We hunted a pheasant preserve in Marion Michigan this past Saturday.
We scheduled a morning hunt. The weather was cold, with an icy wind. There was a fresh dusting of snow and intermittent snow showers. I didn’t want to take my good camera out in the weather, so for the first part of the hunt, I took pictures with our waterproof camera. My fingers were cold and I had a tough time manipulating the settings because the buttons are small.
We were assigned field Number 1 which was just past the office. It was long and narrow and the cover was mostly grass.
The clump of trees to the left is the end of our field. There were small roads that ran all through and made it easy for me to walk as long as I kept an eye out for ice.
If you are not familiar with how a pheasant preserve works, I will explain. Usually you reserve a field for either the morning or the afternoon. The birds are pen raised and you buy the number that you want, (there is usually a minimum). After you arrive, but before you enter the field, the birds are released at different spots in the field. Then you hunt. There may be extra birds from other hunts and if you end up with more than you had released, you pay for those birds too. It is an excellent way to work the dogs.
On this day, we had 8 birds put out.
First up was Thunder. Long time readers may remember that he missed all of hunting season last year because he was recovering from an injury he sustained over the summer while running hunt tests. He grouse hunted some during the two years before his injury, but I think it has been at least three years (maybe more) since he pheasant hunted.
It was like he never missed a beat. He flushed three birds right off the bat.
I took video of Thunder flushing the next two birds and will have that on Thursday.
After his three birds, we put Thunder up and brought out Storm. She had a bit more trouble finding the birds. It was pretty cold and they were sitting tight in the grass.
Finally she found and flushed two birds. It had stopped snowing, so when we got Storm out, I swapped out the smaller camera for my DSLR. I was able to get some better pictures.
Called Storm back.
It wasn’t long before she was on another bird.
Time to swap out Storm for Freighter. Come back Thursday to see how he did and for the video of Thunder.
Looks like they were loving it while you were freezing your fingers off. Mom is always frustrated in the winter as the camera shouldn’t be out in the cold too long, so it is hard to take pics on any adventures. I guess pheasant was the meal of the weekend?
That is why I bought the waterproof camera because it is also freeze proof. I need to play with it more because it can take decent pictures…if I put it on the right settings. 😉 It took decent video.
I so missed seeing your beautiful photos of the Brown Dawgs at work while my humans were away, and I am not at all surprised that Thunder jumped right back in there with the pheasants!
That first shot with Thunder is most excellent, love the poof of feathers, the gunner dog and pheasant all in one shot. Honestly I would rather be shooting pictures than shooting as I am always trying to get a shot like that. The pictures with storm are outstanding too, to have her flush it up so close to her and get a shot, you did a great job, it was worth the cold!
Well done Thunder and Storm. Way to go.
Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly
Oh wow! It looks like the dawgs were having a great time!
Happy Tuesday.
Oz
Wonderful that Thunder got right back into the swing of things, and great that Storm did get a bird in the end. 🙂
I love the sheer delight on Storm’s face as she bounds out of the grass! “Got it!” Good girl, Storm!
If I remember correctly he wasn’t too happy missing the season last year. No doubt he sat there thinking of all his previous flushes and how he’d work it once he got back in the field. 🙂
I’m wondering about Freighter. LOL
That looks really cold. Brrrr. We’re having an unusual cold snap, bringing us down to probably a “nice fall day” temperature for you. Everyone is miserable, of course, and had to rush out and cover their tropical plants.
I love the picture of Thunder after he brought the bird back – he’s looking up at the hunter very seriously as if to say, “Hey, that’s my catch. You better handle it well.” 🙂 Love the intensity in his face. Well done to both dogs!
I bet Thunder had a blast. Great job, Thunder! 🙂
Just like ‘riding a bike’ for Thunder. 🙂
That’s so great that Thunder got right into it after having to sit out last season. It looks like both he and Storm had lots of fun! Wish it had been warmer for you though! I was out walking and trying to take photos today in the cold too….it’s not easy!
Great photos! I always feel like I let the dogs down when they work so hard to find the bird and then I miss the shot.
Glad Thunder had a good hunt, I know he was happy to be out 🙂
Enjoyed the photos and nice dog work. We have several nice hunting reserves here and I’ve thought of joining one of them but haven’t gotten around to it.