November 2021 • Nebraskaland 49
of the morning, after walking miles,
up and down the hilly, otherworldly
landscape, a prairie chicken caught
me by surprise. It was sitting on the
opposite side of a hill, and as soon
as I crested over the hump, the bird
exploded into fl ight, its wings quickly
catching the wind. I panicked. Had I
given myself more time to shoulder my
gun for a proper mount, maybe — just
maybe — I might have picked up my
fi rst greater prairie chicken on that trip,
too. Alas, I had spent my shells, and all
I could do next was watch it disappear
over the next ridge. That was the one
opportunity I had at a chicken that
day, and I blew it. A single, lonely bird
left the fi eld that morning, shot by
Ross, who gifted it to me.
As vexed as I was over missing
a bird, a greasy burger and ice-cold
red beer at the Admiral's Cove on
Lake McConaughy melted away
all irritation. It was also where we
parted ways with our new friends. We
promised Ross we'd be back again, and
that following year, Rick and I traveled
west to hunt grouse twice. We hunted
on our own in early September 2020
on our way home from vacation in
Yellowstone and then the second time
with Ross — and we've never come
home empty-handed.
Tradition
Grouse are quickly becoming my
favorite game to hunt. With the season
beginning Sept. 1, it's the perfect kick-
off to a new hunting season to go along
with doves. But more than that, I often
ponder about how the opportunity
came about. Circling back, I think
about the hunting community as a
whole: Much like other sports, there
are rules of engagement when hunters
meet in the fi eld. But unlike other
sports, there is no room for dirty play:
Can you trust a stranger to meet them
on unfamiliar ground? What's more,
can you trust them to keep you safe
in the midst of an exciting fl ush?
There really is no other sport that can
bring strangers together in such an
extraordinary way as hunting.
In hunting, there's an uncommon
trust that binds us together. Whether
you hunt with a stranger on the other
side of your home state, or on the other
side of the world, gun safety,
sportsmanship and respect for the
game you chase are the foundations of
every successful hunt. And the stories
you make together and tell beyond the
fi eld keep the tradition alive. I've
hunted with and photographed many
strangers over the years, and always
on the drive home, I never fail to feel
pride in being a part of this world.
N
For more information, see Game and
Parks' 2021 Prairie Grouse Hunting Trip
Planner: https://bit.ly/3njdfy3
The hunting party hitting the road with the rising sun.
