Dressed to Impress on the Lek

Story and Photos by Mark Winchester

On a dark, quiet, shivery morning, I drive to a greater sage-grouse lek near Dubois from where I camped, sleeping in the back of my full-sized pick-up. The moon is bright, but I can still see a slew of stars above me. The moonlight reveals a sprinkle of snow glistening like diamonds that swathes the lek. The only sound I hear is frozen vegetation crunching under my feet. As I approach the blind, I’m thankful for the warmth of gloves, protective boots, and a down coat.