In the space of 24 hours, December has arrived. The Christmas month. The spirit is lovely, and how is it that it so wonderfully adorns the hunt?
Ahead, along a ragweed and foxtail edge, the setter has gone sweet … stiffening … roading … roading … into the incoming breeze … which bears the thing he lives for. The thing we live to see him remain true. The breeze is faithful and on he minces, yard by yard, afraid the world will explode.
Whup … he pauses, but no, not yet … on he roads, ever so careful, and behind the guns follow, on edge as well.
Wham! It happens in a split second. The dog’s back caves, and he slams to a stop, one forepaw afraid to touch the ground again. Heart’s run to throat. Gunners up! Randy cautions the anxious cocker, locked on the pointing dog as well, trembling like an aspen leaf.
“Back!”
Two dogs wait with anticipation for the flush and fire of an upland hunt.
And all hell explodes. The cocker dashes to the flush, blasting through the cover. Up go the birds — three Huns, rising hard and away, peeling, one to starboard, two to port. On either side the guns spin — Grant and Timberlake, trying to get on and ahead of the speeding birds, to gain a shooting balance. Whup, whup! The simultaneous clap of the guns — birds go limp and lose purchase on the air.
Now Bob is pirouetting to catch up with the final bird who has the advantage. Strain, swing, pull … and the bird blows inert, tumbling to complete a neat double.
So it has been all morning, and we have only had to trade out on the finds. How sweet the journey, how fine the ride.
Wait now; this afternoon it’s the marsh. Tug on the gumboots and break out the big 12s. Only the greenheads, boys. Spare the susies! Let ‘em roll.
Stay tuned to Sporting Classics Daily for more dispatches from Gaddis’s trip, and pick up a copy of his new book today.
The All-Time Greats of Little Moran tells the stories of the five greatest grouse dogs to ever come out of Steve Grossman’s revered Minnesota Cover Bird Camp. The one-time run features 250 copies signed, inscribed, and perfect bound in coffee-table quality. Each features 17 richly illustrated pages at a price of $49.95.
For the first time ever, Gaddis is including an audio reading with copies of his book. The special combo is priced at $99.95. Orders can be mailed to “Greats” P.O. Box 41, Creedmoor, NC 27522. Cash or check accepted.