Although pheasants are more vulnerable on crossing vs going away shots, we do tend to forget about the wing offering some protection to the bird's vitals. In this case, obviously a lot of protection.
One of my very favorite photos of my late shorthair Dasher caught her going airborne to grab an escaping rooster that was only wingbusted. That bird was the second of a double I shot. The first one came down dead, and of course that's the one Dash went to retrieve--giving the crip with two good legs a significant head start. We were hunting an abandoned railroad. Dash tracked that bird for maybe 200 yards to where the cover ran out at a gravel road crossing. She pointed, dove in, and the pheasant did his best attempt at flying with a busted wing. Like an infielder going after a low line drive, Dash made a great leap and catch on that bird.
Last edited by L. Brown; 12/07/17 08:40 AM.
