Vol. 49 #1 Fall 2021 Issue

Montana Bowhunters Association PO Box 426 Helena MT 59624 Return service requested

Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 120 Bozeman, MT 59718

DIRECTORS AT LARGE REGIONAL REPS OFFICERS

Regional News!

Canyon Ferry Carp Safari 2021

MBA

Regional Representatives Region 1

Al Kelly

PO Box 219, Libby, MT 59923 .....................................406-293-2900 alman@frontiernet.net

Region 2

Marlon Clapham 4455 Hoover Lane, Stevensville, MT 59870 ..................406-777-2408

Kevin Robinson 2110 Wylie Ave, Missoula, MT 59802 ........................406-531-8243

mbaregion2@gmail.com kevin.robinson@technometalpost.com

Region 3

Liberty Brown

Paul Kemper

275 Vigilante Trl. Bozeman, MT 59718 .......................406-581-7216 mbareg3@gmail.com 303 S Yellowstone Ave., Bozeman, MT 59718...............814-490-3653 p.kemper.54@gmail.com

Region 4

Michael Prater

Jess Wagner

416 Entrance Ave., Lewistown, MT 59457 ................. 406-461-6949

Region 5

Ben Buller

Ken Schultz

201 Big Sky Lane, Lewistown, MT 59457 .....................406-939-3458

4143 King Ave East, Billings, MT 59101 ......................406-672-5616 302 Wyoming Ave., Billings, MT. 59101 ......................406-598-8550

Tristan Manuel

48538 Anderson Rd, Havre, MT 59501 ...................... 406-399-5114 4996 Bullhook Rd., Havre, MT 59501............................406-390-0402 bowdude@mtintouch.net

Region 7

Rick Miller

Bob Morgan

PO Box 2336 Colstrip, MT 59323...................................406-749-0292 P.O. Box 1995, Colstrip, MT 59323...............................406-749-0706

AT LARGE DIRECTORS 5901 Western Drive, Great Falls MT 59404 - obsession_archery@yahoo.com...... 406-788-9009 5901 Western Drive, Great Falls MT 59404 - camoquilter@gmail.com.................. 406-750-9953 PO Box 51428 Billings, MT 59105-1361 - muleybum@gmail.com......................... 406-281-8846 416 Entrance Ave., Lewistown MT 59457 - mthuntress406@gmail.com............... 406-461-6949

ODD YEARS

355 Antelope Drive, Dillon, MT 59725 – raygross0144@gmail.com...........406-660-1019 351 7th Ave East N., Columbia Falls, MT 59912...........................................406-250-9806 – michaelshepard7@gmail.com

TJ Smith

2574 Divide Rd • Lewistown, MT 59457 mbaregion4@yahoo • 406-535-5636 1ST VICE PRESIDENT

Brian Koelzer 80 Jansma Lane • Manhattan, MT 59741 rocknrollbowhunter3@yahoo.com • 406-570-7997 2ND VICE PRESIDENT

Mark Schwomeyer 60 Hruska Ln • Lewistown, MT 59457 markschwo@gmail.com • 406-350-0173 TREASURER

Claudia Davis PO Box 426 • Helena, MT. 59624 mtba@mtba.org • 406-404-6168 SECRETARY

Jerry Davis 25 Middlemas Road • Helena, MT 59602 pipelinejerry@gmail.com • 406-475-2226 PAST PRESIDENT

Marlon Clapham 4455 Hoover Lane • Stevensville, MT 59870 mbaregion2@gmail.com • 406-777-2408

grrizzz@q.com robertredface@gmail.com

Ray Gross Mike Shepard

PRESIDENT

Stephen LePage

tristan.manuel@gmail.com

Nick Siebrasse

Cliff Garness Mandy Garness Rich Smith Stephanie Prater

officers

buller_ben@yahoo.com schultzy@iwks.net

EVEN YEARS

MBA

Michael.prater@live.com jess_wagner2@hotmail.com

Region 6

www.mtba.org

2238 Ridgeview Drive, Billings, MT 59101 - sarchery@bresnan.net.............406-690-5676

EDITORIAL COMMENTS The MBA Magazine is a quarterly publication of the MBA and is intended to inform, entertain and educate its members on happenings within the organization and to bowhunting in general.

PUBLICATION DATES AND DEADLINES

FALL ISSUE, DEADLINE, July 15 WINTER ISSUE, DEADLINE, October 15 SPRING ISSUE, DEADLINE, January 15 SUMMER ISSUE, DEADLINE, April 15 Stories, photos, or cartoons should be sent to Julie Jensen at 5311 151 Ave SE, Kindred, ND 58051

or email jjensen44@mac.com. All materials are the opinion of the author unless otherwise stated, and are subject to being edited. All submitted or published photos may be used by the MBA in the newsletter, and MBA Photo Album and/or on Facebook. Any questions as to policies of MBA please contact the President.

MEMBERSHIP INQURIES

Please send new memberships or renewal memberships to MBA Tresurer, PO Box 426, Helena MT 59624 or call 406-404-6168, register online at www.mtba.org or ask a member.

MAGAZINE EDITOR

Julie Jensen 5311 151 Ave SE • Kindred, ND 58051 jjensen44@mac.com • 701-361-9197

WEB DESIGNER

Liberty Brown Branding Iron Marketing liberty@brandingironmarketingllc.com 406-581-7216 MAGAZINE DESIGN

K Design Marketing, Inc. 1613 South Ave. W. • Missoula, MT 59801 kim@kdesignmarketing.com 406-273-6193

For all those who purchase the plate, the MBEF would like to invite you to send us a photo of your plate on your vehicle.

Be creative, include yourself, pets, family, trophies of all sorts, etc.

Photos will be posted on the website. www.mtbowhuntermuseum.org

Fall 2021

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EDITOR’S NOTE

MBA Committees Legislative:

Jerry Davis, Chair Ray Gross • Marlon Clapham Richard Lewallen • Joelle Selk • Stephen LePage

Tentatives:

Ray Gross, Chair Paul Martin • Mark Schwomeyer Stephen La Page • Marlon Clapham

Financial:

Chair Claudia Davis • Jenn Schneider Ray Gross • Rich Lewallenier

Landowner/Sportsman: Mark Schwomeyer, Chair Bob Morgan • Barrett Haugan Jesse Wagner • Stephanie Prater

Nominations:

S

ummer for me is a time of reflection. As a former educator, this was the time to look back on my previous teaching year. Did I do my best? Did I make their life better? Education isn’t just about the subject taught, but about improving the mind and the soul. How can we nurture our students so they will be happy well-adjusted adults. Isn’t that what we all want for our future generation. They will be taking care of mother earth, our plants and animals, and us.

This is also true of Montana Bowhunters Association. MBA takes care of our children. They educate them beginning at a very young age. One of my grandsons loves to shoot his “bew” and stalk deer and bear. A few of my other grandchildren are anxious to sit up in a tree to watch for elk. They even practiced climbing up and down the ladder this summer. While they were up there, they practiced glassing the surrounding area. Our granddaughter Taylor, at six years old, has her own pair of “binos” now.

MBA also takes great pride in care of land and animal. It is so important to give the young time to grow and mature. Staying out of the hills in the early spring gives mom and babe more peace…without humans interfering. The conservation efforts don’t go without notice. How else could Montana have such an abundance of wildlife.

Have a great fall! I hope you get the big one and that you can feed your family well. Enjoy the great outdoors.

Julie Jensen

­ rian Koelzer, Chair B Al Kelly • Paul Martin • Cliff Garness

Awards:

Brian Koelzer, Chair Al Kelly • Rich Lewallen • Marlon Clapham

Membership:

Marlon Clapham, Chair Jenn Schneider • Ray Gross Barrett Haugan • Ken Schultz Joelle Selk – Membership Assistant

Convention 2021-Region 3 To be determined Region 1- 2022 Fairmont

Magazine:

Al Kelly, Chair Julie Jensen, Editor Joelle Selk • Brian Koelzer • Jerry Davis

Website:

Liberty Brown • Jenn Schneider Beckie Doyle • Kevin Robinsone

Carp Shoot:

Joelle Selk, Chair Nick Siebrasse • Cliff Garness

Bow-Ed:

Al Kelly, Chair Brian Koelzer • Bob Morgan • Mark Schwomeyer Ray Gross • Marlon Clapham • Nick Siebrasse

Youth Membership and MBA Teen Bowhunter Camp

www.pronghornbows.com 307-234-1824 evenings 2491 West 42nd Street Casper, WY 82604

Marlon Clapham, Chair This committee will involve a combination of board members, MBA members and youth from each region.

All area reps. will try to recruit youth from their region to get involved with the MBA’s decision-making process and planning for youth events. This will mostly be done through e-mail contacts but MBA members and youth members will be welcome to attend the Board Meeting if they are able to do so. The goal of this committee is to increase involvement and awareness of youth bowhunters and encourage future participation in the MBA. Youth ages 16 to 19 are encouraged to participate as well as any active member over the age of 19.

Reg. 1 – Al Kelly (Region 1 rep) Rich Hjort (MBA member) Reg. 2 – Jackie Doyle (MBA member) Jerry & Beckie Doyle (MBA members) Reg. 3 – Vacant Reg. 4 – Jess Wagner (Region 4 rep) Reg. 5 – Vacant Reg. 6 – Vacant Reg. 7 – Vacant Reg. 8 – Vacant In accordance with the By-Laws any member can be on a Committee without being on the Board of Directors. They just cannot stand as the Chairman.

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Montana

BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

TABLE OF CONTENTS VOL. 49 #1 Fall 2021

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EDITOR’S NOTE

4

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Julie Jensen Stephen LePage

7 13 14

1ST VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Brian Koelzer

5 6

SECRETARY’S MESSAGE

Jerry Davis TREASURER’S MESSAGE

Claudia Davis

15 16 17

REGIONAL REPORTS 2021 CANYON FERRY CARP SAFARI PERFECT SHOT - MAYBE NOT?

Rick Miller BUSINESS & CLUB MEMBERS FWP COMMISSIONER CONTACTS MBA MEMBERSHIP FORM MEMBER GALLERY

BLAST FROM THE PAST

On the Cover

Regional News!

Austin Miller 2020 Antelope

OFFICE RS REGION AL RE DIRECT PS ORS AT LARGE

Can Carp Safyon Ferry ari 2021

Non-Profi t Org. U.S. PO STAGE PAID Permit # 120 Bozem an, MT 59718

Montana Bowhun PO Box ters Ass 426 ociation Helena MT 596 24 Return service requested

Fall 2021

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OFFICER’S REPORTS

PRESIDENT - STEPHEN LEPAGE 1ST VICE PRESIDENT - BRIAN KOELZER 2ND VICE PRESIDENT - MARK SCHWOMEYER - NO REPORT TREASURER - CLAUDIA DAVIS SECRETARY - JERRY DAVIS

President’s

I

Message

want to thank everyone who volunteered their time to help make the Carp Safari a great event. It was very pleasant to hear hunting stories, visit with old friends and make a few new ones. I did not take a shot at a single carp, but enjoyed the entire process.

These MBA sponsored, community building events have become a staple in the LePage household. I have been fortunate to watch a generation of young bowhunters grow and flourish through these events. Even my 18-yearold daughter, who does not currently like to attend family events, would rather get her wisdom teeth pulled than miss a Carp Safari or an MBA banquet. We have formed some of our closest friendships at these events and we feel as if the MBA is our extended family.

On the other hand, the important work that the MBA does is amazing and I wish you could see the commitment, effort and passion that your board strives for to advance our mission of uniting Montana’s bowhunters to promote and protect bowhunting. And you, our membership, are the most important part of this effort. Thank you for responding to MBA surveys, attending regional meetings to voice your concerns, and jumping into action when your legislative committee requests an email or phone call to the politicians. You, the due paying members of the MBA, are the backbone of this great organization and I thank each and every one of you.

I just got back from a trip to South Africa with a great group of friends and family. We were able to spend almost two weeks bowhunting with Matlabas Game Hunters, who have been a longtime donor and supporter of the Montana Bowhunters Association. This family run operation donates a great hunt to the MBA annually and it is offered up at our banquet. I first went hunting with Willem and Flippie Frost back in 2008. It was my first trip to bowhunt on a new continent and it substantially transformed my outlook on life. Our visit in 2021 was no less impactful. The bowhunting was amazing.

The food was delicious and we were able to sample almost every animal that our group killed. The hospitality and accommodations were fantastic.

Due to Covid restrictions, travel was more difficult. We had confusion determining which of the many pre-travel tests were required before leaving the country. In addition, getting the correct test results, in the time frame required, was a bit of a mess. We also had to get tested before leaving South Africa. Unfortunately, one of our party tested positive and had to remain at Matlabas. Although I felt horrible leaving a man behind, I felt a bit of envy that he was quarantined at a world class African bowhunting lodge and since then he has killed an eland, a wildebeest and a warthog during his quarantine.

I am secretly jealous.

Stephen LePage

First Vice

President’s

I

Report

t’s an odd feeling and difficult to explain unless you’ve experienced it yourself. Restlessness, excitement, and anticipation are words that can describe part of it but certainly no all. It’s routine in the deepest crevices of our DNA right next to breathing and reproducing . . .

The need to hunt is as old as mankind. Hunting = food, food = survival.

Although no longer a necessity to most, the primal urge has been watered down to virtually nothing in a large part of our population. The frail and strange-looking people who live in the concrete world baffle me. I don’t know if the primal urge lives in them at all and if they felt it, they’d even know what it was. I feel bad for the people who’ve never ventured into the woods or even tried to sneak up on a tweety bird or a squirrel, let alone hear the bugle of a distant bull or the grunt of a whitetail as he chases a doe through the river bottoms. Unfortunately, these folks have a say in what goes on in our world, too, and they seem to have very strong opinions.

The primal urge to hunt for me is certainly not a seasonal thing, as my whole life is spent in the great outdoors in some fashion, but come the first of August, a different tingle starts to zip through my being. Like a pregnant woman in the “nesting” stage, I start organizing, waterproofing, inspecting, and re-inspecting everything that will accompany me in the upcoming months of adventure–whatever that may be. The days are shorter, the nights are cooler, and when the magical day comes, I’m ready and I feel more alive than at any other time in the year!

Those days are almost upon us and I’m ready.

Recently, I attended the Pope and Young convention held in Reno.

President LePage and his son as well as a good handful of other MT folks also made the journey south to attend the gathering. It was great to spend a long weekend with so many great bowhunters, catch up on stories, and look at so many incredible critters. Ten new world records were crowned, which is definitely a testament to conservation and the North American Wildlife Model. Getting to chat with folks from all over North America makes me very happy that I live in MT and for the bowhunting opportunity we have here.

Anti-hunters and crossbows have ruined much of the archery opportunity in other states, but thankfully the “last best place” has managed to stay strong.

But not without a whole lot of work and there is definitely more to come. I did a podcast with Green Mountain Tradcast a while ago and the host, who lives in Vermont, told me that 2020 was the first year crossbows were allowed in archery season. After the annual game harvest data was collected, 70% of the “archery” harvest was with crossbows. Bad news there.

I hope you all have a great fall and get ample time to enjoy the great outdoors with bow in hand. >>>——————->

Brian Koelzer

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Montana

BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

OFFICER REPORTS

Sectretary’s Message

I

f you attended this year’s Carp Safari, I want to thank you all for supporting MBA. I hope you all had fun and had plenty to eat. Even though I did not shoot carp this year I had a great time cooking and visiting with friends.

I also want to welcome our new board members, welcome to the board and I hope you find the experience rewarding.

Now on to Legislative business. Here are some of the bills that passed this session that may impact bowhunters. I will leave it up to you to decide if they are favorable or not. The information I am posting is largely from Montana Wildlife Federations web site bill tracker and from my personal knowledge.

Please review and take note of each bill’s sponsor. I will try to compile a voting record for the next issue.

I hope you find this useful, and I suggest you keep it on hand for reference when it comes time to again vote for those that represent you in our State Government.

HB 108 Revise trespass laws regarding permission for hunting by Rep Denely Loge.

Requested by the Private Land/Public Wildlife (PLPW) council to discourage hunter trespassing on private land. It makes penalties for trespassing more severe and can include the loss of hunting privileges.

HB 119 Requiring FW Commission approval of certain landowner elk licenses Rep Denely Loge.

Restores the requirement of Fish and Wildlife Commission approval for these non-transferrable elk licenses that are given to landowners who open their property to public access. It is a cleanup bill that the Commission asked for after last session.

HB 120 Revising laws related to bonus points by Rep Denley Loge Clarifies that a hunter must be eligible to draw a license before they can apply for a bonus point in years in which they want to buy that point.

HB 138 Revising trap and snare tagging requirement laws by Rep Paul Fielder Makes verbal permission acceptable for trapping on private lands and it removes the requirement that phone numbers be on traps.

HB 224 Allow for the snaring of wolves in Montana by licensed trappers by Rep Paul Fielder.

Requires that the Fish and Wildlife Commission allow snaring of wolves during trapping seasons.

HB 225 Establish wolf trapping season dates by Rep Paul Fielder Allow the Fish and Wildlife Commission to expand the wolf trapping dates and adjust season lengths based on regions.

HB 242 Establishing a muzzleloader heritage hunt season by Rep Caleb Hinkle Creates a nine-day traditional muzzleloader season that starts after the end of the general rifle season.

HB 271 Revise County Road adoption procedure re: subdivision plats by Rep Ron Marshall A road on a final subdivision plat that is dedicated to public use is not considered a county road until the board of county commissioners approves by resolution the adoption of the road as a county road.

HB302 Require County approval to relocate bison by Rep Joshua Kassmier Give County commissioners control over any efforts to restore buffalo.

HB318 Clarify definition of bison by Rep Kenneth Holmlund Redefines buffalo that come out of Yellowstone National Park and are held in a quarantine facility as livestock, as well as any bison held anywhere and ends the possibility of ever translocating them in Montana to reestablish a wild buffalo herd.

HB 353 Authorizes replacement hunting license when harvested game is unfit for consumption by Rep Steve Gunderson Hunters can receive a replacement license when their game tests positive for chronic wasting disease and is therefore unable to be eaten.

HB 45 Revise come home to hunt license requirements by Rep Brian Putnam Make rules more stringent for nonresident hunters to qualify for a half price big game combination license to hunt with family members by making it mandatory to have taken hunter education and previously purchased a resident license.

HB 468 Allowing hound hunting and chase seasons for black bears

by Rep Paul Fielder Creates a hound hunting season for black bears, as well as a spring chase training season.

HB 48 Removes occupation from hunting/fishing license application requirements by Rep Steve Gist A hunter’s occupation will no longer be part of the record while applying for a license.

Jerry Davis

HB 54 Revises who qualifies to accompany nonresident youth combination license hunters by Rep Kerri Seekins-Crowe Adds stepparents and legal guardians to the people who can legally accompany a nonresident youth hunter.

HB 637 Generally revise fish, wildlife, and parks laws by Rep Seth Berglee Includes spending $1 million per year on pheasant stocking, removing the waiting period to use black bear and mountain lion licenses, and gives some special treatment to non-resident landowners.

HB 647 Revises nonresident student hunting and fishing fees by Rep Steven Galloway Allows nonresident full time college students in Montana to get deer, elk and fishing licenses for resident rates. It requires that their home state extends similar courtesy to Montana residents attending college there.

HB 701 Generally revise marijuana laws by Rep Mike Hopkins Diverts all the funding generated by the voter-approved marijuana initiative away from Habitat Montana.

SB 115 Establish acquisitions requiring land board consideration

by Sen Keith Regier Requires conservation easements under Habitat Montana receive State Land Board approval.

SB 116 Revising antlerless elk tag license laws by Sen Duane Ankney Lowers the acreage requirement to 160 acres to qualify for free, nontransferrable elk licenses for landowners who allow free public hunting access.

SB 267 Authorize reimbursement for wolf trapping and hunting by Sen Bob Brown Allows for reimbursement of costs associated with trapping wolves by Montana trappers, by some this is considered a bounty.

SB 275 Generally revise the board of outfitters and outfitting laws and enforcement by Sen Jeff Welborn Removes the two sportspersons from the board, removes reporting requirements for clients, and takes away the reporting requirement of leased private land acres.

SB 314 Revise laws related to wolf harvest by Sen Bob Brown Allows night hunting for wolfs on private land and allows the take of multiple wolves on one license.

SB 314 Revise laws related to wolf harvest by Sen Bob Brown Prevents the Montana FWP staff from relocating grizzly bears that are in conflict situations outside of the federal recovery areas.

SB 354 Revise laws related to land servitudes and easements by Sen Steve Hinebauch Seeks to make the use of prescriptive easements by to public to access public lands much more difficult.

SB 60 Requiring trapper education for certain resident trappers

by Sen Patrick Flowers Institutes mandatory trapper education.

SB 62 Revise unlawful possession laws Sen Bob Brown Strengthens game laws by making clear it is a violation to illegally possess animals even when it is left in the field to waste.

SB 98 Revising laws related to grizzly bear take in defense of persons and livestock by Sen Bruce Gillespie Grizzly bears seen as threatening livestock can be killed. This may preclude delisting of grizzly bears from the ESA. Hope you find the above useful.

Thanks

Jerry Davis Fall 2021

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Claudia Davis

OFFICER’S REPORTS

Treasurer’s Message

W

hat a summer so far! Lots of hot temperatures and now smoke. Montana might not be the vacation destination in the future, but we will always be the bowhunter’s destination in the fall. Because we have the greatest bowhunting season anywhere . . . or so I am told!

We had some excitement when our ten-year-old grandson, Hudson, came to visit and to try out his new bowfishing outfit. He missed the Carp Safari because he is an exceptionally good baseball player and had a tournament that weekend. (Proud Grandma) He got a taste for bowfishing last year at the Safari and Grandpa bought him a bow and reel for his birthday. Our daughter, Jessica, and Hudson headed out to Goose Bay on Canyon Ferry Lake with Grandpa Jerry around noon on a very hot day.

Hudson and Jessica each got two carp. Hudson caught a large pregnant female and was very excited. Jessica so wanted to get a third fish, just to beat Hudson.

But even after we all went back out around 7 pm no new fish were caught. What a great way to introduce your grandkids to the bow and arrow.

We are at the end of our fiscal year and again we spent more than we took in. Luckily, we are able to weather these lean times. We were still able to produce our wonderful quarterly magazine and sponsor a few shooting events, and provide adaptive equipment. We spent a lot of time, but hardly any money on fighting for our archery season during the legislative session. All our members and officers are very generous and donate their time and travel expenses to show up and stand up for what we all cherish.

We gained some new members from all parts of our state, due to our hard fought battles. If you are reading this and are not a member, please fill out the membership form and join us. You will not regret being a part of a wonderful organization dedicated to Montana bowhunting.

If all goes well, I’ll see you at the banquet in the spring of 2022.

Claudia Davis

Blast from the Past

The MBA membership had reached 1142 and was expecting to reach 1500 in the next few years.

As far as the 1983 Tentative Proposals proposed by the MBA went as follows. The Antelope archery-only season was granted and the new season archery-only would start in 1984.

The Big Horn Sheep archery-only season was met with a lot of discussion all across the state. Both FWP and General Rifle hunters along with several other groups all wanting a special season for one weapon or

Blast From The Past | 1983, 1984 This issue of Blast From The Past covers 1983 and 1984.

1983 Lee Pool was the MBA President serving in his last year.

It was an FWP Tentative year and the MBA submitted 3 proposals to the FWP Commission.

1 – A Big Horn Sheep archery HD boarding HD 216 on the north side.

They were trying to get 9 archery-only permits for any legal ram.

2 – We tried to get a Mountain Goat archery-only permit in a portion of HD 240 south. First preference was for Tin Cup, Rock Creek, and Lost Horse. Asking for 15 permits. The second preference was in Saw Tooth and Roaring Lion asking for 10 permits there.

3 – We were trying to gain an archery-only permit for Antelope in HD 400, 500, 600, and 700 starting with the opener of the general Archery Season until the Rifle General Season opens. It would give bowhunters 3 weeks prior to the general season and unlimited tags for bowhunters.

many days for a hunting seasons. With so many different groups wanting a piece of those days all groups felt it best to leave things as they are.

The Bowhunters would have lost opportunity during the Archery Season making room for everyone else. It was in the best interest pull the proposal off the table.

No idea what happened to the goat proposal, it was not mentioned in any of the newsletters.

This next segment came from a letter written by Henry Schwenke.

The letter covered the first time the Montana Bowhunters Association formed back in the early 1950s, Henry joined in 1956. He wrote that in those early years the bowhunters were limited to hunt only deer and they had to wear red clothing too! In 1957, Joe McNutt, the current President, went to the Legislature to get all big-game animals to be included with archery equipment and in the archery season. The bill passed the House Committee but only antelope and elk would be allowed. It moved to the Fish and Game Committee and they killed it. The Billings Club, Sidney Bowhunters, and the Silver Bowmen of Butte sent a bunch of guys to

The 1983 Convention was held in Lewistown at the Yogo Inn. Tickets

Helena to meet with the Committee and they got it up for a second vote in

sold for a whopping $14.50 and Hotels in the area cost ranged from $16.00

the Senate and it passed with only two senators voting no. The Governor

per night up to $43.00 per night.

signed the bill into law to include antelope and elk in the archery season.

Calvin Coziak from Idaho was the guest speaker.

The first Shoulder Hunt for elk was held in HD 261 in the Bitterroot.

Hunting started September 10

th

One big ranch where no hunting was allowed harbored the local elk through the general season then after the season the elk would move to surrounding ranches causing damage. (Sound familiar) 1984 Lee Pool started the year as President until the elections at the Convention. G.L. “Buck” Damone was elected as our new MBA President.

The 1984 Convention was held In Butte at the Copper King Inn. Gene and Barry Wensel gave a seminar on hunting Rutting Whitetails. Dwight Schuh had Bugling for elk seminar. Randle Byers from the P&Y Records Chairman and MR James from Bowhunter Mag. and G Fred Asbell were all in attendance.

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another. As the meeting wore on it was felt that there were only just so

Montana

BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

The first two seasons were only two weeks in the western part and one month in the eastern part of the state. With a lot of letter writing and a new proposal to make the season the same across the state. More letters the MBA got on the agenda to wear camo clothing instead of the red.

In 1958 the two state’s archery clubs merged. One was the target archers and the other were the Montana Bowhunters Association. The target archers more or less took over the organization, and the bowhunters took a back seat until 1972 when Bob Savage organized our founding fathers and revived todays Montana Bowhunters Association.

How’s that for some history not many of us can recall, as most of us weren’t born yet.

Hope you enjoyed this bit of history.

Marlon Clapham

REGIONAL REP0RTS

REGION 1 AL KELLY

Marlon Clapham

REGION 2 MARLON CLAPHMAN KEVIN ROBINSON REGION 3 LIBERTY BROWN PAUL KEMPER (NO REPORT) REGION 4 MICHAEL PRATER (NO REPORT) JESS WAGNER REGION 5 BEN BULLER (NO REPORT) KEN SCHULTZ

REGION 2

REGION 6 TRISTAN MANUEL (NO REPORT) NICK SIEBRASSE

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AL KELLY

Al Kelly Friends,

H

ope this post finds you well. As I write this article, we are just past the middle of July and it is hotter than hell with fires a plenty.

Not sure what the hunting season will bring for wildfire land closures and such, but it is feeling kind of ominous here in our part of the state. Anyone proficient at rain dancing please feel free to practice your craft in Lincoln County. I would even buy you a barley flavored refreshment of your choice if you were successful.

By now, plans for the upcoming bow season have been made. Hope everyone’s arrows fly true.

Al Kelly

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REGION 7 RICK MILLER BOB MORGAN (NO REPORT)

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MARLON CLAPHAM KEVIN ROBINSON ere it is mid-summer and it seams to be blowing by, literally. I can’t remember when the wind has blown for so many

days.

Things are slowly going back to normal; we are even going to try to hold a Bowhunter Education class in late July. We’ll be doing aa archery introduction class at the Teller Wildlife Refuge teaching a group of young women the finer art of shooting archery equipment. Earlier, about fifty Girl Scouts used our equipment for four days of archery, shooting targets and balloons. As always, they all love the shooting of bows.

By now the special permits should have all been drawn for and notices sent out. Again, the moose in my HD are safe from me. Well over forty years and still no moose tag. The good thing is I’ll try again next year and maybe, just maybe, I’ll get lucky. I haven’t heard of anyone drawing any special permits. Whoever drew, we will be waiting for the story in the newsletter after the hunt. Good luck to who ever drew.

So far things have been quite on the FWP front, haven’t heard of any major issues rising up, but I haven’t been around too many other bowhunters.

One concern we have is the shut-down of Hellgate Hunters and Anglers archery range due to unsafe activities. This is the range the MBA donated funds to awhile back and is free for the public to use. Now some knuckle heads messed it up for everyone. I will be checking up to see when it gets opened up again.

Merri and I are hoping to get over to Fort Peck to try the Paddle Fish in the Dredge Cuts the August, we hear it is a challenge, and we are excited to give it a try.

Well, that’s about all I’ve got for now. It’s time to start shooting the broadheads and tuning up for Archery Season. Maybe we’ll get some late summer rain and cool off a bit so the woods don’t get shut down.

Anyway, Keep-Em Sharp and Shoot-Em Straight. Good Luck This Fall

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appy Summer everyone. The archery seasons are right around the corner and with that, hopefully less smoke and cooler temps. The dry conditions will definitely play a huge role in where the critters will be found and how we hunt. Let’s all cross our fingers that wildfires do not delay or close the early part of September.

Again we were not able to have our annual spring convention but the Carp Safari gathering was a great time. The “Carp Gods” were not on our side this year with dismal harvest numbers and difficult shooting conditions. A few fish managed to make it to the Carp spirit world however. The winning team killed 48 fish, the most individual killed was 18 fish, and biggest adult fish was 13lb 5oz. Not bad for such difficult conditions with low lake levels, spooky fish and lack of spawning. The youth “prince” of the event scored a trifecta of the most fish, biggest fish and smallest fish! Congratulations Sawyer Eaves! His trophy room is now filled with real “gold plated” carp plaques. Don’t go pawning them off Sawyer!

I really enjoyed helping with this years event. Next year will be even better.

One last thing in regards to archery season and hunting. We are urging FWP to set up an early Moose and Goat archery only season for the first couple weeks of September. The early Sheep season already exists and a few more weeks for the Bowhunters for Moose and Goat is long overdue. I hope your summertime shooting is going well and good luck this fall!!!!

Kevin M Robinson

Techno Metal Post of Western Montana

Kevin Robinson

Marlon Clapham Fall 2021

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• Keep vehicles off dry grass.

• Regularly maintain your equipment and vehicle.

Vehicles and equipment can shoot sparks from their exhaust, particularly vehicles that haven’t received regular maintenance.

• Practice vehicle safety. Carry a shovel, bucket and a fire extinguisher in your vehicle to put out fires. Off-highway vehicles must have a spark arrester. You should also carry a bucket, but you could also use a helmet or anything else to carry water.

• Check your tires, bearings and axles on your trailer. If you’re towing a trailer, please remember to do a maintenance check to ensure the tires are not worn, the bearings and axles are greased, and safety chains are properly in

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ello Region 3 Bowhunters! Man, I can’t believe that archery season is here. Summer has flown by for the Brown family. It’s been a hot one this summer. Hopefully you all have a good water hole or wallow to sit on, as the critters will most definitely be in search of water this fall. I haven’t heard any news regarding hunting restrictions (yet).

Let’s keep our fingers crossed but also, please be vigilante about fire conditions as you head into the field. A few tips, aside from the obvious campfire rules, to help prevent wildfires this bow season include…

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place and not dragging on the ground.

Other Region 3 Hunting News: I recently received a Pronghorn Production Report for HD360. According to the report the survey is a sample of pronghorn summering in the Madison Valley to classify bucks, does, and fawns; it does not need to enumerate every individual.

The total count census flight occurs in winter when the migrants return. This is the second year of ground classifications with good results. Pronghorn from were observable and classification quality was excellent. We classified 192 pronghorn west of the Madison River and 307 on the east side of the Madison River for a total of 499 pronghorn classified. We counted 136 fawns, 267 does, and 96 bucks.

I’m sure you can find this report online but I can send it to you if you email me at mbareg3@ gmail.com.

Also, there will be an open house event at the Region 3 FWP office in Bozeman on Sept. 7 from 5-8pm with people available to answer any questions or concerns you might have.

Good luck this season. Have fun!

rchery elk permits seem to be the hot topic lately. The last few years, more and more people are seeing an UNSUCCESSFUL show up on their draw results. Demand for these permits has started to exceed the supply. This is a trend that is going to continue. This year, resident hunting applications were up by over 12%. We as Montana residents have gotten spoiled by being able to draw these permits nearly every year in the past.

Several ideas get tossed around to help people get permits. Any solution is likely only going to be temporary, as long as demand continues to increase.

We might just have to get used to this being the new normal. Luckily, Montana is one of the few states in the country that provides residents with over-thecounter bull tags. Big bulls might be more rare, but as far as action goes, I have had some of my best elk hunting in general units.

Whether you drew a permit or not, there is plenty of opportunity to be had this fall. As I write this, archery antelope season is only a month away!

I hope you are more prepared for the season than I am. Good luck hunting this fall!

Jess Wagner Jess Wagner

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REMINDER: Mailing Labels Show Your Membership Renewal Date

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Bob Morgan BEN BULLER KEN SCHULTZ Greetings All, ell, final drawings are coming in or have come in. Hopefully, everyone had a successful draw and at least collected most of the tags they put in for. With tag number drawings down, there have been several of my friends and family that did not draw specific tags this year. So, if you did draw, Congrats!! It’s getting tougher every year. At the time I wrote this article, the Ken last Antelope tags had not been drawn, so good Schultz luck.

We’ve had an extremely dry year throughout Montana and surrounding states. If we don’t get any rain in the very near future, we could be in trouble. This will be one of those year’s to be on your best behavior when comes to fires. It will be imperative that if you are driving to hunt spots with a pickup or ATV vehicle that you stay on the two track roads and not drive off in the grass. It might be a good idea to invest in a fire extinguisher to carry with you at all times if you don’t have one.

I’m hoping that we don’t see areas shut down due to fire potential. The word is, at this time, that that is not the plan, but that could change quickly.

It’s that time to get out and fine tune those bows!

As we’ve talked before, you want to be confident in your ability when that shot of a lifetime comes.

Practice, repetition and muscle memory are the key to making that shot! So, start slinging arrows if you have not been so you will be ready. August 15th is when it all starts with the early Antelope season and it’s just around the corner. Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!

Be extremely careful this season while hunting and always be aware of your surrounding conditions.

We are really blessed to have the opportunity to hunt in Montana, so enjoy every moment of that with Family and Friends. I’ll leave you with that and remember “Shoot Straight and ALWAYS be a Straight Shooter”!

Ken Schultz

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Hi from Region 7 - Colstrip! ope this message finds you well and already practicing for the upcoming season. Hard to believe that early antelope is only a month away (will be happening by the time you receive this newsletter). After the amazing bowhunting year I had in 2020, I am as excited as I’ve ever been for the opportunities ahead. We Montanan’s are truly blessed in that regard.

There are multiple important bowhunting related issues that need to be addressed in Region 7, with the primary being the concern of overharvest of antlerless mule deer on public ground and the recent Crow Tribe allowance to have unlimited hunting access on the Ashland District, Custer National Forest.

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TRISTAN MANUEL NICK SIEBRASSE

he is beautiful and exotic, her smooth curves long for my touch, her limbs are taunt and athletic, poised to spring into action if I ask it of her. We have traveled thousands of miles on foot, plane and by automobile. Together we have climbed mountains, crossed lakes, streams and prairies.

She has taken me to places I only dreamt of in my youth. She has taught me much about myself and the natural world. She is a constant source of pride and humility.

We made many lifelong friends along the way, many stories include her. She can be lethal or entertaining according to the mood I’m in. I alone am to blame for the times she failed me, for she needs my guidance and input to do what is asked of her.

Nick Siebrasse

Regarding each:

Mule Deer I have asked the MBA Board to support a 2022 tentative proposal that would limit the number of “B” antlerless mule deer licenses that could be used on state and federal ground in Region 7. Currently there are 11,000 of these licenses available with up to seven allowed per individual. Unfortunately, most of those licenses are being punched on the public side of the fence. The impact is concerning with public accessible populations deteriorating in most areas. We are still in the draft stages of the proposal but will be targeting a limit of only one “B” mule deer license per person that could be used on public ground. Additional licenses would be limited to private land only. For ease of identification, licenses would be labeled “B” general (open to all) and “B” private. We are also considering extending the season length for the private land only license.

Please contact me if you have any thoughts on this proposal.

Crow Tribe Off-Reservation Hunting The Crow Tribe unlimited access decision has been an awfully hard one for many of us to swallow.

I have had numerous conversations with FWP representatives in both Wyoming and Montana about the decision and find it odd that the two states reacted so differently to the US Supreme Court ruling. Basically, Wyoming took the terms to mean that there were unresolved issues that needed to be decided before any hunting rights or privileges would be changed. Montana decided not to contest as it felt past practice (tribal allowance to hunt buffalo near Yellowstone as an example) had already been established. Thus, Wyoming is currently holding their position while Montana has thrown in the towel without challenge. Keep in mind that Wyoming was the state being challenged by the Crow lawsuit and Montana was only drawn into the fight due to the terms of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie that allowed tribe members to hunt on “unoccupied lands,” which included the Custer Forest.

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REGION 7 continued from page 9 Considering the gravity of this ongoing acceptance based on past practice, all of Montana’s sportsmen should be paying close attention to what is happening to the Custer. It seems clear that valid challenges to those “unresolved issues” could be easily made. Certainly the 1868 requirement of “unoccupied lands” is no longer valid. A conservation aspect did not exist in 1868 which stands in sharp contrast to today’s critical wildlife management strategies. There is even a very legitimate safety concern with the mixing of unregulated Crow rifle hunters and hard to see camo clad bowhunters.

I have included a copy of the US Supreme Court ruling as it clearly explains the decision.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon on the decision in Herrera v. Wyoming: Today in a narrow 5-4 decision, a majority of the United States Supreme Court determined that Wyoming’s admission to the Union in 1890 did not terminate the Crow Tribe’s 1868 treaty right to hunt the “unoccupied lands of the United States.”

However, the Court recognized that several issues in this case are unresolved, and the Court remanded the case back to Wyoming so the state court can consider the outstanding issues. Until these remaining issues are resolved, the State of Wyoming will continue to regulate the take of game animals in the Bighorn National Forest to ensure equal hunting opportunities for all.

With the remand, my administration will stand up for a system that preserves the decades of conservation work that has built a strong wildlife population in the Bighorns, and we will work to find solutions for all those who hunt.

Unfortunately, prior Montana Governor Steve Bullock decided to not take the same proactive approach for the Custer Forest?

If ever there was a time for a united Montana Sportsmen organizational effort, now is it. An alliance effort (MBA, TBM, MWF, MOGA, RMEF, MDF, BHA, and others) could be the key to reversing Montana’s allowance decision. This battle is one we can win if we are united in the fight.

Hoping each of you has the most enjoyable bowhunting season yet. Be sure to contact me if you have any thoughts or concerns.

As always, please help keep Montana’s bowhunting traditions alive and the challenge inspiring!

Rick Miller

Herrera v. Wyoming (Decision May 20, 2019) • May 23, 2019 • Logan Cooper

A member of the Crow Tribe of Montana maintains a treaty right to hunt elk in Wyoming’s Bighorn National Forest In the United States Supreme Court Argument: January 8, 2019 Decision: May 20, 2019 Petitioner Brief: Clayvin Herrera Respondent Brief: Wyoming Court Below: Wyoming District Court In the face of conflicting precedent, the Supreme Court stuck to modern canons of treaty interpretation. The Court rejected Wyoming’s efforts to preserve older case law and upheld the terms of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie allowing Tribe members to hunt on “unoccupied lands.”

The case

Clayvin Herrera, a member of the Crow Tribe of Montana (Apsáalooke Nation), pursued game elk from Crow reservation land in Montana into Bighorn National Forest in neighboring Wyoming. Wyoming later charged and convicted Herrera of hunting without a Wyoming license off-season.

The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie preserved the Crow hunting rights in their traditional territory, including “unoccupied” lands off-reservation, “so long as game may be found thereon, and as long as peace subsists among the whites and Indians on the borders of the hunting districts.”

The trial court in Wyoming denied Herrera the opportunity to use the treaty as a defense. On appeal, the Wyoming appellate court upheld his conviction, citing to a Tenth Circuit case that found the treaty right extinguished when Wyoming became a state.

Did the treaty right survive statehood?

While off-reservation state regulations generally apply as they would to non-Tribal citizens, such as the need for a hunting permit, the treaty here pre-empts the state law. The Crow Tribe, like many others, negotiated extensively for their right to continue hunting in their traditional territory despite being confined to a reservation. The Treaty of Fort Laramie intended to permanently preserve the Crow’s ability to continue traditional ways of life, such as subsistence hunting. In exchange, they gave up significant amounts of their homelands for American settlement.

However, not all treaty rights last forever in the eyes of the Court. Despite similar language preserving off-reservation hunting, the 1896 Court in Ward v. Race Horse upheld the conviction of a Shoshone-Bannock member for violation of state hunting laws. The Race Horse Court reasoned that because Wyoming was admitted on “equal footing” with all other states, pre-statehood treaty rights that interfered with state regulatory authority could not survive.

In 1995, the 10th Circuit applied Race Horse to a dispute over the Crow Tribe’s hunting rights, and held that Wyoming’s statehood extinguished the Tribe’s off-reservation hunting rights.

In 1999, though, the Supreme Court in Minnesota v. Mille Lacs departed from Race Horse, saying that while treaty rights may end upon “clearly contemplated” conditions, statehood did not categorically abrogate treaty hunting. Herrera argued that Mille Lacs should apply, not the nowoutdated Race Horse.

The Supreme Court agreed with Herrera that Wyoming statehood did not automatically end the Crow treaty hunting rights. Looking to Mille Lacs, the Court noted that the treaty did contemplate conditions upon which the right would end, but statehood was not one of them. The United States did not mention statehood during negotiations. Instead, the treaty spelled out when the right would end: if the land became occupied, if game no longer lived on the lands, or in times of conflict, the right would terminate. Since statehood was not in the treaty, nor are hunting rights incompatible with statehood, the rights remained.

Is the land occupied?

The Supeme Court also addressed whether one of the right-ending conditions has been satisfied here. Wyoming argued that the establishment of the Bighorn National Forest meant those lands were no longer “unoccupied” and eligible for treaty hunting. The Supreme Court disagreed, drawing on the canons of treaty interpretation that ambiguous language must be read as the Tribes would have understood them when signing. The Court saw unoccupied as meaning not yet settled by American colonizers, as the Crow would have seen it at the time. Establishing a national forest was not categorically an “occupation,” but the Court left the issue of whether certain parts of the forest may be occupied to the lower courts. Additionally, Wyoming may still regulate for “conservation necessity.”

Can the Tribe reargue the same issue?

The Wyoming appellate courts acknowledged that Mille Lacs ordinarily would apply here, but that Herrera was precluded from arguing it since the issue was settled already by the 10th Circuit in 1995. Essentially, issue preclusion prevents repeated, and unnecessary re-litigation of issues from clogging up courts. The majority opinion here disagreed that the previous 10th Circuit opinion still bound members of the Crow Tribe, because Mille Lacs effectively overruled the precedent it relied upon. The Court agreed that Mille Lacs was a sufficient departure in the underlying law that any prior decisions were not binding. The dissenting opinion, however, agreed with the Wyoming courts that Herrera should be bound by the old precedent.

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REGIONAL REPORTS

CLIFF GARNESS MANDY GARNESS RAY GROSS STEPHANIE PRATER MIKE SHEPARD RICH SMITH (NO REPORT) TJ SMITH

DirectorsAt Large

Cliff Garness

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aui – Head for a tropical paradise, chill on the beach and do a little surfing, right? Not exactly… did you know the hunting is phenomenal? We packed our snorkels and our bows and headed for Hawaii. On the first morning, we met up with the guides from Hawaii Safaris and immediately started stalking Axis deer.

We hunted grasslands, forests, sugar cane fields, old Mandy pineapple fields, lava flows, Garness farm land, and Cliff even had an opportunity from a bridge on the zip line trail. With no real predators, we saw plenty of animals, but as is the case with all the deer I’ve hunted, they were definitely elusive.

There’s nothing like a good stalk, even failed, to get your heart racing as a bowhunter. We decided to split up and I headed for a grassy hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. My guide and I hid behind a blind of lava rock and branches waiting for the deer to pass by from the water hole. The wind swirled a few times and the deer were then crossing a hundred yards or so away. We started creeping up to close the distance and had does crossing at about 60 yards when we heard the roar of a rutting buck. I snuck up a few more yards and got ready, expecting him to cross where the does had been.

Suddenly there was rustling in the grass 15 yards from me and I could see horns but no body. When he did cross at about 35 yards, I overestimated and shot for 45, just barely shooting over his back. We spent the next hour or so building a new blind on this trail in hopes of redemption.

The temperature was climbing and we headed back toward the truck for a midday break. Along the way, we spotted another herd and moved in to intercept. The wind toyed with us and the herd scattered a few times before finally moving steadily in our direction. I drew back and took a shot at a doe at 20 yards. She bedded down about 40 yards away and as we gave her a little time, another herd wandered around at about 100 yards. We watched several shooter bucks, one in velvet, hoping that they may follow the same path.

Eventually they headed off over the hill and we recovered my doe.

I hunted with the owner, Pat Fisher, who is a biologist and guides in Montana as well. He explained the history of the island, the wildlife as well as the plant life. It was fascinating to be able to hunt in so many different types of terrain in a single week. We cooked tenderloins and backstraps at the condo after a few hours lounging on the beach. Axis is a very mild venison with no wild or gamey flavor at all.

On the days we weren’t hunting, we spent time with family friends who shared the condo with us for the week. We headed out for a Segway tour of Lahaina, a road trip up the road to Hana, a bamboo forest hike to a waterfall where we could jump into the pool beneath, and spent hours on the beach and in the pool. It was torture!

We headed back out morning and evening for a couple more days, with plenty of fun stalks, but no bow-range opportunities. We were a little early for full rut, but were able to hear the calls of the bucks, and tried to use a few aggressive techniques like raking to bring them in for a fight. Finally on the last day, bow still in hand, we threw rifles on our shoulders as well. I had carried around my pack and rain jacket for days, not really needing either, so that day I left it behind. Of course, the steady, soaking drizzle began. Wet but still warm, we could hear bucks calling from the truck and started our hike. The opportunity arose for a shot at a buck feeding along a hillside. I was able to harvest a beautiful buck and as Pat went back for the truck, the sun came out, revealing with it a beautiful rainbow across the ranch. I sent off a few pictures and waited patiently for Cliff to let me know if he was having any luck. He harvested a buck with the rifle that day as well on the opposite end of the island. We packed up two coolers of meat along with our hides and heads and started through airport security, receiving grins and thumbs up signs from the x-ray machine techs.

Mahalo to Pat and his family, Jeremy and Nick at Hawaii Safaris! We had fantastic time and this will definitely be a repeat destination! https://hawaiisafaris.com/

Cliff & Mandy Garmess

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Mike Shepard

owdy, not much to report . . . 94 degrees on porch . . . smoke in the air smells like August. Oh wait, it is July.

Gonna be a long summer and fall, As usal, nothing in the way of excitement from FWP on special licenses . . .glad I got my moose in 2004 . . .

Personally, waiting for the border to open, as I have a paid-for whitetail hunt in Grand Cache Alberta. First week of November, and I get to add days as he has few clients for whatever reasons.

Not for a lack of deer, wolves and lions!

We are all glad legislative season is over, but mark my words, it will get worse next time around. Way too many elected people have no idea what we do, how we do it, or for that matter, even why we do it. I am 72, and have been bowhunting since 1961, as my dad was a bowhunter. What I have seen in my lifetime bowhunting is similar to all the technology advances of the last 20 years. Some good, some bad. Either way, we must be vigilant and prepared for whatever these politicos may throw at us.

I am running again for City Council, and am unopposed, so you never know.

Keep practicing, be safe, start no fires, and hunt ethically.

Shep Ye Olde Bowhunter

Mike Shepard Fall 2021

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he summer is fast passing by. Last week I took my grandkids to the Tobacco Roots Archery Club 3D Range and they really had a good time. I had to buy one grandson a bow after that; he was borrowing my other grandson’s bow.

Badger Archery in Dillon is having a 3D Shoot at Maverick Mountain Ski Hill July 17 -18. Check out their Facebook page for details.

I only drew an antelope archery permit. Thanks to MBA we have an archery-only antelope season in Montana that starts August 15. I also took my grandkids backpacking to a high mountain lake in the West Big Hole. The blowdown was terrible and even hazardous. Even so, we had a great time and everyone made it without any whining.

Most rivers in southwest Montana are too low to float and have restrictions on fishing. It is a hot dry summer. May it not be a bad fire season? I will start scouting for antelope and elk in the next week or so.

I hope everyone has a good rest of the summer and a memorable archery season.

Oh, and if anyone is looking for a great bird dog, I bred one of my German Shorthaired Pointers to two of my buddies females. All three dogs are out of NGSPA National Champions and are great hunting dogs, with hundreds of wild birds shot over them.

Ray Gross

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I’m back. I’m talking to you. I have ice in my glass…”

- Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland in Cast Away There are so many beautiful well-written quotes describing Africa and safaris, but this quote seems to fit right now. We just returned from a couple week long safari in Africa with Matlabas Game Hunters.

We declared before departure that we’d only go to Africa once. But after setting foot on the red dirt of the bushveld, we are already planning our return.

While we missed a few “creature comforts” of our Western lifestyle, simple things such as ice in my drink, everything else on the trip made up for it tenfold–the hospitality, the hunt, the friends, both new & old. As I sit here drinking an iced tea, I realize how trivial, difficult and/or meaningless many things are and how crippling my inability to return to reality has become. This is part due to the wonder and mystique of an African sunrise but mainly my self-reliance has gone out the window after having a PH (Professional Hunter) drive me around, pack my lunch, toilet paper, water, pillow to nap on, track down and take care of any game I shot, pour me brandy cokes and retrieve me celebration beers after a successful hunt. In fact, he even started making and bringing me ice, after discovering how much I missed it.

The first stop after landing back on American soil was a gas station for a giant ice filled fountain Dr. Pepper. For days after arriving back in Montana, I struggled with everything; from putting my truck in gear, getting in on the right side of it, going to the grocery store, having a basic conversation, composing an articulate email, much less writing this story for the MBA newsletter. In fact, I considered reaching out to my PH to see if he would write this for me since I’m spoiled by his willingness to take care of me. It will be a long time before I can pen words to describe our African adventure, so it will have to wait for another issue.

I find myself staring out the window right now and longing to go back. I believe it to be vacation-induced depression, and there is no cure, except for a prescribed new trip. The only good thing is I have ice in my glass.

Scratch all of this.

We have found paradise.

Sell all of our possessions.

Send money.

Best regards to our dogs and the MBA membership, we are moving to South Africa.

Stephanie Prater Stehpanie Prater

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hat is NASP? NASP, National Archery In the Schools Program was, and probably still is, the fastest growing sport in the US. The annual NASP tournament is now the largest archery tournament in the world! This is target archery. Within the sport of archery we also have bowhunting, which is the largest segment of archery. People mistakenly try to blend the two into one; they are not.

The definition of an extreme sport, like almost everything today, is everchanging. However, the most consistent verbiage of all definitions is: “a competitive [comparison or self-evaluative] activity within which the participant is subjected to natural or unusual physical and mental challenges such as speed, height, depth or natural forces and where fast and accurate cognitive perceptual processing may be required for a successful outcome.” Just by definition, extreme sports are not for everyone. By definition, bowhunting is an extreme sport.

In the world of extreme sports an individual may be an expert at one extreme sport and yet inadequate in another. The window of productivity is short in all these extreme activities. Again, bowhunting falls within this realm. The question is, how do you make an extreme sport handicap accessible and still maintain the integrity of the activity? The answer is you can’t.

I have been bowhunting all my life. I am a retired professional archer, and yet being successful at bowhunting is still an extreme challenge. The challenges facing a bowhunter are daunting. The biggest challenge is getting within effective shot range (generally 20 yards and under). This is one of many things that make bowhunting bowhunting.

The use of a crossbow changes the integrity of bowhunting completely. Given good optics, the right crossbow, and good bolts (arrows), you can easily shoot a 4” group at 100 yards. This is not bowhunting. This is not giving the handicapped access to an extreme sport. It is giving the handicapped a way to gun down big game animals during the archery only seasons.

The handicapped presently have a legal means by which to bowhunt and still maintain the integrity of the sport. Bowhunters with disabilities are given the right to modify existing archery equipment to fit their handicap. One such modification is called a Draw-Loc. Our own Marlon Clapham spends many hours per year helping disabled Bowhunters further modify existing equipment. Thank you, Marlon, for all that you do for the disabled bowhunter. [We need to step up to the plate and help Marlon.]

There have been more technological changes in the last 20 years than in all the previous history of mankind. In Montana we have rejected most of these technological advancements in efforts to keep our sport the extreme sport it is. I recognize all sports are under pressure to accept changes these days. Sometimes we just need to draw a line in the sand and say, no.

As you mingle through life, when talking about bowhunting, take the time to make the distinction between target archery and bowhunting. In target archery there is a category for crossbows. This is okay. In bowhunting, as we live and breathe it in Montana, crossbows are not allowed.

TJ Smith

WWW.MTBA.ORG

19th Annual Canyon Ferry Carp Safari T

he Latin name for what we identify as the common carp is Cyprinus Carpio. Sometimes referred to as the European Carp, German Carp, Mirror Carp, Leather Carp, Stink Missle, Slime Weasel or Mud Torpedo (I made those last three names up) but most folks in Montana just call them carp. They’re invasive, they’re exotic, they’re inedible, they’re slimy, they’re smelly, they’re edible. Wait, they’re edible?

Yep, you read that correctly. The common carp found here in Montana are edible and that is exactly how Cyprinus Carpio found itself swimming throughout the many lakes, reservoirs and rivers across most of the state.

The common carp was brought into the U.S. in 1831 by the United States Fish Commission and introduced as a food fish. But in 1876, 45 years after living and swimming in many other inferior state’s waters the old Mud Torpedo final migrated into Montana (that story sounds familiar). Like it or not those mud rootin, air suckin, big group spawning, whisker faced slimy Stink Missles are here to stay.

Thankfully there’s a few good Americans that gather together each year for a few days on Canyon Ferry to stalk, hunt and terminate a handful of those beasts. This past June was the MBA’s 18th annual Carp Safari. As usual it was a blast and the event seemed to have a great participant turnout. Over 100 carp lover/haters took part on Saturday June 12th.

The conditions were in the carp’s favor with low lake levels and pre-spawn behaviors. I personally enjoy the hunt when the fish are spooky, hard to find and hard to shoot and this year’s event was all of that. Prior to this year’s Safari, Joelle Selk had organized all of the “behind the scenes” Carp Safari tasks and responsibilities. Trust me when I say it’s not as easy as just shooting fish. I would like to give a big thank you to Joelle for all those years of putting on the event. I was “awarded” the position for this year and the Carp Safari baton was handed off to me, yes I fumbled the baton a few times. I hope everyone that attended enjoyed the summer fun on the lake with all our MBA brethren, I know I certainly did. I believe we gained a few new members as well.

Top: Past Carp Princess, Hope Bottom: Hudson Tripp with his largest carp

And the winners are:

A

Sawyer Evans with a youth trifecta!

Youth Big Fish 12 lb 7oz Youth Small Fish 6lb 6oz Youth Most Fish 2

B

Team Brian and Lucas with 48 fish

C

Individual most fish Chance Hill with 18 Adult big fish Sol Smith with a 13lb,5oz stink missle Adult small fish was shared by Mark and Brian with a 2lb,9oz fish

And a few rhyming words for the carp we sent to the spirit world…

The buzzards were all waiting with anticipation Easy meals they thought on the banks they’d be layin’ Every year come June them fish will be sorry It’s time for the annual Carp Safari The conditions weren’t good for the bow fishing humans The scavengers didn’t know their plan was in ruins For the carp were scarce but still a few were found Thrown into the dumpster and not on the ground If them buzzards had lips they’d sure be a lickin’ At the sight of that dumpster with a few fish still kickin’ But what made them birds really really happy Was the sight of a young shooter who was there with his Pappy A young feller named Sawyer scored a trifecta A big fish, a small fish, and the most fish I tell ya The buzzards had all of their eyes on that youth Free bird meals were a coming and that was the truth Cyprinus Carpio or whatever ya call it They’re edible sure, but to who? Let’s be honest.

Next June let’s give them birds a real feast Let’s fill two dumpsters! (or maybe just one at least)

Fall 2021

13

SPECIAL ARTICLE

Perfect Shot – Maybe Not?

By Rick Miller – Region 7

Ran into something kind of interesting the other day when I took a walk back to where I shot a bull elk last fall.

Used the gut-less method for breaking down the animal, so did not open the body cavity at that time. I did peal all the meat off the face of the ribs, but not in-between (too warm - drying out quicky). I did notice the old wound (black arrow) during the initial inspection of where my arrow hit (blue), but found it nearly healed, so did not investigate further. That old wound should have been a perfect lung shot, so I could only guess what might have happened?

What I found when looking at the rib cage six months later had me scratching my head. There on the same side as the old wound was a chunk of graphite arrow and a broadhead stuck into the spine. The path that arrow took is highly unusual as it had to take a sever redirection to end up where it did. It appears almost 90 degrees to the entrance unless the shooter was standing directly under the bull. Keep in mind that ribs run vertically, so even though they are the likely deflector, it is hard to believe how much one of them changed this arrows path.

The shooter had to have thought that their shot placement was perfect and that the bull was theirs. I know how excited they were to take a trophy bull like this (I certainly was) and how happy they were with the shot. I am betting the shooter spent a ton of time looking for this animal.

These are the ones we are sure of, so giving up is not an option. These are the ones that can make you question whether you should continue bowhunting? If you do everything right, and still can’t recover the animal the weight is heavy.

Knowing what I know now, I sure wish I could talk to the shooter. I could let them know that the animal was fine and fully recovered. I could explain the crazy deflection and how it didn’t appear to hit anything vital. That meeting will probably never happen, but this find does provide a possible explanation to those that may run into a similar experience down the trail.

Keep those broadheads shaving sharp and fully commit to recovery once they are used.

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Montana

BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

Fish & Wildlife Commission Members

CONTACT NUMBERS fwpwld@mt.gov ARCHERY SEASON

is just around the corner...GET READY NOW!

District 1 Pat Tabor Acting Chairman FWPDistrict1@gmail.com (406) 250-2899 Whitefish, Montana

District 4 Lesley Robinson Commission Chair FWPDistrict4@gmail.com 406-301-0787 Dodson, Montana

District 2

Located in the historic Kessler Brewing building. Hwy 12 West end.

Pat Byorthn

Helena 406-449-3111

Commissioner

buffalojumparchery.com

FWPDistrict2@gmail.com (406) 548-4830 Bozeman, Montana

District 5 Brian Cebull FWPDistrict5@gmail.com (406) 860-7416 Billings, Montana

District 3 KC Walsh FWPDistrict3@gmail.com (406) 599-9556 Martinsdale, Montana

BUSINESS & CLUB MEMBERS

Become a Business Member of the MBA and be listed on this page every issue! For membership visit www.mtba.org.

Active as of May 2021 Ace Home Center

Tom Gilmore

507 W 9th St

Libby

MT

59923

406-293-3131

Buffalo Jump Archery

Judy Adams

P.O. Box 5581

Helena

MT

59604

406-539-3936

Capital Sports

Ed Beall

1092 Helena Ave

Helena

MT

59601

406-443-2978

Crown Photography www.mtcrownphoto.com

Mike and Lucinda Layne

PO Box 9936

Kalispell

MT

59904

406-752-6116

Elk Creek Family Outfitters

David Hein

1021 Toole Circle

Billings

MT

59105

406-670-4366

Flaming Arrow Archery

Nicole Tindale

1282 Hwy 2 East

Kalispell

MT

59901

406-752-0702

Hurst Bows

Coltin Hurst

3368 MT Hwy 5 W

Plentywood

MT

59254

406-765-7580

Kimzey Knifeworks

Dan Kimzey

134 Blue Heron Dr

Hamilton

MT

59840

406-361-5863

Kutawagan Outfitters/ Bearpaw Lodge

Jeff and Annette Smith

Box 70

Choiceland

SK

S0J 0M0

306-428-2032

Libby Sports Center

204 West 9th St

Libby

MT

59923

406-293-4641

Matablas Game Hunters

Willem Frost

PO Box 1559

Lephalale

Limpopo

0555

27116794664

Mountain Copper Creations

Jim Clapham

PO Box 426

Milltown

MT

59851-0426

406-880-9411

Pronghorn Custom Bows

Herb Meland

2491 W 42nd St

Casper

WY

82604

307-234-1824

The Push Archery

Tim Nebel

70659 Murphy Road

Flushing

OH

43977

Sage Game Calls

Cody Moulton

753 Bowman Road

Hamilton

MT

59840

435-640-8041

Schafer Silvertip Custom Bows

Dave Windauer

357 Roberts Rd

Columbia Falls

MT

59912

406-892-0580

The Stickbow Chronicles

Rob Patuto

821 West Shinglemill Rd

Sandpoint

ID

83864

208-610-3795

Toelke Custom Bows

Dan & Jared Toelke

31345 Lost Creek Ln

Ronan

MT

59864

406-253-4949

Twite Realty

Mark Twite

8015 Indreland Road

Missoula

MT

59808

406-880-1956

Zinks Big Sky Archery Targets

Terry L & Dylan Zink

PO Box 1272

Marion

MT

59925

406-253-4670

Fall 2021

15

HEADER

Do you enjoy bowhunting and our bowhunting seasons in Montana?

Join the MBA to preserve, promote and protect bowhunting!

What the MBA offers you: Expanded hunting opportunities through working with FWP and commissioners to preserve and expand bowhunting seasons Unified voice during legislative sessions to protect seasons and access programs while opposing efforts which seek to limit the role of FWP in managing wildlife Fellowship with others who are interested in shaping the future of bowhunting

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16

ontana M

BOWHUNTER

WWW.MTBA.ORG

1

4

7

10

ANGELA WILLIAMS Zebra

2

MICHAEL PRATER in Africa

5

MANDY GARNESS in Hawaii

8

RON CORTESE Havre

11

STEVE LEPAGE Giraffe in Africa

3

STEPHANIE PRATER in Africa

MIKE SHEPHARD

6

ALISHA ZEMLICKA 2020 antelope

TRIPP FAMILY visiting JERRY AND CLAUDIA DAVIS

9

ANGELA WILLIAMS Blue Wildebeest

JEFFREY YERKES velvet 5X5

12

KEVIN ROBINSON and JASON BEAUDRY Opening day bulls 2016

Fall 2021

17

WHY EVERY MONTANA BOWHUNTER SHOULD CONSIDER JOINING THE MONTANA BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION • The MBA is the organization the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks consults on bowhunting issues that affect Montana bowhunters.

• Montana has the best bowhunting seasons of any of the western states.

We are continually working to keep these.

• The MBA is active in the Legislature to protect and fight for our hunting and bowhunting seasons and rights.

• The MBA produces a quarterly magazine informing you of local, state, and national bowhunting issues and events, and publishing great stories and pictures.

• THE MBA NEEDS MEMBER NUMBERS AND YOUR YEARLY DUES TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT WHAT YOU ENJOY EVERY YEAR. ISN’T WHAT YOU ENJOY EVERY FALL WORTH $25 A YEAR TO PROTECT?

What the MBA has done for you?

• • • •

•

•

•

•

•

Worked to get the first archery season started in Montana. Along the way, we’ve increased the seasons to what you enjoy today.

Worked to establish archery bear, lion and sheep seasons.

Worked to establish archery antelope 900 tag and August 15th opener.

Worked to establish archery only areas and hunting districts.

Proposed a special archery wolf season and endorsed the highest quota of wolf harvest possible.

Actively protects hunting & bowhunting seasons in the Legislature year after year.

Defended our archery seasons against the “Crossbows & Muzzleloaders” threats throughout the years.

Created the Modified Archer’s permit that now allows those with handicaps to use modified archery equipment to hunt; which kept any need for crossbows out of Montana and defended our archery seasons against other crossbow threats throughout the years.

Re-established the archery season after it was left off the regulations one year.

Actively works with FWP to protect archery seasons, our resources, and expand archery opportunity in Montana year after year.

Photos by Denver Bryan / Images on the Wildside

•

What can you do for bowhunting in Montana?

Join the MBA at www.mtba.org to preserve, promote and protect bowhunting.

Spring 2015

18