Hunting Pictures
[Dove]
[Waterfowl]
[Grouse]
[Woodcock]
[Other]
Dove Pictures
[Overview]
[1998]
[1999]
[2000]
[2001]
[2002]
[2003]
[2004]
[2005]
[2006]
[2007]
[2008]
[2009]
|
|
The Lost Year
Some
philosophers define pleasure as the absence of pain, others pain
as the absence of pleasure. I define a long year as the
absence of nature, the absence of camaraderie, the absence of the
dance of birds at twilight. Such was the year of September
2007 to August 2008. Through the exigencies of maturity, the
K&R did not hit the field but three - yes only three - times
in that year. The Rooster's
experience during this year can be read about on his blog.
This is not unforgivable; you do what you have to do. The
question now becomes: Is it possible to balance the
responsibilities of modernity and family with a life of adventure
in the field? Or has The Lost Year irrevocably broken The
Will to fight for the bubbles of primal freedom that are
represented by hunting and fishing? Is it too hard? Is
it easier to mow the yard, or watch the game, or any other
domestic activity? Do we still want to tramp around a swamp
looking for that group of wood ducks? Is it still worth
reconning all day to have a chance at one grouse? Do we
still want it bad enough? We will see.
|
9.01.07 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/dove07.jpg)
|
A rare site in The Lost Year;
the King and Rooster
in the field. Through two trips, we picked up 3 birds in 2007.
|
Rebirth
Damn,
it felt good to get back out in the field. After 11 months
and a lost year, nothing could prepare us for the feeling of the
hot summer sun busting down on us again. Soon, it was like
we had not taken a single day off. Two doves buzzed us just
out of gun range and landed in some grass about 50 yards
away. After some hand signals and pointing, we had a
plan. With a pincer movement we came at them at different
directions. After a few minutes of silent stalking, they
jumped. Two shots rang out, two birds gone down. It
was a signature K&R stalk and shoot, and it was what we had
been waiting for. Rebirth. We ended up getting out 5
times in 2008 and took home 11 birds. The birds were light,
no doubt, and the set-ups so-so. But after the previous
years all but lost hunting season, every bird was sweet.
|
9.01.08 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/firstday08.JPG)
|
A shot before we take our
first hike with guns in 11 months. Nothing is quite as
exciting as that first walk into field each year; even more so after
such a long layoff.
|
9.01.08 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/mc08.JPG)
|
The end
of the first day had brought three birds, including a stalk and a
double kill that was as about as sweet as it gets. It turns
out we still knew how to shoot. |
9.01.08 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/doves08.JPG)
|
Good to
see birds on the bumper again! |
9.04.08 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/gbfield08.JPG)
|
A nice
shot showing the beautifully cut rows of buckwheat and planted
wheat at our favorite dove hunting spot. This kind of setup
will hold doves for most of the first month. |
9.04.08 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/roos_gb090408.jpg)
|
The Rooster
with three doves taken from the buckwheat field behind him.
These were taken on flush after they had landed. |
9.10.08 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/roos_gb091008b.JPG)
|
The Rooster
with a handful of doves taken 10 days in the season. By this
time, the hunting grounds are empty... of other hunters.
Perfect. |
9.17.08 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/roos_gb091708.JPG)
|
Couple
more doves for the freezer. Good shot of the old Tacoma,
130,000 miles as of this writing. Lot of them back and forth
to the hunting grounds. |
9.17.08 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/gb08.JPG)
|
Kind of a
tradition now, to get a shot of a sunset after a long day of dove
hunting. If you look back to the 1998 pics, you will see
this same shot. Ten years. . .awesome. Can't wait to
put the 2018 shot up here.
|
9.01.09
|
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/roosmcl09.jpg)
|
First day 2009 w/ a couple
doves.
|
9.03.09 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/roosgb09.jpg)
|
Hot and
Humid 2009. |
9.03.09 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/gbbuck09.jpg)
|
Buckwheat
fields. |
9.10.09 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/roosgb09(2).jpg)
|
Good to
see birds on the bumper again! |
9.10.09 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/dovesgb09.jpg)
|
Last stop
before the freezer. |
9.10.09 |
![](../pictures/hunt_pics/dove/gbsunset09.jpg)
|
The
traditional sunset shot. |
Back
to Dove
Hunting
|