Kilimanjaro Report post Posted December 10, 2007 I figured I'd share a slew of pics from the last few days in the chilly MT uplands and farm country.. The last few days have been pretty much a blessing when you consider where we now live.. Cold, yes.. but it's been completely calm lately with those flawless bluebird skies the west can be famous for.. highs have been around the 23-25 degree mark.. perfect conditions for the dogs and I to make a few outings before the next front pushes through.. (like tonight! It is WINDY and COLD!) these pics are in no particular order and contain pics from the last few days out... just figured ya'll would enjoy seeing them!! Our mornings have been typically starting out in this fashion.. Do ya'll remember the news article from 2 months ago of the MT guy who was phez hunting and got mauled by the Grizzly bear?? Well, it was right here, within a mile or so. This place has plenty of roosters, but plenty of BIG bears call this place home as well.. I was hoping NOT to run into any tracks.. With the recent cold snap, I figured they had gone to bed finally for the winter. But man, its it ever a beautiful place to hunt. Some of the areas other furry critters have been hard at it as well!! the pups sure do like it over there!! We weren't finding too many birds out that way, so we decided to bring it in about 20 miles from the moutains.. back in the irrigated country that those roosters just thrive in. ...and it didn't take long at all and we had a rooster pinned down hard.. ..and if you find a spot like this mixed in with your prairie and farm country, it would be wise to make a pass thru it!! As I took this pic, 3 roosters blew out within 10 ft of me!! Typical. Those pups have saved countless lost cripples for me this season.. They LOVE when they get to run down those lightly shot roosters!! the last few outings have been pretty fruitful when it comes to hunting ditch parrots.. including this Granddaddy rooster!! Yesterday, we went back out near the moutains again and gave it a go, but came up emptyhanded.. So, we crossed the river.... ...and headed back out to the irrigated pastures for roosters and the spralling CRP fields for sharpies that we've had so much good luck in thus far.. in this photo, you can see the mountains where we had just come from in the distance, the farm fields in the middle where we took a limit of roosters a hour beforehand, and now, we are on the high steppes where the grouse are in great numbers.. (Obviously!! :cool:) not too bad for a 2 hour outing yesterday.. thanks for lookin' guys!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted December 10, 2007 OK, so seriously, I am done seeing these picutes. please stop posting Sure is nice to see Virgil on point, love seeing that tail straight up! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted December 10, 2007 Wow....that's just very cool. Hey Scottyboy, how are the landowner access issues up there? Seems like you are just running all over up there with no problems. Plenty of places that allow hunting? Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattobertin Report post Posted December 10, 2007 Must be rough living in such a horrible place! Got any extra rooms? LOL! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted December 10, 2007 Scott, Thanks for the pheasant hunting trip on a snowy Sunday night in Flag. I looked at the MT antelope draw odds for near you, not favorable. Guess Rica will have to only hunt upland birds. Shucks. Pics seem sharp. What camera are you using? Doug Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kilimanjaro Report post Posted December 10, 2007 thanks guys!! Amanda, MT has TONS of Block Management land.. It's private, but the state pays the landowner to allow access.. Works out pretty well. In addition to that, the landowners who aren't under the BMA program up here will usually let ya hunt their farm or ranch if you are polite and just basically ask for permission with a smile and a handshake.. Definatey NOT what I grew up with in TX. This place is like stepping back in time 50 years.. It's been great so far.. Doug, We'll save ya a few birds for next Oct!! Rica's gonna LOVE it up here!! If we time your trip right, we'll get ya into all 7 species of upland birdies! thanks for the pic compliment... same little ol camera I always have handy.. Its my Sony CyberShot with the Zeiss lens.. 6MP. tiny, and easy to shoot with while you are busy wrestling dogs, guns, etc.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted December 10, 2007 Doug, sounds like you and i and maybe my dad if i can talk him into it need to go up there for a week. what do ya think? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ac guy Report post Posted December 14, 2007 I don't know you and don't know what you do for a living, but you should be in F&S or Outdoor life as a writer and photog. Your posts are the most interesting I've ever read on bird hunting, and your photos are spectacular. You've got my attention, and I can't wait for more! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azyoung Report post Posted December 14, 2007 Great photos Scottyboy! Keep it up and I may consider leaving my home state. With several million people moving into Az it may be time to look for country like Arizona used to be. azyoung Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ron G. Report post Posted December 14, 2007 Looks like a good time up there. Great pictures and thanks for the updates. Keep them coming! Ron Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coues7 Report post Posted December 14, 2007 AC guy, Scottyboy protects our borders on the north like our boys do down south here......border patrol. Scottyboy thanks for all the pics and everything you do to document your outings! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kilimanjaro Report post Posted December 15, 2007 ac guy, that is one of the nicest compliments a guy could get.. thank you. I just love taking photos and writing hunting related stuff.. i WISH i could get paid to do it for a living!! Or at least a good side gig.. I wish I had some grand big game adventure to write about this season, but since I just moved here to MT in Sept., all I have to do up here this season is pound on the local population of upland birds with the mutts till next season rolls around!! Doug (AZP&Y), hey buddy.. you still want some phez tail feathers for tying flys?? I've been saving you a handful and I'll get them in the mail to ya as soon as season ends up here after the new year if you still want some!! Just let me know!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZP&Y Report post Posted December 18, 2007 Doug (AZP&Y), hey buddy.. you still want some phez tail feathers for tying flys?? I've been saving you a handful and I'll get them in the mail to ya as soon as season ends up here after the new year if you still want some!! Just let me know!! Scott- You bet - I'm confirmed for Alaska July 02-12th 2008 - SO I BETTER get some flies tied! Thank you so much for sending them down when the season closes. I'll get you my address and send that to you. I'll take some pics of the flies and send you some because you are in some of the most pristine trout fishing country in the world! Summertime in Montana! Hope you are enjoying the job and Happy Holidays to you and your family. Awesome birds by the way. Always enjoy the pictures, they along with the story make for fantastic reading. I thought about you this last weekend, when I was helping a friend try and get his coues! MEARNS everywhere! Doug AzP&Y Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues Sniper Report post Posted December 19, 2007 Ditch parrots I'm going to use that one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
