Pulling the trigger doesn't always make a great hunt

Last November was a transitional point in my adult life.

Entering the rut

Hunting season is entering the best two weeks of this deer and elk hunting season. Many veteran hunters have spent lots of time afield for the last several weeks, but have been reluctant to pull the trigger on any …

The best time of the year is finally here

Ahh, autumn. For the outdoors person, especially the hunter, this is best time of the year.

A declining wildland deer herd

Youth hunt success

Last Saturday, 16-year-old Tegan Schaper was sprawled on the prairie grass sighting her .270 rifle at a nice mule deer buck that was 440 yards away.

A wealth of hunting opportunities

For thousands of Flathead area hunters, hunting season is now moving into high gear.

Recreation season turns toward fall activities

Like it or not, fall is here! Two weeks ago, the weekend before Labor Day weekend, we were at our cabin with our granddaughters. The lake water had cooled a little, but with afternoon temperatures in the 80s, it st…

As summer wanes, fall hunting season beckons

I love summer. I love fishing with my boat. I don’t know what is more challenging — catching fish or trying to understand my electronic fish-finder.

COLUMN: Boating - and boats - keep getting bigger and better

Wow, summer fun in the Flathead! During the last few days, the weather has been perfect for enjoying the hundreds of lakes and streams of Northwest Montana.

COLUMN: Non-native fish are the reality in Montana

Two weeks ago I wrote a column on the fine sport of fishing for northern pike. At least one reader strongly disagreed with my column. His letter to the editor blasted me from all sides. I suspect if that writer wer…

COLUMN: Pike fishing has some serious fans

It is Saturday and here I am slaving away writing a column for next Thursday’s paper. I am sitting on the deck of my cabin on Crystal and Lavon Lakes in the Thompson Chain of Lakes. It is about 70 degrees and sunny.

COLUMN: Release big fish to be caught again

Are you ready to catch a big fish? A more important question is what are you going to do with a really big fish when it is at the boat and ready to land? Are you going to keep the fish for a treasured wall mount, e…

COLUMN: There are plenty of reasons to go fishing

Why do people fish? With the abundance of lakes, rivers and creeks in Northwest Montana, I think it is a rare adult who has never fished.

COLUMN: Deer, antelope populations looking healthy

Here is some good news for hunters. Last week my wife and I had to make a quick trip back to Wisconsin to attend a funeral. On the way, I planned to stop at my farm near Malta to see how the farm had wintered. But …

COLUMN: Trapping opponents pursuing initiative again

For the third time in the last several years, animal-rights advocates, funded by mostly out-of-state money, are attempting to get public trapping banned on over 30 million acres of Montana public land. This effort …