Ranger Rick
Member
I don't hunt ducks because growing up we never hunted them. I've hunted geese some, but still prefer upland birds over anything. I enjoy good dog work and enjoy the time in the woods/field. I don't enjoy sitting and freezing my arse off and so deer hunting isn't as enjoyable for me these days either, especially with our lousy deer population in my area of WI.
I've met too many in the past years who judge the success of their hunt solely by the number of birds they shoot. I don't enjoy getting skunked, but I don't need to shoot a limit to make the hunt worthwhile. My youngest brother, who we dragged along when old enough, is one of those. He never had to learn the lake for himself, we showed him the spots. He never had to scout and pound the brush to find the best patches of cover, we showed him. He's already whining about our upcoming annual grouse weekend because reports are that grouse numbers are down. No mention of the good time we always have together, it's all about not shooting limits. That line of thinking drives me nuts.
I also don't enjoy having my hunt screwed up by some diaper dandy moving in on top of me, as happens to some of you guys duck hunting. It's happened to me too often deer hunting, too. With upland birds, if there's guys there, or guys move in, you can easily move to where they aren't. I'm 5 minutes away from some good grouse cover and it's easy to get in a short hunt after work.
I'm training my young setter. Bought quail to use in the field. He's been holding staunch and allowing me to flush, so I started killing them for him. He retrieves, too. The past couple weeks working him have been so darned much fun I can hardly contain myself. How do you put a value on that? Tomorrow is our last day on the planted quail. Friday we'll go back out to hunt the covey that's now established there [I could hear one signing away this morning]. Saturday we hit the grouse woods. Life is good!
I've met too many in the past years who judge the success of their hunt solely by the number of birds they shoot. I don't enjoy getting skunked, but I don't need to shoot a limit to make the hunt worthwhile. My youngest brother, who we dragged along when old enough, is one of those. He never had to learn the lake for himself, we showed him the spots. He never had to scout and pound the brush to find the best patches of cover, we showed him. He's already whining about our upcoming annual grouse weekend because reports are that grouse numbers are down. No mention of the good time we always have together, it's all about not shooting limits. That line of thinking drives me nuts.
I also don't enjoy having my hunt screwed up by some diaper dandy moving in on top of me, as happens to some of you guys duck hunting. It's happened to me too often deer hunting, too. With upland birds, if there's guys there, or guys move in, you can easily move to where they aren't. I'm 5 minutes away from some good grouse cover and it's easy to get in a short hunt after work.
I'm training my young setter. Bought quail to use in the field. He's been holding staunch and allowing me to flush, so I started killing them for him. He retrieves, too. The past couple weeks working him have been so darned much fun I can hardly contain myself. How do you put a value on that? Tomorrow is our last day on the planted quail. Friday we'll go back out to hunt the covey that's now established there [I could hear one signing away this morning]. Saturday we hit the grouse woods. Life is good!
