Our grouse season opened here on the 10th. I had an offer to go out chasing them but at this time of year they're still together in family groups and are 'stupid'. You can walk right up on some ruffie groups and they just stand there looking at you. Hunting birds like that just doesn't seem fair. I was out sighting in a new globe front sight on my .45-90 high wall on the 12th and walked into a group of sharptails that exploded all around me. There was at least 15 and I think mostly juveniles. Sure would have made for some good shooting, but I can wait a bit longer.
The airstrip I was on is a good spot for birds. On July 16 I was followed by this family of Hawk Owls, which are pretty rare up here. I've only ever seen one other in all my years here. This family followed me for a while, hoping, I think, that I would kick up sharptails for them to chase. I imagined it as something like, "ok kids, look alive, this is how you do it"... They would fly ahead of me and land in a tree and wait; when I got past them they'd fly ahead of me again. Very cool. In the picture the YOY are the three in the middle, the adults above and behind. This was not an experience one ever forgets and one that falls into the category discussed here, that just getting out into the field and walking and just 'being there', with or without dogs and a gun is enough, is plenty really. This picture below will forever, and I mean forever, be imprinted in my mind. I may forget all of your names(!), but I will never forget this view right here... ever.
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