Kismet
UPH Guru
I haven't been out with Mick since before the deer hunting season that I can recall. The bitter cold is taking bigger bites out of me these days, and I'm not able to hunt as I once did. Happens.
But, hearing the forecast and finding a day with only "strong" winds, and about 4 inches of light snow in the tall grasses and standing wheat (State Park is leaving it to overwinter as feed this year), and with Mick so bored he was spending hours trying to see if he could fit a toenail into the trigger guard of a shotgun, so I would be unnecessary to a hunt...I opted to grab the day and get out before the freezing rain, then 4-8 inches of snow, then sub-20's, and possibly, sub-zero, weather hit Christmas week.
Only signs of life were a commercial crew harvesting old pines on the edges of the property to make way for new plantings of seedlings...oak and some others, I've heard. Sculpting the land for future generations.
I took the NEF Pardner single 20ga mod with me. The improved cylinder on the 12ga I'd had modified hadn't worked as well as I liked on the last hunt. Birds up too far, and maybe me just not lining it up right. This is single shot time for me.
The wind was biting, but manageable, and after about a half an hour, my hands started to get warm again. The dog worked pretty well on his own, and I wanted to walk to the back of the property before getting serious about hunting. Sun was shining, but didn't feel warm. A Winter sun; you guys know what I mean.
It was a nice hunt going out. One bird came up and I waited too long to shoot. Some distance on, I could see the silouettes of pheasant under a large group of bushes, but they ran before Mick or I could get there.
Finally, Mick was working a trail of tracks in the snow, hesitated and then moved quickly along, as he does before a flush. The rooster went up, and as I lined it up, I felt "good," you know? That sense that all the pieces are coming together and dog, bird, gun, and hunter are all going to play their roles the correct way--the way one envisions it in his imagination.
The bird dropped, Mick charged out, and after a few seconds I could see the russet chest of the bird above the brush as the Springer had his head high, carrying back the rooster, not in pride, but to keep it from snagging and dragging as he retrieved.
A nice hunt. A good day.
I stayed out too long, and walked up and down more slopes after the first bird than I should have. I was beat as we made it back to the car. But even as I felt the strength ebbing, I knew that this might well be the last good hunt of the season, and I was glad I'd pushed myself out to fields to make it a part of this year's memories.
Weather goobers are talking freezing rain overnight and tomorrow, with some mixed snow, then 4-8 inches of snow, then sub-20's and some sub-zero temps at night for all of Christmas week.
Since the helicopter ride I was given in 2012, I can't be sure each good hunt isn't going to be the last one, so each one becomes a little more precious.
Merry Christmas, folks. Be well and safe.
Pictures may follow tomorrow.
But, hearing the forecast and finding a day with only "strong" winds, and about 4 inches of light snow in the tall grasses and standing wheat (State Park is leaving it to overwinter as feed this year), and with Mick so bored he was spending hours trying to see if he could fit a toenail into the trigger guard of a shotgun, so I would be unnecessary to a hunt...I opted to grab the day and get out before the freezing rain, then 4-8 inches of snow, then sub-20's, and possibly, sub-zero, weather hit Christmas week.
Only signs of life were a commercial crew harvesting old pines on the edges of the property to make way for new plantings of seedlings...oak and some others, I've heard. Sculpting the land for future generations.
I took the NEF Pardner single 20ga mod with me. The improved cylinder on the 12ga I'd had modified hadn't worked as well as I liked on the last hunt. Birds up too far, and maybe me just not lining it up right. This is single shot time for me.
The wind was biting, but manageable, and after about a half an hour, my hands started to get warm again. The dog worked pretty well on his own, and I wanted to walk to the back of the property before getting serious about hunting. Sun was shining, but didn't feel warm. A Winter sun; you guys know what I mean.
It was a nice hunt going out. One bird came up and I waited too long to shoot. Some distance on, I could see the silouettes of pheasant under a large group of bushes, but they ran before Mick or I could get there.
Finally, Mick was working a trail of tracks in the snow, hesitated and then moved quickly along, as he does before a flush. The rooster went up, and as I lined it up, I felt "good," you know? That sense that all the pieces are coming together and dog, bird, gun, and hunter are all going to play their roles the correct way--the way one envisions it in his imagination.
The bird dropped, Mick charged out, and after a few seconds I could see the russet chest of the bird above the brush as the Springer had his head high, carrying back the rooster, not in pride, but to keep it from snagging and dragging as he retrieved.
A nice hunt. A good day.
I stayed out too long, and walked up and down more slopes after the first bird than I should have. I was beat as we made it back to the car. But even as I felt the strength ebbing, I knew that this might well be the last good hunt of the season, and I was glad I'd pushed myself out to fields to make it a part of this year's memories.
Weather goobers are talking freezing rain overnight and tomorrow, with some mixed snow, then 4-8 inches of snow, then sub-20's and some sub-zero temps at night for all of Christmas week.
Since the helicopter ride I was given in 2012, I can't be sure each good hunt isn't going to be the last one, so each one becomes a little more precious.
Merry Christmas, folks. Be well and safe.
Pictures may follow tomorrow.
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