Jami Sindelar Of Missoula With First Turkey
Archive for the ‘GENERAL’ Category
FWP Seeks Public Comment On Open Water Fishing Contests
01
Dec
FWP Seeks Public Comment On Open Water Fishing Contests
Monday, November 30, 2009 MFWP
Fishing
Fishing
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on fishing contests proposed for the open water season of 2010.
Participants in these contests must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits. Most contests require catch-and-release fishing and participants in these contests may not keep any fish.
Applications for contests may be approved, denied or approved with conditions that may help to minimize fish mortality, regulate harvest, reduce user conflicts or require additional access site maintenance when needed.
Information on the proposed contests is on the FWP Web site at fwp.mt.gov on the Montana Fishing Guide page, or call 406-444-2449.
The public may comment through Dec. 25 in writing to FWP Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT, 59620, or by email to npodolinsky@mt.gov. Here is a list of the proposed summer fishing contests for 2009: Proposed 2010 Open Water Derbies
FWP Region 1 March 12-May 2 Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake
Apr. 25 ABA Qualifier #5 West Side Montana on Noxon Reservoir
Apr. 24-25 ABA Qualifier #5 West Side Montana on Noxon Reservoir
May 1-2 Montana BASS Federation Qualifier on Noxon Reservoir
May 14-May 15 Annual Koocanusa Resort and Marina Salmon and Trout Derby on
Lake Koocanusa
May 8 Whitefish Lake Mack Assault on Whitefish Lake
June 5 Lower Stillwater Perch Tournament on Lower Stillwater Lake
June 12 ABA Qualifier #3 West Side Montana on Noxon Reservoir
June 13 ABA Qualifier #4 West Side Montana on Noxon Reservoir
June 19-20 Fathers Day Fishing Festival on Thompson Chain of Lakes
July 10-11 Tobacco Valley Rod & Gun Club Annual Fish Derby on Lake Koocanusa
July 17-18 IEBC Noxon Reservoir Tournament on Noxon Reservoir
July 24-25 ABA Qualifier #5 West Side Montana on Noxon Reservoir
July 24-25 Clark Fork BASS Anglers on Noxon Reservoir
Aug. 7- 8 EMBA Invitational on Noxon Reservoir
Aug. 7-8 12th Annual Great Montana “Mac Attack” on Flathead Lake
Aug. 27-29 Whitefish Jigfest on Flathead Lake
Aug. 27-29 Montana BASS Federation Qualifier on Noxon Reservoir
Sept. 25 McGregor Mac Mania on McGregor Lake
Oct. 1 – Nov. 14 Fall Mack Days on Flathead Lake
Oct. 2-3 1st Annual Fall Rainbow Derby on Lake Koocanusa
Oct. 10-Nov. 27 Snappy’s Whitfish Fall Classic on all of Region 1 Waterbodies
FWP Region 2
June 12-13 Mister Pike Classic on Seeley Lake and Salmon Lake
FWP Region 3
June 13 Livingston Firefighters Kids Trout Derby on Sacajawea Park Lagoon
June 24 Three Forks Carp Tournament on Three Forks Pond
FWP Region 4
May 21-23 Fort Benton Spring Classic Fishing Derby on Missouri River &
Marias River
June 12 Canyon Ferry Carp Safari on Canyon Ferry Reservoir
June 12-13 Tiber Walleye Tournament on Tiber Reservoir
June 20 Father’s Day Fish Derby on Newlan Creek Reservoir
June 26-27 Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival on Canyon Ferry Reservoir
July 17 Broadwater Rod & Gun Club Walleye Derby on Canyon Ferry Reservoir
Aug. 7 Camp Mak-A-Dream Walleye Tournament on Canyon Ferry Reservoir
Aug. 7 John Arnold Fish Derby on Hauser Lake
Aug. 14 MRF Carp Rodeo on the Missouri River
FWP Region 5
May 8 Yellowstone Challenge on Yellowstone River
May 8-9 Montana TBF Invitational on Bighorn Reservoir
June 2-4 Northwestern TBF Divisional on Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir
June 26 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Yellowstone County Fishing Derby on Lake
Elmo
June 26-27 Western ABA Invitational on Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir
July 10-11 EMBA Invitational on Bighorn Reservoir
Aug. 21-22 Billings Yellowtail Fall Finale on Bighorn Lake – Yellowtail Dam
Oct. 2-3 Mid-Yellowstone Smallmouth Bash on the Yellowstone River
FWP Region 6
April 17 Tough Guy Walleye Tournamant on Fort Peck Reservoir
May 22-23 Fresno Challenge on Fresno Reservoir
June 5 11th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic on the Milk River
June 5-6 Montana BASS Federation Qualifier on Fort Peck Reservoir
June 5-6 Rock Creek Walleyes Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir
June 12 Fishin for the Cure on Fort Peck Reservoir
June 26-27 10th Annual Pikemasters Public Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir
July 8-10 23rd Annual Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck
Reservoir
July 17 Women’s Hell Creek Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir
July 24-25 Jordan Hell Creek Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir
Aug. 7 Walleyes Unlimited Women’s Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir
Aug. 7-8 Fall Classic Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir
Aug. 21 Salmon/Lake Trout Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir
FWP Region 7
Apr. 24-25 Western ABA Invitational on Tongue River Reservoir
June 12 Savage Fire Dept. Cat Fishing Tournament on Yellowstone River
June 12-13 Powder River Cat Fish Fest on the Powder River
July 17 North Eastern Montana Monster Cat Roundup on Yellowstone River
FWP Block Management Region Contacts
02
Oct
BY MFWP
Hunters interested in obtaining access to more than eight million acres of private lands enrolled in FWP’s Block Management Program may contact the regional FWP office in the area where they plan to hunt, or check the “Hunting” pages on the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov.
Gaining access to hunt on a Block Management Area is easy. Just follow these steps:
-contact the FWP regional office where you plan to hunt
-use the current year’s regional list of BMA cooperators to select an area where you’d like to hunt and -choose the name or number of a BMA in that area
-make arrangements to hunt by following the instructions provided by FWP regional staff or in the regional BMA tabloid or map.
Please keep in mind that landowners voluntarily enroll in the Block Management Program and they retain the right to deny access to their lands for cause. Due to weather conditions, it is possible that some
BMAs may temporarily or partially close for a time. Hunters can confirm the availability of BMA lands through the FWP regional office in the area where the BMA is located.
To contact FWP regional offices for more information on regional hunting opportunities on BMAs call:
Northwest— FWP Region 1 in Kalispell: 406-752-5501
West-central—FWP Region 2 in Missoula: 406-542-5530
South-central—FWP Region 3 in Bozeman: 406-994-3288
Central—FWP Region 4 in Great Falls: 406-454-5862
East-central—FWP Region 5 in Billings: 406-247-2974
Northeast—FWP Region 6 in Glasgow 406-228-3700
Southeast—FWP Region 7 in Miles City: 406-234-0930
Sagebrush News: Turkey Tracks
03
Sep
BY CHUCK ROBBINS
Wild turkeys are not Montana natives. Merriam’s subspecies first arrived in central Montana from Colorado in 1954; with subsequent releases near Ekalaka and Ashland. As the flock grew so too did the trap and transfer operation and in 1958 Montana ordered a first ever hunting season; hunters bagged about 90 birds, statewide.
Meanwhile, Flathead Valley sportsmen, apparently miffed at being left out, anxious to get their own flocks established imported Eastern subspecies from Pennsylvania. By the late 1980s the Flathead flocks had grown to become a nuisance. Early Flathead hunting was by permit only; however, in 2002 FWP issued the areas first over the counter tags.
The best Merriam’s habitat consists of about one-half ponderosa pine woodlands, the rest a mix of grasslands, deciduous trees and shrubs, scattered openings, riparian areas and deep rugged canyons; the more edge the better. Eastern prefer a similar diversity with or without the ponderosas. Both are eclectic eaters, nuts, seeds, fruits, tubers, flower heads, green leaves, insects, you name it. I once found a bunch of jakes (young gobblers) squabbling over the remains of one very dead, real rank cow. Cultivated grain ranks high, as do snowberry, bearberry, hawthorn, serviceberry, chokecherry and rose hips; young and old alike seem to relish the sport of chasing down grasshoppers.
Easterns west of the 100th Meridian are unique, which makes the Flathead flocks special. Hunters wishing a change of pace and some say a bigger challenge might consider trying Eastern. For what its worth, to me the “challenge” thing seems a bit overblown. I have hunted individuals of both who, for days on end, would strut and dance, limb hop and gobble like to choke to death, often for hours on end, yet would not come no ��matter how sweet or raucous the hen gibe. Conversely a single muted cluck often brings Tom running, regardless the pedigree; the sort of response always begs the question was it really self-defense?
Seriously, one big difference between the two is the Merriam’s propensity to wander—I swear some of our southeastern birds hold second mortgages in Wyoming and South Dakota; and the most important gear item is good glass.
Either species, a good strategy is hit ‘em hard and often with a variety of calls, until Tom hints otherwise. You call, Tom gobbles—call right back, even cut him off a few times but change gears quickly should he suddenly go shut mouth.
Should it become obvious Tom’s not moving, then it’s your move; give him something else to think about. Be aware gobblers do hang up, refuse to cross even the shallowest ditch, the tiniest crick, the most broken down barbed wire, anything stands in Tom’s way is a potential block; flip side, don’t bet on it. So play it by ear. Tom hangs up, do an end run, tease him from the backside.
Shock and awe is good—coyote howls, crow caws, owl hoots, sometimes just slam the truck door or rattle the fry pan (though it seems Tom’s getting smarter and, with the latter two, days are numbered). Once he opens, close in fast, set up, hit him with a run of clucks, cuts and yelps; then shut up, let Tom dictate the next move. As a rule, with Merriam’s more and louder is better. Eastern? Well, I keep telling myself coy is best, but I sure wouldn’t bet the farm.
Decoys work, but can be dangerous to your health, be alert, use blaze orange and above all watch your backside. One final piece of advice, employ a variety of call types, if nothing else they’re fun to play with when Tom’s not…
