One shy of a limit

[Quail1]

It is seldom that I carry a Parker when chasing wild chukars.
In nearly all the spots in Utah that I know, chukars are in steep often extremely rocky country. It can be very hard on guns. Most days, I will carry a CZ Bobwhite in 28 gauge or a SKB 100 20 ga. Both nice enough guns, but neither will bring tears to my eyes if and when I take a tumble.
Yesterday though, I took the 20 ga. GHE out to a hill, that is by our chukar standards - mild. I had my oldest, a Setter named Dot and my youngest, a French Brit named Cholla (Choya). Dot is 11 1/2 years and Cholla is going on 2 years. Dot steady as ever got points on 3 coveys. Cholla proceeded running them up and received a bit of electrical stimulation and a few choice words of advice!
Of the three coveys I managed 5 birds, but only retrieved four. The fifth bird landed directly in the middle of a patch of catclaw the size of a mobile home. Even though we all could see it, not one of us could get close to that bird. We all came out bloody.
A memorable day with a great dog that has fewer hunts left in her than she's already seen, a young dog with lots of piss and drive but much to learn, and a special gun that doesn't get out in the field nearly enough.

Fred