Thread: Game bird diary for all

Thought I'd stop by a spot I found earlier in the year during a pre-season recce trip, it paid off!

Started with crossing a river which looked innocent enough until I got to ball height, and got swept off my feet. Like a wet rat I clambered ashore, wrung my clothes out, and checked my ammo. My lovely lady was on the opposite shore with the remaining dogs laughing herself silly...

To cut a long story short, terrible shooting once again. Usually by this late in the season I'm on form, but I think I'm getting worse! First bird Betty found I missed with both barrels. Second one I'm sure I had hit, saw it drop a wing as is glided back over the river. I really hate losing game, I get really annoyed with myself. As hunters we owe our quarry a clean death, its the least we can do. Luckily he was recovered in the most unusual fashion, which I'll get to soon.

The third find of the day was a continuation of the terrible shooting theme, just pricking him with the second shot. He hit the deck out in an open paddock, recovered instantly, and was legging it for cover when I sent the "Black Death" in. She took him at lightning speed, and brought him back very much alive and pissed off at the speed she took him at. I was very pleased with her for this, I would have hated to have lost two birds that day.

As I usually do, I turn for home after one bird. Crossed the river in a different spot this time, no slip ups. Met up with my partner who was running Enzo and Baz up the river flats. Metres from the car, Enzo locks up, setting staunchly facing into a bank. On command, he rushes in, and a pheasant lifts. I hear it scramble up the bank onto the road. On climbing up to the road, I find a small clump of grass with a pointer puppy sticking out of it. I look in to this tiny clump, and see a tail feather of a cock. I parted the grass, and there is the most bedraggled pheasant I have ever seen, being stared to death by Baz. The autopsy later revealed a grand total of three pellets in the poor sod. Enzo saves the day!

Days like this are a great demonstration on how a good dog is an asset to a hunter in the recovery of wounded game. Both of these birds would have been lost otherwise.