Not a Great Start

I have learned long ago that a successful day bird hunting has much more to do with positive experiences in the field and positive interaction with the dogs than the number of birds in the bag. Don’t get me wrong, a plethora of birds is always welcome, but it is not required. Happy, healthy dogs, and the opportunity to be out in a beautiful place is all that is really required.

Whether I went left and should have gone right, had a serious streak of bad luck, or just generally experienced the truth regarding the low volume of upland birds that we have in Nevada this year, there were not many birds being put in the bag this weekend. In fact, this was the worst opening weekend (in regards to birds) that I have ever had, period. I hunted 5 separate mountain ranges in 2 days and saw little to make me believe that we have anything resembling a healthy upland bird population. - The good news is that things can only get better from here, the dogs had a good time, Cash had an all time epic retrieve on a cripple, both dogs got to point birds, I got to pull the trigger a few times, we got to see some beautiful country, and everyone is healthy and ready for the next 3 plus month of birds season.

I hope everyone had a great opening weekend of upland bird season here in Nevada, whether you shot limits or not. I am looking forward to getting back after it this coming weekend. All time good year, or all time bad year, I will get my 40 to 50 days in either way.

 

Nothing exciting happening here. Just posing for a picture in front of a really cool rock pile.

 

 

Jay Kincaid

 

A Week in the Mountains

 

Last week was spent in the Nevada Mountains hunting desert Mule Deer. Thank God for good friends, beautiful country, and amazing wildlife. Damn the bad luck, and missed opportunities.

Despite the fact that the last week was unsuccessful in regards to putting a big deer in my freezer, it was however very successful in regards to having a great time and enjoying myself amongst the wildlife and desert mountains. I can’t really ask for more than that.

 

This was a pretty typical mule deer on this trip. We passed on a lot of deer of this caliber, as the goal was a buck at least the next step up from this.

 

  This is not a very good picture as it was taken with my cell phone through my spotting scope. This old gnarly buck was really cool. He has 3 webbed out points on one side and 5 on the other. The stalk just did not quite work out, and I passed on a very marginal shot.

 

The bull elk were in full on crazy mode. They were fighting and bugling and it was generally a great experience to be around. Darin and I had a couple very close encounters with some upset elk that were a whole lot of fun. It was something that every hunter should have the opportunity to experience at least one time. I wish that I had the words to express just how privileged of an experience that it was. My only regret is that I did not have a camera in my hand for the best of it.

 

As pretty as it might be, a full moon like this does not do you any favors when big game hunting. It is never good when you can see your own shadow at night.

 

 

 

Jay Kincaid