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Wolfchief
PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:03 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 15 Oct 2004
Posts: 782
Location: Indiana

This morning was cloudy, with the temperature in the mid-20's and intermittent snow flurries. Out in the bird covers, there was perhaps an inch and a half of new snow. After a hurried breakfast at my usual truck-stop watering hole, I managed to get to the first location, a 95 acre parcel of corn stubble, weedy ditches, and CRP, by 7:50 am.

I let the dog out, stuffed the heavy 6's into the Merkel, and was just beginning to hit my stride when Pal got excited, roaded into the wind about 6 paces, and froze. (I think I have a closet "pointing" Golden...). I wish I could say that, since I had ample warning, the first bird of the day was "in the bag"---but the rooster hammered out low and away and I missed cleanly with both barrels....probably lifted my head to watch him fall.....

Very disgusted with myself, I urged Pal on and we slowly worked a long strip of foxtail, horseweeds and shattercane. As we approached within 60 yards or so of the end of the cover, Pal got birdy again. With heightened anticipation I approached the last few yards of cover, but no birds....as I was about to turn away and head north, a cock, cackling and full of fire, tail streaming in the wind, blasted out of the fencerow at the cover's edge. As he arrowed across my field of vision from right to left, again I was behind with my first barrel, but dropped him cleanly at about 25 yards with the Modified barrel. The dog retrieved the rooster, obviously relishing the scent of the big bird as he high-stepped back to me, prancing all the way.

All right, I thought; one down and one to go. The next field was only a five minute drive away, and here they seemed to have a trace more snow. As I drove down the irrigation lane I had a premonition there would be birds here (you experienced hunters know what I'm talking about)---and when I dropped the tailgate, the dog raced away into the heavy stand of canary grass and cattails which ring this particular 35 acre pheasant haven. I was approaching the tall stand of mixed cover, hurrying through the mowed weed stubble to join the dog, when I heard a flush behing me and to my left. A cackling rooster crossed my line of sight from left to right, maybe 18 to 20 yards out, wings beating furiously. Instinct took over and I cannot remember a sight picture, as with no conscious thought I swung , pulled the trigger and watched the bird fold as the wind blew the feathers back at me. The powers above had once again rewarded this very grateful hunter with an ample game bag.

Though I do have a job, hunting birds is what I live for---and I'll be extremely sorry to see this fine season end on December 18......Best to you all; I hope your weekend in the field results in pleasant memories which sustain you over the long winter.....

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hoashooter
PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 7:46 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 3436
Location: Illinois

Congrats on the hunt.I am nosey as to what part of the state you are in.I live across the river.Northwest of Terra Haute.I can't remember the last time I saw two roosters in one day Embarassed Embarassed The cover has been reduced,big coyote problem,etc.You are lucky to still have a good place to hunt.I have worked with P heasants Forever BUT- it will take more that a few of us to re-establish a good population of birds Wink Wink
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Wolfchief
PostPosted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:25 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 15 Oct 2004
Posts: 782
Location: Indiana

Hoashooter: I'm in the north central part of Indiana. My folks come from down around Martinsville, Ill. and Brocton, Ill. My Dad's still with us, and he owns a farm near Martinsville. If the shooting club you are referring to in some of your posts happens to be close to Paris, Ill., I think I shot skeet there once some years ago. I had friends who shot regularly at the Ft. Harrison gun club, and I used to shoot some trap at a little club near Blanford, NW of Terre Haute. I graduated from Honey Creek HS, just about 6 miles south of TH, many years ago....

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