Post by crockett on Nov 25, 2010 18:00:21 GMT -5
Work is busy this year, so any spare time I've had has been hunting, leaving little time for posting about it on beaudog. Basically, since the pair of deer and the tasty wood ducks, it's been all about short rooster hunts any time I can get away. Considering how tight time has been it's been a decent season so far. Let's just say I've got a good pile of tailfeathers for site member spikemaster's taxidermy projects... ;D ;D Unfortunately though, not many tailfeathers for him from tonight's rooster. After an intense week at work I snuck out tonight to hunt the last hour of light at a spot that I haven't hit much this year because of lack of birds. Didn't have time to go farther afield, so I figured I'd give it a go - a quick stomp around with a gun in my hand as much for some R & R as for any hope of getting a bird. Didn't take long before Ruby got onto some scent and put up a hen. She flushed low and slow, so Ruby was right on her tailfeathers - even if she'd BEEN a rooster I would not have had a shot. Not much farther on she got birdy again - charging down a hedgerow with me trying to keep up. The bird made a hard right at the end of the hedgerow and so did she. She was still working out his scent in some heavy cover when I saw him pop out the other end, about 60 yards out, and cackle off to my right. I kept my eyes on Ruby though, thinking that there might be another bird from the way she was working. No bird, but as a result I didn't see where that rooster went (mistake!). I went in the general direction and Ruby gave no sign of scent. The wind was strong enough that I had my hat JAMMED down on my head, so the low brim prevented me from seeing the rooster sitting in a tree. I might have been close enough to swat him, but he was downrange by the time I heard him flush, looked up (way up!), saw him and mounted my gun. Spent the rest of the time working the cover thoroughly, then decided to pack it in and head for the car. Crossing a field of fairly short grass (about shin height) on the way back to the car Ruby LIT right up again - charging around RED HOT and changing directions back and forth, making those 180 degree turns when she's on a very very hot scent. Well that rooster REALLY did not want to fly, I got to watch her work this scent like a champ for 30 seconds or so - quite a sight to see (yes, I was a little proud! lol!). Finally she drove into a patch of longer grass and the rooster busted out the other end. He was out there pretty far, but I knocking him down with some kickass Remington #4 high-brass upland stuff that Take'em gave me to deal with these late-season birds (yes, available at your friendly neighbourhood Dux-N-|Dogs! lol!). He hit the ground - pretty lively - and Ruby was nearly on him, so no second shot. The chase was ON! It was another good show - a very pissed off bird running and flapping and bouncing around while Ruby made repeated attempts to grab him - spitting out feathers each time. Finally he made a run for it and she TACKLED the bugger and got a good hold on him. I laughed pretty hard when she got him back to me - the plucking was half-done!
-Croc
-Croc
