Last day of stocking...

I went up to Flatbrook for the last day of stocking pheasants. I parked on the other side of the river because I wasn't sure how the snow would be on the bumpy road and when we walked over to the parking lot it was only Greg in it! We started out and didn't see a flush...didn't hear much shooting either. After going along on the field side for a while we decided to go up the hill near the cars. When we got to the top left of the hill Bacci would point, then creep, then point. He then locked on point under a pine...Greg saw the hen and tried to flush her towards me but she went up in front of him and a pine tree so he got her. We walked on and just a few moments later Bacci put up a cockbird that wouldn't hold for him. As he flushed he went over the ridge behind us. Neither Greg nor I would shoot because he was low and Bacci was in pursuit. A moment later Bacci returned with him in his mouth!! He's getting good at this! :) We kept walking around the hill, did some of the edge and then went across the road. We ended working our way back to the stuck spot but didn't see any other birds for the day. We ended around 11:00. It was a nice, but strange bird season this year. Not a lot of birds...a ton of guys and the weather seemed strange for almost every day I went. Had a GREAT time with Dani going hunting this year. I hope she doesn't decide that it's "not her thing" like Gianna did. I hope to get her out for one more day hunting deer. We'll see if the weather cooperates.

What a great snowy day!!!

Went bird hunting at Berkshire Valley today. It snowed yesterday and left 6-8 inches of snow. I headed out to BV because I didn't want to have to drive up to Flatbrook with the roads being cruddy. I pulled into the parking lot and could barely beleive that there were only two other cars there. There ended up having two more cars...but there were hardly anyone there. I started out and within the first few minutes Bacci went on point. He held for a long time until I got there and when I did there was a hen in some brush. She struggled to get out and when she broke over the field she never flew more than a few feet off the ground. I didn't shoot because Bacci was in hot pursuit. The dog disappeared...I called for him and a few minutes later he came back with the bird! One for Bacci!! We worked around a bit and as I went up the hill I caught the tracks of a bird. I followed for a bit and saw the cockbird on the hill. As we approached he took off and I got him. I started to walk out of the woods and some guy on top of the hill shot at a cockbird and missed. He called to me as it flew over my head but I already had two. I told him that I did and he said he ran out of shells. I told him that he could have one of my birds so I can still hunt and he took one. I looked for the cockbird and couldn't find him...I started to walk towards the car and when I went into the woods I saw some tracks. About a minute later a cockbird took off and I got him...I went back to the car. I talked to the guy that I gave the bird to, his name is Kevin. We cleaned the birds and I found out why the hen that I gave him didn't fly high...she was carrying eggs! As he cut her open, she started leaking all over the place and three soft shelled eggs popped out! I've never seen that before. All in all, a great day pheasant hunting. I have the birds marinating right now!!!

First day deer hunting with Daniella!!!

When: Saturday, December 13, 2008
Where: The club - Big feeder
Weather: Clear and cold (26).
Time: 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm

This was Dani's first time deer hunting!! First, when we got to the club there was no one else there, that surprised me considering it's still 6-day. We went to stand 4 because it is a double stand...Dani was so stuffed with clothes she could barely move! We got to the stand and I checked it. It was sturdy but it was high and to be honest I was nervous...I had Dani climb up and she did with not too much problem. Getting onto the platform was a bit of a challenge but once she was up that high, I had visions of her falling so I had her climb back down. We walked through the field to "Bob's feeder" and we sat on the wall. I didn't feel good there because there was such a small window to shoot through and there was no cover so we left there. We went to the big feeder and buried ourselves in the hedgerow. This was the same spot I got the buck at last year. Dani sat behind me on a milkcrate and I sat in front of her. We didn't see anything but she sat like a trooper. In spite of the constant movement and frequent talking she did well :) I can't wait to take her back out and CAN'T WAIT for her to see her first deer in the woods.

Opening Day (6-day) - a.k.a. Brrrrrr!!!

When: December 8, 2008
Where: Club - Stand 18
Weather: Mostly Sunny and COLD...it was 21 with the windchill into the teens
When: 12:30pm - 5:00pm

I was going to hunt all day but when I woke up it was just too dang cold. So I decided to just go for the afternoon. I got into the stand around 12:30 and I sat until 5. I didn't see a thing. It seems that Tony was at the cadillac but I didn't hear him shoot either.

You forgot what?!?!

Ok...so today I went pheasant hunting in Flatbrook. It was going to be an odd day for me because I didn't have Dani (she was at Joyce's house), I wouldn't have Greg either...so it was just me and Bacci. I drove up to the sport shop right outside of Stokes to get some shells and then headed to my spot. I was a little early...so when I got there I got my vest so I can put some shells in the vest. I noticed that I FORGOT MY HUNTING LICENSE AT HOME!! It was on my other coat that I wore deer hunting last week. I got in my truck and headed to come home. I was going to come home (an hour and 20 minute drive) and then head back to Berkshire Valley...not that I like it there, but Bacci really wanted to go hunting (and so did I)...as I was driving towards the sport shop I had a thought...I knew that I could get a replacement license, what about pheasant stamp? So I pulled in and asked the guy at the shop. YES!!! So, $4 later, I was back on my way to Flatbrook. I only arrived about 20 minutes after sunup. It wasn't too crowded on the way to my spot, but my parking lot had a lot of cars in it. I got out and Bacci and I walked all around. The usual spots. Then we headed up the hill...after circling the hill and going up top, Bacci got really birdy but didn't hold...he would point and then move, point and then move...what I didn't know was that there was a bird walking around...it went up behind me...I did manage to get a shot off, but it was a lousy one and I knew I had no chance...we walked around some more and after a few hours called it a day.

Day two Muzzy!

When: December 2, 2008
Where: Club - Stand 13
Weather: Mostly cloudy - windy and cool, mid 30's
When: 1:30pm - 5:00pm

I had to attend a seminar at Morris County College this morning. Afterwards I went to the club and got to 13. I saw one doe at around 3:30 towards the middle of the field. She was about 150 yards away and I only saw her for a brief moment. At around 4:30 I heard a shot which I assumed was Bob. Once I got out of the stand I met up with Bob and it was him that shot. He shot at the "nice 8" but he said that it was a far shot and she shouldn't have probably taken it. He missed. He was in 18, I think. It's the one opposite the big feeder. That's around where Greg got his 4...I can't wait for an opportunity to get in that stand.

Opening Day of Muzzy...

When: Monday, December 1st
Where: The club - Cadillac
When: 1:00 - 5:00
Weather: Cloudy, breezy, high 30's...occassional drizzle

This will be short and sweet...well, at least short. I got in the stand at 1...didn't see a thing...got out at dark. The end. I met Bob as I was checking out...he said that he hasn't seen anything the last few weeks. I know that two weeks ago Greg got a funky 4 at the club...and Bob said that there's a really nice 8 walking around. I'm going to 13 tonight to see if I can see him.