Western Hunting & Fishing News May 2022 Issue

HUNTING & F ISHING WESTERN

NEWS

MAY 2022

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This Mother’s Day -

Take Care Of The Women That Allow Us To Do So Much

By Jake Horton Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

T

... his article is written for all the fathers out there to give you some ideas on how to treat those special ladies on this special day and this year. I first want to start by saying how blessed I am to have such an amazing wife and mother to my four daughters.

She loves the outdoors and lets me spend too much time in the mountains enjoying hunting, fishing and some guy time in addition to all of our family trips.

I am assuming that you also have a great partner and amazing mother of your kids.

Being a mother and taking care of their children is so built into who they are that they have a hard time making time for other things — even things they want.

This means that even though ladies might like to hunt or camp, they often will not indulge in this hobby since they can’t bring their children along or feel bad leaving them at home. Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience hunting and exploring the wilderness as many times as they can. This fall, make time for your wife or partner to hunt with some friends or with yourself to give them a break from the kids. You may have to book an outfitter or purchase a tag so that the hunting trip becomes something they can put on their calendar. This reset will allow them to find time for themselves outside of motherhood and enjoy the great outdoors.

INVITE HER I always encourage hunters to invite their spouses to go hunting with them. This may create a logistical problem when it comes to finding a trustworthy family member or friend to watch the kids, but it will be so worth it. My biggest hobby is hunting as many days as I can, so enjoying this hobby with the mother of my children and partner in crime is an honor. This fall, find a way to invite your wife, partner, and mother of your children to join you in the mountains for a day, a weekend or even a week if you can. Asking the mother of your children out on a hunt is a definite must-do!

EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS AS A FAMILY

Anyone who has kids knows that being a parent is a full-time job in itself and, when we go away on our hunting trips, our wives become single moms for the week or two we are gone. This is no small feat and I hope that you can respect the sacrifice our wives and partners make to allow us to go hunting.

There are also many wives and mothers out there who love hunting themselves and it is our responsibility to help make that happen and allow them to escape from the full-time job of being a mom and enjoying doing what they like. These ladies who want to hunt are already overcoming hundreds, if not thousands of years of tradition, so it’s our job as fathers, husbands and family to support them.

Here are some ways to be good partners, help our ladies celebrate motherhood and give them a much deserved break. Here are also some examples for all the moms out there who want to do more outdoors.

Photo courtesy Jake Horton and goHUNT www.goHUNT.com

Even if the mother of your children is not a hunter and doesn’t want to be, you can still enjoy the great outdoors as a family. Get out of the house, go for a hike, go camping and do not make it about hunting.

Often, I tend to plan a family camping trip around shed hunting, deer scouting or new units, but that shouldn’t be the priority. Take some time to plan a journey that is about her and your family — not about you.

GIVE THEM A HUNTING TRIP Talking to my wife about motherhood gives me a greater insight into how a lot of ladies tick.

Mrs. Horton with deer harvest. Photo credit Jake Horton

4 | Hunting & Fishing News

If you are a lady reading this article, talk to your partner and plan a trip you want. Sometimes this might mean going camping near a tourist town you want to check out, near a hot spring or near that elk hunting spot you always wanted to scout.

Take the initiative to pick a place you want to go to; you deserve it.

GIVE YOUR LADY SOME ALONE TIME

Hunting elk, deer, antelope and other animals are time-consuming and financially costly, especially for nonresident. Determine the cost of your trip and allocate a similar amount of money towards your wife’s girls’ trip.

Allow her to get away from the kids while you play Mr. Mom for a few days. She will come back refreshed, relaxed and your family will be better off for it. If your wife is as strong-willed as mine, you might have to force her to go, but I promise she will have a great time.

Overall, Mother’s Day is a day to honor our moms and the mothers of our children. They do so much for us and are great parents and partners to us.

If you are like me, you love your wives, kids, parents and hunting so take care of all of your loves.

Mrs. Horton enjoying the outdoors. Photo courtesy Jake Horton

The last thing that I suggest and have learned from experience is to give the mother of your children a trip of her own with some friends — without kids.

If you are a single mom out there or a mom who loves to hunt, fish and enjoy the great outdoors, make sure to set some time to do things with your family, but also to partake in the outdoors with your partner, friends or yourself.

This Mother’s Day, do something special with your wife, your mom and any other special moms in your life because they deserve it!

Hunting & Fishing News | 5

All photos credit Josh Kirchner

The EBB & Flow Of Hunting Spots

By Josh Kirchner Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

In terms of hunting pressure, we always focus our attention on other hunters and not ourselves. It’s easy to do that and place the blame on those who are not in your immediate circle.

However, you can also have an impact on the country you’re hunting. As an eager young man, I found myself venturing into this area too much. I’d cover quite a bit of country, too, with my boots instead of staying back and glassing. Usually five to eight miles each go around. Soon, the deer caught on and I’d see fewer and fewer on my hikes. After I backed off, I saw quite a bit of difference.

WEATHER During that first deer season in that spot as well as a few after, our rainy seasons were quite good here in Arizona.

Winter rains and annual monsoonal moisture kept things alive and kicking. Plants were green, water wasn’t as scarce and the deer were healthy. We soon experienced a drought that was quoted the third worst in Arizona history.

Those summer monsoon storms were nonexistent and the winter rains/snow were few and far between. I spoke with a biologist in the area conducting studies on the lack of moisture and the effects on trees. He said all of the trees in the area were on the brink of death. And with a shift in regular temperature fluctuation of only a few degrees, they’d perish. In order to survive, the animals had to adapt, which changed their normal patterns.

before dark, my brother and I worked our way along Jspotust a ridgeline heading back to camp. There was one last we wanted to check for deer before diving into the

burgers dad was cooking up over the fire. To our pleasant surprise, there were 11 bucks feeding in various openings before us. Our smiles stretched from ear to ear and we knew we’d just found a spot that would remain in constant rotation among our future hunts. Each and every year after that we could count on deer being around that piece of country.

With time, though, things changed. Suddenly, what was once a spot that held a healthy population of mature Coues bucks barely provided a glimpse of a deer. It was disheartening to be honest. Like an old friend that had turned their back on you. With time, the ill effects of that grudge often dissipate and the same can be said about the country we hunt.

Hunt long enough and you’re bound to see this natural ebb and flow of hunting spots. Several factors play a role in how honey holes turn into potholes.

HUNTING PRESSURE In my first years of frequenting the deer spot mentioned above, there were very few people there. After spending literally years hunting that area with success, I can remember running into two other hunters and that’s it.

Skip ahead a few years and things were much different. Every year that went by, I saw more and more people in my home away from home. And with more people, there were fewer and fewer animals. That’s not just intel I gathered from my own two eyes either. Even on trail cameras I had out, there were fewer photos of the bucks that drew us in at the start. Whether it’s from a hot tip or someone consistently seeing your vehicle in a certain area, people can eventually find out about spots. Then, they’re not so secret anymore. Animals will not tolerate it and will move on to greener pastures until the dust has settled.

6 | Hunting & Fishing News

Along with hunting pressure playing a role on this ebb and flow, weather also can have a massive impact. Before this drought we experienced, animals were quite abundant and bucks were big. I remember counting seven different bears in the area as well. Once the lack of moisture set in, everything changed. Deer trails that were once heavily travelled were lost in time. Bears feeding on the acorn crop was a distant memory because there were simply no acorns.

Trusty water holes that have filled my freezer year after year were bone dry. All of this because of a shift in weather.

The drought would continue for years after the fact.

FIRE A friend of mine told a legend of a bear spot he had found quite a few years ago. After finding it, he informed me that the bottom of the canyon had more bear tracks than he’d ever seen going back and forth. A bear highway he called it.

The scat was a plenty as well. He’d later call in three bears at one time, laying eyes on two of the biggest bears he’d ever seen, which is still true to this day. Soon after, a fire burned through that area and laid waste to the bear haven he held so dear. Of course, this caused him to move on and find new country. 14 years later, though, it’s finally back to what it once was.

It is always a shame to watch a favorite area burn to the ground, especially when it’s not a naturally caused burn.

No matter the case, burns happen and will have an impact on the wildlife. Whether it kills them or just burns up their food sources, things will undoubtedly change. With time, new growth will emerge and wildlife will follow. They are bittersweet, these burns. On one hand, you potentially lose a favorite hunting spot for a bit. On the other hand, you’ll likely get it back in the future and it might be even better than before, despite its different appearance. Will it take 14 years? That’s not what I’ve personally experienced, but it could. Even a few years after a burn have provided some great hunting from my standpoint.

ALL IS NOT LOST Dealing with change is a skill that varies from person to person. Riding the natural ebb and flow of these hunting spots will make you a better hunter. It’ll cause you to look elsewhere — even if it’s a different area within the area you’re hunting. Being forced to change things up gives a hunter a better understanding of what animals do when certain things happen. Whether we’re talking hunting pressure or a drastic change in the weather, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Soon, folks often move on, weather patterns shift again, and the burnt country is greener than ever. A honey hole is a honey hole for a reason and it can come back just the same.

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Many years after that first evening walk along that ridgeline, we returned with a new perspective. One that was much more educated than before. The deer trails were once again fresh and bucks were bigger than ever. It was a pleasure watching my dad squeeze off on one of them to cap off our hunt in this special place. Full circle is the best way to describe it. The end result of a total ebb and flow laid at our feet in the form of a great Coues buck. Ride that wave and roll with it.

Hunting & Fishing News | 7

Your New Adventures Await.

Photos credit Ian Malepeai - IDFG

Hunter Recipe: Sous Vide Wild Turkey BLT Inspired by you.

By Ian Malepeai, Marketing Manager IDFG https://idfg.idaho.gov

I

valleybankhelena.com

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The material and information printed is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. Nor does this material necessarily express the views of Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. All photo & editorial submissions become the property of Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure, Inc. to use or not use at their discretion. Volume 19 Issue 5 Cover Photo: twildlife | depositphotos.com

8 | Hunting & Fishing News

... wanted to do something “different” with one of my turkey breasts, and we have seen recipes using a sous vide machine to make lunch meat with store-bought meats. So, we decided to try it with my wild turkey breast. The sous vide machine cooks by heating water to a desired temperature. The meat cooks in a sealed, plastic bag ensuring the meat reaches the exact temperature you set, and keeps all the moisture locked inside....

Ingredients: 1 wild turkey breast Poultry seasoning. I used garlic salt and my favorite Kinder’s Mediterranean Seasoning, but salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, oregano, and parsley are good with any poultry.

Bacon Sriracha sauce Brown sugar Lettuce, tomato, avocado Sourdough bread Condiments (mayonnaise and mustard) Recipe directions: -Generously season both sides of the turkey breast with the poultry seasoning.

-Place seasoned turkey breast in a Ziploc bag, and remove as much air as possible.

-Place sealed turkey breast and sous vide machine in a water bath, and set temperature to 145 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 hours. (Note: you cannot overcook with the sous vide machine because it keeps the meat at a constant temperature, but you will want to ensure it has time to cook thoroughly.

Alternatively, you can cook the turkey in a smoker, stove or barbecue.)

-Remove turkey breast from water and cool in an ice bath.

-Lay out bacon on a cooking sheet, brush with Sriracha sauce, and lightly sprinkle with brown sugar. Cook in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit to desired crispiness.

-Slice turkey meat to desired thickness.

-Build sandwich with bread, wild turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and desired condiments. Enjoy.

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Hunting & Fishing News | 9

Advice for parents taking their kids hunting for the first time

All photos courtesy Trail Kreitzer

The Enjoyment Of Taking Kids Hunting

By Trail Kreitzer Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

e recently released a film where I took my W 16 year old son Landon on a mule deer hunt in Colorado. After the release of that film, I thought it would be the perfect time to discuss some thoughts around taking kids hunting. Be sure to watch the film and then dive into some thoughts about what I have learned taking my kids hunting throughout the years.

Check out the film “YOUNG BUCK” below:

What have I learned about hunting that I didn’t know before I started hunting with my kids?

I have experienced a reignited spark and appreciation for the outdoors and hunting. I have always loved those things, but getting to experience those again through the fresh perspective of my kids has reinvigorated those feelings in me. I also believe that it’s made me more aware of the responsibilities I have to teach through example. It’s made me more self-aware, both when I am hunting with my kids and alone on my own personal hunts. It’s contributed to the depth of appreciation I have for the privilege I have to explore and hunt. It’s also made me better at preparing and planning. Planning for a personal hunt is challenging, planning with a real focus to maximize the opportunity for my kid to find success is another level.

10 | Hunting & Fishing News

Make sure that they are comfortable with and know their weapon. If they are hunting deer, or antelope, if possible, consider a smaller caliber that has less recoil.

When Landon turned 14 I told him I would partner with him to buy a new rifle/scope setup and we got a Browning Stainless Stalker 25-06 with a Vortex scope.

In my experience, it’s been an excellent option and he absolutely loves that gun and shoots it very well.

Also, time with your kids at the gun range prior to their hunt gives them confidence and allows them to be comfortable handling it. Along those lines, have them practice shooting from different field positions. Get used to shooting from a prone position, shoot off a rest like a tripod, or sitting with a pack as a front rest.

Selecting the right type of hunt is important. In my opinion, an antelope hunt or a deer hunt provides a great first big game hunt. Seeing animals keeps them more engaged and is more important than getting a trophy-caliber buck.

Snacks are key. My kids seem to always be hungry, especially my teenagers. Jerky, fruit snacks, Honey Stinger waffles, trail mix, and Snickers are my go-to’s for my kids. Those may not all be the most healthy options, but when it’s cold and the hunting action is slow, those lift their spirits and occupy some time.

If your kids are cold, they won’t last long in the field and they won’t want to go out again. I try to make sure that they have a pair of boots that fit, warm clothing layers, warm hat, and some hand and feet warmers.

I also talk to my kids while I am in the field about why we wear certain layers and when to use them.

Talk to your kids about the importance of hunting and tell them why you hunt. Talk to them about conservation, ecosystems, the food chain, hunting ethics and the adventure hunting provides. I believe it’s important to talk to kids about the feelings and emotions that come from killing an animal. Kids may feel excited and accomplished at first and then even sadness and emotional after killing an animal. I think it’s important to acknowledge those feelings beforehand and validate them. Those feelings are normal, there is a sense of sadness and loss that a life has ended.

I think it’s important to talk about those feelings, validate them, and talk to them about respect and appreciation for the animal and the reasons we do kill.

Finally, I think it’s important to allow your kids the responsibility for carrying some of their own gear and weapon. I think it’s important to allow them to help process and break down the animal. Guide and help them, but let them participate in removing meat and help pack it out. Doing so not only teaches them, but it connects them to the entire process and in my experience gives them more appreciation for the animal and a sense of accomplishment.

(continued on page 36)

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Al Lindner: “Catch All The Walleyes You Want With Three VMC® Jigs” Rapala www.rapala.com

ith just three VMC® jigs, fishing legend Al Lindner W can catch about all the walleyes he wants to.

And you can too. The following are his tips for fishing

“From my experience, the boot-tail and the split-tail are going to produce all the fish you’re going to need,” he says. Early in the season, target points, new weed growth and inside turns. Each creates ambush spots for walleyes to feed on baitfish. Neon Moon Eye Jigs are available in five sizes (1/32nd, 1/16th, 1/8th, 1/4th and 3/8th oz.) and 23 color patterns – “colors that walleyes really have been known to like to eat,” Lindner says. Fish them on clear, 6- to 8-pound-test Sufix Advance Monofilament line.

Neon Moon Eye, Bucktail and Sleek Jigs.

“You need to have a variety of jigs like this,” says Lindner, co-founder of In-Fisherman and host of the influential Angling Edge and Fishing Edge TV shows.

“They all have a time and a place. And they’ll make you a better walleye fisherman, no question about it.”

Lindner prefers pairing his VMC jigs with soft-plastic boot-tail or split-tail minnows, but will use live bait if the fish get too finicky to tempt with artificials.

Live-bait or plastic, Lindner says, the best jig-and-minnow combinations for walleyes will measure about four inches, including the jig head.“Stick with that size and you’ll catch all the walleyes you need, all year long, anywhere you go, including some really, really big ones,” he says.

VMC is a Rapala Respected Brand.

Neon Moon Eye Jig

In clear to lightly stained water, when walleyes aren’t being too finicky, VMC’s Neon Moon Eye is Lindner’s go-to jig.“Day in, day out, for neutral to active fish, the Moon Eye Jig is all you need,” he says. “Anybody that jig fishes, once they start throwing this, it’s going to be one of those ‘Wow!’ moments, like it was for me.”

An improved take on a traditional Aspirin-shaped jig-head, the VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig falls faster than a ball jig. And it’s pill-shape design delivers more bites.

“When you snap-jig it, it rolls baits off to the side to trigger fish to bite,” Lindner says.

Moon Eye Jigs come armed with premium high-carbon steel VMC hooks and feature 3-D holographic eyes for realism and the illusion of a wider profile.

“I am 100 percent convinced that the eye makes a difference,” Lindner says.

The bait keepers on Neon Moon Eye Jigs work equally well to lock on both live and soft-plastic minnows.

For Lindner, boot-tail and split-tail soft-plastic minnows produce walleyes most consistently.

“No question about it, Sufix Advance Mono helps you catch and land more fish,” Lindner says. “I’ve seen more and more of our guides...using mono...Sufix Advance Mono is a durable, low-stretch, abrasion-resistant line that’s not stiff and unmanageable. Additional features include enhanced castability, reduced line memory, unrivaled knot strength and 50 percent lower stretch and UV absorption than standard monofilament. It’s available in two colors, clear and low-vis green, and nine strengths: 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 14-, 17-, 20- and 25-pound test.

Sufix is a Rapala Respected Brand.

Bucktail Jig

When walleyes get finicky and won’t bite a Neon Moon Eye Jig dressed with a soft-plastic minnow, Lindner recommends slowing down and rigging a VMC Bucktail Jig with live bait.“When you’ve got to fish really slow and need to use live bait, you go with the Bucktail Jig,” he says. “You can tip it with a minnow, put a leech on the back of it or put a piece of nightcrawler on it.”

“It’s the best, most-versatile jig that’s on the market today,” Lindner continues. “It has a place in every walleye fisherman’s tackle box.”Bucktail hair maintains its shape in water, presenting gamefish a larger target to attack. Tinsel fibers complement the Bucktail Jigs’ skirts to enhance visual appeal. A pear-shaped head gives the Bucktail Jig added control and balance for a variety of jigging techniques. It’s armed with a premium high-carbon steel, chemically sharpened needlepoint VMC hook.

When fishing a Bucktail Jig dressed with live bait, Linder recommends targeting deeper structure.

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He’s caught fish on 3/8 oz. Bucktail Jigs in as deep as 32 feet, but in shallower water, he typically ties on 1/8 to 1/4 oz. Bucktail Jigs. Bucktail Jigs come two per pack in three sizes: 1/8 ounce (1/0 hook), 1/4 ounce (2/0 hook) and 3/8 ounce (2/0 hook).

They are available in eight color patterns: Black, Chartreuse White, Fathead, Green Fire UV, Orange Fire UV, Firetiger, Pink Fire UV and White. “They’ve got all the right colors for walleyes,” Lindner says.

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Sleek Jig

Lindner will tie on a VMC Sleek Jig when he’s fishing “incredibly snaggy” rocks and needs to swim his bait over the bottom to prevent getting hung up. In these situations, he dresses the jig with a boot-tail soft-plastic.

“I prefer to stick with artificials, but lot of guys are using it for live bait,” he says. “A lot of good fishermen that I know that fish a lot of minnows are using the Sleek Jig, because of the hook.”

The hook on a Sleek Jig features a Techset™ technical locking curve, which maximizes hooksets and pins fish in place. Thanks to that design innovation, an aggressive hookset is not required to hook and land big walleyes – all you need to do is reel down and pull.

“It’s got that magic hook design,” Lindner says.

“The bend, the design and the quality of the hook are all top notch.”

Forged from premium high-carbon steel, the Sleek Jig’s 1X-strong VMC hook features an extra-long shank and a needle-sharp point. “It grabs and sticks everything,” Lindner says. “It catches everything.”

A weight-forward teardrop design gives the Sleek Jig stability and balance. 3D holographic eyes add realism.

Available color patterns include UV Bright finishes that reflect light energy, boosting the lure’s visibility.

Sleek Jigs are available in four sizes. They come in single-color four-packs, assorted-color 10-packs, assorted-Glow-color 10-packs and assorted-UV-color 10-packs.

(1) $10,000 & (3) $5,000 & (5) $1,000 + over (9,000) $500-$100 Tagged Lake Trout Bretz RV & Marine (1) $1,000 Tagged Lake Trout for in store merchandise Friday- Sunday-competitive Mack Days-lottery prizes, tagged fish, and bonuses Top ten angler prizes: Pick your best 18 days out of 27 possible Friday-Sunday Monday-Thursday- 6:00 pm deadline to turn in fish at Blue Bay – 4-$50, 2-$100, 4-$250 lottery drawings, 32 days-bonus totals at the end of the event

LOTTERY PRIZES All it takes is one ticket to win in the lottery drawing

(Fridays - Sundays only)

Lottery drawings $2,000 to $400 Merchandise cash prizes $500-$50 Top twenty angler prizes $950-$200 Captains $250 (4 prizes) Top lady anglers $300, $200, $100. $100 by total fish entered Smallest lake trout $250 (2 prizes) Largest lake trout $500 sponsored by Bretz RV & Marine Youth anglers (17-13) 1st- $200, 2nd-$150, 3rd-$75, 4-5th-$50 (12 & under) 1st-$100, 2nd-$75, 3rd-$50 Fri-Sunday Weekend Prizes 4@$100 & 1@$200 per weekend-9 weekends $5,400 Golden Angler Award (70 & older) $300 & $200, $100, 2@$50 determined by total fish entered Bucket Days-3 days of single/team-heaviest 4-fish-3/25-Friday, 4/16-Saturday & 5/1-Sunday Prizes and rules listed on the website www.mackdays.com BONUSES: ALL ANGLERS WHO ENTER 11 or more LAKE TROUT EARN BONUS DOLLARS

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Telephone 406-883-2888 Ex. 7294 Applications will be available: Zimmers Tackle-Pablo, Westland Seed & Sports-Ronan, Walmart-Polson, Sportsman’s Warehouse-Missoula, FWP-Missoula and Kalispell, Sportsman & Ski Haus-Kalispell, Bretz RV & Marine-Missoula, Bob Ward & Sons-Missoula, Snappys Sports Senter-Kalispell, CSKT NRD Offices-Polson Required that all boats from out of the Flathead area be inspected for AIS.

We remind you to follow all fishing regulations.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have a special fishing permit for the south half on Flathead Lake that is available wherever fishing permits are sold.

Laurel Teen Lands New State Record Rocky Mountain Sculpin

Record Utah Chub Caught At Canyon Ferry Reservoir MFWP

S

Robert Gibson Communication & Education Program Manager Region 5 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Photo: Bridger Burroughs of Laurel holds his new state record Rocky Mountain sculpin courtesy MFWP

ontana’s newest state record fish, caught M

by Bridger Burroughs of Laurel, weighs in at .063 pounds, eclipsing the old record of just .050 pounds.

Burroughs, 14, caught the 5-inch state record Rocky Mountain sculpin from the Yellowstone County Canal west of Laurel using a small plastic worm cast from an Ugly Stick rod on March 15, 2022. The weight of the fish was verified on a certified scale in Billings and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks fisheries biologists positively identified the species.

The previous record Rocky Mountain sculpin was caught by Brad Sullivan of Billings from Belt Creek north of Neihart in July 2001.

14 | Hunting & Fishing News

Photo courtesy MFWP

teve Hagen of East Helena reeled in a record Utah chub on March 7 from Canyon Ferry Reservoir. The fish weighed in at 2.39 pounds and measured 15.9 inches in length and 10.4 inches in girth. The previous record Utah chub, caught at Canyon Ferry in 1992, weighed 1.81 pounds.

Hagen’s catch adds to the list of Montana record fish caught in the last year and a half including a walleye, a chinook salmon, a smallmouth bass, a yellow bullhead, a brown trout, a longnose sucker, and a largemouth. ...Anglers who think they caught a state record fish should keep the following things in mind: To prevent loss of weight, do not clean or freeze the fish. Keep the fish cool — preferably on ice. Take a picture of the fish. The fish must be weighed on a certified scale (found in grocery stores or hardware stores, etc.) and witnessed by a store employee or other observer. Obtain a weight receipt and an affidavit from the store personnel if no FWP official is present. Measure the length and girth. Contact the nearest FWP office to have the fish positively identified by a fisheries biologist.

Bro’s technique is easily mimicked, too. No complex jigging sequences. He flings the Fire-Ball on a long cast, contacts the bottom, and slow hops it back to the boat. It’s all about finding fishy spots. If walleyes are present, strikes are nearly certain. If by chance they aren’t walloping it, more of that “wet sock” feel, Bro feels for the rod to load and then sweep sets.

Drifting and jigging is another popular springtime pattern, the wind and wave action doing the heavy lifting. Here, Bro flings the Fire-Ball similarly, letting the momentum of the boat replace the retrieve. The key being jig management. “Drifting doesn’t mean throwing the bait out and hoping for the best.

It’s interactive. You must keep constant contact with the jig, feeling every bottom bump or when it gets hung with weeds.

Get to know what that specific jig weight feels like on the rod and line you’re using. Slack line and daydreaming means stripped minnows and missed fish.” (continued on page 36)

Photo courtesy Northland Fishing Tackle www.northlandtackle.com

The Meat of the Matter Northland Fishing Tackle www.northlandtackle.com o lure has advanced walleye fishing more than Northland’s N original Fire-Ball® Jig. The proof is at the podium, too, the transformative jig earning payday after payday

for professional and amateur tournament anglers alike.

The recreational angler is a winner as well, winnings piling up in the form of luscious fillets in the fryer.

Intelligent Design Chin-hook a minnow on your typical longer shanked jig and the bait flails behind flopping unnaturally, the minnow losing color and posture as it’s essentially beaten to death.

The awkward separation between the jig and head of the minnow also creates a blurred target for fish, sometimes resulting in whiffs. Conversely, the Fire-Ball unifies the components, the mouth of the minnow pinned directly to the jig head. The minnow tracks in perfect synchronicity with the jig, yielding a bullseye for bites.

Hooking percentages are further elevated due to the Fire-Ball’s ridiculously sharp, short-shanked hook, which is upturned for a better hooking angle. You’ll also notice that the hook is molten into the topside of the Fire-Ball’s perfectly round head.

This causes the hook to tilt skyward, the minnow angled off the bottom for easier eating. And for those times when minnows are constantly coming back skinned, the Fire-Ball features an eye on its bottom-side for attaching a Northland Sting’r Hook. Shy biters beware…

Bros is a Baller For Northland pro and jigging savant Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, the Fire-Ball Jig is indispensable. “It’s my anytime, always and forever jig,” said Bro, who has caught more walleyes on the Fire-Ball than all other varieties combined. “Seriously, the Fire-Ball never fails.”

Perhaps the brightest limelight showers the Fire-Ball Jig in the spring of the year. Post-spawn walleyes ravage the shallows, capitalizing on the varieties of shiner and dace – even shad in some fisheries – that are up to spawn. So, give the walleyes what they want: minnow meat on a Fire-Ball.

Fire-Ball applications are manifold, too. With cooperative weather conditions, Bro’s first pick is pitching. “Can’t beat pitching Fire-Balls in the shallows for spring walleyes. That means the 6-to-12-foot range.” And where? “Specific locations really depend on the lake, but there are consistent, universal structures. Shoreline rocks and gravel, emerging weeds, creek and river mouths, and shallow bars and points are always good as starters.”

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Hunting & Fishing News | 15

The banks are the most reliable because trout can continually move inward as the flows increase. This allows them to conserve energy on the easy current while feeding on everything being dislodged from the banks. Stand back a few feet from the bank when you start to avoid spooking fish that are holding tight.

Zach Lazzari with a nice rainbow trout. Photo courtesy Zach Lazzari and Mystic Fly Rods www.mysticoutdoors.com

How to Catch More Trout During Runoff

By Zach Lazzari Mystic Fly Rods www.mysticoutdoors.com unoff means high flows and dirty water. But that doesn’t R shut down the fishing entirely. In fact, fishing the high water is often very effective. It can lead to some of the bigger fish you will see throughout the year on a given body of water. Don’t hang up your rod when the flows spike. Get out there and see if you can turn up a few big ones.

WHERE TO FIND FISH Rising water displaces trout and limits the number of areas they can hold. When a river is on the rise, stick to the banks and reliable soft spots. If a specific feature in the river will break the current at any flow, it’s a good place to test.

Look to inside seams, tailouts and soft water that has low resistance for prime lies. Trout that are normally holding around structure will often move into these areas during high water and will relocate as the flows drop. When you find one fish, hit the same area hard because they are often congregated until the runoff ends.

EASY FLY SELECTION Fly selection is the easiest aspect of fishing runoff conditions.

Worms are dislodged from the banks, big stoneflies are migrating towards the banks and baitfish are also forced into the open, making them vulnerable. Dead drifting a big stonefly or rubber leg bugger with a trailing San Juan worm is simple and reliable. Use an indicator or add split shot to dredge the bottom.

The fish are not likely to move far so keep your presentation slow and easy. Streamer fishing can produce some big trout, especially on a slower retrieve. Allow the streamer to drop between strips, giving the fish an opportunity to pounce without moving far. They want the calories but also need to save energy. As the flows drop, a faster retrieve will gradually become more productive.

When the big stoneflies finally emerge, runoff is generally peaked and subsiding. Fish the nymphs early and work the banks hard. As the flows drop and the water clears, expand your range to include structure, mid-river boulders and features that are no longer washed out.

BLOWN OUT? There is a point where the river simply will not produce.

Chocolate flows and flood stages are a good time to step back and consider other options. Runoff typically coincides with a very productive period of stillwater fishing....

Look to the lakes, spring creeks and tailwaters for great opportunities. Other species like bass and pike are also available in many regions.

Hitting other species when the trout are difficult is always a good move.

RECOMMENDED FLY RODS When fishing in runoff conditions with big stonefly nymphs and streamers, our rod selection becomes pretty easy.

The M-Series fly rods are our most popular rods for both nymphing and swinging streamers. The extra 10’ 3” length is ideal for high-sticking in heavy flows and provides extra reach for mending. The M-Series has serious backbone for throwing those heavy rigs. And the soft tip is excellent for playing fish in difficult currents. Check out the Mystic M-Series here https://www.mysticoutdoors.com/collections/ freshwater-fly-rods/products/m-series.

Zach Lazzari is a fly fishing guide and an outdoor writer based in Montana. Zach has fished and guided in Alaska, Colorado and Patagonia. Zach is also the blogger behind The Busted Oarlock https://bustedoarlock.com.

16 | Hunting & Fishing News

All photos credit Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Company www.caribougear.com

Scouting and Navigating a DIY Float Trip Hunt in Alaska

By Ted Ramirez Sr. Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Co. www.caribougear.com

lanning a DIY hunt in Alaska is an experience so rewarding, P it’s hard to put into words. I always tell folks that I wish I had started sooner. If Alaska is on your wish list, don’t wait.

Make it happen now and I promise, you’ll be wishing you had started sooner too.

The following information is a brief excerpt from my seminar on DIY Alaska Hunting. Keep an eye on our website or subscribe to our email list for upcoming seminar opportunities.

In the full seminar, we cover everything it takes to plan an Alaska hunt – from choosing an area to getting home and everything in between.

There are different ways to pull off a DIY moose hunt in Alaska.

You can fly in and out of a fixed drop-off location. You can rent a boat and travel up or down river from that fixed point.

But my favorite way to hunt Alaska is on a wilderness float trip. Floating down a remote river through wild country in search of moose is an experience like no other.

Planning a float trip comes with many logistical challenges.

Getting to your starting point with a raft and all of your gear, to your ending point somewhere down river, isn’t easy.

But without question, it’s worth the effort.

When it comes to planning a remote float trip and navigating a wilderness river, here are a few tips to help you get started: 1. Choosing Where to Hunt As a general order of operations when planning this type of hunt, you must first locate a hunting unit, pick a river, and arrange the air taxi.

Only then can you begin scouting in depth.

The hardest part will be finding the transportation into a given river. Finding a bush plane pilot can be difficult. You might find the perfect river – but unless you can find transportation to get there and back, it’s a dead end. (continued on page 30)

Hunting & Fishing News | 17

Gary (l) and author Tom Cooper (r) with Gary’s cow elk. All photos courtesy Tom Cooper

A Season Of Elk

By Tom Cooper

ne measure of a successful hunting season is, and O I reckon will always be, the number of tags filled.

There are others of course, including trophy-size animals,

Bill arrived with the vehicle soon after I did and we butchered (no-gut approach) our elk, loaded the meat and our gear, and headed home. I felt pretty good about shooting a calf because the season was not half over; we still had plenty of hunting ahead of us. And that my friends is about as short a hunting story as I am capable of telling.

a hunter’s first animal, and my personal favorite: I didn’t have to chain-up, even once, during the season.

For this article, I want to focus on tags filled. However, more specifically, my story describes the 2015 season; I was fortunate enough to participate in not just one elk harvest, but three. For me, participating can be more rewarding than filling your own tag. In 2015, I did both.

Let’s start with a little background, three hunters were involved: my son (Gary), my younger brother (Bill), and me. In 2015, I was a very retired guy living in Helena, Montana; Bill, also a retired guy, resides in Stevensville; and Gary, a working Occupational Therapist, lived in Bozeman at the time. Amazingly, all three of us had drawn cow tags for the south end of hunting district 380. Bill and I had hunted for brow-tine bulls in another district opening weekend, but were not successful. The middle of the second week found us in my vehicle at the end of a road, drinking coffee, just waiting for a little daylight before starting up the trail.

Me First If you folks were lucky enough to have read the July, 2021 issue of Hunting and Fishing News, you undoubtedly still remember my wonderful article titled: Shoot the Calf?

No, well I’ll do my best to give you a “short” summary now.

Because we both had cow tags, as we drank our coffee, we talked about whether or not to shoot a calf and concluded we should. Since we always share harvested animals, a calf now would allow us to continue hunting elk. While it seemed I had convinced Bill to shoot a calf, I had the first opportunity, and took it. My small elk dropped near the top of a timber covered ridge, but I was aware of a road in the canyon below. With several inches of fresh snow, the drag to the bottom was not difficult.

18 | Hunting & Fishing News

Tom (l) and brother Bill (r) after loading Tom’s calf.

Bill Second Bill returned to Stevensville to process his half of our first elk. Within a couple days, the elk was in the freezer.

So, Bill had little choice but to go hunting again. Typical for him is arrival at one of his favorite parking spots up Lolo Creek Canyon, well before shooting light. He did so on this day, finished his coffee, then headed up the trail.

Still a bit before legal light, he settled in along the ridge top, removed his pack and rested his rifle on it while he scanned the canyon below and the ridge across with binoculars, probably 250 yards.

Within minutes, he spotted movement, was sure there was more than one elk, but couldn’t see antlers because of the dark trees behind the elk, and it still wasn’t legal to shoot.

The elk moved up the opposite ridge, away from the trees, and Bill immediately spotted antlers on all three elk; they were young raghorn bulls of the three-four point variety.

At last his watch said it was legal to shoot. He picked the largest of the young bulls, and took the 200 yard-plus shot.

He heard the impact of his round, and saw the bull stop.

But, he didn’t drop, so Bill shot a second time, the elk went down. He watched for just a minute or two to make sure his elk was finished. Two shots is pretty good for Bill, because he has a little history regarding the total number of rounds used to get animals on the ground. Anyway, he proceeded to an old logging road that wound its way into the canyon and traversed the hillside about 60-70 yards below his elk.

He climbed up to the elk and dragged him through low-growth brush down to the road. The road was nice and flat so he processed his elk, again using the no-gut approach. Within a couple hours, he had 2 hams, 2 shoulders, 2 back straps, and 2 tenderloins ready to pack out. He left both hams and one shoulder hanging in a small tree next to the road, and packed the rest, plus the antlers, back to his truck.

Now I know this is the part you have been waiting for, my role in Bill’s adventure. When he arrived in Lolo and had cell phone reception, I got the call: Are you interested in bringing your game cart to help haul the rest of my elk out? My only question was: how soon, this afternoon or early tomorrow? The next morning, I met Bill in Lolo and we headed for his elk. Wheeling the empty cart up the trail, along the ridge to the logging road, and finally along the old road to his elk was so easy, it was fun for both of us.

The return trip, loaded with elk, but mostly on a level road trace and downhill trail, was exactly the same, just fun.

We argued over who got to drive the cart the most. Ok, I can agree my part in this hunt was minimal. But, Bill’s elk was our second of the season, and I participated.

Bill and Tom used a cart to haul out Bill’s bull.

Gary Third Gary and I had met a week earlier at the south end of hunting district 380, almost within sight of Interstate 90. We both had mule deer buck tags and, of course, Gary still had his cow tag.

The wind did not cooperate at all. We literally could not stand on the ridges, the wind was just too much. That day, I’m confident we were fighting 30-40 mile an hour winds.

It did not matter that we didn’t see an animal, deer or elk, because there was no way to shoot with the wind anyway.

Since he had already arranged for another week-day of hunting for the following week, we agreed to try again.

An hour before daylight we met at our agreed upon haystack next to a public road. After a short drive, we found ourselves hiking on a road crossing public land but closed to vehicles.

I had decided not to carry my rifle, and in fact also forgot my binoculars when we left the truck. I was carrying my homemade shooting sticks. The sticks are simply bolted together a couple inches from the top, and provide a very stable shooting rest. When folded together and strapped at the bottom with velcro, they serve as a reasonably lightweight walking stick. A little before the legal shooting time, we were a half mile from the vehicle, when I thought there was something moving two or maybe three hundred yards ahead of us. I stopped Gary, pointed, and asked him to glass there, because something was moving.

After several seconds, but it seemed longer, I asked if what I had seen was an elk butt. When he put the binoculars down he said it was not “an” elk, but a lot, a whole lot of elk.

At this point our road trace went straight to the elk across a pretty open sagebrush flat. We knew daylight was fast approaching, so we had to move closer quickly. We picked a couple of lone trees and large bushes and tried to keep them lined up between us and the herd of elk. By legal shooting light, we had cut the distance in two, but the elk were no longer visible. We slowed our approach considerably, trying to spot the elk again. After another 8-10 minutes, we stopped for the 10th time to glass the tree line just beyond where we had seen the elk. As hunting fathers tend to do, I offered a little treasured hunting guidance. It was something like: if you don’t see or hear elk actually leave a spot, they probably haven’t. Gary, quietly just kept glassing the trees. For some reason, he was no longer listening to the guy with no rifle and forgotten binoculars.

About that time, I happened to look at a sage brush hillside on our left. I pointed and hissed (not sure exactly what hiss means, but apparently it was a bit more than Gary wanted).

Without a word he turned, grabbed the shooting sticks out of my hands, spread them, rested his rifle, and prepared to shoot.

Of course, to dad, all the elk in line across that hillside were cows.

So I waited patiently. Then waited a bit more. Gary shot. As 25-30 elk blasted off running, I saw his cow hunch up and run just a few yards downhill into some juniper bushes, and disappear. Gary dropped the sticks and hurried a few yards to where he could see into the brush. His elk was dead.

We butchered (no-gut) her, and in two trips carried two each: hams, boned-out shoulders, back straps, and tenderloins to our vehicle. Elk number three was on its way home.

2015 is History One, two, and three, and just like that we had three elk in one season. Since Gary had to return to work for a few hours that afternoon, we decided I would take the meat home, clean it up a bit and put it in coolers, and I suggested we could figure out what to do with all of it later. Gary asked if it would be ok to offer a hind quarter to a co-worker who was a hunter, and had a fairly large family, but hadn’t filled a tag this season. Well, not only was that a terrific idea, but because it was Thanksgiving week, Gary would be home for a little turkey, and could take the meat (still on ice) to Bozeman within a couple days. Bill and I also met at Gold Creek on Interstate 90, and he received a small share as well. Just so you know, the next season our elk harvest was zero; good thing 2015 was a great season.

Hunting & Fishing News | 19

Y o u r M o n t a n a T o y o t a D ea l e r s a r e

PASSIONATE in their support of the outdoors, and groups such a s t h e R o c k y M o u n t a i n E l k F o u n d a t i o n wi t h i t s mi s s i o n t o c o n s e r ve w i l d l i f e h a b i t a t a n d o p en s p a c e.

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PUBLIC ACCESS For hunters, anglers and others who enjoy experiencing the outdoors first-hand, it means everything. No access means no recreational opportunity.

Hunters in western Montana have an additional 612 acres of land to utilize since the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation teamed up with a conservation-minded family in western Montana.

The acreage is now part of the 10,389-acre Garrity Mountain Wildlife Management Area located west of Anaconda in Deer Lodge County.

It provides spring calving and elk winter range, plus prime habitat for whitetail and mule deer, moose and bighorn sheep. Additionally, it includes nearly one mile of riparian habitat along Warm Springs Creek, which contains westslope cutthroat and bull trout as well as other fish species.

The project permanently protects the new acreage and stops the threat of subdivision or development that would have detrimental impacts on wildlife and habitat.

GARRITY ADDITION LOCATION

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Five Rifle Season

Gear Shop Must-Haves

By Anthony Wright Originally published at

www.goHUNT.com

Weighing in at a mere 5 oz and also a steal for $25, the GunSlicker is a great addition for rifle season. The versatility of this item is great because it can fit almost every rifle configuration since it’s adjustable from 38” to 56”. When the snow starts to fly, it’s essential to protect debris from entering your barrel and protect your optic and chamber from flying snow and moisture. When the rifle is ready to come out and play, the GunSlicker can easily be removed and stuffed away to execute the shot.

Neville also added the Hillsound BTR Stool. (Shown in the photo to the left). The BTR is becoming a fan favorite for many western hunters whether they’re hunting spring bears or using it during general season rifle hunts. The best part?

It’s only 12.6 to 14.7 oz. When hours spent glassing is the name of the game, it can be a joy to glass from a slightly elevated seat. Not having to sit on wet or snow-covered ground will keep you comfortable longer and be more successful at catching game in the glass instead of worrying about the elements making you uncomfortable.

The BTR stool is also great around camp after dark or lacing boots on in the morning.

Cody Boor

The Hillsound BTR Stool, one of Chris Neville’s picks.

Photo credit Brady Miller

RUGGED RIDGE OUTDOOR GEAR GEN 2 EXTREME BIPOD

...goHUNT offers a plethora of great gear in their gear shop!

Here are some personal top picks from our employees...

Brady Miller RUGGED RIDGE OUTDOOR GEAR EXTREME REAR SUPPORT SYSTEM

Brady spends a good portion of his year perfecting his rifles for when the one opportunity shows itself. Having a completely rock solid rest for taking long-range shots is key! Brady has utilized the Rugged Ridge Outdoor Gear Extreme Rear Support System for years now and his success shows its importance. Tipping the scales at a feathery 4.4 oz you won’t even know it’s in your pocket. The rear support can conveniently be folded up and stowed in a pocket so it can be easily deployed for use. Get that “shooting bench feel” when you’re miles from the truck. This is why the Rear Support is a staple in Brady’s pack for hunts. Offered in both black and blaze orange, Rugged Ridge has you covered.

22 | Hunting & Fishing News

Another Rugged Ridge item has entered the list, which is not a huge shocker due to the combination of being lightweight and user-friendly. The Rugged Ridge Outdoor Gear Gen 2 Extreme Bipod weighs only 13 oz or 13.7 (depending on the model) and uses a mix of carbon fiber and aluminum. It can pan and swivel using a ball head style mechanism at the pivot point. The bipod can be adjusted from 7” to 10” or, if you get the taller model, 10” to 14”. Like the previous RR product, this bipod can be quickly attached or detached via the Picatinny rail attachment and oversized knurled tightening knob. Having a stable rifle for any shot no matter the distance is critical, which is why Cody and others in the goHUNT office put their trust in the Extreme Gen 2 from Rugged Ridge.

Anthony Wright KESTREL 5700 BALLISTIC CALCULATOR

Now, this item may seem like overkill for most, but when you take the time to know exactly what your bullet does once it leaves your barrel using the aid of a ballistic calculator, your shooting confidence will increase as well as your lethality.

This doesn’t mean you’ll be able to shoot a whole lot further nor more accurately by any means — that requires practice (which isn’t sold in the goHUNT just yet) — but with the technology of Bluetooth to your phone and instant data from current in-field weather conditions bringing input to your cartridge’s flight path, you now have the utmost confidence once you pull the trigger. Removing the variability of bad ballistics information is virtually gone and gone is the “ole Kentucky windage” method. Once familiar with the Kestrel system, which takes no time to learn, you’ll have a better idea on ethical shots and what you must do to get them done.

Photo credit Anthony Wright

For me, and I’m sure a couple of others, my must-have is going to be the Kestrel 5700 Ballistic Calculator.

Don’t wait to check out some of these amazing products over in the goHUNT Gear Shop.

As always, stay safe and hunt hard!

GET THE B&C PLATE AND SUPPORT YOUR HUNTING HERITAGE!

Select Boone and Crockett Club’s license plate the next time you register or renew a vehicle in Montana and help us preserve your hunting heritage for future generations, maintain big-game records, promote hunting ethics, and continue our youth conservation and hunting education programs on Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front. B&C receives a $20 sponsor fee for each plate.

Thank you for your continued support!

www.boone-crockett.org

Photo credit chrisfinch99 | depositphotos.com

5 Best States For Antelope Hunting Montana Decoy www.montanadecoy.com

ntelope, also known as pronghorns, are commonly found in western states in the shortgrass prairies east A of the Rocky Mountains. Most states require a drawing for a tag to hunt the antelope and let non-residents apply. Planning a hunting trip requires lots of research on what areas are the best to hunt. Here are five states known for good antelope hunting.

WYOMING Wyoming is the least populated state, and it comes at no surprise that it probably has more antelope than it does people. It offers OTC tags to both residents and non-residents. The state of Wyoming has a success rate that no other state has ever come close to with non-residents having a success rate of nearly 100 percent (97.7%) according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Rifle season runs from late September to late October.

Some of the best counties recorded for hunting are Campbell, Carbon, Freemont and Sweetwater.

MONTANA Big sky country. Montana is second to Wyoming for its antelope population and is a great state for non-resident hunters. The eastern part of the state has rolling hills while the western half is equipped with rugged terrain.

Some of the best hunting areas include Bob Marshall and Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The season runs from early September to early October for archery and rifle season runs through mid October to mid November.

ARIZONA Despite popular belief, this state is not all desert. The northern part of Arizona is similar to Colorado with its mountainous terrain. Arizona is known widely for its antelope with longer horns because the mild winters allow them to live longer than those neighboring states. Apache, Mohave and Navajo Coconino are some of the best counties to hunt. The season runs from late October to late November.

NEW MEXICO The hunting opportunities in New Mexico are as diverse as its habitat and terrain. The state is known for having some of the best pronghorns in the country. First-time non-resident hunters have a chance at drawing a tag.

Private land dominates most of the eastern half of the state, but there is limited state land. Lincoln, Catron and Mora have proven to be some of the best counties for hunting. The season runs from late August to late December.

COLORADO Colorado is often the state that comes to a hunter’s mind when they think about hunting out west. Hunting big game in the Centennial State is on the bucket list of many hunters. This is the only state that lets you purchase OTC tags, which will allow you to hunt most of the public Game Management Units (GMU).

Plains make up the eastern portion while mountains take over the western half. Some of the best hunting can be found in Moffat county in the northwest corner. Archery season runs from late August to late September and rifle season is in early October.

24 | Hunting & Fishing News

MONTANA SPRING TURKEY HUNTING SEASON OPENED APRIL 15 MFWP https://fwp.mt.gov ontana’s spring male turkey season opened April 15.

M Turkey hunters can purchase a turkey license for a general area at FWP offices, license providers or online.

The 2022 turkey regulations are included in the 2022 Upland Game Bird Regulations Booklet.

Regulations are available at FWP offices, license providers and online at fwp.mt.gov.

Turkey hunting in Region 4 has changed to a general license spring opportunity.

When transporting a spring turkey in the state of Montana, hunters must keep one leg and foot naturally attached for evidence of sex. Montana law requires landowner permission for hunting on all private land.

Photo credit Michael Chatt | dreamstime

All Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program enrollments are currently closed and only open during the fall hunting season. Similarly, most Block Management Areas are also closed, but some open for spring turkey and spring bear opportunities.

No shed hunting, hiking or other recreations are allowed on these properties without landowner permission. Be sure to check the FWP website for dates and locations these properties open.

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26 | Hunting & Fishing News

The Best Handguns For Deer Hunting

By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com

aving already shot his buck earlier in the season, H my buddy Neil decided to try his hand at handgun hunting to fill a management doe tag. Here’s how the hunt went down, in Neil’s words:

I could only hunt for a few hours that Saturday because I had to baby sit later that day. I had to draw blood early or not at all, which seemed like a foolhardy and insurmountable feat since I had never hunted with a pistol before, much yet killed anything with it.

Half-hour after first light 2 does came in, broadside at about 40 yards. I raised my .41 Magnum and fired at the bigger of the two deer, the lead doe. Boom!

She didn’t move an inch. Then she bolted 5 yards and stopped. Boom! I rushed it and pulled both those shots.

The doe stopped broadside at 45 yards. I took a deep breath, got a firm two-hand grip, regained my composure and really squeezed the trigger this time. She just stood there, didn’t flinch! But this time the doe didn’t know she was hit. In a few seconds, she fell down and shook a time or two and that was that.

Photo courtesy Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com

Now, with an anxious wife waiting at home for me to take over with the kids, I had my work cut out.

I got down from the tree stand, walked to the doe, dragged her 200 yards, wrestled her atop my ATV and roared back to camp to our designated gutting area.

I cleaned the deer, cut out the tenderloins, hung the carcass in the cooler box, hit the road and arrived home at 11:15 with a full 15 minutes to spare.

That was a sweet rig I used to kill my first revolver deer. Smith and Wesson Model 657 in .41 Magnum topped with a 2.5X-8X EER scope (extended eye relief), shooting a 175-grain bullet. –Neil

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LET’S TALK BEAR

By Jeremiah Doughty Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com

Don’t listen to the doubters: Bear meat is delicious.

But understanding some basics about their diet and behavior can go a long way toward an incredible meal.

Photos courtesy Jeremiah Doughty and Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com

ear meat is one of those meats that gets a bad rap when it comes to the wild game culinary world.

B The reason being is many folks don’t understand how to cook the meat, or the flavors found within its delicious, fatty muscles.

FLAVOR: SPRING, FALL, AND COASTAL SPRING One of the biggest flavor differences in bear meat comes from when you shoot it. When you’re hunting bear in the early spring months, most bears are coming from hibernation. They have depleted 90% of their stored fats and are now giant eating machines. For this reason, they are feasting on 70% fresh growth, like spring grasses, acorns, berries, and other fruits and plants. You will tend to find bears on hillsides feasting on fresh greens. This fresh produce intake starts to develop a beautiful, rich, flavorful fat within the meat as well as the fat layer directly under the skin.

FALL If in the spring, the bears are eating fresh growth, new death, and berries, in the fall it’s going to be the opposite.

In the fall we’ve seen bears on old summer kills, trash cans, and dumps; they have gone from foraging to scavenging.

This scavenging is a survival instinct: The bears are trying to eat any and everything to build up enough fats to get them through hibernation. If it’s a sow, she is storing up not only for hibernation, but for birth and nursing as well.

Fall bears tend to have a stronger taste because of all the scavenging and eating any and everything in sight.

The meat is not horrible, just not as sweet as it would be in the spring.

COASTAL Coastal bear are going to taste 100% different than a Montana mountain bear. Coast bears tend to have a diet that consists of fish, sea weeds, and other ocean grasses.

Once, we got a bear we’d been watching eat a bunch of dead crabs and eel grass and his meat tasted like a sea food restaurant.

If the blueberries in the spring impacted the flavor and fat color, you’d have to believe that those crabs, fish, and eel grass impacted this bear’s meat in the same manner.

Not all bears that eat fish will have that “fishy” flavor.

Sometimes they will eat a fresh salmon and then go and fill up on acorns, grass, and other berries in the area.

Just know that a coastal bear will taste a lot different than a bear who’s whole life is lived inland.

Time of year, where you harvest your bear, and what a bear is eating, will determine the overall flavor profile.

If spring bear are eating meats, it tends to be fresh young fawns, rabbits, eggs, and other fresh kills or birthing deaths. This is the reason that bait stations work so well in the spring. The bears are attracted to sweet smelling treats, beavers and bread, because they are trying to fill up and get their depleted fats and energy back up.

Because they are eating fresh everything, this yields a better tasting meat, with sweeter and cleaner tasting fats.

We’ve shot black bears off hillsides covered in blueberries and the bear’s fat is a deep purple. This very fact shows you that what the bears are eating plays a huge factor in the flavor.

28 | Hunting & Fishing News

COOKING BEAR MEAT TEMPS AND TRICHINOSIS Like all predators, there is a chance that bear meat can be laced with a nasty little parasite called Trichinosis. Trich, as many of us refer to it, is a parasitic invasion of the intestine.

This attack can cause symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pains, vomiting, and fevers. For this reason, it scares many people off from eating this incredible meat. There are some key cooking steps that will kill off Trich before it even has a chance to attack your gut.

(continued on page 34)

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Scouting and Navigating a DIY Float Trip Hunt in Alaska (continued from page 17)

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In addition to transportation, my biggest consideration when selecting an area is the moose population. Look for areas with a good bull to cow ratio. In most cases, eight bulls per 100 cows is a good ratio.

When picking an area, it’s hard to overstate the importance of these first two factors. Without the proper moose population, and without accessibility, none of the rest of it matters.

Lastly when it comes to choosing an area, keep in mind that every hunting unit and every river in Alaska has its own regulations. Those regulations change regularly, so make certain you look at the most recent regulations, licensing information, and any other restrictions that might affect your hunt.

2. Planning the Logistics When you first begin planning a DIY hunt in Alaska, the logistics can seem overwhelming. A wilderness float trip further adds to those complications.

When you make arrangements with your air taxi, this will often determine where exactly you can be dropped off.

Sometimes, it might require a portage from a nearby lake to the river to get started. Then upon pick up, be sure to arrange specific coordinates for the pick up location – don’t rely on landmarks.

Another important piece of the puzzle is finding out if you can rent a raft in the local village or if you’ll need to drive and bring your own rafts. There are also raft rental companies in some of the major hubs like Anchorage or Fairbanks.

You’ll be flying through one of these hubs anyway. From one of these hub cities, you can then take your flight out to the local village.

For two hunters, you can plan on using one plane and one boat. For three people, you would need two planes and two rafts. And with four hunters, you can do two planes and two boats. All that to say, you’re better off going with either two or four people – this will allow you to share the costs most efficiently.

3. Scouting and Navigating the River One of the most exciting parts of planning a float trip in Alaska is digging into the actual scouting – how are you going to navigate a wilderness waterway to get from point A to point B? The length of the float trip depends on how long you stop and hunt in each camp along the way. It also depends on the speed of the river. In a fast-flowing river you could cover 15 miles in a day. A slow-flowing river might require you to row all day to make any progress.

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Gear for an Alaskan DIY Float Trip Hunt.

30 | Hunting & Fishing News

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When I begin looking at a potential river, I look to see if it is too fast, too rocky or too slow. You’re looking for just that right amount of water and speed for safety without it being blown out. You’ll also want to check the width of the river to get a feel for its navigability. And then of course you’ll want to look for quality moose habitat along the river corridor.

Are there braids, sloughs, channels and ponds?

As you work to discover all of this information, there are a number of resources you should get to know. Some of these include Google Earth Pro, Topographical Maps, OnX Hunt Maps and Garmin Maps.

Keep in mind that some locations in Alaska do not have high quality satellite images available.

So depending on which area you choose, look for the best mapping system available.

To check river flows, look at the information on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website. Up-to-date flows are available from the USGS for many rivers in Alaska.

Additionally, you’ll want to take rainfall into account.

And even wind direction will impact your travel. Consider the fact that on a western-flowing river, you’ll likely be facing a headwind.

When it comes to scouting for moose habitat, consider that waterways are moose’s primary source of food, travel and search for cows. As you scout using satellite imagery and maps, look for ponds, grassy parks (open wetlands or swamps) and sloughs. These are notorious locations where moose will frequent to feed on water grass.

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Next, I’ll look at how long it would take to get from the starting point to the pick-up point. I’ll do that by tracing the river using the measure tool in OnX hunt or the path tool in Google Earth Pro. While tracing the river, I drop a waypoint every 10 miles.

Marking the float in 10-mile increments will be useful in several ways. First, it helps you contextualize the distance and how far you’ll need to travel each day. Second, it provides easy to remember reference points along the way. This is useful when communicating with family back home and letting them know where you are. And it simply helps you organize potential hunting spots and scouting notes.

Next, I take a look at how long it would take to do that float, based on the distance and the river flow. That determines how long you can stay in each area or in a single camp.

Using the 10-mile waypoints as a guide, I will then go back to waypoint 1 and make note of all the huntable spots within that first stretch. Then I do that for waypoint 2 and so on.

Again, look for those open grassy areas, sloughs and ponds.

Sometimes, the topo map will show a pond or slough that’s now dried up. However, that’s ok. If there was once a pond there, it’s probably still flat, grassy and swampy – great moose habitat.

With all of this information – length of the river from point A to point B, the flow of the river and potential hunting spots organized by 10-mile increments, you can now make a game plan for your trip.

Just remember, your game plan is meant to be flexible. If you find moose in a spot that wasn’t the highest spot on your priority list, maybe you change plans and stay there an extra day – knowing you’ll have to make up that day further down the river. Be ready to adapt as the conditions and the hunting dictates.

Conclusion With the proper planning, navigating a wilderness river isn’t as difficult as you might think. The hardest part will be coordinating the logistics of getting there and of course getting home with meat and antlers. But don’t let that difficulty stop you. Planning a DIY hunt in Alaska is an incredible experience.

If you have questions about hunting gear for this or any other hunting adventure, please let us know. The gear we choose to carry in our store is gear that we personally use in the field. We’d love to help you find the right hunting gear for your next trip.

If you’re in the Denver area or along the Front Range, come visit us at our showroom at 8955 S. Ridgeline Blvd #1100 in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Or visit our website at www.caribougear.com for the rest of our contact information.

Hunting & Fishing News | 31

GEAR REVIEW Fishpond Sagebrush Pro Mesh Vest During those warmer months, we reach for a lightweight vest that doesn’t compromise on carrying capacity during variable hatch conditions. The Sagebrush Pro Mesh Vest offers a highly breathable mesh design to keep you cool, an integrated rod holder, and 17 interior exterior pockets. Thoughtfully designed and comfortable beyond belief, every fly box and accessory you might need is made easily accessible for all-day river trips. Headed off the beaten path? The front panel of the vest attaches directly to the Firehole Backpack for the ultimate backcountry setup. See for yourself why the Sagebrush Pro is the favorite vest of some of the hardest working guides in the west.

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32 | Hunting & Fishing News

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LET’S TALK BEAR •Cooking Temps: Studies show that Trich dies around 137° - 150°F. The only problem is that every iota of that meat must hit that temp, so cooking meat at a medium rare will not guarantee that every ounce has reached that internal safe eating temp. For this reason, myself and many others suggest cooking the meat till at least 165-170 degrees to be safe. You can reach these temps by slow cooking, pan cooking, grilling, or sous vide. Sous vide is a great way to cook those steaks and still get a nice pink center.

But cooking the meat at 145° for 8 hours you’ve guaranteed every ounce of that meat has reached temp.

•Freezing: Studies show Trich dies at the following temps and times: -22°F for 95 days of freezing; 160-180 days at -4°F; or 280-330 days at 24°F. So, if you’ve got a standard deep freezer that keeps meats at -4°, you’d have to store that meat for 160-180 days to kill off all parasites within the meat itself.

Because most people don’t want to wait six months to start eating their meat, I love to slow cook and shred my bear meats. Below you’ll find a recipe that is simple, delicious and sure to elevate that bear meat to new heights.

BLACK BEAR & FRESH BERRY BBQ SAUCE SANDWICHES

(continued from page 28)

INGREDIENTS: BERRY BBQ SAUCE 2 cups fresh/frozen berries (Like huckleberry, blueberries or black berries.)

3/4 cup ketchup or tomato sauce 1 tsp liquid smoke 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tbsp molasses 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp corn starch In the saucepan, add huckleberries and cook over low until the berries break down and release all the juice. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer 3-5 minutes.

Remove from heat and strain berries through a wire/mesh strainer, mashing through the strainer. Toss out mash and save the delicious juice.

In saucepan combine juice and remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, constantly whisking so as not to burn.

Reduce heat and simmer 5-10 minutes until sauce is the right consistency. You should be able to dip a soup spoon into the sauce and have it be covered when you remove it.

DIRECTIONS: BLACK BEAR In slow cooker or Dutch oven, add your bear meat and top with remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 4-6 hours. Make sure your meat is covered by the liquid, if not flip meat half-way through, or better yet, add another beer.

INGREDIENTS: PULLED BEAR 2 pounds black bear 1 can favorite beer 1 cup venison or beef broth 1 white onion, rough cut 6 cloves garlic, smashed 3 tbsp Worcestershire 1 tbsp cracked pepper 1 tsp sea salt 2 tsp garlic powder 2 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp cumin

34 | Hunting & Fishing News

Cook until bear meat easily shreds with a fork. Remove bear, continue to shred. Add 1 cup of cooking liquid to shredded meat, to keep it moist for service.

Add mayo, potato crisps, and homemade BBQ sauce to a toasted potato bun and enjoy.

For more mouthwatering recipes, connect with Jeremiah on Instagram, or check out his content on Facebook.

If you’re interested in learning to hunt with a skilled mentor and chef as your guide, check out his Field to Plate classes https://fromfieldtoplate.com/product/from-field-to-plate-classes-jan-13-16-2022-non-refundable-deposit/.

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The Enjoyment Of Taking The Meat of the Matter Kids Hunting (continued from page 10) (continued from page 15) How do my hunts with my kids differ from my other hunts?

I have been hunting for 26 years and at this stage, the personal reasons I hunt and the experiences I am chasing are somewhat different than when I take my kids. At this stage, I hunt for the adventure it provides, the personal challenge and the sense of accomplishment I feel from successfully doing something that in reality is very hard. I hunt less for meat, although the meat is still near the top of the list for me and we eat everything I harvest, but I no longer feel the inordinate sense that I once did to fill a permit. I want to experience natural landscapes, observe and hear animals in the wild, and pursue older age class animals. I focus more on enjoying the entire process, the time in the field and being able to disconnect from the fast pace of the normal responsibilities of work and home life. I think because the “thing” I am chasing has changed some, most of the hunts I do on my own are backcountry backpack archery hunts or hunts in new landscapes and for new species. I like to push my limits, I like to hunt alone quite often. I like the solitude and disconnect those hunts provide. Many of those hunts are much more physically demanding and for lack of a better word..uncomfortable. I like those hunts and at my stage in life, those are the hunts I am personally pursuing.

The hunts I am taking my kids on are mostly hunts where I can increase their chances of finding success. I also want to make sure their needs are being met and that they are having a good experience. I don’t mind, and I actually want my kids to be somewhat uncomfortable, but I don’t want them to be miserable for days on end. If they choose to continue to hunt into their adult life, those types of hunts will come and they will get that euphoric feeling of finding success that only those types of hunts can provide. For now, I want my kids to be engaged and learning, to find success, and I want to spend time and connect with them. Those are often hunts where we are hunting from a base camp or a hotel or from home.

Talking, telling stories, laughing, and just connecting is most important. My own father always told me to take advantage of the time available to spend with your kids outdoors, because they grow up so fast. The older I have gotten, the more that advice resonates. Time really does fly and kids grow up fast.

I get a lot of questions about gear on hunts, especially this hunt with my son. If you watched the film, here’s a list of some of the gear I used on the hunt: ‫ٱ‬Stone Glacier Solo 3600 Backpack ‫ٱ‬Sirui ST-124 VA-5 CF Tripod Kit ‫ٱ‬Leica Stabilite Binocular/tripod Adaptor ‫ٱ‬Sitka Mountain Pant ‫ٱ‬Prana Stretch Zion Pant ‫ٱ‬Sitka Ballistic Vest ‫ٱ‬Stone Glacier SQ2 Alpine Gaiter ‫ٱ‬Outdoor Research Gripper Sensor Gloves ‫ٱ‬Hanwag Alaska GTX Boot ‫ٱ‬Vortex Razor UHD 10x50 Binoculars ‫ٱ‬Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25x50 FFP MOA Riflescope ‫ٱ‬Goat Knives TUR Carbon Pro Knife ‫ٱ‬Caribou Gear Carnivore II High Country Game Bag Set ‫ٱ‬Stone Glacier Skyline Binocular Harness ‫ٱ‬Jetboil Stash Stove System ‫ٱ‬Jetboil HalfGen Basecamp Stove System ‫ٱ‬Marmot Helium 15 Degree Sleeping Bag ‫ٱ‬Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Xlite Sleeping Pad ‫ٱ‬Darn Tough Merino Hunter 2012 Socks ‫ٱ‬Quake Original Claw Rifle Sling ‫ٱ‬Black Diamond Storm 400 Headlamp ‫ٱ‬Peak Refuel Meals ‫ٱ‬GOHUNT Nalgene Bottle

36 | Hunting & Fishing News

Putting a perfectly paired rod, reel and line to work is essential, too. Bro suggests a 7’, medium-power, moderate-action spinning rod. St. Croix’s affordable Eyecon ET70MM is ideal.

He mounts a 2000 size spinning reel like Daiwa’s price conscious Fuego LT or Tatula. He brandishes multiple combos, too, some spooled with Sunline fluorocarbon and others with Sunline superline with fluorocarbon leaders.

Six-pound is surefire with fluorocarbon. Think 10- or 15-lb. with braided line.

To reduce the frequency of misses, Bro rigs his Fire-Ball for success. “You can get away with running the hook through the chin and snout of the minnow because of the short-shank, but to really increase your odds, run the hook through the minnow’s mouth and out the back of its head.

That unites the jig and bait and puts the hook closer to a striking walleye. Plus, even when the minnow dies, it reanimates and still looks natural moving in concert with the Fire-Ball.”

“And I almost forgot. Hooking through the mouth and out the back of the head also adds sturdiness. The minnow doesn’t fly off on the cast. And your odds are better for keeping the bait on the hook if a walleye does hit and miss. Saves bait.”

The Nitty Gritty Size-wise, Bro employs just enough heft to communicate with the bottom.

Factors like wind, waves and depth ultimately dictate jig size.

In the spring, Bro ties-on 1/16- and 1/8-ounce Fire-Balls, upgrading to a ¼-ounce in gales or if the walleyes are ranging deeper. His golden rule is using just enough weight to find and keep the bottom.

Second to deploying the proper weight is color selection.

Walleyes can differentiate colors, so it does matter. Invariably, there’ll be a hot color of the day. Moreover, some colors have historical success on certain bodies of water, so ask around.

In Bro Country, as it’s known colloquially, brighter Fire-Ball patterns are the cat’s pajamas. Some of Bro’s top picks are Parrot, Parakeet, Firetiger, Glow Rainbow and Bubblegum.

He’s a believer in contrast colors, and really leans on the greens.

The Fire-Ball isn’t exclusive to minnows and walleyes, either.

As summer progresses, Bro will fix them with leeches and half-crawlers. The Fire-Ball is also a nemesis to plus-sized perch, papermouths, and silverback bluegills.

Available in 18 proven colors, the Fire-Ball Jig comes in seven sizes, from 1/16th-ounce to the ½-ounce depth charge. Fire-Ball Jigs are carded in 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 pieces, as well as a 25-jig family pack.

And if handpicking sizes and colors isn’t your thing, experiment with the now-available 144-piece assortment kits.

May the Fire-Ball be with you…always.

Training Your Legs For A Mountain Hunt

By Zach Lazzari Zach is an outdoor writer, a hunting and fly fishing guide, and very proud to be a part of the Kawdy Outfitters team.

You can follow Zach’s adventures at bustedoarlock.com Kawdy Outfitters www.kawdyoutfitters.com

Photo credit Ryan McSparran

Hunting steep terrain requires training to prepare your legs.

A marathon runner on flat pavement would even find a mountain goat hunt difficult. It requires a completely different set of muscle groups. Getting in shape for a mountain hunt is fun and the training will pay off when a herd of mountain caribou is waiting just over the ridge!

unting steep terrain requires training to prepare your legs. A marathon runner on flat pavement would even H find a mountain goat hunt difficult. It requires a completely different set of muscle groups. Getting in shape for a mountain hunt is fun and the training will pay off when a herd of mountain caribou is waiting just over the ridge!

Here are a few ideas to ramp up your spring training this year: 1. Get Vertical It’s the up and down nature of a mountain hunt that makes it physically unique. Your calves are often stretched and your ankles and knees see plenty of action that requires pressure and flexibility to maneuver on steep terrain. You will hike straight up, straight down and across side-hill in awkward positions that will challenge your balance. The ground is not always stable and your ability to react and change directions is important.

Adjust your training to reflect the vertical nature of a hunt. Even when using a gym for training, adjust the incline and decline on the treadmill or precor machine. Elongate your strides to force your quads and calves to push through long, difficult motions. Focus on balance exercises as well to prepare for loose rock and scree slopes. Single leg squats and balancing on an exercise ball will really help. Take advantage of any chance to get in the field and go hiking. Choose some rough, off-trail terrain and slowly move across the landscape.

The core is also critical for changing direction and maintaining balance. Planks, situps and torso exercises will improve overall stability. Take advantage of gym time or do these exercises at home.

2. Elevate Your Heart Rate Hunting in steep country will quickly elevate your heart rate. Learning to control your breathing is especially important for shooting scenarios. Invest some time in your training that combines hard hiking with shooting to work on stabilizing the shot. If you don’t have a local mountain for this, simply run a few wind sprints to get your heart rate elevated then take an empty rifle and practice setups for the shot. Get into a shooting position, find your rest and slow down the breathing to focus on a target.

Functioning when your legs are tired and your heart is racing will make you a better mountain hunter.

3. Deep Stretching Routines Consistent stretching will increase recovery time, reduce soreness and improve your performance in the field.

A long, 10-day hunt can take a toll on your muscles. Start your stretching routine now and keep it up – even during the hunt. When you’re back at camp, take a few minutes to stretch while your guide is taking care of the horses or preparing a meal. Waking up with stiff muscles will slow you down but a stretching routine can combat that stiffness and increase multi-day endurance. Make stretching a normal part of your pre and post workout routine and spend a half hour stretching out before and after each day of hunting as well.

Contact Us With Questions Want to learn more about our mountain hunts in British Columbia? Please take a few minutes to explore our website at www.kawdyoutfitters.com.

If you’d like details or have questions, please feel free to contact us. We’d love to help you plan your next hunting adventure!

38 | Hunting & Fishing News

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