Hunting From Home

[mobirdhunter]

It's been an of-and-on bird season hunting from home so far. We spent some days in Iowa to escape our firearms deer season here in Missouri, and encountered some pheasants for the first time in a long time. This is the 100th anniversary of Iowa's first pheasant season, and the DNR says bird numbers are high this year. We have certainly seen more. Too early to tell on the quail, but I suspect an uptick on them also.

Photos:

1&2. We had lots of "chances" like photo number 1 where, when the birds flushed, they were screened by heavy cover. But, every now and then we caught a break as in photo 2 where, when you walked up, you knew you had no excuses for missing (I'm still working on some new ones, however).

3. I don't generally go after pheasants, but leave those for the armies of the drive and block crowd, so I have to shoot'em close, using an open choked 20 gauge. This is my 1918 DHE 30 incher, a quail gun if ever there was one.

4. Our Thanksgiving Day hunt was one to be thankful for. In an hour, hunting near home, we found two large, obviously un-hunted, coveys. We took a bird from each and headed home to watch the Chiefs lose (okay, the day wasn't perfect). We'll judiciously re-visit this farm during the remainder of the season.

5. My pups are what I like to call sporadic retrievers. They will dig'em out when I can't find them, or dive in to catch a cripple, but otherwise, "Dad, you can fetch your own birds." Aspen taught Rill this un-civil behavior. I just live with it. They find and point birds for me. I guess I'm in the Ben Williams school on this.

6. My Thanksgiving Day limit with a grand gun, made for quail by a Kentucky gentleman I never met, but have much in common with.

7. Thanksgiving in the booming town of Browning, Missouri, typical of the dying farm towns here where the population is smaller than it was in 1900. Sad to see the towns die, but I don't mind the solitude. I've never seen anyone in their park, but it is decorated every year. I ponder how many things that says.

[Rick Roemer]

Great post. Especially pic 4 and 6. Glad you were able to get out and find them.

[Andy]

Love the photos and thank you!

[Reggie B]

As always, your photos and narratives are top notch! Very enjoyable.

[Chris Pope]

Wonderful pictures! Beautiful pups and birds! And a tip of the hat to your photographer!

Do you hunt those two together or rotate them?

[Richard Whitfield]

Beautiful photos and a stunning gun. Shooting wild quail with a Parker 20g is on my bucket list.

[Harold Pickens]

Only been out once after quail on the WMA's since I got back from the UP. Deer season keeps me from running the dogs, it's legal, but just don't like running them while people are about with high power rifles. I did move several covies, I'll start back again next week.

[mobirdhunter]

Decided to head South about 2 hours to find less snow. First time this year on this farm. A brutal cold front came in during our afternoon as we started in 38 degree weather and left early as the wind hit 30 mph and the temperature had already dropped 10 degrees.

The good news: we found three large coveys of un-hunted birds. The not so good news: I managed 2 birds with 7 shots(!)

Chris, I do occasionally hunt the pups together, depending on the cover. They honor each other well, but Rill, prima donna that she is, wants to push out too far, bringing Aspen with her. Hunting fence rows, this is not good as this old man and his wife can't keep up (and birds rarely hold the time it takes me to stumble up). No more field trials for my aging bones.

Harold, we expect reports of your quail hunting in WV. Those darned deer seasons can steal some good days from us.

[Reggie B]

.285 batting average in the big leagues would keep you in the rotation Garry. Don't despair.

[Dean Weber]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

A brutal cold front came in during our afternoon as we started in 38 degree weather and left early as the wind hit 30 mph and the temperature had already dropped 10 degrees.

I wish I could get some brutal 38 degree weather! As I pack up dogs and gear this morning, headed out to hunt.....it is -4.