Cuttin' Down the Christmas Tree

Continuing the annual tradition - Amy and I headed for Lowman Pass to cut down a tree. We are gathering quite a following of people who are joining us in the hills. This year Dan, Donielle, Sawyer (his first trip), Jeremy and Jen all made the trip. Oddly enough, this year there was no snow. A little easier to move around in the woods, but sort of strange to hunt for a tree in the mud.

Notice the ax in Amy's hand - that is why I look a little nervous.

New mom and pregnant mom hauling the christmas tree. Apparently Dan and I could not handle the load.

Sawyer on his first tree cutting excursion. Don't get between Amy and her ax.

Like good hunting dogs, Cayenne and Goose found a posse of grouse.

Finding Chukar on the South Fork

I went to the hills to yet again search for some chukar and managed to find someone to drag with me. So Ted, Cayenne and Ella all headed to the rimrock of the South Fork of the Boise to try and find a few of those hard to find chukar. Oddly enough we stumbled into a covey that obliged us and I came home with three. On top of that, it was a strikingly beautiful day. Hard to believe it is actually December. A bike ride in my shorts on Saturday and a chukar hunt in my t-shirt on Sunday, all in December. Hard to believe.
Shooting clay pigeons on the rimrock of the canyon. The South Fork is a gem of river, not even an hour from the front door of the house. Awesome.
Post-hunt beverage in a great location. If there was more sunlight, those trout at the bottom of the canyon would have been visited as well.
Although Ella is not the greatest hunting dog on the planet, she gives it a good effort.
Great sun-set out the backdoor of the house. I was grillin' the chukar and noticed the great light - had to snap a picture.

Chukar Hunting (or hiking with a gun...)

We've tried very, very hard to find chukar this fall. But much like last year, if we were hunter - gatherers we would be doing a lot of gathering. We've had some beautiful days and a handful of chukar, but nothing like the days where we would come back with 6, 8 or 10 after a short walk.

Goose doing his usual thing - cooling off in any body of water he can find


Amy, Goose and Cayenne (yep, that is pregnant Amy still going hunting). Cheetos mom kicks ass.