Spring in Montana......

All kinds of critters both big and small out and about...


From the ones I've grown used to seeing and they use too seeing me...









...To some I almost never lay eyes on and feel privledged when I do.


While momma 'kept watch' a few yards behind, her youngin fed on suptle spring grasses that required kneeling to reach. Then once full, spent another few minutes stretching and scratching what itched and ached all to the amusement of yours truly who kept snapping away..


"hey look Ma...if I use my back hoove I can scratch my face...!?"




.....





This week I also came upon the miracle of birth as it happened..and did my best to record; while having a little chuckle at the calves efforts along the way into this world..


Though my camera missed the seconds preceding this where he fell to the pasture floor, I caught it in my sight while driving and pulled over to capture what unfolded after...


"hey Ma...I'm either blind here or got a bunch of shit in my eyes..?"





..Lets try this again..?





"Yup, had shit in my eye. Thanks Ma for the last big lick!"






(Above sequence took less than five minutes from calf hitting dirt too reaching her momma's teet').


"Amazing"!

.....


I also revisited Ennis Lake Dam for the second time this month and checked out the damage caused by the massive boulder which scheared off and caused so many headaches late last year..






Though the damage seems much now fixed; the above images give an idea to the scale of the rock which fell; it now mostly covered in strong grate along the face of the cliff.









Though I busted out the new ECHO 10' 6 WT and gave it a few backcasts using some pink soft hackle, I had this eary feeling I was being watched' and released the few fish who kindly accepted my imitation as quickly as I could..








Though it says 'Spring' on the calendar; me and the girls are still not convinced its officially arrived (..a half-foot of snow in last 24 hours)..



..But the big game critters up here dont have time to wait it seems; and are 'getting their fill' of the few nice days in between...in preperation for the next...





Whatever's over the horizon can only be better than what's been in the past..

I hope you'll join me and see what we find..


Moe

Paradise Valley, Montana ..............

..and a thousand head of elk..


Just how does one even try to explain there were 1,000 elk on the range anyway..?

Take LOTS of pictures and hope for the best...and so I did..

...


Mocha and Suzie weren't nearly as impressed as I was by the spectacle, and instead wimpered and moaned until I eventualy let them out at Mallards Landing - along the Yellowstone.


They had their usual blast of energy while I sat against a tree and chilled as I'm accustomed to do every other day off work.








As the sun began to set I assumed the elk we'd seen earlier higher up might have moved further down so off we went..

Note the two shadows in left hand corner - as that's Mocha's noggin along with Suz's - stickin out the back window...as we pulled out of Mallards Landing an headed south..



.............


Here they come, but were taking their sweet time..


The elk were still plentiful and moving about in-mass (as seen thru my binos), but still not down as far as I'd expected yet; so we ventured on till we ran into even more critters - and were very suprised at what we found..?


As we rounded a bend near 'Carbella Access' on the Yellowstone, we ran into this beautiful small band of Bighorns feeding along the roadway..











Though they stuck around for a few minutes and 'put on quite a show'; as usual I ventured too close and they tired of me encroaching and hightailed it up to where they knew I'd never climb..


One didn't seem to mind and let me take a few more, but he too eventually decided to join his kin.






...............


So back down to the valley floor we rode and spotted a thousand more mule deer as well as the intended elk...




They were 'everywhere', scattered by the dozens and hundreds. At least four seperate herds of them showed at dusk on either side of the road along the Yellowstone and had invaded almost every pasture along the way. All grazing as if not a care in the world.







There truly were at least a thousand head of elk and possibly more, but I'd given up counting. Most of the bulls, with exception of two smaller ones I saw had already dropped their head gear, but I didn't come across any racks I could spot from the main road. Same for mule deer; ...absolutely ridiculous how many were out and about.



At least 500 stood on the expansive Dome Mountain Ranch and it was on the eastern side of the river, along a narrow road where most were grazing.


Still, even up on the main road into Yellowstone Park (another 10 miles down)at least a few hundred more had made themselves at home; much to some ranchers dislike I'm sure.








.."Are we done yet, I've seen enough elk?" Suzie asked.

.....


..And so we left the massive herd of Paradise Valley to do whatever it is they do at night; once we men drive home in our heated trucks and sleep in our warm beds (with our warm dogs)..

But we'll be back and that much is certain. It'd be a shame to visit such wonders only once in ones' life.

Might even head back tomorrow ...Heck, I never know what I'll do from day to day until the notion strikes me..


Moe
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