First frost in the valley, patches of golden aspen beginning to pop on the hillsides, the occasional mountain maple, as if overnight, lit up like those neon Rolling Stones lips, blowing seductive, semi-obscene kisses your way through the living room window.
This is no tme for staring at a laptop.
A couple handfuls of purple shells.
A stout, trusty pump gun with an action scarcely changed in a century (thank you, John Moses Browning). A straight stock and a forend of scratched, pedestrian-grade walnut.
The old, simple canvas vest seems right for this, not the fancy, feature-laden modular one. As if it’s a choice.
Briefly wonder what choke is in the gun, but then figure that it really isn’t that important – whatever choke you left in it at the end of last season is probably just fine. There’s a danger in over-thinking this.
Jeans and Red Wings and a wool shirt.
A shorthair beside himself at the emergence of a long gun case from the closet.
Let’s go.
Mouthful of Feathers 
Perfect “snapshot” text of the excitement of opening day. And a great couple of photos.
Thanks, Jerry. Have a great weekend, and I hope you get out!
Ready when you are…
I’m looking at that shotgun. Is it the BPS? If so how do you like it? I’m thinking about getting a 20G.
Yup, it’s a BPS “Upland Special.” About as solid of a pump gun as you could ever ask for.
Right-on.
That an Idaho or Wyoming bird?!!!??
Idaho.
Great post. I will forever regret walking away from a screaming deal on 16gauge upland special. Thanks for reminding me.
The jeans, the wool shirt and pocket full of shells is how my father described bird hunting. But that is a far different situation. He had a barn full of gear, a backyard full of corn, tractors and weed control through out the year. Those are romantic thoughts but lost to us city guys where any huntable population of birds is a 1000 miles and local farmers guard coveys as they would a daughters virginity. Oh to live in a land of shimmering aspens.
You defienately said it…don’t worry about the littel issues and just grab your shotgun and vest and go hunt.
This is such a great site. Some cultured guys who hunt the most noble of birds.
Smithy, it’s been a long month in the elk woods. Let’s get some birdies in the interim. and then back at it again in the elk woods.