The day of a nerd.

[upnorth]

Ok, I'm a boring nerd, but that's ok as I find things to do outdoors which amuse me. I decided to stalk the elusive glass insulator indigenous to this region today. I choose this season of the year for my hunts as the local flora is barren, easily revealing their den sites. Insulators are also less aggressive at this time of year due to semi hibernation.




I had a sphincter tightening experience when three pheasant exploded out of the brush near me, couldn't try to stalk them for a pic as I had to pick up the warden.



Mulie highway




Jeez, I wonder were a fella could find emergency shelter on the bald prairie during a winter storm ?

 

[fmajor007]

You even have access to some great tinder - though I'd be a little careful with how/where I built a fire!

 

[Hammer67]

What, no "grip and grin" shot with your quarry? Well, I hope you at least strapped them to the hood of your car and drove downtown for everyone to appreciate.

Seriously though, those old glass insulators are pretty cool. My Dad still has a handful of them stashed somewhere at his house. I should find them.

 

[Guyon]

How does one go about stalking the elusive insulator? Look for old power grids? Walk railroads? Can you call them in? In case of attack, what is the best caliber for insulator defense?

 

[upnorth]

You even have access to some great tinder - though I'd be a little careful with how/where I built a fire!

Yes indeed, I have been pondering the fire situation. Between my bad breath, bean flatulence and the reeds, it might be a short\hot time in there. Actually I was wondering if it would be realistic\practical to roughly weave reeds into a shelter wall ? It has been crazy cold here the last few weeks.

 

[upnorth]

What, no "grip and grin" shot with your quarry? Well, I hope you at least strapped them to the hood of your car and drove downtown for everyone to appreciate.

Seriously though, those old glass insulators are pretty cool. My Dad still has a handful of them stashed somewhere at his house. I should find them.

I should march through downtown with an insulator head on a stick, as a trophy. I am incorrigible for constantly seeking old bottles, marbles, insulators, coins etc. I have zero interest in having them given to me or buying them. I learned a long time ago that the good stuff is in the scruffiest bush and usually on or near the base of a hill (or along the shoreline of drained creeks etc). People tossed or wagon dumped back in the day and the only reason that (what I think are cool) finds are still there, is that most people are too lazy to crawl through the rough stuff. Winter and spring are best, then the ticks come out, followed by spiders, and finally everything greens\leafs up and it is near impossible to surface find. One trick is to stand at the base of a brush covered hill behind old houses and scan up the ridge. If you find rusted cans, start poking through that area. I have green coke bottles from La Havre Montana, South Dakota, a ton of the old clear stubbies and much more.

 

[upnorth]

How does one go about stalking the elusive insulator? Look for old power grids? Walk railroads? Can you call them in? In case of attack, what is the best caliber for insulator defense?

I would say that walking the edges of rail grades with a 20 gauge may be a useful strategy for insulators and pheasants. Stalking both leads to the occasional flush although insulators seem to hold with cover longer. I haven't personally experienced an insulator attack as I choose their less active period of the year. They do however have serious mass and tend to inflict blunt force trauma injuries upon their victims as hunters slip down rail grades.

 

[555]

How does one go about stalking the elusive insulator? Look for old power grids? Walk railroads? Can you call them in? In case of attack, what is the best caliber for insulator defense?

Open ground or water and high ground. During a lightening storm, you'll find instinct will take over where you'll be looking for an insulator.

 

[555]

Used to find insulators laying around as a kid. Relics of yesterdays high tech.