Fox Collectors

Going through some old 35 mm pics and came across these from a Red Letter day while grousing a long time ago. I had a long meeting at work and took off afterwards for some favorite covers out near the cabin. Only three hours or so to hunt, but bagged these two with a 16-gauge Sterly. 28-inch tubes and chokes opened to IC and Mod. It was one bird with the right barrel, and a second flush at the shot with the left. Two shots, two birds, at the day's limit and back to the cabin for a mountain cocktail.

These are digitized pics of the prints, not the best. One on the left is a regular red-phase grouse, and on the right is what's locally called a "silver tail" - quite rare hereabouts. Both were good size birds. The pic of me was a selfie with camera sitting on a stump and on time delay. A blast from the past!

Very nice!

That's awesome, Frank! You couldn't have nailed that "selfie" any better! Thanks for sharing your memories of what no doubt, was one of those unforgettable days afield. BTW, sure looks like a ton of color on that Sterly small bore.

PS--You mean there was life before the iPhone??

Nice photos, Frank. The tails on those 2 grouse are sure beautiful. About what year was that hunt? Jim

Sterly 3619xx was bought at a gun show in January of 1997 for $300. Today that extractor gun would bring $1500 - 1800, maybe more. Just goes to show what good small bore Foxes have done over that timeframe. Grouse were taken in fall of '97 or maybe in 1998. As Toolman said, an unforgettable day.

Frank - really great photos. I'm in the same boat, so to speak, as many of my old photos have to scanned.

BTW - all-in-all, I'd say you got a pretty good deal on that Sterly in 1997.

Nice to shoot two different color phases!