B
Saturday, March 20, 2021
The Observer & Baker City Herald
R EGRET ,
R ELIEF &
R EFLECTION
■ Looking back at another season of
hunting upland birds around the West
T
he rich aromas of a moist,
fi nely blended pipe tobacco
drifted from the crooked
briarwood clenched between my
teeth. Taking a slow pull, I puzzled
over the two spent 20-gauge shells
lying before me, signaling a close
to the 2020 upland bird season.
Each season brings new and unique
experiences, and lessons learned,
and re-learned.
Unique experiences of 2020
included a road trip to north-central
Montana for sharp-tailed grouse,
and making a new hunting buddy
from Almira, Washington, on the
basalt-channeled scablands chasing
quail and pheasant. Both experi-
ences offered complete surprise and
education.
A tip from some Helena residents
led me to the Conrad area of Mon-
tana, only to fi nd it a complete bust.
Having hunted sharp-tails in far
eastern Montana and fi nding coveys
thick as starlings, I was confi dent
in my setter’s ability to fi nd birds.
Map scouting for large grasslands
and sagebrush tracts had me a bit
concerned, but I identifi ed a few
areas that looked good among the
patchwork of cropland.
Upon arrival, I found a single
tract in 50 square miles with sem-
blance of the native prairie I sought.
Over the course of a few days, my
UPLAND
PURSUITS
BRAD TRUMBO
setters never once got birdy. We saw
not a single game bird along farm
roads or public access. Thoroughly
disappointed, we packed it in early,
headed for Flathead Lake, and
camped in a beautiful lakeside state
park for a pick-me-up.
On the contrary, in December I
met a social media acquaintance
near Grand Coulee, expecting pro-
spective covers to resemble our local
bird numbers. Darren McCall and
his daughter Kinzie were gracious
enough to show me some of their
best covers, while I ran my best
dogs. Wading into the fi rst fi eld of
the day, dappled in Great Basin wild
rye and other choice grasses, a scene
reminiscent of the Dakotas erupted
as waves of pheasant took to wing
hundreds of yards ahead of us and
the dog.
Moving on to the quintessential
quail cover of the scablands, every
grassy pocket held pheasant, but
we put up not one quail covey. The
sagebrush and bunchgrasses were
cloaked in ice and the landscape a
glimmering prism, punctuated by
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
The cinnamon hues of the Hungarian partridge tailfeathers beautifully accent a classic double gun.
the milky green of sage and choco-
late basalt outcrops. Darren claimed
a single rooster, and we enjoyed an
exhilarating hunt behind Yuba as
she taught a clinic on pinning hens.
The common lesson relearned
from both Montana and Grand
Coulee was that quality habitat pro-
duces birds. The Montana habitat
was abhorrent, while the scablands
were characterized largely by native
vegetation.
Also noteworthy, the western
wildfi res may have kept me from
the Oregon sage grouse season, but
exceptional mourning dove fl ights
on my homestead amidst the smoke
were a fair consolation. Finn and
Yuba hunted at peak performance,
Yuba in particular. Following a
second surgery in August to correct
hip dysplasia, she now has no hip
sockets. I feared her stamina and
stability would prove a challenge
over the fall, but being freed of
crippling arthritis, her exuber-
ance, determination and skill were
redefi ned.
Yuba’s pheasant savvy comes as
a result of passion and drive that
have helped hone her skills over
the years. I lost count of her fi nds
this past season, and the tenacity
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
Finn taking a quick break out in the channeled scablands.
in which she pursued downed birds
was an inspiring spectacle.
Taking another pull, the sweet
aroma triggered further memories.
The time has past to hang up the
vest, stow the side-by-side, and box
the pipe for another grueling nine
months of anticipation. And, as
always, it was done with a pang of
regret, yet a sigh of relief.
Season’s end signals a close to
the crack-of-dawn, frozen fi nger
mornings, and cutting, combing and
plucking a thousand invasive weed
burrs from the notoriously tangly
setter coats. It also brings halt to the
sight of high-tailed points beneath
the golden rays of the crepuscular
hours, and the rush of wings against
crackling grasses and shrub limbs.
My girls and I are getting no
younger. The same can be said for
my upland brethren. And to me, a
picture is worth 1,000 birds. It’s go-
ing to be a long wait for September.
May the memories of the stellar
days afi eld, and time spent toting
the scattergun with friends and
family, simply following the dogs
and admiring the splendor of the
uplands, see us through to the early
2021 grouse season.
Brad Trumbo is a fi sh and wildlife
biologist and outdoor writer in
Waitsburg, Washington, where he also
actively serves the Walla Walla-based
Blue Mountain Pheasants Forever
chapter. For tips and tales of outdoor
pursuits and conservation, visit www.
bradtrumbo.com.
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
Darren McCall approaching
Yuba for the fl ush.
Brad Trumbo/Contributed Photo
Yuba sits, content with the rewards of her performance.
Forest Service reminds
drivers about snow hazard
■ Groomed snowmobile routes are closed to wheeled vehicles
Wallowa-Whitman National
Forest offi cials are remind-
ing travelers that wheeled
vehicles aren’t allowed on
groomed snowmobile routes,
and that venturing onto those
routes could leave drivers
stranded in the snow.
In a press release the
Wallowa-Whitman focused on
the Wallowa Mountain Loop
Road that connects Baker and
Wallowa counties, between the
Wallowa Mountains and Hells
Canyon.
This winter, local authori-
ties have assisted with mul-
tiple search and rescue efforts
along the road, also known
as Forest Road 39 and North
Pine Road, after cars and
trucks got stuck in snow.
The road is a snowmobile
route between Highway 86
east of Halfway, and the Salt
Creek Summit Sno-Park
southeast of Joseph. The ban
on wheeled vehicles also ap-
plies to the 39 Road from its
intersection with the Imnaha
River Road just south of the
Imnaha Fish Weir.
The road remains open
to snowmobiles and to
people accessing private
property. The Forest Service
has installed barricades on
the south end of the road,
in Baker County, to deter
wheeled vehicles.
Although the barricades
are painted bright orange and
are refl ective, drivers should
be especially careful after
sunset or before sunrise.
“We plan to accommodate
spring recreators and hunters
by moving the barricades
up the mountain as the
snow recedes,” said Dan
Story, road engineer for the
Whitman District. “This is a
popular destination during
all seasons, and especially for
summer motorists, so we will
be removing the barricades
as soon as we can clear the
road of down trees, boulders,
and other obstacles.”
Snow-covered roads, includ-
ing those that aren’t groomed
snowmobile routes, might
appear accessible until the
vehicle confronts an obstacle
such as a down tree or snow-
drift.
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest/Contributed Photo
Barricades at the junction of the Wallowa Mountain Loop Road and Highway 86 near
Halfway in late February 2021.
Many vehicles become
stuck when the driver is try-
ing to turn around, according
to the Wallowa-Whitman’s
press release.
Forest offi cials also remind
travelers that many vehicle
navigations systems don’t
take into account routes that
are blocked by snow during
the winter.
Other tips for driving safely
in the mountains include:
• Use snow tires or chains
as snow, ice, and water can
create dangerously slippery
roads.
• Be prepared to spend the
night in your vehicle.
• Bring extra layers,
handwarmers, sleeping bags,
food, water, fl ashlights, extra
batteries, and a kit to start a
fi re if necessary.
• Bring a satellite-based
phone or emergency beacon in
case you are out of cell range.
• Make a plan and tell
somebody else where you
are going, your travel route,
when you plan to return, and
when you will check back in
with them.
• Expect snowpack
conditions to change as
roads change in elevation
and know that conditions at
high elevations may remain
impassable into July.