|
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THE WHOLE KENNEL!
By: Ron Wilson
December 18, 2003.... Saturday the Central Valley Chapter of Safari Club
International held A Pheasant hunting
outing at the Kistler Ranch near Woodward Reservoir.
Forty people signed up
to hunt the first ever pheasant hunt put on for the clubs members and
their guests.
It was a family event
for me as my son Donald, his wife Shay, my Grandson and I were there to
hunt. Also along was granddaughter Nicole, who was there to see that her
new dog Hunter wasn't mistreated. She even got upset because grandpa put
all the dogs in dog pens in the suburban while she had to ride with her
dad and mom in the Hummer. She sure was protective over her new dog.
Once there, we got the
dogs and headed out into the field with the rest of the Orange vested
hunters. One of the rules of the ranch is that every hunter wears orange.
One of my friends
jokingly said "not only did you bring your family but you brought the
whole kennel with you also!” I had to chuckle at that as I was holding my
dogs, Gunner and Sierra, while Donald was holding Max, Derick was holding
his dog Shreck and my granddaughter had one of the new 11 week old pups,
Hunter!
Outgoing president Kurt
Hume gave us all an idea of where to hunt and what the boundaries and
rules of the ranch were and then sent us on our way!
We crossed a ditch and
things started happening as we all lined out. Pheasants were flying and
pheasants were dying. Well not all of them as some were getting away. I
missed the first bird to jump, but without hesitation Derick nailed it.
 On
down the hill a pheasant flew up that I dropped. As the Dogs were
retrieving it another rooster pheasant came flying over the knoll past me.
When it got to where I had a safe shot I leveled the barrel on the bird
and nailed him. Hey not bad, three shots in about 10 minutes and I had a
limit.
Shay had a pheasant
hiding right in front of her as Donald walked up within a Couple feet of
the bird with 11-week-old Hunter in his hands. He told Shay to get ready,
and then he tossed Hunter next to the bird. Hunter hit the ground right by
it and the bird busted skyward about 20 yards straight up. I had a bird’s
eye view as a couple shots rang out and the bird fell back to earth!
We went through some
tulles and then up the side of a well eaten pasture when Sierra went on
point. I walked up on the bird and it flushed as Donald and Derick quickly
fired. Derick got off a second shot before his dad was done with his
first. I wasn't sure if Derick got it with his second shot or it was his
dad, but the bird crumbled in a heap.
In 30 minutes time we
had all limited out. We unloaded our guns and headed back in for a snack
and beverages.
The dogs continued
hunting as we headed back in and they kept flushing birds. I asked a few
other members to walk with us and our pack of dogs but everyone was busy
doing there own thing so we just continued in.
The highlight of the
hunt came as we were walking back in. We rounded a curve on the canal and
one of the members, Bill Rossini, was down below me. I asked if he had all
his birds. He said no. I said, “walk with us and you will soon have it”.
Fifty yards later a
rooster was flushed and flew in front of Bill who led the bird perfectly
as he fired a shot that stopped the bird’s flight instantly. “That was a
great shot Bill”, I said as Donald stuffed the bird in his hunting vest.
Bill said, “I didn't know how well this 20 gauge would work, but it works
just fine". He continued, “I think I’ll use it a little more on hunts
since I’m shooting so well with it! Bill then headed in so he could get
ready to cook our lunch.
After lunch, the
announcement of the new chapter officers and directors was made. We even
elected Howdy Doody as we so affectionately call him, our moneyman, Tom
Brennan. Our local chapter would be hard pressed to replace him and all
his hard work.
Later Dan Kistler,
Terry Ward, Mark and Matt Vejar, Ryan Valk, Don and Derick Wilson and I
went back out to
see if there were any birds left.
We only rousted a
couple more birds. I had a Mongolian pheasant jump low and head toward Dan
before turning left into the open pasture and giving me a prayer shot. The
only downed bird was shot by 10 year old Ryan Valk.
The event was a great
success as far as I was concerned. Anytime you get a bunch of hunters and
birds in the field, you can’t help but have a good time!
For more information
about the California Central Valley Chapter of Safari Club International
call our newly elected President Laura Vejar at (209) 847-9694.
Duck hunting in the California grasslands has been just plain awful. It
seems that the early teal came and went overnight. The northern migration
hasn’t happened even with our little storms that have gone through the
valley.
The ducks that have migrated down seem to be holding in protected zones
that have been created. These areas have plenty of food and water so the
birds don't have to fly anywhere until they decide its time to head
further south!
That’s how I see it and I have been out hunting 2 and 3 days a week for a
couple months now!
Here is what a former Californian Ken Clement has to say about duck
hunting in Idaho so far this year!
”Duck hunting here stinks, unless you like to shoot Golden Eyes. We have
one mallard for the year. I found out that I was shooting way behind the
geese yesterday. They were flying with the
wind and it was like hitting cruise missiles. Yesterday, I ended up with
two geese, one golden eye and a Holstein pheasant. (Magpie).”
”Hope the ducks come from California to Idaho, we know how to treat ‘em
here, with butter and garlic on the smoker!” |
