More Sheep Culled to Help Curtail Yet Another Pneumonia Outbreak

The latest outbreak has been confirmed in the upper Rock Creek herd. Over the past few days biologists culled 28 of 46 bighorn sheep showing symtoms of the deadly pneumonia bacteria.

That makes four herds so far this winter, all in northwest Montana.

Biologists fear many more of the 170 or so in the upper Rock Creek herd could be infected. They will revisit the area next week.

All hunting will probably be curtailed for several years or until the infected herds make a significant recovery. Biologists hope in every case there are isolated pockets of uninfected sheep to help speed the process.

For Montana hunters this winter has not been exactly brimming good news. First came the announcement mule deer doe tags will most probably be drastically cut in many of the hunt districts across the state. Then yesterday came the announced proposal to limit Region 1 whitetail hunting to bucks only. Now this, and let us not forget the proposed changes in elk hunting still in the lurch. Oh and let us not forget also the highly controversial proposal to impose non-toxic shot restrictions to all Montana WMAs...Yikes, enough already although to be fair none of this is anything but good for the critters which is all that really matters in the scope of things...Right? Right.

And of course none of this is new, all of it has occured in the past and most likely will again in the future, even once the current crises pass. Ma Nature has shown time and again she really does not cotton to voids within her world. So as long as the habitat remains healthy sooner or later she will refill it...In other words have faith my man this too shall pass...

FWP Proposes Restricting Region 1 Whitetail Hunting to Bucks Only

After listening to hunters in Region 1 (Northwest MT)FWP has decided to recommend to the Commish restricting whitetail hunting within the region to bucks only. The reason is the apparent downward population spiral observed over the past two hunting seasons. If approved it would be the first bucks only hunt in the region since 2001.

The why of this was not made entirely clear in the press release but my guess is reduced fawn production, as is the case with mule deer across much of the state. With mule deer it appears a combination hard winters, decreased forage production due to drought and in some cases increased predation--coyotes, bears and such. Regardless wildlife populations tend to ebb and flow naturally anyway so curtailing the kill for a few seasons should allow both species to rebound assuming of course Ma Nature decides to cooperate.

My off the wall idea for helping to speed up the process is to trap and transfer whitetails from the many ranches here in the southwest currently stockpiling them in unbelievable numbers--Ok, just kidding I'm not really naive enough to believe anything of the sort might work. And I don't believe for a minute there is a solution or even if one is called for these are after all private lands and the individual landowners can and will do any damn thing pleases and rightly so. But if you doubt the stockpile thing just take a ride any morning or evening around Dillon, Twin Bridges, Sheridan, Alder area and take a looksee for yourself. I guarantee driving out Blacktail to the Matador turning right to Carrigan Lane and back to Dillon you will see hundreds, perhaps thousands, and that's not counting the many hundreds mule deer also grazing the very private pivots and hay meadows within the short 15 mile or so loop.

Be that as it may and besides none of the above is really much of a concern to me personally and certainly none of my business. Still every time I see all those deer crowded together in what really is a relatively small area the thought occurs what if EHD strikes? I can hear the caterwauling already, can't you?

Young Arizona Hunter Downs Muy Grande Mule Deer Buck

The buck we've all been looking for was shot recently by a 15 year old, no less, hunting a special draw area in Mariposa County (CA) just outside Yosemite National Park. The young hunter was one of just 10 juniors drawn and this is his first kill. The buck is a non-typical, 7X6 with a whopping 34 inch spread so the bad news is "Sorry kid to be the bearer of bad tidings but now you done it, ain't much room up there to top this one...EVER! A wintering ground for Yosemite bucks the area has long been a producer of trophy bucks...this one will probably rank 8th in the non-typical class for California bucks.

Mule Deer Buck_Robbins

Well yet another Montana big game season is history. Alas, once again, I have managed to add nothing to the larder. Failed miserably fulfilling my preseason promise "to fill all my tags this season come hell or high water." For shame...but what can I say other than I hardly tried...I think I hunted deer all of about 9 hours and elk a big fat zero...even my self-professed first love, decoying antelope during the September rut, turned out mostly a farce. As I might have mentioned in a previous rant the why of this is something of mystery but the grim result sure ain't...Perhaps it's high time to just admit the truth...Chuck my man you just ain't got it in your sorry ass anymore...Best let it go, stick to chasin' ugly dogs...now there's a pleasant thought.

Milk River Wildlife Management Area

This a shot of the Milk River Wildlife Management Area near Hinsdale. The line of cottonwoods in the background delineates the Milk River. The Milk is one of Montana's longest and least known (to anglers) rivers, born on the east slopes of the Rocky Mountains on the Blackfeet Nation it swings north into Alberta then back into Montana where it eventually joins the Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam west of Wolf Point...a run of about 730 miles.

The Milk is popular throughout its length with local anglers but you won't find many anglers from outside the region. Pike, smallmouth bass, sauger, walleye and catfish are the most sought after gamefish, but the Milk holds many surprises. Fort Peck Reservoir, while not technically a part of the Milk River system boasts something like 50 gamefish and provides primo fishing for trophy pike, smallmouth bass and walleye to name just three of the most sought after.

Deer and upland bird hunters, however, paint a different picture. Known far and wide as a world class whitetail hotspot, hunters from all over arrive each fall hoping to slay the "buck of a lifetime." And while upland bird hunting pales somewhat nonetheless the Milk River corridor is certainly no secret...especially amongst rooster lovers. While much of the Milk flows through private land there are many WMAs, as well as Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and several National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) scattered throughout provide decent to sometimes primo rooster hunting opportunities. In addition Montana's popular Block Management Program has a strong presence all along the river free to hunters for the asking. By the way, many WPAs and most BMAs are open to hunting whitetails and other game species, including waterfowl.