We have some hold-over pheasant roosters and chukars this year, so if you want to squeeze in a spring hunt, give us a call.  We usually have empty pens by now, but the storm closed highways left us with some canceled hunts.  The roosters are fighting amongst themselves now that breeding season is here, and they don't have beautiful tails.  They still fly good, and love to match wits with a bird dog.

Team Roping season is cranking up for Gary.  He has somewhere planned nearly every weekend already.  He is happy with his practice steers and the arena is in perfect condition for a good workout.  He has horse-thieved from me, but since it is a community property state, what can I say?  He is using my gray ranch gelding this season, so I am using our young black gelding to pleasure ride.  It is like getting accustomed to driving a Mercedes, and then switching to a truck with no power steering.  My arms and legs get tired.

We are planning a trip to Montana to visit friends in May, and watch the Miles City Bucking Horse sale.  If you haven't met our Rodeo bull, you might get a chance now.  He is home for a couple of months on R&R.  He is suffering from occupational fatigue!  I'll bet you didn't know they get that!!  He should be good to go by the summer season, and it is always fun to watch him buck.

Our calendar of Fall reservations is posted below.  Please take a minute to confirm your reservations.  If you see anything I've goofed up, please let me know asap, so I can make necessary adjustments.  Thanks.  You will notice we are posting through January 2009 but not beyond.  This is part of our retirement program.  We will be open for upland bird season, and then plan to be "SOUTH".  Thanks for your understanding.

We have had several coyote hunters in the past few months.  The wily dogs are paired up now, so many times you get to see two running in to your calls, instead of just a single.  That is twice as much action.  If you'd like to try your hand at calling them, it is good sport.  Several guys have invested in one of the FoxPro series of digital calls, and they are awesome.  Very effective, it seems.  The coyotes are starting to lose their winter coats now, and are looking a little mottled.  We did see a couple in the high country last week that were in snow, and still looked fairly woolley, but our local dogs are shedding.  Give us a call if you'd like to hunt the Ranch for coyotes this spring.

I did a fair amount of raccoon hunting along the river this past winter.  My young walker hound pup "T-Rex" did a good job learning to trail in and out of the water, and swims like a lab.  We managed to bag a few 'coon together, and I was happy with T's first season.  He was just getting the hang of things, when season ended, so now we will have to wait for next fall to pick up where we left off.  It is good to have something to look forward to like hunting season!  I picked up a new hound from Oregon in March, as a companion to T, and am anxious to see how he likes the river runs.  The new hound, "Dodger", runs like a rocket.  He is really fast, but needs to learn to use his nose to find and trail scent.  It's all part of the learning process.  Hounds are similar to bird dogs in that respect, and it's always fun to watch them discover why they were born with such a keen sense of smell.

Turkey season is upon us.  We have several returning hunters staying with us throughout the season, including the Folks.  Bob & Gail are coming in for a few weeks of hunting, trout fishing, and morrel mushroom picking.  It is part of the spring ritual of our family.  Gail celebrated her 90th birthday in February.  Happy Birthday to grandma!  Both the folks are still spry and love to hunt & fish.    What a blessing they are to us, and we love their visits to Dry Hollow.  We hope you all get to do what you enjoy doing this spring season!