BOZEMAN, Montana — A small group of women gathered around Patty Gnuse at her kitchen table recently, watching intently as she pulled thread through a fly-tying bobbin.

“See, then just zip it through,” Gnuse said.

The women returned to their stations where a variety of tools and materials were laid out and followed Gnuse’s instructions. They were tying Pink Pookies, a dry fly that resembles a grasshopper.

It was all part of a fly-tying clinic organized by local group MT Fly Gals. The clinic was open to anyone interested, and the group consisted of all ages and experience levels.

Gnuse has been tying flies for about 15 years and teaches a workshop at the Fly Fishers International expo each year. She told the group that tying flies at home isn’t always cheaper than buying them in a store.

“If you catch the bug like I did, you’re always going to be wanting to try something different,” Gnuse said.

Sandra Erickson started MT Fly Gals two years ago when she moved to Bozeman. She had been part of a similar group in Colorado.

“I learned how to fly fish in that group and I ended up building a huge group of friends,” Erickson said.

Erickson said around 70 women showed up to first meeting. Since then, the MT Fly Gals private Facebook group has grown to more than 550 members. They periodically plan fishing trips, camping trips and workshops like Saturday’s fly-tying clinic.

Erickson said the women are encouraging and share their knowledge. Sometimes they’re competitive, but in a fun way.

“It’s a social event as much as it is about fishing,” Erickson said.

That was certainly true Saturday.

The women listened to instructions and focused on the intricate craft at hand. They chatted happily in between. Some of the women had been a part of MT Fly Gals since it was started. For others, it was their first event.

Grace Phillips, 22, moved to Bozeman in September. She came to the workshop for both the social aspect and to learn how to tie flies, although she’s skilled at fly-fishing and plans to guide out of Livingston this summer.

Deb Gay and Heidi Palmer sat across from one another and talked about how much they enjoyed being in an all-women group. They agreed that it’s a completely different experience than when they’ve gone fishing with men.

Gay said women tend to be more patient and don’t underestimate each other’s abilities.

Palmer said it’s important that MT Fly Gals introduces women to fishing partners so they don’t have to go alone. Palmer showed the others a scar stretching from her wrist to her elbow she got when she fell while fishing by herself. Luckily, she was able to call for help.

Stories like that flowed easily among the small group as they assembled their hoppers. They trimmed the foam and attached elk hair and completed the fly with a whip finish, which Gnuse said takes the most practice.

Some flies looked more symmetrical than others. But Gay, who’s been tying flies for three years, told the group to forget appearance — the fish will bite.

“There’s nothing quite like catching that first fish with a fly you’ve tied,” Gay said.

POCATELLO — You may have heard of Master Gardeners, Master Instructors, Master’s Degrees, masterpieces or have a MasterCard in your wallet. But do you know what a Master Naturalist is?

An Idaho Master Naturalist is a person who enjoys nature, outdoor recreation, supporting conservation and is interested in continually learning more about the natural world around them. It is someone who then channels his or her skills, interests and energy to volunteer at nature centers, helps biologists collect data, monitors wildlife, assists at parks and natural areas, helps with fishing or hunting clinics, participates in habitat projects or contributes to many other conservation-related efforts. An Idaho Master Naturalist can be a teacher, farmer, hunter, angler, birdwatcher, retired professional or homemaker — perhaps you!

The High Desert Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalists is now recruiting new members and will hold an open house and introductory meeting on Feb. 13. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Southeast Regional Fish and Game Office at 1345 Barton Road in Pocatello.

To earn the title of Idaho Master Naturalist, an individual completes 40 hours of hands-on training in areas focused on Idaho’s ecology, plants, animals and natural systems taught by experts in their fields. You don’t need to have an education or background in science, just the desire to learn and the enthusiasm to volunteer.

This first class is free of charge. For interested individuals who desire to become certified Idaho Master Naturalists, additional trainings and classes will be offered. The total cost for the certification process is $80 per person to cover supplies and materials. And, later in the year, much of the training will be spent outside in the great outdoors!

In the US, there are over 30 states with Master Naturalist programs. To date, Idaho has eight Master Naturalist chapters throughout the state, including the High Desert Chapter here in Southeast Idaho, and interest in starting new chapters is growing.

Though Idaho Fish and Game coordinates the state’s Master Naturalist Program, it is not solely a Fish and Game program. It is a program that belongs to the volunteers who drive it and donate their services to various agencies, organizations, and communities throughout Idaho.

So what does this program mean for Idaho?

Idaho Master Naturalist Program aims to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to actively work toward stewardship of Idaho’s natural environment. Furthermore, agencies like Idaho Fish and Game benefit from having skilled volunteers like Master Naturalists in the community. Volunteers are not only critical to completing important projects and tasks, their donated hours often serve as match for securing grants and other funding sources. Simply put, volunteerism helps Idaho Fish and Game and other agencies stretch their dollars further and do their jobs better.

If you would like more information on the Idaho Master Naturalists Program, the upcoming training in Pocatello, or if you have a need for these specialized volunteers, contact Tessa Atwood at the Southeast Regional Fish and Game Office in Pocatello at 208-232-4703 or visit idfg.idaho.gov/master-naturalist.

ASHTON — Thanks to lots of snow lately, the annual American Dog Derby should go on as scheduled next month.

It will be dedicated to the late U.S. Ambassador and Ashton farm boy Keith Foote Nyborg, who died last September.

“We’ll do a little tribute to him,” said American Dog Derby Chairman John Scafe. “We want to let people know who he was. Hopefully, we’ll have some of his family there. We’ll present a tribute about everything he did to get (the races) started here in Ashton.”

After serving as an ambassador to Finland in the 1980s, Nyborg returned to Ashton and in 1988 started a cross-country skiing race called the Ambassador’s Cup. The dog sled races started up in 1993 after a 30-year hiatus and at one time coincided with the Ambassador’s Cup. The dog sled races were started in 1917 and since 1993 have continued ever since.

The 103 annual American Dog Derby is scheduled for Feb. 14 and 15. Scafe plans to hold the race down Ashton’s Main Street just as it has been held traditionally.

“I’m feeling pretty good about it,” he said.

Plans call for the race’s traditional events such as the Celebrity Race in which local dignitaries will race. The Weight Pull will also be held where dogs attempt to pull a heavy sled down Main Street. The Mutt Races will be featured with man’s best friend being hooked to a sled and driven down Main Street by the dog’s owner.

North Fremont High School students plan to hold their second annual Arctic Miniature Golf Course at Pocket Park. Organizer and South Fremont Teacher Richard Law came up with the idea last year and jokes that his snow golf course is part of the “Arctic Golf Association.”

“It will be the same festive celebration as last year,” he said. “Arctic Golf is a momentary distraction for people who don’t want to get frostbite. This is just a little sideline to give people something additional to do. It’s just one way to celebrate the dog derby and the wonderful town of Ashton.”

In addition to the return of the Arctic Miniature Golf Course, the annual Soup Competition will be held on Valentine’s Day in the Ashton Community Center’s Gym. There, visitors will vote on their three favorite soups.

Those cooks interested in entering their soup may do so for a $5 registration fee that will be accepted at Stronks & Sons. They are also asked to get an Ashton business owner to sponsor their soup.

“The person entering the challenge makes a poster to advertise for the business sponsor,” said Soup Challenge organizer Rachel Hatton. “They’ll put the business name, the kind of soup and their name on the poster. It gets the business names out there.”

Those entering soup need to bring two large slow cookers of soup to the community center, she said.

“(It’s) because we usually run out,” she said.

Sara Bowersox is also helping with the Soup Challenge and says that the challenge receives about 10 different soups every year. The contest features chili, chicken noodle, cheddar broccoli and Mexican flavored soups.

For a small fee, visitors may taste the various soups and come away feeling like they had a full meal. Funds raised via the Soup Challenge go toward dog derby costs. Usually, around $500 is raised at the event, Bowersox said.

Bowersox said there are lots of delicious soups, and it’s always good.

“There are so many soups to try, that by the time you’re done, you’re full,” Hatton said.

Also during the Soup Challenge, the Ashton Lutheran Church will sell desserts to raise funds for their various projects.

“We usually have a range of cookies, brownies, cupcakes, pies and tarts,” Bowersox said.

Scafe said the event wouldn’t have been possible without Nyborg’s influence. The former ambassador helped put Ashton on the map and every February his influence boosts its economy.

“Between the hotels, meals and people, I’d have to say there’s an increase of anywhere from $1,000 to 5,000 if not more,” Scafe said. “There’s an economic bump — I feel that there is.”

Scafe said he couldn’t thank Nyborg enough for all the help he provided to Ashton.

“He was just a really great guy,” he said.

For more information on the upcoming dog derby, call 208-360-0988, and for more information on the Soup Challenge, call 208-652-0144.

Surrounded by snowcapped mountains and hundreds of elk, black powder enthusiasts rendezvoused with their inner 19th century fur-trader on Saturday.

Around 50 shooters from around the state gathered at Hardware Ranch in northern Utah’s Blacksmith Fork Canyon for the fifth annual Willy Wapiti’s Smokepole Biathlon. Shooters raced a near-100 yard trail — with or without snowshoes — to five separate shooting stations. Each station had two sets of metal silhouette targets ranging from 25 to 75 yards — one set for traditional shooters and another at further distances for intended modern muzzleloaders.

Rachael Tuckett, a wildlife recreation specialist with the Northern Region of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said prizes are given to the best score out of 10. Tuckett said prizes include electronic earmuffs, knives, firestarters and gift cards from biathlon’s regular sponsor Sportsman’s Warehouse.

But another prize is given to mountain man with the best outfit.

“I think that’s more fun for a lot of them, is to dress up,” Tuckett said.

Levi Bassett, the shooting sports manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said the event continues to grow. Last year the event had 35 participants. Tuckett said the event is scheduled on a day when Hardware Ranch is open and giving sleigh rides — making the event appealing for the whole family.

“It’s free for the public,” Bassett said, “and then we provide equipment if they don’t have any.”

Dave Winters of Herriman, Utah, said though he had heard of the event for a couple of years, this was the first year he was able to attend. For Winters, a former deputy sheriff for Salt Lake County, the event is appealing because of his love for traditional guns.

“Anything about making smoke with black powder guns — shooting black powder guns,” Winters said with a laugh. “Not yuppie, inline flat-lander guns. But real, mountain man guns — I love it.”

In her first biathlon outing, 20-year-old Alyssa Stansfield of Alpine, Utah, was the first of only a few competitors at the event to score a perfect 10 on the course. Stansfield said she has been shooting muzzleloaders with her family for nearly 14 years, but this was the first time she had shot in around 18 months due to a stay out of the country — something she must have missed.

“I just love shooting,” Stansfield said. “It’s so fun; I don’t even know how to explain it.”

Surrounded by snowcapped mountains and hundreds of elk, black powder enthusiasts rendezvoused with their inner 19th century fur-trader on Saturday.

Around 50 shooters from around the state gathered at Hardware Ranch in northern Utah’s Blacksmith Fork Canyon for the fifth annual Willy Wapiti’s Smokepole Biathlon. Shooters raced a near-100 yard trail — with or without snowshoes — to five separate shooting stations. Each station had two sets of metal silhouette targets ranging from 25 to 75 yards — one set for traditional shooters and another at further distances for intended modern muzzleloaders.

Rachael Tuckett, a wildlife recreation specialist with the Northern Region of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said prizes are given to the best score out of 10. Tuckett said prizes include electronic earmuffs, knives, firestarters and gift cards from biathlon’s regular sponsor Sportsman’s Warehouse.

But another prize is given to mountain man with the best outfit.

“I think that’s more fun for a lot of them, is to dress up,” Tuckett said.

Levi Bassett, the shooting sports manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said the event continues to grow. Last year the event had 35 participants. Tuckett said the event is scheduled on a day when Hardware Ranch is open and giving sleigh rides — making the event appealing for the whole family.

“It’s free for the public,” Bassett said, “and then we provide equipment if they don’t have any.”

Dave Winters of Herriman, Utah, said though he had heard of the event for a couple of years, this was the first year he was able to attend. For Winters, a former deputy sheriff for Salt Lake County, the event is appealing because of his love for traditional guns.

“Anything about making smoke with black powder guns — shooting black powder guns,” Winters said with a laugh. “Not yuppie, inline flat-lander guns. But real, mountain man guns — I love it.”

In her first biathlon outing, 20-year-old Alyssa Stansfield of Alpine, Utah, was the first of only a few competitors at the event to score a perfect 10 on the course. Stansfield said she has been shooting muzzleloaders with her family for nearly 14 years, but this was the first time she had shot in around 18 months due to a stay out of the country — something she must have missed.

“I just love shooting,” Stansfield said. “It’s so fun; I don’t even know how to explain it.”