Montana Woods N Water October 2015 Print Edition

Publisher’s Notes

By Raf Viniard Hunting season is now in full swing with rifle season opening mid month.

This is when NW Montana comes alive with orange vest and hunters moving about here and there.

The fall is my favorite time of the year. Even if you don’t hunt turn off the TV, lay the phone down and have a campfire and roast some hotdogs and marshmallows.

Our lives are so busy now days and our world has turned just crazy.

Luckily for us we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and can step into the mountains and put it all behind us for a few hours.

Make some memories, new friends and explore that mountain road you have never seen. Good luck to all the hunters this month, be safe and send us those pictures. Raf Viniard, Publisher Don’t forget to support our advertisers and tell them you saw their ad in Montana Woods N Water. Without them this publication will not continue to exist. We need their business for us to stay in business and keep you informed, entertained and educated.

Guest Writer(s) This Month:

Bruce Hunn See Page 6

Front Cover Photo Provided By ; Mischelle Y. Thomas Picture taken at Fort Fizzle up Highway 12. She was standing in the Lolo Creek looking down stream. Thanks for sharing Mischelle!

To Contact Us: Montana Woods N Water 171 Clark Creek Loop Plains, Montana 59859 406-407-0612 Email: raf@montanawoodsnwater.com www.montanawoodsnwater.com

What’s Inside Hunting Tony Rebo Patriots Family & Friends Fishing Trapping Montana Dan Camp Fire Talk Sportsman’s Meditation Next Generation Local Celebrities Fly Fishing NRA Banquet Toby Walrath - Story Time More Hunting Events

Staff

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Publisher/Editor/Layout/Sales: Raf - 406-407-0612 Field Editor, Lincoln County Kori - 406-293-1478 Director of Social Media Misty - 406-250-4191 Director of Digital Production: Sam Martin Videographer/Photographer: Skeeter Johnston Productions Pro Staff Writers This Month: Pastor Jim Sinclair Dan Helterline Jason Badger Tony Rebo Kori Erickson Toby Walrath Chuck Stranahan

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.

HUNTING

Leather & Lace

By Raf Viniard Get your mind out of the gutter…we are talking about hunting here.

Put the leather on…lace it up and prepare to cover some ground finding NW Montana elk and bear this year. Bow season for deer, elk and firearms for bear has been in full swing since last month and for most of us hunting here in NW Montana it has been rough. Some hunters have had some success but many have not. Opening weekend of bow season started out with some showers and that has been about it and the woods are like walking through a box of corn flakes…very dry. Warmer than normal temps, fires and lots of smoke has not helped in our search for antlers or bear. The bears are having a hard time finding things to eat since all the huckleberries have been gone for over a month. From the reports I am hearing more bears are being seen down low around communities than up in the mountains. The several wallows we have found have become inactive even with the warmer days. We are finding some rubs.

Being a very successful southern hunter chasing whitetails and wild hogs this NW Montana hunting experience has been, shall we say “humbling”. I have never hunted such a beautiful place so void of game, there is not an elk, deer or bear behind every tree or in every drain as hunting shows and some outfitters would lead you to believe. If you are lucky enough to find that animal you seek…those pesky swirling winds can blow your opportunity in the blink of an eye.

However, to spend a day in the mountains will cure just about any ailment you may have…the fresh air, the views and quietness is very relaxing. No cell phone ringing just hours and miles of hunting and exploring. Not saying that when you get back home you will not need a handful of Advil, a hot shower and a tube of Ben Gay to take care of the aches and pains of walking the mountains all day. It is not uncommon to walk 5-10 miles a day in search of that faint bugle or glimpse of an elk, deer or bear. Notice I stated walking not driving and I did not say a glimpse of a “bull”…but any elk. Often times you are so tired, eating supper is secondary to the bed.

My buddy and I have declared that the Forest Service needs to paint all stumps orange so we don’t burn out our eyes looking at stumps in hopes of seeing a bear feeding. So you finally find that animal on the opposite ridge that is only 300 yards straight across as a crow flies…great for a rifle but I don’t have a 300 yard pin on my bow. Then you look down and you have a 1-2000 foot drop and then back up again, through stuff a Billy/Mountain goat would have a hard time getting through…all before that animal decides to saunter over to the other ridge before you get there an hour, two or three later.

In this part of Montana you don’t have those big open views…this area is heavily timbered with a peppering of open areas and water sources. You may have to drive one hour to reach that other ridge, not counting the walk back to your truck. I hunt some areas that are only about 10 miles from the house as a crow flies but it takes me about an hour and half to get to the gate not counting the 4+ mile walk in. Do you have to go that deep in...maybe, maybe not...the elk, deer and bear are where they are.

Continued on page 3.

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HUNTING CONTINUED For you deer hunters I have seen several nice whitetail bucks and a couple pushing the 150-170 class. Mule deer bucks have been a little scarcer but the areas I hunt is not known for having a large population of mulies.

For you back east hunters this is an entirely different style of hunting. You can use a deer stand if you want to pack it in, but you will soon learn every ounce you put on your back is critical from the moment you leave the truck. I got to where I look forward to drinking one of my bottles of water to reduce my load by a few ounces. Not only that, game trails may look like a super highway for a few yards then it just fades out. Patterning game movement here is totally different…you have to see the area with your own eyes to fully understand…it is just vast… game doesn’t have to abide by any rules. Their playground is huge. You cannot drive a four wheeler close to the area you want to hunt. If you can drive a four wheeler you can usually drive your truck. Many roads are gated off. The little fanny and daypacks you use back east are nice for a sandwich and a few items but a backpack is required out this way. Why? When you kill something you got to “PACK” it out in pieces…not drag or haul it out. Thus, requiring several trips.

Do I make it sound rough? Yes, because it is, but I would not trade this hunting experience for anything. The challenge of chasing a big bull elk is equivalent to hunting turkeys back east. Just because they bugle at you don’t mean you will get to close the deal. It just means you finally found one that will talk to you. When I first started hunting elk I met folks that were excited over killing a cow or small legal bull. I thought to myself, why would you kill something that small with all the big elk… now I understand. To get the chance at sticking a smaller bull can be every bit as challenging as chasing the big herd bull. In most cases you will earn every inch of antler/pound of meat to get to lay your hands on. There are those lucky hunters that take a nice bull that step out of the truck, bugle and make the connections a few yards from the road…but it is very rare.

However, I will take luck over skill after the miles I have covered.

Rifle season is about to open and if I have not taken an elk with my bow it will be sweet revenge with a rifle if that opportunity shows itself. If you are a back east hunter…just go ahead and spend the money on a dependable outfitter…it will save you a lot of steps and the learning curve. If you are just coming out here to experience a NW Montana hunt and killing an elk, deer or bear is not your top priority then get your license to include a wolf license, a good topo map, a GPS, your rifle and a nice camera…grab those broken in leather boots, lace them up and start walking. Don’t forget the Advil, BenGay and heating pad, supper is optional. Those gutter thoughts you had at the beginning of this article will be the last thing on your mind and five o’clock is going to come early and hurt a little bit.

Reminder!

Rifle season opens 24 October. Head over to your local sporting goods store and stock up on things you might need. Don’t forget your tags and something for your honey!

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TONY REBO

A

BIRD IN THE BUSH IS WORTH TWO IN THE TRUCK

By Tony Rebo September 1st marks the opening day of grouse season, and I can tell you that I was more than a bit excited. Last year I had bought a new dog for hunting birds, and even though she was only 7 months old at the time, she did great. I have never owned a golden retriever before now; I have always hunted behind German shorthairs. My new companion is more than I could have dreamed for. I couldn’t wait for this season with her being a year and a half old now.

My sweet girl is named Harley; she is a pretty red head with blonde highlights. She is the first to greet me when I get home and she is always willing to sit on my lap and tell me about her day. She is by my side every moment we are together. She sits close to me in the truck and can always be found next to my recliner. She enjoys fishing, boating, long walks in the evening, and most of all the sound of a shotgun. She doesn’t eat much and doesn’t talk back. I know, I know, it sounds like the perfect woman (boy am I going to regret that).

This year opening morning was spectacular; opening day was on a Tuesday so most hunters were in school or at work. The morning was cold and clear. This was the perfect condition to find blue grouse high on a mountain ridge. My wife took the day off and joined Harley and I for the outing. Now I should have known in the driveway that today I was going to have my challenges. Harley and I reached my truck first and she took her normal spot in the passenger’s seat. I cracked the window so she has some fresh air. I poured another cup of coffee and then Harley and I split a donut. We talked about the morning activities and what my expectations would be of her. Our conversation was interrupted by my wife about 30 minutes later when she arrived at the truck, dressed in her new camo. My wife opened her door and asked “why is the dog in the front seat”?

Great question, well at the same time that my wife was waiting for an answer, Harley turned to me and asked “Really...is she coming”?

There is nothing worse than having to choose between your wife and a hot red head. They both agreed to share the space and soon we were off to the mountains. I explained to my wife how this would work. While traveling on the road if we encountered grouse, I would pull over and she would get out and get set to shoot the bird. I would control Harley and release her when appropriate. I asked her if she was comfortable shooting the birds on the fly, and her response was why? They just sit there, why I wouldn’t just shoot them while they are sitting right in front of me. The dog seems intent on just pointing at them anyway; it’s like a big stare off.

I explained that Harley’s job was to point and then flush upon command. It was not a stare off; Harley was doing what she was trained to do. My wife rolls her eyes and says” that is stupid, that dog would be much happier if she could just pick them up right there”.

Harley and I both exchanged glances at each other and Harley said “see ...what did I say, why did you bring her”? Oh my word, you two have got to get along.

Finally a few birds were spotted and the words “game on” were announced. My wife left the truck and the birds ran into the brush followed by Brenda and Harley. I watched Harley lock up and Brenda raise the shotgun. A shot was fired and Harley proudly brought to me a blue grouse. My wife was actually amazed at the dog and how disciplined she was to my commands.

Of course she wanted to try giving the commands on the next bird. Reluctantly I agreed. It wasn’t long and we ran into another group of birds. I told my wife I would do the shooting, but would flush the birds and shoot them on the fly. I sent Harley in on the birds and quickly shot twice hitting two birds. Harley retrieved the first and brought it to me. My wife then jumped in and gave a command for Harley to bring her the other bird. Continued on page 5.

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TONY REBO CONTINUED Harley did her part and fetched the bird and tried to give it to my wife. It must have been a good idea at the time, but when my wife saw the bloody bird she wanted no part of actually taking it. So she gave a command to Harley something like this “I don’t want that bloody thing go put in the truck”.

Ok now, Harley is very smart and she gets most things, but she can’t open the canopy and place a bird in the back of the truck. So she did the next best thing, she loaded back up and placed the bird inside the truck. I wasn’t watching what was going on and had no idea what Brenda and Harley were up to. When I returned to the truck I opened the canopy and placed my first bird in the back of the truck, I had assumed the other bird was all ready in there. I jumped back into the seat and headed down the road. I should have known something was out of the norm. They both had that secret girl look they give to one another when they are up to something.

We traveled down the road looking for more birds to flush. I asked my wife if she would like to try shooting a bird on the fly.

It was a no for the second time. We rounded the corner and I reached into the back seat for my thermos. Another shot of coffee right about now would be great. What I got was a 5 lb. wounded blue grouse that flew from the back seat into the windshield. The bird bounced off the window and back into my lap. I screamed, ducked, spilled my coffee, and maybe even ran off the road; all the while a crazy bird was flying about inside the cab of the truck.

Thank god my wife was there and had learned to give Harley commands. “Fetch the bird Harley”. Was all I heard.

Now I had a wounded bird and a dog racing about the cab of the truck. I hit my brakes and did the next most logical thing I could think of; I bolted from the truck. The bird and Harley right behind me. I tried to gain control of the situation and asked Harley to sit and stay. The bird didn’t listen, it half flew and half flopped down the road. That was when I heard the shot and the bird was still on the ground. My wife walked out from the side of the road and declared, “I just shot a bird on the fly, or the flop, whatever”.

When I asked her about the bird being in the truck, she blamed the dog, and when I asked Harley she said, “Well you married her and I told you not to bring her.”

We ended up with a limit each of birds that day. It was a great outing and one I will never forget. Pheasant season is in two weeks and Harley and I are headed to Fairfield for a week hunt. Folks just remember; more instructions are better and a bird in the bush is way better than a bird in the truck.

Welcoming two new business to Plains, MT

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PATRIOTS

Who is a Tea Party Member, maybe you are?

By Bruce Hunn Political writers love to classify people into groups or as they call them, Demographics. This is where people are treated as statistical data, age, income, race, etc., and are grouped into smaller and smaller categories, the idea being that if we know the details of a group, we somehow can appeal to them. So here is a Tea Party Demographics test you might like to take.

Do you believe that the current Government is concerned about the management of your tax dollars or how much they are charging you in taxes? Do you think that the current Government spends more than it takes in and does not manage its money as if it were like your own family? Do you believe that the Government continues to expand into areas like marriage, personal property rights, electronic snooping, and citizen control, where it has no business? Should the Government be attempting to control if you have, or don’t have, a religious faith? Do you think that the Government should control every means of education of our youth? Should the Government allow a political appointee to become a judge for life without one person voting for them? Should the Government be able to listen to your phone conversations, intercept your e-mail or “check” your political or religious beliefs without a court order or an open case being made against you? Do you think that cities or states should be able to video you at every traffic light, just in case you might do something illegal? Should you have to tell the government if you have a gun or pay a fee to have one?

If you have thought about the previous issues, you might be a Tea Party Member. Notice, there were no questions on age, income, political party affiliation, etc., just issues, that is what the Tea Party is all about, issues. The Tea Party is also not a monolithic organization; it has no president, no boss, no chief. It actually represents many, groups of people, of all sizes, shapes and colors. It supported the first successful black Senate representative in South Carolina since the Civil War. It supports the Right to bear arms, the reduction in taxes and the call for Government to be as responsible as its citizens are, in managing their finances. It does not believe in bailouts, free cell phones, make work projects, tax dodges or other means of gaining political support. In its various organizations, the Tea Party is largely, but not exclusively, conservative in nature, that is, it believes in certain principles like reducing or eliminating debt, reducing the uncontrolled growth of government, being accountable, accepting responsibility for your actions and following the precepts of the Constitution. Even the Tea Party’s name came from the phrase, Taxed Enough Already, and harkens back to the actions of the Boston Tea Party, where a young America took on their country of origin and demanded that we be allowed to live in a freer way than we had in England. We had freedom then, but it was slowly being squeezed out of us by a King who always wanted more than we could offer. That King, removed from his subjects, saw them as little more than slaves, he saw them as the only way that he could pay for an extravagant life and support for a decadent way of living for a select, and elite, government. Tea Party people today recognize the same trend of greater demands on us, the idea that we are being treated like wage slaves with more and more of our life and wages being sent to the Government. This new government knows no spending limits, and arrogantly demands that we unquestioningly fund their own parasitic, self-interests. We also see a government which is controlled and run by special interests and corruption, whose only focus is on increasing what we supply to them while returning only limited and flawed government services back to us.

The Tea Party and its many affiliations only started in 2007, but already has anywhere from 10 to 30% of the United States voters support. It is not a card carrying party. It is not just a one Demographic party. It’s a trend and a way of living. It’s a trend away from blindly supporting uncontrolled spending, a trend away from an all-inclusive life-by-government approach to life. It is a trend away from voting the ticket to elect the same party over and over. It is a trend toward thinking about big issues and the future of our country and its children rather than the narrow minded approach of what’s- in- it- for- me- today thinking.

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FAMILY & FRIENDS

HUNTING ROGER’S RANCH

by Paul C Fielder My best hunts (plural) have been on a ranch in far eastern Montana. Today, I learned that my friend, Roger, who grew up on and owned that ranch passed away. As I tearfully conveyed my sorrow to his wife Paula, I reflected on the many extraordinary hunts that I enjoyed at Roger’s ranch.

My first hunt at Roger’s ranch was Left to right: Chuck Berry, Gary Donabauer, Paul Fielder and Josh Fielder with my neighbor John in 1984.

He had an antelope tag and I had tags for a buck and two antlerless deer. Roger suggested that John and I set up my wall tent down in the dry creek bottom, two miles east of his house. Roger’s dad had taught him not to graze cattle in the creek bottoms because the cattle would need them to survive the really bad winters that came along every few years. The day before the season opener, I went scouting in one of the “badlands” parts of Roger’s 36 section ranch. It was Heaven. I’d spot deer and put on a sneak to see how close I could get. I got within easy shooting range of many shooters during that “practice day”. The following day, I ended up stalking a group of three mule deer bucks and took the largest one, a 3x4 with antlers that I was happy with. In following days, Roger showed us around the ranch in his truck. John got a nice antelope buck and I harvested a mule deer and a whitetail doe. Riding around Roger’s ranch in his truck was an adventure. Roger was a good horseman and he drove his trucks with the same expectations. The mechanic in town said of him, “Roger’s a great person, but don’t ride in a truck with him. He’s hard on trucks”.

The following year, I returned to Roger’s ranch with my friend Gary. We had antelope tags and Gary had three antlerless deer tags. We put the wall tent in the same place down in the creek bottom. Roger came by the camp and took us out on the ranch (in his truck) looking for antelope.

Continued on page 8.

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FAMILY & FRIENDS We spotted antelope in the distance and Roger said that he thought he knew where they were going. Roger left me in one area and drove off with Gary toward where the antelope were heading.

After a while, Roger’s truck came back and a wide-eyed Gary jumped out of the passenger door and actually kissed the ground. I’ve heard Gary tell the story of that “60 MPH sneak” often and his eyes still get wide during the telling. Roger liked camp visits around the fire in the evenings and telling stories. I never heard him cuss. He used the word “junk” a lot instead of a cuss word. We filled the antelope and deer tags in due time and chased sharp-tails, but mostly we enjoyed our time there. Gary and I were the only people allowed to hunt on those 36 sections that week.

After several years of not drawing a permit, I returned to Rogers’ ranch with Gary, our friend Chuck, and my 15 year old son Josh (some weeks in life are more important than school). Josh and I stayed in my wall tent and Gary and Chuck in a camper. Later that winter, while waiting at a bus stop, some kids told Josh that they were freezRoger Fuchs owner of Rogers Ranch ing. Josh said “No. I spent a week in a wall tent in eastern Montana and it was 20 degrees every night. I know what freezing is, and this ain’t it.”

That year was a good year for sharp-tail grouse at Roger’s. But it was a muddy year. We’d drive to the part of the ranch where we’d hunt deer that morning and try to get back to camp before the sun thawed the county roads out. I got stuck in the middle of the road twice. Then we’d hunt sharp-tails in the middle of the day. The CRP lands sections were full of sharptails. Without a dog, we put in a lot of miles on our feet and some sharp-tails in our bags.

Gary and Chuck hunted together and each got a buck, Gary’s being especially nice. Josh and I spotted and made a good sneak on a group of deer. I convinced Josh to take the buck, which didn’t turn out as big as we thought. Still, it was his biggest deer at that time and he made a fine shot. A few days later, Josh, Gary, and I were walking separate finger ridges in the badlands when they saw me drop to the ground, lay my hunting pack in front of me, and wait. They glassed out in front of me and saw nothing. Ka-Boom. They still saw nothing. Ka-Boom, again. Way out in front of me they saw deer on a far ridge. At the third shot they, saw a big buck hit the ground. We always seemed to get the deer out of those badlands without much trouble, but I’m sure I forget all the grunting and sweat at the time. The end result was a good hunting camp photo.

Next month we will continue Paul’s story about memories of hunting Roger’s Ranch!

E-mail: peregrineemb@plainsmt.net 8

FISHING

Early to Rise…

By Sam Martin One of the biggest questions in fishing, third only to where and what, is when to fish. Some people go out in the morning. Some people like to sleep in and don’t hit the water until lunch. Tech savvy anglers will see that online forums the world over are full of people relaying stories of great fishing moments scattered over every time of the day. So how does one determine what is the right answer to this most controversial of questions?

There are several factors to consider when making a determination on the proper fishing time. Chiefly there are Species, Season, and Weather.

Species: Each fish species and genus is unique, possessing their own attributes and preferences in conditions that makes them perfectly adapted to specific environments. Take for example, the Walleye. Anglers of these popular gamefish will note the reflective nature of their eyes. This is due to a light-gathering layer in the eyes called the tapetum lucidum, which allows the fish to see well in low-light conditions. Because they have this, logic would then tell us that these fish hunt well in low light conditions.

This narrows down possibilities to morning, evening, cloudy days and full moons; but we’ll get more into that later.

First let’s look at another popular game fish species to further hammer home the importance of biology. The Largemouth Bass.

The eyes of the bass contain rods and cones similar to human eyes, and under low light conditions bass cannot differentiate between lure colors making them more likely to be fooled by a lure. Largemouth bass, like people, generally will shy away from very bright sunlight and most actively feed in dim conditions where they can use their pressure sensitive organs, the lateral line, to track prey. On very sunny days, expect them to feed early in the morning, early to late evening or during a nighttime full moon.

Smallmouth bass, on the other hand, prefer sunny conditions as they rely heavily on their sight to track prey. This is why a smallmouth will hit a topwater lure in thirty feet of water where a largemouth or walleye would shy away from such an encounter, preferring to hide in ambush.

By the details above, it is easy to see how fish can be affected by light and day cycles. This will play heavily as we explore the next topics.

Season: In Montana we get to experience the full weight of Mother Nature. Hot summers with long days and short nights standing opposite brutal winters with little sunlight and cold nights.

Between these there are volatile springs and summers whose rapid fluctuations in weather can come and go by the hour.

So how, amongst all of this madness, do fish react and when can anglers find them at their most vulnerable? For those answers we must return to biology.

Spring, for most warm water fish, is a time of reproduction. A period when the overwhelming need to procreate comes over all species and the ice thaws with the pulse of love making. Poetics aside though, the spawn plays a huge factor in determining the right time to fish. Couple this with temperature and there is formula to develop here. Continued on page 12.

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TRAPPING what technique he uses and choosing the right equipment for the job. Dan said, “Learn how to do it correct so you don’t educate the wolves and do it ethically and legally.”

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If you are interested in learning how to trap wolves, first take the wolf trapping certification class offered online through the Recently Dan Helterline aka “Montana Dan” held a wolf trapping class covering wolf trapping from A-Z. With 3 wolves, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Next, I highly recommend you seek out those trappers that have caught wolves and learn 74 coyotes and 4 fox last season alone, Dan knows a thing or from them or contact Dan to see when and where his next two about trapping and especially wolf trapping. Obviously this knowledge is being passed on as his side kick and daughter class is being held. Here are just a few things I learned in class and during the in field demonstrations: Alexis which greeted everyone with a smile and helped her Dad setup for the class.

What trap to use and why

By Raf Viniard

Local trappers attended the class to learn the finer art of out witting a wolf and to learn from an accomplished long line trapper. Everyone was there for one simple purpose and goal… learn how to catch more wolves. Wolves have depleted the local elk and deer herds and are a challenge within themselves to catch. They learn quick and are social animals.

What you should be doing during the off season to get ready How and where to set traps What baits and types of lures to use Reading wolf sign and travel habits

If you are out hunting and see wolf or wolf sign contact a local Dan started the class off by informing everyone that it was not wolf trapper and let them know it helps them put the bigger a certification course but a course to teach new wolf trappers picture together. In Dan’s case he needs another wolf fur coat for his daughter Alexis.

Dan with his new wolf coat and his daughter Alexis.

Class Attendees Left to Right: Wyatt Carr of Plains, Mt with his wolf pelt from last year, Albert Arnold (back) of Plains, MT, Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummell, Fred Shichting of Libby, MT, Dan and Alexis Helterline and Billy Hill of Trout Creek, MY Photo by Raf Viniard

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MONTANA DAN

By Montana Dan I just returned from my first trip to the Hanford Reach near Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River. The fishing is just starting to get good and when I return next week hopefully things will really start to heat up, over 800 thousand adult fall chinook have made their way over Bonneville Dam headed up the river and a good portion of those should end up in the Hanford Reach near the small Washington town of Desert Aire. The salmon have been averaging in the high teens for size and the weather has been nothing short of fantastic except for the couple evenings it's been too windy to get out on the reservoir above Priest Rapids Dam. The river below the dam is more protected from the wind and is the most popular area to fish. The reservoir above Priest Rapids dam can be good fishing but it seems most of the fish are down lower in the system and have not made it that far up the Columbia yet.

Being freshly retired from the Forest Service I will definitely have more time to fish until the bulk of the salmon show up. Most of the fish are being caught on Brads Super Baits stuffed with tuna and fished behind a flasher. This is then trolled at proper depth with a downrigger or with the aid of a jet diver rigged inline above the flasher. Trolling plug cut herring or back trolling eggs behind a jet diver is also an effective technique.

My ten year old daughter accompanied me on this trip and we had a blast, she was able to land a nice 16lb hen with a little assistance from her dad. She later landed a smaller buck salmon all by her self, she was quite excited when both of them came to the net, to say the least. So far all the fish caught have been in great shape and when filleted produced some bright orange fillets that should be nothing short of outstanding when barbecued. Terry Kinzie and Nardy Stascavage hired Mike Cordon of Adventures Guide Service, and judging by their stringer of salmon, it was money well spent. Terry said they launched above the Vernita Bridge at 6:00 am, ran down to the white cliffs, limited out and we're back to the launch by 9:30.

Not a bad morning!

Fall is a great season for fishing, Mac Days is in full swing on Flathead, and many of the states rivers have unbeatable fly fishing this time of year. Bird counts are above the ten year average and the elk rut is full on. The Northwest can be a busy place in the fall so get out and enjoy all of its splendors!

Pictured left to right: Alexis Helterline with her Dad Dan. For those of that didn’t recognize Dan without his beard don’t feel alone. Picture provided by Dan Helterline.

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FISHING CONTINUED So, as we have established, each fish is unique, every one possessing attributes that only pertain to its species. Temperature tolerance is chief among these during this time because it determines a fish’s activity level and therefore its spawning habits.

For those who don’t know, fish are a cold blooded species, meaning there metabolism is directly related to the temperature of the water around them. Those species that are more capable of tolerating the cold become active faster than those that were introduced from warmer climates. In Montana, that usually relates to a predictable time table of fish activity. Trout, being cold water species are typically the first to activate, followed by walleye, then bass and then sunfish.

But what does this mean for fishing times? A combination of understandings is required here. So, because fish are cold blooded that means that they will be more active during the warmest parts of the day as that is when they will be burning the most calories, usually that is around noon to an hour before sunset. Now taking the “activation schedule” into account, there is a pretty clear schedule of top spawning times; trout being mid-February to March, walleye in March and April with the rest trickling in around May and June. So targeting the specific species in the specific time is generally a good rule of thumb.

When summer rolls around there begins a turnaround in this template. With the water at its warmest and the sun at its brightest, most fish tend to prefer the low light conditions of morning and evening, not just because they disapprove of the light but because the high midday temperatures tend to make them sluggish. It sounds like the opposite effect that should occur, what with them being cold-blooded, but this is the bizarre truth. All of this means that when it comes to summer fishing anglers should look not just for low light but also for cool water to appropriately build a good time frame for fishing.

Fall is when this all comes on its head. Every fish is looking for food and doesn’t much care when that food arrives. During this transition fishing is good nearly all day long. That is, until the cold hits. When Winter does finally arrive fishing becomes as much a guessing game as a science. Fish don’t want to waste energy chasing food so this becomes more a matter of location then time. But that is a talk for another day.

Weather: Among the many arguments in fishing, this is among the most hotly debated. Some say that storms improve fish while others say that clear skies are the best. All that can be said for certain is a combination of what we have already covered. Light and temperature. If clouds are present, fish feel more confident to chase bait and aren’t blinded by the light. However, if those clouds bring a sudden cold snap, fish can shut down. This is really a realm for personal experimentation as each lake and each species reacts differently to every condition. There is only so much a know-it-all writer can say.

Concluding thought: Regardless of all of this information, the most important thing an angler must remember is that fish are living creatures and react to the environment they are in.

If a fisherman finds a time too hot or too cold it is more than likely that the fish do too. All an angler must do is experiment.

Perhaps the local fish are unique and hate clouds. It is all subjective. All this article can do is provide fisherman with a strong base with which to build their own conclusions because when it comes down to it every fisherman is a team of one and must find their own path to success.

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CAMPFIRE TALK

Is Your Hunting Ready For Snow?

By Raf Viniard I had stopped by Montana Structures that is co-located with Baldy Mountain Tires, in Plains, MT to talk to Jon the owner about some advertising issues and the showroom smelled of new rubber and tires were stacked everywhere.

Being from the south getting ready for winter just meant getting a more aggressive all terrain (AT) tire. A conversation then ensued about snow tires and the differences between the two.

Being raised in Kentucky we had several winters with lots of snow and living and working on a farm we often had to use the Left to right: Tony Hochstetler, Chris Borntreger, Matt Yoder discuss the benefits of all terrain tires vs winter or snow tires. tractor to feed the livestock and move about the farm. My Daddy always told me to get a tall thin tire for snow and he was correct to some degree but the technology and research has changed and may alter that old way of thinking when it comes to snow tires. Tall thin tires may be great during the first few hours of new snow but after it is packed down and melts a little, the wet slick ice becomes more of an issue than the snow.

I live at the base of a mountain and the first winter my road was badly rutted and it was nothing more than packed snow that turned to ice. Luckily for us Paul Harvey, my neighbor and friend come and saved us by plowing our road and driveway. My all terrain truck tire was okay but it just did not have the gripping or stopping power that I really needed. That is where a good winter/snow tire can pick up the slack.

Around the first of October up until about May winter/snow tire use is not uncommon in this part of the country. Most of us think of studded winter tires as the perfect tire but even without studs these winter tires have much more traction than all season tires! The rubber compound and the syping (grooves in the tire) is what makes a good winter tire. Studs are great for icy or black ice conditions but a good winter tire will greatly enhance your stopping distance and fish tailing. Of course your speed can also affect your stopping ability. With all the critters we have crossing the roads this increased stopping ability may just save you a repair bill.

One good set of winter tires if taken off during the spring, may last the average vehicle owner 2-4 winters; which in turn may save you one good vehicle and your summer tires. Each state has laws governing when winter tires can be used so check your local laws. Winter tires will wear faster if used in the hot summer months and wear out sooner.

A quality set of snow tires range in price form $375-$500 for a car and $600—850 for trucks. Contact your local tire dealer to learn more.

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PLAN B

Plan B Honey

By Raf Viniard When the bow hunting and bear hunting isn’t going so well I always revert back to Grouse hunting as my plan b of action. The old freezer has a few stocked for winter and since I was having so much fun...my honey Pam decided she wanted to try her hand at this grouse hunting thing, how hard can it be. I introduced her to hunting several years ago and she loved it so much she took her hunters education course.

Since then she has been a killing machine. She killed her first rabbit right out of hunter education...a story within itself in which we don’t have room for.

Next she killed a wild hog and then a beautiful Whitetail buck...she was three for three. Not long after that she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) which set her short hunting career on hold for a couple of years. Then is was back to college to retool. This year we got her an elk, deer and bear tag but now work has stepped in the way of our weekly mountain forays. She even got drawn for a cat tag this year.

With all these tags in her pocket I thought it was time for her to get out and try her hand at a little gamebird action, step back into the woods and start filling those tags.

It took a couple of tries but she finally got the hang of the old 16 gauge and scored her first grouse kill. Way to go honey! She is a natural born killer.

Take this time of year to spend time with your honey and the kids before the fast pace of rifle season opens. Make some memories...I know we are!

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SPORTSMAN’S MEDITATION

It’s All About Your Attitude

By Pastor Jim Sinclair Not long ago I was sitting in my easy chair, it was a beautiful summer evening when I heard a noise I have NEVER heard at our house before. I always hear the garage door open, followed by the door closing behind my wife’s car, check, garage door close, check and then Meow!!!! This can’t be, no way, not a cat, you didn’t bring home a cat did you? No she chided, I brought home two of them.

We now have two of these creatures, she loves them, in my attempt to justify a dog, I ran into this, I’m finding it to be true!!!!

The Dog’s Diary.

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!

1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 pm - Dinner! My favorite thing!

7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat's Diary - Day 983 of My Captivity My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. What the heck?

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking.

I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now…

Once again I couldn’t help but reflect, The attitude of this world is negative and judgmental, cat like, in some ways. The bible tells us that we can have a good attitude like a dog, if we renew our minds. Read Romans 12: 2...Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLTse) Keep Livin the Life!

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NEXT GENERATION

Ladies & Gentlemen this is how it is done! Jay (12 YO) & Trent Riddels (9 YO) of Libby Montana, tag teamed this bull. Yes, you read that right. Trent called him in and Jay shot it at five yards, his first elk with a bow. Next month we will have the full story.

Watch our blog for an earlier release.

Left: Zach Yerkes of Kalispell, MT with his first deer with a bow. Right: Ackley with his first grouse, owner Shawn Unsworth.

Jordan Weeks of Plains, MT with his first bow kill at 50 yards.

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LOCAL CELEBRITIES

Left to right: Randy Buckner Jr. of Libby, MT, Boyd White (left) and his hunting partner Nate Scofield of Libby, MT and Justin D. Stoltzfus of Eureka, MT. with some awesome bulls. Bottom left: Boyd White with his hunting partner Nate Scofield took this nice bull from the Cabinet mountains. Great job guys!

Bottom Right Corner: Top Left: Paul Welcome of Troy with a nice snagged salmon. Top Right: Tony Rebo with a limit of grouse. Bottom Row, Left to Right: Darrell Graves & John Derry of Libby, MT fishing for that record breaking trout below the Libby Dam.

Cody Jaynes of Libby, MT with a beautiful big boar bear. They had just got done chasing elk. It was the fourth bear they had seen that day. He almost passed on this big bear but it kept giving him a chance and once it stepped out into the sun he saw the size and color and just had to take it.

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FLY FISHING - CHUCK STRANAHAN

The Hunt for October Browns

By Chuck Stranahan Big brown trout, the kind that tantalize and then fracture the egos of anglers throughout the rest of the season, can be taken in October as their spawning cycle nears. They don’t suddenly get stupid, but their instincts can work in an angler’s favor – as long as the angler doesn’t get stupid. Like any trophy, big brown trout are best taken if they are deliberately hunted.

Big browns are cautious and wary all the time. But well before they spawn they will increasingly tend to attack whatever intrudes on their space – and as winter approaches they will tend to feed a little more aggressively than earlier in the year.

Those two behaviors can combine to provide some exciting times for the angler who is willing to hunt for them, and knows where and how to hunt.

As a hunter, I wouldn’t expect to find a trophy bull elk bedded down along a fencerow where I’m trying to kick out a pheasant – and while simply hunting “out in the woods” for the elk might get me closer, I’ll do better if I concentrate my efforts where that big bull is likely to be found. Same is true of big brown trout.

Brown trout tend to be more territorial than other trout. They have preferred lies – we all have heard stories of the big old brown that hangs under the foam patch, in dark water, near the old stump, or under the bridge… or some similar place.

These places all have three things in common: First, there is usually round-the clock shade. Brown trout are pie-eyed; that is, their eyes are larger than those of other trout. Trout can’t constrict their pupils as we can. Brown trout like shade.

My guesses, and I’d have to get into the brain of a big brown trout to know for sure, are these: the larger area of a brown’s pupil enables it to see under lower light conditions than other trout. That’s why they tend to feed at night more than other trout, and why they feed less in open sun than other trout. They’ll do it – but it takes a lot of available food to get them to move out of their preferred shaded lies and into the light to feed. Full-on sunlight must hurt their eyes.

We do best when we fish for them early, late, on overcast, or downright foul and rotten days. That’s when you want to be out.

If there’s no hatch or evidence of feeding activity, fish with streamers. Sometimes a big brown can be annoyed into blasting a sculpin that intrudes into its territory – just don’t spook him with your approach.

Second, while browns require moving water, they tend to hang in lies where the current moves at one to two feet per second.

Cutthroats will be comfortable in three feet per second current, and rainbows will sometimes live in current that is faster.

Third, brown trout like structure. They seem to like concealment against a tree or a root ball, along a rock ledge or a weed bed, or under a tangle of overhanging branches that gives them a hideaway. That hideaway might be only two feet deep, but three to eight feet is be better. Continued on pg. 20.

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FLY FISHING CONTINUED - CHUCK STRANAHAN That stagnant water in a deep hole at the edge of a thirty-foot cliff? Tempting, but forget it. There’s no current to make an available food source, or keep the trout’s gills pumping with very little effort. Don’t waste your hunt on water that is deep, and deep only.

And don’t approach that lie where a big brown might be with anything less than a full-on stalk. Keep shadows off the water where the trout might be holding, and don’t push a wake as you wade. Cast carefully. Don’t yank that errant cast off the water.

Instead, let the fly drift all the way through before carefully – ever-so-carefully – lifting it for another cast.

The hunt for big October browns begins with finding and fishing the right habitat. Find the right combination of current speed, shade, and structure on any of a number of Montana rivers where big browns can be found, concentrate your fishing there, and you’ll up your chances of catching them. Once you’ve taken that first one, you’ll realize that this isn’t a game for experts only – either that or you’ve just become one.

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NRA BANQUET The Sanders County Friends of the NRA held their 12th Annual banquet last month. Approximately 100 attendees showed up to support the NRA and its cause but just as important to take home a new gun or awesome prize. Couple that with a VFW watering hole and a prime rib dinner prepared by the Plains Women’s Club that was to die for and it was a win, win proposition for all.

Kevin Hill the auctioneer for the event worked the crowd and kept the fun going and their wallets open. All the committee members worked hard to ensure the event was fun and enjoyable. Olson Gunsmithing handled all the firearms transfers and many attendees left with some nice firearms. See winner list on next page. Here are a few pictures from the event:

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NRA BANQUET CONTINUED

Darby’s fish!

Committee Members Left to Right:: Karrie Lulack, Kealy Benson, Gerald Powell, Colette Morgan, Anita Marsh, Wayne Crismore (Chairman), Glenda and Dennis Olsen.

Kealy Benson, Alexis Helterline and Pepper Lulack helped with displaying auction items and a fine job they did! Pepper was the man of the hour as the ladies spot light him!

The Night’s Winners Karen Miller—Kimber 45 ACP Jeff Kujala—Benelli Nova Max 4 12 ga Randy & Shawana—Henry Golden Boy 44mag rifle Kevin Hill—Henry Golden Boy 22 riffle Gary Manzella—Winchester Model 70 / 30-06 Fred Mielke—Benelli Nova 12 ga Alan Wilmeth ticket was the last ticket pulled at the closing of the banquet for a camo Savage NRA Model 11 Predator 223 fitted with a 3 X 12 scope. After trying to find him it was determined he already left for the night. Winner had to be present for the drawing. Sally Miller’s ticket was the next ticket drawn and she took home the prize. Congratulations to all the winners!

A big thank you to Ron Wilks of Kalispell, MT for coming down to help the banquet.

Preserving the past ~ Funding the Future!

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STORY TIME - TOBY WALRATH The Spot

By Toby Walrath Trigger whipped his truck around and headed back home. He was planning to go hunt sand hill cranes today but a text message from “donotreply@GOT1” told him that Hoppy got an elk. Almost immediately his wife Kretch called and reaffirmed the message. When Trigger got home she had a computer map with Hoppy’s location pinpointed on her smart phone.

“That’s where he is or that’s where the bull is?” Trigger asked.

“I’m pretty sure that’s where the bull is and Hoppy too.” She replied.

“I know where that is but I don’t know if those gadgets can send a message from creek bottom. The message came from the top of a ridge, he might have had to walk up there to send it.”

“You could use the GPS coordinates to pinpoint the location. I’m sure that’s right where he is.” Kretch reassured him.

After writing the coordinates down on a piece of paper and stuffing them into his shirt pocket, Trigger rifled through his closet and pulled out a GPS someone had given him when they upgraded about six years ago, it looked fine. Then he gathered up two pack frames, rope, game bags and food for the hike in to Hoppy. On his way he stopped at the gas station to buy batteries for his GPS and pulled the unit from his pack to see what kind it took.

When he got to the trailhead an hour later, Trigger loaded all his gear and an additional pack frame for Hoppy onto his own and began the trek of about three miles in his estimation. Based on the computer maps he saw earlier Trigger figured it would take about two hours to get to the place where the GPS coordinates were. He planned to hike to the pipe-spring he had found the previous year while following a big bull, then punch in the GPS coordinates for a direct route to Hoppy and his bull. An hour later Trigger dropped his pack and laid the new batteries on his hat and pulled the paper from his pocket. It wasn’t until then that he realized the GPS was in the truck.

“Well, I guess I’ll do this the old fashioned way” Trigger thought.

A long descent through a burned out forest led him to a favorite open area with a spring-fed creek trickling through it.

Trigger hung pink ribbon on the trees and hand wrote messages for Hoppy on them in case they missed one another. The ridge Hoppy had sent his message from was in front of him now and he began the long, slow ascent to the top where he planned to blow his whistle until Hoppy replied.

At the top Trigger looked around at the charred landscape.

He was surrounded by burned forest with small irregular patches of green standing timber stretched out amidst deadfall and dusty soil. The forest was finally coming back after the burn 15 years ago. Trigger pulled his whistle from his pocket and blew it hard. The wind howled through the standing dead timber and he worried Hoppy wouldn’t be able to hear it. Ten more times in a row Trigger blew as loud as he could and waited. A faint Yoooo! From the ridge about a half mile away brought relief that Hoppy was still there.

Continued on page 24.

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STORY TIME CONTINUED - TOBY WALRATH “Hey!” Hoppy yelled and Trigger replied with equal vigor. The human voice can carry over the wind just as well as a whistle, and Hoppy always seemed able to yell a decibel or two higher than most people. The big bull was quartered and a meat pole hung when Trigger met Hoppy.

“Man this hunt was amazing! I can’t believe it!” Hoppy began the story of hearing the bull bugle and sneaking within 30 yards.

He had to wait 10 minutes before releasing the arrow and watched him fall after a short run. The bull’s harem blew out of the trees like rockets and scattered in every direction.

Trigger and Hoppy cooked a few chunks of meat on a spit and shared a beer that Trigger carried in just for the occasion.

Heavy bags of table fare were secured to pack frames and the two helped each other lift the heavy load onto fresh shoulders.

“There is cell phone service at the top of that ridge but I didn’t feel like walking up there so I just hit the button on my GOT-1 device. It’ll send a message from inside a log!” Hoppy explained.

“And how would you know that? Trigger asked.

“It’s just an expression” “What are you expressing?”

“That the technology is awesome, it saved me a trip out to get help and pinpointed my location exactly to you.”

“But you could have just walked up there and called me.”

“That’s technology! It’s made packing out elk easier and more time efficient. Come on, I know you’re anti-tech but you’ve got to admit that this technology is impressive.”

“I’ll be impressed when that little gadget picks up 80 pounds and carries it back to my truck. Let’s go before it gets dark, I didn’t bring extra batteries for the sun.”

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MORE HUNTING

The Silver Lining

By Jason Badger Fall is finally here, giving us a much needed reprieve from the beastly heat and parched soils we dealt with all summer long. This past summer was one of the hottest and driest in recent years and we all felt the impacts, especially the wildlife.

We are still experiencing those effects as large predators continue to seek food sources amongst our homes. However, there is a silver lining to that ominous cloud of despair. The lack of late spring and early summer moisture allowed our upland bird species a banner year for nesting success.

Across much of northwestern Montana grouse populations appear to be quit high. This is great news for anybody with a hankering for grouse and noodles. My family and I have been grouse hunting several times this season and have consistently had good success.

The lack of water has affected the birds in much the same way as it has affected our big game. A reliable water source is very important, so in many areas grouse are concentrated around existing water. In other areas where I have done very well hunting in the past, birds seem to be non-existent, as does the water. Consequently I have had to adjust my hunting strategy, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This has allowed me the opportunity to explore some new areas and re-visit other locations I haven’t been to in years. I’m also not finding large groups of birds together. Most of my encounters consist of singles, which makes selecting a target much easier than when three or four grouse flush at once.

Another unscientific yet interesting observation I have made this year is the distribution of ruffed grouse. Normally a dweller of low to mid-elevation draws and canyons relatively close to surface water, I have been encountering them down lower than I’ve seen them in the past, as well as the tops of the tallest ridges. This has made for some interesting multi-species bags for us, as the ruffed are frequently rubbing elbows with the Dusky and the Spruce grouse.

Typical fall weather like we are experiencing now consists of cool mornings and nights followed by warm to almost hot days means taking care of harvested game birds promptly is even more important. Birds have very acidic digestive systems so it’s imperative to at least draw the innards as soon as possible to prevent strong tasting meat or spoilage. Flushing grouse are frequently hit with rear or rear-quartering shots, potentially creating a mess that should be dealt with immediately. In anything but cool weather I field dress the birds immediately, rinse them out with a little clean water, and put them on ice if possible. Their small bodies cool quickly under the right conditions, making for top notch table fare.

Along those lines, please remember that you must leave one fully feathered wing attached to any grouse being transported in the state of Montana. Additionally, it is considered wanton waste to just breast the grouse out, as is common practice. Legally the breast and thigh must be retained. And why not? The thighs off of a mature grouse have a fair amount of meat on them.

If you’re bored with the same old grouse recipe, spend a little time on-line looking at new ways to prepare it. Grouse are excellent on the table and there are many ways to cook it, so be creative! Happy hunting!

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SALMON FISHING

Snag It & Drag It!

By Raf Viniard During my trip to Libby and Troy last month I decided to get in on a little of the salmon snagging action I was hearing about.

First trip out with Kori Erickson and her son Marley didn’t last long for me as my reel broke the first cast. But it sure was fun watching Marley snag one after another. That boy is good!

Later that day I hooked up with a young man Joe Stewart buying more weighted treble hooks at Libby Sports Center. We agreed to meet at the Kootenai Falls at 5:00PM so he could show me how it was done. Right on time he rolled up with two other friends. I outfitted them with some Montana Woods n Water hats and off down the mountain, crossed the foot bridge and I looked for some snagging opportunities but few was to be had. I had to leave to meet a client and they stayed and caught enough for supper. I accidentally left my camera and these young men were kind enough to not only bring it back, but take some pictures of their catch that I missed out on.

Austin Baken, Patrick Smith and Joseph “Joe” Stewart all of Libby, MT. Patrick is also a member of the Montana Army National Guard and is looking to eventually go active duty. To the parents of these young men...they were very respectful and obviously very trustworthy by returning my camera. I hope to get to fish with them in the future. Thanks guys!

So what is all this snagging about? First you need plenty of fish...trying to snag 5 or 6, 10-12 inch salmon in a pool of running/turbulent water can be very tricky and the bigger and faster the pool of water the more tricky. Secondly a lot of weighted treble hooks. I think I bought a dozen and came home with three, and two of those were somebody’s else misfortune that I accidentally snagged. The rocks absolutely love them.

Third, location, location, location. Watch where the locals fish and how they fish...there is a technique. Continued on top of next page.

Taxidermy Tips

By Tim Patton Recently I have had several questions concerning big game and how to process the cape for mounting purposes. Once the animal has been shot, cleaning the animal is the most important. Second is getting the animal cooled off. If your animal is a trophy and you would like to turn it into a wall hanger, find a taxidermist and get the animal there as early as you can. Bacteria will start to set into the cape within a short time with the warm weather during the fall season.

Depending where your location is, and if you can't get the animal to a taxidermist, get several bags of ice and put them into the gutted portion of the animal, it will cool it off from inside out. If you’re not sure what to do with cape, call a taxidermist before you go on your hunt and they can tell you the best way to preserve the animal. Once your trophy is at the taxidermist, processing the animal to get it tanned will vary in time, depending on the workload prior to your trophy coming in will vary. Some taxidermist require a deposit before the animal is started, this will also determine a specific time frame. I require half down and the rest due when the mount is completed. I also take payments and will work with the customer to ensure the easiest process for your trophy to be taken home. Good luck on your hunt.

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SALMON FISHING CONTINUED The next morning I was in place by daylight but I picked the wrong side of the creek. I managed to catch a couple before another gentleman arrived and boy did he show this rookie how it was done and I mean within an hour or two he was packing up and heading to the house with his limit. I eventually ended up with seven nice size salmon. I give it all I had for three hours before I had to go to work but I sure had fun. Next year I will be there when the run is at full tilt and I now know the right spot to sit thanks to Kori and her son. Here are a few pictures the young men shared with me.

Montana Woods N Water Goes Blogging www.blog.montanawoodsnwater.com With hunting season in full swing and getting the print edition ready to hit the street I have slacked on my blogging entries. I promise to get better. I have so many topics I want to write about and some are even done just need to get posted. I need to clone myself about 2-3 more times but I think my honey might agree.

The blog is not just for me to write but if you like to write about your outdoor adventures send it over to me so our followers can read about your adventures as well. Bu the time this publication his the streets in hard copy here are a couple of teasers for our blog.

Chokecherries Galore! By Jen Mickelson - As fall approaches we are blessed with the harvest of what might be Montana’s most under-utilized berry, the chokecherry. Overshadowed by the huckleberry, the chokecherry grows in many different types of soils, one of the many reasons it has proliferated in the Treasure State. Chokecherry grows best at mid to low elevations, but ‌

Grouse and Gravel Roads By Raf Viniard - Being raised in the south the August squirrel season brought in the fall hunting season. Opening day of Dove season was right behind that around the first week in September.

Those days in the south were very hot and humid but the smell of freshly fired gun powder and squirrels still hangs in my nostrils to this day. Here in Montana, Grouse season ...

It is FREE so sign up and get the latest updates. If you have video, pictures or stories you would like to share send them to me at Raf@montanawoodsnwater.com. Check it out!

WWW.MONTANAWOODSNWATER.COM 27

EVENTS Got an event you want listed? Send an email to Raf@montanawoodsnwater.com with the following information : What, When and Where. All event listings subject to approval.

16th Annual NW MT Veterans Stand Down When: October 3rd Where: Libby VFW Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) Banquet When: October 10th Where: Trout Creek, MT/Lakeside Motel & Resort The Great Pumpkin Contest—Libby Chamber of Commerce When: October 17th Where: Chamber Parking Lot Halloween Costume Party When: October 30th Where: Halfway House, Bull Lake

Harry Marvin's Montana DIY Bull Elk antlers and the sizzling meat being cooked over a spit on Sunday September 20

Tanner Ovitt of Plains, MT with his first bull and with a bow!

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