Monday, January 31, 2011

The last day of bird season

I wasn't sure if dad was going to take me hunting to day or not. The wind has been blowing hard I wasn't sure if today would be any different. When dad came down stairs this morning he was wearing his tan pants, maybe we were going, he then put on his tall boots, oh ya, we were going someplace, I saw him pick up that damn e-collar, we were going. I got all excited and could hardly think. Dad was talking to someone on the phone, and I found out the our neighbor Lull, was going with us. I knew that I had to be on my best behaver or dad would be unhappy with me. We loaded up in Lull's truck and headed out. It wasn't long before we turned off the road and into the feed lot that belongs to the Cross-O ranch, dad got out and unlocked the gate. After about 3 miles we stopped, dad and lull got out, dad made me stay, he then turned in that collar and put it around my neck. everything was ready and dad told me to find the birds. I had noticed that there was a truck parked close to where we wanted to hunt, so lull drove up a little way further. The sun was out and very little wind. we headed south and up a ridge, I worked back and forth in front of dad and lull, I kept widening my search, A couple of times I smelled bird scent but nothing fresh. It was great to be out and I covered the ground, I just love doing this. We hunted for a time and heard gun shots to the north of us, after looking we saw three guys walking toward us and they headed to the field that we were going to hunt. They had three dogs with them and we saw a guy coming up behind us, he had 2 dogs, great, they had been hunting where we wanted to go . By this time the wind was picking up and it was cold, about 23 deg. We drove down to where the guys were parked and they had 4 chukar, we were hunting to low, the birds were above us. Dad and lull decided to call it quits, it was just to cold and by now the wind was howling. We drove down to the road and headed in the wrong direction, I ask dad where we were going and he said to get some lunch in town. Of course they would not let me in, boy that is just wrong, soooo I stayed in the truck hoping that someone would get me something, they did, I love french fries.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

01-15-11

Hunting the Cross O ranch

Dad loaded me up in the truck, I wasn't sure just where we were going, but I knew it was hunting. We drove north about 5 miles and turned off the main road and on to a feed lot. We then came to a gate, I wanted out right there but dad wouldn't let me. He did something with a chain that was around the post and the gate opened up. We drove through and dad closed the gate and did something with the front end, turned the hubs I think. The road was very bumpy and we were driving very slow, I looked out the window and went back down on the seat, it was a long way to the bottom and I didn't want to watch. After a while he pulled in to a spot and got out, I tried to get past him but he said" stay" after about three times and a swat, I figured out that I was to stay in the truck until he said it was OK, he sure gets bossy at times. Dad reached on the dash and got my collar, sometimes it bites me if I am not paying attention, I don't like it. After a short time, seemed like a week to me, dad said OK and let me out. Boy it felt good to run. I headed to a draw that was full of brush, I was sure there would be birds in there, there had been but they left quite a while ago. I headed up the hill to the north, looked like good chukar country, running hard, I covered a lot of ground. I stretched out and had the wind in my face and climbed even higher ,I sure love this. Dad had walked up the hill and was in front of me, I don't like it when he does that and ran to get ahead of him. We hunted for about 2 hours, I could tell there had been bird in the area but they were not here right now. Dad was across the valley from me when it hit me, the sweet smell of birds, I came in upwind and located them next to a large rock, where was dad, he had the gun. I looked across the valley and here he came, sure wasn't moving very fast. The birds were getting nervous and starting to run, I have been taught to stay right here and I did so, dad walked in to where the birds had been but they were gone. Dad released me from my point and I took off up the hill, when I got there the scent just stopped, we were so close but dad is so slow, next time.....