Feast or Famine?

There was plenty of one and none of the other. Three nights of overindulgence and four days of amazing pheasant hunting. There was actually more if you include the days at the beginning of the week with "Geno", and the great meals he prepared. The food and drink was fantastic along with the final hunts of the regular season. Everyone made it safely here and back home, no accidents in the field, and lots of birds in the air. Who could ask for more? Well, there were maybe a few that were asking for a little warmer weather, but we made due and didn't have to spend a lot of time in the cold, and once the shooting started everyone forgot about their frozen fingers. A few pairs of snowshoes paid off too, although most got by without them. It's sad to say that it's over, but there's always next year, not to mention the preserve season will fill the void in the cold winter months whenever the dogs need to get a hunt in.

Dig, Dug...dogs?

After four days of crummy weather we finally managed to dig our way out. I think we were actually spared some. Reports of 20 inches of snow fell in Murdo and Mitchell, but we're pretty sure we did not get that much. Our best guess puts us somewhere around 10-12 inches, but the wind blew 30-40 mph, with gusts nearing 50 and 60 mph, so it left us with some good drifts. We took the snow removal a day at a time and pretty much finished up yesterday. It put a dent in every one's Christmas plans, but we survived and managed to gorge ourselves on the prime rib, turkey, ham, and anything else that got in our way.

The pheasants managed to do alright also. Cordie and I managed to get out the last couple of days and check it out. Lots of drifting snow, with lots of pheasants scratching to get to the food underneath it. We found two dead roosters and 2000 live ones, so I think we came out of this one OK. We'll know more by the end of the week, with our friend from PA to shoot all week and the family hunt beginning Thursday that should give us a better idea of how we really did. The biggest problem that we've found so far is getting around. We've been working on our winter driving skills- Cordie driving, me shoveling. I hope we get that ironed out soon also.

Happy Holidays to everyone. Be safe.

Raisin' the Roof

The boys have been hard at it putting the house together. That is until they run out of supplies, then they stick to cleaning birds and other daily chores around the lodge. Yes, that's Jamie, our resident carpenter/bird cleaner/concrete finisher. All right, I guess he's our "Jack of all trades". The plan was to have it all sheeted and tinned before it snows again, but there's been a few delays, so we're not sure it will happen. They're getting more done than we planned, so when the hunting is done Cordie and I will have the pleasure of working mostly indoors. Like Cordie says, "plan your work,and work your plan".

Went huntin' with Dad and all I got was this lousy Jackrabbit...

Not to be confused with the "big hoppin' coyote with lots of ears".

We weren't really hunting for anything other than the jumpin' jacks, but we could have shot our limit of pheasants, which we've been doing plenty of. We tried to put a dent in the rabbit numbers, but success was low. We'll continue working on them for the next couple of months and try to save as many trees as possible.

We're winding down on the regular season with a few small hunts planned along with the family hunt, and there are a lot of birds left , as is apparent in the photo below (click on it to see a larger image). We'll continue plugging along, and when the regular season closes we'll work on the preserve and knock as many out there as we can. Lots left there, too, not sure what we're trying to save other than the pheasants from themselves.

Not Since 1959!!!

The SD Game, Fish & Parks attempted to raise the daily limit of rooster pheasants to 5 for the remainder of the season; something that hasn't been done in 50 years. The Department explained that because of the abundance of roosters and the lack of harvest of fall row-crops, which inhibited the harvest early in the season, this years population could easily sustain the extra harvest. The Commission vote did not receive enough aye votes for the emergency rule to pass. If the rule would have passed we would have been allowed to take 5 roosters a day from Saturday, December 5 until the end of the season. We could have taken on the additional harvest, but I guess we'll just do it three birds at a time, and carry over what's left. Right now that's looking like plenty, but with a month left in the season we'll do our best to put a dent in it. Anybody interested in helping can check the dates at the Inn with the boss.

Who's Having Tag Soup??

Not Cordie. He filled his tag this morning down on South South, as we like to call it. Some of you may know it as that big circle food plot. We let this nice 6x6 mulie buck walk yesterday because we were not sure how good he was, but Cordie wouldn't let it happen two days in a row. I've also received word that John Wayne and Paul filled their tags, but no proof yet. I guess that leaves me with tag in hand. I'll be eating good tonight on fresh backstrap, but not sure how much more Cordie will share. I've got until Sunday to get some of my own. I'm sure there's going to be another doe or two to fill the freezer, but not so sure we can find another good buck. I'll keep you posted. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Always something to be thankful for.

One Down....

Big John was the first to strike and fill his coveted Grasslands tag out of the Jund hunting party. He took this nice 5x5 mule deer on Tuesday evening. John Wayne, Paul, and Dalton still have tags, and several good bucks in their sights. They've spent quite a few hours scouting, planning, and watching, not too mention a few attempts with the bow. A few of the good bucks have fallen into other hunters hands, but that's what happens on public land. They've got a week and a half left, and when not at work they'll be at play. Good luck boys, and to the rest of you with deer tag in hand. Feel free to send your pictures to the Snake Den and a story of the successful hunt. Cordie and I are still trying to find a good one. I got word that Brandon shot a decent one on the Reservation, a 5x5 whitetail, but no picture to post.