2015/16 Fall Days Afield Thread

[2FUNKY]

N.Idaho waterfowl opened today. A buddy and I went north and hunted an area we had been scouting. Loaded both boats with gear and motored out. Camped on the X Friday night. What an amazing evening, geese calling at all hours, amazing night sky filled with stars, several elk heard bugling, kick ass dinner. Got up and while my buddy cooked an amazing breakfast, I started setting decoys. My buddy forgot his layout blind, whoops. I set mine up but never made it into it. I got caught about 15 yards away at shoot light when the mallards just started pouring in. I shot my limit of ducks,7, in 12 minutes, off my knee. It was an amazing flurry. I killed 4 before my buddy even pulled the trigger. He was in awe and just watched. Even killed 2 green heads in one shot! I then moved into the brush 30 yds back from the layout blind and called for my buddy so he could kill his limit. My dog did amazing, which was no surprise, she is a bird hunting/retrieving machine. What an opener, this one will be etched in my brain forever. Got home and cleaned up and ready to hit another area tomorrow. Fuck I love bird hunting.

[2FUNKY]

Not sure what happened to the last two.

[Grange]

I spent the weekend in the woods however it was to judge a cover dog trial rather than hunting. I had a blast. A lot of walking. I bet I put on at a good 20 miles on Saturday in good grouse and woodcock cover. Each course is about 3 miles and I walked 8 courses with more walking looking for dogs on point. I got to see 16 dogs and all but three had bird work. We probably saw 50+ woodcock and upwards of 20 grouse. I wish I would have entered my dog, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to judge a great trial. Unfortunately I didn't really have the opportunity to take pictures as I was busy, but one person in the gallery took some pictures and if he emails me them I'll post some if they turned out.

[ncskier]

Does anyone have any hearing protection recomendations? thinking of the Howard Leight ones from Cabelas. I need something I can hear well in the blind/for calling but cant have another muzzle blast near my ear like today (didn't have my foam one in as we were talking as 2 worked in).
Thanks!

I've been using the Howard Leight one from Amazon for the past few seasons. I use them for hunts with my kids or when sitting in a blind with younger hunters. They work great for talking and then if someone fires, like a kid , no harm. I say go for it.

[Phall]

Nice 2Funky! No limits for me yet this season. All our local birds are really smart and call-wise. Skunked Friday, shot 2 teal between the 2 of us on Sunday. We need that cold north wind to come in, but not until after my elk hunt in 2 weeks.

[flatlander#2]

muh boye, 10yrs old, Rem 870 20 unloaded to carry, point, show how to cross fences, etc. He and I were walking a little patch of 5 acres, him carrying loaded, me walking beside him ready to help him shoulder/shoot. We get to the end and bump probably a dozen birds. Panic.



We had zero challenges limiting at my parents, central SoDak.

[pepperdawg]

Picked up a 1975 Citori this weekend from a neighbor for $350. I'm spoiled.

Just sold my 2010 Miruku 16 ga. Citori to help fund my divorce - I'm bitter.

At least its headed to SD next week for roosters.

[Grange]

Got out this afternoon for an hour and we found three grouse.

[thebirdhunter]

The Rooster opener in Idaho was a little warm but good.

[2FUNKY]

^Rad! Headed to Oregon for 5 days of upland carnage on Sunday,stoked.

[G. Gordon Liddy]

From my elk hunt last weekend. Central Idaho. No Elk, but saw Mtn. Goats, Beaver, Does, and built a sauna at my buddies back country ski cabin.

[thebirdhunter]

^Rad! Headed to Oregon for 5 days of upland carnage on Sunday,stoked.

Sweet! Good luck.
I'm going to take 10 days or so off I'm mid Nov to chase birds. Not sure where yet. Going to see what's happening with the weather and play it by ear. In the mean time chasing roosters in southern Idaho on the weekends will have to do.

[Aenigma]

Went out for Montana's opening day today, and it wasn't too shabby. I saw about a dozen mule deer, thirteen grouse, but no elk! I also watched a pretty decent bull moose and cow for about twenty minutes, and then had another cow broadside at 30yds a little later. Lots of critters out there, just not the ones I'm looking for yet.

[Grange]

I'm headed up north for a week of bird hunting later today and hope to get some good pictures. Until I get back here's a couple pictures and a video from earlier this week.




This is a video of the point above.

[Phall]

Been kind of slow/warm and sunny so I have not been out for ducks in the last week or so. Did a little cast and blast last wednesday and had a few long distance releases on some nice fish. Car's packed, heading out after work for General Muzzy Spike Bull/Antlerless. Pulling an audible on the area due to weather coming in and the road I had picked out is nearly impassible when wet. I also hear the herd got hammered during the rifle seasons but here's to positive attitudes. I have a week to get it done.

[yeahman]

Went out for Montana's opening day today, and it wasn't too shabby. I saw about a dozen mule deer, thirteen grouse, but no elk! I also watched a pretty decent bull moose and cow for about twenty minutes, and then had another cow broadside at 30yds a little later. Lots of critters out there, just not the ones I'm looking for yet.

Yeah I was out there too, saw lots of critters but no elk. Ah well, it's a long season, might as well enjoy it. Going tomorrow with my wife who is great at spotting animals.

[yeahman]

We got up on a lone elk bedded about 30 yards off a knoll before it made us and bolted...I think it was a bull but never got a look through the jackpines. Pretty crunchy in the Montana woods yet, tough to be stealthy up close. Hope to end that next week with some snow. Found a nice shed, that was cool.

[2FUNKY]

A couple from my Oregon trip.

[2FUNKY]

[2FUNKY]

Thanks mang!
The chariot.

[2FUNKY]

Wiped out.#rufflife

[2FUNKY]

My chocolate I had to unexpectedly put down 3 years ago while down hunting, I hung up a tribute, his collar with a special tag my wife had made the year after. Still there.

[The Reverend Floater]

Been a very busy season over here. Where to start? Big game wise, I killed a quick cow elk with the rifle at 200 yards via a depredation tag I had. Not the most exciting hunt by any means but the freezer is full! No great pics on that.

Took the future Father in Law out on deer opener and we both ended up shooting bucks. I had a nice 3x3 bedded at 360 yards or so and he wasn't comfortable taking the shot (though he blamed it on his rifle--typical FiL stuff, right), so I punched it. Ended up hiking it out solo as he shot a forky about five minutes later. The hike out was awful with four quarters and loins on my back, head in one hand, rifle in the other. It was 80 out so no time to bone it out. I don't recommend that procedure at all.



Having a newborn daughter, time is not on my side these days. Fortunately, my second job is guiding pheasant and waterfowl hunts about 20 miles from here. It has been an absolute blast watching Judy (now 15 months old) blossom during her first real season. She has absolutely killed the upland arena as a rock solid pointer with crazy search abilities. Our clients have raved about her--she makes it almost too easy for them.

Judy on point during her first "pro" guide trip.



A pile of ring necks and a proud dog after a more recent trip:



Also managed to take my sales team out on a chukar/fishing trip into the Frank Church Wilderness. It was simply mind blowing--coveys of 50 birds, giant country that defines rugged and nobody for miles and miles and miles. I highly recommend it to any upland hunter or fly fisherman.

Me and one of my guys in the plane with gear and dogs.



Judy on point in some real big country.



Finally got some time to go duck hunting last week and managed to scrape a few birds. Judy got her first (and next three) duck retrieves, so that was cool. She's got incredible blind manners, knows what we're doing and now just needs to increase her confidence in longer retrieves.




All in all, a great start to the season. Headed on a road trip to Eastern Montana and North Dakota next week. Doing a joint promotion with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited to promote public land access. Should be a real blast!

[LightRanger]

^^^ Rad.

[Grange]

Great pictures Rev. I love ruffed grouse hunting with my dogs as much as any other outdoor activity, but damn there is something about watching a dog work a huge open field and then lock up on point. After a full week of grouse hunting in often crappy weather (rain and snow) I'm ready to go try and shoot a pheasant in a couple areas I know that fairly open.