There are several hunts I want to eventually write down when I have time and this short story is one of them.The day after the first measurable snow of the year in 2010 I decided to head out and enjoy hunting in the 4 to 6 inches of snow that now covered the area. Since Beau was still recovering from having a tumor removed on his leg it was Molly and Mick's turn to head for the field. Before I left I thought about taking snowshoes but decided against the idea and loaded up the pup's. It was in the teens when we left with bright sun and mild winds. I chose some CRP with hills and a waterway running through it connecting two 20 to 30 acre potholes with corn and wheat stubble on one side. On arrival I could see the snow had drifted across the valley area of the field. I knew this meant some tough going if I was going to make the entire walk around the 320 acre area which would equal 3 plus miles walking in the snow. We crossed the fence and started our trek with the pup's working the fence line where I could see Pheasant tracks right away. I was immediately into drifts above my knees and tried to stick to a line where I could walk easier. It was beautiful to see the sun shining on the snow covered hills and water but quickly caused me to heat up under the layers of clothes I was wearing. The dog's worked a quarter mile along the edge going in and out of the field. I suspected we had a few birds moving about and finally the dog's had a point in the snow covered grass. I was on the wheat stubble side and carefully crossed the fence and moved ahead to flush. A single Rooster rocketed out of the snow and grass straight away. I fired and the bird came down with Molly quickly retrieving then stopping short of coming back to me letting me know who the responsible party was! We continued on with some dips between hills to traverse filled with snow which were not fun to get through. Even though this wasn't a major accumulation of snow the wind factor in this country can make any snowfall a blizzard piling up snow anywhere it meets resistance. We then moved up a hill and Molly eyed the bushes at the crest and moved in coming to point at the top looking into the bushes. Mick of course had to validate the point and started to move that way. I knew I had better hurry because if he didn't honor behind her he could bust the birds. Luckily he moved along side her and the birds held as I moved along the west side with the dog's on the east side. I got within 20ft and a covey of Huns burst forth screeching as they flew west and arced back north. I shot and took the outside bird and missed the second. Since Mick had validated the point I guess he took it upon himself to retrieve the bird as well! We continued on to the end of the field and turned south to the cattail waterway and walked it back west with the dog's working both sides and the adjacent hillsides. There were fresh track's everywhere but we couldn't get the birds pinned down or out of the heavy cover. Mick was constantly raising his head in the air and taking in the scent along the cattails even rising up on his hind legs to try to see beyond the cover knowing the birds were there someplace. It was interesting to watch but I'm sure frustrating for him. At this point I was just putting one foot in front of the other most of the way wishing I had snowshoes! We had just passed the last pothole when Mick suddenly locked up after a half mile of this cat and mouse game along the cattails. Molly came over and respectfully honored then I moved into the cover ahead of them and a Rooster of the year flushed and I shot only to see a leg drop and the bird falter but continue flying back the way we had come a half mile and land against the water on top of a hill over looking the valley. At that point there was no way I had enough energy left to trek back and try to recover this bird. On any other day there would have been no question we'd go back to recover that bird but I was out of gas and soaking wet under the layer of clothes I had on. Just getting back to the Jeep was going to be a chore which it was but I committed to coming back the next morning from the other road a mile east to make a search for the bird as it couldn't go far with one leg in this snow.
The next morning Molly and I returned and entered from the east making our way down the waterway finding a couple Hen's but no Roosters. Then as we climbed the hill overlooking the water and valley I stopped and just took in the view. It was a beautiful sight seeing the rolling hills covered with fresh snow. Molly worked the area the bird should have landed in with no results so I moved off the crest of the hill and mentally ran through the birds flight path one more time. As I turned and looked back in the direction I thought it had taken I was looking right at a bird sitting in the snow! I moved closer and could see the bird was dead but sitting up perfectly as if it passed away over looking the valley where it probably hatched and spent it's entire life cycle. I bent down and picked it up putting it in my game bag glad we had come back and gotten to see it as it sat on the hillside. Not all recovery efforts have this kind of ending but this one was special. Aside from it being a stunning picture I'll never forget it caused me to reflect on the struggle these birds have to survive in this harsh climate in which they live and grow. I turned away making the walk back to the Jeep with Molly having a little more respect for these beautiful birds we both love to hunt so much.
No comments:
Post a Comment