Got out on Friday to some private ground I have NW of Russell. Usually a lot of quail and a decent number of pheasants, so we decided to get out early and make a day out of it. Met my buddy in Lecompton around 0400 and we got to the first spot just before 0800. Worked our way up the first hedgerow without seeing much, but halfway down I see two pheasants sneaking out of a patch of cattails in front of me heading toward the edge. I speed up just a little bit as the hen flushes out the side. I knew there was another bird there so I kept going. Just as I got into range the rooster came out and I was able to knock him down. At the end of the hedgerow we found our first of 6 coveys on the day. I was able to knock one down and we chased them around for a bit before moving on. Crossed the field to hunt the other hedgerow back to the truck and the dog pointed a single under a cedar tree along the fenceline that didn't give us a clean shot. As we got to the hedgerow and we stepped in the dog briefly went on point before another covey flushed wild in front of him. We flushed that covey twice more in the trees before they busted out into some grass along the fenceline. This picture was him pointing scent from where one of the birds had been a few minutes before. The covey was in the grass behind him.
I was able to get one on the covey rise and we picked up two more singles as we kept walking. As we neared the road at the end of the tree row it turned into a tangled mess, and I knew there had to be something else in there. Sure enough the dog got birdy and worked his butt off trailing a rooster that I was able to knock down with a long shot. We headed to the next spot (only hunted 2 pieces of ground) and kicked up 3 more coveys, 2 of which flew across the property line on the covey rise. The dog made a really nice point on a bunch of pheasants in a stand of cattails. Everything about it was amazing, except for our shooting. One of the easiest shots either of us could hope for, but oh well that stuff happens. Picture below...
We were done hunting around noon so it was a pretty short hunt, but one of the most memorable hunts I've ever been on. Probably the most quail I've ever seen in one day, and easily the best dog work I've ever seen. Can't wait until next season!!!!!
I was able to get one on the covey rise and we picked up two more singles as we kept walking. As we neared the road at the end of the tree row it turned into a tangled mess, and I knew there had to be something else in there. Sure enough the dog got birdy and worked his butt off trailing a rooster that I was able to knock down with a long shot. We headed to the next spot (only hunted 2 pieces of ground) and kicked up 3 more coveys, 2 of which flew across the property line on the covey rise. The dog made a really nice point on a bunch of pheasants in a stand of cattails. Everything about it was amazing, except for our shooting. One of the easiest shots either of us could hope for, but oh well that stuff happens. Picture below...
We were done hunting around noon so it was a pretty short hunt, but one of the most memorable hunts I've ever been on. Probably the most quail I've ever seen in one day, and easily the best dog work I've ever seen. Can't wait until next season!!!!!
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