doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Boondoggle?

Using (hopefully?) first-hand information from (seemingly?) credible sources, I'm packing up guns, ammo, flyrods, & all the other necessary accoutrements this morning to support a few days in the field. Headed out in pursuit of the "Dusky" grouse (formerly known as "Blue" to the twinks at our lowly Division of Wildlife). The plans had included the use of a fine bird-dog in the pursuit as well, but a recent warm spell (combined with a niggling concern about poisonous reptiles) will have us riding shanks-mare (and little else) in the search for our prey. Having previously encountered other galationus species in the general region (Columbian Sharptails and Sage Grouse), I do have some small hope for a back-up plan. Said information included reports of a relatively-nearby (& formerly unknown) impoundment that (theoretically!) has catchable numbers of Artic Grayling.

Bodes well, eh?

Not only does your game plan bode well, Lloyd, it also augers well! RWTF

Consider taking the pup anyway, leash them if you have to and maybe do little twenty minute hunts in birdie looking spots. If you have the rod with you, there might be more water around than you have to carry for the dog? Snakes, oh well? Have fun.

How many gallinaceous birds have you shot from the couch?

It’s not a boondoggle at all.

Foxy: Oh, I like that one. Not to be confused with "augur"? I had always thought that "auger" was the one with the spiral flutes used to displace dirt, or even ice? FWIW: almost took a later M12 (in 20) instead of a double when I heard the dog wasn't coming, but I'd already packed things up for the trip.

craigd: Yea....this dog is more child than pet. I've never seen any snakes up there and I strongly doubt that we will up high like that, but of course, I've never hunted (haunted?) this part of the world when it was still warm. I'd even gotten special dispensation from the local hotelier for the pooch (not normally allowed). Oh well....one does what one can. This should be an interesting scouting mission if nothing else. I'd say it will be nice to "get away from it all" except for the fact that it's a holiday and anywhere with water will likely be overrun by transplanted Californians.

CZ: Gallinaceous...meaning "chicken-like"! Thankyou for that as well (couldn't find the spelling anywhere).

Have a safe trip, Lloyd. The dog and snake thing is something I luckily have not had to consider-one of the regulars here lost an American Water Spaniel, from a breeder local to me, to a Great Basin rattler a few years past. Such would break my heart.
Maybe the only thing worse than the dog being bit, would be you being bit. A kid took a hit in Southeastern Minnesota a few years past from a Timber rattler, was transferred to HCMC, a level 1 trauma center, from a small hospital, and died about three days later. Your chances of being bitten in Minnesota are small, but, small is different than not possible.

Good luck.

Best,
Ted

Chances here of being bitten by a rattler, or a cottonmouth, are not small, unless you're very careful. But, we that have grown up with them all around us are very cautious where we put our feet and hands, and we never do so where we cannot see beforehand. An upturned boat beside a lake or stream is a haven for toads, thus snakes. Anything laying on the ground under which a snake might find shade and cool is suspect. High grass and weeds are suspect. Heck, my wife has called me twice in the last four years with news that "there is a big rattlesnake on the patio". A acquaintance once hid some doves in the woods alongside a dove field, so he could surreptitiously kill more than he should. When he went in to retrieve the pile from the woods later, he reached down for them and a big rattler nailed him on the arm. The rattler had a half swallowed dove in his mouth preventing it's fangs from contacting his arm. His wash lady knew something had happened that afternoon, for sure.

Do I infer, Stan, that this dove "bandito"--crapped in his Carhartts?? wow-what a hell of an experience for him, to say the least. RWTF

Francis, I knew a man who claimed to have been bitten three times by rattlers while scouting his cotton fields, and all were dry bites. He had "Somebody" looking out for him, eh?

Halfway through a mornings limit.
10 buttons.



Too many of us walking about to let it be.