Montana UNTING & ISHING HMarch 2014 F News Planning A Successful Elk Hunt Spring Gobbler Tips Montana Black Bear Hunting Ammunition. New Look Same Dead on Accuracy Made in Montana. Available at your local retailer. Looking for .22 Ammo? The most readily available .22 ammunition this spring. Grab a couple boxes at Bob Ward’s. Priced from: 9.99 per box* *for AE.223J MISSOULA BOZEMAN HELENA BUTTE HAMILTON 3015 Paxson St. 3011 Max Ave. 3323 Dredge Dr. 1925 Dewey Blvd. 1120 N. 1st. St. 728-3220 586-4381 443-2138 494-4452 363-6204 MONTANA’S FISHING HEADQUARTERS Photo Courtesy of Josh Tompkins Bob Ward’s Fishing Buyer MISSOULA BOZEMAN HELENA BUTTE HAMILTON 3015 Paxson St. 3011 Max Ave. 3323 Dredge Dr. 1925 Dewey Blvd. 1120 N. 1st. St. 728-3220 586-4381 443-2138 494-4452 363-6204 SEE US AT THE SOUTH BAY PONTOON & ALUMACRAFT BOATS! GREAT ROCKIES SPORT SHOW! HELENA Feb. 28 - Mar. 2 2013 Alumacraft Fisherman 145 F25 2013 Alumacraft Competitor 165 F150 2013 Alumacraft Competitor 175 F150 2013 Alumacraft Trophy 185 LT F150 BOZEMAN WAS $15,998 NOW $11,995 WAS $31,995 NOW $28,995 WAS $37,895 NOW $33,987 WAS $42,995 NOW $38,995 Mar. 28 - Mar. 30 & PIERCE RV SHOW BILLINGS 2013 Southbay 520 CR F70 2013 Southbay 522 CR 2013 Southbay 522 CPTR 115 HP YAMAHA 2013 Southbay 522 CR 150 HP YAMAHA WAS $32,99 NOW $27,995 WAS $36,995 NOW $33,995 WAS $43,995 NOW $40,995 WAS $44,995 NOW $41,995 Feb. 27 - Mar. 2 BROADWATER FORD & MARINE 406.266.5207 • 800.336.2263 www.BroadwaterFord.net | www.BroadwaterPreowned.com 7675 Hwy. 287 N., Townsend HOURS: Monday - Friday 8am-6pm • Saturday 9am-4pm Come see our huge selection of Fords Drive A Little, Save A Lot. 2014 Models Arriving NOW! 2014 F150 Raptor Ask for 7675 U.S.Hwy. 287, Townsend Michael Anderson at Three Forks exit at I-90 BROADWATER or from Helena Hwy. 287. 406.980.0167 or or visit FORD & MARINE 406.266.5207 www.broadwaterford.net 4 - Hunting & Fishing News Advice from a World Record Holder By Jason Houser Marc Anthony Hunters are gearing up for deer season, hours, days; even months of FORD & MARINE scouting have been done. The perfect trees have been picked out for your stands, and now all that is left to do is waiting for a shot and 406.266.5207 • 800.336.2263 hopefully a deer will be on the ground. But, is it necessary to climb into www.BroadwaterFord.net | www.BroadwaterPreowned.com a tree to kill a big buck? The answer is definitely no. Marc Anthony, near Peoria, Illinois has close to 40 years of hunting 7675 Hwy. 287 N., Townsend whitetails under his belt, and he holds the world record for killing the HOURS: Monday - Friday 8am-6pm • Saturday 9am-4pm highest number of Boone and Crocket bucks with a bow. What makes this even more impressive is that Marc does all of his hunting from the ground, wearing a ghillie suit he designed specifically for bow hunters. I recently had the opportunity to ask Marc some questions regarding his success. Q: Why do you think you have the success that you do hunting from the ground, when other hunters struggle to harvest a deer with this technique? A: Hunting from the ground gives you more options than you would have from a tree stand. Once you’re attached to a tree, you’re stuck there. The ability to be mobile, re-adjust positions and to not be patterned by deer, are all reason why hunting from the ground gives you the edge on whitetails. The reason I have had success isn’t because I am a better hunter than anyone else, it’s because I am able to experiment and try options that may be considered outside the envelope. People struggle with this way of hunting, because they do not think it through before they execute a ground assault. Let’s face it; I didn’t create this way of hunting! The tree stand wasn’t introduced until only 100 years ago or so. Before that, the animals nearly went extinct from ground hunting and over harvesting, so that statement alone is proof animals can be killed from the ground. Q: In your opinion, what is the biggest mistake hunters make when hunting from the ground? A: The biggest mistake made from hunting from the ground is movement. Deer’s eyes are made up of cones and rods, like humans, but they have more rods in their eyes which makes them see great at night and minute changes in their surroundings. They can see a human move, whether it be in a tree or from the ground, from great distances. Q: How important is odor control when hunting from the ground? A: All odor control is important, period. But, human scent is easier to conceal from hunting from the ground than it is from a tree stand. When I give seminars, I demonstrate how human scent can be broadcast from a tree stand at greater distances than from the ground. At 20 feet high, in only a 1 MPH wind, your scent will travel ¼ of a mile in only 7.5 minutes. That’s the time it takes a person to climb a stand and get situated. From the ground, your scent starts from a much lower position and falls to your immediate surroundings. Even if a deer will bust you from the ground, it’s usually within 20-30 yards and by that time, I am already in full draw. Having said that, I very rarely ever get busted, but occasionally I do. (continued on page 46) March 2014 5 Dallas Land ScentBlocker’s Guide to COMPANY 112 Willow • Helena, MT. 59602 443-5110 Killing Coyotes www.dallas-land.com By: Jason Herbert Reprinted with permission from Bowhunting.net For more please go to: www.bowhunting.net Sponsored by: Robinson Outdoors, Tree Spider & ScentBlocker Products The ‘mule kick’ was good for my confidence and after waiting till dark to look for my bloody arrow, I was pretty certain of a clean kill. Still, just to be sure, I elected to wait until morning to recover the deer. It was plenty cold 23 Acres overlooks Hauser Lake and I wasn’t in a hurry. Paved access w/utilities available. The next morning revealed to me a slight blood trail and I found the mature doe a short distance away. I was $180,000 MLS# 287461 hunting in some pretty thick cover and simply did not see or hear her fall. I also wasn’t the first to find her. In the brief time between shot and recovery the local coyotes found her and took advantage of the free meal. Starting at her hind quarters, the coyotes ate their fill. It looked fresh, like I might have scared them away while searching for her. I’ve since become dedicated to doing my share in coyote population control and am convinced that with a little know how and commitment, the average deer hunter can become proficient at killing coyotes. Not only are we helping the deer, turkeys and rabbits live well, but coyote hunting is a lot of fun! Scenic 20 acres Locating: As with hunting any animal, coyotes can’t be killed if they aren’t Off Hwy 12 W w/breathtaking views around. During deer season listen for twilight howling, look for tracks and looking down the Ten Mile Creek scat, and pay attention to kill sites and gut piles. Like I mentioned earlier, Valley, Priests and McDonald Pass. the calling card of a coyote pack is the hind end of a deer being eaten $169,900 MLS# 283432 within hours of the kill. While finding that a gut pile had been quickly demolished doesn’t guarantee the work of a coyote, it is a good sign. Trail cameras work great for keeping track of coyotes. Use the cameras similar to deer hunting by placing them along well used trails, water sources, funnels, field edges, bedding areas, etc… Coyotes really like to use the wind to their advantage, and anywhere deer or rabbits are supposed to be, the chances are good a coyote will be nosing around downwind. 5 Acres- Sunny Side Raptor Ridge Similar to roosting a bird while turkey hunting, drive around at night and listen for howling. Coyotes are social Stunning views of Elkhorns! animals and where there’s one there will be more. They use all sorts of vocalizations but the easiest to listen Well in. Excellent building site. for is their howling. If a handful of coyotes are overheard howling one night the chances are good they’ll be $139,000 MLS# 282716 around in the morning. Scent Control: It’s time to dust off or thaw out the old deer season clothes for another adventure! Swirling winds and unpredictable circumstances make scent control crucial when predator This issue is dedicated to my ADVERTISING Borders BLM hunting. A deer’s sense of smell Blue Cloud area. Vaulted ceiling, is amazing and a coyotes is just friend and hunting buddy, RICK HAGGERTY (406) 370-1368 pantry, garden window to look over as good- some even say better. Steve Hyde Publisher - Amy Haggerty - Helena, MT. the lush creek bottom, 2 propane In fact, coyotes are even less January 21, 2014 [email protected] fireplaces, lower level can be used tolerant of human odor than deer www.huntingfishingnews.net as a rental or mother-in-law apartment.