Krakow Kid, Thanks for the kind word. There's something wonderful about getting a up before dawn on a cold crisp morning,making a pot of coffee, and taking a mug full outside to listen to the bob's calling as each covey awakes to the new day. Then as the dew leaves the ground and the birds start to move we put the hunting collar on the dog. It still has its tiny bell we no longer can hear but it's part of the hunt we won't change. With the dog at heal we move off toward the area where we heard the closest covey wake. As we get near we release the dog with a word and the hunt is on. After all these years, the heart still pounds and we still flinch at the first rise. Yes, I've been in heaven and hope my return is just the same. There is a God and he also is a bird hunter.
Very well said, Bill. I am a kindred spirit to you, in my love and appreciation for "birds", especially the wild ones that are left. I take our little house dog out every morning to pee, and hear them calling in the first faint light of day. One morning recently I heard birds calling profusely and stopped a few moments to really take it in. In just a moment I realized I was hearing birds from four different nesting locations around my house. This is quite a concert, to get to hear that many wild birds at once, these days. I still have a "huntable" population (barely, and only a couple times a year). I've a buddy with a couple dogs that still chases wild birds and we hunt my place from time to time. Each time I kill a true wild bob, I take him from the dog and bury my nose in the feathers and drink in that wonderful aroma. In the world's eyes I am a sick man.
I'd rather experience one wild covey rise than fifteen with released birds. Another close friend, who owns the sunflower field I plant each year, releases about 1600 flight trained birds each year in August. I purposely wait until the last few days each season before going with him, to give them more time to "get wild".
I agree God must be a bird hunter, too. And won't be surprised if He uses a hammer-gun.
SRH
