The Rock Pile Points

                                                     It was towards the end of the second week of Sharptail season that I loaded up the Setter's on one of those overcast mornings with just enough rain coming down to require a raincoat. The only good news about the weather was that the temperature had dropped to the 50's. In this country the downside to early season is always the temperature as it often reaches into the upper 70's requiring us to be early riser's. The danger being of course in over heating the dog's so this time of year we are usually out early trying to get in a hunt before the temperature get's to high. The nice thing about North Dakota is that there's so much water about with numerous lakes and potholes that it's usually not hard to get your dog's cooled off.
                                                     The forecast for this particular day was scattered showers in the morning with increasingly clearer skies as the day went on. So my plan was to scout some new areas about twenty miles to the north. We drove to the areas and I let the dog's out to run a little just to walk the ground a bit to get a feel for the terrain and see if there were any birds about. It was extremely windy with intermittent light rain but I kept exploring mentally logging my assessments of the potential each area had. Eventually we worked to the east and near a spot I had hunted before and had always found Sharptail. I had forgotten about this place as we searched for new ground in the same general area but since we hadn't see any birds all morning I thought we'd make a run here. It was 9:45 a. m. and still just 62 degrees so I thought we'd be OK to work this section of old rolling hay field ground. This is a beautiful spot as it has a real variance in elevation with lots of high points and rock piles interspersed throughout the area. At the south end it butts up against crop fields of alfalfa and soybeans. I let the Setter's out and thought for a moment about rain coat or no rain coat then left it in the Jeep. The sky was showing signs of clearing which was both good and bad news as the temperature would immediately climb as soon as the sun was exposed.
                                                        The Setter's were glad to be on the ground again and fanned out as I walked into the section and started climbing a hill heading south. This is a perfect venue for the dog's to run big as I can easily see them walking the ridges of the hay field. Mick was the first to get birdy as he picked up scent along the ridge opposite me. I stopped and watched to see if he was going to lock up as he took in the scent with his tail wagging profusely. I would have immediately walked towards him but it was 200 yards straight down and then up again to get to him so I thought I'd wait to see if this would be productive. Apparently this is what you might be inclined to do if you've been walking in the rain and wind all morning and hadn't seen any birds! As I watched he slowly eased into the grass on top of this ridge and slowed to a point facing north. It was a beautiful sight as I looked at Mick holding that point and finally it clicked that I had better get my butt over there!  I hadn't gone more than a few yards when Mick lifted his right front foot to take another step forward ever so slowly and the Sharptail decided they'd had enough of his encroachment and busted upward with me still a couple hundred yards across the valley watching the drama unfold. Of course I felt liked I missed the opportunity having not moved over there immediatly and learned the lesson of "Follow The Dog" one more time! The other dog's were in the area immediately having seen the  birds take flight. I vowed to keep pace with them and not get caught watching again!
                                                          The good news is that there were birds here just as there always had been. Beau was in fantastic shape and just gliding across the ground making it difficult for the other dog's to keep up. By the time I had walked up and down the hills in the direction the birds had gone the Setter's were already on point again on the side of small rise facing north. Molly had the lead with Mick honoring to the west and Beau to the east. Absolutely beautiful. " So where is he this time? " is what they were probably thinking as I hurried to get caught up to them. This was obviously the birds from the last flush I thought still a hundred yards away. I was slightly damp from the walking with rain gear on all morning and now as I quickened my pace I was generating more heat and starting to sweat pretty good under my light jacket. I got within 40 yards and the birds finally flushed with two heading west over Mick and two heading north east which I fired at twice missing both times. This excitement was all it took now to get to get all 3 dog's excited and off to the races! I knew there were several more birds here from the first flush and so did the dog's apparently as they continued to circle the area with determination. It wasn't long before Beau had another point 150 yards away but I didn't get anywhere close before the birds flushed wild. Both Mick and Molly bumped a couple birds and despite my efforts to keep up I was breathing heavy and soaking wet from sweating under my jacket. And yeah my game bag was empty!
                                                              We worked our way to the east edge of the section and I stayed on the high ground watching the dog's work around me as they cast about. Beau was in the lead of course as this run was made for him. Wide open spaces where he can surf the wind and cover hundreds of yards of ground. Beau then picked up scent along the fence line and worked north with the bird finally flushing wild. A few minutes later the dog's converged on a depression in the field picking up scent with Beau doing a wide circle trying to locate the direction the bird took when he suddenly froze standing in the short grass. One of the things I like about this dog is that he rarely pushes a bird and will keep his distance. This is something I think that Molly has picked up from him and from her own experience of course. Luckily I was fairly close to the action this time and walked right in slowly but with no bird flushing. So I thought maybe this is a Hen Pheasant as I've seen them use the same area before. All the dog's remained rigid with Beau in a slightly crouching position which usually means ' This bird is right here Boss!" I walked around the area and nothing flushed so I looked right at Beau's eyes like I do with the dog's on many occasions and try to get a line on where exactly he's focused. I don't believe it but I kick the grass two feet in front of his nose and a mature Sharptail explodes from the cover straight away. I fire one shot from my 20 gauge RBL and the bird tumbles to the ground! What a surprise as the first dozen or so birds wouldn't let me get anywhere near them. Beau made the retrieve and laid there with his paw over the bird letting everyone know this was all his! The sky was showing signs of clearing so we pressed on trying to find more birds before it got to warm.
                                                                We were now in the back half of the section slowly climbing higher. The dog's now had taken the edge off so to speak and were now hunting at a more reasonable pace except Beau just kept on gliding across the terrain effortlessly. He runs with head high just waiting to come across scent. A truly beautiful sight. The other dog's sense he's in the lead and keep watch on his moves. He
picks up scent around a knoll in the field and circles the area as the other dog's converge on the scent following his lead. When I walk closer I see Beau pointing directly at the rock pile with Molly slightly behind him. Mick is about 40 feet behind them and I signal him to whoa just in case he decides to get just a little bit closer! As I look at this I think about how the birds have pretty much kicked my ass so far. The problem with what's in front of me is that no matter which side I approach from the birds will probably fly out the opposite side right? So I decide to get on top of the rock pile. Beau is pointing directly at the south end of the pile which isn't very high so I would have a shot either way but I climb ever so slowly and quietly on top from the north end. The dog's are probably thinking" Hey look he's gonna try to get up on the rock pile!" So now I'm on top and slowly moving towards Beau  ready to fire at any moment thinking how pivotal this shot could be in making the day. I get directly in front of the Setter's and no bird! All the dog's are still just rock solid! I'm really nervous as the bird could have run out. I walk down to the edge and the bird flushes out on the east side straight away and falls with one shot! Beau locates the bird and we repeat the ceremony from minutes before. I can tell he's in the zone and at the top of his game. He is "one" with the birds!
                                                            The sun has now broken through and I can feel the temperature start to rise so we continue to the south end with the plan to eventually turn back north and hit a dug out for water on the way back. We reach the fence line and the dog's cross into a beautiful short alfalfa field. I hesitate for a moment as this is another section and we are getting farther from water and the Jeep with temperatures rising but it looks good so we press on again. A couple hundred yards ahead into the field the Setter's get birdy and before long are all on point again. I suspect this is an entirely different covey and I'm right as they spook long before I can get in range. Having hunted this area several times before I suspect the birds are ahead so we work toward the south end of the section now 2 miles from the Jeep and a mile from the dug out and water. The dog's work the edges as we move ahead inspecting all the rock piles as well. The area we are working towards is a buffalo berry patch at the end of the alfalfa field. I try to keep pace as we approach as this has been the pattern when I've hunted these birds before. Sure enough as we approach Molly locks up first on the very edge of the patch which is classic Sharptail cover with small mounds of rocks and debris about. However it's pretty wide so there's no telling exactly where the birds are at. Mick and Beau don't see Molly right away and I inch closer hoping they lock up before bumping into the birds. Beau finally locks up after catching the scent to my right and I risk bumping the birds now within range as I signal Mick to whoa. He looks toward Molly and stops. I walk ahead of her and nothing flushes then I take a few more steps and a classic multiple bird flush takes flight with birds rising exposing their full profile as they look down at us and turn into the wind. I pick out our third bird and bring it to the ground with one shot. A few more birds continued to flush throughout the area. What a sight! I collect the bird and congratulate Molly thinking about water now as it's getting warmer and we're a mile from the dug out and the dog's are hot. I curse myself for not having water for them. As we head back they are searching all the low areas for water but there is none. I feel terrible. Beau heads for the shade of round bales every couple hundred yards as we continue back and we all rest for a few minutes to get out of the sun. We all keep walking as a group now with the dog's heeling along with me tongues hanging out. After a hundred more yards the dug out is in sight and I'm feeling better knowing that I'll have them in water soon but they're noticeably stressed especially Beau. He's always been the most affected by heat. We stop by round bales a couple more times then they see the dug out and move ahead of me. We're finally there! By the time I get there they have all immersed themselves in the water and are resting in the coolness of it. I take off my game bag and lie down in the shade of the dugout. We stayed there for a good twenty minutes or so just taking in the events of the day before making the final mile back to the Jeep.
                                                             Just like putting new batteries in a toy the Setter's have renewed energy and Mick works some birds along the fence line as we head back but they don't hold and I welcome the sight of the Jeep as we descend the final hill. Once loaded I start the Jeep and it's 72 degrees at half past noon. This is a run I'll never forget for many reason's. It was tough but beautiful. We all worked hard to get the job done and that's the way I like it. I got to see all the Setter's doing what they do best. Finding Birds! But this was Beau's run. It's what he's made for. I love hunting with that dog!  I don't know what it is about this place but it always draws me all the way back and even though I know there's water there I'll never leave without it again! Lesson learned.