May 1^st. - Moose, Sheep, Goat hunting licenses application due into Mt. FWP

May 26^th. -  UCO 2012 Opening Weekend - Memorial Day Weekend

May 26^th. – Virginia City Kick off Parade

June 1 Antelope and special permit hunting licenses application due into Mt. FWP

June 9 – Fly Fishing Season takes off

June 30 – July 6 Horse Adventure Week

June we will have special events posted on our web and in our e-mail newsletter

July 4^th Parade, Rodeo & Celebrate Montana Style

July 4^th Virginia City Fireworks Celebration

July 6 – 12 Cattle Drive Week

July 14 – 21 Horse Clinic with trainers/veterinarian/horse massage/lots of hand-on and riding

July 14 – 20 Fly Fishing Spring Creek Tour

July 28 – Aug. 3^rd Dusty Wissmath Fly Fishing Clinic

Aug. 4^th. Open Air Concert in Virginia City

Aug. 10-12 Virginia City Art Show

Aug. 25 – 29 Women of the Four Winds Retreat

Sept. 1 – 3 Mt’s biggest rodeo weekend in Dillon

Sept. 1 -7 Fly Fishing Bamboo Jamboree – Fishing with Cane

Sept. 1 – Oct. 14^th.   Archery Season Elk, Deer & Antelope

Oct. 22 – Nov. 25^th Rifle Season Elk, Deer & Antelope

Dec. 1 – End of the 2012 season.

You can hear the coyote’s winter howl, Toots and Huck listen, but don’t go near.

Horses, wooly and chubby feel frisky in the winter air. 

Big Horn Sheep, Elk and Deer hear the noodle buggy and stay clear

While the home-fire burns a little red elf stands guard with no fear

Clearing the path to get Santa here.   

For soon the lodge will ring out with laughter, eggnog and cheer.

As we look back over the year we’ll bow our heads and give God thanks,

For the UCO family and friends that we hold dear.

As we spend a special Christmas, here on the land that lets us share

All of us at Upper Canyon extended our gratitude and Wishes you a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

It is a true honor to be recognized by our local and national friends for our work at UCO:

Here is an article about Donna McDonald and Miranda Brown.

http://www.madisoniannews.com/2011/11/national-contests-recognize-local-huntresses/

 This is a story about the Big Hearts Under the Big Sky Program we are involved in:  Great story, Great focus and a Great Cause - don't forget to watch the video at the end.  Read pages 56-60

 http://magiccitymagazine.com/?doc=www.magiccitymagazine.com

 This is a great story about Karen's Butlers hunt with UCO:  It gives you a good explanation of what a elk hunt is like.  Whoever said it would be easy.

 http://shootlikeagirl.com/blog_2011.htm

Thank you all  Donna & Jake

We need your vote. Miranda’s story is posted on http://tahoefilms.com/contests/extreme-huntress-contest/ were you can cast your vote that will run November 1, 2011 through January 1, 2012.   

I recognize that your time is valuable, but please encourage your family, friends, co-workers, employees, bosses, colleagues, clients, neighbors, civic, social media friends, and anyone else you can think of to vote for Miranda.  If you would like to send Miranda a message this is her email address Miranda Browne horse.fly@live.com 

Thank you so much and congratulations to Miranda.

 

We have a great group of hunters this week, pleasant, fun and they have a great mental attitude about the hunt.   They realize hunting is hard work and dedication.  Being in good shape can help your hunt immensely, however there is much more to a hunt than just hiking around the mountains.  Having a good attitude can be the difference from having a fantastic week of hunting with your buddies or a week of being miserable in the cold and only thinking about that perfect shot you need at a monster bull.  Personally, I would much rather guide a person with a good attitude than someone in top physical condition who has a bad one.  Don’t let the little things that go wrong in your hunt sour your attitude of the whole experience. 

Here are a few tips to help keep you warm while you are hiking and riding horses on your western hunting adventure.

• Feet.  Start with warm, dry boots, warm feet, and don’t impair your circulation by tight boots or socks that are too small.  Use a thin sock liner with a medium weight wool outer-sock.  This provides wicking, insulation, and cushion.  Choose boots that fit well but are not the least bit tight.  Even slight pressure will cut off circulation and result in cold feet.  As guides we wear the Kenetreck 13” Cowboy Boot or the Schnee’s Western Adventure.  UCO is on a dealer program for Kenteck boots.  You can now order your boots directly from the ranch - give the Upper Canyon Office a call if you would like to place an order.  To review boots available go to http://www.kenetrek.com/ Wearing a liner sock and wool in either of these keeps my feet warm even on the coldest days.
• Hands.  For temperatures around thirty degrees Fahrenheit, cross-country ski gloves, often a blend of warm fabrics and leather, provide grip and warmth.  For hunting I favor wool mitts almost exclusively, particularly the kind with the flip-open fingertips. Accessibility to shooting fingers is very important.  In evere temperatures and the high wind chill I like a couple of different methods.   I will use the wool as a liner and adding a Thinsulate^TM glove or for  riding in colder weather we wear heated gloves by Gerbings we have enjoyed these so much that we sell them at our ranch store to review their products go to http://coreheat.net/Products/Products.html#Gloves   I always have extra gloves in my pack.
• Head.  Don't be negligent in your choice of headgear you can lose a great deal of precious body heat through your head.  When the weather is below freezing, and especially if there is wind, choose an insulated hat with a tight outer cover to deter heat loss from convection by the wind.  A hat with ear and forehead flaps will save you if the weather changes for the worse mid-ride.   We like the rancher caps that are a specialized western hat with ear flaps.    http://www.kenetrek.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ST-5050BLK  NOTE- we do not like orange caps. 
• Protect yourself from Ultra-Violet rays.  Take care of your eyes by wearing sun glasses that provide protection from UV rays.  Tinted lenses without UV protection may be worse than no sunglasses at all because the dark lenses encourage the pupils to dilate, thus letting in more harmful glare.
• Neck.  Clothing around your neck should be adjustable or removable so you can vent body heat and perspiration.  Choose jackets with zip collars, zip turtlenecks, neck gaiters and silk scarves.  A young man in the valley has supplied us with his homemade oversized silk scarves.  These work great to keep you warm and help with a collage fund for Sam Wood!!
• Legs.  For very cold weather, choose insulated pants.  DO NOT WEAR CARHARTTS THEY ARE LOUD AND THE SAME COLOR AS AN ELK. To keep the bottoms of your pants dry and your boot from filling up with snow (especially when you are hiking and leading your horse) use gaiters over your pants and boots. 
• Upper Body.  Since your trunk rarely gets cold (due to heat of circulation, respiration, digestion), be sure you layer your upper body.  Some jackets perform the functions of the middle and outer layers. Choose outer garments that unzip or unsnap from both the top and the bottom and if you can find it a nice feature is rear gussets which unsnap to cover the cantle.  Be sure your riding jacket allows freedom of movement in the shoulder and arm area. 
• When we have you hiking it may be best to minimize your clothing and carry a pack containing proper garb.  It can get very cold riding a horse up a mountain trail so have your gear handy for when you get back on your horse.  

Now you're geared up for cold weather hunting and riding.

Montana has established a new preference point system which will take effect in 2012.  This preference point system will benefit hunters who apply for preference points prior to their hunt.  The FWP is converting all prior bonus points into preference points.  Hunters can purchase one preference point per year.  Even if you have a Big Game license for the 2011, you can still purchase a preference point from July 1 to September 30.  This will greatly enhance your opportunity to hunt Montana on an annual basis.  If you think you want to hunt Montana in the next two years, purchase a preference point today.

The preference points are available until September 30 at 5:00 PM.  The cost is $50. You can download an application on the FWP website by clicking the link below.  Fill out the application and return it MDFWP with a cashier's check or money order. 

 http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/licenses/nonresidentCombo.html#preferencePoints

It's hard to believe the summer has already come and gone.  Although it seemed short, this has been one of the best summers at UCO. 

We had a slow start due to an abnormally rainy spring that kept the river high, fast, and murky until mid-July.  Once the river cleared up, though, the fishing was never better.  I can't remember catching so many fish!  With such great fishing, we held a fly fishing clinic.  Most of the fly fishing guides from last year here were here again;  Rocco, Dusty, Val, and Lance.  We also welcomed two new guides, Mitch and Bill, who fit right in with the crew.  As we approach September, we are looking forward to good water, hungry fish, and more great dry fly fishing.  

 Although the fishing was slow this spring, we still stayed plenty busy until the river cleared.  We kicked off the season with our week-long cattle drive that allows a glimpse of the everyday life of the Montana cowboy.  Without missing a beat, we jumped right into a fun-filled and educational horse clinic with Chris Bohenek "Horsemanship instructor" and Amy Grice "Equine Veterinarian".  We then hosted the U.S. Junior Fly Fishing Team in preparation to their trip to Italy for the World Championship's.  There was also a fundraiser for the Virginia City library held at the ranch.

As we moved into August, an event that was particularly special to me was right around the corner, my daughter's wedding.  After a beautiful ceremony and a few days of recuperation, we had a very special young lady, Megan Harmon, and family join us for a week with the Catch-A-Dream Foundation through The Big Hearts Under The Big Sky.  

We feel a change in the air temperatures as we start our fall season.  September offers some remarkable fishing along with our archery season.  We will start September hosting two weeks of fly fishing trips with Delamere and Hopkins a sporting good store in Cincinnati, OH.  Than a remarkable week with Jim Downes and Jeff Wagner hosting a Bamboo Concave at the ranch.   And mixed in with all this will be the thrill of hearing bull elk bugling, leaves changing colors and the excitement of our archery hunters sharing their stories of the day.