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Rich Anderson
12-19-2016, 08:44 PM
Saturday Mother Nature loosened her icy grip just enough for a friend and I to do a pheasant hunt at the Hay Marsh. It was a sunny day with very little wind even though there was a good 18 inches of powdery snow on the ground. The dogs have been cooped up since deer season started in mid November and they were anxious to stretch their legs.

We had a 160 acre CRP field to hunt in and had 10 birds released with the hope of a few strays from prior hunts. I figured the birds would hold well in the deep snow and chose an upgraded AAHE 28 with 26 inch barrels attached choked IC/M. Dave has a Parker VHE 16ga skeet that I fixed him up with via a member here.

Things were progressing nicely with two birds in the bag when Ella one of my friend Dave's English Setters bumped a big rooster out of range. The bird flew an easy 400 yards to the safety of the adjoining property so there was a missed opportunity. Our shooting was actually pretty good and the dogs were enjoying doing what they do when a shadow passed overhead. Looking up I saw a big Red Tailed Hawk also hunting for a little breakfast. The Hay Marsh provides fine dining for the hawks, owls, coyotes and the occasional eagle.

I thought little of the hawks intrusion and we continued on our way. By this time we were well on our way to having collected the 10 birds we had released and had gone back to the truck to change out the dogs, empty our vests and I need some more shells.

Dave's setter Gracie looked like a big tan and white snowball as she rolled and played in the snow but she quickly got down to business. We were slogging through the snow when she went on point. As we pushed our way into position that hawk I saw earlier flushed from where the dog was pointing. Gracie held her point and when we got close she picked up a very warm but very dead hen. We had interrupted the hawks breakfast. It had made a clean kill but hadn't had the time to start eating any of the bird. We stuffed it our game bag. This time the ground hunters won out. That was bird number 9 and though we made a couple more big swings around a wood lot and some pond edges no more birds were located.

I have hunted the Hay Marsh for at least 20 years and a hawk kill evidenced by the scattered feathers is a common sight but I have never gotten the upper hand on one until that day. I bet he's still mad over that one.:rotf:

calvin humburg
12-20-2016, 06:00 AM
:) So you ment you verses the bird. You will never be the Hunter the hawk is. I mean you bought birds had them planter and used dogs to find them. Went home and ate your grocery store food, you pork eater.

Rich Anderson
12-20-2016, 08:31 AM
IMHO hunting released birds is still hunting. The dog doesn't care and unfortunately its jus t the way of the world here. A wild pheasant in Michigan is about as rare as a winning lotto ticket.

Phil Yearout
12-20-2016, 09:55 AM
Don't mean to steal your thread, but a somewhat related story: A few years ago my bro-in-law and I were walking a fence row and knocked down a pheasant. We headed after it when a hawk swooped in and nailed it on the ground. The rooster didn't give up easily - they were rolling on the ground like two cats fighting! I don't know if the hawk decided the meal was too much trouble or if he saw us coming but he finally gave up. We collected the bird, which was none the worse for wear (other than being shot of course). We always wished we'd had the foresight to whip out a cell phone and get that on video!

Eric Eis
12-20-2016, 11:01 AM
:) So you ment you verses the bird. You will never be the Hunter the hawk is. I mean you bought birds had them planter and used dogs to find them. Went home and ate your grocery store food, you pork eater.

Calvin, here in Michigan we are not as lucky as you, you have wild birds, here we don't (and don't believe our DNR :cuss: ) So if you want to hunt your dogs we have few options once the grouse season closes or as this year's weather too cold in Dec and it's not fair to push the grouse in that kind of weather. I have hunted at the Hay Marsh and it is just about as close as you can get to wild bird hunting on a preserve as you can get.

Dean Romig
12-20-2016, 11:35 AM
:) So you ment you verses the bird. You will never be the Hunter the hawk is. I mean you bought birds had them planter and used dogs to find them. Went home and ate your grocery store food, you pork eater.



:rotf::biglaugh:




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Daryl Corona
12-20-2016, 04:14 PM
About 40+ years ago I was squirrel hunting and just after daybreak I knocked down a busytail. Not wanting to move I waited about 10 mins. and after seeing no more activity I walked over to the spot where he dropped. Leaving my rifle propped up against a tree next to my stool I eased over. Coming around a big Hickory tree I come face to face with a monster skunk which had begun chomping on my prize. He saw me at the same time I saw him. I don't know who was more surprised. Not having my rifle there was'nt much I could do but slowly retreat. He grabbed the squirrel and lumbered away leaving me squirrel-less my stink free. Lesson is- always carry your weapon when you are moving. How many of you have gotten out of your duck blind or goose pit to relieve yourself or to rearrange your decoys only to look up and see one or more birds with their wings cupped gliding into your spread?

Dean Romig
12-20-2016, 06:03 PM
A good friend climbed down from his tree stand leaving his bow hanging up there by his stand. He had just pulled his pants up and buckled up when the dominant buck he had been waiting for walked up to within twenty yards of him...... BUSTED!!






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calvin humburg
12-21-2016, 09:22 AM
Did not mean putting out birds was not hunting, that is great fun. at least u know u will find some

edgarspencer
12-21-2016, 10:14 AM
Hawks get an undeserved bad rap. If there were more in England, the Black (Bubonic) plague might have been less devastating. The disappearance of Grouse in CT had very little to do with Hawks. I love watching the little ones fledge each spring around here and field mice are all but gone now.

Harold Lee Pickens
12-21-2016, 10:18 AM
Going out after pheasants this afternoon. They were turned loose Nov 1, and are as wild as March hares now. Last time out, some were getting up 100 yds in front of the dogs, and rarely flush a bird on initial point as they are running big time.
Young dog Fancy acts as if she is hurting, whining and yiping when I pick her up. Havent hunted her in 10 days, hopefully nothing, but will take to vet if she doesnt seem better tomorrow. Betty will get the call today.
Also, something new for me--flocks of sandhill cranes were flying over on Sunday while deer hunting--have never seen them around here before.
GH 16 will be carried today.

Dean Romig
12-21-2016, 10:54 AM
Well, red-tails aren't so much of a problem for the grouse where I hunt but barred owls, and goshawks do a number on them both day and night.






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edgarspencer
12-21-2016, 11:54 AM
Go Betty!

David Fishley
12-22-2016, 11:31 AM
I had a similar experience as the OP but instead of a hawk it was a raven. The pheasant although wounded in the wing mounted an offensive and the raven left empty handed. Plucky bird but no match for a load of #4.

David Fishley
12-22-2016, 11:35 AM
Red tail hawks are no match for a pheasant on the wing. The OP's red tail was a lucky opportunist. Up here it is the coopers, goshawks and great horned owls that my club is plagued with.

Dean Romig
12-22-2016, 11:39 AM
Where is "up here" David?





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David Fishley
12-22-2016, 12:11 PM
Calgary, Alberta, CA -Goose season closed yesterday and club pheasants starts today and ends the end of March. Unfortunately my Parker is still in your country enjoying the spa and doing a facial.

Dean Romig
12-22-2016, 12:35 PM
Wouldn't it be nice if there were a special dispensation allowed to folks who simply send their C&R guns back and forth across the border for repairs only?





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King Brown
12-22-2016, 04:40 PM
We have a lot of bald eagles in our area, our property has two nests bringing out two new ones each year. While duck hunting, it's not uncommon for eagles to come after daylight, perch in dead trees and wait for action from the blind. Dead and crippled birds are often picked up by eagles before they can be retrieved.

Craig Larter
12-22-2016, 04:50 PM
We have many bald eagles here in western NY. They patrol our marsh daily. I have had them come into my decoy spread looking for a meal.

David Fishley
12-22-2016, 06:46 PM
Aye, the bald eagles are ubiquitous. They fly off the river and follow the ducks out to feed. I had one try to pick up a dead duck on me the other day but for some reason he dropped it. A year ago I had a snowy owl attack a wounded goose. It made the best of the goose. Many years ago while hunting ducks over a pond I saw a merlin grab a killdeer out of mid-air. The killdeer was quite unhappy as it squawked mightily before it died. I suppose I am lucky to see these events but I do spend many days afield.