Kodi and I had a few hours this morning , before we had to be in Portland. Rather than sit around watching TV and surfin' the net I decided we'd give SI one more shot for the gray rockets.
We had been out 4 times since the opener for dove (twice at SI and twice elsewhere)with no results. It seems the rain prior to the season pushed them out of the areas we were hunting. We hadn't had a chance to check an area someone had told me about so, we started there first. Less than 5 minutes we saw our first bird. He was high in a dead tree and no way were we gonna get close with out him knowing. We tried the old oblique approach. You know where you walk diagonal and act like you don't see him. It almost worked but he flushed a little too soon and it was too long of a shot. I tried to lead him but I don't think it was enough. He flew away unscathed.
We continued our hunt and saw some more doves. I actually figured out the directions I had been given. After figuring what was actually meant and shifting our path of travel, we came on a group of 20 or more. It worked pretty good, considering Kodi and I were the only ones there. As we jumped some of the first birds, they spooked some down the tree line that turned and flew right at us. I remember thinking "man this is a gimme", wrong answer. Of course, I could make up a hundred excuses but, that is all they'd be. Yep, I missed. Actually, I missed 2 birds that were definately in range.
After working that area over , I decided to return to the first spot. I was hoping some of the birds I had jumped would regroup there in the deadwood tree. It just so happened, as we made our way there, I was right(gotta happen sooner or later). I had no other option but to try the same tactic but, coming from a different direction. Many of the birds started to launch before we were close enough but, there were a few dumb ones(my kind of bird).
I was in range and there were still 3 birds that I could see. As I made my way around the pile of brush the first bird bailed. As I started to pull up on him, I caught one of the others that was closer, just as he jumped and drop out off the limb. I swung to the closer bird and and BOOM! Wackage with connection. Kodi fetched him up and then went out to the water and cooled off. Guess he already knew that was it for this spot.
I have a pic from my phone but it ain't pretty.
Didn't put much more time in there and headed to another area on the island. At the second spot, all the areas are ringed or lined in blackberries. We headed toward the trees to find the doves again, hopefully. Five minutes into the hunt Kodi goes "birdy" but in the grain, on the ground. I reined him in a little to get closer. We moved forward toward the berries and then I heard them, inside the berries there was a covey of quail. This was right up Kodi's alley. We have always spent time practicing and training in the blackberries. "Go get those birds" that's all it took and Kodi was pushing birds out both side and straight up. I kept with the days tradition and missed the first I got on (should I say thought I got on). Second bird dropped in the berries at my shot. Kodi went in after it and I couldn't believe the bird came right back up like nothing happened. I was caught by surprise and did't even get a shot off. I just couldn't believe what I just saw.
We headed down the rows and made our way around to the opposite side of the same row on the otherside of a ditch. When we got straight across from the first quail spot , Kodi popped another quail up. I swung and BOOM! Wow, I dumped it. Kodi fetched it up and we moved on. By this time it was getting hot out. I looked at the time and it was time to go. we spent 3 hours total and only had two birds to show for it but, we earned those birds.
I'm hoping the pheasant hunting pay more dividends but, it's good to get out either way it goes.
Bring on the waterfowlin weather.
Finally shot a gray rocket.
Linear Mode
