Pheasant Hunters - Bryan Page 5
...a two day pheasant hunt. It was very windy on Monday. But we were able to scratch down a couple. The conditions didn't allow for consistent good dog work and made even walking exhausting...
What made the hunt memorable was when Giz pointed and held a rooster on a tree line. I went in and the rooster flushed and caught the wind like a rocket. I hit him but the rooster kept flying. As I watched, the rooster gradually flew straight up in the air, locked up and dropped in an open corn field about 500 yards away. After about 10 minutes of searching we found the dead rooster - I hit him in the back with a single #5. This pointed rooster and retrieve made the entire trip!...Bryan
Later
Here are some pics of my last hunt of the season.
During this last outing the snow was crusted over and the birds were bunched up and wild. The dogs worked a few runners but non held for a staunch point. However, I enjoyed one aspect of bird hunting that I lost focus on - the retrieve. Often times I find myself only focusing on the find and the staunch points, but the retrieve of a downed rooster with legs or a quail shot in chest high grass goes unnoticed. This trip helped me appreciate what cannot be done without a dog that retrieves.
I have been a MAHA member for a number of years now and I've hunted a number of properties. I can tell you this year was no different that other years - we got into birds. The pics that I send are often of my limits, but that is not always the case. I don't always limit out and my dogs and I work very hard for the birds that make it in the bag.
I leave this year satisfied. I put a lot of miles on the truck, boots and dogs. We have achieved the peace of mind that we had another good year and look forward to next year.
Here are some pics of the opener. Based on my assessment the pheasant numbers are significantly down. Over a three day hunt, we had encountered limited roosters compared to years past. Reasons vary depending on who you talk to.
The quail appear to be the same. One day we found 4 coveys and ended up with 6 birds. This is very good for a "died in the wool" pheasant hunter with pheasant dogs.
In all it was a good hunt and I achieved what I want - watching my dogs work. Out of my two, Ruby is definitely the quail dog. She finds the edge and works it with her nose up. Giz - not so much. He's rooster dog and works the ground scent too much for quail. He gets lucky sometimes, but he's not skilled at quail.
The first pic is of Ruby and the six quail we took and the other is a pic of a rooster she pointed in some weeds. The last pic is of Giz resting with his rooster on a 70 degree day.
I have been successful for a number of years with MAHA because of my dogs. One thing is certain, I'm about to be "dog poor." Giz is 10 and Ruby is almost 9. It has become apparent to me they are slowing down. I've traded the inexperience and bumping birds to rotating dogs and shorter stints in the field. The stress of spinning the wheel on getting a good pup and when to get one is bearing down upon me! Bryan
