Tag Archives: bird dogs

Bird hunting in the classic style

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Jerry Johnson

More than seventy-five years ago William Harnden Foster, the laureate of ruffed grouse hunting and a principal in the development of grouse dog field trials in New England, observed that trials for quail dogs had become “races,” so specialized in … Continue reading →

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Canine cabin fever

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Jerry Johnson

In the two weeks of sub-zero weather that followed the descent of an Arctic front upon the North Country in January, the wild antics of my French spaniels Abbey and Sasha have destroyed my cherished belief in the legendary canine-human … Continue reading →

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Coon pooh

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Jerry Johnson

Dogs and people approach things a little differently. For example, I am very fond of pizza but have never had a desire to roll in it. Rolling in more or less odorous things may be somewhat mysterious but I assume … Continue reading →

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Old Coots Never Forget

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Jerry Johnson

Old Coots Never Forget Don’t forget to buy my latest book this week. Old Coots Never Forget will be available Saturday at Dragonfly Books, 112 West Water Street, Decorah, Iowa. The book is currently available in both paperback and Kindle … Continue reading →

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Pheasant autopsies

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Jerry Johnson

…it is rare indeed for a pheasant to be shot at distances beyond 40 yards, and rarer still for one to be felled. Most killing shots are less than 30 yards, many less than 25 – even late in the … Continue reading →

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Bad day at Crane Creek

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Jerry Johnson

Abbey and I carried on a lengthy discussion about our respective duties. She was adamant that crunching through shelf ice was not part of her job description. Bad day at Crane Creek One rooster pheasant looks exactly like another rooster … Continue reading →

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A report from the Wapsi

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Jerry Johnson

Ten years ago, when a hundred thousand acres of North Country farmland was enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, who could have guessed that we would ever again drive more than five or ten miles to go bird hunting? These … Continue reading →

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Meet the Crazy Old Coot on December 6

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Jerry Johnson

Meet the Crazy Old Coot  is the theme of my book signing session Saturday, December 6, 2 – 3:30 p.m. at Dragonfly Books, 112 West Water Street, Decorah, Iowa. Hope to meet with all my friends, readers of my books … Continue reading →

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Welcome the wind

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Jerry Johnson

So welcome the wind and the wisdom she offers Follow her summons when she calls again             from the song Windsong by John Denver (1943-97) Welcome the wind Wind provides a sweeping musical accompaniment to all my memories of pheasant … Continue reading →

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Anticipaton

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Jerry Johnson

Anticipation is better than realization.             – Traditional Folk Saying The moment seemed endless, but it was probably only half that.             – Steve Toltz, from his novel A Fraction of the Whole   Anticipation The best part of pheasant … Continue reading →

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