Earlier I posted some amature photos from my recent Montana trip. I was fortunate enough to be accompanied by my friend Kieth Szafranski who, as you can see, is a great photographer. Here is Kieth’s work.













We did a bit of fishing too. Surprisingly we caught brrok trout up to 13 inches long from this tiny crik.



The next day we hit private pond for some world class fishing

Awesome sequence of pictures of the "sage hen". The small stream fishing can be so very rewarding.

Again a great job.....thanks for sharing....

Like the way your photographer friend captures landscape. He's lucky Dick Cheney wasn't the gunner in shots 4 & 5. Are you encountering any ticks and snakes on your hunt in the brushy areas? Had a chance to fish a similar small stream near Big Timber with a local once. Never forget taking mid-teen fish out of a creek you could easily jump across. Thanks for sharing the "Big Sky" trip.

Outstanding work Dave, thanks so much for sharing! Glad to see you and Tye back in the birds.....one more week until E.WA opener and then on to South Dakota.

Noice.Good luck,

SZ

Too Cool!

It's too bad that you aren't enjoying your retirement very much, Dave

Fish on...

Todd

well done AGAIN

I can tell from the title of the thread...



That Sage Grouse didn't stand a chance.

You are right. I didn't get to shoot due to photog interference a couple of time, but it was worth if for the great "shots" he took. One of those times I waited till it was safe and confidently pulled the trigger only to hear a click. I had gotten so excited over my first sage hen I forgot to reload. Doh!

I am neither a "pro" shooter or photographer but I shot this grouse in Nebraska a long time ago, or so it seems.

Nice!!!! I really like those creeks there, and Idaho. Some really nice trout in some of them.

Killer photos Dave. You must've flushed a lot of sage hens to get those shots. Pretty cool!

JTD...Browning Superimposed Model?

Yes Sir.


It is one of a matching 12/20 Tonkin set left to me by my grandfather. He bought them new out of the custom shop in the mid 50s for $648- I still have the receipt. I only use them on nice days, treat them respectfully and think of looking up and walking beside him back in the days. I know he didn't believe in owning something you didn't use and every bird just means a little more to me because of it.


There is more to the story but it is one of the things he left me that I appreciate the most.

Very nice story JTD. I'm not familiar with "Tonkin" but having all the history from your grand-pappy is awesome!!! I've had several Belgium's, most of them Broadways. Classic O/U look and feel IMO. I still kick myself for turning down a 20ga Pigeon grade when I was 18yo for $1500...just couldn't swing it.