Bob Peters
Well-known member
I was bummed when I didn't hit the MN prairie chicken lottery. But sometimes the consolation prize is better than your original goal. I asked my boss about a vacation and he told me take it. I didn't have to hear it twice, I was packing my bag with prairie grouse dreams big as the Montana sky.
I asked Roxy if she'd like to try for some grouse, and maybe a partridge. Her tail wagging something furious I got a wet tongue across the face. I knew this would be a good chance to get her out alone, and Skye would have plenty of time 'afield during rooster season.
We took a loosely planned route that started with running all over hell's half acre and ended by going round Robin Hood's barn. Between North/South Dakota and even Montana I'd been looking at maps. We ended up making a big loop through the Dakotas. I ended up scouting for a day before I even had an active license.
I felt overwhelmed by all the spots, different habitat, navigation, etc. Sensory overload is a good way to put it. Hunting started off quiet that first morning. Often the wheels in my head turn a little slow. But eventually I parked the truck in a birdy place. And after that, with a good dog and a healthy grouse population, the barrels were runnin' hot, feathers flyin', and the dog seemed to be smiling nonstop. We planned our trip in a little cool spell of weather. Originally 5-6 days, our hunt was shortened to four. And four days of hunting in a west-river wonderland, with landscapes that go on into infinity and birds beyond counting.... I was a happy camper. We never did get a prairie chicken, or flush a partridge(I did see some on the northern leg of the trip). But me and Roxy got our first sharp-tailed grouse. What a great trip. Everything happens for a reason.
I asked Roxy if she'd like to try for some grouse, and maybe a partridge. Her tail wagging something furious I got a wet tongue across the face. I knew this would be a good chance to get her out alone, and Skye would have plenty of time 'afield during rooster season.
We took a loosely planned route that started with running all over hell's half acre and ended by going round Robin Hood's barn. Between North/South Dakota and even Montana I'd been looking at maps. We ended up making a big loop through the Dakotas. I ended up scouting for a day before I even had an active license.
I felt overwhelmed by all the spots, different habitat, navigation, etc. Sensory overload is a good way to put it. Hunting started off quiet that first morning. Often the wheels in my head turn a little slow. But eventually I parked the truck in a birdy place. And after that, with a good dog and a healthy grouse population, the barrels were runnin' hot, feathers flyin', and the dog seemed to be smiling nonstop. We planned our trip in a little cool spell of weather. Originally 5-6 days, our hunt was shortened to four. And four days of hunting in a west-river wonderland, with landscapes that go on into infinity and birds beyond counting.... I was a happy camper. We never did get a prairie chicken, or flush a partridge(I did see some on the northern leg of the trip). But me and Roxy got our first sharp-tailed grouse. What a great trip. Everything happens for a reason.
