Bob Peters
Well-known member
Weekend before last. It was cold in the A.M. at -7 wind chill. We took it easy and hunted from noon till close(about 4:45). Hit 3 spots. The 1st one I missed a bird
. The 2nd one only wild flushes. Spot 3. Roosters spotted from the road on perimeter, standing under giant ragweed. No tire tracks or footprints at parkin' spot. We made a play on them, no dice. I don't know how to say this but we were having a really good hunt already. Just getting out with a happy four-legged friend, it felt like I was where I was supposed to be.
I let go of expectations, forgot about life, and hunted. Walking a deer trail through cattail pond I saw a rooster fly from standing corn 250 yards away. A lucky spot, and even luckier fight path, he crossed low at 90° 41 yards out, I pulled the trigger and the # 4s did their job. A couple minutes after a bright orange breast shot out of snowy cattails. A fumble with the gun, poor mount, and he dropped in a cloud of feathers. 20 minutes looking in extremely thick slough turned up nothing. Walking away empty handed on the down wind side Skye softly trotted back to the edge, sniffed and snuffled and worked the wind. Sticking her head under marshy thatch, then planting her back paws, she gripped and tugged and pulled out the rooster.
Onto the next slough, minutes to go, and getting in his comfort zone, a cackling rooster took wing from tall phragmites. I pointed and shot quickly and convincingly. Plowing through to help with the retrieve. By the time I barreled out the other side Skye had already circled, retrieved, and was coming from behind me with the bird.
I know there's a lot of hammers on here. Guys who go out and get a limit most of their days. People I look up to. I never really thought I'd get a late season MN limit. Who knows if I ever will again. I had fun either way. It's tough to describe the feeling I had walking through a snowy winter twilight, an empty gun on shoulder and my best friend still enthusiasticly sniffing all the way. Whatever that feeling was I know I'll never forget it.
. The 2nd one only wild flushes. Spot 3. Roosters spotted from the road on perimeter, standing under giant ragweed. No tire tracks or footprints at parkin' spot. We made a play on them, no dice. I don't know how to say this but we were having a really good hunt already. Just getting out with a happy four-legged friend, it felt like I was where I was supposed to be. I let go of expectations, forgot about life, and hunted. Walking a deer trail through cattail pond I saw a rooster fly from standing corn 250 yards away. A lucky spot, and even luckier fight path, he crossed low at 90° 41 yards out, I pulled the trigger and the # 4s did their job. A couple minutes after a bright orange breast shot out of snowy cattails. A fumble with the gun, poor mount, and he dropped in a cloud of feathers. 20 minutes looking in extremely thick slough turned up nothing. Walking away empty handed on the down wind side Skye softly trotted back to the edge, sniffed and snuffled and worked the wind. Sticking her head under marshy thatch, then planting her back paws, she gripped and tugged and pulled out the rooster.
Onto the next slough, minutes to go, and getting in his comfort zone, a cackling rooster took wing from tall phragmites. I pointed and shot quickly and convincingly. Plowing through to help with the retrieve. By the time I barreled out the other side Skye had already circled, retrieved, and was coming from behind me with the bird.
I know there's a lot of hammers on here. Guys who go out and get a limit most of their days. People I look up to. I never really thought I'd get a late season MN limit. Who knows if I ever will again. I had fun either way. It's tough to describe the feeling I had walking through a snowy winter twilight, an empty gun on shoulder and my best friend still enthusiasticly sniffing all the way. Whatever that feeling was I know I'll never forget it.
