It’s a little cold out there.
So the dog and I hopped in the truck for a trip that has been put on the back burner year after year, until now.
Day one was Sunday afternoon when we pulled in. After 1400 miles, we just needed to stretch our legs. Flushed 4 birds just out of range but most of the birds were outrunning us in the cattail-snow tunnels.
Day two- today
Did I mention it was cold? 12 degrees this morning when we got up with a zero degree wind chill. Quite the change from the 80’s we left at home.
First walk was very short and more of an experiment. We flushed 4 turkeys, not exactly the game bird we were after. Quick move to a cattail slough in cut corn. Watched 3 birds leave the slough when we pulled up and could hear more calling in the grass. Plodded and thrashed through best we could and put up one hen. That hurt my feelings.
Staying mindful of the dogs health/energy, we rode around for a good while looking at spot after spot. Finally pulled up to some CREP that was off the beaten path and figured we would give it a small run and go to town if nothing panned out quickly.
30 yards out of the truck led to a wild flush and two clean misses. “Come on Wes, you’re better than that.” After calling the dog back from her chase, she and I had a talk about paying attention and chasing. She reminded me that I’m supposed to hit the birds and we agreed to do better on the next one.
100 yards further and she starts getting birdy, then locked into a point. Now we are getting somewhere. I walk up just in time to see a flutter of movement through the grass. Not this again. I push hard into the cover and nothing. Dang. Release, the dog and we move on ahead while I mutter some prayers to God about this whole thing we got going.
The dog was moving hard through the grass again when I saw her put the breaks on. Two steps back the way she came and she came to a stop. Walked over there pretty quick but not exactly hopeful of putting a bird in the air. I was happy to be wrong this time. Bird goes up and the first barrel sends him right back down.
To make a long story short, the next two birds were done in the same fashion, one bird taking both barrels and we were done for the day.
God is good and we’ve got two and half more days of hunting left. Stay tuned.
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"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12
"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14
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