Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Orion on April 07, 2008, 08:10:00 PM

Title: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Orion on April 07, 2008, 08:10:00 PM
I'll be visiing my daughter near Kalispell April 15-25 or so.  Was hoping to hook up with a trad ganger or two to do some stump shooting, or whatever.  Let me know if you have an interest.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: pathdoc on April 07, 2008, 09:15:00 PM
Spent 22 years of my life in Kalispell, before I saw the light and started shooting traditional.  If you want a nice range, drive up to Lone Pine State Park which overlooks town and is exactly 5 minutes from the center of town.  I think there is a little pay-box to put a few $ in, and the range is in open Ponderosa pine and has some nice hills, etc.  Also, you might check out Big Sky Archery's range a few miles West of town.  Big Dan doesn't shoot traditional, but he has a nice range in the hills featuring all 3-d targets, from wolves to bears to mountain lions to elk, deer, goats, etc.  Just don't shoot any of the live whitetails roaming the range.  I'm heading up to Kalispell in June and plan on bringing the Silvertip up to the Lone Pine range.  Plenty of public land West of town, also.  Just drive up a dirt road, look for a forest service sign, and go stump shooting.  

Have a great trip.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Orion on April 07, 2008, 09:21:00 PM
Thanks, Zachary.  I'll check them both out.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Greg Szalewski on April 08, 2008, 06:18:00 AM
Jerry, take a ride to Columbia Falls to see Dave Windauer. He is SE of town. Check out his bows and shop. Worth the trip. You need one of his bows.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Gator1 on April 08, 2008, 06:27:00 AM
Man I'm drooling

That is breathtaking country.,,

"Time to move"
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Frank V on April 08, 2008, 08:37:00 PM
Orion, I'm at the Southern end of Montana & you will be quite a ways north of us. Have a good visit & enjoy our state. Frank
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Orion on April 08, 2008, 08:44:00 PM
Greg:  I'm considering that.  A short jaunt south to Hamilton would also take me to Howard Hill, Thunderhorn, Toelke, Selway and Whispering Wind arrows.  And, on the way, Bears Paw in Lakeside, where my daughter teaches.  I think there are more traditional bowyers in Montana than any other state.  I'm a bit reluctant to just pop in on them though.  After all, they do have bows to build, and I already have plenty of bows to keep me occupied.  However, I do need another Selway or Thunderhorn quiver. Hmmmmmmmm.

Any other Kalispell area folks who might wayt to sling a few arrows?
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Herb_W on April 08, 2008, 11:17:00 PM
Well I won't be slinging any arrows.  Currently healing up from a broken collarbone and potential rotator cuff damage from a fall this winter.  I live south of Kalispell, in Polson.  Which you will pass through if you head down to the Hamilton area.  Drop me an e-mail and maybe we can hook up for lunch or something.  I concur with pathdoc and Greg on both Lone Pine state park for shooting and Windhauer's bows. Have a great trip.  Herb
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Orion on April 09, 2008, 09:28:00 AM
Herb:  I'll send you a pm.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Orion on April 12, 2008, 09:19:00 AM
One more time before I leave.  Anybody up for some fishing, turkey hunting?
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: m laughlin on April 12, 2008, 09:39:00 AM
orion,
you'll be to far north for me (great falls) but if for some reason your down this way i'd love ta fling some arras. hope your trip is great.
matt
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: scriv on April 12, 2008, 11:13:00 AM
I moved back to Michigan 18 years ago, but I left my heart in Big Sky country.  Good luck.  :goldtooth:
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: ROB TAYLOR on April 12, 2008, 11:35:00 AM
I am just south of Missoula, but used to live in the Flathead years ago....you also forgot Centaur and Robertson in the Bitterroot.
-Rob
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Orion on April 12, 2008, 12:12:00 PM
Matthew:  Thanks for the offer.  If I get the itch to see some country, might be able to make it over your way.  If so, I'll let you know.

Scriv:  I know what you mean.  I'm a lifelong Wisconsin resident.  Pretty nice country, but no where near the critters to chase that Montana has, and too many people in the upper Midwest as well.  Though I'm told Montana is getting a pretty big influx of people from the west coast.  

Rob:  I probably forgot a few others as well.  Robertson's are one of my favorite bows.  I've shot most of the bows out there, but I've noticed over the years that when I'm standing over a dead critter, I'm usually holding a Robertson longbow in my hand.  I might make it down your way sometime during my trip.  I'm developing a powerful want for a Thunder Horn Lynx quiver.  

P.S.  The area between Missoula and Hamilton must be the log building capitol of the world.  My first time through there last year. I was amazed at the large number of big log construction operations on that stretch of road.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: soopernate on April 12, 2008, 03:21:00 PM
Hey Rob...Robertson Stykbow is in Forest Grove up near Lewistown nowadays.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: ROB TAYLOR on April 12, 2008, 11:07:00 PM
Hmmmm, really?  Didn't know they moved.  Oh well, never shot one anyway...LOL.
-Rob
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Steveoz on April 13, 2008, 12:38:00 AM
P.M. sent
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Steveoz on April 13, 2008, 12:41:00 AM
Keep adding to your list of bowyers,
Rick Anderson Mariah bows of Whitefish 7miles
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: killinstuff on April 13, 2008, 07:34:00 AM
While you're there, I highly recommend the Moose Drool beer. Some of the best tasting beer ever.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: pathdoc on April 13, 2008, 09:33:00 AM
If you are going to have a Moose Drool, better have it down at Moose's.  Main and Idaho- just says "Saloon" outside.  Leave your name on the wall.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: m laughlin on April 13, 2008, 10:37:00 AM
orion,
another trip you should take if you have the time is up the north fork of the flathead river all the way to the town of polebridge. it follows the western boundry of glacier np and back in the 1900's was some prime elk wintering. if polebridge is still the same it's like stepping into the 30's. once again, enjoy the trip!
matt
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: ROB TAYLOR on April 13, 2008, 11:00:00 AM
Yeah, blow the horn at Moose's...everyone gets free beer if you make a note!!  (Also, they used to have great pizza...and free peanuts)

Had one of my very few face to face griz encounters up the north fork....OK it was more like 60 or 70 yards, but I was in high school and only holding a bow....was pretty intense for me.

-Rob
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: pathdoc on April 13, 2008, 11:47:00 AM
If you head up the North Fork, just take one of the side roads up by Polebridge (Whale Creek, Moose Creek, Red Meadow Creek, Teepee Lake) and almost all of it is public land.  Watch for grizzlies.  That is where they dump the "bad" bears.  West of Kalispell on Hwy 2 is safer as far as griz go.

ZW
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Greg Szalewski on April 13, 2008, 06:46:00 PM
Jerry, A trip to Polebridge is well worth the effort. FYI, go there hungry. The Polebridge Mercantile has an awesome bakery, and the sandwiches are great. A friend of mine runs a B&B just outside of Columbia Falls about 2 miles from Dave Windauer's. Check out badrock.com. Very nice place to stay and the owners are so friendly. Mark just might want to go to Polebridge with you. He tells all of his guests if they go there they have to bring something back for him. He also has a McKenzie deer target out back. There is a carbon arrow behind it worth a beer of your choice. Have a great trip.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: knife river on April 13, 2008, 11:10:00 PM
And drink lots of huckleberry shakes.  Might be even better than Moose Drool.   Notice I said "might..."  You ought to have several of each to make up your own mind.
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: Steveoz on April 14, 2008, 06:05:00 PM
"just take one of the side roads up by Polebridge (Whale Creek, Moose Creek, Red Meadow Creek, Teepee Lake) and almost all of it is public land."

Ahhhh take your snowshoes and plan on parking on the main road. you may not need the snowshoes if you walk on the snowmobile trails but as soon as you step off a packed trail you will be digging out until MMMM Late may early june lots of snow this year.

oz
Title: Re: Kalispell, Montana, area trad gangers
Post by: R.W. on April 14, 2008, 09:17:00 PM
There are a couple of shooting lanes there, my sister-in-law shoots target recurve.

Was down visiting, she and my brother took me to a couple of places that were into some traditional stuff.

Just have to finish off the longbow for my brother (Dryad glass bow) and get him started down the path to righteousness!   :thumbsup: