I figured I would post this here since I had written up already for another forum. I was going to post in the hunting reports section but it does not look like I can do that…….anyways:
I’m sitting in my cube looking out the window today, it looks cold outside and the trees are now bare of any leaves. Clouds fill the sky and I have the feeling that I should be out walking though a field, forest, or slew with the dogs in chase of some sort of game. At this time last week I was counting down the minutes until Aaron [aka Lindy Rig] and I would be leaving for our trip to SD that has been planned for a good number of months now.
We arrived at our destination in north central South Dakota a little after midnight Wed night, got unpacked, and tipped back a few cold ones before bed to help us sleep though the excitement that was about to commence. The dogs at this point were filled with energy and the younger of the two [Dex] had no idea what was in store for him over the next few days. We had been watching the weather reports all week and we had a pretty good idea what the next few days had planned for us, Thursday looking to be a day that might test our will as there was a large system moving through the mid-west and we had just driven all the way from the cities through rain the entire time. This years wet fall has basically stopped any and all harvesting….so we will be hunting the next couple of days with the majority of the crops still up. This weather is the last thing any of us (farmers included) really want to see.
Thursday morning greets us with what we were expecting, cold, windy weather….and worst of all a good down pour. We didn’t travel all this way to sit inside, so we get breakfast going, eat, get loaded, and arrive at our first piece of public land around shooting time. To say it’s wet outside is an understatement…..just how wet is it??? Well, Lindy has his hip waders on if that tells you anything. We start to walk the first piece of land and a few birds end up flushing out of range. About an hour later as we get near the end of the first drive Lindy connects with the first bird of the day and he lets Dex retrieve this first bird as he is still learning the game at this point. Dex retrieves the still somewhat live bird back to my feet, but drops it as I expected he might do. I work hold/fetch with him for a few minutes to reinforce him holding and not dropping the bird (this ends up happening a couple more times throughout the next day and he is worked each time) and then we start hunting again. A couple minutes later a rooster jumps out of some heavy cover about 10′ from me and I wait a second or two to let it get some range so I do not destroy the bird and then pull the trigger. The rooster drops in the water about 15-20 yards from shore and Dex goes in after him…..moments later he appears and retrieves the bird to my feet, but drops it again [rework the dog again!]. We get back to the truck soaking wet but we have two birds in the bag and are happy at that point with how the day started. It’s windy, cold, and raining……..were wet but having a good time. We put on some dry clothing, regroup, and head to the next spot.
We arrive at our next area, a big piece of land we know and have hunted before. We take a few longer shots after walking around this huge pond (if you want to call it that) but end up with no birds in the bag. We walk the second half of this area and I manage to connect with a rooster on a long shot and drop the bird on the first shot. Dex retrieves this one as well and we continue hunting [of course correcting for the dropped bird]. As we are finishing up this piece of land I get overly excited on a bird that jumps up right in front of me and I end of fanning on it…..oh well….I guess it happens to the best of us. Another bird is in the bag after some good dog work……and it’s still raining. We head to the next spot on our list and arrive at that location, this is one that was recommended to us and we work the field as we were told to do. We managed to bag one more bird here and decide to start heading back towards town while scouting a few locations along the way. This ends up to be a good thing…..as just as we pull up on a piece of public right toward the end of shooting time a rooster flies up over a small hill. Lindy gets out of the truck quickly and pursues the bird……a couple minutes later he comes walking back to the truck…bird in hand! We walk this last piece of land and see a lot of birds, but can’t manage to get that 6th bird on the board. Buy this time it’s just about dark….the whole crew is cold, wet, and tired…..it’s time for a hot shower, some dry clothes…and a cocktail after a first good day of hunting!
Stepping outside first thing Friday morning brings about the realization that it’s going to be one of those cold, windy Dakota days, but at least it’s not raining today. Friday ends up being one of the tougher days we have shooting wise as the birds are really moving in the wind…which is blowing 15-30mph, with gusts higher than that. We head to some locations we have hunted before and run into a few birds where we expected to. The first bird of the day ends up being a cripple that escapes us in some stuff so thick you can barley climb through it. I tried and after one time through the downed trees and brush it was evident we were not going to get this bird. This stuff was so thick even the dogs had trouble getting through it. We hunt a couple more spots and by mid afternoon we have yet to bag a bird. This quickly changes as we decide to hunt a piece of public right off the main highway, there is a large row of trees that looks promising and it’s not too far to go. Dex gets to run solo on this one in an effort to save the dogs energy……and before we even get to the tree line Dex gets birdie and a rooster pups up right in front of us. He is quickly dropped but is not finished off. This ended up being one of those birds that jumps all around once he hits the ground and Dex takes off on chase and manages to grab him after a few leaps and bounds. I am proud of this cripple capture and know that it really helped flip the light switch on in Dex’s head……he was loving it! We managed one more bird late in the day walking a section line on our way back to town…..two birds in the bag for the day and again…pretty worn out. Time for a cocktail!
In an effort to bring this story of our hunt to a wrap I will just say that we woke up to a gorgeous day Saturday morning, sunny with low winds…..and this ended up being the best day of the trip! On the first field of the day Lindy ended up dropping all his birds, each in one shot….he was on fire and all were nicely retrieved by Star including a cripple that ended up at least around 100 yards from Aaron. Star made the run down and retrieve on that cripple and we walked out of the first field with 4 birds in the bag. Near the end of that field Dex and I had an encounter with a critter that I would rather not have again. We found ourselves about 4′ from a skunk that was not facing a good direction, and Dex was obviously curious as to what it was. I immediately made a quick turn to the side and took off quick with a lightning fast grab of the e-collar controller and a come command to the dog. Dex got the hint right away and we were both out of there in no time with no harm done to either one of us….whew!! Later that day Dex made a nice retrieve on a cripple which would end up being my favorite of the weekend. We had no idea where he was and then we heard wings flapping in the bushes and him wrestling around for a short while. He then appeared on the other side of the slew with bird in mouth and returned to me with a perfect delivery to hand (finally!!!). We ended the day around 2:00 with our limit of birds….tired dogs….and smiles on our faces!
We hunted a few spots Sunday morning before heading home and ended up with 15 birds for the weekend. It was a weekend of all sorts of different weather conditions, good bird work, great cripple chasing, and just a general enjoyment of finally being out in the field chasing roosters behind the dogs. I can’t wait to head back!!!
simply awesome 
