Blooding a New Gun

[mobirdhunter]

To blood a new gun one needs: a. the gun, b. a place to hunt with the gun (which, obviously, holds birds) and, c. dogs willing to "point the way."

All of those ingredients came to together this past week on a couple of hunts as I took my new CSMC Fox out in our North Missouri covers. We had a wide range of weather and cover, and two pups more than willing to help their old man on his mission to blood his new gun.

The gun is a DE Special (thanks, Josh!) that I know was made for quail (it even says so on the gun). This little 20 gauge is a delight to carry and sports a covey of quail in its engraving. I went 4 for 5 over several hunts, including a double (with only one shot). I'm blessed to have places to use such a gun, and equally blessed to have my wife and pups along to share the experience.

Photos:

1. Eight year old Aspen pointed this single (look hard to see it trying to escape us to the left) from a large covey that flushed wild. Unfortunately, Aspen tore his a back leg knee meniscus on this hunt and will be out for some time. As a guy who counts his days and feels lucky to have a few ahead after losing so many to cancer treatment, and knowing how short a dog's life is, this is a very worrisome situation.

2. The first outing with a new gun is special, and to take a bird even more so.

3&4. I don't try for doubles anymore, but if a second bird wants to be included in the shot, so be it. I seldom take more than two birds on a hunt, but doubling with one shot is a nice way to end a hunt.

5. Hunts are made even more special by the setting. Elaine and I could not believe the beauty of the sky on this brisk day. The dogs became impatient with our constant stopping to admire the sky. Missouri may not be "Big Sky" country, but it suits us just fine.