Bad News

B

Bob Peters

Well-known member
I was gonna go out by Marshall over the weekend, the pheasant capital of MN. I heard a weird whistle noise under the hood. Went to a buddy to diagnose, the water-pump is on the way out! He said if it lets loose in the boonies you'll be stranded. Then my brother in law says I can borrow his car. I wish it was a brand new suburban, or better yet a 1972 Chevy pickup. But it's an old beater. Good news he doesn't care about a couple wet huntin' dogs sittin' on the seats. Blue blood or low bagger don't matter, I just gotta go out and get a rooster this weekend!
 
Bob Peters said:
I was gonna go out by Marshall over the weekend, the pheasant capital of MN. I heard a weird whistle noise under the hood. Went to a buddy to diagnose, the water-pump is on the way out! He said if it lets loose in the boonies you'll be stranded. Then my brother in law says I can borrow his car. I wish it was a brand new suburban, or better yet a 1972 Chevy pickup. But it's an old beater. Good news he doesn't care about a couple wet huntin' dogs sittin' on the seats. Blue blood or low bagger don't matter, I just gotta go out and get a rooster this weekend!
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Sorry to hear about your water pump, but congrats on the loaner. I have contemplated going back out close to the western border for a day trip, but didn't end up doing it, other than opener and staying in a hotel.

Keep your eyes open for flare nares out there. Mighty close to the SD border. ;)
 
The holiday hunt between Christmas/New years is my happiest time of year. Lost a day w/busted truck so I'm happy I just got to go. Low-keyed it today, dogs deserved rest. Hunted 2.5 hours end of day. Dogs did great and reminded me how lucky I am to hunt with them.

I hit a rooster that flinched hard, flew over a gnarly swamp, put down feet, tucked wings, and landed. I wished he folded but it wasn't so. No choice but to barrel into thick swamp. The dogs followed, they couldn't get a visual over the cattails. An endeavor I doubted, but owed it to all involved to try.

Busting head high cattails, boots slopping in water on top of frozen slough, I felt I was going through the motions. Minutes passed, time ticked on, hopes sank. I followed the ripples in the cattails of Skye and Roxy. Skye turned and was coming back. She's getting old, couldn't fault her giving up. If she was done for the day, I'd have no problem putting her up, that dog's earned a rest. She was panting heavy, stamina not what it was a few seasons ago. Breathing more labored with each breath, and then... is it? A deep gurgling, as if tongue pushed back in throat caused by an obstruction. Finally catching a glimpse through the morass, Skye faithfully jogging back with a large(and wet) rooster held carefully in her chops.

The day I quit hunting will be the day the birds and dogs quit teaching me and showing me new things. I think I'm signed up for a long long time.

20241229_214250.jpg
 
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Bob Peters said:
The holiday hunt between Christmas/New years is my happiest time of year. Lost a day w/busted truck so I'm happy I just got to go. Low-keyed it today, dogs deserved rest. Hunted 2.5 hours end of day. Dogs did great and reminded me how lucky I am to hunt with them.

I hit a rooster that flinched hard, flew over a gnarly swamp, put down feet, tucked wings, and landed. I wished he folded but it wasn't so. No choice but to barrel into thick swamp. The dogs followed, they couldn't get a visual over the cattails. An endeavor I doubted, but owed it to all involved to try.

Busting head high cattails, boots slopping in water on top of frozen slough, I felt I was going through the motions. Minutes passed, time ticked on, hopes sank. I followed the ripples in the cattails of Skye and Roxy. Skye turned and was coming back. She's getting old, couldn't fault her giving up. If she was done for the day, I'd have no problem putting her up, that dog's earned a rest. She was panting heavy, stamina not what it was a few seasons ago. Breathing more labored with each breath, and then... is it? A deep gurgling, as if tongue pushed back in throat caused by an obstruction. Finally catching a glimpse through the morass Skye faithfully jogging back with a large rooster held carefully in her chops.
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Awesome!

Was it still kicking?

How are the bird numbers out in the land of Schwan's?
 
Bob Peters said:
The holiday hunt between Christmas/New years is my happiest time of year. Lost a day w/busted truck so I'm happy I just got to go. Low-keyed it today, dogs deserved rest. Hunted 2.5 hours end of day. Dogs did great and reminded me how lucky I am to hunt with them.

I hit a rooster that flinched hard, flew over a gnarly swamp, put down feet, tucked wings, and landed. I wished he folded but it wasn't so. No choice but to barrel into thick swamp. The dogs followed, they couldn't get a visual over the cattails. An endeavor I doubted, but owed it to all involved to try.

Busting head high cattails, boots slopping in water on top of frozen slough, I felt I was going through the motions. Minutes passed, time ticked on, hopes sank. I followed the ripples in the cattails of Skye and Roxy. Skye turned and was coming back. She's getting old, couldn't fault her giving up. If she was done for the day, I'd have no problem putting her up, that dog's earned a rest. She was panting heavy, stamina not what it was a few seasons ago. Breathing more labored with each breath, and then... is it? A deep gurgling, as if tongue pushed back in throat caused by an obstruction. Finally catching a glimpse through the morass, Skye faithfully jogging back with a large(and wet) rooster held carefully in her chops.

The day I quit hunting will be the day the birds and dogs quit teaching me and showing me new things. I think I'm signed up for a long long time.

View attachment 9992
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That's fake.....
 
Bob Peters said:
The holiday hunt between Christmas/New years is my happiest time of year. Lost a day w/busted truck so I'm happy I just got to go. Low-keyed it today, dogs deserved rest. Hunted 2.5 hours end of day. Dogs did great and reminded me how lucky I am to hunt with them.

I hit a rooster that flinched hard, flew over a gnarly swamp, put down feet, tucked wings, and landed. I wished he folded but it wasn't so. No choice but to barrel into thick swamp. The dogs followed, they couldn't get a visual over the cattails. An endeavor I doubted, but owed it to all involved to try.

Busting head high cattails, boots slopping in water on top of frozen slough, I felt I was going through the motions. Minutes passed, time ticked on, hopes sank. I followed the ripples in the cattails of Skye and Roxy. Skye turned and was coming back. She's getting old, couldn't fault her giving up. If she was done for the day, I'd have no problem putting her up, that dog's earned a rest. She was panting heavy, stamina not what it was a few seasons ago. Breathing more labored with each breath, and then... is it? A deep gurgling, as if tongue pushed back in throat caused by an obstruction. Finally catching a glimpse through the morass, Skye faithfully jogging back with a large(and wet) rooster held carefully in her chops.

The day I quit hunting will be the day the birds and dogs quit teaching me and showing me new things. I think I'm signed up for a long long time.

View attachment 9992
Click to expand...
I would never find one in thick cattails.nuce tail
 
The tail was 23.5

I didn't go to Marshall, hunted southern MN instead. One spot three or four roosters flushed off the field line into a giant slough when we were 70 yards away. Smart birds.
 
Here's another picture. The bird was soggy out in the field. That night after he was hanging for a while and the girls were resting, I thought I better get a picture with their pheasant.20241229_214332.jpg
 
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