Had an interesting day today, and I've some birds to clean in the AM.For those who haven't done this yet, here's how it all came about...
My best friend is 40, in good shape,and an ardent hunter. He invited me to a shoot at one of those ritzy preserve and range places, and we went down there this morning, with a co-worker of my buddy.
More Jags and Volvos in the parking lot than P/Us.
First, we stopped by the 5 stand and shot a round. My score was embarassing, Frankenstein weighs about three lbs less than my 870 TB does these days, and I overswung on everything. I did pull a few doubles towards the end, but it was proof one shouldn't switch guns and shoot in front of strangers.
Next, we met the "Guide" and moved to a milo field. A number of Ringnecks and Chukar had been planted there an a hour before. A dog was used, and both English Setters and Pointers were in front of us, doing a bangup job. Pop would have approved.
I guess we had our first shot opp after a whole two minutes into this. Practically had to kick the bird before it moved, and then it ran like an ostrich. The next ringneck was more amenable, and hit the deck deader than Osama's good name.
And so it went. The dog would cast for a bit, we'd move in and flush, then shoot the bird. The dog would retrieve the bird, the guide would put it in his game pocket, we'd reload and continue on.
It was Reader's Digest shooting. The time between shot opps was about the same as shooting Sporting Clays. Sort of a compressed experience.
Once again I was reminded of how the gaudiness of the male pheasant turns into superb camo in a field like this. Even the green head mirrors the little green plants poking up through the stubble, and the rest of the bird looks like light and shadow in the undergrowth. And while these were pen raised birds, they were still ringnecks, ditch dragons that flew up and turned like cutting horses. Datus Proper, the writer, calls Pheasants, "A bird the color of Autumn". I can see why....
Shots were close, I was using a Skeet choke and could have gone with straight Cylinder.Shot was limited to 7 1/2 or smaller, and the AA Light Target loads we had did fine. The other guys both used Modified tubes, and yes, we did tear some birds up.
Note,on wild Ringnecks I'd go with more choke, larger shot,and more of it.My old pheasant load was 1 1/4 oz of 6s,and I sometimes wished for 1 1/2 oz of 4s. These were pen birds, and not nearly as tough.
" A Ringneck can run like an ostrich and hide under a pencil"- Brister...
The chukars were a disappointment. The guide said that the weather was too warm for them, and they had to be kicked up to fly. It sounded like the old "You should have been here last week" story such folks have ready for the clients at fishing and hunting spots all over the world.
We took every bird that flew. Total body count was 26 Ringnecks, 12 Chukar. I sat out the last trip through the field and just enjoyed watching the dog work. Still one of the finest shows on earth.
What it wasn't was hunting, but it was still fun....
My best friend is 40, in good shape,and an ardent hunter. He invited me to a shoot at one of those ritzy preserve and range places, and we went down there this morning, with a co-worker of my buddy.
More Jags and Volvos in the parking lot than P/Us.
First, we stopped by the 5 stand and shot a round. My score was embarassing, Frankenstein weighs about three lbs less than my 870 TB does these days, and I overswung on everything. I did pull a few doubles towards the end, but it was proof one shouldn't switch guns and shoot in front of strangers.
Next, we met the "Guide" and moved to a milo field. A number of Ringnecks and Chukar had been planted there an a hour before. A dog was used, and both English Setters and Pointers were in front of us, doing a bangup job. Pop would have approved.
I guess we had our first shot opp after a whole two minutes into this. Practically had to kick the bird before it moved, and then it ran like an ostrich. The next ringneck was more amenable, and hit the deck deader than Osama's good name.
And so it went. The dog would cast for a bit, we'd move in and flush, then shoot the bird. The dog would retrieve the bird, the guide would put it in his game pocket, we'd reload and continue on.
It was Reader's Digest shooting. The time between shot opps was about the same as shooting Sporting Clays. Sort of a compressed experience.
Once again I was reminded of how the gaudiness of the male pheasant turns into superb camo in a field like this. Even the green head mirrors the little green plants poking up through the stubble, and the rest of the bird looks like light and shadow in the undergrowth. And while these were pen raised birds, they were still ringnecks, ditch dragons that flew up and turned like cutting horses. Datus Proper, the writer, calls Pheasants, "A bird the color of Autumn". I can see why....
Shots were close, I was using a Skeet choke and could have gone with straight Cylinder.Shot was limited to 7 1/2 or smaller, and the AA Light Target loads we had did fine. The other guys both used Modified tubes, and yes, we did tear some birds up.
Note,on wild Ringnecks I'd go with more choke, larger shot,and more of it.My old pheasant load was 1 1/4 oz of 6s,and I sometimes wished for 1 1/2 oz of 4s. These were pen birds, and not nearly as tough.
" A Ringneck can run like an ostrich and hide under a pencil"- Brister...
The chukars were a disappointment. The guide said that the weather was too warm for them, and they had to be kicked up to fly. It sounded like the old "You should have been here last week" story such folks have ready for the clients at fishing and hunting spots all over the world.
We took every bird that flew. Total body count was 26 Ringnecks, 12 Chukar. I sat out the last trip through the field and just enjoyed watching the dog work. Still one of the finest shows on earth.
What it wasn't was hunting, but it was still fun....
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around here they get $25. a bird.