VOL. 43 #2 Winter 2015

Montana Bowhunters Association PO Box 23611 Billings, MT 59104

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

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Return service requested

Humble Success Shoulder Season Guildelines

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Where Have They All Gone?

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Making Memories VOL. 43 #2 Winter 2015

MBA

Regional Representatives Region 1

Al Kelly

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

www.mtba.org

MBA

officers PRESIDENT

Joelle Selk

3470 Kase Road • Helena, MT 59602

Region 2

Marlon Clapham

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

jselkmt@3riversdbs.net • 406-422-6798

mbaregion2@gmail.com…

1ST VICE PRESIDENT

Region 3

Brian Koelzer

80 Jansma Lane Manhattan, MT 59741 ............. 406-570-7997 rocknrollbowhunter3@yahoo.com

Barrett Haugan

560 Clovehitch Road Belgrade, MT 59714 .......... 406-539-0602 btreasurestate@aol.com

Region 4

David Stratton

2120 3rd St. South, Great Falls, MT 59405 .......... 406-452-3238

Vacant 2ND VICE PRESIDENT

Steve Schindler

134 Sawney Drive • Glasgow, MT 59203 sas@nemont.net • 406-228-9024

destratton@gmail.com

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

Region 5 Region 6

TREASURER

Jenn Schneider

PO Box 23611 • Billings, MT 59104

Vacant

mtba@mtba.org • 406-697-7668

David Moon

97 Aberdeen, Glasgow, MT 59230...................... 406-942-0659 djmoon9876@gmail.com

SECRETARY

Marian Stratton

Region 7 Region 8

Bob Morgan

P.O. Box 1995 Colstrip, MT 59323 ..................... 406-749-0706 robertredface@gmail.com

Jerry Davis

725 Middlemas Road, Helena, MT 59602 ...........406-475-2226

2120 3rd St South, Great Falls, MT 59405 mnstratton1@gmail.com • 406-452-3238 PAST PRESIDENT

pipelinejerry@gmail.com

AT LARGE DIRECTORS MAGAZINE CO-EDITORS

EVEN YEARS

Teri and Al Kelly

Roger Peffer

2517 9th Ave So., Great Falls, MT 59405 – regorp77@msn.com .................. 406-452-0911

Seth Rogers

1425 Prickley Pear, Billings, MT 59105 – srogers@lamar.com ...................... 406-670-5435

PO Box 219 • Libby, MT 59923 teray1979@yahoo.com

ODD YEARS

Paul Martin

110 Sage Lane, Kalispell, MT 59901 - paulhmartin99@gmail.com ............... 406-261-4456

Ray Gross

355 Antelope Drive Dillon, MT 59725 – raygross0144@gmail.com ............. 406-660-1019

Dan Moore

75 Haywire Trail, Kalispell Mt 59901 - bigdanmt@yahoo.com ....................... 406-756-7395

WEB DESIGNER

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.

or email teray1979@yahoo.com. All materials are the opinion of the author unless otherwise stated, and are subject to being edited. All photos will be placed in the MBA Photo Ablum and can be viewed at the annual conventions. Any questions as to policies of MBA please write the President.

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 Al or Teri Kelly at PO Box 23611, Billings, MT 59104

MEMBERSHIP INQURIES

Please send new memberships or renewal memberships to MBA Tresurer, PO Box 23611, Billings, MT 59104 or call 406-697-7668, register online at www.mtba.org or ask a member.

Lyle Hebel

www.pixelelk.com Liberty Brown

Branding Iron Marketing MAGAZINE DESIGN

K Design Marketing, Inc.

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

Winter 2015

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EDITOR’S NOTE TABLE OF CONTENTS Teri Kelly

On the Cover

VOL. 43 #2

Winter 2015

Shoulder S ea Guildelines son

VOL. 43 #2 Winter 2015

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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Teri Kelly Joelle Selk SECRETARY’S MESSAGE

Marion Stratton

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2nd VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Steve Schindler 2016 MBA CONVENTION

Humble Su ccess Making Mem ories PAGE 14

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Where Hav e They All G one?

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Brian Ashe - 2015 bull thanks to Bill & Cheryl Ashe for loading up to ponies for the pack out.

W

ow this year has flown by so far and unfortunately my archery season is over with only a turkey to show for it. This was not my year to get out and savor my hunting season as life just got too busy, with too many obligations, events and duties….sigh. But there’s always next year!

We have a couple of great stories in this issue; our youth hunters have been successful as well as many of the older crowd as well. It’s always great to see the photos and hear about the success our bowhunters have so keep those stories and pics coming. The news has had some rather disturbing stories lately about bowhunting incidents and accidents. One struck me as interesting because it was referred to it as a “freak accident”. In Washington State a man was killed while bowhunting when he stopped abruptly in front of his hunting partner who ran into him with his arrow. Freak accident? No, the hunter had an arrow knocked on his bow while walking thru the area. Common sense and everything we were taught in bow-ed says you don’t walk around with an arrow knocked.

So this made me curious to see what other kind of archery accidents have been in the news. Long story short, common sense seems to be in short supply in many of these incidents. Accidents are going to happen and we can’t always anticipate or prevent them, but we need to do our part to ensure we are as protected and prepared as possible and part of that comes from making good choices when we venture into the woods.

Here’s the other thing I found really disturbing, there are a lot of antihunting groups out there! You only have to get on the net to find them, and these groups have no qualms about using these accidents and incidents to wage war on hunting. There is a group call “C.A.S.H. Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting” that is even fighting to stop the NASP, National Archery in the Schools Program from being put into school systems because the potential archers might go hunt something with their newfound skills. These sites and the internet are filled with photos of bad archery shots, such as a deer with an arrow shot thru the face or a bleeding buck wandering thru a neighborhood with an arrow sticking out its side and even pets that have been struck by archery equipment.

Ethics seems to be in short supply in the world we live in today and sadly it appears in the hunting community as well. And it is being used against us in the battle to maintain our hunting. We have all at one time or another had to determine whether to take a shot or not. Is it too far? Is it too dark? Is it a clear shot? In todays’ world of having to have the biggest and the best of everything including trophies, we seem to be more willing to bend the rules. My point in all of this is two things. #1 - There is safety in numbers and in being involved in groups such as the MBA that advocate for archery hunting and it is a necessary part of fighting back against those who would take it all away. #2 – We are the custodians of the next generation of hunters and outdoorsmen and women. It’s up to us to teach them common sense and ethics. It’s up to us to teach them to respect and protect the privilege we have in being able to enjoy the sport of bowhunting.

We teach by example. Be involved and make ethical choices.

Terry Kelly 2

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REGIONAL REPORTS TENTATIVES REPORTS (SHOULDER SEASON GUIDELINES) MBA OFFICIAL BALLOT RESULTS HUMBLE SUCCESS

Elisha Stoddard HUNT RIGHT WE REMEMBER ROY ROTH

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WHERE HAVE THEY ALL GONE?

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MAKING MEMORIES

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Marlon Clapham Jacob Price BUSINESS & CLUB MEMBERS MBA MEMBERSHIP FORM MEMBER GALLERY

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OFFICER’S REPORTS Joelle Selk

MBA Committees Legislative: Joelle Selk, Chair Jerry Davis Steve Schindler • Ray Gross Marlon Clapham • Dan Moore

President’s

Message

Tentatives:

Elk Shoulder Seasons Outcome The FWP Commission adopted extended rifle elk hunting “shoulder seasons.” Sportsmen’s groups expressed multiple concerns over the privatization and commercialization of wildlife, the potential for bypassing current landowner incentive programs which increase access, the negative impacts to archery seasons, and assuring transparency in reporting on the progress towards meeting objective numbers.

We expressed concerns over impacts to archery seasons; supported locally-driven solutions generated by citizen’s advisory councils, and suggested limiting hunts to private land and primarily antlerless-only opportunities. We also encouraged timely analysis and transparent reporting on annual progress made towards meeting stated harvest criteria.

The Department responded and ensured checks and balances in response to sportsmen concerns.

In specific, the proposal does not include landowner licenses available for transfer or sale, WMAs are excluded from shoulder seasons, bull hunting opportunities are expected to be minimal and regulated via the permit system, and opportunities will focus on private lands to limit impacts to public land hunting.

Specific harvest criteria and tracking towards objectives will be closely monitored throughout the seasonsetting cycles and sunset dates will apply. When shoulder seasons occur concurrent to archery seasons, archers will not be required to wear orange.

I’ve attached the final guidelines as well as FWP’s press release, which proposes six pilot hunting districts including 392, 445, 446, 449, 452, and 410.

Ballot Update Attached are the survey results on lighted nocks and bow-mounted cameras. The ballot returns narrowly supported lighted nocks and were evenly split on bow-mounted cameras. As directed by the members present at the general meeting, we developed a Tentatives proposal expressing support for lighted nocks. We submitted the proposal to the Department for review and consideration by the Commission. If approved by the Commission, the proposal will be sent through the Tentatives cycle after the first of the year.

2016 Convention Update I’m very excited to announce that the next convention is being held at Fairmont Hot Springs, April 1-3, 2016. This is a great family destination and I thank Brian Koelzer and crew for working out the contract details with Fairmont. Mark your calendar and start looking forward to a great time!

Joelle Selk

Chair, vacant Joelle Selk • Paul Martin Mark Schwomeyer Marlon Clapham • Steve Schindler Schindler Dan Moore • Steve Ray Gross

Financial: Chair, vacant Jenn Schneider • Jerry Davis Seth Rogers • Joelle Selk David Stratton

Landowner/Sportsman: Mark Schwomeyer, Chair Dan Moore • David Moon

Nominations: Chair, vacant Al Kelly • Paul Martin Steve Schindlerr

Awards: Roger Peffer, Chair Al Kelly • Steve Schindler Marlon Clapham • Jenn Schneider

Membership: Chair, vacant Jenn Schneider • Joelle Selk Seth Rogers • Ray Gross

Convention 2016:

Brian Koelzer, Chair Jenn Schneider • Sean Dunn Joelle Selk • Barrett Haugann

Magazine: Al & Teri Kelly, Co-Chairs Steve Schindler Roger Peffer • Joelle Selk Brian Koelzer • Jerry Davis

Website: Webmaster, Lyle Hebel Joelle Selk • Jenn Schneider

Secretary’s Message

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ow did your hunting season go? Ours was a bust, with David having to have treatments on his back for a pinched nerve and our trailer needing more repairs than we had thought, but there is always next year (hopefully!). We saw eight bighorn sheep on a rocky ledge just above the interstate yesterday so is always nice to see game, even when we are not in a hunting mode. We are getting a great deal more urban deer in Great Falls, some of which fall prey to traffic which is such a waste, so maybe we will get an archery season in town sometime. See you at the convention!

Marion Stratton

Carp Shoot: Joelle Selk, Chair

Bow-Ed: Al Kelly, Chair Marlon Clapham • Brian Koelzer Bob Morgan • Mark Schwomeyer David Moon • Ray Gross

Winter 2015

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OFFICER’S REPORTS

Second Vice President’s Report

Steve Schindler

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hat a difference a year makes, last year we had rain, mud and mosquitoes that could take on a turkey flat footed. This year it’s been pretty good hunting weather. About the first of August I seriously doubted on whether or not we were going to even have a hunting season. The state was burning up and the smoke was so thick we were under a hazardous breathing warning almost every day. But as if Orion himself ordered it up we had some cooler temps, some moisture where we needed it and the fires subsided and the smoke cleared. Whoo-rah bring on the hunting season, more PT drill Sargent.

At least in the northeast part of Montana, the wildlife is still in its early stages of recovery, Recovery, recovery from what, well it’s still that nasty winter of 2010/2011, that’s still haunting us. Things are improving but at a snail’s pace, most everybody I talk to are a bit miffed at the slower than expected recovery pace.

So what are we going to do Montana, our game animals are heading one direction and our hunter numbers are going another. Sometime in the near future we going to see some creative management strategies, so long as everyone is involved in the process we should be OK. It’s when we sit on our rear end letting some other guy do the work that things won’t work out for us. Being involved is the name of the game.

So how many of you bowhunted during the bow season and forgot to purchase the archery stamp. You know we have a lot of licenses to buy and several different deadlines to meet. It is confusing at best and unfortunately can lead to a serious ticket. We need a better mousetrap and here’s what I think should happen. When you buy a deer tag or an elk licenses it should be mandatory that the computer prompt a question and ask you if you are going

to hunt the archery season; if yes you buy the stamp, if no it is marked on the licenses that you are not bowhunting. I’m sure there is a better method out there somewhere and it doesn’t make any difference to me what’s in place as long as we cannot forget to buy the stamp. Oh and by the way, I did have mine, all year.

Speaking of weather, The National Weather Service has put out their annual winter prediction and is sounds like most of Montana is going to be drier than normal and warmer, good news for us living here in the short term but it’s going to kick our butt come next summer. And in case you are wondering, the weather service has been pretty much spot on the past few winters in its prediction. The good part is we should have a pretty good carry over with our wildlife.

Steve Schindler

2016 Convention Fairmont Hot Springs Resort April 1–3, 2016

We’re very excited to announce the convention will be held at Fairmont this year. We have a 60-room block, and reservations can be made any time between now and the convention. Each room has two queen beds with a group rate of $119 + tax for single or double occupancy. Each additional person is an additional $15 + tax. The room rates include 24-hour access to all four naturally heated mineral pools for each registered guest. Fairmont has two Olympic-sized swimming pools, one indoor and one outdoor.

We also have two smaller hot-soaking pools, one indoor and one outdoor.

Reservations can be made by calling the reservation line at 800.332.3272 and ask for the MT Bowhunters room block.

Reservations can also be made on Fairmont’s website, www.fairmontmontana.com. Click on bookings, then the group tab, and enter our group ID which is 16632 and password which is 37001964.

Information will be posted on the website as seminar speakers and donations are confirmed. Mark your calendars and plan to soak up the camaraderie at Fairmont!

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MARLON CLAPHAM

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t will never happen here. There are some infamous last words. Never thought we would have one of those ugly deer killing diseases in Lincoln County here on the west side of the great divide. And then it happened. 60 plus deer succumb to bluetongue disease in Eureka Montana. This is a just another example of s*^% happens. There are other things that could adversely affect your hunting seasons looming on the horizon. It will never happen here. Yeah right. Just don’t forget s*^% happens.

Al Kelly

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ummer past by way to fast and now we’re nearly through Archery season. I think that maybe it comes with old age, as another decade just flew by. The Tentative process has begun and we have had some local meetings with FWP working on proposals to send to the Commissioners. It looks like the land owners are looking to get the restrictive weapons back into our archery only HD 260 and the late season in the sounding HD’s. The final details are yet to be worked out, but on the table is 100 hunters getting three doe tags for the late season in 260 and twenty cow elk tags, only valid on private land and first choice draw. The outlying HD will be four hundred hunters’ three doe tags, just not first choice draw. The new HD 262 will let bowhunters use their general elk tag on a cow during archery season only.

I’m sure by now most everyone has heard that the Shoulder seasons have been approved by the Commissioners. So it looks like our Archery seasons as we now have, will also be changed to make room for early gun hunters to harvest cow elk and draw for bull tags. I don’t know if this is my place or not but it looks to me like the Legislators and the

FWP Commissioners sold our wildlife resources to the highest bidder. And the elk will suffer in the long term.

Back to a lighter note, we here in region 2 need someone to step up and help represent our region. I just can’t make all the hearings and meetings alone. If I know where and when they happen I at least make an attempt to attend but could sure use some assistance. There has been some success here in our region several elk have been taken and a few really nice mule deer bucks.

Jeff Hill took his first black bear with his bow and junior member Jacob Price also took his first bow harvest, another fine black bear.

Well I’m in the middle of bowhunting so I guess we’ll all touch base at the Convention in April at Fairmont Hot Springs, I for one am really looking forward to it.

Well Good Luck with the rest of the hunting seasons.

Keep-em Sharp and Shoot-em straight !!!!!

Marlon Clapham

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BRIAN KOELZER BARRETT HAUGAN

H 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.

ey, here is my newsletter report: Soooo.....after all the anticipation and excitement of waiting w for archery season to open I’m s sitting here tonight with only 4 days of it left w wondering just where September and half of Brian Koelzer October O went!?! Maybe it’s the heat stroke w we’ve been suffering from all fall or just the f pace of life in general. The season opener fast some awesome critters! By the time you all read was w kind of a whirlwind as just the weekend before this the mulies and whitetails will be looking for r reigning bowhunter of the year Kara Jensen and I love and I for one am ready to spend some time in a w were married on the edge of Yellowstone national tree! Mark your calendars for this year’s convention park with family, close friends and maybe a mountain p the weekend of April 1 at Fairmont Hot Springs. g goat or elk watching from the peaks above. A Good luck, be safe and have fun, h honeymoon may be in store this winter but after saying “I do” it was time to hit the woods. If ever in s m life I’ve earned a tribal name it would be after this my f and simply be “wind at back”. fall Hmmmm....on a happy note it looks like there w were a fair number of lucky individuals I know who didn’t have the wind at their back and harvested d

Brian Koelzer

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

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hat a great fall! Many local bowhunters in and around Lewistown connected with bull elk this archery season. I think it is just the tip of the iceberg of what we can expect in years to come as long as we keep “our” right to bowhunt. There are record elk numbers in central Montana and the Missouri river breaks and is actually over objective in many areas.

In the last newsletter you had the opportunity to familiarize yourselves with the Wilks/Durfee hills land exchange. Since then there have been a few meetings where the land exchange is discussed.

Our Central Montana Outdoors group delivered a petition with over 3700 signatures to the BLM. Keep your ears open by the time you read this it is likely the BLM will have made a decision on entertaining the exchange or shut it down AGAIN! I want to thank ALL of you who signed the petition and submitted comments in opposition to this exchange and to protect OUR public lands. It is very gratifying to read the public comments and feel your passion that we the people have for OUR public lands. Let’s keep up the good work.

Thank You

Mark Schwomeyer

Mark Schwomeyer

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DAVE MOON

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t sounds like everyone is having a good season. It is good to see the animals making a comeback. The weather was good on the animals last winter. I have seen a lot of young deer, if they can make it through this season next year should be a good hunt.

The weather has been very hot and no wind for many of the days. Those conditions make it hard to hunt. On one of the very hot days I sat down for lunch and heard people talking. I saw in the creek bottom two guys walking and talking. One was wearing a pink shirt and tan pants and the other a blue shirt blue jeans and they both had matching hats. As they got closer I could hear they were debating politics. I still have no idea what they were there doing but was thinking that they might kick up an animal as they walked and talked through the terrain.

Not all good news as I heard that a bowhunter shot another hunter. Being a bowhunter safety instructor I would like to find out more on the details on that incident as it is very uncommon. The newspaper stated he was shooting after shooting hours but that is not an official report. By getting the details, we could learn something from it for new bowhunters. I also heard that a hunter was missing and they found his body but did not know the cause of death. That would be another good hunter safety topic.

As I hunt my area I see land that I used to hunt that I am no longer allowed on. I always think of the memories of past hunts on that land.

It is like an old friend that you can no longer see.

This land might have been block management in the past, bought by someone else or corporation, or now leased to an outfitter. I try to think what could be done so the land could be hunted by more people instead of just a few. And the problem is you are never going to be able to beat big money head on. Someone is always going to be able to put more money on the table than block management and create their own private hunting preserve. And once they do that, our tax dollars have to pay for the damage done. We need to come up with creative ways to make block management more attractive to the landowners. I look at things as the “trophy experience” instead of just trophy size. If I can get out and roam about on a large section of land that has a possibility of some animals on it and not a pack of hunters I am happy.

I learned a lesson this year. If you have been away hunting elk for a long time and come home to take your wife turkey hunting, pass up the shot if the turkeys come your way. It will keep you out of the dog house.

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i all I’ve been out taking my bow for a walk recently. While I’ve seen quite a few elk I’ve had no close encounters. I guess you y could call me an Elk- alcoholic because I never seem to get enough. Some of the guys around have scored this year. I also met a few new friends who w are bow hunters and told them about MBA’s i involvement in our bow hunting opportunities in Montana. They seemed interested, and hopefully some or all of them will choose to join since told them about the website and what the MBA does for bowhunting in Montana.

I just enjoy being out in God’s country as I call i and checking out the countryside and getting a it, little l exercise while looking for meat to put on the table. I was fortunate to go to Idaho to hunt elk with w my son but didn’t see much so for now I’ll be sticking to hunting in Montana. I also talked to a friend of my son’s who was out taking a youngster out deer hunting this year, getting kids out there if both fun and important and something that I/we all need to do more.

I hunted with a few new guys this year and l me, they all enjoy shooting traditional bows. like Bowhunting is more than hunting, its fellowship, companionship, good stories and great food.

May God bless you all

Bob Morgan

749-0706 give me a call

Dave Moon

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greater role in setting those objective numbers.

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JERRY DAVIS

At this meeting the FWP presented their draft guidelines to be used for determining if a shoulder season is successful and if the shoulder season should continue for the next 3 year review period.

In their draft guidelines the FWP also gives some fundamental objectives to be generally achieved before a shoulder season can be considered and if already established, be continued. In their document FWP makes it clear that shoulder seasons can only be effective if key landowners are committed to reducing elk populations. Absent that commitment a shoulder season cannot occur.

Under the Fundamental Objectives stated in the guidelines a proposed “shoulder season” must be effective in reducing elk populations are rapidly as possible to objective.

The season must address problematic distributions of elk and elk harvest. In my opinion this means addressing harboring issues.

A “shoulder season” is required to enhance free public access to bulls and cows on private land during the general seasons, both rifle and archery as well as reduce exclusive access to elk.

Fundamental Objectives also require that a shoulder season allow landowners flexibility to manage elk hunting on their property, reduce game damage, and reduce hunter impacts.

Jerry Davis

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oping you all had a successful Archery Only Season. As for myself I have not bagged any critters yet but I got to hunt for a few days with a very successful bowhunter out of Glasgow, my old stomping grounds. I had a great time and I learned a lot. Thanks Rick.

Now down to business.

Along with Steve Schindler, 2nd VP for MBA, I attended the October 8th FWP Commission meeting in Helena. The reason for attending was to comment on the revised “Shoulder Season” Guidelines being proposed by FWP staff.

Shoulder Seasons as defined in FWP’s Proposed Elk Season Guidelines are “any firearm season printed in the hunting regulations that occurs outside the 5-week general firearm season between August 15 and February 15 in one or more hunting districts or portions(s) thereof.” Under this definition FWP states that these seasons “do not include early backcountry hunts, primitive weapon hunts, game damage hunts, management seasons, or extensions.”

FWP goes on to state that these seasons “are designed to supplement existing harvest, not replace or reduce harvest during the existing general archery and firearm seasons” Why the need for a “shoulder seasons” you may ask? Well FWP contends that the majority of Montana FWP hunting districts have populations of elk that are above objective.

Being over objective simply means elk population numbers are above an artificially set number. Objective numbers are set by consideration of both the carrying capacity of the land as well as landowner tolerance. I believe in many cases the tolerance of landowners plays a

If these Fundamental Objectives remain intact, it sounds like a proposed shoulder season must achieve a pretty high hurdle before it can even be considered.

In their document FWP also gives harvest criteria that must be met by an established shoulder season.

Under Harvest Criteria a successful shoulder season must have produced, during only the general and archery only seasons in the previous 3 years, a bull harvest count equal or greater than 50% of bull calves that were born in that same period in that hunting district. When the harvest from the shoulder season is added the harvest count should be at or above the number of bulls born in that same period in that hunting district.

During those three years the shoulder season must also produce cow harvest counts during general and archery only seasons greater than 50% of cow calves born in that same period.

And similar to the bull criteria above, the cow harvest count should be equal or greater than the number of cows born in that same period.

During the Commission meeting there were several comments that the hunting of bulls should not be allowed during shoulder seasons.

All that testified against bull hunting during shoulder seasons stated that if the intent is to lower population objectives then shoulder seasons should be focused on cow harvest and not bull harvest. In other words only antlerless elk hunting should be allowed during shoulder seasons.

In response to that concern FWP stated that any bull hunting during a shoulder season would be by randomly drawn permits.

Another concern that many archers had is that an early shoulder season will impact the archery only season.

lands only with the exception of small amounts of public lands incident to a shoulder season hunting area boundary. Additionally WMA’s will not be included in shoulder season hunting areas. FWP says an early shoulder season mostly on private lands would not require archers during archery only season to wear hunter orange. Only rifle hunters during such a season would be required to wear hunter orange.

I guess that makes sense as the intent of an early shoulder season is to not only harvest more elk but to move large elk concentrations off of private lands. It may even be possible that an early shoulder season may improve opportunity for bowhunters hunting on public lands adjoining shoulder season hunting area boundaries.

Another concern is that in an effort to meet elk population objectives the FWP may overshoot their goal and cause the population of elk in a hunting district to tank due to other environmental factors.

It is my understanding that this is what happened with the elk population in the Bitterroot a few years back. After HB 42 was passed in 2003, a bill that mandated that elk populations be kept at or below objective numbers, the FWP dramatically liberalized the season. Hunters could purchase multiple elk tags and take multiple elk from that HD. As a result the elk population was dropped to a number that allowed predation, drought effects, and increasing land development pressures to keep the elk population low and delay recovery. As I inferred in my testimony shoulder seasons, if adopted, may need to be curtailed well before objective numbers are met.

In my opinion FWP needs to reassess elk objectives. Elk objective numbers should be set high enough to ensure that an elk population is not driven to a level so low that it is susceptible to predation, drought effects, and increasing development pressures.

Most thought that the FWP did revise the guidelines to address public comment concerns. But there was little faith that shoulder seasons would have much if any effect in bringing over objective elk populations into line with objective numbers because of private property rights and harboring issues.

In the end the commission adapted the revised draft of the Shoulder Season Guidelines.

Now that guidelines have been adapted FWP is proposing 6 shoulder season projects for the 2015-2016 hunting year. Those areas are HD 392 Southwest Big Belts, HD 410 Missouri River Breaks, HD 445 Hound Creek, HD 446 Northeast Big Belt Mountains, HD 449 Castle Mountains East, and HD 452 Castle Mountains West. These are all late season proposals.

If you have concerns, issues or support for these district you must comment by November 6th. Please go to http://fwp. mt.gov/hunting/ ublicComments/2015/ 2015elkShoulderPilotProjects.html and comment.

As I am writing this in October I hope that this reaches you all in time to comment if you choose.

Well that is about all for this issue.

Good hunting and straight shooting to all of you.

Jerry Davis

In response to that concern FWP stated shoulder seasons will be limited to private

Winter 2015

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REGIONAL REPORTS Raymond Gross

DirectorsAt Large

2

015, another memorable hunting season in Montana. I was fortunate to take an antelope, whitetail and elk with the bow. I have also been enjoying upland bird hunting with my dogs.

“Living the Dream”. This is why we need to get engaged and fight to keep our hunting heritage, protect the public trust doctrine of wildlife management and fight for access to public lands.

Raymond Gross Danny Moore

W

hile the western part of Montana was dry we had much more rain here in the breaks and I have seen a good number of Elk taken by bowhunters here this year. We have a lot of new bowhunters in the woods today. I’ve seen several rigs with Montana Bowhunter plates, but when had opportunity to speak with them and ask if they were MBA Members and not one said they were. I kept MBA newsletters in my truck and passed one to every one of them and I hope that some of them will become members. Most of them had never heard of the MBA. You wonder how that can be. I don’t know how we can get our name out there but do what you can to help.

They were all local bowhunters from the Highline. I will be headed back to Kalispell in the next few weeks after I get back from Iowa .

Danny Moore

A

s I write this the fall bow season is coming to close and I have yet to notch a tag… I was into numerous big bulls but they would not cooperate. I sure had a ton of fun and explored a lot of new country. The bulls I got into were just super cautious and would not let anything other than his own cows get closer than about 80 yards in heavy timber. You’d catch a glimpse thru the trees but never be able to get in close range with a clear shot. Such is bow hunting.

An issue did come up a few weeks ago that has me concerned. After a day of hunting in the Little Belt Mountains a man from Helena and his buddy were walking out after dark and another hunter was sitting above the trail they were walking on. This hunter loosed an arrow and the arrow passed through the thigh of one of the other two guys. What the hell??? First of all the guy was shooting after dark in a low light situation. He was shooting at an unknown target (two guys walking may sound like an elk). The guy that was hit did survive but was badly injured and will require extensive recovery time. He is very lucky to be alive. Is the harvest of an elk so important that you take a chance to shoot at a blob in the dark? I think not.

Electronics are not allowed to illuminate pins and currently lighted nocks are not allowed. Was the guy that shot the arrow hunting with lighted nocks? At this point in time I do not know all the details but guys shooting in questionable lighting are one of my major concerns if Montana legalizes lighted nocks. How many guys will take a shot in marginal light situations because they will be able to see their arrow in flight?

In another story- a few years ago a group of hunters in WA were elk hunting. A man and his son were together and his brother in law separated from the group to hunt alone. The man and his son were walking out after dark when an arrow shot by his brother in-law whizzed between their two bodies. The brother in-law thought they were an elk. A close miss. Another appalling example of a hunter not thinking before they release an arrow.

Bowhunters need to police ourselves. Our reputation as sportsmen is at stake. I have had animals in range in the evening and I have not drawn or let down because I did not feel there was adequate light to make a clean shot, assess the area where the deer was standing, and then follow out a blood trail. I actually stop hunting about 20-30 minutes before the close of shooting light. We must hunt ethically; follow game regulations, show respect for the game we hunt and the properties we hunt on. Share these stories with your friends and discuss the ethics of shooting in low light. Let’s raise bowhunting to the highest level of hunting ethics.

Roger Peffer

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

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REGIONAL REPORTS

Creating the Cocobolo Killer

Paul Martin

S

ome of you may think, what is he writing about now? But all of our Bowyers in our state or any state, know exactly what I’m talking about. It was early this spring when I approached Neil Jacobson about me building a recurve take down bow for myself. Not only did I want to build it I even wanted to be in on the design of it with my dreamed up specifications, such as being shorter, but shoot as well as my aluminum riser recurve that Neil builds ( which I killed my bull with last year). Yep, that’s when I got, ‘the look’, you know the look of, it can›t be done! After some wining and begging, Neil finally gave in, and we were on our way to, ‘whip one out’.

After about 2 months of experimenting, trial and error, the first practice bow was built, which ended up going to my hunting partner Diann. It was now time for me to build my wood riser take down, in hopes of being able to use it for the spring bear season. After learning about all the cool exotic woods that can be used for bows, I was infatuated with Cocobolo wood. This amazing wood is great to work with worth but getting extremely hard to acquire due to all the import restrictions. One more interesting thing about the Cocobolo wood is that some people are allergic to it. Fortunately Neil and I could probably sprinkle the saw dust from it on our breakfast cereal. Back to trial and error, it was interesting to say the least, of how just a few thousandths of an inch of wood or glass could make such a difference on the pounds of the limbs.

Using some old formulas for laminate limbs on a new design just didn’t work out. We built limbs that came out too wimpy or limbs that Paul Schaffer would of had trouble drawing, but finally, I think it was the 5th set of limbs that came out close to what would work for me. The Zebra wood limbs are just beautiful.

The whole project was a great hands-on learning experience and getting to see how many years of learned techniques that Neil has developed on how to build his bows for so many different people. Whether it is a shelf bow hand hewed

by Bob Morgan or one of these domestic or exotic wood laminate works of art, our state bowyers are keeping our bow hunting heritage alive and well with traditional equipment, something we should never lose. We hope someday to have seminars on bow building at the MBEF property for people to attend in a workshop environment to help continue the trend of archery and bowhunting in our state. As of the writing of this article I haven’t as yet taken a shot at an animal with this bow, but can only imagine the excitement, the reward, of the accomplishment of taking an animal with my Cocobolo take down, so I can call my creation The Cocobolo Killer.

Thanks much to accomplished bowyer Neil Jacobson.

Paul Martin

Finished cocobolo bows first shoot

Neil feathering wedges

Limb form ready for the oven

Roughed out risers

Neil filing string groove

Paul glueing up limbs

Winter 2015

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TENTATIVES REPORT

Final Elk Season Guidelines Flexible season structure with performance-based shoulder seasons Adopted 10/08/2015 FW Commission Introduction These guidelines were developed to improve elk harvest management and bring more elk populations to objective. The guidelines respect and reflect private property rights and landowner decisions as well as public trust responsibilities associated with elk management. They also emphasize flexibility with outside constraints using all currently available harvest tools (existing season structures, license/permit types, game damage hunts, management seasons, and season extensions) and add A7 licenses and antlerless permits (or apply comparable restrictions in district-specific definitions of general or antlerless licenses), and performance-based shoulder seasons as options. These guidelines alone do not require implementation of any one option. Season proposals that might include one or more of these options will continue to be initiated by regional staff. If adopted these guidelines will remain in place as formal guidance for both the Fish and Wildlife Commission (“Commission”) and Fish, Wildlife and Parks staff (“FWP”) until/unless they are formally adjusted by the Commission and public review. This shall include fundamental objectives, performance criteria, and periodic Commission/public review of season performance against those elements.

A “shoulder season” here is defined as: any firearm season printed in the hunting regulations that occurs outside the 5-week general firearm season between August 15 and February 15 in one or more hunting districts or portion(s) thereof.

Examples might include B licenses or general seasons extended early or late or additional sets of B licenses or permits valid early or late. Shoulder seasons here do not include early backcountry hunts, primitive weapon hunts, game damage hunts, management seasons, or season extensions.

Shoulder Season Intent Shoulder seasons are designed to supplement existing harvest, not replace or reduce harvest during the existing general archery and firearm seasons. They are a management tool to support the general seasons and are not presented here or intended to be an end objective. Performance-based harvest criteria described later in these guidelines have been developed to reflect this intent, to describe the harvest necessary to reduce elk populations, and to help ensure transparent and consistent assessment of how shoulder seasons are performing. The criteria will also be used by the Commission and the Department to propose, continue, adjust, or remove shoulder seasons. If shoulder seasons do not meet established harvest criteria, they become inconsistent with their described intent and may actually exacerbate problems with elk populations and/or distribution.

Reasons to Implement, Maintain, and Remove Shoulder Seasons These guidelines do not require shoulder seasons in any one district. FWP may propose and the commission may adopt performance-based shoulder seasons where populations have been over objective and liberal antlerless harvest seasons have been present for at least four years. In these areas the primary intent of shoulder seasons is to reduce the population to objective. In this regard, these shoulder seasons would be proposed for removal and so acted upon by the Commission when the district reaches objective or if the harvest criteria (see below) are not being met. These shoulder seasons must also be consistent with fundamental objectives listed below.

FWP may also propose and the commission may adopt shoulder seasons to address specific local circumstances. Examples of such local circumstances include areas where elk are absent during the general hunting season or the landscape is dominated by multiple small ownership parcels making it difficult to safely harvest elk or respond to game damage. These shoulder seasons must also be consistent with fundamental objectives listed below.

Shoulder seasons may be proposed to continue and so adopted by the Commission if: • harvest criteria listed below are met and there is overall positive performance relative to the fundamental objectives listed below and the elk population is moving toward objective, • local circumstances relative to landownership sizes or seasonality of elk presence are present (see above) and there is overall positive performance relative to fundamental objectives listed below, or • broad, expressed support from landowners, sportsmen, FWP, and the Commission and there is overall positive performance relative to fundamental objectives listed below. The Devil’s Kitchen Working Group represents one example of this sort of significant and diverse collaboration. While the Devil’s Kitchen Working Group is not the only possible manifestation of diverse and

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significant support it does represent the intended level of collaboration and is identified here as a standard against which other collaborations/support will be measured. d

Shoulder Season Placement, Timing, and Sex of Harvest Shoulder seasons will typically be directed to private land across all or portions of an entire hunting district or group of hunting districts, except where clear boundaries necessarily include small amounts of state or federal lands. For example, a Forest Service administrative boundary may be an effective and clear boundary but might also include some peripheral Forest or BLM lands with private lands in an early shoulder season. Montana state land parcels other than FWP Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are another example of public lands that might be included with private lands in an early shoulder season due to the need for clear boundary definitions.

In some areas significant amounts of public land may need to be included in late shoulder seasons (outside of the archery only season) to achieve prescribed harvest if elk are expected to move off private lands such that harvest is effectively precluded. In these circumstances public land harvest will be limited where appropriate to avoid overharvesting elk on public land.

Shoulder seasons could be early and/or late and could overlap the current archery season on private land (with exception of small amounts of public land, see above).

Shoulder seasons may include antlered and/or antlerless options (see criteria below). Where antlered harvest during shoulder seasons is needed to facilitate meeting population objectives bull harvest opportunity will be allocated via limited permits.

Shoulder Season Proposal, Adoption, and Review The Commission and Department will conduct annual public review of shoulder season performance relative to criteria and fundamental objectives and will review shoulder seasons and associated decisions in scheduled seasonsetting processes. Individual shoulder seasons will be proposed and adopted with definitive “sunset” dates consistent with performance criteria review and season-setting cycles. While this would typically occur when three years of data are available any shoulder season could be reviewed and acted upon at any seasonsetting if circumstances warrant (reached objective, clear and likely continued failure of criteria). The sunset date will serve to remove any shoulder seasons from the remaining general season definition for that hunting district. This general season definition will then represent the status quo season entering any season setting process. This then will require a specific proposal and Commission adoption for change directly identifying and addressing any individual shoulder season to continue that shoulder season beyond its sunset date. If no such specific proposal and Commission adoption is made only the general season is included as the “status quo” for that hunting district and the shoulder season will be effectively removed. Shoulder seasons may be specifically removed before the sunset date and before three years of harvest data is acquired if objectives are met or if it is clear performance is failing the criteria and will continue to fail. Once removed, a shoulder season may be proposed again using general season harvest criteria as entry criteria OR there is broad, expressed support from landowners, sportsmen, FWP, and the Commission as described in criteria 6 below. d

Shoulder Season Performance The primary intent of a shoulder season is to help reduce the population in a hunting district or group of hunting districts. Shoulder seasons are designed to supplement existing harvest, not replace or reduce harvest during the existing general archery and firearms seasons. To reduce a population in a given year, the total harvest for all seasons combined – archery-only, 5-week general and shoulder season – must exceed the number of calves “recruited” or added into the population the previous spring. That is, annual harvest must exceed annual recruitment (annual “calf crop”). To assess shoulder season performance the following harvest criteria will be used to assess performance. This performance assessment will be used to determine whether FWP proposes to maintain or remove shoulder seasons and will also be used by the Commission in assessing the decision to maintain, adjust, or remove shoulder seasons. Annual performance information will be posted on the public website and will be part of annual reviews with the Commission and any associated season-setting process. While shoulder seasons will be focused primarily on private lands, implementation and assessment

TENTATIVES REPORTS

will be done at the hunting district(s) level. For the first shoulder season proposal in a specific hunting district, criteria are not used as entry criteria but are assessed in the years following implementation. While the criteria are couched in the context of three years, performance information will be posted annually for public review and the Commission may remove a shoulder season at any time it is determined criteria are not and will not be met. Subsequent shoulder season proposals in the same area would require meeting general season harvest criteria as entry criteria unless the proposal is otherwise consistent with fundamental objectives and enjoys broad, expressed support from landowners, sportsmen, FWP, and Commission. d

Shoulder Season Harvest Criteria 1. During the past 3 yearsa the number of bulls harvested during the archeryonly and 5-week general seasons combined (not including the shoulder season) is more than half (>50%) the number of bulls recruitedb,c during that 3-year period AND 2. During the past 3 yearsa the number of cow elk harvested during the archery-only and 5-week general seasons combined (not including the shoulder season) is more than half (>50%) the number of cows recruitedb,c during the 3-year period AND 3. During the past 3 yearsa total harvest of cows during all seasons combined (archery-only, 5-week general and shoulder season) is greater than the total number of cows recruitedb,c during the 3-year period AND 4. During the past 3 yearsa total harvest of all elk during all seasons combined (archery-only, 5-week general and shoulder season) is greater than the total number of all elk recruitedb,c during the 3-year period OR 5. If harvest criteria have not been met due to clear and widely accepted extenuating circumstances (e.g., weather, forest fire, etc.), the shoulder season may be continued, as long as access to elk during the general season is not considered to be the main reason harvest criteria are not being met. If lack of access during the general season is the main reason for not meeting harvest criteria, then the hunting district(s) or a portion of the hunting district may, at the Commission’s discretion, shift to antlerless only.

OR: 6. Other shoulder seasons not subject to the above harvest criteria are allowed if they are consistent with the fundamental objectives and have broad, expressed support from landowners, sportsmen, FWP and the Commission.

The Devil’s Kitchen Working Group represents one example of this sort of significant and diverse collaboration. While the Devil’s Kitchen Working Group is not the only possible manifestation of diverse and significant support it does represent the intended level of collaboration and is identified here as a standard against which other collaborations/support will be measured. To ensure this standard of broad and diverse collaboration is met, the Commission shall review the nature and amount of landowner and hunter support when considering any shoulder season proposal under this guidance. d

Fundamental Objectives These guidelines also include “fundamental objectives” meant to describe management success and to help ensure a transparent assessment of how overall elk harvest management is progressing. Fundamental objectives address more than just population status and offer multiple metrics for the Commission to consider in their season setting decisions. Balancing private property rights and public trust management, they reflect the different concerns and values of private landowners and the general public. Given inherent different values across landowners and hunters, all fundamental objectives cannot be maximized.

However, fundamental objectives can be optimized if landowner and hunter participation is sufficient to increase harvest during general and shoulder seasons in areas over objective. Shoulder seasons can only be successful at reducing elk numbers and should only be maintained in those areas where key landowners are committed to reducing elk to the identified objective. If that commitment is absent or subordinate to other interests shoulder seasons cannot be successful and fundamental objectives cannot be comprehensively addressed. Fundamental objectives are listed below and have no individual priority ranking. The intent of this proposal is for fundamental objectives to be generally achieved when shoulder season harvest criteria are met. An overall failure to meet fundamental objectives, or specific objectives acutely failing even while harvest criteria are met would prompt a review of harvest criteria. Status of fundamental objectives would be routinely assessed using direct measures (for example, number of districts at objective), public experiences (for example, access offered/received), and FWP field staff inputs (for example, landowner/hunter interactions).

FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVES Elk considerations: • Manage elk populations to objective as rapidly as possible.

• Increase harvest of elk, where appropriate.

Hunter and landowner considerations: • Address problematic distributions of elk and elk harvest.

• Enhance free public access to bulls and cows on private land during the general seasons.

• Reduce exclusive access to elk.

• Enhance landowner flexibility to manage elk hunting on their property.

• Reduce game damage.

• Reduce hunter impacts on landowners (e.g., cost of hiring additional staff, loss of productivity, property damage from hunters, etc.).

• Simplify rules and regulations.

Logistical considerations: • Balance statewide consistency with local flexibility of regulations, rules, and policies.

• Keep staff time and cost down. a

To account for annual variability in hunting conditions that might affect harvest and to account for variability in recruitment rates, a moving 3-year window is used with recruitment and harvest summed across those three years.

While criteria identify a 3-year window, the Commission may remove any shoulder season any time it is determined criteria are not and will not be met. b This applies if elk are present during the archery-only and 5-week general season. The intent is that most of the total annual harvest from all seasons combined occurs during the archery-only and 5-week general season and that shoulder season harvest adds to this rather than replaces it. Therefore, a number of bull elk and antlerless elk that is more than half the annual bull and cow recruitment, respectively, must be taken each year during the combined archeryonly and 5-week general seasons. Harvest criteria for both bulls and cows must be met in order to propose maintaining any shoulder season unless it is broadly supported (see criteria 6 above). Once a shoulder season is removed from the regulations general season harvest criteria must be met before any shoulder season is re-proposed unless it is broadly supported (see criteria 6 above).

Any proposed bull harvest during a shoulder season must be consistent with management objectives, must be by permit only and must meet the need to reduce bulls in areas that are over objective. c

“Recruitment” is the estimated number of 11-12 month old calves in the population in late winter or spring. Annual recruitment for both bulls and cows will be determined by the area biologist using best available data. To estimate the total number of cow and bull calves recruited s/he will need: • Survey data or another estimator of herd size and composition • An estimate of sightability • An estimate of bull:cow ratio among 11-12 month old calves Example: Using herd count and composition data and adjusting for sightability, a biologist estimates that during the past three years a total of 300 (an average of 100 per year) 11-12 month old calves were recruited. Using check station data, information from wildlife literature, or other data it was estimated that 60%, or 180, of the calves were cow calves and 40%, or 120, were bull calves.

Using harvest survey point estimates more than half of the number of animals, or more than 90 cows (an average of 30 per year) and 60 bulls (an average of 20 per year), had to be taken during the combined archery-only and 5-week general seasons over that same three year period. In addition, at least 180 cow elk (an average of 60 per year) and at least 300 total elk (an average of 100 per year) had to be taken during all seasons combined (archery-only, 5-week general and shoulder season) to justify continuing the shoulder season. d

The intent is to expand the opportunity to address elk numbers and distribution problems that have not been effectively addressed with this or other season structures. It is not the intent to create an opportunity to continue shoulder seasons in districts where lack of reasonable public harvest opportunities during the general season is the primary cause of elk numbers exceeding population objectives.

Winter 2015

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TENTATIVES REPORT HEADER

FWP Headquarters • 1420 E. 6th Ave. • Helena, MT 59620-0701 Phone: 406-444-2535 • Fax: 406-444-4952 • Website: fwp.mt.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 9, 2015 Contact: Tom Palmer • 406-444-3051 • tpalmer@mt.gov

FWP Fact Sheet Frequently Asked Questions Elk Shoulder Season Guidelines What are shoulder season guidelines?

"Shoulder season" guidelines will be used to create elk hunting opportunities with firearms before and after the general rifle season to increase harvest and improve management in specific places, mostly on private lands where elk numbers exceed local elk population objectives.

Are elk shoulder seasons the same as "Ranching for Wildlife"?

No. Shoulder seasons have nothing in common with privatizing a public resource. Shoulder seasons deal with one thing only: elk population objectives.

FWP is not offering landowners elk tags to sell or otherwise incentivizing landowner participation. The purpose of a shoulder season is to help the landowner reduce elk numbers.

Will shoulder seasons adjust how game damage eligibility for landowners is determined?

Shoulder seasons won't determine a private landowner's game damage eligibility. In Montana, game damage eligibility has long been based on private landowners allowing public access during the general hunting season. That won't change.

Will shoulder seasons be applied statewide?

No. Only local circumstances will determine if a shoulder season is proposed. Each shoulder season proposal would be accompanied by an open, public process. Any specific proposal would require public review and Fish & Wildlife Commission approval during the 2016-17 biennial hunting seasonsetting process—and potentially with limited pilot projects for the 2015 season pending public comment and commission approval.

Are shoulder season harvest criteria aimed at forcing hunting access to private land?

No. FWP has no authority to force access to private land and FWP recognizes and respects that landowners alone decide to allow hunter access or not. If harvest criteria are not met those hunting districts would simply not be eligible for a shoulder season.

Why are shoulder seasons needed?

need to be respectful and capable guests on private land. And landowners need to define and provide a level of access that matches the elk population on their properties. In other words, shoulder season guidelines assume that all parties are interested in fewer elk. The overall process will, over time, identify areas where that assumption fails. It may be that the biggest return from shoulder seasons is the more precise awareness of where and why this four-way partnership fails to materialize. If criteria are not met, FWP will propose ending the shoulder season. Remember, too, that shoulder seasons wouldn’t be indefinite; each F&W Commission-approved shoulder season would include an end date. The aim is to cap and reduce elk populations by comparing elk numbers to how much harvest is actually occurring.

Have you considered establishing shoulder seasons without applying harvest criteria?

A shoulder season concept was used in Montana prior to 2006 and it wasn’t successful across the board. FWP discovered, for instance, that when landowners deferred hunting access from the general season to a late season, the elk harvest during the general season was reduced throughout the hunting district. Why? Elk moved from public and private lands open to hunting to private lands with little or no access. This reduced the hunting and harvest opportunities associated with the general season. The bottom line is we learned that a late season alone won’t work in those circumstances.

Some are suggesting that shoulder seasons will eliminate elk on public lands. Is this true?

No. Shoulder seasons would focus on private lands during early seasons and would be carefully applied on public lands, if at all, during late seasons.

Local circumstances will almost always direct shoulder seasons to private lands.

In some situations of mixed-land ownership, some limited shoulder season hunting may need to occur on public lands to ensure elk do not take refuge there and essentially eliminate all opportunities for harvest.

Are bull elk included in shoulder seasons?

Potentially, yes. In areas where elk are over objective both bull and antlerless opportunities will be considered. Any bull hunting opportunity during a shoulder season would be regulated by a permit system.

Governor Steve Bullock, lawmakers, hunters, landowners and others all have expressed concern and accordingly expect FWP to manage elk at established standards. In Montana there are 80 areas over objective, 39 within objective, and 19 below objective. It would simply be irresponsible for FWP to continue to allow a number of Montana’s elk populations to grow beyond management objectives without trying additional measures. Landowners will benefit from reduced elk numbers. Hunters will benefit from additional opportunities to harvest elk. To be clear, the primary reason FWP proposed shoulder seasons is to reduce elk populations where they are over objective.

Could FWP come back and propose to remove shoulder seasons if harvest criteria aren’t being met?

When would shoulder seasons occur?

For more information, visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov. Click “Shoulder Season Guidelines.” Comments on six proposed elk shoulder season pilot projects will be taken until 5 p.m. on Nov. 6. The six hunting districts include 392, in the west side of the Big Belt Mountains; 445, 446, 449 and 452, on the east side of the Big Belts and the Castle Mountains; and 410, in the Missouri River Breaks.

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If approved by the commission, shoulder seasons would occur before or after the five-week general firearm season that typically begins in late October and ends the Sunday following Thanksgiving Day. Shoulder season hunts could then happen as early as Aug. 15 and could run no later than Feb. 15. Each F&W Commission-approved shoulder season would include an end date.

Will FWP really apply and follow the harvest criteria?

Yes. The entire shoulder season package demands a renewed partnership among FWP, the F&W Commission, hunters and landowners. FWP information on elk harvests needs to be accurate, efficient, and timely. The commission needs to balance social values with wildlife science and legal authority. Hunters

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Yes. The proposed guidelines outline how such a decision would be made and the public process that would follow. While future commission decisions can’t be guaranteed, the approved guidelines include ending specific shoulder seasons if criteria are not met. In other words, a shoulder seasons wouldn’t be indefinite. Each commission-approved shoulder season would include an end date.

How can I keep informed?

MBA OFFICIAL BALLOT

Draft Shoulder Season Pilot Project Options for 2015-16 10/21/15

-- HD 391 Dry Creek-Duck Creek -General Elk License • Nov 30 – Feb 15 –Antlerless Elk Only. Not Valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. Elk B License. Drawing only. Apply by June 1.

391-00: 475 B Licenses. Not Valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. • Nov 30 – Feb 15 – Antlerless Elk

-- HD 392 Southwest Big Belts -General Elk License • Nov 30 – Feb 15 –Antlerless Elk Only. Not Valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. Elk B License. Drawing only. Apply by June 1.

392-00: 300 B Licenses. Valid entire district. Not Valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. • Nov 30 – Feb 15 – Antlerless Elk 392-01: 200 B Licenses. Valid entire district. Not Valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. • Nov 30 – Feb 15 – Antlerless Elk

-- HD 446 Northeast Big Belt Mountains -General Elk License • Nov 30 – Feb 15 –Antlerless Elk Only. Not Valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs Elk B License. Drawing only. Apply by June 1.

004-00: 4500 B Licenses. Not valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. • Nov 30 – Feb 15 – Antlerless Elk

-- HD 449 Castle Mountains East -General Elk License • Nov 30 – Feb 15 –Antlerless Elk Only. Not Valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs Elk B License. Drawing only. Apply by June 1.

004-00: 4500 B Licenses. Not valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. • Nov 30 – Feb 15 – Antlerless Elk

-- HD 452 Castle Mountains West -General Elk License • Nov 30 – Feb 15 –Antlerless Elk Only. Not Valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs Elk B License. Drawing only. Apply by June 1.

004-00: 4500 B Licenses. Not valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. • Nov 30 – Feb 15 – Antlerless Elk

-- HD 410 Missouri River Breaks -Elk – Hunting by Drawing only.

Elk Permit. Drawing only. Apply by March 16.

410-20: 100 permits.

• Jan 01 – Feb 15 –ANTLERLESS ELK ONLY. Not valid on CMR Refuge.

Elk B License. Drawing only. Apply by June 1.

410-00: 800 B Licenses.

• Jan 01 – Feb 15 – Antlerless Elk. Not valid on CMR Refuge.

-- HD 445 Hound Creek -General Elk License • Nov 30 – Feb 15 –Antlerless Elk Only. Not Valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. Elk Permit, Drawing only. Apply by March 16.

445-20: 40 permits. Not valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. • Nov 30 - Feb 15 – ANTLERLESS ELK ONLY. Elk B License. Drawing only. Apply by June 1.

004-00: 4500 B Licenses. Not valid on National Forest lands or FWP WMAs. • Nov 30 – Feb 15 – Antlerless Elk

MBA Official Ballot Results Lighted Nocks and Bow-Mounted Cameras MBA Ballot Outcome

Ballots mailed: 609

Topic: Electronics on Bows and Arrows

(included 87 family memberships which are allowed two votes) Returns received for lighted nocks question: 358 Returns received for bow-mounted cameras: 357

1) Should the MBA submit a proposal to the FWP

2) Should the MBA submit a proposal to the FWP

Commission supporting lighted nocks?

Commission supporting bow- mounted cameras?

Yes 214 (59.7%)

Yes 178 (49.8%)

No 144 (40.2%)

No 181 (50.7%)

59% of members in favor of an MBA proposal to allow lighted nocks

Winter 2015

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HUMBLE SUCCESS

Humble Success

by Elisha Stoddard

I

t had been an unusually dry, warm fall this year and just hadn’t felt like bow season yet. While some of the trees were in full color change, many had already turned brown and lost their leaves uneventfully due to the drought. My favorite time of year is undoubtedly fall and my favorite time to take to the woods. This hunting season so far has been one of great encounters with big bulls and lots of whitetails in bow range. It has also been a season with a tinge of frustration hunting for cow elk and only having close shots at big mature bulls with no tag, and having whitetail doe’s duck my arrow left and right at 15 yards and closer. However, I wouldn’t change a thing as I have gotten the closest I have ever been to some magnificent bull elk without them even knowing I was there (three different bulls, one at 5 yards, one at 12 yards and one at 30 yards.) After giving the elk a good try in September it was my time to start looking to hunt some whitetail, and to hopefully fill the freezer for the year with some great deer meat.

I was sitting in my tree stand in one of only five trees in a large open field, waiting patiently for evening to come and with it the deer movement. It had been several years since I had been able to put my tag on an arrow killed buck and two years since I had tagged a doe. Luck had not been on my side and it started to seem that this year was going to be no different. Never the less, nearly all of the enjoyment comes from the hunt and not the kill and I have, and am, still enjoying this beautiful fall. On several occasions earlier this fall I had sat patiently in my tree stand waiting for that perfect shot and as luck would have it, I got several of them. From the brush line behind me on three separate occasions, unsuspecting whitetail doe’s would head straight for the small group trees I was sitting in and inevitably each give me the shot I wait so patiently for.

It seemed luck with the wind was on my side as it was always in my face changing direction as if on cue depending on where the deer were.

As all bow hunters know that rarely happens and wind barely sometimes seems to cooperate. The slight rustle of leaves from the breeze made enough noise to conceal any noise I may have made drawing my bow back. As a doe approached within my bow range, she began to feed looking around ever so often but seemingly unaware of any danger. Focusing intently, I picked my spot (low heart/lung) and drew my bow back slow and steady and when I reached my anchor point, I released the arrow. Seemingly headed for the kill zone exactly where I had aimed I was confident in the shot. But just at the last millisecond before my arrow would hit its mark, (like déjà vu of several shots from previous years) the doe ducked a full body width and the arrow cut through the hair on her back. I couldn’t believe that it was happening again to me this year. These amazingly fast, agile creatures were ducking below my arrow, no doubt just lunging to get away from a noise they heard, but seemingly and deliberately ducking my arrow. This happened again two more times this season, once again that same evening and again another evening. I have done all I can to

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I was relieved, humble and thankful, my luck had changed! silence my bow adding beaver hair to silence the string to checking my brace height and anything else I could think of. I think they are just in that range that is close enough to hear the shot and react.

I would like to say that I wasn’t getting frustrated but I would be lying if I did.

I really wanted to put my tag on a deer harvested with my new longbow.

The next day my husband and I decided to hang a few more tree stand’s to give us some more options and one of those was putting a stand east of the one I had been sitting in. For years we have had deer cross too far for a shot from the one stand and had talked about putting in a second stand not only for another option but so that we could possibly film one another harvesting a deer. Turned out this stand would be my bow hunting salvation so to speak.

Two nights later on October 17th 2015 I headed for the new stand to give it a try. Within an hour of sitting, the deer had started their movement towards my tree stand. I again prepared myself for a possible shot (I stand up when I shoot from my stand as opposed to sitting and shooting -it is more comfortable for me). First a doe and her fawn headed straight towards me followed by a little forked horn buck and a spike with 2” antlers that I could legally put a doe tag on. This was the deer I planned to shoot at, or so I thought. As the deer got within 40 yards of my stand I could see a nice 4 by 4 come out of the brush and make a hasty trot towards the other deer now approaching bow range. Stopping at 12 yards straight in front of me the facing my tree the 4 by 4 stopped and started feeding but was acting very alert and looked around constantly. I could not have moved and didn’t try as I knew all I would do is spook him and he proceeded to walk to my right, where I had no shot, and over to the tree stand I normally sit in. The buck went around that tree slowly feeding for about five minutes giving all kinds of shot opportunities if I had been there.

Meanwhile, the doe and fawn had gone past my tree and were directly behind me when something spooked the doe suddenly causing her to run back to in front of me where she stopped. I am still not sure what spooked her but it was not bad enough for her to run off flagging her tail and snorting like deer tend to do. She and the fawn lost concern and went back to feeding slowly to my left at about 12 yards. A short time later the small spike I was initially

WE REMEMBER ROY ROTH

interested in shooting walked around my tree and gave me a perfect slight quartering away shot at about 8 yards. With the bigger buck close by and the slight chance I may get a shot at him I chose to pass the shot. Being gregarious animals the way deer are the bigger buck wanted/needed to be closer to the deer that had moved away from him to my left and started to head back my direction. I could hardly believe it as the deer had already been around my stand for about 20 minutes feeding all around me and not winding me or hearing me move ever so slightly to get in good position for a shot.

Again the 4 by 4 came around in front of me at about eight yards but did not give me a good shot. He continued to come around the tree to my left. At about twelve yards directly left of me the big buck stopped, slightly quartering away and looking away giving me an opportunity for a good shot. I was surprisingly calm. I picked my spot, locked my bow arm, slowly drew my bow back, and when I reached my anchor point I released my arrow. Again the arrow was headed for the spot I had aimed and I felt extremely confident in the shot. Miraculously this time the buck did not move but stood perfectly still as the arrow hit its mark. He ran at top speed and my arrow fell to the ground within fifty yards after nearly a pass though shot. The buck ran about 150 yards

Few Montana pastimes enjoy a richer, more storied tradition than hunting. From our fur-trapping forbears to the many native tribes who chased bison across the prairie, the pursuit of wild game has shaped our state’s character from the beginning. Even today, the great story of hunting is told and re-told, as elk-obsessed locals share the woods with wide-eyed nonresidents awestruck by the grandeur of the Montana landscape.

Hunting reflects both our heritage and our contemporary lifestyle, and is therefore an important element of who we are as a people.

But like many traditional activities, hunting faces challenges in the modern world. Foremost among them are the social and technological changes that often distance hunters from their prey and from the intimate nature of the hunting experience. This separation can ultimately degrade the thoughtfulness and careful consideration that ensures responsible, ethical conduct while afield.

In light of recent poaching incidents, “flockshooting” fiascos, and other unfortunate events—not to mention the unfavorable news reports that followed— the need for higher ethical-hunting standards has become paramount. The Region 3 Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks , with the support of a wide range of partners who care about hunter ethics and the future of hunting in Montana, have undertaken a multifaceted hunter ethics campaign to promote greater awareness and practice of ethical hunter behavior.

Hunt Right is an all-volunteer campaign made possible by the generous contributions of organizations and individuals who care about the future of hunting in Montana. Help us improve hunter ethics in Montana by supporting the cause. Any amount will help. Donations are tax-deductible and administered

by Montana's Outdoor Legacy Foundation. http://www.huntrightmt.com/donate.html

away from me in the open and stopped. Not knowing what happened the buck stood for a second then began to make a couple wide 10 foot circles before becoming wobbly legged and falling to his resting place.

I was relieved, humble and thankful, my luck had changed! I was honestly beginning to wonder if I would ever fill another tag with either of my traditional bows. I had finally harvested another buck with my bow, and my first with a longbow. Elation came over me as well as the feelings of slight sadness as I had just taken this magnificent animals life. I called my husband whom was sitting in another stand 500 yards or so away and told him the buck was down for the count and to come help me with the retrieve. He had watched the whole thing through binoculars and told me the suspense of watching was killing him as to whether or not I was ever going to shoot. To him I had seemingly had numerous shots before I actually had. I am extremely grateful to have gotten this chance and made it count in God’s country and in the gorgeous fall in Montana. I am shooting a 57# longbow at 26” custom made by my friend Neil Jacobson, the maker of Bears Paw Bows, Easton axis arrows with weight tubes for a heavier arrow and 125 grain Magnus 2-blade broad heads.

We Remember Roy Roth 1965 – 2015 The hunting community has lost another of its own far too soon. Roy Roth, guest speaker for the 2014 annual MBA convention and banquet tragically fell to his death while hunting Dall sheep on Pioneer Peak in Alaska.

A DIY backcountry bowhunter for the last 25 years Roy, his wife, and three children made their home in Wasilla, AK, where Roy was a successful big game guide. Roy grew up hunting, fishing and running a trap line around the small Oregon town of Marcola, where he graduated from Mohawk High School in 1984. After high school, Roy married his high school sweetheart, Jill and was blessed with a daughter, Ellen and two sons, Taylor and Justin.

Being able to hunt trophies like Dall sheep, mountain goat, and brown bear every year was like a dream come true for Roy and he was able to successfully harvest multiple trophy animals with both compound and traditional archery equipment. Rest in Peace Roy. For additional information you can find a full obituary for Roy at the following link: h t t p : / / w w w. f r o n t i e r s m a n . c o m / o b i t u a r i e s / r o y - a l l e n - r o t h / article_2a3cc53a-6e35-11e5-b073-c79671852705.html

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WHERE HAVE ALL THE YOUTH GONE

Where Have All The Youth Gone?

by Marlon Clapham

T

here has been a question floating around for some time on, where have our youth hunters gone? Why do they leave our ranks? Or do they? We give them the tools to be successful and make it enjoyable to keep them involved, but it seems other activities draw them away. Is it all bad? And do they stay away, or just experience life? Here are four young hunters that I’ve watched grow over the years from very young, to young adults and something these young people have in common is that they all have a full life of activities. All of these youth are Junior MBA or started out as juniors and are now regular members. So let’s have a look into where they spend their time.

Cecelia Clapham

, (yes my daughter). Cece has been shooting a bow, fishing and horseback riding since she was three years old. She sat in Bow-Ed classes for years before she was twelve. The spring she turned twelve, I took her to hunt Idaho black bears with her bow. She didn›t connect but we had a ball. Cece got into oil painting and started taking lessons, and it seems she has an exceptional talent for painting wildlife which has lead her to gearing her education towards Art school.

After harvesting her first whitetail doe her junior year in high school, all of a sudden hunting took a back seat to AP classes and a jumpstart on college classes. Cece sold a few paintings in that time and took on jobs to pay for school; her horse got fat and her bow took on dust. Next thing we know she›s living in Portland for three years and going to school.

When we went over for her graduation and to move her home I asked her what her plans were. The response was, ride my horse, go fly fishing and shoot my bow to get ready for bow season. It didn’t take her long to get back in the saddle so to speak. She took another whitetail doe on her first hunt while Merri and I were over east hunting. A few weeks later she harvested her first cow elk and the last week of general season she got her first 3x4 whitetail buck while I was watching from my stand, all with her bow! Cece is riding, hunting, fishing and, now of course working full time learning to cut meat.

So Cecelia was only out for five years. Now hunting and fishing every chance she gets.

Danner Nichols

My second youth is a nephew, , a hard working lad who lives in the woods. Hunting and fishing nearly every day he can when not in school. Danner’s dad Andy got him through Hunter›s-Ed and one of the local land owners set them up on a herd of elk in a hay meadow, long story made short, Danner took his first harvest, a cow elk with a 243. Then the next season his granddad Jim, took him to Bow-Ed, they set up Pop-Up blind in Danner’s back yard and it wasn’t long and an unsuspecting 3x3 whitetail fell to his arrow. On another day he took a black bear with his bow. Then along came school sports, with limited students in a small country school they need every available body to field a team.

So baseball, football and basketball all take up a fair amount of time.

One of his dad›s friends gave Danner a pair of Hound dog puppies, so he is learning to be a hound-mans, which is an all year task.

High school, motor bikes, dogs, and a girlfriend means, time to find a job. Despite being so busy, Danner still hunts and fishes when there›s spare time, and he even got that girlfriend to take HuntersEd. She then went on to take her first whitetail deer last season so I think we›ll have Danner in our ranks for a good long time.

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WHERE HAVE ALL THE YOUTH GONE

Jacob Price

Another nephew has been shooting a bow for as long as I can remember. Both his grandpa’s Denis and Jim and his dad Todd, have been bowhunters for many years, so Jacob fits right in. He shoots all summer when he can, but he is a very talented athlete in all sports, as well as a stellar student pulling a 4 point grade average all through high school. He also attends sports camps throughout the summer improving his athletic skills. As a junior in high school, Jacob is a three year letterman and is well on his way to gaining both athletic and academic scholarships to attend collage somewhere. Completing both Hunter and Bow-Ed he found some time to harvest a fine 3x3 whitetail with a 243 of his grandpa’s.

Then just this season as busy as Jacob finds himself, he took a fine black bear with his bow.

Darby McAdams

, This last young lady, Merri’s niece, is following in her dad Shaun’s, footsteps.

Darby loves the outdoors and is another very talented athlete who excels in every endeavor she attempts. Before she was old enough to hunt Shaun would take her bowhunting antelope. Darby would handle the decoy and dad would handle the bow. Together they took several speed goats this way. Turning twelve and passing both Hunter and Bow-Ed Darby was ready to test her skills. The first two years she filled her deer and antelope tags with a rifle. But then felt ready to take on Bowhunting. Darby found a bunch of whitetails crossing out of a field through a hedge row, with no trees available she built a ground blind out of some brush. The next time she hunted a large 3x4 whitetail tried to slip by but her arrow flew true and her first bow kill was on the ground.

With the last few days of general season Shaun took her to the high country to stalk a bull elk. They found a promising track and the hunt was on. Trudging in knee deep snow over several ridges they finally spotted two bulls bedded in the timber. Shaun handed her his 338 mag., and told her to finish the stalk. Darby got to inside of forty yards and shot the 6x7 bull in his bed. Darby has taken other big game with her bow but she is quite good with a shotgun as well. She and dad have accounted for many rooster tails.

About the time Darby was learning to walk, dad put her on snow skies, now when there’s snow on the slopes she is flying off into space doing all sorts of extreme tricks. Now into competition Darby is one of the top juniors in our area.

Not to be left out Grandpa Lynn, a long time Kayaker, bought Darby a boat and several lessons. Again she was a natural.

Living on the river in Missoula, every day after school she jumps in her boat and floats down to Brennan’s Wave and practices all the free style tricks, learning from the other boaters. In the four short years paddling she was invited to some small competitions, placing well enough to go to Colorado to compete for a spot on Team USA junior division to qualify for World Championships in Ottawa River Canada. Darby qualified in second for USA team. Then in September and five days of intense completion from the best from around the world the USA Junior team placed first and Darby second. Darby is now enrolled in a high school for Kayakers where she will finish school and float and film rivers all up and down the west coast from Canada to the tip of South America. There will be a break in October and she told Shaun that she wants to bowhunt for those two weeks.

Although we may lose a few of our youth for a short time, we will have well rounded hunters from the ones who return. Welcome Back.

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MAKING MEMORIES

Making Memories By Jacob Price The 2015 archery season will definitely be a season to remember. As a junior member of the Montana Bowhunters Association, I had not harvested an animal with my bow until this year.

On opening day of the 2015 season I was lucky enough to fill my first tag with a Montana Black Bear. It wasn’t until that day, when I drew back my arrow that I knew this year was going to be special.

T

he morning of October 16th was a special day for my family. My brother was home from college on fall break, which doesn’t happen very often during the school year. Because he was home for the week, my dad took the day off of work so we could spend the day hunting together. We got up in the morning and headed out to our spot to hunt. Once we arrived, my dad set my brother and me close to a game trail with enough cover us for any elk that might come. He then moved away to give us each the best opportunity to get a shot. After waiting in the trees for a little over an hour, I started to hear some elk crashing through the brush and into the river. From my position, I couldn’t see the elk right away but once they began swimming to cross the river, I could see that there were three bull elk. There was a spike and two five point By

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bull elk. As they came up the hill they seemed as if they were in a huge rush to find a place to bed for the afternoon. They stopped about eighty yards away and were looking in the opposite direction towards my dad. Before I knew it the elk came running towards me and I knew if I kept still and maintained the confidence in my shot I was going to have an amazing opportunity at a bull. As the elk came into my bow range, I pulled back my bow and cleanly hit the elk at twenty yards. The moment I let the arrow go, I knew it was a good shot.

The elk turned around and went only fifty yards before I watched it fall to the ground. As my brother and I looked at each other, we both knew it was a memorable day. Every year my love for bowhunting grows stronger. My family has helped me learn so much about what it is to be a bowhunter. Without them this season wouldn’t have been as successful as it was. I will never forget that morning. The fact my brother and myPrescott dad were able to share my first elk with me, made the experience more memorable.

Mike

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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 Quarterly magazine keeping you informed on local, state, and national bowhunting issues, bowhunter education, events, and great hunting stories

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP One Year $25.00 Three Years $67.00 Life $500.00

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Memberships run January 1 to December 31 each year.

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CHRIS BLASKOWSKI bear and Cain

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CHRIS AND KIM BLASKOWSKI 2015 deer

KARA KOELZER - Hunted for 15 days before harvesting this old warrior.

4 yd shot out of her ground w blind and a 50 yd recovery

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NICK SEABRASSE 2015 deer

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JOEY NELSON past MBA Bowhunter of the Year with her 2015 elk

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KOELZER, BRIAN KOELZER after frustrating hunts for elk was able to connect on this nice whitetail

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LUCAS ZEMLIKA 2014 South Dakota

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SCOTT REED and this year’s whitetail buck

DAWSON YERKS

MARK SCHWOMEYER 2010 elk

SARAH YERKS

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ZACK YERKS

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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? •

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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.

What can you do for bowhunting in Montana?

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

Photos by Denver Bryan / Images on the Wildside

What the MBA has done for you?