Montana Woods N Water, January 2015, Volume 1, Issue 1

January 2015

What’s Inside: Montana Woods N Water Goes Digital Bears, Cats and a Little Lady Cat Hunting 101

January Volume 1 Issue 1

Publishers Notes

By Raf Viniard Happy New Year to all my fellow hunters, fishermen and trappers and to those that call Montana home…the “Last Best Place on Earth!” I want to thank all those that helped Montana Woods N Water get off the ground in 2014. It was a year filled full of challenges and excitement.

Trapping season is in full swing and lion hunters are still prowling about looking for that big Tom to tree. It may be snowy and cold but that has not dampened the dogs or the cat hunter’s spirits. If you are ice fishing or thinking about it…just remember to use caution…a dunk in the lake or river this time of the year may be the last bath you take.

Here at Montana Woods N Water we are undergoing some exciting changes and looking forward to moving Montana Woods N Water in a new direction in 2015. We will no longer be printing a hard copy and there are many reasons for this decision but it boils down to the cost of printing, distributing and meeting some grueling deadlines.

Starting with this issue we will be sending out story links via Facebook, Twitter, etc. every Publisher & Editor: Raf Viniard Tuesday and Thursday. We will still be covering all the same fantastic stuff we did in hard 406-407-0612 print but better and faster. Our writers were very limited as to what they could write Field Editor: Mitzi Stonehocker because of our print budget. By going 100% digital we will be full color and can now 406-544-1868 include active links to other news and information sources. Starting in February we will Sales & Marketing Director: be adding video links to some of our content and advertising. If you want a copy of any Kori Erickson issue, all you have to do is download it and print it from your home computer or take it 406-293-1478 to your nearest print shop.

This new format will allow you the reader to better pick and choose what articles you find interesting and follow our writers more in-depth. Yes, we will still have advertisers and by going digital we can cut their advertising cost by 50% or more each month and reach thousands more potential customers than print alone.

Montana Woods N Water has teamed up with Big Bull Sports and the Sanders County Search and Rescue and will be holding a “Five Months of Fun” fundraising event. We will be raffling off some really nice firearms and other prizes. Go to www.montanawoodsnwater.com and hit the “SAR” tab for more information. While you are on our website you might want to swing over to our “Store” tab and see what we have on tap.

Keep sending us your pictures and stories. We thank you for your continued support and we wish each and every one of you a healthy and prosperous new year.

Contact Us

A wise man adapts himself to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it. --Chinese Proverb

Montana Woods N Water 171 Clark Creek Loop Plains, Montana 59859 406-08-0576 www.montanawoodsnwater.com Email: raf@montanawoodsnwater.com

Flathead Valley Sales Rep: Misty Loveless 406-250-4191 Missoula Sales Rep: Vacant Pro Staff Writers & Photographers: Angela Gerych Pastor Jim Sinclair Dan Helterline Zach Butcher Paul Fielder Montana Mitzi Toby Bridges Sam Martin Toby Walrath Jason Badger Tony Rebo Editorial Policy: Montana Woods N Water (MWW) reserves the right to refuse to publish in any form of content that does not include the author’s name, complete mailing address, and/or valid phone number or e-mail address.

Anonymous submissions will not be addressed or published. MWW reserves the right not to publish anything we feel is not in good taste or appropriate.

Front Cover Photo Provided By: George & Marissa Nass Location: Superior, Montana

FEATURE ARTICLE

Bears, Cats And A Little Lady

By Raf Viniard Most seventeen year old young ladies have a social calendar that would make most politician’s calendars look like child’s play.

However, Marissa Nass of Plains, Montana calendar is filled with hunting forays with her Dad and stays busy learning the skills needed to someday becoming a taxidermist. Her parents George and Francesca Nass wholeheartedly support her desire to become a taxidermist. However, once the snow started to fall you could often find Marissa with her Dad driving the mountain roads looking for “Big” cat sign. Cats and taxidermy are not Marissa’s only passions. She loves to bear hunt in the spring. As you might recall, Marissa was in the June edition of Montana Woods N Water with her six foot chocolate bear that she nailed at 466 yards with a 300 win Mag. She states, “I love to bear hunt...it is my favorite. Spotting the bear and then putting the stalk on it is really exciting.”

Stand back boys...she’s got it!

Marissa can chase big game with the best of the boys and can hold her own with no problem. She tagged along with her Dad and some friends during an early cat hunt that resulted in a very large cat being taken. Marissa insisted that her Dad let her pack the big cat out. With some help from her Dad he reluctantly passed the cat off to her shoulders. Being a concerned Dad, he was worried the heavy cat might make her fall going down the rocky steep slopes. Marissa bucked up and packed the cat down the mountain by herself to the astonishment of the other hunters.

After self-affirming she was the lady to get the job done, Marissa wanted to kill and pack her own cat out…and that she did. Marissa and her Dad harvested a big tom weighing 132 pounds near Superior, Montana.

Montana Woods N Water posted her picture on Facebook and it reached over 20,000 viewers with 339 likes.

She was the talk of the Montana Woods N Water Facebook page. As for the few haters that voiced their not so kind opinions…her Dad came to the rescue and defended his girl Marissa with her 132 pound kitty for a job well done.

Sounds like Marissa will be mounting her first big cat…herself. Marissa has mounted three whitetails and one mule deer. When I asked Marissa what was the part she liked least about the taxidermy process she stated, “The hardest part was the fleshing but I mostly enjoy the finishing and painting.” Marissa has pretty much taught herself with some coaching and mentoring here and there. Marissa is wanting to try her hand at mounting a grouse. When asked if there is any advice she wanted to give Marissa with her first three mounts she anyone else thinking about trying their hand at taxidermy and she this advice, “It is best to work under someone that has experience. Ask a lot of questions and study close up pictures of did herself and that big rack in her hand the animal, especially the eyes, nose, mouth and ears.” Story continued on next page... will be her fourth.

FEATURE ARTICLE Continued Marissa’s goal is to learn the taxidermy trade so she can mount her own animals to save money and hopefully make a living at it so she can stay around the Plains, MT area. Marissa has bagged three bears, two muleys, a whitetail, turkey, ducks, two elk cows and some grouse. Oh, and at 6 years old she trapped a mink. With that type of track record at only seventeen years old, this sounds like a wise career choice. She ice fishes with her Dad but has no interest in mounting fish or other scaly species. She loves to catch perch through the ice.

Marissa’s long term goal is to hunt and guide Alaska Big Game. She states, “I love the big beautiful country of Alaska and look forward to hiking it someday.”

We approached her Mom, Francesca and asked how she felt about Marissa’s direction in life. “She is a Daddy’s girl and we are so happy she has found something she wants to do that will allow her to stay in the local area. There are not a lot of female guides or taxidermist in this area…she is very artistic and has come a long way from her first mount to her third. We are very proud of her.”

Marissa has trailed behind her Dad learning the ways of the mountains for several years. It is not farfetched to see that Marissa is being trained and primed to be one of a few Montana female guides and taxidermist. Marissa we congratulate you and wish you great success!

Cat Hunting 101

By Raf Viniard Big cats are rarely seen by the public but they lurk in the mountains around our neighborhoods and unless they kill a pet or livestock we often never see where they have been. As an old coon hunter from the south this style of hunting intrigued me. To find out more about cat hunting I needed to speak with someone that knows a thing or two about it.

George Nass started his cat hunting career over twenty years ago. He has guided for local outfitters and hopes to start his own guide service in the very near future. While interviewing Marissa I picked his brain about the basic ins and outs of cat hunting.

Talking to most a cat hunters and it is about listening to the dogs and the chase not the harvest of the cat. Often times the cat is never harvested as most cat hunters will only take the biggest and baddest of those treed.

George with his two Leopard Curs, Chief & Moss So what is a day of cat hunting like? Cat hunters love fresh new snow so they can see the tracks of the cat to have a better idea how big and type (Bobcat or Mountain Lion) it is. Snow is not a requirement but is highly favored.

Cat hunters like to get an early start...you know that time of the morning where you are just hitting overdrive and getting those last 2-3 hours of beauty sleep. The eagerly awaiting dogs are colored with GPS tracking devices, loaded into dog boxes or for those spoiled hounds the back seat of the truck. After a few final checks to ensure all gear has been loaded, man’s best friends and the cat hunter sets off to the mountains in search of chance to cut the dogs loose on a “Big” cat.

As headlights and running lights shine the road and its shoulders, cat hunters closely scan it looking for fresh tracks. If a hunter is lucky he might even run upon spot where a cat has dragged a deer across the road. Hounds noses protrude from the dog box or for those more fortunate to ride with their masters in the cab have their heads hanging out the window and ears flopping in the wind, sniffing the air for a kitty. George states, “Those dogs can smell scents and tracks we can’t even see. Once the dogs get a scent they get excited and are ready to hunt...this is what they are born and bred to do and love every minute of it.” Miles of roads may need to be covered to find the size and type of track the cat hunter seeks. Not just any cat will do. George says, “I am looking for a big tom track. The bigger the track the better and toms usually have a longer stride. Once I find a track I am interested in putting the dogs on, I will drive down the road about another mile or so and get the dogs and myself geared up. I let the dogs do their things (poop, peeing and marking their new found turf). This is so they are fully focus on the hunt the moment I put them on the track. Once I cut he dogs loose on the track, I just stay on the road listening to the dogs direction of travel and watching their progress on the GPS. If I can’t hear them I can tell by the GPS if they are treed. Hopefully I know the area or I look at maps and the GPS to find the quickest way into the area where the dogs have treed. The cat should stay in the tree but sometimes they will bale on us and the chase is on again. If the cat stays in the tree the dogs will stay right there for hours.” As with any type of hound hunting the sound of the dogs baying creates an... (continued on next page)

CAT HUNTING 101 Continued adrenalin rush for the hunter and the dogs themselves. George went on to say, “Sometimes as you approach the tree the cat will bale and the chase is on again. You just have to watch and listen as to what direction the dogs are headed. Cats don’t have a lot of lung capacity so hopefully the cat will tree close to where you are currently standing. Once the cat is treed and appears to be holding, you are constantly encouraging your dogs, “Get the kitty.”.

You want the dogs to get more excited and keep congratulating them on a job well done.

Whether or not you decide to take the cat will depend on the hunter. I like to check the cat over closely to see if it is the quality of cat I am looking for.” I asked George what type of firearm is used to harvest the cat once the decision has been made to take it home.

“Archery equipment is popular but any decent 223, 22 Mag or 17 HMR will work.”, replied George.

Chief and Moss bay at a treed cat George further stated, “Most hunters will leash up the dogs before taking the cat. This is to prevent the cat from hurting one of the dogs if it is not completely dead when it hits the ground. You don’t want the pelt damaged by the dogs mouthing it. Of course, photos are taken at the tree and the dogs are given a lot of attention for a job well done. The dogs have done their part and are now ready to hunt again.” George went on to say, “After a successful hunt most hunters and dogs are tired from hunting the grueling terrain that cats love to hide in. Some hunters will skin the cat out at the tree and others will pack it out whole. Cat hunting is just very addictive...it is all about the dogs and spending time in the mountains.”

So what does cat meat taste like? According to George, “Cat meat is really good...it tastes a lot like pork and is delicious fried.” Remember cat hunting is not just for the guys. As with any type of hunting there are always the “haters” for whatever reason. This is Montana and these guys and gals love their cat hunting and their hounds. Removing some of these big cats will save several spring fawns, elk calves and just maybe you or your pets life. If you like to deer and elk hunt thank a cat hunter keep “Living The Dream!”

NEXT GENERATION

Six year old Benjamin Grant of Sanders County shot this squirrel with his first .22 rifle he received for his birthday. His father entered this picture in a hunting and fishing photo contest put on by Cabela's. Out of numerous entries Benjamin won second place for his first kill as a Montana hunter. For his achievement he won $100 gift certificate to Cabela's.

Way to go Benjamin!

Issac O’Rourke of Libby, MT with a hunting vest full of Pheasants. Looks like Issac has a side kick...great job Issac!

Next Issue Articles

REPAIR ALL MAKES: Boats · PWC · ATV · Motor cycle · Snowmobile · Small Engine Suzuki – Tracker – Sun Tracker – Nitro – Taho – Mako – Canam – Seadoo – Skidoo Husqvarna: Mower s · Tr immer s · Chainsaws · Accessories Fishing Gear – Hunting Gear – FWP Licenses - Snowmobile Gear

Trapping - Muskrats by Paul Fielder

4 Airport Road, Thompson Falls, MT 59873 · (406) 827-2950 66979 Highway 93, Ronan, MT 59864 · (406) 644-2950

Fishing - Ice Fishing Humor by Sam Martin

www.sandssports.com

Tuesday – Friday 9:00 - 5:30; Saturday 8:00 – 4:00

Fishing - The Next Generation by Tony Rebo