Fall 2010

O/B’s rundown of bipedal fauna. Like the Serengeti’s wide range of wildlife, southwest Montana is rife with diverse species of Bozemanites. They migrate here from places far and near to enjoy the fruits of the Gallatin…

Hunting the Coffee Creek BMA.From the inside of our pickup truck, the Coffee Creek Block Management Area doesn’t look like much. Treeless and monochrome, bordered by small, indistinct hills, this shallow drainage meanders…

The Grand Teton is a striking 13,770-foot spire of rock that rises dramatically out of the Teton Range in northwest Wyoming. It’s a common destination for Montana mountaineers, and accidents are not uncommon on this classic…

In Bozeman, truly remarkable landscapes are a fact of life. And, in my opinion, there is no better way to experience them than from the seat of a bike. So turn the “road trip” into a “bike trip”: take the camping stuff with…

Early-season splendor. Three turns. That’s all we need. That’s the unwritten code of the early-season gully skier. To be honest, it’s not really much of a code—more of a goal. Here’s the gist: When there’s even a remote…

Our lame cowboy carefully gimps up The Bozeman alley, that long Rouse alley. His cane of twisted box elder weighs The gnarled burdens of his range-riddled bones. Leaves as if petals cushion his way. Slant sunlight seeps…

We’re all falling down We leaves on the lam Spinning like sailors Walking on land And land where we may Any land at all There’s a place for each Bright leaf of the fall Yellow, orange And deep, bloody red Our true colors…

That brown, tailing in the tail of these riffles, strikes my attractor, my sick joke: black hackles then white rubber legs and a piece of red yarn for a butt. Now here he is, wallowing in the shallows, flashing his…

In February of 2009 “Mighty Bull Elk No. 9” tried to jump a fence, somersaulted onto his back and was pinned between large rocks with his trophy-sized antlers beneath him. He suffocated to death. In elk years he was in his…

A word from your quarry. Well, it’s about that time again. Wapiti killin’ time. It really sucks that this happens every damn year. I mean, for all the hype surrounding domestic terrorism, nobody seems to notice the elk…

Yellowstone Park’s brucellosis-infected bison have been in the Montana Department of Livestock crosshairs for years, but the newest round of shots might prove less fatal. September 22, 2010 marks the end of the public…

With the advent of online sex solicitation—err, dating—the days of printed personal ads are numbered. Here are a few choice selections gleaned from the good people of Gallatin Valley.No Worries Broke ski bum looking for…

I’d just finished filling the tank in my pickup when I heard the unmistakable chirp of a Hungarian Partridge, technically known as the gray partridge. It sounded like the rusty squeak of a gate hinge. But there weren’t…

Wolves Back on Endangered Species ListMontana wildlife officials reacted strongly to the August 6, 2010 federal court decision that placed the recovered Rocky Mountain gray wolf back on to the federal list of threatened and…

As hunting season sets around southwest Montana, hordes of camo-clad Bozemanites take to the mountains in search of prey. Amid all the birds and grass-eating ungulates, one game species stands apart. This creature is…

“I call it the ‘Entryway of Death’,” says Lori as she describes the entrance to her house. The Montana native and accounting professional is one of a group coming to be known as "hunting widows"—spouses, usually women,…

Fall is a great time for wildlife photography. With the heat of long summer days behind them, animals are more active throughout the day and you should find ample opportunities for some great shots. Here are a few tips for…

This past summer, while a battle raged between hikers and mountain bikers over access to one section of the Gallatin National Forest (the Hyalite–Porcupine–Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area), a vastly different dynamic…

Ski season will be upon us soon, and now’s the time to prepare for it and thus avoid injury. Although knee injuries are certainly prevalent in skiing, back injuries are also common because the spine must absorb large…

Hunters today view the darkened predawn skies with anticipation of the coming hunt. The ancient Greeks also gazed up at the same infinite darkness, hoping for a successful hunt and noting that one pattern of stars this time…

Capable of speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, pronghorn (or antelope, as we call them around here), are the fastest land animals in North America. But no matter how fast they run, in Montana they're stopped in their tracks…

A piece of Yellowstone's southern neighbor, Grand Teton National Park, may soon be up for sale. Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal is considering selling two square miles within the park that are dubbed "school sections"—…

The spruce bud worm is no friend to the forests, but after a decade or so of this "late-summer-early-fall" phenomenon, trout everywhere are conditioned to the late-season treat. The spruce moth is the adult stage of this…

There’s no trail fairy creating new trails around Bozeman, but with partnerships, fund-raising, hard work, and patience, wishes can come true. Just 10 minutes from downtown Bozeman, south of I-90 off the Trail Creek exit, 4…

Fall activities in the Treasure State. For many outdoorsfolk, autumn can be a conundrum. With the plethora of possibilities and opportunities in this blessed corner of the Treasure State, choosing a starting point can be…

From September to December, fresh wild game tends to dominate Bozeman-area dinner tables. Here’s a great recipe to spice up that bull elk your buddy brought out of the mountains. (If you helped him haul the animal out, hand…

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. —AristotleMost folks would agree that Bozemanites are a happy lot. One of the reasons for this, I’ve always believed, is that by…

On a cool morning this past July, nearly 20 sixth and seventh graders from Sleeping Giant Middle School gathered on the Voyich Ranch in Livingston. They faced Fleshman Creek and Park High agriculture education teacher Kevin…

This fall, many of you will be heading out into the fields with your bird dogs or going on long hikes with your pets. There are many dangerous medical incidents and problems that can occur with your pet in the field, and…

With the arrival of fall here in Montana, many people love to get out and do some upland bird hunting. Hopefully you've been honing your skills with practice at the trap range already. After all, shooting accurately takes…

Soaring the skies with Eagle Mount. Long the darling of Bozeman's philanthropic-happy community, Eagle Mount continues to trip the light fantastic, and now its inspirational glow is attracting national attention.…

When you hunt, nutrition is the first thing that comes to mind, right? Don’t roll your eyes just yet—nutrition should definitely be considered when deciding if you want that piece of beef steak or an elk roast for dinner.…

As the headquarters of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) at the base of the Wind River Mountains, the pint-sized metropolis of Lander, Wyoming, has a lot going for it. It's definitely the smallest town to ever…

Creative solutions to a growing problem.It occurred to us one morning, while waiting at the local java hut for our delicious, life-affirming morning ritual, that we drink a lot of coffee. At least one per day, each, every…

At first, I thought I was going to lose a foot due to lack of blood flow, but then I remembered new mountaineering boots are supposed to feel cramped. So once I got used to The M-Possible SS, I realized these boots could…

Metolius went back to the drawing board for its new Supercam and came back with an innovative asymmetric design that yields nearly twice the range of a standard cam. The largest size has a whopping two inches of range (that…

This Flow package this was one of the better powder-day setups I’ve ridden. The gear was comfortable and responsive with minimal break-in time needed. Flow's ten-plus years in the industry really show, and the company has…

I usually hate getting new rock shoes—a fact evidenced by the duct-taped, resoled, skunky derelicts that I used before the Scarpa Force V. New kicks are painful, it takes a while to trust them, and I always feel like I’m…

Two Lowa boots: one hardcore winter-burly, the other lighter and more agile. Both of these boots are all about protecting your feet. Available at Schnee’s and Timber Trails. The Hunter GTX offer extraordinary ankle support…

I know, the name could be better, but it at least Gerber’s Basic fixed-blade knife imparts a sense of its main virtue: simplicity. Nothing fancy, no extraneous features; just a solid knife that will field dress an elk as…

Super packable, lightweight, and tough, the Crazy Creek Crazy Crib can transform any beautiful forest or mountainside into an instant lounger’s paradise. Just unroll, sling between two sturdy objects with the adjustable…

It's clear that Noz to Noz designer June Carter has thought long and hard about what it's like to be a dog. When told that I had a hard-working little bird dog who needed comfortable sleeping quarters for fall hunting trips…

Don’t ask me why, but you need one of these. The PHD Pocket Disc is a crocheted disc that is foldable, lightweight, and it flies. Toss it into your backpack for camping adventures or mess around the house with kids. Similar…

I’ve never been one to drop more than $50 on a pair of sunglasses, but after trying out the Switch Tenaya Lake, my spending limit may just have increased. These sleek, well-made shades fit comfortably and held fast to my…

Yellowstone is a great and unique place to spin your wheels, especially in the fall. The traffic is light, the thermal areas are relatively free of crowds, the scenery is breathtaking, and the animals are in view. One of…

For the most part, Montanans are smart and responsible hunters; but some of our gun-wielding visitors aren’t so trustworthy. Here’s how to keep your dog from getting shot at this fall.1.Stay close to your canine. The…

Hunting Montana’s extinct critters may be something we can only dream of, but dream we will. Here’s a short list of the most badass animals that called Montana home before we did.Tyrannosaurus Rex If grizzlies make you…

Saving some coin on your morning cup of joe is not only a smart thing to do, but it's surprisingly easy. Most every shop in town offers some kind of discount for bringing your own mug, so go buy one of those hip coffee…

The best base camp for hunters exploring the Fort Benton area is the Grand Union Hotel. Perched on the bank of the Missouri River, this historic inn dates back to the late 1800s, when Fort Benton was the last stop for…

Featuring the largest compilation of ice and mixed routes on the planet, Big Sky Ice (self-published, $35) outlines over 600 different frosty climbs. Ron Brunckhorst has built on the work of his two previous editions to…

Alex Huber is one of the greatest rock climbers in the world and reading his life story is nothing short of inspiring. Detailing extreme speed ascents, mind-boggling ropeless climbs, and domination of the hardest routes in…

Everybody loves a good Western yarn, and Cowboys, Mountain Men & Grizzly Bears: Fifty of the Grittiest Moments in the History of the Wild West (TwoDot Press, $17) compiles 50 of the best tales of our region’s rugged and…

Settling in to read Montana Chillers (Farcountry Press, $13) before bed is a mistake. I was hearing things down the hall of our house after the first story. The most disturbing part about Ellen Baumler’s collection of ghost…