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...

Hunting: Sage Hens and Blue Grouse

Bird season opened September 1. Sticking to our Montana opening day tradition we headed to the hills in search of blue grouse. Since our best spot has been overrun with cows of late we decided to hunt a different spot. With the forecast for highs in the upper 60s we knew the hunt would be a short one even though the spot we picked was heavily timbered and would offer somewhat cooler temps at least until around noon when the sun topped the surrounding ridges.

In all our travels around Montana I don't think we've ever hunted a place so loaded with grouse groceries...wild strawberry, red raspberries (for us a first in Montana), several red berries and lots of forbs, clover and other lush greeneries seemed to scream grouse but...The dogs found just one, a lone spruce (Franklin's) grouse to boot.

Getting spruce grouse to flush is usually the hardest part but this time around the shooting proved even more difficult...laughable actually if it weren't so damn pathetic. Anyway after Annie pointed it twice and I missed it three times finally connected on numero 4 and, well, what can I say. Sort of deja vue all over again. After the way I ended last season perhaps a few practice sessions, eh?

But then we've found ziltch since--no blues, no more spruce, no sage hens--so, hell, why bother...