Trophy 2019 by Missoulian

Trophy 2019 Hunting Guide

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE

AND THE

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Ten common deer hunting mistakes ‌We all make mistakes. It is recognizing when we make them, and adjusting course, that makes us better hunters — but first, we have to understand them. Here are 10 mistakes inexperienced hunters frequently make when hunting deer. 1. Neglecting small public parcels. Don’t follow the crowd. Larger parcels also tend to get the most pressure — and mature bucks know it. 2. Hunting your best areas too soon. You want to save your best areas for the perfect conditions. Don’t put too much pressure on them too soon. 3. Hunting the wrong times. Most hunters are out in the early mornings or evenings. It is a rookie mistake to dismiss midday hours. In fact, more mature deer are killed between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. 4. Forgetting to buckle up. Yes, this point is all about safety. Never go up or down a tree without a climbing belt. Tree-stand falls are one of the leading causes of injuries to hunters. 5. Waiting too long to shoot. Take the first good, clear shot you have after a buck walks into range. If the buck gets too close, things can get messy quickly. 6. Aiming too high. At least 80% of misses are high. Most deer are closer than you think they are. 7. Ignoring secondary food sources. Mature bucks are bright. They are more wary of popular food sources during primetime. Consider hunting near greenbrier, honeysuckle and blackberry. 8. Depending too heavily on gadgets. There have been great advancements in technology that have produced some amazing gadgets and hunting aids. But depending on them can make any hunter lazy. Remember, gadgets enhance your hunt, they don’t create it. You can’t afford a shortage of skill. 9. Being too friendly. If you own or lease hunting ground, be careful not to say “yes” to every friend who asks and let him or her hunt wherever they want. This is one of the quickest ways to overpressure deer. 10. Saying too much. This is a tale as old as time. When you find a big buck, you’re best served to keep quiet. Don’t tell a friend how and where you’ve been hunting it, because your friend might just “happen upon it” before you do.

TABLE OF CONTENTS It’s time ...................................................... 4

Waterfowl outlook..................................... 11

Big Game forecast....................................... 6

Taxidermy dos and don’ts........................ 13

Tips for field care........................................ 8

Choosing an outfitter................................ 14

Fair Chase................................................. 10

Keys for elk calling.................................... 15

Cover photo: Drew Baker, Blackpine Outdoors

“BE SURE OF YOUR SHOT. NOTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN REGRET.” – FRED BEAR

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DREW BAKER

Blackpine Outdoors ‌

‌O

kay, you can quit staring at you calendars already; fall is finally knocking at the door. The leaves have traded in their picturesque green hues for rusty colored leaves and rolling hills painted in yellows and browns. The fair weathered of Montana’s morning commuters are now hugged tightly by sweatshirts, coats and scarves. September is finally here, and for a majority of Montana’s outdoor enthusiast this means one thing: Archery season. The bugling bulls that have haunted your dreams (and hopefully your trail cameras!) are within possible reach. As much as it burns my tongue to admit it, last archery season left me on bitter terms with an empty freezer and it was due to a very broad, yet imperative reason; lack of preparation before and especially during the archery season. Now this could mean any number of things per individual hunter. But for me there was a hefty emphasis on physical conditioning and making sure my bow was shooting how I intended all the way up to and through the season. Once upon a time, a Pop Tart and a few preseason scouting trips were all I needed to be in shape enough to keep my legs trucking up over the next ridge, but as I’m reminded every year on my birthday, I am getting older. As we all are. And those days for a lot of us are long gone. Now I don’t believe one needs to join a CrossFit gym and dedicate precious hours a day to training, but I do believe throwing a weighted pack on for a handful of miles preseason, watching what you eat and some simple mid-season physical and cardiovascular maintenance can be key (especially if you have limited time on the mountain) to getting you where you need to go in the woods safely. You’ll feel better and in turn be able to hunt harder, and sometimes that last push is what leads to a notched tag. When it came to my bow, I just assumed that how it shot leading up to opening morning was how it’d shoot in the moment of truth days or weeks later. Until of course I sent an arrow sailing over a bull elk’s back last season due to a 40 yard pin that must’ve got bumped between my house and the woods. Since then, everywhere my bow goes, I transport it in a hard case and have a block target with me. Shoot your bow to check your pins regularly, wax your string, check you D-loop and your bow’s timing. All of those little things you don’t think about — check them. And then check them again! On a final note, pack

FALL HAS FINALLY ARRIVED

extra headlamp and rangefinder batteries and if you can spare the pack room, an extra release goes a long ways when you forgot yours in the truck. The little things make big differences and could mean the difference between a freezer full of elk, or buying beef all winter. Most importantly be safe out there and have fun enjoying Montana’s beautiful country. Remember your bear spray and happy hunting! Drew Baker is an avid outdoorsman who’s excited to notch his tags this year. Follow his adventures @blackpine.outdoors or at blackpineoutdoors.com.

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A bull elk feeds in a meadow. NRCS MONTANA‌

COUNTING THE HERD Elk counts down after 2019 winter, but Region 2 population still strong

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SEABORN LARSON

seaborn.larson@missoulian.com‌

‌With elk counts slightly down after last year’s atypical winter patterns, this year’s hunting seasons is set to produce some varied results across western Montana. But, the long-term population increase still looks good for Region 2, covering the Missoula, Bitterroot and Clark Fork areas in west central Montana. “Elk numbers in general still look pretty good,” said Mike Thompson, Regional Wildlife Manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 2 Office. “The biggest question mark for everybody will be what elk distribution looks like as we come into the hunting season.” Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reported in its Wildlife Quarterly publication in June that a late, hard winter had caused elk herds to span out into similarly unusual distribution patterns. State researchers compared the 2018-2019 winter to the conditions and aftermath of the winter in 1996-1997, which is considered a tough year for elk across western Montana that killed about half of the 9-month-old calves and about half of the coming season’s calf crop. The winter and spring elk counts this year showed lower numbers than last year across the board in the Bitterroot, Upper Clark Fork and Lower Clark Fork areas within the region. However, FWP still considered elk counts in western Montana in good health, considering a long, upward population trend in most locations around Region 2. Thompson said he believes the harsh winter made for counts well below the actual population, and said the relatively wet summer of 2019 could create new areas for elk herds to hang out. “With a real nice, wet year an elk could make a living just about anywhere, so they are likely to be scattered,” he said. “When you go in your back yard and hunt the place you’re used to hunting for 30 years, you’re

going to see some variation across the region.” The 2018 elk harvest in Region 2 came to 4,668 elk, down from the previous year, with 5,012 elk harvested in 2017, but up from 2016, with 4,188 elk harvested. Last year’s total included 2,536 cows and 2,032 bulls in the region, with 622 harvested by bow and more than 4,000 during the rifle season. Because the last two consecutive winters have been more harsh, Thompson said he expects to see a lower mortality and production of bulls in Region 2. “We may not have as many older bulls out there right now as we would have had a few years ago with a string of milder winters,” Thompson said. “I would guess that it’s going to be a little harder hunting for bulls this year in some places, if people have a real sharp eye to those trends.” Elk numbers in Region 2 have largely overshadowed the harvest totals in Region 1 to the north, where hunters produced just 957 elk in 2018, 931 in 2017 and 1,065 in 2016. Region 3, however, covering southwest Montana, has dwarfed Region 1’s totals in recent years, with 11,823 elk harvested in 2018, 13,904 in 2017 and 9,903 in 2016. Like elk, white-tailed deer numbers had generally been trending upward, but several hard winters in a row have dampened fawn survival, according to Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ 2019 Big Game Hunting Season Outlook for 2019. The crisp winters have held that whitetail population steady, rather than increasing in Region 2. Mule deer opportunities in the region have been limited, with many districts requiring a B-license for antlerless deer, underscoring the importance of checking the regulations in Region 2. Mule deer populations have been growing on private land, according to the 2019 season outlook, and FWP officials suggest seeking out opportunities on private lands.

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THOM BRIDGE, INDEPENDENT RECORD‌

Hunters pack out two elk quarters during Montana’s 2016 big game season.

Five tips for proper field care of meat THOMAS PLANK

thomas.plank@helenair.com‌

‌As any experienced big-game hunter will tell you, after the shot is when the real work begins. If you do it right, you’ll have tasty meat to enjoy for a very long time. Ryan Schmaltz, a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks educator, recently led a class at Capital Sports in Helena about some of the best ways to take care of your protein once you have an animal down in the field.

Here is the advice he shared: Moisture, dirt, precipitation and heat are your worst enemies. Schmaltz is a stickler about making sure the animal stays clean and cool during both the pack-out and the drive home. He keeps coolers that are packed with dry ice or frozen milk jugs of water and lays the meat on top so he can tend to it over a period of days. Use the gutless quartering method for a quick and easy way

to pack out an big animal. The gutless method has gained popularity in recent years, and for many Montana hunters who down an animal deep in the back-country, it’s the best way to bring out the important parts of the hunt. If you want the organs, you’ll have to open the animal up all the way and gut it. Make sure you’re using the right tools. A very sharp knife, electrical tape, cam straps, stretch tape, a first aid kit, a tape measure

and flagging tape are all part of Schmaltz’s gutting and skinning kit. He uses a Havalon replaceableblade knife but warns anyone using it to be careful. “It’ll cut right through,” Schmaltz said. Keep your gear visible! Losing a dollar’s worth of electrical tape in the tall grass is annoying, but losing a knife in the tall grass is brutal. One of the tricks Schmaltz uses when he’s out hunting is to bring along a towel to set his equipment

on when he’s taking apart an animal in the tall grass to keep everything visible. Use a game bag, towel or the animal’s hide to keep the meat clean and fresh. The inside of the hide is a clean space to lay meat while working on the rest of the animal, Schmaltz said. And use the outside of game bags to prep another clean space to set the meat if you can’t immediately place it in the bag itself.

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Fair Chase: The discipline that conservation demands KEITH BALFOURD

Director of marketing, Boone and Crockett Club‌

‌We’ve all heard the term. It’s been defined as an ethical code of conduct and used as something our game laws are modeled after. It’s been around for more than a century and practiced today by millions of sportsmen worldwide, whether they know it has a name or not. Because it’s tied to written laws, as well as one’s own personal standards of right and wrong — what feels right and what doesn’t — a complete understanding of Fair Chase can be illusive. Yes, Fair Chase is primarily about what to do, or not do, in our approach to pursuing game in the field. It’s about what feels right, and what may not. It can be insurance that there are no regrets in the decisions we make. It is also tied to the expectations of those we hunt with and how our modern society views hunters and hunting. What is often overlooked though is its linkage to conservation. Fair Chase, in large part is about self-restraint and self-restraint is a discipline that conservation is built upon and demands. Without it, conservation is a just word. The two are locked together. Conservation would not exist or be necessary if there was not something to conserve and conserve it from. That something is our human ability to take too much, which we have proven capable of doing. Back in the day, we did take too much. Not only did self-restraint not exist, the opposite, unlimited take was encouraged as part of the American destiny to tame the wilderness. The result was game was scarce and getting scarcer. When a new breed of sportsmen came along, men like Theodore Roosevelt and George Bird Grinnell, who formed the Boone and Crockett Club in 1887, they shifted the nation onto a new model for the treatment of natural resources, including wildlife. They called this new model, conservation. To recover depleted game populations they nominated sportsmen, but hunting would be conducted under a new model of its own, Fair Chase. Fair Chase became the code of the hunter-conservationist — a social license that entrusted sportsmen to recover wildlife and secure their habitats for the future. This new model worked and is working to this day. Within the framework Fair Chase provides, hunting works in concert with conservation and game management efforts. It is a contract we make with ourselves to hunt honorably and when in doubt, the advantage should go to the animals. The result is abundant game to hunt next year, and when earned with an honest effort, the most memorable and rewarding experiences we can have in the outdoors.

The historic Milwaukee Depot that now houses the Boone and Crockett Club and other offices. MICHAEL GALLACHER, MISSOULIAN‌

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PERRY BACKUS

pbackus@ravallirepublic.com‌

‌I

f an early freeze doesn’t ruin it, waterfowl hunters in Montana should see some good hunting this season. Duck Unlimited’s senior regional director Barry Allen said this year’s unusually wet summer has been a boon to the state’s duck populations. “Wet is good for ducks and grass,” Allen said. “If you keep the wetlands full and the grass growing, those are major components of good duck production.” Overall mallard production across the continent is down about 6% this year due to some drier conditions in the breadbasket of duck production that’s found in the Prairie Pothole Region which encompasses a large swath of Canada, the Dakotas and a slice of eastern Montana. Biologists estimated a population of about 38.5 million this year, which is down from about 41 million in 2018. Even with that drop, Allen said waterfowl production is still 17% up over the long-term average. “It’s not all doom and gloom,” he said. “Actually, it’s pretty normal. As far as hunting opportunities in Montana, that’s more controlled by the weather. If we get an early storm and everything freezes up, that can put an early end to the season. I’m expecting a pretty good waterfowl season here in Montana.” Numbers of the migrant geese that nest high in the Arctic appear to be strong again this year. “Unless the weather just gets awful, I think we’re going some have some really good goose hunting this season,” Allen said. The waterfowl season opens this year with a youth-only hunt on Sept. 2122. Youth ages 10 to 15 are the only ones

A GOOD YEAR AHEAD Montana waterfowl hunters should expect great season

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See Waterfowl, PAGE 12

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Waterfowl Continued from 11

allowed to shoot that weekend, but it can be a good day for older hunters to get their retrievers tuned-up. The regular season opens Sept. 28 in both the Pacific and Central flyways. In the Pacific Flyway, a split season for both ducks and geese, with dates of Sep. 28-Jan. 5 and Jan. 11-15, allows for an additional weekend of hunting In the Central Flyway, for Zone 2 (Big Horn, Carbon, Custer, Prairie, Rosebud, Treasure and Yellowstone counties), duck season dates will be Sep. 28-Oct. 6 and Oct. 19-Jan. 4. Goose dates are the same, except the second part of the hunt extends to Jan. 22. Zone 1 (the remainder of the Central Flyway) will have a Sep. 28-Jan. 2 duck season and goose dates of Sep. 28Jan. 5 and Jan. 11-15. Details of other species dates are in the regulations. This year’s updated waterfowl migratory bird regulations are available online at http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/regulations. Bag limits and limits for individual species have changed slightly this year. HuntPERRY BACKUS, RAVLLI REPUBLIC‌ ers need to be aware they can only harvest one pintail. Last year, the bag limit was A goose hunter prepares decoys for a day at the Teller Wildlife Refuge near Corvallis. While lead shot has been banned for waterfowl hunting for decades, new federal rules may restrict lead ammunition for other species hunting too on federal wildlife refuges. two.

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Do’s and don’ts of prepping for the taxidermist TOM KUGLIN

tom.kuglin@helenair.com‌

‌The art of taxidermy can bring out the beauty of an animal for a lifetime of preservation and display. Anaconda taxidermist Don Capp, owner of Capp’s Taxidermy Studio, has spent the last 40 years mounting wildlife from across the globe. During that time he has seen pelts and capes come into his shop in all manner of conditions, as hunters often make a lot of mistakes when handling their trophies in the field. Capes can be valuable as well, so even if hunters do not plan to mount their animals, taxidermists are often interested in purchasing them. Here are some do’s and don’ts for taking care of an animal for the taxidermist:

Do’s‌

Get some air on the cape: For bigger animals such as elk and moose, Capp recommends a dorsal cut splitting the skin down the back to the ribs where the cape starts and then letting the air naturally cool it. “You’ve really got to open stuff up, get it off the concrete on some saw horses, get it off the cardboard because it can’t breathe,” he said. Get the cape in the freezer: “If in doubt, always freeze it if it’ll fit in the freezer,” Capp said. Freezing a cape in hot weather will preserve it until a hunter can get it to the taxidermist. But once an unfinished cape is frozen, it only has about six months before areas like the ears become freezer burned. Watch YouTube: Capp is a big proponent in watching YouTube videos to learn about where and how to make proper cuts on various game animals. Whether it’s a dorsal cut for an elk or tube cut for a preda-

THOM BRIDGE, INDEPENDENT RECORD‌

Taxidermy is all about the details, and getting a pelt or cape to a taxidermist before it spoils is essential for a good mount.

CHRISTINE PETERSON, STAR-TRIBUNE‌

A taxidermist works on a pronghorn mount. tor, teaching videos are available. Learn to skin the face off the skull: Capp is amazed at the stories of hunters skinning up to the skull and then backpacking the cape still attached for miles. Learn to carefully take the skin off, cut the antlers and save the extra weight, he says.

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Don’ts‌

more is always better. To salt or not to salt: Trying to get the flesh off a hide once it has been salted is like trying to remove layers of plywood, Capp says. He recommends hunters stay away from salt altogether, but do cut away flesh to prevent spoilage. Don’t cut the throat: Capp notes that there is an old tale about cutting the neck on a freshly harvested animal to help drain blood. The practice not only ruins most capes but is unnecessary, he said.

Don’t cut the cape short: One of the biggest mistakes Capp sees is cutting the cape too short on shoulder mounts, leaving the taxidermist with few options. Cut vertically from at least midway down the ribcage and work forward to ensure there Reporter Tom Kuglin can be reached at is plenty to work with, and when in doubt, 447-4076 @IR_TomKuglin

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How to choose the right local hunting outfitter ‌Ready for your next big hunting expedition? You don’t have to travel far. Choose a local outfitter to show you the best spot to take down geese or deer in your neck of the woods. Hiring a local outfitter can help you discover regions in your area that you may not have know about before. Trust these professionals to show you an unforgettable time, hopefully chock full of great catches and plenty of delicious grub.

tive outfitter on social media as well to stay connected.

Talk to a few

What is an outfitter?

An outfitter is a person who offers services in hunting and fishing that might include guide activities, equipment, accommodation, lodging and food. Depending on the size of the operation, an outfitter may be a multi-staff organization or a sole proprietorship. The size of the company shouldn’t play a big role in your decision, but the quality of its services should. Remember you’re looking for expertise in the game you’re hunting, as well as the area, so choose wisely based on these factors.

next big hunting trip, consider the local hotspots. Staying close to home means less time driving and more time hunting. Check in with your region’s most popular outfitters to get quotes on an adventure. Check reviews by others who have used How to choose an outfitter Once you decide to schedule your their services. There are plenty of hunt-

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ing forums online that allow hunters the chance to give their reviews. Be on the lookout through your local newspaper for up-coming specials. Follow your prospec-

When your research is done, it’s time to discuss pricing options with your local outfitters. Make a list of the top three organizations you’d like to interview and reach out through email or phone. Here are some potential questions to ask to make sure your hunting needs will be met by an outfitter: Can you provide a list of references I can call or email to inquire about the experience you provide? What is your expertise and experience hunting the areas where you provide outfitting services? What are your most popular packages, and what can I expect to pay for each of them? Are you bonded, licensed and insured? What is your cancellation policy?

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Emotion and versatility key to calling in elk TOM KUGLIN

tom.kuglin@helenair.com‌

‌Put some emotion in your calling and make sure you understand the situation before letting a bugle rip through the woods. Rocky Jacobson, owner of Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls, recently held a calling seminar in Helena covering the many sounds elk make and how hunters can do their best to mimic them. He started the company in 1992, developing the “palate plate” diaphragm call that is now the No. 1 selling design on the market. When regulations in Idaho changed to bull-only, Jacobson says hunters needed to adapt. “We had to learn how to call a bull in and we learned that all on our own,” he said. “I made many, many, many mistakes to learn how to make it work, and I still make many, many mistakes and I still have to figure out how to get them in all the time.” Through hundreds of days watching elk, Jacobson has learned plenty about elk behavior, and when certain calls work and when they do not. “You watch videos and it looks easy to call an elk in, but sometimes it takes 30 days hunting every day for nine minutes of footage,” he said. “Don’t expect every time you call an elk they’ll come running to you.” Jacobson does not believe increased hunting pressure had made elk “call wise” but rather that low bull-to-cow ratios in many general tag areas mean less competition and a tendency for bulls to run. Even so, hitting an elk with the right call at the right time can still bring them in, and it is important to know what elk are doing and when certain calls may be effective. The pre-rut starts around Aug. 15 (earlier than Montana’s archery opener) and is generally when bigger bulls start to come off the mountain in search of cows. From Aug. 20 to Sept. 5 some of the older cows may come into their 24-hour fertility cycle, and Jacobson counts that time period among best opportunities to call in larger bulls. The peak rut starts around Sept. 15 and runs for roughly three weeks until about Oct. 10. It is the time when the majority of cows come into cycle and the hardest rutting displays. After Oct. 10, the post-rut starts, older bulls peel off the herds to recover and

SEAN SPERRY, BOZEMAN DAILY CHRONICLE VIA AP

although a few bulls continue to bugle, cow calling is Jacobson’s primary technique. Whenever a hunter calls, Jacobson recommends putting variability into calls. “To be variable in different calling techniques is very important,” he said. “You don’t want to be out there in the woods making the same sound every time you bugle.” Repetition in the woods is unnatural, Jacobson says, so when the same bugle or cow call is made time and again elk do not necessarily become leery, but do tend to become accustomed to it and ignore it. That is why some popular calls designed to produce the same sound every time may

work for a few years but then fall on deaf ears, he said. “The more sounds you can throw at an elk the more they get confused, the more curious they get and they want to come in and see what the heck is going on,” he said. “Plus, you become realistic sounding to them.” Emotion is also key to calling. Jacobson detailed the different bugles bulls will make, which also dictates which calls he uses. A location bugle is long and highpitched, and without much urgency. A display bugle is used by nearly every bull in the woods depending on the time of year, with more growl and aggression.

A challenge bugle is very high-pitched and aggressive. And when a hunter hears it, get ready because that bull is coming in. “It’s very important to let these animals know there’s some emotions in your calls because that’s what they play off is emotions, they’re playing off the rut period,” he said. “There are days and times when they’re wore out and tired from being in the rut and they don’t want to do anything. There’s times when they’re aggressive and slept good and really chipper and they really bugle a lot.” Reporter Tom Kuglin can be reached at 4474076 @IR_TomKuglin

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