Wasn't sure if I would hunt today, but by noon I was gettin some bad cravings. I was on the wet side for 5 days. Probably the longest I will go without hunting this season!
Made some calls and got re-hooked up with my old stand by private spots.
I went to whiskey dick release site too and didn't even see a track. I also almost got stuck but managed to pull off some good driving to save my dignity.
Went to my friend's house for some elusive Ellensburg pheasant hunting. The fresh snow immediately told me that there were a few birds runnin around but Durson and I couldn't find them.
As we were loading up and driving out, I saw a rooster go and land in some bushes. I got the pup out and we made a move on the bush. It was only about 15X15 but it was pure thorns. The dog ran around it, through it, and on top of it for 10 minutes straight. I was sure that the bird was in there. I started throwing some huge rocks in there and still I heard NO movement and saw nothing. I crawled on my hands and knees to see under the bushes but saw nothing.
I went back to the truck and loaded up the dog. I figured that the bird flew when I was unloading the duck, but I looked back at the bush. Sure enough, that little *censored* poked his head out. I couldn't believe it. I grabbed the browning cynergy and ran back to the bush. I saw the rooster running and then he took off at about 70 yards. I double checked the surrounding bushes and another rooster popped out. 1 shot, one kill. I went and got my upset pup out and let him see the bird that I had shot while he was in the kennel
...
Went to my favorite duck spot. Glassed a duck in a ditch on the way in. It was a greenhead but when I jumped it, there were two and I ended up hittin the hen. Felt bad but it happens.
Went and bs'd with the people who own the land for an hour and a half to let the spot cool down. Went back out and there were ducks flying EVERYWHERE at about 4:20 in the evening. Jumped a flock of 8 and shot at a greenhead - MISS followed up with my full choke barrel and knocked him dead at about 30.
Saw some teal land no more than 50 yards from me. Got them up and made a great double shot. Dropped em both.
Saw some mallards land a couple hundred yards away. Jumped them at about 40 yards. Picked out a nice greeny and let him have it.
I am absolutely amazed at how dramatically the change in shells has effected my shooting.
I thought about it and so far I am:
2/2 for pheasant
7/9 with ducks while using the black clouds
I think one or two of them took two shots but the point is, the birds be fallin like rain with Black Cloud.
Some pics:
Durson was mad that he couldn't help me clean the birds.
