My first hunt over a bird dog (not mine) was back in the 70's I believe it was a wirehaired pointer maybe a griffon? This couple also trained beagles and had gotten me started with beagles so they invited me for a grouse hunt. The couple explained to me that when the dog went on point I would walk up next to the dog and if the bird hadn't flushed by then I should keep walking in front of the dog until the bird flushed or they would tell me what to do next. On his first point that day I got just in front of the dog about 6 or 7 grouse flew up in front of me I took my shot and 2 grouse fell. Patty said to her husband did you see that, Bob replied yep (he was a man of few words) Patty said Ed you shot 2 birds with one shot! I said yep I like to do that, it saves on shells
Patty told me again, you got 2 birds with one shot, I said yeah I only brought 3 shells with me to get my limit of 5 birds. Finally the man of few words started laughing so hard he unloaded his gun and sat down shaking his head. They were my mentors, I miss them dearly. Fast forward to our brittany Johnny Cash, opening day of our first hunt together cash found 8 grouse and a woodcock, I was floating when I got home, not really believing what happened, twice I could not even shoot I was so engrossed in seeing my dog work. It took about 3 weeks to get my first grouse with cash I finally figured how to get myself into a more open shot when in heavy cover. The grouse literally skyrocketed across a small poplar slashing a left to right shot, I just remember the barrel getting in front of the bird and the bird falling. I had to unload my gun I was so excited, I called cash over and he sniffed at the bird and started hunting again. I will never forget that moment, I remember the exact spot I got that bird, I hunt that slashing often, the trees are now a mile high it seems compared to 3 years ago.
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