A Morning with Emma

With the passing of my mom to the dreaded Alzheimers disease this past week I haven't made many trips afield after the spring woodcock. I was able to get away this morning with Emma for a little run. We had almost made our circle back in the truck when she went on point.

After the woodcock flushed this is what I found. I got Emma on the leash and walked her to the truck.

Time to stay out of the woods and let mother woodcock raise her brood.

Spring Woodcock with Copper

Copper and I headed for the Shawnee covert this morning in search of migrating woodcock. We weren't disappointed.

Searching for that intoxicating scent.
We found them in the thickest part of the covert.

The intensity of a point.

Back at the truck I reflected back on Copper's first trip to the Shawnee covert as a 7 month old pup pointing woodcock like a pro, and of a magical day when she was 3 years old and the Shawnee was full of woodcock and I took 3 birds over her intense points. It was the only time I've taken a full limit of woodcock and I'm glad I did on that special day. Now as she approaches her 9th birthday I know, as with Hattie, that her days are drawing to a close, but thank her for the wonderful memories that she has given me.