The start of our yearly fall adventure is upon us. My coworkers are happy to see me go. I have been extra wiggly with excitement...I will be off starting Monday for almost 3 weeks!!!!
We officially began the 2018-2019 season off with a hunt for gators last Friday. It was a slow night and though we wanted a monster (who wouldn't?), the guys that we tend to hang out with in MT complained about the selection of gator that we brought the last time. It was too chewy they said (perhaps partly my fault because I was a lot newer at learning to cook gator, though it didn't seem overcooked to me...but it also came off of an 11' gator and what I have learned is that the bigger they are, the quality of meat does suffer...even the best cuts). With that in mind, we spent the evening looking over the lake that Steve pulled a permit for and we brought home these two. These two were gorgeous 7 footers (they'd make great purses or hats or jackets or boots) and they will definitely be far more tender than the monster that we killed a few years back.
This will be the third year that I have started the trek to Montana with Steve, helping him with the drive. I gotta say that from Florida until Kansas City is pretty tedious, but it can be fun. Once we pass Kansas City though it's like WE ARE ALMOST THERE, even though we are still only 2/3 of the way through the trip. But we have managed to see and do neat stuff on our trips.
Two years ago, we stopped in the Badlands. That place is absolutely stunning and I would've loved to have spent another few days there just seeing and doing but I can at least say that I have been. I was lucky in that it was a wet year that year so everything was green and lush and it just added to the beauty of the badlands. I saw sheep, my very first LIVE badger, prairie dogs, turkeys, wild bison, deer and sharptails. It was a heckuva place and I'll go back again sometime.
Last year, we got started very late. We didn't leave until October. We were both plagued with issues from Hurricane Irma, though Steve and Debby were hit worse than I was damage wise. Luckily, I was able to talk Steve into going and we stopped at Devil's Tower on the way there. We were there on the last weekend the KOA was open. The morning after we got there even saw snow flurries falling. Because of that, the campground was virtually empty (LOTS of deer hanging out there). It was a gorgeous place even with overcast skies. And that big ole chunk of rock was incredible. We did the walk around it and it was nice not to be there with tons of people. There were even people climbing the Tower that day.
The other neat thing last year? I was able to check off an item on my bucket list. Ever since Steve told me how he and his buddy Mike had bought a hunting license in a bar, I thought I wanna do that!!!!!!! By coincidence, as we were leaving WY and heading into MT on our way up to our hunting grounds, we passed by this biker bar and on the side of it was a huge sign: Hunting licenses sold here. So we of course had to go in grab a burger, beer and my license.
This year will bring lots of new adventures no doubt. We shall do some more exploring of the areas we have found in the past. I'm not sure if we will do Mt. Rushmore this year but the plan is for us to stop in Nebraska this year. Sharptails and Prairie Chicken opens today. Drake is getting up there in age (he just turned 11) and I'd love to add another bird to his bird list if I can.
I have a new camera to learn, am looking forward to the forecast of cooler temperatures, great scenery and hopefully we will find birds as well. But with views like this, how could you not enjoy yourself?
The dogs are ready to go and I'm looking forward to watching more great dog work. B is turning out to be a stellar pointy dog huntress and I love watching her work.
She is a VERY hard worker and has been known to fall asleep in her water bowl.
Drake is a seasoned pro at this bird hunting business. He is slowing down quite a bit, doesn't have as much grey as other dogs his age but the arthritis in his elbow is catching up to him. That won't stop him though from getting to enjoy a good bird hunt.
In fact, he tells Steve all the time that he is ready to go....even when he should stay home and rest.
But the old fella has earned the right to go on any hunt he can and I am looking forward to as many hunts with him as I can get and adding a prairie chicken to his list.
Even if there are days where the weather is too bad to go out for a hunt, we can be sure to enjoy relaxing inside a very nice camper. Don't forget though: you really shouldn't spoil your bird dogs. I hear that is a bad thing to do. Not sure why. I just haven't figured that part out.
We leave Monday and hopefully no later than Thursday we will be seeing and hearing the sweet sight of flushing grouse.
Let the adventure begin!
Dani
We officially began the 2018-2019 season off with a hunt for gators last Friday. It was a slow night and though we wanted a monster (who wouldn't?), the guys that we tend to hang out with in MT complained about the selection of gator that we brought the last time. It was too chewy they said (perhaps partly my fault because I was a lot newer at learning to cook gator, though it didn't seem overcooked to me...but it also came off of an 11' gator and what I have learned is that the bigger they are, the quality of meat does suffer...even the best cuts). With that in mind, we spent the evening looking over the lake that Steve pulled a permit for and we brought home these two. These two were gorgeous 7 footers (they'd make great purses or hats or jackets or boots) and they will definitely be far more tender than the monster that we killed a few years back.
This will be the third year that I have started the trek to Montana with Steve, helping him with the drive. I gotta say that from Florida until Kansas City is pretty tedious, but it can be fun. Once we pass Kansas City though it's like WE ARE ALMOST THERE, even though we are still only 2/3 of the way through the trip. But we have managed to see and do neat stuff on our trips.
Two years ago, we stopped in the Badlands. That place is absolutely stunning and I would've loved to have spent another few days there just seeing and doing but I can at least say that I have been. I was lucky in that it was a wet year that year so everything was green and lush and it just added to the beauty of the badlands. I saw sheep, my very first LIVE badger, prairie dogs, turkeys, wild bison, deer and sharptails. It was a heckuva place and I'll go back again sometime.
Last year, we got started very late. We didn't leave until October. We were both plagued with issues from Hurricane Irma, though Steve and Debby were hit worse than I was damage wise. Luckily, I was able to talk Steve into going and we stopped at Devil's Tower on the way there. We were there on the last weekend the KOA was open. The morning after we got there even saw snow flurries falling. Because of that, the campground was virtually empty (LOTS of deer hanging out there). It was a gorgeous place even with overcast skies. And that big ole chunk of rock was incredible. We did the walk around it and it was nice not to be there with tons of people. There were even people climbing the Tower that day.
The other neat thing last year? I was able to check off an item on my bucket list. Ever since Steve told me how he and his buddy Mike had bought a hunting license in a bar, I thought I wanna do that!!!!!!! By coincidence, as we were leaving WY and heading into MT on our way up to our hunting grounds, we passed by this biker bar and on the side of it was a huge sign: Hunting licenses sold here. So we of course had to go in grab a burger, beer and my license.
This year will bring lots of new adventures no doubt. We shall do some more exploring of the areas we have found in the past. I'm not sure if we will do Mt. Rushmore this year but the plan is for us to stop in Nebraska this year. Sharptails and Prairie Chicken opens today. Drake is getting up there in age (he just turned 11) and I'd love to add another bird to his bird list if I can.
I have a new camera to learn, am looking forward to the forecast of cooler temperatures, great scenery and hopefully we will find birds as well. But with views like this, how could you not enjoy yourself?
The dogs are ready to go and I'm looking forward to watching more great dog work. B is turning out to be a stellar pointy dog huntress and I love watching her work.
She is a VERY hard worker and has been known to fall asleep in her water bowl.
Drake is a seasoned pro at this bird hunting business. He is slowing down quite a bit, doesn't have as much grey as other dogs his age but the arthritis in his elbow is catching up to him. That won't stop him though from getting to enjoy a good bird hunt.
In fact, he tells Steve all the time that he is ready to go....even when he should stay home and rest.
But the old fella has earned the right to go on any hunt he can and I am looking forward to as many hunts with him as I can get and adding a prairie chicken to his list.
Even if there are days where the weather is too bad to go out for a hunt, we can be sure to enjoy relaxing inside a very nice camper. Don't forget though: you really shouldn't spoil your bird dogs. I hear that is a bad thing to do. Not sure why. I just haven't figured that part out.
We leave Monday and hopefully no later than Thursday we will be seeing and hearing the sweet sight of flushing grouse.
Let the adventure begin!
Dani
Last edited:
