Some birds on another cold winter day
 

I try to shoot sporting clays at least once a week but it’s been tough for the last month or so. We haven’t had tons of snow here in my part of northeast PA but many days started with below zero temps which along with the wind have kept my shooting gang at home. It was minus 9 yesterday morning. Not much fun shooting in heavy gloves and when breath condenses on your shooting glasses. This morning it was “balmy” at 15-degrees when I drove out to Rock Mountain; many of you know that's nearby Ernie Hausmann’s Hidden Hollow - site of the NE Side x Side every June. I saw three grouse all fluffed up under a hemlock and fired up my cell camera. Not the best pics especially through the tinted windshield but there are three grouse here. Birds are probably thinking ..... this guy doesn't have a gun, why waste my energy trying to flush while this brutal winter is going on? Enjoy!

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/...pswq3kkrno.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4vm0aqqy.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/...psh0f5rdny.jpg

I hope they all survive the winter and propagate in the spring and that spring conditions everywhere are optimal for chick survival.

Nice shot Frank.
It reminded me of a 1940's puzzle that I had framed and hangs in our dining room by artist Aiden Lassel Ripley.

lovely...charlie

Great pictures!

I hope sure the population isn't hurt too bad because of the weather.

PopPop

Man i was just looking at this print. Fred, you can buy the print to go with your framed puzzle

http://www.gunsinternational.com/GRO...n_id=100299555

Frank, good to see some birds. I have seen but one since the close of the season. The bird numbers in my stomping grounds have been down for several years now. I am hoping for a good hatch year as well.

Yea, I too try to shoot weekly but this winter has definitely put a crimp on things. I'm going Sunday to shoot 5-stand regardless the weather. I'm going through withdrawal-loading all these shells and no chance to shoot them.

Same here Gary. I shoot every Sunday but I haven,t for the past three weeks. I will this Sunday come hell or high water.

its not going to be high water that is the problem :rolleyes:

at least not until it warms up


I remember a bad winter - before clays showed up- and I lived in an area of western NY visited by Lake Erie lake affect snow bands, we dug shooting pits to the pads on the skeet and trap courses - cut steps in the snow and you stood there with waist deep snow around you like a shooting butt.

Dean, I hope they make it through the winter too. They're just over the hill from us and they need to come over into our grouse/woodcock habitat project!!

Hey Mike ya gotta know most all grouse hunters will lie about where the birds are. :bigbye:

Shooting day at the Rock yesterday. Here's a nice cock bird "nearby" there. Another cell phone pic from the truck, not the best but look at that tail.

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/...pstszo4woh.jpg

wow....charlie

I haven't shot a clay target since last fall. Saturday Daisy and I were on our way to the Post Office and saw two rooster pheasants along the road. On the way back I slowed down for a car behind me as they were just hanging on the edge of the road picking gravel. I haven't seen a wild Pheasant in quite some time.