Spring firewood gathering
Spring is here in the Flathead with its ever-expanding variety of outdoor activities. Last weekend was just too nice to stay indoors, so I had to do a little hiking just to get out and soak up some spring sunshine.
Farm life
I write this column from my farm in eastern Montana near Malta. This is my first trip of the year to my farm.
Handguns and bear spray
Wow, it’s springtime in the Flathead. Last weekend was a great spring weekend with daytime highs in the 70s and 80s, plus bright sunny skies.
Summer on the lakes is set to loon music
Last week I enjoyed an early morning fishing trip on a beautiful lake, using only my quiet electric trolling motor. Using my onboard electronics, I slowly cruised around the lake searching my favorite spots for schools of fish. It was peaceful and pleasant because the jet skiers and other forms of noisy boats and lake recreationists were still sleeping. As best as I could tell, I had the lake to myself.
Northern Pike: Love or hate?
Before we get full time into outdoor columns about hunting, let me do a final end-of-summer column about fishing.
For the love of hunting
Is hunting and are hunters an endangered species? Living in Montana, where most adults, especially males, hunt, it seems that our tradition of hunting for food and fun has rock-solid public support.
Opening day excitement builds
This Saturday is the opening day for the general rifle season for deer and elk hunting in Montana. This is the grandaddy of all opening days for the fall of 2024 hunting seasons. This is the day that probably over 100,000 Montana hunters will head to the forests, mountains and prairies of Montana to hunt for deer and elk.
Is hunting always great?
When I return from a hunting trip, people frequently ask me, “How was hunting?” My response is almost always the same, “Hunting was great!”
Peak deer season has arrived
For the thousands of local deer hunters who have not notched their deer license this year, your time has arrived.
Time to change horses
The general rifle seasons for deer and elk hunting has mostly ended. Unless you were lucky enough to draw a late-season elk tag and have access to private ranch land in central Montana, your big game hunting season is pretty much over.
