Walden Trails

There’s just something about pheasant hunting that makes me smile. I guess because it’s so different than hunting anything else. For instance while deer hunting; you have to be in focus all the time because you never know when your one opportunity will come. Duck hunting can be very fun too but if you are not in the right spot at the right time, it can be challenging. Now when it comes to pheasant hunting, you are certainly more mobile and if you keep at it, your time is going to come. There is no pressure! And if I shoot and miss a rooster, it’s really no big deal (unless I get heckled). It’s just a matter of time until I get my revenge!

However, to me the most special part about hunting pheasants is that I get to watch a dog work. Plain and simple – it’s all about the dogs. Whether it’s a pointer or a flusher, I just love to watch when a dog when it gets “birdy”.

Tina’s stepfather (DeWayne) owns 70 acres down by St. James, MN. This piece of property named “Walden Trails” has been in his family for many years. It is basically a ravine with a small stream running through it. It’s surrouned with crop land so there is plenty of food for wildlife. We frequently visit the property and spend time out there picking wild plums and different kinds of grapes. Dewayne has done a wonderful job with this parcel of land and has turned it into quality pheasant habitat. Each year he plants and mows numerous acres for food plots, CRP and other cover for the birds. Two years ago he also invested and purchased 400 poults. Needless to say, all of his hard work and investment is starting to pay off. He is also working with the DNR on a trout stocking plan!

The mission for the day was for Tina to get her very first rooster. She’s tagged along a couple of times before, however this was the first time she decided to carry a gun. This fall I shot a little trap and one time Tina came with me to watch. I tried to get her to shoot but she was a little shy with all of the guys that were there watching. There was a break in the action and an old timer started to entice her to shoot. Eventually he won her over and she agreed to give it a try. After several minutes of coaching, she finally says “PULL” and BANG she shatters her very first clay pigeon in front of all the guys. The old man screams “SHE’S A NATURAL, SHE’S A NATURAL”. (hopefully he was talking about her shooting skills). She smiles and says “PULL” again and BANG – two for two. Now the guys are starting to look at me wondering if we are married or not. She ended up shooting 5 for 10 and left with a big smile on her face. So needless to say, I was confident that she could hit a flying chicken.

Joining us on this late season rooster hunt was a Mark (a friend of DeWaynes) and his chocolate lab – Gunner! Mark has done a wonderful job training Gunner. It was a pleasure to watch him work. The birds were very unpredictable with some of them getting up way out of shooting range while others you almost had to step on them!

The morning temp was a chilly 10 degrees and the strong 20 m.p.h. wind made it a cold morning. The day started out a little slow and we were not getting any close chances. Finally, Gunner got birdy and you knew it was just a matter of time. Yep – “ROOSTER” – Mark was the closest and put the bird down with one shot. Gunner immediately ran and retrieved the bird in the heavy cover and properly returned it to Mark. Man, I love watching that!

Shortly thereafter, Gunner’s tail began to wag faster and faster and his nose was to the ground. Mark and I both told Tina to get ready. Gunner was circling and circling and his tail was wagging faster and faster. Finally the pheasant flushed near Tina but it flew behind her. At first I thought it was a hen, until Mark yelled “young rooster, young rooster”. Tina thought it a hen too and at first she didn’t shoot. When she finally realized it was a rooster, she took her time, got a good aim and pulled the trigger. However, the young rooster was flying downwind and it was cruising. The shot missed the mark. We both congratulated her on the form and how she approached the shot. I was very proud of her and knew it was just a matter of time until she would get one. However, what I didn’t know was that this would be the only chance she got that day. We ended the day getting four roosters. Gunner was the star of the day! Talk about a natural! Over the course of a couple of hours, we saw over 30 pheasants on this property. Talk about a honey hole!

DeWayne and Tina’s mother (Margaret) have graciously invited Tina and me to become co-owners of this beautiful piece of property. We are now in the process of gathering up our financing and drawing up a contract. It feels good to be part something that means so much to DeWayne and Margaret and their family throughout the years. Walden Trails is so much more than just a piece of property that we hunt pheasants on. It’s about being a part of a dream and a vision to make something out of nothing. It’s about joining a family tradition that’s been carried on over the years. And finally it’s about building memories together and passing those stories on to our children so that someday they will become a part of it too. Walden Trails is what you make it out to be and thats what makes it so special.