[Harold Pickens]

Tuff finding birds today. Carrying the Parker O frame Quality 0 with 26" Twist steel barrels.First bird ran forever, despite me walking in on several points. Finally flushed, but out of my comfort range to shoot. Later in the morning, dogs were working another runner thru switchgrass, I stepped out onto the od farm lane and the bird got up in back of me. The only shot available was the old up-the-butt pheasant shot. Saw the bird rock, and a leg drop--and cursed myself, figuring it was going to be a tough recovery. Looked like the bird would be in an autumn olive/multiflora hell hole, so the dogs and I went in after it The dogs did not show any indication, but I suddenly spotted it with wings outstretched under an old oak. If the bird hadnt been still quite warm, I might have thought it was someone else's bird that was lost.