out shooting.

Good luck this season guys and gals

Bob Morgan 6

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BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

Bob Morgan

Dave Moon

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JERRY DAVIS

For some time we have seen is an influx of out-of-state wealthy land barrens who wish to impose their own standards upon the rest of us that live here. As I said above we live here for the experience not for monetary gains. Many of these affluent people moved here also to experience Montana’s wildness. They desire to create their own private sanctuaries, where they control not only the property but also the fish and wildlife within those boundaries.

But our state constitution does not allow for any one individual to own wildlife, instead it is to be held in trust by the State of Montana for all of its citizens. Not just the wealthy but for all citizens.

We welcome newcomers but not if they desire to be the monarchs and lords of our wildlife.

One problem these wealthy “new to Montana” landlords have created is that of harboring elk during archery and general hunting season. Elk herds do not recognize property boundaries. Harboring occurs when elk migrate from public and private properties that are hunted during general season onto private parcels that either allow only very restricted hunting or do not allow hunting at all.

The elk of course are avoiding hunting pressure.

The elk become concentrated on harboring lands were they are no longer available for the citizen hunter to pursue. This leads to declining elk hunting success.

Jerry Davis

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ere in Montana fish, wildlife and public lands are never far from the center of politics. Why is that? Possibly because the majority of Montanans enjoy a culture of pursuing large and small game, fish, berries, mushrooms, and other tangible and intangible resources for both enjoyment and subsistence.

These activities often occur on public lands. Public lands that we as citizens of Montana and our Nation own and have stewardship responsibilities for.

Bottom line is the vast majority of Montanans care about our public lands and the flora and fauna that occupy those lands. We as Montanans need to take an active role in ensuring our public wildlife stays public and our public lands do not become privatized. Below I make a case for becoming active in advisory groups.

Subsequently as elk hunting success declines elk populations increase, until elk numbers are above elk herd objectives. This leads to a situation where to many elk are concentrated on to small an area.

On harboring properties not only are elk numbers above objective but these elk concentrations are abnormally heavy. When the elk migrate from the harboring lands after hunting season there can be some significant negative impacts to pastures, hay meadows, and hay stacks of adjoining properties.

FWP can and does afford some assistance in the manner of late season damage hunts to those adjoining property owners who allowed at least some hunting to the general public during general season.

Shoulder seasons do nothing to discourage harboring of elk. As I said, harboring elk can have some significant impacts to adjoining private and public lands. Landowners who harbor elk need to understand harboring impacts, to their neighbors, to their property, and to the elk.

A better solution is to work with landowners through sportsman/landowner/Agency advisory groups. Landowners working in cooperation with their neighbors, with sportsmen, and with wildlife and public land managers can both provide general season opportunity to the public as well as minimizing heavy concentrations of elk which cause significant resource impacts. In some parts of the state there are such working groups, the Devil’s Kitchen for one. Though never perfect it is an attempt by all parties to find a solution.

For such groups to be successful we as the citizen hunters in Montana must take an active role.

Make a difference by either sitting on such advisory boards or by being an active public participant.

My 4 year old Grandson, Hudson, stayed with us for a couple of weeks this summer. In that short time I managed to get him acquainted with a bow, a little 10# Bear, Kodiak Cub. That was fun. And Bob Morgan I would like to think when he becomes old enough to pursue elk, deer, and antelope with a bow he will have the opportunities. Many of us have children and grandchildren that we would like to carry on the hunting tradition. That will not happen unless you take some responsibility for ensuring a future with hunting opportunities.

I ask if you have an opportunity to become a member of a FWP, BLM, or Forest Service advisory group do so. Be part of the solution. If we want our public lands and our wildlife to be managed in a way that insures hunting, fishing, and other opportunities are preserved we must be active.

Happy Trails

Jerry Davis

Now a concept is being advanced that would allow “Shoulder” seasons if elk numbers cannot be brought below objectives during the general season.

The state has tried late and early seasons in the past and they have proved ineffective in controlling elk numbers.

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REGIONAL REPORTS Raymond Gross

DirectorsAt Large

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he 2015 archery season is only one and a half months away. Even after 50 seasons I still get excited and living in Montana it couldn’t get better. There is the excitement about drawing a moose, sheep or goat tag, what elk tag you drew for, or if you drew an archery antelope tag.

And if you were too lucky and drew two or more great tags how will manage you hunts?! If you didn’t draw any limited tags at all, there is still elk and deer that you can get excited about and plan your hunts for. I started the summer fishing the Big Hole River. The salmon fly hatch was great and the fishing was good too. Since then the Big Hole has dropped like a draining sink, and all the boats in southwest Montana have headed to the Beaverhead. So I’ve spent my time hiking to mountain lakes and enjoying the high country. Again isn’t Montana a great place to live! Have a great 2015 archery season.

Raymond Gross Danny Moore

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he Moose, Sheep & Goat Tags are out. No luck for me this year. Bow season is going to be here soon and the antelope numbers look better this year. Fawns are showing up and look good. We have had good rains here in the Breaks. Everything is green and it should be a great hunting season..

Danny Moore

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s I write this it is July and although Montana has been getting showers the last few days, the rivers are very low and we have had some very «hot» weather. Be super careful with fire in the fall season and make sure you are prepared to bone out an elk or deer quickly and get it cooled down as quickly as possible to prevent spoilage. I carry a good knife, sharpening tools, game bags and a saw in order to rapidly process my animals.

The fall season is approaching fast. You should all be out s ked it up to 42#. The pain will not allow me to draw a 45# recurve at this time so I had to go with an alternative. Shooting a lower poundage bow has raised my confidence and I made many excellent shots at a 3-D shoot last weekend. My goal is to get as close to 50# before elk season starts. With any luck I›ll find a bull in September! Maybe I can shoot the hickory longbow I made next year?

I was in Washington last week and attended the Washington State Bowhunters annual rendezvous and fun shoot. It was great to reconnect with many old friends. One of the biggest issues they are experiencing is challenges in raising their membership numbers. This is an issue we also face in Montana. Over 40,000 people purchase archery tags in MT. If you hunt with a bow in MT you benefit from the efforts of Montana Bowhunters Association (MBA). Incredible opportunities exist in our state due to the efforts of MBA. What have you done to support bowhunting opportunities and seasons in MT? For roughly the cost of TWO ARROWS you can support your opportunities to bowhunt in MT. Besides making sure your own membership is up to date, talk to your buddies and sign up two new individuals with MBA. I call this the 2 ARROWS 2 MEMBERS campaign. When you are sitting in elk or deer camp bend the ear of your buddies or some of the hunters in the camp next to yours and get them to join MBA. A strong membership is essential when we lobby with the commission and the legislature for bowhunting opportunities.

Have a great bow season. Be safe. Shoot straight.

For all those who purchase the plate, the MBEF would like to invite you to send us a photo of your plate on your vehicle.

Be creative, include yourself, pets, family, trophies of all sorts, etc.

Photos will be posted on the website. www.mtbowhuntermuseum.org

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Roger Peffer

LAND-SWAP CONCEPT

Few Favor Wilks Proposal but Council Approves Land-swap Concept July 16, 2015

By Laura Lundquist, reporter for Montana On The Ground. www.montanaotg.com” While favoring the concept of a land swap, an advisory committee stopped short of approving a new Wilks brothers proposal to trade parts of their property for landlocked federal parcels in eastern Montana.

On Thursday, the Bureau of Land Management Central Resource Advisory Council finished up a two-day meeting in Lewistown by passing a motion to consider the concept of a land swap as an alternative to building a new road to access the Bullwacker area near the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument.

On Wednesday, BLM managers gave the council copies of the draft proposal submitted by Dan and Ferris Wilks and asked whether the proposal should be added to an environmental assessment of building a new road into the Bullwacker region. The RAC can only advise the BLM, but in the end, it did not endorse the specific proposal.

Wilks spokesman Darryl James said they weren’t looking for an endorsement.

“We’re not looking for influence one way or another – all we’re looking for is kicking off an objective review process that got kind of shortcircuited a year or so ago,” James said. “We’re pleased that the RAC has recommended to go ahead and plug (the proposal) into that process and see what the merits are.”

The Wilks brothers own two ranches south of the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument that contain sections of public land. The Anchor Ranch includes land within the monument while the NBar Ranch farther south has landlocked sections of both state and BLM land, most notably the Durfee Hills.

The 2,700 acres of the Durfee Hills are accessible only by air, but backcountry hunters and pilots consider the area to be valuable public land.

The Wilks want it for their own, so in March 2014, they proposed to trade their land within the monument for the Durfee Hills and other BLM sections within the NBar Ranch. They’ve also offered to allow public access to the Bullwacker area via a disputed road that passes through the Anchor Ranch.

After heated public comment in 2014, the BLM tabled the proposal and moved forward with options for providing an alternative road into the Bullwacker area. But the options are fraught with potential problems and building the road would be costly.

Now the Wilks have come forward with a new proposal that they recently previewed to a handselected group of sportsmen’s, landowner and agricultural organizations. However, it isn’t much different from the original proposal except for a few details and a promise of possible block-management hunting on the NBar Ranch.

Participants in the roundtable said they had no part in crafting the proposal but were allowed to voice their concerns.

“There’s a misperception out there. Other than make comments, we didn’t contribute. None of us had seen the draft until we got there Thursday,” said Montana Sportsmen Alliance representative Joe Perry. “A lot of suggestions were made, but it was not a collaborative effort. I suggested that they should open up the Bullwacker Road as a gesture of good will and not be using it for ransom.”

Jeff Patnode of the Recreational Aviation Foundation said he had thought the first meeting went well but was disappointed when he saw the draft proposal.

“I felt that we all got to make suggestions and I walked away thinking we might get somewhere with this. But it’s essentially unchanged,” Patnode said.

“They’ve put frosting on it with things like block management. But that can be revoked at anytime.

Then they have the land and there’s no longstanding thing for my kids or my grandkids.”

Doug Krings of Central Montana Outdoors, a relatively new organization, said four sportsmen’s groups were not allowed to participate, including the Traditional Bowhunters of Montana, Montana Bowhunters Association, the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Central Montana Outdoors.

“Initially, we declined because it was a working group and we didn’t know who the other players were. Then we thought better of it and asked to be included. But we were all told they had enough sportsmen,” Krings said.

John Sullivan of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers said his organization would oppose the land swap to keep the Durfee Hills, but other groups are still weighing their response.

“We’re getting a bunch of heat to take a position. My feeling is we will not take a position because we have members on both sides of the fence,” Perry said. “We were just trying to make sure there wasn’t a blanket dismissal of any land trade just because the first one wasn’t good enough.”

official stand, but anything that means there won’t be a brand new road really looks good to us.”

On Wednesday, Lewistown hunter Ron Moody told the RAC to delay acting on the proposal until the trespass conflicts are resolved.

The Wilks built fences around the Durfee Hills parcels that appear to encroach on BLM property, so they were given a cease-and-desist order until the BLM could investigate.

BLM District Manager Stan Benes said the law enforcement investigation and damage assessment is now complete and will soon be published in the Federal Register.

Moody said BLM documents prohibit any land transfer until trespass conflicts are resolved.

James said the Wilks were willing to move the fence once they were notified of the problem. So they will do what is needed to resolve the problem, James said.

When asked whether the brothers might consider some sort of permanent access agreement to ease hunter concerns, James said no.

“It becomes pretty lopsided,” James said. “The Wilks are putting more than 16,000 acres into a managed hunt area. The public has extraordinarily limited access to 2,400 acres now, and sportsmen are saying ‘We’ll give that up as long as you give us permanent access to 16,000 acres.’ Does that sound reasonable to you?”

James said the Wilks could initiate the block management program this fall. By the time any potential land swap would be finalized a few years from now, both the Wilks and hunters would have had a few seasons to see how things worked, James said.

Patnode and others aren’t buying it, considering the loss of permanent access to a prime elk herd and three airstrips in the Durfee Hills.

“The landowners of the NBar Ranch have changed a number of times, and the Wilks brothers are in their 70s. So what’s to say they won’t sell it to someone else in five years and they change everything that the Montana public was promised?”

Patnode said.

That was also the intent of the Friends of the Missouri Breaks Monument, said executive director Beth Kampschror.

“Our issue is not the parcels that are south of the monument; our mission is to protect the monument,” Kampschror said. “We haven’t taken an

Fall 2015

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MBA OFFICER BIOS

President

Joelle Selk — President Born and raised in Iowa, I began to dream of a life out West when I saw the Rockies during family vacations. After graduating college, I immediately moved to South Dakota, where I met my mentor, Jim Dahlberg, a lifetime bowhunter. Jim instilled in me the true essence of bowhunting – that bowhunting is an opportunity, not an advantage. I love the challenge of pursuing close-range encounters with animals which leave your heart pounding and your spirit renewed from the chase.

I finally had the opportunity through the railroad to move to Montana in my late twenties. I immediately joined the MBA and TBM. Within a couple years, I’d changed jobs and had time and energy to join the MBA board as a Region 8 representative.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve moved up in the ranks, serving as legislative committee chair, Carp Safari chair, and vice president.

Three years ago, I finally felt ready for the challenge of leading the organization, and was honored to be elected as president.

I cherish the opportunities we’ve created in Montana. Each year when I venture out, it matters not so much how many animals I harvest, but simply to have had the opportunity to enjoy long seasons afield and dozens of close encounters. I am so thankful that our founders fought for our seasons and appreciate the opportunity to contribute directly to our bowhunting heritage.

Second Vice President

Steve Schindler — 2nd Vice President

Treasurer

Jenn Schneider — Treasurer

Editor

Currently I am serving as your 2nd VP; I have been on the board of the MBA off and on since about 1980. I have always been a traditional Bowhunter but have no qualms on equipment choice. I was born and raised in Montana and have lived here all my life except for a short stint in the US Army. I am married and have been for a sweet 37 years.

The Montana Bowhunters Association has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a kid, we looked forward to conventions and 3D shoots around the state before I was old enough to hunt. I started shooting a recurve made of purple-heart around the age of 6. I switched to a compound when I turned 12 and went out into the field, harvesting a deer and then a black bear the next year. Numerous elk hunts left me with stronger legs, but no bounty and one more black bear hunt after I graduated high school rewarded me with a very large trophy boar. I am back to shooting a custom longbow with some purple heart for nostalgia. With my Dad as my hunting partner, it’s been a hobby very dear to me and something I wanted to be a part of more politically as I got older. I applied for the board position in 2010 after being involved in the Billings convention and quickly learned how much hard work goes into keeping an organization like this alive and well. It’s been very hard to watch some of the things take place that have in the last 5 years, but I’m willing to bet no organization grows without conflict and this one is no exception. Thank you for allowing me to guide it with the talents I possess, and here’s to many more years of bow hunting privileges in this beautiful state.

Teri Kelly — Editor Born and raised in Northwest Montana I grew up enjoying the outdoor activities the area has to offer including camping, fishing, hunting, etc. Although I’ve had the opportunity to travel and visit numerous states in the U.S., I choose to continue to make Montana my home. I am employed at Flathead Electric Cooperative as the Demand Response Coordinator and am very active in my community. I have spent many years serving on various boards, assisting with numerous events and currently serve as the secretary/treasurer of our local archery club. Between my husband, Al and I, we have seven children, seven grandchildren, (with number eight on the way), and two spoiled rotten dogs who go everywhere with us.

I had a little archery experience from early on but started shooting bows regularly when Al and I began dating in 1997. I now hunt almost exclusively with my longbow and I love it. I had been a member of the MBA for several years before I actually became more actively involved. I started out by helping a little bit with some of the editing as needed. The editor would send me editing a few articles and I would cut them down, correct and so forth, and then send them back. A few years ago I was asked to help in a greater role by sharing the editor role with Al when there wasn’t anyone to take it on. I was at a point where I thought I had the time and energy to take on the task. I decided that this was the way I could use my talents to do my part for the MBA.

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Marian Stratton — Secretary I remember as an eight-year-old kid shooting a little bow with a rubber suction cup tipped arrow. Every time I missed the target my dad had tacked up to the fence I had to climb over the fence and find my arrow in the neighbor›s back weeds. But no one else shot archery seriously, not even at Girl Scout Camp. Fast forward about 25 years after I had married David and he «discovered» archery, so to have something to do together, I also took up archery. We joined MBA and also helped establish the Traditional Bowhunters of Montana. David joined MBA›s board and then in 1993 I became secretary/treasurer/membership and held that position for 11 years, then was «just» secretary for another year while we transitioned into making the one position into two positions. I was off the board for nine years, and then have been secretary from 2014 until present. MBA has a good reputation for making conservation of our resources and bowhunting opportunities our priorities and I sincerely hope we continue in that vein.

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MBA OFFICER BIOS

Al Kelly — Region 1 Rep/Editor

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AL KELLY

Raised in the Panhandle of Idaho I moved to Montana in 1996 and stay here because I love this great state. After leaving school I served a three years in the Army and then returned to the Northwest. I have been a bowhunter for over years and have been lucky to have some great experiences with some great friends. I have harvested deer, elk and turkey with my bow, but as of lately I have been doing lots of day dreaming about adding a bear with my bow to the list. My family has added the annual trip to the carp safari to our list of must do events. Even though the carp action can be great the real attraction is the time spent with friends both old and new. I became a Bowhunters Education Instructor while living in Idaho and have now been teaching in Montana since moving here in 96. I am very involved in my local archery club and also serve on the board for the Rod and Gun Club. I have a bunch of kids, a herd of grandbabies, a great wife and two really awesome best friend dogs.

I have been involved in the MBA for several years and have served as the Region 1 rep for the past…geez I don’t know how many….well, it’s over ten years anyway. And even though I don’t spend as much time each season with bow in hand as I used to. These days I spend a lot of time hunting with Moose and Bolt ( a couple of Griffs who are now the only kids I have left at home) after Blue and Ruffed grouse around home and making pilgrimages to the east side for pheasant, huns and sharpies. They are great hunting partners because they are always ready for any adventure. I am still as passionate about bowhunting as ever. I want my kids and their kids to experience bowhunting with the same great opportunities I have had over the years. The MBA has been a wonderful experience for both me and my family as it has introduced us to many new friends and experiences.

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Marlon Clapham — Region 2 Rep

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MARLON CLAPHAM

I was born in Missoula in November 1955. I started shooting homemade bows before I started the first grade, bows I made from wood slats; arrows were made from the neighbors willow tree. My folks bought me a fiberglass recurve when I was in the fifth grade and I still use it to introduce young shooters in the youth program.

Then in 1968 my Mother found a left hand 56» Bear Grizzly pulling 50lbs. By 1970 I was ready to Bowhunt and have not missed a season. Bowhunting has been a very big part of my life, I harvested my first Whitetail Doe in 1973 and they are still exciting to me as they were then.

Merri and I got married in 1979 and she has bowhunted with me on an off until our daughter Cecelia turned 12 and started bowhunting, now it’s a full family affair.

My brother Jim has been my closest hunting partner for well over 35 years. We learned so much about bowhunting from each other. Now Merri and Cece take more of my hunting time and Jim has four grandsons who love to hunt with their Grandpa, so our time has been limited.

I was at the early MBA forming meetings back in 1972 - 73 but I didn’t have the ten bucks to be a member. At the age of 14 I needed the ten dollars to buy bear broadheads for the upcoming season. Priorities you know. I still have several of those very heads. I finally joined in the mid 80’s and shortly after I became a life member. I joined the P&Y Club about the same time and am now a Senior Member.

I have been truly blessed in my bowhunting around the North West; I’ve taken Alaskan Moose and Caribou, Idaho Black Bears and some great experiences hunting Wyoming Mule Deer and Antelope. Montana has given up some of the true trophies for me, Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Mule Deer, Lions and Whitetails. In the last few years watching Merri and Cecelia grow as Bowhunters has been truly rewarding for me. I love to see them grow through their experiences and successes.

Back in 1990 or so I became involved with the Bowhunter Education program, now I’m the Chief for Ravalli County involved in 6 - 7 classes each year here in the Bitterroot Valley. Now Merri has been teaching alongside for the last five years. We also have been introducing first time bow shooters to their first experience for well over 25 years. In the last three years alone we along with the MBA have reached over 2200 young shooters.

The MBA has given me many fond memories and I have made some of my closest friends. The MBA has had a few ups and downs along its way, but we have a good strong dedicated membership holding the core together, and will be there in the future for our next generation of Bowhunters. I’m very proud to be a part of this great organization and good friends.

Barrett Haugan — Region 3 Rep

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BRIAN KOELZER BARRETT HAUGAN

I was born and raised outside of Bigfork, Montana. For the last 33 years my family has involved me in many different outdoor activities throughout my life. I started hunting at the age of 12; however no one in my family had archery hunted in the past. I began pursuing archery hunting around the age of 19; from there I fell in love with the sport. Most of my youth revolved around a busy schedule of sports and school. I played football, baseball, basketball and track and field. Because of this I didn’t have a lot of extra time for hunting at a young age. After graduation I was able to spend a lot more time in the woods pursuing my passion. I also had the opportunity to study Fish, Wildlife and Biology Management at Flathead Valley Community College for two years and one year at Montana State University, Bozeman. I then began a career in road construction, leading me to start a business of my own in concrete construction. My main reason for taking this route was to open up some time for myself and allow more time for my love, hunting. It turns out that owning a company is far more work than one would think.

Now in the little spare time I have, I try to get out and hunt as much as I possibly can.

I am also a videographer and producer for Into High Country, a television series on Sportsman’s Channel. Luckily, I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to hunt many different species in a wide variety of locales, from the frozen tundra of Alaska for muskox, the summer tundra for caribou, to the interior for grizzlies, Alaskan moose, and mountain goats on Kodiak Island. I have also had the privilege of black bear and whitetail hunting in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Most importantly is my experience hunting the great variety of species in Montana. I have taken part in hunting and pursuing all the different types of big game animals in Montana, from helping my brothers’ pack out their animals to filling my own tags. My greatest love by far is being outdoors, packing horses or hiking throughout the state the mountains will always be in my blood. Helping with this organization and to better and prolong the future of hunting for the next generation would be a great honor and I would be pleased to be a part of it all.

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MBA OFFICER BIOS HEADER

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Brian Koelzer — Region 3 Rep

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BRIAN KOELZER BARRETT HAUGAN

My name is Brian Koelzer and I’m a 36 year old Montana native. Born and raised in the beautiful Gallatin valley, I’m truly blessed to call this great state home. My work as an owner/partner in the family masonry business allows me to work in the great outdoors and to witness a great deal of this states wildlife daily from my “office”. My first bow was made for me when I was born by MBA member #1 Bob Savage so you could say archery has been a large influence on my life since the beginning. Having been a bowhunter exclusively for the past 23 years my adventures have taken me from Alaska to Ohio and many, many points in between. I’m currently a member of the MBA, Bowhunters of Wyoming, PBS, and P&Y (regular member since age 34). My soon to be wife Kara Jensen is also an avid bowhunter (and reigning bowhunter of the year!). Archery is engrained in my soul as deep as the need to eat, sleep and reproduce. I’m eternally thankful for my family and close friends who I get to share my bowhunting adventures with. Keep’em sharp.

David Stratton — Region 4 Rep

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I found my first exposure to archery while in college at the then Montana State University, now the University of Montana in Missoula. A friend and fellow dorm mate was making his own wood arrows including burning feathers in his dorm room. I bought my first bow, an Indian recurve, from the old Bob Ward store on Higgins in Missoula. For a lot of reasons (school and girls) I didn’t stick with it.

DAVID STRATTON MARK SCHWOMEYER

A few years later another friend and I decided we could finish glued up and roughed out recurve bows from Bingham Archery in Utah. Again life got in the way. Marian and I moved from Missoula to Great Falls and in 1978 I purchased my first compound bow, a PSE Pacer. My first animal with that bow was a black bear, next a mulie doe, then a small mulie buck. A fellow Great Falls Archery Club member was building and selling to club members roughed out take down recurves and I bought and finished one of those, that was about 1981.

At the MBA convention in Billings in 1982 I came home with a Ron Maulding longbow. In 1983 Marian and I went to the first North American Longbow Safari held outside of Claresholm, Alberta. By the following year I was making my own longbows. We still go to the Longbow Safari every year and have established some lasting friendships. This summer was our 33rd consecutive year for that gathering. NALS has not been a competitive shoot since 1994. For us archery and bowhunting is not a competitive sport but an activity we enjoy relative to what we put into it.

I joined the MBA in 1978 and became a life member a few years after that. I still bowhunt Montana every fall and have bowhunted Texas twice on javelina hunts, twice to South Dakota for turkey, once to Idaho for bear, Alaska once for caribou, and Alberta for bear and for moose. Only one of these hunts was with a guide and the rest were with friends. Frankly on most of these hunts I came home empty handed but I sure have a lot of great memories. Obviously keeping score is just not an important part of my life.

Mark Schwomeyer — Region 4 Rep Coming Soon!

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David Moon — Region 6 Rep

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DAVE MOON

I grew up shooting a bow very young with my dad and bothers. We had the red fiberglass bows that should have been named “Lightning Bows” as they never stuck in the same place twice. The arrows were mismatched and whatever we could find in my dad’s broken pile. I liked to read about Fred Bear and ended up getting Bear recurve bows. I always enjoyed shooting at targets but hunting with a bow was my favorite thing to do. I remember as a kid the night before a hunt waking up throughout the night to any noise thinking it was my dad coming to wake me up to go hunting.

I cannot think of anything that will get the adrenalin flowing like stalking a wild animal to within a distance that you can almost reach out and touch them. Being that close to an animal and watching it undisturbed is very exciting. And shooting an animal at that distance is even more exciting.

I like to make longbows and wooden arrows that I hunt with. I built the first bow while over in Kuwait. I made a takedown bow so I could take it with me on trips. People from other countries are always fascinated by a bow and arrow and like to try shooting it.

Between active duty Army and the National Guard I recently retired after 29 years. I currently work for the State of Montana.

I have a wife, Kara, two sons, Jesse and Kalan, and a daughter Heidi. They all have enjoyed shooting bows while growing up. The kids also spent time in my rucksack on hunts where they were too young to walk the long distances to where we were going to hunt. I am very lucky as my family if very understanding when it comes to hunting season and knows that I am going to spend a lot of time hunting.

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MBA OFFICER BIOS

REGION 7

Bob Morgan — Region 7 Rep

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BOB MORGAN

Hi ! I’m Bob Morgan from Colstrip Montana originally from South Dakota. I’ve been shooting bows since I was ten. We lived in South Dakota on a ranch near Hot Springs. I started with a willow bow my uncle made for me and I’ve made selfbows since 1998. I’m a member of MBA and TBM. I like to hunt bull elk with a feather in my hat. In 2005 I shot an 8 by 8 bull elk at 8 yards with a recurve. It seemed so easy. Not so, somebody said they would rather be lucky than good. We love to chase after deer, elk, turkeys, antelope, rabbits, prairie dogs and whatever, stumps, leaves…

Bows are just fun to shoot. Stump shooting, hunting, aerial targets, long shots at bales or something safe. I teach a class at the Colstrip High School every year on bow making and flint-knapping. I just try to teach bow shooting to the kids when I get the chance. Carp shooting is really challenging and fun and something I enjoy. We never made it to the carp shoot this year but there is always next year. I enjoyed attending the TBM summer shoot in July, what a blast; shooting targets, friends with stories, bow building, flintknapping and just plain fun.

I’m an Iron Worker by trade but have a heating and refrigeration business and work part time now but I hope to retire soon.

But I’m in the Lord’s army and I’m never going to retire from that.

May God bless all.

Jerry Davis — Region 8 Rep

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JERRY DAVIS

At Large Director

I am the third generation of my family to live in Montana. I was born in Havre, Montana in the early 50’s and was raised in Ft Peck, Montana. I graduated from Glasgow High School in 1970, served in the US Army from 1971 until 1973, and graduated from Flathead Valley Community College with an AS specializing in Forestry Technology. I then graduated from Montana State University in 1985 with a BS in Civil Engineering. I retired from USDOT Office of Pipeline Safety in 2012 and now work as a Senior Utility Engineer for Utility Mapping Services in Clancy, MT. I have hunted and fished my entire life. I began shooting a bow when I was very young but I only pursued carp. It was not until my children were grown that I began hunting antelope, deer and elk with a bow, in 2007 or so. Not successful yet but I will be. I love shooting a bow and I love the time of year that the Archery Only season is in. I learn so much every time I go out with a bow.

Raymond Gross, Jr — At Large Director I am 64 years old and started archery hunting in 1967. I love the outdoors, hunting, fishing, rafting, skiing, backpacking and biking. I worked for the US Forest Service for 31 years as a Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor. I retired from the Forest Service in 2008. I run a Civil Engineering and Survey business that I started in 1985. I have had the good fortune of bagging moose, elk, bear, deer, antelope, mountain lion and turkey with the bow. In 2000 I bagged a moose, elk, whitetail, bear and antelope with the bow. I am committed to ethical hunting and conservation. We are privileged to be able to hunt so many wonderful big game species in the spectacular outdoors of Montana. This privilege should be respected and preserved so it can be experienced by our children, grandchildren and future generations.

Paul Martin — At Large Director My hunting heritage goes way back to California as a kid, hunting cottontail rabbits with a single shot .410 shotgun. From then on I would hunt anything California had to offer, with the exception of Tule Elk. Then a few years after my tour in Vietnam I became a Hunting Safety Instructor for the state of California, while taking Wildlife and Fisheries management classes at the local junior college, to eventually become a game Warden. But a move to Montana changed everything. After moving to Montana I became a journeyman welder, a log home builder, and a taxidermist, (which I am still doing). During all this I found some time to bowhunt and have been doing so for over 40 years. Now with my semi-retirement status it seems as though I’ve been able to be more involved with organizations such as, the MBA, along with a family membership to the Traditional Bowhunters Of Montana, the Pope & Young Club, the Flathead Valley Archers, and founding the non-profit state organization Montana Bowhunter Education Foundation Ltd., which is an organization dedicated to creating a museum and education center to preserve the sport of archery and the heritage of bowhunting. This has been keeping me extremely busy. At the time of this writing we have been working at the property to offer the hunting opportunity to two youths to hunt in elevated blinds that we have constructed. The raffle will be drawn at the First Annual Pre-Season Countdown Shoot, which was held July 25th & 26th.

Watch for the next issue of the MBA newsletter with my story about “Creating the Cocobolo Killer”.

Roger Peffer — At Large Director My name is Roger Peffer and I have been bowhunting for over 35 years. Besides hunting I also collect and make bows. I own numerous classic recurves and long bows and have even carved yew longbows and made sinew backed recurve bows. I have several compounds and although I love my recurves, a shoulder replacement has restricted my shooting to a lower poundage compound. My bowhunting experience has included deer, bear, elk, caribou, small game, and even one trip to Africa. Besides bowhunting, I also rifle hunt, hike, climb, back-country ski, canoe, kayak, fly fish, duck hunt and love to travel internationally.

Over my life I have put a lot of time into promoting bowhunting. I started bowhunting with visits to Northwest Archery in Washington State where Jay StCharles encouraged my love of the sport. His father- Glenn StCharles was a major force in starting the Pope and Young Club. After completing bowhunter ed and putting several years of hunting under my belt I joined the Washington State Bowhunters Association (WSB) and was then elected to their board. About 5 years later I was elected as the WSB President and was instrumental in the development and passing of a tag allocation formula for the distribution of bull elk tags among the three user groups- rifle, bow and muzzleloader hunters. I then served 5 years as the WSB representative on a Game Management Advisory Council- a committee to provide input on hunting issues to the Fish and Game Department and Commission on hunting and season issues. I spent approximately 16 years on the WSB Board.

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At Large Director (cont.)

I have been working as a teacher for over 30 years and currently work as a Biology Instructor at Great Falls College MSU. I came to Montana 11 years ago for that teaching position and joined MBA shortly after arriving in the state. A few years after joining MBA I was elected to the MBA Board and continue to serve on the board. My activities on the board include the Magazine Committee and the Chair of the Awards Committee. I have been active in numerous events to sign up new members. I am an avid proponent of MBA membership. If you hunt with a bow in Montana, you benefit from the efforts of the MBA. Do your part to support your love and passion for bowhunting. For less than the cost of 2 arrows you can join MBA. Talk to your friends in bow camp or at the range. Sign up some new members today.

Dan Moore — At Large Director In 1972 I moved to Butte and helped to start up the Silver Bow Archery Club. I was active in archery shoots all over Montan, Idaho & Western Washington. When the MBA started I was one of the first members. I was also the first Bow Hunter Ed chairman in Montana. I have hunted every bow season that I have been in Montana for. I have bowhunted in Montana, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Alaska, New Mexico, Idaho, Washington, California, Texas, Illinois, Wyoming, and Oregon. I’m a Senior Member of The Pope and Young Club and I have 56 animals in the P&Y record book. I have taken every big game animal with my bow in Montana except a Bison and I hope to draw a tag someday. I meet my wife Melanie in Kalispell and we had two kids Cody and April. We lost Cody two years ago. Five months before his death he took his best animal with his bow, a 7x7 bull. He’s at my hunting camp on the hill just west of my cabin where I will be with him some day. Bowhunting is my life.

MBA donated to the Shoot for the Cure held near Townsend in July.

All proceeds for the shoot go to the Susan G. Komen. MBA member Judy Adams from Buffalo Jump Archery in Helena participated with her grandchildren in the shoot. Judy said the event had a course set up for the younger shooters with targets from 5 to 20 yds. There was also a competitive course set up for more challenging shooting with targets out to 70 yds.

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Canyon Ferry

CARP SAFARI 2015

Carp Safari 2015

. . . all bowfishers reported having a grand time in the pursuit.

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2015 Canyon Ferry Carp Safari continued.

Following are the winners: •

This year’s Safari challenged archers with high, cool water levels and at times murky conditions. Carp were skittish

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and cruised deeper under the surface, and bowfishers were forced to raise their game. Youth participants gamely

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trolled the shallows to no avail – the fish were just too deep! Still, all bowfishers reported having a grand time in the

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pursuit.

As per tradition we crowned a new Carp Princess, congratulations to

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Genevieve Sager who presided over the awards in true carp royalty fashion.

A carpacious amount of thanks goes out to local MBA members who faithfully helped schlep fish at the weigh-in and burgers during the awards ceremony.

President Joelle extends a hearty thank you to Gali Delp, Jerry and Claudia Davis, Tim Reilly and Larry Bloxsom, Craig Marr, Terry and Al Kelly, and the LePage Family, who donated the t-shirts and assisted with the carp princess coronation. Special thanks goes to AMS Bowfishing, who donated the Retriever reel for the lucky youth recipient.

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Team Most Fish – Travis McKlosky & Walt Gundecker - 94 Adult Most Fish – Dustin Welsh & Mike Prescott – tie 35 Adult Big Fish – Soda Smith 11 lbs. 9 oz.

Adult Small Fish – Justin Anderson – 1 lb. 11 oz.

Youth Big Fish – no carp submitted at weigh-in Youth Small Fish – no carp submitted at weigh-in

CARP SAFARI 2015

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SWEET SPOT AND STALK

Last year I hunted in Kansas in November and was able to harvest this 6x5 whitetail on a spot and stalk hunt on a public walk-in area. I knocked on doors to

By Mike Prescott

get permission to hunt in some community spots and several public land areas. I spotted this buck pinned down with a doe. As I watched him he would nudge the doe up and then chase her every few minutes. With high wind gusts and a few scattered cedar trees, I was able to approach the buck in a fairly open pasture without alerting him. I hit him with the first shot and took out one lung. The buck didn’t see or hear me shoot, and after that first hit he made a big loop coming right up to me at 10 yards.

When he came through a plum thicket, I took a frontal shot at point blank range and dropped him in his tracks. My hunting partner and I had been adjusting a ground blind in a CRP field when we spotted the buck and from his vantage my partner was able to watch the whole show from 200 yards away. My partner now thinks Montana bowhunters are pretty well versed in different hunting tactics as he’d never seen a spot and stalk hunt unfold.

MARK SEACAT, SITKA ATHLETE LOCATION: UTAH SHAUN MATHEWSON

TURNING CLOTHING INTO GEAR BASE | INSULATION | SOF T SHELL | HARD SHELL | HEADWEAR | HANDWEAR | PACKS

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Steven Battaglia

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Fall 2015

19

HEADER

Do you enjoy bowhunting and our bowhunting seasons in Montana?

Join the MBA to preserve, promote and protect bowhunting!

What the MBA offers you: Expanded hunting opportunities through working with FWP and commissioners to preserve and expand bowhunting seasons Unified voice during legislative sessions to protect seasons and access programs while opposing efforts which seek to limit the role of FWP in managing wildlife Fellowship with others who are interested in shaping the future of bowhunting Quarterly magazine keeping you informed on local, state, and national bowhunting issues, bowhunter education, events, and great hunting stories

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP One Year $25.00 Three Years $67.00 Life $500.00

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP One Year $30.00 Three Years $81.00 Life $750.00

JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP (Under 18) One Year

$5.00

CLUB MEMBERSHIP One Year $45.00 Three Years $120.00

BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP One Year $45.00 Three Years $120.00

OVERSEAS MEMBERSHIP Add $10.00 a year to membership choice for added mailing costs

Join Today!

Visit the MBA website at: www.mtba.org

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Memberships run January 1 to December 31 each year.

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SETH ROGERS

RICK TRAEGER

JEFF KOELZER 2015

JEFF KENNEDY spring bear 2015 with a Bears Paw longbow

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5

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KARA JENSON May 2015 Saskatchewan. 225 boar.

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KILEY JONS Bridger mountain goat

JOHN BERGER 2015 Manitoba

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JIM MORTON 2015 buck and doe harvested 5 minutes apart

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JUNE and AMY LEPAGE with a nice Paddlefish

JEFF KENNEDY gobbler with a Bears Paw longbow

COOKIE 2015

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BOB MORTON 2014 bull

Fall 2015

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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

What the MBA has done for you?