2008 - 2009 4th Hunting Season Continues

 Page 18

February 4th, A Hog For Blaze

On this hunt I had my friend Dave meet me for a Snipe hunt. It was a 45 minute walk to the Snipe huntin grounds this time, but worth it once we got there. First 4 birds each took some walking, but some nice shots made. Once we pushed several birds, they started wanting to be back to where we pushed them from, so a lot of pass shooting. Dave almost caught in his hand, one bird he shot that was flying straight at him. My second four birds where taken in about 5 minutes time as they flew by me and I was done for the day. So I called Dave the Great White Hunter "Bwana" and became the driver. Circled around and sent a half dozen Snipe right at him which got a couple more birds down. Then the last two on the walk back to our starting point.

Some awesome retrieves and lost bird finds from Blaze. Two limits = a good day of Snipe huntin. Oh and Dave encountered a Snipe wearing a kevlar vest. 14 shots later and it was still flying around. All taken at one bird! Me, heckling and laughing the entire time.

T

The Hogs

As we were done for the day and starting back, Dave calmly
stated "look, hogs". The hunter in me kicked into gear again and I
was off with Blaze at heel. I went straight for the hogs and Dave to
the left. Hoping one of us could intercept. This knowing we had to be
at super close range having only bird shot. The hogs heard us at
about 50 yards and took into the trees. Myself went into double time
and managed to over run one of two very small pigs for a clean kill
with high brass #8 from about 5 feet. Blaze ran a few feet on ahead
and stood in a defensive stance. I fully expected the big sow to come
to the rescue, so rather than take a shot at the second small pig, I
made sure I had a shot in for defense, but it was over. This one will
go on the smoker whole.

This hunt I invited VizslaHunt forum member DoubleB20 and his Vizsla Journey to join my friend Dave and I. Gotta tell ya, that Brian, between being at the right side of the first drive as well as some outstanding shooting with the double barrel Browning he has been shooting since he was a kid; I think he got his limit in 10 shots. Outstanding job. So we put him to work pushing birds for us.

Look real close in this picture and you should be able to see the Snipe that has just taken off.

Here is another picture that shows a bird in mid air. This Snipe is turning to come straight at me and gettin it. Wing tips almost touching on the down stroke.

DoubleB20's Vizsla for a retrieve

A couple of tough girls hanging out ready for anything. Then the mud
on the fur coats start drying and everybody has an itch.

As already mentioned DoubleB20's shooting was phenomenal. Birds got crazy and challenging to shoot in the wind. Dave broke some kind of Snipe shooting record I think on the most number of shots per bird. My shooting with the Auto-5 started a little off, but I dialed in eventually. Lots of hunting stories told. Overall a great time by all.

This is the best year in a long time that I have seen for Snipe in Texas and Oklahoma. Don't know if it is the mild weather, the salt in the marshes at the coast, but it seemed like something kept them up North this year.

This was Blaze's last Snipe hunt of the season. She did eventually heal up for a Crow hunt later. She did great on this hunt and had no problems initially. The meeting place with the guys to carpool had been Bass Pro Shops. Before heading back to Dallas, Blaze, Dave and I walked around the store. I had lost my little leather bird strap and wanted to see if they had anything to get me by. Blaze walked around the store next to me fine, but at checkout she started to limp just a little. Not unusual as it was the leg that had been snake bit three years ago. But by the time we got home, she had a toe swelling up. By morning she had a swollen club foot. I could not find an injury, but I did get bit in the process of looking. I called home at noon and the swelling was getting to a dangerous point so I had my wife take her to the vet. Before she made it to the door, something gave due to the swelling and she started bleeding. Bled all over in my wife's car and then all over the vets office where she was put under, the wound found, and cleaned out. The injury might not have happened the same day, but walking in all the mud got it bad infected. Antibiotics, steroid and pain pills fixed her up after several days of rest. I was able to get a few more days hunting in after this hunt, but it was strange not having my companion at my side.

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2008 - 2009 Hunting Season

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