JPH
Member
My 15 year old son and myself decided to head to Wyoming this weekend for his final youth waterfowl hunt. Sat the 18th was also the Sage Grouse opener and fishing is always an option!
We started Saturday morning driving a few back roads to try and spot a few Sage chickens before heading off the jump shoot ducks in some proven spots. There were a surprising number of hunters out chasing chickens, I think it had something to do with the talk of closing the season on them. With no chickens spotted early we headed for the creek and the ducks. Luckily the youth waterfowl hunt is pretty low key in this area of Wyoming. My son proceeded to shoot his limit (7) of mallards and teal off the creeks and irrigation ditches in the area.(sorry no pictures of the ducks.) A surprising number of ducks were seen, all pretty brown and even a few floppers were caught by the dog and released unharmed. We then turned our attention back to the grouse.
It was mid morning so we targeted some taller brush close to water in hopes of finding some loafing grouse. My son said he had a good feeling about the first spot and he was right! Within 100 yards the dog put up 3 male Sage grouse on my side and and I quickly doubled up on the big birds making for a quick limit. This was my first chance to shoot my new Benelli UL on live targets. So far I am 2 for 2.
We proceded to walk many more miles of likely grouse cover without any other birds seen. Mid day we headed back to camp to take a break and cool off in the river. Fishing was slower than usual but a couple nice trout were landed.
At about 5 we decided to head out in search of Sage grouse for my son. Again we walked several likely, historically good spots with no luck. It was getting late and the day was running out. While driving down a back road we came across a group of large male grouse moving from water to roost. We watched them move into the sage and proceeded to walk them up resulting in my sons first Sage Chicken.
We tracked the flight path of the flushing flock and the chase was on. With time running out we bumped part of the flock and my son dropped his second and final bird of the day. Another good size male.
I was so happy that he finally had gotten the opportunity and scored with the grouse. He logged about 10-12 miles of walking that day and his determination paid off.
The next morning we basically packed up and drove home. This is what we saw......
A good sized range fire. Luckily it is not near any towns, though a wind farm may be in jeopardy.
It was a great weekend with my son, one I will never forget. God Bless Wyoming!
We started Saturday morning driving a few back roads to try and spot a few Sage chickens before heading off the jump shoot ducks in some proven spots. There were a surprising number of hunters out chasing chickens, I think it had something to do with the talk of closing the season on them. With no chickens spotted early we headed for the creek and the ducks. Luckily the youth waterfowl hunt is pretty low key in this area of Wyoming. My son proceeded to shoot his limit (7) of mallards and teal off the creeks and irrigation ditches in the area.(sorry no pictures of the ducks.) A surprising number of ducks were seen, all pretty brown and even a few floppers were caught by the dog and released unharmed. We then turned our attention back to the grouse.
It was mid morning so we targeted some taller brush close to water in hopes of finding some loafing grouse. My son said he had a good feeling about the first spot and he was right! Within 100 yards the dog put up 3 male Sage grouse on my side and and I quickly doubled up on the big birds making for a quick limit. This was my first chance to shoot my new Benelli UL on live targets. So far I am 2 for 2.
We proceded to walk many more miles of likely grouse cover without any other birds seen. Mid day we headed back to camp to take a break and cool off in the river. Fishing was slower than usual but a couple nice trout were landed.
At about 5 we decided to head out in search of Sage grouse for my son. Again we walked several likely, historically good spots with no luck. It was getting late and the day was running out. While driving down a back road we came across a group of large male grouse moving from water to roost. We watched them move into the sage and proceeded to walk them up resulting in my sons first Sage Chicken.
We tracked the flight path of the flushing flock and the chase was on. With time running out we bumped part of the flock and my son dropped his second and final bird of the day. Another good size male.
I was so happy that he finally had gotten the opportunity and scored with the grouse. He logged about 10-12 miles of walking that day and his determination paid off.
The next morning we basically packed up and drove home. This is what we saw......
A good sized range fire. Luckily it is not near any towns, though a wind farm may be in jeopardy.
It was a great weekend with my son, one I will never forget. God Bless Wyoming!
