Last day

[Todd_NE]

Took out my little 2 yr old lab yesterday. She's a great little hunter, kind of to the point where she was hunting for herself at the end of the season if some of you know what I mean but boy is she into it.

Went to an 80 acre CRP field of my wife's father in NE Nebraska - about his only pheasant hunting out of 3,000 acres! Brome edge, light switchgrass in the middle field, pretty easy walking except for the nasty hill, the switchgrass is still young. My lab cut a scent of the first bird about 1000 yards in along a creek and old food plot. We chased him about 200 yards downwind in light grass but he beat us. He walked down a 20' bank down into a creek bottm about 10' wide. He must have hopped it, then backtracked up the far bank on us. 50 yards...

Cut another scent and the pup had him made. She hesitated then dove in and it made him run out of a pile of canary grass in a seep area with some skinny tree cover by a plum thicket, he wouldn't fly so I shot beside him then gave him the coup de grace at about wingbeat 5 off the ground. He got from 10 yards to 35 yards away from me quick (I don't think he ever saw me!).

Then we got a chance to go into the wind (I always start out a young dog downwind, let's 'em work out the fire that way). She busted into 10, 3 roosters or so and I got zero, shot at the first few that were too far, the last one was easy and I was unloaded....

Cut another scent that had the pup on a zigzag run about 150 yards south into the wind. Just as I thought about going with the "Whoa! whistle" which is the kiss of death on getting a bird this time of year the bird came up beside and behind me on the field edge. He too had backtracked us but he got up bout 30 yds behind me so I got him.

Last bird we chased about 400 yards up a hill, I'm fat, it's muddy and full of gopher holes so you can imagine. The rudy got up right in front of the pup on point (she does that every now and then) and flew low so I couldn't shoot, luckily he veered left about 40 yds away at the crest (totalllllly safe shot where I was) so I shot across his back with cabo in hot pursuit, by the time I got up over the hill The pup was bringing a very alive bird back - didn't even know if I'd hit it for sure though I thought so. He was a three year old bird - should have had it mounted. Real deep maroon mongolian bird with 1" spurs. Very cool old bird and the pup was awesome. Busted another flock on ten on the way to the truck, could have got two easy. All in all probably another 10 hens as a bonus for fun, only one pantslegged me :)

Great afternoon! I don't recommend double-quicking after a dog on a trail but that's about the only way to get birds late in the season in this weather. Pheasants are amazing creatures and it looks like we have great brood stock for next year if the weather cooperates.

Todd
They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety. - Benjamin Franklin

[Matt D]

Todd,

Great story. Made me feel like I was there with you! And also made me a little jealous.

BTW wanted to thank you. Last year we traded some posts about the Montefeltro. Ended up buying one and love it so far. Performed flawlessly in SD and IA this year on birds.

Have a good one,

Matt D

[Todd_NE]

Glad you are enjoying your Monte. Now they have a new one out those darn engineers at Benelli!

My Monte really patterns the hot and heavy Fiochi's or Federal's really well. I shoot IC all season and use 1400+ fps 1 3/8 5's from start to finish. Ok, I really use my Monte 20 gauge til Thanksgiving :). If any of you are fat and prematurely old like me you'll think you've died and gone to heaven carrying around a little 20 ga benelli.

This is the first dog I've ever used a shock collar with and it disappeared back in December. I think she ate it while we were hunting in the 6' switchgrass and I didn't notice. Either that or I'll find it in a christmas box where my wife swears she didn't put it one night when she cleaned off my desk where it was charging. One or the other is probable.

The only good thing is a collar this time of year can let you reign in your dog for a second without yelling or whistling on runners.

Glad you liked the story. Pheasant hunting behind an enthusiastic dog, especially one who is going to be very good, is almost as much joy as a guy can stand. I, like you I'm sure, take an awful lot of pride in my dogs and how they perform and behave.

I need to schedule my 13 year old for her last hunt. Both hips and a shoulder are shot, last year she stuggled but hunted well and from last January to this November it was all downhill. I took her out for very short stints a few times this year. An area preserve has a "5 acre" hunt for pup training. I think that will be perfect for her retirement hunt. It's getting to the point where I have to carry her upstairs at night. Her mind is sharp as a tack but the body is done. Boy does this spell trouble ahead for me in the next year (yes, she is medicated for pain every day).

Todd

They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety. - Benjamin Franklin

[Matt D]

Todd,
Found the same thing with the Fiochi's. Didn't have much luck with the Winchester and Remington Pheasant loads. Stocked up on Fiochi's this winter as they are hard to find out here.

Got to experience the same thing this year hunting over my then 15 month old English Springer Spaniel. It looks like he is going to turn out pretty good and can't wait to see how he does next year once he has more experience.

Sorry to hear about your older dog but I am sure you have many great memories of time spent in the field with it.

Matt D

[Todd_NE]

Those Federal Pheasant Forever loads are as good or better than the Fiochi's too if they are easier to find.

Thanks for the comments on my old girl Chelsea. She's been as good a dog as any man deserves in a lifetime. I have been blessed.

Todd

They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety. - Benjamin Franklin

[Matt D]

Federals are even harder as I have never seen them at all out here. Had some of the old Federal 1 1/2 oz #4's I finished off this year. Will keep my eyes open for the Federals.

Matt D

[Todd_NE]

Wish I could help, I figured you'ld have a wealth of shells out there to choose from. I'd hate to guess the cost of shipping a case.

There used to be a shell made called Activ. Goofy looking hull but wow - best shell ever for heavy cover late season birds. They had 1.5 oz of nickel shot at 1400 fps. Whew... They were made in WV so maybe there are some tucked away out there if you snoop.

I get a lot of grief sometimes for shooting "good" shells - $8-11 box stuff. Usually, if it's someone I don't know I make sure we keep a few of 'their' birds and mine separate. Later, when we clean them the difference is obvious. I'm not a physicist but I also think 1400 vs. 1200 fps is a lot of difference on crossing shots.

Out here in the heavy cover many times you hit a large pod of birds and it's difficult for dogs to sort out a dead bird, especially if they ran. And many times you get that last flush or two that also can confuse a dog.

Our hospital system has the Zanesville hospitals, suddenly I want to eat some Tom's ice cream and fresh cashews!

Sometime we'll have to get together.

Todd

They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety. - Benjamin Franklin

[Matt D]

I remember the old Activ shells. All plastic hulls and like you said goofy looking. I will have to keep my eyes open.

To me it comes down to just a couple of $$'s difference in the price of a box of shells and since we don't get to hunt everyweekend it isn't a whole lot of boxes per year. Even if you go through 10 boxes pre year at $3 per box is only $30. After you travel 11 hours and stay in a hotel for a few nights what is $30 more for a better round? I agree with looking at birds when they are cleaned. What we saw this year (some of group was shooting plated and some lead) was that the birds that had just a few pellets in them were almost always plated shot.

You now have me questionsing myself on whether I got the hi velocity Fiochis or not. Guess I didn't realize there were two different types. Will have to look at that.

Talk to you later,

Matt

[Todd_NE]

I think the "hot" Fiochi loads are called GPX Golden Pheasant, that is different that the regular Golden Pheasant loads.

keep in touch if you want

tcwalleye - AT - cableone.net

Todd
They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety. - Benjamin Franklin