what a time after our Blizzard

Shadow

Shadow

Banned
Rained all day yesterday, 6:00pm turned to sleet, 9:00pm turned to light snow- blowing sideways- winds were said to be 35-40 miles per hour

this morning when I let the Britts out- 3 were standing on the drift that was as high as the fence and covered the gate 8" on each side

In the house guys!
put on the Goretex gear, load up the Britts and head down the road- blowing hard from the north- wanted to see if the roads were to bad for the wife to go to work- sort of a white out- didn't look like much snow-
3 miles I came to a sudden stop- hum- get out- in a drift- could dig very well with hands- the snow was packed

called the wife "get dressed and come get me unstuck with your Escape-
yeh yeh I know- you said I was crazy- bit of you never learn and all that

hour later I get a call "now I'm stuck and it's all your fault"

so lock the Escape and start walking- sheese- she didn't get very far- must have been driving slow- cold and windy but I'm dressed for it-

can't budge her 4wheel drive- she isn't saying a word- "I'll be back- I'm walking home and getting a shovel" she gives me that look and says just where do you think I'm going to go-

I get to the house- get the shovel- ah heck- best get two- maybe she'll feel like helping- and I do put 2 of her Diet Pepsies in my pockets- as much as I dislike carrying water and all

get walking again and the phone rings- "there's a Dodge Ram stuck right in front of me"

I'll be there in a bit

walk up, knock on her window- guess she thinks I'm not going top ever get there and doesn't even look in the rear view mirror

wow- a big Dodge 4wheel drive truck with dualy's on the rear- 2 guys out digging with their hands- hand them a shovel as I start digging arround the Escape wheels-

neither of us can get moving more than a foot and stuck again- snow was deep- sort a joke saying at least you didn't hit her Escape- she'd really be pissed at me- they asked if I wanted a beer "no thanks, I quit drinking Thanksgiving day"

I made a call, he said, it'll be awhile, we'll get you out and then us- that's great- my Escape is stuck up the road a bit
oh he says- there's 2 vehicles up the road a mile or so- hum

short of it was- I was digging under the Escape and making headway- when he says- I've got a bulldozer coming, you don't need to dig- I said- it's best that I really work at it as she's starting to joke a bit and laughing-

big rig comes down the road- hey- what's a semi doing out here- oh I see- as they back the dozer off the flatbed and swing by-

he goes to hook up to the Escape- I can't find anything front or rear to attach to- he moves the dozer past and plows the road quite away- I'm really digging now- something about I don't want to be pushed by that rather mean looking blade- pulls the big Dodge out of the drift and into the plowed area- 3 guys walk up- "you get in, we'll push you backwards" no time at all I'm into the plowed area- I ask- could you get my other Escape out

he says no problem, jump in- I drive the Escape to within 150 yards of my Escape- big Dodge comes up- you got a hookup- yep- I pull out my 2 tugem straps- he pulls me almost out and then gets stuck-

dozer gets here- pulls him back to the plowed- pulles me back to the plowed-
I step close as he gets out- I'd like to pay something- Naaa- it's all in a days work- I say how about a 20 for a case of beer- Naaa- oh ok- I hand him 2 20's- mention- 2 vehicles- 2 20"s

drive home, get the gun, vest, Garmins, tell the wife- "I'm going out right here, the Britt's been good, fresh snow, no burrs, we'll be back in a couple hours" she says fine- (figure it's best I get out and away for a bit)

afterBlizzard12202011033.jpg
 
Thats awesome. Good story. Im glad it wasnt bad last weekend out by Dodge/ Ingalls area. It was frosty on Sat but not like this week. I had a trip like that out by Gorham a few years ago.
 
would that be the blizzard that shut down I70 for some 300 miles where travelers had to hole up in motels/hotels- I was there- fairly early am- stopped quite a few times to knock on windows of running cars to tell them to clear the snow of the exhaust pipe that were in the medium- pulled a couple out- took some to the nearest town- then went on and drove just south of the freeway looking at WIHA's- saw pheasants running across the road into WIHA- unloaded 2 Britt's- shot my limit in 20 min- good thing- the brutal wind and cold, and the real deep snow just about did me in
 
just got back from a short hunt- said I'd be happy with hen points and 1 rooster- Lizzy locked up- the other 2 were hunting- so I took this picture- waited till they came arround and saw her- kind of brutal out- strong winds and more snow- but a blast none the less

r
2daysafterBlizzard005.jpg
 
Shadow,

If there was ever a need to have your astro collars that was the day. I can see where they (Astro Collars) can aid a hunter in snow storm.
 
Shadow said:
Rained all day yesterday, 6:00pm turned to sleet, 9:00pm turned to light snow- blowing sideways- winds were said to be 35-40 miles per hour

this morning when I let the Britts out- 3 were standing on the drift that was as high as the fence and covered the gate 8" on each side

In the house guys!
put on the Goretex gear, load up the Britts and head down the road- blowing hard from the north- wanted to see if the roads were to bad for the wife to go to work- sort of a white out- didn't look like much snow-
3 miles I came to a sudden stop- hum- get out- in a drift- could dig very well with hands- the snow was packed

called the wife "get dressed and come get me unstuck with your Escape-
yeh yeh I know- you said I was crazy- bit of you never learn and all that

hour later I get a call "now I'm stuck and it's all your fault"

so lock the Escape and start walking- sheese- she didn't get very far- must have been driving slow- cold and windy but I'm dressed for it-

can't budge her 4wheel drive- she isn't saying a word- "I'll be back- I'm walking home and getting a shovel" she gives me that look and says just where do you think I'm going to go-

I get to the house- get the shovel- ah heck- best get two- maybe she'll feel like helping- and I do put 2 of her Diet Pepsies in my pockets- as much as I dislike carrying water and all

get walking again and the phone rings- "there's a Dodge Ram stuck right in front of me"

I'll be there in a bit

walk up, knock on her window- guess she thinks I'm not going top ever get there and doesn't even look in the rear view mirror

wow- a big Dodge 4wheel drive truck with dualy's on the rear- 2 guys out digging with their hands- hand them a shovel as I start digging arround the Escape wheels-

neither of us can get moving more than a foot and stuck again- snow was deep- sort a joke saying at least you didn't hit her Escape- she'd really be pissed at me- they asked if I wanted a beer "no thanks, I quit drinking Thanksgiving day"

I made a call, he said, it'll be awhile, we'll get you out and then us- that's great- my Escape is stuck up the road a bit
oh he says- there's 2 vehicles up the road a mile or so- hum

short of it was- I was digging under the Escape and making headway- when he says- I've got a bulldozer coming, you don't need to dig- I said- it's best that I really work at it as she's starting to joke a bit and laughing-

big rig comes down the road- hey- what's a semi doing out here- oh I see- as they back the dozer off the flatbed and swing by-

he goes to hook up to the Escape- I can't find anything front or rear to attach to- he moves the dozer past and plows the road quite away- I'm really digging now- something about I don't want to be pushed by that rather mean looking blade- pulls the big Dodge out of the drift and into the plowed area- 3 guys walk up- "you get in, we'll push you backwards" no time at all I'm into the plowed area- I ask- could you get my other Escape out

he says no problem, jump in- I drive the Escape to within 150 yards of my Escape- big Dodge comes up- you got a hookup- yep- I pull out my 2 tugem straps- he pulls me almost out and then gets stuck-

dozer gets here- pulls him back to the plowed- pulles me back to the plowed-
I step close as he gets out- I'd like to pay something- Naaa- it's all in a days work- I say how about a 20 for a case of beer- Naaa- oh ok- I hand him 2 20's- mention- 2 vehicles- 2 20"s

drive home, get the gun, vest, Garmins, tell the wife- "I'm going out right here, the Britt's been good, fresh snow, no burrs, we'll be back in a couple hours" she says fine- (figure it's best I get out and away for a bit)

afterBlizzard12202011033.jpg
Click to expand...


It's nice to bunch up birds, but you can have it, LOL. Right now we don't have a flake on the ground and I love it. It's like your in MN and I'm in KS.:D Headed out today and tomorrow around home. Enjoy your snow and let me know when it melts, I might pop down.:laugh::coolpics:
 
That looks like a scene from exactly a year ago here in Mn. Last year at this time we had 25+ inches on the ground and when it was all said and done, a record December snowfall.

At least you guys down there will have a white X-mas which is more than we can say up here......
 
thanks guys-

the Britt's could only take it so long- the 2 boys walked over the fence and had some fun flying in the snow- Lizzi just sat and watched-

so shovel time-

that was 2 days ago- and just finished shoveling again-
course we had to walk over the fence also:)

2daysafterBlizzard001.jpg
 
OKIEGunner said:
Shadow,

If there was ever a need to have your astro collars that was the day. I can see where they (Astro Collars) can aid a hunter in snow storm.
Click to expand...

yeh- I was glad I had them- guy sent me some whip anteneas- so 2 with the long whips and I with the original- no real difference that I can see- but don't need the counter weight- DC20's are working great
 
FieldKing- thanks- beautiful picture yourself- don't you just love it when you can walk up close and just admire- not be in a rush to shoot- you have an advantage- that 12:00 tail- can honestly say mine were sometimes hard to find- Garmin would say 3 pointing- and I really had to look hard- doubting the Garmin a bit at times- each arrow would point- and distance would say near-

18 degrees here and still- bright sun- coyote came walking by- stared at the 3 Britt's- Britt's were barking- I got my camera and opened the window he was only 90 yards out- YIKES- my young male jumped the fence and took off- got the whistle and blew- he stopped- coyote took off- he came back and jumped back inside the yard- he got a couple swats with the leash and into the dog kennel- he's going to stay in there for an hour or so- can't have a Britt tangle with a male coyote

going to go out for a hunt in an hour or so

guys- there's many reason I really like the Garmins- not only that they show how far away they are- and what they are doing- but a real big plus is that when one goes on point and I head that way- I can tell where and what the other 2 are doing- meaning- I can get close to the point while watching the Garmin to see if the others are on point, how far away, and are they coming to the point- sometimes I'll hit the whistle to bring them in- haven't yet had a pheasant flush from the whistle- or even talking- do admit I am ready though- think it's the fact that the pheasant suspects he's found and will bust out when there's too much movement- I do remain motionless

I feel I should take one at a time sometimes- but I'm hooked on three down and they all run a bit different- sure there are some wild flushes- Britt's are going pretty good in the snow- and run right over one every now and then- great to see actually- they're flying and something comes up at their feet as they slide to a stop- think they are almost making themselves steady to the flush by themselves

OkieGunner-I have a "Ruff Wear Single Trac Mobile Hydration Dog Pack" size small, brown- on the way from Gun Dog Supply- if it stays in place on Shadow nicely I'll order 2 more- the Britt's are happy to eat snow- and I hope it stays around for a long time- but I will put the pack on with water in to see how Shadow likes it and if it stays in place- think it'll do ok
 
cnggack- thanks- yeh- I like that picture- not as clear because of the blowing snow- but good- my first post picture has 4 Britt's- the old lady can't go too long and needs a couple days off after a hunt- she has the desire and can pin them- but after an hour or two if we don't stop she is favoring her left leg and stiff all night- sometimes I think I shouldn't take her- but the wife says I should every other day or so- she just mopes around the house and does a lot of staring at her- it is something that some of these bird dogs have no desire to stop even when they should know to give it a rest-

you have a good time when out and about with your bird dog- I think in these later years I find that I go out just for the Britt's- would leave the gun at home- except I think they might know not having the gun means run for fun he's not going to shoot so we can really open up and run what we want- so far this year they've been staying inside 1/4 mile and when in the thicker stuff or where they think birds might be they actually pretty much stay inside 160 yards- and if some points and flushes they actually really stay in close- something like they associate a point/flush to mean I'm fairly close to around birds and they want to be also- so in short- mine do adjust their range- and like many say- the thick stuff where birds could possibly be good dogs stay in closer and hunt real serious- I'm finding this snow is teaching me and them- I like what I'm seeing
 
FCspringers- been thinking- I've never hunted one of mine with someone else and a flusher- know you have superb Springers- think it would be something to see one of yours with one of mine- sometime in January why don't you come down and we can meet in Hays- I'll try to get a dog friendly room- there's a couple places that used to be real good for pheasants and some quail south of Hays- think you'd enjoy seeing mine and I'd enjoy seeing a good flushing dog work- 40 years since I've been with a flushing dog

course- we could hunt Britt's for a couple hours- then Springers for a couple

also think there's a few good places north of Hays

and I do agree- having the pheasants pretty much grouped up makes for some tense times- sometimes they hold- sometime they get up at pretty much the same time- over a point it gets pretty wild for shooter and dogs- there was a time or two if I'd had my Beretta I believe I could have got my limit- don't think I would try for that though- rather shoot one and come back a couple days later and maybe find them in the same place- sort of hoping by taking one and move on there's a chance they'll hang around- like to leave a rooster or 2 since the hens seem to like a couple nice spots-
 
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went out for a hunt at 1:00pm- cold, still, and beautifull out- worked across the field to the milo and then into the deep stuff at the bank- were were working back and forth as we got quite a few points and backs- Lizzi came right close to me and jumped into the snow bank with Candy and Shadow close behind her- as she started her 3rd jump she turned her head, and froze- I just stood- awesome- got the camera out- took this picture- put the camera away- worked into the stuff kicking- up came a hen- snow going everywhere- quite a few pictures and no shots- got back at 4:00pm- legs are sore- Britt's didn't quit but they were sure glad when they could see the house coming back across the field- Shadow and Choc ran about the same- 16.5 miles, Lizzi 15.4

inside, remove the Garmin collars, remove the snow/ice balls, take off my stuff- they curl up and sleep- I relax in the recliner- hour later couple are hungry- make up their normal food- they eat- drink- go lay down

great short hunt-


snowhunt12242011015.jpg
 
Good story and pics, Shadow. I keep one of those fold-up army surplus shovels in my Tahoe at all times. I've only had to dig myself out once and that was because there was so much snow on the ground, I confused the snowmobile trail for the road. Still looking forward to my first snow hunt this year. Hope it comes before the season ends.
 
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