Hank - great story and feel you! I was in Montana for the pheasant opener. Hunted Sunday to Thursday. A few hot days and then a few (very) windy days. Not as many roosters as last year - and “with you” in young bird ID - two of the seven of us got rooster limits a few days - most I got was two one day; rest were “single days.” Lots of Sharpies (and a few Huns) and more than a few limits - 12 Griffs - great fun - 52 miles walking and 3200 driving. Making your Cajun dirty rice with two bags of wobbly bits. Now back to archery deer - and your videos!
Great article. And I'll never pass up a chance to ground swat, waterfowl or upland. If it's a clean kill for the bird and legal, I don't see an issue. If I can successfully spot and stalk a wily bird like a pheasant before it flushes (which has only happened once), I figured it was fair chase enough!
I just returned from a South Dakota pheasant hunt near Dixon. Hunted for three days behind some really good dogs! One was German Pudelpointer. I was totally unfamiliar with that breed. Excellent dog, looked like a black German Shorthaired pointer without the ticking.
First two days were unseasonably warm and sunny, while the last day was cool with winds gusting to 45. Made it interesting to say the least. Brought home 9 roosters, though! Great time!
Great story Hank; this line made me laugh out loud: "After a conversation that sounded like a scene from Fargo but had the ritualistic exchange of a Japanese kabuki play".
I often wonder if people who only take difficult "sporting" shots, just aren't all that interested in the meat as an end goal. I'll never pass up on an easy shot, unless I'm already at half a limit for the day (which doesn't seem to happen too often). The easier shots also tend to mean a quicker death for the bird and less meat wastage from shot... doesn't really bother me if people think I'm not hunting properly enough for them!
Hank - great story and feel you! I was in Montana for the pheasant opener. Hunted Sunday to Thursday. A few hot days and then a few (very) windy days. Not as many roosters as last year - and “with you” in young bird ID - two of the seven of us got rooster limits a few days - most I got was two one day; rest were “single days.” Lots of Sharpies (and a few Huns) and more than a few limits - 12 Griffs - great fun - 52 miles walking and 3200 driving. Making your Cajun dirty rice with two bags of wobbly bits. Now back to archery deer - and your videos!
great story.....I've never killed a pheasant. Makes me want to do it
"But hunt long enough and it all evens out. Eventually" METAPHOR FOR LIFE
Editing notes still in, FYI
Great article. And I'll never pass up a chance to ground swat, waterfowl or upland. If it's a clean kill for the bird and legal, I don't see an issue. If I can successfully spot and stalk a wily bird like a pheasant before it flushes (which has only happened once), I figured it was fair chase enough!
those first hunts, sound like hunting eastern Wyoming.. walk all day, get one shot near dusk when exhausted.. and miss it..
in fifteen years of hunting there I've had one day with a limit.
Still it's a nice walk every time and the dog loves it anyway ;-)
hadn't heard the expression 'skillet shot', I can use that..
I just returned from a South Dakota pheasant hunt near Dixon. Hunted for three days behind some really good dogs! One was German Pudelpointer. I was totally unfamiliar with that breed. Excellent dog, looked like a black German Shorthaired pointer without the ticking.
First two days were unseasonably warm and sunny, while the last day was cool with winds gusting to 45. Made it interesting to say the least. Brought home 9 roosters, though! Great time!
Great story Hank; this line made me laugh out loud: "After a conversation that sounded like a scene from Fargo but had the ritualistic exchange of a Japanese kabuki play".
I often wonder if people who only take difficult "sporting" shots, just aren't all that interested in the meat as an end goal. I'll never pass up on an easy shot, unless I'm already at half a limit for the day (which doesn't seem to happen too often). The easier shots also tend to mean a quicker death for the bird and less meat wastage from shot... doesn't really bother me if people think I'm not hunting properly enough for them!