January 2009 Updates 13
22 January
Upland Birds
From our recently dethroned long distance traveling champion who by the way long ago qualified for AARP. At one and a half day's drive one way Carl shows the value in a hunt. One more example setter for those of us that begin to question what to do with our free time.
Carl provides some notes from his hunt giving much detail into hunt conditions. He is one of those seasoned hunters that seeks to enjoy the day and dogs rather than make it a campaign where the hunter must be waiting for sunrise at the first field each morning.
Tuesday 25 November. Weather mild and clear with moderate NW breeze.
Slick @8:30. Worked up draw in SW corner. Hunted for about an hour in what seemed like lots of good cover but no birds found. Disappointing.
Belle to [location deleted] where she had two roosters pointed in about 30 minute hunt. No good shot on either bird. Two hens flushed out in front during rest of hunt.
Slick @ 2:30. Becoming rather warm. Worked bottom between cut milo and cut bean field. Tracked rooster for about 15 minutes and finally pinned bird. Good shot and beautiful retrieve by Slick - much deserved. Continued on and had point on covey and took one bird on covey rise. Worked a single that was nicely pointed and retrieved. Good day for Slick.
Belle into second bottom area where she pointed covey. No birds shot on covey rise but then worked two singles that were nicely pointed, shot and retrieved. Back to truck @ dark - good day for all.
Quail thicket.
Wednesday 26 November. Weather mild with very slight breeze.
Slick @ 9:15AM. Wheat stubble next to cut corn. Worked down edge toward center of area and had beautiful point in thicket next to water hole. Rooster flushed and was easy shot. Two shots resulted in lots of falling feathers and cackling but bird still flew fast and far - across the section beyond my eyesight. Bird is now half naked and 2-1 oz. heavier! Hen flushed out other side with no pursuit. Worked two more tree clumps in area with no birds. Getting quite warm - 62F at 11:00AM.
Took break until 2:30 when I took Belle to a large open grass fields with two draws with wheat stubble in bottom. Started first draw and as we got into thickets on edge a flock of pheasants (20+) flushed way out at end and into grass field. Continued on and finally got into area and Belle went on point. Hen flushed and while I was distracted by that event about 10 other birds flushed with no chance at any of the roosters. This happened again about 30 minutes later - hen pointed and flushed along with 8 -10 other birds with no shots possible. Belle worked hard in very warm, still air for almost 1.5 hours. Dry and hot (67F) at end of hunt. Belle very tired and hot with no birds to show for all the hard work.
Belle, hot and tired.
Slick to second draw on east side of same area at 4:15. Getting cooler. Worked up draw and around grass field at end. Had beautiful point on hen in grass after about 30 minutes. Worked back to truck and had rooster go up about 50 yards on our left. Dog not directly involved in that event. No other birds and back to truck at dark.
Thursday 27 November (Thanksgiving Day). Weather cooler (39F) with breeze from NW.
Started day late with Slick @ 10:00. Hunted draw in NW corner that leads back toward silo. Loaded with pheasants. Slick started to work a bird when about 10 pheasants flushed about 50 yards out - too far for shot. After getting Slick under control we had a nice point on yet another hen. Too bad for Slick - seems to get all hens! 4 - 5 more birds flushed way out at end of cover across the cut cornfield and off MAHA property. Saw huge whitetail buck slide out of bottom - would make most deer hunter's mouths water.
Toured sections [locations deleted] over midday. Beautiful cover and intended to finish day in one of them but wanted to take Belle back to [location deleted] for a few hours.
On ground @ 2:30PM. Cut across milo field into bottom at back of field and worked clockwise into breeze. Pointed huge covey in bottom - too thick for me to get a shot. At least 25 - 30 birds. Worked a small subset of them and got a double when 5 - 6 birds flushed. Belle became a puppy again and went wild for a few minutes. Finally settled down and pointed another small group out in grass field. Took one bird on that rise. Belle worked three more singles - one bird taken, one bird just missed, and one was an impossible shot. Back to truck at 4:15.
Too late to get to section A so I put Slick out in [location deleted] in area Belle and I had not covered. Worked hard and finally had a nice covey in head high grass so I had only one wild shot. Birds went up over hill and across wheat field. Relocated 4 - 5 bird subset and took a bird on that rise and then worked one more single which was nicely pointed and taken. Getting dark so we didn't pursue further Two of the largest coveys I've ever seen!
Friday 28 November. Weather chilly (35F) with breeze from NW - few light snow squalls.
Slick @ about 10:30 - Worked down edge of grass and wheat field to fence line. Slick moved into thicket and pointed - 2 hens flushed. Continued on down fenceline into rows of autumn olive trees and cedars with lots of anticipation and dog's enthusiasm. No further finds or flushes and back to truck at noon.
Belle into rows of autumn olive trees and cedars adjacent to cut milo field. Worked slowly and seemed to lack interest - maybe worn out a little. Finally worked a bird and had a stop to flush on a couple of quail. She became more animated but no other birds were found from what I assume was a busted covey. Went to north side and met with two MAHA members from Missouri who had just hunted the area. Nice conversation comparing notes and events and we moved on. Went around to west side and work more autumn olive trees and cedars. Belle ended up on edge of adjoining wheat field and had a beautiful point on rooster in small clump of grass. Hit it hard twice but it flew across wheat and into non-MAHA land so couldn't pursue. Back to truck at 4:30.
Slick just before dark. Worked thick grass next to cut milo and had nice rooster pointed. Knocked it out of the air and saw it bounce about 30 yards away. By time Slick got to it was gone and tracked it until dark but never found it. Too bad for Slick (and me)! Using 20 ga. 3" magnum, #6's. Under gunned for pheasant's maybe???
Saturday 29 November.Weather chilly (38F) with very strong wind from NW - (30 mph+).
Suited up and toured area and finally settled into low draw on south side of [location deleted] to get out of wind. Draw has two branches with thickets and grass. Area adjoins some WIHA land on south side so I started in the WIHA area with Slick about 3:00PM Worked nicely in the strong wind and finally had a stop to flush on two quail. Worked hard but never found rest of covey and eventually circled back and picked up the two singles. Both birds were pointed and quickly flushed downhill directly over Slick's head so I couldn't shoot. No more birds and back to truck at 4:15.
Took Belle into other branch and worked through thick tall grass and stuff. Finally pointed small covey but birds went out with the wind and I had no reasonable shot. Birds went into non-MAHA land so couldn't follow.
Two of Carl's hunting buddies.
Thank you Carl for the detail we rarely get to read. Reminds me of the first time I took my wife on a quail hunt. Her comment was far more walking than shooting.
Membership
Some have inquired if the recent downward trend in the economy has affected their Association. The answer appears to be a, 'no'. It seems that recreation is recession proof and the number of referrals or sponsorships by current members is as strong as it ever has been.
