A Week Before Christmas
One morning, a December long-ago, a week before Christmas, Bob walked into a local store in Millerton, New York. The owner, Phil, a friend, was behind the counter taking care of a customer as Bob came in from the cold. “Late night, Bob,” he said. That wasn’t a...
October Snow
Taking advantage of an early-season cold snap.
Fish of a Thousand Casts
They’re not typically given the title, but Atlantic salmon in low water certainly qualify as “the fish of a thousand casts.”
Wing-Shooting Scotland In October
Last October was a special month. I was in Scotland, and for two days I hunted red grouse in the moors near Inverness — one day of driven birds and one day of walk-up. It was the trip of a lifetime with friends and family. Excitement rode beside us as we...
Men And Gun Shops, Like Kids In A Candy Store
Boys grow up to be men, but men always stay boys at heart. On a recent gunning trip to Scotland, I witnessed that return to boyish ways. Between driven and walk-up bird hunting days a group of mature, fully grown, adult American males poured into two very high-quality...
Time to Hunt Memories
The middle of January is tough on New Hampshire bird hunters. The waterfowl and upland seasons are over, there is a foot or more of snow on the ground, and the temperature is cold. Very cold. It is hard to look forward to spring white geese and turkey hunts when they...
Got Your Pa’tridge Yet?
The common hail becomes a sick taunt when ruffed grouse are scarce.
Winter Goose Hunt, Just Perfect
It was December, and the goose season in New York’s Duchess County had three more weeks to run. This is a winter goose hunt from long ago, where an unexpected hunting partner joined me — after all other companions fell through. In this Yuletide season, we remember...