Late Season Minnesota Pheasants

The Last Hurrah!

Well, I have not had the best year this year when it comes to hunting. I have battled through a “BUG” all Fall and it seems like I’m on the mend now, but it really limited my time in the field this Fall. With my trip to SD planned for this week there was no way in heck I was going to be denied hunting this past Sunday with my buddy Rufus. He who probably suffered the worse from this string of bad luck I was going through this Fall as he has not had a Rooster in his mouth since late October. We have been out a few times, but the weather has not cooperated as we have tried to hunt in 30-40 mph winds 3 times and the other weekend we attempted to hunt in a blizzard with those same winds and temps hovering around ZERO.

Well after some visiting out of town friends left for the airport this past Sunday morning, Rufus and I already had the truck all packed so we jumped in and pointed it South towards our gold mine of a spot called the “Honey Hole”. We were greeted with sunny skies and tolerable winds about 15 mph out of the south. I knew we would get our chance at some late season Roosters and the rest would be up to me to put them down on the ground for Rufus to retrieve. We arrived down there about 11:45 am as we glanced over the drifted white crusted snow in the CRP field where we were hoping our birds to be. I went directly to the “BOWL” as this is a spot they tend to gather out of the wind and with some pretty decent cover for the birds. With only one hen flush on the bottom I was a bit mystified, but we continued to work our way up the draw. I could then tell Rufus was beginning to shift gears and was picking up some scent. After along time with no action, I was beginning to doubt my spot when mayhem erupted as we got about 40 yards from the road. Hens started to get up everywhere and finally 4 roosters got up with three hens at about 20 yards. I squeezed off two shots fairly quickly and felt pretty good about my shots but this late season rooster was still flying. I bared down and released my third and final shell to watch the bird tumble in mid air and Rufus making a b-line to where the bird was lying on the hard crusted snow. He soon had it in his mouth and was on his way back to me with his head held high. After all that mayhem and I only ended up with one bird. It took 3 shots but what a relief I felt as we had a bird down on the ground and Rufus finally got to taste feathers in his mouth again. We had just split up a group of about 20 some birds and I had a good idea where a few rosters headed, so I reloaded the gun and started our trek through the deep snow.

We did not even make it to the spot I thought they would be and Rufus again started to get birdy. The bad part was we had a wind that was partly at our back. I sensed his urge to want to pick up the pace as it seemed we had some “Runners”. So we sprinted ahead about 40-50 yards, when he suddenly stopped and circled back into the wind. He was definitely on a bird as his tail really started to whip and his nose was pasted to the ground following scent, when a hen and a rooster erupt from the CRP field. I again take aim on the Rooster and fire once, twice, three times, but this bird only loses a few feathers as it flies across the wood line to the other side and sets back down. I call Rufus back and reload my gun. Rufus is instantly “birdy” again as he works into the wind and starts to weave back and forth as he is hot on the trial of another bird. This Rooster flushes as Rufus almost swipes him out of mid air. This bird takes of in the other direction as he goes straight away from me and again I unload my gun on this bird also. Only to watch the same thing play out as the rooster flies away in the other direction. I’m totally devastated at what just transpired as I reload my gun again and try to analyze my shot selection and decide I was out too far in front on the first one and the second one still had me wondering. I gather myself as Rufus makes his way back and he immediately goes back to work. He again is really “birdy” working into the wind and I was thinking he was on old scent when he stops and locks up. I walk up and see he is on point. His head is tilted to the side, his tail has that lil twitch to it and he focused on the grass below him. I walk to the side and can see the rooster sitting on the ground. I give Rufus the command of “Get Him Buddy” and he instantly spring s and pounces towards the bird as the rooster has a hard time getting up from being knocked down by Rufus and the thick grass holding him down. The rooster finally takes flight as I focus my bead on the end of his beak and squeeze the trigger to watch a puff of feather come off the bird. I squeeze off another shot and watch the bird pull some G’s as he goes straight up in the air and make it to the trees, where I thought the group of birds would be. Rufus and I make it into the trees and see this bird alive but unable to move as Rufus swoops in and grabs our 2nd bird of the day. He brings it back to me as I’m reloading my gun and after some praise and some laughs Rufus turns back around and within 20 seconds flushes our final rooster of the day as I squeeze the trigger just once this time and watch our last bird fold up into the grass as Rufus pounces on him in the snow. Our day and season is done shortly after 1:30pm.

We have had better seasons but this day will always be remembered. We have definitely had better days and I have definitely shot better. Yet, it seems each hunt I have with Rufus, I cherish a little more. As I know it is only a matter of time and our hunts together are numbered. That number is getting smaller by each passing day making me realize and cherish each one we share. Well, that is about it. It was a great day top be in the field, but what day isn’t??? Those 30-40 mph wind and snow days still produced some great flushes and memories that still have me chuckling, but there is no better reward for me then watching my “boy” bring back a late season rooster in the snow. The birds held great today unlike when it was windy. The temps were about perfect for late season hunting as it kept you cool enough when walking through the deep snow. We couldn’t of planned it any better then we did. I love hunting with others and actually prefer it, but sometimes I like to get away and spend some time with just me and the pup. Like I mentioned, what a disappointing year overall but I finished it with a great day of chasing roosters with my best buddy. By the time the next season begins my lil buddy will be 10 years old. I’m finally seeing his age catch up to him and I a little bit this year. As recovery time is a little longer now days then years past, for the both of us. The snow was tough on both of us, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. I hope you guys had a great year and I’m looking forward to next year already.

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