Publisher’s Notes
What’s Inside
As of this writing it has warmed up into the 20’s and it has felt like a heat wave compared to the Predator Hunting negative temps we just suffered through. Montana Dan/Trapping
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You may notice the publication is a little thinner than normal this month and that is because advertising was down this month. It is normal for NW Montana to come to a crawl this time of the year. I had to make some cuts to the content but that is part of running a publishing business. Make sure you let our advertisers know how much you appreciate their support of Montana Woods N Water. Without them there is no Montana Woods N Water.
Backcountry Tracking Contest Tea Party A Outdoor Family Recipes Sportsman’s Meditation Next Gen/Local Celebs Tony Rebo Unleashed
As I traveled around NW Montana the last two months I see way to many people driving too fast for the road conditions. I had one pass me the other day on a hill and the roads were snow covered. Grant it, the car had a Washington license plate and maybe they were over estimating their mortality, luck and driving abilities. Hope they made it home!
Ice Fishing Safety Outdoor Tech Food For Thought
The wolf harvest is going great and big kitties have been busy running from the hounds. The snow is getting so deep up high, many houndsmen have slowed down their pursuit. Quotas are either being met or getting close.
Only seen on our blog: WNGO www.montanawoodsnwater.com/blog
I am already thinking about turkey and bear season and those nice warm spring days. In the meantime I think I will make some bear and old fashion cloth bag country pork sausage. I have several salmon from snagging season that needs some smoking as well. Now that the ice is thick enough I look forward to some ice fishing. A plate of perch or pike sounds pretty good. Be safe out there and winter shall pass soon...hang in there! ~Raf Viniard ~ Publisher
Staff Publisher/Editor/Layout/Sales: Raf - 406-407-0612 Photographers Robin K Ha’o/Bob Hosea Cartoonist Jonny Hawkins Pro Staff Writers This Month: Pastor Jim Sinclair Dan Helterline Tony Rebo Alan Clarke Nathan Albertson Lori Goodman Jay Sheffield Bob Pierson
Guest Writers This Month: None...we have made them all Pro Staff Writers
Cover Photo: Photo was taken by John Roark of Libby, MT. Michael Jackson, Thomas Roark and Buck were getting in a little waterfowl action last month in eastern MT and the Dakotas. A big thank you goes out to John for submitting some amazing pictures. MWNW also wants to thank Heath at Griffin Publishing for fine tuning our cover photo. To Contact Us: Montana Woods N Water 171 Clark Creek Loop Plains, Montana 59859 406-407-0612 Email: raf@montanawoodsnwater.com www.montanawoodsnwater.com
Editorial Policy: Montana Woods N Water (MWW) reserves the right to refuse to publish 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. All content, material and graphics designed by Montana Woods N Water are copyrighted.
PREDATOR HUNTING
Some Wolf Hunting Basics by Jay Sheffield If you are serious about getting out this winter to hunt wolves, there are several things to consider. First, it is NOT going to be easy. Second, when you finally are successful, it will be one of your most prized hunting trophies because you will have earned it! The old African ivory hunters had a saying, “You hunt elephants with your feet and will walk a mile for every pound of ivory that you get”. With adult wolves weighing between 70 and 110 lbs, this saying perfectly describes both the method of travel and the amount of effort necessary for modern day wolf hunting. Radio collar studies show that packs have an average territory of about 185 square miles in NW Montana and as much as 344 square miles down towards Yellowstone. Trying to find a pack of 4-6 animals in that much territory will be your first major challenge. In the fall, I head out well before daylight; cruising remote gated forest roads either on foot or mountain bike, looking for fresh scat or tracks. I will frequently stop in likely areas and using just my voice; make a few “lonesome howls” in the hope that I may get a response. Once the snow falls, travel becomes much harder (and more dangerous) but the tracks are certainly easier to spot! This time of year the lion hunters are out and covering a lot of ground. They are usually more than happy to help anyone that is interested in reducing the wolf threat to their hounds. Once you have decided on a location to hunt, you have a few choices to make. To howl or not to howl, to call or not to call, that is the question. There are so many variables to consider, I am writing a detailed column on this topic next month. My experience is that howling by voice or using an electronic call is a fairly reliable way to at least locate wolves. The issue becomes what to do if you hear a response. You need to quickly determine how many wolves you hear and how close they are. Are they spread out and moving or are they grouped up tight on a kill? What is the wind doing? Do you keep howling in the hope that they will come and investigate, or do you try and sneak in for a shot? Do you wait a few minutes and then start to call? I have had success and failure in each of these scenarios and the best answer is that it depends. I was confronted with an interesting scenario about eight weeks ago. I had been hunting hard and not seen any sign in weeks. By my fourth stand on that rainy morning I was quickly losing enthusiasm but went ahead and made a few short howls anyway. I think I nearly fell over when I heard one howl that quickly turned into a chorus. It sounded like there were five or six wolves spread out across the side of the mountain and there was absolutely no trail access to get up there. I decided not to make another sound. I usually do not try sneaking in on a whole pack simply because the more they are pursued, the more wary they become. Today however with no wind and a light rain falling I decided to go for it. As I was adjusting my pack and walking stick in preparation for a difficult hike, I couldn't help thinking about the old saying "Fortune Favors the Bold". For the next 90 minutes I slowly made my way up the slope utilizing game trails as best I could to minimize noise and make the walk a little easier. As I approached the summit I found a small clearing where I could see fairly well in most directions for between 25 and 40 yards, an obvious place to get set up. I was carrying a custom short barrel Ruger in .308 topped with an illuminated reticle Leupold VXR 2-7. Around my neck was my favorite hand call, carved out of Mexican Ironwood by Robert Patrick of RareEarth Calls in Michigan. Its tone is very loud and crystal clear. Continued on page 3.
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PREDATOR HUNTING CONTINUED The scope was turned all the way down to give me maximum field of view and the red firedot in the center of the duplex reticle was glowing as I sat on the ground with my back to a small tree. When sitting on the ground, I like to hold the rifle with my left hand which I then rest on my left knee. I keep the butt of the rifle up snug to my right shoulder. By holding the rifle this way I can use my call with my right hand, yet smoothly transition to the firing position with little or no obvious movement. All the way up the mountain I had been trying to figure out my best option for calling, assuming that I did not get busted on the way in. I finally decided that instead of soft whining or howling I would just blast out a fawn distress and hope for the best. My theory being that if the pack members were separated but still in the general area, then each would think that one of the others had caught something and just maybe......... After blowing three or four soulful "bleats" I sat perfectly still. Twenty seconds later I saw movement at about 35-40 yards. A gray colored wolf was coming through the trees at a lope, and heading straight for me (their ability to pinpoint the location of a sound is exceptional). I started tracking it with the red dot so that I would be ready to fire the moment it stopped. Except it wasn't stopping, it was so intent on finding the injured fawn that I realized it was going to be in my lap if I didn't do something quick! So I barked and it hit the brakes, hard. With the firedot already centered on its chest and the wolf facing me at less than 12 yards, I simply pulled the trigger and it collapsed. The 150 grain Norma bullet performed perfectly. I instantly reloaded and scanned for other wolves but did not see one. I called, and then howled on the off chance the gunshot had been ignored but there was no response, just silence. As I notched my tag and prepared for the pack out, I couldn't help but think how close I had come to giving up and going home cold and wet just 2 hours earlier. Wolf hunting is just like the lottery, you can't win if you don't play. That day I hit the jackpot!
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MONTANA DAN TRAPPING
The Youngest Wolf Wacker & The Curse of the Black Wolf By Dan Helterline On the heels of this years tremendously successful coyote trapping season, I was eager to dive into wolf trapping, Alexis was old enough to attend one of the mandatory wolf trapping certification classes required by the Fish and Game and would be accompanying me as time and school permitted on this years wolf trap line. Last year I was able to harvest my limit of five wolves and I was hoping this season would be as productive as well, talking to some of the cat hunters that were out in early December, it sounded like there was a good amount of wolf sign in the areas that I like to trap. I was delightfully optimistic that it would be a good season, little did I know just how good. On opening morning I was able to get about a dozen sets out and I figured that was a good start, I would add sets as I checked and found fresh sign, the conditions were good, the ground wasn’t froze solid and we had a nice blanket of snow. The first check was a Saturday so Alexis and I loaded up and headed out, I had some bobcat sets east of town we would check first before we headed over Lone Man Divide and into the Thompson River drainage to check our wolf sets. One of our cat sets produced a nice tom bobcat, but as we made our way along our wolf line we came up empty, I had to remind Alexis that the second check was always the best and she needed to remain positive. While making our rounds we did happen to meet the local Game Warden , Troy Hinck and while checking our licenses he remarked that he was glad to see a young lady out with her dad learning how to trap. On our way back to town we stopped at my cousin's cabin in Mud Creek to get something hot to drink and warm up, over a cup of coffee, Jay mentioned that it was 24 below zero when they got up that morning! The next check fell on a Monday and I had a good feeling that morning so I told Alexis she was going to miss a few hours of school while we quickly checked our wolf sets, she reluctantly agreed and put on her trapping cloths and set her school clothes aside, she had made the honor roll with straight A’s during the previous quarter, so I figured missing a few hours of school to check traps was acceptable. The first set that we drove close to I can check by getting in the back of the parked truck and looking over a small rise to see where the trap is set, this allows me to check the set from a distance and not having to approach it, helping keep disturbance to a minimum. As I got in the back and gained enough height to see the set location I immediately caught some movement and it didn’t take long to realize we had just caught our first wolf of the season! We got one, get your gun Alexis, I quickly hollered! Before I could get out of the back of the truck, she was out of the door, pink cricket in hand, saying really, we got a wolf! Yep, I told you the second check is always the best, let's go check it out, as we raced up the bank to get to where we could better see our prized catch. As we approached the wolf oddly enough it was wagging its tail, I had to think to myself, this wolf must not know who we are, as we got closer the wolf began barking and then eventually howled at us. Alexis found this amusing as we readied the crickett for Alexis’s first wolf dispatch. After we quickly dispatched the wolf, we remade the set, then drug the male wolf down to the road and load in the truck after the mandatory picture taking session. Of course on our way back to town we had to stop at Jay and Theresa’s cabin and show off Alexis’s first wolf, they were very impressed that Alexis had already got a wolf and the season had just started! I will admit I was a bit proud myself, my daughter had harvested her first wolf the same month she had taken her wolf trapping certification class, I don’t think too many trappers can claim that. I was able to catch a couple of wolves on checks when Alexis was in school, Christmas break was almost here and then she would be able to check with me on a regular basis. It just happened that we were due to check traps on Christmas day so after all the presents were opened and breakfast was done, I told Alexis to get on those camo cloths Santa had brought her, we were going to go field test them. She offered a little resistance saying she wanted to stay home and try out her new Chrome Book, but I firmly reminded her that there would be plenty of time for that later. Soon we were headed for Lone Man Divide, Alexis clad in here newly acquired camo cloths, and myself happy to be out of the house and headed for the woods. Continued on page 9.
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BACKCOUNTRY TRACKING
Tracking by Alan Clarke The older I get (I’m 36…PSH!) the less patient I am about wandering aimlessly through the mountains hoping to stumble upon my prey of choice. I know…I know…it is not aimless! I have looked at the lay of the land, water sources and available food. I researched cover, migration routes and history, so I should know where I am going. But if I don’t see anything, to me, it’s aimless. Maybe with life’s commitments including hunting and fishing I am just strapped for time and want to find where the animals are NOW. It could be that hunting is my family’s main source of meat for the year and I just want to find animals sooner rather than later and put my mind at ease with a full freezer. In any event I love spending time in the outdoors, but sometimes I need to cut to the chase. I have found that using some basic skills to track my prey can help me cut my time and make me more efficient. Tracking is fun and rewarding when you follow the tracks and find what you are looking for. Cuttin’ the sign gets pretty involved and I am in no way a professional, but I can do the basics. I know which animal I am looking for, what that animals track looks like and its habits or patterns. Can I see claw marks on the track? Is it hooved or does it have paws? Does its back print step inside the front print? I look for watering holes, wallows, rub marks on or broken vegetation, bedding areas, game trails, and scat. I also don’t forget to include all of the information I have gleaned from Grandpa Clarke and his barber over the years on where the “big ones” are. Note: My Grandpa was mostly bald and his barber was Grandma…so I haven’t found many animal trophies from those conversations. This is where it gets interesting. I saw a track running through the snow the other day that was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The claws were horizontally ridged, long and wide. It appeared to have 4 legs, 2 on each side; one behind the other and most of the time the rear followed directly in the path of the front. They stretched almost 5 ft. from outside of the left track to the outside of the right track and each print was a foot wide on its own. What was I dealing with? Was it Big Foot, the Abominable Snow Man, or some other super beast? Not knowing what I was dealing with and quickly becoming concerned that I was now the prey, I quietly hunkered down out of sight to formulate a plan. Off in the distance I heard what sounded like a low growl, a loud roar, and a scream! I quickly and covertly went up the hill and started paralleling the track, keeping it in view, but far enough away to be safe. After all, I didn’t want whatever it was to circle back on its tracks and find me. I skirted the track for maybe a ¼ mile when I heard the roar again, and another scream…this time it was louder and closer. It was just around the corner! I ran as fast as I could to the edge of the ridge and slowly peered around it to see what was causing the commotion, knowing full well that it could be a mess of snarling teeth and crushed bones. WHAT WAS IT? It was a family with a couple of Polaris RMK snowmobiles, a Kawasaki KX450 with a Timbersled track kit on it, and the track I was following was a Polaris Sportsman 850 XP with a Camso track kit on it. The screaming was them pulling the kids on a sled behind the Sportsman. I had been bamboozled…and now so have you! The point is I can put a track on almost anything these days. On a dirt bike I would steer you towards Timbersled. We take your front wheel off and put a big ski on the front forks. The back wheel comes off and is replaced it with a snow style track. They are pretty amazing. They are quick, nimble and will get you into the back country like no other. The bike may not have the power and torque to get you to the top of the hillhigh mark, or to conquer that mountain top chute you have been eyeing, but you will not be disappointed. With a little practice, you will be dodging in and out of trees and side hilling like a pro. The best part about this set up is this spring when you are ready to rip up the trail again; you put your wheels back on and your dirt bike is back in action. These are not cheap set ups as you can spend $6,500+ pretty easy getting it all ready to go; just for the Timbersled. Then you still need a bike. What you get is a dual purpose machine. Instead of a sled that just sits there for 9 months in the spring, summer and fall, and a bike that just sits there for 3 months in the winter...you now get both! Continued on page 6. 5
BACKCOUNTRY TRACKING CONTINUED As for ATV’s and UTV’s the track systems from Camso (formerly Camoplast) are amazing. Camso’s motto is “We Are the Road Free Company”, and they mean it. These tracks are made for all 4 seasons and once fitted to your machine are easily removable, should you want your tires. Don’t get me wrong you can get these mired in the mud but they are virtually unstoppable. On our demo Sportsman 850XP we gained 23” of ground clearance, and the foot print of the machine became 5’ wide by 9’ long. You really have to try to tip this machine over in any direction (NO that is not a challenge!). The tracks give you 4 spots of mud flinging, snow smashing, ground clawing traction that are as much as a foot wide and 3 feet long. Can you say massive grip and minimal slip? Even though the tracks are 4 season, they really shine in the winter. This combo will easily push through snow waist deep, climb right up on top of it and keep going. Then when you’re done blazing the trail, you can go back and pull your friends out of their sticky situation. You can pull a sled, haul an ice hut, plow snow, pull logs, hunt, go Mad Maxx, or just feel like a general bad ass when you climb up on your ATV with a track kit on it. Just like the Timbersled, the Camso tracks are not cheap. To put them on your ATV you are looking at about $4k, and on your side x side about $5,200.00. Unless you are mechanically inclined you should have a dealer set them up for you the first time. There are parts that will go permanently on the machine, and the tracks have to be adjusted correctly. You should plan on about 2 hours of labor at the dealership. If we order them direct from Camso the track kits come with a 2 year warranty for your piece of mind; but I doubt you will need to use it as they are tough as nails. Keep in mind that power steering is not required, but is strongly recommended, especially on an ATV. Not required, but in the sense of you won’t hate life at the end of the day if you have it. Your experience will be much nicer and you will be more satisfied with your purchase if you have or purchase a machine that has power steering. Track systems are becoming a hugely popular and successful product in the industry. Sales increase every year and the technology just keeps getting better. If you get a chance call and stop by one of our stores, Ronan Power Products (Ronan), Montana Power Products (Libby), or Hamilton Polaris/KTM (Hamilton) and try one of these products out. Trust me the guys are eager and willing to take these toys out in the snow and play. I am sure they would be happy to get out of the store to show you the ropes. If you’re lucky you may even get a turn! Call or stop by today to find out the best deal on a track system for whatever you’re riding.
Got Questions? Call, email or stop by and talk to Alan or any of the friendly staff at Ronan Power Products in Libby, Ronan or Hamilton, MT.
Alan Clarke Ronan Power Products 35863 Round Butte Road Ronan, MT, 59864 Email: Alan@ronanpowerproducts.com 6
CONTEST WINNER
December’s Mini Stump Grill Winner Marissa Nass of Plains, MT is the December winner. Marissa get a hold of Derek so he knows where to send you your personalized Mini Grill. Hot Cocoa season is here! If you did not win a Mini Stump Grill during the last contest we have another contest. During the month of January and February send in your ice fishing picture to Montana Woods N Water for another chance to win a Mini Stumpgrill. Derek will select the winner and we will announced the winner in the March issue. You can’t catch a fish sitting on your couch! Can’t wait that long...see Derek’s ad on page 2 to place your order.
Matt Cockrell of Sanders County, MT with a wolf he shot. Matt is doing his part in predator management. He was at the right spot at the right time and capitalized on the opportunity! Congratulations Matt and thank you for stopping one more wolf from eating our elk.
Dan Helterline setting a wolf trap! Photo by George Nass 7
These businesses want to thank you for your patronage and wish you a Happy New Year!
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MONTANA DAN TRAPPING CONTINUED We were about halfway through checking our wolf trapline when we pulled up to a set location that I check with binoculars. When I looked to where the trap was I could definitely see some disturbance at the set but I couldn’t make out a wolf, I told Alexis to wait at the truck and I was going to walk over for a closer look. When I was about halfway to the trap I suddenly could see two ears moving from behind a tree and they were attached to a wolfs head! Once again I hollered at Alexis, we got a wolf, get your gun. We sized the male wolf up, Alexis dispatched him and we remade the set, after loading the wolf in the truck, we checked the remaining traps then headed for home on what perhaps was the best Christmas Day I can remember. The next day Alexis and Maria headed over the hill and through the dale to grandma's house in Washington, I elected to stay back and check traps, it's a tough job but I chose to do it, besides somebody had to stay home and keep the fire going, right? A couple checks later I had a banner day and caught two wolves, a male and a female, both gray in color. If you think catching one wolf is intoxicating, try two in one day, I think my wolf hangover lasted for several days! I jokingly reminded Alexis when I texted her the news of my dos lobos day, you better hurry up and get back from Grandma's, I'm now two wolves ahead of you! These were the 15th and 16th wolf I had caught and I had yet to catch a black wolf, I was starting to think I was cursed. I know several trappers that had caught and shot black wolves but yet black wolves continued to elude me. I made the remark to one trapper, “I think black wolves are like Sports Illustrated swimsuit models, I know they exist but I surely ain’t hooking up with them!” After Alexis got back from Washington the Game Warden stopped by to tag our latest batch of wolves, I was asking Troy about the numbers of wolves trapped so far this winter and he informed me to the best of his knowledge the Helterlines had turned in 6 out of the 7 wolves reportedly trapped in Sanders County. Even if I hadn’t caught a black one yet that made me feel pretty darn good and there is still plenty of trapping season and winter left, maybe eventually the curse of the black wolf will be broken!
Kyle Wengerd with a dandy buck from last season. Congrats Kyle. Dan is working on the wolves so that we all can kill bucks like this in the future! Picture by Caleb Wengerd 9
TEA PARTY
The Predictability of Law By Robert Pierson
I hope everyone has had a very Merry Christmas and is looking forward to a very Happy New Year in 2017. I have written in the past about the U.S. Constitution, and the fact that it is intended to be the very basis for all the actions of the federal government. It is in a written form that was intended to be understood by every citizen of these United States. That it is our responsibility to hold our government accountable for their actions and for the votes that they make during the legislative session. We the People have not been doing that for a very long time. Like for the last one hundred years. And it is time we start. It is only through the watchful eyes of the citizens (We the People), that our liberty and freedoms, as expressed in the Bill of Rights, will be maintained. Without each of us, (you and I), doing our part, the last of our freedoms will melt away the same way that gun rights disappeared in the United Kingdom in the 1920's. No one stood up! So your question probably is, what does this have to do with the title of this article, predictability of law? Well, let's look at some history. Law can mean many things, and in most cases in history, law was whatever the King, Czar, Caesar, headman, or dictator said it was. Typically rulings and judgments were inconsistent, at best. It was often totally different for people he knew, than for people he didn't know. It also depended on how he felt the day he made the ruling. Historically, written codified law had been almost non-existent, with the United States being the first major exception. So what does this accomplish? It allows us to know that what we are doing is not going to be considered illegal tomorrow. It gives us a great deal of stability in our lives. It gives people such a level of confidence that the United States went from a minor third world country in 1789 to the most powerful nation in the world, which has the highest per capita personal wealth in the entire world. This brings me to some items that I consider most disturbing in our society today, and that is the PC (politically correct) attitude that is prevalent today. College students shout down speakers with differing views. It does not allow for good discussions about where we are headed. Socialism is a common idea that is found amongst our young adults, especially or particularly in our college campuses. Now I know that Karl Marx's “Communist Manifesto� puts a 'utopian' type cast to the idea of socialism, but if you look at history, it has never worked and has lead to the death of millions of people. It always ends up as some form of tyranny which never ends up well for the citizens. It only ends up well for those who can suck up to the leaders. The predictability of law disintegrates immediately. Another disturbing thing is, we appear to be developing an elite class in our country, particularly in government. What you and I would be put in jail for doing, some of the elite's are doing without fear of prosecution. This must stop! We the People need to make it known to our legislators that this is unacceptable. If we cannot depend on equality under the law, we will end up in chaos, and bring on the demise of our great country. In between, let's go fishing!! Livin' the life. 10
A OUTDOOR FAMILY The Yerkes family of Kalispell, MT is all about the outdoors! Spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, etc. makes memories that last a life time. I think the pictures below tell the story the best! They had a fantastic year. Thanks for sharing Sarah!
From Sarah Yerkes: Our season started Labor Day weekend taking all 3 kids to the first hunting camp where they could all hunt. We came back with 2 whitetail deer and some grouse not a bad start. Zack walked around a thicket of trees to have bull elk staring down the hill about 25 yards from him. Unfortunately it didn't work out and that bull ran off before anyone could do anything about it, but it was still exciting to be that close especially for the 2 boys. Jeff and I spent a few more days out at camp looking for elk, we saw them but never got close enough for archery. It was great being able to sit in the blind with Kylie while patiently waiting for a deer to come close enough for her. She was successful on a nice whitetail doe, with a beautiful shot from 11 yards. I'm not sure who was more excited, me or her. Jeff practiced many hours to be ready to use his recurve instead of a compound this season and it paid off for him. After both the boys filled their b tags with a bow and Kylie got her first deer with a bow, I put some effort into tree stand hunting. It took me into rifle season and many times either wading or canoeing the river but I finally had a buck walk under the tree stand and sealed the deal. Zack was successful using his rifle on youth days to get his first buck. At the end of the season we didn't end up with any elk but we have great memories and plenty of deer in the freezer. We plan to spend our free time in the start of 2017 either looking for wolves or sitting on the ice for some fish. Then its into 3-D archery and before you know it we will be back into hunting season of 2017 which of course we are already making plans for.
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RECIPES
Peppermint Patty Winter is here so time to warm up the insides with this delicious hot recipe. Recipe provided by www.thedrinkblog.com. Stop by Plains Liquor to get all your ingredients. While you are there make sure you pre-order your Valentine Day flowers for your sweetie!
Muskrat For Two...I Double Dog Dare Ya! By Raf Viniard Paul Fielder is one heck of a muskrat trapper and the thought of good muskrat carcass going to a cat cubby or the dump was almost blasphemous. I finally talked him out of the meat but I couldn’t talk him into trying it himself. Keep in mind a muskrat is just a water rabbit, also known as a Marsh Rabbit on the eastern shore of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia They eat things like cattails, wild rice, switch grass, etc. but they are also known to eat a few frogs, small fish, crawdads and snails.
8 OZ. HOT CHOCOLATE 1 OZ. PEPPERMINT SCHNAPPS 1 OZ. DARK CRÈME DE CACAO ¼ OZ. CRÈME DE MENTHE WHIPPED CREAM CHOCOLATE SHAVINGS GLASS TYPE: MUG
● Make your hot chocolate. Pre-made package version okay. ● In a separate mug add your peppermint schnapps, the dark crème de cacao and crème de menthe and stir. ● Top with your hot chocolate and stir again ● Add whipped crème and finish with dark chocolate shavings
When prepared correctly they are delicious...you just have to get past the idea of it being a rat. It is much like eating a squirrel which is known in the south as a tree rat.
Plains Liquor Store
Now Paul kept the furs to sell but on the east coast, the meat is sold as well in local butcher shops and sometimes with the heads still on. There is a lot of meat on the cheeks and skull and it is very tender and juicy. Paul de-headed those he gave me, pictured above. Many family and friendly gatherings are had during muskrat trapping season back east.
Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
“Please Drink Responsibly! 118 East Railroad ● Plains, Montana
First clean the muskrat removing any glands and then soak them in Located inside Garden, Gift & Floral! water for a couple of days changing the water about every 8 hours. Water should be clear when they are done bleeding out. This also helps remove any musky smell you may encounter when you skin them. I add a couple pinches of salt to my water with each water changing. Refrigerate during this process. After they have soaked...here is how you cook them…In a big pot lay two muskrats in bottom of pan and add enough water to cover them about an inch. Next, dice up six slices of fatty bacon and add 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp of black pepper and 1 tsp of Red Pepper flakes, and salt to taste. I add 1 tablespoon of rubbed sage and you can add more or less to match your taste. Quarter one medium onion and add to pot. Add more water if needed...you want the muskrats covered during the cooking process. Cover the pot with a lid. Let simmer until tender. Remove from water and drain. Coat the muskrats in a little flour. Put a small amount of bacon grease drippings in a cast iron skillet. Slowly heat skillet and put muskrat in skillet and let them brown a little on both sides. Serve with hot sauce, a side of kale, collard or mustard greens, mashed taters and “rat gravy” from the browning drippings. Sop all that up with a fluffy homemade buttermilk cathead biscuit. A big old sweet tater goes very good with them as well. No it doesn’t taste like chicken, beef or pork. It will be “Muskrat Love”! (Song by Captain & Tennille 1970’s)...I triple dog dare ya! Thanks Paul! 12
SPORTSMAN’S MEDITATION
New Year?
New You?
By Pastor Jim Sinclair
2016 is gone and 2017 is here. It’s that time when the proverbial “New Years Resolutions” are made and we start pondering some life changes . I took a minute and searched the top ten “New Year Resolutions”... starting with number 10. 10. Spend more time with family and friends 9. Reduce alcohol consumption 8. Find a new job 7. Read more 6. Stop smoking 5. Learn a new hobby or skill 4. Save more and spend less 3. Lose weight 2. Exercise more #1 – Eat healthier or diet
Pastor Jim Sinclair
Considering any of these seems like it would be a step in the right direction…..even though they are all about us. We might as well admit that we love ourselves. We go to great lengths to provide ourselves with the things that we need. We eat so that we don’t starve, drink so that we do not die of thirst, go to the doctor when things are wrong with us, we make sure that we are taken care of. There is nothing wrong with loving ourselves we should look out for Number 1. Maybe this year we could consider adding a new resolution, that Jesus taught in, Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. In contrast to the “Top Ten” maybe a new “Resolution” could be entertained.. Love God More and your neighbor as yourself. This story illustrates my point, In sixteenth century England, Oliver Cromwell ordered that a soldier be shot for his crimes at the ringing of the evening bell. But that night at the fateful hour, no sound came from the belfry. The girl who was to be married to the condemned man had climbed up into the tower and had clung to the great clapper of the bell to prevent it from striking. Brought before Cromwell to give an account of her actions, she only wept and showed him her bruised and bleeding hands. Cromwell was greatly impressed, and he said, "Your lover is alive because of your sacrifice. He will not be shot!” Jesus lived this out for us, in John 15:13 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This love manifests itself when we demonstrate, forgiveness, peace, unity, and compassion to others just to name a few. So this New Year I leave you with a truth that would be well to remember. LOVE IS JUST A WORD, UNTIL YOU GIVE IT MEANING! New Year, New direction, New You? Keep livin the life. Pastor Jim
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TONY REBO UNLEASHED HOW COLD DOES IT HAVE TO BE, BEFORE IT IS TOO COLD By Tony Rebo That is a question that my wife asks all the time, and before I answer that question let me tell you a story about a couple of my relatives. Now it is told that when my cousins Ole, and Sven went fishing out on Cass Lake, just outside Black Duck Minnesota, and that the two fell through the ice and drowned. It seemed that both boys ended up in a place referred to as Hell. Now since the two were new arrivals, the owner of the place a guy they called Satan decided to check in on the boys and see how things were going. Now old Satan decided to turn the heat up on the two boys just before his arrival. When Satan arrived he found Ole and Sven dancing about in their long johns and muck boots, their chests only covered by their suspenders which held up the tattered old long johns. Now old Satan wasn’t any too happy about the cousins being all cheery and dancing about having a good time. He asked the boys what was up since it was so hot and all. Well the boys explained that they had just come from Minnesota, the land of the frozen tundra and that this here heat was like a breath of fresh air. Old Satan found himself to be in a bad spot as this wasn’t supposed to be no picnic. Satan stomped off devising a plan that would spoil the boy’s day. Well since the two complained about the cold, old Satan decided he would really show them what cold was all about. Now he turned that old heat box into an ice haven. Ice hung from everywhere and your spit would freeze in mid air before it hit the ground. This for sure would be the demise of the two boys from Minnesota. When Satan returned to check on his two new guests he found them to be dancing about and having a great time. The place was filled with laughter and cheering. Now Satan was completely bewildered by the boy’s response to the bitter cold and had to ask my cousins what gives, why are you celebrating? “Well” says Ole, “Hell has frozen over which can only mean that the Minnesota Vikings have won the super bowl”. I define cold in increments of temperature, for example when the temp is between 20 and 40 degrees I find it to be darn near spring. A tee-shirt and light jacket is the best dress attire. Now when the temp drops between 10 and 20 degrees it is slightly chilly, and a sweater can be added to the attire. Now when the temp drops down to zero it only means one thing; ice is a building and it is time to drag out the sled and my winter coat. From zero to -10 I find that some of the amateurs are still trying to hold out and fish. At -20 they are all gone and the lake is all mine. I love it when I can call the lake all mine.
This last weekend the temperature dropped to minus 14 degrees and even though it was slightly cold out, I thought for sure that most of the city kids would not dare adventure onto the ice. That was true, but for some reason my wife became interested in going and despite the numerous warnings she felt it would be in my best interest if she tagged along. Ok fine, but I am not leaving early because you can’t take the cold. When we arrived at the lake it had dropped to minus 22 degrees. Continued on page 18.
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TONY REBO UNLEASHED CONTINUED The ice was moaning and groaning as it thickened under our feet. The temp was just right for me but it did create some challenges, such as; if your bait was out of the water for more than 30 seconds it would freeze solid and then you would have to chip it off the hook and start over. If your hook touched anything it would also freeze solid to the object. My wife found this out as she had her hook froze to the side of the bucket several times. She also had it freeze to the snap on her coat, the clip on her glove, to her necklace and once to her earring, which was pretty funny. Now with all these issues going on and my wife having to thaw out her ear to remove the bait so she could finish situation, it was only a matter of time before she started to complain about the cold temp. The temp dropped a few more degrees as the sun came out and it stood at a bearable -26 degrees. The complaining turned to verbal threats and physical abuse. I was given a choice on what my next move should be. I somehow took a left turn and chose my own path. I remembered the story of my cousins and decided to take control. Now I told my wife that I noticed with all the yelling going on that she had been neglecting her lips and the care they needed. I explained to her the importance of licking her lips to keep them moist so they wouldn’t blister in the bitter cold. Well as she began to water down her lips with her tongue I encouraged her not to miss a spot and as soon as she had her lips plenty watered down I coached her into pressing them together to get a even spread of saliva. Well at 26 below zero the watered down wet lips froze together like duck tape and gorilla glue. There you have it boys, problem solved. Those frozen lips prevented me from having to go home. I mean seriously, who can understand mmmmmm mmmmm. Well surely not I. It sounded to me like “Hey let’s keep on fishing it isn’t too cold out here”.
Yes sir, my wife is the best so I just kept right on fishing not wanting to upset her and all. We fished for another two hours all the while I was catching fish she was over trying to pry her lips apart. Every once in awhile I would just get this glare and It probably was the same look Satan gave my cousins. It kind of seemed silly that she tried using a fillet knife to pry her lips apart, heck I could have told her how that was going to end. Now we were loaded up for the day with plenty of fish and I was happy and singing along to the song on the radio; “The Sound of Silence” when all of a sudden I heard the sound of her lips coming apart. The heater in the truck must have been the solution to her problem. The sound was the cross of a cork popping out of a wine bottle and the shrill a swimmer makes as they are being attached by a shark. I can say she got my attention. The whole way home cars pulled over as we came up on them as they thought I had a siren on. Well I can tell you for sure that there are three things you never talk about; one is your love life, two is your finances, and three is your favorite fishing hole, but can I tell you how cold is too cold, well just lick your lips and find out. 18
Elk Management Meetings Scheduled for Eureka, Libby, Kalispell and Trout Creek A series of public meetings in Northwest Montana will focus on elk hunting regulations and season setting. Region One Wildlife Program Manager Neil Anderson noted that the meetings are part of an early start to the hunting season setting process. The meetings will include: Information on elk populations and past harvest Information on possible season structures Listen to comments and develop ideas Discussion of current elk hunting regulations in Region 1 This is the start, no decisions will be made here · Any proposal will have to go through season setting process this coming fall/winter. All meetings will run from 7-9 p.m. and will offer opportunities for the public to give comment. The meetings are scheduled as follows: Eureka: Thursday, January 19th in the large conference room at Glacier Bank. Libby: Wednesday, Jan 25 at the Macky Little Theatre (formerly Libby Little Theater Kalispell: Tuesday, January 31: Flathead Valley Community College, Arts and Technology 131 Trout Creek: Thursday, February 9 at the Lakeside
Motel For more information, contact Neil Anderson, Wildlife Program Manager, 751-4585
LOCAL CELEBRITIES Pictured Left: Kyle Wengerd with a 138 pound Tom. That’s one less deer eating machine...way to go Kyle...congrats.
Pictured Above: Marty Weaver with his third cat without the aid of Dogs. Marty found a kill site during hunting season, sat down and waited...he had all day! Congrats Marty! Marty is now trying to kill his first wolf...go get them Marty!
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THOUGHTS
Hang in There!
By Raf Viniard
This time of the year things in Montana slows way down, folks start getting cabin fever and feeling the winter blues. Businesses struggle through the next 2-3 months but most have the expectations of a good spring and summer season. Overall I think most folks are looking to 2017 with a little more hope and enthusiasm based on the election outcome. As we swear in our new President this month some have higher expectations than others. The left is having a meltdown over the thought of a Trump presidency. Instead of publishing Montana Woods N Water maybe I need to switch to publishing coloring books. For me, I just sit back, watch and listen. America is so deeply divided and everyone is so strongly opinionated. I take the attitude of “Trust But Verify”. America is still 20 trillion in debt and that is not going away anytime soon if at all. Positive changes will not come quick, so we have to be patient and see what our new president and our duly elected government officials can deliver on vs. their campaign promises. However, responsibility of how we look at life and meet its challenges are our responsibility. I have lived in Montana now for almost four years and I have seen the price of everything go up from food to land. Things are not going to get cheaper. The thought of buying a new truck has long fleeted my thoughts. If I spend 50-60K on a new truck I would have to live in it. Families are struggling every month. Montana is not a easy place to make a living. But true Montanan’s have persistence, grit and work through the problems one day at a time. Gun and ammo sales are down and prepping has come to a crawl if not abandoned. Is this the time to drop our guard and slink back into the old way of thinking that everything will be fine now that we have a new President? Things can happen from one day to the next that are un-imaginable...history has taught us that. Stay alert, stay informed, don’t believe everything you hear on TV or read on Facebook, verify the source and question everything. Hold the politicians feet to the fire. Renew your faith and learn to lean on your creator for discernment and guidance. Any time you put all your trust in man, you are likely to be disappointed eventually. There are still daily injustices served by our supposedly fair justice system...right now you don’t pay much attention to it because it is not your family, friends or relatives that are being affected. It has just become another news story happening off in a far away place. Keep a watchful eye and ear. This is a new year and aside from all the political distractions and cold weather, focus on what is positive in your life. Start making plans for the upcoming spring bear, turkey season, shed hunting, fishing, local vacations, mushroom picking, gardening, etc. We live in Montana and folks from all over the world will come here this summer spending their money to just enjoy Montana for a few days. We live and breathe Montana everyday and I feel blessed to be a part of it. If you don’t like living here or think it is to conservative for you then move, make a change in your life...go find happiness. However, finding happiness starts from within. Look there first. The other day I pulled off the road and just stood there looking at the snow capped mountains as the minus 12 degrees cut through my jeans. I was humbled by its beauty and vastness. As I breathed in the cold air it made me feel refreshed and alive again. Yes, it was colder than a well diggers butt, however the fact that I lived, worked and played in Montana with some of the finest folks in the world put the spring back in my step to face the day and weeks challenges. So shake those winter blues...spring will be here before you know it...hang in there! You are in control of your attitude and your life.
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LOCAL CELEBRITY
Marty Weaver with a beautiful buck he bagged last season. Congrats Marty...that’s one for the wall! Marty is the owner of Grocery Surplus...stop in and congratulate him on his cat and beautiful buck. See ad below!
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ICE FISHING SAFETY TIPS Make it Back Home Alive! Hypothermia Kills! Tell someone where you are going and what time you will be back. Bring a fishing buddy along. There is safety in numbers. Check with locals to find out CURRENT ice conditions. Ice conditions can change overnight or within hours. Take your cell phone or a satellite communication devices with you in a plastic baggy. Hang a whistle around your neck. Remember the movie Titanic. You can blow a whistle longer than you can scream for help. Take a set of dry clothes, blanket and a heater of some sort to warm you up if you get wet. Make sure clothes are in a waterproof bag. Carry a thermos of hot drink and a high energy snack to help you recover if you get wet. Wear a floatation suit or device while on the ice. Wear a pair of ice picks around your neck in the event you fall through. They will help you crawl back up on the ice. Stay flat on the ice until you are away from danger area. Take a throw rope and flotation device with you in case you have to help someone else. Carry all gear on a sled to distribute weight. Spread out from your buddy when walking out. Be mindful of where someone has broken through or the ice has been weakened from too many ice fishing holes. If unsure of thickness of ice back away...is that fish really worth your life. If ice is 3 inches or less stay off. You need 5 inches or greater for ATV or Snowmobile. Stay away from moving water, streams, bridges and culverts.
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OUTDOOR TECH
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LOCAL CELEBRITIES Pictured Left: Shea Westre with her first bow harvest! Now that is a way to start off your bowhunting career. Congrats Shea! Pictured Right: Scott Pfister with a big kitty of his own! Scott bagged this kitty with a .50 cal Hawkens muzzleloader. Congrats Scott and thanks for helping with predator control.
Click Here For Virtual Tour
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S&S Sports located in both Thompson Falls and Ronan wants to remind everyone of the boat show coming up. Swing by the show and show your support for our local business. See their ad on page 8.
Cody Benefield of Libby, MT with our first ice fishing picture. This was Cody’s first ever 2lb yellow perch. He said, “Started off with the second drop in the water with a small little bump. “ He was on the Thompson Lakes and caught nothing under one pound. He stated he had an awesome day on the ice! Thanks for sharing Cody and congrats! What’re you using for bait?
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Where Do You Place It . . . Faith? By Nathan Albertson One of the most exciting summer time activities I remember from childhood was being permitted to accompany my father and a friend of his to a gun/dog auction and swap meet once a month. That place was one of the most exciting I have ever remembered. Everywhere you looked, seemed to be piles of guns, hunting dogs, and colorful characters. The dogs stank, the food smelled worse, and we will not even discuss the outhouses (or house of harmful fumes as we referred to them). It was exactly the kind of atmosphere every growing, adventurous boy should experience, and the excitement and buzz just made me want to spend my money. Mixed in to the gun tables were often flea market type wares, some specifically for children. One day I chanced upon a bucket full of “Lucky Rabbit’s Feet.” I rummaged around and came up with one partially dyed green. The agreement I had was that I could spend my own money, but only with approval from my father. When asked why I wanted such a trinket, I replied with youthful exuberance and optimism, “To bring me good luck!” My dear father, ever the practical sort retorted, “No, I don’t think so. It wasn’t so lucky for the rabbit.” That moment has stuck with me for decades. As it turned out, he was right, of course. Nevertheless, it seems we try everything we can as humans to bring about “luck” in some strange way. Lucky coins, socks, underwear, shirts, you name it; someone has a “lucky” one. Heck, in the past, I have been known to wear “lucky drawers,” “lucky trousers,” and a “lucky shirt” all on the same hunt! The days it worked I once remembered, but I now remember far more when it did not! It takes a lot of faith to attribute luck to an inanimate object. Psychologists would likely attribute such an idea to something akin to the placebo effect, essentially the power of positive thinking affecting you positively. Nevertheless, it seems to me, we have certainly misplaced the faith we have. Soon, we will have a new president in the United States. Many will put their faith in that office. Still others might place their faith in the federal, state, or local governments in one way or another. We might place our faith in our jobs or occupations, though that often has a finite term limit when one resigns or retires. Many place their faith in spouses, friends, acquaintances, children, or even parents. The reality is, if you place your faith in something human, there is a guarantee that at some point, they will let you down. We humans are fallible. As sportsmen, we may place our faith in a multitude of inanimate objects (and I have been guilty of this). What angler does not have their “go to” lure, bait, or jig (mine is a small, silver, spinner with a splash of dark blue)? Rifle hunters place their faith, sometimes, in ballistic tables, formulas, and footpounds (count me in with a .35 Whelen). Archery hunters sometimes try to replace playing the wind with scent blockers, ozone machines, and all manner of other products. (After spending a small fortune on trying to destink my stink, I gave up). Just about every trapper I know has that one bait or lure, which has caught him or her more fur than any other. (Who else but we trappers could put so much trust and faith in the powerful smell of skunk!) Continued on page 28. 27
FOOD FOR THOUGHT CONTINUED Over nineteen-hundred years ago, the absolute best definition of faith I have ever encountered was written, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is a powerful thing; it is essentially the concrete foundation by which we are assured of the things we expect and the absolute evidence and proof of that which is unseen. There is a lot of power there. Repeatedly, we see folks put faith into something or someone, and then take action, relying on that which they put faith into, not to fail. Yet, be it an inanimate object, a person, or an institution, what have we not seen fail in this world in one way or another? Perhaps the better question to ask would be, “What can we put our faith in and take action by, which would be more beneficial to the world we live in, than the things we currently do and see fail?” I have asked myself this question many times over the years. As last year’s elections began to take shape, I asked myself that question more and more. To this day, I can find no one, no thing, and no entity that can promise something in which I may place my faith better than Jesus Christ. I once heard a preacher say, “I don’t care what your problem is, the answer is Jesus Christ.” As I look at the world in which we live, I must wonder, if everyone were to place his or her faith in Christ and then act in faith accordingly, what would this nation, or even world, look like? Would there be problems and issues, certainly, until the enemy is conquered those will continue. However, if we conducted ourselves every day with faith in God, I cannot help but think our country would look very much different from what it is today. The New Year brings about all sorts of resolution lists in the media. Perhaps this year, it is time to resolve ourselves to living each day in faith that Jesus Christ is King and Lord of all and to conduct ourselves as the faithful in Him! I can think of no other resolution, which would have more power or a more profound effect on the society we currently live in than that. Perhaps if we read the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15: 56-58 with that in mind, we can truly see the meaning and potential of living in faith: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” Happy New Year, may you and yours be blessed.
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