Opening day of the 2010 season was a wet one here in Eastern Washington. Fortunately for me and my hunting buddy/ best friend it was a short hunt.
Every year on opening day we hunt some '' state birds '', we feel that there is no need in educating our wild birds on the 1st day when we can hunt one of the states release sites. The 1st day and Thanksgiving day our 2 days when we know we can find birds on the release sites. Every other day is a crap shoot, we still can find birds most days but not like these two days.
This AM we left my home a little before 5 to hunt a place 100 + miles northwest of my home in Greenacres. We drove through rain the whole way up and it never stopped the whole time we hunted. It was a very short hunt as we each had a limit in under 1 hour. We also helped another hunter take a 3 bird limit and worked our dogs with unloaded guns after limiting out.
All together I believe we saw 18 or 19 birds (all roosters) and the dog work was out of this world. My shorthair Jake will turn 3 Nov. 3rd and my friends dogs I believe is a week older. We both work the dogs in the off season and do a fair amount of grouse hunting and I am happy to say it showed today.It was great conditions for a dog today and they both hunted very well.
Jake pointed 11 birds and busted 1, and retrived 6 of the 9 to my hand. He was on his A game today. I would love to hunt on Sunday but duties at church will prevent it. I think I'll hunt the same place Monday or maybe hit Fishtrap which is a lot closer to home. Think I'll wait a day or two before I start hunting wild birds.
Sorry for the poor photos, like I said it was a wet one.
Gator
Every year on opening day we hunt some '' state birds '', we feel that there is no need in educating our wild birds on the 1st day when we can hunt one of the states release sites. The 1st day and Thanksgiving day our 2 days when we know we can find birds on the release sites. Every other day is a crap shoot, we still can find birds most days but not like these two days.
This AM we left my home a little before 5 to hunt a place 100 + miles northwest of my home in Greenacres. We drove through rain the whole way up and it never stopped the whole time we hunted. It was a very short hunt as we each had a limit in under 1 hour. We also helped another hunter take a 3 bird limit and worked our dogs with unloaded guns after limiting out.
All together I believe we saw 18 or 19 birds (all roosters) and the dog work was out of this world. My shorthair Jake will turn 3 Nov. 3rd and my friends dogs I believe is a week older. We both work the dogs in the off season and do a fair amount of grouse hunting and I am happy to say it showed today.It was great conditions for a dog today and they both hunted very well.
Jake pointed 11 birds and busted 1, and retrived 6 of the 9 to my hand. He was on his A game today. I would love to hunt on Sunday but duties at church will prevent it. I think I'll hunt the same place Monday or maybe hit Fishtrap which is a lot closer to home. Think I'll wait a day or two before I start hunting wild birds.
Sorry for the poor photos, like I said it was a wet one.
Gator