New Year's Day Pheasant Hunt
 

Hunted yesterday morning for Pheasants with Jefferson. We hunted a much larger field than we typically do so it took us some time to cover. I also let Jefferson range a bit more than I usually do because of the full and full chokes.

Each bird I took only required one shot and all were around 30 to 40 yards with RST 2.5" #6 shot. No bird was damaged beyond any typical head shot. The two flushes Jefferson got in front of me I simply waited until they started to plane off a bit then let 'em have it. The one crosser I had was already out there and somehow I was able to put some lead in front of him. I have to say I really liked these full chokes yesterday...a lot. I couldn't have been happier with the way this gun handled and shot.

All in all it was a great way to spend New Year's Day. Happy New Year and best of luck in 2014!

Sounds like a great day for the three of you. You've got a good team there.

Thanks Dean. Yes we all had a good time. There were times yesterday when I wished I had another gun and another dog though. LOL We got it done.

looks like a happy new year there

Nice-looking dog. What's the breeding?

He's an English Springer Spaniel from a breeder in PA. Breeding shows American FC and UK FTC in his immediate lineage. He is fearless and shows more drive than our last springer but I loved hunting them both equally the same.

Springers are great. I used to gun Springer Trials. I still think trial gunning is the most difficult shotgunning there is. It's about gunning for the dogs, not for the gun

I'm intrigued by this. I did not put either of our dogs through FT competition only because I wanted a hunting companion and wasn't worried about the designation. The gunning qualifying is something new to me. Very cool and certainly looks very demanding.

Congratulations on a great hunt and a great dog as well.

Dennis