Needed Some Time Outdoors--November 7, 2009

This is the first of a series of posts recreated from photos, memories, and my written journals. On this day, I had just left Cris and Christiane's side and Cris was having a pretty rough day. We knew the end was near, and I just needed to get off by myself. I drove home, hastily gathered some gear and the dog, and drove over to the Bibb place for a hour before sunset. It was a surreal afternoon. My hunting pal lay dying as I sat in the field with one hand on the warm back of my dog, the other on the cold steel of my shotgun. I tried to maintain my composure as I carried on a one way conversation with a Labrador.

Every Day's a Good Day to Flip

At first I couldn't think of taking a life while Cris was fighting for breath in a dark room thirty miles north, but things came naturally as birds began to fly, and I knew Cris would want me to quit sulking and shoot. We took a few birds; Flip, as always, was on his game and made picture perfect retrieves. 

As the sun set, the temperature plummeted, and I walked back to the truck shivering and wiping a few tears as I put the gear up with the dog.

Sunset in Louisa

Afternoon Doves

Flip and I went alone for a quick dove shoot. Leaden skies, nothing flying. Always better to be in the field than not. 

And So Another Season Begins

September 5, 2009

Dad bushogged the church field and around the pond this week. The sunflowers were a dismal failure; Short, stubby, tiny seedheads, and choked with weeds. We made a few mistakes this year; no fertilizer, no herbicide; just tilled and planted. Oh well.

It was a weird opening day. The birds seemed to have moved out of the area ahead of a front earlier in the week. Nobody has birds near us. Even with the sunflower failure, there's plenty of weed seed in the field, but still no birds. Should've brought our fishing rods.

Cris and Christiane came down from Madison; so did Jay, Kathy and Larry. Harry took a break and drove up from Ashland, and Kurt came over from Harrisonburg. We still had fun getting together, despite the lack of birds...good excuse to hunt up all the gear and work the dogs anyway. Croc and Flip were well behaved and ready to hunt.

The story of the day: Cris was the only one to shoot a dove, the only one to even pop a cap. Poor little bird didn't stand a chance...I'll let Cris tell the tale on himself...if he wants to.

Countdown to Fall

The dove and early goose seasons are posted. The sunflowers have started blooming. Let the countdown begin!

Last Doves

Saturday, January 10

Dad and I hit the same spot as yesterday. Nothin'. Dad shot at one high flyer that was circling and really wanted in across the creek....desperation shot. Funny how much difference one day can make. Yesterday we saw maybe a hundred birds in there...today, nada.

Perry slipped in behind us and farther down the creek. I flushed a hen mallard from the swamp straight to him. He said it was the first bird he'd shot in three years. Never thought I'd see a three year drought with one of those brothers....we all get busy with softball or other things our kids are doing. It was nice to see him there. Root's getting pretty old and gimpy...Perry says he's twelve...old Labrador.

Sparks has closed for good. There'll probably be more of that with this economy struggling. We went up to the Mineral Restaurant for breakfast after the hunt. Picked up another beagle pup, Jack, from Allen this week....more on Jack later.




Falling temps and rain were the prediction for the afternoon, but since it was the last day of late doves we thought we'd give it a try. Went over to the Bibb place and set up in a bean field. The birds were working a line between the beans and a patch of picked over corn. We sat against some power poles, but it's a big field and hard to hunt with only a few guns. About three the rain started and Dad headed home. Flip and I stuck it out for another hour before we'd had enough too.

Big flocks were flying, maybe twenty to forty in each, but they were few and far between, and they never seemed to light where you wanted them. I killed three and called it a season. We headed home to the fire and some hot chocolate.

Saturday, Oct. 11

Despite seeing no birds yesterday, we had to try 'em at least once in the early season. Dad and I hunted Edward's. Heard just a few Woodies squealing. Saw one lone duck about dawn and quit early.....still worth the trip. I wonder if the lack of ducks up here has anything to do with the water being back to regular levels in the lake...dunno.

Switched gears for the afternoon. Will and Willie arrived in time for a dove hunt in the sunflower field, which is pretty picked over. Saw very few doves. I shot at one and thought I missed. Saw Will walk over under the sycamore. Turns out I hit the bird and it went into the tree. Will said it hopped up and down for several seconds and fell out of the tree. Flip got the bird up and it flew across the pond, where he hunted hard and made a good retrieve.

Things were so slow we traded guns for fishing poles. I hooked a big bass, but lost him at my feet while trying to lip him out of the moss at the bank. Oh well.

Friday, Sept. 19

Called Dad, who said there'd finally been more birds in the sunflowers. Drove out for an impromptu hunt, arriving at 4:15 and hunted until about 5:30. Fall weather's arrived, along with big flocks......ten to twenty at a crack. The shooting was fast and so was the wind. We each lost several dead into the treeline....shot at thirty yards and windblown into the trees behind us. Since I was rushed to get to Goldmine, I left Flip in the pen. Croc pulled double duty picking up for both of us. On the way back I noticed the dogwoods were just taking on some color. Fall will be in full swing soon.

Saturday

No hunting last weekend......Tropical Storm Hanna rained us out. Question is, did she move the birds out? We'll see this week.

Shot in the Twyman Open at the club instead. Those were some nasty birds Saturday. Can you say 79 in the .410? Sheesh!

Till next time......

jts

September 3

Storm's coming. With Hurricane Hannah threatening for the weekend, Dad decided to hunt today rather than resting the field till Saturday. We hunted from about four to six. Still slow. I stood and watched the doves piling into the uncut part of the church pasture....landing on the sunflower stalks in the thick stuff instead of coming up the hill to the mowed part. Interesting.

Dad killed a fat pigeon. Asked if it counted as two doves since it was so big, or as none. "Whatever you want it to count as, I guess." I killed eight doves.

No pics today....forgot the camera. Gave half the dove breasts to John and Shelby. Never saw any more of the pigeon....mebbe Croc ate it.

jts

Opening Day

What a great day! Cool enough to be comfortable in the shade....that's a switch. Awesome company.......

• Christiane's first dove hunt, in the shade with Cris in the 'hot' corner;
• Jay and Kathy, unfettered by obligations and savoring retirement time;
• Larry's first dove hunt in years, 196 days and a wake-up to retirement;
• Bill and Greg with the human retrievers Robert and Tyler;
• Neighbor Brian with daughter Courtney and trusty Buttercup;
• Ed from church;
• Kurt, Dad and I representing our clan;
• Croc and Flip doing better than average for an opener.

The birds were slow; Colemans' started chopping corn. Dunno, maybe that pulled the birds some. Everybody got some shooting; we cleaned and grilled maybe thirty birds. We'll rest the field and try again Saturday if the storms allow. Missed Will and his boys.....they'll be along Saturday.

Getting Ready

Monday starts a new season. Today the first of the sunflowers were mowed. Neither of us said it....no need.......both thinking of her today.

The dogs are ready and invites are done. Everyone got your license and shells?