Nice walk but no feathers to show for it

[Richard Flanders]

I know you're all bored with me showing these same pictures every spring but it was a particularly nice day yesterday. My first flite since early September. The snow in town was/is bottomless slush but it was nice down in the Range where spring is not quite as advanced. Still, the snowshoeing was pretty tough. Lots of ptarmigan tracks in the brush on the ridge but no birds. They seem to come out there for feeding but retreat to the valley to the south for roosting. I set up my step thrower and shot(at) some clays with my Repro 28. I managed to hit a few. Perfect setup as I can retrieve the unbroken clays and reuse them.

[Dean Romig]

I recognize that lake from previous years. Nice pictures!






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[Mills]

We are never bored with your photos, Richard

[Kentucky Bird Hunter]

I agree with Mills, Richard!

Dave

[mobirdhunter]

The photos are new to me! I really enjoyed them. When does bird season end?

[Richard Flanders]

End of April. I'm going to try for one more day down there on snowshoes, hopefully tomorrow.

[mobirdhunter]

...and I'll be opening our Missouri turkey season in 70 degree weather. I might rather be on snow shoes. Good luck.

[Steve Hodges]

Richard, how much longer can you hunt ptarmigan ? Looks beautiful there.

[Richard Flanders]

Got another day in on snowshoes today. Gorgeous day. Went over the hill and up a creek to the south where I always find birds and saw at least 25 birds today. I could hear them clucking nearly all day(hearing aids are a wonderful invention). Only got two but that's better than a skunk. They were flushing pretty wild and far out but my 28" M/F VH20 will reach out pretty well using 7-1/2 game loads so I just kept trying. I was impressed. I'd have done much better if I could still shoot right-handed. The big male is changing color and is at the best phase for mounting. They look pretty nice at this stage. I give much credit for my successful foray on snowshoes in ratty snow to my pint water bottle of Super Beets juice. That stuff is incredible. I was going stronger after 3 hard hours than I was at the beginning. Usually this trip leaves me barely able to make it back to the plane. So, here's some pics of the hunting grounds and the birds brought to bag.

[Dean Romig]

Aging hunters want to know.... What is "Super Beets?"

Is it like Viagra for the legs?






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