Open Season 2015

1

Your guide to hunting in

the Montrose area SeaSon

juLY 2015

Big-Game Hunter

Survival Tips

Hunting and Dating

INSIDE:Trophy ShotS subMitted bY Montrose daiLY Press readers

Open SeaSon • July 2015

bIg-gamE huNtErFacing new rules and regulations ............ 4

huNtEr SafEtyCourses available before season ........... 8

SurvIval tIpSWhat to pack for your hunting expedition .............................. 10

SurvIval tIpS Lower your risk for altitude sickness ..... 14

baggINg rIghtStake numbers show ample opportunity for big-game bear ............................... 16

moNtroSE ShopShunters can try out new bows, survival gear ...................................... 18

huNtINg aND DatINggo hand-in-hand for Montrose couple.... 20

prESErvINg thE bEautyof the hunt ....................................... 22

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Secret Family RecipesAlways Fresh and Homemade

Welcome Hunters!

SeaSontrophySh TS

hannah

Kembel kneels with her first mule deer shot south of Molina on the north slope of the

Grand Mesa.

Local area residents provide their big-game photos - page 12

cover

04

10

16

22

3

970.240.4329 • [email protected]

XNLV216484

Our new location at 1032 64.50 Rd willfeature a retail meat market o� ering freshbeef steaks, pork chops, seafood and deli

meats with a drive thru window.



(Follow 64.50 Rd North o� the Hwy 50 Bypass)

CO

MPLETE

PR

O F E S S I ON

ALMEAT

PROCESSING

LOCALLY

reasonable shipping rates

various jerkies &summer sausage

open 7 days a week

Wildgame ProcessingI N M O N T R O S E & N O R W O O D

New Location — Same Great Service!

Daily Happy Hour3 pm- 5 pm

Live Karaoke Friday Nights 7 pm to close

(970) 615-72401135 E. Main St. | Montrose, CO

Open DailySummer Hours

Sunday - Thursday 6 am - 10 pmFriday & Saturday 6 am - Close

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Secret Family RecipesAlways Fresh and Homemade

Welcome Hunters!


New huNTiNg regulations for 2015 big-game hunters in

Colorado will allow archers to use lighted nocks and bow-mounted recording devices and for the first time, hunters may employ dogs to retrieve wounded game.those are just a few of the rules and regulations changes for the big-game hunting season for 2015, which includes deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bear.“just like any year, i’d encourage all hunters to familiarize themselves with the changes,” said Montrose Parks and Wildlife biologist brad banulis. also new for the approaching season, is the percentage of landowner permits available, from 15 to 20 percent, providing landowners meet the acreage requirements of 160 contiguous acres. the collection of antler sheds also has new restrictions to minimize the harassment of animals during the winter months, banulis said. and, youth license availability percentages are going up in many game Management units, so hunters are urged to familiarize themselves with local gMu as well as state guidelines.banulis offered hunters both good and bad news.For those hunters who have yet to apply for a game tag, the main deadline, which was april 7, has passed. however, there still are some over-the-counter tags that will be made available beginning july 21.“however, there are over-the-counter licenses available for elk during the archery season in select game-management units and also in the gMus that have over-the-counter licenses,” he said.

growiNg populaTioNSthe good news, banulis said, is that Colorado big game populations appear to be improving since the harsh winter eight years ago."i think we're actually growing statewide, but it definitely varies across the state," banulis said. "our area? our area — uncompahgre, Cimarron country — was actually slightly up. essentially, we're still dealing with issues from the winter of '07 - '08, which really knocked back all of deer populations," he said of the heavy snow and cold winter. "and, we've really kind of struggled to grow fawns since then. but this last winter was a mild one."banulis said buck-to-doe ratio objectives can vary, depending on geography. "on the east side — in gMus 64 and 65 — our objective over there is 25 to 30 bucks per 100 does, which offers more hunting opportunities," banulis said.Most often, he said, the Colorado Parks & Wildlife department leaves it up to the area residents, with oversight from the CP&W."it's the public that decides. so, when we go through the public process, that's kind of the thing: 'do you want lots of opportunity to hunt with low-quality bucks with younger bucks harvested? or to the other extreme, with limited hunting opportunities, with trophy bucks," banulis said. "it's

more like in the gunnison basin, where we're more on the trophy bucks end of very limited licenses."banulis said Colorado Parks & Wildlife officials most often poll the hunting public."it's like the first question that is asked: does everyone (the public) like where we're at?" banulis queried. "then we kind of establish maybe a range of objectives — from status quo to maybe bigger bucks, less-hunting opportunity, and then we take that to the public. We do public meetings. We do surveys online. We send surveys to people to get that input of what people want. and then we go through our plan, select an objective based on public input and internal input, so it's a combination of both. and then we put out that plan for comment, as well."

banulis, who has been a wildlife biologist for 12 years, was asked whether there is an optimum buck-to-doe ratio.

reverSiNg a TreNd"in 1998, that's when we went limited statewide because of declining deer populations," banulis said. "so, that's what kind of changed the game for us, but really it seems like that 30 bucks per 100 does — depending on the herds as well — gives that good hunting opportunity and still gives the chance at good bucks. actually, we're still working through some analysis, but we were doing some aging studies between three different herd-management styles. We were looking at 25 bucks or less, to here where we were middle ground, to like gunnison where we were actually pushing like 50 bucks per 100 does, at the time. and, with that, when we studied the average of bucks harvested, we still saw about the same age classes represented."banulis said the agency's deer-management program has helped hunters harvest more mature bucks."What you saw, though, was a change in hunter preference. the average age of a buck harvest was like, three to four. and, in the san Luis Valley, it was like we were having yearling bucks or two-year-olds, which was the high proportion of harvested bucks. and then, like here on the uncompahgre, we were more on that range of 2- to 3-year-olds with that bell curve but still going out to 9-year-old bucks."banulis said there are many factors affecting big-game populations."diet is a big factor," banulis said of the life span. "deer here in the uncompaghre Valley can actually get pretty old. here they have a lot more palatable vegetation. deer that are more relying on winter range, like thick shrubs, and stuff like that, they're going to wear out their teeth a lot sooner."in the gunnison area, banulis said, winter feeding grounds are more difficult."gunnison was really highlighted for the state. You didn't see sage brush," he said. "We had feeding operations going on up there. here, it didn't look as bad, but our deer still didn't handle it as well. our doe-survival rate was fine, but our fawn-survival rate was really low, and we've really had some poor years of fawn survival since. i think part in our area, we have lower winter ranges than gunnison. We have more drought conditions, so our forage quality has not been as good on our lower winter ranges."in the uncompahgre gMu, things were better."We have a fair amount of winter ranges available, but it's just not as good when we're in drought conditions," he said. "For the last couple of years our deer have really been coming back up. We've gotten some good summer rains. this past winter was super-mild, we had really high deer survival. We should be looking at a pretty good bump this year. on the uncompaghre, we've got a deer-monitoring study going that we've had going since 1997," banulis said. "the monitoring season (was yet incomplete at the time) but we're actually looking at one of our highest survival years."

gaMe PoPuLations seeM to be reCoVering FroM ’07-’08 Winter

bIg-gamE huNtErS facing new ruleS, regulationS

bY aLan LeWis gersteneCker

CONTINUED ON paGE 7

5

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FawN SurvivabiliTy"We went into the winter with 54 fawns surviving for every 100 does," banulis said. "about 5 percent of mule deer may have triplets. also, some yearling to 2-year-old does — about 10 to 15 percent — may only have one."does are going to drop those fawns regardless," banulis said. "if foraging is poor, those fawns are going to be smaller and their survivability drops way down. if there's more foraging, the fawns will be born bigger and the survivability goes up. size of birth, directly correlates to survivability. it all depends on the foraging. so, there's an aspect of starvation, malnutrition issues. there is an aspect of predation. and more late summer, we have issues of disease. We have issues of hemorrhagic issues, from biting bugs, midges in august or september."in mild drought conditions it seems worse because animals are concentrated near water holes, and the bugs are concentrated around water holes. however, if water is abundant, things get spread out and we don't see it as much."banulis said adults can generally fight off the hemorrhagic issues, but the fawns don't survive."it can be pretty catastrophic," he said. banulis said the state is working toward offering more doe licenses."it depends on population objective. if we're at population objective, we will have doe licenses available," banulis said. "if we're below objective, we may still have some doe licenses available. Like on the uncompaghre, those we offer may only be for landowners and to address damage issues. until we're at population objective, then we'll open up the (doe) hunting."Colorado has four rifle seasons for deer and one limited elk season, which precedes the four rifle seasons."the way we have it set up in Colorado, we have four rifle seasons, but the first rifle season is a limited elk season statewide oct. 10 to 14," said banulis of the elk-only season. "so, everything is still all the same except that first rifle season being available to elk hunters."With archery, there are five deer seasons for Colorado hunters.archery begins aug. 29 to sept. 27; muzzleloader sept. 12 to 20; second rifle season oct. 17 to 25; third rifle season oct. 31 to nov. 8; fourth rifle season nov. 11 to 15.

popular FourTh SeaSoN"the fourth rifle is when you're starting to get animals into the rut," banulis said. "third rifle, you'll see some bucks swelling up, but they're not acting like it. Fourth rifle you're starting to get that a little bit."he said most hunters prefer the fourth rifle season."there is definitely that (rut) method preference," banulis said. "really, the chance to see those bigger bucks more accessible, acting a little dumb, Fourth rifle is probably the best season," banulis said. "that said, we really don't have four rifle seasons in all units. units where we're at population objectives — sex objectives — we do have those fourth seasons. but if we're not at, at least, our sex-ratio objectives, we don't have the fourth season.“in our area around here, in Montrose, like areas 61 and 62 on the uncompahgre we don't have a Fourth season is below objective," banulis said. "the way Colorado sets up the objectives, in 2006 is when we did the uncompahgre management plans for deer and elk. so, like for deer our male objective was 34 to 36 bucks per 100 does, which is pretty high. so, i'm feeling like that would have offered some pretty good quality bucks. in a hunted population, a five-year-old could be an old buck," banulis said. "nine isn't out of the realm, for does especially. We just hunt does light(ly). anymore, we see them out to 12 to 15 (years)." banulis wished hunters a successful and safe season, indicating the agency may consider a meat-processing seminar. a specific date has not been selected but said more information will be forthcoming.

CONTINUED frOm paGE 4


multIplE huNtEr-SafEty courSeS available before SeaSon

as ManY as 10 CLasses are sCheduLedbY aLan LeWis gersteneCker

So, you’re looking to test your outdoors skills and hunting prowess this fall. You’ve applied for

your big-game tag, and you think you’re ready to head out into the great outdoors. Well, not so fast, at least not if you’re younger than 66 — 65 if you haven’t had your birthday yet in 2015 — and you don’t have a hunter-safety certificate.Yep, that’s right. if you were born after 1949, you must take the class.not all is lost, however. there are still some opportunities before the season begins to attend a hunter-safety class.there are still 10 classes scheduled this summer and fall.“it happens every year. We have people who scramble at the end who are calling home or looking in their gun safes to find their hunter’s-ed card,” said brad banulis, wildlife biologist at the Montrose office of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “it’s good to get it done and have it out of the way.”banulis suggested hunters who are in question or

cannot find their cards are best to take the class.all standard classes must be a minimum of 12 hours, actual hours vary. interested parties are urged to contact the local CPW office for availability. For most classes there is a $10 fee. internet classes are a minimum of four hours in class, online instruction must be completed before attending.

here’S a Schedule oF The remaiNiNg claSSeS:■ july 11, internet class at olathe, register online, $10, noon to 5 p.m.■ july 25, internet class at Montrose rod & gun Club, register online, $10, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.■ aug. 1, internet class at Montrose rod & gun Club, $10, call 252-6000 or register online, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.■ aug. 3, 5, 10, 12, Ladies only, Montrose rod & gun Club, $10, 252-6000 or register online, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.■ aug. 14, 15, standard class, delta Votech, free, register online.

■ aug. 22, internet class, delta Votech, free, register online.■ aug. 22, internet class, olathe, $10, register online, noon to 5 p.m.■ sept. 14, 16, 21, 23, standard Class, Montrose rod & gun Club, $10, 252-6000 or register online.■ sept. 26, internet class, olathe, $10, register online, noon to 5 p.m.■ nov. 30, dec. 2, dec. 7, dec. 9, standard class, Montrose rod & gun Club, $10, 252-6000 or register online, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information or to register, persons should log onto the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website at www.cpw.state.co.us

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Located at around 8000 ft in elevation, 1200 acres very secluded and bordered by the Gunnison National Forest on 2.5 sides. Located just a short 2.5 hour drive from the airport. An abundance of elk for great

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ALMOST 50 ACRES TO ENJOY!$125,000 • MLS #702318

� is cozy cabin sits on 35 acres of aspen and oak brush with a pond near Montrose, CO. � e property is perfect for a summer getaway,

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SOLAR POWER$197,500 • MLS # 684641

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Located on 1,308 acres on the west side of Cimarron Valley, just 30 min from Montrose. Stock ponds & grass for up to 140 cow/calf pairs for

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GORGEOUS RANCH$3,950,000 • MLS # 675430

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we SpeNd a great deal of time preparing for our hunt. it starts out

with applying for the tags, booking an outfitter, preparing our gear, sighting in the rifle and practicing with the bow. Most of us spend some time getting into shape for hiking in the mountains. We would be wise to spend a little time thinking about what may happen if things don’t go as planned.one of the reasons we hunt in Western Colorado is because of the diverse landscape. altitude can go from 5,400 feet to more than 14,000. With that increase comes weather changes. We can have summer-like temperatures in the morning followed by snow and subfreezing temperatures in a matter of hours. this is what the wise hunter will prepare for.When these fast moving cold fronts come through, a blinding snow can follow, making it

impossible to find your way. What happens if you take a fall and sprain an ankle, or worse, and are no longer able to walk? having the things necessary for such an emergency in a small pack would not only make things easier, but also potentially save your life.it is important you select a pack that is comfortable. a small fanny type pack, a larger fanny pack with shoulder straps or a full backpack are your best choices. try them on over heavy clothing and see which is the most comfortable to you. spend some time before the trip getting used to wearing a pack for extended periods. You do not want to be in the middle of your hunt and discover that you should have one with a padded waist strap.When placing items in your pack, try to keep to the essentials. if your pack is too heavy, you may talk yourself out of carrying it. the pack does little

good if it is sitting in the cab of the truck when you need it afield.

here are a Few oF The ThiNgS ThaT i carry iN my perSoNal pacK:■ Compass and gPs — i use this at the start to orient myself and have a starting point■ signal mirror and whistle — these are great for helping searchers locate me in the event of an emergency■ knife and Leatherman tool■ Flashlight and extra batteries■ Waterproof matches, lighter, fire starter-fire can be used for signaling and warmth■ drinking water — some packs have a hydration bladder with them■ Food — power bars, trail mix, jerky, etc.■ Cell phone — keep power off to save battery.

SurvIval tIpS from the montroSe county Sheriff’S PoSSeWhat to PaCk For Your hunting exPedition

b Y M a r k r a C k a Y

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prOpEr prEparaTION makES NaBBING a BEar lIkE THIS EaSIEr aND SafEr.

(Photo CourtesY oF Mark raCkaY)

11

the battery power will run out quickly searching for service.■ small first-aid kit — carry only essential items, such as a tourniquet, israeli bandage, couple band-aids, etc. while keeping weight in mind. be sure that you have any essential prescription drugs you may require.

Some oTher iTemS you may coNSider iF Space allowS:■ rain poncho

■ solar blanket

■ toilet paper

■ duct tape or electrical tape

■ insect repellant

■ Pencil and paper

if you are hunting with a firearm it is always a good idea to carry extra ammunition. i have seen many cases where a hunter was able to signal for help firing the universal three well-spaced shots for help. having enough ammunition for this can be a lifesaver.one other item that you should carry is extra-warm clothing. in the mountains, the temperature can drop 30 or more degrees in a matter of minutes and having extra clothing can help.all of these items can be carried in a pack. i prefer to have a waterproof pack as not all of them are. there are sprays on the market that you can apply to your pack before the trip that provide a temporary waterproofing. it does no good for you if the

contents of the pack are a soggy mess when you need them.all of this just requires a little thought and preparation. a little advance planning will make your hunt more enjoyable and just might save your life.Mark rackay is a freelance writer who serves as a director for the Montrose County sheriff’s Posse. For information about the Posse, call 252-4033 (leave a message) or email [email protected].

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©2015 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Offers valid in U.S.A. only. Subject to credit approval. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Other financing offers are available. See an authorized Can-Am dealer for details.

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aSIDE frOm THE wEaTHEr, yOU COUlD fIND yOUrSElf STUCk afTEr Dark aND fOrCED TO SpEND THE NIGHT. HavING a prOpErly EqUIppED paCk wIll makE yOUr

HUNT THaT mUCH EaSIEr aND SafEr.

(Photo CourtesY oF Mark raCkaY)


01 dWane

dardiS 2014 season on theUncompahgre Plateau.

02 CassidY Schiller His trophy buck from Area 74 in 2014.

03 ViCki laKiNThis non-typical mule deer was taken by Vicki Lakin in 2005 on theUncompahgre Plateau.

04 Chad heldof Collbran, took this unit 61 bull on opening day of muzzleloader season in2014. He measured 345 1/2 inches.

05 jared geigley took this high-country mule deer in 2014.

06 dirk breNNecKe07 stan mouSNer (dad) in the middle,

07 staCeY mouSNer (son) on the left and

07 tYLer mouSNer (grandson) on the right. Three generations nabbed this bull with a bow on the Uncompahgre Plateau.

08 Frank barrieNToS, 08 dane roberTS, 08 kirk roberTS(From left to right: ) took this Merriam’s wild turkey.

09 PhiLiPNeThiNg This photo was taken in Hank’s Valley on the Uncompahgre Plateau in Unit 61 during the muzzleloader season September 18, 2014. Philip Nething shot this Bull at 30 yards while he was laying down bugling; he never moved from the spot.

10 LarrYwiTTeA bull elk killed last October in GMU 66 during the second rifle season (October 2014).

11 ChuCk

ShaverShot this Merriams turkey the first morning he ever hunted turkeys in Colorado. This bird was shot in April of this year up on the Uncompahgre Plateau with his friend Lew French acting as the guide. Shaver has killed scores of Rio Grande Turkeys, but this was the first Merriams he has ever killed.

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12 Mark racKay, left, and

12 PeteKliNgSmiTh both of Montrose with Klingsmith’s 2014 buck antelope taken near Craig.

13 Laura palmiSaNoBagged one during a 2014 pheasant hunt in Fruita.

14 MiChaeL and kendra

JeNKiNS with Kendra’s mule deer buck shot during the 2014 season.

15 daVid romeroA 172 net muley taken openingday of third season in 2011 with a Remington 300 Ultra Mag with a 185 grain Berger bullet, propelled with 97 grains of Retumbo powder. Killed on the Uncompahgre Plateau with the companyof a great childhood friend.

16 dee laird Shows off some of his ducks from the 2014 season.

17 derek ballew First bear. He was fortunate to harvest the bear on public land in Montrose during his 2014 DIY season.

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SaNdoval19 VanCe KelSo Big horn sheep.

20 PearL lyNchPoses with her first elk with abow. It was taken in Western Colorado in 2013.

21 deniseSmiThThis mountain lion was taken in Cortez 2012. He weighed close to 160 pounds. Her guide was Shane Whitmer.

22 randY lehmaNwith the 345 1/2 inchesbuck he harvested.

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We are Special Use permitted for GMU 66 in the Gunnison National Forest, the Uncompahgre Wilderness and the Powderhorn Primitive Wilderness. We also hunt GMU64/65 in the Big Cimarron area, including Silverjack Reservoir, Monument Pass, Fish Creek, High Park, and Sawtooth Ridge. This is our most versatile use area due to our very large hunting are and wide selection of accommodations for you Don’t take this shot .

DMEA and Tri-State work on substations, power line operation, maintenance, construction, and land surveying on a regular basis, day and night.

Please take care when hunting near substations, power distribution and transmission rights-of-way which tend to lure hunters into easier access routes through the rough terrain. DMEA understands the public and hunters enjoy our rights-of-way, and we want to make sure everyone out there is safe.

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DMEA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].

Hunting season is my favorite time to be in Western Colorado.

The summer heat is fading, bringing cooler days and nights. The color change is kicking in making the leaves a beautiful golden color against the silver skies. If you have friends and relatives who hunt, no doubt you will hear from them at this time of year. Many of the visitors we get come from much lower altitudes and altitude sickness is something to consider.The way it usually works is that we race over to the airport and pick up our hunting buddies. These folks flew in from someplace with an altitude sometimes in the 100s. We pile them up in a truck and drive straight to a camp with an altitude of around 8,000 feet. That night, the gang will enjoy more than a few toddies, stay up late and eat too much. The next morning at 4 a.m., they will head up even higher to begin their hunt. Here is where the trouble begins.These folks can begin to develop symptoms that can include nausea, vomiting, headache and

shortness of breath, weakness, mental confusion, coughing, rapid pulse, coma and even death. Any one of these symptoms should make you suspect.If not acted upon quickly, the person can develop one of two forms of a much more serious altitude sickness. The first form is high-altitude pulmonary edema, which can cause breathlessness, fatigue, dry cough and blue lips and nails. The second form is called high-altitude cerebral edema, which usually comes with a severe headache, loss of coordination and confusion. Both of the forms will onset quickly and are potentially deadly.The cure is usually quite simple, descend in altitude, and do it quickly. Bring the party down several thousand feet in altitude. From there, it is a great idea to get them to a medical facility and have them checked out even though they might be feeling better. Many times, the symptoms disappear just as quickly as they appear. If you head back up, they can reappear just as suddenly. It would also be wise to get fluids in them and watch their salt

intake. If you have oxygen available, that will help ease the symptoms.I certainly am not trying to spoil anyone’s fun or scare him or her out of a trip. This malady can affect healthy people just as easily. In most of these cases, it can all be prevented and that is much easier than trying to cure it once it has onset.When these folks arrive from the lower altitudes, the most important thing to do is give the body some time to acclimate to our altitude. Montrose is about 5,500 feet and that is a great place to start. Spend a few days here resting. Take a few walks each day, nothing vigorous, and drink plenty of water. The water will also help with the dry climate we have. Sports drinks with electrolytes are good as well, especially if you are perspiring. Try and avoid alcohol and drinks containing caffeine.After a couple days here in town, it is a safer bet to move up in altitude to your camp or lodge. Once there, it is once again a good idea to give the body a little time to acclimate. A good 24 hours of avoiding

Survival TipS from the montrose County sheriff’s PosseLOWer yOur rISk FOr ALTITude SICkneSSB y M A r k r A C k A y

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Joseph C. Burns • Bryan W. Walchle • Michael J. McGarry

[email protected] - www.eagleland.com - (970) 249-4300

January 2014 • 720 Acre Ponderosa Ranch | January 2014 • 402 Acre Screamin’ Elk Ranch, February 2014 • 320 Acre Cimarron High Mountain Ranch | March 2014 • 94 Acre Thunder Mountain RanchApril 2014 • 1,159 Acre Devils Chair Ranch | May 2014 • 319 Acre Bassakwards RanchJune 2014 • 52 Acre Sandy Wash Farm | July 2014 • 174 Acre Uncompahgre RanchJuly 2014 • 80 Acre Kinikin Miramonte Lodge | August 2014 • 1,826 Acre Cimarron RanchesOctober 2014 • 368 Acre Hideout Lake | November 2014 • 259 Acre Ridgway Valley RanchesDecember 2014 • 1,880 Acre Waterdog Mountain Ranch

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Survival TipS from the montrose County sheriff’s PosseLOWer yOur rISk FOr ALTITude SICkneSSB y M A r k r A C k A y

strenuous activity and the same rules of avoiding the caffeine and booze still apply. Continue drinking plenty of water throughout your hunt, even if you do not feel thirsty. All of this being done, it is wise to keep an eye open for the symptoms of altitude sickness as it can become serious in a short time.Just look at the bright side. you will get to spend a few extra days with your hunting friends and family here in town before the hunt. It is a great time to take in some of the sights in Montrose and perhaps put in some range time. It is nice to get to camp knowing that your rifles are sighted in as well. Here is to having a great hunt.Mark rackay is a freelance writer who serves as a director for the Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse. For information about the Posse, call 970-252-4033 (leave a message) or email [email protected]

Having a successful Hunt requires plenty of planning and preparation. Be sure to allow

your Body tHe time needed to get ready for tHe HigH country as well.

(PHOTO COurTeSy OF MArk rACkAy)


Hunting is a strategy; in it, there are no guarantees — but Montrose-area

game units are flush with opportunity.Hunters last year bagged 1,343 deer; 4,409 elk and 167 bears in the area’s game management units, Colorado Parks and Wildlife numbers show.The take numbers are from units 61 (limited) and 62 on the uncompahgre Plateau; unit 64, north of Montrose; unit 65, to the southeast; unit 66 on the east side of Cerro Summit and unit 70, south of Telluride/norwood.“All the units are good around here,” CPW spokesman Joe Lewandowski said.“So much of hunting deer and elk is weather dependent. during the early seasons, the animals will normally be up pretty high, spread out across the tundra, because if it hasn’t snowed or gotten real cold, there is plenty of forage.”deer tend to head lower by mid- to late-October; it takes more snow to put elk on the move.The more effort hunters make, the better their chances.

“So much of it involves getting in, hunting hard and getting into the deep, dark corners, where a lot of hunters don’t go,” Lewandowski said.“you’re not going to see big game animals while (you’re) riding around on an off-highway vehicle.

Hunting is what you put into it, a lot of times.”no one has to tell that to Todd roberts, owner of HT Performance Horses, who uses Colorado’s wildlife bounty to put meat on his table.roberts hunts far into the backcountry, off the paths he finds that other hunters have maybe traveled a little too well.“I like to hunt horseback, and pack it into the woods. up above Telluride is one of my favorite areas, as far as that goes,” he said.roberts primarily hunts cow elk, and said he prefers second season. “you’re not dealing with the snow quite as bad, usually. With Colorado, you never know, but I like second season. It’s my favorite season to go,” he said.roberts is happy with the herd numbers for elk, though the numbers of hunters on public lands tends to drive the animals off and onto private lands, he said. (Hunting private lands requires the landowner’s permission.)Local units are favorable to the hunter, roberts added.

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“Our elk populations are really good. I’m really impressed with the elk populations. The private land hunts are better than public land hunts,” because of the ratio of hunters to game.elk numbers are holding steady statewide, Lewandowski said.deer populations have dipped in recent years, but appear to be rebounding somewhat.“We think the population has kind of stabilized for deer. We’ve had a couple mild winters. That’s helped with the survival of fawns and does,” Lewandowski said.“On the uncompahgre Plateau, the (deer) number is lower than that area could carry, but we hope that’s stabilized.”The CPW is not able to track the bear population in the same way it can track herd animals. Anecdotally, though, the bear population appears stable and may be slightly increasing, he said.Bear season, Sept. 2–30 this year, is when the bruins are in their “feeding frenzy,” laying up for hibernation. Hunters should head into the lower elevations, where oak brush and berries abound.“It’s challenging hunting because they can be in some pretty thick cover,” Lewandowski said.But this year, precipitation patterns have favored bear and big game hunters.“We should be having just an amazing natural food year. It’s going to be good for all big game,” he said, noting that there have been no hard frosts that kill berries and acorns.“That wet spring weather is very helpful. There’s a lot of natural food available early in the season,

which is a good thing,” Lewandowski said.Wildlife officials and local hunters agree that whatever you’ve come to hunt, come prepared.If you’re hunting on horseback, make sure your ride is as ready as you are.“Make sure your horses are gun-broke and gun-safe,” roberts said. “Make sure they’re broken well enough (to pack game). don’t go up there unprepared.“It’s worth your time to make sure they’re able to handle things, the smell of blood, the sound of the gunshot. Make sure they’re prepared to take those things in.”Lewandowski also preaches preparation, with respect to weapons and knowing current hunting regulations in the state.“We find a lot of people who need to take a little more time getting familiar in sighting in their rifles. you can’t just grab your rifle after it’s been sitting the closet for a year and expect it to shoot the same as last year,” he said.Lewandowski advises practicing at a range well in advance of season opening. Bad aim doesn’t just deprive you of bagging your animal — you can wound the animal and then be unable to find it, condemning it to a slow and painful death.The CPW calls this “wounding loss.”“The hunter can’t tell and then the animal is not found. A lot of times, they’ll just go off in the woods and die,” Lewandowski said.Also familiarize yourself, in advance, with the regulations for the unit where you will hunt. These can change every year, if only slightly,

and, Lewandowski cautioned, “you can’t plead ignorance.”The CPW’s 2015 Colorado Big game guide is available at cpw.state.co.us. Click the “Things to do” tab, then select “Hunt Big game.”There, you can also find links to the Big game regulations brochure, hunter education and big game license options, plus other resources for hunting big game.Hunting opportunities abound throughout the state, not just in the Montrose-area game management units. But Montrose boasts a host of public lands where hunting is allowed. “It’s a good location,” Lewandowski said.More people should consider hunting, roberts said.“It’s an important lifestyle. All Americans need to respect and appreciate the ability to feed one’s family,” he said.


altHougH the big hunting seasons are a few months off, at least two

Montrose shops are well-stocked for the eventual influx of hunters.“We have a full rack,” said Steve Smith, owner of the gun depot. “We don’t have an empty hole in the house. We have a good selection.”This year, the shop has plenty of new nifty gadgets and gear for all types of hunters.One example Smith pulled out was the renovo Trio, a three-stage water filter.“That water filter is absolutely great,” he said. “even at the cost it is, that thing filters 1,000 liters of water. They say it is over-engineered that you can

actually drink out of puddle of water that is full of diesel fuel and it will pull the stuff out so it is drinkable.”The small device also a replaceable filter.Although it isn’t brand new this year, the HeCS Stealthscreen wearables continue to impress.The shirt at the shop essentially blocks the electric signal that all living creatures emit, according to the HeCS website.“That deer that picked you out of the tree for no apparent reason likely sensed your presence through your own electrical energy emissions," the website says. "We’ve all experienced a situation while hunting that defied explanation. A deer walking

nearby suddenly figures out you are there in spite of the fact that you have not moved, the wind is perfect and you never made a noise."Smith said HeCS does make a difference.“It is amazing stuff,” he said. “It is not a fictional thing. It does work.”The archery enthusiast will find much to see this year the shop.The store is offering a few new bows including the BowTech Prodigy and eva Shockey, which both feature PowerShift technology. “It changes the draw cycles so the poundage of the bow doesn’t change, but the draw cycle changes so it is easier,” Smith said. “It is an advantage if you

MonTroSe ShopS offer new gear, Plenty of staPles HunTerS CAn Try OuT neW BOWS, SurvIvAL geArB y J u S T I n J O I n e r

01 Wall industries camo jacketSports Authority

02 sHarp sHooter .22 rifle reloader kitGun Depot

03 pse surge HigH-performance boW Sports Authority

04 midland radios Sports Authority

05 renovo trio Water filterGun Depot

06 various knives of alaska Gun Depot

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are a tree-stand hunter. Sitting up there, it is a little harder to pull a bow that is a stiff draw. The little bit of loss in velocity and the softer draw cycle is a huge advantage for accuracy.” The store offers muzzleloading supplies as well.On the other side of town, Sports Authority has good news to report as well. The shop is stocked with a variety of items for bow and firearm hunters.dan Bradburn, hardlines manager for the Montrose Sports Authority, said the store carries many of the staples and plenty of accessories. “We’ve got a real good selection of gun cases this year,” he said.There are also several hunting backpacks to choose from, including low-end and

high-end options.Bradburn said people shouldn’t forget the store’s gun cleaning supplies and ammo.There are several high-performance bows for the well-equipped hunter to pick. The store mainly carries PSe brand bows.“We are pretty much ready,” Bradburn said.The store also can provide scope mounting and bore sighting.Another item the shop stocks isn’t on the shelves — the store frequently provides information about hunting to mostly out-of-towners.“We receive a lot of calls throughout the year,” Bradburn said. “I’ve been fielding calls — even this week I got one from out-of-state people wanting to

know information on season dates.”The gun depot has plenty of knowledge to dole out as well.The gun depot is located at 1210 n. Townsend Ave. give Smith a call at 249-6573. visit Sports Authority at 3451 S. rio grande Ave. The store can be reached at 249-2706.

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for montrose couple Bob Tesch and Amy McBride, hunting

isn’t just a casual hobby — it’s something that’s an integral part of some of their favorite memories together.Tesch and McBride have been hunting together since they first met through the rotary Club eight years ago, and Tesch taught McBride how to hunt on the 40 acres of land on which he then lived. McBride shot her first deer on his property.One of their favorite memories is McBride’s first black-powder elk cow tag hunt, two years ago.“We had not had much success, and it’s the last day of the season, and she’s going to perform a wedding for her friend at three in the afternoon,” Tesch said.“We walked into an area, and I bugled, and immediately there was an answering bugle.

By kATIe LAngFOrd

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BoB tescH slowly sneaked toward an elk witH tHis rack until He realized it Had died long

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(COurTeSy PHOTO)

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said, we need to set up.”The bull herded 10 cows right in front of Tesch and McBride, and at 9:30 a.m., she shot an elk cow at 25 yards.“We quartered it, packed it out, got it hung up … and she got to that wedding 15 minutes before it started, clean and everything,” Tesch said.McBride said she was a little nervous about it, but her friend was probably moreso.“It’s an hour before I’m supposed to be in front of this audience, and I’m covered in elk blood. I hopped in the shower and got to walk down the aisle in my dress.”Tesch said the whole experience was very lucky.“The best part is that we walked in, I do the bugling and the response was immediate and obviously successful, and she goes, ‘Well this isn’t very hard, is it?’ I said it doesn’t always work quite this well, but it was a very exciting day.”McBride said she started hunting for two reasons: the desire to get in touch with her food source and to feed two hungry teenage sons.“They are voracious carnivores, and I thought that if I was feeding them a lot of meat, it would not only be cheaper to hunt my own, but it would be healthier, and I would not be a hypocrite about consuming meat, but not being willing to shoot it,” she said.Tesch said as much as he enjoys the experience of hunting together, he also enjoys the solitude of hunting alone.“I like the quiet and the solitude. It’s an excuse to spend a week in the woods, and if you can fill the freezer, great, but I always see a lot of game and just enjoy it,” he said.On one of those solitary hunting experiences, Tesch said he had a surprising find to add to his collection.“I was hunting black powder elk four years ago, and it was the middle of the day and very hot,” Tesch said.“In the middle of the day, the elk are bedded down and they’re not going to be wandering around, so you look for ears wiggling, shooing flies, or you look for the horns of the bulls. If I could spot a bull, there would probably be cows around.I’m creeping around and I see a beautiful set of horns about 100 yards away. I figure, Ok, if I can sneak up on him, I’ll sneak up on the cows.“So the wind’s in my face, everything is going just right. I’m going a step at a time, very slow. I’m within 25 yards, thinking I’d been really sneaky all this time, and I go, ‘Bob, you’re just not this sneaky.’“Sure enough, I walked up and it was the rack of an elk that had died the year before, but the horns were standing up just like he’d been laying down. So I congratulated myself for successfully stalking a dead elk.”Tesch marked the spot with his gPS and came back after the season was over to pick up the rack. He now proudly displays it in his home.

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Though McBride said she’s still not the most confident shooter, she still enjoys the time spent outside.“Walking around in the woods, spending time with Bob, trying to walk quietly and think like an animal, just spending time out in nature is my favorite part,” she said.

BoB tescH poses witH some of tHe pHeasants He Bagged.

(COurTeSy PHOTO)


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pheasants and other types of native birds, much less exotic species from Africa, Australia or ecuador. gerald Blackwelder is on a mission to change this by preserving the beauty of these birds for people to enjoy for years to come, and he’s doing it through taxidermy.Blackwelder is a champion taxidermist and avid hunter, known for his beautifully life-like mountings of birds and waterfowl. He creates scenes of everything from ducks in the middle of taking off, wings spread wide, to Alaskan waterfowl rummaging through mussels or paddling in water.

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gerald Blackwelder aims to preserve tHe Beautyof wildlife tHrougH taxidermy.

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“A lot of people have misconceptions about hunting,” Blackwelder said. “They think people who hunt are brutal and don’t care anything about wildlife, but hunters are very conscientious of the wildlife. Most hunters are sportsmen. They believe in fair chase and they take care of the animals.”Blackwelder said he sees hunting as a natural part of the life cycle, a way to manage the animal population before nature uses disease or starvation to do the job. After harvesting the meat, Blackwelder said he finds beauty in preserving the bird’s natural state.“I like taking an animal … and putting it back to nature, taking it back to as close as what god created it to be,” he said. “It’s fun to do it, to try to put it back so other people can enjoy it. A lot of people have never seen a waterfowl that up close.”Blackwelder has hunted across the world — Mexico, new Zealand and Argentina, to name a few — as well as throughout the united States. Hunting in different countries has only increased his passion for the sport.“It’s not only the experience of hunting, but you get to see different cultures of the world. It’s fun, it’s something I really enjoy doing, meeting other people from different parts of the world and seeing how they live,” he said.“you meet a hunter from Africa or Australia, and we all have that same attitude toward hunting, that same bond with each other. There’s not

anything you wouldn’t do for another hunter.”Blackwelder has been hunting since 1964, and while he is passionate about taxidermy and often takes special orders for mounting, he said he’s glad to have a separate job in the sign business as well.“I don’t make a living doing this, so if I don’t want to do this I don’t have to,” he said. “That makes it a little bit easier, and I don’t ever get tired of it.”

gerald Blackwelder’s collection is Huge and award-winning.

(COurTeSy PHOTO)


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2015

Open Season 2015

Documents

Transcript of Open Season 2015