I'm a WIENER!

Last year I put an application in for a $1200 rebate on the purchase of an e bike. Today I got an email from the state informing me that it was chosen in this month's drawing. An e bike oughta make a fine grouse hunting machine!

Oscar Mayer? Congrats!

Last year I put an application in for a $1200 rebate on the purchase of an e bike. Today I got an email from the state informing me that it was chosen in this month's drawing. An e bike oughta make a fine grouse hunting machine!

How is the dog supposed to get there? You aren't going to make the pup walk are you?

I remember riding my mountain bike on the logging roads in Montana while I was in college. Saw so many grouse, ruffed, blue, and spruce. I grew up with ruffed grouse that were hunted hard in Virginia and Michigan. If you got within 20 yards before it flushed you were doing good. Some places getting within 50 yards was a feat.

First time I was on my bike, I rolled up on 2 ruffed grouse in a gravelly spot in the trail. I didn't have a gun with me so I just pedalled slowly to see how close I could get. When I was 10 feet or so away they ran off the side of the road, waited until I went past and then came back out into the road for more gravel. I started carrying my Ruger MkII after that and bagged quite a few. But as dumb as the ruffs were they were made to look like absolute geniuses by the blue grouse. Was riding one day and saw one sitting on a branch that overhang the trail, reached for the Ruger and racked the bolt to load it and no magazine. Left in truck. Picked up a stick about 4 feet long and an inch or so around. Figured if they were as dumb as the ruffs I'd get close and toss the stick at him. Got close and he was sitting about 2 feet over my head looking down at me when I swung the stick and brained him. Saw a couple more but never killed any more. If I could kill it with a stick, I should be able to grab it. Came really close a few times, even got tail feathers once. Spruce grouse were about the same as ruffs. Maybe even a little more wary. But they were all delicious.

They select applications every month. I'd pretty much forgotten about it until I saw that email today. I'm not a fan of government giveaways, but since the program is there I figured why not. Qualifying bikes are limited to street designs, 750w, and 20 mph. Not what I'd prefer, but better than nothing.