Went on a couple more chukar hunts this week and put some hard miles in. The bird getting was about average, but I felt great about the places I got to. They were places with a lot of steep inclines that really taxed the legs. That’s another one of the things that make chukar hunting so great. Getting to the top and back without any bad falls is in itself a good accomplishment. And if your dogs put on a good show, it just adds to the fun. Both days, I felt good about what I had accomplished. They were hunts that hurt when I was fifty.
One of the days I hunted with my grandson, Conner, and his black lab. Blaze is the first lab I’ve seen conquer those steep hills and still want more. I know there are others, but I was impressed. Hunting with Conner gave me a little knowledge of what is happening on the other side of those hills. He told me of a few times he saw birds flying from a direction and saw Layne appear soon after. I didn’t see it happen, but now I know she is flushing more birds than I thought. Could be for a lot of reasons, but knowing it’s happening may be a reason I’m seeing fewer birds.
But by the same token, I was heading up a steep hill to a point by Layne. She was 150 yards away and Conner was already up there. I asked Conner to take care of it for me and he headed that way. Soon I heard a shot from his 28 and he had a bird. He said Layne held great and did everything the way she should. So, I’ll take those flushed birds as learning experiences, knowing she’ll just get better with each encounter.
On my next hunt, I went to a place that always kicked my butt but usually produced a lot of chukar opportunities. It wasn’t as good as I had remembered it being, but maybe that’s because I’m not the young man I used to be. But by the time I got back to the truck, my legs felt like rubber and I was happy to get off my feet. It was a great feeling. I can’t do it every day, but it’s great to know I still have some of the old grit in me. The dogs were amazing. Up and down those steep slopes searching for scent. Both Grady and Layne found and pointed birds. Grady with his slower more steady style and Layne running like a cat on fire and suddenly slamming to a halt. She is still busting more birds then I like, but she’ll get it figured. When she see’s Grady on point, she immediately honors. Something I felt I’d have problems with. It doesn’t matter whether she’s 100 yards or 10 yards. She doesn’t move. So, I don’t worry about that no more.
She also does some fine pointing.
Just like I’ve always done with all my past dogs, I move to her right and try to make a good shot. She holds great until the birds flush. But to this day, she hasn’t seen the bird hit the ground. She is always watching the ones flying and Grady ends up getting the bird.
She loves to retrieve, but just can’t figure out how to find a dead bird. Time will take care of that also. Meanwhile, I’ll keep on doing what we are doing and just feel glad that I can feel great doing so.
