February 2015 Volume 2, Issue 1

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ordelheide-Dental/533072000093520

Publishers Notes By Raf Viniard

As of this writing, only 69 days until bear season and 65 days until turkey season opens, not that I am counting. However, in about 9 days you guys had better start scouting, investigating and locking down that perfect gift for that special someone in your life. That’s right, Valentines Day is just around the corner, you have been warned! You are going to want to go hunting and fishing this year...just sayin!

I don’t know about you folks but I am ready for spring. I keep trying to break away from the office to do some wolf and bunny hunting and to fill my lungs with that fresh Montana mountain air. Not to mention looking for some nice sheds while I am at play in my thousands of acres Montana backyard. However, I keep getting tied up doing chores around the homestead or going to a meeting. By the time the weekend get s here I am bushed.

As I watch the news and listen to business owners across our area I am very concerned about our country and our American and Montana way of life. Not to mention our veterans serving overseas. Things are a mess!

I am so glad I live in Montana and mostly surrounded by like minded people that just wants the government to stay out of our life and business. I am in my early 50’s and worry more about our children and grandchildren than myself. So many of the kids nowadays have no clue how to take care of themselves let alone their neighbor. Because of my faith and the many friends I have made since moving to Montana, I do not fear tomorrow...nothing I can do about it anyway.

As spring approaches I look forward to wetting a hook, chasing a big old jet black, tan nosed hungry bear or calling in a ground dragging long bearded full throttle gobbling turkey.

Don’t forget Montana Woods N Water, Big Bull Sports and the Sanders County Search and Rescue will be holding its 1st Annual Camo Sweetheart Ball, 28 February. Tickets will go on sale 5 February. You can read more about this event by going to our website: www.montanawoodsnwater.com and hit the “SAR” tab for more information. We also have a large ad in this issue on page 9. Somebody is going to win a really nice gun and other door prizes will be awarded. There will also be a silent auction. This is going to be a fun event. Tickets are limited, so get yours early.

Keep sending us your pictures and stories. We thank you for your continued support.

VALENTINES DAY, DON’T FORGET!

Publisher & Editor: Raf Viniard

406-407-0612

Field Editor: Mitzi Stonehocker

406-544-1868

Sales & Marketing Director:

Kori Erickson

406-293-1478

Flathead Valley Sales Rep:

Misty Loveless

406-250-4191

Missoula Sales Rep: Vacant

Pro Staff Writers & Photographers:

Angela Gerych Pastor Jim Sinclair

Dan Helterline Zach Butcher

Paul Fielder Montana Mitzi

Toby Bridges Sam Martin

Toby Walrath Jason Badger

Tony Rebo

Editorial Policy: Montana Woods N Water (MWW) reserves the right to

refuse to publish in any form of content that does not include the author’s name, complete mailing address, and/or valid

phone number or e-mail address. Anonymous submissions will not be

addressed or published. MWW reserves the right not to publish anything we feel

is not in good taste or appropriate.

Front Cover Photo Provided By:

Karen Spangler Burke Traveling Montana

“Photography & Event Planning”

Contact Us

Montana Woods N Water

171 Clark Creek Loop

Plains, Montana 59859

406-08-0576

www.montanawoodsnwater.com

Email:

raf@montanawoodsnwater.com

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MONTANA DAN TRAPPING TIPS

With trapping season winding down it's never too early to start planning

for next season. There is a little time left to trap wolves and spring rat

and beaver trapping still lay ahead, but for me I'm ready to put all my

steel to rest for the season and start thinking about next fall. As you plan

for next fall and winter think about what went well this season and try to

expand on that, things that didn't work can be eliminated, helping to

streamline your success. Make a list of new traps and tools you would

like to buy, new traps should be purchased in the spring giving time to

remove grease, allow to rust and then dyed, waxed and hung to air out.

This is the time I start to make bait for next year, any left over beaver

carcasses are cut up and ground along with all of my cat meat that I have saved from my bobcat carcasses and any

lion meat that I can obtain, both of these make excellent predator bait. I mentally make a list of new areas that I

might want to expand into next year and who I might have to hit up for permission, I keep a list of landowner names

and phone numbers for quick reference, making it easier to get going in the fall. Being a successful trapper takes a

lot of planning and preparation, spreading your preparation efforts out over the entire year will make fall and winter

go a lot smoother and bolster your success and help fill the fur shed.

Furs in the fur shed ready for market!

Dan with a Bridger #9 steel trap

“Steel” Things To Do By Dan Helterline

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Montana Woods N Water Digital

Subscriptions Now Available Why would I subscribe when I can read, print and download it from your hosting site for FREE? Great question!

Time/Convenience - As soon as I post the publication to our website, hosting sites and Facebook I send our digital subscribers a PDF file of each issue. By having the actual file sent right to your email you can immediately open it and start reading. Just less steps to access the publication. After receiving it by email on your computer, tablet or Smart/IPhone if you lose or don't have an Internet connection you can still read it at your convenience.

Printing - By having the actual file you can print whatever page you want to keep or the entire issue. You can also forward it to your local print shop and have them print it on 11" X 17", folded and stapled and you have a publication as if we had sent it to you.

Sharing - You can share our publication with your friends, family and co-workers...in fact we encourage it. Once they see what a great publication Montana Woods N Water is they will want their own subscription.

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$25.00 a year.

Can I get 2015 back issues? Sure can, just shoot me an email at (raf@montanawoodsnwater.com) and I will send you

any back issues you would like to have except for 2014...the files are to large to send via email.

Don’t miss another issue, go to www.montanawoodsnwater.com/subscribe and place your order.

Together

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I had a bow, you had a gun

Who knew, together, we would

become one?

You showed me your ways, and I

showed you mine,

We were two sportsmen having a

good time.

You shot your first coyote, I shot my

first buck,

We, together, learned how to trap;

Chasing the wolves and howling

them in,

Having a blast fishing with Cap;

Dirt bikes in the mud and street

bikes on the road,

Bowfishing in the summer,

campfires in the snow,

Four wheelers and UTVs are really

fun as heck,

It’s such a bummer we missed

fishing at Fort Peck;

There is no other face I would

rather see,

After checking my traps or taking a

shot;

You’re my favorite everything--my

partner in crime,

I am the luckiest girl to have the

man I’ve got.

I love you, lovely! Happy

Valentine’s Day to the love of my

life.

By Angela Gerych

Aka

Angela Montana

Angela and Jason sitting at the

bottom of a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, First

comes love...we all know the rest of

this playground song!

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CAMPFIRE TALK

Wild Coyote Saloon

Bar Restaurant Casino

Good Montana Folks, Food & Fun

713 Prospect Creek Road

Thompson Falls, MT

406-827-7867 7

WING SHOOTING CONTINUED

Every year my Dad would make my February 1st birthday special by planning something outside the "box".

Our family was into total outdoor recreation, regardless of rain, shine or several feet of snow. With a middle of the winter birthday my folks would plan ice skating parties, sledding or this particular winter, Dad rented a snowmobile. Plans were made to travel early to the North Fork near Pole Bridge, yes there is a settlement named Pole Bridge.

Early that morning we loaded into the old International pickup truck with the rented snowmobile loaded in the back. Warm snow clothes soon were shed as the heat warmed us, as we excitedly watched the sun rise and a beautiful snow day arrived. The trip was a couple hours, and snacks were passed out and eaten in hast. The tall snow banks kept the pickup on the road but the ruts made travel slow and very bumpy. Rounding a corner, we came to a sliding stop as Dad came face to face with a huge bull moose! Dad and moose stared at each other, the silence was long, the big bull was not budging and we had nowhere to turn around. Dad honked the horn only to have the big bull lower his head and shake his massive antlers! Dad asked Mom if she remembered a wide spot we could back up to, she did, but it was several miles behind us. The snow was deep and the moose had no intention of getting off the road. My sister and I watched the huge beast, we did not say a word, Dad whispered to Mom and honked the horn again. The bull took several steps forward, Dad quickly threw the truck in reverse and the tires spun, tension was thick, the situation seemed grim. Mom rolled the window down and waved and hollered a few threats, the bull again came toward us a couple steps. Minutes passed, time stopped. Suddenly the big bull turned and jumped into the deep snow and Dad let out a breath and laughed at our adventure. Mom, I am sure had been praying, as for me, I had to have Dad stop so I could keep from wetting my pants! We arrived at our destination and unloaded the big machine and my sister and I climbed in the attached sled and a wonderful adventure gliding over the snow

covered fields began. A big picnic lunch filled out tummies and more sledding, I was certain that this was the best birthday ever. As afternoon was cooling, Dad announced it was time to load up and head home. Visions of the bull moose came to mind, Mom calmed our fears by offering a special treat, a grape pop! I loved grape pop and drank mine quickly, accompanied by a couple of cookies. Heading home, the road had melted and ruts made driving hard. The truck rocked and rolled and spun and I remember my tummy complaining; I tried laying down only to feel worse, so I sat up and my sister complained of the same problem. Mom said to take deep breaths which did not help and in a flash our grape pop, lunch and maybe even a bit of leftover breakfast came up and out! Dad said a few cuss words, while Mom said to roll the window down. I moaned, my sister moaned, and Dad had to stop to assist Mom in cleaning out the pickup. We arrived home after falling asleep for the remainder of the trip. A Montana memory was made.

A Montana Birthday Memory

By Montana Mitzi

Happy Birthday Mitzi !

From all of us!

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It’s Not If But When!

When it’s time to go...go in style!

www.camocaskets.com

REPAIR ALL MAKES: Boats · PWC · ATV · Motorcycle · Snowmobile · Small Engine Suzuki – Tracker – Sun Tracker – Nitro – Taho – Mako – Canam – Seadoo – Skidoo

Husqvarna: Mowers · Tr immer s · Chainsaws · Accessor ies Fishing Gear – Hunting Gear – FWP Licenses - Snowmobile Gear

4 Airport Road, Thompson Falls, MT 59873 · (406) 827-2950

66979 Highway 93, Ronan, MT 59864 · (406) 644-2950 www.sandssports.com

Tuesday – Friday 9:00 - 5:30; Saturday 8:00 – 4:00

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Join Montana Sportsmen For Fish and Wildlife!

Per Capita, Montanans Are Some of the Most Outdoor

Oriented People in the World! Montana Sportsmen for

Fish and Wildlife is Being Organized to Insure That

Outdoors Continue to Remain Great.

Go to mt-sfw.org to Join Today!

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· FEBRUARY 21st @ 0830 - Trappers Education Workshop - Missoula Region 2 FWP Office

Spurgin Rd, Missoula, MT

· FEBRUARY 27th - MARCH 1st - Helena Great Rockies Sports Show

Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds, Helena, MT

· MARCH 20th @ 1200 - Western States Fur Auction - Park County Fairgrounds, Livingston, MT

· MARCH 21st - 23rd - Missoula Great Rockies Sport Show - Adams Center - UofM - Missoula, MT

· MARCH 27th - 29th - Bozeman Great Rockies Sport Show

Brick Breeden Fieldhouse - Bozeman, MT

· MARCH 29th @ 1230 - District 6 Spring Membership Meeting - Havre, MT

· APRIL 18th @ 0900 - District 2 Spring Membership Meeting - FWP, Spurgin Rd, Missoula, MT

· APRIL 18th @ 1000 - District 2 Spring Membership Meeting - FWP, Kalispell, MT

· MAY 3rd @ 0900 - MTA Board Meeting - Yogo Inn, Lewistown, MT

See You There!

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purchase a full page ad in

four upcoming issues for only

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This ad special expires 9 February 2015

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