Just got back from the northwest corner of my home state. I'd committed to go months ago and was having 2nd thoughts about not doing it so soon after my recent Minnesota trip. But..I went anyway. Nice break from all the Covid fear mongering and the political horror show we're enduring these days. I used it for reflection and recovery from all the recent changes in my little hunter/gatherer world. Hunting is truly a wonderful way for me to put things in perspective. Since our family church is still partially in lock-down, I guess this truly is my cathedral now.
Almost up to the Wyoming border. Very hazy from all the forest fires here still.
A ranching for wildlife either sex deer tag on the 4Mile ranch, this is along county road 40.
In the dark timber section of the ranch, on county road 38.
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The weapon of choice this year. I've been working with this rifle a lot this spring and summer (AR-10 in .308) and wanted to get to know it better. In retrospect, I'd have rather carried almost anything else. Not pretty, not fun to carry, clearly not-traditional (very out-of-character for me), but...good lessons all around. I found myself coveting my buddy's Model 70 featherweight in .270.
Very warm and dry this year. Hunted in a t-shirt and tennis shoe-like boots most afternoons. Was looking for big mule-deer bucks and managed a good look or two. Didn't fill my tag, but it's still good in December here as well. Hopefully less-crowded and much cooler by then.
Lunch break down by the local stream in this hot and mostly dry country. Back to reality today....
