T Bone
Well-known member
Just finished up with a very long day of bird hunting with my 12 year old. This is his first year hunting for himself.
In short, today was filled with cold, rain, snow, wind, mud, birds, GSP's, high brass 6's, high fives, numb fingers, hot chocolate, and lastly a skunk.
2 hour drive early this morning went fast with excited chatter from my 12 year old. Weather forecast to be 39 degrees, snow and rain all day, 15-20 mph winds. Brrr.
We arrived to the area prior to the 11 oclock mdt legal start time and we found plenty of birds. We geared up, and watched the clock tick. Finally we hit the field.
Immediately we were into birds. Bonnie my tried and true GSP locked up tight and Nathaniel circled and an area half the size of a football field erupted with ringnecks. I kid you not, the sky darkened with roosters. He flailed away with the pump 12 guage, but nothing fell out of the sky. He came out smiling.
We picked up singles and doubles in the belly high grass with the same results. Frustration was setting in on him. His hands were numb, his body soaked from head to toe. We went back to the truck and warmed up with sandwiches and hot chocolate. We changed out pants and gloves and went out to another spot.
We took Clyde, my younger GSP out of the box and headed out. He locked up. We circled. Out comes a trophy jack rabbit, dumb dog. We take another step and up comes a rooster at his feet, great dog!. The shotgun comes up and folds the bird up with his first shot! First bird down! We try to take a picture, but the camera is severely broken.
We continue on and he repeats on a sharptail grouse. He's all grins.
We continue and by golly, I'm even getting cold. We head back to the truck. We go to a new area. I pull out my shotgun and load it up. With two birds down, Nathaniel choosed to stay in the truck and keep warm. I head out with Bonnie for a quick hunt. Quick, because I'm freaking cold and wet.
Bonnie dog and I find birds, fold a few roosters up and get back to the truck.
Trip isn't over yet.
On the way out, a blitzing skunk runs under my tire and pops like an overripe cherry. Instantly we're overcome INSIDE from the skunk stink, as the defrosters were on and take air from the outside.
New Toyota Tundra is now skunk truck. I pulled into the garage getting home and the mud dripping off the truck stunk up the garage so bad I had to park it outside and pressure wash the garage out and while I was already cold and wet I scubbed the truck down. It cut down a lot of the stink, but it's still there.
Inside the truck it's not as potent, but definately noticeable. Hopefully it will fade quickly.
Overall, a very memorable trip. Wish the camera hadn't broke.
In short, today was filled with cold, rain, snow, wind, mud, birds, GSP's, high brass 6's, high fives, numb fingers, hot chocolate, and lastly a skunk.
2 hour drive early this morning went fast with excited chatter from my 12 year old. Weather forecast to be 39 degrees, snow and rain all day, 15-20 mph winds. Brrr.
We arrived to the area prior to the 11 oclock mdt legal start time and we found plenty of birds. We geared up, and watched the clock tick. Finally we hit the field.
Immediately we were into birds. Bonnie my tried and true GSP locked up tight and Nathaniel circled and an area half the size of a football field erupted with ringnecks. I kid you not, the sky darkened with roosters. He flailed away with the pump 12 guage, but nothing fell out of the sky. He came out smiling.
We picked up singles and doubles in the belly high grass with the same results. Frustration was setting in on him. His hands were numb, his body soaked from head to toe. We went back to the truck and warmed up with sandwiches and hot chocolate. We changed out pants and gloves and went out to another spot.
We took Clyde, my younger GSP out of the box and headed out. He locked up. We circled. Out comes a trophy jack rabbit, dumb dog. We take another step and up comes a rooster at his feet, great dog!. The shotgun comes up and folds the bird up with his first shot! First bird down! We try to take a picture, but the camera is severely broken.
We continue on and he repeats on a sharptail grouse. He's all grins.
We continue and by golly, I'm even getting cold. We head back to the truck. We go to a new area. I pull out my shotgun and load it up. With two birds down, Nathaniel choosed to stay in the truck and keep warm. I head out with Bonnie for a quick hunt. Quick, because I'm freaking cold and wet.
Bonnie dog and I find birds, fold a few roosters up and get back to the truck.
Trip isn't over yet.
On the way out, a blitzing skunk runs under my tire and pops like an overripe cherry. Instantly we're overcome INSIDE from the skunk stink, as the defrosters were on and take air from the outside.
New Toyota Tundra is now skunk truck. I pulled into the garage getting home and the mud dripping off the truck stunk up the garage so bad I had to park it outside and pressure wash the garage out and while I was already cold and wet I scubbed the truck down. It cut down a lot of the stink, but it's still there.
Inside the truck it's not as potent, but definately noticeable. Hopefully it will fade quickly.
Overall, a very memorable trip. Wish the camera hadn't broke.
