The temperature has been down to zero for a week here. The American Falls reservoir is now frozen over and the only open water is where the rivers enter the reservoir. This water is 19 miles long and 12 miles wide and is a major water fowl migration stop over. Many of the birds now leave and go south. The birds that stay move into the river bottoms and springs that feed the reservoir. We call this huge area the “bottoms”. Below is a hunt I had this week in my 1946 Ford coupe.
David
#1. Here is where I arrive at the bluff overlooking the river bottoms entering the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
#2. This is where I choose to enter the “bottoms”. The temp is 8 degrees and the heater in the 1946 Flathead Ford is working nicely.
#3. This is Spring Creek. I have spent the last 60 years hunting and fishing this space. It is special to me. As each fall comes I cannot get it out of my system.
#4.5,6. Most of Idaho is open range but there are fences. These are Indian ponies and they just run loose here on the bottoms. They are fun to watch in their “wild” state.
#7. These bastxxds are neither fun or amusing. You always give them the path and stay clear. They belong to the Shoshone Bannock Indian Tribe. The tribe raises the Buffalo and then sells them, trades them, and eats them for sustenance. I have always preferred eating Elk to the buffalo.
#8. This is where I hide my car. Others do not need to know where I am hunting.
#9. My companions for this day are a 1935 Browning and “Lucky Duck”.
#10. This is my secret bridge to the hunting area. I and the coyote are the only hunters on the bridge these days.
#12. Beaver dams create 2 miles of ponds that do not freeze. This is good waterfowl habitat.
#14. This was the first duck to challenge the Superposed this day. This old gun and I are in tune and do well. Before the end of the day I had 3 ducks and one lone goose. About 3 hours in I was almost 2 miles from the car, a little wet and getting cold. I had all the birds I wanted to carry so I called it a day and headed to the car to warm up. The heater in the old Ford still works like new and the smell of the mohair interior made the ride home magical with many thoughts of days gone by. I am old now, but this is always a new experience for me,and I cherish it!
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#15. I arrived home with my take for the day. I was tired and cold but it was a day well lived......
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I see that Miss Mary ((wife of 50+)) has our christmas tree up. (Window)
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