Kind of sad, BUT!

[Bluemoon]

It's Montana for me for upland birds.
I am a third generation Washingtonion growing up in Moses Lake in the 60's and 70's when Pheasant hunting was unbelievable.  Last year was the first time ever that I never bought a WA. State hunting license.   I bought them for Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.  For 2012 it will be just Montana.
I did miss the Blacktail hunting in the back yard and jumping over Hwy 12.  to pop some Chucker and Quail for a day trip.  For me it makes more sense to drive 13 hours and  hunt birds for 4 or 5 days at a time moving hundreds of birds a day then stumbling around the Basin or the Dayton area hoping nobody has been into my spots.   I also got bumbed out hunting some of my favorite eyebrows of the Palouse
finding out that the Rooster I climbed up for and shot was a banded prison pen raised bird I like hunting wild birds.
I will and have bought my Razor Clam & Crab permits.  I am a great freezer hunter for big game from my neighbors.  But all my hunting will now done out of state.   

[Machias]

NICE photos....sad deal for sure.

[Bob33]

Thanks for the candid comments.

[JLS]

Life is full of choices, sometimes tough ones!  Good luck with your bird hunting, good looking dog.

[bobcat]

I would love to go bird hunting in Montana someday. I even bought a book that covers upland bird hunting in Montana several years ago but never have gone.

Do you guys ever get any sharptail grouse?

[JLS]

Look central for sharps.

[Bluemoon]

Yes we get into quite a lot of them (Sharptails).  They are fast becoming my favorite bird to hunt.  Kind of like Huns on steroids.   The very last day of our hunt this past December we got into them like never before!  Every 200 yards a covey of 40 plus sharpies it just went on and on, my son and I had a blast.
Here is a picture of some sage hens mixed in with a sharptail on the far right. 

[KFhunter]

I'd like to do this,  been auctually kind of gearing up for it.
 
got a slide in camper now, fixed up my old Dodge CTD so now she's petty reliable...
 
dog ain't worth a chit though 

[DoubleJ]

I don't want a champion dog.  He's neutered so I wouldn't breed him but I would like an ok to good hunting partner.  Can you PM me a price?  My guess is it'll be too steep with all of my other priorities but, I would like to know.