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.

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.

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.

Sam Nasset - Photo Contest 2008 - Whitetail

Sam Nasset with Whitetail Buck – Sweetgrass Hills

Sean Wildhaber - Photo Contest 2008

“This picture was taken of me on an early rifle season hunt in the Scapegoat Wilderness.  The hunt took place during the first week of the September rifle season.  Two of my good friends and I packed in on foot and hunted for five days.  I took this Mule Deer on the 15th of September 2008.

Keith Stockard - Photo Contest 2008 - Whitetail Buck

Keith Stockard with 1st Montana Whitetail Buck taken last year the day before Thanksgiving.

5×5 that required many miles by boot with passing on numerous smaller bucks.  ”No Road Hunters Allowed.”

Keith Stockard - Photo Contest 2008 - Mule Deer (1)

Mule Deer Buck taken near Sula, after 12 trips to the Bitterroot Mountains.  ”My legs covered well over a hundred miles of which half of these were with my son Kenny.  On the 12th trip, he was there at my side to share in this hunting adventure as we scaled to the top in record time to harvest this trophy Mule Deer.”

Diehard bird hunters can still hit the pheasant patches, turkey season is still open in eastern Montana. Waterfowlers are welcome to shiver away in their damp blinds and spread their decoys, but for the average big-game guy, hunting is finished until fall, 2009. Some still smile with the remembrance of magical days afield with family or might yet pump an enthusiastic fist when retelling the tale of killing a trophy bull. But most just file their guns back in the cabinet, repack gear in the garage and glumly wait for next year.

However, no matter how the season unfolded, there are things that can be accomplished in December to assure a better hunting season next autumn. Right now is the best time to evaluate the whats, whys and wheres of this year’s hunting episodes to improve them for the future. Here are some things to consider in preparation for the coming season:

1) Gear alert – You’re in a better position to sort through your gear and decide what’s needed for the coming year and what might be donated to charity now than you will be in nine months. Make a list of needed items in the following areas: guns and shooting equipment, camping gear, optics, clothing and footwear, and vehicle accessories. Once you’ve decided what’s required for next season, you can shop at a relaxed pace throughout the year 

and pick up necessary items at bargain prices instead of parting with a large outlay of cash just before hunting season.

Regarding guns and shooting equipment, if you have new hunters coming into the ranks in your family, now is the time to start shopping for a great buy on a rifle. Watch for ammunition sales as well. Adding a bipod or range-finder to one’s cache of shooting gear is a great investment and these items are sure to please any hunter at Christmas.

Camping in elk country is one of the greatest delights of my life. On the list of necessary items for our elk camp are a new lantern and stove jack for one of the tents. I’m also in the market for another cot and a sleeping pad. For solo hunts, erecting my 12’x14’ wall tent alone is getting tedious, so if I locate a smaller, 

lighter tent at a reasonable price, I’ll probably make that investment as well.

Quality optics are one of the niceties of hunting that can really pay dividends under low-light conditions. If you’re considering upgrading your rifle-scope or binoculars, why not put them on the list with a budgeted price to purchase before next season if the opportunity arises?

Kids grow (too quickly), boot soles wear and jackets get ripped on barbwire. After-season sales are optimal times to purchase clothing and footwear — as long as you’ve inventoried what you’ll need for next season.

Items required for your hunting vehicle should be evaluated as well. About the only time I routinely use tire chains is during hunting season. Before next year I need to replace a broken cross-link. Behind the seat I have a portable jump-starting unit, but it’s getting along in years and is on the low end for power. Replacing it is on my list of vehicle-related projects.

2) Pondering Places – We didn’t find many elk in the normal places in our hunting area this season. That seems to be somewhat of a trend, as the traditional hotspots were lukewarm last year as well, even though my son and I both killed bulls. For next season, we need to think about trying some slightly different areas. Although gas prices have moderated, I’m still looking for some spots close to home to hunt deer. We found a few worthy destinations this season, but before next year I’d like to scout out some more.

Just after the season is the best time to evaluate the locations that you hunted. Making some brief notes in a hunting journal about the location and numbers of animals encountered is a smart way to plan for next season. It’s easy to think you’ll remember, but nearly a year’s passage will certainly fog your gray matter in September as you try to recall the specifics of this year’s hunt.

Along with pondering the merits of previously hunted areas, now is an excellent time to sit down with maps to locate some new ones. It’s also the ideal time to figure out how to scout them once they’re identified. One of my perennial downfalls is pinpointing potentially productive hunting destinations on a map, then failing to scout them before the season opens. When that happens I tend to just throw up my hands and return to the same old places, some of which offered excellent hunting a decade ago, but have declined since.

Summer hiking, fishing and camping trips are ideal ways to scout a new location. Last summer I made an enjoyable backpacking trip to twin high country lakes near an area that looked like a possible hunting destination based on my research with a map. As it turned out, the lakes gave up a number of husky cutthroat trout, but the area didn’t turn out to be quite the type of wildlife habitat that I expected. But the outing was a success from the standpoint of fishing, physical fitness and eliminating a destination from the year’s hunting itinerary.

3) Setting a Schedule – Although Montanans enjoy one of the longest big-game hunting seasons of any state in the nation, it seems that the weeks fade much too quickly, with other responsibilities perniciously occupying days that could be better spent in the field. With the memory of this season in mind, it’s worth a few hours’ time to evaluate what got in the way of hunting. For me, it was writing articles, some of which could have been completed before the season opened, leaving more time for hunting. Readying my dwelling for winter also took some time, another job that I could have finished before the antelope opener.

Although work and other responsibilities shouldn’t be neglected, a little advanced planning can do wonders to clear the calendar for hunting. Jotting some reminders of tasks to conquer before hunting season starts (and then doing them) is one way to scavenge some extra days in the field — and I’ll take all of them I can get.

Jack Ballard, author and photographer, publishes magazine articles and photos pertaining to camping, cross-country skiing, canoeing, hiking, hunting, fishing, children’s conservation education and the natural history of wildlife. In the past ten years his articles and/or photos have appeared in over 25 different regional and national magazines, including: Sports Afield, Paddler Magazine, Deer & Deer Hunting, Northwest Fly Fishing, Montana Magazine, Women in the Outdoors, VFW Magazine, WildBird Magazine, Colorado Outdoors, Birds & Blooms, and others.

Mike Bailly - Photo Contest 2008 - Buck (1)

“I shot this buck near Helena at 200 yards on November 1, 2008.  He green scored at 168-1/8. He was pretty sneaky, as I tried to het him while archery hunting, but he kept letting me crawl to almost within bow range before he escaped.  Between the Prickly Pear and rocks he must have enjoyed my pain enough to let me get that close.  I finally outsmarted him with a 7mm Mag. on the first week of the season.  I still had to stalk and crawl to within range and he must of thought that I was still carrying my arrows.  He was a great animal and there are still chances to take large animals on public land.”

Keith Stockard - Photo Contest 2008 - Turkey

Keith Stockard with Merriam Spring Gobbler.

Kenny - Photo Contest 2008 - Turkey (2)

Kenny with an unusual DoubleBearded Spring Merriam Gobbler taken near Superior by Keith Stockard.

Kenny - Photo Contest 2008 - Turkey (1)

Kenny with an unusual Double-Bearded Spring Merriam Gobbler taken near Superior.

exclusively.  A good friend, who married into a large land holding family in the Big Hole, invited me on an opening day hunt in a limited access area.  Being friends with all the people invited, I figured I might as well give it a go.  I dusted off my lonely old wall tent, went through the laborious chore of packing a whole camp onto my trailer and headed south.  

Normally I am strongly against just showing up in an area and hunting.  Since my buddy had done a good bit of the homework for me I felt somewhat okay arriving Friday and lightly scouting on Saturday.  He had ideas on where he wanted to hunt opening day but after studying the area on Google Earth, I had my own ideas.  In the wee hours of Saturday morning I headed out with my maps and spotting scope to be at a good vantage by dawn.  I arrived at what seemed from my maps to be a good viewing spot about a half an hour before the light of day and got set up.  As the brightness of morning grew I was rewarded with the view of two different groups of elk on finger ridges within 800 yards of my location.  I watched them as they slowly fed back into the trees then I exited with stealth being mindful of the wind.

We all converged from our perspective scouting trips back at camp.  Counting both the groups of elk that I had seen as one, we had found two locations that were holding elk.  We split up into two groups of three for the next morning then began planning our hunt.  One of my seasoned comrades would take the drainage in the direction where the bigger group of elk had fed into the trees.  I would pair up with the rookie of the group and we made a pact.  He got to shoot at any elk we encountered and since I was already tagged out for wapiti, I would get the shot if we saw a mule deer buck.  We would head up the finger ridge below where those elk had been and be in position before first light.

The next morning came cold and early.  We were heading out the door of the tent when we saw other rigs heading towards our spot.  So much for exclusive land use.  Frantic, we headed out hoping that these folks were not heading where we were.  We passed them on the creek bottom trail and staggered our way to the finger ridge without our headlamps.  As my partner and I started up the ridge, my buddy continued up his desired drainage.  We were in position a full half hour before first light and the wind was perfect.  As the dark gave way to gray, we could barely make out some elk milling along the tree line.  About ten minutes before legal shooting the light from our rival’s headlamps could be seen about 300 yards up wind of the elk we were watching.  At   five minutes before 

game time the lead cow turned to face the wind, smelled those guys and led the whole group away in a flash.  My buddy in the drainage got to see a quick flash of a cow as they exited the ridge exactly where we thought they would.

I’ve related this story to point out a few important facts.  First and I believe foremost, situations like this almost never happen in the backcountry.  When you put the effort into getting to a remote place, you are almost sure to have the whole show to yourself.  Further, the elk in the backcountry are typically less wary and will hang out in the open a bit longer.  Second, no matter where you are hunting, you have to constantly pay attention to the wind.  All of the odor eliminating products and clothing in the world will never make you 100% scent free.  Of course you should always do all you can to reduce your scent but you must play the wind to win the game.  And finally, do your homework.  If I had known that this section of the ranch was a part of the general block management instead of limited entry, I would have looked elsewhere for animals.  I tried to cram for the exam by doing some light scouting the day before the season opened and we ended up failing the test.

I went through all the work of packing and setting up a full camp and no one brought home any meat.  I drove my truck (which broke down) and trailer two hours each way and put nothing in my freezer.  If I had packed my backpack and drove a much shorter distance to hunt, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time and money and I would have had better odds of getting an animal.  These are just a few of the reasons why hunting the backcountry is so rewarding.

As December sets in most of the hunting in Montana has come to an end.  The last thing on the mind of most people is getting ready for the following hunting season, but now is a great time to make the personal commitment to hunting the backcountry next year.  You will have a whole year for preparation and maybe Santa will bring you some of the gear you may not have.

I would like to end this month by congratulating a few fellow backcountry enthusiasts.  Vince, Brad and my close friend Sparky all managed to harvest animals in the backwoods.  Each of them has put a ton of effort into finding remote places and hunting them alone.  Their reward, beside the experience, was three elk to grace their freezers.  These three guys and everyone else who has busted their tail in the backcountry should be proud, whether an animal was harvested or not.  I’d like to wish everyone a happy holiday season and I’d like to remind folks that time off from work can be spent watching wintering critters and testing new gear.              

Kaitlyn - Photo Contest 2008 - 1st Bull Elk

Kaitlyn – with 1st Bull Elk.

Way to go Kaitlyn!!!