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S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 1 5 2 through low swales of pink smartweed blossoms, over bluestem ridges spiked with lavender liatris flowers. The chickens flushed dark and silent, the near birds flashing jailbreak breast bars, the distant distinguished by their short, black, squared tails. After another hour we felt we had them cleared out. We'd nearly reached the trucks, ready for water when the dogs again stopped and suggested we investigate what they'd taken the pains to point. A cluster of sharptails announced themselves boldly as soon as they broke from the grass, flashing white bellies and nervous laughter. Ducka ducka duck. Ducka ducka duck. Alternately flapping and gliding, they fled, rocking and climbing the wind, chuckling at these tired, vertical interlopers too ignorant to hunker in the shade of the tall grass until sundown. A September evening may indeed be the best time in the Sandhills. The wind often lies down, the yellowing grasses nod under heavy seed heads. You again hear meadowlarks whistling, a coyote yapping on the far horizon, a family of Canada geese returning to one of the thousands of wetlands sparkling blue in the bosom of the dunes. A badger comes padding through the grass like a miniature Humvee camouflaged under a shag rug. And there, against the sunset sky, the flickering silhouettes of prairie grouse sailing toward their night roosts somewhere deep in the grass, deep in this unknown but not unknowable grassland wilderness. Note: In addition to shooting grouse in the Sandhills, Ron also shot a video. See it here: tinyurl.com/spomer-grouse. IF YOU WANT TO GO L aughing Water Ranch Outfitters is headquartered on a family-owned bison ranch on the hills of the Wild & Scenic Niobrara River near Bassett, Nebraska, a mix of prairie, grainfields, ponds, and woodlands that grow big, free-range whitetails and turkeys. The river attracts strong flights of ducks and geese. Nearby grasslands introduce clients to some of the best native prairie-grouse hunting in the world. For more information check out www.lwroutfitters.com or call 402-684-2544. T he sun sets on an unspoiled hunt in a nearly unspoiled land. Opposite: Benelli's 12-gauge Ethos helps to adorn still-lifes of a trio of sharptails and a brace of prairie chickens, which are characterized by heavy barring across their breasts.