ptarmigan quest

[chinook907]

Had a wild hair to get some ptarmigan yesterday.  You really have to hunt for them in this area of the State, and the flocks are usually in the single digits to teens, rather than hundreds elsewhere.  But we do have the whitetail ptarmigan, my favorite of the 3 species (willow, rock, and whitetail).

The whitetails are the smallest by far, and their feathers are pretty much completely white in winter.  And they occur at the highest elevations also, I have only found them well above treeline.

[chinook907]

And speaking of wild hares, I ran into this guy sunning himself while I was sweating my way to the top.  Wasn't keen on shooting him for whatever reason,and it didn't matter anyway as he took off after I snapped a few pics of him.
.
 

[chinook907]

Took a couple hours to top-out.  Then slowed down and starting sneaking and peeking in and around the rocks.  Some sign here and there, tracks, and vacant little snow holes that they spend the night in.
.
Here's a pic of one and some tracks on the right.
.
 

[chinook907]

After a bit I spotted a group of 5 or so.  As I got closer they all flushed but one, sometimes they do that.  I followed him over hill and dale and finally got close enough to hit him with a rubber blunt.  Pretty little birds.
.
 
.
 
.
And there was more daylight left so I climbed back up to where I'd first spotted this one and started roving again.    
.

[centaur]

Very nice. Looks like a fun day.

Cool! There are not any of those birds around these parts. Looks like a fun day with a bit of a tasty result.

Congrats,

Bisch

[chinook907]

Hey thanks guys.  The day sure fit the bill.

So I got on top again and thought maybe I'd glass a little bit, not so much for birds but the bear seasons were still open (black and brown), and there was a very outside chance that there would be one here.

Didn't see any bears but gosh a real nice high country bull moose.  Maybe 1/2 mile away.  He was safe from me as the season closed six weeks ago, but I can still shoot him with my camera.
.
 
.
and another.
.
 

[Bud B.]

WOW!

Enjoy Alaska, as you well are....

I miss it immensely.

[chinook907]

Well Bud I hope the pics help with that.

[chinook907]

Started moving on again.  A little of what it's like. The rocks and hard ground are part of the reason I use rubber blunts for them here.
.
 
.

Dropped lower and was looking back under some of the cliffs I had been on top of and spotted a few more birds.  They had been right under me but obscured by the rocks below me.

Can you see them ? lol
.
 
.
Ok this will help,zoomed way in, look close and you can see a few.
.
 
.
Got back on top & out of sight, snuck to within 30-some yards.  But they flushed when they saw me (all of them), no shot.  They flew into the distance around the corner, and I called it a day.  Great time.  

[GrayRhino]

 A great day.  Nice looking Widow too!

[paul87250]

Thanks for sharing your day out, its alot different from where I hunt.  

[Shedrock]

Nice, thanks for sharing.

[YORNOC]

When I was in Newfoundland, there were ptarmigan-all white-(whitetail?) all over the tundra. I was excited and figured I would take a suppers worth with ease to bring back to the cabin. Man,  I never got even one! Try as I did, they would out maneuver me every time. I lost a lot of arrows in that gnarly mess. Good times!
Thanks for sharing, brought back some grand memories for me!

[Ryman Cat]

We are all blessed to see your pictures what scenery let alone being in it. Lord blessed you.

[Alaskantransplant]

Thanks Chinook907, the pics brought back a ton of memories for me. Not many ptarmigan here in the northern plains. Boy I sure miss a day spent chasing them and grouse. Not sure if your pics took away a little homesickness or made it worse! Either way, thanks for sharing and I'm glad you had an awesome day living life in The Great Land.

[wooddamon1]

   

[ddauler]

Good pics and good times.