Was at the folks place by Faribault over the weekend helping with a few odds and ends at the farm. The snow had put a damper on any combining, so just the minor fall cleanup. About noon we were done, so I decided to take “Rock the wonder mutt” out for a little work.
Started on my folks land, working through a small slough. Rock put up 4 hens in short order that were not interested in holding long enough for a point. This seemed to be the case for the day. A lot of birds busting out wild, and only a few holding tight. Worked through that piece, and was going to work through a neighbors woods to get to the next piece of property, but I saw tracks in the snow, and knowing they hunt deer second season, decided to leave that piece alone, even though I did have permission, and they were not in the woods at that time.
After toughing it out through the plowed field circumventing the woods, I came to the next piece of slough. Rock was really birdy in one area, and gave me the “get your butt over here look”, when I wanted to hit the other edge first. Knowing he is smarter then I, started to walk over towards him, when a cagey old veteran busts out one my side. A single shot from the Benelli, and Rock had his first retrieve of the day 
While working down this piece, I started to notice Rock getting his, “Lets move, they are running” look, but in his true nature, he listened to me, and hit all the little pieces of cover I motioned to. About halfway through this area, he has a beautiful point on a hen. I started kicking myself for again forgetting the camera 
. this hen was not getting up until I stepped on her tail, I instinctively pulled the gun up, and almost hit her with the barrel.
Worked down the cover, watching about 10 birds busting wild out ahead of us. I always pride myself on hunting quiet, no verbal commands for the dog other then the occasional mouth whistle, so this was surprising knowing these birds have not been hunted hard, but I guess they remembered me from years past 
Got to the end of the piece when Rock locked up on point again. The only shot I had was over a road, so with a quick “Whoa”, I slowly worked around the dog at about 20 yards, until the birds was between me and the dog, and my shot would be away from the road. I worked slowly up the Rock until I was about 2 feet in from of his nose, wait, wait, wait, I took the final step, and after another pants filling flush watched a nice hen fly off to parts unknown.
Being as I had not covered the entire piece, worked along the road, in the same piece of cover. At the top of a hill, watching Rock going ballistic on scent, a rooster flushed about 30yds out. Another single shot from Mr. Benelli, and the second rooster of the day was on the ground. Upon the shot, I watched 3 other roosters, and 5 other hens jump up and take the fast road out of town 
.
Watching these fly, I gave Rock the dead bird-Fetch command and watched him work the area. He did not see the bird drop, and my mark was not perfect, but I enjoyed the sight of the dog searching for about 30 seconds, until he made his second and final retreive of the day.
After unloading my gun to start the walk home, while watching the dog continue to work, I couldn’t help but look around, and thank God for the beautiful day in the field, with my best friend, and some great birds. There are some days in life, when you are just so happy to be alive, doing what you love, on a beautiful fall day. That is what it is about for me 
I enjoyed hunting before I had a dog, but after all the training and time we spent together, hunting has only gotten better watching him work
Sorry for the long story, but I had to share a perfect day in the field, since I know there are others on this site that feel the same way 
Sorry for no pictures, but I forgot the camera
Straight shooting and be safe
