Vol. 52 #2 Winter 2024 Issue by Montana Bowhunter's Association

MBA

Regional Representatives

Region 1 Al Kelly 163 Scenery Rd, Libby, MT 59923 406-607-2897 griffguyal@gmail.com

Mike Iten 795 5th Avenue West N, Kalispell, MT 59901 406-366-5727 itenmike338@gmail.com

Region 2 Marlon Clapham 4455 Hoover Lane, Stevensville, MT 59870 406-777-2408 mbaregion2@gmail.com

Kevin Robinson 2110 Wylie Ave, Missoula, MT 59802 406-531-8243 Kmrmt00@hotmail.com

Region 3 Liberty Brown 275 Vigilante Tr., Bozeman, MT 59718 406-581-7216 mbareg3@gmail.com

Robin Mestdagh 1150 Vega Rd, Helena, MT 59602 406-839-6371 mestdagh.montana@gmail.com

Region 4 Justin Doll 3908 16th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405 406-939-0804 j.doll6190@gmail.com

Mark Schwomeyer 201 Big Sky Lane, Lewistown, MT 59457 406-350-0173 markschwo@gmail.com

Region 5 Ben Buller 4143 King Ave East, Billings, MT 59101 406-672-5616 buller_ben@yahoo.com

Region 6 Tristan Manuel 48538 Anderson Rd, Havre, MT 59501 406-399-5114 HiLineTraditional@gmail.com

Region 7 Bob Morgan PO Box 1995, Colstrip, MT 59323 406-749-07064 robertredface@gmail.com

AT LARGE DIRECTORS

EVEN YEARS

Cliff Garness 5901 Western Drive, Great Falls MT 59404 - obsession_archery@yahoo.com 406-788-9009

Jake Garness 5901 Western Drive, Great Falls MT 59404 - powderslayer22@gmail.com 406-750-4444

Guy Stickney 32 Cottonwood Way, Miles City, MT 59301 - wallguy31@yahoo.com ................................... 406-951-2506

ODD YEARS

Jackie Doyle 873 Leese Lane, Stevensville, MT 59870 - jackie.c.doyle92@gmail.com 406-274-3716

Brian Koelzer 80 Jansma Lane, Manhattan, MT 59741 - Rocknrollbowhunter3@yahoo.com 406-570-7997

June LePage 2574 Divide Rd, Lewistown, MT 59457 - junelepage1@gmail.com 406-366-2605

Mike Shepard 351 7th Ave East N, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 - michaelshepard7@gmail.com 406-250-9806

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 Julie Jensen at 391 Coral Drive, Belgrade, MT 59714 or email jjensen44@mac.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 Administrator, Claudia Davis, PO Box 426, Helena MT 59624 or call 406-404-6168, or register online at www.mtba.org, or ask a member.

MBA Officers PRESIDENT

Ken Schultz

302 Wyoming Ave • Billings, MT 59101 schultzy@iwks.net • 406-598-8550

1ST VICE PRESIDENT

Stephanie Prater

416 Entrance Ave • Lewistown, MT 59457 mthuntress406@gmail.com • 406-461-6949

2ND VICE PRESIDENT

Jess Wagner

201 Big Sky Lane • Lewistown, MT 59457 406-939-3458 • Jess_wagner2@hotmail.com

TREASURER

Mandy Garness

5901 Western Dr • Great Falls, MT 59404 camoquilter@gmail.com • 406-750-9953

SECRETARY

Jerry Davis

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

PAST PRESIDENT

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

MAGAZINE EDITOR

Julie Jensen 391 Coral Drive • Belgrade, MT 59714 701-361-9197 • jjensen44@mac.com

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Claudia Davis 725 Middlemas Road • Helena, MT 59602 406-404-6168 • mtba@mtba.org

Paul Leeberg took this antelope in Wyoming in August over water

MBA Committees

Legislative:

Co-Chairs: Justin Doll

Jerry Davis • Liberty Brown

Steve LePage • Stephanie Prater

Financial:

Chair: Mandy Garness

Al Kelly • Claudia Davis (contractor)

Landowner/Sportsman:

Chair: Stephanie Prater

Tristan Manual • Jess Wagner

Justin Doll • Bob Morgan

Mark Schwomeyer

Nominations:

Chair: Brian Koelzer

Al Kelly • Jackie Doyle

Awards:

Chair: Cliff Garness

Liberty Brown • Steve LePage

Brian Koelzer • Al Kelly

Robin Mestdagh

Membership:

Chair: Steve LePage

Mandy Garness • Nick Siebrasse

Ron Aasheim

Convention 2025 (Region 6)

Tristan Manuel

Magazine:

Chair: Cliff Garness

Jake Garness • Julie Jensen

Brian Koelzer • Kevin Robinson

Rick Miller • Jackie Doyle

Stephanie Prater

Carp Shoot:

Chair: Kevin Robinson

Steve LePage • Jerry Davis

Bow-Ed:

Chair: Mark Schwomeyer

Tristan Manual • Al Kelly

Youth Membership and MBA Teen Bowhunter Camp

Chair: Jackie Doyle

Kevin Robinson • Robin Mestdagh

Governance

Chair: Jerry Davis

Al Kelly

PTMAE

Chair: Jerry Davis

Kevin Robinson • Steve LePage

Tentatives

Chair: Stephanie Prater

Justin Doll • Steve LePage

Mark Schwomeyer

PRESIDENT - KEN SCHULTZ

1ST VICE PRESIDENT - STEPHANIE PRATER

2ND VICE PRESIDENT - JESS WAGNER

SECRETARY - JERRY DAVIS

TREASURER - MANDY GARNESS

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Greetings All,

Ihope this article finds everyone in good health! As the bow season starts to dwindle down, it’s time to pull out the orange and get ready for the rifle hunters. That’s the beauty of Montana; you can keep on archery hunting. I know I plan to chase some more whitetails and elk before hanging up the bow for the season. I was blessed to have harvested an antelope this year, so that’s one off my plate. The weather has continued to stay warm, and it has really messed with the elk rut in several areas. I have seen some pics of elk harvested, so that means it wasn’t a total loss this year. Congrats to those who sealed the deal already!

The “Big Sky Youth Event” was a big hit again this year in Billings (see pics of MBA winners). There were roughly 100 kids who attended, and they had a great time. This is a completely free event that kids can attend, and they get a chance to shoot a bow, rifle, BB gun, and shotgun. We have a rock wall for them to climb, a really cool fur display to look at, and they also get taught about hunting safety. When the kids get through all the stations, they are fed a free lunch at the clubhouse, and they have a chance to win some really cool prizes donated by the organizations that put on the event. Along with the MBA, there are several other major organizations that help put on the event. This year, the event was held at the “Blue Creek Shooting Complex” again. Thanks to them, the event has a good home. Great job by Bev and her team!

I wrote in my last article that the “Carp Shoot” was a great success in June, but there were some issues with too many carp shot (not sure how that’s possible) and a mess with the dumpster that they were disposed of in. I’ve had several people contact me and ask me if we are going to have it again in 2025. Our goal is to still have the shoot again next year. We are looking into options to either relocate or have a better plan for the disposal process. No matter what, we are going to pull out all the stops to see if we can make it happen!

I want to wish everyone who still has tags to fill the best of luck in finishing the season strong. Be sure to wear your orange and be very careful! With that, I’ll leave you with the reminder to “Shoot Straight and ALWAYS be a Straight Shooter”!

Ken Schultz

1ST

VICE

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Well, September has come and gone. Luckily, I had a pretty successful season and filled a few tags and my freezer. I used some knowledge from the Troy Pottenger Seminar at the last MBA banquet to pattern a great whitetail buck and notch my tag on opening day. It was a 142” stunning old 8-point (or 4x4 – whichever you want to call it).

While out in the field, I did make a couple of observations… it was HOT and it felt like the elk rut started late. It feels like it is peaking (end of September-early October as I write this) as the nights are finally cooling off and it seems like they are starting up in the areas we hunt. We are enjoying October. I would have hated to have an early season elk pack out with the heat. You’d definitely need to make quick work of field dressing & packing. Is October the new September?

Also, we noticed way more mule deer in the places we hunt, does, fawns, young and old bucks. My husband was even lucky enough to fill his tag on a mature typical mule deer after we took a hiatus from hunting mule deer due to the low populations over the last few years. It was good to see them start to rebound.

The steps FWP and biologists have taken, such as limiting mule deer doe permits to private, reducing or eliminating the number of doe tags available, and some regional/district changes to limited draw or limited draw during the rut will continue this trend. Seeing a rebound is a good thing for the deer. Some folks are calling for a complete rewrite of our seasons that would reduce the archery season length and start piecing apart the rest of the seasons in the name of mule deer management. While we agree mule deer are a precious species and need to be taken care of, the Montana Bowhunters Association is watching these proposals and will be ready to take action if they gained any traction that would affect our season.

Of course, we are going into an election cycle, and that means you need to research the candidates, talk to your local representatives, and VOTE. We expect fish and wildlife to be a hot topic again this legislative session. The zombie crossbow bill may return. We are ready to fight for our Montana Bowhunters! Feel free to contact us or attend a regional meeting and let us know what is important to you as a member!

As always, Shoot Straight and Save the Date!

MBA Banquet - April 11-13, 2025 • Heritage Inn, Great Falls

Stephanie Prater

2ND VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Iknew this season would look a lot different than my archery seasons in the past. Raising a six-month-old boy requires me to be home much more than I’m used to. I knew I had to make the most of the little time I would have to get away. On opening weekend, I went out with my future brother-in-law. Opening morning was a bust as we ran into other vehicles at every spot we intended to try. We found a couple of nice bulls on the second morning, but we were unable to get any opportunities before our self-imposed time limit. We agreed we wouldn’t shoot anything after that due to the hot temperatures.

I didn’t get out for my third morning until two weeks later. I had a bull bugling in front of me in some timber at daylight. He didn’t seem to be headed in any particular direction, so I decided to make some lost calf calls to see how he would respond. The first couple of calls had his cows replying to me. After talking back and forth with them for a while, it seemed like they wanted me to come to them. Trying to sneak through the timber seemed like a sure way for me to get busted, so instead I walked back and forth while calling to make it sound like the calf couldn’t cross a fence. Eventually, they were coming my way. The cows passed through the small window I had to shoot at 30 yards, and I saw antler tips coming not far behind them. When he stepped into the opening, I quickly stopped him and put my arrow through both lungs. After waiting an hour, I found the bull piled up about 80 yards from where I shot him. It was the shortest archery season I’ve ever had, and I had some luck on my side to be able to get a mature bull given the time I had.

Hopefully, my boy will have the same passion for hunting that I do, and we will be hunting elk together someday. I hope you all had a great season. If you have any concerns based on what you saw during the season, please reach out to me.

Jess Wagner

SECRETARY’S MESSAGE

Well, I just listened to Ken Schultz’s interview on the September 7th Montana Outdoor Podcast and I think it was great. Ken talked about the issues that bowhunting is currently contending with to include crossbows and UPOM’s lawsuit. Additionally, Ken talked about the number of bowhunters in Montana, which is over 50,000, and why those bowhunters should belong to MBA. We work diligently to protect the Montana Archery Season. He also hit on a key point that MBA is a democratic organization and that we try to solicit our members’ opinions on topics that MBA weighs in on. So, if you want a say in preserving Montana’s archery season then you should be a member. Thanks for that great interview, Ken.

Secretary Position

I will not be running for Secretary next year, so we need someone to step up and take the position. It will have to be someone who already sits on the board as that is a requirement of our By-Laws.

“Section 6.6 President, First Vice President, Second Vice president, Secretary and Treasurer to be Members of the Board The president, first vice-president, second vice-president, secretary, and treasurer of the corporation shall be regularly elected members of the Board, who shall have served at least one year on the Board prior to election as an officer.”

The position may require the individual to spend an evening or two writingup Board meeting minutes. It is not a difficult task, and it is made much simpler with the use of technology.

So existing board members please consider it, it is a very rewarding and more importantly it is a critical part of the Boards activities. I believe good meeting minutes help our organization achieve its goals.

Permit to Modify Archery Equipment (PTMAE)

Marlon and Mary Clapham and I reached out to Disability Rights Montana (DRM) to demonstrate some of the modifications that we make to a legal bow to allow a person with a disability to bow hunt. We did this outreach on July 26th to educate DRM on some of the help we can provide to an individual with a disability that wants to bow hunt. We are hoping for their support for a bill that would fund modifications to archery equipment (PTMAE) for those with a disability through a voluntary donation on a hunting license, much like the Hunters Against Hunger Program.

I have also been in communication with a Legislator to get a bill drafted and submitted. Hopefully we will be successful.

Hope all of you had a great archery season. I am still a little timid of reinjuring my back so I am still holding back on hunting, but I hopefully will be back in the “catbird” seat next year.

Jerry Davis

Jess Wagner

Mandy Garness

TREASURER’S MESSAGE

Make your bucket list! Traveling doesn’t get any cheaper, and tomorrow is not promised. There are amazing adventures to be had, but you have to take the first steps. So, what’s on your list? What’s your comfort zone? Who will go with you? Here are a few options:

Hawaii – We vacationed and hunted on Maui a few years ago. Family traveled with us to see Pearl Harbor and do some snorkeling and touring during the day, while we chased axis deer. We packed duffle bags in coolers for the trip, checked the bags separately, and returned with our frozen harvest.

New Zealand – I believe Cliff is telling the hunting story in this issue, but we toured for a few days and hunted for a week. Part of the hunt was high exertion mountain hunting, some stalks on rolling hills, and the grand finale was helicopter hunting. The lodge at Exclusive Adventures was luxurious and the meals chef prepared.

Africa – We’ve been a couple of times now, with Numzaan Safaris. There are many options for base packages. Animals are à la carte. So, choose your adventure: rifles or bows, spot and stalk, or blinds at water holes. Generally, you’ll stay in a lodge-style camp and get to sample many kinds of game, though you won’t bring any home.

Canada – If flying isn’t your thing, you can drive to bear camp. Kutawagan offers a B&B style lodge with family meals and tree stand hunting in the evenings. This is a great hunt for beginners as there is plenty of time to make shot decisions, range, and watch the bears interact. We’ve been there in sun, snow, and swarms of bugs, so pack accordingly, including your Thermacell!

The most important advice we can give is to do your research. Talk with the outfitter and with people who have gone with them. Our experiences have been fantastic. I believe our success is partly due to the offers we passed up after hearing horror stories. Take the opportunities to shop. By this, I mean call one of us (board of directors). Many of us travel to hunt, and if we don’t have the answer to your question, we’ll put you in touch with another resource. Consider attending a trade show. Locally, join us at our banquet (April 11-13, 2025, in Great Falls again), the Safari Club International Great Falls Chapter banquet in Great Falls in February, or nationally, at the Pope and Young Convention or SCI in Nashville. There are hunts available at auction as well as the opportunity to book directly with the outfitters and take advantage of show specials.

Take lots of photos, have a great time, and be sure to write and submit your story for publication in the MBA magazine!

Mandy Garness

PAST PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Hello MBA membership! As I write this, it is nearing the end of archery-only season. Since I measure my success in terms of hours in the field as opposed to kills, I have had a very successful season. The highlight of which has to be my son killing his first elk. My only regret is that I was not there for the hunt or recovery. Although it makes me very proud that he is confident and capable enough to go out and get it done.

I was also fortunate enough to enjoy a bowhunt with my wife in Newfoundland for moose. I have always enjoyed hunting different species in varied locations and this experience did not disappoint. I have previously bowhunted moose with a guide and on my own. This last hunt was by far my favorite and resulted in my largest moose to date, although my wife’s moose was larger…that is a topic for a different article.

As we approach the end of hunting season, I find myself wondering what the upcoming legislative session will bring. Will there be another crossbow bill? What other types of bills might be brought that will threaten our archery seasons? Even though I worry about such things, I feel that we have a great Board of Directors that will keep an eye on all of these issues and will alert us when we need to take action. Thank you for supporting the MBA as it continues to protect the Montana bowhunting seasons that we all enjoy.

Sincerely,

Stephen LePage

MBA-Past President

Stephen LePage

REGION 1 AL

MICHAEL

REGION 2

MARLON

KEVIN

REGION 3

LIBERTY BROWN (NO REPORT)

ROBIN MESTDAGH (NO REPORT)

REGION 4

JUSTIN DOLL

MARK SCHWOMERYER (NO REPORT)

REGION 5

BEN BULLER (NO REPORT)

REGION 6

TRISTAN MANUEL (NO REPORT)

REGION 7

BOB MORGAN (NO REPORT)

REGION 1

As I draft my article, we are almost to the end of archery season. It’s been a quiet season at the Kelly house this year as far as harvest goes, but we have had some great adventures and some close encounters. Personally, I’ve spent most of my season pursuing the elusive Yaak moose with both a bow and a rifle. I was fortunate enough to draw a tag in that district this year and will continue to pursue one with high hopes of a harvest by the end of the hunting season.

Some sad news in our neck of the woods. CWD is now in Northern Idaho. I would guess that in addition to some natural migration over the state line, there have been animals harvested in Lincoln County and taken to Idaho and possibly not properly disposed of, which increases the chances of it being transmitted to other areas.

If you hunt where there is CWD, please become educated about proper disposal and transport, as well as participate in testing harvested animals to see what areas they are in. Being mindful and responsible is how we hopefully limit the spread.

Don’t forget to send in those harvest photos and stories for the next newsletter. It’s always great to see other bowhunters’’ successes and hear those stories.

Al Kelly

To most bowhunters, September is a month that comes with excitement and expectations coupled with the sounds of bugling bulls. Hopefully, there are many of you that were able to get out and enjoy the sounds of September, bend the limbs, settle in and let the carbon fly! This year I was only able to get out opening weekend and it was a hot one!

Region 1 had a pint night in August at Bias Brewing in Kalispell. Thanks to Benny there were a few folks that turned out. I did hear from a few of you that said you would make it to the next one. Perhaps once work life can settle down a bit, we’ll have another one in the New Year. It would be great to meet fellow MBHA from Region 1.

Ahot dry, SMOKY, summer led into windy finish here in the Bitterroot Valley. As most of you might know is that Merri and I both drew a Moose tag for the eastside on the Bitterroot River between Missoula and Hamilton. It took me over fifty years to draw and Merri over twenty. What were the odds, about .09% to draw one and .04% to draw two tags, the only two available for moose HD 261.

We found out on May 9th, I had knee surgery May 30th and we have been scouting right up to the opening of the season September 7th and have hunted all but 4 of the 38 days. We have been close a few time during the rut, Merri called in 3 bulls in 4 days, to within 20 yards and closer, but they stayed in the brush, so no chance for a shot. We have had cows come in and bed next to the decoy, of course our tags are bulls only. We have had to put up with the smoke everyday and closed off the south end of the area and the first 2 weeks of the north end of the area. But we have found several spots where we have a few moose, so we have 47 days left to hunt. Maybe some rain in the next few days as they are predicting. It was in the 70ies at 6000 feet today.

I am disappointed that we might lose our Carp Safari, hopefully we will get something worked for that.

The MBA did a fund raiser to help out Gene Wensel with some family issues, I think we raised around $2000.00 to help him out.

The PTMAE was very busy this late summer with folks trying to get into the archery season. It seemed like I was getting a call every other day for a while, we got them all taken care of with whatever their needs might have been.

Well, I rambled on long enough so, Keep-Em Sharp and Shoot-Em Straight.

Marlon Clapham

Michael Iten

Robinson

Greetings from Region 2! Bow season is wrapping up for most but far from over for some. With cooler temps on the way, I’m looking forward to my upcoming November whitetail hunts here in Montana and Illinois. As I get older (and wiser???), it seems I hold off until late October before I get serious about my whitetail pursuits. The weather right now in October is as good as it gets with those cool sunny days, frosty mornings, and changing colors of the leaves. Throughout the fall, bowhunting and kids’ soccer tournaments have taken me all over western Montana. It’s cool to see the changes during my favorite time of year. We live in a beautiful place and a bowhunter’s dream!

For those of you who attended the last convention, you witnessed the live auction of the first annual MBA traveling bugle tube donated by Sletten Construction. Yours truly won that auction and put that sucker to work in September! The photo album that accompanies the bugle will have the full story of our success with lots of photos to share. What stories and photos will that album hold in twenty years?

By the time you read this, we’ll have some new politicians elected, including a new president. I hope the ones we elect have our backs as bowhunters. Let’s inform and educate the newly elected officials here in our state about who we are and what the tradition of bowhunting means to us as Montana bowhunters. These days, it’s pretty easy to contact your local politicians, at least in Montana, to let them know your thoughts on issues.

I hope everyone continues to have a safe and successful season in the woods, shoot straight!!!

Kevin Robinson

Greetings fellow bowhunters. As I sit here and write this, I hope each of you has had a stellar season. I hope your arrow has found its mark, followed by a speedy recovery. It seems the archery season was quite favorable regarding the weather. The start of my fall was full of many memories, including one encounter with a badger. I hope the badger is a one-and-done type of deal. Fellow bowhunters joined my camps this fall. I’ve received help from friends and strangers. This goes to show how special this part of the year is. In reflecting on my season, I am grateful for the opportunities we have in our state. Hunts shouldn’t be based solely on “inches”, but rather on those memories we make in the field with fellow bowhunters.

The opportunities we have are significant and deserve our serious consideration. We will most likely spend the next 18 months enduring another legislative session and dealing with other groups that aim to reduce our great archery season. There are proposals out there aiming to fix issues, but in my opinion, they will only create other issues.

Let us remember the past work. It gave us our long archery season. As we move through the upcoming session, let’s focus on preserving archery in Montana. In the meantime, I suppose my focus will turn to getting the dog out to find a few birds for the remainder of the year.

Membership Chair Update

The MBA Membership Committee works hard to grow and maintain a strong membership. Recently, we decided to try a couple of novel approaches to increasing our membership numbers. The committee asked: Who are we looking for? The answer was clear: Montanans who are joiners, bowhunters, and outdoor enthusiasts.

With that target audience in mind, we advertised in a local newspaper’s annual hunting guide and did an advertisement exchange with the Montana Trappers Association and Montana Walleyes Unlimited. We will monitor the effects, and hopefully we will have some new information to report next time.

Kevin

Justin Doll

JACKIE DOYLE

CLIFF GARNESS

JAKE GARNESS

BRIAN KOELZER

JUNE LEPAGE

MIKE SHEPARD

GUY STICKNEY

HDIRECTOR’S AT LARGE

ello, fellow archery hunters. This year held many challenges for some. Fires burning habitat, heat, and weather being a big factor. I hope you all got out at least once or twice despite everything and had a great season! Unfortunately ,I had to sit out this bow season due to an injury. That’s just how it goes sometimes. I wish you all the best luck in your archery adventures this year!

Doyle Region 2

Well, here we are again enjoying the last days of the general archery season before it ends. This year was a weird year for the places we hunted in Region 4. It appears some others I have talked to have had similar experiences (or lack thereof of good elk hunting action). It seems like the days and weeks go by faster and faster these days, and I find less and less time to take advantage of the bowhunting season. I am reaching a milestone birthday this year and believe that time continues to go faster with age...

Before writing my article for this newsletter, I had great opportunities to talk with friends and catch up on their hunting stories thus far. Many of them have gone on a “bucket list” type hunt this year, including mountain goat, moose, grizzly bear, and caribou. As I alluded to in my last article, I went on my own “bucket list” hunt this year, when Mandy and I hunted New Zealand this spring for Bull Tahr, Red Stag, and Fallow Deer. I have to say that most of the stories shared with me have been great experiences and successes, no matter the specific success(es).

I bring this up because fundraiser and banquet season is drawing closer and many of you attend not only local fundraisers, but also national functions like Pope and Young, Mule Deer, SCI, or others looking for hunts to purchase. I have never had a horror story of my own for a guided hunt, but I have heard about plenty over the years. Knock on wood, I have been fortunate enough to travel to a few states and provinces to hunt and have had great experiences, guides, and outfitters. There are too many folks these days looking to make a “quick buck” and get down payments from you for a hunt and then they disappear with your money, and you have no hunt. My advice is that the hunting community is quite large, so spend some time and do your research on the outfitter before you book or buy a hunt. Have conversations with the outfitters and ask for references to contact (both successful and unsuccessful clients), ask other hunters, and even reach out to other outfitters in the general area. Research and asking the right questions will lead to a better experience and a better chance of having a successful hunt.

With all this said, none of us are getting any younger and things are not getting any cheaper. No matter what your “bucket list” experience or hunt may be, I hope you can find a way to make it happen and that it is greater than imagined. Have a great rest of your season, and I wish everyone safe travels and happy holidays

Cliff Garness

Region 4 DAL

Hey everyone, I hope this season has been a blessed one and your freezers are full! Time stops for no one, and September went by in 6th gear but was full of adventures. Looking forward to the pics and stories after November flies by! Good luck out there.

Brian Koelzer >>>————->

Cliff Garness

Brian Koelzer

Jackie

Jackie Doyle

When the weather and leaves start to turn, an incessant hunger grows in my stomach. After months of college cafeteria food and microwaved mac and cheese, I yearn for the annual freezer refill that comes with the fall hunting season. My lack of time to hunt means I benefit from my family’s and friends’ hunting successes. My parents are used to bringing a cooler of meat to the dorm when they visit me. Growing up, game meat was our primary source of protein; it now functions as a necessity in my college-budget-friendly meals. As necessary as game is to my humble kitchen, it also fills a hunger in my heart.

This fall, I enjoyed a five-star dining experience while sitting on folding chairs in the basement of the freshman dorms. With a paper plate and a plastic butter knife, I tore into the pan-seared backstraps of my brother’s first elk. With light seasoning, no sides, and Costco cookies for dessert, his meal drew in a large crowd of eager moochers and adventurous nonhunters. Watching him cook in this kitchen transported me back to three years ago. As a freshman, I cooked wild Rocky Mountain oysters for a group of my freshman friends in the same dingy dorm kitchen. Together, my brother and I sat and ate a meal that felt like home. After a successful hunt, he shared his story and food with his new college friends and me.

For months after this season, I hope everyone gets to enjoy full bellies and great stories. Whether bowhunting is a hobby or an integral part of your food supply, a shared meal will do wonders for you.

June LePage

MBA WINTER 2024 UPDATE

W“A

hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.”-

Fred Bear

June LePage

opefully, everyone is getting out and having a great season. I know I have been, albeit with zero arrows released and no drawbacks even. Some years are like that for me. Yet, I am excited for November and still have some great archery hunts planned for this year.

One great aspect of not firing arrows is that I’m certain my wounding loss has been zero. I don’t know if it was social media, but this year’s archery season had a lot of wounding reported. It seemed worse than ever. Maybe you guys noticed that too. As archers, we definitely want to do everything possible to recover a hit animal. But, in my opinion, we need to also be cognizant of public perception surrounding archery hunting if we want to preserve and protect archery hunting for future generations. It’s a balance. Everyone will have to decide for themselves if the positives equal or exceed the negatives when going to social media for help in the recovery of a wounded animal. I am a firm believer that the damage of such an approach to the public’s perception of archery hunting exceeds any minuscule chance of aiding in a recovery. But luckily for us all, we live in a free country and get to make that decision. I hope you had a great season and your shots were straight and true!

Mike Shepard

Guy Stickney

Is Hunting Technology Going Too Far?

By Jess Wagner

When you started hunting, did you ever imagine you could someday “scout” from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy recliner, with remote cameras sending photos of animals to your phone? What about locating animals at nighttime, or seeing heat signatures through vegetation? What about flying a basin to find animals with a remote-controlled airplane that’s no bigger than the size of a large bird? Would you have imagined it becoming common for animals to be harvested with bows at ranges from 70-100 yards? These scenarios are all a reality today. As Montana bowhunters, we must consider the potential impacts of utilizing these technologies. Thermal optics, slider sights, cellular game cameras, and drones all give bowhunters advantages that jeopardize hunting opportunities and blur the lines of fair chase ethics which so many of us follow.

In 2017, Montana bowhunters were at odds with each other over the legalization of lighted nocks as some argued their use would lead to hunters taking unethical shots. Looking back now, I find it almost comical to think about the controversy surrounding that issue when few people fight against the use of some of the advanced hunting technologies being used today. In contrast to the early days of lighted nock use, there are certain technologies being used more and more with little to no discussion about their impacts. Most would agree that these technologies have a much bigger impact than lighted nocks. It is somewhat alarming to see how things have changed in just seven years.

One piece of gear that has quietly found its way onto about half the compound bows I see at the archery range is the slider/movable sight. These sights have taken the guesswork out of shooting at longer distances. It seems like every year I hear about more people shooting at animals at ranges from 70100 yards. So far this year, I’ve heard of two bull elk shot at over 90 yards and a cow shot at 108 yards (she has not recovered). Antelope seem particularly vulnerable to the increased use of slider sights. I have yet to hear of a spot and stalk antelope harvest under 60 yards this year. Not surprisingly, archery antelope harvest has been increasing. A biologist’s 2023 report of an antelope hunting district showed that the total archery buck harvest within the hunting district was double the number of available either-sex rifle permits for the district. The report stated that “continued growth of buck harvest from the 900-20, which is a statewide license, may result in fewer either-sex rifle licenses being available in Hunting District xxx in the future.” When archery harvest is getting so high that biologists are forced to accommodate that harvest by cutting rifle tags, it becomes clear that archery has more impact than intended.

As new archery technologies continue to give us more advantages over the animals we pursue, the hunting we have known and loved is increasingly at risk. Consider the intent behind the archery season.

Montana’s six-week bowhunting season was granted with the understanding that historical archery equipment was an effective means to harvest game animals with minimal impact on the resource ethically. Bowhunting was unique enough to warrant a separate season. It showed an acceptance of necessary equipment restrictions to limit harvest rates. Montana’s game managers and bowhunters must consider two things. First, is extra equipment needed for bowhunting? Second, could advancements threaten the six-week, archery-only season? (Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission Policy on Archery Season Intent and Equipment Evaluation Criteria)

This is nothing short of a warning from the commission that advanced hunting technologies are a threat to the opportunities provided in our current archery season. As hunters continue to use these technologies and increase harvests, we should anticipate our current opportunity to be restricted, whether that be through reduced season lengths or reduced tag numbers.

Additionally, our main argument against crossbows is that they offer more of an advantage over vertical bows because they are flatter shooting and more accurate at longer ranges. As these long-distance shots on animals with compound bows become more common and viewed as acceptable, our argument against crossbows gets weaker every year.

Aside from archery-specific technologies, we are also seeing an increase in the use of technologies such as cellular game cameras and thermal optics, both of which contradict fair chase ethics. Although not intended to be legal, the poor wording in the regulations allows these devices to be used legally. Both devices are considered motion-tracking devices by FWP. The regulations state: “It is unlawful for a person, while hunting , to use any electronic motiontracking device or mechanism that is designed to track the motion of a game

animal and relay information on the animal’s movement to the hunter. Motion tracking devices are defined by F&W Commission as remote operated cameras or video devices capable of transmitting real time information, pictures, or videos; seismic devices; thermal imaging devices; and satellite and radio telemetry devices.” The words “while hunting” are what allows these devices to be used legally. You can use cellular cameras while you’re not hunting, but they are illegal as soon as you step into the field to go hunting. How many people are going and turning off their cellular cameras when they hunt? Probably no one. You can use thermal optics to locate game at night outside of legal shooting hours since you’re “not hunting”. That big nocturnal whitetail buck you’ve been after is much more killable when you can find out where he’s going at night. Are the elk more difficult to find because they aren’t giving up their location by bugling? No worries, now you can just take your thermal optics and find them at night. Thermal optics make what has always been a sanctuary for animals no longer a sanctuary. What used to be a safe time for animals to travel undetected by hunters is no longer a safe time for them.

Before 2023, it was illegal to use a drone in the act of hunting because it wasn’t officially defined as an “aircraft”. That changed with the passing of SB 84, which defined drones as “aircraft.” Now you can use drones to locate animals as long as you don’t hunt on the same calendar day that you use the drone. This clearly oversteps the bounds of fair chase. Paired with a thermal camera, a drone can be a valuable tool for recovering wounded game. A big ethical dilemma presents itself when a wounded animal is found with a drone and the animal is still alive. To be legal, you’d have to wait until the next day to go and try to finish off the animal. Is allowing the use of drones for game recovery worth opening the door for people to use them in unethical ways? Many people believe that hunters are going to take more questionable shots knowing they can rely on a thermal drone to help try to recover wounded game. Most western states have gotten ahead of these technologies and banned their use during hunting seasons, but Montana has been slow to take action. Montana is the only state in the West that allows the use of drones to assist in the recovery of dead or wounded game.

We are making it easier to kill animals without putting more animals on the landscape, which is akin to improving the pump without improving the well. Something is going to have to give eventually. What are we willing to give up first? The technology or the opportunity? Maybe even worse, FWP doesn’t adjust opportunity at all, and we just have fewer animals on the landscape over time. We live in a world where everyone wants instant success, but at what cost? Wanting to be successful on our hunts doesn’t have to mean trying to be successful by all means necessary.

Bowhunting is by definition a close-range sport which demands the highest fair chase ethic. The close-range, fair chase nature of bowhunting offers the animal the greatest opportunity to escape. In essence, bowhunting is the ultimate test of the skill and woodsmanship of the hunter. Montana’s fair chase ethic mirrors the Boone & Crockett Club’s position, “Fair chase is an approach that elevates the quality of the chase, the challenge, and experience above all else. By not overwhelming game species with human capabilities, fair chase helps define a hunter’s engagement in conservation.” According to the Pope & Young Club, fair chase principles dictate that the hunter is at the disadvantage and must hone the skills of discipline, patience, perseverance, and woodsmanship rather than reliance on equipment advancements in order to harvest animals. Fair chase depends on the concept that, more often than not, the animal will evade the hunter. This concept of fair chase is essential to bowhunting, and the challenges inherent to the sport are what make Montana’s archery only seasons exceptional. (Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission Policy on Archery Season Intent and Equipment Evaluation Criteria)

Maybe it’s time to get back to the basics of what bowhunting is all about. We should preach learning woodsmanship, getting close, and taking ethical shots rather than continually moving in the direction of using the latest technology to get a leg up on the animals we pursue.

Blast from the Past 1993

This Blast From The Past comes from the 1993 issues of the newsletters. At the end of 1992 there were some open issues the MBA was challenged with.

There were some rules of Incorporation that had been overlooked for the past few years, and with several resignations of several officers, the MBA with some legal advice looking into the matters, the remaining officers had to make some very tough decisions. Their first order of business was to accept a new set of by-laws for the MBA. It was standard language used by virtually all non-profit corporations in Montana.

The second order of business was for this Executive Board to re-appoint all present area reps. four potential officers and also appoint all 1993 candidates for office as either area reps. or at large directors.

The third order of business was to appoint from this board four officers to conduct the formal business of the MBA. Dick Solum was appointed to a one-year term as president. John Voelker was appointed to 2nd vice president for a oneyear term. Art Swetye was appointed to 1st vice president for a two-year term. Marian Stratton was appointed to secretary/ treasurer for a two-year term.

At that point the three incorporating officers officially resigned as our Executive Board, the new officers’ signatures were put on the official document that was subsequently filed with the Montana Secretary of State.

This entire process was first explained at the Board of Directors meeting on Friday afternoon March 26, 1993 and again on Saturday morning at the general membership meeting.

With that behind us, we were assembled in Helena for the Twentieth annual Convention. The banquet had 520 members present.

At the end of 1992 there were some open issues the MBA was working on. The 800 Antelope archery only season was closer and there was a 900 Elk archery only season as well. The MBA membership was looking hard into this proposal as well. There were loads of conversation both pro and con on the subject. The MBA was looking into adopting the Pope and Young restrictions and the Fair Chase rules as well. It was brought up that Game Farms were a growing concern

in Montana. The FWP gave us a report that there were over a 100 licensed Game Farms in Montana and dozens more applications to start. There was a push to set moratorium on licensing any more Game Farms. The bill died in the House Fish and Game.

A proposal for a Bow-Ed cut-off date of July 31st so new bowhunters could have time to be ready for the season opener. It would also take some of the heat off FWP trying to get late classes finished before the season.

A proposal for the 260 archery-only B tags could be used in the out lying HDs.

We put a proposal together for 10% of the Moose, Sheep and Goat permits to go to the Bowhunters. Thinking that the gun hunters would have less folks putting in for their permits. Also, the Bowhunters could start hunting with the opening of bow season.

There was a proposal for HD 511 to open an archery only season in that area.

Region 2 the Archery only B tags were to be adding more W.T. Doe tags, available over the counter.

There was a lot of work to done on all these proposals and the new Board jumped in with both feet.

Lastly, the Wolf Reintroduction was in the works. Folks were getting information from all across the country. Nothing was done yet, but the wheels were turning, for the good or bad.

Well, that’s what I pulled from the 1993 newsletters, we had a lot of issues to contend with and the MBA pulled it all together and we still survive today. Hope you enjoyed. Till next time.

Marlon Clapham

Flaming Arrow Archery

Nicole Tindale

1282 Hwy 2 East

Kalispell, MT 59901

406 - 752

Flaming Arrow Archery

Nicole Tindale

1282 Hwy 2 East

Kalispell, MT 59901

406 - 752 - 0702

1282 Hwy 2 East, Kalispell

The Inaugural MBA Bugle Tube Success!

After winning the live auction at the convention I had the honor of breaking in the new traveling MBA bugle tube this past September. The beautiful Riven solid walnut tube called in multiple bulls opening week of the season and two of those bulls ended up in our freezers! Can a bugle tube sound too good? Those sweet bugles coming out of that tube were so good that one of the bulls came in too fast and prevented us from going 3 for 3. I may try to win this bad boy again at the next convention! A huge thanks to Sletten Construction for donating the bugle!!!

Kevin Robinson

The “Bucket List”

Cliff and Mandy Garness

In late winter of 2022 , I had the opportunity to attend the Safari Club International (SCI) show in Las Vegas. While there, I planned to talk with various New Zealand outfitters about bowhunting. Unfortunately, few outfitters attended. The world was still dealing with COVID, and New Zealand wasn’t fully open to travel yet. I spoke with one of the few outfitters present. He said the New Zealand government was trying to eradicate many invasive species. Those are the animals that call the islands home. I also learned that the outfitters that were in attendance and that I talked to did not hunt the main animal I wished to pursue in New Zealand…Bull Tahr. Disappointed, I came home with no leads or booked hunts for Tahr.

Bull Tahr has been on my “bucket list” of animals to hunt for as long as I can remember. To be able to hunt the terrain these animals roam, I needed to be in decent physical shape, and I am not getting any younger. After returning home from the SCI show, I reached out to a friend that I knew had hunted New Zealand a couple of times. He shared successful hunting photos with me in 2018 of his hunts as I continued my research, including the outfitter he had utilized. His outfitter was also a bowhunter, which is always an attribute I consider and ask the outfitter when conversing with them. By the fall of 2022, I had been in contact with his outfitter many times via phone calls and emails, to be sure I got all my questions asked and answered. In the spring of 2023, I sent my deposit and signed my agreement for bowhunting with Shaun Allison of Exclusive Adventures NZ, for May 2024.

My wife had said she was good being the “camera guy,” but as the year passed that led up to the hunt, we decided we would both hunt. May in New Zealand is like our September. It has warmer days and cooler nights. The Tahr’s coat would be very long for NZ’s winter and rut.

Fast forwarding to the actual trip, we arrived in Queenstown, New Zealand via Bozeman, MT direct to San Francisco, and then onto Auckland, NZ. We spent a couple of days in Auckland and then flew to Queenstown on the South Island. Now in Queenstown, we spent the day being a tourist traveling around the city. That evening, we finalized our arrangements with our guide to pick us up early the next morning. The gorgeous landscape and terrain we drove

through to get to camp made the 2-hour drive feel like 20 minutes. The beautiful country consisted of everything from rolling hills and farmland to rocky vertical slopes of the Southern Alps. We arrived at camp, settled in, and got some lunch. We then got our bows set up, shot a few arrows in the yard to ensure our gear was still good from the long flight, and then off we went to hunt for the afternoon. Mandy and I each had our guide, and we split up to give each other better opportunities for success.

Once we arrived at our hunting area, we glassed up and down the grass-covered hills and valleys. Most of the drainages had running streams and tons of Matagouri bushes. There was no time for messing around as our hunt was only 6 days long, so we split up, wished each other luck, and off we went on foot to find the Tahr. For two days we packed lunches, snacks, and drinks and hunted like this. We both had several opportunities but could not make it happen. On day three we were back at it again and that morning it was -8 Celsius. Today the weather forecast was for rain. My guide Sam and I started on a ridge. We went down to the creek, about 2000 feet below. Then, we crossed the creek and set up on the other side. At the creek, I first encountered Matagouri bushes. It was not fun to find a way through the thorny, tangled bushes. As we sat on the other side, we were fairly close to the creek, and we watched various groups of Tahr go down to water and then cross the creek to the side we were sitting on in previous days. We spotted the Tahr and patiently waited for them to cross and feed up to where we were and present a good archery shot. As the hours passed, I remembered looking down at the draw at lunchtime and watching the clouds get lower in the valley. Before we knew it, we could see the rains coming like a Montana thunderstorm with the rain clouds sweeping across the landscape. At this time, Sam and I decided we needed to get our rain gear on. We holed up and hung out in the rain for about an hour or so and continued to watch the group of Tahr we had spotted earlier that morning. As the strong winds picked up, the sleet and snow fell almost horizontally. We had 2 choices: walk about 4-5 miles to the highway, or back the way we came and walk the dirt 2-track to the ranger. Mandy and her guide Logan were on the other side somewhere, so we chose to go back the way we came and back up the 2000’ elevation. It was mid-afternoon, and we did not want to be in this storm after dark in the steep terrain. It was too risky. As we climbed the hill, we caught up with Mandy and Logan. We continued to climb vertically, and it often seemed to be on all fours due to the steepness. It was impressive how stable the soil was but also that the snow and sleet were not bitter cold. My hands were colder with my gloves on than without them. While the conditions were miserable, we knew we had to put one foot in front of the other and continue up the steep grade. We eventually got back to the side-by-side, wet and cold. That evening, like every other, we shared great hunting stories with the other hunters in camp. They were rooting for us bowhunters to succeed.

That night after dinner, Shaun and I discussed our next options because that area would be too dangerous to hunt the next day. We had brought gear to camp out and tent it on the mountain, as we knew it was a great possibility. After putting 40 miles on our boots the last 3 days, we decided to take a break from hunting Tahr. Mandy was just 7 weeks out of back surgery. The morning of day four would find us chasing red stag. While it was not peak rut, it was very cool to hear them roar across the hillside and valleys. By 11 am, I missed a beautiful stag at 52 yards, shooting right in front of him. As he ran away, he met up with some other nice stags and we decided to grab lunch and then go after them again. On our way to where we believed they would be, we ran into a lone stag at the bottom of the drainage. He was alone and eating rose hip berries to recover from the rut. We were in the shade of the valley, and he had no clue we were there, even though we were less than 60 yards away. Sam told me he was not the same stag I missed that morning, and this was a smaller stag. I do not make a very good trophy hunter, so we sat and waited for him to come out of the tall rose hips and offer me a shot. Finally, after watching him for what seemed like an eternity, he walked out into a small opening and gave me a quartering-away 40-yard shot. I watched my arrow enter behind the last rib and bury to the fletches. As the stag ran away, he only made it about 50 yards before laying down and expiring. As we walked up to him, I was in sheer awe at the mass of the antlers, the length of the tines, and of course their “crown” at the tip of the

antlers. As half of the hunt was over already, it was great to finally get a majestic stag on the ground and to be able to celebrate our success with everyone back at camp that night. On day 5 we were back hunting stag and it was Mandy’s turn. We spotted a very nice stag. We discussed his unique traits, like his double split brow tines and an extra 3rd on one antler. After a VERY brief conversation, Mandy and Logan were putting the stalk on this stag. The first couple of stalks were blown by swirling winds or other animals spooking the stag. On the 3rd stalk, everything finally worked out and Mandy placed a perfect arrow at 53 yards. The terrain allowed me to sit on a high vantage point and watch a majority of the action unfold. As Sam and I got to them, Mandy was elated with her success after the previous blown opportunities. We both shared lots of smiles and stories from each of our perspectives over dinner that night.

Now that we had two stags and a fallow harvested, it was back to hunting Bull Tahr. The last day we would spend taking a helicopter ride into public ground to hunt them with our bows. The guides also would take rifles, just in case. Neither of us had ever ridden in a helicopter, so the 20-minute ride from the airport was a new adventure and a very cool perspective of the southern Alps. As we were flying through the canyons, we spotted a lone Bull Tahr, and the hunt was on. Shaun and I were dropped off in front of the Tahr and the Tahr came by on a trail at about 60 yards. My first arrow connected but was not a lethal hit. I shot the last 4 arrows in my quiver. I was excited and full of adrenaline. Unfortunately, they all fell short and exploded in the rocks around the bull. While I wanted to successfully harvest the bull completely with archery equipment, the right thing to do was to put him down with the rifle. Like me, Mandy was dropped off in front of another bull. After a couple of missed chances, it came by at 30 yards. She shot a perfect arrow behind its front shoulder. The bull expired a short distance further. It was an experience to watch it unfold from a distance in the helicopter. Due to the terrain, they hooked both bulls to the helicopter, and we flew them on top of a ridge for an amazing celebration and lots of photos.

As this hunt ended, our success was greater than I anticipated, and it just wasn’t with harvested animals. Some of these successes were: we had extra days to tour both islands, the weather was nicer than normal, it was our first time hunting New Zealand, we met fellow hunters from Idaho, we learned about the South Pacific islands’ history and culture, we flew in a helicopter for the first time, we made new friends with the outfitter, camp staff, and guides, and of course, we had an amazing hunt with successful harvests.

If you make New Zealand a “bucket list” adventure, please consider extra time to be a tourist. Don’t overlook Shaun Allison of Exclusive Adventures. He provides a first-class operation and camp.

Bear Story

If I’m dreaming, please don’t wake me up! I recently returned home from Alaska and the adventure of ten lifetimes. The whole hunt was a blast even though the first 3 1/2 days were very slow due to high water making it almost impossible for the bears to fish. It all boiled down to the last hour of the last night before I had a shot at a boar.

We set up in a 6’ chunk of ladder stand at a pinch point on a slough next to a beaver dam. The salmon were bunching up at the bottom of the dam and a well-used bear trail with fresh signs told us the bears were using it frequently. A friend of mine took a dandy boar at this same spot several days earlier and had seen some other good ones.

The evening was quiet until 9 when I heard a beaver slap his tail upstream. I knew a bear was coming and got ready. A good boar showed himself, but instead of walking the stream, he decided to come up on the bank with me. I had him at 4 yards, but the brush was too thick for a shot. He winded me and blasted back into the deep timber. Ten minutes later, a scruffy young boar followed the same trail but swung wide of my ambush. I couldn’t believe it when, a half hour later, I heard the beaver slap again and an enormous beast of a bear emerged from the willows and onto the dam. My wind was marginal, and I had to time my shot as he was walking with no intention of slowing down. I started my draw as his leg was back and reached anchor just as it started forward. A small crease in his fur was my focus and as his leg moved forward my arrow disappeared right where I was looking. It passed completely through him without even slowing down. The bear snapped his teeth at his side and then took off on a quick walk that ended 25 yards away as he climbed up a small bank onto some driftwood.

I’m not gonna lie that I didn’t have tears running down my cheeks after the shot, and for a few minutes, I was questioning if it happened at all or was just a dream.

We skinned him in the grey light of approaching darkness during which two more good bears walked out on the beaver dam. We had to wave our hands at them to scare them off, which did add a degree of pucker factor to the evening.

My bear’s teeth were broken and badly worn. He had almost zero fat on him, and it was apparent his health was poor. To be honest, I’m not sure he would have survived another long Alaska winter. His skull green scored 24 15/16.

Brian Koelzer

Black Eagle Arrows

Bruce Felz First Year

Ihave been hunting since I was 12. I am now 55. I never had time to do all the hunting I wanted to, let alone take up bow hunting. Plus bow season was right in the middle of harvest, not a good time to try and take off work, ask my boss who is a bow hunter.

In 2015, my brother talked about the fun he and my cousins had hunting javelina in Texas. It was a perfect time to take up archery and escape the Montana winter. When I bought a bow and took bow hunters ed, the Texas trip fell through. But my brother and sister-in-law had been quail hunting in New Mexico. He said there were javelina there, so let’s apply to hunt them. We had to apply in the spring of 2017 to hunt in January 2018. We drew permits and made plans to go in the middle of January 2018. It was a long 9-month wait but it gave me time to practice.

We camped in his 1970 motor home about 25 miles from the Mexican border. I did pack a pistol at all times. The second day we were out glassing and spotted some javelina about a half mile away. We snuck down a canyon and started calling. Not 5 minutes later, my brother said here they come, get ready. Long story short, I made a poor shot at 12 yards but we tracked it and finished it off in a cut bank at eye level at 15 feet. It was my first kill with a bow and I couldn’t have been happier.

Two months later, my boss called me at work. He asked if I wanted to go bear hunting in Saskatchewan. I said I couldn’t swing it because I just got back from New Mexico. He said no, you misunderstood me. I am sending you as a bonus.

Two short months of practicing in my basement and I was in Saskatchewan with the best group of hunters a person could ask for! On the third day, I shot a 20 and 2/16ths bear at about 12 yards off the ground. I was not in a tree stand, much to my wife`s dismay when she found out. Six hunters, six bears; all Pope and Young. I was thrilled beyond belief. I got a book bear as my second animal with a bow. I also had the opportunity to hunt with a great bunch of people. What a great first year! But it wasn’t over yet. My brother had talked me into going to Kodiak, Alaska to hunt Sitka’s black tail with a rifle. I told my friend Scott about it and he said take your bow. I must admit, I was a little skeptical about hunting with a bow where the bears are as big as Volkswagens, as my brother puts it. As I was able to buy two either sex tags, I decided I would hunt with my rifle and if I got one I would try with my bow. So with two guys with guns as backup, away I went. On the second day, I shot a nice 3 by 3 with my rifle so bowhunting was on. When we went back the next day, a huge sow and cub were on the carcass, so we left immediately. After we had put a couple of miles between the sow and us, my cousin wanted to call a deer in with a fawn in distress call. I wasn’t thrilled about a predator call with bears around, but we set up with a good view and within a few minutes a doe almost ran over us. I was able to shoot her with my bow at 15 yards. I was sure glad Scott had convinced me to take my bow. That ended my first year as a bow hunter and I am sure it will be hard to top! Thanks to my family, friends, and boss for all the advice and support.

New Mexico Javelina

Saskatchewan bear

Sitka black tail doe

Region 1

Pat Tabor Vice Chair CommissionerRegion1@mtfwp.org (406) 438-1714

Whitefish, Montana

Region 2

Jeff Burrows CommissionerRegion2@mtfwp.org (406) 438-1148

Hamilton, Montana

Region 3

Susan Kirby Brooke CommissionerRegion3@mtfwp.org (406) 438-0460

Bozeman, Montana Region 4

KC Walsh CommissionerRegion4@mtfwp.org (406) 438-3625

Martinsdale, Montana

Region 5

Brian Cebull CommissionerRegion5@mtfwp.org (406) 438-2551

Billings, Montana

Region 6

Lesley Robinson Commission Chair CommissionerRegion6@mtfwp.org (406) 301-0787

Dodson, Montana

Region 7

William Lane CommissionerRegion7@mtfwp.org (406) 438-0143

Ismay, Montana

Fish & Wildlife Commission Members

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Mountain Top Traditional Arrows Rod Kelley 51 Brown Rd Sand Coulee MT 59472 rodmt406@gmail.com 406-736-9999

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2024 Archery Bull 340 gross inch 5x5

Some really impressive elk have graced the pages of the newsletter recently. The picture of the elk I’m submitting is nowhere in their class, but like all bow harvest elk, is uniquely special.

This young bull responded immediately to a couple of cow calls. He was taken at about 13 yds. with a Trails End recurve bow, and a 500 gr arrow topped with a Magnus 2 blade Broadhead. Recovery was less than 30 yards.

Cheers, CHARLIE JOHNSON (Age 78)