Hunter VS Hunter
 

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:

:) 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.

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.

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!

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.

:rotf::biglaugh:




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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?

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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Did not mean putting out birds was not hunting, that is great fun. at least u know u will find some

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.