An annual Montana hunting trip
My annual hunting trip to Montana is a highlight of the fall. As usual, I met Bill Heig, of Bowen Lodge in Deer River, Minn., in eastern Montana. We stayed in that area for a few days and then hunted our way west to our final destination in the central part of the state. We rendezvoused with two friends from Denver, Colo., for several days of bird hunting.
My string was a little light on experience this year; three of our females were back at the kennel in various stages of getting bred. Even so, I had a strong group of dogs: Northwoods Grits (10 yrs.), Northwoods Rolls Royce (8 yrs.), Northwoods Leon (3 yrs.), Northwoods Comet (2 yrs.), Northwoods Gale (1 yr.) and puppies Northwoods Redbreast (7 mos.) and Northwoods Talisker (4 mos.). All dogs did well but watching the younger dogs develop their skills in the expansive terrain was a fun and gratifying.
The ongoing drought had a severe impact; sparse vegetation and warm temperatures made for some challenging hunts. But bird numbers were good—and after all, that’s the most important part.