Wednesday it was about 18 deg. and blowing 25-30 mph almost all day. Very challenging to shoot in that kind of wind.

We were nearly back to the vehicle (me lagging behind) when knucklehead went on a hard point by a hay bale. I watched my son walk in, and up went a rooster. He shot and the bird went down. I walked up and the dog was still looking for it where it had fallen. Son told me he got a glimpse of it running north. There was no way to tell the dog that, so we just let him work it out. A running rooster can cover a lot of ground fast so you hope the dog figures it out quickly.

After a very long couple of minutes he finally broke from the fall-area and headed north for 50 yds, then peeled off to the NW, tail wagging furiously the whole time, working back and forth.. At about 100 yds out there was a scramble and he caught him! Here he is bringing him back. Tough scenting conditions in wind like that, but their noses are amazing.

Without a good dog we'd have had no prayer of finding that bird.

[Linked Image from imagizer.imageshack.com]