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My Vancouver Island British Columbia black bear hunt was cancelled due to COVID-19 travel restrictions between the U.S. & Canada. So, with a week already marked off on the calendar I settled for the next best thing- maybe even something a little better to be frank. Belle and I loaded up the truck and headed west for a week of adventure in the Land of Enchantment.

We pick things up on this week’s episode with houndsman Devin Chavez of Bust Em Up Outfitters. We discuss the future of hound hunting, how conservation applies to the sport of chasing predators with dogs, dog care tips to keep their pads in tip top shape, “rigged dogs” on the hunt, running males and females/spayed and neutered separately, and whether he feels cougars or bears are more dangerous when it comes to the dogs.

Then with our bear tag punched, Belle and I packed up and left southern New Mexico and headed for the Taos area with blue grouse in mind. I give my take on where to locate grouse in mid to late October and what geographical features they’re relating to this time of year. Plus, Belle took a pretty nasty injury at 11,000 feet and I had to play on the spot veterinarian. Was I prepared?

After 3 days in the Sangre De Christos chasing grouse, we headed back towards Taos for a day of fly fishing the Rio Grande. Truly a beautiful stretch of river! What were the browns and rainbows biting?