Hunted a farm about 2 hours Southwest of us today, probably our last Missouri bird hunt until after the firearms deer season. Beautiful day -- upper 30s, relatively light winds, and good ground moisture for scenting. We found a large covey almost within the shadow of the truck, but in stuff so tall and thick I could not get a shot. Alder was persistent and the beeper let me know she was busy and thorough in the heavy cover. She pointed several singles which the DHE 20 did its job on like it has since I first blooded it last year. After lunch in the truck (a bit too cold to sit on the tailgate unfortunately--one of my favorite parts of hunting) we took Aspen out for the afternoon. He roaded a running covey for about a hundred yards before the birds went up wild, but within range of the left barrel. He finished out the afternoon early with another find and two retrieves.
Heading back to the truck we cut across a bean field and stopped at a large cement and rock slab that we'd seen from a distance every time we've hunted this farm, but never investigated. Apparently there are old graves in this field and this structure was created to preserve the site. No other indication of a homestead or evidence of more graves -- just two marble markers for young children. It was a sobering moment as we paused at these grave markers. The history of the land and the human connection with it is written in many ways.
We'll prepare for Saturday's deer opener tomorrow, and I may sit the afternoon with the bow in case a buck decides to show himself.
Best of luck to my fellow PGCA hunter colleagues!
Photo Key:
1. Alder pointed this single (she's just in front of me hidden by the heavy cover). Elaine managed to get the point, flush, and shot in a "live" photo from which this picture was lifted. You can see the bird just at the end of the gun barrel.
2. Aspen roading a running covey. I was pleased with the progress he showed today. The cover was very heavy, but he hit it with enthusiasm and found the two birds I shot for him. Elaine worked hard at cleaning out all of the debris he picked up in his eyes. Alder was bloody from her tour of duty. Tough on the dogs, but quail are where you find them.
3. This slab is at the crest of a rise in a good sized bean field. We've walked by it many times over the years thinking it was part of a foundation for an old grain silo. By happenstance we walked to it and discovered the two gravestones of children from the mid-19th Century.
4. Sobering evidence of the harsh life in the early days of life on the prairie. We frequently collect more than just birds on our hunts.
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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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