We are finally home after a two-day road trip. It was a very satisfying two weeks that saw good bird numbers and decent bird work from the dogs. Our puppy, Rill, traveled surprisingly well and became more accustomed to her older mentors. Aspen loves her, and ten year old Alder, after sorting out some things with the puppy, has agreed to tolerate her. Having a puppy along is an interesting endeavor, and brings back other puppies from 30+ years of hunting the Northwoods.
Our best day saw us put 23 grouse in the air in just over 4 hours. Our flush rate was very good: 4.3 grouse/hour. My shooting, marred by one day of infamy where I became overanxious trying to get shots to consummate the dogs points, ended up slightly below my long term average, but still a respectable (for me!) 39%. We took a few woodcock with wings to be sent to the national "wing bee." My average on 'cock was 43%, quite a bit below my life average, but I was shooting a pretty tightly choked gun for the entire trip.
I hate to see the end of our Minnesota trips. The intervening time seems so long. We have reservations again for next Fall. Lord willing, Elaine and I and the pups will wander the Northwoods again.
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"Doubtless the good Lord could have made a better game bird than bobwhite, and better country to hunt him in...but equally doubtless, he never did." -- Guy de la Valdene (from A Handful of Feathers )
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
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