Prospect Hall 12/30/23

[Harold Pickens]

2023 ended with a bang! Was not planning on hunting today, but no sense sitting around the house watching football. Decided to do a little prospecting and hunt some new areas on the wildlife management area for West Virginia quail. After today, I now have 9 coveys located. Doodle found a big covey, with Fancy backing, within 100 yds of the truck. A covey of 15 or so birds exploded and I dropped a left, then right true double with the little Ugartechea 28 ga with 27" IC/M barrels. Had several points on the singles but passed as I was only 5 minutes into the hunt and 3 birds is the limit.
Found a second covey about a half mile away along a grown up gas transmission line, both dogs pointing birds when about 6 birds got up and I managed to drop the initial flusher. So, I just went 3 for 3, and went 3 for 4 on Friday---shooting far above my pay grade! Helps make up for my poor shooting in the UP this year. Swung back around to the truck, put up Doodle and Fancy and move down the road a little. I put out big running but staunch Willie, and traded the 28 ga for a walking stick. Willie had a beautiful intense point on another small covey, and later on some singles---why does it always look so easy when you are not carrying a gun. Moving on into some old spoil banks , Willie pointed some birds in heavy cover that went out as I tried to go in, dont know how many there were.
It had been spitting snow all day, but now turned to rain and at 37 degrees, I decided to call it a day.
A Happy and blessed New Year to all my Parker friends.
pictures to follow: