Tag Archives: bird dogs

Balancing act

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Jerry Johnson

After a recent comedy of errors performed in the course of a mid-morning pheasant hunt in the North Country (read Seven shotshells), Abbey and I were due for a karmic balancing act, an opportunity to enjoy an exciting and uplifting … Continue reading →

Posted in Bird Dogs, Bird hunting, Hunting, Late season pheasants, pheasant hunting, Winter Bird Hunting | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Opening day

Posted on November 2, 2019 by Jerry Johnson

Abbey shifts into overdrive when I take her bell out of the box. It’s impossible to buckle the collar while she is doing her happy-dog spin-and-twirl dance, so I give her a couple minutes to calm down and then order … Continue reading →

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Sasha

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Jerry Johnson

A few months ago the light in her eyes began to dim. Some of the fog that darkened her world was the hazy veil of cataracts that obscured more and more of her vision, but most of the clouds that … Continue reading →

Posted in Bird Dogs, Bird hunting, Dogs | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Best breed of bird dog

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Jerry Johnson

  Best breed of bird dog When all the stars are in full display and the Moon shines down upon The campfire murmuring down to coals and the Jameson whiskey’s gone, The double guns are cleaned and oiled and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bird Dogs, Bird hunting, Dogs | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Cocoa

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Jerry Johnson

  Cocoa Climb into the boat dripping wet and shake off, hand him a mangled duck covered in marsh mud, and he gives you half his braunschweiger sandwich, treats you like a gift from the Celtic god Nodens. But come … Continue reading →

Posted in Bird Dogs, Duck Hunting, Labrador Retriever, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A brace of woodcock

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Jerry Johnson

A BRACE of game birds: plural, two wild birds of the same type that have been killed for sport or food; from the Middle English or Old French word brace (brah-say), meaning “arms” hence a pair; a sporting term that … Continue reading →

Posted in Bird Dogs, Bird Guns, Bird hunting, Woodcock, woodcock hunting | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The whirr of homeward bound wings

Posted on August 20, 2018 by Jerry Johnson

Bobwhite quail are the most obliging of training birds… after being set free and scattered across the hayfield, they call one another back to the cage in the evening, climb in, settle for the night, and are ready to go … Continue reading →

Posted in Bird Dogs, Bird hunting, Dog Training, Hunting, Shooting Sports, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Hunting camp maxims

Posted on April 14, 2018 by Jerry Johnson

Hunting camp maxims Over the course of five decades in hunting camps, the Over the Hill Gang has discovered several universal truths that we should share with those who are newcomers to the blood sports. Each of these truths merits … Continue reading →

Posted in Bird hunting, Deer Camp, Deer Hunting, Hunting, Hunting Humor | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Dog dreams

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Jerry Johnson

Dog dreams These cool nights of early autumn unwrap dream presents, untying the ribbons of my first deep and restful sleep since midsummer’s soggy wool blanket of hot and heavy air smothered the North Country and tucked in for a … Continue reading →

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Back roads

Posted on July 16, 2017 by Jerry Johnson

Naiveté is the headwaters of all rivers of adventure. Back roads The Nelson Place. That is where I should go, I’d been told. I do not remember his first name; maybe Duane. But as promised on the directions hurriedly written … Continue reading →

Posted in Bird Dogs, Bird hunting | Tagged , , | 2 Comments