Pheasant in NY with my VH Parker

[Richard Flanders]

Sometimes the grouse must be crossing with pheasants guys. When Trigg and I hunted in Minnesota on one day in particular everyone came back with stories of ruffies running like sprinters and leaving the dogs there with nothing. I watched one do it and thought I was chasing a rabbit through the woods but it turned out to be a ruffie hauling arse like a rooster pheasant, hopping logs and covering ground faster than I could run through heavy conifer forest, leaving the dog on a gorgeous solid point! I couldn't believe it. We had so many points that day that produced nothing that we were doubting the dogs. When released they'd trail and bump a bird 50-100 yds out. I'm used to Alaskan ruffies slowly moving away from a solid point but these guys were sprinting and most definitely waiting for us. New to me for sure.