25 July 2010
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Published on July 25th, 2010 @ 08:47:51 pm, using 601 words, 30 views
Greetings All! Thanks for all the calls fellas…and ladies, I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know everyone better and I can sense the excitement in all your voices. As always, it’s great to hear from all our past clients as well! Our time on the mountain will come sooner than you think! While it’s “only summer” and hunting season seems a ways off, hopefully everyone has been preparing both mentally and physically. I’m going to do my best to begin devoting some time here to help answer some of your questions and better enhance our hunter-preparation programs.
There’s been a lot of good questions thrown my way from gear, boots, broadheads and more. I’m glad to hear everyone has been out shooting and putting themselves in realistic hunting situations. This is probably the one area of preparation most of us don’t spend enough time in. While I know we all don’t live out in the country and it’s a task to head out to the range, you’d be surprized what you can accomplish in tuning your instincts to get your mind where it needs to be long before you step foot here in our wild country.
If you’ve already gone through your gear 5 times, chances are you’ve got what you need. Now is the time to start making sure everything you have works and will be an asset to your hunt and not a hinderance. If you plan to use a range finder, practice with it on every shot. Just like a basketball player has a routine at the foul line, a hunter has to develop the same smooth actions. I’d like to caution everyone, there’s become a whole lot of gimmicks and junk out there that will serve more as a distraction to the hunt and the hunter. Don’t buy into any of them, put your time and money where it counts-into yourself.
I’ve not watched many outdoor shows lately. That’s not to say that something can’t be learned from them, but while your watching the show, you might want to be doing up downs, jogging in place or heck, set up a little target range in your living room with a little air gun. Anything you can do to take a few steps closer to getting in the groove will help.
As we age, it takes a great deal longer to get in shape. Your lungs and your legs will either hurt you or help you. Elk hunting is one of those things that is nothing typical, no day is typical, no situation, no moment. Resourcefulness in the field, see it before you do it. Visualize your actions just as you see the well rehearsed scenes on the Outdoor Channel. Remember, there’s no “b-roll", there’s no “pause” in elk country.
Keep the calls coming and keep preparing. I saw 53 cows and 33 calves yesterday. If our elk have learned to survive new predators, you can bet that us two-leggers have our work cut out for us. As I say every week in elk camp-"This is going to hurt a bit".
Check back here often and please share your comments. We work as a team at Dome Mountain with well-thought out plans. This has been one of the many keys to our success. Your comments and past experiences will serve as incredible wisdom for those who are new to this adventure! I’ll be looking forward to it. Take a minute and add this blog to your “Favorites"…yup, up there in the top left…just click on it…you can do it…
See You On the Mountain!
JB Klyap, Outfitter #7843
09 May 2010
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Published on May 9th, 2010 @ 08:53:14 am, using 214 words, 85 views
A state senator who also happens to be a cattle rancher recently suggested the bright idea that the Department of Livestock should begin managing elk as a way to curb the spread of Brucellosis. A disease which has become the poster child for rich cattle ranchers to continue taking over Montana’s wild country.
Most people take their pets to get shot for rabbies since we were smart enough to realize that vaccinating wild animals was a pretty silly idea. Most folks would agree that there’s a better way, especially since the DOL has written the book on mismanagement of Bison, wasted millions of tax dollars and continues to rob Montana of an indigenous species. I guess our tourists and backcountry users must like seeing cattle tromping through the high country, ravaging riparian areas and having more rights than most public users.
I just can’t seem to find any common sense in continuing with a program that doesn’t work then deciding that it’s better to beat two dead horses. Please visit this link at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, vote NO to this stupid idea and let those in charge know how you feel.
http://bozemandailychronicle.com/news/article_f9a35932-57da-11df-a9f1-001cc4c002e0.html
Thanks for Reading!
Jim Klyap, Outfitter #7843
23 April 2010
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Published on April 23rd, 2010 @ 10:07:05 am, using 263 words, 80 views
I was able to enjoy a great pre-run off float with some good friends and clients of 10 plus years. The day was mild and calm with a few clouds. Be sure to check out the highlights of our latest fishing adventures with our new live video fishing report and check in often for future updates! I’ll be working on this all season and there’s sure to be some valuable information and maybe a few secrets revealed.
The last couple of weeks brought us some additional moisture which seemed to add some glacial tint to feeder streams from the West, yet those flowing from the East were not as altered by the heat. The main river still allowed good visibility and decent fishing with nymphs and streamers. Although some Baetis were present fish weren’t yet looking up.
Few other boats were on the water which wasn’t a bad thing. The Yellowstone can be a challenging river to fish without some basic knowledge and of course an experienced guide. As of today the river has increased color and flow. With the month of May coming up quickly, the weather will play a large role in the consistency of the flows. In years past small heatwaves triggered some innitial discoloration of the river, but since the weather changes so quickly, spring fishing shouldn’t be written off. A bit of cold weather can bring things back in check overnight. We’re still keeping our fingers crossed for the Mother’s Day Caddis which hasn’t shown up yet. We’ll keep you posted!
Tight Lines & Smiles!
Jim “JB” Klyap, Outfitter #7843
13 April 2010
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Published on April 13th, 2010 @ 07:01:22 pm, using 265 words, 93 views
Our snowpack is holding strong at 70% with consistent spring moisture it will likely continue to improve. With no heat-waves in sight the Yellowstone River will continue to fish well. Rainbows continue to spawn, so now is not a bad time to make a few casts along the shores of your favorite lakes with ice out over. Don’t be surprised if another favorite fish gains your attention. Don’t be afraid to cast a fly to these frisky lovers of spring as well!
The Yellowstone flows have remained better than manageable. On warmer days a slight tint might show up, but it hasn’t seemed to put off the fishing. Plenty of fish are feeding on top when conditions are right. Having two rods in the boat ready for the switch can pay off big. We’ve done well stripping big streamers, bouncing Girdle Bugs, Buggers, Stones, BH Princes, Brassies and a multitude of other patterns. Most success has been a result of the right color and presentation depending on cloud cover and surface activity.
As water temperatures warm we’re keeping our fingers crossed for the Mother’s Day Caddis. Last year’s heavy run off kept this incredible insect hatch off the stage, however in considering the current conditions and weather patterns we could enjoy some great topwater action. If you’ve never fished this hatch, I’d highly advise giving it a shot. We’ll take a stab at the first week of May for right now, but the fishing should improve all around regardless as weather patterns hold.
Thanks for reading!
Jim “JB” Klyap, Outfitter #7843
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12 April 2010
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Published on April 12th, 2010 @ 01:54:49 pm, using 909 words, 96 views
Greetings Everyone! I’ve posted the latest press release from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation below. Here you will find pure facts, not emotion, pure science, not the misperceptions that have been surrounding this whole wolf debate. Please feel free to leave your comments.
RMEF Turns Up Heat on Pro-Wolf Groups
Pro-wolf groups were admittedly “surprised and disappointed” when the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation publicly challenged their mischaracterizations of the real impacts of wolves in the northern Rockies and are feeling even more heat today. Their recent call for a truce has been met with a scathing letter from RMEF President and CEO David Allen, who says Defenders of Wildlife, Western Wildlife Conservancy and others are party to what may become “one of the worst wildlife management disasters since the destruction of bison herds in the 19th Century.”
Allen said, “These animal rights groups seem to think that every individual wolf is worth filing another lawsuit to protect, but the decimation of local elk herds is unimportant. What is truly ironic is these folks claim protection of the Canadian gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act. However these wolves are not endangered. There are thousands of them throughout North America. The ESA is being manipulated far beyond its intended purpose.” One can find the text of both letters here:
Letter from Defenders of Wildlife to RMEF
Letter from RMEF to Defenders of Wildlife
Factual examples cited in Allen’s recent letter:
The Northern Yellowstone elk herd trend count has dropped from some 19,000 elk in 1995 before the introduction of the Canadian Gray wolf to just over 6,000 elk in 2008. At the same time the wolf numbers in this same area are on a steady increase.
Yellowstone’s Madison Firehole elk herd trend count has fallen from 700 to 108.
The Gallatin Canyon elk herd trend count between Bozeman and Big Sky, Mont., has declined from 1,048 to 338.
Wolf numbers in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming have far exceeded the original goals of 30 breeding pairs and 300 total wolves. Population estimates now exceed 1,700 wolves. And yet and others want to push the total up to 2,000 to 5,000 wolves.
Studies show that wolves kill up to 23 elk per wolf from November through April alone or up to 40,000 elk in just six months. A smaller but still significant number are killed from May through October; with total annual elk kills by wolves just for food potentially greater than 50,000 at the present level of wolf population. This accounts for only the elk needed for food, not surplus killing, which are elk killed by wolves and not eaten, which also occurs. The majority of all these kills are not elk that are sick or old.
Elk calf survival rates where wolves (and bears) are present are extremely low in specific herds, resulting in a survival rate of 10 percent or less—too low to sustain the herd over the long-term. RMEF points out this is a major issue as elk numbers going into the future, where wolves are concentrated, will suffer even greater losses and replacement becomes out of balance.
“Pro-wolf groups like to cite statewide elk numbers because it glosses over the ongoing annihilation of local elk herds,” said Allen. “They like to say that elk and wolves evolved together and would coexist now if man would just leave them alone, which completely ignores the fact that this is no longer the Old West and millions of us live here now. Habitat is shrinking at a rapid pace and the wildlife that lives here must be carefully managed. Man must manage wildlife and we have done so very successfully for over a century. We’re long past the day when wolf populations can be left unchecked. Right now this is simply a wolf amnesty program and the results are becoming alarming.”
“Managing wildlife in the courts, as opposed to science and the proven expertise of state conservation agencies, is a recipe for continued disaster,” stated Allen “These groups do not want states to manage the wolves as they manage other wildlife including predators. Why? It is curious that Defenders of Wildlife and others now boast about the statewide elk management numbers, which are managed by the states; but they do not trust those same states to manage wolves. Again, one should ask why?”
In late February, Allen sent letters to legislators and newspapers across the West calling out Defenders of Wildlife, Western Wildlife Conservancy and others for misleading the public through disingenuous use of current data on wolves and elk. In late March, group representatives accused RMEF of polarizing sportsmen on the wolf issue, and, ironically, to ask for collaboration rather than conflict.
In his letter Allen challenged Defenders of Wildlife and the others to meet face to face. “ I invite you to come to my office and let’s personally resolve this issue for the sake of those responsible hunters and those responsible non-hunters. Enough of the legal maneuvering and posturing, let’s resolve this now,” Allen said in his letter.
“We will collaborate with those who believe in sound wildlife management, not promoting one species over others for what we believe are hidden agendas. There is no one proposing annihilation of the wolves, yet Defenders and others like to act as if such a threat exists. It helps their fundraising efforts but does little to solve the issue. Constantly moving the goal line and ignoring the future consequences are just two reasons we do not collaborate with such groups,” Allen added.
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