[mobirdhunter]

We are headed home today, a two day drive. Yesterday was, for me, a perfect ending to a wonderful trip. Because of the snow on the ground and the blustery conditions that greeted us in the morning, I decided to wait until noon to begin our hunt, thinking the birds would have time to move out of the cover of conifers to feed after the snow squalls of the day before. Things started the way they'd gone for us much of the preceding week -- flushes, but no chances. We had hunted through a cut and found ourselves on a trail that we had hunted years before. The cover was older now and it did not look good to me. Elaine insisted we hunt it, telling me there were birds ahead. I half-heartedly gave in...and within 50 yards Aspen locked up in a small opening of ferns. The bird tried to sneak out around the only spruce in the area, but the CHE 20, my third Parker used on the trip, took it just in time. Farther down the trail Aspen again pointed, this time on a hillside of frost-singed ferns. For one brief second, I thought I was back in Missouri hunting Bobs, when a covey of 5 grouse got up in unison. It's rare that grouse get up at the same time, at least in numbers like that. There's usually a straggler or two. I managed to keep some composure and hit a bird that fluttered off. I took a line on the bird, brought in Aspen to "hunt dead," and watched with pride as my "young man" brought the bird to hand. Moral of the story: listen to your wife.

It started to snow just then, so we worked out way back to the truck and then to the warmth of the Cabin. Although we did not kill lots of birds (not a goal of mine), we had good flush rates, great dog work for a pup working towards his PhD., and had the privilege to use 3 wonderful Parker small bores.

Our flush rate for the 16 days was just over 3.5 birds/hour, and my shooting was just a smidgen over 50% (pretty good for me on grouse). We had some incredibly beautiful weather, and managed to walk quite a few miles in some stunning cover.

We've already made our reservations for next October for Cabin #6.

Photos:

1. Elaine and I smiled a good deal watching Aspen on this trip. He matured right before our eyes, and was not the same dog at the end of the trip that we saw at the beginning. And he had fun -- you could see it in his every move. It's hard not to take on some of the joy of your pup.

2. I've never had a brood/covey of grouse get up all at the same time like quail, but on this hillside of dead ferns, I experienced something for the first time. I'm not sure just how I was able to hit one bird when they rocketed out of the ferns. I'd say good shooting, but good luck would be more accurate. The icing on the cake was Aspen's find and delivery. He hates to stop and pose (as do I), always wanting to get going after more birds.

3. This little 1918 CHE 20 is a delight to shoot and carry, and probably fits me -- and my idea of a bird gun -- as well as any gun I have. I'm grateful to its previous caretaker for letting it go. (wink-wink)

4. Aspen's birds, as he clearly lets us know. The coloration on these birds was incredible. The (what I call) mid-phase color, and red-orange are not often encountered. I would like to have seen the color on the other birds in that brood.