Mid-Week Blast

With more snow in forcast for the middle of the week, we made a run south for some hide and seek with some very wise late season birds. Chad and I found our birds in very large groups, which was a little hard at times to get close to them. We changed our game plan, and we started to put birds in the vest. With 2 guys and 2 dogs in the field and no posters, we only had one plan of attack, and that was to pinch these birds. We found birds hanging very close to the corn, not in it, but in the grass, and the wind rows. I would drop Chad off on one end, and then drive around to the other end. We worked very slow, and very quite. Noise at this time of year is the kiss of death, slamming the doors shut on the truck will tell you how many birds WERE in the field . Chad and I pinched these birds and when we were about 50-100 yards from each other, the field erupted, with birds going in every direction. We had pinches that yeilded well over 50 birds flushing at once. One thing made this work so well, we walked in a zig-zag pattern in the field, keeping the bulk of the birds running in front of us, and not around us, with only 2 of us hunting this was a must….Zig-Zag The ice and crusty snow crushed the dogs feet, but they kept hunting, and hunting hard. We had some great points out of both dogs, and a cripple rooster that I will never forget. We were crossing a frozen creek when a rooster busts, Chad and I both shot at the same time, and the rooster hit the ground, landing gear down. The dogs both were right on the bird, and we knew right away that we had a runner on our hands. Josie starts what we coined the Kangaroo. She was leaping on all 4’s, almost bounding after the bird, finally the rooster, still very much alive, show itself from the grass, and Joise does a head over heals roll, and had the bird in her grasp, only problem was, she only had the tail feathers. The rooster break free, but only for a second, as she makes one more Kangaroo pounce into the grass, and comes up with the bird. That was our last rooster of the day, so we decided to look for some new land to hunt. We put on some miles, but found some new land to hunt the next day.

This is the first year in the last 10 that I have not had 2 dogs in the field. Having to put my 14 year old Bucky down was the hardest thing I have had to deal with. Hunting this year has been very hard on my heart without the old man. His son on the other hand has stepped it up and made up for it. My Champy is a machine just like his old man was, maybe even better. After taking this photo of Champ in the field, I had all I could do to maintain my composure. It is a spitting image of Buck, and makes me very proud to have had the chances to hunt behinde him. After all, this is all about making memories, and I have a ton of them behind to great yellows. Thanks Boys The black and white photo is my old guy, and the color photo is his son Champ!

Here are a few more Good luck to everyone in the late season. Be safe, have fun, and bring the dog 1st aid kit along, your hounds will thank you. This time of year is killer on the dogs feet, and balls, if they have them

Very cool looking dog. How deep was the snow? I’m hoping to get out this weekend. Man does my dog need it.

Awesome report, detail and pics Bob!

Don’t worry Bob, Buck is still right along side ya, watching every flush and retrieve his boy makes.

Great times, with great friends, eqauls life long memories!

Great late season tips! Getting the birds to jump in range is definitely a little more challenging later in the year. We found that once we busted up the big flocks, the single birds held a lot better.

Man, I am impressed. You guys are taking great pictures!

Hey Bob, I was wondering if you know what breed your buddies dog is. She’s a dead ringer for my dog (who we got from a shelter). Mine is starting to get the hang of things, finally, but I’ve always wondered what she is. I’ve been told she’s GSP/Vizsla mix, GSP/Chocolate, pure GSP and many others. I’d be curious to know what he’s got.

Great read and pics, way to em

Buda, Josie is a choc- lab

I know how you feel,this is a pic of Gunners last pheasant, he was 12 when we had to put him down. That last hunt he went for about two hours and we managed one bird, he was starting to lose his sight but he still had a great nose. He was my first dog.

Sip

Sip & Bob, I fear that day that I will say good bye to my 1st dog Rufus.

I love the photo Sippi

Here is the last bird I shot over Buck I was lucky to be able to hunt over him until he was 13 years old.

Great post Bob. Here’s to Buck and all of the memories you two built together!

Thanks.

That rack in your avatar

nice post nice birds and nice pics…keep at it

Thats a perfect picture