A mature Rooster is a true "die-hard' bird. I've had that happen several times-hard to believe that a colorful "Ditch Parrot" bird related possibly to a peacock can do a Houdini after crashing to Terra Firma. About 15 years ago with my old Lab "Ace" my partner had a bootstrap shot, a big Rooster right out in front, went down in a sea of feathers- and "Ace" would bring you back Irwin Rommel on a platter of sauerbraten- he was that good a retriever-but that bird dug a hole apparently and went back to his native land of China via a hole he pulled in closed behind him-not a trace anywhere- Just a few weeks ago (Sat 17th) at the pick-up shoot up at Marion MI- I went with two gentlemen from Midland and their 3 year old GSP "Maverick" darn fine big dog, solid and sure on point, not quite finished as a retriever, but coming along in that area. He jacked up on a bird in the sorghum patch, Jim flushed it and got off a shot which rocked the bird in the air, it arced over towards my edge and I gave it both barrels from a 12 gauge ejector grade double made in Fulton NY-and at the second shot it dropped like a Lead Dirigible-money in the bank, right? Not so- the only bird the dog worked for us- 20 minutes in the area, back and forth in a "Hard target search that would have pleased Tommy Lee Jones in Fugitive"--and NaDa- no bird-mystery indeed, but I believe you 100% because I do have "been there and done that"- shame too, as whether a native Rooster or a Preserve bird, we are not looking to feed the foxes or coyotes or feral cats in our hunting trips- but, it happens.
