Postscript: Our last day -- Sunday -- started windy with gusts in excess of 50 mph. We spent the morning packing the truck, thinking the weather might take another hunting day from us, but when the winds finally calmed in the early afternoon, we hit the woods. The day turned memorably beautiful -- sunny and still. The grouse must have been waiting for this break in the weather, because we were into them right out of the truck. In a little over 2 hours we moved 12 birds for 15 flushes with two nice points by Aspen and two birds downed from the four shots I had. I got to blood the little 20 gauge CHE (yes, Reggie, it has a straight/splinter stock), a real treat for me. It was a great ending to this trip, and was all the sweeter because of the poor conditions that preceded it.
We'll be home on Wednesday. I'll spend some days in tree stands at the farm with the bow, and some days in home covers chasing Bobs. Our firearms deer season begins on the 14th. Is there a richer time of year for the hunter?
I hope everyone has a safe and successful season.
__________________
“Every day I wonder how many things I am dead wrong about.”
― Jim Harrison
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
|