DEADLINE APPROACHING-GET YOUR HUNTING LICENSE NOW!!!
Posted by JB on February 19, 2012 at 6:25 pm | Last modified: February 19, 2012 6:25 pmThe March 15th Application Deadline will be upon us before we know it. After this date there may be no further opportunity to obtain a Montana hunting license. We’re offering the rare opportunity to reserve your spot with little down. Please give us a call today, toll free at 800-313-4868 to lock in your dates.
Current Hunting Openings: Archery; October 8th-12th. Rifle: 11/11-11/15 & 11/21-11/25 (Week’s I & II Rifle Full)
AREA 313 (Dome Mountain) Now Requires a Special Permit-If you plan to hunt on the East side of the Yellowstone river from Gardiner, Montana North in AREA 313 this fall, don’t forget to fill in the bottom of page 2 on the license application with “313-40″ and add $9.00 to the final tally. If you’ve already reserved a hunt with us, you should have a paper application in hand, if not please go to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and complete an on-line application. Click here.
These permits are “unlimited”, so you’re likely to get one if you make the draw. Non-residents will also have an opportunity for surplus after March 15th, however based on our current bookings and industry sentiment, don’t be surprised if there aren’t any tags left over. Most folks are taking advantage of the deadline and returning to Montana to hunt big game this season.
While there were some tags left over last season, this may have been a result of the loss of the “Guaranteed Outfitter Sponsored Tags” which sold out every season and were a consistent source of income for FWP, not to mention, giving non-residents the opportunity to begin planning their Montana adventure nearly a year in advance.
The idea behind the new changes is to alleviate hunting pressure with hopes of allowed the already reduced great Northern Yellowstone Herd, which once numbered nearly 20,000 before wolf introductions, now float to dangerously low levels. It’s indeed a sad time. While hunters are “doing the right thing” they’re also trying to fix something that they had little to do with. Of course, this is the introduction of a non-native wolf to Yellowstone. The rest is history.
I don’t believe that Wolves are completely responsible for declining elk numbers, but it’s hard to argue that they didn’t play a very key role. I also don’t believe that Wolves ate all the Elk either, rather they “re-distributed” to other areas across the state.
2012 Season Outlook & Current Scouting Report:
We’ve had an extremely mild winter preceeded by a late green summer and fall, there’s no shortage of food. On and around the ranch we’re seeing roughly 500 elk or so, this doesn’t include the thousands of acres we can’t see, so we’ll bump the estimate up to 2,000 or so. Bigger bulls have found their winter hide outs farther up in the high country, but should have plenty of food and water.
One of the last remaining migrations in the world. Elk from Yellowstone Park seek food and refuge on Dome Mountain Ranch
A recent trip to Red Mountain Camp revealed no Wolf tracks, which I thought was really odd since they’d all but had a trail beat down to the dirt through the hunting season. I was certain they’d had a den in the drainage below the black timber, however upon some investigation the only thing I found was a distinct oder of cat urine and a hiding spot for one massive white tail buck!
I did see a good number of elk in the flats and basins enjoying the open wind-swept slops. As usual they were mostly on the side of Dome Mountain no doubt seeking out more grass than areas on national forest that have been heavily grazed by domestic livestock. I also didn’t see any winter kills as of yet. There were also limited winter kills last winter and early spring as well, that is until elk began to have their calves, then the Wolves definitely seemed to return.
We completed our second Montana wolf season and fortunately 2 of the 3 wolves in our quota came from the general area around Dome Mountain. One of the larger adults may have been an Alpha, so hopefully this will reduce the pack numbers in our area. According to FWP we have between 8-12 wolves in the pack we’re now calling the Slip & Slide pack. Let’s hope they stay on that side of Red Mountain and dine on slow elk!
We should be in the makings for a great season. A mild winter should allow better survival and healthier calf crop. Less fences on the ranch should give prey better opportunities, 2 less wolves will account for 30 or 40 more calves surviving and less hunters next season will be the icing on the cake! Not to mention, all of the guide staff will be returning with another year of experience under their belts and even higher hopes. You’ll not want to miss this one!
Check out video highlights from last season! (Click Here!!!)
See You on the Mountain!
JB Klyap, Outfitter #7843
Tags: elk hunting applications for montana, elk hunting license, montana draw tags, montana hunting license, montana spcial permit area 313, season openings | Categories: 2012 SEASON DATES & RATES, Booking an Elk Hunt, Montana Elk Hunting, montana guided elk hunts, Montana Hunts | Comments (0) | PermalinkWhen Should I Book My Hunt for 2012?
Posted by JB on December 5, 2011 at 7:24 pm | Last modified: December 5, 2011 7:24 pmYesterday was a good day to book your 2012 hunt with us. Normally I’d be pretty laid back about bookings, but based on the number of calls we’ve been receiving combined with the now public success we enjoyed this past season, I’m pretty sure the limited openings we have will fill quickly, and I sure hate to say “NO” to someone, but the only way we can be fair is to take reservations on a first come-first serve basis. If you’re a return client, we’ve made it easy by reducing your deposit to $500.00. Please give me a call today, toll free at 800-313-4868 so we can all have a Merry Christmas!
“Chasing Tail”…
Dan and I have been spending some time in the high country doing our best to locate some fresh Mountain Lion tracks, but the problem we’ve been having is all the elk tracks, but we decided this is a good problem to have. We watched close to 500 elk coming up from Daily Lake. Now that the gates have been closed over there it’s interesting just how many elk benefit from this now undisturbed area. Chances are the road will be opened again next hunting season, which means we can count on someone driving in there and pushing all those elk right to our dinner plates.
During one of our hikes through some deep timbered bottoms above Clayton’s cabin we bumped some nice bulls out. We were able to video them as they walked up the side of Stands Peak. These bulls were likely here during the last few days of the elk season or longer, but they were in such a good hiding place and were probably nocturnal we just never saw them. However, something tells me Dan will file this little spot away for next season and be dragging some poor soul down into here. It’s a sweet spot without a name…yet.
Dan’s pal Tyler shot the cat of a lifetime weighing in at 178 pounds. When you see a predator this big it makes the hunter in all of us wonder just how many times we’ve walked right beneath a critter like this as it sat in the crook of a tree probably licking it’s chops and giving thought to dinner time. However, since we actively hunt these animals every year with an effective management system they continue to be wary of humans, unlike those in other states that have banned lion hunting. Take California for example. Those cats feed well on mountain bikers all the time. Maybe the spandex is easier to bite through compared to 3 layers of wool? Nonethless, I’m glad to be on the top end of the food chain. That’s the way it should be.
Our wolf quota has a ways to go with only half of the number of wolves taken. Although our quota filled quickly, many other areas of the state are having trouble putting up the numbers. Hopefully the extension of the season will bring some much needed scientific balance back to this emotion based environmental mistake. We’ve already noticed a difference in elk and deer numbers on the ranch with only a few of the predators being eliminated.
Since these wolves are not native and 30% larger than the original wolves of the state they’ve played a big role in changing elk habits. In addition, unlike the native wolves which were beginning to make a natural comeback, these non-native wolves hunt in much larger packs, which is probably why elk have become so bunched up. Predator control will continue to be an effective part of Montana’s ability to continue to offer outstanding hunting opportunities. Personally, I can’t wait until more wolves move into Colorado, a state that’s enjoyed virtually “predator-free” hunting for years. Maybe the Mexican wolves will move North and push a bunch of those soft elk our way. We sure wouldn’t mind some easy hunting.
Until next time, thanks for reading and we’ll see you on the mountain!
Jim “JB” Klyap, Outfitter #7843
Tags: When Should I Book My Hunt? | Categories: Booking an Elk Hunt | Comments (0) | Permalink“Have Fun Today”-Three Simple Words to Remember.
Posted by JB on November 29, 2011 at 1:16 am | Last modified: November 29, 2011 1:16 amAbove the entrance to Dome Mountain lodge hangs a wooden sign which I hand-routed years ago. On the front are the words “Welcome to Dome Mountain Ranch” but, it’s the words on the back that stick with most folks. This is the side we all see each morning before leaving the lodge to head out to the mountain to play.
An elk hunter takes a break on Dome Mountain Ranch during the last week of the rifle season.
I was stumped about what to write on the reverse side, so I asked the owner of the ranch. Without hesitation he suggested the words “Have Fun Today”, simple yet powerful. Although few who walk under this gate need the reminder, however, it serves as a testament to our credo here at Dome Mountain. Those three words just might have become our new motto.
We’ve been chasing Elk now for about 3 months straight-that’s a lot of 18 hour days, but well worth it when we’re so appreciated by our clients.
No one has missed a day. No one got hurt, sick, pregnant and no one proposed marriage (almost doesn’t count here either). These are all things that can sure mess up a hunting season. Fortunately, we’re a group of focused trubadours.
Some of our clients even missed a few days of school, but I’ll bet you a free hunt they’re probably students at the top of their class. As an X-school teacher I’m well qualified to know when someone is learning something that will serve them for the rest of their lives. It’s certainly a bigger lesson than driving to the grocery store and there’s always room for real conservationists, not extreme-confused enviromentalists.
The last week of the season was tough. Some dues were paid and some bleeding, sweating and puking were a part of the program. We were joined by all return clients. We had a father and son who’d bow hunted with us, our pal Mike who’s a local boy from Montana and Buzz from Hawaii-all gentlemen with endless amounts of integrity and a true passion for the hunt and wild places. We couldn’t ask for more ideal clients. The hunting world couldn’t ask for better examples. We’ll be looking forward to sharing the mountain with all of them next season.
A Montana resident enjoys another successful elk hunt on the rugged face of Dome Mountain
There weren’t any easy kills this week. Most of the elk stayed up high, which we didn’t mind since this kept them safe from road hunters. Besides that, it was nice to have the mountain to ourselves.
The new guide Mikey(nickname pending) scored early with Mike C. high up on the ridges of the Harvit Flat. He showed his youth by dragging the entire elk down the face in the dark whole! Mike C showed his wisdom by getting the heck out of the way.
Art and Osiris enjoyed their first Fair Chase elk on the same day. Osiris braved the high country with Que-Tip (Dan) and spent an entire day trying to pick off one lone bull surrounded by over 100 cows.
Dome Mountain Elk Hunting guide Dan Pikar celebrates with Osiris on his first ever Montana elk-that will save some trips to the grocery store!
That’s a lot of eyes, ears and noses to fool, but they did it. Of course, Osiris is something special. Art was able to watch the entire show from the tower shack in between playing checkers alone. He did share with me that he won every game.
Here's one client who'll agree that the work really begins after an elk is on the ground!
At 16 Osi is well on his way to becoming as pure a hunter as they come. However, I don’t know if he should keep eating the raw heart of his kills.
Dome Mountain Elk Hunting Guide Dan Pikar closing out a great season with one last pack job!
These actions may be a result of watching too much Jeremiah Johnson, then again, wild game meat hasn’t been known to cause any bad reactions in humans. I’m sure he’ll have fun when he gets back to school and debates with his lackey environmental science teacher from southern California.
After their celebration in “The Crack”, he and Dan slid the bounty down the face as well. Osiris still had enough energy to do some summer saults!
On our way up the mountain to retrieve Art and the ponies, we ran across a lone bull above the Aspen patch by the Alpine House. Art made an exceptional shot and two more follow up shots.
Dan, Kurty, Mikey and Art volunteered to retrieve the elk that night. They’ll be feeling that pain for a while, but they got it out without complaint and to no one’s surprise-they had fun! If there’s one thing I can say about this crew-they don’t even know how to whine.
Dome Mountain hunting guides Dan, Dirty Kirty and Mike displaying what keeping the faith is all about.
Since Buzz shared expensive wine and cigars with me nearly every night I’ve chosen to let him tell his own story. As always, his wisdom adds to our knowledge. The comment of the week-“It all looks the same on a plate!” Nicely done Buzz-and I’ll be enjoying that last cigar in my hot tub with some $7.00 dollar a bottle wine…saving money for our trip to surf with you!
Big Horn Sheep working out a disagreement over a woman.
In the end, we had 100% opportunity and some truly hardcore fair chase elk hunting. There were no ATV’s, no fancy gadgetry, just pure Montana elk hunting. We’re going to keep it that way. By the sounds of it, the general public didn’t have very good success. On nearly every morning some wing-nut drove through the Daily hay fields and pushed a couple hundred elk right into our laps.
Montana road hunters assisting anti-hunter's in their cause
This is sad for the guys who walk in and do their best to hunt hard only to have someone ruin it for them. We’ll work on making this area better public hunting in the future, but if folks still think “access” means with motorized vehicles, we’ll continue to use their poor tactics in our favor (and make fun of them). You can bet we’ll be on the front lines of any battles for motorized access! (Montana’s hunting regulations don’t say it’s illegal to shoot an ATV)
A nice bull elk taken on Dome Mountain Ranch during the final week of the general rifle season.
Now that we’ll be going into hibernation mode we’ll be working on our new promotional video, so be sure to check back often. In addition, I’ll be adjusting the blog to make it more user-friendly, with more photos, videos and a search options.
It’s time to book your 2012 hunt. In order to be fair, we will continue to offer openings on a first-come-first-serve basis with a cut off of 6 clients per week.
If you’re a return client, please take advantage of our gratitude by locking in your dates with only a $500.00 deposit. The license application process will begin soon. Although there were 800 tags left over from last season, that doesn’t mean the same will occur this year.
2012 GENERAL RIFLE SEASON DATES
Week I: October 20th-October 24th
Week II: October 30th-November 3rd
Week III: November 11th-November 15th
Week IV: November 21st-November 25th
Until next time…thanks for reading and we’ll see you on the mountain!
Outfitter Jim “JB” Klyap, #7843
Dome Mountain Ranch 800-313-4868
Tags: hunting report 11/27/11, Youth hunts | Categories: fair chase elk hunting, Hunter Ethics, Montana Elk Hunting, montana guided elk hunts, Montana Hunts, Uncategorized | Comments (0) | PermalinkHunter’s Must Police the Ranks
Posted by JB on November 19, 2011 at 5:08 am | Last modified: November 19, 2011 5:08 amI sincerely believe that if we hope to continue living off the land, enjoying a well-earned trophy or simply avoiding dependance, we must unite. Extreme environmentalism is the latest head rush for the lucky sperm club and other whiners.
Directly from Montana Outfitters and Guides Association
New “Sportsmen’s” Groups Mask Partisan Political Agenda
Botanists use the term “biennial” to describe plants that bloom on a two year cycle. They are dormant or undeveloped in the off-year, then sprout and bloom with vigor the next. But the phenomenon is not limited to flora. The past several election cycles have seen the emergence of biennial, self-designated “sportsmen’s groups,” which sprout virtually overnight in election cycles, then disappear once the election is over. And the peak season for bloom is now upon us.
These groups insist they are not conceived to influence elections. And under tax and campaign finance law, they generally can’t engage in overt electioneering, so this claim is at least partly true, if only of legal necessity. But it’s no coincidence that they emerge when they do, and it’s certainly not an accident that their “educational” campaigns specifically target candidates in close elections.
The latest such example comes to us from Montana, where “Montana Hunters and Anglers Action” sprouted mere weeks ago. One might expect that a new state sportsmen’s group would focus on developing support, building membership, and recruiting volunteers. But the Montana group did none of these. Instead, it immediately spent nearly a quarter million dollars to air TV commercials critical of Montana’s Congressman, Rep. Dennis Rehberg. We won’t know where the money came from until the group files its IRS Form 990 for the year, but it’s a safe bet that not one penny of it came from Montana sportsmen. The group simply hasn’t existed long enough to even ask Montana sportsmen for support.
Let’s stipulate here that ours is not a partisan cause. Hunters have friends and opponents in both major parties. Political break lines on our issues conform more closely to geographical contours, and the shifting demographics that accompany them. And there are often elections where two strong hunting supporters will square off against each other.
The trend of political sportsmen’s groups that bloom overnight with no visible means of local support, however, is indeed partisan in nature. Virtually all of these biennials favor Democratic candidates in tight races. The reasons for this certainly include the fact that many of the same people are usually involved.
Such is the case in Montana, which is hosting a marquee Senate race in 2012. Incumbent Senator Jon Tester is a Democrat, and he is being challenged by Congressman Rehberg, who is a Republican. The leadership of the Montana group includes a prominent state Democratic politician as well as a former aide to the state’s other Democratic Senator, Max Baucus. Two of the group’s leaders have donated thousands of dollars to Senator Tester’s re-election campaign. Two others were leaders in “Montana Sportsmen for Obama” in 2008. And yet another has left his fingerprints in such groups going all the way back to “Sportsmen for Kerry.” This is not am impartial group.
See a pattern here? We have the same people, every two years, forming “Sportsmen for (Democratic candidate)” groups that spring up overnight, with mysterious sources of funding. The local leaders of the groups always have deep ties to the Democrats in the race, and they are
always mated with operatives from D.C. who have a long track record of establishing similar groups in other elections over the years.
There will be many more to come before Election Day next November, and we can expect that “Sportsmen for Obama” will sit at the top of the pyramid. After all, in 2008 the Obama campaign conscripted the group “Americans Hunters and Shooters” as a surrogate, deploying its chairman at public appearances in key states. This group too has fallen upon the ash heap of history, incidentally, after once admitting in a deposition that it had at most “a couple hundred” members at its peak.
Reasonable people can disagree about who is the best candidate for any given office, and hunters are no different. Politically, we are not monolithic, we are not partisans, and we certainly don’t all agree on everything. But it is the lowest point of crass and cynical politics to hatch a new roster of “sportsmen’s” groups every cycle, founded by the same partisan operatives from D.C., funded by heaven knows who, conspicuous in supporting candidates from only one party, and disguised under the mantle of state sportsmen. All hunters should be wary of new “sportsmen’s” groups sprouting up before next year’s election that purport to represent our interests.
SCI members have a key advantage in the political sphere — SCI-PAC, our political action committee. SCI-PAC has been in continual existence since its founding decades ago, and expressly supports pro-hunting candidates from both major political parties. It is led by SCI members who volunteer their time, and its mission is both simple and consistent: to support candidates who support hunters, and defeat candidates who oppose our hunting heritage. Please support SCI-PAC with your own generous donation, so we can focus our resources together on making a major political impact in the 2012 election cycle.
Let’s work together and make these guys get a real job. They’ve got way too much time on their hands.
“See You on the Mountain”
Jim “JB” Klyap, Outfitter #7843
Tags: Extreme Environmentalists, Politics & Hunting, Tree Rapers | Categories: Controversial Issues | Comments (0) | PermalinkChildren Lost in the Wilderness
Posted by JB on November 16, 2011 at 11:29 pm | Last modified: November 16, 2011 11:29 pm
Eleven year old Will Fournier enjoying a little time in wild places with his Dad Alan, and the Dome Mountain crew.
There is a place left in this country big enough to consume all worldly distractions. A place one can become truly lost and oftentimes, found. Wilderness is a place that pulls things deep from our souls. This solitude gives us the chance to breath, to rest, to think, and to prioritize the things that really do matter. If we immerse ourselves, it does wonders to the spirit. Elk hunting is a hell of an excuse to be out there.
We welcomed five hunters this past week which consisted of two old elk hunting pals, a father and son (Will, 11yrs old), and “Swat-Dan” as he’s become known around here. (Not only do guides end up with nicknames around here, so do return clients)
Swat Dan and Que-Tip doing what they do best! Que-Tip will be marketing his "snow camo hat" this winter for $99.99. Hats come complete with dirt and elk blood.
Just imagine… You are going elk hunting in Montana with your Dad. During your elk hunt, you rode a painted pony in the dark, in the middle of Grizzly Bear country. You hiked miles of unforgiving Rocky Mountain dirt. To boot, you had elk in your riflescope nearly every day. Heck, I just liked getting out of school. As for 11 year old Will, he received the unanamous vote for “hunter of the week”.
We often worry about our youth being misled during the developmental years of their lives. I’m certain Will has been led in the right direction. He’ll be hunting for the rest of his life. There are few finer things a father and son can do together-other than fishing. Many thanks to your Dad, for helping you to see the right directions to take in life-welcome to our world. I’ll look forward to getting you in a drift boat with a fly rod in your hand next summer!
Master Guide "Durty Kurty Magellan" provides weekly "Pro Tips". In this photo he suggests a sure fire way to get rid of the smell and taste of cheap cigar smoke by placing a fresh patch of bull belly fur under the chin.
Wildeness is a place to get lost, physically as well as mentally. It’s also a place where you really are only as old as you feel. While Will may have had youth on his side, fortunately even we elderly elk hunters don’t forget how it feels to be 11 again. That’s why we keep doing it. That’s why we love the hunt. That’s what we work so hard at here at Dome Mountain Ranch. Sharing this with others is making a positive difference in all our lives I’m convinced, this is one reason we have so much fun.
I’ve always said, “if you ain’t bleedin’, sweatin’ or pukin’, you ain’t huntin’ elk”. I’m pretty sure that everyone who hunted with us this week would agree. Elk hunting is never easy. Matter of fact, just the ride to get there is often a challenge and adventure in itself. On top of that, once we get to that spot before its even light enough to see, there’s the patience part. It’s not easy to rest your back on a rock for 3 hours in blistering cold western weather (we hunted for three days with high wind warnings-gusts up to 80 mph winds in 9 degree temperatures (these numbers are literally off the wind-chill chart) . Fortunately, the tower shack was held down by Swat Dan and Q-Tip.
Dome Mountain guide Dan Pikar with hunter Dan Netlutch admiring a hard-earned Montana bull elk. Those steaks should help keep bellies full and save some trips to the grocery store so Dan can afford shoes for his kids this Christmas.
In spite of tough weather, we were into elk most of the week and had some good opportunities. It was the elements that got the best of us, not so much the hunting. More and more cows are moving onto the mountain and a few elk have begun their yearly migration via a 15,000 year old trail from Yellowstone Park, but nothing like last season.
We’ve not seen many full-bodied bulls going by in the back of pickup trucks. Anyone who’s been killing elk around here lately usually is taking them out in pieces, be it with some trusty mules or kind, strong-backed pals. Road hunting has been tough, just the way we like it. Anytime we make it harder on the guys who give hunting a bad name we’re doing our part in keeping good traditions alive and extinguishing bad traditions.
"Durty Kurty Magellan" share's pro-tips on keeping ones feet dry with spray on deodorant. Sources tell us that this may be a psychological maneuver to manipulate Dan to do his laundry at least once after 11 weeks of elk hunting.
“Durty Kurty” shared a pro-tip with us regarding how to keep our feet warm and stop them from sweating. When it comes to hunting in our Montana weather, we always suggest at least 1000 grams of Thinsulate…or in layman’s terms, enough boot to keep your feet warm in frigid conditions.
Often a hunter’s feet will sweat when active because some boots don’t allow “breathing”. Once on stand, this can cause some chilly toes. In order to combat this moisture, Kurty suggests spray on deodorant. Though I’ve not tested his methods yet, I’m also curious if this was just his way to get Dan to do some laundry. We’d hate to change his knick name from “Q-Tip” to “Dirty Dan”.
According to all the hunter’s comments this week, we’re doing things right and always working on doing things better. There were plenty of adventures, more laughs at the dinner table than anyone could count, a few good jokes and most importantly great times with great people. New relationships were formed.
- Dome Mountain’s new guy (nickname coming) Mike displays his “hunting beard” that he’s been working on for the last 2 months.
We’ve got one week of hunting left, the famous “Thanksgiving week”. Weather forecasts call for some Arctic Cold (I guess 9 degrees would be called “sub-arctic”?). Snow is sticking in spite of the high winds, yet there’s still an abundance of available food in the high country, so elk don’t have to get far from their beds to find chow. Most have been bedded before first light and sticking in those beds until the last few ticks of legal shooting light. Success is going to not only mean being in the right place at the right time, it’s going to mean being in the right place at the right time sooner and later.
The mountain will be lonely for a few days and so will the elk. As winter settles in it’s hard to believe that 12 weeks of hunting will again be coming to a close for the 14th season…at least until we chase some cats in a few weeks or unless someone makes the poor decision to extend our season so the road hunters can have a little more success.
Safe travels to Buzz, Mike, Art & Osirus-We’ll see you on the mountain in a few days!
Thanks for reading. Looking forward to sharing another adventure real soon!
“We’ll see you on the Mountain”
Elk Hunting Testimonials=”A +++”
Posted by JB on at 9:54 pm | Last modified: November 16, 2011 9:54 pmElk Hunting Testimonials; Week II-Words worth sharing.
JB,
I am still smiling all day. Had a great time in Montana. Definitely got the experience I was hoping for and your part of the country is stunningly beautiful. I took plenty of photos but they just don’t do justice to the real thing. I do hope to figure out a way to return someday. If not for a hunt, at least for a visit.
I took my son and went to deer camp for opening weekend of whitetail (rifle) here in Vermont this Saturday and Sunday and turns out one of my good friends is Charlie Hafner who is on your emailing list and he had recognized the pictures of my hunt from your Nov 8 blog. He brought it all printed out. We have been friends since college days and been going to our deer camp for opening weekend (that Charlies’s family owns) for over 30 years now. His son, Scott, and my son Jeffrey are developing into the next generation of that tradition. Very cool. Scotty was the only one in camp of 8 guys that brought in a deer this weekend. Charlie said he has been researching for a while and been on your email list for 6 or 8 months. He’s undecided about elk in Montana or a Canadian deer or moose hunt but I gave him the A++++ recommendation for DMR.
I talked to the Yellowstone Game Processor today and they are shipping my order on Weds. The day I left I forgot to collect a package of tenderloin that Rick had put in the freezer at the ranch for me to take in my luggage. If that could get to the processor to ship with the rest I would appreciate it but if that is not convenient please offer it to the crew to share with my thanks and compliments.
Good luck with the rest of your season. If you hear from Rick I hope he’s hitting long and straight.
Hello Jim,
I just wanted to drop a line and thank you and your staff for a great job, well done. From the start to the finish, everything was excellent. The accomidations, food, guides, stock, etc., were all very good. I am looking forward to another hunt with you in the future. I have several people that have expressed interest to me in bringing them along. I will keep you informed. Thanks again for a great job; please pass it on. I will be contacting you in the near future.
Sincerely,
Jerry L. Stoner
Tags: Compliments, Hunting References, References, Testimonials | Categories: Booking an Elk Hunt, Choosing between a rifle hunt or archery hunt, Client Testimonials, Controversial Issues, elk hunting outfitter, fair chase elk hunting, Hunter Ethics, Montana Elk Hunting | Comments (0) | Permalink110% Success-Dome Mountain Elk Hunting Report, November 8, 2011
Posted by JB on November 9, 2011 at 1:15 am | Last modified: November 9, 2011 1:15 am
- Being an elk hunting guide isn’t for everyone, especially on Dome Mountain. It takes some guts, grit and gumption!
- Many extreme sportsman’s groups in the western states blame rich landowners and anti-hunters for posting their property to hunting. Fact is, research shows it’s because of disrespectful slob hunters.
Action started a day early with some entertainment from some local road hunters who shot a bull and wounded a cow which the Dome Mountain boys helped load into the game warden’s truck. While tickets were issued, it’s often disheartening because of the lightness of the fines. Most of the cost of the tickets will go to processing the meat for the food bank and although hunting privileges will be revoked for a year, history has shown that they’ll be back at it again.
The biggest threat to hunting isn’t anti-hunters; it’s those who set a bad example. I think most true hunters and conservationists would agree that the fines for game violations deserve higher penalties. Instead of $125.00 how about $5,000.00? So, the next time you see a “NO HUNTING” sign, don’t blame the landowner, blame a slob hunter.
I feel sorry for most of these guys because they’ve probably never hunted without being in site of or earshot of vehicles or some other form of human interruption. I guess that’s good though, otherwise our backcountry wouldn’t be quite as beautiful, and the bears probably wouldn’t like how they taste.
It can happen at any time, and for this lucky hunter it happened pretty quick!
We had four new hunters this week, normally we have return clients every week. Opening day of week 2 started out with a bang as one of our hunters took his first bull elk just minutes into the hunt. Elk continue to move back and forth across the river and we were fortunate to catch them on our side on this morning.
With weather still on the mild side and an abundance of food many elk continue to stay up high and bask in the sunshine. This has made predicting them very difficult. In addition, the local wolf pack continues to terrorize the herds often displacing them several miles in one night. However, we were still into elk every day of the hunt. As weather patterns begin to change and we head into more winter-like days food supply will dwindle and more elk will move on to the mountain. Our second week actually ended up being more successful than opening week.
Once the morning’s excitement passed, the boys headed out for the evening plan to the high country and they weren’t to be disappointed. Later that day we harvested another nice Montana bull. While they say a photo tells a thousands words, then a hunting picture definitely has even more to say. Photos rarely do the whole story justice. There’s the adventure of riding horses through the mountains, often in total darkness, the hours of solitude free of wordly distractions and of course, the deliberations on making the right moves and when not to move at all. For many, it’s definitely more than a thousand words! As a matter of fact…see what this Elk had to say before becoming dinner.
Sneaking up on a herd of bedded elk is never easy. Many folks who don’t hunt think that the hunter has an advantage because he can shoot from 300 yards or more. This just isn’t the case. Elk in our country are on high alert all the time. The introduction of Canadian wolves has forced them to be ever-watchful. They have senses that are so much more suited to living in the wild than us two leggers. With large ears that can rotate and hear an unnatural sound miles away and noses that can whif a hunter from unbelieveable distances, it’s never an easy task. 
Rick and Tom crawled around in wet snow and unfriendly Prickly Pears for nearly 6 hours until an opportunity presented itself. With a good rest and shooting confidence another bull was on the ground. The guide and hunter field dressed the animal and prepared it for the long, cold night, returning to dinner quite late, tired but feeling very good!
The hunting part can be tough, the shooting part is usually pretty easy, whereas the packing out part can have a whole new set of challenges.
It’s one thing to drive an ATV through a field and hook a rope around an animal, it’s another to cape, quarter and then safely pack 400 pounds of slippery critter on another animal, another animal that sometimes doesn’t feel like carrying anything. After some skiijouring and Mule skinning, and on-site therapy from Kirty…
Seasoned Montana hunting guide "Dirty Kirty" demonstrates the usefulness of an Elk hide.
the boys had it figured out and brought home some tasty chow and the hunter’s quarry. Again, everyone was feeling the hurt that a good elk hunt can provide. Len’s cooking as always helped everyone fall asleep early!
At this point, it seemed like things couldn’t get any better. As the boys headed up the hill again to retrieve another elk a new problem presented itself.
Most Mule deer taken on the ranch are down lower in the flats, however on this particular day one decided to show up in between the elk to be packed out and the hunters. It didn’t take long for them to decide how to save another trip up the mountain.
A true mountain Mule deer harvested on public lands near Dome Mountain Ranch.
Tom made a good shot and downed the deer less than a hundred yards from where his elk lie-talk about efficiency in the field.
Fortunately for the pack crew they’d decided to bring Joker the mule out for the day. Joker has probably seen more elk country than all of us put together. This is his retirement season, after this year he’ll probably be getting brushed and loved on by some sweet little kid and not have to work too hard at all. He’s as fine a mule as they come and has been rumored to fend off both a Mountain lion and Wolf from his pals. We’re going to miss the fun Joker has provided over the years…we might just have to keep him!
Joker the famous Mule with veteran guide "Ricki-Bobbi" and his client. Packing one of the big flat!
With nearly all our tags filled the fun was far from over. Mark’s father Chuck had the lucky ticket in his pocket after allowing Mark to take his elk on opening day, just like most good Dads! Although in his mid-70′s, Chuck wasn’t slowing down a bit. Kirty and the hunters located some elk coming from the north down low at first light. Choosing not to take an easy shot in site of the road, they doubled back and looped on the elk catching them just at the base of the mountain. Chuck made a great shot and filled his elk tag, thus completing the hunting adventure for the week.
The week went by fast and as usual, there’s much more to tell, but we’ll save those stories for next week’s time around the dinner table. Even though all the hunters had filled their tags, the hunting wasn’t done for the week. Dan and I had improved our blow gun skills to the point that we’d each harvested two trophy mice in the lodge.
Thanks again to all the clients, guides and my wife Lennae for creating another unforgettable week of elk hunting adventure at Dome Mountain Ranch. Of course we’re looking forward to next week already! It sounds like mild weather, but that’s okay. We are trying to forget the winter we had last season.
Book your 2012 Hunt Today-800-313-4868
See You on the Mountain!
Outfitter JB Klyap
Tags: domemountainoutfitters, elk hunter, elk hunting, fun hunts in montana, good hunters, great western hunts, hunting dome mountain, jb klyap, outfitter jim klyap, quality outfitters, the best outfit for hunting, trophy elk photos | Categories: Client Testimonials, elk hunting outfitter, Montana Elk Hunting, montana guided elk hunts, Uncategorized | Comments (0) | PermalinkMontana Elk Hunting Report-Week One; 2011-”The Tides are Changing”
Posted by JB on October 27, 2011 at 10:13 pm | Last modified: November 6, 2011 12:03 amOpening day of rifle was quiet. Several Wolves did a good job of chasing Elk around but, it didn’t take long for Team Dome Mountain to located these wily critter. Everyone in camp had the opportunity to enjoy some of Montana’s finest elk country. Each day we saw hundreds of elk, though not standing tied to trees. It was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Elk hunting is like that…a crap shoot. This week had a lot of great memories and plenty of laughs and even involved a couple fair chase hunts with the aid of a drift boat.
Fall has definitely set in. We’ve put away the SPF99 in archery season (and, we really did call in a Giraffe!). The mountains that reach past the 8,000 foot mark aren’t purple anymore. The sun is low in the sky all day. The Aspens and Cottonwoods are brilliant yellows. While the weather has yet to really affect Elk patterns, it sure has effected the full box of “hot hands” we started with at the beginning of the week, there’s quite a few missing. 
(there’s a “pro-tip” for you…even though I’m not an official pro-staffer, these little things are life savers! We put them in our boots, our gloves, under our arms, and some other places too. They will keep you warm when you need to be! Besides, cuddling with your hunting partner just isn’t right.
The first elk taken was actually by a member of the “hunter-support team”. Although Warren and Edna initially rented their vehicle from Hertz, it was last spotted in the Rent-a-Wreck parking area at Bozeman airport. Edna took the ribbing well and held her own as she always does after a week of hunting with us. We think this may have had some effects on Warren’s vision since he kept saying there aren’t any elk here, in spite of the hundred or so that kept walking by him. (we have the video to prove it-click here!)…Warren told me ”he didn’t recognize the hunter in the video, so the jury is still out)
As with each passing week I continue to be most impressed by the guides and clients who have a passion for the style of old-school hunting we fight to maintain with not only ever moment afield, but literally every waking moment, and then some. However, it goes beyond the hunting and extends to other moments spent together. I am beginning to truly understand the meaning of camaraderie. And yes, I do get paid to have fun. I admit it.
With each passing season we seem to hunt more and more for the right reasons and all the extremely healthy benefits of the hunt, from start to finish. As a result, everyone seems to leave Dome Mountain with a new appreciation for what we have in the last of the really wild places, myself included. These things have a way of rubbin’ off on a lot of folks.
A week isn’t that much time to get to know people, but in hunting camp, there’s enough short-cuts that it’s worth telling the same joke for the past 15 years and people still thinking it’s funny…”WHAT WAS IN THAT BAG?”. Elk hunting is transparent. These are important things for any successful hunt. The hanging in there part, the lack of excuses and the personal responsibility required to even create an opportunity for oneself during an elk hunt are paramount to success and demonstrated in camp last week. Fact is, it’s so easy to have fun when we hunt even if hunting doesn’t sound like of easy fun.
Our first legal elk (no illegal elk are ever taken) of the rifle season was taken as a result of an ancient fair chase hunting technique long before Jerimiah Johnson floated down a river. Resident elk are a bit slower this year to move into their fall feeding patterns, the grass is pretty much greener everywhere, but elk are starting to get picky about dinner and don’t mind swimming the Yellowstone river in the dead of night to eat at the good places. The problem was these elk were heading back across the river just about 10 minutes before legal shooting light. When I first heard the suggestion of floating down the river, docking the boat, then sneaking up through the high grasses in an effort to cut off the elk I partly agreed to it because I thought it’d be a hoot to watch. As for how well it might work, I really wasn’t sure. I wish my raft could have been a part of this special ops move, but the boat made it more sporting. It worked well enough that we’ll probably be doing it again. This should explain why Dan has neoprene waders on in one of the photos. 
After a couple of days we were getting into Elk everywhere from the benches to the flats which made each day even more exciting. Most mornings were fairly tough, but it didn’t take us long to capitalize on evening set up’s after putting elk to bed. We had several more controlled opportunities which brought great results.
Like most days in elk country there’s always something to be learned. Things like compensating correctly for up or down hill shots…or knowing what Horshrashdish sauce is before taking a big bite… to keep shooting even though we might think we’ve made the perfect shot…not eating so much of Len’s great dinner that we had to eat desert the hard way…and hanging in there until last light and then some continue to make the difference between hunting and shooting. In general, it’s all about keeping the faith and being prepared. I’m happy to say that everyone this week seemed to know what to expect and it showed.
Lots of folks continue to ask that question about “success rates”. Keep in mind that our area is a brow-tined bull only area, which means we can’t shoot cows or spikes. If we could, 100% success rates would probably be the norm, and we’d probably put a lot more meat on the table. Perhaps one day we’ll be able to make some changes to these non-scientific outdated rules in our area, but until then, we’ll keep doing our best.
Thanks again Warren, Edna, Allen, Pete (we sure miss Pepper!), Robert, Jerry and Marc for choosing us for your Elk hunting adventures. The past week was a true pleasure. We’ll look forward to sharing the mountain with you again real soon!
2012 SEASON DATES & RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE NOW-800-313-4868
See You on the Mountain!
JB Klyap, Outfitter #7843
Categories: Booking an Elk Hunt, Client Testimonials, elk hunting outfitter, fair chase elk hunting, Hunter Ethics | Comments (0) | PermalinkSelecting the Right Outfitter
Posted by JB on October 23, 2011 at 5:40 pm | Last modified: October 23, 2011 5:40 pmJB Klyap’s “Selecting the Guided Elk Hunt that’s Right for you”.
If you’re new to a Guided Elk Hunt, remember there really aren’t any dumb questions; just the ones you forgot to ask. Deciding where and which Outfitter can be a daunting task if you rush it. You should start planning at least a year in advance. However, good outfitters will also find a way to make your hunt happen in a hurry if you’re not good at planning! Enjoy the information below and I sincerely hope it helps you find a hunt that’s right for you.
Some General questions you might have? What makes a good Outfitter? Is the outfitter full time, do they live there year round or is this just a part time gig between jobs? What about the guides-experience levels, personalities, physical condition, knowledge of game and the country you’ll hunt. What is a “typical day” like?
Keeping good notes is important, there’s nothing like showing up and meeting the wrong outfitter for the first time! If you don’t like viewing websites, print them out, make the call and take notes on the back of the print outs.
Success Rates-this has become a loaded question and should be treated as such. If your sole goal is to harvest an elk, then it would make sense to book with the outfitter with the highest success rate. However, always remember the difference between hunting and shooting. After all, would it really be a fun hunt if you knew it was a guarantee?
Use common sense, get it in writing, read it and insure it. If it feels “shady”, it probably is. Good Outfitters will offer all these things up front without hesitation.
Don’t pay someone for something they say they’ll do, pay someone for something based on what they’ve already done-seek experience. Outfitting continues to be one of the most highly personalized professions in the world. You’ll want to seek someone out who you know you’ll enjoy spending a week or more with regardless of t make sure you pick the one that’s right for you-this is where YOU have to put forth some honesty and integrity he end result.
There are some great outfitters and outfits out and there are also some folks who work for big business who think they’re Outfitters -always check with state agencies like the Montana Board of Outfitters and Guides (406-841-2304),. Don’t be afraid to check on their professional affiliations through like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (800-call elk).
References-what other vacation gives references? Again, Outfitters give you ever opportunity there is to call their bluff. Take advantage of it. Ask yourself, when is the last time you had the chance to talk to real people that you KNEW weren’t being paid about a product? CALL THEM! It’s important to find out what type of “hunters” the references are and if they’re abilities are comparable to yours. You might ask them their age, physical condition, how far they had to walk a day, how long in the saddle. How many other clients were hunting that week and most importantly, what did they think of the “opportunities” they had regardless of their success.
Make certain that the hunt you book is one that you can survive. Don’t kid yourself. While you might think it will sound good telling your buddies about your big back country adventure over at the country club, it’s also a hell of a way to die.
Even the best Outfitters will have a few spots open, especially since many clients have to wait until just a couple months prior to their hunt to get vacation time. Never trust rumors or most TV shows, trust the experts. These are Outfitters, Biologists, Backcountry Rangers, and references.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Believe it or not, most hunters are disappointed in their hunt because it wasn’t what they thought it would be. Make sure you pick a hunt that offers a great time even if you don’t end up with a world record animal on day one.
Be sure to surf around a search around here at the “Outfitter’s Journal”. Thanks for reading!
See You on the Mountain!
Jim “JB” Klyap, Outfitter #7843
“What Makes a Good Client”-JB Klyap; Bugle Magazine
Posted by JB on at 5:32 pm | Last modified: October 23, 2011 5:32 pm
Always trust your guide!
While there’s always lots of input on choosing good outfitters, what then makes a good client? Choose your hunt carefully, do your homework, call references. If you booked your hunt after a few beers at a sports show because you liked some guy’s hat, your mouth may have written a check your body can’t cash. Be certain you feel confident that the hunt you booked is one in which you’ll have a great time regardless of the end result, you should have no reservations and realistic expectations. There are never any guarantees.
Good clients prepare for their hunt by preparing well. There’s no special gadgetry that will help you become a better hunter, save your money and put it into yourself. If you don’t plan to get in shape, be honest with the outfitter and he may be able to accommodate, but if you can’t walk a few miles at 8,000 feet you might not be ready for a true fair-chase elk hunt.
Keep safety in mind at all times. You’d be surprised how many guides have had a loaded gun waived in their face, or heard the hiss and wallop of 300 grain bullets at the wrong end of the wallop. Any personal displays or lack of safety and respect for the hunt will have you feeling like a loner most of the week. Ask yourself, when’s the last time you’ve sat around the dinner table with 8 strangers who all had guns?
When it comes to the business of elk hunting, the customer isn’t always right. Let the guide do the thinking, you worry about the hunting and pay attention. A good guide will find a way to get in rhythm with your abilities and use both to your advantage. The only wrong way to hunt elk is not being out there. Don’t be that guy. A good rule of thumb is to mirror the actions of your guide in the field with each step and maintain a willing and positive attitude throughout your hunt. Give the guide a chance, his mind works differently than yours. Therefore, it’s not a bad idea to make sure you two get to know one another as soon as possible, long before you step foot on Elk dirt, because there might not be much time, things can happen during the first minute of your hunt, right up to the last tick of hunt commencement light. Expect to be humbled, but not outhunted. It’s not a competition.
“No Whiners” is still a common saying in Montana, however times have changed and some Outfitters will go to great lengths to make your hunt as “easy” as possible. In choosing an easy hunt, you might be robbing yourself of a great adventure. An in tune guide can read you, he won’t want to push you too hard, he wants you to have a good time. While there are some things an operation can’t control; a good client will at least give them the opportunity to correct the things they can.
Always remember to relax, don’t put pressure on yourself plan to go home with nothing more than memories, and don’t give up. As the hunt progresses your glass should become fuller. You’ll need to define your own idea of success or just plan to have a good time and enjoy the hunt; the rest will work itself out. Finally, when that opportunity presents itself, don’t miss it!
Categories: Booking an Elk Hunt, Choosing between a rifle hunt or archery hunt, Client Testimonials, Controversial Issues, elk hunting outfitter, fair chase elk hunting, Hunter Ethics, Montana Elk Hunting, montana guided elk hunts, Montana Hunts | Comments (0) | Permalink