Montana Outdoors: Snow shots...

Biggest snow of the winter, all 5-6 inches of the white stuff, did make for a scenic backyard; with mid-week temps in the 50s won't be white long so I guess best thing is to enjoy while lasts...

Can't speak to all wirehairs but Kate loved snow, no matter how deep, no matter how cold, even the sight of it morphed her instantly to the "energized bunny." Annie, pictured here, is also very much the snow puppy...We took her out yesterday afternoon and she could hardly contain herself...bounding about at warp speed, leaping into the air coming down stiff legged, pounce, pounce, pounce, rolling, all four feet in the air and of course doing what we come to call "the wirehair thing"...rubbing whiskers too frenzied for words...you have to see it to believe.

 Bushes such buffalo berry with their many stems and limbs make for some intricate and interesting patterns...While I'm sure this one won't be the last and as I might have mentioned previously we sure did enjoy tramping bare ground all winter our high desert does not do well without adequate snowfall so...Bring it on...over and out...

Beaverhead National Forest: Preseason Training Sessions Provide...

...more than just training/conditioning for the dog and much needed workouts for us old folks...With that in mind one or both of us always (well almost always anyway) totes along a camera just in case. Last two mornings were spent up high in the Pioneers yesterday and the Rubies this morning. Yesterday we didn't find any grouse but we did find a butterfly bonanza and as has been the case ever since the snow melted wildflowers galore...Here are three keepers, you know just to wet your whistles...

Lewis' Monkeyflower

Callippe fritillary which saw dozens of both mornings, by the way.

Phoebus skippers (ID uncertain?) were in great abundance yesterday in the pioneers as were several other varieties which I haven't yet been able to ID...This morning nary a one although again there were many more species than just the fritillary...OK a butterfly expert I ain't but I sure to appreciate their beauty and they sure do add to any trek in the deep woods...

This morning Annie did nail a big cock blue grouse...very nice point I must say but keep it to your ownselves please don't want Little Sister gettin' a swelled noggin' not this early in the game anyways...

Bird Hunting: Season Opener Just Around The Corner

Annie (6 months old) , fetching a Hun  is no longer a puppy but seasoned veteran...

...Hard to believe when the season opens September 1 she will be kick starting her fourth hunting season, like my how time does fly.  I can recall how not so long ago agonizing over how time just seemed to stall out between hunting seasons...Now it seems you blink about twice and another year has passed by. Another thing hard to get my head around is this will be my 55th bird season...Yikes, now there is a REALLY scary thought. Speaking scary now the other night as I tossed and turned trying my damnedest to fall asleep I tried naming all the bird dogs who have more or less owned me and well, sad but true, some just would not pop up...I can't for the life of me recall hardly any of my old hunting partners dogs...Oh well no big deal  I guess considering sometimes  I can't bring up their names either...And please don''t take it personal just is is all...

On another track been getting mixed reviews on the bird situation...For instance with the horrendous winter out in east Montana it was sort of a foregone conclusion the hunting would be grim, especially rooster-wise but now reports are coming in might not be quite the disaster we once thought...Idaho and Nevada chukar hunting is expected to be off the charts good...And in Arizona it looks like the Mearn's quail hunting might be pretty good...Don't know if we are up to dealing with the border issues go along with Mearn's hunting but...

As always time will tell and we will give it our best shot regardless...no real surprise there, eh?