12/08/2024
Porter says "we worked darn hard for that one".
I headed north to chase grouse, and the birds are mostly winning. They're hiding in conifers for the most part, and flushing away from me so I hear them but don't get shots. But it warmed to 40 degrees this afternoon and we finally saw some tracks and found a couple birds on the ground. This one flushed across the sun, but it headed across a clearing so I waited until I could see it again and folded it with one shot.
This old guy feels the extra effort expended from slipping, stumbling, and sliding through the 4" of snow. I'm a little more tired than usual after hunting these spots.