January will soon be a memory. To avoid freezing, the boxes of medical supplies, clothing and "dog stuff" were taken out of the pickup; and while other folks were still hunting in warmer climates, K-Lee and I became "house-bound".
I'm not sure what goes through her head when she's sleeping in front of the fireplace. I see leg movement, hear soft yips, then she goes quiet again. For my part, several things float through my mind--three concern the future:
(1) I've decided to build a pigeon coop (for homing pigeons). My thoughts have led me to the building a coop on the inside our barn with openings through the wall to the outside...It would keep the birds sheltered and not create a new structure in the field. My alternative is a free-standing structure on stilts. I saw this years ago in Pennsylvania at a Braque Francais breeder's home. It looked like a children's "play-house".
New England winters being what they are, I tend to favor one in the barn.
(2) I've decided to hunt "smarter". The all-day armed assaults and forced marches through blow-downs, spruce "groves", and ankle-twisting terrain are coming to an end. I'm getting older. Last fall, my friend commented that we were "outfitted like Navy Seals" to hunt Ruffed Grouse: Guns, excess amounts of ammo (in case a grouse shoots back I guess), water, GPS, electronics, spare clothing, first aid kit, compass, whistle, snack, camera... the list goes on. Generally speaking, in New England, I feel that there's no reason we couldn't do short three to four hour hunts, rest, then go again and be just as productive--perhaps more so. Learning to target food plots and cover is paramount. So, more education is on my agenda. Perhaps I can sit at the feet of author G. N. Allen who is a long-time grouse hunter. (http://gnallen.blogspot.com)
I think I'll call and seek an audience.
(3) Finally, for medical and hunting reasons, I need to tune up and get healthier. Carrying "twenty-less-pounds" around would go a long way to a better hunt.
Ambitious? ...I think "practical"--
maybe even "self-preservative"!
So "what's in your wallet?"
