Living Without A Net

                                        October is my favorite time of year. There's just something about the changing of the season that fills your senses and recalls memories of past days when the colors around you were a dazzling celebration of life. The October of 2008 was no different as it signaled the coming end to another year. For me it also had another meaning. I had made a decision to  resign and end my career after 26 year's. After reaching an impasse with the company I made plans to help with any transitional needs over a 60 day period and as of December 1st would be a free man. God almighty free at last!
                                       The next decision was would I leave the Love Creek valley? Actually I had already made that decision and the answer was yes. I had already moved on. My mind was on where I wanted to go next. Where I wanted to play out my life with the Setter's. In the big open spaces of " Bird Country". As a kid I remember reading Outdoor Life and Sports A Field magazines dreaming about the adventures within those pages. I never forgot that feeling or the dreams. It was now time to live it!
                                        I listed my property knowing in the middle of a recession centered around a mortgage crisis it'd be tough. But this was a unique property which had it pro's and con's as any property does.
The process would be a pain in the ass of course. My resume hit the market at the same time. Being age 55 and having been in the restaurant business for 26 year's I didn't expect a lot of interest especially in a severe recessionary period. However I had planned for this shit storm and had plenty of cash to get through it. The wild card was how long it would take to get an acceptable offer on my property.
                                         The third week of October came around pretty quick and we once again loaded up the pup's for the Pheasant season opener in N.D. There was no stopping the train! This is what my life was about. Of course the travel conversation was once again centered around the curtain being raised on my future. We had both been talking about this for month's even year's. It was liberating finally putting the future into the present tense. I called it living without a net. Living without the gotta do's of being tied to a career and a place both intertwined and dependent on the other. Been there done that for over 30 year's. It felt good traveling down the road  talking out loud about really doing it.
                                            But this week was about bird hunting and here's how it went. Mick had had ACL surgery right after Sharptail season and I had been exercising him according to my vets regimen to increase mobility. He was on very limited off leash activity at this point as I wanted him in top shape for Montana two weeks away. This meant that Beau and Molly would put some extra miles on this week . I'm sure that would be fine with them! The last thing you want to see is a dog come up lame and when Mick started carrying his right rear leg one day I got a lump in my throat. But I've got an excellent Vet and learned in short order that yes he would hunt another day. What a relief . So I was west a few miles in a half section of CRP when I decided to let Mick work around the edge a little bit. Just a little bit. Well he wagged his tale at being let out and sniffed the wind a little took a leak and headed into the grass. He just trotted ahead a little ways and stopped testing the wind. We were 50 feet from the vehicle. He moved slowly ahead and stopped. Rigid. Looking to the west with his head up. This meant there were birds on the wind right up ahead. I thought to myself this is just unbelievable but perfect for Mick as I really hoped he could work a bird. I was scared by the process of surgery afraid I'd loose him in the field at a young age. Like any bird dog owner when tragedy strikes we all just wish for one more day. One more season. Well I was looking at it with Mick right now! I moved ahead quite a ways and a mature Rooster rose from the tall grass. He angled sharply to my right and I fired. He tumbled to the ground hit hard but I wanted this bird for Mick. I walked over to the bird behind Mick who picked him up and held him for a few seconds looking at me like he does then lays down. This is our routine usually as I put the dog's on a down command to settle them after each bird. It worked out perfectly for Mick's first bird since his surgery and I couldn't help think things happen for a reason.
                                               I walked Mick back to the trailer and put him up for the day. Mission accomplished! Beau and Molly headed right out into the same grass and we worked over to the west edge and a tree line that ran the entire west side of the section. They picked up scent casting in and out of the edge. Beau came on point ahead with Molly honoring to his left. They were looking ahead at a circle of tall grass jutting out into the CRP along the tree line. I walked ahead and past Beau into the tall grass. They both were locked up tight as I walked ahead. Then all hell broke loose to my right as several birds started rising to the east into the CRP. A Rooster had flushed late straight away and I chose that bird and brought it down with my Gold Label. There had been at least a dozen birds and I expected we might find them again as we worked our way back. The pup's moved on working a few hens toward the north end around some water. We also moved several deer as well that had been bedded down in the tall grass. Molly and Beau were working well together as we turned to the south again. They began working scent again and before long it was obvious we had a runner. They both began pointing and creeping. They'd hold and let me walk ahead then start circling again trying to cut off the birds advance. This went on all the way back to the section line road. Just before we got to the road there was another circular depression with tall grass. The dog's kept trying to pick up the scent again when Molly locked up on the edge of the grass. Beau was holding with his head high. I never had a problem with these two holding for one another in fact if they would see me stop sometimes they'd stop as well! Team effort right? You really want to make these shots as such a long stalk really makes the dog's work hard. I walked right in and kicked the grass. A Rooster bolted slightly to my right and I fired a quick shot as he had startled me a little. Imagine that. We stalked him for a quarter mile then the dog's point him and I'm startled! But hey! I made the shot! Startled or not. I don't care what anybody say's a wild Rooster taking flight is always exciting! And sometimes Startling as well. It was a great run I'll always remember especially being able to get all three dogs on Rooster's. That was the goal everyday as I tried to distribute field time among the pup's.
                                                  The week went by with Beau and Molly carrying the weight for Mick. I got Mick into birds on two other occasions one which was a little to much excitement with a wounded Rooster running through a muddy slough but he eventually pointed that bird again and I was able to grab it luckily. But that was enough for Mick until Montana two weeks away. I just loved seeing him work out there.
                                                   The little town where we had dinner most of the time had an annual Buffalo supper held in the American Legion building which was an old Quonset style building that served as the high school gym years ago and was still used for basketball games. We had never been to this deal so we headed over. They would serve like 1500 people. Incredible for a town of about 150! It was a family style format. You'd get in line and a big guy who ran the list would direct you to go with a person that would lead you to open seats at tables of 10 people you didn't know. So you sit down and people assigned to your table start with the platters of food. It all just keeps being passed around. Potatoes, gravy, salad ,beans, corn,pickles,jello dishes you name it they passed it around! Oh and then there's the buffalo! Platters of it. It was an incredible spectacle. Hundreds of people in this little gym out of the 50's era it seemed. I started passing up food pretty quick except for seconds on milk and cake but I think Tom didn't let any platter's get by him! We were all there for the same reason. It was a hell of a meal! We finally headed for the door while we were still able. We made it outside and just kind of ambled about heading for the truck. As we went down the street where we parked 4 blocks away we heard music playing. All the churches had their outdoor speakers on and were piping music outside. It was a surreal moment. Like we were suspended in time for the moment. In a time warp or something. We commented about the music on the way home and how this whole thing was executed. It was amazing. Tom barely made it into the house and collapsed on the couch and didn't move for quite a while. I wasn't much better off but at least I passed up more than he did I think.
What a deal. Great people as well.
                                                     So that was N.D. October 2008. The fun just never stopped. I felt relieved to be moving on finally and even though there was still uncertainty up ahead it was of my own creation. It was my life. My time. I remember my mother asking me what I wanted to do and my reply was quick and simple ' I just want to be with the Setter's". I know she said. I know....