"DEAD LEAF"

Down

The Pudelpointer people call K-Lee's color "dead leaf".  It's not really liver, and certainly not golden.  It's not red enough to be called red and not brown enough to be called brown.  "Dead leaf" is a good fit.

It took personal "reprogramming"  to learn to look for certain things when hunting with K-Lee.  Solid patches of her color amongst the trees, and  flashes of movement became  two "triggers" for my eye. Even with those clues, I sometimes lose track of her.  Suffering from hearing loss from exposure to loud noises doesn't help either.

Sometimes I need to "ping" her beeper.  Sort of like "The Hunt For Red October"--"Give me a ping Vasili. ... One ping only."  It's usually then that I realize she did the "ninja thing" and had sneaked up on me from behind.  I think she enjoys doing that.

It's right there boss!

October 20 has come and gone.  Per doctor's orders, we held off hunting until then, and have since been slowly building her stamina.  The other day, we jumped two ducks, pointed three snipe and two woodcock.  Needless to say, it was good to have "Team K-Lee" back in the field.

Tomorrow, we head for the Great North Woods for a few days.  We'll close our camp and visit with friends.  Of course, the daylight hours will be spent searching for grouse and woodcock.

Since being taken off the "sick list", we brought home a couple pheasant , but I've taken to not shooting at an upland bird that wasn't pointed--especially since she has discovered that if she runs through the tall grass, she can put up a running bird!  Being cooped up in a cage for 8 weeks and under house arrest for another 8 weeks has left us both re-learning many things.  That said, while she was in her last weeks of recuperation, we had a chance to practice our yard work.

Hunting with K-Lee these past several days I've been grateful for that.  She walked at heel (off lead) as we sneaked on ducks,  She lies down and takes a break when I do.  Her "nose" is better than ever and things are improving overall..  I'm glad that we spent time doing those things when we were under "house arrest".  Now let's see what the Great North Woods will bring.  Perhaps just a little snow will make "dead leaf" be easier to see!

So uh, What's new?

A FAMILY AFFAIR

This morning, I spent a few hours at a local "pheasant site". ( Yep, that's right.  New Hampshire does a stocking for hunters and it's a "put and take" affair--sort of like most of the trout fishing here in the Northeast.) Since K-Lee is still "benched" from her surgery, I took my camera.  We saw a few birds in the air and my friend, who brought his (English) pointer, found some on the ground.  What pleased me the most was seeing boys and girls enjoying the sport with their adults.


My hunting partner and I met a "father and son" team.  If I were to guess, the son was about 9-11, and the Dad near "middle age".   His son was "tagging along"' soaking up information like a sponge.  It was obvious that soon, the lad would gain enough wisdom and understanding to have his own fowling piece.  They were  enjoying themselves and carefully observing safety in their hunt.  I was very impressed with the young man's ability and independence.  We need more young boys like that.

Further down the road, was a dad with his two daughters and two german shorthaired pointers.  The girls were handling the dogs, and dad was just giving 'guidance'.  I loved it!  I  asked the youngest girl, "Are you having fun?"  Her entire face lit up with a huge grin and she said, "Oh YES!!" ...then she wrangled her young shorthair into position.  I said, "Hello old timer" to the other shorthair and the eldest daughter corrected me saying, "Old girl".  I thanked her for the correction.  She was very obviously going to grow up to be a "dog woman".  



Another pleasing site was a group of young men  enjoying the sport.  Hearing the name of a dog that I had met at a NAVHDA event, I went over and said "Hi". A group of young men were working  "Wheland".   Gentlemen every one.

These are just a few of the things that reminded me that there is much, much more to our sport.  True, birds and dogs are at the heart of it, but (for me at least) there is great pleasure in seeing that family members of all ages can participate in such "celebrations" of the fall.

Perhaps its because of where you find ruffed grouse that hunting them tends to deal more with solitude. In contrast to that, the stocked--almost social-- pheasant fields have their purpose too.  They are a place where a daughter or son can be with dad or mom (or some other adult) and share unique experiences.  Here, in these "put and take" locations, families can take a moment--away from jobs, videos, soccer, housework, football and fund-raiser car washes .-- and connect on a very unique and fundamental level.

Seeing these young people and their adults did more for my heart than anything in years.  Let's keep it up America! Let those young folks into the game!