Cast-and-blast adventures can be a great way to welcome autumn
Crisp, cool mornings, smells of recent rain, heavy berry crops, leaves changing color and silver down clouds coaxed along by autumn winds are signaling changes in all living things, including us.
On a recent September visit, my brother Terrence and I started our day with a little fly and spin casting on the Kootenai and Fisher rivers. I could see it was relaxing my brother, and we stayed quiet for quite a while. His jet lag was easing, but I could see he was still a little stressed. So, we headed up a little rock pit off the beaten path that I had discovered one year while timber cruising in that drainage. We set up some targets on cardboard boxes - milk jugs filled with water with images of a few “ bad guys “ drawn on the jugs.
We then grabbed a little unit I refer to as my home security aid out of the extended cab. The Mossberg 500 12-gauge pump is less than a yard long, but extremely efficient. Built for military, police and citizen defense, one look will convince you of it’s potency. Vertically ribbed forearm with security strap; pistol grip; adjustable stock with attached five-round shell reserve; beaded front site; rubber padded shoulder protection stock; and all black, bad and beautiful.
We donned our hearing protection, and I shot first, as a courtesy really, to give Terry a moment to observe and refresh his memory, as he doesn’t shoot all that often. Well, he proceeded to obliterate target after target. He even pumped, shot and nailed a target that started rolling down a small hill, leading it just right. We had a good laugh at that and cleaned up our mess. As we rolled, we were amazed at what a stress reliever shooting can be. We laughed out loud, and the echos of brotherly mirth resonated as we meandered down a mountain road to our next destination.
We chose a loop that would bring us into several good spots for our chosen prey. We would search for lower elevation bottom drainages with mixed coniferous tree species, and semi-dense berry-producing shrubs and deciduous trees. After eye-balling patches of thimbleberry, snowberry, red osier dogwood and bear berry, we parked and headed down the gated road. Our prey here being the most common grouse of the huntable three, referred to as mountain grouse. Occurring more frequently in these lower elevations, the ruffed grouse, with the notable black tail band and tawny brown and gray body, is somewhat camouflaged and can make an interesting target. Especially, if your aiming for that desirable spot where the head and neck meet the shoulders.
Our weapon of choice here, the Marlin .22 magnum my first real rifle. I worked for and dreamed of that weapon for a long, long time. The bolt-action 980 DL has a walnut stock and a hooded front site. A six-shot magazine helps, as does the old-fashioned leather wrap around your forearm sling, and the gold-plated trigger adds a touch of class. Add an ancient Marlin scope, and you’re all set. When properly and safely aimed at that sweet spot, the resulting meeting of the .22 magnum high speed cartridge and grouse neck equals a puff of feathers that flattens the bird in one quick-kill moment. It’s a tack driver.
We bagged one each and headed up the road to the next gate where the elevation was a bit higher and searched for the other two mountain grouse. The Franklin, or spruce grouse, is mostly a dark-blackish bird with white speckles. The male has a distinctive red-eye patch. The blue grouse is grayish blue and usually larger than the ruffed version of this species. We nailed one blue and headed back to the pickup.
Our loop just happened to bring us right by the Red Dog Saloon, so of course we went in for pizza and a beer. Weapons unloaded and stashed safe and locked in the rig, we enjoyed recapping the day.
Our cast-and-blast adventure was a great way to welcome the autumn, welcome my brother back to Big Sky, relieve some stress and have a whole lot of fun. I hope your autumn adventures do the same for you.
- Brian Baxter is an outdoor educational programs instructor and coordinator.