Hunting outlook 2015 by Ravalli Republic

September 9, 2015

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Hunting Outlook 2015

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Eyes scanning the scene in every direction, a herd of elk set up shop in pastures just off Ambrose Lane northeast of Stevensville Wednesday morning.

Elk numbers strong in the Bitterroot PERRY BACKUS Ravalli Republic

Hunters willing to get out of their truck and walk could be in store for some good elk hunting this season in the Bitterroot. Every hunting district – besides HD 250 in the West Fork – is at or above population objectives in the Bitterroot Valley, said Rebecca Mowry, a biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

“My general impression is that hunters looking for brow-tined bulls shouldn’t have much of a problem finding them, especially if they are willing to get off the roads and do some walking,” she said. The state also created additional opportunity to hunt antlerless elk in three of the five hunting districts this summer. Mule deer hunting in the Bitterroot Valley is more of a mixed bag. Every hunting district in the valley requires mule deer hunt-

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ers to have a permit obtained through the annual drawing. In general, mule deer aren’t doing well across the West. “There is a lot of research being done on that right now,” Mowry said. “It’s a very important topic. Everyone is trying to figure out what’s going on.” Researchers are looking for impacts on mule deer habitat that may be caused by factors like climate change, noxious weeds, changes in fire regimes or competition from growing numbers of elk. “There could be a lot of things that are contributing to it,” she said. “It’s not going to be an easy thing to sort out. In the meantime, we are trying to manage the harvest as best we can.” Hunters also need to pay attention to changes in the changes in hunting regulations that are being used in an attempt to bring back mule deer. Mowry said there were reports of mule deer poaching occurring in northern end of the Sapphire Mountains last season. “There are a lot of people who don’t understand that you need to have a permit to hunt mule deer there,” she said. All sportsmen wanting to hunt elk in the Bitterroot Valley’s most popular hunting area are also required to have thought ahead and obtained one of the unlimited number of elk permits for the East Fork of the Bitterroot.

The large number of elk that move into Hunting District 270 every year has always been a draw for hunters. Last year, Mowry counted 4,323 elk on the winter range in the East Fork after the conclusion of the general hunting season. That number is about 500 over the population objective being proposed for HD 270. A lot of elk take refuge on private land that is off-limits to hunters in the hunting district. With the state in the process of setting new population objectives for hunting districts in the Bitterroot, Mowry hopes to do an aerial survey immediately after hunting season to count the elk on private land. She’ll use that information to create a population sub-objective that managers can use to manage elk on public lands in the hunting district. “That would help us manage elk available to the public without being influenced by the overall numbers,” Mowry said. The state bumped up elk B licenses for antlerless elk by 100 this season for a total of 450 in HD 270 in an effort to begin addressing that growing population. Elk numbers are also flourishing in the two districts in the Sapphire Mountains north of the East Fork. In HD 261, elk numbers are within the population objectives. Mowry counted 842 elk last winter.

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The state slightly increased the number of antlerless licenses in HD 261. Most of those additional permits were focused on addressing game-damage issues on private lands. In HD 204, which is called the North Sapphire district, state officials increased antlerless licenses from 30 to 100. “Elk numbers are pretty high in HD 204,” Mowry said, adding that she counted 981 elk last winter. “Our proposed objective is 700.” Across the valley on the west side, Mowry found 955 elk between Highway 12 and Trapper Creek. “That’s quite a bit higher than what it has been in recent years, but it’s right at our proposed objective,” she said. The only district in the Bitterroot Valley that remains under objective is HD 250 in the West Fork. “This is the district that I hear most about,” Mowry said.

“People are worried about the elk and deer populations there. We will be looking closely at HD 250 this next year.” The state kept the same season in place this year as last in the West Fork. There were a total of 25 bull elk permits and 40 mule deer permits offered to hunters. Hunters can hunt whitetail deer on a general license there. “There are some concerns about whitetail deer in that district too,” she said. “We will be looking at that as well.” Last winter, Mowry said she did see a little bit of an increase in elk numbers and the ratio between cows and calves was a little better. “We are getting some reports that people are seeing some pretty nice elk in the West Fork,” Mowry said.

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MICHELLE MCCONNAHA/RAVALLI REPUBLIC

(above) Longbows made by Howard Hill Archery are the standard and staple of the industry. Owner Craig Ekin demonstrates a Wesley Special. (right) Craig Ekin inspects and measures each longbow for straightness, weight and draw length. Each one is strength-tested and sealed with a finish. The building process is done with precise markings and years of experience and expertise poured in to each one.

Famous archer’s legacy continues in Bitterroot Michelle McConnaha Ravalli Republic

Longbows made by Howard Hill Archery have long been the standard and staple of the industry, and it’s still family-owned after 60 years in business. Owned by Craig and Evie Ekin of Hamilton, the business makes 14 standard bow styles, custom bows and accessories like leather goods, bow socks, arrows, quivers, gloves, and bow blanks for a finish-it-yourself option. They sell more than 500 bows worldwide each year. “Howard Hill is considered the greatest archer-hunter of all

MICHELLE MCCONNAHA/RAVALLI REPUBLIC

time,” Craig Ekin said. Hill devoted his life to the promotion of archery, giving exhibitions at world’s fairs, starring in 14 major sportsman shows, appearing in 23 Warner Brothers short films, and performing all the trick shooting for the films Robin Hood (the one starring Errol Flynn), They Died with Their Boots On, Virginia City, Buffalo Bill and more. Hill, who was called the “Babe Ruth of archery,” made his mark by winning major tournaments and leading wildly successful bow hunts. He is a member of the A.B.C. Bowhunter’s Hall of Fame.

Ravalli Republic, Wednesday, September 9, 2015 - 7

The business began in 1955 when Hill became friends with archery shop owners Ted Ekin (Craig’s dad) and Dick Garver. The three went into business together and in 1958 began selling Hill’s bows and other equipment. In 1968, Ted Ekin moved to Hamilton, retaining the rights to produce Howard Hill Archery gear. Hill passed away in 1975. Two years later, the Ekins applied to the U.S. Patent Office and eventually secured “Howard Hill” as a registered trademark. In 1979, Ted Ekin passed away and Craig stepped in to run the business. Howard Hill Archery is busy this time of year as archery hunting began Saturday, Sept. 5. On Tuesday, Craig’s son, Jason, was helping customers, Evie was answering the phones, and Craig and employee Jaco Van As were building bows. “People tend to wait until three weeks before the season starts to get their supplies, so we are very busy” Craig Ekin said. Craig Ekin estimates that he has crafted more than 10,000 longbows by hand since the early 1980s. “I don’t know how many exactly,” he said. “The reason I don’t know exactly is I don’t put a serial number on every bow. The adult bows I serial number, with the exception of the limited edition bows and the bow blanks – the unfinished bow. A bow blank is sent to the customer with the arrow shelf marked, and they have to shave down the handle and do the finished sanding on the bow. It’s for people who want to have a part in making their own bow.” Ekin said they are committed to promoting archery and putting quality equipment into the hands of the world’s archers with as few changes as possible to Hill’s original designs. Building a longbow is a meticulous, step-by-step process that begins with strips of bamboo and wood selected for beauty and durability. These are laminated together with a fiberglass layer for strength, and a hardwood handle is added. Once the basic blank is built, Craig Ekin cuts arrow shelves and string grooves and does finishing rounding and sanding. He inspects and measures each longbow for straightness, weight and draw length. Each one is strength-tested and sealed with a finish. Handles are wrapped in quality leather. Howard Hill Archery makes longbows designed for rightor left-handed archers, as well as bows that break down into two pieces for easy transportation in luggage, backpacks or saddlebags. For custom-made longbows, customers select a bow

PROVIDED PHOTO

Ted Ekin, Howard Hill and Craig Ekin, who was 7 or 8 years old at the time, shoot on an archery range called Wildwood in Southern California in this file photo.

8 - Ravalli Republic, Wednesday, September 9, 2015

model, a specific type of hardwood for the handle riser, handle leather and color. The handle can be customized for a traditional straight grip, a dished grip or a locator grip. Bows can be made to fit specific hand sizes. “They pick out what they want us to build and we build it,” Craig Ekin said. He said he enjoys archery because it is good for family enjoyment, it’s challenging and it is good exercise. “Some families really get into hunting together, or going to local shoots just for a family outing and for the fun of competition,” he said. “Obviously, it’s not for everyone as only one of our four kids really stuck with it.” For more details about Howard Hill’s history or to order a longbow, visit howardhillarchery.com.

MICHELLE MCCONNAHA – Ravalli Republic

Howard Hill Archery opened in 1955 and began selling bows and other equipment in 1958. Owner Craig Ekin shows Hill’s helmet and quiver holding some of Hill’s arrows.

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Ravalli Republic, Wednesday, September 9, 2015 - 9

PERRY BACKUS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ravalli Republic

Jim Schmittâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chesapeake retrieves a mallard from a slough along Victor Crossing Road recently.

Waterfowl numbers break record second year in a row PERRY BACKUS Ravalli Republic

Waterfowl hunters should be ready for some good wing shooting this year with record numbers of ducks preparing their annual migrations through the state. Hunters better take advantage of it while it lasts because drought and changes in farming practices could cut deep in future duck populations.

Biologists counted about 49.5 million ducks in the Prairie Pothole region that includes a portion of eastern Montana and runs through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and up into Canada, said Jim Hanson, coordinator of the Central Flyway Migratory Bird program for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Mallard numbers came in close to 12 million this year. Hansen said those numbers were 43 percent higher than the long-term

10 - Ravalli Republic, Wednesday, September 9, 2015

PERRY BACKUS – Ravalli Republic

Duck hunters across the west have been finding plenty of birds to hunt after waterfowl populations reached record levels.

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average from a regional count that began in 1955. “The breeding population was high this year, but production won’t be as good this year as it was last year,” Hansen said. “Water conditions were poorer as we got into spring and summer. Pond counts were down.” That will translate into few young birds in this year’s flight and perhaps the start of a decline into the number of breeding birds in the future. Some of the wetlands in Montana have disappeared after a rainless and hot summer. “I advise people to get out and do some scouting before the season begins,” Hansen said. “They might find that favorite pothole is dry this year.” Hunters will also find plenty of geese to hunt this fall. “There are some good local breeding populations of Canada geese,” he said. “The overall goose population continues to be in good shape. We have a lot of them right now.” Youth hunters will get the first crack at waterfowl this year when the youth waterfowl season opens for youngsters up to age 15 on the weekend of Sept. 26 and 27. “They need to be accompanied by an adult,” Hansen said. “It’s really a good time to get the kids out and put your focus on them. It’s also a good time to get your retriever tuned up. They can get used to the routine that may have been neglected during the offseason.” The general waterfowl season opens on Oct. 3. The early part of the season typically focuses on local birds. “We do have some ducks that migrate by the calendar,” Hansen said. “Pintails, gadwalls, widgeon, and greenwing teal usually start to show some good movement around the last week of October.” Mallards need a little bit of a push from the weather to get their migration started. “Once the wetlands start to freeze over or you get some strong northern winds and falling temperatures, then you’ll start seeing mallards,” he said. “That usually happens in early- to mid-November.” Duck numbers have been trending upward for some time now. The last down period occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s. “We’ve just had good water conditions for the most part in some of the primary breeding areas,” Hansen said. But those good times might be coming to an end. “We may be going into a drier period now,” he said. “It always goes through cycles. It’s been a wet cycle for quite a while.”

Ravalli Republic, Wednesday, September 9, 2015 - 11

PERRY BACKUS – Ravalli Republic

Even more worrisome for waterfowl populations is the current trend to convert grasslands preserved under the Conservation Reserve Program to crop land. “We are losing a lot of nesting cover right now,” Hansen said. “Grain prices are high and we’re seeing more sod busting of grasslands.” In Montana, the amount of land protect under the CRP program has dropped nearly 60 percent since 2004, from 3.4 million acres to 1.98 million acres in 2015. “We may be in trouble in some of the primary breeding areas,” Hansen said. So it’s a good year to get out there and take advantage of the record numbers of waterfowl coming into Montana, he said. “There’s so much to do here in Montana and I appreciate those dedicated waterfowl hunters, especially those one who take new people out and introduce them to the sport,” Hansen said.

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12 - Ravalli Republic, Wednesday, September 9, 2015

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A Sikorsky Sky Crane helicopter drops fire retardant on one of the numerous fires in northwestern Montana in August. Hunters anxious to get into the backcountry to scout locations should be sure the area they intend to go is open and safe for recreation before heading out.

Wildfires limit hunter access to archery country ROB CHANEY Ravalli Republic

With big-game archery season open and wildland fire season still hanging on, Montana and Idaho hunters are scrambling to find places where it’s safe to scout in the woods. “There are still some places open and available – we’ve

got no current closures at all,” said Bitterroot National Forest spokesman Tod McKay. “But all around us, it’s been a really unprecedented fire year. You can travel more than 50 miles down the Magruder Corridor, but once you hit the border (with Idaho) you run into a barricade. Going toward Elk City, that forest is closed completely.”

Ravalli Republic, Wednesday, September 9, 2015 - 13

The entire Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Idaho remains closed to recreation while the flames continue to roll. Most of the main entrances to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex have fire closures in effect, and Plum Creek Timber Co. and F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. have imposed Stage II fire restrictions that prohibit off-road travel or campfires on their property, while Stimson Lumber Co. has closed its lands to public access until the risk subsides. “Landowners are concerned about the stray cigarette butt or dragging an axle on a rock or leaving a campfire - it just takes one spark,” said Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks hunting access coordinator Kendra McKosky in Missoula. “They’ve got their whole livelihood wrapped up in a piece of property. So I hope everybody kind of knows it’s going to be a little delayed this year.” Challenges range from active fires that have closed access to places like the Keep Cool Hills and Sucker Creek drainages near Lincoln, to the overall drought that prompted the Stitt Ranch by Helmville to restrict block management access until things moisten up. Both the private and public portions of the extensive Blackfoot Block Management Area around Ovando are closed until more rain comes. That includes the University of Montana’s Lubrecht Experimental Forest and the timberlands now owned

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by the Nature Conservancy. The West Fork Fish Creek fire has blocked access to most of the Fish Creek State Park and Wildlife Management Area, along with many entrances to the Great Burn proposed wilderness. Each FWP region has a web page with a “Hunting Access” tab listing the status of block management areas. McKosky said those pages would be updated daily as fire conditions moderate to let hunters know where it’s OK to scout. The closures and restrictions may also affect firewood gathering on public lands. Stage II fire restrictions on the Bitterroot, Lolo, Kootenai, Flathead, and Lewis and Clark national forests prohibit the use of internal combustion engines (such as chainsaws) between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m., and require anyone who gets their machine work done in the morning to patrol the worksite for at least an hour to catch any embers or sparks. Upland game bird season opened for grouse, partridge and turkey on Tuesday, and archery seasons for deer, elk, bighorn sheep, black bears and mountain lions begin on Saturday. Rifle season for most big-game species doesn’t begin until October 24, but many hunters like to get into the woods early to scout, target-shoot or work on physical conditioning. A forecast widespread weather change late this week may not bring the needed conditions to reopen all the closures, according to U.S. Forest Service Region 1 spokesman David Smith. “The winds we’re expecting today could be bad, but the moisture that’s projected to come into the area later this week could help,” Smith said on Wednesday. “Some fires have taken off on us in a very quick way, and you don’t want to be out there when that happens.” Even after a “season-ending event” with enough rain or snow to snuff the flames, forest-fire areas might remain closed for other hazards. In particular, charred hillsides could be vulnerable to erosion and landslides that block roads, and fire-weakened tree roots are likely to topple without warning in even light winds. “Closing areas is not a place we want to be, and as soon as it’s safe to do so, they will be reopened,” Smith said. “It’s going to be on a case-by-case basis. You have to stick with each national forest or ranger district website or Facebook page to see what arrives and when.”

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Watering holes may be good spots to find elk this year By MARK WARD Ravalli Republic

Sportsmen and sportswomen are about to enter one of the best times of the year in Montana. It’s the time of the year that you start to pick up your bow and shotgun, but you still keep your fishing pole close by. Grouse, partridge and fall turkey seasons began in late August. The general archery season for deer, elk and lions is also underway. “Every year that we have a lot of smoke in the air from fires, it seems the elk rut starts a little early,” said Shawn Plakke, our local elk expert on the “Montana Outdoor Radio Show.” Plakke thinks the lack of precipitation in western Montana this year will result in elk congregating more at the few watering holes that are available. “It is still going to be challenging as it always is for archery hunters, but I think the elk will be active a little earlier this year so I am excited for the season to begin,” he said. I have been getting ready for opening day of archery season with daily walks and by flinging arrows, as have most bowhunters I know. The opener is still more than a week away, so now is the time to get ready. Get out your range finder, carry your binoculars and practice your elk cow calls and bugles so you can take advantage of the first opportunity that comes your way. R E A L W O R L D T O U G H S I D E - BY- S I D E S

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September also brings with it some excellent fishing opportunities as rivers and lakes start to cool down. I love fishing over at Holter Reservoir in the fall because it provides anglers with three species to go after. The fall rainbow trout are bigger and more aggressive, and it is not uncommon to catch a limit of 18- to 21-inch fish while trolling. I have always had very good luck with J-7 Rapalas in fire tiger and orange/white. green needlefish have also produced as has a fire tiger-colored Syclops. The perch fishing is still great on Holter, and I have heard the walleyes are also biting and are a little bigger than they have been in past years. Perch fishing on Flathead Lake by the Polson docks has been very good, according to Dick Zimmer of Zimmer Tackle in Pablo. “It takes a boat to get to the weed beds where these fish reside. Immediately west of the center of the new city dock in a 13- to 14-foot depth and centered between the boat launch dock and the new dock in about the same depth. Both places have high weed beds. Surprisingly the best setup has been two plain size 10 hooks above a bottom weight bait with maggots. Nightcrawler and cut bait don’t seem to work quit as well,” he said. Zimmer also said that people have caught and released a number of smaller smallmouth bass as they were fishing for perch. Currently, there is no limit on perch on Flathead Lake, but Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is proposing a change for perch on some lakes in the Western District. This proposed change, while not imposing a total daily or possession limit, will institute a 10-fish-over-10-inchesper-day possession restriction on Flathead, Smith and Lower Stillwater lakes. Comments will be taken through Sept. 12. Visit fwp.mt.gov for more information. Mark Ward’s statewide Montana Outdoor Radio Show airs 6-8 a.m. Saturdays in Missoula on KGVO 1290 AM. Email Ward at captain@montanaoutdoor.com.

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2015 Big game hunting seasons Antelope • 900 • Archery • General

Aug. 15–Nov. 8 Sept. 5–Oct. 9 Oct. 10–Nov. 8

Bighorn Sheep • Archery • General

Sept. 5–Sept. 14 Sept. 15–Nov. 29

Bison • General

Nov. 15–Feb. 15, 2016

Black Bear • Archery • Fall

Sept. 5–Sept. 14 Sept. 15–Nov. 29

Deer & Elk • Archery Sept. 5–Oct. 18 • Youth-Deer Only Oct. 15 –16 • General Oct. 24–Nov. 29 Backcountry (HDs 150, 151, 280, 316) • Archery Sept. 5–Sept. 14 • General Sept. 15–Nov. 29 Moose • General

Sept. 15–Nov. 29

Mountain goat • General

Sept. 15–Nov. 29

Mountain Lion • Archery • Fall • Winter

Sept. 5–Oct. 18 Oct. 24 –Nov. 29 Dec. 1–April 14, 2016

Wolf • Archery • General • Trapping

Sept. 5–Sept. 14 Sept. 15–March 15, 2016 Dec. 15–Feb. 29, 2016

Hunters’ most common hunting violations Every hunting season some individuals unwittingly or knowingly violate the state’s game laws. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials urge hunters to review Montana’s hunting rules and regulations to ensure they act within the law and that they recognize when others violate the hunting regulations and related laws. Any violation afield can be reported to TIP-MONT at 1-800-TIP-MONT, that is 1-800-847-6668 or Report a Violation online on the Enforcement web page. Here are some of the most common game violations: • Failure to obtain permission from landowners before hunting on private property. • Wasting part of a game animal suitable for food. • Failure to properly validate a license/ tag or to securely fasten the tag in a visible manner to a game animal immediately after it is taken and before it is moved or transported from the

kill site. • Taking game from the wrong hunting district. • Using someone else’s tag on a game animal you killed, or tagging a game animal that someone else killed. • Shooting game animals on or from any public highway or public right-ofway. • Taking game without a license or the proper permit. • Failure to validate a big game tag. • Not leaving evidence of the sex or species of the game animal attached. FWP encourages hunters to protect the future of their sport by hunting responsibly and reporting hunting violations to the toll-free 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668) number or report a violation online at fwp. mt.gov, then click “Enforcement.”

Ask permission from landowners early Don’t wait until it is too late. Hunters who haven’t already asked permission from private landowners to hunt need to do so as soon as possible. Montana law requires hunters to obtain permission for all hunting on private land. Whether pursuing upland game birds, coyotes, gophers or any other wildlife, hunters must have permission from the landowner before hunting on private property. Landowners may grant permission in person, over the phone, in writing or by posting signs that explain what type of hunting is allowed and under what conditions hunting may occur on land owned or controlled by the landowner.

Congrats Sheridan! These four Sheep make Sheridan Newsom the second youngest female in the U.S. to accomplish The Grand Slam® The Grand Slam® consists of harvesting each of the four different North American wild sheep, the Dall, Stone, Bighorn, and Desert Sheep.

Good Luck This Fall Hunters!!

4039 Hwy 93 N. Stevensville, MT 59870 • (406) 777-2822