Pheasant Hunting "Springer Style"
 

The weather here in the Northeast has been very warm, up in the low seventies to mid to upper sixties. What happen to those crisp morning's with the frost covering the ground and the numb fingertips? I think back over the last thirty plus years of hunting and one cannot help but to see the changes that is taking place with our climate. Whether it is man made or not, our weather is changing. Last week, Opening day October 20, was a wet one. Hunting was slow and the dogs were having trouble picking up scent but, with some work and time we did manage to put a few birds in the air and limit out. This Saturday was dry in the mid sixties. Benny and I were up before the sun. We headed out to one of our favorite pheasant spots. As we headed in, the sun was peaking up over the hillside and it was proving to be another warm one. After crossing a stone wall, I loaded up the Parker. My Springer immediately went to work. After about twenty minutes of Benny crossing in and out of the now, browned weeds and dried wildflowers I can see though his body language that he is on the scent. Moments after picking up the initial scent, with his nose stuffed to the ground, Benny lunges. A hen, heading away from me screams out of the brush only to be knocked out of the air by a Spread-R #6 shot. After retrieving the bird, I give him a pat and a “Good Job Benny”! After placing the bird into my hunting vest, I reload and we quickly get back into the hunt. As I walk and listen to the sound of Benny’s bell, I cannot help but to look around and take in the beautiful fall colors and the view from the top of the hill looking into the valley below thinking, this is the place to be. There is a slight breeze coming up from the valley and up over the hill giving some relieve to the warm temperature as we poked our way though the underbrush. I feel we all need a place to go from time to time to forget about reality and life’s every day worries, even if it is only temporary. We now were into the hunt for about an hour and a half. Benny was picking up plenty of old scent. I decided to change tactics and head into some of the thicker areas in hopes of picking up a straggler. This proved to be fruitful. After about fifteen minutes Benny goes into his, “I’m on the scent routine”. After tracking this bird for a few minutes Benjamin produces this beautiful Rooster which cackles while it takes flight. Again, I place the ivory bead just in front of the pheasant as I gently squeeze the front trigger, a slight nudge against my shoulder and my Parker barks sending out a pattern of #6 shot folding up the bird and cutting its flight short. Through team work this limits us out for the day. I gently place the cock pheasant into my now, sweat soaked hunting vest and head for the truck. While driving home I reflect on the last couple hunts and I think to myself, this is pheasant hunting, “Springer Style”.

The first photo I enclosed is of last weeks, Opening day, "wet pheasants" and the rest are from today's hunt taken with my cell phone. The last two were taken with my camera. I also am enclosing a link for the last cock pheasant that I harvested today taken with a inexpensive hat cam that I have been playing with. I had to upload it using U-tube so I would have a link to attach it to. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvWhcVu4bRk

Way cool William!! Thanks for sharing.

Nice pictures, and a very nice dog. You are correct on the "frosty" mornings. We have not had a hard frost yet here in central NH.............very wierd.

Nice pictures, and a very nice dog. You are correct on the "frosty" mornings. We have not had a hard frost yet here in central NH.............very wierd.
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I went up to Major Waldrons in New Hampshire last New Years Day for the "Parker Shoot". We had short sleeve shirts on and not a snow flake on the ground?

no frost in mississippi yet either...that sringer type hunt was a good one from the photo s taken nice lookin dog and a beautiful parker... charlie

Very cool hat cam William. I might have to try one of those. Nice shot on that bird too. Looked like perfect pheasant cover to be hunting.

Thanks Richard, The hatcam was just a last thought moment. It is very small. The camera I am using is a, 808 HD Car Key Micro Camera (#16). They have gread reviews and are inexpensive and well built. It is the size of a car key. I was interested in a more expensive but, I thought I would give the cheaper version a try to see if it is something I am interested in. Good Hunting to you.

AHHH...THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!

I have been scouring similar cover here in So. NH without the benefit of a "Benny" of my own...looks like a great day for you both! Nice film work too!

WOW. Just think if I had one of those cams on my hat for the last 50 years. Oh well. Gerald:corn:

William, that was sweet,sweet, sweet. That hat cam is a good idea. Benny, you and the Parker make a good team. Keep up the good work.
I have to pay for a hunting preserve to hunt pheasants in so. Tx. I do love it though. The good thing is that some one else is responsable for all the
dog food, training and vet bills. I just pay my money and have a great time.
Nice Parker, by the way.:bigbye:

walt you gonna have to get you some help hunting them birds... boy do i rember some great hunts on quail when you boys post these pictures and thoughts... charlie

Well, South NH is only a stones throw away. Perhaps someday a hunt could be put together.

I went to a hunting preserve here in CT for the first time last year. Did not have my fill after the regular season closed. It was a good time and I am considering it again this year. Good hunting to you!

William;
Great photos of your dog, gun and birds. Does your little cam clip onto your hat and does it take videos? I hunted last week with a gent who had a set of the I-Kam camera glasses that were actually a set of glasses with interchangeable lenses and took excellent video pictures. Cost somewhere in the vicinity of $150. Great way to capture the special moments of the point, flush and shot. I've tried it with a hand held camera and it's virtually impossible.

I am running on generater power at the moment. I am on the shoreline and we are getting pounded. Trees down everywhere as well as power lines. I cannot even believe I can get online. I am either dedicated or addicted to the internet..lol. As for the camera I am using, it is a 808 HD Car Key Micro Camera (#16). They are inexpensive, I think I paid $50.00 for it. I am pretty impressed with it. It takes video and will also take a photo. It is very small, the size of a key. It velcros right on to the brim of your hat. Don't even know it is there. If you are interested I can send the link. Thanks for the compliments.

I'm up for hunting any time! :)

Please send me the link...might like one of them...thanks

William;
Yes please send link. I just got power back after 24hrs. Took my generator over to my parents (they are both in their 90's). We did'nt get slammed that bad, we have had much worse Hurricanes in the past. Lots of trees and branches down. Oh well, I needed firewood anyway.

OK, quick message, I just got my power back and my internet. I have a huge tree leaning on my house. Let me regroup and I will post link.. Thanks...

If you google <808 HD Car Key Micro Camera #16> you'll get a lot of hits, especially on youtube, but also on ebay. Strangely, Amazon.com doesn't seem to list them, which is very unusual for this type of thing. Seems there's cheap fakes on ebay for only $9 also. I think the originals come straight from Hong Kong for $39. There's also a few sites that blog about them, so there's lots of information out there on this particular camera.

To those who are interested in the camera that I am using. Believe it or not the only true dealer of this little camera is on ebay. They are made and shipped right from China (like everything else). Here is the link http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-DVR-808...item231ffcfda6

Sent you a PM.

PM sent back at ya!