KBell
New member
Just before ten a.m. with bright sunshine and 32 degrees. Northwest of Clear Lake and determined to "hoof it" through at least 3 public parcels today.
As we begin I notice the snow is wet underneath with a wet heavy feel to it. I realize this is not going to be easy travels as snow is deeper on edges of cover and next to fence lines. A good 11 inches or so in this area.
Our first two points yield hens. Very little tracks around the exit points and I deduce these birds must have sat through the afternoon yesterday. Next point is having difficulty gaining air and it yields hen number three. A catch for Sophie and I admire her for a moment before releasing her to make broods next spring
. Our next encounter is a yearling doe from her bed. We will see a six point and six more does today. I inspect it and it appears she has been there at least 6 or 7 hours. I notice her tracks coming in and decide to follow them to the food source. We arrive at the western edge and I immediately notice more tracks. This time pheasant and I notice they are out to the disturbed areas made by the deer and then back into the cover. Sophie is "birdy" just ahead of me as we continue north.
Our next point comes soon after and is solid. I approach from the rear and rooster one takes a straight away route. We continue on and quickly gain another point. A hen this time and she rises and heads south for her escape.
We are nearing the northern edge when two deer jump and head straight out of the cover. We have birds--13 in all that flush at the ruckus and fly east and south back into the cover. We sweep and continue on. As we near their landing zone I notice the wear and tear on my legs. Sophie has difficulty exiting the field on the edges due to the deeper snow. I did not think the birds could be runners.
We arrive at the spot and immediately kick up two hens. They are mature and noisy as they rise into the bright sun. Sophie's next point is solid and I hustle to close in. Sophie vaults into the brush and I know the bird has moved. She exits with hen two in her mouth. This is a yearling and quite small. I check cord Sophie and release our second catch of the day.
I do not notice tracks in the area. We begin to zig and zag and soon have another point. Into the sun but I close in anyway. The flush and the tell tale cackling put rooster two in our take. We flush two more hens and I notice where birds that landed flushed again with only having taken four or five steps.
We hit parcel two after water and a snack. Our first field burned two hours of time and more on the quads and hammies. I add an Advil and we set out.
We head straight for the heavier cover along the edges. The birds are feeding and we key in on this. As we close in wild flushes begin. We have several roosters and as many hens take flight and "sail" to the northeastern side of this field. My legs twinge a bit as I watch them fly off. One sitter I hope. We work the area with zero flushes. Sophie methodically works each spot where a bird was and I continue to head north. This next part is cool! Sophie stops ahead of me. The head and nose go high into the air and like a shot she heads straight west twenty five yards and locks up stiff on point. I struggle to hustle over with doubt creeping in when rooster three takes flight and curls sharply and back to the south. Where I am at that moment presents a crossing right to left shot and rooster three tumbles to my spring and summer trap practice.
We are tired as we enter the parking area to unload for the day. Glad I didn't get to that third spot today.
As we begin I notice the snow is wet underneath with a wet heavy feel to it. I realize this is not going to be easy travels as snow is deeper on edges of cover and next to fence lines. A good 11 inches or so in this area.
Our first two points yield hens. Very little tracks around the exit points and I deduce these birds must have sat through the afternoon yesterday. Next point is having difficulty gaining air and it yields hen number three. A catch for Sophie and I admire her for a moment before releasing her to make broods next spring
. Our next encounter is a yearling doe from her bed. We will see a six point and six more does today. I inspect it and it appears she has been there at least 6 or 7 hours. I notice her tracks coming in and decide to follow them to the food source. We arrive at the western edge and I immediately notice more tracks. This time pheasant and I notice they are out to the disturbed areas made by the deer and then back into the cover. Sophie is "birdy" just ahead of me as we continue north.Our next point comes soon after and is solid. I approach from the rear and rooster one takes a straight away route. We continue on and quickly gain another point. A hen this time and she rises and heads south for her escape.
We are nearing the northern edge when two deer jump and head straight out of the cover. We have birds--13 in all that flush at the ruckus and fly east and south back into the cover. We sweep and continue on. As we near their landing zone I notice the wear and tear on my legs. Sophie has difficulty exiting the field on the edges due to the deeper snow. I did not think the birds could be runners.
We arrive at the spot and immediately kick up two hens. They are mature and noisy as they rise into the bright sun. Sophie's next point is solid and I hustle to close in. Sophie vaults into the brush and I know the bird has moved. She exits with hen two in her mouth. This is a yearling and quite small. I check cord Sophie and release our second catch of the day.
I do not notice tracks in the area. We begin to zig and zag and soon have another point. Into the sun but I close in anyway. The flush and the tell tale cackling put rooster two in our take. We flush two more hens and I notice where birds that landed flushed again with only having taken four or five steps.
We hit parcel two after water and a snack. Our first field burned two hours of time and more on the quads and hammies. I add an Advil and we set out.
We head straight for the heavier cover along the edges. The birds are feeding and we key in on this. As we close in wild flushes begin. We have several roosters and as many hens take flight and "sail" to the northeastern side of this field. My legs twinge a bit as I watch them fly off. One sitter I hope. We work the area with zero flushes. Sophie methodically works each spot where a bird was and I continue to head north. This next part is cool!
Sophie stops ahead of me. The head and nose go high into the air and like a shot she heads straight west twenty five yards and locks up stiff on point. I struggle to hustle over with doubt creeping in when rooster three takes flight and curls sharply and back to the south. Where I am at that moment presents a crossing right to left shot and rooster three tumbles to my spring and summer trap practice.We are tired as we enter the parking area to unload for the day. Glad I didn't get to that third spot today.
