On January 14, 2010 we lost our dear friend Martha “Marge” Johnson, whom will be dearly missed by countless friends and family.

In a search for answers we are asking anyone who drove by the scene of Marge’s accident to please come forward with any information. This incident is still under investigation and the police are still collecting information. We have reason to believe some information and statements regarding time and position of the vehicles is incorrect. Margie dropped John Jr. off at Loudoun High School between 8:25 and 8:35.  As far as we know she proceeded direct onto the bypass and experienced some trouble involving the trailer hitch that made her pulled off the road to investigate.  It would have only taken her about 7 minutes to get to where she was on the bypass if she drove there directly, meaning she may have pulled off the road between 8:32 and 8:47.  We cannot determine where the time went until the call to 911 at 9:20.  We understand that the trailer hitch cover with a capital “H” was on the ground behind vehicle when the police arrived.  Margie was doing something with the hitch on the back of the Hummer or around the spare tire.  We are looking for anyone who saw anything from 8:25 to 9:30 even if it is just Margie at the back of the Hummer doing something.

Thank you for your help.

Read more…

The team at GORE, have put together a useful hunting related tips video. Mark Seacat’s advice is great, as he speaks to his lightweight sleeping system for backcountry hunts. Pete Buttschardt’s advice is well received for after a successful harvest of game.

Do you want to see and hear about hunting mule deer in South East Colorado -  in “real-time?”  Then make sure and tune in to BowCast.com starting November 18th as Aneal Roney and Matt Hogue from BowCast tell us through semi-live audio and video podcasts what they are experiencing in the field.  BowCast is welcoming you in to join this hunt – for 5 days straight!

Tune in beginning November 18th on BowCast.com to see video of the animals they are seeing, tech tips along the way, and every other aspect of their hunt with guide Miles Fedinec from outfitter Outdoor Expeditions.

Aneal and Matt will be hunting during the mule deer rut in South Eastern Colorado.  This time of year the bucks are moving and Aneal and Matt will be talking to you about the equipment and tactics they are using to increase their success in the field.

These live feeds should make for an exciting week on BowCast.  Make it a point to check in, especially if you are thinking about hunting out west in the future for big game!

To learn more about where these BowCast Pro-staff will be hunting visit Atkinson Expeditions.

Important Links for “BowCast In The Field” beginning November 18, 2009:

The BowCast Blog

BowCast Video

The BowCast Team

Hunters still possessing licenses for antlerless white-tailed and mule deer in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 6 should plan to harvest those animals before the end of November, state wildlife officials said Friday.

That’s because at this point there are no plans to schedule any additional special deer management hunts after the general deer season ends on Nov. 29, said Region 6 Supervisor Pat Gunderson. If no additional deer management seasons take place, unused 2009 licenses will simply expire.

In past years deer management seasons — used to control populations of big game animals that are over objectives — typically took place after the general hunting season was over. This year, however, big-game managers are running two special management seasons in select Region 6 hunting districts at the same time as the general deer season.

Nonresidents participating in these hunts can purchase the special licenses at a reduced rate if they possess a prerequisite license. Montana residents can buy special management licenses for $10 each.

As of Nov. 6, there were 573 of the 699-01 Deer “B” licenses left. These licenses cover the special white-tailed deer management season now taking place in Hunting Districts 630, 640, 641, 650, 651 and 670.

Also as of Nov. 6, there were 78 Deer “B” 640-01 licenses that remained unsold. These licenses cover a special antlerless mule deer management season now underway in Hunting District 640.

In addition, as of Nov. 6 there were 832 other antlerless mule and white-tailed deer surplus and over-the-counter licenses available for sale for use in Region 6. Resident hunters also can purchase one 006-10 regionwide, antlerless, white-tailed Deer “B” license apiece. All of the other Deer “B” licenses are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

For the general 2009 big game season, each hunter may possess up to seven “Deer B” licenses in any combination via drawing, over-the-counter, or surplus purchase. Because the special management seasons are administratively separate from the general season, hunters may purchase up to four more of the 699-01 or 640-01 licenses — or a combination of these two license types — apiece.

This expanded license possession limit is in addition to the “Deer A” license, which can be used for harvesting a buck deer or either-sex deer in many Montana hunting districts.

MEEKER, Colo- The Colorado Division of Wildlife and a private landowner in the Meeker area are teaming up to offer a special late season cow elk hunting opportunity in late November and December. Six hunters will be selected for this unguided elk hunt on the 2,900 acre Berryman property. Selected hunters must have a valid late season private land only cow elk license for unit 23 or an unfilled youth elk license from an earlier rifle season.

This hunt is open to anyone who is interested and eligible. Hunters interested in applying for the hunt must submit a letter of interest including their name, date of birth, contact information and CID number. Applicants must also submit a short note about why they should be selected for this special private land hunt opportunity. If a youth, the letter also needs to include the name and contact information for a parent or guardian who will attend the hunt with the youth.

Applications must be received at the Meeker DOW office by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9.  Applications should be mailed to Bailey Franklin/Special Late Season Hunt, PO Box 1181, Meeker CO 81641.

Six hunters will be randomly selected from all eligible applicants. The selected hunters will be notified by Nov. 16 with hunt details and specific dates for the hunt. Questions about the hunt or application process should be directed to the Meeker DOW office at (970) 878-6090.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 9, Bitterroot Hunting Districts 204, 261 & 270 are open to antlerless elk hunting with a general elk license until set harvest quotas are reached.   Hunters should be aware that this year’s harvest quotas have decreased from the past few years and are different from the quotas listed in the hunting regulations.

For HDs 204, 261 & 270 north of Rye Creek, antlerless harvest will close upon 24-hour notice when cow elk harvest from HD 270 reported at the Darby hunter check station reaches 25.

After 25 more cow elk from HD 270 are checked through the Darby station, HD 270 south of Rye Creek will close to antlerless harvest with a general elk license.

These quotas are not reflected in the hunting regulations because they were printed before the changes in quotas were made.

Hunters should check the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Region 2 Web page: fwp.mt.gov/r2 for the latest HD 270 cow harvest before heading to these Bitterroot districts, or call the FWP office during business hours (Mon.-Fri., 8am-5pm) at 406-542-5500.   Harvest totals will also be posted at the Darby check station.

Hunters who hold a special antlerless elk permit (awarded through special drawing) for one of these districts, youth hunters ages 12-15, and disabled hunters with a Permit to Hunt from a Vehicle (PTHV) can hunt for antlerless elk during the entire big game rifle season (Oct. 25-Nov. 29), even after quotas have been met.   Check the hunting regulations for specifics.

By now most of you have your tree stands up, your ladders in place, and your safety harnesses and bow in your truck, so you can be up a tree in a matter of minutes.  Many of you are probably kicked back checking emails after spending many hours hunting, thinking of the big one that got away.  Well, here is what we would like you to do.

Muddy Outdoors will be giving away Hunter Pro tree stands, Muddy Outdoors Safeguard Safety Harnesses, and Muddy Outdoors climbing sticks each Monday during the month of November.

Here is how to qualify.

Muddy Outdoors started a Facebook page several months ago and we have recently begun to add content to that page.  We want YOU to become a fan of the Muddy Outdoors Facebook page.  We will be able to track FANS added from October 19th – November 30th and will draw a name each Monday during the month of November.  The winner will get to pick one of the three items mentioned above.  We will announce the winners through a post on the Facebook page, Muddy Outdoors’ website, as well as by contacting you directly.  We encourage you to pass the word on to your fellow hunters.

Okay, what if I am not a member of Facebook?  We suggest you join the social internet site.  We have many friends and organizations out there in Facebook Nation that we know you would be interested in seeing – Midwest Whitetail, Whitetail Affliction, Heartland Bowhunter, Mathews, Inc., and a whole bunch more.

Thank you to all who are helping us out on our quest into the land of social networking and good luck this season out in the woods.

http://www.facebook.com/muddyoutdoors

Last but certainly not least, Get MUDDY!!!

A new state habitat enhancement program is providing eastern Montana landowners incentives to extend their participation in the Conservation Reserve Program, a federal offering that in part improves wildlife habitat.

Through the Upland Game Bird Habitat Enhancement Program, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recently funded five new projects located in Carbon, Garfield, Hill, and McCone counties.   The new habitat program provided additional incentives to landowners to extend their CRP agreements, enhance enrolled acres in a manner more productive to pheasants and other game birds, and to open those lands to upland game bird hunting.

Nearly 2,000 CRP acres have been enrolled in 3- or 5-year contracts under the Upland Game Bird Habitat Enhancement Program. Two of the five projects are located on 2009 Block Management Areas, which offer public hunting access to private lands. Upland game bird hunters must abide by Block Management Area requirements. For specific information about these Block Management area use rules, refer to the Region 1-5 Hunting Access Guide, available from any FWP regional or Helena headquarters office or upon request at the FWP Web site (http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/hunteraccess/blockman).

The remaining three projects offer an additional 1,000 acres of walk-in upland game bird hunting. Each project area is marked with special signs.

For details visit FWP’s Web site at fwp.mt.gov , Click “ New Opportunities for Upland Game Bird Hunters “.

For more information call Debbie Hohler at 406-444-5674, or E-mail to dhohler@mt.gov.

Even though most big game seasons have already come and gone, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports that some areas are still open and have licenses available for residents and nonresidents.

For deer, the area with the most licenses is nonresident Region A (hunt areas 1-6) in the Black Hills area in the northeast portion of the state. More than 700 nonresident Region A licenses are available for that area as well as numerous reduced price doe/fawn licenses that may be purchased in addition to the regular price licenses that allow the taking of a buck.  Residents can hunt that region with a general license.  The season in Region A opens Nov. 1 and runs through Nov. 30 in hunt areas 1-3, and until Nov. 20 in areas 4-6.  For type 6 doe licenses, hunt areas 1-6 are open until Nov. 30.

Other nonresident regions with licenses remaining include Region J in the southeast and Region M in north central Wyoming.  Seasons in these regions vary with the individual hunt area but some areas still have open seasons until Oct. 31 while others are open until Nov. 4 for general license holders.

Antelope seasons in the northeast overlap many of the deer seasons in the Black Hills.  Antelope areas 1-5 are open now and will close on Nov. 20.  Antelope hunters should also be aware that seasons in many other areas in northeast Wyoming still have licenses available with most seasons staying open until Oct. 31.

Many of the licenses are in areas that are predominantly private land.  Hunters are advised to check with the Game and Fish if uncertain about land status or access in the area they plan to hunt.

For elk, a number of areas still have antlerless licenses available and for hunters holding general licenses, many areas in the western part of the state will be open Nov. 1 for antlerless elk hunting once the season allowing the taking of bull elk closes.

Hunters can check regulations for seasons that are still open and the Game and Fish Web site http://gf.state.wy.us for license availability and season dates in the various hunt areas.  Hunters can also call the WGFD at (307) 777-4600 for more information.

The hunting districts listed have Surplus licenses or permits available. These have been issued on a first-come, first-served basis since August 10, 2009. Licenses and permits must be purchased online at fwp.mt.gov or over the counter at local license providers or by mail-in application.

Updated October 26, 2009, 8:30 a.m.

You can view the list and download the PDF here!