Hunters be aware: detailed regulations apply to transporting harvested birds.
Hunters must leave one, fully-feathered wing naturally attached to any sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, mountain grouse or partridge when it is transported from where it was taken to the hunter’s permanent residence.
In another example, pheasant hunters must leave a leg and foot naturally attached to any pheasant they transport within the state so the sex of the bird can be identified.
A bird hunter who leaves game birds somewhere for a period of time, or who turns them over to someone else to transport, must tag the birds with the following information:
▪ hunter’s ALS number
▪ hunter’s signature
▪ hunter’s address
▪ total number of birds by species
▪ dates birds were killed

For details, see the 2011 upland game bird regulations available at FWP offices and license providers and on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov .

In FWP Region 7 south hunters had been enjoying abundant sharp-tailed grouse and gray partridge numbers. However, the line of severe winter weather cut through the northern portion of this area. In addition, prairie grouse were also inundated with record rains for nearly eight days at the end of May, the same moisture system that hit FWP Region 5. This event likely resulted in considerable nest losses. Partridge may have avoided some of these impacts due to later nesting. Pheasant numbers will also likely be down due to winter and spring weather conditions.
For more information on upland game bird hunting in Montana, go to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov , and click on the Hunting page then the Hunting Guide.

Ashley Beyer, 26, will serve as the Miles City-based upland game bird biologist in Region 7, and Drew Henry, also 26, will serve in a similar Region 6 position based in the Plentywood area. Each of the employees started their new jobs on Jan. 4.

Beyer, originally from Ulm, Mont., earned a master’s degree in animal and range science from Montana State University-Bozeman in 2008. Beyer’s area of responsibility primarily includes Dawson, Prairie, Custer and Rosebud counties and parts of Richland County.

Henry, who grew up in Glasgow, Mont., earned a master’s degree in animal ecology from Iowa State University’s Department of Natural Resources, Ecology and Management in 2009. His main area of responsibility includes Daniels, Sheridan and Roosevelt counties, Valley County east of Opheim, and portions of Richland County.

The two new positions – plus another similar position that will be based in Conrad — were created by the 2009 Legislature as part of a broader effort to improve and expand services and accountability in MTFWP’s Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program.

Henry and Beyer’s duties will include working with landowners, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and MTFWP field personnel in promoting, locating, designing, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating upland and wetland habitat enhancement and conservation projects — primarily on private land.

Habitat conservation projects will be funded primarily with Upland Game Bird Enhancement and Migratory Bird programs individually or in partnership with existing NRCS programs and the USFWS’ Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program. The biologists will also work cooperatively with Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, among others.

Both Beyer and Henry say they plan to establish and expand working relationships with landowners in their areas, as well as maintain regular communication with legislators, county commissioners, the user-public, environmental and sportsperson organizations, and other private groups and public land-managing agencies.

Beyer can be reached at (406) 234-0900 or at abeyer@mt.gov by e-mail; Henry can be contacted at (406) 385-7033 or at dhenry@mt.gov by email.

Hunting Fishing State Parks Recreation Wild Things Habitat Education Enforcement Doing Business News

The 12-member Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program Council is leading an effort to advise Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks on a 10-year strategic plan for the Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program. The group is specifically seeking to devise ways to more effectively carry out the program and to recommend rules for FWP to consider.

The public is invited to provide comments to the council on Jan. 20 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Comments also can be submitted at fwp.mt.gov. Click Upland Game Bird Council. Then click “online survey.”

For more information call Debbie Hohler at 406-444-5674, or e-mail to dhohler@mt.gov.

Friday, December 04, 2009
Hunting
Migratory bird hunters are fortunate—they have several more weeks of hunting ahead of them. The seasons close in January in the Central Flyway and in the Pacific Flyway the general season closes Jan. 15.

“This recent cold front is opening a nice window of opportunity for waterfowl hunters in the next few weeks,” said Quentin Kujala, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife management section supervisor.

Licensing requirements for duck and goose hunters vary by age and residency. Hunters may purchase the necessary licenses at all Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offices and FWP license providers throughout the state, or online at fwp.mt.gov . The licenses required may include the Montana migratory bird license, Montana conservation license and a hunting access enhancement fee—depending on age and residency. The Federal Migratory Bird Stamp is only available from the U.S. Post Office and at FWP offices. Please review 2009 migratory game bird regulations for details on this hunting opportunity.

Hunters pursuing swans and cranes this season planned ahead by applying for the necessary permits in July for cranes and early September for swans. Successful applicants then purchased the licenses specified in the regulations based on age and residency.

Hunters who didn’t apply to hunt swans and cranes this year may want to prepare for next year by picking up a copy of the 2009 migratory bird regulations at an FWP office, or reading the 2009 regulations and checking for updates for the 2010 season on the FWP Web site at fwp.mt.gov under the Hunting tab.

Hunting Fishing State Parks Recreation Wild Things Habitat Education Enforcement Doing Business News

Friday, December 04, 2009
Hunting
With the close of the general big game hunting season, hunters can still turn to hunting many upland game bird species in Montana.

Pheasant, partridge, sharp-tailed grouse and turkey hunting continues until Jan. 1. The season for mountain grouse closes Dec. 15. Montana’s sage grouse season closed Nov. 1. Check the regulations for exceptions for the Partridge season.

Hunters interested in hunting on lands enrolled in Montana’s Upland Game Bird Habitat Enhancement Program can find details and locations on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Web site at fwp.mt.gov on the Habitat page under Wildlife Habitat .

Three of the most recently enrolled Conservation Reserve Program projects offer about 1,000 acres of walk-in game bird hunting. Each project area is marked with special signs.

Maps to these newest areas may be downloaded from the FWP Web site. Go to the Wildlife Habitat page, select the Upland Game Bird Habitat Enhancement Program guide and then click on New Hunting Opportunities at the bottom of the page.

Tired of hauling every goose decoy you and your hunting partners can manage out into the field for little or no return when those Canadas pick the spread apart? Five six and even ten dozen plus decoys and still the birds just won’t finish, it is enough to drive you mad. Not to mention the 4AM wake up call so you can actually get all of them set up, blinds mudded and brushed all before the first flocks catches you not quite ready. I have a solution that will make your life a ton easier and will get you more late season honkers, LESS IS MORE! Try a smaller, more realistic set up.]
The beauty of small setups is the ease of mobility and adjustment. If the weather changes, or the geese alter their flight plans, you can pick up and leave or change your spread quickly. To control their descent, geese always land into the wind. They also tend to move into the wind once on the ground. It’s not unusual for the wind to switch, especially after the sun rises and the warming air causes thermal shifts. In these situations, repositioning 300 or more decoys is a huge task, especially when geese are on the horizon. With the help of just one partner, moving 20 to 30 decoys takes only a few minutes.
Controlling the landing zone of the geese for an all out in-your-face
experience is another benefit of a small setup. A basic half-moon or hook shaped layout creates the perfect landing zone. Such an opening allows sociable geese to land in the middle as they descend into the wind. By downsizing to three or four dozen decoys, you can compress the landing zone into an “x-marks-the-spot” location. In contrast, a spread that consists of 14 plus dozen decoys enlarges the
landing opportunities for incoming geese and could put the birds out of range for the blind.Whether migrants or residents, Canada geese get wise to hunters’ tricks over the course of the season, especially by the time they’ve have been shot at a few times over large spreads. Fooling the eyes of the older geese in a flock with five or more dozen decoys is more problematic in late season. It’s less difficult when there are only 30 or so decoys to manage.

ADDING MOTION TO THE MIX
Motion can magnify the impact of a small setup on Canadas and make it more believable to wary geese. Flagging decoys are the choice of most veteran waterfowlers. Decoy flags are cloth silhouettes of geese attached to a stick that can be waved up and down beside the blind to simulate a landing goose’s flapping wings. This tactic can pull sightseeing geese in to a spread from very great distances. Also add ground level flapping to emulate a bird stretching its wings.
Most full body decoys on the market allow for the decoys to move in the slightest of winds. If you have Bigfoots, you might add some Avery full bodies as they are all equiped with motion stakes. Use some of your Bigfoots without their feet, placing them right on the ground to imitate resting birds.

TONE DOWN YOUR CALLING
As for calling, too much goose talk by callers can convey the wrong message to incoming birds. The new arrivals might be inclined to believe that all the loud, nonstop calling indicates the geese on the ground are preparing to depart. The fewer calls you make, the less chance you have of making a mistake. I call until I get the attention of the geese, then I cluck and moan to them as they get closer. Once they’re on final approach and heading toward me, I shut up and watch. If they begin to stray a bit I’ll cluck and double cluck just enough to line them up, but for the most part, I let them do the talking. Besides, I’m not trying to decoy large flocks, I’m more interested in decoying smaller groups of a dozen birds or less. If you shoot into a huge flock of 50 or so birds, and say get five or six, you will have to face forty plus educated birds the next time. Small groups are easier to decoy and less wary. There are fewer geese to become paranoid.

THE STANDARD LATE SEASON SPREAD
Toward the end of the season, it’s hard to fool the oldest and wisest geese, which have survived several seasons in heavily hunted areas. While many hunters believe huge field spreads are most appealing to smart geese, I believe that smaller decoy spreads draw the wariest birds best. That’s what I go with wherever local Canadas predominate.
From fields near NinePipes by Ronan to Fresno Resevoir by Havre, to the Bitterroot Valley, I have bee consistently successful. It seams like almost very one is now putting out huge spreads for Canadas late in the season, especially on private property where they can literally have hundreds of decoys and can leave them out overnight. Smart geese learn that big spreads are dangerous, so they shy away from them. I like to move often to different hunting locations and put out only a few decoys, never more than a dozen to thirty. A field set of about fifteen to thirty decoys is perfect, because it’s easy for three hunters to carry to a hunting spot. Plus, messing up decoy placement is harder to do with a small amount of decoys. The spread should be set rather loosely, allowing for plenty of landing holes for incoming birds. Geese rarely try to land in the biggest group of decoys. Position your blinds off to the side of the spread, so birds landing into the wind are not looking directly into the faces of hunters.
You’ll need just enough decoys to grab the attention of most local flocks. More than that and you’ll begin to lose control and mobility of the setup. If you use any less, passing geese might not feel secure enough to land. I like to mix different types of Canada decoys. Shells, full-bodied decoys and silhouettes all add realism to a spread. The majority of the decoys should be in the resting or feeding mode, with a few scattered sentries among them. Put them in a high spot in the field or wherever they can see far in all directions. Or if facing strong winds, just the opposite, in the lower spots out of the brunt of the wind.

NO WIND SPREAD
This is a more narrow and oval shaped spread that I favor when there is little or no wind. It’s difficult to direct where the geese land due to a lack of wind. Bunched decoys help put
approaching geese exactly where you want them over the spread. Two vitally important aspects of this spread are
family groups of goose decoys positioned in straight lines just downwind of your hide, with sentry, resting and feeder
decoys positioned properly. Ducks will work into this spread, too, provided there are fairly large landing holes. All sentry and feeding decoys should be positioned facing the wind. Be sure available food in the field is in the upper end of the spread, with head-down feeder decoys massed there. These finish the deal, drawing geese that want to land short of the feeders, where open holes in the decoy spread are located within shotgun range of the blind.
BITTER COLD SPREAD
This spreads most notable feature is a large number of decoys emulate
resting and sleeping geese. Take many of your full body resters and set them right on the ground with the legs folded up. Bunch them up tight. Add about a dozen sleeper shells, Then set several sentry decoys on the fringes, suggesting to incoming birds that this is a guarded place. A large landing area downwind of the blinds is the important element in this set. Geese always try to keep themselves in a spot where another goose is between it and danger, especially late in the season or during cold weather. The Sleeper decoys tell incoming birds that most of the geese on the ground are full from feeding in the field. This is an important communication, showing that there’s plenty of feed in the area.
Whether they’re late-season birds or we just go through a period with no cold fronts and no new pushes of birds and we’re stuck hunting the same birds for weeks, it’s time to get creative. Scout refuges or private land holding birds and mimic their behavior. Pay attention to how live birds are laying out and duplicate that. A lot of times if you set your spread just like the birds looked yesterday, right where they were, that smaller spread will give you some of the best shoots of the season.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Headlines – Region 2
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is seeking public comment on their recommendation on how to respond to a landowner-initiated petition to close waterfowl hunting on a portion of the Mitchell Slough in the Bitterroot Valley.

Following an investigation into the petition, FWP is recommending to keep waterfowl hunting open in the Slough at this time but to work with landowners, ranchers and sportsmen to identify areas that are more suitable for public hunting and others that may pose concerns.

The FWP recommendation came in response to a petition from landowners, John and Kathy Lewis, to close waterfowl hunting on a portion of the Slough that runs through their property near Victor Crossing.

In 2008, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that Mitchell Slough is a natural stream, which means that the public has access to the Slough under Montana’s stream access law. Hunters and others can wade or boat the Slough below the high-water mark, even if it passes through private property but cannot use the adjoining private lands for access or to retrieve waterfowl without landowner permission.

As part of the comment period, FWP will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton, 139 Bitterroot Plaza Drive. Comments will be taken at the meeting, or written comments can be directed to: Mitchell Slough Waterfowl Hunting; FWP, 3201 Spurgin Road; Missoula, MT 59804. All comments must be received by Friday, Dec. 11, 2009.

The FWP recommendation and recorded public comments will go to the FWP Commission for final action. For questions or additional information, please call the Missoula FWP office at 406-542-5500.

-fwp-

Late-season roosters require sneaky tactics, winter weather

Mid October to late
December are spanned by little more than 60 days, but for an upland bird hunter, it’s an eternity.
Early in the fall, when most upland bird seasons open, the weather is mild and naïve birds are distributed across the landscape of Montana. By the last few weeks of the season, though, rooster pheasants and hardy grouse have become savvy veterans, and hunting them can be as
challenging as any big-game hunt.
When you hold a December rooster, with its yard-long tail feathers and chalk-white pate, you’re holding a true trophy, a bird that probably survived plenty of assassination
attempts and learned to either flush wild or hold tight in the densest cover.
If you want to bag a limit of those savvy roosters, here’s what you need to know:

• Hunt Dense Cover: Prepare to hunt different habitats in December than you did back in September or October. Late-season sharptails tend to gang together in flocks of several dozen birds, and they’ll always have a few sentries watching your approach. Figure out which way they’ll flush and post up on these escape routes, then send someone to bust them up and pass-shoot grouse as they take wing. If they scatter in smaller groups, you can also hunt down those singles and pairs in denser cover. Pheasants, too, that may have been available in light grass or thin sagebrush earlier in the fall will tend to hold in dense olive thickets and impenetrable
cattails by December.
• Drive Roosters: Your early-season tactic of pushing cover or sending a pointing dog to range CRP won’t work as well in December. Those savvy birds have lived to Christmas by
running well ahead of the dogs. You can score on these veterans by
hunting with a crew, assigning some of the hunters to block the ends of fields or fencerows, and sending the others to walk the densest cover with rooster-rooting dogs. Chances are the blockers will get most of the action on these wild-flushing birds.
• Wait For Winter Weather: If you have the luxury of timing your upland trip, wait for a winter storm to roll through. Habitat that can seem vacant before a blizzard can suddenly seem thick with pheasants in dense cover that also features plenty to eat:
Russian olive groves, cattail sloughs adjacent to wheat fields, fresh CRP fields. Sharptails, too, will suddenly show up around food sources after a few days of winter weather. If you hunt during the storm itself, you can often walk right up on numbers of
tight-holding birds.
• Trust Your Dog: The late season is the domain of old dogs. These are the bird hounds that don’t range too
widely and seem to want to sleep all the time. They’re the wise elders of their breeds, and you should trust them. If you have a flushing dog, pay attention when their tails wag and they want to follow a trail. That’s a rooster running ahead and you should let your dog go, even if it means running to keep up with them. Same with
pointers that go staunch, then run,
then point again. They’re on the trail
of some smart, experienced bird, and those are the real trophies of the
(late) season.

Pheasant hunting opportunities
will vary this year across the state Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials say. The general season ends Jan. 1, 2009.
“Statewide pheasant numbers are expected to range from below to above average,” said Rick Northrup, FWP game bird coordinator. Northrup said he is hearing reports of small and young broods in many parts of the state, particularly in areas affected by this spring’s cool wet weather.
FWP reminds hunters to be cautious of shooting hens that resemble young roosters with limited coloration particularly during the early part of the general season.
Most of Montana was affected by a series of moist cold fronts that moved through the state in late May through mid June. This weather likely caused poor chick survival among early pheasant hatches and late renesting
attempts by hens that were still laying or incubating. Grass cover is excellent across most areas of the state with the exception of portions of extreme
northeastern Montana.
Northrup reminded bird hunters to arrange for hunting access to private lands well in advance of their hunt, and if possible to bring along a well-trained hunting dog.
Here is a brief overview of pheasant hunting opportunities around the state.
FWP REGION 7—SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA
Generally good reports coming out of this part of the state in terms of bird abundance and brood observations. Excellent cover means the birds may be broadly distributed.
FWP REGION 6—NORTHEASTERN MONTANA
Generally pheasant populations are above average in the eastern portion of FWP Region 6. Many young broods of varying sizes suggest late hatches. Eastern portions of Sheridan, Richland, and Roosevelt counties were dry this summer but pheasant abundance is expected to be better than average, particularly outside the driest portions of these counties. Pheasant numbers in the western portion of Region 6 are expected to be closer to average with a mix of brood sizes and ages.
FWP REGION 5 —SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA
Cover for birds this year was
generally good. Pheasant abundance
appears to be better than last year with average or better abundance along the
Yellowstone River and its tributaries.
FWP REGION 4—NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA
Pheasant hunting opportunities are expected to be below average. The Lewistown area experienced multiple cold weather events with substantial moisture during the first half of June resulting in excellent grass growth but poor
pheasant production. The northern part of the region appears to have faired slightly better in some areas but pheasant numbers in the Conrad area are expected to be down from last year.
FWP REGION 3—SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA
Pheasant numbers appear to be slightly improved over last year. Again, reports of mixed ages and sizes of broods. Access to good pheasant hunting sites is challenging in this part of the state.
FWP REGION 2—WESTERN
MONTANA
The spring hatch appeared to be affected by cold moist weather. Anticipate pheasant numbers comparable to last year. The best pheasant habitat in western
Montana is often on private lands where
access may be limited. Hunters are encouraged to secure permission from landowners before heading out to pheasant hunt.
FWP REGION 1—NORTHWESTERN MONTANA
Kalispell, and the surrounding area, has experienced generally lower than average pheasant numbers in the past few years, including slightly smaller brood sizes being observed at the Ninepipe Wildlife Management area compared to last year.

This October 4 marks the
forty-eighth fall yours truly hunts ducks, and I am still learning. The first time in a blind was 1960 just five years after they started breeding population estimates. Fifty-three years later the U.S. Fish & Wildlife seem to have a good bead on what we should expect to see season to season. This year total duck numbers are down nine percent from 41 million to 37 million but greater than the 1955-2007
average. Here in Montana, we had 555,000 breeding ducks a 42 percent
decline from last year and 39 percent
below the long-term average, not good news for the Ducks or hunters.
Here is the good news; there are plenty of ducks to hunt. We are down here in Montana but these are not the only ducks we hunt or see in a three-month
season. Mallard numbers are still high at 7.7 million; Redheads and Green Winged Teal number are up double digits. John Hanson with Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks here in Billings and a Waterfowl guru told me we will not see as many young ducks this season and what we do see will probably be tougher to decoy. Armed with that information, we are changing our approach this season not dramatically but we are implementing a few important changes.
The bigger Decoys 18 to 20 inches are first out of the bag from day one. John Mullet from Final Approach sent me a half dozen of the new Gunners HD Widgeons and six Gunners HD Field Mallards. I understood the Mallards but the Widgeons, I was not sure why?
After a quick Google search on Widgeons, I figured out why John sent them with no explanation. Nicknamed Baldpate, they are restless and quick to sense danger, taking flight instantly, added with your other deeks the Widgeon are confidence builders. The HD
Gunner Mallards oversized are shore decoys postured as feeders, walkers, snuggle hen, and runners and are complete with motion bases. We add a Blue Heron decoy for another confidence builder early season. The Great Blue is most active at dawn and dusk and hunts alone, when temperatures head south so do they, you need to heed the weather and put them back in the bag as the weather changes. This is the first season for us with
motion shore huggers and the Baldpate we are anxious to see how both improve our hunting. We will keep you posted.

TIP: When you pull your Decoys out of storage and they look like mine, you need to clean, give them a crisp look. Cleaning one at a time is time consuming and unnecessary. First, cut off all weights and line and put the Decoys in the dishwasher. Depending on the size, I can put in a half a dozen, with oversized three or four is max. Set the washer on short cycle with a small amount of dishwashing soap. Additionally you will find Decoys with leaks, if you can patch, great, if not, use on shore.
TIP: If you bought Decoys with removable keels, you had problems we all did. It was a great idea that bluntly put did not work. I had keels break and Decoys leak, patching never seems to work. I am taking the ones that are still good and use them as shore Decoys. With the money, it takes to buy quality deeks you need to figure out a way to utilize all that you own and sprinkling the shore with these, keeps them in your inventory.
TIP: Do not leave your Decoys out overnight. We hunt both private and public property and always pick up our deeks. The temptation on private water, leave them so you do not have to set up in the morning. If you have ducks in the area, they will figure your spread out and not decoy. If you put out every hunt they are seeing ducks on water were none were before, remember ducks land into the wind.

Water is one hazard
waterfowl hunters face that land-based hunters don’t.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ youth waterfowl hunting safety workshops focus on firearm, weather and water safety for that reason.
Montana’s waterfowl-hunting season begins October 4.
Here, as a refresher for all
waterfowl hunters, are some of the safety tips included in FWP’s
waterfowl hunting safety course.
Weather
Waterfowl hunters are a
high-risk group for hypothermia
because of their proximity to water, wind and changing weather
conditions.
To stay warm and avoid
hypothermia:
-Wear wool clothing or clothing that stays warm when wet, like some fleece products. Bring extras in a waterproof bag.
-If you fall in – go home! Or, take a break and change into warm, dry clothes.
-Control wind and wetness by using waterproof shells, jackets, waders and boots.
-Bring a variety of high-energy and high-sugar content food bars for quick energy and calories.
-Wear a hat. Most warmth escapes through your head.
-Your extremities are very important. It’s no fun to hunt with cold feet, hands or head. Bring chemical hand warmers for emergencies.
Boating Safety
While planning a waterfowl hunt, don’t forget to check to be sure the boat is in good working
condition, with enough gas for the trip and equipped with proper personal flotation devices and other safety gear.
Here are some additional steps to reduce the chances of drowning.
-Make sure everyone on board has a properly fitted, Coast Guard approved, life jacket or float coat.
-Never stand in an unsecured boat to shoot.
-Shoot only when at a natural,
comfortable angle.
-Be aware of dogs, and other partners while in a boat – be extra careful with your gun. Similar to a blind, a boat is close quarters.
-Unload your shotgun when moving from place to place in a boat.
-Put your unloaded shotgun in a secured case. This keeps the shotgun cleaner and will remind you to unload the shotgun before moving.
-Floating gun cases earn their keep once the boat is upside down.
Waterfowl hunting can be safer and more enjoyable if you plan ahead and make safe-practices part of a water-based hunt. Safety is always the first and most important measure of a successful hunt.
Check the 2008 migratory bird hunting regulations for details on season dates and other waterfowl hunting information.

Montana duck and goose hunters can look forward to some good hunting beginning Oct. 4 in the Central and Pacific flyways.   The seasons and bag limits will be similar to last seasons. 

One notable change from last year is that the season on canvasbacks will be closed in the Pacific Flyway portion of the state due to a decline in the breeding population and the low pond numbers and additionally, the Pacific Flyway will have a partial season on scaup, 

October 4 – Dececember 28. The Central Flyway will have a partial season on canvasbacks and pintails,October 4 – November 11.  The white/light goose limit on both flyways is 6 daily.

May’s breeding population survey of 10 species in the traditional survey areas was down nine percent compared to the past year, but 11 percent above the long-term average.   

Mallard numbers were similar to last year and to the long-term average.   However, pond numbers in the May survey for Prairie Canada and U.S. breeding areas were 37 percent below last year and 10 percent below the long-term average.   As a result poor water conditions in some key areas, such as southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, there may be fewer young ducks in the fall flight.   

Wetland conditions were better north in the parklands of Prairie Canada. 

Ducks returning to Montana this spring were greeted with generally dry conditions, especially in some of the production areas in the northeastern corner.   Conditions were better in the southeastern corner of the state and near the Rocky Mountain Front in central Montana.  

Total duck numbers in Montana were 42 percent below last year and 39 percent below the long-term average.   A rainy period in late May improved water conditions considerably in many areas and may have come in time to help late nesters as well as brood survival.   

Canada goose numbers were down slightly in eastern Montana in the May survey, but goose populations continue to do well.   For “light geese” (snow and Ross’s), in the Pacific Flyway in Montana, overall production and the fall flight should be about average. 

For details, to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2008 Waterfowl Status Report at:   http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/reports/reports.html

Migratory bird hunting regulations, including season dates and bag limits are available on FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov on the Hunting page under Regulations.   Print copies are available at FWP offices and license providers.

We mean it as no slight to the other seasons, but there is just something about autumn. The changing of the seasons brings with it a beauty that keeps minds poetic and a crispness that keeps bodies comfortable. It can be argued that hunters spend two-thirds of the year preparing for this final third, the advent of “hunting season,” the opportunity to harvest fruits from the land. And because you’ve waited all year for this, Pheasants Forever has 10 final tips to ensure this upland hunting season is your best yet!

1. Get Buddy, Bella and Your Butt Moving. You shouldn’t take an out-of-shape dog into the field, and you shouldn’t take an out-of-shape “you” there either. Fit dogs equate to fuller game bags, not to mention healthier hunting companions. Find pre-season conditioning tips at Pheasants Forever’s Bird Dog Bonanza presented by Native performance dog food. Don’t take your own physical condition for granted, either. Even with most hunting seasons just weeks away, there’s still time to get a pre-hunt medical check-up and to start a daily walking or exercise regimen. If you’ve never learned CPR or taken a first aid course, now is a good time, and even if you have, a refresher in those areas is always beneficial.

2. Pre-Hunt Game Plan. It can be said for many things in life that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail, and pheasant hunting is no exception. So let’s hurry you up to speed. First, get some expectations for this season by checking out Pheasants Forever’s 2008 Pheasant Hunting Forecast. No matter what state you’re hunting in, be sure you’re familiar with that state’s hunting regulations at Pheasants Forever’s State Agency page. Finally, take an equipment inventory. Whether you’re missing anything, or just plain want something new, your upland gear connection is Pheasants Forever’s MarketPlace.

3. Post-Hunt Exam. The hunt is done, and hopefully you’ve managed to slide a rooster or two into your vest. But there is one more step before you’ve wrapped up your day’s work. Spending just a few minutes directly following the hunt to run your dog through a post-hunt exam can eliminate or alleviate problems later on. Look over the dog for obvious abrasions or bleeding. Then check the dog from head to toe. Start at the head and then check the mouth, tongue, nose, lips, eyes and ears. Next, look over the neck, chest and abdomen. Finally, check the feet and legs – typically the biggest problem area – for any abnormalities. Your bird dog can’t tell you what’s ailing, so you have to pay attention to their behavior and take the time to give them a good exam after every trip afield.

4. Steel a Few Boxes. While lead is still the mainstay for many upland hunters, it is not permitted everywhere. Thankfully, Federal Premium has expanded its Pheasants Forever royalty program with the introduction of Pheasants Forever Steel loads. Pick up a few boxes now, and save yourself the hassle later. Initially they will be available in 12 and 20 gauges 3”, #3 and #5 options. For more information on Pheasants Forever Steel loads, as well as the rest of the Federal Premium line-up, visit www.federalpremium.com.

5. Cast and Blast. Habitat across the pheasant range helps improve water quality and protects fish populations in many places as well. The crossover between hunting and fishing in the United States is quite high, as nearly 70 percent of hunters are also anglers. And fall – with great angling opportunities for walleye, pike, musky, bass and panfish across much of the pheasant range – is no time to put away the rod and reel and become a one-trick pony. For many anglers, the fall bite is can’t-miss, so bookend a day of fishing with morning and evening hunts, then enjoy your reward that evening: A combo platter.

6. Add Some Seasoning. All hunters have their favorite spots, honey holes they religiously return to year in and year out. With good reason, as these spots have proven to be productive – or else why come back? But do yourself a favor this year and try becoming less a creature of habit and more a creature of habitat…new habitat that is! Make it a point to trek some new ground this year. Do some sleuthing – or “sloughthing” if you’re waterfowling – and find a new tract of public land or knock on the doors of a few area landowners to open up some new opportunities for yourself. Variety is the spice of life, and makes a great seasoning for any hunter! If you do  happen to gain permission, thank a landowner with a Gift Membership to Pheasants Forever.

7. Vote on November 4th. Okay, a trip to the ballot booth isn’t as exciting as one to the backwoods, but taking a few minutes to fulfill your civic duty goes a long way to ensuring continued support for the outdoors. Typically, there is strong voter turnout among sportsmen and women. But if you’re one who loves the outdoors and hasn’t drawn the direct correlation between casting a ballot and casting a line, time to wise up. Year in and year out, elected officials from all levels of government have hands in decisions affecting regulations and outdoor funding. Get to know the candidates and where they stand on issues related to conservation and the outdoors. And, if you are going to be “a traveling hunter” on November 4th, be sure to pick up an absentee ballot in advance.

8. Your Heir Apparent. By now its common knowledge that hunter and angler replacement numbers are not keeping up with the hunter and angler attrition rates. If you were gone, you’d like to know your family was taken care of. Wouldn’t you also like to ensure your outdoor legacy will continue long after you’ve hung up the hunting boots?   Pheasants Forever’s No Child Left ™ initiative is meeting this challenge head on, as is our Grassroots Conservation Campaign.

9. Join Pheasants Forever. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reported in 2006 that hunters and anglers spend $76 billion each year (about $2,200 per person) on gear, travel, etc., yet only contribute $22 million in support for conservation group projects. The fact is the average sportsperson is spending $2,200 every year to enjoy hunting and fishing, and (excluding state and federal license fees and special tax fees) is giving back less than $2 every year to ensure hunting and fishing opportunities in the future. You can talk about the need for conservation, or you can do something about it. Log onto www.PheasantsForever.org today and join, donate, attend a local PF banquet, volunteer as a chapter officer, or pick up some PF merchandise! We need YOU and so do the roosters!10. National Pheasant Fest 2009 Presented by Cabela’s. Close your season in style by doing what any sensible outdoor enthusiast would do – get ready for next year! National Pheasant Fest 2009 Presented by Cabela’s will be held February 6-8, 2009, at Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information on the nation’s largest event for upland hunters, landowners, sport dog owners and wildlife habitat conservationists, log onto www.PheasantFest.org. Make your plans and book your hotel room today.