Sporting Road

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So far Sporting Road has created 494 blog entries.

Cowboys and Indians

For decades, we have subscribed to Cowboy and Indians Magazine.   This month, with Yellowstone and its spinoffs creating a boon on all things western, such as everything the Yellowstone characters wear on the ranch sold by Schaefer Outfitter (one of the suppliers to the show), they focus on western fashion, weaving and jewelry with Naiomi Glasses, the first Native American to work with Polo Ralph Lauren to create a curated line of attire and home goods, based upon her Navajo background of weaving bold native patterns. The Six Best Western Bars in Denver

By |June 8th, 2026|Categories: Colorado, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Cowboys and Indians

Living the Western Lifestyle

Not in a hospital, not in a jail, not in a grave. Thank you, God, for another day alive. The "cowboy way of life" or the "Western way of life" has become a modern cliche.   What it means in real life is a blend of Enlightenment rationalism, the scientific method, capitalism, and the emphasis on rugged individualism.  Another cliche is appreciating the finer things in life: art, literature, travel, wine, food, good company, etc. We have manifested a rich lifestyle filled with country sports and Western lifestyle.   While we appreciate the finer things in life, grit and resilience have been a big part of our lives for over 40 years, making our life mostly from our home base in Colorado, but my daughter going off to college in Montana has brought it into focus even more.  From sharing a feast with native elders after they dance their annual corn dance to sitting next to cowgirls on the fence at a branding, from tasting the terroir of the oldest wine region in America to hiking the sacred peaks that define a nation — these are the stories that don't make the front page news, but probably should, and they are definitely experiences that have filled our lives.  This is a journal of place, people, and culture. Not the curated version. The real one — told from the road, the ranch, the canyon, and the kitchen table. The American West and beyond, reported from the inside out, as we travel along the Sporting Road. Individualism: A focus on personal liberty, unique identity, and the freedom to pursue individual goals. Democratic Governance: Representative democracy, rule of law, and equality before the law regardless of social background.  Human

By |June 5th, 2026|Categories: Colorado, Cuisine, Ranching|Comments Off on Living the Western Lifestyle

Fishing Bozeman, Montana

"Men do it drunk, how difficult can it be?"  ~The Madison Here is a draft that matches the classic, slightly rugged, and adventurous tone of Sporting Road. It leads directly into the hilarious quote you provided and sets up Bozeman as the ultimate fly-fishing hub. “Men do it drunk, how difficult can it be?” ~The Madison There is a specific brand of humility that only a Montana trout river can dish out. You pull into Bozeman with visions of cinematic, perfect loops slicing through the big sky, landing a dry fly gently on the nose of a rising twenty-inch brown trout. Then you actually step into the Madison River, watch a guy in a battered baseball cap net his fourth fish of the hour while balancing a cold beer, and realize you are utterly outclassed by the locals. Bozeman is arguably the epicenter of the fly-fishing universe, and for good reason. Within an hour’s drive in almost any direction, you have access to some of the most legendary blue-ribbon trout water on the planet. But if you’re going to tackle it, you need to know what you’re up against. The Big Three Rivers River Character What to Look For The Madison The "Fifty-Mile Riffle." Fast, shallow, and relentless rock gardens. Heavy nymph rigs or throwing massive streamers against the banks. The Gallatin Crystal clear, classic alpine canyon water right out of A River Runs Through It. Wading shoe-deep and hunting for rising trout along the log jams. The Yellowstone Big, wide, and untamed boat water. The longest undammed river in the lower 48. Hopper-dropper setups during the late summer heat. Surviving the "Fifty-Mile Riffle" The Madison is a unique beast. Unlike rivers with distinct

By |May 5th, 2026|Categories: Fishing, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Fishing Bozeman, Montana

White House State Dinner Party

Here is the dinner menu for the evening, as provided by the White House. [Photo from Wikipedia and as reported by The New York Times.] The food First Course Garden Vegetable Velouté Hearts of Palm Toasted Shallots Micro Mint The first course offers delicate garden herb velouté, silken and aromatic, complemented by a refreshing hearts of palm salad. Finished with crisp toasted shallots and a whisper of micro mint for brightness and contrast. Second Course Spring Herbed Ravioli Ricotta Cheese Morels Parmesan Emulsion The second course is made of a handcrafted spring herb ravioli, featuring herbs from the White House Kitchen Garden, generously filled with creamy ricotta, earthy morels, gently dressed in a light Parmesan emulsion, which enhances the essence of the dish. Third Course Dover Sole Meunière Potato Pavé Spring Ramps Snow Peas Parsley Oil The third course is made of a classic Dover sole meunière, expertly prepared and bathed in a nutty brown butter. The fish is accompanied by tender spring ramps, sweet snow peas, layered potatoes pavé, and a vibrant parsley oil for a refined, seasonal finish. Dessert White House Honey & Vanilla Bean Crémeux Flourless Chocolate Gâteau Almond Joconde Crème Fraîche Ice Cream

By |April 29th, 2026|Categories: Cuisine, Uncategorized|Comments Off on White House State Dinner Party

Bobcat vs Lynx

  Photos from https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/the-buzz/whats-the-difference-bobcat-vs-lynx   Americans tend to equate a mink coat with the epitome of luxury.   However, the most expensive fur coats in the world are defined by the rarity and density of the pelts, with Russian Sable leading the market at prices often exceeding $150,000 due to its silky, silver-tipped texture. Lynx follows closely, commanding high prices because designers use only the white, spotted belly fur, requiring a massive number of pelts for a single garment. Chinchilla is prized for having the softest and densest fur on Earth, while Vicuña, though technically a wool, rivals these furs in cost due to the extreme scarcity of the South American camelid fiber. Together, these materials represent the pinnacle of luxury outerwear, combining intense warmth with storied status. My daughter became interest in bobcat fur, as she attends college where the mascot is a bobcat.   A bobcat fur coat retailing on a specialist fur site might start around $2,000 for a basic sectioned bobcat coat, but most go for a lot more than that if well made from the prized spotted belly fur of well selected pelts.  Bobcat is often confused with lynx, as the pelts look similar, even more so than the animals.   Lynx coats generally cost more than straight bobcat because the fur is rarer and thicker/softer: about $5,000 – $25,000 or more for new high-end pieces. Some luxury pieces with prime lynx belly fur can be much higher ($30K-100K), depending on styling and heritage.  Hunting, trapping, loss of habitat: All of these factors essentially exterminated Colorado’s Canadian lynx by the 1970s. Two decades later, CPW reintroduced 96 of the state- and federally endangered big cats around Creede and Durango, and the

By |February 9th, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Bobcat vs Lynx

Saddle Holster for Whipper-In

Ron had a .38 colt detective special, blued 3rd generation with pachmayer grips, and buckshot loads for snakes, but .45 ACP we got in the SW Governor may be even better as it also shoots .410 shells in addition to .45 ACP.   Ammo for Governor recommended at Cabela's was Herter's .25acp 230gr FMJ, Herter's select .45 long colt, 250 gr, LFN, and Winchester Super X .410 2 ½ in., ½ ox shot, #4 shot.   

By |February 3rd, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Saddle Holster for Whipper-In

When I Used to Fish Dry Flies

The author, Nick Sawyer, is the grandson of the great fly fisherman Frank Sawyer MBE. Black Gnat. The Black Gnat is deadly all year round but is at its best early in the season when there are few flies hatching. Grey Wulff. An all time classic that represents a large number of species. Can be used in larger sizes as a Mayfly pattern or as an olive pattern in smaller sizes. This dry fly is a must for all anglers and should be the fly of first choice if you are unsure on what pattern to use. Para Adams. The best pattern by some margin according to my catch returns. The Para Adams is generic and comes in the full range of hook sizes. The parachute pattern allows even the most heavy handed caster to present the fly in a delicate manner. I sometimes use a size 10 to represent a Mayfly but most often use sizes 14-18 in the summer to imitate olive flies. If you don't have this pattern in your fly box you are, in my opinion, lowering your chances of success. Fly Fishing With a Buzzer Nymph By Nick Sawyer  |   Submitted On May 03, 2010 There are a great many representations of buzzer nymphs available on the market. Some of them are very good and no doubt most of them will have caught fish at some time. As far as I know, there is only one bow-tie buzzer and that is the pattern designed by Frank Sawyer. Any others are simply copies of the original in just the same way as all weighted nymphs are developments of the Sawyer Pheasant Tail Nymph. Frank Sawyer spent a lot of his life teaching others

By |February 3rd, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on When I Used to Fish Dry Flies