Avalanche 2008 News

On the web - www.avalancheoutfitters.com - email: avalanche@mtintouch.net

Our hunting area consists of private ranch lands that offer excellent elk and deer populations.

Welcome to Avalanche Basin Outfitters – We offer premium guided combination hunts for elk, whitetail and mule deer. Antelope are also taken as available.

Avalanche Basin Outfitters is located in the Big Belt Mountain Range of central Montana, hunting district 446. The hunting area lies 35 miles north of White Sulphur Springs and consists of 76,000 acres of beautiful, mountainous, private ranchlands. Elevations vary from 4,700ft to 7,200ft.

These private ranchlands support a large population of elk and deer. Hunters have averaged 70% success on five and six point bull elk and 60% success on four and five point whitetail and mule deer over the last 26 years. The antelope we are harvesting average 14” in horn length.

These ranch lands produce trophy class elk and deer each season.

We are located in the middle of Meagher County in
south central Montana, Hunting District 446.

Destination point is White Sulphur Springs, Montana. The closest commercial airport is Helena Regional Airport in Helena, Montana. We provide all transportation to and from camps. We also provide airport pickup on request.

We work out of 2 modern camps during the week. Both camps consist of clean, comfortable cook houses, propane heated cabins (2 people per cabin), and hot showers. From these camps, you will travel by 4x4 vehicles and horses to different areas and drainages throughout the week. This enables hunters to access much of the area and harvest the best animals available during their hunt. It also enables us to accommodate people of mixed ages and physical abilities. We offer both 2 hunters per 1 guide, and 1 hunter per 1 guide rates to insure personal service.

We offer 4 x 4 and horseback hunts
for elk, deer and antelope.

We provide all camps, equipment, food, guides, stock, tack and accommodations while you are hunting. You will need to bring your personal effects, sleeping bag, binoculars, ammunition, boots and clothing. You are also responsible for license fees, taxidermy fees, meat processing & shipping.

Please call or write if you have any questions or need further information. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Doug & Zita Caltrider

Avalanche Basin Outfitters

PO Box 17

White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645

(406) 547-3962

avalanche@mtintouch.net

www.avalancheoutfitters.com

One of our modern hunting camps - hot showers,
great food and comfortable lodging.

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2008 Hunting Summary

We had 11 archery hunters this fall. Joby Matthias and Zita Caltrider did the cooking and camp chores. Terry Antonich, Jim Bennett, Todd Caltrider and I did the guiding.

We hunted the Rock Creek and Camas Creek Ranches during all archery and rifle hunts this season.

The first archery hunt was September 7-12. Randall Fox and Mike Meadows of GA were our guests for the week. This was Randall’s twelfth and Mike’s seventh hunt with us.

We had a variety of weather during the week from cold and snow to 70 degree sunny days. Several nights dropped down into the 20’s. The first evening Randall passed on 2 bulls east of Freemon. Mike looked over a nice bull in Calamity but didn’t work on him.

The second evening Randall shot at a bull called up in upper Indian but the arrow was deflected by limbs. The fourth day Mike passed on a bull in the Pole Patch. The fifth evening Randall had a close encounter with a very large bull in the Black Forest but did not get an opportunity. The sixth morning Randall had a large bull come to a call in the Dry Range but didn’t offer a shot. Later in the day he missed a whitetail buck in Beaver Creek.

Mike worked on a very large bull in the Ramsey but did not get a shot. Randall had a five point bull coming to a wallow at Dabler Dam but the bull winded him.

Rick Plecker of Millboro, VA 9-15-08

Clif Cole of Gloversville, NY 11-20-08

Bill Riley of Elizabeth, PA 10-28-08

Nathan Delawder of Mathias, WV 11-26-08

JR Lupton of Augusta, WV 11-24-08

During the second archery hunt, September 14-19, Rick and Shelly Plecker of VA, and David and Mason Pritchard of GA joined us for the week. Shelly accompanied Rick as an observer throughout the week. This was Rick’s sixth hunt on the ranch.

Weather conditions were beautiful the entire week, with sunny skies, highs in the 80’s and lows in the 30’s.

On Sunday afternoon, David and Mason had two bulls close in Calamity but no shot opportunity. On Monday morning Mason passed on a bull called up to 15 yards in Calamity. That evening Rick collected a beautiful, long beamed 7x6 bull at 30 steps in upper Long Park.

On Tuesday morning Mason harvested a nice 7x6 bull bugled up to 15 paces in the Pole Patch. On Wednesday evening Mason connected on a very large, long tined 5 point whitetail out of a tree stand in Camas Creek. On Thursday David passed on a 6x5 bull called up in the head of Indian Creek.

On Friday David passed on a 6x5 bull and worked on a large bull on Lockwood but did not get a shot.

Mark Prestrud of MN, and Doug Brathol of WI, were our guests for the third archery hunt, September 21-26. This was Mark and Doug’s fourth hunt with us.

We had high winds and snowy conditions early in the week. By midweek the weather had settled down and was very nice.

Temperatures reached 70 degrees during the day and dropped to 30 degrees at night.

On the first day Doug had two 6 point bulls within range on Freemon but didn’t have a shot opportunity. On the second day Doug passed a bull on Freemon bugled in to 18 yards. On the third evening Mark connected on a nice, symmetrical 6 point bull bugled in to 15 steps in upper Long Park.

On the fourth evening Doug passed up three 5 points and one 6 point bull out of the Hole in the Wall tree stand. On the last evening Doug collected a dark horned 6 point bull called in to 26 paces in the Dry Range.

The fourth archery hunt was September 28 through October 3. Buzz Marvin of ND, and David Marvin of MN were our guests for the week. This was Buzz’s eighth hunt on the ranch.

Weather conditions were very warm and mild throughout the week. Daytime highs reached into the 90’s with lows dropping to 40 degrees.

Walter Pfohl of Lockport, NY 11-16-08

Jim Mills of Bergholz, OH 11-6-08

Buzz Marvin of West Fargo, ND 10-1-08

David Kessler of Ashland, PA 11-25-08

Mason Pritchard of Alpharetta, GA 9-16-08

Steve Kaufmann of Gaylord, MI 11-2-08

On Sunday evening Buzz passed up a 5 point bull at 10 yards in the Hole in the Wall tree stand. On Tuesday David worked on a large bull that came to a cow call in Beaver Creek but didn’t get a shot.

On Wednesday evening Buzz passed up five 5 points and one 6 point out of a tree stand in the upper clear cuts in Indian Creek. After an exciting evening he connected on a large, heavy horned 6 point bull.

On Thursday evening David harvested a majestic long tined 6 point bull at 18 steps out of a tree stand on Freemon.

During the last archery hunt for the season, October 5-10, Pat Garman and Mike Gilbreath of OK joined us for the week.

The weather was sunny and warm early in the hunt. By mid week it was very challenging with cold, snow, wind, and poor visibility at higher elevations. Highs were in the 40’s, lows were in the single digits, with 6” of new snow at Rock Creek.

On the first morning Pat shot at a good bull in Long Park but a limb deflected the arrow. On the third day Mike had the unique experience of seeing 3 mountain lions.

On the fourth morning Pat passed up a bull called into 20 paces in upper Long Park. On the final morning Mike was unable to connect on a large bull called up in the Dry Range.

Phil Rendin of N Huntingdon, PA 10-27-08

Bruce Delmas of Jacksonville, NC 11-12-08

Pete Studwell of Port Chester, NY 11-11-08

Guides for the rifle season were Terry Antonich, Sid McMillin, Jim Bennett, Todd Caltrider, and myself. Sandy Grigsby covered the cooking and camp duties.

The first rifle hunt was October 26-31. Guests for the week were Bill Riley, Greg Riley, RW Grafton, Boyd Anastas, Casey Harper, Phil Rendin, and Allen Menozzi, all from PA. RW accompanied as a friend and observer. This was Bill’s eighth, Greg’s seventh, Boyd’s fourth, Casey’s fifth, and Allen’s second hunt with us.

We started the season with no snow cover on the ranch. Weather was warm and dry with daytime highs in the 60’s and lows in the 20’s.

On Sunday evening Casey missed a difficult shot at a very large bull on Lockwood. On Monday morning Allen and Phil found a group of seven bulls in the Ramsey. Allen connected on a dark horned 6x5 bull at 100 yards and Phil made an excellent shot on an odd horned 4x3 bull at 350 steps. That evening Greg harvested a wide, heavy 6 point bull at 200 paces in Calamity.

On Tuesday evening Bill filled his elk tag with a nice 5 point bull shot at 300 yards in the Dry Range. On Thursday morning Phil collected a high, heavy horned 4 point mulie buck in Middle Creek at 260 yards. Greg finished his hunt with a 4 point whitetail buck on Camas Creek.

Late that evening, Boyd connected on a heavy, long tined non-typical 6x5 bull in the Dry Range at 350 steps. Allen filled his deer tag on Friday morning with a beautiful high, wide 5 point mule deer in Middle Creek at 180 paces. Boyd had an opportunity at a whitetail buck and antelope buck that evening, but was unable to connect.

During the second rifle hunt, November 2-7, hunters were Steve Kaufmann of MI, John and Bob Likar of PA, and Doug Russell, John Russell, Gary Cain, and Jim Mills, all of OH. John accompanied Doug as an observer. This was Steve’s seventh and John L.’s third hunt on the ranch.

We had a variety of weather throughout the week from sunny days to rain and snow. Daytime high’s reached 50 degrees with nighttime lows at 20 degrees.

On the first evening Steve collected a large, long beamed 6 point bull at 100 yards in the Pole Patch. On the second morning John L. harvested a nice, symmetrical 5 point bull at 250 steps in Calamity. Bob missed a bull out of the same group of bulls. That evening Bob had the thrill of seeing a mountain lion. The third morning Bob worked on a large 6 point bull on Lockwood but was not able to connect.

On the fourth evening Doug filled his elk tag with a heavy horned 6x5 bull in the Dry Range. His luck continued late that evening on a nice 4x3 mulie buck. John L. collected an odd horned 4 point whitetail buck at 100 paces at the Annex. On the fifth evening Jim missed a difficult shot on a large 6 point bull in the Dry Range.

Later that same evening Jim made an excellent shot on a large, heavy 4 point mule deer in the Dry Range. On the last morning Bob connected on a hard earned 6x5 bull at 125 yards in the Dry Range.

Renea Wells of Phoenix, AZ 11-21-08

Danny Delmas of Aledo, TX 11-15-08

Allen Menozzi of McKeesport, PA 10-27-08

David Kessler of Ashland, PA 11-23-08

Buck Steenwyk of Buena Park, CA 11-25-08

Clif Cole of Gloversville, NY 11-16-08

Bruce Delmas of TX, Danny Delmas of NC, and Pete Studwell, Walter Pfohl, and Randy Cook, all from NY, were our guests for the third rifle hunt, November 9-14. This was Pete’s ninth hunt with us.

This week brought warm, wet weather, with daytime highs in the 40’s and lows dropping into the 20’s. The ranches had 4” of new snow cover late in the week.

On Sunday evening Pete passed up 2 small bulls in Calamity. Bruce and Danny also passed up a bull in Long Park. On Tuesday evening Pete made an excellent shot on a nice, symmetrical 6 point bull in the Dry Range at 300 steps. On Wednesday Bruce collected a nice 5 point bull at 80 paces in lower Long Park.

On Thursday morning Bruce filled his tags with a wide, long tined 6x5 whitetail buck at the Annex. On Friday morning Pete harvested a high, wide 4 point whitetail at Soldier’s Lake. Danny worked on a good mulie buck but didn’t have a shot opportunity. That evening he stalked to within range of 2 bulls, but again did not have a chance to shoot.

Saturday morning Danny connected on a heavy horned 5x4 whitetail buck on Camas Creek. Randy filled his deer tag with a nice, symmetrical 5x4 whitetail at the Annex. On Sunday Walter collected a nice 5x4 whitetail on Camas Creek.

On the fourth hunt of the season, November 16-21, guests were Carl & Renea Wells of AZ, David Schoenbeck of NJ, Clif Cole of NY, and Danny and Trent Oliver from MT. This was Carl, David, and Danny’s second hunt on the ranch.

Temperatures reached 45 degrees during the day with nights dropping to 20 degrees. The last 3 days of the hunt were windy with fog and poor visibility at higher elevations.

The first evening Clif harvested a five point bull out of a large group of elk on Freemon. Dan collected a large, long tined 6 point bull in the head of Watertank at 300 yards. On the third day Dave passed a small bull in Long Park.

That evening Renea worked on a nice six point bull in Spring Basin but could not get a clear shot. Carl made an excellent shot at 275 steps and filled his elk tag with a broken horned 5 point bull. Clif passed up 4 whitetail bucks on Camas Creek.

Late the fourth evening Dave worked in close to a large bull above Rock Creek but did not have enough shooting light left. The fifth morning Clif filled his tags with a heavy horned 7x5 mule deer in Middle Creek.

The sixth afternoon Renea stalked to within 150 paces and made a great shot on a forkhorn mulie buck in the Dry Range. Trent connected on a long tined 4 point whitetail on the Fort Logan Ranch.

Doug Brathol of River Falls, WI 9-26-08

Boyd Anastas of West Mifflin, PA 10-30-08

Carl Wells of Phoenix, AZ 11-18-08

Doug Russell of Bloomingdale, OH 11-5-08

Mason Pritchard of Alpharetta, GA 9-17-08

Greg Riley of N Huntingdon, PA 10-30-08

Buck Steenwyk of CA, David Kessler and Tom and Janet Ferrara of PA, and Dennis and J R Lupton, Nathan Delawder, and Josh Kesner of WV joined us for the fifth and final hunt of the season, November 23-28. Janet accompanied Tom as an observer. Dennis, J R, Nathan, and Josh were hunting deer only. This was Buck’s second, David’s third, Dennis’s eighth, and J R’s third hunt with us.

The weather was excellent the entire week. Daytime highs reached the high 40’s, with nighttime lows dipping to 20 degrees.

On Sunday morning Dave harvested a dark horned 7x5 bull at 250 yards below the Rim. Dennis worked on a large 4 point whitetail but his gun misfired. On Monday morning Buck collected a nice symmetrical 5 point bull at 150 steps in Long Park. Dennis made an excellent shot on a 4 point whitetail to fill his deer tag on Camas Creek (no photo).

JR stalked and connected on a large 6x4 whitetail in Ayers Creek. On Tuesday morning Tom had some hard luck on a large 6 point bull above the Hole in the Wall. Buck harvested a wide, long tined 5 point whitetail in Indian Creek at 75 paces. Dave collected a beautiful high horned 5x4 mule deer at 125 yards in the Dry Range.

On Wednesday Nathan filled his deer tag with a high, long tined 4 point whitetail on the High Bar at 200 steps. Josh also connected on a high, heavy horned 4 point whitetail buck on Camas Creek at 180 paces.

*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 26 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) 547-3962

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Danny Oliver of Great Falls, MT 11-16-08

Looking across Rock Creek