A couple of weeks ago I took my first trip out to South Dakota for a Pheasant Hunting trip. We had seven guys and two dogs. Definitely could have used more dogs! We hunted on some private ground near Doland, SD.
Not a big town at all, but friendly folks, and a couple of nice taverns/restaurants nearby.
We had good weather the first day, saw a fair amount of birds and Ruby got a workout in. She did a great job finding birds in some of the shelter belts and holding them tight until we got there. Its always a challenge when folks that have never hunted over a ranging pointer do it for the first time, and an even bigger challenge when you have a flusher and a pointer as the only two dogs in the group. Animals and humans both acquitted themselves well and we had a great day.
A couple of nights we ended up at the Time Out and had a great time hanging out with the locals.
I’m not so sure Ruby approved.
Last two days were a bit rougher weather-wise but we saw hundreds of birds and the hunting was good. Ruby ranged out a bit and between the wind and the miles of corn it took some time to get her back on track. She also pointed a bobcat in a rock pile, but fortunately we got her and the other dog away before they mixed it up.
I was up on the UP hunting grouse with a buddy and our dogs this past week. Saw a lot of birds. Also saw a great movie about the UP, deer hunting, and family. “Escanaba in the Moonlight“. Jeff Daniels film, a comedy, and I’m not doing a review – just recommend it if you hunt.
Anyways, in the movie, one of the characters had a nice brass compass that pinned to his hunting jacket. Took me a little bit of time to find it but it turns out it is a Marbles Compass.
I’ve ordered one for when I’m hunting unfamiliar ground.
I took Ruby to a field trial in Michigan recently. The trial was interesting and I think she did fine. Met some nice folks and her trainer was there running dogs as well. I borrowed a horse for part of the trial and learned I’m certainly no horseman. But I managed through.
After the trial four of us went up to north central Michigan, southwest of Traverse City a bit in Wexford County (as I recall.) I was a great trip, good group of guys and the Brits were a lot of fun to watch.
It was Ruby’s first time on grouse and she really acquitted herself well, running with the vets, honoring points, finding birds, holding her point. One set of dogs ran with Swiss Bells and while it was certainly traditional and also soothing to hear the bells jangling, im not sure I’m comfortable enough yet to give up the beeper on her collar. It’s probably more me than her. Well actually it’s the fear of what my wife would do if I lost her for a while!
I’ve not been on public ground groomed for grouse. It’s pretty interesting how they manage it in some areas – four corners are cut in cycles so that one is almost old growth, one is what I think most would consider prime, one quadrant is younger growth approaching prime, and one is pretty much young growth. At least that’s how I understood it.
Ruby found a porcupine and luckily didn’t tangle with it. I am glad she didn’t end up with a snout full of quills!
We saw quite a few birds and Ruby had a solid handful of finds and points.