Videos from my Montana trip

[SetterNut]

Thanks guys.

None of us want to have a gamebird in trouble. Sage grouse, lesser prairie chicken and so on. But moderate hunting has minimal effect, and will attract money to help the problem.

Sage grouse are spectacular birds. I enjoyed the short time we hunted them.
But there are many other birds that are more of a challenge to hunt, and are better eating.

Hope you liked the videos. Our dogs were not perfect, but fun to watch, at least for me.

 

[Dog Gun Time]

How can you say it has "no effect" ? When a species is in such dire straits as the sage grouse, everything has an effect on their outcome. I love bird hunting, at 44 years I have done more then my share of hunting. However, there comes a time, when as a hunter, you MUST be a conservationist first. That is OUR responsibilty as sportsman if we are to leave the next generation with things as good or better then we found them.

"Everything" is a pretty broad term.

From a standpoint of managing population in relation to the carrying capacity of habitat, hunters are conservationists and I challenge you to find a group who has a fraction of the financial impact of today's hunters. I know the history of the market hunter but to intimate that hunters like Steve (and I feel confident most of the hunters on this forum) are indiscriminately killing game with no regard to the future is misguided at best. I believe habitat preservation and restoration is the key to sustaining and improving wildlife population. Through organizations like Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and others, hunters are leading the way in conservation.

I am 51 years old and I have never gone to the field a single day with the goal of "getting my limit". I go to the field with the goal of getting my dogs into birds, if that happens and I am able to get a safe shot over a properly pointed bird, its a bonus.

I am curious about a couple of thing: You say that you have "done more th(e)n my share of hunting", how did you determine what is "your share" and how does going beyond "your share" allow you to assume the right to lecture others, directly or indirectly, on the ethics of their hunting?

 

[Montana Husker]

"Everything" is a pretty broad term.

From a standpoint of managing population in relation to the carrying capacity of habitat, hunters are conservationists and I challenge you to find a group who has a fraction of the financial impact of today's hunters. I know the history of the market hunter but to intimate that hunters like Steve (and I feel confident most of the hunters on this forum) are indiscriminately killing game with no regard to the future is misguided at best. I believe habitat preservation and restoration is the key to sustaining and improving wildlife population. Through organizations like Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and others, hunters are leading the way in conservation.

I am 51 years old and I have never gone to the field a single day with the goal of "getting my limit". I go to the field with the goal of getting my dogs into birds, if that happens and I am able to get a safe shot over a properly pointed bird, its a bonus.

I am curious about a couple of thing: You say that you have "done more th(e)n my share of hunting", how did you determine what is "your share" and how does going beyond "your share" allow you to assume the right to lecture others, directly or indirectly, on the ethics of their hunting?[/QUOT

How did I "determine what is "your share".....what a silly question to divert away from the topic I raised. How was I lecturing? By stating the FACT that the sage grouse population is in decline? I used the word "everything" as it pertains to the sage grouse and its enviroment, sorry that went over your head. I could give you the same flak over your use of the phrase "properly pointed bird"...LOL, who are you to decide what is and isnt a "properly pointed bird"? I am betting you have not did alot of wild pheasant hunting, otherwise, you might be waiting quite awhile to shoot a "properly pointed bird"...LOL, especially come late Nov. and Dec.. Do not take my word on the sage grouses plight, actually do your own research and see where they are headed. I was simply saying that we hunters, must first be conservationist when it comes to wildlife. You seemed to want to pick out certain words or phrases I provided to pick a fight. But like I said, do some checking and see if what I wrote was not true.

 

[small munsterlander owner]

point is montana husker you came onto another hunters thread & basicly bashed him for shooting sage grouse in MT & other hunters who have done the same I.E. hunting sage grouse because you feel there is not enough sage grouse left to be hunted & stated that we hunters need to take it upon our self to govern what & how much we harvest of a particular species... they shot 3 sage grouse & had a great hunt & shared it with others on-line no reason to try & make somebody feel bad for harvesting sage grouse??? thats not going to get a warm welcome???

you are correct the sage grouse population is not on the rise & in a overall downward trend in population... but so is the greater prairie chicken i mean they are doing well in many places but overall longterm population wise the prairie chickens are down but the only thing saving the p chickens in many states is the HUNTER in MN 186 guys get drawn each season for prairie chicken hunt we can harvest 2 birds apeace & if all 186 hunters limited out we would only have harvested 1%-2% of our prairie chicken population overall during the winter months there is a 15%-20% loss of prairie chickens due to age turnover this came from a on the ground prairie grouse biologist he said there is no way we can over hunt the population of MN prairie chickens i think there is way more SAGE GROUSE IN MT/WY then MN prairie chickens & hunters dont have a impact on sage grouse populations in those states research has shown that in SD/ND/MT/WY/ID/NV the wildlife biologist in these states do counts during the spring LEKING season & compair it to last years numbers in the same LEK just because there is hunting seasons in certin areas of these states the research dose not show that in the areas with hunting of sage grouse that the populations are worse or decline faster then in areas wear there is no sage grouse hunting season the hunted & non hunted populations are on the same rate of decline it something other then the hunter of sage grouse who is harming the sage grouse... oil boom natural gas yuppies buying land & put n homes wear game once lived ETC.

no need to try & guilt trip a hunter into felling sorry for spending money in a strange state & having a top notch hunt in MT i could see hunter bashing if they were in any way shape or form disrespectful to the sage grouse but these guys were not that in any way...

 

[mnmthunting]

SetterNut has a good thread going here.

Instead of Hijacking it, start a "Sage Grouse" Thread.
Might make for some good discussion. :thumbsup:

 

[Montana Husker]

Just curious if most out of staters know of the sage grouses outlook right now? I see some on here shooting them, they are probably headed too the endarged species list soon. I know they are an easy target, and legal to shoot, but as I believe most hunters should be conservationist first, hunters second, perhaps we should be to the forefront on protecting these birds. Just my opinion...

Small LM....how is this BASHING? The sage grouse plight gets much attention up here in Montana, but I doubt alot of people coming from other places really know what is going on. I was just bringing to light how tough they have it right now. I would urge all members who would consider shooting sage grouse to do some checking, sure would be nice if our children and grandchildren can have these birds around when they are our age. I guess living here with the sage grouse I may feel obligated to speak up for these creatures. And I do believe that we as sportsman do have an obligation to be conservationist first, hunters second. Hunters have always led the way in conservation measures, I do not want to see that change.

Ps.....perhaps if you are so concerned about "bashing" you should read some of YOUR other post for prime examples.

 

[SetterNut]

I sure didn't take montana huskers comments as a shot at me.
He is worried that hunting pressure will increase on the sage grouse, and feels they will further decline. Valid concern when. You consider the stunning video skills I displayed in the making of this epic Sage Grouse video

It was nice to get to take a Sage Grouse over point. But the other birds in Montana are of more interest to me to hunt.

Now if we are going to get into an argument, let's do it over something important like, who posted the best video this month, or that Bill Snyder is the greatest college football coach in history,

 

[Montana Husker]

I sure didn't take montana huskers comments as a shot at me.
He is worried that hunting pressure will increase on the sage grouse, and feels they will further decline. Valid concern when. You consider the stunning video skills I displayed in the making of this epic Sage Grouse video

It was nice to get to take a Sage Grouse over point. But the other birds in Montana are of more interest to me to hunt.

Now if we are going to get into an argument, let's do it over something important like, who posted the best video this month, or that Bill Snyder is the greatest college football coach in history,

Thanks for having my back, setter.....you need to work on the snyder thing though...lol, remember a guy named Tom Osborne, a little north of you....LOL. Glad you had fun in Montana, come back soon!

 

[small munsterlander owner]

that was my point to keep a good thing going on setternuts thread & not argue setternuts hunt was great & did have sage grouse pics i think thats wear the topic came up???

have at it boys sorry i posted on the thread