Archive for January, 2009
Extreme Ice Fishing In Western Montana
13
Jan
BY NEAL COTE
Tired of looking down a hole up at Georgetown for a few small
Kokanee? You might find that a
different species and some different tactics on a new to you lake or reservoir closer to home might just be the trick to get you out of the “same old same old” icefishing blues! I know that Georgetown is a great place to get your icefishing fix, but what if I told you that there were some other places that you could get to that might just open your eyes to a whole new world of fishing opportunities? Different species of fish that are very eager to bite darn near anything you can throw at them? Well if you are a little adventurous, have I got some ideas and places for you!
SPECIES NUMBER 1: YELLOW PERCH
Places to go: Placid, Seeley, Alva, Echo, and many other lakes, Crow Creek, NinePipes, Pablo, and Kicking Horse reservoirs are just a few.
Yellow perch tend to eat
during daylight hours and maintain an active lifestyle during the winter, making them perfect for those of us that don’t like
getting on the ice before daylight.
Yellow perch are highly
adaptive and feed on so many different types of forage, it’s important to locate large perch schools with sonar, especially if the fish are suspended or schooled over deep flats. Next, it’s important to determine what forage perch in your waters are
targeting, then try to use a presentation that best emulates the preferred forage. If the perch are feeding on insect larvae or
plankton, small ice jigs tipped with grubs or maggots are the best imitators. Dot, Rocker, Tiny Tears and Rat Finkies are good picks for this type of bite. If the
forage base has a good population of
forage fish, minnow imitating baits should be used. Since perch are most likely to be feeding on or near bottom, a small-hooked, but heavy-bodied jigging spoon should be used to facilitate faster, easier drops without the need for sinkers, and help hold your bait near bottom. There are tons of baits that fall into this category, Swedish Pimples, Kastmasters, and Nils Masters are a few good choices.
PRODUCTIVE JIGGING METHODS
Kamikaze perch will sometimes rise 15 feet to hit a descending lure. Perch can see a long way, especially in the clear water of winter. Use this to your
advantage. Reel your lure up to the hole, and on a slack line, drop it back down again. Let it fall all the way to the bottom. This will usually get their attention,
causing them to swim from great distances to see what’s up. Take the lure away from them again, back to the surface, and repeat the process. Pay close attention to your flasher or underwater camera. If you notice a fish that is rising to meet the lure, hit the brakes, and start slowly pumping and swimming the lure upward. The fish will usually follow and strike. If you see the reverse happening, a fish following the lure down after the lure passes it on the drop, let it sit on the bottom until the fish gets there. You’ll be amazed how many will slurp it off the bottom.
If perch are suspended and
feeding on plankton, using a basic,
small-hooked but heavy bodied ice jig (maggot-tipped) is a good bet. Use the standard quivering technique, just gently wiggling the bait with a slight, gradual upward jiggling motion, followed by a slow, quivering fall. Most of the time perch strike as the bait rises. When perch are feeding on insect larvae or worms on deep mud flats you can use a similar tactic, drop your bait to the bottom, and tap it gently several times to kick up the bottom. This commotion attracts perch who believe other perch have found food and attempt to move in on the action.
If the perch are found to be feeding on minnows, variations of basic spoon and jig and twister tail strategies come into play. Try aggressive, pounding actions with standard jigs first. If the fish appear to be more aggressive, try a more aggressive jigging minnow-style bait like Jigging Rapala tipped with maggots. These baits are more efficient, dropping down faster and allowing a more overall aggressive jigging approach.
Should the perch not be striking the previous methods, use of small flash spoons and walleye-style snap jigging strategies can be effective for triggering strikes. Lower your spoon to the desired depth, snap your rod upward with a sharp, sudden twist of the wrist, repeat once or twice, then pause. Strikes usually occur on the pause. These tactics might also get you a few Large mouth or Small mouth Bass depending on where you choose to fish.
DON’T STAY STATIC
Sometimes Ice fishing for perch comes in bursts where you take a few fish for a while then drops off to nothing. What do you do? Do you stay in your current position
hoping for things to pick up or do you move. If you decide to move, how far or where to? Being mobile, does not mean you have to give up comfort. Comfort is important, and can keep you fishing longer, which increases your chance for getting in on the best bite of any given day.
Portable shelters set-up in
seconds, and are very comfortable,
especially when the wind is howling. Shelters that take longer to erect, keep you from moving as often as you should.
Another key to mobility, is being able to drill holes in a big hurry. Although you can get by with a hand auger, during the early part of the season, it doesn’t take long before a gas powered model is required, to keep you on the move. New light weight models, like the Strikemaster Lazer, and the Eskimo Shark, cut through layers of ice like a laser, and will let you punch a bunch of holes in short order.
Being mobile works for me when fishing becomes slow. Once you have
established a good spot, I think drilling more holes in the same area again and again is often a waste of time and effort so I go for the easy route. I either move to a completely new area or I just leave the fishing for an hour and go and have a snack and start fishing again about a 1/2 hour later. Keep it simple!!!!
When it comes to early season perch action, look to the shallows for the key. Good shallow locations include reefs, bars, and bays. One of the first places to develop safe ice, is in the shallow bays, off of the main lake. They are usually the first place you can get to, and should definitely be checked out. Look for the mouths of bays to concentrate fish, as they are high percentage spots for contacting fish. Start your search as far out as you can safely venture, and begin looking for fish. If you target Nine Pipes or Pablo Reservoirs, remember that these two don’t open for fishing until January 17th
.
SPECIES NUMBER 2: LAKE TROUT
Places to go: Swan,
McGreggor, and Whitefish Lakes
Being a completely missed
fishery, Lake Trout are probably the
biggest bang for the buck that you can get through the ice besides Northern Pike.
Aggressive feeders, Lakers are a lot easier to catch and great eating fish.
Location is fairly important, look for drop offs, rocky edges, and main lake basin areas to hold fish almost all of the time. Lake Trout can also move right up into 5 feet of water or less, so don’t over look any structure. Keep in mind the same tactics that you would employ for Yellow Perch, if you are not catching fish, keep moving!
Ice fishing equipment for lake trout is straight forward. You will need a good ice fishing rod with at least 10 pound test that can handle larger lures. Super line like TUFF line and Fire Line that has very little stretch is a good choice. Don’t forget a 10 to 20 lb. mono or fluorocarbon leader for some shock absorption and you’re set. A variety of buck tail jigs sized from 1/2 to 2 oz. in Glow white, Glow green, white, and bright yellow always seems to work best. Tubes, jigging spoons, large twister tails, and larger swim baits are also good to have along. Make sure you have some variety with you. Tipping them with cut bait will also up the odds in your favor.
Lake trout typically see their prey much better above them than below. Generally, pounding your jig off of the bottom of the lake floor may prove to be a fish less affair. An aggressive Lake Trout will rise to intercept your lure from as much as 40 feet below. This is the aggressive action you are looking for. But don’t limit yourself to just one depth in the water column. There are times when lake trout will be on the bottom feeding on deadbait. You don’t want to miss these fish. If you head up to Swan Lake, you will also attract another fish that can only be kept In two places in Montana, Bull Trout!
While fishing, start with your jig just off of the bottom. Work this depth for a few minutes. If you don’t get hit, bring it up ten or fifteen feet and work that depth for a short period. Keep bring the jig up to a shallower depth and work that area for a few jigs. Continue this pattern and bam! Just remember how many cranks of the reel off the bottom you were when the fish hit, and you will have the start of that days pattern. This way you will scan the whole water column and understand where the fish are feeding. I have caught Lake Trout at the 10 foot depth while fishing in 70 feet of water, so keep an open mind. Often Lakers will hit your jig while it descends, so be prepared. You may have one on before you know it. They can grow to be well into the 20 pound range and make for an unbelievable battle through the ice. If you are prepared and take your time, you could land the fish of a lifetime.
Be Safe!!!
As with all icefishing, be very careful fishing new water. Do as much research on the body of water as you can, call local stores and shops to get any information on ice conditions. Always tell someone where you will be going, and if the ice looks questionable, don’t even chance it. With the cold spell that is hitting us right now, there should be good ice just about everywhere. So, If you were looking for a new challenge, check out these new targets and try something new that might just net you the fish of a lifetime and not the “same old same old!”
Rodney Stock – Photo Contest 2008
13
Jan
Rodney Stock - Photo Contest 2008
Rodney Stock with 1st Elk Taken With A Bow.
Hunting’s Hot Issues In ’09
12
Jan
BY ANDREW MCKEAN
If you think the biggest
hunting decisions are made in the field, then you’re either naïve or a beginner. The big picture—the one that defines where, when and even how you can hunt—is framed miles away from your elk camp or duck blind, often by folks who wouldn’t know a drop tine from a hail call.
Decisions made by Montana’s legislature, by the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, even by
bureaucrats in Washington, will affect your enjoyment and success this year.
So in the spirit of new
beginnings, and old ideas, here are some issues Montana hunters need to watch in 2009:
• Wolves: The tolerance of Montana’s hunters is being sorely tested by these wild canines, and wildlife managers
need to be aware that simmering discontent is starting to boil. FWP is in an unenviable position of having to balance control of rapidly expanding predators with the kid-gloves treatment dictated by federal endangered species rules. Watch for FWP to become more vocal about the impact wolves are
having on big-game populations, maybe even finally suggesting that wolves are partly responsible for last fall’s record-low elk harvest.
• Block Management: This
access program is wildly popular, but with more than 8 million acres under contract and dwindling revenue, it’s time to find a more stable funding base. Hunters are almost universally willing to pay more for access, but they need to be assured that it will be good habitat.
• Minimum Hunting Age: It’s time for Montana to join the national
movement that is lowering or even abolishing minimum age limits for hunting. The catalyst for the trend is
decreasing involvement of kids in
hunting, and many analysts think
making kids wait until they’re 12 is one reason. Look for this issue to come before the Montana Legislature, and Hunter Ed instructors—many of whom have resisted lowering the age
limit—will have a big role in its fate.
• Ranching For Wildlife: Speaking of polarizing legislation, don’t be surprised to see Montana’s agricultural community pushing for more big-game management on private land. In Colorado, this is called Ranching
for Wildlife, and it allows private landowners to sell big-game tags (usually for big money) in exchange for offering a few hunts to the public. In Montana the argument will be “forage compensation,” with ranchers arguing that they should be able to profit from elk and deer that are eating their hay and grain. Forget that this is totally contrary to America’s tradition of public ownership of wildlife, look for critics of Ranching for Wildlife to remind cattle growers that forage compensation should also include revisiting subsidized grazing leases on public land. That should neutralize the issue.
• CWD: Montana has dodged this bullet for a few years, but don’t be surprised to find that the disease that kills elk, deer and even moose has arrived in Big Sky Country. It’s likely to come from in the state from Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin (or maybe Saskatchewan) and you can expect an intense big-game eradication effort wherever it’s detected. That means game wardens killing deer and elk, maybe even using helicopters to wipe out the infected herd.
• World-Record Bighorn Sheep and Moose: On a more positive note, it’s just about time for Montana to leap to the front of the record books. The most likely species to establish new marks? Shiras moose and bighorn sheep.
Look for a 210-inch ram head to come out of the Missouri River Breaks this year, and a world-record moose is due to come traipsing out of Saskatchewan into Montana’s
Hi-Line, where a moose hunting
season (2 permits) will be held for only the second time this fall.
Slick Tricks For Winter Predators
12
Jan
BY BRODIE SWISHER
As we close the books on another exciting big game hunting season, it’s hard not to look back and reflect on the past season and wish for one more day to pursue wild critters. Regardless of whether you scored big or came home from the hunt empty-handed, ample
opportunities await the hunter that is still eager to pursue the prize. For those not yet ready to hang up the rifle or bow,
winter predator hunting offers what could be your most exciting hunt yet. This month we look at a few tools and tactics for hunting winter-time predators.
As the winter months set in, coyotes and other predators will be on the prowl more often than at other times of the year. Food sources at this time of year are minimal, so coyotes are vulnerable in their efforts to satisfy their stomachs. Coyotes that typically hunted at night and at the first and last hour of the day can often be found moving about in search of food at any time of the day throughout the winter months. Key in on local livestock populations such as cattle and sheep and you’ll likely find coyotes hanging downwind of such food sources
World Champion coyote caller, Al Morris says that a proper setup is the key to being successful on coyotes. You need to learn to find spots that make it easy for a predator to approach your position without seeing or smelling you,” says Morris. “In a perfect world, the sun would be at your back and the wind in your face, but you will seldom find those conditions. Use the terrain to your advantage and remember predators will usually always try to approach from down-wind. If possible, try to have a shooting lane down wind.
Blending In
Blending in to your surroundings in wide open spaces is of the utmost importance, particularly in the winter time. Coyotes will often have your calling location pinpointed as they approach. Their eyes are scanning the landscape to visually confirm the sound that attracted them. The slightest clue of an unnatural sight or sound will send them on a hasty retreat. The camo duds you wear should match your surroundings as much as possible. Dark camo patterns against white snow are a good way to get picked off by the keen eyes of an approaching predator. Be sure to add snow-camo, at least for your upper body, to your winter hunting gear for best results when hunting in winter’s worst. For a minimal
price ($25-$40) you can purchase a
non-insulated snow-camo jacket to be worn over the insulated garments you already have, for the ultimate in winter weather concealment.
The Ultimate Deception
Few hunting experiences compare to that of a coyote charging hard to the decoy. With proper decoy placement, shots within easy shotgun range – even archery range – are not uncommon. One of my closest encounters with a coyote came as I videoed a buddy killing a coyote charging the decoy at just 8 yards! The key to such success is greatly attributed to a motion-style prey decoy. One of my favorites is the Predator Supreme Decoy from Advanced Decoy Research (DecoyHeart.com). The Predator Supreme is the missing link that appeals to the basic instinct of predators. I’ve found that few predators can resist this decoy once they lay eyes on it. The Predator Supreme will not only get the predators attention, but hold his attention making shot preparation much easier. The decoy also allows the hunter to direct the coyote’s path of entry to a pre-determined area for the kill. They never take their eyes off of it!
One of the latest trends in predator decoys is the use of life-size coyote imitations. Whether it’s a full-body style or a photo-realistic silhouette, these imposters are proving that decoys that play on a predator’s territorial instincts can be a deadly tool of the trade. Flambeau Outdoors (flambeauoutdoors.com) taps the predator hunting market with their new Lone Howler full-body coyote decoy. One unique feature of the Lone Howler is its bungee leg system that allows the decoy to be placed in a sitting or laying position and easily transported between setups. Also, from the folks that bring us the world’s most portable life-sized decoys, the new Montana Decoy Coyote (montanadecoy.com) has looks that are sure to kill and ease of use like no other. The Montana Decoy Coyote is particularly handy when you’re
putting some miles on your boots and packing all your gear as you go. (For the
sake of safety, hunters should use extreme caution in how and where they set up when hunting with life-like coyote decoys.)
Canine Sounds
Coyote decoys are the perfect addition to your setup, particularly when you’re using canine sounds in your calling sequences. I’ve always been one to try and mix things up a bit when it comes to my calling routine. I don’t like to make the same sounds with my calls as the guy before me. You can bet that most predator hunters will be counting on prey sounds to lure their dog. And for that reason, the use of the coyote language has become increasingly popular among avid coyote hunters. Mastering the vocalizations of the coyote would be a benefit to any predator hunter. Howls, barks, yips, and distress whines are just a few of the sounds you may hear coyotes produce.
I like to begin a calling sequence with a long, drawn out howl prior to going into my prey-in-distress sounds. This tells other coyotes that not only is there an intruder coyote in the area, but that the intruder is now stealing their groceries. Many callers shy away from using barks and howls for fear of scaring coyotes off. However, you must remember that coyotes are extremely territorial and will seldom tolerate another coyote moving in to their area. On windy days, or any other time I need a little more volume, I use canine distress sounds. These ear-piercing distress cries not only carry a long way, but it’s a call that works on a coyote’s instincts like no other.
There is something extremely exciting about calling a coyote to your stand location. It may come from the fact that when the sounds of the calls leave your mouth you become the hunted. A coyote coming on the run to your calls will leave a lasting impression. There was a time when hunting coyotes in the winter-time was
nothing more than a way to pass time between hunting seasons. However, nowadays it seems that hunting cold-weather coyotes is a cherished hunting season all its own. Take the time this winter to try and match wits with one of nature’s most elusive critters. I promise it won’t be your last!
Brodie Swisher is a world champion game caller, outdoor writer, and seminar speaker. Check out his website at www.BroOutdoors.com.
Statewide Fishing Report
12
Jan
BY CHRIS MADSEN
Another year in review:
With 2008 behind us and 2009 looming on the horizon, it’s time to make the annual New Year’s Resolution. This year I suggest making it one you might keep: to get out and fish more this year. On that note, you will be pleased to hear that the ice fishing season is in full swing, and it looks like a banner year. The belated cold weather of December has given us good, safe ice on nearly all area fisheries, and as usual the early bite has been excellent. As is typical of the early ice season, fish are still feeding heavily, although we expect the bite to steadily slow down as the oxygen levels beneath the ice drop, and fish become more lethargic. One trick to extending your peak season is to fish lower elevation lakes later in the winter, as later and usually thinner ice may extend the window of aggressively feeding fish, perhaps right through the entire season! Meanwhile, our flowing waters that have extended seasons on them are seeing typical winter fishing. When the weather warms enough that the rivers aren’t frozen bank to bank, anglers will find the ever present whitefish podded up in slower runs. The hearty trout-chasing fly rodder (catch and release, of course) can find good fishing during warmer periods of the day, and sometimes an occasional midge hatch will provide some excitement, although most success will be found drifting a tandem of nymphs. Whatever you’re preferred method might be, whether sitting on frozen water or standing in freezing water, you’ll have plenty of options.
Here is a rundown of local ice-fishing options.
GEORGETOWN LAKE: The early season on Georgetown has been a mix of good and fair. We finally had fishable ice in early December this year and while the trout fishing has been good the Kokanee fishing has been up and down. Early season at Georgetown usually finds fish located around the remaining weed beds, and traditionally good spots to try are Piney point, Rainbow Bay, Denton’s point or the Pump House area. There are lots of favorite lures at Georgetown, but Swedish Pimples, Rocker Jigs, Ratsos and Rat Finkees are good choices to try. Often, size and color will matter more than the specific jig, so carry some in pink, orange, green, white or glow, and tip them with maggots or mealworms for best success.
CLEARWATER LAKES: The Clearwater lakes chain offers a little bit of everything. If trout are your quarry, Alva and Rainy are good choices for nice cutthroats. A small Swedish Pimple or rocker jig with a maggot should keep you in business. Harper’s Lake is also a popular trout hole, it is regularly stocked with 4-10lb brood stock, and these fish provide excellent sport through the ice although they are not the best for eating. They may not be the prettiest trout you’ll ever see, but five pound trout will allow you to overlook some aesthetic deficiencies. If perch or pike are your quarry, try out Salmon or Seeley. Most anglers will set up a tip-up rigged with a smelt, and fish a second rod with jigging Rapala or larger Air plane jig for pike, or a Tear-drop jig and maggot for perch. Both of these are good bets for spearing pike as well, if that is your game.
BROWNS LAKE: What on earth would make a normally sane person spend all their waking hours staring through a hole on what might very well be the coldest, windiest slab of ice on the face of the earth? How about a five fish limit heavy enough to win the Bass Master Classic. These are trout we’re talking about, but you get the idea. Brown’s lake has more than it’s fair share of enormous trout, but they can also be notoriously difficult to catch, and I was only barely kidding about the wind. Most successful anglers will concentrate their efforts around the weed beds and points by the boat launch. Successful baits include Swedish Pimples, jigging Rapalas, and rocker jigs. Fishing a partial or whole night crawler or power bait on a tip-up or dead-stick rig is sometimes very productive as well. Try different combinations until you get it right.
Reservation Lakes: Just a short drive north of town there are numerous lakes that offer excellent opportunities for the ice fishing angler. Ninepipes, Kicking Horse, Pablo and Crow Reservoirs are a few of the waters with good fishing. Ninepipes probably has the best ice fishing for bass in our area; just make sure you wait until after waterfowl season to fish on this one. Winter probably gives one of the best chances for numerous bass in the five plus pound range. Jigging Kastmasters, Swedish Pimples or Jigging Raps are sure to get you some looks from these hard fighting predators. The pike in Crow can be caught with smelt on a tip-up or spoons tipped with cut-bait. Some of these reservoirs also have good populations of perch. Small Swedish Pimples or a basic teardrop jig are good bets and small Jigging Raps can be effective. Make sure you have them tipped with a maggot.
Area Rivers: For those out there who would prefer not to have to drill a hole to go fishing, never fear. Local rivers will still offer up some good fishing for trout and whitefish if conditions permit. Any time we see a few days of
above-freezing temperatures, grab your favorite nymphing stick and your neoprene waders and head out to the Clark Fork, Bitterroot or Rock Creek. Most any tandem of nymphs will suffice, but personal favorites include San Juan worms, glo bugs, Copper Johns and Lightning Bugs. Keep your drifts slow and tight to the bottom. If you aren’t too snooty a trout fanatic, whitefish pod up in slower runs and bite readily during the winter, and are dynamite in the smoker. What whitefish may lack in aesthetic beauty, they more than make up for smoked, and served with cheese and crackers. A number of nymphs will work but they seem to have an affinity for the color chartreuse and anything that sparkles. Most days the bite will last for an hour or two during the warmest part of the day, giving you plenty of time for that much needed second cup of coffee.
Have a safe and happy new year, and as I stated at the beginning, resolve to spend more time fishing this year.
Planning Now For The ’09 Backcountry
12
Jan
BY CLINT TRAVER
Winter has finally made a showing here in Montana and for many people hunting is the furthest thing from their mind. Though the thundering guns of the general
season have only recently quieted, I am already pondering my options for next season. The wide range of game species and hunting regions that we have here in our state provide plenty of food for thought. By making choices now about your hunting for next season you provide yourself almost an entire year to prepare and you can keep your head in the game staving off the post-season gloom.
Like many hunters, I know that come hunting season my time off will be very limited. Though I have plenty of weekend hunts, due to my finances and work schedule I am only able to plan one “big” hunt each year. Needless to say I covet this trip saving vacation time and planning months in advance. During the slowness of the off season I usually begin to fantasize about my big hunt for the following season. By making a decision now about my big backcountry hunt for next season, I have a whole year to prepare. The choices of what, where, when and how to hunt are wide open before you and thinking about them now will help you stay focused through the slowness of winter.
The first step that you need to take is to decide what type of game you want to pursue in the backwoods. With the assortment of critters we have here in Montana there are plenty of animals to choose from. By deciding what type of game you want to hunt, you help set the stage for making other decisions like where and when to hunt. If your goal is to hunt for animals that require the successful drawing of a lottery tag, do yourself a favor and also plan a backup hunt for a species that does not need a special drawing. I think I plan a moose and sheep hunt every year and still no damn tags.
Deciding where you want to hunt can be an exciting process. If you are putting in for specialty tags, you need to at least know which
hunting district you will be hunting before you can even submit your
application. With the different species offered by your general tags, the
options of where to hunt are almost wide open. When I choose an area to hunt, I generally look for a few specific things. First and in my mind foremost, I look for areas known to hold good populations of the animal that I seek. Next, I try to find large roadless areas with very limited
access.
The process of deciding where to hunt should start out very broad, with your choice of location being refined as you do your homework. If the location you are looking at has good numbers of animals the next step is to find spots within that area that are off the beaten path. For the greatest chance of success you want to find locations that have very limited access and the type of habitat suited to the animal you seek. The best chance for remoteness is usually in a Wilderness Area or a large swath of National Forest. I start with my maps and try to locate pockets of country with little or no trails. Though this type of country will eventually lead to my suffering, it will help me have the woods to myself.
When to hunt is a question that is integrally linked to the answers of your other questions. For example, if I want to hunt elk in the Big Hole and I decide that I want to make it an archery hunt then I will probably want to hunt the rut. With that in mind, knowing that the elk in the Big Hole tend to rut a bit sooner then the elk in some other areas, I need to plan my hunt accordingly. In some instances when to hunt is closely linked to things like the weather. If I should decide that I want to hunt for a big bull with my rifle, I need to watch the weather and make sure that I am in my area of choice before the snow depth or consistency pushes the bulls closer to the other wintering elk. The weather variable is obviously tough to predict but you can look at the patterns from previous years to get a rough idea of what weather conditions have been in the past. I would also suggest taking the time to look at what the moon phases will be for next season before deciding when to hunt.
Here in Montana we have many options with regards to how we hunt. First we have the choice of which weapon to use. This is sometimes dictated by hunting district or other seasonal regulations. Then there is the question of how to hunt once you are on the ground. Will you still hunt the timber or post up on a migration corridor or a water source? Also, will you be exploring the backcountry on foot or possibly from a bike or horse? All of these questions should be answered as you begin your preparations for next season.
Though I map out most of my hunts down to the last detail, you need to allow for flexibility in your plans. There are many unexpected things that can alter your plans here in Montana. Sometimes it seems like everything from the weather, the economy, forest fires and just day-to-day responsibilities are all conspiring to ruin your plans. Life is not static so you need to be dynamic and have a backup plan. If the area you want to hunt is on fire or in a severe drought, hunt elsewhere. If your boss forgets about your months-old time off request, negotiate for other time off and hunt then instead.
Now I am a realist and I know that most people are not going to put a bunch of time and effort into getting ready for next hunting season while spring is still months away. If you just take a few steps each month towards your goal for next season, the chore of preparation will be much easier. Also by staying active during the winter, especially after the gluttony of the holidays, it will be easier to get in shape later on.
