Category Archives: True stories
Seventy
In the span of eight decades on Earth, the man has seen much. World history, to be sure. But pheasant history too. He has seen the rise and fall of borrow ditch and shelter belt. He has seen the eradication … Continue reading →
Filed under Ditch Parrots, Talegate, True stories
Pre-chewed
I waved at them as the drove past. It seemed like the neighborly thing to do. I was hunting a narrow patch of public ground edged by a gravel road, they were cruising the road in their orange getups on … Continue reading →
Filed under Ditch Parrots, Ill-mannered Jackals, True stories
Further Proof That Hunters Just Think Different (as if you needed it)
Background: It’s been a long, wet spring in the northern Rockies, with many places over 200% of normal snowpack. It’s now mid-June, and there have been precious few days that have felt like summer to date. But rather than pining … Continue reading →
Filed under Fodder, Surviving the off season, Talegate, True stories
Blood and Plunder
He’s a knife-in-the-teeth type, a run-hell, fast-go, wound-tight, son-of-a-bitch, so when he yelps down by the creek—out of sight (again)—I don’t think much of it. He comes roaring back and I can see blood dripping from his ear. The cut … Continue reading →
Filed under Ditch Parrots, Dogs, Glutton For Punishment, Ill-mannered Jackals, True stories
Waiting For Godot (Upland Version)
Scene: Late October, overcast. Two hunters are conversing in an SUV, driving through CRP fields somewhere in Idaho. Though it is 35 degrees out, windows are partially rolled down in defense against persistent dog flatulence. As a result, wind … Continue reading →
Filed under Fodder, Glutton For Punishment, Road Tales, True stories
Lightning
My skin tingles and for a moment I feel the lightning before it strikes. Synapses fire, screaming at my brain and flooding my body with adrenaline. I flatten myself further into the dirt, too late and to no effect. The … Continue reading →
Filed under True stories
Meat hunting
I’m two woodcock and a couple of spray-and-pray shots at ruffed grouse into the day when Henry’s little French Britt, Koda, goes on point. Or at least the beep-beep-beep of his electronic collar tells me he’s on point. I jam … Continue reading →
Filed under Soul, True stories
Getting to the Point
Sometimes, I forget what I’m doing. Seeing him locked up like some ancient, graven image, with a level of simmering, white hot focus beyond anything I’ll never truly know, yeah, I’ll admit that I can easily forget everything else, including … Continue reading →
Filed under Dogs, Glutton For Punishment, True stories, Undaunted by Futility
Smithhammer
Tom Reed
Tosh Brown
Matt Crawford
Greg McReynolds
Chad Love
