Well, I made it back from Rufus’s and my first trip to the Pheasant Mecca of the world. I have one tired and beat up dog and man does that boy love to chase those birds. He is over 7 now and not slowing down or losing his drive one bit. I joined Stacie’s family out in Hoven, SD for some good family time and even more time chasing Roosters back on her Grandparents farm. The weekend officially kicked off at the Hunters Stag Party when we pulled into town about 11:15 pm Friday night as the local Legion Hall was packed with Hunters and Families members tipping back their favorite beverages, sharing times and stories with friends and seeing people that you may have not seen in awhile. This Legion was packed full of people as it had a small town feel, but people came from all around to enjoy this preseason ritual.
Saturday it started at Noon as the Girls & Ladies watched Stacie’s niece in a volleyball tournament as the guys went out in search of those cackling birds. Rufus knew exactly what was about to take place as he was kenneled and squealing in anticipation as he heard the action’s from the hunters shotguns as we waited for the town’s siren and bells to notify us of HIGH NOON and the season has began. With observing birds already flying around, I knew Rufus’s nose was going to hit the “REV LIMITER” right away in the first field. Well it was birds flying all over in the first field as we hit a recently harvested corn field and adjacent CRP field. These birds also seemed rather spooky and many flushed out a ways out before the dogs and hunters got close. With the cool temps and stiff winds we opted for some CRP that had some draws and bowls to hit next to get out of the wind hoping the birds would hold a little tighter.
By middle of the after noon the “Girls” were back and a few guys had other engagements so we stopped back at the Frost farm to regroup. In the next picture (2nd) is the group to finish off the evening hunt. Stacie’s two Brothers (Travis & Tyler), her Dad Jack, and her brother Tyler’s girlfriend Lacey. We walked a Sunflower field and crick bottom and found a decent # of birds but had a blast watching Rufus work and chattin’ along the way. In the 3rd pic (shown below is Rufus on his way back form probably his longest retrieve ever as a Rooster got up along ways out and I reached out to touch him with my Berretta and just barely got enough be bees in him to make him hurt, but took him a few hundred yards to drop in this open sunflower field. I estimate that Rufus made a 250 yard retrieve on that bird. 
Man, I love that Dog. 
Watching him come back with that bird in his mouth and having the snow brush across his snout and the field was a site I will always remember.
We hunted only a couple of hours on day two (Sunday) with similar results. Not anything too gangbusters but decent # of birds flew. There was still a ton of corn on the fields at the farms we hunted and I’m sure on a return trip the birds will even be more plentiful. As we were taking a short pick up ride to our next spot in a CRP field. Rufus, myself and about 3 others were in the back of the pick up, when a Rooster flushes up form the wheel. As I turned to watch the Rooster I totally forgot about Rufus and in that split second Rufus dove out the back of the truck and by the time I turned back around to see him. He was on point watching the Rooster fly away. Although he looked good when I saw him, I guess he took a nasty wipe when he hit the ground. 
His front leg is pretty swollen, but does not seem to bother him, but I will be brining him in just to make sure.
Nothing like sharing time with friends, family and your best 4 legged buddies. Then to do all this with both Stacie and Rufus at my side is undescribable. 
Thanks Sweetie. 
The weekend was awesome and I can not wait for a return trip to Hoven. I’m sure Rufus would say the same as soon as he re-coops from this weekend. 
Once all the corn is off, it will be something see out there. We kicked up numerous deer (around a dozen) this weekend working the CRP and shelter belts and one pretty decent buck, which gives me itch looking ahead for the next 3-4 weeks. I hope to get out on the pond a few more times before ice up. I will be doing a Cast, Blast and Fling this week with a buddy coming up from Florida. We will be hitting the pond a night or two, going down to Madelia for some Roosters and hopefully that big buck I have my eye on down there with my bow. The Rut is a looming and I need to get out there. 
Until next time, everyone have a fun safe time in the field enjoying what ever it is you pursue! 
She just wore her trust ol’ pair of comfy jeans and put the Chaps right over the top. I also wore a pair of these chaps on day 2 over my non wind resistant pheasant pants and these chaps absolutely killed the wind and kept me warm and allowed me to bust through some thick prickly brush.
