We rose early Saturday morning to a rain. I gave my dog some food and then fed myself some oatmeal as we waited for the rain to stop. After a while the rain let up but never quite quit. Oh well we packed up and headed down the road.
First spot was and area where we had success in the past.
Summit was ready to go.
We hunted the cover well, but didn't see much at all.
After a while we took a break at the bottom of a dry creek bed.
We weren't having luck so we moved to another spot. Summit began to hunt.
Once again we came up empty. We tried another area, but the rain came down heavier and forced us to call it a day early.
After a hearty meal of Chili John's Chili :love: I rested for the evening with my dog.
Sunday morning came and this time there was only a mist. I cleaned the cottage, grabbed my gear and followed Summit out the door. We tried a few more spots.
first spot was fairly unproductive. Only one flush and I never saw the bird. As we were leaving the area we came upon a nice buck.
With the cool sighting past us we decided to try a new area.
As we got further in the cover began to improve.
After one flush with no shot I was starting to get confident. Summit was out in front quartering perfectly when she stopped to my right. Now I generally don't call my dogs stops before the flush a point without using parenthesis, but this time it was an actual point.
Her tail was at the 10 o'clock postition and her head and neck were out stretched. I silently moved into a good position for a shot and then just watched her. After a short time to enjoying her point I told her to "hunt it up" and she ran forward about 20 feet and flushed the grouse.
The flush and shot happened quickly, but I can still vividly remember it. I could see the fanned out tail perfectly and took aim as I was swinging the barrels from right to left. As soon as I shot the bird went down and Summit was hot on its tail. No hesitation and she retrieved it to the heel position and to hand.
This entire sequence was what I had always dreamed about with my dog. From the perfect search to find to shot to retrieve. No doubt I will remember this one for a long time.
After another flush with no shot we tried another spot.
Even though we were wet Summit still went on.
This time we had a few flushes, but I couldn't connect. We also ran into several woodcock, which while not in season still provided plenty of entertainment for Summit.
The rain soon came down harder and forced us to quit for the day, but it was another memorable opening grouse hunting weekend with my dog. I hope to have many more.
Enjoyed my opener in WI as well...nothing like hunting with your buddy to make a day enjoyable.
