Powder Horn Montana TV is Back! Season II Now Airing!

Season 2 of Powder Horn Montana presented by Leica  is back and airing on The Sportsman Channel. Be sure to tune in for another action packed season bringing you the best in fair chase, western big game hunting from Montana, British Columbia and more!

Jason Matzinger - 2009 Montana Elk

Follow host Jason Matzinger and the PHTV crew this season as they pursue trophy Rocky Mountain Elk, Mountain Goat, Black Bear, Turkey and more.  The action is fast and the incredible up-close and personal footage is sure to get your adrenaline pumping!

Les Hausauer - Alberta Black Bear

This year, Leica and PHTV will also be teaming up with a group of great sponsors to give away a Dream Hunt Package for a fully guided Elk and Mule Deer hunt right here in Montana! The winner and one guest will BOTH experience an elk/deer combo hunt here in beautiful southwest Montana with our host Jason Matzinger. The winner whose name is drawn will also receive a great gear package from Leica Sport Optics, Schnee’s, Sitka and Montana Canvas!

Hosts Jason Matzinger and Jon Edwards with Jon's British Columbia Mt. Goat

If you would like more information on the contest or want to find out how to enter, tune in to Powder Horn Montana airing at 10:30AM MST on Wednesday’s with additional viewings at 5 PM Saturday, 8:30 AM Sunday and 11 PM Sunday!

Spring Bear Season Is Near

Spring in the West is an exciting time for sportsmen. The changing of the seasons lets us know that it is time to put away the skis and winter clothes once again and exchange them for our favorite boots and binoculars. As the snow begins to melt in the high country and southern facing slopes begin to green up, states such as Montana, Idaho and Wyoming prepare to start off the 2010 big game hunting year with the spring Black Bear season.  Black Bear can be hunted from Alaska to New Mexico and practically anywhere in between, but a few western states offer good bear populations along with reasonably priced tags available over-the-counter for non-resident hunters.

Black Bears will typically begin emerging from their dens around March/April and will spend the next few months grazing and restoring their strength for the upcoming breeding season. During this time bears remain particularly active during the day making it easier to spot the bears roaming around. Depending on the style or method of hunting that you prefer, you should be able to find a state with generous season dates that caters to your desires in a bear hunt.

If you prefer bow hunting, Wyoming offers an Archery-Only season in many units that begins a couple of weeks prior to the general spring bear season. Archery equipment can be used to hunt bears in Montana and Idaho, but for the most part these states offer a “general” spring bear season that is shared with firearm hunters and archery hunters may be required to wear blaze orange.  Wyoming and Idaho differ from some western states in that they allow the use of hounds and baiting to hunt and take spring bear, special permits may be required for these types of hunting so be sure to check with the appropriate departments prior to your hunt. Montana does not allow the use of hounds or baiting for hunting bear, but with an abundance of accessible forest lands Montana is a great choice for those interested in do-it-yourself spot-and-stalk type of hunt.

If “spring-fever” has you restless and looking for a retreat, consider a spring bear hunt out west. Non-residents can hunt Black Bear in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana for around $350-$400 after licenses, tags and fees, not a bad price for those interested in a do-it-yourself adventure! More information on spring bear hunting out west is available through the following links~

Wyoming Game and Fish Department : http://gf.state.wy.us/index.asp

Idaho Fish and Game: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks: http://fwp.mt.gov/

Nice Spring Bear Hunt in Highwoods

Two weeks ago we took advantage of spring bear season and hunted near Highwood, MT. We saw a beautiful bear twice, once just before dark and then early the next morning. We weren’t successful in getting that one, but Scott Tinklenberg managed to track down the bear after a fresh snowfall. Here’s Scott shortly after his successful hunt:

Scott Tinklenberg

Tough enough for trophy Kamchatka brown bear

We received a great letter, unsolicited, from one of our customers, Chuck Patterson last week with this great shot of his hard-won trophy. Chuck wore a pair of our Schnee’s 10″ pac boots on his hunt. The picture above and his brief note says it all…

“I would like to thank you for a great product. I wore a pair of your boots on a recent trip to Russia. The boots work great, and after my hunt my guide asked to buy the boots threw the interpretor. I left Russia with this huge Kamchatka brown bear (10′ 4) and a skull that measured 27″ Boone & Crocket, but left my boots. We were both happy.Thanks,

Charles Patterson
Sheridan, Wyoming”

Great letter and picture – thank you Charles.

We encourage you to send us your stories, pictures, and field reports, as well as post a comment here. We want to hear about your adventures in the backcountry. You’re the ones who have earned a place on this blog.

Send your stories and pictures to:

Schnee’s Powder Horn Outfitters
Attention: Internet Department
PO Box 6069
Bozeman, MT
blog@schnees.com