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11-04-2018, 12:41 PM | #53 | ||||||
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Here's a postscript to our hunt. We are now home after one of the best October hunts we've had in years.
Jeff promised to send me a picture of the Black Duck of Black Duck, and true to his word, he did. A real pleasure to meet another Parker man. I'm still hoping that another Northwoods hunter will post a report or photo to help ease the pain of another October gone. On to the quail cover of Missouri! Photos: 1. The Black Duck of Black Duck (Thanks, Jeff!!) 2. Cedar in Cabin #6...I assume dreaming of grouse, the Northwoods, and next October. 3. An October sky, something to remember until next year. There are far too few Octobers
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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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11-09-2018, 12:56 PM | #54 | ||||||
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I have been swamped at work, and physically beat up since my return from 2 weeks in the UP. It was a great trip, with a few snafu's. I had better weather than those of you who headed north early in Oct., but still was a little wet.
My main goal was to get my 2 female 15 mo old setters, Willie and Doodle into birds. Goal Accomplished!! I took up 2 greenhorn pups and brought back 2 birddogs. It took the first week to really get them going, but oh my, when the light went on in their pretty little heads, they took off exponentially. I could rely on getting several shots each day over their solid points--they could not rely on me making those shots, however enough were made to make them happy. This was all on grouse, as the woodcock had pretty much departed. Besides finding birds, they will now automatically Back each other, or my other dogs, they also are nicely retrieving, and did a good job of finding "dead" birds that did not cleanly drop. The old reliable veterans Betty and Fancy did there usual good jobs as expected. Betty at 14 still amazes me with her grit and determination--she cant hear, but nothing wrong with her full choke nose. I mostly used my little VHE 20. A beat up little gun whose original 28" tubes were cut to 26.5, no finish left on this gun, but so comfortable to carry and shoot. A little German 16 hammer( 5 lbs 13 oz) with 30" cyl/F was the only other gun used. I had fish dinner one Friday night with Rich Anderson, at the Ace of Clubs bar in Sagola, and got to see Kenny Graft also. I hunt long and hard, and into the second week knew something just wasnt right. I used to run marathons for Sh*ts and giggles, and now felt like I was at high altitude and couldnt get enough oxygen, and my chest was aching. Basically developed a walking pneumonia, and left one day early to come home. Not to worry, I am back to my old self, and ready to head off to Kansas after pheasant and quail. Well, enough of my drivel, I will post a few pics each day of the trip. Hope you enjoy! Willie's first grouse culminating a retrieve to hand. Doodle's first grouse also retrieved. Willie looks like a magazine cover on point--hard to take pics when a young dog is pointing like that!
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"How kind it is that most of us will never know when we have fired our last shot"--Nash Buckingham |
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The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to Harold Lee Pickens For Your Post: |
11-09-2018, 01:03 PM | #55 | ||||||
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Betty and Fancy--dont know if they really like me, or just want the treats in my pocket.
Betty wit th only woodcock I shot at on the trip
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"How kind it is that most of us will never know when we have fired our last shot"--Nash Buckingham |
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The Following 12 Users Say Thank You to Harold Lee Pickens For Your Post: |
11-09-2018, 01:49 PM | #56 | ||||||
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My friend Terry, going in over one of Fancy's points. When not hunting birds with me, or persuing monster whitetails, he may be your pilot when you fly United Airlines.
The view from the living room Of camp. Terry shoots an old Berretta BL4 20 ga, that was his high school grad present.
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"How kind it is that most of us will never know when we have fired our last shot"--Nash Buckingham |
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The Following 13 Users Say Thank You to Harold Lee Pickens For Your Post: |
11-09-2018, 02:29 PM | #57 | ||||||
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Harold...sounds like an awesome trip minus the crud! Glad you're back to normal. Love it when a pup turns the lights on!
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The Following User Says Thank You to Shawn Wayment For Your Post: |
11-09-2018, 04:36 PM | #58 | ||||||
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Yep, for me the best time in a dog's life is when the light bulb comes on for a pup. It sure is an exhilarating time for me and I think for the dog as well.
Good to hear your trip went reasonably well. |
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11-09-2018, 05:27 PM | #59 | ||||||
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Hey, Harold,
Glad to see your posts and the wonderful pictures. Sorry about the health issue you experienced, but it sounds as if your trip was a great success otherwise. To have your pups into wild birds is like a booster shot of experience for them. I sure enjoyed your pictures. Those are beautiful dogs. It's snowing and the temperatures are dropping quickly here in Northern Missouri. We'll pause from quail hunting for the deer opener tomorrow, but will head to Iowa for some bird hunting next week. I think you should encounter cooler weather in Kansas over the next few weeks. I hope you'll post more news of that hunt also. Did you get to hunt over Kenny's Gordon? I've corresponded with him several times and have seen pictures of her (Miss Ruby as I recall). Good luck with your future 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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11-09-2018, 05:40 PM | #60 | ||||||
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Harold i look forward to everyone's hunting posts but none as much as yours. Great dogs and photos, thank you and good luck in Kansas.
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