I was able to get out for an afternoon hunt on Christmas day with my now 8-year-old english pointer Rock. And although the snow was plentiful, the birds were few and far between-at least where I could hunt them anyway. But I am fortunate to have learned that it is less about the number of birds in the bag and more about getting to spend time in the field. I was happy to watch the dog cover ground, hold point, make a couple of great retrieves, and generally do what he was bred and lives to do.