Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

328.0. "Reflections of '88" by BTO::REMILLARD_K () Wed Jan 04 1989 14:33

So, who is still hunting?  In Vermont most everything is closed, except
rabbit and coyote.  

I finished my 1988 hunting season with a bang last Saturday (Dec. 31).  
A friend and I did some grouse hunting around his farm.  Started out about 
9:00 a.m. pushing some birds around, I got off a few shots, but real tough 
ones.  Moved to a different section of woods and didn't put a bird up for a 
long time...until about 2:30.  Well when we did find them they were everywhere.
He started shooting first, he was pushing a strip of softwoods, I had circled 
up about 200 yards ahead of him...when all of the sudden like chickens in the 
barnyard grouse are running everywhere through the low lying hemlocks ahead.  
I flush one, pop it, and empty my gun on a flurry of birds no more than 10' 
away.  At this point we each have a bird, and there's more to be had...moving 
through the evergreens further birds are getting up at some long ranges...no 
shots.

Seeing that this strip of woods bordered a field the birds would lift towards
the field and circle back into the cover.  I worked my way back down the
evergreens (in my partners tracks) where I hear that familiar sound of wing
tips hitting branches...here comes this grouse doing 150 through this
super thick cover...up comes the auto...one shot...bird keeps going, dodging
trees...land 30 yards away, I can see it walking on the ground.  I put the
sneak on, find the bird dead in its tracks...a direct body hit.  I go back
to where I had shot this last bird to pick up my empty hull when....FLUSH
right above my head, I twist around, go down on one knee and squeeze...nothin'.
That is what I love about this sport...the positions the birds put the shooter
in, it's very challenging and rewarding.

Flushed several more birds and shot several more times...just to educate the
birds (and me?) for next season. 

All in all 1988 was a good year for hunting.  I've had better, but who's 
complaining.  The early season duck hunting was very poor, but the late
season made up for it.  I didn't bag a deer with my bow again, but I saw
11 in 7 times out.  I didn't back a buck again with my rifle, but I saw
11 does and 1 buck.  If I can possibly remember everything nature taught
me this past season I'll have a jump on the game next year...but re-learning
is half the fun.  Good luck to all in 1989.

Kevin

    My partner bagged a nice grouse on the 31st in Wakefield, NH.  Nice
    blind retreive by his dog, too.
    
    I plan on hunting snowshoes right up until the 15th of March in
    NH.  Fits in real nice with ice fishing.
    
    Took my wife out to practice on some silhouettes with my .357 and
    .22 on Sunday and she done good.  Watch out!
    
    Mark.

    I went out to close the Mass coastal duck season on Jan 2nd.  That
    leaves goose hunting until the first week in February.  I will also
    do a little snowshoe hare hunting, mostly as an excuse to take the
    dog in the woods some more.
    
    Mark,