No Hunting

The Blues

This past week found me chasing my Montana nemesis, the forest grouse, this time in the Judith Mountains of south-central Montana.  Beautiful country, and quite a change from my normal flatland haunts.  A fact not unnoticed by my legs, nor my lungs.  The air gets noticeably thinner when you start getting over 7000'.

Some great country in this part of Montana.  I heard some bugling elk one morning, and saw a big black bear one afternoon as he ran out of a small piece of cover I had just hunted through.

 

And finally, after several years of trying, my first mountain grouse, a nice big blue grouse, taken over a point by Bull.

I believe this is the 11th species of upland bird I have taken over Bull in his career.  In fact, the next day he made a nice point on what would have made an even dozen when he found some ruffed grouse, but they eluded my shooting.  Which leaves something to look forward to next season...

Starting Again

The 2010 Montana upland season has finally come around.  While summer has been  fun, with lots of gopher and prairie dog shooting, it's the cool fall air and turning leaves that get my blood flowing.  It's still a little on the warm side for any serious hunting, but I've had the dogs out a few times, and have found a few birds.  I'm looking forward to lots of good hunts, and hopefully some nice trips, and I'm pretty sure the dogs are too.

Here's Bull literally five minutes into our first foray afield in 2010.

And just a few minutes further, and another group of sharptails.

Bull with another find.

And here's Ivy making a nice cast.

Sage Grouse

It's been a long time coming, but I finally got my sage grouse back from the taxidermist.  The guy does great work, he's just slower than sap in the winter.  This big bird is a monster on the wall, 35 inch wingspan, and 31 inches beak to tail.  He came out great, especially since he wasn't in the best of condition when I took him.  Our season here in Montana closes December 1st, and the birds still aren't in full plumage quite yet.  Between that, me shooting him, and Bull retrieving him, he was a little worse for the wear.  But he looks great on the wall, and brings back lots of memories of that nice afternoon hunt.