My, What Big Teeth You Have

Valentine's Day, 2010, 8:30 AM, between Cell Phone Hill and Farabaugh Lane. It was cool. Here's how it went.

My wife and I were driving to the lodge so I could do some work. I had a few small chores to attend to that Sunday. I don't normally have duty at the lodge on Sundays this time of year but I had agreed to fill in for someone else and since it was Valentine's Day, my wife decided to ride along. We would continue our Valentine's Day date after work.

We had spotted some elk in Mullen Gulch and we spent a few minutes glassing them through the binoculars. Couldn't find the dropped antler bull in the herd that I talked about in the post Ice River, Wack Rack, Eagle Eyes and a RZR but there were a few young bulls in the herd. We counted 43 animals before we moved on.

Probably less than a mile from those elk, on our way up to the lodge, I spotted something out of the ordinary. Couldn't tell at first what it was, but I knew it wasn't part of that particular hill side. Stopped the car and put the binoculars on it. WOLF!

Big and gray and holding still trying it's best to be invisible. We were 300 yards away and it held still for a while but couldn't take the pressure. It made a run for the timber. We got to watch it for 15 seconds or so as it made it's way into the trees. It was pretty cool and the first wolf that Deb has ever seen in the wild. It was my second on Rock Creek property.

A story titled "Powell County wolf pack count now in" by Mark Eisenbeil in today's Silver State Post reminded me to post about our sighting. Here is a quote from Mark's story; "According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wolf Management Specialist Liz Bradley, there are an estimated minimum of six packs, representing 21-plus wolves. Bradley acknowledged that there are probably more wolves out there."

I didn't have enough camera with me to get a good photo of our sighted subject. You can barely make out a gray dot on a snow covered hill in my photo. You can however, find some good stuff on wolf identification at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks page entitled Recognizing A Gray Wolf .

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Rack and RZR Follow Up plus Something's Bugging Me

Wack Rack Follow Up
Last week, I included a couple of photos of a young bull elk that had a dropped antler on his right side.

I called a few elk expert types from friends to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to get some additional info on the possible causes of that bull's rack plight. Most common cause-Broke the antler while it was in the velvet growth stage and it then sort of calcified in that position. If that is the case, it will shed the antler like they do every year and when it grows the replacement next season, it should be normal, unless the pedestal is damaged. If the pedestal is damaged or scarred, it could cause the antler to grow down and out instead of up and back every year.

It could also be a genetic deformation, in which case it will continue to grow in a similar fashion for the remainder of the animal's life. We'll have to wait and see.

Used RZR For Sale
I also posted about Randy Rupert letting us all know of the customized Polaris RZR for sale. At that time I thought the asking price was 11,500. Randy got in touch with me to share some additional information.

It is a 2008 model, with the extra equipment package running about $4,800 and the rig only has about 72 hours of run time on it. New asking price is $9,900. Sweet deal. Same thing brand new will be over $15,000.

Here are some additional pictures.

If you are interested, shoot me an email or call me at the lodge and I'll give you Randy's contact information.

Something's Bugging Me...
And it's called a Swkalla
The month of February has many fly fishermen thinking about the upcoming fishing season, including me.

I saw one fly shop posting about their day dreams of the Skwala hatch that should hit some regional rivers in mid-March or so and could last through May. The Skwala is a type of stone fly and while not as large as a Salmon Fly, it is a big fly, and the fishing can be exciting. Cross your fingers.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Ice River, Wack Rack, Eagle Eyes and a RZR

Temps have warmed considerably over the last couple of weeks. Still down in the single digits for overnight lows but not as cold as it was. We experienced nearly two weeks of way below zero lows barely above zero highs. Those kind of temps tend to freeze things up. (Click the pics for larger images, then use your back button to return to the post.)

Clark Fork frozen over in January near Ranch Headquarters.

Looking down river toward Kohrs Bend Fishing Access

I've been watching this small herd of elk on the ranch. I thought I noticed something unusual about one of the young bulls but couldn't tell for sure. Days later, I finally confirmed what I thought when I got to study him through the binoculars.

Look closely at the lead elk's rack.

Same elk is the far left animal in this photo.

They are more than a little spooky when you try to approach on foot. Got close enough a while back to get some quick photos. Look at the antlers. Notice the wacky rack on one of them? I look forward to watching this bull grow through the years. I'm no elk expert but I think he'll probably grow a new, bigger antler in a similar fashion on his right side every year. We'll have to watch for him. I think we need a name for him. Suggestions?

Here is a shot of one of the area residents I got this morning on the Clark Fork on the ranch. There was a juvenile with this one as well. These things are just amazing to me.

Mature Bald Eagle leaving it's perch above the Clark Fork.

Here is an FYI that came across my desk this morning. It's not mine, I'm not the salesman. I'm just including this here as a service to the members that might be interested. I can help you get in touch with the seller.

I do think these machines are one of the best and most fun ways to get around the ranch. It is called a Polaris RZR. A base model 2010 retails for $11,000 plus shipping, tax, title, license blah blah blah.

RCCC Member Randy Rupert brought it to my attention and I've asked him for additional details. In the mean time, here is a photo, more available on request. I think he said the asking price on this one is $11,500.I can see from the photos it has TONS of extra stuff. Winch, bumper, nerf bars, premium tires and wheels, spare tire and wheel. (Young passenger not included) Shoot me an email if I can be of any assistance.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Hard Water, Hard Luck

I was in the grocery store in Deer Lodge, Valley Foods. One of the owners, Gerald Bender, is an avid ice fisherman. I'd say a local legend as far as ice fishing goes. "Hey Ron, the fish have been biting a little. Ready to try it?" He's been inviting me to go with him for weeks. My schedule was clear, so I said yes.



Gerald said he'd pick me up at my house at 6:00am, and we'd head to Canyon Ferry Lake, south and east of Helena, MT. Gerald has all of the gear required, all I needed to bring was a lunch.


The appointed day rolled around, I was up early packing my lunch and pouring coffee in the Thermos. Just stepping out of the shower at 5:30 when the dog started barking. Somebody was knocking at the door. It was Gerald. First lesson of the day, when he says 6, he means 5:30. Threw on some clothes and grabbed my pack, away we went.

During the drive, about an hour and a half, we talked of everything from the grocery business to fishing and hunting and golf at Rock Creek. That golf discussion didn't take very long, as I'm no good at it and Gerald hasn't played out there, yet. Anyway... we get to the lake, find the spot and start drilling holes. with the ice auger/drill.



The short story is, the fish didn't cooperate very much. We had three bites all day. Gerald hauled one fish out of the lake. It was one of those "Shoulda been here yesterday" type days. It happens, especially when you are talking about fishing.

I learned some good tips and techniques, had a good time, and got a couple of nice sunrise photos. Better luck next time, as I'm about ready to go again.

Even on the ice, with the wind blowing and the fish not biting, it was way better spending the day out there, than it would have been spending it in the office or inside the house.


The sunrise alone was worth the trip.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Dashing Through The Snow-Montana Musher and Rock Creek Members

Looking for something different to do at Rock Creek during the winter?

Can you yell mush and geee and haaw? Can you bundle up? Then you might want to get together with Celeste Davis, Powell County resident and sled dog racer.

Josh Hollingsworth in the basket with the warm mountain man hat, Todd Davis in the Alaska shirt, Celeste Davis, the Montana Musher, and I don't know all of the dogs still tethered to the trailer at the right that are impatiently waiting their turn to rock.

Celeste, her husband Todd Davis and son Beau live just across the valley from the Rock Creek Cattle Company's cattle operations headquarters, more commonly referred to as "The Home Ranch".

Celeste is a professional Nurse (either an RN or an LPN, I can't remember dangit, sorry) and she is also known as The Montana Musher. You can learn more about Celeste, her dog team and her quest to conquer the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 2010 by clicking on this link to MontanaMusher.

Making the turn for home on the warm up loop. These dogs were moving out and it is less than half the team.

The Hollingsworth family, Rock Creek members from California, came to the ranch to spend some time at their cabin right after Christmas. During their stay, the wound up getting together with Celeste for a day with the dogs. I went along for a little while to snap a couple of pictures and just because I'd never seen a sled or the dogs that pull them, up close and personal.

Hard to tell in this photo, but this is the part where the photographer (me) is nearly run over and momentarily tangled in the harness. Well, I was trying to get a picture of Josh with his huge smile.

Before you ask, no, I didn't ride on a sled. I just tried to stay out of the way. I gotta tell ya though, it was pretty cool.

When we pulled up to the meeting place, dog yelps and barks filled every possible silence. They were excited and ready to run. It didn't take too long before they were hitched up and Celeste was going over some safety instructions to the participants. She then took them each on a couple of quarter mile loops with about a half of the dog team, to warm up and get everyone acquainted with the situation.

Final warm up lap.

With that accomplished, she hitched up a second sled behind the first, added twice as many dogs to the rig, loaded everyone up and away they went for a 3 hour tour. Unlike Gilligan and the Captain, all returned safely to a hot campfire and hot chocolate with eyes wide, stories to tell and a unique memory to hold onto forever.

These photos are just a few shot during the warm up lap. They aren't great, in part because it's hard to keep focus in the low light conditions with those dogs moving as fast as they do.

Time to hitch up the rest of the team and take off through the mountains.

I know the Hollingsworth kids had a great time. The Davis family, Celeste, Todd and Beau, are good folks and I wish Celeste all the best in her Iditarod adventure. I'm glad I got to tag along.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Post Script-Posts in the near future include A Blue Moon, A(ice)River Runs Through It, Elk Trailing In The Snow, and with any luck at all, an Ice Fishing Report. I've been invited to go with a local ice fishing legend. We are supposed to hit the hard water next Tuesday.

Frosty Morning

It was 4 below at my house this morning at 6AM.

I'm guessing it was 10 below here at the lodge.

It was 7 below when I took these photos this morning.

I counted 23 elk in this herd this morning. There is at least one young bull in the herd. Can you spot him? I think he is the 5th or 6th head from the left. If I did this correctly, you should be able to click on the pictures and they will pop up much larger.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Rock Creek Rams!

Check out these bad boys!

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep rams on Rock Creek Cattle Company. Photo by Kevin Morley

Talk about Ram Tough!

Rock Creek Cattle Company's own Kevin Morley was out and about last Friday and found our resident herd of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. He sent these photos to share.

Bighorn ram flanked by ewes at Rock Creek. Photo by Kevin Morley.

Very nice Kevin, and thanks.

According to the Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks webiste, this herd is known as the Garrison Herd. They have a pretty extensive write up and management plan for your reading pleasure if you are so inclined.

Here is the link, http://fwp.mt.gov/content/getItem.aspx?id=39737 with the Garrison Herd part beginning on page 132 of this PDF. There is some interesting stuff in there.

Thanks again, Kevin!

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron