Montana Woods N Water, March 2015, Volume 3, Issue 2

March 2015

Volume 3 Issue 2

What’s Inside Stranded by Raf Viniard

Local Celebrities Lincoln County SnoKats

Publishers Notes

By Raf Viniard

Only 42 days until bear season & 38 days until turkey season!

WOW, what a busy two weeks. Hard to believe it is already March. As I wrap up this edition at 2:00 AM Friday morning I realize I will be dragging my butt out of bed in about 5 hours to meet Paul Fielder to go set some muskrat traps.

After last weekends Camo Sweethheart Ball and two weeks packed with meetings and deadlines, it would be easier to just sleep in tomorrow and play catchup in the office and MAYBE get some chores done around the house.

Don’t think I have not thought about it. But the opportunity to hang out with Paul and set some traps before trapping season ends is just to hard to pass up.

I will take plenty of energy drinks, lots of chocolate and a box of tooth picks to stick under my eyelids. Why would anyone punish themselves over a publication? Because I love it! I live in one of the greatest place on earth and have made some awesome friends and business acquaintances since moving here almost two years ago. I may never get rich running this publication but I will take this over driving in the Atlanta, GA traffic six days a week swinging a hammer just to chase a dollar. All these long hours may wear me down physically but it’s nothing that a big black bear standing in my cross hairs or a line stretching, head jerking pike can’t fix...even if it kills me, what a way to go.

At 53 I don’t have that all-nighter ability I did just five years ago and it takes a couple days to recoup, but I can rest when I take the big dirt nap. That is what fishing and scouting naps are for anyway, to recharge your batteries.

Next week I am sure Paul will be giving you a trapping report and I will continue to bring you stories by our writers and staffers. See you next Tuesday...night. Get out and enjoy thios weekend...it si supposed to be pretty.

Keep sending us your pictures and stories. We thank you for your continued support. Please support our advertisers and remember without them this publication would not be possible.

Contact Us

Front Cover Photo Provided By: Raf Viniard Thompson River Drainage This picture was taken while checking Andy Pershern’s wolf traps last week.

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

Publisher & Editor: Raf Viniard 406-407-0612 Photographer, Print & Digital Manager Tina Scott 406-830-7500 Field Editor: Mitzi Stonehocker 406-544-1868 Sales & Marketing, Lincoln County Kori Erickson 406-293-1478 Sales & Marketing, Flathead Valley 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 email 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.

STRANDED

Are You Prepared To Spend The Night?

By Raf Viniard

A local couple recently had the opportunity to test their survival skills on the back side of Corona located in Sanders County, Montana. One warmer than normal February Friday a local couple had set out to go check on their cabin and do a little shooting practice. The weather had warmed and the snow seemed to be pretty much melted at the lower elevations and due to recent logging activity on the mountain roads they were pretty much open. The day went pretty much as planned but a decision to go back out a different route sealed their fate as to how they would spend the next two nights.

steep and dangerous to back down and no place to turn around...the thought was to just keep moving forward.

The tires begin to spin and slip...they were stuck, no cell phone signal, less than a half tank of fuel and not really sure where they were in relation to any civilization.

Knowing their situation was not getting any better and that eventually someone would come looking for them they built a fire and settled in to spend the night if need be. Saturday morning came and no one had yet arrived.

However, her mother had already started making phone calls Friday night trying to figure out where they were.

She knew the general direction they were in but not the exact location. She also knew if they had got stuck they were woods savvy enough to make it through the night.

By late Saturday night things begin to look even bleaker and the driver had already started to think about striking out to find help. Luckily for him he stayed with the vehicle. If he had struck out in the direction he was thinking, I may have been writing about this mishap in an entirely different light and it would not have been a good one. The direction he thought about heading in was the worst possible direction he could have choose.

These were not to young hap hazard kids out just cruising seeing how big and bad their truck was, but two grown adults just enjoying all that Montana has to offer. They were seasoned Montanans. They even had a birthday party that had planned to attend that afternoon. Luckily, they had told someone where they were going and that they would be back for the party.

As they eased up the backside of Corona the clear sky day was gentling turning to a cold February night. Sitting in a nice warm truck enjoying the views and chatting they would have never dreamed they would be in a situation that could have been life threatening. As the Ford F-150 4 X 4 made its way up the snow covered mountain road it begin to get a little tense. They were committed, to

Continued on page 4.

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Don’t Forget - March 16th Deadline

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STRANDED CONTINUED

Late Saturday night they finally got a cell phone signal and called her mother who called had already called her daughter and some of her friends from the Flathead Valley area. Keep in mind they are now heading into their 2nd night with little food, water or fuel left in the truck. He started the truck every few minutes and let it run about ten minutes to warm their feet. He had started a fire but standing on frozen snow can make ones feet mighty cold fast.

So what can we take from someone else's misfortune.

Go prepared no matter what your intentions or how long you think you will be gone.

1. Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and ready for the mountainous road travels. Prepare your equipment for a day in the mountains with a full tank of fuel, chains, shovel, axe, chainsaw, extra clothing, flashlight, firearm, maps/GPS/compass, blankets, fire starting materials, chain or snatch rope, basic tool kit, food, plenty of water and emergency flares. If you have room for an snowmobile dirt bike, bicycle or ATV throw it in the back as a backup means of transportation if your rig fails you.

At about 3:00 AM Sunday morning the three individuals from the Flathead Valley area had found them. Having a larger more beefy truck the other driver felt he could easily snatch them out...that is until a u-joint broke and cutting a transmission line. Now there are five people 2. Don’t overestimate your abilities or your vehicles, and two trucks stranded in the ice and snow covered four wheel drive has got a many in deeper than he or road in the middle of nowhere. The three that was she could get out of. supposed to save the day was now part of a bad situation. The rescuers now have to be rescued as well. 3. Before heading out make sure you tell someone where you are going and do not deviate from that They were also new to area and did not know exactly area or plan with out telling someone of your new where they were. They were finally able to get a phone direction. Cell phones may or may not work where call out alert someone as to where they thought they you are at. Consider a SPOT or Delorme In Reach were. The Sanders County Sheriff’s office alerted the type device to alert the outside world you need help.

Sanders County Search & Rescue to respond early Sunday morning for an extraction and possible frost bite. No 4. If stranded, remain calm and use the “STOP” method local wrecker company would go beyond the snow line to - Stop, Think ,Observe and Plan. Assess your supplies pull them out even if they knew their exact location. and situation. Don’t just set out trekking through the That area of the mountains is steep and slick this time of mountains in hopes you are headed in the right the year. It is shaded and it s the last to melt in the direction. Consider others safety that may be with spring. you.

Continued on page 6.

Search & Recue rallied and formulated a game plan to reach the stranded motorist and headed up the mountain with snowmobiles in tow. The SAR team had determined exactly where they were within a one mile area. Within a couple of hours all parties were assessed for frostbite and ferried back to the staging area. Yes, they were tired, cold, hungry and thirsty. Luckily everything turned out great and everyone lived to tell the story over and over. If they had not been seasoned in the outdoors the average green horn would have probably frozen to death.

Stay Put! Help may be on the way.

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STRANDED CONTINUED 5. Improvise with what you have on hand, in this case he pulled the head rest cover off his seat and gave it to one of the ladies as a sock cap to keep her head and ears warm.

6. Stay dry! Wet shoes, socks and clothes will chill you down fast. Layer your clothing with what ever you have available. Hypothermia is not your friend.

7. Be patient, help will eventually be on the way...that is if you alerted someone as to when you are suppose to return. Whether your local sheriff department, friends, relatives or the Search and Rescue teams has to come find you, it takes time to get everyone and everything together. Make sure you have a whistle or audible sounding device in case your rescuers cannot see you. Snowmobiles, and ATVs rescuers are usually wearing a helmet and you couple that with the noise from the machine itself they may not hear you.

8. Stay with the vehicle until all hope is lost of being found. At that point you will have to make some hard decisions that only you can make based on your situation and abilities at that time. It is best to stay on a road and not cut across country. A bad injury off the road maybe the end of your cross country adventures. If setting out on foot prepare for the hike, take what you may need to survive, a way to make a fire, boil some water and materials for a shelter. Listen for vehicles, planes, timber cutting, dogs barking, running water to try and get a fix on the nearest civilization and your bearings. Stay on main roads and roads that have been traveled.

9. Keep a sense of humor and stay positive. Keep busy, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” Get rest the best you can...your body is being taxed on many fronts, physically, physiologically and emotionally.

10. If all this fails, pray! In fact, you might want to start off your trip with a prayer for a safe return, your loved ones want you back home safe and sound.

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http://www.rockymountainresponse.com/wilderness-survival.html 6

· FEBRUARY 21st @ 0830 - Trappers Education Workshop - Missoula Region 2 FWP Office Spurgin Rd, Missoula, MT · FEBRUARY 27th - MARCH 1st - Helena Great Rockies Sports Show Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds, Helena, MT · MARCH 20th @ 1200 - Western States Fur Auction - Park County Fairgrounds, Livingston, MT · MARCH 21st - 23rd - Missoula Great Rockies Sport Show - Adams Center - U of M - Missoula, MT · MARCH 27th - 29th - Bozeman Great Rockies Sport Show Brick Breeden Fieldhouse - Bozeman, MT · MARCH 29th @ 1230 - District 6 Spring Membership Meeting - Havre, MT · APRIL 18th @ 0900 - District 2 Spring Membership Meeting - FWP, Spurgin Rd, Missoula, MT · APRIL 18th @ 1000 - District 2 Spring Membership Meeting - FWP, Kalispell, MT · MAY 3rd @ 0900 - MTA Board Meeting - Yogo Inn, Lewistown, MT

See You There!

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CAMPFIRE TALK

Leave Those Traps Alone

By Angela Montana A cash reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of the person/people who stole a trapper’s wolf trap (an MB-750 with swivels and a shock absorber) in the Bitterroot Valley. After a Montana trapper set wolf traps to try and intercept a wolf pack from going back to a ranch in the Lake Como area, the trapper went to check their traps and found that somebody had dug one up and stolen it. The traps had been set in that area for more than two weeks, untouched. It just happened to be the last day of the wolf trapping season, Saturday, February 28th, when the trap was stolen, as it was just checked the prior day. With a dollar value of just under $100.00 per trap, these wildlife management tools are valuable.

A District 2 Game Warden stated that several trappers have reported traps being stolen this past season, which means there are currently several open cases being investigated. It is illegal to take and/or tamper with any legally set trap, and if anybody suspects illegal activity, please report it immediately to FWP at 800.TIP.MONT. If anybody has any information on any stolen traps, please contact Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks at 800.TIP.MONT. Violations can also be reported online by clicking here.

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CAMPFIRE TALK

Baldy Mountain Outfitters Outfitter License # 23173 Phone: 406-291-7656

Deer ● Elk ● Bear ● Mountain Lion

Welcome to Baldy Mountain Outfitter Located in Plains Montana We offer high quality hunts that fit the clients ability and needs.

Our guides give 100% to make sure that the clients have the best possible hunt. We are out in the hunting areas before daylight and stay till the last shooting light to get the best chance of finding the big one.

We have access to large areas of public and private land to hunt.

www.baldymtnoutfitter.com 9

LOCAL CELEBRITIES

Tony Rebo of Libby, MT displaying his new Ruger 10/22 he won at the Camo Sweetheart Ball. Tony won one of two guns given away during the event to help raise money for the Sanders County Search & Rescue. Photo taken

by Caleb Wengerd owner of Big Bull Sports sponsor of the guns.

Congratulations Tony!

Tony Rebo may have got his gun but his wife Brenda displays some new home dĂŠcor. Brenda caught this nice Brooke through the ice a while back. Taxidermy work was completed by Recapture Taxidermy, Mike Siefke located in Libby Montana.

Congratulations Brenda and a thumbs up goes to Recapture Taxidermy for preserving a memory for Brenda.

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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 · Accessor ies Fishing Gear – Hunting Gear – FWP Licenses - Snowmobile Gear 4 Airport Road, Thompson Falls, MT 59873 · (406) 827-2950 66979 Highway 93, Ronan, MT 59864 · (406) 644-2950 www.sandssports.com Tuesday – Friday 9:00 - 5:30; Saturday 8:00 – 4:00

It’s Not If But When!

When it’s time to go...go in style!

www.camocaskets.com

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LINCOLN COUNTY SNOKATS/CABINET RIDGE RIDERS

Annual Fun Run

By Raf Viniard A couple of weeks ago I took a little trip up to Libby, Montana to see how the Lincoln County SnoKats made out with their event. Like every where else in NW Montana they were lacking an abundance of the that fluffy white stuff to make the ride a lot more fun.

Waist deep snow or not these folks had a great day in the mountains. Sixty-one riders participated and over 100 attendees showed back up for the afternoon meal, door prizes, rifles and auction.

Adam Carr auctioned one item off after another and bidding was steady. If bidding slowed down Adam got them going again with a little jabbing and humor. After the event I caught up with Adam and he had this to say about he event, “The event went surprisingly well, we had a blessed day in the mountains. We had 2-3 inches of snow, blue skies and plenty of sunshine. We had a blast like we always do.” George Williams of Eureka, Montana added, “I was here just trying to help out the club.”

As I strolled through the crowd I ran into Mr. Ben Swanson aka “Haywire” and he was truly enjoying the evenings celebrations and libations. Haywire shared a plethora of information about the event and its long history. Not sure if her remembers what he told me but it was entertaining.

Continued on page 14.

Kenny Brothers tries to keep Noah entertained during the live auction...Dad I don’t think its working, he looks a little sad.

Mason Bache of Libby, MT won a basketball and he looks pretty happy with his prize. Congrats Mason.

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LINCOLN COUNTY SNOKATS CONTINUED

Adam Carr trying to close the bid, Going once, going twice, SOLD! Dave Nitchke, Chapter President stated, I think we did pretty well for the amount of snow….we had a really good day.”

As the night wrapped up all that was left was pulling the raffle winner for the Savage B Mag .17 cal topped with a Simmons 3 X 9 scope and supported by a Champion B Pod. Mr. Bob McGee which was not present at the time won the rifle.

The night’s festivities were held at the Libby, MT VFW as over 100 attendees studied their fella bidders and awaited to place their bids on the stack of items behind Adam Carr as shown in this picture.

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MeMaws’ Kitchen by Mitzi Stonehocker

Chewy Brownies Rain and March always bring out the chocolate craving in me. I admit I have my "stash" by my recliner, in the car, in my purse, even my granddaughters know where a couple of my hiding places are. I am sharing a recipe from a friend who has gone to live with the Lord, she was my best friend and passed away from breast cancer at age 45, I miss her and this is for you Laura.

Combine: 2/3 cup crisco 1 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon water 1 teaspoon vanilla Beat in 2 eggs, mix well Combine: 1 1/2 cup flour 1/3 cup cocoa 1/4 teaspoon soda 1/2 teaspoon salt Mix dry into wet ingredients blend well and add 2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoon on us greased cookie sheet, ( I like to line my cookie sheet with parchment paper) and bake 7-9 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees. Do not over bake! Enjoy with hot coffee or tea and watch an old movie, cuddle with a loved one or grandchild. Smile, enjoy, make a memory!

The 12-step chocoholics program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE! ~Terry Moore~

A HUSBAND WHO LISTENS He said: "What can I help you with?

She said: “Take this bag of potatoes, peel half of them and put them in the pot!"

Dedicated to all those husbands out there who really try!

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Camo Sweetheart Ball Sponsors

Please thank these sponsors by shopping with them for making the Camo Sweetheart Ball such a success! Thank you!

Big Bull Sports

Nailed It

Bob Hosea—The Bob Factor

Natural Edge Rustic Furnishings

Bruce Hunn

Paradise Mountain Crafts

Cabela's (Missoula)

Plains Garden, Gift & Floral

Dale Fricke Holsters

Plains Trap Club

Desta's Nails

Peregrine Embroidery

D&D Liquor

Robert Viergutz

Ed’s Outdoors

RTK Photography

Gambles

Sanders County Search & Rescue Members

Harvest Foods

Scuz Busters & Diversified Services Judy Woolley

Healthy Massage—Daphine Boles

Shear Attitude

Lakeside Resort & Motel

Sportsman's Warehouse

Levi Thrift Store

The Printery

Mangy Moose

Tires Plus

Minnie's

Tom & Shelly Rummel

Montana Mitzi

Trout Creek Community Improvement Association

Montana Outdoor Radio Show Montana Trapping Association

Whistle Creek Pottery Ellen Childress

Montana Woods N Water

Thank You! 17