Vol. 48 #1 Fall 2020

Montana Bowhunters Association PO Box 426 Helena MT 59624 Return service requested

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

PAGE 16

We Don’t Give Gifts for Chritmas, We Shoot Them PAGE 14

2020 Canyon Ferry Carp Safari

MBA

Regional Representatives Region 1

Al Kelly

Mike Shephard

PO Box 219, Libby, MT 59923 .....................................406-293-2900 alman@frontiernet.net 351 7th Ave East N. Columbia Fall, MT 59912 ..............406-250-9806 michaelshepard7@gmail.com

Region 2

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

Kevin Robinson 2110 Wylie Ave, Missoula MT 59802 .........................406-531-8243

mbaregion2@gmail.com

kevin.robinson@technometalpost.com

Region 3

Liberty Brown

Barrett Haugan 560 Clovehitch Rd., Belgrade, MT 59714 ....................406-539-0602

275 Vigilante Trl. Bozeman, MT 59718 .......................406-581-7216

Brandingironmarketingllc.com btreasurestate@aol.com

Region 4

Michael Prater 416 Entrance Ave., Lewistown MT 59457 .................. 406-461-6949

Jess Wagner

Michael.prater@live.com 201 Big Sky Lane, Lewistown, MT 59457 .....................406-939-3458 jess_wagner2@hotmail.com

Region 5

Jenn Schneider

Ken Schultz

jennk40@msn.com 302 Wyoming Ave., Billings, MT. 59101 ......................406-598-8550

Nick Siebrasse REP VACANCY. Rick Miller

Bob Morgan

officers PRESIDENT

Stephen LePage 2574 Divide Rd • Lewistown, MT 59457 mbaregion4@yahoo • 406-535-5636 1ST VICE PRESIDENT

Brian Koelzer 80 Jansma Lane • Manhattan, MT 59741 rocknrollbowhunter3@yahoo.com • 406-570-7997 2ND VICE PRESIDENT

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

Claudia Davis PO Box 426 • Helena, MT. 59624 mtba@mtba.org • 406-404-6168 SECRETARY

Jerry Davis 25 Middlemas Road • Helena, MT 59602 pipelinejerry@gmail.com • 406-475-2226

4996 Bullhook Rd., 59501 Havre Montana .................. 406-390-0402 bowdude@mtintouch.net

Region 7

MBA

5509 Sunny Cove Billings MT 59106 ...........................406-697-7768

schultzy@iwks.net

Region 6

www.mtba.org

PO Box 2336 Colstrip MT 59323....................................406-749-0292

PAST PRESIDENT

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

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

EVEN YEARS

Cliff Garness Mandy Garness Rich Smith Stephanie Prater

AT LARGE DIRECTORS 5901 Western Drive, Great Falls MT 59404 - obsession_archery@yahoo.com...... 406-788-9009 5901 Western Drive, Great Falls MT 59404 - camoquilter@gmail.com.................. 406-750-9953 PO Box 51428 Billings, MT 59105-1361 - muleybum@gmail.com......................... 406-281-8846 416 Entrance Ave., Lewistown MT 59457 - mthuntress406@gmail.com............... 406-461-6949

ODD YEARS

Paul Martin Ray Gross John Grimstad Richard Lewallen

110 Sage Lane, Kalispell, MT 59901 - paulhmartin99@gmail.com...............406-261-4456 355 Antelope Drive, Dillon, MT 59725 – raygross0144@gmail.com...........406-660-1019 2031 Poly Drive, Billings, MT 59102 – twingrim@bresnan.net.....................406-252-3620 234 Audubon Way Drive Billings, MT 59106 – rpdlew@aol.com..................406-690-0854

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

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 426, Helena MT 59624 or email teray1979@yahoo.com. All materials are the opinion of the author unless otherwise stated, and are subject to being edited. All submitted or published photos may be used by the MBA in the newsletter, and MBA Photo Album and/or on Facebook. Any questions as to policies of MBA please contact the President.

MEMBERSHIP INQURIES

Please send new memberships or renewal memberships to MBA Tresurer, PO Box 426, Helena MT 59624 or call 406-404-6168, register online at www.mtba.org or ask a member.

MAGAZINE EDITOR

Teri Kelly PO Box 219 • Libby, MT 59923 teray1979@yahoo.com • 406-293-2900

WEB DESIGNER

Liberty Brown Branding Iron Marketing Brandingironmarketingllc.com 406-581-7216 MAGAZINE DESIGN

K Design Marketing, Inc. 1613 South Ave. W. • Missoula, MT 59801 kim@kdesignmarketing.com 406-273-6193

ARCHERY SEASON

is just around the corner...GET READY NOW!

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.

Located in the historic Kessler Brewing building. Hwy 12 West end.

Helena 406-449-3111 buffalojumparchery.com

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

Fall 2020

1

EDITOR’S NOTE

I

think it goes without saying that this has been the year of upheaval and change. What a time we are all in right now and will continue to be in for some time to come. This has definitely been a spring/summer for the Kelly family that has been out of the norm. We had to cancel events, shoots, trips and family plans much like everyone else. We’ve never spent a summer so close to home all summer long so at least we’ve managed to get some projects done.

The carp shoot was awesome!

Fishing was fantastic! And we got to see FRIENDS! We’ve defiantly missed being able to see our fellow bowhunting friends! It’s almost archery season which is my favorite time of year for many reasons. As I write this, we are having 90 degree plus weather so I’ll look forward to the cooler crisp mornings and the mild pleasant afternoons sitting in my blind or wandering in the woods. The Kelly family did not draw any special tags this year but we’ll find plenty of things to hunt regardless.

Stay safe and healthy and please don’t forget to send your harvest photos and stories in.

Teri Kelly

MBA Committees Legislative:

Jerry Davis, Chair Ray Gross • Marlon Clapham Richard Lewallen • Joelle Selk • Stephen LePage

Tentatives:

Ray Gross, Chair Paul Martin • Mark Schwomeyer Stephen La Page • Marlon Clapham

Financial:

Chair Claudia Davis • Jenn Schneider Ray Gross • Rich Lewallenier

Landowner/Sportsman: Mark Schwomeyer, Chair Bob Morgan • Barrett Haugan Jesse Wagner • Stephanie Prater

Nominations:

­ rian Koelzer, Chair B Al Kelly • Paul Martin • Cliff Garness

Awards:

Brian Koelzer, Chair Al Kelly • Rich Lewallen • Marlon Clapham

Membership:

Marlon Clapham, Chair Jenn Schneider • Ray Gross Barrett Haugan • Ken Schultz Joelle Selk – Membership Assistant

Convention 2020-Region 5 Rich Lewallen, Ken Schultz, Jenn Schneider, Stephanie Prater

REMINDER:

Mailing Labels Show Your Membership Renewal Date

To be determined Region 3- 2021 Fairmont Region 1- 2022 Fairmont

Magazine:

Al Kelly, Chair Teri Kelly, Editor Joelle Selk • Brian Koelzer • Jerry Davis

Website:

Liberty Brown • Jenn Schneider Beckie Doyle • Kevin Robinsone

Carp Shoot:

Joelle Selk, Chair Nick Siebrasse • Cliff Garness

Bow-Ed:

Al Kelly, Chair Brian Koelzer • Bob Morgan • Mark Schwomeyer Ray Gross • Marlon Clapham • Nick Siebrasse

Youth Membership and MBA Teen Bowhunter Camp

Marlon Clapham, Chair This committee will involve a combination of board members, MBA members and youth from each region.

All area reps. will try to recruit youth from their region to get involved with the MBA’s decision-making process and planning for youth events. This will mostly be done through e-mail contacts but MBA members and youth members will be welcome to attend the Board Meeting if they are able to do so. The goal of this committee is to increase involvement and awareness of youth bowhunters and encourage future participation in the MBA. Youth ages 16 to 19 are encouraged to participate as well as any active member over the age of 19.

Reg. 1 – Al Kelly (Region 1 rep)

Rich Hjort (MBA member) Reg. 2 – Jackie Doyle (MBA member) Jerry & Beckie Doyle (MBA members) Reg. 3 – Vacant Reg. 4 – Jess Wagner (Region 4 rep) Reg. 5 – Vacant Reg. 6 – Vacant Reg. 7 – Vacant Reg. 8 – Vacant

2

Montana

BOWHUNTER

In accordance with the By-Laws any member can be on a Committee without being on the Board of Directors. They just cannot stand as the Chairman.

WWW.MTBA.ORG

TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. 48 #1 Fall 2020

14

16

PAGE

PAGE

EDITOR’S NOTE

4

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Stephen LePage

1ST VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Brian Koelzer

5

6

2020 Canyon Ferry Carp Saf ari We Don’t Giv e Gifts for Ch PAGE 14 ritm We Shoot Th as, em

Todd Gerving September 2018, scored about 340, PSE bow, Montana district 380

PAGE 18

Montana Bowhu nters Association PO Box 426 Helena MT 59624 Return servic e requested

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

42

Teri Kelly

7 12

2ND VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Mark Schwomeyer TREASURER’S MESSAGE

Claudia Davis SECRETARY’S MESSAGE

Jerry Davis BLAST FROM THE PAST REGIONAL REPORTS

13 RAFFLE WINNERS 14 2020 CANYON FERRY CARP SAFARI 16 WE DON’T BY CHRISTMAS GIFTS,

On the Cover

2

WE SHOOT THEM

Brian Koelzer

18

MEMBER THANK YOU LETTERS

BIGHORN SHEEP IN MONTANA

Richard Lewallen

FWP COMMISSIONER CONTACTS

19 BUSINESS & CLUB MEMBERS 20 MBA MEMBERSHIP FORM 21 MEMBER GALLERY

MBA TEEN BOWHUNTER CAMP

Marlon Clapham

nd

Fall 2020

3

OFFICER’S REPORTS

PRESIDENT - STEPHEN LEPAGE 1ST VICE PRESIDENT - BRIAN KOELZER 2ND VICE PRESIDENT - MARK SCHWOMEYER TREASURER - CLAUDIA DAVIS SECRETARY - JERRY DAVIS

President’s

Message

Bowhunting Bucket List

O

ver a weekend bowfishing trip I was sharing a campfire with a couple of MBA board members. We were commiserating about our postponed bowhunting trip to Matlabas Game Hunters in South Africa and we were discussing different hunts that we wanted to pursue.

While our discussion was taking shape, we discovered we had several different “bucket list hunts” in common. It was proposed that maybe we should look into one or more of these hunts and get the ball rolling.

My passion in life has been bowhunting. We are lucky in Montana to have access to a variety of big and small game animals to pursue with a bow and arrow. In addition to these wonderful bowhunting opportunitiesMarlon (thank you MBA), I have enjoyed traveling all over the world to bowhunt.

Claphman My first out of country bowhunt was in 2008. I won a raffle at an MBA banquet for a bowhunt with Matlabas Game hunters, the same hunt that was cancelled this year. This initial trip planted the seed that has found me on every continent with bow in hand, sans Antarctica.

It always seems like there is enough time to book a hunt down the road.

The fact is that we are not getting any younger or in better shape. Yesterday I was in my 30’s and I blinked, now I am almost 50. My daughter whom I envisioned hunting with forever is one year away from leaving for University.

Hunting trips never get cheaper. I saved an old Bowhunting Safari Consultants catalog and have noticed an alarming trend. Hunt prices keep going up. It appears that the prices of a bowhunt are immune to all economic downturns.

So that brings me back to the campfire. We decided that we should put pen to paper and write down the bowhunts we wanted to accomplish. Where there is any overlap, we would start making plans, both local and foreign.

I encourage each and every one of you to pursue a bowhunting adventure.

It does not have to be an out of country trip or even an out of state trip. Apply for one of those Montana tags you have never applied for or simply explore a new patch of woods down the road. Stop saying “maybe next year.” Someday there will not be a next year.

Stephen LePage

4

Montana

BOWHUNTER

First Vice President’s

Report

M

y family and I just returned from a small road trip around southwest Montana and I can’t help but say it again, that we live in an incredible state. Saturday morning, we pointed west and drove up the Big Hole through Wise River and Wisdom. The sun was shining and the water was crystal clear. Everyone fell asleep on me by the time we got to the battlefield but as the truck turned north and we started descending into the Bitterroot Valley everyone woke up and was bright eyed and bushy tailed by the time we cruised into Hamilton.

The first stop was to visit “uncle” Gene Wensel and his wife Donna. Two hours passed in a blink as he told stories and we all laughed and caught up.

My dad, Scott Koelzer, and his wife Susie met us in Hamilton and it was fun to listen to the two “old timers” reminisce the past. It’s always fun listening to stories when names like Bart Schleyer, Paul Schafer, Paul Brunner, Jack Whitney, ect…..are being thrown out. I just try to make like a sponge and absorb every last word. Speaking of the old guard, the passing of Jerry Karsky was a tough one to swallow this spring. The day before he passed away, my wife and I took her parents on a hike down by West Yellowstone. We went to the trailhead that Jerry has parked at and taken his horses into for the last 40 years or so. Barely a half mile up we came upon a huge set of fresh grizzly tracks entering the trail and heading up through the pass. Kara asked if we were going to make it to the creek crossing that Jerry tipped his horse over in a few years ago and almost drown. I told her probably not with that griz in front of us then I told her parents the story of the big horse wreck. We all laughed but little did we know his widow Sue would be calling us the next afternoon with the unfortunate news.

I’m a very lucky guy that I got to grow up knowing a lot of the guys that stories and books are written about. We learn about the future by studying the past and there for a while I was worried that the past was going to be lost to the younger(my) generation. Either because of non exposure or just non interest.

The MBA is loaded with history and some of the most prominent names in all of bowhunting have graced our membership roster. Over the past few years however, I’ve had the good fortune to meet and become aware of a lot of folks all over this country who are enthralled with the history of bowhunting and it has given me faith that the past won’t be forgotten. There are some fantastic podcasts I’ve listened to out there that are dedicated to ensuring that bowhunting’s golden years won’t be lost and that we are all responsible for putting our best foot forward to keep what we have in place. These podcasts are reaching the younger audience who will in time be taking the reigns and steering where bowhunting will be headed. Hopefully it’s the right direction!

A tip of the camo hat to the TBM for putting out a great show.

Cheap shots are being taken in Montana and all over the country at bowhunting. Crossbows, wolves, lawsuits, technology, anti-hunters (blah blah blah) the list goes on and on. The MBA is not a huge organization but it is widely known that we are an organization of passionate bowhunters who care greatly about the past and the future of our way of life. The hard work of a few shapes what a whole bunch get to enjoy. Many folks merely dabble in archery hunting and that’s just fine. I wish our numbers were greater but I sure am proud of the quality of folks we have in our organization!

Antelope season is a few short weeks away and then our beloved month of September! Pick a spot, aim small, and above all enjoy your time afield. I’m going to leave you with the last paragraph of “The Adventurous Bowman” by Saxton Pope.

“The long delicious trails and mountain paths are yours. The ecstasy of cool running streams I give you freely when athirst, and last of all I leave to you the trill of life and the joy of youth that throbs a moment in a well bent bow, then leaps forth in the flight of an arrow.”

Brian Koelzer WWW.MTBA.ORG

OFFICER REPORTS

Second Vice President’s

Report

Claudia Davis

I

’m certain 2020 will be talked about for years to come. And for the most part, it will be negatively. As I write this, our brothers and sisters of the TBM are gearing up for their summer shoot. Lots of discussion on how to move forward and keep our most vulnerable safe. We will try our best.

One thing I have noticed is how many folks are enjoying the great outdoors, I’ve floated rivers, snagged paddlefish, explored Yellowstone, and camped. I would say participation is up twice what it was last year. I’ve also noticed A LOT more the campers! (sure makes the game more interesting) If this keeps happening, I anticipate archery season will be interestingly busy maybe a bit crowded. Remember to be courteous to your fellow bowhunter it’ll go a long way and you just might make a new friend.

I haven’t been scouting much yet, but from what I’ve seen the animals look pretty healthy. On a side note, by the time you read this there will have been a vote on funding for the Great American Outdoors Act. Hopefully we will be celebrating!

I hope you all have a safe rest of the summer and a fruitful archery season!

Mark Schwomeyer Mark and Archer Schwomeyer

Treasurer’s Message

T

ell, the work is done for the Raffle and the Auction that would have been associated with the cancelled convention. What a difference it makes when we don’t gather in one place to have fun and share stories, and give money to MBA. Our raffles brought in $8365.00 compared to $13,787.00 last year. The auction was a third of the previous year. Granted we had fewer items and we were missing that competitive atmosphere that is in the room during a live auction. The good news is MBA has a solid financial situation and we can weather this pandemic better than most.

Your memberships are more important than ever to keep our financial situation stable. So please renew if your membership is due, talk to your buddies to get them to join or renew, promote MBA whenever and wherever possible. And send your stories to the magazine editor to keep this the best local bowhunting magazine in the country!

My husband was lucky enough to win the Yellowstone Custom Bow raffle.

He had plans to give this bow to a lifetime friend and former board member, Steve Schindler. But then we discovered this was a “Ladies” bow. So, guess who got their first bow? Yep, me. (see picture). This bow has a 31# draw, so I can actually pull it. It has beautiful purple tints in the wood. I’m so excited to have this and I’ve been shooting at the targets in the back yard. My husband gets a goofy grin on his face when watching me, I think he is happy to have me sharing this sport with him. Not sure if I’ll ever actually hunt, but target shooting is really fun!

Stay safe and enjoy the outdoors,

Claudia Davis

MBA Treasurer | 406-404-6168

Fall 2020

5

OFFICER’S REPORTS-CONTINUED

Sectretary’s Message

T

wo days ago, I received my rejection letter from FWP to sit on the Elk Management Plan Initial Guidance Citizens Group (EMPIGCG) that is a mouthful. Though I was somewhat disappointed having not been selected I saw today that the group includes a number of individuals, including one MBA Board member, who will be looking out for Montana Sportsmen and women, and specially bowhunters. Mark may have already listed the members in his column but to ensure it is posted I will include their names here.

They are:

Blast from the Past With the new old copies, I received from Bob McKay the years are mixed up a bit from my other issues. We will start this article in 1977, it will be a short blast as I have only one issue.

Jerry Karsky was our current president, and the news was that the MBA was invited to join the PBS Coalition Program. The sole purpose of this coalition was to bring all Bowhunters together and by doing so provide a strong and powerful voice to combat the anti-hunting organizations. This proposal was sent out to the membership for approval. Sadly, with no other issues for 1977 we have to jump into the 1978 issues where I found a clip that we did approve the vote and at last count there were over 7000 representative memberships involved in the national coalition program. We were part of 16 major associations or organizations who signed on.

Ali Morgan – Choteau Casey Hackathorn – Missoula Dan Vermillion – Livingston Druska Kinkie – Pray Ed Fryer – Melrose Everett Headley – Stevensville Joel LaLiberty – Belgrade Justin Schaaf – Fort Peck Karie Decker – Missoula Kein Koss – Malta Marcus Strange – Helena Mark Schwomeyer – Lewistown Patrick Roth – Rexford Ren Gardiner – Miles City So if you know any of these people contact them and let them know you thoughts concerning the direction of the new Elk Management Plan.

These individuals were selected to represent their demographic. I am pretty sure that Mark Schwomeyer, Marcus Strange, and Dan Vermillion will have sportsmen’s and women’s issues and concerns in mind. I am sure Mark will keep us informed of the EMPIGCG’s activities and discussions.

Covid 19 has affected us all. MBA, in particular, was unable to hold the MBA 2020 Convention this year but it appears that our membership still supported MBA with purchases of raffle tickets and auction items.

We awarded the winners of raffle tickets and auction items at this year’s Carp Safari.

I, following my wife’s advice this year, only purchased one ticket for each bucket; she says that statistically one’s odds are not improved by more raffle tickets. Apparently she was right as I won a Yellowstone woman’s bow for my wife.

I am also including a picture of my grandson, Hudson Tripp, at this year’s Carp Safari. Thanks to Roger Licht, who outfitted him for the day with a fishing bow, he had a great time. It truly warmed my sole. Thanks again Roger. And thanks also to Al and Terry Kelly who outfitted my son-in-law, Brandon Tripp, with a fishing bow which allowed him to shot his first carp. It was a lot of fun.

I drew the 410 archery permit this year so I am looking forward to hunting with my “older than me” Army buddy, Steve Schindler this fall.

So I guess even though we are in the middle of a very nasty pandemic life has been good to me.

As Bob Morgan would say enjoy your God’s blessings.

Jerry Davis

Lee Poole was elected as the MBA’s newest president. This year started with a land mark piece of legislation, after three years of hard work HB 247 was passed and signed into law by Gov. Tom Judge. This gave the Montana Fish and Game Commission the power to establish seasons for the bowhunting of moose sheep and goats by special permit. Spearheading the passage of HB 247 was Jim Wantulok of Bozeman.

Also, in the Commission meeting Bow Seasons were finalized in HD 260, 290. Area 311 and 284 will open for elk, bear archery only in that HD. Other HDs with new Archery only are 404,421, 444,450.

Area 411 in the Snowy Mountains will remain archery only Sept. 8th thru Oct. 14th. The Breaks will require a special FREE permit for Bowhunters.

We lost one of our most enthusiastic supporters of Bowhunting, Richard J. Conklin 1930-1978. When the MBA was Finally formed Richard wrote our Constitution and By-Laws, as well as our Articles of Incorporation. In honor of Richard the officers of the MBA decided to establish what shall be known as the Richard J. Conklin Award which will be given from time to time to a member which has given outstanding service to the MBA. Gene Wensel was given a Special Recognition Award to thank him for the dedication he gave to the MBA during his four years as Sec.Treas. Actually, in fact Gene was the MBA! He did the whole job from collecting of dues and mailing out membership cards to writing the Newsletters, getting them printed, putting them in envelopes and mailing them out to each member. Gene’s wit as a writer made his Newsletters a looked forward to item amongst our members. Gene moved to Montana in 1971 and in 1972 he contacted Bob Savage about the possibility of getting a Bowhunters Association going in Montana. We the MBA formed in 1973 after much work by Gene, Bob, Jerry Karsky, Art Latta, Ed Mills and Pat Wolf.

The Second Annal MBA Convention was tentatively set for April 1st in Kalispell, with guest speaker Fred Asbell. At the previous year’s banquet 200 people attended and the MBA lost $600.00. This was not bad at all considering it was the first Convention and a great deal was learned from this experience.

Next issue we will move into a new decade, 1980.

Marlon 6

Montana

BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

REGIONAL REPORTS REGION 1 AL KELLY MIKE SHEPARD

REGION 2

REGION 2 MARLON CLAPHMAN KEVIN ROBINSON

1

REGION 3 LIBERTY BROWN BARRETT HAUGEN

7

5

T

Al Kelly

REGION

6

REGION

4

REGION

8

3

REGION REGION

MARLON CLAPHAM KEVIN ROBINSON

REGION 1

REGION

8

3

REGION 7 RICK MILLER BOB MORGAN

2

REGION

REGION

REGION 6 NICK SIEBRASSE

REGION

4

2

REGION 5 JENN SCHNEIDER (NO REPORT) KEN SCHULTZ

1

6

REGION

REGION

REGION 4 MICHAEL PRATER JESS WAGNER

REGION

REGION

REGION

REGION

7

REGION

5

AL KELLY MIKE SHEPARD

Mike Shepard

N

ot much to report here. Permits are out, save the antelope gun ones, and as usual, would someone explain how the same people seem to get the good permits when they are eligible again????

Know of one sheep and moose in hands of one hunter, and nothing in the rest of our hands. I did pull a whitetail doe permit, so look out mothers. This also means a CWD test before I eat it too! This is a reminder, that all of our animals taken should be checked, if for no other reason, sanity sakes.

As a proud traditional bowhunter, I am also an avid Harley rider, and just back from the Beartooth Rally in Red Lodge. 1400 miles in a little over 4 days.

Great weather and just a reminder in that mountain pass why we all live here.

My Friends ere we are knee deep in the COVID 19.

Who’d of thunk it. Second wave coming, will it be COVID 39. Like myself, I am sure you are have had just about enough of this.

With this and all the public division that seems to go along with it, be thankful that your passion leads you away and to the solitude that is bowhunting.

We are natural born social distancers. We revel in getting away from our fellow man to enjoy our way of life.

That being said no man is a mountain unto himself. I for one enjoy time spent with likeminded individuals at social events as well. Even though our convention was cancelled this year we were able to gather at the carp safari for a much needed gathering of friends. To those who couldn’t be there it was great fun. And a big thanks to Joel and her top notch team carp troops who made it work. Not only was the carp safari a great success they managed to sell a pile of raffle tickets for the convention raffles. I would like to thank everyone who helped out, even though I am not even going to attempt to call out all the names because my memory is not that great.

I would also like to give a big shout out to Claudia Davis for all the work she has been doing in her new position as treasurer.

(And oh yeah, Claudia I hope you spend some time bending that longbow, my wife’s wiener (Fisher the teckel) really would like to retrieve a waskely rabbit for you.)

H

Al Kelly

he first round of the hay season in behind us. Fighting the rain and wind and a few breakdowns all our hay is bailed up and sold.

I would like to thank all the Region 2 members that participated in the area meetings back in early June. Kevin and I held a meeting at the Hellgate Hunters and Anglers Archery Range in behind the FWP Region 2 office in Missoula. Up here in the Bitterroot we met at the Blodget Rotary Park along the Bitterroot River. We discussed the Master Hunter Program and took their thoughts to the board meeting at the Carp Safari. There were other issues discussed, like the Teen Bowhunters Camp. As you all know we had to cancel the camp because of the Covid 19. We are already making arrangements for 2021 Camp. Looking forward to going to Libby if possible.

The Carp Safari / Make-up Convention worked out ok. We sold raffle tickets had an on-line auction and put a bunch of carp in the dumpster. Thank You to Rick and Ken for setting up everything at the campground, Claudia, Joelle Jerry and many other who pitched in setting up. We catered in lunch so nobody had to handle the food. It worked out well for everyone involved. It was a good time.

There is some talk of a Bighorn Sheep plant in the Little Belts. The MBA Board is looking into this project to see where we as an organization can help out financially or voluntary. We will keep everyone abreast as details come in.

The MBA and TBM are working on the next Video for promoting Bowhunting with out the crossbow. TBM is heading up the project and finished will send it to all the Legislators in advance of the start of 2021 secession. It will be quite involved and expensive to produce. We must protect our Bowhunting without the inclusion of the crossbow.

All ready looking forward to fall for chasing the wily whitetails in the river bottoms. So far all we see in the hay fields are Elk, such a dilemma to have.

Not much else going on, we are staying home most of the time staying safe.

Wear your masks Shoot-Em Straight and KeepEm Sharp

Marlon Clapham Marlon Clapham

Keep practicing and stay COVID-free. bowhunter/biker - Shep

Mike Shepard Fall 2020

7

REGIONAL REPORTS-CONTINUED

H

appy summer everyone! Well, this year’s Carp Safari was a fun one. I didn’t get as many fish in the boat as I would have liked but plenty of others had better luck. Amazing the winning team shot over two hundred fish, all without a boat! My four-year-old son was seriously confused after I informed him that we would be dumping our catch in the big blue dumpster and not in our cooler. The winds picked up Saturday afternoon and sent everyone back to shore early, lucky for the carp.

It seemed like we did ok with our raffles and auction fundraising efforts. I wasn’t lucky in the raffles but I’m happy to give my hard-earned money to our cause. With all of the events and teen camp canceled this year we’ll have to make sure next year’s events are full of participants and hopefully we have new members recruited.

I hope everyone is shooting, scouting and enjoying the summer. In the past, the more scouting, shooting and hiking I did during the summer months definitely have led to my most successful hunting seasons. If any of you were lucky enough to draw any limited tags or permits, congratulations and get scouting and shoot your bow as much as you can. I’ll be chasing September bulls around the Elkhorns with my longtime hunting partner and hope to have a good story to share.

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LIBERTY BROWN BARRETT HAUGAN

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ecently MBA members in Region 3 took part in a state lands clean up event organized by BHA and FWP. There is an area of state land adjacent to the Logan Landfill that has increased in popularity for recreational shooting and the trash has really started to accumulate there.

At the event, FWP officers indicated that they had started handing out citations to people for things like shooting clay pigeons and shooting without a State Land Recreation Use Permit.

A lot of people don’t realize, that the State Land Recreation Use Permit is not required when using State Trust Lands for hunting or fishing, because a $2.00 fee is included in the Montana Conservation License for use of these lands. However, when doing things like gathering fire wood, mineral exploration or shooting, you need to have the permit which is

Liberty Brown $10 or $5 for youth 17 and younger or seniors 60 and over. If you’d like more info on the permit, you can go to http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/ permits/stateLandUse.html Also, If you’re out scouting, hanging tree stands or chasing antelope with your bow this year in HDs 309, 311 (North of HWY 84 only), and 312, please be aware that holders of a 39700 tag can hunt the elk shoulder season in these areas starting August 15th to September 4th .

Take necessary precautions to ensure you don’t get shot.

Good luck to everyone this season!

Liberty Brown

Now go take the face mask off and go play in the woods!

Kevin M Robinson

Techno Metal Post of Western Montana 406-531-8243

Kevin Robinson

Picture of State Lands Clean-Up Event near Logan Landfill with BHA and FWP

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aving 52 employees, a 5-year-old and a two-year-old keep me moving steady all day long until I finally drop from exhaustion. I have been working many 1 a.m. starts to 7 p.m finish days. However, through all of the chaos and after almost 20 years of applying, I did manage to Draw a Missouri River Breaks Sheep tag. I almost fell over when I saw that I had drawn it.

I know many hunts have been cancelled for a lot of people this fall and I just hope everyone is getting out shooting their bow, hiking, scouting and staying healthy through all the things going on in this world. I personally feel more appreciative of where I live at this moment in time than I have ever felt.

WWW.MTBA.ORG

Montana truly is a gem. I am so thankful I get to raise my kids here. I get to take them bow hunting, fishing, camping, hiking or just enjoying the great opportunities we have in the great outdoors. It’s all good for the soul. I appreciate all of the members work in protecting our great heritage. I find myself so busy at times I barely have time to sleep. That’s why I’m so appreciative that all of you take time to keep the organization moving forward. Thank you all for your dedication.

It means a lot to many of us.

Stay healthy and shoot straight this fall.

Barrett Haugan

REGIONAL REPORTS

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JENN SCHNEIDER KEN SCHULTZ

MICHAEL PRATER JESS WAGNER Greetings All,

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Summer Archery Fun

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n between the closing of the past archery season and looking forward to the upcoming archery season there are several activities Montanan’s should take advantage of. There are numerous archery clubs that put on fun and challenging 3D shoots to keep your skills in tune as well as the opportunity to spend time with likeminded friends.

Some of those shoots are (this is not an inclusive list of all shoots), the 42nd Annual Kings Hill Shoot on July 18 and 19th. The shoot will consist of 50 3D targets. Lewistown Bowhunters Association Bonanza Shoot is August 8 and 9th.

This shoot consists of 50 3D targets plus several additional “fun” shoots/targets, raffles, prizes, and a cookout. Another opportunity is the Total Archery Challenge at Big Sky which is July 17th, 18th, and 19th. This fun shoot has 5 courses of 25 3D targets that are challenging, as you ride the ski lift up the mountain and shoot your way down.

Other opportunities to enjoy the outdoors with an archery aspect is bowfishing for carp.

The MBA’s Carp Safari at Canyon Ferry was a target rich fishing experience. This was the first time I was able to make it and will ensure to make it every year going forward. The LBA’s Carp Quest at Petrolia was another opportunity to shoot carp, cookout, have raffles, and enjoy the opportunity to catch up with friends. We were fortunate to get another bowfishing trip in with family and friends at a local water hole to shoot some more carp.

With the current challenges going on I can’t say enough how rejuvenating it was to get away from work, social media, and the news that never seems to be positive and enjoy what Montana has to offer archery hunters year-round.

Michael Prater Michael Prater

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Hello from Region 4,

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f you applied for a limited quota archery elk permit, hopefully the draws were good to you.

Every year I hear of a few people expressing their frustrations that they didn’t draw. These permits have been nearly guaranteed for a lot of years, and it’s a tough pill swallow when you find yourself without a permit. As Montana’s population continues to grow and more people get into archery hunting, this trend will continue. Fortunately, a good portion of the state can be hunted with a general tag. If a person wants to hunt elk bad enough, there is plenty of opportunity to be had.

Speaking of elk hunting, FWP’s elk management plan is set to be rewritten this year. A lot has changed since the current plan was developed in 2005 and a new plan has been long overdue.

FWP has just completed choosing members of the general public to make up an advisory committee that will help weigh in on what principles should guide elk management. Hopefully the group is diverse and all interests will have a seat at the table.

Many hunters have been calling for herd objectives to be revisited, while FWP has warned that they could be decreased. Hopefully that will not be the case. When FWP is developing the new plan there will likely be opportunity for public comment, so be sure to make your voice heard.

As always seems to be the case in Montana, politics will likely have an influence on our wildlife management. I urge everyone to do their research when deciding which candidates to vote for this fall.

This is especially important this year as it coincides with the development of the new elk plan. It sounds like crossbow legislation is going to rear its ugly head again, so be prepared for that.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer, archery season will be here before we know it!

sure hope everyone is doing well during this very difficult time. Many of you have had to make adjustments in your lifestyle with your families and work due to the Covid outbreak. As we filter through these next several months of hunting, school and work limitations, keep in mind that there are allot of folks out there struggling to keep their small businesses going. I would encourage all KentoSchultz of you make a concerted effort to support these small town businesses and help keep them afloat.

That might mean driving a little out of your way to visit a small town restaurant, gas station or general store. During past hunting seasons, I can remember some of my fondest memories eating at a small town restaurant and sharing after a successful hunt! The local’s do want to know how your hunt went. Let’s do what we can to support these folks!!!

Another area of support we can do is supporting our Law Enforcement! One way to do that is “Back the Blue”! As several large companies like Chickfil-A, Ford and Budweiser have started to raise awareness of how important these folks are. I can’t imagine our state without Police, Sheriffs, Game Wardens and First Responders out there beating the street and woods to keep crime in line and to protect and serve us! I can’t imagine poachers on the loose with no one to call! Please thank them every time you make contact with them to let them know how much you appreciate them. Don’t be afraid to put a sticker in your pickup window to show your support if you feel strongly about this cause.

I really hope that everyone has a really “Awesome” experience this year hunting with Family and Friends. I know of several folks that drew elite tags this year and can’t wait to hear about their experiences. As the final antelope tags are being drawn over the next few weeks, the excitement and anticipation with rise for all. Let’s stand together through this tough time and stay “Montana Strong”!!!

I will leave you with that and remember “Shoot Straight and “ALWAYS” be a Straight Shooter”!!

Ken Schultz

Jess Wagner

Ken Schultz

Fall 2020

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like the song “Try” by Dolly Parton. I thought it fit our trying times chasing after rainbows, dreaming big dreams, hunting and climbing our Montana mountains... Making the most of every moment, believing nothing is impossible when we fail. Let’s keep trying, just try little harder. Keep smiling and keep trying. We can get to this. I would encourage you to give this great song a listen.

RICK MILLER BOB MORGAN

Hi fellow Bowhunters,

Bob Morgan

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ope you all had time to contact Rep. Gianforte to ask him to support the Great American Outdoors Act to fund LWCF, being a Bowhunter will be tough if we run out of places to hunt. As of this writing the senate has passed this act, now we need the house to do the same.

Despite the limitations of Covid some of us have been getting to some summer shoots. The TBM put on a great event up at the Russian Flats south of Utica.

Hope you are all getting practiced up for this fall, Antelope opener is only weeks away! Sharpen em up and shoot straight.

Nick Siebrasse

Nick Siebrasse

Rick Miller

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ust received notice that I was not selected to be a member of the new “Elk Citizens Work Group.” As I am sure most are aware, this group will be reviewing the current state elk management strategy. Recommendations from that coalition (includes public sportsmen, landowners, and outfitters) will shape the future of how elk are managed during the next plan life span.

Considering how near and dear most of us hold our elk experiences each year, it is important to be aware of what is being discussed and decided by these representatives. Assuming that your concerns are intuitive enough to be clearly represented without your involvement is likely to be disappointing. Try to find out who is representing you on the work group and then contact them (early in the process) to keep updated. Active involvement is always the key to better understanding, so take the time and help make the new plan better for all of us.

Bob Morgan

As the new MBA rep in Region 7, I would ask that you contact me with any of your concerns or comments.

Enjoy all your time in the field this upcoming season. Montana may be going through some frustrating game management changes, but it is still unbelievably fun if we keep our focus more on the positives than the negatives.

Best of luck!

Rick Miller

www.pronghornbows.com 307-234-1824 evenings 2491 West 42nd Street Casper, WY 82604

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WWW.MTBA.ORG

REGIONAL REPORTS

CLIFF GARNESS MANDY GARNESS JOHN GRIMSTAD (NO REPORT) RAY GROSS RICHARD LEWALLEN PAUL MARTIN STEPHANIE PRATER RICH SMITH (NO REPORT)

DirectorsAt Large

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nother summer has almost passed, which means hunting season is again right around the corner. For all of us, this is a summer we all will probably remember for our lifetime due to the COVID Pandemic and its aftermath that still continues as of the writing of this article. While the list remains long of the bad/unfortunate things that came from COVID, there are some good things that came from it as well. Many of us may have had more time to spend with our children, family, friends, etc... Some of us were able to spend more time fishing, hiking, camping, scouting or simply completing a “Honey-Do” around the house that we could not otherwise seem to find the time for.

The MBA was still able to have their Carp Safari, some archery shoots are/were still being held and us Montanans are fortunate enough that we did not have to be in 100% quarantine for long durations like many of us have heard or read about in other states. Our hunting season is now upon us and life will go on, no matter how different it will be. I hope many of us have great success, no matter the harvest the season brings. My family (not me though) has some good tags this year and honestly, I cannot wait to spend every second I can in the woods with family and friends, chasing the specific species, COVID or not.

Be safe, shoot straight and share success photos for future newsletters.

Cliff and Mandy Garness

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he Coronavirus has changed our lives. I have been fishing, hiking and running my dogs mostly alone.

Bowhunting season is right around the corner.

Archery antelope opens August 15.

Archery season for elk, deer and bear open September 5. And if you were lucky enough to draw a special permit for big horn sheep that season opens September 5 for archery only, thanks to the MBA.

Ray Gross

Focus on the Moment

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esterday was one of those days where reading and listening to the news fueled my inner anxiety. A new virus with no proven vaccine threatens our individual lives and has caused chaos in our economic and political world.

It has aggravated trade and political tensions around the world. It has disrupted our daily lives and travel plans.

Richard Lewallen

Today, it dawned on me that the only thing I can do is to make plans to the best of my ability and maintain focus on the moment at hand. After all, one’s life is a series of moments strung together. Anyway, I am looking forward to getting out in the natural world, experiencing sunrises and sunsets pursuing antelope, deer, and elk this fall. I also appreciate the role my father played in introducing me to archery and archery hunting.

Good luck hunting this fall and seize the day and each moment as it comes!

Richard Lewallen

Mountain goat and moose open September 15. Drawing a limited archery elk permit is also icing on the cake. I put in for HD 410 and didn’t draw this year. I’m OK with that; I have drawn for my first-choice archery elk every time I applied since 2009. I have enjoyed many great limited archery elk permit hunts.

A Montana resident still has great odds of drawing a limited archery elk permit, first choice, every year. Being a bowhunter in Montana is the best.

Ray Gross Reports continued from page 12

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DirectorsAt Large

continued from page 11

A Great Hunt Schedule and Time To Take A Break

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ow I’ve been on the MBA board of directors for 12 years now, and I can remember in Missoula Diann and I attended our first MBA meeting, back when Gary Carvahal was president. Through the years Gary and I became good friends and have even spent a little time hunting together, as the same case with several other good people we have met with being involved with the MBA. As a tradition of meeting up during the late season hunt on some good ‘ol public ground and some real cold weather to deal with always makes it interesting. This year will be extra special with hunting two extra states on some quality private and public ground at no cost to me, just good friends and family opportunities, I can only hope to fill the non-resident tags and freezer.

This is also a good time for me to take a break from the MBA board, I need to focus more attention on getting the museum and education center accomplished for everyone involved in some kind of archery or bowhunting to be utilized and enjoyed, but at the same time, I don’t think I’ve written my best hunting story or achieved some of the dream hunts yet to take place, so of course I’ll be contributing to the newsletters and donations for the MBA conventions.

I’m not going to comment on this virus crap that has consumed our country. Once again it is an election year and Montana really needs to do something about out of state control on our FWP decisions about how we run our state. Just think if there was somebody running that actually bowhunts and knows how to create jobs, I think I would vote for him. Once again, we greatly thank the people who have the Bowhunter License Plate, it is your support that will make this museum / education center a reality.

Thank you >>>>---------->

Paul Martin

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P. S. Don’t forget that it’s dangerous to shoot your bow and arrow set with your mask on.

Mornings & Mourning’s

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ith the pandemic slowly chewing away the things we look forward to, it is sometimes hard to stay positive and relax amidst all the stress and bad news. We were supposed to be on a plane headed for Africa at the end of July to bow hunt, so I have been in mourning for a little while. I always wear black, so that wasn’t unusual but I was even a little hesitant to shoot my bow. Luckily our guide had some openings in 2021 and we rebooked. A delay not a downer and I finally picked up my bow and put some arrows through it. It felt good... time to pull up the boot straps and march forward, hunting season is coming.

We did manage to spend summer in the sun, rafting whitewater, fishing, shed hunting, bowfishing (make sure you put the MBA Carp Safari on your calendar for next year), catching the few archery shoots that still were up and going and social distancing Montana style. The best thing for a stressed soul is fresh air, a little sunshine and new adventure. So, we adventure on...

AS I write this, archery season begins in less than a month, I look forward to the chase as always, my favorite time of year. We pretty much are climbing mountains, crawling on the prairies, or hiking in the hills from August 15th on. I hope you all are ready to “mask up” for the hunt and take in that cool crisp morning air like we are.

Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you <---------------<<<

Stephanie Prater (and Dove) 12

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WWW.MTBA.ORG

MBA Teen Bowhunter Camp As we all know the Teen Camp was one of many functions that got cancelled due to the Covid -19 shutdown. It was scheduled to be held in Libby the week after Father’s Day. At the last board meeting in early June we discussed that we will try for 2021 and tentatively will again pursue the Libby location. We have to start over with the paperwork to get a new ok from the landowners.

I have taken over the Committee Chair for the Youth Committee and have a few folks on the committee with me, but we still need others if they are willing to lend a hand. We would also really like to have more youth members get involved with their input on the camp and other activities that they would like to see.

On the Committee are the Doyle family, Al Kelly, Roger Licht, Kevin Robinson, Rich Hjort. You don’t have to be a board member to be on a committee so get involved we have a lot of influence to pass on to the youth of the MBA. The Teen Camp has raised a few funds and has some grant money left over from the previous camps. We try to be self-reliant with donations and fundraisers such as selling camp hats and the beer can stoves. We work very hard to have enough funds to cover the expense of each camper that attends.

If anyone would like to sponsor a camper, we welcome all donations.

If you would like to purchase a hat or stove just get in touch with Marlon 1-406777-2408 or mbaregion2@gmail.com They are $20.00 each. I will send them to you.

(Not sure what the postage will be. But will find out soon.)

Marlon Clapham Youth Committee

RAFFLE WINNERS

RAFFLE WINNERS

When your name is drawn for a bow!

Congratulations to the following MBA Convention Raffle Ticket Winners.

•

Joelle Selk, Helena, MT

Tent Raffle Jim Brown, Clancy, MT

• Ladies Raffle Ken Miller, Libby, MT

• Hunter’s Defense

WINNER Teen Camp Youth Raffle Ryan Licht, Great Falls, MT

Steve Sukut, Glasgow, MT

• Teen Camp Youth Raffle Ryan Licht, Great Falls, MT

• Turkey Dream Raffle Billy Lewis, Livingston, MT

• Legislative Hiking Raffle

WINNER Legislative Hiking Raffle Rick Miller, Colstrip, MT

Rick Miller, Colstrip, MT

• Backcountry Packtrip Raffle Liberty Brown, Bozeman, MT

• Shiny Hiney Raffle Don Helmbrecht, Victor, MT

• Schafer Silvertip Recurve Bow Tammy Munis, Philipsburg, MT

WINNER Toelke Bow Joelle Selk, Helena, MT

• Toelke Bow Joelle Selk, Helena, MT

• Pronghorn Bow Justin Dalby, Livingston, MT

• Hurst Bow Mike Sura, Lewistown, MT

• Yellowstone Bow Jerry Davis, Helena, MT WINNER Pronghorn Bow Justin Dalby, Livingston, MT.

Thank you to all that supported the MBA with your ticket purchases!

WINNER Yellowstone Bow Jerry Davis winne , Helena, MT.

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HEADER 2020 CANYON FERY CARP SAFARI

18 Annual th

Canyon Ferry Carp Safari

A

Our 2020 Carp Safari was an absolute blast, unleashing 16 adult individuals, 5 youth, and 32 teams vying for the coveted winner’s plaques.

Following are the winners in each of the categories: A

Team Most Fish Sarah & Jeremy Allegrucci – 204 fish

B

Adult Most Fish Lonnie Wirtz – 76 fish

Adult Big Fish c Lonnie Wirtz – 14 lb. 10 oz.

b

Adult Small Fish D Sarah & Jeremy Alle grucci – 1 lb. 11 oz.

E

Youth Big Fish – (retriever reel) Dylan Anderson – 9 lb. 2 oz.

F

Youth Small Fish Sawyer Anderson – 3 lb. 6 oz

Past Carp Princess, June LePage, crowned this year’s princess, Janie Tripp, who despite some initial apprehension, quickly realized the true honor of her position.

Many thanks to MBA members who faithfully helped weigh fish and assisted with setting up food for the awards ceremony. We extend a hearty thank you to President Steve LePage, Treasurer Claudia Davis, Ken Shultz, Stephanie and Michael Prater, Richard Llewallen, and the numerous youth who assisted with setting up additional tables for social distancing. Thanks again to Scott Reed for the plaque construction and Teri Kelly for photography. Everyone’s donations and assistance netted us $2556.31 in profits this year. Thanks for supporting the MBA!

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Past Carp Princess, June LePage WWW.MTBA.ORG

2020 CANYON FERY CARP SAFARI

prize winners

carp safari

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MEMBER STORY

We Don’t Buy Christmas Gifts, We Shoot Them

by Brian Koelzer

The holiday season I look forward to is a time to gather with good friends and family....

I

refuse to acknowledge the commercialization and material mess Christmas time has turned into. Stores replace Halloween decorations with Christmas decorations on the 1st of November and Thanksgiving is all but forgotten.

Who decided that getting up at 3AM the day after Thanksgiving to rape the big box store shelves of all their foreign trinkets was a good idea as well?

Probably going to have to rename that day now anyway due to its offensive nature….whatever.

The holiday season I look forward to is a time to gather with good friends and family. Partaking in good food and good drink with people you care about is a greater gift than any new component for an “I” thing or the like.

The area my wife and I hunt whitetail deer was hit pretty hard with EHD several years back but has fortunately rebounded well and we were able to buy several doe tags over the counter as well as have our buck tags in our pockets.

We eat wild game almost exclusively but between the two of us we had eight tags and three freezers at home that were still fairly full from previous seasons hunts. Since shooting whitetails with a bow is fun and the property needed a few thinned out we decided that this year there would be no scarves, mittens, and re-gifted Jello cakes getting handed out at Christmas but coolers of tasty venison instead.

Late September blessed me with a big old Wyoming mule deer buck and in early October Kara was able to drop the string on a handsome 5-point whitetail. November rolled around and after some close calls and one blown opportunity I was able to notch my tag on a great buck. It had already been a fantastic season but with all the doe tags in our pockets we knew the fun was just beginning!

It used to be so easy to just throw our stuff in the truck and head out for a weekend of hunting but having a 14-month-old little boy has certainly changed how we operate. The weekend of November 23rd found us pointed north. The back seat of the truck packed to the ceiling with bows, arrows, diapers, and toys. The tiny motel room that was to be home for the next three days was

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arranged in no time and we were ready to go. Our new system of hunting was that I had mornings and my wife had evenings. The first morning out I had deer movement but no good shots at a doe. I did note however that several fields had been turned over the previous week but that one still had standing barley. Knowing the deer would be all congregating there come evening it was a no brainer were Kara would be hunting. The tree options weren’t great for the wind but an old blowdown at an open gate made for a great spot for a ground blind. Fortunately for us some friends of ours who live up in the vicinity offered to watch Bowen for the evening so we could both hunt. After getting Kara settled into her blind plenty early, I headed to a spot a ways away that I figured would be hit or miss but, was my best option for the wind. It was a beautiful evening to perch in a tree but as luck would have it, I didn’t have much action. Kara, on the other hand, had plenty! An hour or so after getting in her blind she started to see movement in the woods and it wasn’t long before deer started coming her way. The first few groups were does and fawns and neither one of us likes shooting a doe with a fawn so she patiently waited as they unsuspectingly walked past her blind. An hour before dark the woods came alive and when the first big single doe offered a 15-yard shot Kara sent a VPA through both lungs. Ten minutes later another group came from a different angle and another double lung shot was made. Kara texted me all excited and wondering if she should try to fill her last tag. I told her I would come down and two deer was probably good for one night. I arrived just as the sun was setting and we took some photos then the work started. A burger and a beer tasted good at the local bar that night and sleep came quickly for us all.

The next morning, I left Kara and Bo sleeping in the motel room and made the short drive out to the woods. Sipping coffee and formulating a plan waiting for grey light I couldn’t help but give thanks for our awesome lifestyle and many blessings. When the time was right, I got dressed and slipped down the edge of a slough to a funnel stand that always sees good action in November.

Shortly after daylight I start seeing deer and it wasn’t long before a lone doe

MEMBER STORY

strolled past me. My 58# Yellowstone longbow zipped a VPA through both lungs and she was down a short 30 yards away. I said my thanks and nocked another arrow hoping for another opportunity. A storm was brewing on the horizon and the wind started howling through the trees.

I was only eight feet up in a bushy cluster and I decided to sit it out for a while but told myself I’d get out if it started blowing any harder. After an hour and not much more deer movement I figured it was time to get out. I slowly climbed down and just as my feet touched the ground, I saw a small buck chasing a doe my way. The high winds and moving branches helped conceal my motion as I readied for a shot. I quickly nocked an arrow and as they passed me 10 yards away, I drew and shot in one fluid motion.

The hit was a little far back but I assumed I got liver and one lung. Electing to back out and give her some time I made my way back to the truck and drove back to pick up Kara and Bo. This was going to be my little guys first blood trail and I was excited to share the experience! Upon returning to the woods Kara loaded Bo onto her back and I took the lead on the scarce blood trail. All the leaves had recently fallen and the forest floor was covered in them. Unfortunately, the high winds were literally blowing away the blood trail and it took a little work to find her. Bo slept for most of the trailing but woke just as we found her and started pointing saying “der,der,der!” She had died only 80 yards from my first doe but had made a big horseshoe to get there. A few quick photos were snapped and the field dressing chores were undertaken. I was easily able to get my quad to the deer and loaded them both for the trip out. We had deer stacked like cord wood in the back of the truck on the way home and thankfully the weather stayed cool. Those big does ended up feeding brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, and grandparents in three states.

That’s my kind of Christmas shopping!!

Pictures: Top: Brian Koelzer and Bowyer Bottom: Kara Koelzer

Fall 2020

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MEMBER THANK YOUS

2020 Secial Achievement Award Thank you so much for the Special Achievements award. In 2003 when I received the MBA Bowhunter of the Year award, I stated that being in the company of past and future Bowhunter of the Year award winners meant more to me than harvesting a world record animal.

Well on October 3, 2019 I killed the official new world record Mountain Goat.

Who knows how long it will stay on top, and it doesn’t matter because I had my “moment in the sun.”

What matters way more to me is being judged in a positive way by such an important group of my peers. Thank you again for the award.

Bighorn Sheep in Montana

Rosey Roseland

Life Time Member I lived in the Bitterroot from 1992 – 2007 and then moved back to where I grew up here in eastern South Dakota. I was the MBA Public Relations Director at one time and am pleased to be an MBA life member.

Thanks again for all that you do.

Stan Rauch

Lake Preston, SD

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Montana Bighorn Sheep Herds are located in areas where distance can be maintained between Bighorn Sheep and domestic sheep and goats. This physical distance is to prevent disease transmission between the two species. All available sheep habitat with separation is occupied. This separation factor has made it difficult to transplant Bighorn Sheep to new areas in the state for the last fifteen years.

Recently, the Montana Woolgrowers Association and the Wild Sheep Foundation have started to find common ground recognizing that these disease processes impact both domestic and Bighorn Sheep.

This collaboration along with the involvement of Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has resulted in consideration of introducing Bighorn Sheep into the Bridger Mountains near Bozeman as an experimental research population. Bighorn sheep would be collared with satellite monitored G.P.S. collars to track their position in relationship with domestic sheep and goats. Researchers from MSU in Bozeman would gather data on disease transmission and animal movements.

In addition, introduction of Bighorn Sheep into the Little Belt Mountains is being considered with the cooperation of local landowners, Montana Woolgrowers, the Wild Sheep Foundation, and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. This is Hopefully the exciting beginning of a new chapter in the restoration of Bighorn Sheep populations in the state of Montana and other western states. The MBA will be monitoring and supporting this process.

Richard Lewallen DAL

CONTACT NUMBERS

Fish & Wildlife Commission Members

District 1

District 2

Tim Aldrich, Commissioner

District 3

Pat Byorth, Commissionerr

3340 Rodeo Road Missoula, MT 59803 Phone: (406) 241-7164 Term: January 1, 2021

fwpwld@mt.gov

Richard Stuker, Vice-Chairman 1155 Boldt Road Chinook, MT 59523 Phone: (406) 357-3495 Term: January 1, 2021

2360 Whitetail Road Bozeman, MT 59715 Phone: (406) 548-4830

District 4

District 5

Logan Brower, Commissioner

Shane Colton, Commissioner

P.O. Box 325 Scobey, MT 59263 Phone: (406) 230-2188 Term: January 1, 2019

335 Clark Billings, MT 59101 Phone: (406) 259-9986 Term: January 1, 2021

BUSINESS & CLUB MEMBERS

Become a Business Member of the MBA and be listed on this page every issue! For membership visit www.mtba.org.

Active as of July 2020 Buffalo Jump Archery

Judy Adams

P.O. Box 5581

Helena

MT

59604

406-539-3936

Crown Photography www.mtcrownphoto.com

Mike and Lucinda Layne

PO Box 9936

Kalispell

MT

59904

406-752-6116

Elk Creek Family Outfitters

David Hein

1021 Toole Circle

Billings

MT

59105

406-670-4366

Hurst Bows

Coltin Hurst

3368 MT Hwy 5 W

Plentywood

MT

59254

406-765-7580

Kutawagan Outfitters/ Bearpaw Lodge

Jeff and Annette Smith

Box 70

Choiceland

SK

S0J 0M0

306-428-2032

Libby Archery Club

P.O. Box 755

Libby

MT

59923

406-293-7174

Matablas Game Hunters

Willem Frost

PO Box 1559

Lephalale

0555

27116794664

Moody’s Dirty Laundry

Jay Moody

221 W 9th St

Libby

MT

59923

406-291-1609

Mountain Copper Creations

Jim Clapham

4085 Old Marhsall Grade Rd

East Missoula

MT

59802

406-880-9411

Northwest Motorsports

Tom Gilmore

2318 Granite Creek Rd

Libby

MT

59923

406-293-3131

Pronghorn Custom Bows

Herb Meland

2491 W 42nd St

Casper

WY

82604

307-234-1824

Schafer Silvertip Recurve

Dave Windauer

357 Roberts Rd

Columbia Falls

MT

59912

406- 892-0580

Toelke Custom Bows

Dan & Jared Toelke

31345 Lost Creek Ln

Ronan

MT

59864

406-676-5150

Zinks Big Sky Archery Targets

Terry L & Dylan Zink

PO Box 1272

Marion

MT

59925

406-253-4670

James Brown

PO Box 96

Richey

MT

59259

406-773-5509

Limpopo

Fall 2020

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

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

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP One Year $30.00 Three Years $85.00 Life $750.00

JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP (Under 18) One Year

Quarterly magazine keeping you informed on local, state, and national bowhunting issues, bowhunter education, events, and great hunting stories

$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!

Memberships run January 1 to December 31 each year.

Visit the MBA website at: www.mtba.org

YES! I Wish to join the MBA. Enclosed is my check, money order or credit card for membership checked below!

SEND TO: MBA, PO BOX 426, HELENA MT 59624 â&#x20AC;¢ PH. # 406-404-6168

Name:____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street: _________________________________________ City: ________________________ State: ________ Zip:___________ Email: ______________________________ Date: ____________________ Telephone: (_____) _________________________ INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP* o One Year $25.00 o Three Years $67.00 o Life $500.00

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP* o One Year $30.00 o Three Years $85.00 o Life $750.00

CLUB MEMBERSHIP* o One Year $45.00 o Three Years $120.00

BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP* o One Year $45.00 o Three Years $120.00

JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP (Under18) o One Year $5.00

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

MBA HATS o $15.00 each + $5.00 postage MBA Patches* o $2.50 each please send______patches DONATIONS o $_________________

PAYMENT TYPE o Check

o Money Order

o Credit Card - o VISA

o MASTERCARD

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED ______________

Credit Card #______________________________ Exp. Date_________ Signature_______________________________________ This is a give membership from________________________________________________________________________________

20

M ontana

BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

1

CHRIS PILLATZKE with a 12.5# carp taken at Canyon Ferry at the MBA Carp Safari

4

7

AUSTIN MILLER deer

MICHAEL SHEPARD Another longbow harvest... somewhere around 54 bucks with recurve or longbow as he approachs his 71st birthday

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MICHAEL PRATER antelope

2

5

8

11

BILL MCCORMICK mountain lion

3

JEFF KOELZER

MICHAEL AND STEPHANIE PRATER bowfishing

6

BILL SIEBRASSE

DUANE JAMES

This whitetail tipped over in the river.

NICK SIEBRASSE Thanksgiving day 2019

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12

DARBY MCADAMS with her first carp

GREG BAILEY

Fall 2020

21

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?

What the MBA has done for you?

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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.

Photos by Denver Bryan / Images on the Wildside

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What can you do for bowhunting in Montana?

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

Spring 2015

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