I always enjoy when I get a red phase ruffed. A bonus spruce hen is nothing to shake a stick at either. (Unless you’re trying to get it to fly, then the stick may come in handy.)
Took the dog out for some elk scouting and must’ve put up about a dozen grouse, mostly spruceys like this hen, but we saw some ruffies too. Season will be here soon!
Totally agree. I’ve got some digiscoping footage that show her head a little better, and it’s more black bear shaped. Always a chance it was a dark griz, but I’m leaning black bear on this one.
My go to in western Montana is a diaphragm call first (I usually carry a few different ones to be able to switch it up if needed). I also will usually carry a slate call and a glass call, with 2-3 different strikers. I hunt with a pack instead of a vest, so those calls fit nicely in my pants...
Killed black bear at about 30 yards with them this year. Passed through as one would expect, bear died quickly. I’ve also taken a couple of whitetails, ranges from 40 yards to 225. I’ve never recovered a bullet as they’ve always exited. They group very well out of my Ruger M77. I’ve also had...
Got my first muley yesterday. 270 yards with my Ruger M77 Mark II .270 Win. I typically hunt whitetails in the western part of the state, but I think more muley trips are in store in the coming years.
Got this dusky about 150 yards into our first walk. Hunted a couple more hours and didn’t move another bird. Probably only a few more grouse hunts for us this year with duck opener next weekend and pheasant the weekend after that.
I was trying to fill a whitetail doe tag Saturday night when this cow walked by at 20 yards. Didn’t have to think twice about it. Stoked to have gotten her quickly and cleanly and to have a freezer full of meat.