Fall 2022

Three local conservation groups fight ongoing battles to preserve fish and wildlife habitat in southwest Montana: Sacajawea Audubon Society, Gallatin Wildlife Association, and the Madison-Gallatin chapter of Montana Trout…

Traversing Big Sky Country through the millenia. Humans have been drawn to the Bozeman area for thousands of years. Natives, pioneers, mountain men, stagecoaches, railways, and roads all followed travel routes that have…

In Bozeman, as with much of the West, tension builds between competing ideals—and striking a balance is no mean feat. Like a steam locomotive screeching to a halt, my illusions of the American West came to a standstill…

Many hunters aim for a big rack, but in the end, it's the meat that matters. I’ve sometimes wondered how many budding Bozeman relationships hit a significant speed bump when this occurs: the guy—and it’s usually the guy—…

A growing imbalance in the management of Montana's wildlife. Wildlife management in Montana is currently facing radical revision, upending a series of valued precedents: the primacy of biology in decision-making,…

High in the Beartooths, two sleepy climbers make the most of a late start. On a crisp October evening, Nathaniel and I set off into the Beartooths. We had met only a year prior, while climbing with a mutual friend. We…

Helping hands and kindred spirits. “I want you to be concerned about your next-door neighbor. Do you know your next-door neighbor?” —Mother Teresa In Montana, the outdoors, and the people, abound with opportunities to…

Splitting threads on outdoor insulation. Anyone who’s agonized over the purchase of an important piece of outdoor clothing—say, a warm winter coat or an all-season midlayer—the following dilemma has surely ensued: fleece…

Taking aim at sloppy shooters. Two thousand, four hundred pounds. That’s a ton plus a motorcycle. It’s also the amount of shell casings, shotgun hulls, blown-up targets, and just plain garbage that was removed from a…

What your camo says about you. Camouflage has been a tool of predator and prey since the dawn of time—a way to go unseen, to help obtain a meal or avoid becoming one. Well, those days of primitivity are over; we now live…

How to spot an out-of-towner in Bozeman. There’s a lot of talk around town about who belongs and who doesn’t. Who’s a local? Who’s native? Who cares? To be honest, we don’t give a damn where you’re from. So long as you’re…

An ode to a jumbled gear room. It’s about three feet wide and six feet long. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s clearly just a furnace room lackadaisically converted to a storage area. From my outlook, it’s an oasis, a…

Finding lady rec partners. Everyone knows there are A LOT of dudes in outdoor sports—especially in Brozeman. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself on a trail, ski lift, or bike outnumbered at least three to one…

Taking a stand on Bozeman's trails. Montana’s towns are known for many different things. We’ve got fishing towns, biking towns, hunting towns—heck, Missoula has even been called a surf town. But now, starting this fall,…

Breaking down the costs of an air ambulance. When an epic day turns dire, calling for backup can be a critical resource. Serious injuries in the backcountry may require an air ambulance, but very few insurance providers…

Accidents happen. Whether you’re treating a blister, stomach bug, or major bleed, a thoughtfully-packed first-aid kit can make a huge difference in the outcome. Here are some essentials that won’t weigh you down too much…

The Crosscut founder was a wildlife advocate, community-builder, and all-around inspiration. On July 15, Eric Love passed away in the swirl of a dust storm while driving to Vermont with his wife, Jacquie. Eric was an…

Our closest celestial neighbors dance in the autumn sky. We tend to think of the night sky as a placid place, short of the sudden “shooting star” or flaming re-entry of space hardware. But the heavens can host fairly lurid…

Tying the brush-head double deceiver. There are many ways to catch trout in the fall, but stripping a big, flashy, articulated streamer might be the most fun. As the water cools and the trout prepare for winter, they…

What's new this hunting season? Montanans are fortunate to enjoy 10 months of hunting opportunities each year, beginning with the antelope archery season in mid-August and ending with the spring black-bear season in mid-…

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Enriching your senses in the outdoors, part one. Whether you’re hunting or hiking, fall brings its own unique swath of sensory opportunities. Some, like the golden leaves of late-September aspens, are well known, but…

Life on the edge. A man without a knife is a man without a life.—Anonymous A correlation recently crept into my consciousness: my best outdoor experiences have all involved a knife. From my first elk, to running rapids,…

Building an outdoor rig, part two. In Bozeman, equipping a vehicle for outdoor pursuits is no mean feat. There’s just so much to do: fishing, floating, biking, hunting, skiing, climbing—and about 17 other activities, each…

Planning for when it hits the fan. Spend enough time in the backcountry, and you’re likely to encounter an oh-shit moment. A proper oh-shit moment can range from gear malfunction to injury, getting lost, an unplanned night…

A conservation vision for the Gallatin and Madison ranges. Sally Kelsey spends her days wrangling horses, guests, and two young children on the flanks of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. As co-owner of Nine Quarter Circle Ranch…

Protecting raptors with non-lead ammo. They came flapping from under the drooping limbs of a large fir tree, scaring the bejesus out of a friend and me. I’d killed a mule-deer buck the previous evening; we’d pulled it…

Navigating checkerboard land ownership. Neither state nor federal law mentions the public-land controversy of corner-crossing. Yet the issue is frequenting courtrooms in western states at a growing rate. But governments…

The complicated balance of wolf-conservation. Less than three months into the 2021 wolf-hunting season, the National Park Service called out Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) for a sudden imbalance in wolf…

How legislatures are going after a meaningful conservation tool.  As we all know, our elected officials have a nasty habit of neglecting their constituents. This time, U.S. Representative Matt Rosendale has signed on to…

Exploring the past of our meandering rivers. The Missouri Headwaters, a lush and beautiful area lying on the northern edge of a vast, mountain-rimmed basin, is one of the key sites in western history, particularly in the…

Close-by campsites. Relief, excitement, joy—all adjectives that describe how most of us feel on a Friday afternoon after a long week. As we look forward to the weekend, we anticipate days filled with the outdoor activities…

Trout groupthink or atmospheric pressure? Over drinks, salad, baked potatoes, and big steaks, we tallied up. Fishermen do this. Who caught the first fish? The biggest? The most? The tallying-up is really no big deal.…

Realizing a childhood vision. On my first drive into Bozeman, over the pass from Livingston, the limestone fins rising high above transfixed my gaze. I was just a kid and knew nothing of modern rock climbing... yet. Those…

Lessons from the field. Ernie’s truck rattles along the dirt road and we’re both quiet, half listening to Science Hour on NPR, the host gabbling through a bad connection as we wind our way to the outskirts of Townsend, to…

Banging for your buck. If you’re like me, you’re not a runner. And, you’re old. Not old in the elderly sense, but old in the sense that you turned 40 a couple years ago and your body doesn’t recover with the swiftness it…

A dual-sport endeavor in the autumn woods. Damn, it’s hard to let summer go. Two, maybe three short months of warm temps and dry trails—we do our best, logging as many miles as we can, but it’s never enough. Especially for…

The O/B outing at Gallatin Sporting Clays. On a crisp October morning with a fresh dusting of snow on the ground, we load up at the O/B office with shotguns and a half-dozen boxes of shells. We’re heading to Gallatin…

When it comes to hunting knowledge is the best weapon. Randy Newberg is a voice and advocate for wildlife conservation, public lands, and the self-guided sportsman. He’s a dedicated hunter and is skilled in his craft. He…

To A Pronghorn by Al Nyhart Fast. That’s what I’m seeing as you race across the basin & into the Crazies. But not as agile as your cousin whitetail leaping gracefully over the barbed wire while you struggle, running…

Fallen Leaves by Sid Gustafson In Legion Park of Small Town, Montana Birthplace of fallen leaves golding and bent Winded heaps lie under half-limbed, half-naked trees. Flume of sky Is big over the farmed flatness beyond.…

A western twist on a comfort classic. It’s the most delicious time of year: hunting season. Healthy, flavorful wild game starts to turn up in all sorts of meals, as people clear out their freezers and start filling tags.…

Whether it's training too hard or just the effects of aging, body soreness slows me down. The R1 Percussion from Roll Recovery is a compact muscle massager that helps work out my aches and pains. It comes with four separate…

Bird-hunting season is here and nothing is more frustrating than my overly excited dog bounding out of range. That’s where the TT 15 Dog Collar from Garmin comes in. When paired with a Garmin handheld device, the TT 15…

The best way to stave off a charging grizzly is pepper spray, and the Frontiersman Bear Attack Deterrent should be close at hand every time you head into the wilderness. Its potent formula offers maximum stopping power out…

I’ve always used Superfeet in my ski boots, so I was curious to try the Adapt Hike Max for support on the trails. When I bought some new hiking shoes that came with a flimsy insole, I pulled it out immediately and used it…

For me, backpacking trips usually involve excessive strap-adjusting and aches in my back, shoulders, and hips. I'd started to believe that's just how she goes. But Mystery Ranch's Women's Bridger 55 Pack has redefined my…

Lightweight. Breathable. Packable. Wind- and rain-resistant. It's the Dirt Roamer Jacket from Patagonia. Designed for mountain biking, it's a great jacket for late-season rides, as temperatures start to drop a little…

Simple, compact, and versatile—the Sawyer MINI Water Filtration System is all that and more. First off, it's aptly named; the filter itself is lightweight and fits in the palm of your hand. Next, you can use it with the…

How many times have you set up a portable picnic table near your barbecue grill or in your campsite and found out it was rickety, unstable, and about to blow over in the Montana wind? Nothing is worse than having a…

Merrell Antora 2 Gore-Tex in Paloma? More like Pamplona. I test-ran these on a 12-mile rocky, wet trail and now feel confident that I could handle the cobblestone streets during the Running of the Bulls. The Vibram soles…

If you’ve ever spent a few days in the backcountry soaking wet because your raincoat is old and deteriorated, you understand the importance of a strong rain-proof layer, and will never trek again without one. The Outdoor…

Bozeman's an active community, so most of us are all (relatively) healthy people. But sometimes health gets sacrificed for time. For those us trying to up both the pace and our health game, a robust daily supplement is…

I have never been 100% satisfied with my layering options when I go for a hike. I usually end up too cold when my cotton t-shirt (I know, terrible choice) gets soaked with sweat and refuses to dry. My hunt for the perfect…

Ok, I'll admit it: I've got a sun-hoody problem. I have so many of them, in fact, that an entire drawer of my dresser is filled with stretchy polyester long-sleeved shirts sporting svelte hoods. And I love all of them, but…

From the rigors of air travel to the abuse from constant loading and unloading, a well-tuned weapon needs protection, lest it fail at the moment of truth, ruining weeks or even months of preparation. This is where a hard…

In times of ever-changing weather, it’s hard to pick out a solid piece of clothing that can adapt to a range of temperatures. The Ibex Women’s Paradox Long Sleeve Tee does just that, keeping me cool on the bike or run up,…

When the rivers surge, paddlers, rafters, and river-surfers take advantage of the spectacle. Spring air is sometimes warm, but runoff comes straight from the mountains, and is always cold. Made for water between 38-48…

Most outdoor enthusiasts are careful when building their gear arsenals, searching for specific products that fit particular needs, so they can cross those items off the wish list forever. But just when they think they've…

Snuggling in together after a tasty meal by the fire, watching the stars, sharing pillow talk while slowly drifting off to sleep... that's the only way to camp with one's sweetie. Nope, separate bags just won't do. But…

When on a “Montana safari”—driving around the state’s wide-open spaces, looking for game, bedding down wherever you happen to find yourself at nightfall—gear abounds. You’ve got all the usual camping equipment, plus camo,…

In my rapidly ascending age (66), I’ve become a lot less of a consumer; thus, I’ve been wearing the same pair of hiking and approach shoes for 17 years. They took me most of the way up the Grand Teton and they’ve always…

Ain't much better than car-camping, whether it's on a warm summer night or a cool fall evening. Either way, a few luxuries go a long way—and a recent addition I made to my setup was the Pro Stainless Steel Prep Table by…

For years, a friend and I struggled to clean our pheasants and grouse. That joint where the wing meets the body—holy cow is it stubborn. We pulled, we twisted, we spun the wing round and round... eventually, my friend…

Given the dizzying array of outdoor equipment we tend to haul around with us these days, it's easy to overlook an essential item. Even a minimalist, in a rush to get on the trail, might forget to grab an important piece of…

In Montana, I like having a heavy layer nearby for nine out of the 12 months of the year. Since I got my hands on Skwala's Fusion 3/2 Puffy, I've hardly taken it off. Made from polyester—one of my favorite types of fabrics—…

While southwest Montana's winters are varying more every year, the La Sportiva Blizzard GTX is unmatched in performance for all conditions, and exactly what I look for in a winter running shoe.  A slick, four-way stretch…

If you need a yardstick for how much outdoor equipment has changed in the last few decades, water-purification will certainly suffice. Consider this: 25 years ago, we had two choices when drinking water from questionable…

In our increasingly soft and comfortable world, socks are getting, well, increasingly soft and comfortable. Which, unlike tender feelings, conflict-phobia, and a lack of grit, is a damn good thing. Take the Point6 37.5…

Fish smart. If you're like me, you're reluctant to download another outdoor app. Given all the hiking, biking, skiing, camping, climbing, and fishing apps out there, it's hard to justify an increase to the already-…

"Be not the first by whom the new are tried, nor yet the last to lay the old aside." —Alexander Pope It's taken me awhile to get onboard with compression socks—do I really need fancy, high-tech fabric between my feet and…

Lightweight, warm, and water-resistant—what more could one ask of an outdoor jacket? Nothing, really, but with the Ibex Wool Aire Hoodie, you can add "packable" and "wind-resistant" to the list of enticing attributes.…

A captivating continuation of the first book in the series, Legend Keepers: The Partnership (Hidden Shelf Publishing House, $15) resumes the story of Buddy the mountain goat, but not before we are introduced to Garson—a 12-…

America’s public lands have always been politicized. The dedication of over 600 million acres as public property came about at the very beginning of our nation. John D. Leshy is an expert in public-land policy and in Our…

I used to say, once you’ve read one book about fly fishing, you’ve read them all. Well, Dylan Tomine has proven me wrong, with an original collection of stories revolving around his personal evolution from a fish-lusting…

There is always a unique story behind the formation of a body of water. But one lake in particular has always piqued my interest, as its history is unlike many others. So, I picked up a copy of Ellen Butler and Kaitlin…