With Yellowstone National Park and the Madison and Gallatin rivers nearby, West Yellowstone deserves a great fly shop—and it's got one. After more than 25 years, owner Craig Matthews, a genuine trout fanatic and ardent conservationist, certainly has the local hatches dialed in and can recommend the best flies, including some of his own design.

For the last ten years, master hatter Jimmy Harrison has been making custom lids for country stars (Garth Brooks), rodeo champions (bull rider Adriano Moraes), and a president (George W. Bush). Step into his Bitterroot Valley shop for measurements, and a month later he'll send you a custom hat, guaranteed to fit. Harrison draws off a few dozen classic styles but can fashion just about any design; for instance, a full beaver hat with hand-stitched Indian beads will set you back $1,600.

Montana has a lot of literary types who come out for the solitude and inexpensive living. Most of them, like Jim Harrison and Tom McGuane, live between Big Timber and Missoula. The latter is home to the independent Fact & Fiction bookstore, a great place for signed copies and readings from Big Sky writers like James Lee Burke, Ivan Doig, and David James Duncan.

Chances are you won't need ferrier supplies or bailing wire—or even know what they are—but you might avail yourself of Murdoch's huge selection of Carhartt work clothes. Just imagine those perfect coveralls for yard work back home.

Home of the legendary Pac Boot—a rubber-bottomed, leather knee-high style that's a favorite among hunters and outdoor enthusiasts across the States—Schnee's in Bozeman is a treasure trove for anyone who puts the hurt on a pair of boots. The selection of high-tech hiking boots and shoes is excellent, but the real draw is the collection of Pac Boots, Red Wings, and hard-to-find White's handmade boots—gorgeous leather lace-ups that feel like butter and kick like iron. Don't forget to pick up a punch card: Buy 12 pairs, get 1 free.

Montana decor begins and ends with one thing: taxidermy. From bearskin rugs to prairie-dog lamps, no home is complete without the company of at least one glassy-eyed beast. If you've vanquished an elk, a bison, or even just a trout, there are dozens of taxidermists throughout the state ready and waiting to mount your trophy. But for bragging without actually bagging, Dumont Taxidermy Studio in Libby stocks a rotating selection of ready-made deer, elk, moose, and bear products; call ahead for availability (406-293-6776; www.dumonttaxidermy.com). If you're just looking, the Valley County Pioneer Museum in Glasgow has an amazing if bizarre collection that includes two-headed calves and a buffalo mount made to honor FDR (www.valleycountymuseum.com). To meet all your antler needs, from coffee tables and drawer pulls to chandeliers, stop by Antler Art in Bozeman (406-587-5255; www.franklong.com).