Hunting without Parkers

[MarketHunter]

I can say, without even lying, that I did something similar once. Now I will say the bird was crippled, so that did help me out a lot I'm sure.

A high school friend and I were quail hunting down at home with a new dog he'd just gotten. We'd had a point on a small covey and both knocked down a bird. Mine was a crippled runner and I happened to see it going off down a corn stubble row so gave chase. The dog was a ways off looking for the bird he knocked down so not much help.

The bird stopped under some cover and I managed to catch up with it. Just as I got there it flushed towards me (it was nearly under my feet) and on reflex I stuck out my hand managing to actually catch it. My friend saw it happen but didn't quite realize what went on till I walked over to him with the live quail still in my hand.

With that same friend on another occasion we were running a pair of dogs and had something happen I doubt I ever see again. The lead dog pointed and the younger dog backed just as it should. We walked in and jumped a small covey, again both knocking down a bird. The dogs both went out and picked the birds up then turned to come back and almost simultaneously pointed again, both holding a dead quail in their mouths. We stood there amazed for a second them walked in jumping a tight holding single which I believe my friend killed. If I'd have had a camera on me I'd have made the cover of Field and Stream with that shot.


DLH