My sage grouse

Just wanted to share. This was my dog's first wild bird. I think it was a heck of a hunt for his first on wild birds. It was hard hunting and the terrain was very rough. My dog ended up getting so beat up he literally couldn't go the second day. Every where his boots or vest didn't cover was scratched or raw looking and he's still a little tender today. Not to mention the huge blisters I got on both feet. But I'm proud of him. His collar logged 39 miles in two days.

He's falling asleep in this pic


A few minutes later



I'll post some terrain and on point pics here or in the photo section as soon as I get them off the camera

Great pics and that dog may be tired and beat up but I'm betting he's one happy dog.

Love it. Both of you high five. Going out of state and watching it all come together cant be beat. Now you have a reason to get a second dog. Rotate them every other day so one is resting all the time

Great pictures, and I look forward to hearing more about the hunt.

Glad you like the pictures Chris. Enjoyed having You and Blue up to hunt. Blue is a charging hunter. Seeing that covey of giant grouse rising around you and Blue then soar into the distance was a sight to see.

I'll get the unedited and edited originals to you sometime after I get home. I had to upload those to my ancient XP laptop with a card reader. Crop, then pull the micro card from my phone to the card reader to transfer to the micro card from my laptop. Then I put it back and was able to text them to you. Unfortunately the phone compresses the pics. The originals will be much clearer. PIA, but I knew you would want that picture asap.

Dash and I are still hunting. Just got back to the cabin. Wish you could have made Kansas. No Prairie Grouse yet. Had one lone football of a chicken rise in front of Dash this afternoon. But it flew straight away low in front of Dash and could not take the shot. Nor was I practicing my "always..." rule at that moment. Lots of Quail false alarms today too. The Smoky Hills is crazy full of Dove right now. On a little flooded spot i was hunting this evening, Dash would be on a retrieve and often have two or three Dove land around him, the dead bird, and the mojo. It was confusing for him, but fun for me.

Going to try to knock the Dove limit out early on the water. Use steel so I can shoot the Teal and Rail I had to pass on this evening. Then make one last try for Prairie Grouse tomorrow. Hour drive, but I found a great looking area I want to run Dash on. "Believe.. "

I Have some good pictures. I hope. I have no way to post pictures from on the road, but will do the usual photo essay when I get back. I only just now got sprint to give my roaming and data back.

The part about the "rule" made me laugh. We definitely had a blast and I appreciate you sending the pics. Good luck the rest of the hunt. I' think I have one of dash with the moose I can get you soon.

Looks like a great time fellas!

Are you hunting the grouse in Montana? How were you hunting them, one long 2-3 hour run or shorter walks in 'likely' areas?

I agree with Blanked on the two or more dogs scenario, but I change them out after every run, at the end of the day there all still fresh.

Great pictures, thanks for sharing your experience.

Great pictures. Keep them coming.

We were in northern Colorado and we went from about 630 am (daylight) to noon before getting this bird. My dog is a hard charger and learned a little late not to bust through the sage like that. He was wore smooth out.

Well it should get him prepared for hunting in the Texas prickly pear country.

I've had some good luck on using Mushers Secret on the front of Lucy's legs. Its helped keep the brush from rubbing them raw. She doesn't think going around something is a option, its always straight through it.
I bet Blue has the same attitude.

Colorado North Park two day season. Found a Wildlife Ombudsman to visit with, then scouted much of the day on Friday. Found birds. Even let the dogs have some fun on them. Hit our best spot first with a death march because we knew the birds would be there somewhere. We knew birds had held and flushed for someone out on the area a couple days before and for us on Friday. With the short season, and hunting pressure competition, so we split up with our dogs to cover more ground. Pretty sure we pushed the birds and blocked them at the edge of the sage. On my push, I left the last spot of cover for Chris. I was sure it had birds after I took a big male just short of it. And it was spectacular to watch from my vantage point when Blue got in there. Dash found a couple young runners from that flush and I was done.

We moved to plan B spot looking for Chris a second bird which actually was probably a better place, but we passed on for plan A because we knew other hunters would hit it. Blue was done, but Dash was still good to go. He is a stout dog and paces himself like his Aunt/my Blaze used to do. He got birdy, but found nothing. As suspected we did see another hunter in our path and felt the area had already been covered. We took the afternoon off to rest the dogs. I was going to hunt the sage the next morning alone, but forgot to send one of my birds with Chris. (two bird possession limit) so I took time to take some pictures and hunt snipe nearby. Could not find a spot for blue grouse not covered by muzzle loader hunters so made the long drive to do an evening hunt for mountain sharptail which saved my day.

Anyway only my second time to hunt them. My strategy has been very long walks. Ridge tops and ridge edges near water. I like areas where the edges are interspersed with native grass. If there is short cover or another block at the end of a 2 or 3 hour push I think it helps. Sun at your back and wind in your face or angled if possible of course. We did see a hunter and dog hunting with the wind. He had no chance IMO. As for short hit and runs at likely spots, I think the birds start running at the sight and sound of the truck. It takes getting away from the road and boots on the ground. Driving time takes away from that.

Pick some real estate you know should have birds. Know that if your not seeing sage grouse poop your not going to see sage grouse. stay with it and push on, keep the dog hydrated more than you think he needs with a break and snack now and then. The sage desert can seem endless and work on your mind so it's important to always believe there is a bird ahead, and always be ready from the first step to the last step.

I am glad I went back to hunt these birds one more time. Even if there is one more season before they go on the threatened list, many of the public areas could likely do an emergency closure pending the final decision. I do hope its not over yet.If there is a last season in Utah, that is were I am going next year.

That sounds like fun. Thanks for sharing.

Awesome!

Hunting the Sage desert is extreme for any dog. I have to say that is a heck of a first wild bird for Blue. The way he charged through that Sage I see Field trial wins in his future.

Time to hit the ground for prairie grouse. Too much dew for many dove at the water. Still a nice morning. 17th day of hunting give or take and my last full day, I am winding down. After 30 years i don't miss the firehouse as much as I used to. But I do miss my lovely and very understanding wife. I'll be ready to end this adventure tomorrow.

Sniper out

Explain "charge through." I thought the idea was to not charge through.

Why is it always you? See kindall's last reply if you are that intrigued which I doubt.

So john
What upland bird have you not bagged. Short on my list is mountain quail and all thpes of grouse except for sharptails. Oh and no praire chicken for me

Not as many as you would think. I am limited by money. I hunt free or mostly free pubic land. Free to cheap lodging or camping. And it has to be within an affordable driving radius. Colorado is as far as I have gone. And the farther away I drive the longer duration I make the trip to get the most out of the expense. Now if I extend my driving radious to Utah for the last ever Sage Grouse season next year, who wants to meet me for a side trip to the Ruby Mountains to hike above timberline and hunt Himalayan Snowcock. If I had a list, that bird would be on it.

I'd be in. Never even heard of that bird but I'd hunt it lol

Better get better boots.
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?14521-Himalayan-Snowcock-Hunt-(Pic-Heavy)