The dog and I covered a good bit of country yesterday. Both of us wearing down, we still pushed on seaking the only true fix for our addiction.



With the fall colors and the fog, Dash led me into a painting.



Finally at one of the four different public hunting areas we hit during our day long expedition, we found our drug. Dash stopped for a moment and raised his head. I could see him almost trying to taste the air. He ran far ahead and locked on a confident point. As I caught up, I saw a single quail run across in front of him and just knew it would be too much for him to bear. Dash repositioned but did not make chase. To block the bird and maintain control I moved wide around Dash's right so I could come in from in front of him. Then a huge covey of birds exploded between us in a roar. I think my heart stopped for a moment. Like a point in time I was frozen in a picture. The snapshot of a narrow yet solid wall of birds is still imprinted in my mind. I eventually fired a couple shots, but it was too late. Birds scattered. It did not take Dash long to find and point a single that did not make it across a fence to the safey of private land. With teamwork we got our first fix.



A found spring fed beaver pond in a sea of drought. Seached over for woodcock or snipe, but none found. We did find snipe at the big lake. And rabbits to, but this is a quail story.



Though not many, we did find more birds elsewhere through the day. Some taken, some not. But none can compare to that first covey of the day. That first rush. Like a drug.

What a day and one hell of a write up!! Thanks for sharing your drug with the rest of us addicts!!

Good enough story to sell. Thanks for sharing with us and hope your great year is rich in memories and that you will continue to share them with us!

Great story and even better pictures. I hope it gets published somewhere.

YEP! It's like walking into and out of a beautiful painting all day long.

I'm hooked.

Great pics man.

Excellent story, excellent photography.
Thanks.

Awesome, looks like a beautiful place

As usual John, great pictures. Pretty country. Appreciate you taking the time to put that together

Beautiful pictures and story John. Thanks for putting it together.