SE AK - Thanks for the birthday wishes. So your Dad is one of the April 11th Gang, huh? Its a pretty select group!

My fishing partner watched a King get caught in front of his house in Tee Harbor on Wednesday before he left for work. He just HAD to tell me that in an e-mail! I guess you know what the plan of action is for the weekend - a few last minute chores and the boat is going in the water.

I' m glad to hear you are back in town (and you got yourself a qualified co-worker to take time off to help today). Juno grl looks like she might just work you to death - you better watch out! Give me a call and we can have that cup of coffee one of these mornings and hash over all the local hunting and fishing possibilities!

ABM - Congratulations on the nice red fox. I bet they are a beautiful sight in their prime in those weather conditions! Your ptarmigan story reminded me of a time I was deer hunting over on the west side of Douglas Island. It was snowy and blowy and had accumulated about 20" on the ground. I had bombed-out on somebuck tracks I' d been following and was on my way back down to the beach following in my own tracks. About a third of the way across a little muskeg meadow I thought the whole world was flying into my face when a flock of P.T.s jumped up right in front of me and passed about a foot over my head! Of course they sounded like a 737 at that altitude. Boy, just about stopped my heart! Glad no one saw me go " ass over tea kettle" in self defense!