October 3, 2003

Idaho Falls, visiting Lauri and Trent

My last stop on this road trip was Idaho Falls, staying the weekend with old friends Trent and Lauri. Trent went out of his way to be the hunting guide so I could chase sharp-tailed grouse. I would like to thank Lauri, Trent, Curtis and Derrick for your kindness and hospitality (and elk steaks and hunting and chatting and steelhead and cold beers and and and…) it was a wonderful visit for me. The blood reports, as Trent calls them, for hunting was not that bountiful for me but I saw lots of new beautiful country.

On Friday morning Trent and I headed a few miles behind their house to chase Sharp-tailed grouse and then to Tex Creek WMA to chase ruffed grouse. At our first stop, not more than 3 steps from the truck Z starts to get birdie and went on point! We are hunting sagebrush ridges on rolling hills that are between wheat and barley fields. After a few minutes Z decides there is no longer anything near the truck. I wish we had listened a little better to Z’s nose and charged right up the hill but as it was Trent heads up that ridgeline and I go around on the other. Not more than 100 yards from the truck Trent flushes a couple sharp-tailed grouse…too far to shoot but as I turn to look a third bird gets up right in front of him and he actually has to wait for the bird to get far enough away to take a shot. I got to watch the bird rise, Trent take aim and shoot, and then the bird roll through the air as it tumbled to the ground. I turn and start back up my ridge and in another 50 yards 4 sharp-tails get up a little ways out but I take a couple “hopeful” shots anyway. Now I’m excited…thinking to myself this is going to be a good weekend for sharp-tails! Another 10 minutes Z flushes a bird out of range and Trent and I decide to chase the birds I flushed. But another hour or so of cruising the area doesn’t produce any more birds.

Next we move to Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area to chase ruffed grouse. We head up high into Aspen dominated ravines and Trent comes out with 2 birds and I bring out 1. The whole drive Trent is describing the area and what places would be best for hunting different game. It was great…I could see Trent doing well as a professional guide. On the way back to the house we push one more sagebrush ridge for sharp-tails without any luck. We did end the day with one sharp-tailed, 3 ruffed, and a day of being outside…if only they all could be this way.

October 4, 2003

Sand Creek WMA / Big Bend Ridge

Day two for me was just Z and I chasing Sharp-tailed while Trent and Curtis hunted ducks and Lauri took a half-day horseback ride (this is her job by the way) to take a picture of a grizzly track. Hard day at the office Lauri?! Well, I headed to the area I was directed and after 4-5 hours of hard hunting I hadn’t seen anything. I did see lots of sign of sharp-tailed grouse but not any birds. The country was beautiful and on the way out I stopped and dipped the feet into the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River…now that is some beautiful trout water! I had to kick myself for not bringing my fishing pole! I recently had someone ask me what makes my heart sing? I would have to say at the end of this week of hunting, seeing new country, and meeting new and old friends my heart was singing.