Hobby Sports

Since it is the last weekend for the bird season, Ed and I decided to make one last trip out afield. We hunted a canyon I thought might give us the best chance of avoiding others that had the same idea. I was was wrong. Given the steepness of the terrain I figured most would have avoided this area but we saw three additional hunters and there could have been more.

We began making our way up the steep terrain looking for sign and listening for calls. I hoped for some chuckar today and loaded B&P Classic 20 gauge #5 shells in my tighter choke (modified) on my Merkel 47E. I loaded #6 shells for the first barrel (Improved Cylinder). My thinking was even if we flushed quail, being late in the season, they would flush wild from afar, requiring a little more punch to bring them down. No breeze and a bright sun made the morning a rather warm 45 degrees at the start. We hiked for about 45 minutes before we came to a short saddle. Ed went atop as Kaiser and I were at the bottom. I lost sight of Ed before some boulders and within a few minutes I heard 3 shots from Eds 20 gauge model 12. Kaiser and I raced up there to find Ed. He let us know he flushed a covey of 8 valley quail. Unfortunately he was unable to connect with any.

As we continued on, we moved up a draw where in a distance I saw a hunter making his way toward us from the other mountain. Dressed in all Blaze Orange, he was hard to miss. He was not alone. I noticed that he was running a dog, a Brittany and was accompanied by a partner. Knowing he was making his way to us I stopped and started waving to make sure he acknowledge me before I started moving s that if by chance a bird rose in my direction he would know (assuming he had half a brain) not to shot in our direction. To the right of us was another draw with a hunter in blaze as well so I made sure he saw us too.

Eventually the two hunters made their to us. After exchanging pleasantries they told us they flushed a covey of about 40 mountain quail on that mountain. He had heard several shots earlier in the morning in that direction. They managed to bag one. They mad their way down the way we cam up and we too off where they said the covey last was seen.

Ed the consummate mule made his way up that mountain with ease. For my out of shape self, I had a more difficult time. Eventually we lost each other for a time. I made it up 75% of the mountain and walked through a saddle trying to reach Ed but at one point the path was uncrossable. So I double backed and tried to make it up again. At this point I was too exhausted and decided to head down toward flat ground. We met up again after about an hour or so. We took a siesta for lunch and let Kaiser rest his tired feet although he didnt want any of that.

Heading back, we sweeped the area to our left that we did not cover when making or way into the canyon. In about 45 minutes a covey of about 40 valley quail rose about 40 yards ahead. He chased them only to find a few singles here and there. The first one I had no shot nor did Ed. The second I rushed my shot. I did not even have a proper cheek weld on stock when I fired. Even if I did I lead hem way to much. Eventually a pair flush at my feet while making out way down a few rocks. The first bird to flush I had no good shot so I refrained from pulling the trigger. But the second flushed to my left and I shot, missing with the first barrel (although Ed said I hit him with the first as well) but I know I connected with the second shot as I saw feather and it tumbled in the air. While trying to go after the bird climbing don and back up rocks I lost the exact location of the fall. I nor Kaiser were able to find the bird. Im not sure if he ran or was just lying somewhere and just could not find him. I really hate losing birds.

I was trying out my new Contour camera and was able to capture this moment. One thing I failed to do was reset the angle the lens from my last time I used it. So the picture is slightly slanted. One thing I notice is that since its a wide angle lens shot from afar are hard to see, I have video of the 40 birds flushing but you can not even see them. Another mistake was I placed the camera too far back on my head and you couldnt exactly see what I saw. Live and Learn. I took very few pictures today as I was filming instead. I should have taken more as the video did not come out as I wanted.


This video shows a few minutes after the 40 quail flushed. We ran into a pair, I was too slow to make a shot at the first bird but did manage to take two shots at the second. As I mentioned I made the shot but was unable to retreive it.

The rest of the day was uneventful and we eventually made it to the truck to head home empty handed. That hasnt happened to me in a long time while quail hunting.

Merkel Model 8 12 Gauge with Kent Tungsten Matrix No.3

Im home writing this blog entry with sore blistered feet from hiking over 10 miles in my bootfoot waders.  I thought I wouldnt make the same mistake as I did yesterday and wore my waders all day long.  My feet are paying for it now, they are sore and starting to blister.  Kaiser is the same with ripped up paws. 

Another frozen solid lake

Last night I decided that I would spend this morning jump shooting the river after all the birds I flushed the previous day.  But before I started, I wanted to check out a couple nearby lakes.  The first was frozen solid and the other was half way frozen.  The open water held several birds including mallards, mergansers, buffleheads, and various birds I could not distinguish with my binos. 

After checking out the lakes I moved toward the river.  I decided to fish the same section as I did yesterday but I would start further down today.  Within a few yards from the truck, I flushed a single greenhead but since my firing lane was obstructed by vegetation I moved quickly to my right and shot, by this time the drake was 35 years or so out.  I missed the first shot and tracked him for the second barrel.  I missed again.  By the second shot 10 more greenheads flushed further down. 

After cursing my lousy shooting I moved down flushing even more greenheads.  This time about 6.  No shots were taken as I had no shooting lane.  I moved down.  And about 1500 yards I spotted a herd of Elk including a number of bulls.  We stood there cautiously staring at each other as took pictures.
Once I had my fill of these elk I carried on with my waterfowl hunt.  I continued to flush birds out of the river.  All birds were mallards and I passed on several because they were either out of range or they were flying towards the opposite bank.  I finally flushed 6 out of the water that flew toward my side of the bank.  I check all of them looking for the drake but found none.  I took aim at the lead bird a hen (hens are permitted up to two here in CA).  I shot and I saw her flinch and shot again.  She turned toward the opposite side of the river and started flying away until she dropped out of the sky once she cleared the river. This time I made sure to mark the bird properly, she fell next to a power line tower.  I spent the next hour looking for a spot to cross the river where the dog and I could cross easily.  Another day and another lost mallard, I was beyond pissed.  I continued down the river and continued to push birds but never had a good opportunity for a shot.
While along the bank, I nearly had a heart attack as a Navy F18 Hornet buzzed me.  This pilot was literally only a few stories high.  These planes literally are silent until they pass you thousands of yards away.  Trust me you dont want to be a Taliban or Iraqi insurgent as these planes will drop their ordnance on top your head before you even hear them coming.  After I double checked that I hadnt crapped my pants, Kaiser and  moved on.  We were in an area close to the hill we were pass shooting on the first night when a covey of valley quail flushed.  Because quail are always a possibility near the river, I carry number 5 bismuth rounds for both small ducks like teal but also for quail as well. I couldnt believe how far we hiked.  My feet were now killing me.  We run into a pair of hunters and after chatting them up we headed back to the truck.  It was a long hike and we didnt run into any birds on our way back.
Once we made it back to the Rover, we loaded up on water and rested a bit before deciding to visit my friend, Dave who lives in the area.  When I reached Daves office, he was out so I started to scout the area near his home and found the pond my friend Kelly and I enjoyed hunting the past few years was frozen solid as well.  After an hour and half I headed back to see Dave.  He was in the office and we chatted, catching up since weve not seen each other since I last hunted this area and stayed at his house.  He suggested I hunt the pond and I told him its frozen.  Shocked, he suggested I break up the ice and throw a couple dekes and see what happens.  Its been successful for him in the past.  Since my feet were in no condition for anymore walking I gave it a try. 
I broke up the ice, and cleared about a 10 foot diameter and threw 3 dekes in there.  I had about an hour of light left and sat behind some brush waiting for some passing birds.  Within that hour I saw two groups of 6 fly over.  But none wanted to come in.  My lousy calling did not help.  Its been too long since Ive and its more than obvious that Im out of practice.  I mean I really sucked.  With about 15 minutes of light left I gave up for this outing and started to pack up.  With the end of the season fast approaching, Im hoping to make it out again but with the old man next time.

Before the holiday crowds hit the waters, I gave carp one more try. Fish were hard to find. An hour on the water only three carp were seen. Only one gave me a quick opportunity to cast to it which I failed by throwing a tailing loop that wrapped around the tip section. Thats what happens when you get too excited and rush. After fixing the mess the fish was no where to be seen. It was cruising rather fast so even if I made a cast it probably be a one shot deal. While searching along the bank, I saw the second fish was huge at least 20 pounds. It was mudding along the bank, it saw me 20 yards before I saw it. It fled before I even had a chance to take the fly out of stripping guide. The last fish I saw while walking elevated high above the water. Cruising in the shallows, the fish was easily seen from above. When I managed to make it down to the water the fish was no where to be seen. After that I gave up and headed home.