One More Than The Last Hunt!

Off on another hunt! It's a beautiful day here in Montana. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping. The grouse must be out too! We decided to go to Martin Creek because it's one of my favorite places to take the dogs. They love the shallow edge of the water and the scenery is always lush and green. It's over an hours drive to get there. Over a mountain and along the river on a back country road. Surely, we thought, we'd see some grouse along the way.

We arrived at Martin Creek an hour and twenty minutes later. Never saw a grouse.
So we let Sport out for a little romp. We played fetch in the water and he took a little swim. Boy did he enjoy that!

"Ahhh.....Nothing better than getting dirty after my bath"

We took a nice break and let the dogs thoroughly enjoy the water. Headed back down the road with hopes of seeing something on the way home. We spotted a grouse on the left side of the road. I got out and walked toward it until it went off the side of the road. Do you see it? This is an excellent opportunity to allow Sport to work a bird and gain experience. We always wait until the bird is way off the road, before we let the dog out. We don't want the dog to SEE the bird. We want him to SMELL the bird out.

This years young grouse

 Sport is young and has very little experience. He missed the bird. He simply ran past the scent. He came back, and searched and searched. But he did lose the bird and it flushed out way ahead of him. Time and experience will change that. The grouse was so young and puny we were willing to let it get away. So many times, Dan will not shoot the bird because of low populations. But for a young dog in training, if he points and holds the bird, and then it flushes, you have to shoot it for the dog. It's part of the partnership you share with your bird dog. What bird hunter hasn't received a dirty look from his dog upon missing the shot, after a great find by the dog?

We loaded up and headed back down the road again. We spotted something on the side of the road. Doesn't look like a grouse. No.....to fat and low to the ground. Don't remember it being there when we came by the first time.  We'll just drive slowly and sneak up on it.  It's a ......no......it's a ......no..........

What the?!..........



it's a pair of BOOTS??

Yep, someone left them neatly sitting together on the side of the road. Looks like Gorilla Glue holding the toes together. Maybe this will be an excuse to get a new pair. We left them sitting there all alone waiting for their owner to return. Hope he made it before the rain.


As for our grouse hunt, well, you've seen it. That was the only grouse we saw. I guess I should be grateful. That's one more than the last hunt!