Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Cronkhite
Would sure like another day afield with Dad but........so I take out his guns every once in a while and shoot a rooster for him and remember good times.
Cheers,
Jack
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Not often one quotes oneself. Today was a bright, sunny day but cold (-20 Celsius). Decided to try a "tribute to Dad" day. It was short, left home with Kay at 1:30pm and arrived at a favorite spot around 2:45. Left around 6:00pm and back home by 7:30.
I took Dad's SKB XL900 12ga semi-auto (I did take the GHE but as back-up this time). CHARLIE and KYRA hopped out and had little patience for me fumbling with mittens to load three Winchester Super X long range 1 1/4 oz. #6 shot. (Apparently antique or vintage, but to me sort of new - purchased a case in the late 70's or early 80's and still have three boxes so how can they be antique). We wandered through some weeds and along a couple hedge rows. It was tough going. The snow wasn't particularly deep but it had a hard crust that broke through with every step. The other problem with snow is the bird tracks everywhere. I kept expecting birds to flush but canine noses kept telling me that I needn't be tensed and at the ready. We finished that spot without seeing a bird. Next was to drop onto the creek right at the bridge as the snow was not deep there, like it was at most other access points. Today, I was able to walk on water with the creek being frozen solid. CHARLIE was getting birdy through the cat tails. I could see the air fill with fluff from time to time and I picked up my pace, as best I could without ice skates. The ice maker for a hockey rink could not have done better than mother nature had. The creek was like glass and the co-efficient of friction for my boot soles was zero I'd guess. CHARLIE was about 15 yards ahead of me and KYRA was beside me and decided she better join CHARLIE. As she raced to catch up with her pack mate, the rooster flushed. SKB shouldered, trigger pulled, rooster down, CHARLIE right on it and KYRA closing fast. CHARLIE told KYRA in no uncertain terms that she had no claim to this one. CHARLIE then picked up the rooster and for the first time did not just drop it to say here it is, come and get it if you want it. Nope, this time CHARLIE and rooster were putting distance between us. I called her. She stopped and looked at me and then almost came back to me. She dropped the rooster about ten feet away and made sure once again that KYRA knew to keep her distance - nothing fierce, just one of those "get your attention" growls. I guess that's progress. Maybe she'll eventually do a full retrieve but I really don't care, as long as the birds are not lost and she has definitely taken care of that. Now, if one could read the future, even the next couple hours, I would have headed to the car, loaded up and come home around 4:00pm as all that happened for the next two hours was a lot of hiking and two hens spotted. But hey, it was a fine time anyway.
So, this was Dad's rooster and the next time out will be back to Parkers as both starter and back-up.
UPDATE: On the eat heartily front this rooster cubed and fast fried in the wok. A few veggies and some quinoa boiled in pheasant broth made for a meal. Dessert? Banana/chocolate/nut muffins - a team effort between Kay and I.
Cheers,
Jack