NEW YEAR MUSINGS

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?"