MA Pheasant

[Maggiemollie]

Maggie and Mollie have really come into their own this year. For the year they have probably put up 75ish birds with around 40ish brought down. They both have developed their own techniques and it's so fun to watch their body movements when they pick up a scent. Generally they find a ground scent, follow the trail, pick up an air scent and that's when they change gears. If the bird holds they will go into a 3-5sec point before charging. If the bird runs, they are off chasing.

My goal every year is to get a pheasant with each vintage gun I've got. This year my LCS Field 20g will be the only one for sure not getting one since the cocking rods failed about 6weeks ago and haven't brought it to the smith yet. Hopefully this weekend will meet up and get back my my 2 Lefevers that he has had fixing the ejectors.

Some pics. On point. The fields. And Maggie takes a dust bath.

[Maggiemollie]

A few more pics.

Each year there is one "bad luck gun" and this year it was my M12 20g purchased from Frank, which curse was finally snapped tonight. Surprisingly, last year it was one of my favorites and my Trojan 20g was the bad one but this year the Trojan has done great. Also in there is my LCS Field 16g (also a Frank purchase) and my VH 12g.

[Maggiemollie]

More pics.

Top 2 pics are of a water retrieve by Maggie. It started about 500' from the end of a corn row that ends about 50' from a woods line and the CT River is maybe 100' further in. Dogs flushes a rooster, hit it, and it ran into the woods. Dogs have chase and the rooster ran about 500' along the river bank with dogs in hot pursuit before it must have tried to fly across the river before crashing 30' or so in the water. I was running trying to keep up, calling for the dogs, and saw ripples in the water 100' or so ahead. Up came Maggie soaking wet with the pheasant in her mouth. Pic of the VH is the bird.

Then there I Mollie with her prizes one got with my poor man's M21 - the M24 20g.

[Silvers]

Thanks Ron for posting your pics and reports. Great success on the birds! In comparison, one my buds just returned from a week in SD and four of them each saw an average of less than 2 pheasants per day over the week. And that was with three good dogs. George's report: educated birds ..... runners and wild far out flushers. frank

[44whiskey]

enjoy pics and report,keep em comming ps fine looking m12

[Jeff S]

Great pictures Tom. You have had an amazing pheasant season. Sounds like you’ve put in a lot of time and effort to make it a great year. I’ll bet those dogs love hunting.

[Maggiemollie]

ps fine looking m12

It was one of Frank's M12s. Say no more. Anything from Frank's collection is very fine.

[Maggiemollie]

Thanks Ron for posting your pics and reports. Great success on the birds! In comparison, one my buds just returned from a week in SD and four of them each saw an average of less than 2 pheasants per day over the week. And that was with three good dogs. George's report: educated birds ..... runners and wild far out flushers. frank

Thanks although these are stocked birds BUT those that survive 2 days become rather wild and learn to run and not fly until absolutely necessary. The dogs chase hard and put them up it's just a question of how far out and can I keep up with them for a decent shot.

But it's all about the dogs and they have a great time.