Wednesday May 06, 2009

[Double D]

Good morning Montanan, MT_Sourdough, dpe, Southpaw, Forster, Atlaw, pab1, newstart2k, Skunk, kitchawan kid, lurker, CJ, Bilmac,thxmrgarand, Syncerus, Mcwoodduck, Brennemanj83, Old Shooter,TY22, Canon6, burntmuch, Grimjim, CJ, Bilmac, rparsons934 wis_sharpshooter and BBF.

Clear blue sky windy and 39 degrees this morning here in beautiful Cut Bank.

I've been working on shaping the trunnions on the cannon.  Hand filing is going to take a while to get done. Hauled the Dictator up to Ben Franklin and it's on display with flyer announcing the shoots.

Mt_Sourdough you asked about spectating the Victorian shoot...won't be allowed, I can guarentee I will put a rifle in you hands. I Think you would more enjoy the cannon shoot in August.  That event will have high spectator appeal, lots of smoke and noise and for sure lots of oohs and aaahs. I mean who isn't impressed by seeing a bowling ball flying down range.   You might consider coming up for the this shoot.

[Mt_Sourdough]

Howdy
  Its another overcast day, but a little more settled than yesterday.  The birds are just raising a racket outside.    I dearly enjoy the sounds of birds in the morning. 
  Again, Double D, you are most hospitible.  I would absolutely delight in shooting a rifle that is a piece of history.  I know I would learn plenty.  I think you might be right, though, our June is getting filled with reunions and birthdays and the thing that I am pulling for, a few days down on the Big Hole.  I love that place.  I think they have a black powder rendevouz around that time.  I want to make some connections in the area in anticipation of some antelope tags.  I have a few friends in the area including an owner of a popular bar on the big hole.  It should be easy to get some invites for speed goat hunting areas.  Anyways, August is wide open and a bunch of cannons and things exploding would probably be enough to keep the interest/attention of the young'ns.
   Yesterday, my girlfriend and I rode our bike into the Rattlesnake.  We rode to the beginning of zone 2 and then we did a hike from there.  Found a hidden ravine that led to some amazing looking rock faces.  We had to duck under some big trees a few times to get out of the flash storms and hail.  We saw a really nice sized Mulie herd and a we rode right into a bachelor herd of about 7 or 8 whitetails.
   Today we are gonna go for a hike in Miller Creek.  My girlfriend is really gettting into this outdoors thing.
   I was reading in the Big Sky Outdoors paper and it confirmed my observations.  The whitetail numbers took a big hit this winter.  Apparently, some areas are gonna see a reduction in permits for whitetails.  They said numbers are down due to the tough Dec and Jan period and predadation.  On a side note, that also confirms a second observation that I have been making.  There sure are a lot of predators out there these days.  Besides the obvious lightning rod issue of wolves, I see an unbelievable amount of cat tracks.  Everywhere I go, I see beaucoup cat signs.  I didn't see any information specific to Mulies, but my opinion is that their numbers are stronger than they have been in some years.  They seemed to fair far better in the winter than did the whitetails.
   Another confrimation is about my old kicking grounds in Browns Gulch North of Butte.  Elk permits are increasing there this year.  The old elk trails up there have turned into elk highways over the last decade.
   I'll be checking out some small groups of elk today.
   To all you fine folk, have a fun day

[Cottonwood]

Today is an awesome day.... with over 6,000 people out of work here in the Flathead area, I got a call on a job that I applied for last week.  So, it's only 4 hours every morning at Staples Office Supply but I'm happy with it.  Total commute to work, about 5 minutes from the house 

[1Southpaw]

Good evening all !   I think I have rejoined the ranks of the living , employed people . Still feel like a road kill coyote  but at least I'm going .( will have to post my picture of RKC )  seeding going well son in law not having any problems . darn , after 16 years do you supose I got the bugs out ? 

Doug , My die grinder will make short work of your trunion shaping . It is an air drive high speed , carbide bit thing  of a ma jiggy . works great .
Still no progress on my Mortar base , just too sick and now too busy . Lousy excuses but's thats about the bottom line . 
Hey I found my Coyote picture .... This unfortunate lad was just under the brow of a hill . Every semi heading north nail'd him down . Harvest time , lots of trucks on this dirt road . One does not brake for a Coyote driving 80,000 plus lbs . down a county road ......
[

Back to work ...
That was sort of on topic , Hunting with "Pete " 

[Mt_Sourdough]

I took a little hike today.  Watched some elk.  Small groups now.  Winter herds are totally disbanded around here.  The ones I am watching are staying at about 4500 to 5000 ft elevation.  That is about 500  feet below the snowline around here right now.  The snowline hasnt moved much over the last 10 days, so the elk have been staying put in the same area over that time.  It makes them easy to find.  Plenty of wolf scat around.  Some fresh bear sign was also easy to find.
  You all have yourselves a pleasant evenning.

[dpe.ahoy]

I've heard ranchers talk of finding alot of dead deer, but still seem to be alot around south central Montana.  Glad to hear about elk numbers.  The cats seem to be getting thicker.  Last year one was spotted here in Billings Heights, must have been a young tom passing thru lookin for his own turf.  Just another reason I usually carry a 45 colt when out and about.  DP