So I've been on holiday this week and I've been hunting every day so I told my wife I would take thursday off and spend some time at home on the "to do" list. Well…..that lasted until about 10:00. Me and the dog (Macy) were sitting on the couch and she gave me the look as if to say "Why aren't we hunting yet?" And since I'm a very easily persuaded man when it comes to hunting, I grabbed the gun and snuck out the back door, yelling to my wife that I'm heading out to grab something and I'll be back shortly!
The day started out promising as we were driving in we seen a small young hen out for a stroll on the road. We made quick work of getting our stuff together and out we went to chase her down. I knew which way she was heading so we made a B-line to cut her off. As we get to the area, I'm searching around kicking up grass and such while the dog keeps wandering off. After numerous failed attempts at calling the dog over to investigate the area, what do ya know she flushes up the pheasant about 30 yards away and by the time I realize whats going on, it was too far for a shot.
Feeling like an idiot I apologize to the dog, and she forgives me like she always does, and on we go. We get to another area and she starts to get birdy again sniffing around a large bushy area. So I head to the other side in case she flushes it out and I wait while she does her thing. So after what felt like 3 years I walk back around to see whats up and there she is walking towards me with a bird in her mouth. I can't help but laugh a little. After I grab the bird from her I give a little bit of a lecture about how this is a team effort and theres no room for ego's out here. I think the message hit home because the next bird we found, she flushed up and I connected on my third shot. I must have only clipped it cause it hit the ground running but the speed was no match for my GSP. She grabbed it up and brought it back to me. Now thats a little better.
So we keep trekking on and we don't get too much further before she starts getting excited. She does the point and holds it until I catch up. I release her and she flushes up a male this time. I only need 1 shot this time to knock it down. Macy grabs it up and hands it over and we call it a day.
As we're making our long walk back to the car Macy stops and points about 10 feet in front of me. I grabbed the dog making sure she doesn't pounce on the bird and it flies away, taunting us the whole way. Macy just looks at me with complete confusion on her face….
I think if I ever told her about the reg's it would break her heart. All in all a good day considering I didn't even go hunting….
