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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89 |
Never hunted wild chukars? Just a walk in the park if you've got a death wish. Besides what you see there is an abundance of all sorts of sticky bitey things, including rattlesnakes. This is from several years ago along the Snake River (Hells Canyon) in Idaho. In many places with one misstep a feller would have ended up as fish bait. What fun! Two of my hunting buds can be seen in blue shirts. And folks, that picture is looking straight up and a long way! I believe Hells Canyon is the deepest canyon in the U.S.
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,418 Likes: 197
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,418 Likes: 197 |
Joe, That looks like a tough landscape for sure. Rough on hunter and gun alike. No place for a "safe queen"! Karl
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,085 Likes: 478
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,085 Likes: 478 |
I'll have to wait until I reincarnate from Old Goat to Mountain Goat before I'd consider Chukar hunting on what appears to be the face of the moon. All of us seem to have our challenging spots to hunt. Gil
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
Joe, any elevation problems with the thin air?
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89 |
No problems with the altitude. So far north and the Snake empties into the Columbia, etc., so it's relatively low. Actually, the hunt was fantastic. Called a "Cast and Blast" by Mountain River Outffitters" out of Riggins, Idaho. First class operation all the way. We floated the river in inflatables each day, dressed in our hunting gear with shotguns handy. Handed spin rods we would cast to the rocky bank with plastic worms and caught an incredible number of smallmouth bass. All the time we would be watching the cliffs for birds and listening. When we spotted a covey we would beach the boat and hop out. Then the short hunt began. Frequently straight up, climbing over basalt rock, slipping on tall grass, and trying to not look down at the tumbling river far below. Invariably we only got to shoot the covey rise because when flushed they would fly over the wide river into Oregon. One bird I remember was high overhead when I dropped him over the river. I was already a couple hundred feet above the water and it fell for what seemed like a minute before splashing down. Fortunately another Zodiac was floating below and picked the unfortunate critter out of the water.
Now as I said, this was a classy operation and we had two camp tenders, a man and woman, who had a much larger Zodiac full of gear. Each morning after we'd pull off of our overnight camp spot they would load up everything and soon pass us heading downstream to set up the next evenings camp on a sandbar. When we would arrive they were waiting for us with evening cocktails, hors d'oeuves, and a roaring camp fire. We felt as though we were being treated to the best of an Afriican safari.
Hells Canyon is a spectacular place. The Snake River is huge and deep. It is remote and with very little sign of modern intrusion though there are old trails everywhere Chinese coolies made back during the gold rush period. The trip is worth every penny just to experience a wild river.
Oh, at night we would set out massive ocean rods with bells attached trying for Sturgeon. Part of a bass would be put on a huge hook and then rowed out into the middle of the river and dropped. To get the bait down through the fast water they tied on a large oldtime window weight weighing a couple pounds. Down it would go 200 or so feet to the bottom. Massive and ancient fish. When the bell on the tip of the rod would ring all hands would turn out in whatever they were sleeping in--if anything--and run to the water's edge. If a fish was on a mighty battle began. Sometimes these giants are well over ten feet in length and have different ideas than the fisherman. Catch and release only.
I have been twice and would do it again in a heartbeat, even at my 76 years!
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,173 Likes: 1159
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 13,173 Likes: 1159 |
You've got me thinking now, Joe. That sounds like a wonderful trip. How many days did you fish and hunt?
SRH
May God bless America and those who defend her.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89 |
Stan, it is a three day trip (guess it could be more if arranged). The third day is a half day float to the confluence with the Salmon. There a jet boat picks us up and a couple of wild hours later jetting upstream we were back to our vehicles. I have heard that Mountain River Outfitters is now doing more of their cast and blast trips on the Salmon, which is probably as good or better and maybe not as difficult...maybe. Google them and have a visit. Jeff, who runs it is a top notch feller. Oh, he did take along his GSP to retrieve birds in places no one could go. Best time to go is opening week. Fly into Boise, rent a car and about three hours later you're in Riggins. Incredibly fun trip. Book it and I just might join in....
I should mention that during the float we encountered very few other craft on the water and those that we did were jet boats. Usually just us and the river.
I'll try to post a couple more pictures this evening.
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,743 Likes: 436
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,743 Likes: 436 |
A "Cast and Blast" trip. What could possibly be better?
_________ BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan)
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,964 Likes: 89 |
When an old man dies a library burns to the ground. (Old African proverb)
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,085 Likes: 478
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,085 Likes: 478 |
Joe, that looks like a grand time. Gil
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