Last
week one morning, Gregg Sikora and I and Scout ventured over to the
Kickapoo Wildlife Area to shop for a pheasant dinner. The sun was
already high in the sky and we could see our breaths when we
disembarked at a parking area. Excitement began to build from the
get go; all three of us heard the crowing rooster pheasants nearby.
Scout shivered and paced about in anticipation. Gregg and I got on
our boots and uncased our shotguns as quickly as we could. I had my
over/under Browning Citori shotgun along, loaded with the only two
magnum steel shot shells I could find at home. Gregg worked the edge
of the trees and I stalked farther out in the now bent over marsh
grass. Scout worked it all, bounding to and fro, poking her nose
into every grassy spot with her tail wagging. The area we hunted was
rough, frozen marshy ground broken by fence rows and willow woods.
Gregg saw Scout go “birdy” first. She froze everything but her
whirring tail, her eyes and nose fixated on a clump of grass that
maybe held a bird. It did. The rooster pheasant busted skyward
between us, offering only a cursive shot to Gregg and flying through
the trees next to a frozen pond. We laughed and cursed a tad. Scout
wanted to chase after the escaping bird, but she listened and we got
back on the hunt. A few minutes later, Scout rousted another rooster
and Gregg got another shot off, this time dropping a flying bird into
some thick marsh feathers drifting down behind it. That downed bird
must have burrowed a bit, and without Scout, we may not have found
it. We admired the ringneck and took a couple of pictures and moved
on. I missed a close bird; I still wonder how. Anyway, on the way
back, Scout flushed a rooster right in front of me. I swung up and
missed the rocketing pheasant as it veered around me. Then, swinging
with it as it flew away and firing again I connected. The bird
crumpled and disappeared into the marsh. Again Scout was needed to
find the bird, but we had two. Gregg said that second shot was a
thing of beauty and he wished he had it on tape. Me too. Anyway,
after Scout and I posed with the bird, we tried the spot where the
very first pheasant vanished to. I was walking on pretty solid
ground along a fence when I saw two pheasants poke their heads out of
a clump of grass by a fence post up ahead. Scout saw them too and
turned her attention to them. I started to run, or rather what is as
close to running as I do, to try and close the gap. Scout didn't
wait for me, crashing into the birds hideout. They flushed, one
flying directly away, and the other crossing far out over the marsh.
I managed to get off two fruitless shots, from too far away at one of
the birds. We looked for more and found ourselves in a nasty bunch
of icy humps of grass where with each step, one would break through
the ice a second or two after putting some weight on a foot. It was
tough and tiring. Scout ventured out on the ice of a pond and I
thought, “Uh oh!” but she managed to trot right back into the
grass without breaking through, her petite 90 pounds not enough to
break through I guess. Back at the truck, we heard another rooster
cackle, taunting us near where we started, but all three of us were
ready for a break. Gregg and I munched on newly dried venison jerky,
dried fruit, and drank some cold water. After she caught her breath,
I poured water out of a gallon jug for a very thirsty Scout. We
stopped at the Thirsty Turtle for Turtle Burgers and fries for lunch.
Back at the ranch, Scout was pretty stiffened up after the hunt and
long car ride. She got a lunch along with a treat with a low-dose
aspirin in it. That was a great morning; watching Scout work is my
favorite part of bird hunting. Of course so was dinner that night;
Ellen fixed roast pheasant with mushroom and wine gravy with a side
of wild rice and broccoli for supper. (The next morning, I was the
one who needed the aspirin for my stiff legs.)
Anyway,
the Big One is upon us. I am so excited I can hardly wait. This is
the start of the holidays for our family. There is much to be done
to prepare. Last week we went shopping for ammunition and a pair of
new boots for Ellen. We sighted in our rifles last week. I am
confident that my rifle is on at 200 yards, so if I miss it will be
my fault. Our dining room table is covered with blaze orange, gun
cases, food boxes, and such. We dump out our boxes and check that
lights work, gloves are in place, that there are plenty of hand
warmers, back tags are in back tag holders, our walkie talkies have
fresh batteries, etc. The Ranger will be topped off with all fluids
checked. I still have to fill the four-wheeler's gas tank and check
my trailer tires. Ellen has been making cookies and I have been
drying jerky for the lunch box. She just told me that she had the
fixin's for my favorite opening morning breakfast, French toast
casserole. Here is her recipe: first you need a 13x9 inch pan, six
eggs, 2-3 cups of milk, 1 tsp of salt, 12 slices of bread (crusts
trimmed) buttered on one side, a package of chopped ham, and some
grated cheddar cheese. Alternate layers of bread, ham, and cheese.
Pour a mixture of the beaten eggs, salt, and milk over it all and LET
STAND OVER NIGHT. In the morning bake this at 350 for 1 hour.
(My special touch is a dollop of Plondke's sorghum molasses on top
of my slice.) Let me say eatin' don't git no better.
Speaking
of food - as I so often do - last deer season the Wisconsin Deer
Donation program provided thousands of pounds of venison to those
less fortunate in Wisconsin. Since the program began, something like
4 million pounds have been donated! All one has to do to donate is
tag and field dress a deer taken outside of CWD Zone and register it.
In Vernon County, the designated processor is Westby Locker and
Meats, 406 North Main. Call first to make sure they are taking deer
at that time. Their number is: (608) 634-4515. Anyway, we'll head
down to Grant County for the weekend and our Iowa hunters, Tom,
Steve, and Dan will move in to our house on Friday afternoon. They
and Dan, Dave, and Mark will be hunting at Grouse Hollow on opening
weekend. When we get packed into Barb and Chuck's on Friday evening,
Chuck and I - the old guys, will head down to the war council at
Burton to check in with the hunting party. There will be jokes,
stories, drinks, snacks, and plenty of fellowship - good luck in the
morning, etc. before we break up for an early bedtime and early
rising. Anyway, I will be on the phone with someone regarding this
coming weekend every night this week, no doubt.
Until
next time, get out - this season, almost the entire state of
Wisconsin is a rifle zone and there are other changes to the rules;
if you have a question regarding most anything to do with deer
hunting, you can contact
a Customer Service Representative for general questions seven days a
week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1-888-936-7463 to ask a question.
All of us at Grouse Hollow want to wish everyone a safe and not too cold hunt. I hope
you all get that big one, but in my opinion, any deer is a trophy.
Enjoy.
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