I once saw a rooster jump just high enough above the thigh high crp field we were hunting to take a peek at us. He was probably 60 yards ahead of us hunters and 30 yards ahead of the dogs. He ended up flushing at a dirt road about 5 minutes after he took a peek at us. Three of us took some long prayer shots at him to no avail..... Smart bird!
It was Tuesday morning of opening week in Iowa, 2001. Rain had been coming down all night. I deciced to try some new public ground over towards Marengo. Still raining, I hit the road and travel on to a new promise land.
As I get close to this new sight, I make a slight left turn off the highway on to a road with a crest, with a sign just over the crest that reads "Class B road Minimum Maintenance Travel at your own risk". Rain and dirt make mud.
OH SH*%!!! Needless to say momentun only carried me another 1/8th of a mile before I came to a complete stop. Got out of my truck and I'm looking at a green and white Public Hunting sign, guess it's not a complete loss.
As I venture in, the parking area fence line is littered with at least 25 rooster carcases. Wow! What a new Promise Land! First few points were hens, always good to see. Finally locked down on a rooster, great to have one in the bag! The only bird I saw and heard after that was a rooster that jumped up just above the grass to see my location, cackling like there was no tomorrow! It was like the nuclear warning siren had been activated and everything within a mile radius cleared out to the next county.
Three towing companies were called, but wouldn't come to pull me out...didn't want to get their rigs dirty. No farmers around, busy in the fields. Thankful I had a pair of shorthairs, had to sleep in the back of my truck...
it was a "Two Dog Night". Even though it wasn't the best situation, or that great of an experience, it proved to be a great scouting trip.
Guess where we were opening day Iowa 2002? Walked out with our limit in 30 minutes!:thumbsup: