doublegunshop.com - home Forums Thread Like Summary - 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?

If you can drive to it….it’s not “back country”. At least in my mind it’s not. I agree though, since Covid, it seems everyone is an outdoorsy person now. It’s been horrid here in Utah. The Uintas used to be a place you could go to get lost….not so much anymore. They wanna turn the main canyons in SLC into toll roads and build gondolas because of the gridlock. The country is getting full.

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).

How many gallinaceous birds have you shot from the couch?

It’s not a boondoggle at all.

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?

No rattlers here in N ID and hunting the dove opener in S ID, my friend had to remind me a time or two to keep my eyes open for them, particularly around the basalt outcroppings bordering some wheat fields and stacked rocks and boulders around some of the canals! Nice not to need to give them a first or second thought here in the north!

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