I think the temps averaged 77 throughout 4 days of hunting, which meant I should have been doing more of this (Wednesday)
Instead of this:
All in all it was a good trip. I headed out Tuesday afternoon with my Beretta 686, and a Browning A5 20 auto that I wanted to get out sometime.
I fished on Wednesday morning at the river, then headed back east. I activated my license before I left Chamberlain. Got back by MtVernon and decided to hit a few fencelines. Ended up with 1 for the day.
Thursday I had a small, annual corporate hunt and we shot 21 birds by 2 pm, when it was 77 temps and my Breez dog was shot. I hadnt gotten my young dog out, so I took one other guy and we went out at 5. Walked one small brome patch that held 1 hen. Crossed the road and hunted another 25 acre patch with the pup Sky. He pointed where I couldnt see him, but the other guy could, and he walked in and shot a nice rooster. Sky delivered him back to him, and we continued on.. On this venture, Sky was a Rock Star, pup, pointing 9 more hens before sunset sent us on our way.
Friday found us on a new parcel, with not many birds. Came out of there with 5 for the 8 of us. Moved on ward to "The Gauntlet", which is a tough treeline to hunt and usually favors the birds more than the hunters. This time, for whatever reason, it produced well for the guys. I split off early and took my Breez down a draw that I knew held water towards the end. The reason I split off, was that it was hot enough, that I chose to just go in a short sleeved shiirt and a handfull of shells. About 1/4 mile in, it struck me that I also wasnt carrying any water, so I made the decision to hunt by myself towards the water. It was hot, like 82 degrees and she needed a drink, although we were really only on a 1/2 mile hunt (for me) More like 10 miles for her. 100 yards away from the water, she sticks a point. I walk down into the dry creek, and a rooster breaks out to my right. Everything is in slow motion it seems as the bead covers the bill and the little 20 sends its load down the skeet tube. I watch as the shot column reaches out and grabs the bird in a death grip and drags it to the ground. Breez is on him in a flash. I step forward, and another rooster breaks to my left. Same scenario, everything is in slow motion. When that happens, it doesnt bode well for the birds and this guy crumples with 7/8 oz or 6s out of the IC bbl. She delivers both, and with a mouth full of feathers, and breathing hard, its time to find her some water and a cool bath. I let her swim a few minutes, and we walk up to the road for the walk back to the farm.
Im hearing some banging going on to my right, so I know the group is having a good time also. As I approach the driveway to the farm, I hear a couple shots and watch a long tail come sailing right at me from the Gauntlet. It lands on my right side,in a little patch of Kochia in the sunflower stubble. He decides hes going to run to the diitch and cross the road, but by now Im about 50 yards away on the road. He sees me, ducks down and disappears into the mowed ditch. I bring Breez up, and she points for a little in the Kochia patch then moves on, working the bottom of the ditch. She heads 50 yards away from me in the barren ditch and I call her off. Were not playing that game. She comes in reluctantly, and 10 yards a way, summersaults into a point on the side of the road in 4 inch high grass. I walk up slowly and eventually get toe to toe with her. I see the grass hunch up slightly and she fidgets just a tad. I slide my shoe in under the grass and Mr Rooster breaks for the bottom of the ditch on a dead run. At the bottom of the ditch he takes flight and banks to my right. 2 solid misses on my part and I am feeling completely humbled. Its absolutely incredible when that happens, but its also a good thing that it doesnt happen very often. I end the day with two, and as a group, we had 19.
The corporate guys left about 2ish, and a friend of mine and his 14 year old son came in for an evening hunt. They shot 4 in the final hours on Friday. All in all a great day.
to be continued when more time allows.
