George Calef’s great old Labrador Heidi Brown, who was based in Whitehorse in the Yukon but hunted all over North America, has died at thirteen. She probably hunted more species than any other living dog; here are some thoughts from George. “Heidi Brown passed away early this morning in the cabin she loved, and knew …
Tag: Bird Hunting
Becasse, Becassine
We had our first cold snap last night and it somehow has me thinking of the family of snipe, mysterious and delicious migrants. Got them on the wall, pictures of hunts past, and memories, but sure would like to hunt either. Snipe are in the state at least; Tom Daly shot these in Colorado before …
Unproductive…
… but extremely pleasant opening day, on Pieter Ditmars’ Dunhill sheep ranch south of town. We saw one dove. Pete shot it. SB with Model 12 20, PD with old Orvis AyA sidelock. The food and company beat the shooting.
Less than three weeks to dove opening day!
Opening day ’85 I think, by Betsy; Phil Mansell, Floyd with muzzleloader, me with LC Smith Ideal grade 12 bore. (Click to see bigger). The hunt is in Q- the- book.
Jean Craighead George and Jim Marti: RIP
Old friends and heroes are dying faster than I can write about them. Jean Craighead George, author of one of my favorite childhood books*, My Side of the Mountain, and sister to the even better- known conservationists and falconers , the twin brothers Frank and John, died last week at 92. NYT here , Wiki …
“Endemics”
Writer Tom McIntyre has been in Argentina, not just shooting doves but hunting birds behind pointing dogs and fishing. What caught my attention (and what he, an informed naturalist- hunter, knows well) was the unique identity of some of his quarry. Europeans often name local species after familiar things, but folk taxonomy is unreliable. South …
Puppy Learning
Daniel’s Bailey getting lessons in manners from his mentor: Perhaps Mr Schwartz (post below) might see such practices– hunting! TRAINING!!– as animal abuse. On the contrary, I think that being able to witness scenes like this is a rare privilege.
Grooms’ Gun: Mostly a Guest Post
Steve Grooms, the man who wrote the book on pheasants, is reluctantly giving up his gun.He writes: “It is an “Ithaca” Model 600 made by SKB and imported by Ithacagun around 1976. I’m the only owner. “12 gauge with 2 3/4″ chambers, 26” barrels bored improved cylinder and modified. The barrels (at least on the …
“I smell a bird somewhere…”
My friend Daniel’s new pup Bailey:Daniel is blessed or cursed with pointers, falcons, double guns, good books, and even Spanish pouters, lives in wine country, hunts in Montana. “This would be a man who has ruined his life for sport…”– Tom McGuane of Russ Chatham, on his announcing he was going duck hunting AND trout …
Whoops– Lost and Found
My old friend Steve Grooms, author of two fine books on pheasants (here and here), as well as ones on wolves and cranes, called today. We probably haven’t talked in over twenty years. After much catching up, he gave me an email for more– but it keeps bouncing! He has a good- gun- and book …