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Member:
We are located in the middle of Meagher County
in south central Montana, Hunting District #446. |
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We had 11 archery hunters this fall. Joby Matthias and Zita Caltrider did the cooking and camp chores. Kevin Ancell, Dustin Schell, Chad Evans, and I did the guiding.
The first archery hunt was September 8-13. Jeff and Bill Baumgartner of MN were our guests for the week. This was Jeff’s third hunt with us.
We had a variety of weather during the week with no precipitation. The daytime high for the week was 80 degrees, with several nights dropping down into the 20’s.
The first morning a large bull walked within 10 yards of Jeff in Watertank, but offered no shot. The second morning Bill passed on a 5 point bull called to 15 steps on Elk Ridge. The third evening Jeff filled his elk tag with a beautiful, heavy horned 7 point bull. The bull was shot at 4 paces out of a tree stand in Indian Creek. Bill passed on a 6 point bull bugled into 10 yards in Long Park.
The fifth morning Bill had a large bull at 10 paces in Long Park but could not shoot. The sixth evening Bill missed an opportunity at a bull out of a tree stand in Calamity.
During the second archery hunt, September 15-20, Ron and Jason White of MI, and Doug and Janet Rehak of PA joined us for the week. Janet accompanied Doug as an observer throughout the week. This was Ron’s second hunt and Doug’s tenth hunt with us.
We started the week with warm, sunny weather and highs in the 90’s. We received some snow late in the week and temperatures dipped into the 30’s.
On Saturday morning Jason had a bull within two yards, but had no shot. The bull was 15 steps from Ron but did not present a shot. Early Sunday afternoon Doug collected a nice 6 point bull at 18 yards out of the Hole in the Wall tree stand. |
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Jason White of Royal Oak, MI 9-20-07 |
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Gregg Kempken of De Pere, WI 11-9-07 |
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Vic Chaney of Medford, OR 11-8-07 |
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Tillman Riddle of Glade Hill, VA 10-28-07 |
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Monday morning Ron passed up a large one-horned bull at 5 paces in Long Park. That evening Ron passed up a 6 point bull at 7 yards that came to a decoy in Long Park. Jason shot at a 7x6 bull that came to a cow call in Long Park, but the arrow was deflected by limbs.
On Wednesday evening Ron released an arrow at a bull in Calamity but also hit a limb. Thursday morning Jason harvested a large, long tined 6 point bull called into 25 yards in lower Long Park.
Doug Brathol of WI, and Mark Prestrud and Bob Adams of MN, were our guests for the third archery hunt, September 22-27. Bob accompanied Mark as an observer. This was Doug’s and Mark’s third hunt with us.
The start of the week was cool and rainy. By mid week it was warm and sunny, with temperatures reaching 60 degrees midday and dropping to 20 degrees at night.
On the first evening Doug connected on a magnificent, long tined 8x7 bull that grossed 396 P&Y points. The bull was taken out of the Hole in the Wall tree stand at 28 steps. |
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The third morning Mark had some hard luck on a very large bull called into the upper clear cuts in Indian Creek. On the fifth evening Mark had a large bull at 7 yards in lower Indian Creek, but didn’t have a shot. On the last morning Mark made an excellent shot on a wide, long tined 7x6 bull bugled up to 25 paces in Long Park.
The fourth archery hunt was September 29-October 4. Don Ellingsen, Rick Ellingsen, Don Ellingsen Sr., and Dave Van Hersett of WA were our guests for the week. Don Sr. and Dave accompanied as observers. This was Don’s fifth and Rick’s fourth hunt on the ranch.
Weather conditions were challenging with 30 to 60 mph winds, rain, and snow for 4 of the 6 days. Daytime highs reached 40 degrees with lows dropping into the 20’s.
On Sunday morning Rick passed on a 5 point bull bugled into 10 steps in Long Park. Tuesday evening Don had elk on three sides of his blind in upper Indian Creek, but no shot opportunity. Rick had a very large bull coming to a call in Indian Creek, but the bull caught our wind.
Wednesday morning Don and Rick had a large 6 point bull walk up to within 30 yards in Long Park, but did not present a shot. On Thursday morning Rick missed a difficult shot at a 5 point bull in Calamity.
During the last archery hunt of the season, October 6-11, Kevin and Cory Sensenig of PA joined us for the week. This was Kevin’s third and Cory’s seventh hunt with us.
Weather conditions were beautiful the entire week, with sunny skies, highs in the 60’s and lows in the 30’s.
During the last archery hunt of the season, October 6-11, Kevin and Cory Sensenig of PA joined us for the week. This was Kevin’s third and Cory’s seventh hunt with us.
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Mike Henderson of Chatsworth, GA
10-26-07 |
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Jay Carter of Blue Ridge, VA 11-2-07 |
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Steve Kaufmann of Gaylord, MI 11-2-07 |
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Dan Oliver of Great Falls, MT 11-12-07 |
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Jeff Baumgartner of Bemidji, MN 9-10-07 |
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Weather conditions were beautiful the entire week, with sunny skies, highs in the 60’s and lows in the 30’s.
On the second morning Kevin passed on a 6x5 bull bugled up to 25 paces in the Ramsey. The third evening Kevin was unable to fill his tag on a nice bull called up in Calamity. The fourth evening Kevin and Cory worked on a very large 7x6 bull bugled up in Beaver Creek, but the bull smelled us. The fifth morning Cory had a 5 point bull come to 40 yards in Long Park, but would not come closer. On the last morning of the hunt we bugled in a large 6 point bull in Long Park. He also hung up at 40 steps and ended up getting our wind.
We glassed and hunted a lot of great bulls this season. Everyone hunted hard, had a good time and saw a lot of beautiful scenery. The rut peaked during early October.
Guides for the rifle season were Terry Antonich, Sid McMillin, Dustin Schell and myself. Sandy Grigsby covered the cooking and camp duties. We hunted both the Rock Creek and Camas Creek Ranches during rifle season.
The first rifle hunt was October 21-26. Guests for the week were Randall Fox, Mike Henderson, Chuck Kirby, and Ronald Chastain of GA, Drew Evans of AL, and Bill Barney of OH. This was Randall’s eleventh, Ronald’s third, and Bill’s eighth hunt with us.
We had cloudy weather with high winds early in the hunt. Daytime highs reached 50 degrees with lows in the 20’s. A small amount of snow fell late in the week, but melted off quickly.
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On Sunday evening Bill connected on a very nice 6 point bull at 258 steps above the Rock Wall. Wednesday evening Drew made an excellent shot on a dark horned 6 point bull in the Ramsey at 225 paces. Mike filled his elk tag with a nice 5x4 bull above Dabler Dam at 300 yards. Chuck had some hard luck on a large bull out of the same bunch of elk.
Thursday evening Drew collected a wide 5 point whitetail on Camas Creek at 250 steps. Friday morning Mike connected on a large, heavy horned 5 point whitetail in Camas Creek at 120 yards.
The elk were scattered throughout the ranches with some bulls still with the cows. Bucks were still in groups. We moved down to the Clear Range midday Tuesday.
During the second rifle hunt, October 28 through November 2, hunters were Steve Kaufmann of MI, and Bob Jeans, Tillman Riddle, Don Smith, Jay Carter, and Tom Wolfe from VA. This was Steve’s sixth, Bob’s fifth, Tillman’s fourth, and Don’s fourth hunt on the ranch.
The weather was very mild during this hunt with some windy days and no precipitation. Daytime highs reached 50 degrees with night time lows at 30 degrees.
On the first evening Tillman connected on a wide, long beamed 6 point bull in lower Long Park at 150 steps. Bob passed on some bulls in the same bunch of elk. The second evening Jay harvested an odd horned 6x5 bull on Freemon with a 70 yard shot. Don passed up a bull out of the same bunch of elk. Don was unable to fill his elk tag on a large bull in the Clear Range on the fourth morning.
That evening Don collected a cow elk at 100 paces in the Clear Range (no photo). After a long stalk Tom connected on a nice, long beamed 6 point bull at 180 steps in Beaver Creek.
On the fifth morning Bob missed a difficult shot at a good 6 point bull in the Dry Range. On the last morning of the hunt Steve made an excellent 300 yard shot and filled his elk tag on a nice 5x4 bull west of Ashford Springs.
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Bill Barney of Troy, OH 10-21-07 |
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Buck Steenwyk of Buena Park, CA 11-21-07 |
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Tom Kempken of Tucson, AZ 11-7-07 |
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Mark Prestrud of Rosemount, MN 9-27-07 |
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Dan Oliver of Great Falls, MT 11-15-07 |
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Tillman Riddle of Glade Hill, VA 11-2-07 |
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Doug and Janet Rehak of Freeport, PA 9-16-07 |
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Tillman and Jay each missed opportunities on whitetail bucks in Camas Creek. That evening Jay harvested a beautiful, long tined 4 point whitetail in Camas Creek at 30 yards. Tillman connected on a heavy, dark horned 5x4 whitetail on the Low Bar at 200 steps.
The hunters saw a lot of elk and nice bulls during this hunt. The deer were also more visible this week. We moved to the Clear Range midweek.
Tom Kempken of AZ, Gregg Kempken of WI, Vic Chaney of OR, and Tom Fetzer and Jeff McMillen of CA were our guests for the third rifle hunt, November 4-9.
This week brought high winds but fairly mild weather and no moisture. Daytime highs reached 40 degrees and lows dropped into the teens.
On Monday morning Tom F. and Jeff each passed up shots on bulls in the Burn. Tuesday evening Gregg collected a wide, symmetrical 5 point bull at 180 yards in Lower Long Park.
Wednesday evening Tom K. harvested a 6x5 bull at 180 paces in Beaver Creek. During Thursday morning’s hunt, Vic made an excellent shot at 280 yards on a large, older 3x2 mulie buck in the Dry Range. That evening Gregg passed up a nice whitetail at the Fort Logan Ranch.
Tom F. had an opportunity on a nice 6 point bull in Democrat but wasn’t able to connect. On Friday evening Gregg made an excellent shot on a beautiful 6x5 whitetail at 326 steps on the Fort Logan Ranch.
There were good bunches of elk and nice bulls on both ranches. We saw 2 groups of very large bulls. The first signs of the deer rut started with some of the larger bucks chasing does. We started hunting out of the Clear Range Camp midweek.
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Mike Henderson of Chatsworth, GA 10-24-07 |
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Kraig Carver of Gig Harbor, WA 11-11-07
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Tom Wolfe of Callaway, VA 10-31-07 |
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David Kessler of Ashland, PA 11-19-07 |
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Gregg Kempken of De Pere, WI 11-6-07 |
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Jay Carter of Blue Ridge, VA 10-29-07 |
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Drew Evans of Auburn, AL 10-24-07 |
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Kraig Carver of Gig Harbor, WA 11-13-07 |
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On the fourth hunt of the season, November 11-16, guests were Kraig and Keith Carver of WA, Carl Wells of AZ, David Schoenbeck of NJ, and Dan Oliver of MT. This was Kraig’s sixth and Keith’s fifth hunt on the ranch.
Temperatures reached 45 degrees during the day with nights dropping to 20 degrees. We had high winds and no precipitation during the hunt.
The first morning Kraig filled his deer tag with a long beamed 5x4 mule deer at 100 paces in Middle Creek. That afternoon Keith also connected on a good, symmetrical 5 point mulie in Middle Creek at 45 yards (no photo). The second afternoon Dan collected a nice, broken tined 6x5 bull at 250 yards in upper Indian Creek. David harvested a cow elk out of the same group of elk (no photo). Late that evening Kraig missed a difficult shot at a bull in lower Long Park.
On the third afternoon Kraig made a good shot at 140 steps on a nice 6x5 bull in upper Long Park. Keith missed an opportunity at a bull out of the same group of elk. |
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The fifth evening Dan filled his deer tag with a nice, symmetrical 4 point whitetail at 206 paces at Soldiers Lake. On the last evening of the hunt David connected on a high horned 5 point mule deer out of a hay bale blind on the Fort Logan Ranch.
We had good elk hunting on both ranches during the week with quite a few nice bulls around. The deer rut was going strong for both mulies and whitetails. We moved to the Clear Range on Wednesday.
Buck Steenwyk of CA, Kurt and Jim Thoden of IA, and David Kessler of PA joined us for the fifth and final hunt of the season, November 18-23. This was David’s second hunt with us.
The first day of the hunt was beautiful with highs in the 40’s. We had heavy snow and poor visibility for the next 2 ½ days. Temperatures dropped into the single digits during the day and reached -20 degrees at night, with 7” to 12” of snow on the ground.
On Sunday afternoon Dave shot at a bull on the Rim but was unable to connect. On a cold, snowy Monday afternoon Dave made an excellent shot on a wide, deep forked 5 point mulie in the Ramsey at 213 steps. On Wednesday Buck collected a heavy, dark horned 4 point mule deer at 200 yards in the Dry Range. On Thursday morning Jim filled his deer tag with a nice 5x4 whitetail in Camas Creek at 100 paces.
We saw a lot of elk on both ranches during this hunt and several groups of nice bulls. It was tougher conditions for hunting and getting around. The deer rut was in full swing. Everyone moved to the Clear Range on Tuesday. |
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Jim Thoden of Humboldt, IA 11-22-07 |
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Drew Evans of Auburn, AL 10-25-07 |
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David Schoenbeck of Franklin Lakes, NJ 11-16-07 |
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I would like to thank everyone who hunted with us this season. We are very appreciative of your business, friendship, and loyalty. Weather was extremely mild with no snow cover for most of the season. Everyone hunted hard, made the best of conditions at hand and was a pleasure to hunt with everyday.
A special thanks to Zita Caltrider, Joby Matthias, Sandy Grigsby, Mark Williams, Larry and Donna Sheeder, Kevin Ancell, Dustin Schell, Terry Antonich, Sid McMillin and Chad Evans. Their experience, dedication, and hard work are much appreciated. |
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*ALL HUNTS REQUIRE A 50% DEPOSIT TO HOLD RESERVATIONS
I would like to express a sincere thanks to every client that we’ve had the pleasure of hunting with during the last 25 seasons. Without your business and friendship, the hunting season would not be possible. Also thanks to Galt Ranch, Fort Logan Ranch, and Camas Creek Cattle and Sheep Company for their continued support, understanding, and cooperation with our hunting operation.
Sincerely,
Doug & Zita Caltrider
Outfitter License #515
(406) 547-396
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Doug Brathol of River Falls, WI 9-22-07 |
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If you have any questions, please Contact Us or phone (406-547-3962). © Copyright Avalanche Basin Outfitters. All rights reserved.
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