The curmudgeon layz1 goes to Sun River Canyon Augusta Montana and Freezeout lake Fairfield Montana .

My quest for Snow Geese and snow.

On Thursday March 20 th I drove to [insert link here] Freezeout lake in Fairfield Montana In search of Snow Geese. I was not disappointed there was between 5,000 and 10,000 geese there. I arrived at the lake about nine in the morning, there were still a few geese in the sky coming back from their early morning feeding but most were already sitting on the lake with their full bellies. I took a few pictures then knowing I had plenty of time to kill before they would leave the lake for there evening feeding I decided to head for the Teton River Canyon in Choteau Montana only about twenty miles from the lake. I drove all the way out to the Teton Pass Ski Lodge, about twenty eight miles out from route 89 on Teton Canyon Road. This is a good road to see mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mule and whitetail deer. If you are real lucky you might see the odd grizzly bear or possibly an elk. The male grizzlies are out of hibernation and on the prowl for easy food, and that means that I don't get out of the truck without my bear spray when I am riding these back roads. The males come out of hibernation a few weeks before the females. That bear pepper spray is a handy thing, besides driving off bears it is a great teaching tool. It came in real handy around Christmas when I taught a group of carolers not to come to my door anymore. You should have seen the look on their faces when I sprayed them, they couldn't get away from my door quick enough. Happy holidays my ass! They won't forget this curmudgeon anytime soon. It also works on Jehovah's, Harry Chrisners and magazine salespeople. Since I started this post I have gone back to Freezeout Lake because according to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks [FWP] the number of Snow Geese there had increased to around 100,000. I can't say for sure that there were 100,000 geese there but I can say the numbers are less then the US deficit but considerately more then a pocket full. I am posting some pictures of the geese so you can be the judge. On this trip like my last I had time to kill so I decided to explore a new area about thirty miles from the lake, Augusta Montana and the Sun River Canyon. Like the Teton River Canyon there is a lot to see here. I couldn't see it all on this day but I did get some nice pictures of the area and some of its wildlife. The Sun River Wildlife management area is in this area but most of it is closed in the winter till May15th so I didn't go into that area, I watched some people go into the area anyway but I like to obey the laws. It's off limits for a reason, FWP does not want the wildlife disturbed during the stressful winters and the elk calving season of early spring. Like the Teton River Canyon the Sun River Canyon has a great variety of wildlife and something that the Teton River Canyon doesn't have. Wolves! At least I haven't heard of any wolves in the Teton area and I just read in the newspaper about Augusta having a yet unnamed pack, I take the unnamed part to mean a fairly new pack. Ok time to bring an end to this post my fingers are getting a little sore from all this typing, and being an ex New Englander I still need one of these fingers in order to drive. Hope you enjoy the pictures below.

Tundra Swans Taken at Freezeout lake Fairfield Montana.