My year so far

[shakey legs 2]

I have had 3 excellent trips thus far (one to SD and two to ND) with one more SD trip next week.  I have been going to Western ND (Mott-Regent area) for three years and this is the most birds I have seen in that area.  It is very common to see 2-3 thousand birds in a day just driving around.  We hunt mostly private land but we did spend a couple of hours in a wildlife management area and 5 of us managed to come up with 12 cocks.  We drove home (made it to Fargo) last Saturday in the snowstorm.  It was white-knuckle driving from Bismarck to Fargo and by 7:00 p.m. we had enough.  Next week I will be going to the Watertown area for my last big trip.  I haven't hunted too much in Mn. as my private land access has dried up due to a death.  Two of us did manage to scratch a limit of birds a couple of weeks ago in some management areas by Marshall.  So far the dogs have been healthy and so have the hunters.  I did bury my vehicle in a sink hole where the water between two WPA had overflowed the road and I decided to give it a try.  Bad mistake!  I buried the vehicle up to the floor boards and loon do-do and couldn't climb out with 4-wheel drive due an ice shelf on both sides.  Thank God for AAA!  It has been a good year and I am greatful!

[Mayfly]

Wish I had a similar report. I have only made it out the opener this year. I was planning on going much more but I have spent way too much time in a tree with my bow. I still want to squeez one or two trips in by the end of the year. We'll see. my dog probably hates me. What a year to miss. Now we will get all this snow have a tough winter and wipe all the birds out and we'll be back to a normal Minnesota pheasant pop. next year.

[thunderpout]

Yo Mayfly... I hear ya.  My dad heard me bitchin about not havin enough time to bird hunt because of bow huntin years back,  I bet your dog gives ya the "look" when you're at the door to leave to bow hunt....but anyway... my dad gave me the Clint Eastwood one liner: (Jose Wales?)  "Seems to me..a man's got to have his priorties..."  I have hardly pulled my bow out since, and my dog is a LOT happier!           -thunderpout

[Mayfly]

I just put in for vacation the last weekend of December...going to shoot some birds

[Buster]

Since my dog didn't work out this year haven't made it out as much as previous years, but did get to SD last weekend for the first time. What a thrill!! 2+ days on private land. One day limit bagged, but hundreds seen. Birds flushed wild no matter into, with, or crosswind. Shelter belts ruled, followed by frozen sloughs. Snowstorm was fun! Ski goggles invaluable. Hope for 1 more central MN trip.

[get the net]

No trips out of state for me this year, but a great year.  Dog is in his prime, and on a few trips has been half dog-half amazing.  Some incredible retrieves on roosters.  Have already surpassed my all time number of birds bagged for a season.  The countdown to the end of the season is already here.  Mayfly, that area we have talked about in the past, the pictures of all the birds in the ditch!! even better this year, get out there and harvest a few, make it easier on the suzies this winter.   I am a little concerned, we have not had a start to wiinter like this for about 5-6 years.  We need  a thaw to expose some fields for the birs to scratch up some grain, or we need to support a few feeders already.  I know I plan on placing a few new ones on some private property I am allowed to hunt on.