Dogs and Doubles

Tag Archive for 'Montana'

We’re heading back to Montana. This time, we’re chasing chukars…

by Gregg

Head out again with author Malcolm Brooks to hunts chukar and rabbits. He heading in Montana, hunting in the areas that inspired his debut novel: Painted Horses.

Upland From No Where: Part 2, Silvertip Creek
Upland From No Where: Part 2, Silvertip Creek

If you hunt in Montana, you need to sign this…

by Gregg
Sharptail grouse in Montana
Sharptail grouse in Montana

Montana is one of my favorite places. I hunted up in the northeastern part of the state before the oil boom, and I would love to return to the state and try out the areas around Great Falls and Big Timber.

When I get there, I hope they’ll still be places I can access and hunt. That’s why I’m urging everyone to sign this petition in support of Montana State HB 235. Public land access is big issue in every state. Let’s do all we can to make sure there’s plenty of it in Montana.

To give you a sense of what’s at stake, check out this great article about upland hunting in the state:

Flush with Birds: A look at Montana’s remarkably diverse upland bird populations. By Dave Carty. From Montana Outdoors, September–October 2008

“There’s a ranch west of Big Timber that I’ve hunted for nearly 15 years. I can usually count on my dogs finding one or two coveys of Hungarian partridge there during an afternoon hunt, but it’s not what I’d call a hotspot. Then, two years ago, something unexpected happened.

My buddy John and I arrived late in the day. After donning our hunting vests, we set out downhill toward a spot where a stream and two corners of a fence converge. For some reason, it was filled with Huns. For the next two hours, we put up one covey after another, maybe 80 or more birds in all. Never before had the hunting at that spot been so fantastic, and never since have I had a hunt there like it. My astonishment at finding so many birds in a place that I thought I knew stays with me still…”

Read the rest of this story here.

Montana. I sure am missing it…

by Gregg

In my mind, heaven would be spending every autumn chasing birds. You would start in Saskatchewan and head south, and you would defintely spend a lot of time in Montana.

I’ve hunted out in Montana a couple of times. The last one was a few years ago – maybe 5+ now – and we were in the northeast corner above the Hi Line. The experience was fantastic — lots of wild birds, very few hunters, and quiet little towns (this was before the oil boom). I really miss it.

Until I make it back there, I’ll have to live vicariously through videos like this from the folks at PRO Outfitters. Just press PLAY to join the journey.

Merry Christmas to all…

by Gregg

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone out there. I hope you’re having a good time and the cheer is spreading.  I wish great health and even better luck in 2012.

Here at Dogs & Doubles were getting ready to do some upland hunting. I should be in central Maine for the next few days, wrapping up my grouse season. If the snow stays away, we should have a good time.

BTW: here’s a few things that were on my gift lis. Once again, the fat man in red didn’t come through. Probably out of his budget.

1. This pair of W.W. Greener sidelock shotguns from Sportarm.com:

A pair W.W. Greener 12 gauge Double Barrel Shotguns
A pair W.W. Greener 12 gauge Double Barrel Shotguns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see more pics of this guns here, here, and here.

2. This place in Montana where I could take full advantage of them.

3. And six of these guys. Those puppies are from Autumn Memory Kennels. My girl is from there, and they turn out great English Pointers.

English Pointer puppies from Autumn Memory Kennels
English Pointer puppies from Autumn Memory Kennels

Bad floods = Bad news for Montana and North Dakota…

by Gregg

Water – it seems like some parts of the western US can’t get enough of it and other parts are flooded under it.

Flooding in North Dakota
Flooding in North Dakota

Unfortunately, a couple of the areas with too much water this spring are also big bird hunting regions. Northeast Montana and North Dakota have had a ton of cold, wet weather lately.

This isn’t good for the wild bird population. Spring is nesting season and weather like this makes it pretty much impossible to do. No nest, no eggs, no chicks, and far, far fewer birds come fall.

You can read more about the area impacted by going here.