In the high desert of eastern Oregon, the usual rainstorm is three drops. Has been for years. Until this Spring when heavy rains and record snow pack blew out rivers and muddied fields beyond repair. Then it shut off. Crops got in three to four weeks late. A bad year? No way.
There's been no rain since June but the irrigation ditches are at full tilt. Lush alfalfa hay fields have been cut once, twice or, in some cases, three times. Cut grass is watered for more growth. Corn keeps taking on irrigation and reaching for the sky.
The season's changing. It's late summer and the sun is keeping a sharp angle over the southern horizon.
And the sage is still green.
Upland bird hatches took a beating, but hens re-nested late and the prospects for a robust population of pheasant, quail and chukar are good. Young rooster pheasants will color late, making late season shooting even more exciting. Reports from other states are not so promising, but counts should be adequate for hunters willing to work a bit harder.
After a summer long absence, I was back at the ranch and took a good day to wander the brush and let the dog push up sage grouse. The late afternoon hunt yields a quick season limit - 2 in the State of Oregon. An omen of the coming season? Maybe.
Opening day comes in two weeks. Dog is ready.
And there you have it. Stay tuned.
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