I was recently hunting Sage Grouse in SW Montana. I was accompanied by noted wildlife photographer Keith Szafranski.
He was kind enough to share a few shots he took that day. No birds, but IMHO some pretty fine photography.
You can see more of his work here: www.mostlywildlifephotos.com

Nice "hunt," Dave.....

I would like to taste sage grouse.

Are you wearing your mom jeans gangsta style or did your ass fall off?

They tend to slip down under a protruding gut.


I'm told Sage grouse are good if not overcooked and well cared for. I shot exactly zero, so can't comment.

We saw four, where my friend said he often see dozens if not hundreds. There were several leks in the area, but of course not active in the fall.

At a certain age your ass falls off.
Don't be looking at or commenting on other guy's asses.
JFC.

Just be sure to kiss yours goodbye before it falls off.

A grouse slam dinner has always been a dream.


We did the upland youth hunt in the Palouse this weekend. Bird numbers are way down over previous years and most of the roosters look to be second hatch. Almost no Huns and only two small coveys of Quail. Could be the wet spring or predation. I counted 66 hawks in the area we hunted. We were hunting a group of 7 roosters that we could not get to fly becasue 4 hawks were flying low ground cover. Evertime a rooster would lift off the hawks would dive on him. 106 hawks counted by the kids from the Snake river to the pass on the drive home. Strong deer year with many 4 points or better.

Dave you need to go to north eastern MT, around Havre, We have access to hunt two ranches that are in the neighborhood of 90k acrea's each. the Hun's, sage and Pheasents the dogs put up in 5 days of hunting is outstanding, Mostely CRP, wheat stubble, or standing wheat that doesn't get harvested. And lots of grassy draws, But the wild roses are thick.... Matt
If we go next year and you are interested, I will let you know

I AM interested!!!!! The friend I hunted with says they usually dozens every day. he thinks the drought has them moving to who knows where.

I have booked the same cabin on the Bighole for a week next September. Maybe next year . . .

Saw and killed one blue. No huns or sharptails.

Dave, I will keep you posted, the bigger ranch has about 35k acres in the CRP program, between, sage, sharpies huns and roosters, the dogs will put up outrageous amounts of birds. And we ever hunt the same piece of ground in the 5-7 days we are there. simply awsome.... Matt

Great pics Dave!

Sage would love that open sage country! Still picking burrs out of her from our little quail canyon.