Last Week, Last Gasp...

[mobirdhunter]

After a New Year's Day snow storm that was followed by days of single digit highs and ice packed back roads, the last week of the Missouri bird season warmed and the snow melted. In spite of a foot injury to Aspen that kept him sidelined for a day, we managed to hunt four of the last five days of the season (it's snowing today with about 8 inches on the ground as I write this on our official last day of the season).

We revisited some farms where we had "saved" coveys for just such days -- balmy and sunny -- and then just made it out before the ice began to fall yesterday, a foggy, but beautifully still day. We probably had as many bird contacts and bird work from the dogs on these four days as we had all of the last couple of weeks. If it has to end, I'm glad it ended with birds.

Here are some photos from our last days...

1-3. Elaine got some nice shots from a covey we caught out in the foxtail that got up in waves. I'd taken 4 birds from this covey this season, so I only took one on the rise and let the remaining ten or so serve as photo models.

4. After the bitter weather of the preceding week, the critters were out and about on these warming days. Fortunately no skunks, but lots of possums.

5. It amazes me that the backroads can keep a sheet of thick ice on them long after the snow melts. They are treacherous then, and later, when they thaw and the clay turns to muck -- "slicker'n snot on a doorknob" as an old hunting buddy used to say. Still, on a day like this, it's just nice to be out with the dog (Alder, in this case) and, of course, Elaine.

6. Alder got in on some of the action on a large covey that had obviously evaded us on earlier hunts to this farm. She is so different from Aspen that sometimes they don't seem to be the same breed of dog. She sure likes her birds, though, and goes harder than any dog I've ever hunted behind. Many days I can't keep up with her(!)

7. In one hour of hunting yesterday, Aspen had 7 nice finds from one "fence line covey" that we'd hunted only once this season. These birds were track stars, the singles running over a half mile along a fence with scant cover. Aspen had a blast, though, and we took two birds from this covey and got back to the truck as large ice pellets began to fall.

8. This bird was able to sneak out the "back door" while Aspen was pointing in front of me. I thought it was his bird and moved to go after it, and the one he'd been pointing flew out behind me. I felt like I was in a Keystone Cops movie. Always trust your dog!