Author Archives: Mark

Sitka’s new line of Women’s Hunting Apparel

When my wife Tami and I met on a blind date in October of 2011 I soon discovered that she had never hunted before. In spite of that, we hit it off that night but our next date would have … Continue reading

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Wyoming DIY Antelope Hunting – Part 7 – 2017 Update

Howdy, 2017 is coming to a close. I’m still getting a lot of interest and questions regarding DIY WY antelope hunting on public land. Wyoming still has the best opportunity for non-resident hunters in terms of antelope populations and success … Continue reading

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Hunting is Conservation – What does that REALLY mean?

As a Life Member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and committee member of the Gallatin Chapter, I have often heard, and taken for granted the slogan “Hunting is Conservation.”  At first it just seemed like a slick new catch … Continue reading

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Proper Field Care of Wild Game

If you have ever ate “gamey” meat and blamed it on the rut, or a critter’s diet, or adrenaline, etc. then please read this, because after over 40 years of hunting I finally think I’ve figured out an important lesson … Continue reading

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Montana DIY Elk Hunting – 2014 – Bulls & Grizzlies – Part 2

I was still quartering my elk when the sun finally slipped below the Gravelly Mountains to the west. Its amazing how much more difficult a job it is when your alone and looking over your shoulder every few minutes. All … Continue reading

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The Escape Artists – Montana Public Land Elk Hunting

                    I left camp long before first light and began the long pull up the mountain through eight inches of snow grown crusty after days of wind and sun. Far above … Continue reading

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Wyoming DIY Antelope Hunting- Part 6 – a DIY Alternative

A lot of folks email me and ask about DIY antelope hunting in Wyoming. (or any other state for that matter). They want to know if its possible to be successful without experience hunting antelope. They want to know where … Continue reading

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DIY Wyoming Antelope – Part 5 – 2015 Update & Draw Odds by Unit

  A lot has changed in Wyoming since I wrote my series on DIY Antelope hunting in that state. Montana and Wyoming experienced a terrible winter in 2010-2011 that resulted in losses of antelope and mule deer that ranged from 60-80% in … Continue reading

Posted in Antelope Hunting, Hunt Planning | 2 Comments

Building an AR Varmint Rifle

Going to Pick up a Montana Black Gold Upper and Lower tomorrow from Clay Ellig. Decided on the .204 Ruger. I am going to document the process of selecting components. A lot to choose from.  Here we go.

Posted in Rifles, Cartridges and Shooting | 2 Comments

Montana 2014 DIY Elk – Bulls and Grizzlies – Part 1

We headed into camp this year with a lot of anticipation. Montana had good precipitation all spring and summer and cooler temperatures and we hoped that would keep the elk high and near our 9000′ camp. The last two years had … Continue reading

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Stone Glacier Solo Pack Review

Stone Glacier Pack – Solo I had been keeping my eye on Stone Glacier since the gear guys at Pro-Lite Gear in Bozeman had raved about the strength to weight ratio of Kurt Racicot’s design.  I had been hunting out … Continue reading

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Schnees’ Granite Mountain Boot – Rockin the high country

Schnee’s Granite Mountain Boot This is a review of a remarkable pair of mountain boots. But indulge me for a moment because this story starts back in 2006 with a phone call to the then fledgling hunting apparel company Sitka … Continue reading

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Here, There be Dragons – 2013 Montana DIY Mountain Goat Hunt

     It was the end of September and a winter storm was moving toward southwest Montana when Dick and I  left our base camp on Moose Creek at 5AM in a light rain and headed toward the top of the Gallatin … Continue reading

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Back to Montana for a High Country Bull

I left southern Colorado on a Thursday in early November in a blizzard that started just south of Denver and stayed with me all the way north of Cheyenne. I was tired of driving in it and found a cheap motel and an expensive steak dinner in … Continue reading

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2012 Elk Season – Week 4 – Sometimes we leave our heart on the mountain

After three weeks of bow hunting in Montana’s Madison Range I needed a little break from chasing elk. When Tom left on Monday morning, I threw the wall tent and my gear into the back of the truck and headed … Continue reading

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Barnes Vor-Tx .308 150 Gn TTSX – Kimber’s Mountain Ascent eats em up

I was in my favorite gun shop in Montana, Shedhorn Sports in Ennis a few weeks ago checking out the racks of guns. Unlike most places that carry guns anymore, Shedhorn has over 1200 guns in stock, including a huge selection of … Continue reading

Posted in Gear Reviews, Rifles, Cartridges and Shooting | 2 Comments

Stone Glacier Pack System – Solo

It was the summer of 2008 when I dropped into Mystery Ranch in Bozeman to look at a pack system that would meet my needs for  hauling a lot of weight out of the backcountry. Mark Seacat and Andrew Crow were both … Continue reading

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Kimber Mountain Ascent – All Dialed In with Barnes Vortex TTSX

Thought I would write a quick post on the progress I am making on finding the best overall round for the Kimber Mountain Ascent rifle I picked up last fall in .308 Winchester. I have now tried three different rounds; the Nosler Custom … Continue reading

Posted in Rifles, Cartridges and Shooting | 4 Comments

The Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance

When he’s not working as the marketing director for Schnee’s Shoes, Boots & Hunting Gear in Bozeman, Montana, Peter Muennich can usually be found on a mountain or a river somewhere in Montana following his passion for the outdoors. Two years ago Pete … Continue reading

Posted in Hunting is Conservation, Mountain Goat Hunting | 6 Comments

Montana Archery Elk: Two Shot Tom & the T-Rex

It was a hot, dusty and generally miserable ride out of the mountains. Dan and I  took turns pulling the rear, riding into an inescapable cloud of dust. It was hot even after the sun dropped behind the Tobacco Roots. … Continue reading

Posted in Elk Hunting, Stories Of The Hunt | 2 Comments

Drew A Montana Mountain Goat Tag !

Last week when I checked the Montana FWP site for draw results for Bighorn Sheep, Moose and Mountain Goat, I expected to see the usual “not successful”. It has been 12 years after all and the odds are pretty slim for any … Continue reading

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Montana Archery Elk – Weeks 1 & 2 – “High & Dry”

I was two weeks into the Montana archery season and hadn’t taken a shot at an elk yet. We were riding back to the trailhead to load up and drive back to town to pick up a friend arriving at … Continue reading

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Montana Spring Bear Hunt

Spring bear season is in full swing here in Montana.  The weather is warmer than normal and the snow has pulled back from the hillsides on all but the highest elevations.

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Wyoming DIY Antelope Hunting: Part 4 Let’s Go Hunting!

  So you’ve been drawn for a Wyoming antelope tag ! If you’ve hunted antelope before, this final part of the series may not be for you. For first time hunters, here are the topics we will cover to help … Continue reading

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Dan’s Argentina Red Stag Hunt

April 12, 2013 Dan and Kristen picked Argentina as their honeymoon destination, albeit almost a year after the wedding ! Kristen had always wanted to see Buenos Aires and Dan was hoping to hunt Argentina’s red stags during the rut, … Continue reading

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Idaho DIY Elk Hunt : Cosmic Dick and the Black Hole Elk

When it comes to elk hunting, the ultimate hunting partner is a mule. They don’t need to be shod, will carry a lot of weight without complaining, won’t drink your whiskey, and hate grizzly bears. After a mule though, the next … Continue reading

Posted in Elk Hunting, Stories Of The Hunt | 2 Comments

Applying for the Kentucky Elk Lottery

Kentucky now has the 10th largest elk herd in America ! In 1996 the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation pledged over $1.4 million to the state of Kentucky’s elk restoration project. On December 18, 1997, seven elk that had been captured … Continue reading

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Dialing in the Nosler 48

I have been working up a load for the Nosler Custom 48 in 300 WSM. I got back into reloading last year to allow me to practice more at distance. Factory ammo was producing sub MOA groups, but I was … Continue reading

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Shooting Kimber’s Mountain Ascent Rifle in .308 Win

Last weekend I stopped by Shedhorn Sports in Ennis, Montana to see if they had received any H4350 powder. It seems like every sporting goods store in Montana has been stripped of reloading supplies and ammo so I was suprised to find … Continue reading

Posted in Rifles, Cartridges and Shooting | 4 Comments

Finally got it ! Reviewing the Kimber Mountain Ascent Rifle – .308 Winchester

Back in the spring of 2012 I read a review of Kimber’s newest rifle in the 84M line, the “Mountain Ascent”.  Kimber revealed the new rifle at the 2012 SHOT show to rave reviews. I was intrigued with the idea of an … Continue reading

Posted in Gear Reviews, Rifles, Cartridges and Shooting | 6 Comments

Turning an Elk into the Best Elk Burger in the World !

I started hunting whitetails in Indiana back in the 1980’s. While those corn and soybean fed deer made pretty tasty fare, they don’t compare to the savory goodness of a well cooked elk burger. I always end up with more elk burger than … Continue reading

Posted in Eating Wild Game: Care and Recipes, Stories Of The Hunt | 1 Comment

Wyoming DIY Antelope Hunt – Part 3 – Hunt Areas and Public Access

In Part 2 of this series we discussed three key differences in Wyoming antelope hunt areas: Trophy Potential Hunt Seasons Public Access Part 2 focused on Trophy potential. If you’ve read that post, you now understand the reality of what … Continue reading

Posted in Antelope Hunting, Hunt Planning | 33 Comments

Wyoming DIY Antelope Hunting: Part 2 – Planning Your Hunt for Trophy Potential

In Part 1 we reviewed Wyoming’s Preference Point and Application Process. Here are  some key points to remember as you plan your hunt:

Posted in Antelope Hunting, Hunt Planning | 2 Comments

Wyoming DIY Antelope Hunting: Part 1 – Drawing a License

While I love elk hunting in the mountainous backcountry of the west, I can see the light at the end of that tunnel. Fortunately, its still a small light, but DIY elk hunting on public land is tough physically and there … Continue reading

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Wyoming elk application due January 31st !

Wyoming’s application periond for elk tags expires on January 31st.

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“Those are the Breaks!” Montana Missouri Breaks Elk Hunt

The sun was dropping below the canyon rim when a shrill whistle broke from the shadows that were beginning to fall across the bottom of the coulee.  Lying beside me on a grass covered ridge, Dick continued to stare through … Continue reading

Posted in Elk Hunting, Stories Of The Hunt | 3 Comments