Moving forward. Going backwards, uphill, and slowly descending.
Last hunt of 2020 for us was yesterday, I followed Bob around the chukar hills just like the old days. Camera in hand. No shotgun. Winter is my favorite time to be out there. It’s quiet.
Following tracks of ghosts of deer, elk, and birds. Detective work. Bob whispers to me, “I think they were just here.” I look down to examine the prints in the snow. Tiny dog tracks are heading upwards, the lone elk is going downhill. We keep going up.
We continue to follow Peat. He’s pointing 185 yards away. We look up to see if we can see him, snowflakes are gently falling to earth and into our face. We climb the steep ladder to get to him. He’s focused, patient, and won’t even look towards our direction but knows we’re finally there. His job is almost done.
The covey busts, Bob shoots, Peat retrieves. Beautiful dog work. Magical. We continue this sequence a few more times finding new coveys and relocating old ones. The dense fog started to come up from below and the snow fell more heavily. We were dressed for the elements but the ground was getting slippery so we decided to head back to the pickup. Bob tells me, “Be careful on the downhill.” We headed down the same ridge we came up and our footprints, Peat’s, and the elk’s had vanished underneath a fresh dusting of snow.
Leslie,
Thank you – great job capturing the day in words and photos. Impressed you can see the flushing birds in the frame, When I try they are not more than a burred dot. Jeff
The photos were just luck and part anticipation I suppose. I appreciate your comment.
Thanks, Leslie
Beauty!
Thanks Geoff. Cheers, Leslie
Amazing pictures that capture the essence of cold weather chukar hunting! Great job!
Snow does make things extra pretty, special. Thanks also for reading and commenting. Leslie
Beautiful photographs. Great way to close 2020!
April,
I appreciate your comment. Yes, great way to remember 2020.
Looking forward to seeing you in 2021. Sometime…hopefully.
Happy New Year! Leslie
Leslie, Beautiful photos! Happy New Year to you and Bob. P.S. Joline loved the earrings you made.
Wonderful! I’m glad she loved the earrings. Thanks.
Happy New Year to you too. Cheers, Leslie (and Bob)
Love the pictures. An awesome way to end the year. Happy New Year
Thanks for the comment Greg. Yes, great way to end the year. Happy New Year!
Leslie
Great story. I do miss the dogs and birds but not the hills and weather. 60+ here today. Happy New Year
Sam, after that hunt we toasted with a tiny taste of JW that I keep in a flask. A post hunt tradition that we started thanks to you
and because of it, we always think of you after each hunt. Cheers.
Happy New Year to you and Susie.