Fall 2014

The story of Joe Gutkoski. Joe Gutkoski is a wilderness man. He spent his childhood summers in Pennsylvania trout fishing, and his autumns hunting whitetails in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. In 1949, Joe…

A foe not soon forgotten. Slowly twirling across the water’s surface, the yellow leaf hinted at the gilded denizens lurking below. The exhilarating, cool air was aromatic with the odor of molding foliage. On that mid-…

Paddling access in National Parks. Yellowstone National Park is known as a recreational paradise for hikers, campers, wildlife observers, fishermen, skiers, and adventurers. But recently another group of recreationists has…

A case of forebearance and beginner's luck. If you fish or hunt, you’ve likely met That Guy. He’s recently moved to Montana and he wants to know where to find the big bulls and lunker browns—right now. He doesn’t much care…

Preparing for a deep ski season.  For diehard skiers, the first turns of the year are usually made in the backcountry. Whether it’s hiking up Bradley's Meadows at Bridger after the first decent dump, or skinning up Beehive…

The section of Mandeville Creek from Montana State University to Bozeman High School (BHS) has been neglected like a misunderstood stepchild for years—but that’s about to change. A tributary of the East Gallatin River,…

There's more to photography than point and shoot.The world is filling up with images. Online, in our newspapers and even some magazines, snapshots are the currency of the day. And as more creators enter the pool, the water…

Step outside It’s still and cold The mountains shine Like burnished gold All around The silence rings You feel the power That wildness brings This is the world As it was made This crystal snow That virgin glade High…

How West Yellowstone was born.The streets of West Yellowstone are lined with businesses that celebrate the outdoors—indeed, the town wouldn’t exist if not for Yellowstone National Park and the plethora of outdoor…

Dries, nymphs, emergers, attractors, streamers. So many flies to choose from, But only one will spark the fancy of that elusive trout.  I tie on my fly of choice, A Kelly Gallup special, brown in color, Affectionately…

Block management provides for all.FWP is giving high priority to building hunter-landowner relationships, as they are a critical element in maintaining conservation efforts and allowing hunter access to private lands.Hunter…

Hyalite's Twin Falls. For Bozeman ice climbers, the season begins as soon as the first fall frost whitens windshields and kills off the last of the mosquitos. Summer’s final dusty days are eclipsed by shimmering memories…

Hunting huns and chasing time.Okay… gotta be straight from the get-go. I’m not a great wing shot. If the feds ever instituted a No Hunter Left Behind initiative, I’d be their poster child. On most days, I am a B student at…

Game's on the ground: now what?  As a former wild-game processor, I find that many hunters prepare their entire hunts to the “T” yet fail to think about what happens after the kill. What's worse, the same mistakes and…

Fishing with dogs.I’ve always been something of an outdoors schizophrenic. This does not mean a crazy person who lives outside. Nor does this imply that I only go nuts when I’m out of the house. No, what I am is a person…

FWP at a crossroads. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, through its employees and citizen commission, provides for the stewardship of the fish, wildlife, parks, and recreational resources of Montana, while contributing to…

Hiking Ousel Falls.Located just outside Meadow Village in Big Sky, Ousel Falls offers an easy, scenic autumn hike—perfect for taking advantage of shorter days. And because the trail is close to town, there is little to no…

Female archers are on the rise.Maybe it’s the allure of The Hunger Games’ arrow-slinging heroine. Maybe it’s the pink-camo bows. Or maybe women are getting tired of telling the men, “Enjoy hunting with your bros,” and are…

Anytime, anywhere.Winter will be here before we know it, and getting in shape for ski season means the difference between enjoying those deep December powder days and grimacing between muscle convulsions. For anyone looking…

Advice for the fall season. Everyone needs advice, and each issue we encourage readers to send in their questions, to be answered by an outdoor enthusiast who best represents that season. This issue, two beleaguered…

And he's bound to keep you up all night. I once spent two summers working minimum wage as I attempted to chase a boy, Tyler (a summit-seeking, rock-climbing dirtbag), up every peak in sight. We would hike at night, summit…

Pairing fall's harvest. Cooking and eating should be a celebration of life here in our beautiful valley—and to that end, nothing is better than wild game. But pairing side dishes and wines with game can be tough, and we…

After the crowds of summer have gone.There’s no better season for fishing than autumn. Cooler weather keeps water temperatures in the sweet spot for trout; shorter days trigger many fish species to feed actively, and for…

Where and how to camp this season.Summer has dwindled away—the air bites at your nose and cuts through your fleece, painted leaves float to the dying grass, and everyone seems to be preparing for the first snowfall. You…

Hometown haunting. Outside Bozeman’s first office was haunted: a restive spirit who scared our publisher enough to keep him awake during his late nights in the office. In a way, she helped get the magazine get started. In…

The Bannack Ghost Walk.Everybody loves a good ghost story, and Montana has plenty. Our state’s rough-and-tumble frontier history—where folks often met a violent and untimely end—seems to fuel the fire where spooks and…

Bouldering's search for hidden problems.Bouldering is, at its core, a distillation of rock-climbing movement. Unlike sport and traditional climbers, boulderers move up stone without ropes, using cushy foam pads to protect…

Mountain biking the northern Bridgers.The short, steep climb at the beginning of the Shafthouse Trail is easily forgotten once you take in the incredible views of the northern Bridgers and spectacular expanse of the Shields…

Is Bozeman really bicycle-friendly? When a cyclist died on Frontage Rd. in June after swerving into traffic, my phone began buzzing with messages from people concerned that the victim was my significant other. It could have…

Comparing hunting breeds. Hunting and dogs: there’s no better combination. Not just the dogs themselves, with their athleticism and incredible sense of smell, but the experience of trekking through tall grass alongside your…

Coffee isn't optional.Montana’s backcountry and good java go hand in hand. But when packing one’s own supplies into the wilderness, what’s the best compromise between weight and quality, mess and simplicity? After many…

An unlikely hunter’s respect for the season.The emotions that good hunters need to cultivate are love and service more than courage. The sentiments of the hunt then become translated into art. —James SwanLike any time-…

Preventing overpronation.In my 23 years as a chiropractor, I’ve seen countless patients this time of year who complain of foot, knee, hip, and back pain. Be it hikers logging trail miles or hunters traversing uneven terrain…

Tips for responsible target practice. Grab your .22, call a few friends, and head to some nearby national-forest land for an afternoon of target shooting. You have an old television that seems like an ideal target—it’s the…

The leaves they are a-changin'. It’s that time of year: the sunlight fades, the air chills, and the chlorophyll dissipates. The trees around Bozeman succumb to these forces and a physical alteration takes place in our…

Hunting the urban interface.This fall, don’t be surprised to see bowhunters on blades—rollerblades, that is. With development encroaching on traditional deer habitat in the Gallatin Valley, a new breed of hunter is taking…

Sportfish and wildlife restoration programs.In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen.—Theodore RooseveltNo one likes paying taxes, but when it comes to…

Among Montana’s many iconic images is that of the lone fisherman, casting a fly on a trout stream in the clear September sunlight, with the early autumn chill just beginning to turn the leaves. The sky has an analog of…

Horoscopes for the fall season.Aries: March 21 – April 20A spike in the freezer is better than a Boone and Crocket trophy. Take that opening-day shot or make your peace with marmot (it tastes like chicken) on toast. Taurus…

States consider public-land acquisition.How would you feel if the Gallatin National Forest went up for sale on the open market? Well, it could happen, if some Western lawmakers have their way. Both Nevada and Utah have…

Who rules Bozeman?It’s an age-old rivalry: natives vs. transplants. How do you know if someone’s a native? They’ll tell you. People who have grown up in Bozeman often lament the constant stream of newcomers, but then again…

Letters from O/B readers.Sick of Skate SkiersCan you use your powers of the pen to stop the proliferation of the annoying trend of skate skiers on roads? You know the ones I mean—the spandex-clad, middle-aged activists who…

Slow down—don’t turn off the heat just yet. Check back in a month; we’ll be ready then, I’ll bet. The grass isn’t ready and the leaves aren’t so bright. The trails are still perfect and the rivers are all right. Just one…

The latest on Montana's top dog"The wolf reintroduction has gone so well that, somewhat ironically, the wolves are now threatened by their own success." —William R. Lowry, Repairing Paradise: The Restoration of Nature in…

Wading out to my favorite fishing spots has always been a precarious operation, and the swift currents, slippery banks, and mossy rocks of Montana’s rivers have left me upended and soaked more times than I’d like to admit.…

I’ve always liked footbed inserts, but I never really knew why—until a chiropractor noticed my overpronation and put me into a Vasyli custom orthotic. This thing is the Cadillac of footbeds—heat-moldable, with a Sorbon…

Who spilled the beans? Canister stoves are great for heating food, but can be unsteady without a flat surface to cook on. I learned this the hard way during my last car-camping trip when my stove tipped over, spilling a pot…

Simplicity. That’s become my motto. Leading the way in this newfound quest is the IWANA rod and line from Tenkara USA. Devolving from the full fly-fishing setup, this 12-foot fly rod and corresponding line lets me get on…

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Venture WV is a backpacker’s dream. Lightweight, compact, and highly functional, this pad packs down to the size of a one-liter Nalgene, meaning it fits easily in your pack. Surprisingly, you don’t…

In the fall, bikers share the woods with hunters—here are some tips to play nice and be safe.1) Stick to the main trails to avoid unexpected confrontations with hunters.2) Leave the pooch at home. Or keep it close, and use…

Delve deep into Yellowstone’s wild with David Peterson’s stunning photo book, Yellowstone: Near, Far & Wild (Farcountry Press, $20). From aerial shots of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to close-ups of hot-spring…

With fascinating factoids and captivating pictures, Park Scientists: Gila Monsters, Geysers, and Grizzly Bears in America’s Own Backyard (Houghton, Milton, Harcourt, $19) will enthrall any child interested in science or…

With 55 state parks in Montana, it’s hard to know the fine details about each one. Luckily, in light of the 75th anniversary of Montana’s state parks, someone has finally made a guide to all of them. Erin Madison and…