[mobirdhunter]

Sitting in the Cabin on a rainy Halloween second guessing myself as I always do. We took the morning off yesterday to replenish supplies in town, intending to hunt the late afternoon in some coverts we've been saving. Alas, the rain set in during the afternoon yesterday.

We did have one gloriously beautiful weather day, the kind you don't want to end, no matter how tired you are or how many miles you've walked. We got up birds -- nothing to write home about -- but just being out was a pleasure. The day was made extra special by Rill providing me a chance to blood a new gun. Even more special because three birds flushed, and I thought I missed my two shots only to have Rill find the left barrel bird dead for me.

Photos:

1. A rare point along the trail, but the bird walked off and flushed about 30 yards out -- pretty common this year. It does get the heart pounding, whatever the outcome.

2. The locals say the area is in drought, but we apparently brought the rain. The day after and all day "blow" resulted in one of those rare jewels that make it a pleasure to be out.

3&4. We got a few grouse, but the revisiting of old coverts was part of the joy of the hunt. Some of grown out and been re-cut a couple of times...which reminds me how long we've been coming here.

5&6. The end of a near perfect weather day. We ooo'd and ahhh'd our way through the afternoon, Elaine taking photos and Aspen irritated that we were moving too slow. The day also gifted me a grouse with the first shots from a new gun.

7. I take the dogs out each morning early to a local gravel pit where they can run to their hearts' content. There's always something to see, like this day's sunrise. How many people get this privilege?

8. Happy Halloween!