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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with FWP Education Program Assistant Ryan Schmaltz about the Archery in the Schools Program. First, you all are going to love Ryan! He has so much energy and enthusiasm for this program and man what a job he has done! He has been all over Montana getting schools involved in this amazing program and training teachers how to teach it. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has been championing this program for about 15 years but over the last few years it has really taken off! It is part of the National Archery in the Schools Program or NASP which has, since its inception in 2002, reached over 23.5 million students, primarily in grades 4-12. The program operates in all 50 states, boasting a 50-50% male/female participation rate. But get this, in Montana last year alone about 150 schools included the program in their PE classes with over 14,000 Montana youngsters participating! But this is more than kids shooting arrows at targets and blocks of foam shaped like animals. It is changing most all the kids that participate! That is why you have GOT to watch or listen to this podcast. You can do that on MontanaOutdoor.com, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and many other websites and directories! Here is an example of what we mean by changing the kids. Ryan pointed out that in the recent State Tournament that a whole bunch of schools traveled to Helena to participate in, he looked out over the sea of well over 200 4th through 12th graders and did not see one child looking at a cell phone during the entire tournament. Oh, they had their phones with them, sticking out of their pockets and such but THEY WERE FOCUSED! As Rigger put it, “THAT is unheard of and just flat amazing! When has anyone ever seen that many kids and not one is looking a cell phone?!” Oh, but there are even more positive ways that this ancient sport is affecting our kids so be sure and watch this podcast now to find out more!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about the National Archery in the Schools Program or NASP.
• To learn more about the program in Montana click here.
• Questions for Ryan? Click here to email him.
• Your host Downrigger Dale would love to hear from you, so click here and tell him what part of Montana you want to discover next! Afterall it is your podcast too!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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You all may recall back in the first week of February Rigger had the CEO of Energy Keepers Brian Lipscomb on The Montana Outdoor Podcast. As Rigger put it, “I will never forget what he said”, Brian said “I’m starting to feel like a broken record, because every time I go talk to somebody, I say, we just dealt with something we have never seen in our lifetimes!” So, this week when Rigger had the Director of Asset Optimization from Energy Keepers, Eve James, on the Podcast to give an update, one of the first things he asked her was if they are still dealing with such unusual conditions? Make sure you listen to the podcast to hear her answer. Eve brought a whole bunch for super interesting info with great water level graphs and other things that we are sure you will find interesting. So, whether you live on the Flathead Lake, have a summer cabin there or just like to get out on that incredible lake or the Flathead River this Podcast will without a doubt give you the update you have been waiting for! You can listen to the podcast right here right now or watch it on YouTube. So, check it out and look through the links below and then let us know what other info you are looking for! See the links below to ask Eve or Rigger any questions you might have!

Links:

• To learn more about Energy Keepers click here.
• Click here to see info about water levels, run off, etc.
• There is also great info on the Energy Keepers Facebook Page. Click here to go to that page.
• Questions for Eve James with Energy Keepers? Click here to send her an email.
• Your buddy Downrigger Dale would love to hear from you as well. Let him know what part of Montana’s Great Outdoors you would like to explore next. Click here to send him an email about that or anything.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Jeff Darrah Executive Director of the Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife or MTSFW for short. Jeff tells us all about the amazing event that the MTSFW is putting on this year in Missoula, MT! It truly is THE event to go to this year without a doubt and when you listen to the podcast here you are going to find out why. Of course, one prefect reason is that this years Pig Roast Banquet and Fundraiser is going to be a blast with over 30, yes you read that right, over 30 guns to be actioned off or just flat given away plus, a whole bunch of other prizes. And do not forget this is for sure a family event. There will be a fishing pond and all kinds of games for the kids and well, the list goes on and on so make sure you listen to this podcast to learn about it all. And it gets even better because you will also get to mingle with a couple celebrities, nonother than the two main stars of the hit TV series Mountain Men, Tom Oar and Paul Antczak and boy are they a couple characters to have dinner with! When you listen to this podcast right here you will also learn some very, very important information about what all the MTSFW is working on for YOU! Things like extremely important legal issues that they are fighting for, and in some cases against to protect your rights as Montana Sportsmen and women as well as protecting our outdoor heritages that we all hold so dearly. Plus, you will learn about legislative issues they have been working on, and yes, the list goes on and on there as well. See, the MTSFW gives all of us who love Montana’s Outdoors a much-needed voice and the Pig Roast Banquet is THE Fundraiser that keeps this vital organization going for YOU! So go listen now and learn why this is indeed THE event to go to this year. We will see ya there!

Links:

• Click here right now to learn more and to get your tickets to the Pig Roast Banquet and Fundraiser!
• You don’t have to be a member of MTSFW to go to Pig Roast Banquet and Fundraiser, but you are welcome to join if you want to. Click here to join.
• To learn more about Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife click here to head to their website!
• Click here to head to their Facebook Page!
• Check out their Instagram Page here.
• Questions for Executive Director Jeff Darrah? Click here to send him and email.
• What part of Montana’s Great Outdoors do you want Rigger to explore next for you? Click here to let Downrigger Dale know.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale has a guest on that might surprise you as to why he would be on this Podcast episode to cover this topic. Most of you know Josh Parrow as the go to Fishing Guide for Tiber Reservoir and the Havre area but what you may not know is he is also a VERY impressive Diesel Technician. When you watch or listen to this podcast here you will learn that Josh started at a very young age working on diesels. In fact, now he works on some of the largest diesel engines anywhere as a Diesel Technician working on locomotive engines for BNSF Railway. What is great about this podcast is it will give you all kinds of great information to help you make the right choice for YOU when it comes to deciding if a diesel or gasoline engine in your next rig is the way to go. Josh even takes us back in time to the very beginning of the diesel engine when Rudolf Diesel built the very first diesel engine and how Clessie Cummins built the first diesel engines for cars and trucks.  Plus, Josh also gives some fantastic advice on how to avoid some of the most common problems that plague diesel engines today. No matter if you are a current diesel owner or thinking of changing to or getting away from a diesel engine you will without a doubt have some very valuable information that will save you money, avoid problems on the road or help make the right purchase for you. So, if you pull boats, travel trailers, 5th wheels or anything with some real weight to it you are going to definitely want to watch of listen to this podcast right here on the go to website of everything outdoors!

Links and Info:

• Josh mentions several additives that he uses. Josh does not endorse any of these products and urges you to consult your owner’s manual and or a mechanic or dealership that you trust before adding anything to your fuel or engine. Of course, Josh’s opinions, suggestions, implications, etc. are not those of BNSF Railway or related companies as he appears on this podcast not as an employee but as a private citizen expressing solely his own opinions. 
• Josh is happy to answer any questions you might have. Simply click here to send him an email.
• Be sure and click here to let Rigger know where under the Big Sky that you would like to discover next. Because after all this is YOUR PODCAST too!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale caught up with 2 members of the USA Ice Fishing Team just before they left for Piteå Sweden For the World Ice Fishing Championship. Rigger had a fascinating talk with Thane Melton from Big Fork, MT who is the Vice President of the team and Joe Martinez from Utah who is the President of the team. The World Ice Fishing Tournament will take place on March 28th and 29th in Piteå, Sweden. The town of Piteå, Sweden is about the size of Kalispell Montana and is less than 100 miles from the Arctic Circle, so yes they still have ice. About 40 inches of it. You think that is wild just wait until you watch or listen to this podcast and hear the rules for this tournament. Let’s put it this way, they run their tournaments quite a bit different than we do! Oh, by the way, part of those rules include that you can not use any powered augers! Yup all holes in the ice must be drilled with a hand operated auger. That 40 inches of ice does not sound so good now does it? Do not miss this podcast. You are going to be amazed by pretty much everything that Thane and Joe tell you including the fact that Team USA will be competing against 10 other countries! Don’t miss this Podcast Gang!

Links:

• Click here to learn about the USA Ice Fishing Team.
• Click here to see some great pictures and get updates from Team USA in Sweden on their Facebook page.
• You can also follow what Joe is doing in Sweden here on his Facebook page or follow Thane here on his page. 
• Check out Team USA’s sponsors Clam Outdoors and Fish Pro.
• Click here to learn about the fish in Sweden!
• Click here to send an email to Joe or here email Thane.

Make sure to tell Rigger what part of Montana you want to explore next here on the Montana Outdoor Podcast. Click here now to email Rigger!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast you host Downrigger Dale checks in with the two fellas that were on the Mack Days Podcast Last Time. Rigger thought you might find it interesting to see how they have done now that they have a few more Mack Days under their belts. He was shocked to find out what Ryker Bair and Patrick Casey have been up to, as in “WOW WEE that is some big dough those boys are folding!” Remember you can watch this podcast here or on MontanaOutdoor.com or YouTube or download it here to listen on your phone while you head to Flathead Lake to join the fun in this year’s Spring Mack Days. What is great about this podcast is just how open Ryker and Patrick are about sharing their knowledge. Yeah, Mack Days is without a doubt not your typical fishing tournament. And it is not just Ryker and Patrick that are happy to share their knowledge to help folks learn how to get the most out of Mack Days. Pretty much everyone that fishes in Mack Days is happy to help. That’s because the contestants do not really compete against each other as much as they do against the fish. What do we mean by that? Well just watch or listen to this podcast here or on MontanaOutdoor.com or YouTube. And make sure you fish for Lake Trout during Spring Mack Days anytime between now and May 9th!

Links:

• To learn all about Mack Days click here.
• Click here to watch some great videos about how to fish like a pro during Spring Mack Days.
• Remember Mack Days is for only catching Lake Trout and of course not Bull Trout or West Slope Cutthroat Trout. Click here to learn how to identify the right fish!
• Click here to see all the lures at Zimmer Tackle that Patrick and Ryker talk about in Podcast.
• For entry forms, prize amounts, rules and more click here
• Questions for Cindy Benson? Click here to email her.
• What do you want to explore next? After all this is your podcast too. Just click here to email Downrigger Dale.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale has a truly amazing discussion with business entrepreneur Karl Tyler. Karl had a dream from the time he was in 8th grade, he wanted to own a ranch and raise and sell the best cattle in the world. The problem was he did not have even remotely close to the money needed to buy a ranch let alone cattle. He headed to college to study animal sciences and found out he could not afford to stay in school unless he found a job. He got a job washing cars at a car dealership and with a lot of elbow grease, a can-do spirit and a big dream everything changed. He would later buy that dealership where he washed cars and then another dealership and another and another and, well, you just have to listen. It is an amazing story that will without a doubt inspire you. So, did he ever get that cattle ranch? Oh yeah and wait until you hear about the cattle that are on that ranch. They just might be the best in the world, In fact he is having two huge bull sales coming up on the March 6th at his ranch in Leadore, Idaho and on March 12that the Dillion Livestock Auction. If you are in the cattle business, then these sales are without a doubt a must for you to attend at least one of them either in person or online. And if you are needing some inspiration to make that big break happen for you, listen to this podcast right now!

Links: 

• Click here to learn about the Bull Sales on March 6th and March 12th.
• To see the sales catalogs for both bull sales and to learn all about the two bull sales and get all the contact information click here.
• Click here to attend the sale on the sixth online.
• To attend the bull sale on the 12th online click here.
• Click here to learn more about Karl’s ranch in Leadore Idaho.
• Questions for the folks at Karl’s Ranch? Click here to contact the Ranch.
• Your buddy Downrigger Dale would love to know where under the Big Sky you want to explore next. Afterall this is your Podcast too! Click here to email Rigger.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast you host Downrigger Dale talks with the Head of the Communication and Education Division for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Greg Lemon. Greg and Rigger talked all about the big changes that are coming from the FWP on March 1st. What are those changes? Well, the best way to find out all about them is to watch the podcast right here. But here are a few highlights. Rigger and Greg go over a bunch of hunting regulation changes you really need to know about. But probably the biggest change is a new program called the FWP License Ambassador Program. That will replace the very successful program that has been around for a VERY long time which was called the License Provider Program. That was the system whereby local sporting goods stores could sell you a fishing license, hunting license, and conservation license right there in their store. So why change something that has been very successful? Unfortunately, FWP did not have a choice. The technology that was used to interface with FWP’s internal licensing system had gotten so old that most of the stores that had them were not working or barely working and they could not be replaced because the manufacturer stopped making it. In fact, there aren’t even any parts that can be bought to fix existing systems. On top of that there was no way for any new stores to be able to sell licenses. As Greg put it during the podcast, “something had to change”. So, what is a License Ambassador? Ok, we have given enough spoilers for one article you will need to watch the Podcast. Ok, one more little one, the new License Ambassadors at your local sporting goods store will also allow you to get things from the FWP that you were not able to get from the old system. So, listen or watch this podcast right now and find out all about it!

Links:

• To get more info about the License Ambassador Program click here.
• To see a map and a list of where you can find a License Ambassadors simply click here.
• Questions for Greg Lemon? Click here.
• Don’t forget this podcast is indeed YOUR podcast so click here and tell Rigger where under the Big Sky you what to explore next!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This Week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Racheal Vargas, Owner of and Instructor for Montana K9 Safety and Montana Health & Safety Training. Racheal is incredibly smart and has a great deal of experience teaching groups and individuals how to save their friend's, family and even pet's lives. Racheal and her staff teach several different types of classes like, Basic Wilderness Frist Aid, Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness EMT Challenge Courses, Stop the Bleed and even a Babysitter Bootcamp. On top of that Racheal and her staff offer all kinds of Pet First Aid Courses. In fact, if you have hunting dogs, sled dogs or just a pup that goes everywhere with you like Rigger’s dog does, you really need to listen to this podcast right now. As Racheal likes to put it, “We train heroes!” Gang, you really should listen to this right now and find out a ton of great information and how to have Racheal and her team come to your next community or outdoor group's meeting and turn you and your members into heroes!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Montana K9 Safety and find out when you can attend a class near you.
• To learn more about Montana Health & Safety Training and find out when you can attend a class near you, click here.
• To get all kinds of great information and get all your questions answered about classes and human or pet first aid, click here email Racheal Vargas.
• Rigger wants to know which topic or part of Montana’s Outdoors do you want to explore next? Click here to let him know.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

Send us Fan Mail

This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with the CEO of Energy Keepers and Tribal Member, Brian Lipscomb. Energy Keepers, Inc owns and operates the dam and hydroelectric project on Flathead Lake. You'll be very surprised by what you learn when you listen this podcast! Energy Keepers is the first tribally owned company to own and operate a major hydroelectric facility in the United States and list goes on from there. There is ton fascinating information you will learn, including answers to questions that a bunch of you asked when you emailed Rigger. For example, you will learn why Flathead Lake stayed so full much longer this year than it usually does. You'll learn why Brian said, “I’m starting to feel like a broken record, because every time I go talk to somebody, I say, “we just dealt with something we have never seen in our lifetimes!” 

Links:

• Click Here to learn more about Energy Keepers.
• You can get latest data about water level and water flow straight from the Energy Keepers website by clicking here.
• NOAA will even give you Northwest River Forecast Center ESP Water Supply Volumes for dam when you click here.
• Click here to go to the Energy Keepers Facebook Page where you can also get great water flow and level info and more!
• Click here to take a look at the USGS Flathead Lake Elevation Gauge.
• You can also see what the USGS Flathead River Flows below the dam by clicking here.
• Want to see the USDA NRCS Snow Water Equivalent for Flathead Lake? Just click here!
• In case you forgot this one from our recent NOAA Podcast click here to go to their Weather Prediction Center or click here to watch that podcast. 
• Still have questions? You can contact Energy Keepers via email by clicking here.
• Don’t forget to contact your old buddy, Rigger! Click here to email him.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.