A Quiet Start

Two weeks into the woodcock season and I still have not found woodcock in any numbers.  Hunting my best coverts has only produced a bird or two each time out. Bliss has been phenomenal pointing the only birds we have found 2 woodcock and 2 pheasants. I'm shooting blanks over her to get her use to gunfire so no birds for her to retrieve yet.

Not since my first setter Hattie have I had a setter pointing so well so young. I'm sure she will make some mistakes as I get her into more birds but she is off to a great start.

 

Thicket found one woodcock for me in the immense Blandsburg covert, which I missed with both barrels. Cover like this should hold birds but not on the day I was there.

 

Of course it's still a joy to be out walking the coverts watching a young dog's natural instincts develop.

 

Bliss's First Woodcock

Sunday at the Harrier Hawk Ridge Covert Bliss pointed her first woodcock.

We followed the bird and Bliss had another point.

 

This was the only bird we found in a 2 hour walk.  Cold weather is  in the forecast for next week so hopefully the woodcock will start to appear in greater numbers.

 

As always I look at the surrounding nature and spotted this fungi growing on a rotting log.

 

 

Some pictures of the Harrier Hawk Ridge Covert. Golden Rod, Aspen, Spruce and Locust make up the bulk of the cover.

 

 

The ground is predominately slate so this must be a resting area.

 

Two points on a single woodcock does not make a bird dog but you have to start somewhere. :)

Back at the truck I told Bliss what a good girl she is.