Hard to keep your hat on

[PairOfLabs]

I have never hunted in winds as bad as Saturday around Holyoke. I lost count of how many times my hat flew off-even had my lab pup Parker retrieve it for me one time. I had stayed overnight at the Harvest Hotel in Yuma (great place) after hunting with some other friends on private ground around Yuma Friday. I was late for our 6:30 meeting time--didn't plan on a slick ice covered Hwy 59. This was my first trip to the Holyoke area this season and I was disappointed to see that most of the good WIA spots that I had found last year were no longer enrolled. Our party of four started from scratch looking for thick cover areas from the cold wind. We didn't find the right ones, though, and ended with one bird--I was shootless and birdless. Worse yet, Parker was "retrieve-less" as he was on the wrong end of the field when Kent dropped the bird in the first field. Kent had a brittany so we were a 4 man, 2 dog team.

Here's a pic of Parker with one of the two birds he retrieved on Friday. I'll claim half of one and missed with a long shot on my only other opportunity.

Tom

 

[CO_Weimar]

We were in the same area on Saturday and couldn't believe the wind.

We bagged one bird on Friday afternoon. After braving the wind for a few hours on Saturday morning, we grabbed some lunch and decided to call quits.

 

[sig_mech]

Windy but not bad.

I have to agree with you Tom, it was windy as all get out on Saturday but it worked out pretty well for me. I did an early morning drive out to somewhere south of Yuma with my buddy Paul and my dog Oakley. Our first stop was a corn circle with milo corners and we used the wind to our advantage by keeping it in our faces as much as possible. The birds held tight and allowed us to get close before they flushed. A quick trip around that circle and we had a bird each with a couple of missed shots. The next field of CRP was even better. Once again we kept the wind in our faces as much as possible and worked slow and steady. Two hours later and two more birds each gave us both our limit and we were heading back to D-town by noon.
Headed out again 6am yesterday morning with my 10yr old son and Oakley to that same CRP field. We pulled up at the field around 8:30 and got ready. You couldn't ask for a more beautiful day, sunny with just a touch of wind. I had my son carrying his BB gun and we were doing a training session to get him ready to take the next step to become a full fledged hunter. Oakley was on his game and got birdy as soon as we walked into that field, 50 yards later and we had the first bird of the day in my vest. 90 minutes later I was limited out. I took my son to a local gravel pit and had him practice his gun saftey and shooting form. 3 hours later and we were back at the house.
Things are looking great this year. The bird numbers are up and the cover looks awesome. It should make for a great season. Good luck and shoot straight.

 

[PBuster]

I have to agree with you Tom, it was windy as all get out on Saturday but it worked out pretty well for me. I did an early morning drive out to somewhere south of Yuma with my buddy Paul and my dog Oakley. Our first stop was a corn circle with milo corners and we used the wind to our advantage by keeping it in our faces as much as possible. The birds held tight and allowed us to get close before they flushed. A quick trip around that circle and we had a bird each with a couple of missed shots. The next field of CRP was even better. Once again we kept the wind in our faces as much as possible and worked slow and steady. Two hours later and two more birds each gave us both our limit and we were heading back to D-town by noon.
Headed out again 6am yesterday morning with my 10yr old son and Oakley to that same CRP field. We pulled up at the field around 8:30 and got ready. You couldn't ask for a more beautiful day, sunny with just a touch of wind. I had my son carrying his BB gun and we were doing a training session to get him ready to take the next step to become a full fledged hunter. Oakley was on his game and got birdy as soon as we walked into that field, 50 yards later and we had the first bird of the day in my vest. 90 minutes later I was limited out. I took my son to a local gravel pit and had him practice his gun saftey and shooting form. 3 hours later and we were back at the house.
Things are looking great this year. The bird numbers are up and the cover looks awesome. It should make for a great season. Good luck and shoot straight.

Very nice Sig!! Nice report. I was out on Sat. and left early because of the wind. Did get one bird in the bag though. I have been wanting to let my niece carry her BB gun in the field for training/practice but I know how law enforcement is. Trespassers and litter bugs are overlooked but the little kid with a BB gun is....Has anyone said anything negative about him carrying it? I really want her to carry in the field for practice, I have even thought of bringing a bat or wieghted stick and paint an end of it red and see how long she can hold it and how well she can hold it.:cheers:

 

[sig_mech]

PBuster, I never had a problem with law enforcement or landowners. I have taken the time to cultivate relationships with all the landowners who have allowed me the priceless treasure to hunt their land and I am always courteous to any law enforcement person I have a chance to meet. I stress safety to my son with any weapon he handles, from a slingshot to a rifle. Trevor wears an orange vest and hat, glasses and ear protection whenever he is in the field with me. He uses the words sir and ma'am when talking to adults and he's always quick with a "thank you" too. I have found that courtesy and respect goes a long way in the world today. I have even had DPW agents remind me about the youth hunting clinics they put on. I have let him carry his 20ga (unloaded of course, with no 20ga shells in any ones possession), but the weight of it combined with busting through some tall CRP was just a little too much for him. The BB gun is a better way to start and it's light weight allows him to swing it into position and concentrate on telling a rooster from a hen.
I applaud you for wanting to teach your niece the correct way and giving her the enjoyment of being out in the field. Let her carry her BB gun. I'm sure things will be fine. If you're really worried about it then make sure there's no BB's in the gun and wrap a strip of red tape around the end of the barrel. I found that by making it a trip for just the two of you and by explaining why you do things while in the field and by using lots of praise, it will be a great time. Put her in front of you and let her shoulder the gun when a bird flushes and pretend to shoot it. Ask her if she was sure that was a rooster when she shot then walk over to a spot wher she thinks the rooster would have fallen and show her how to search for a downed bird. It'll be fun and you'll both have a good laugh. Another trick you can try with her is to have her stand in a room and hold the unloaded BB gun as though she was walking through a field. Call out the word rooster to her and have her shoulder the gun while following through along the corner where the ceiling meets the wall. This allows you to help her to get the gun shouldered correctly and to follow through smoothly and in a straight line.
She sounds like a great girl PB. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Bird Buster]

Nice looking dog there POL, think I replied last night to your question on ranging on another thread.