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Fall 2024

Features

  • Haley Sir
    Culture: Conservation

    No Stone Unturned

    Haley Sir and PLWA investigate access issues in Montana. It was a good day to be inside, a turbulent spring snowstorm having blown in to remind those hopeful for warm weather and fresh blooms that winter wasn’t done yet.…
  • Elk hunting disaster
    Activities: Big-Game Hunting

    A Perfect Storm

    How a well-intentioned crew forever alienated a new elk-hunting buddy. There is something special about tales told in hunting camps. Camps that are way out in the sticks, with no cell service and thus removed from…
  • Gallatin valley construction
    Culture: Conservation

    The Big Picture

    A call for connection with the life and landscapes of southwest Montana. It’s seldom as it seems. The river is low and clear, giving cover to feeding trout which are not supposed to be active, yet we still lay a fat…
  • biking in woods
    Culture: More

    It’s a Magical World

    A longtime friendship takes on a new dimension. Trees drop their leaves. Farmers harvest. Hunters stalk the hills. As a symbol of mortality, fall can be a downer. But it’s my favorite season. It reminds me of vibrant “…

Departments

  • mdt highway cone pillory
    Culture: Letters & Rants

    Pillory: MDT

    Punishing our dopey, dawdling highway department. It’s Friday afternoon and the mountains are calling. After a pit-stop for gas and ice, you hit the I-90 on-ramp and point the rig east, to the land of open prairie,…
  • bird hunting dog walking on train track
    Culture: Arts & Culture

    Paint & Poetry: Fall 2024

    Poems by H.G. Moser; art by Bob White Companions As long as you have a dog to be your companion you have every reason to live a happy life Stickeen Just finished John Muir’s memoir of his adventure on an Alaskan glacier—…
  • Venison rib roast
    Culture: Food & Drink

    Wined & Dined

    Venison rib roast, dressed to impress. Rib roasts are one of those things that look unbelievably elegant but are shockingly easy to prepare. With just a little bit of effort and know-how, you can knock the socks off a date…
  • Mill Creek
    Road Trips

    Millin’ About

    Sweet relief in Paradise Valley. It’s hot. Our house doesn’t have A/C and the late-September forecast calls for unusually high temps. The thermostat hovers around 80 degrees indoors and it feels like our blood is about to…
  • deer hunting camp
    Culture: Season Opener

    Rest & Restoration

    The friendly traditions of fall. Rituals are the formulas by which harmony is restored. —Mitch Albom Fall is a season of tradition. For some, that means a shoulder-season canoe trip in Yellowstone. For others, it’s a…
  • Andromeda Gallaxy
    Training: Astronomy

    When Galaxies Collide

    The long view in autumn. The cool, crisp evenings of autumn can be invigorating for stargazing, even if the sky isn’t scattered with bright stars as it will be this winter. There are still distinctive patterns to find, and…
  • Big game hunting
    Training: Injury Prevention

    Lean & Mean

    Hunter’s safety—for the body. With hunting season upon us, it’s time to make sure you’re prepared. Beyond just sighting in your weapons and getting your gear in check, it’s important to ensure that your body is tuned up…
  • Madison river fly fishing
    Activities: Fishing

    Full House

    Essential fall flies and how to fish them. Fall can be the best time of year to fish local rivers. The browns are gearing up for the spawn, and rainbows are feeding hard for the long winter ahead. Whether you prefer nymphs…
  • AB wilderness
    Culture: The New West

    Born to Be Wild

    The evolution of land use in Montana. Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from a speech delivered at a convention celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. After my birth on the plains of Wyoming…
  • Political roundup Montana november 2024
    Culture: The New West

    Punch Your Ticket

    Which candidates support wildlife, recreation, and conservation? By now you’ve seen or heard all the political ads. Heck, they’d be hard to miss. Montana politicians are locked in some tight races, both for seats in…
  • Pronhorn in oil rig field
    Culture: The New West

    All Things in Moderation

    Measuring the impact of recreation on nature and wildlife. Before tuning out the mind-numbing barrage of political ads we’ve been subjected to this year, I noticed that a major issue highlighted in many of them is the…
  • Grizzly encounter backpacking
    Activities: Hiking

    Griz in My Biz

    Bear encounters in the heart of Yellowstone. A few summers back, a friend and I planned our second annual backpacking trip, and it was a big one. Six days and five nights in some of the most heavily populated grizzly-bear…
  • Kay newman
    Culture: People

    RIP: Kay Newman

    A marathon of influence. It’s safe to say that when we pass, we hope to leave some kind of legacy, big or small. Through her loyalty, goodwill, and zeal, that’s exactly what Kay Newman did—especially within the Bozeman…
  • Duck stamp 2022-23
    Culture: Conservation

    Ducks in a Row

    The history behind the federal duck stamp. The Duck Stamp Act, more formally coined the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, requires waterfowl hunters 16 years old and older to buy and carry a federal stamp every year when…
  • tree climbing story mansion
    Activities: Climbing

    Monkeying Around

    Making climbing fun again. With the release of Free Solo, the introduction of sport climbing in the Olympics, and the explosion of a billion-dollar industry, rock climbing is the worst-kept secret in outdoor recreation.…
  • paddleboard duck hunt
    Activities: Bird Hunting

    Board Stiff

    A mobile waterfowl-hunting setup. You can successfully hunt waterfowl on foot, but aficionados of the sport wouldn’t contemplate existence without a duck boat. On a recent duck-hunting road-trip, I found myself continually…
  • Steve Hoffman eagle chick
    Culture: People

    My First Time: Steve Hoffman

    The fledgling days of Bozeman’s raptor expert. If you’ve ever spent a fall day watching hawks and eagles fly south, you’re likely familiar with the work of Steve Hoffman. In 1986, he formed a nonprofit called the Western…
  • Gallatin river fly fishing fall colors
    Activities: Fishing

    The Heretic

    Revisiting the Gallatin, 40 years later. The summer that Mike and I flew out to Montana to be trout bums for a week, I told him about a pool on the Gallatin River, about midway between Big Sky and West Yellowstone, that I…
  • allenspur climbing
    Activities: Rock Climbing

    The Right Place

    A climbing-and-fishing tour at Carter’s Bridge. It’s mid-October and the first dusting of snow has hit the high peaks. Yellow leaves cling precariously to cottonwood trees before being whisked away by the first real winter…
  • Chanterelle foraging
    Activities: Miscellaneous

    Pot of Gold

    The mushrooms at the end of a Montana rainbow. Have you ever gone searching for the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? The fairy tales make it look easy, but I can assure you it’s not. My brother and I went looking last…
  • Culture: Humor

    Written in the Stars

    Finding your outdoor horoscope. Fall calls upon us to reflect, to look inward, and to seek resolution. We consulted the charts and learned what’s in store for each astrological sign this coming year. Take it in stride—we’…
  • animal lineup absurd hunting laws
    Culture: Humor

    Kitty-Killers & Waste-Pond Beavers

    Montana’s absurd hunting & wildlife laws. Wildlife regulations in the state of Montana have been piling up since the territorial legislature first convened in Bannack in December 1864. At that session, the legislature…
  • Frosty leaf
    Nature

    Zooming In

    A macro focus on fall leaves. The brilliance of autumn colors always overwhelms me. Leaves are sheer reds and golds and can be covered by a white deluge of snow, sometimes plunging limbs into back-breaking arches. It’s…
  • Gear repair sewing
    Training: Tips & Tricks

    Easy Fix

    Gear-repair basics. Outdoor recreation is a wonderful way to connect with nature, challenge yourself, and experience southwest Montana’s backyard playground. However, the very activities that bring us joy also take a toll…
  • wetland bird
    Nature

    Home in the Cattails

    The subtleties of Bozeman’s wetlands. Though only a fraction of what were once abundant throughout the Gallatin Valley, Bozeman-area wetlands give a glimpse into a diverse community of birds living right at our doorstep.…
  • Guns and Poses yoga hunting
    Culture: Humor

    Guns 'N' Poses

    Reimagining the calisthenics of hunting season. As any serious hunter can attest, it takes discipline, stillness, and focus to stalk and kill an animal. In fact, for these reasons, historians believe that hunting co-…
  • traffic illustration
    Culture: The New West

    Home Invaders

    The over-housed are running and ruining our town. Open your eyes: Bozeman is frequented by a rootless upper class that is perpetually on the move, crashing only momentarily at their Bozeman properties while on their way to…
  • woman hunting montana snow
    Activities: Big-Game Hunting

    First Kill

    Reflections on a transformative hunt. In your mind’s eye, imagine a hunter. What you probably see is not me. I’m a river guide, and if that doesn’t paint a clear enough picture of my appearance, then perhaps my eight-year…

Gear Reviews

  • Gear: Equipment

    Review: NestOut Battery

    Device-charging batteries come in all shapes and sizes these days, but NestOut has created something truly different—and truly nifty, which is a word I don't use lightly (nobody should, really). Their Power Bank 5000mAh is…
  • Schnees Highwood boot
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Schnee’s Highwood Boot

    I’ve always been a little leery of slip-on boots. They look cozy, but for a long time I figured they wouldn’t stand up to any real hiking. The Highwood Boot from Schnee’s, however, has completely changed my mind. These 17-…
  • Gear: Equipment

    Review: Benchmade Water Knives

    What's a water knife, you ask? It's a bladed companion for all your waterborne excursions, be it a day in the driftboat, a week-long summer raft trip, or an autumn overnight in the canoe. Designed to handle extreme…
  • Aziak Backcountry Lite Tripod
    Gear

    Review: Aziak Tripod

    After years of hunting and scouting with my rickety, fragile tripod, I’d resigned myself to a choice between strong and light. Until I tried out Aziak's Backcountry Lite Tripod ($275) and Backcountry Lite Ball Head ($75),…
  • Gear: Equipment

    Review: Crazy Creek AirCliner

    Like the antebellum South, pre–Crazy Creek camping—that is, the time before compact, foldable camp chairs—seems utterly dark and foreign to us moderns. Indeed, it was a tipping point (so to speak), and there's no going back…
  • Gear: Equipment

    Review: Jetboil Flash

    You know you're arrived when you get genericized—meaning, people refer to all products in a general category using your specific name. (Think Kleenex, Thermos, Q-Tip, and Frisbee, among others.) These "proprietary eponyms"…
  • Gear: Equipment

    Review: Exped MegaMat Auto

    A few years ago, Exped changed the car-camping game with its MegaMat series; no longer did a night in the woods mean discomfort or lack of sleep. Indeed, my own MegaMat Duo, when inflated properly, is damn near as comfy as…
  • Gear: Apparel

    Review: Kuiu Gila Shirt

    For decades, baselayers were an afterthought, with most outdoor folk just grabbing whatever was at hand—a random cotton shirt, a thin wool chamise, maybe a polyester tee from a 5k if one was expecting to sweat a lot.…
  • Muck Boot Chore classic mid
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Muck Boot Chore Classic

    I bought my first pair of Muck boots before starting a job as a ranch hand when I was 19 years old. Over ten years later and I’m still wearing ’em. But a decade of hard use—and some questionable decisions—has resulted in a…
  • Stio Azura Jacket
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Stio Azura Jacket

    I’m not going to lie: the first thing that drew me to Stio's Azura Insulated Jacket was the pop of the coat's color. The fact that it’s a great base-layer under my ski shell and a solid stand-alone jacket for hiking is just…
  • Kuiu gila hoody
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Kuiu Gila Hoodie

    Picking what layers to wear in the fall can be a challenge. Temps can go from near freezing to 70-plus some days, which makes the Gila LS Hoodie from Kuiu a great choice. The Gila utilizes cooling fabric and is highly…
  • Nemo tensor sleeping pad
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: NEMO Tensor Sleeping Pad

    Across the board, sleeping pads aren’t the sexiest piece of gear, but forget a pad once and the necessity because apparent—usually in the form of a sore back. For years, I rocked a classic folding foam pad and called it…
  • Gear: Misc

    Review: Wiley X Sunglasses

    The shooting range is where Wiley X first made an impression on me—the comfortable, lightweight, crystal-clear glasses protected my eyes without fogging up, improving my aim on long days under the hot sun. Years later, they…
  • sitka ambient 75 hoodie
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Sitka Ambient 75 Hoodie

    When it comes to layers for trail running, hunting, or summer scouting, I’m always trying to find the balance between weight and warmth. I want a jacket that I can throw in my pack and forget about until a freak snowstorm…
  • Gear: Apparel

    Review: Meindl MFS-Vakuum Hiker

    Trustworthy boots are an essential possession for anyone who lives in Bozeman and likes to mix it up in the mountains, and for my first few months here, my old medium-cut, medium-quality hiking shoes weren’t cutting it.…
  • Solo Stove Pi Dual Fuel Essential Bundle
    Gear: Misc

    Review: Solo Stove Pi Pizza Oven

    Homemade, woodfired pizza making just got a whole lot easier with the Pi Dual Fuel Essential Bundle from Solo Stove. No more fumbling over the BBQ, trying to keep the crust from burning while the cheese won’t melt. The…
  • Gear: Equipment

    Review: MKC Super Cub Knife

    As Flannery O'Connor's famous story imparts, a good man is hard to find. So too with a good knife. Especially these days, in our never-ending obsession with cheap, disposable crap. Luckily, quality always rises to the top,…
  • Gear: Apparel

    Review: FlyLow Trailworks Jacket

    Finally, a raincoat that's not too light, not too heavy, not too loud & krinkly, and that fits well, allowing full freedom of movement—that's what I found with the FlyLow Trailworks Jacket, as I wore it hiking, shed…
  • Sealskinz Lyng Gloves
    Gear: Apparel

    Review: Sealskinz Lyng Gloves

    In the cold spring and fall months, my hands are one of the first things to get cold. I can remember times where I’ve needed to stop on the side of the trail during a chilly mountain bike descent just to get some feeling…
  • Gear: Apparel

    Review: Arms of Andes Pullover

    When it comes to outdoor apparel, it pays to take note of those who spend the most time in the elements: animals. Few materials rival the natural wonders found in wool. Alpaca wool, in particular, is renowned for its…
  • Petzl Swift Headlamp
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: Petzl Swift Headlamp

    Effectiveness versus weight: it’s a conundrum most backpackers reckon with when buying gear. With the new Petzl SWIFT RL Headlamp, outdoor recreators no longer have to choose between the two when it comes to lighting.…
  • Gear: Apparel

    Review: Heat Holders Zip Fleece

    It's easy to forget, living in brand-name Bozeman, that you don't have to spend a month's rent to get a decent outdoor garment. Take the Heat Holders Original Zip Jacket, for example. For a mere $45, you can deck yourself…
  • Weston Butcher Series #32 Meat Grinder
    Gear: Misc

    Review: Weston Meat Grinder

    After working at a butcher shop one fall and having access to their industrial-grade machinery, I forever swore off grinding my own wild game. We're talking two minutes for an entire elk, versus hours of stuffing chunks…
  • Mystery Ranch Marshall
    Gear: Equipment

    Review: Mystery Ranch Marshall

    Pounds make pain, and indeed, it’s hard to refute this age-old backpacker saying. But what if your goal is to walk out of the woods with as much weight as your trembling legs can carry? Mystery Ranch addressed this question…

Book Reviews

  • No Good Day to Die book
    Culture: Books

    No Good Day to Die

    Local author James Wolf’s No Good Day to Die (Evans & McDaniel, $30) journeys from 1851 to 1945 in real settings, but with a fictional plot. Within the exposition’s curveballs and intense action, we find ourselves…
  • Homeland Book
    Culture: Books

    Book: Homeland

    Ever wondered why Indian arrowheads are shaped the way they are? Or how ancient containers were made out of animal stomachs? Then look no further than Larry Lahren’s Homeland: An Archaeologist’s View of Yellowstone Country’…
  • wolf hunting yellowstone national park book
    Culture: Books

    Book: Wolf Huntin’ Yellowstone

    Yellowstone’s wolves are getting smart these days. With trapping and hunting pressure mounting on the edge of the Park, these adaptable animals are staying well within the preserve, forcing hunters to push the boundaries—of…
  • Red is the Fastest Color
    Culture: Books

    Book: Red Is the Fastest Color

    Bozeman author Dave Carty’s new novel, Red Is the Fastest Color (Guernica, $18), may not start out overly sanguine, but it gradually gains velocity, and by the end it’s a rosy-red barn-burner. Set in the slow-moving Shields…
Outside Bozeman fall 2024 cover

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