good day to check herds

[Mt_Sourdough]

Yesterday and today I drove around and spent a good amount of time looking at some of the local herds to see how they are fair'n.  The elk around Potomac and clearwater were out and looking pretty strong.  I saw probably 300 and all that I saw looked like they are going to have no problem making it through the winter.  The Mule deer I saw in that area and Miller Creek, about 200, all looked robust as well.  But then there are the whitetails.  Those in the valleys look good of course, but those in the timber looked patheitc. Sickly.   I saw about 100 to 150 in the timber and if this is any indication, local white tail numbers might go down a bit. 
   After a lousy Daytona 500 and an unimpressive gun show in Stevi, seeing the wintering herds sure made me feel good again.
  Below are some Bighorn in East Missoula.  The herd was about 40 or 50 strong.
  The pic of the elk and sheep were taken with a cell phone for that is all that I had.  Within a couple mile radius of the elk pic, there were over 200 head.

[Cottonwood]

Good report there Mt_Sourdough and with pictures too.... I love it.

[dpe.ahoy]

All the game I've seen around here and Winnett have been looking good.  Even the Whitetails.  Have not been east where the antelope and whitetail were hit with blue tongue a couple of years ago.  Need to check that area out, did alot of hunting around Hysham for a few years.  DP