Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums  

Go Back   Parker Gun Collectors Association Forums Parker Forums Hunting with Parkers

Notices

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
Best Day Afield
Unread 04-12-2019, 11:51 AM   #1
Member
mobirdhunter
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Garry L Gordon's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,649
Thanks: 13,084
Thanked 9,469 Times in 3,042 Posts

Default Best Day Afield

I was re-reading Nash Buckingham's "A La Belle Etoile" and it prompted me to think about the beautiful stars of my hunting life.

I thought of first points over beloved dogs, now gone; of doubles taken fairly, of good companions over the years. In a sea of memories, I have one that stands above. Ironically, it was a hunt that involved no game taken, nor shot fired. It happened on a trip back home to Virginia to hunt with my Father over our Christmas break. I was just then experiencing the keen obsession of shooting over my first bird dogs. This was a time, at the end of the 1980s, when quail had greatly declined in Virginia, and the only hunting available to us was by permit on paper company lands. Pop had secured the permits and maps and we spent the day driving to find some cutover lands suitable to hunt. We drove and read maps more than hunted as I recall, and the only covey of birds we saw was a small one that crossed the sand road in front of us and disappeared into a thick stand of pines. I remember as we headed back my disappointment at not being able to present a shot for Pop over my young brace of Gordons. He loved watching those dogs (and spoke of them until the day he died). I commented on the long drive back to the house that I was sorry about the day and the way it had unfolded. Pop told me, in his typical gruff fashion, that he did not give a rip about not shooting birds, and that he just enjoyed spending the day with me. The best day afield I have ever had. It was by chance, our last day afield together.

I'm curious what my fellow hunters would cite as a bright star in their hunting lives...and would you share it with us, please? I, for one, would enjoy hearing of it.
__________________
“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)
Garry L Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to Garry L Gordon For Your Post:
Unread 04-12-2019, 12:17 PM   #2
Member
Rick Riddell
Forum Associate
 
Rick Riddell's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 653
Thanks: 339
Thanked 658 Times in 186 Posts

Default

I cant say its the best, as god willing I have many more decades ahead of me, but one that stands out and always will. We decided to foster an English pointer on a whim, fosters are tough. You never really know what trauma or baggage they may have collected to get them to the point of being brought to a shelter. But we took a chance. Danny was with us for about 3 months prior to bird season. He had some basic obedience but was rough around the edges. I decided to take him out on opening day, he was a little wild and frustrating, then BAM that light switch flip on and I watched all that training he was given come rushing back! What a day and what a dog. That's one that will stick with me, that one in a million dog that was fostered on a whim! Who went out into the field wild and came back fully trained! So far that's one of my best!
Rick Riddell is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Rick Riddell For Your Post:
Unread 04-12-2019, 12:35 PM   #3
Member
mobirdhunter
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Garry L Gordon's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,649
Thanks: 13,084
Thanked 9,469 Times in 3,042 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick Riddell View Post
I cant say its the best, as god willing I have many more decades ahead of me, but one that stands out and always will. We decided to foster an English pointer on a whim, fosters are tough. You never really know what trauma or baggage they may have collected to get them to the point of being brought to a shelter. But we took a chance. Danny was with us for about 3 months prior to bird season. He had some basic obedience but was rough around the edges. I decided to take him out on opening day, he was a little wild and frustrating, then BAM that light switch flip on and I watched all that training he was given come rushing back! What a day and what a dog. That's one that will stick with me, that one in a million dog that was fostered on a whim! Who went out into the field wild and came back fully trained! So far that's one of my best!
Rick, It's special when it happens, and, I'd venture, extra special to be a rescue dog. Thanks for responding.
__________________
“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)
Garry L Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Garry L Gordon For Your Post:
Unread 04-12-2019, 12:46 PM   #4
Member
Mills
PGCA Lifetime Member
Since 3rd Grade
 
Mills Morrison's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 10,303
Thanks: 14,183
Thanked 12,306 Times in 4,411 Posts

Default

Most of my best memories are relatively recent. Hunting with my sons is the best.
Mills Morrison is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to Mills Morrison For Your Post:
Unread 04-12-2019, 12:55 PM   #5
Member
mobirdhunter
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Garry L Gordon's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,649
Thanks: 13,084
Thanked 9,469 Times in 3,042 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mills Morrison View Post
Most of my best memories are relatively recent. Hunting with my sons is the best.
Like a fine shotgun, those memories will get better with time. I'll bet they'll be the same good memories for your boys.
__________________
“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)
Garry L Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Garry L Gordon For Your Post:
Unread 04-12-2019, 12:55 PM   #6
Member
Woodcock survey
PGCA Member
 
Daniel Carter's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 964
Thanks: 1,293
Thanked 1,386 Times in 594 Posts

Default

Came home on a 3 day pass in 67 and Dad said lets go fishing, took the tin boat I had bought him to a local pond. He made 3 casts and caught 3 largemouths, 5, 6 1/2 and 7 1/2 pounds. I did not get a hit,said give me your rod and fished an hour with out a touch as he rowed the boat we talked. That was the last time we fished or hunted as I was overseas when he died the next year. It was a perfect trip and his rod hangs in a place of honor and is still used. He had made the rod as he made about every thing he needed

Last edited by Daniel Carter; 04-12-2019 at 12:57 PM.. Reason: Add last sentence
Daniel Carter is online now   Reply With Quote
The Following 11 Users Say Thank You to Daniel Carter For Your Post:
Unread 04-12-2019, 02:30 PM   #7
Member
mobirdhunter
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Garry L Gordon's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,649
Thanks: 13,084
Thanked 9,469 Times in 3,042 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Carter View Post
Came home on a 3 day pass in 67 and Dad said lets go fishing, took the tin boat I had bought him to a local pond. He made 3 casts and caught 3 largemouths, 5, 6 1/2 and 7 1/2 pounds. I did not get a hit,said give me your rod and fished an hour with out a touch as he rowed the boat we talked. That was the last time we fished or hunted as I was overseas when he died the next year. It was a perfect trip and his rod hangs in a place of honor and is still used. He had made the rod as he made about every thing he needed
I think about stories like yours when I see old guns -- or fishing tackle, etc. -- come up for sale. Their value in sentiment to someone far exceeds their monetary value. Thanks for sharing this with us.
__________________
“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)
Garry L Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 04-12-2019, 09:39 PM   #8
Member
charlie cleveland
PGCA Member

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 12,986
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7,787 Times in 3,967 Posts

Default

i had many days in the field with my dad all special...but heres one of them...we were turkey hunting this stormy rainy day i had seen turkey feeding in a soybean field the day before...so the next day we went to that field both of us had put on rain gear i had put on hip boots sense there was a big ditch to cross in the bean field...sure enough the turkeys were feeding in the field our plan was for each one of us to try and slip to the end of the field where hope fully one of us would get a shot or maybe both of us...my dad took the west end of the field and i took the east end...i slowly made my way toward the big ditch we had perfect cover as the ditch had lot of bushes growing on the banks..the water had rose pretty high and it was raining like cats and dogs...the turkeys could not here any of our movements....the turkeys fed to the center of the field so i slid off into that ditch water was up to my breast pockets the over groth made a perfect canopy over the ditch...i held that old 10 ga lefever over my head as i walked up the ditch...i guess that my father was in place by now so i slowly made my way up that ditch water was swift so i had to hang onto limbs as i slowly made my way....it would come a big clamp of thunder and about 3 of those gobblers would really gobble at the noise...must be about 15 turkeys in the flock feeding about 4 of them were big gobblers... i still was not in gun range and the ditch i was in my cover was getting thin so i was affraid i would be seen...the turkeys continued to feed farther away from me but that was ok for i knew my dad was up ther some where and should get a shot...in a few minutes i heard my dads old smith and wesson 12 ga sound off the turkeys flew but none came in my direction...i climb out of that ditch and went to check out how big this old gobbler was...it was a nice mature bird...my dad was grinning.....ill never forget that rainy stormy hunt with my dad....charlie
charlie cleveland is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to charlie cleveland For Your Post:
Unread 04-12-2019, 09:51 PM   #9
Member
mobirdhunter
PGCA Lifetime
Member
 
Garry L Gordon's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,649
Thanks: 13,084
Thanked 9,469 Times in 3,042 Posts

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by charlie cleveland View Post
i had many days in the field with my dad all special...but heres one of them...we were turkey hunting this stormy rainy day i had seen turkey feeding in a soybean field the day before...so the next day we went to that field both of us had put on rain gear i had put on hip boots sense there was a big ditch to cross in the bean field...sure enough the turkeys were feeding in the field our plan was for each one of us to try and slip to the end of the field where hope fully one of us would get a shot or maybe both of us...my dad took the west end of the field and i took the east end...i slowly made my way toward the big ditch we had perfect cover as the ditch had lot of bushes growing on the banks..the water had rose pretty high and it was raining like cats and dogs...the turkeys could not here any of our movements....the turkeys fed to the center of the field so i slid off into that ditch water was up to my breast pockets the over groth made a perfect canopy over the ditch...i held that old 10 ga lefever over my head as i walked up the ditch...i guess that my father was in place by now so i slowly made my way up that ditch water was swift so i had to hang onto limbs as i slowly made my way....it would come a big clamp of thunder and about 3 of those gobblers would really gobble at the noise...must be about 15 turkeys in the flock feeding about 4 of them were big gobblers... i still was not in gun range and the ditch i was in my cover was getting thin so i was affraid i would be seen...the turkeys continued to feed farther away from me but that was ok for i knew my dad was up ther some where and should get a shot...in a few minutes i heard my dads old smith and wesson 12 ga sound off the turkeys flew but none came in my direction...i climb out of that ditch and went to check out how big this old gobbler was...it was a nice mature bird...my dad was grinning.....ill never forget that rainy stormy hunt with my dad....charlie
Nice memory, Charlie. Thanks for posting.
__________________
“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)
Garry L Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Garry L Gordon For Your Post:
Unread 04-12-2019, 11:45 PM   #10
Member
Brett Hoop
PGCA Member
 
Brett Hoop's Avatar

Member Info
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 592
Thanks: 1,591
Thanked 899 Times in 370 Posts

Default

Giving a single “Best Day” would be impossible. I have been blessed to have been started right by a hunting family that owned property managed for wildlife probation. And traveling for additional hunting was just a normal course of planning. Further blessed with an understanding wife that has allowed me to “make a plan”. Many plans, many dreams, many places.
Currently nothing drives me more than a young Setter working a covert where grouse, and as Evans called them cock, make a life. I am my best and feeling most alive watching a young dog quartering, head high and out in front. When that dog stacks up in a scent induced quivering trance or I can see his wheels turning trying to figure out just what to do about a moving grouse, I know he is living out his dreams while fulfilling mine. Those are best days. We do something everyday to work for those best days.

Harold Pickens and I work on doing our part and shoot a few sport clays those are best days.

As C.OB. Says the best grouse gun is the next one, I try and make tomorrow the best one.
Brett Hoop is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Brett Hoop For Your Post:
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:39 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 - 2023, Parkerguns.org
Copyright © 2004 Design par Megatekno
- 2008 style update 3.7 avec l'autorisation de son auteur par Stradfred.