Haha...the badger picture. Yikes. Flash tangled up with one once but discretion was the better part of valor that day and he disengaged, wisely.
While deer hunting Saturday, I noted that the ranch I was on had literally thousands of grouse on it. At one point, I looked out into a draw and noted about 50-60 sharptails in two ash trees. So I loaded up my shotgun and walked out there to see what would happen. They lifted off when I got about 60 yards away. I was bummed til I noticed they were flying RIGHT AT ME. I dumped a limit of them, sadly using four shots, and then couldn't find the third bird on my own. Dammit. I was able to fill about ten minutes later and it was super fun. I'll go back for more of that action.
Yesterday we went out to Harrold again, where we were treated to approximately twice as many birds in the grass as last weekend. Despite having over 200 years of hunting experience in the group, we acted like it was our first time. Bad planning. Poor execution. Lousy shooting, Subpar dog work. I think all of us must have just lost our minds at the sheer numbers in one quarter section. I saw well over 1000 birds, easily so. Wow. I think we finished with 12 in hand and called it a day.
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
There are incredible numbers of birds all over the state I think. We had a tremendous lift from Mother Nature this year, and this is the result. Plenty of wheat to nest in, the grass grew tall and strong, its just a heck of a year for birds here.
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
Congratulations on the great hunt! It looks like you boys had a blast. I bet the dogs went home tired and well satisfied. Likely you all too! . We may head that way next year, as a new pup might join the team next spring. Thanks for the update, and I’m glad you had a great time. Did Phil get a new shotgun?
Battue, those photos are super.. Give Merlot extra pets from us and a few extra treats.. He looks so loveable.. Nice to have them as best friends also.. Thanks.. Just awesome.. We had a good day, then many not so good.. Best wishes for a great close to 2020,, It has been a rough one so far..
Yes, great trip with plenty of Birds....but since we are still leaning we spend more time....much more....than necessary to get them. Which is hard on the Dogs. Merlot gets plenty of exercise here at home, but he wore parts of his pads down to bare skin by the end of 10 days....and obviously had sore feet. I picked up some lidocaine gel at the local pharmacy and he hit the ground running again...
Yes, I picked up a Beratta A400 20 gauge for Phil....Sweet, but it doesn't like steel based hulls....Runs fine on brass base but hiccups on steel base....The steel being less flexible doesn't always eject reliably....Some even have problems with them ejecting in O/U's and SxS's....His problems were with Kent steel shells with a steel base...
WCH....
Thanks....Merlot was on the ground for approximately 5.5hours a day....and much of the cover he went thru was thick and often over his head....he slowed down, but when he got a nosefull went back into overdrive.....He is resting up now....