In the Wilds...Or, Blogging on Location

This is the first time in three years that I've been able to take any significant time off of work for the muzzle loader deer hunt. We've been "in the wilds" of the Uintah Mountains for the past day or so, but I haven't abandoned my internet connection (thank God for the oil field workers out here in the middle of nowhere who obviously need satellite access) or reading the blogs of my friends in cyber space.

The aspen leaves have changed color from lime green to fiery hues, and have begun to fall off the trees. Every year, I gather thousands of them, certain I'll do something with them. Every year, I press them in the pages of a book and there they stay. It just seems tragic to let something so beautiful turn in to compost on the forest floor.

I brought my empty five gallon buckets, and as serious as I am about looking for deer and elk (I also have a cow elk muzzle loader tag this year), I'll drag my boys farther in to the mountains this year looking for raw clay in the mountain side. Two years ago, I found a vein of clay so rich in copper it was bright green. It was in an extremely remote location, difficult to get to and at very high altitude. I may talk them in to driving and hiking there again, since my clay stores are getting low.

We've learned that a buck mule deer gives us 3 months worth of meat, and an elk gives us about 5-6 months worth of meat. If we are lucky, we will get at least one deer this year between the two of us, since both Matt & I have tags. Since this is the first year that we are trying to feed our family exclusively on food we have raised, hunted, or grown - hunting this time seems more high pressure than it has in years past. If we don't get anything, we know we will cope, it will just make things easier if we can get something.

Yesterday afternoon, Matt, Little Q and I ventured out for a long explore. The best way to see tons of grouse is to forget your shotgun. Of course, we saw 2 blue grouse and 4 ruft grouse as it was nearing dusk. They didn't even fly out of our way on the trail - a wasted meal! If you've never tasted mountain grouse, they are delicious and some are as large as a broiler chicken. We'll make sure we have our shotgun next time, which should ensure we don't see any more grouse for the rest of our trip!