Tag Archives: hunting season

Larry Wilson: Racking up the bear encounters

Commentary, News, ,

Larry talks about the start of hunting season and some recent bear encounters . . .

In my neighborhood, Trail Creek, the early snow translated to hunter success. Although I have yet to get my winter’s meat, my close neighbors have harvested two bull elk and at least four whitetail bucks.

I don’t know whether other North Fork neighborhoods have been as successful, but apparently not. I accompanied a neighbor to town with his elk last Sunday, and R.J. at the checking station said it was the first elk he’d seen, and he’d checked only two deer in the first two weekends of the hunting season. The checking station is only open on weekends, so animals taken out during the week are not recorded.

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson: On gardening, wood-cutting and hunting

Commentary, , ,

Larry talks about fall activities on the North Fork . . .

My lone aspen tree is now adorned with bright yellow leaves, and the larch are beginning to turn gold. Daytime temperatures have remained in the 70s, but frost is common most nights. It’s definitely fall with fall activities.

Gardening on the North Fork has seen an upsurge in recent years…

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson: The North Fork gives thanks

Commentary, News, , ,

Larry Wilson discusses Thanksgiving on the North Fork and tail end of hunting season . . .

As usual, the Thanksgiving dinner at Sondreson Hall was a big community success. While most of the U.S. has made Thanksgiving a family holiday, here on the North Fork it is a community event. Just like the original Pilgrims, we choose to live in a place where the weather can be harsh and there is a real need for neighbors to help each other at times. With town fifty miles away and many services limited or non-existent a good neighbor is a fine thing.

It is not unusual up here to help a neighbor get out of the ditch or to bring auto parts or groceries from town. On the North Fork, a neighbor might live 20 miles away but is still considered not only a neighbor but a friend. In the towns or cities people are more likely to look through you than at you. No so, on the North Fork.

As a result, the Thanksgiving dinner is a collection of 60-80 neighbors who are glad to see you and you are glad to see them.

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson: Talking bucks, poachers and larch

Commentary, , , , ,

Larry puts his feet up and talks about this October on the North Fork . . .

Nearly everyone has already reported a slow start to the general hunting season, and that has been the case among North Fork residents, too.

Neighbor Lynn Ogle shot a nice white-tailed buck this week, and since I was with him, I don’t really feel skunked. That is the only legal kill I’m aware of.

Two white-tailed bucks were illegally killed on Trail Creek on private property. A license plate number was written down by another hunter and, if correct, the shooter may be arrested.

Continue reading . . .

Larry Wilson: Hunting a hectic time in the forest

Commentary, ,

Some well-chosen observations about hunting season in Larry Wilson’s column this week . . .

The fall colors are not at their peak yet, but close. The quaking aspen have turned bright yellow, and the leaves are beginning to fall, while the larch are half gold and half green.

Of course, bow hunting has been open for weeks, but camouflaged hunters with blackened faces aren’t very visible and their numbers are relatively small.

Gun season is different. Orange-clad hunters are everywhere – on foot, ATVs and pickups…

Continue reading . . .

Wolf licenses on sale August 17th — maybe

Environmental Issues, News, , ,

The Clark Fork Chronicle reports that hunting licenses for Wolves go on sale in Montana on August 17. In northwest Montana, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission set a quota of 41. Interestingly, the North Fork has a specific sub-quota of 2 wolves.

As just about every article on the subject has mentioned, this year’s wolf hunts in Montana and Idaho are sort of theoretical at this point. They will almost certainly be challenged in court.

For more details on wolf regulation and many related subjects, visit the Montana FWP “Wolf Conservation” page.