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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger went behind the scenes of the Fort Peck Hatchery to find out how a King Salmon can go from a tiny egg to one of the most sought after and hardest fighting fish in Montana’s largest body of water. This Podcastis destined to be a classic so we thought we would call this one “Rigger and the Salmon Factory”! Yes, we are talking about the mighty King Salmon or more accurately known as the Chinook Salmon, which is the Everlasting Gobstopper of the salmon species, but it is far from being a native fish of Montana. So how does the Chinook Salmon continue to maintain it’s population? They won’t spawn in Fort Peck Reservoir. There is no way Montana FWP could go out buy fingerlings to stock into the reservoir every year. They have to get them from the Chinooks that are in Fort Peck Reservoir now, but as we said they don’t spawn so then how…. That is where Fisheries Biologist Heath Headley and Fort Peck Hatchery Manager Wade Geraets come in. They take the eggs from the dying females and milt from the dying males and turn all that into a brand-new King Salmon every year! How do they do that? Just listen right now. Rigger does a deep dive into all of that and we are positive that you are going to be amazed and entertained by what this podcast for reveals. For example, Heath and his crew collected 895,000 Salmon eggs this year. How do they know that? Those tiny, tiny eggs were counted, no not by Wade’s Oompa Loompas, he does not have any of those. So how then? That is just one of the many questions you will get answered when you listen. Rigger even got his buddy The Captain of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show involved. Captain was able to record amazing video of the process while Rigger did a fascinating interview with the Salomon wizards Heath and Wade there at the hatchery. So DO NOT miss the amazing adventure and incredible tale of “Rigger and the Salmon Factory”!  

Links:

• To learn more about the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery click here.
• To ask Heath Headley questions click here.
• To ask Wade Geraets questions click here.
• Got a question or comment for Rigger? Click here.

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 start a new series that will preview the most popular ice fishing areas in Montana with top ice fishing professionals. To kick it all off Rigger brings on the top fishing guide in Northwest Montana as well as one of the top guides in the State if not the Country. Captain Matt McComb with Fish On Charters. Matt puts on a masterclass about ice fishing. Matt covers all the best lakes for ice fishing and tells you what species are best to target in those lakes. He even tells you what to use to catch them! If that were not enough, he shows you his ice fishing gear, gives great info on why he uses certain types of gear and explains that using it will help  catch a lot more fish.  No matter if you are new to ice fishing or are an experienced angler, you are going to learn a TON and love this podcast!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Captain Matt McComb and Fish On Charters.
• To Learn more about the lakes Matt talks about click these links. Lake Mary Ronan  Little Bitterroot Lake  Thompson Chain  Echo Lake Rogers Lake  Swan Lake  Flathead River Slews  
• For Montana Outdoor Approved Sporting Goods Stores click here.
• Click for more on Vexilar flashers  Eyoyo camera  Otter sled   Hali lure  Clam Jacket and Bibs  throw rope  Ice Picks
• What to do if you fall through the ice? click here .
•  Questions? Click here to email Captain Matt McComb. Click here to email you old buddy 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 Downrigger Dale turned over the reins to his buddy Roger Fishwell to do the hosting duties. Ol’ Rigger needed to take a little time off. If you listen or watch the podcast on a regular basis you will recognize Roger he is the one you hear or see introduce Rigger on the podcast every week. Rog also works in our research department as well as many other things. But Don’t worry good ol’ Rigger will be back next week unless he gets lost out there. So, this week Roger got information from hunting check stations all across Montana in all 7 hunting regions of the State! So, when you listen here you will find out how many harvested deer, elk, antelope and a few other critters were counted at those check stations. The info in this Podcast will give you a great idea of where hunters are finding game in every hunting region in the State! Roger will also give you some great stats on the success rates for hunters in all those areas plus a whole lot more! So, give this one a listen and happy hunting!

Links:

• Click here to for the latest news and information about hunting and fishing on our website for hunters and anglers. We will post more results right there from check stations as they come in.
• You can also go to our Facebook Page by clicking here. That page has great info as well. 
• Questions? Just click here to email Downrigger or Roger. They will get back to you as fast as they can!

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 know it’s true! If you love to fish for Walleye, you just have to pass that 30 plus inch benchmark and until you do things just never feel complete, right? This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Ken Ault and his girlfriend and fishing partner Amy McComas about Ken’s seemingly never ending quest to get his 30 plus incher! This podcast is A LOT of fun to watch or listen to. You will hear how Ken and Amy decided to switch from bottom bouncing to jigging. And how they researched the latest technology all to become better at one of their favorite things to do together, fishing for Walleye. Which brings us to another really good reason to click here to watch or to listen to this podcast and that is you will learn a lot about trying new ways to fish for walleye and probably find out that fishing can be an amazing thing to with the one you love. On top of that you will also learn about Nelson Reservoir which is a great place to fish for Walleye. Rigger was able to pull some good info out of Ken and Amy as far as the best place to put in this time a year and a few other great tips. But don’t worry Nelson anglers, Rigger was not able to get them to give up any a major Walleye secrets about that great waterway and after all isn’t half the fun getting on the water and starting your own quest? So, did Ken ever get that 30 plus inch Walleye? Well, you will have to click here to watch or stay here and listen to find out. We will tell you a little secret though, Amy got Her’s! 

Links:

• To learn more about Nelson Reservoir, the fish you find in there and stocking reports click here.
• If you have any questions for Ken or Amy, just click here to email Downrigger Dale and he will track them down and get your questions answered.

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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Get ready everyone! This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale got a hold of the Executive Director of the Montana State Parks Foundation Megan Buecking and asked her if she knew anything about the rumors that some of Montana’s Ghost Towns are actually haunted. Not only did she know about that, but she is a bit of an expert on the topic and took poor ole Rigger on a podcast tour that he will not soon forget. In fact, we are pretty sure that everyone around the podcast offices that heard Megan and Rigger’s stories will not sleep for quite some time! As Rigger put it; “I thought this was going to fun little change of pace kind of Podcast where I would hear a few quirky stories and that would be it. Boy was I wrong! I hate to admit it but hosting this podcast scared the crap out of me! In fact, I am now pretty darn sure that ghosts are real!” Yeah, don’t say we didn’t warn you but when you listen, its gonna get real fricking spooky! And in some cases, heartbreaking. Wait until you hear about the one town where almost every child in the town died in one year! In another of the ghost towns that Rigger did a little research on he found out that several paranormal studies have been done and out of those the experts have concluded that no less than sixty buildings in and around the ghost town are indeed considered hunted! So, if you dare listen now  and…. sweet dreams!!! 

Links:

• Click here to get more information about the Montana State Parks Foundation. 
• To learn more about Judith Landing State Park click here.
• Click here to learn more about Bannack Ghost Town State Park.
• To learn more about Granite Ghost Town State Park click here.
• You can click here to learn more about Elkhorn Ghost Town State Park.
• For more info about Albright Ghost Town Sluice Boxes State Park click here.
• Megan is super interesting and knows a ton so if you have questions just click here to email her.
• You can also 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 your host Downrigger Dale talks with Wildlife Manager Brett Dorak from Region 7 in Southeast Montana. Did you know that Region 7 is the largest hunting Region in Montana? So literally there is lots to cover in this Podcast. Rigger had a great conversation with Brett and in fact, Brett also threw out a few surprises that you just must hear. Here is a little hint; wait and until you hear what happened to the Antelope population there in just one year! As Brett put it, “We were shocked! It is a real head scratcher!”. And that is just one of the surprises. DO NOT miss this podcast. If you would like to watch this podcast instead of just listening you can click here to watch it. Yeah, the surprises and super valuable information just kept flowing during this podcast so again, DO NOT miss this one! Even if you don’t plan to hunt region 7 you will for sure still find it fascinating. From all of us here at the Montana Outdoor Podcast and the Montana Outdoor Radio Show have a safe, fun and above all productive hunting season!

Links:

• To learn more about Region 7 click here.
• Be sure and click here for Region 7’s Hunting Forecast. Also click here for the Statewide Upland Game Bird Hunting Forecast. 
• Make sure you visit the Block Management page for any hunting region you hunt in, in Montana. To go to Region 7’s click here. 
• You can click here to get to Region 7’s Facebook Page.
• Click here to access the MT FWP Hunt Planner.
• Click here for more info about the “It’s Up to Us” program and to take the quiz to automatically entered to win all kinds of prizes! And thank a landowner there as well.
• Click here to get a digital copy of any hunting regulations for any species in Montana!
• Questions? Click here to email to Brett Dorak in Region 7.
• Click here to email your buddy 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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Oh boy this is a "good un" as Rigger likes to say! This week your host Downrigger Dale talks with Wildlife Manager Cory Loecker from Region 4 in north central Montana. In this podcast Rigger and Cory will give you all kinds of great info on where to find the game you are looking in Region 4. Some of you may not know this but Region 4 has all 10 of the big game species you can hunt in Montana, so there was lots for Rigger to cover with Cory and yes there were some surprises. So listen close and you will get some nuggets of info that should help you have success when hunting in Region 4. If you want watch the podcast you can do that when you click here to watch. From all of us here at the Montana Outdoor Podcast and the Montana Outdoor Radio Show have a safe, fun and above all productive hunting season!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Region 4.
• Click here to get a copy of Region 4’s FWP 2025 Hunting Forecast.  Also click here for the Statewide Upland Game Bird Hunting Forecast.
• To go to the Block Management page for Region 4 click here.
• Head on over to Region 4’s Facebook Page by clicking here.
• Click here to access the FWP Hunt Planner.
• Click here for more info about the “It’s Up to Us” program and to take the quiz to automatically entered to win all kinds of prizes! And thank a landowner there as well.
• Click here to get a digital copy of any hunting regulations for any species in Montana! Always handy if you download it to your phone that way you have whether you have cell service or not!
• Questions? Click here to email Cory Loecker in Region 4.
• Click here to email your buddy 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 continues his annual Montana Regional Hunt Preview Series to bring you the latest on how the hunting will be in each of the 7 hunting regions across Montana. This week Rigger talks with Wildlife Manager Matt Ladd in Region 5 located in south central Montana. Rigger and Matt take a deep dive into everything south central Montana has to offer in the way of hunting, and boy is it A LOT! They talk about all kinds of wildlife from Mountain Goats, Bighorn Sheep, huge Elk, Mule & Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn, even...well, you name it, and just wait until you hear about the over-the-counter Bighorn Sheep tags that Matt talks about! It’s just crazy! However, this region does have some challenging terrain and other things that take some planning and expertise and that is where this podcast comes in. Yeah, you will get exclusive information that will turn you into a well-oiled hunting machine and that even includes you folks that are not even planning on hunting in Region 5!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Region 5.
• You can click here to go to the Region 5 Facebook Page.
• Be sure and click here for the Region 5 Hunting Forecast. Also click here for the Statewide Upland Game Bird Hunting Forecast.
• Click here to access the FWP Hunt Planner.
• When you Click here you will find the Block Management info and maps for Region 5.
• Click here for more info about the “It’s Up to Us” program and to take the quiz to automatically entered to to win all kinds of prizes!
• Click here to get a digital copy of any hunting regulations for any species!
• Questions? Click here to email Wildlife Manager Matt Ladd in Region 5.
• 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 continues his annual Montana Regional Hunt Preview Series to bring you the latest on how the hunting will be in each of the 7 hunting regions across Montana. This week your Rigger talks to Region 3 Wildlife Manager, Warren Hansen and  Communication and Education Manager, Morgan Jacobsen and boy did they have lots to say about all the different species you can hunt there in region 3. For starters Warren talked about the strong Elk population that lives throughout the region however he did give some great info about where some of the better hunting districts are that you will be able to find elk. Morgan told Rigger about the the strong hunting access that exists in Region 3 due to the growth of the "Its Up to Us" Program that hunters have been Participating in Region 3 for the last few seasons. Both Warren and Morgan had a great conversation with Rigger about Bison hunting in the region that was very interesting plus they covered health of Bear, Mountain Lion, Mule and Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn, Upland Game Birds, Waterfowl and more that are populating the Region. If you want to give hunting a try in Region 3 in southwest Montana this podcast is a must and even if you are not going to hunt there you will with out a doubt find it interesting!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Region 3.
• You can click here to go to the Region 3 Facebook Page.
• Click here for the Region 3 Hunting Forecast or click here for the Statewide Upland Game Bird Hunting Forecast.
• Click here to access the FWP Hunt Planner.
• For Block Management info and maps click here for Region 3.
• Click here for more info about the “It’s Up to Us” program and to take the quiz to automatically entered to to win all kinds of prizes!
• Click here to get a digital copy of any hunting regulations for any species!
• Questions? Click here to email Region 3 Wildlife Game Manager Warren Hansen or here for Communication and Education Manager Morgan Jacobsen.
• 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 we are doing something for the first time ever! We are doing a Montana Outdoor Podcast Double Feature! That’s right, you will be able to watch and or listen to two different podcasts this week. This half of of our Double Feature is all about Region 2, located in the central part of Western Montana. Rigger heads to Missoula to talk to MT FWP Regional Access Manager, Trenton Heisel. Trenton gives some awesome advice about gaining hunting access in the region and outlined all the different hunting access programs there. On top of all that Trenton gave all kinds of inside info about where you can find Elk, including where you might find some nice bulls, Muleys, Whitetail, Black Bear, and the list goes on and on. All and all Trenton will get you dialed in for hunting success in FWP Region 2. The other half of our double feature has your host Downrigger Dale talking to FWP Wildlife Manager for Region 1, Neil Anderson in Kalispell. He will tell you what the hunting will be like in Montana FWP Region 1 located in Northwest Montana.  Be sure and listen to both of these podcasts and become a Region 1 and 2 hunting genius!

Links:

• Click here for more about Region two.
• Click here to access the FWP Hunt Planner to plan you hunts in any region.
• Click here to get all the block management info and BMA maps for both Region 1 & 2!
• Click here to learn about winning those Griz Football tickets that Trenton talked about. Plus, other prizes in the "Its Up to Us" promo.
• Click here for Deer, Elk and Antelope regulations. Click here for Upland Game Bird regs and here for Waterfowl regs.
• Click here to get the Wolf Hunting regulations for Montana.
• You can click here to get the Region 2 Hunting Forecast.
• Click here for the Upland Game Bird Season Outlook for Montana.
• Questions, click here to email Trenton Heisel in Region 2.
• You can email Downrigger Dale when you click here.

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.