It has been a hard winter, and I know it is not over with yet. The past few days have been a welcome relief from the snow, ice, and cold. On Tuesday I couldn’t resist the pull any longer and Abby, Bo and I loaded up in the ATV and took off for the wildwoods. There were deadlines looking at me and lots of other chores at camp, but Abby the Cur dog gave me look that said, “You know you are not gonna live forever.” That was it, on with the boots, an extra jacket, a .22 rifle, and we made tracks for Back Creek.
The feeling of freedom (and relief) bouncing along the road was wonderful. The air was rarefied, and the sun was actually offering enough warmth that you could feel it on your face. I try not to be negative, but I felt for the first time in weeks that we would make it to spring and get over the curse that awful groundhog left us with a month ago. There was some snow on most of the north facing slopes and other places the sun was not getting to just yet. We didn’t care; it wasn’t going to be there much longer.
As soon as we entered the woods the dogs became all business. Both were intent on sniffing the air currents for whatever game might be around. As long as I have been around hunting dogs (Over 60 years, is that possible?) I am always amazed at what a dog can detect with their nose. To see a cur dog bark a few times and jump out of the back of the ATV, run up on the hillside and tree a squirrel that you had no idea was there is nothing short of incredible.
Those of you that know me know this. It is the last of February, the small game season is still in. Although we can say we are squirrel hunting, we are just as much looking for signs of what? That’s right, turkeys, especially old gobblers. Just what it is that stirs a hunter’s heart when we come upon scratching in the leaves showing that old reprobate has been here is kind of a mystery. I mean, we know there are sometimes turkeys in this area. Not a lot by any means but sometimes they are there. So why we are surprised and excited to find evidence of them just doing what turkeys do I am not quite sure. After so many years of chasing these crazy yet somehow noble birds maybe I just always expect the worst. Meaning I don’t really think I will hear or see one today, so when I see some evidence of their existence it is a wonderful thing. I know, I don’t understand it either.
We are deep in the heart of this patch of nowhere now and Bo has been running ahead most of the time, Abby too. I think about stopping and picking them up. Like me Bo has not run like this in a while and he is more than a little overweight. I load them both in the bed of the ATV to give them a rest, but it doesn’t last long. I look to the side of the old road we are on and there to my surprise is a woodcock in all his glory. At any speed this little bird is comical but trying to run they are remarkable. This one takes flight but only goes a few feet and touches down to run again. Bo comes completely unglued, starts barking and leaps from the machine to give chase. The woodcock flutters off again and I call Bo off of the chase. Come on I say, give the guy a break he is in the middle of migrating and no telling how far he has to go before he can stop at the place, he will spend the spring and summer. I watch him flutter through the pines and wish him well. Life has to be hard for a woodcock.
Abby trees a few squirrels, and I am elated. The intensity in which she does this, bred into her from generations of Cur dogs in nothing short of amazing to me. We see some turkey sign, some of it fresh, and I chalk the day up as a huge success. The shadows from the trees are getting long and I point the Polaris back toward camp hauling two tired dogs. Everyone will sleep good tonight. I look forward to it. Seems I have been that kind of tired lately that sleep can’t seem to fix.
I know we will have more winter, but this was a very welcome break.
Hope that woodcock sleeps ok too.
Larry Case www.gunsandcornbread.com