Poor Big Ted!

[Britsmoothy]

Nearly never got a look at a pheasant this season!
I nearly passed out cold last night when I suddenly remembered Big Ted the ten gauge hadne been out this pheasant season, that incidentally finishes next week!
So I readied the gun and bag the night before, finished work at two today, rushed home, grabbed Jess and the gun and shot out for the last light.

Now I want to say it was a text book success but it wasn't text book.. first off I was using to much powder and ended up not killing a bird and well, securing the bird was a bit ugly . Then I missed a second bird which should of been easy!
Then I remembered. 3/4 the volume of shot Muppet!
Not only did the gun feel better and sound better but the birds then started dropping out of the sky, well the next three did anyway. I did miss a couple again though. I think I missed about four in total.
This ten gauge is awesome with fine powder and 1.5oz of #5 shot. Just at 3/4 volume. No idea what the weight is.

Thanks to Jess I got that runner.

Wads today were my usual, just thin cards and some thin leather was also mixed in.

 

[deermanok]

Some nice birds for the pot. Ole Jess looks like she's ready to rock.

 

[PEARL DRUMS]

Congrats on the plump birds. Big Ted looks like a very fine shotgun.

 

[Dave Marsh]

Yummy.

 

[Des52]

i don't think Ted had a bad day at all. Give Jess a pat for me, good job helping with the bird. Good dogs are a blessing.

 

[azmntman]

I know what ya mean, as I get older I seem to find myself making similar mistakes in life. I can easily see loading square vs 3/4. After all if yer like me you dont need to stinking notebook, you know yer guns and so we load the 10 like the 12 etc. HA! I am ready to admit I am aging and now seek His grace in doing it gracefully! I may indeed need to reduce inventory (or get the stinkin notebook LOL)

 

[New Hampshire]

Great day with Big Ted & Jess! Nice well worn Barbour, and some new fly tying materials. Great end to the season.

 

[BillinOregon]

Nath, you and Jess are always a most welcome inspiration. Thank you for taking so many photos of your adventures and posting them.

 

[Percy]

Glad to see Big Ted got his day in the field. Looks like he did a good job too.

 

[oldwood]

Brit and Jess are great hunters. They bring back memories from thr 1950's and 1960's , when grouse and ringnecks were plenty , times were good for hunters in Pa..

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Ok, now Im hungry, thanks!

 

[Banjoman]

I got me a good dog, but you got me thinking I need a 10 gauge!

 

[LANEY REECE]

You had a great day.

 

[azmntman]

I got me a good dog, but you got me thinking I need a 10 gauge!

Yes Mrs. Banjoman he does NEED the 10;ga

 

[azmntman]

That should do it.....

 

[Urban Coyote]

Awesome!

 

[B P Arn]

That dog is so cute!

 

[Spikebuck]

THANK GOD!!! When I first saw the post title I thought that maybe you hadn't cleaned Big Ted for 7 or 8 months and you found a spot of rust on him, or some other major physical disaster like accidently using 1F or 2F!!!

So glad it was that you only almost hurt Ted's feelings!

Great hunt! Jess looks so small compared to those birds. Small...but MIGHTY!

 

[Britsmoothy]

THANK GOD!!! When I first saw the post title I thought that maybe you hadn't cleaned Big Ted for 7 or 8 months and you found a spot of rust on him, or some other major physical disaster like accidently using 1F or 2F!!!

So glad it was that you only almost hurt Ted's feelings!

Great hunt! Jess looks so small compared to those birds. Small...but MIGHTY!

Jess is getting old and wasn't to interested in my attempts to find the runner at first.
When I did find it she was more interested in looking for squirrels. I tried to do an impression of a pouncing fox on the tucked up bird that looked more like a belly flop to any observer and the bird escaped again!
At this point Jess came over to see what I was doing out of sympathy I think and finally picked a scent up. Then she woke up and started hunting the bird!
Eventually she found and held it in the thickest baddest black thorn thicket on the dam place, oh and she doesn't do retrieves!!! .
Slightly annoying because it was under our noses at one point but she couldn't smell it.
I'm sure these birds can pull their feathers tight and eliminate any scent!

 

[Colonial Boy]

Well done, both of you
I wish we had pheasants here; you take me back to my days in Ireland.