To be a survivor and not a statistic in a field emergency, you need a survival kit you can live with. As hunters are rightly concerned with the weight they carry afield, your first order of business must be to keep your survival kit light by limiting it to the essentials. Next, develop the habit of taking your survival pack with you every time you go into the field. Lastly, learn how to use your survival equipment properly. Remember, knowing how to use your equipment is as important as having it!

​Here are some items that are recommended to have in your survival kit:

With Montana's bow hunting and upland game bird seasons opening Sept. 1, remember that slow moving, quiet or game-calling, scented and camouflaged hunters will soon be sharing the landscape with the state's even stealthier bears that may be stalking similar prey.

​It may not be an encounter one hopes for, but all hunters must be aware there is that potential.

The LiteWater Dinghy is an advanced ultralight packable raft developed with input from professional kayakers and pack rafters.  The pack raft weighs only 35 ounces and packs to the size of a one-liter bottle. Made from lightweight, durable polyester, it resists tears and punctures.

Guns America writes, "I’ve never been more grateful for a piece of gear as when my buddies and I were on a backcountry black bear hunt in Idaho. The only way to retrieve the bear was across the mighty Selway River. Trust me. This piece of kit is worth its weight in gold."
You can read Guns America's entire Holiday Gift Guide here

Each spring, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks receives several calls from people who have picked up deer fawns or other wildlife. FWP no longer accepts, holds or rehabilitates ungulates like deer, moose and elk because the animals often die from the stress of captivity, and because of concerns with the spread of disease.

​There are many cases in which good intentions lead to dire consequences. One spring in Miles City, a person saw a fledgling bald eagle hopping around on the ground, which is normal behavior as they learn to fly. Thinking the bird was injured, the person threw a blanket over it and brought it to the FWP office. The eagle escaped and flew in the opposite direction of the nest, and it’s not known if it returned.
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In a more high-profile case in Yellowstone National Park two years ago, a bison calf was picked up and transported by tourists who believed it had been abandoned. The calf ultimately had to be euthanized because it couldn’t be reunited with the herd and continued to approach people and vehicles.

​What: FREE Map and Compass Skills Class.

When: Saturday, April 14th, 2018 - 9 am to 3:30 pm.

Time: We will meet at 9 am at Snappy Sport Senter for approximately 2.5 hrs. to cover basics and head to field.

Where: Snappy's, 1400 Hwy 2 East, Kalispell, Montana. Website: www.snappysportsenter.com  phone: 406-257-7525.

Who: Mr. Baxter is a forester, wildlife researcher, and land survey technician, with several decades experience getting in and out of the woods safely! Brian has been teaching outdoor education programs for over 16 years.

Description: Be totally prepared for this hiking season by sharpening your mind and brushing up on your navigational skills with an experienced woods professional! We'll spend about 2.5 hours in the classroom setting learning how to properly read topographical maps, determining accurate distances, reading map scales, and setting precise magnetic declination. The second phase will be a field exercise, where we will apply the skills absorbed in the skull session! Please come prepared with proper boots for weather conditions, water, and lunch.

Recommended Materials: Please bring pencils, 360 degree protractor, calculator, ruler (10ths of inch), topographical maps at a 1:24,000 scale, and an orienteering compass with adjustable declination! Snappy's will have the professionals recommended adjustable declination Silva Ranger Compass on sale, and topographical maps as well. Note: Most students who learn the methods taught in this class, will be able to perform the basic navigation skills necessary for an average hike.

Come In Every Tuesday Evening from 5pm Until Close for Unbelievable Savings.

Each week Snappy's staff will have a different deal for you to take advantage of. This deal will only be valid from 5pm until Close on Tuesday evening. 

To find out what the week deal will be Join our VIP Text Club or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

​What: FREE Winter Birding Class sponsored by Snappy Sport Senter and Silver Cloud Associates, LLC.

When: Saturday, March 17th, 2018.

Time:  Meet at 9 am, for a one hour classroom session. Then we will continue to the field until about 3:30 pm.

Where: Snappy Sport Senter, 1400 Hwy. 2 east, Kalispell, MT. Website: Snappy's - Snappy Sport Senter  Phone: 406-257-7525.

How: Register at Snappy's, online, or call 406-257-7525.

More Info: To find out more about this class, Email Brian at: b_baxter53@yahoo.com  Or Call: 406-291-2154.

Who: Mr. Baxter is a forester and wildlife researcher who has worked on Owl studies, Goshawk projects, and Eagle monitoring in the northwest. Brian has been teaching outdoor educational programs for over 16 years. See the article by Brian Baxter and Don Jones in the Winter 2017 edition of Sandpoint Magazine entitled, "Wings of Winter."

Description: Share with us the special magic of Winter Birding as we quietly meander timbered edges and riparian stringers in search of sign and sightings of birds of prey; waterfowl; woodpeckers; and songbirds! After an hour of classroom instruction, we will head to the field. Please come prepared with proper layers, good pack boots, snowshoes if needed, lunch, water, binoculars, spotting scopes, and field bird guide books. Full gas tanks appreciated, and car pooling as well to limit necessary parking.

Recommended Reading: Sandpoint, Idaho Magazine, Winter 2017; Field Guides such as National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Western edition revised; and Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, fourth edition can be helpful and may be available at Snappy Sport Senter.