Why I Hunt: Thoughts by Species

I enjoyed the "Why We Hunt" series from the Minneapolis Star Tribune's outdoor columnists last month, so I thought I'd weigh in with my thoughts. My twist to the theme is that I'll offer a few thoughts on each species I chase.

Pheasants
I was particularly touched by Doug Smith's story of Abby as he recounted memories of pheasant hunting adventures with a beloved bird dog. His thoughts rang true for me, and I'd bet most pheasant hunters would agree that the bond developed between pheasant hunter and bird dog is uniquely special. In almost every scenario (outside of cattails) a pheasant hunter can watch his dog work the cover until the unique indicator of his/her dog tells that hunter a bird is close. I've seen dog's tails go clockwise, counterclockwise, up and down, left to right, and every other variation. When an owner identifies his dog's "tell" that a bird is about to bust . . . it changes the entire game!

Ruffed Grouse
I'm a sucker for a forest that looks like Fruity Pebbles. A walk in the woods on October 5th is my single favorite activity of the year. It is at one moment reminiscent of days spent afield with my dad and my beginnings as a hunter. I also love the challenge of a grouse hunt and the satisfaction of bagging one. In my opinion, the five grouse daily bag limit is the most difficult daily limit to achieve in all hunting.

Woodcock
All of you Lab and golden retriever lovers reading this blog; forgive me. A pointing dog working alder cover during the woodcock flight is pure magic. Timberdoodles hold tight and allow a pointer to learn the ropes better than any other game bird. However, even a rock solid point doesn't give a hunter the edge. Their flush is akin to a lopsided firecracker as the bird explodes to the forest's canopy and often escapes untouched.

Hungarian Partridge
My name is "Bob," and I'm a Hun addict. That's right; Huns are simply the most under-rated game bird on the planet. These little rockets are beautiful, flush as a covey, and are very tasty. I probably have only flushed 10 coveys of Huns in my entire life. In those 10 flushes, remarkably, I have three doubles. I will pay homage to any bird that allows my mediocre shooting skills that much luck.

Sharp-tailed Grouse
Sharpies and I didn't get along for the first two years of our relationship. I couldn't hit the darn things with a skeet choke and 7 shot. Then I got my own bird dog and went to Montana for a hunt with Jim Range last October. It was my pup's single best performance in her young career in front of a giant in the conservation community. Jim died a few months later. I'll forever be a sharpie guy . . . 'nough said.

Bobwhite Quail
Trying to hit a single quail in a flushed covey of bobwhites is similar to picking out a bumble bee in a swarm. Miraculously, I bagged the first bobwhite I'd ever shot at in Nebraska a few years back.

Geese
I once hunted geese while three funnel clouds approached on the horizon less than a mile away. Why? Because I'd shot my limit of honkers in that same field the day before. With geese, I love the sound of the approach. Sure ducks "quack," but the "Honk" of a giant Canada during their approach is the hook for me. (NOTE: geese are smart enough not to fly during a tornado, so "no" I didn't bag any that afternoon).

Cranes
Yes, I have hunted sandhill cranes in North Dakota. There are two major reasons I love crane hunting and wish Minnesota and other states would add it to the roster of game birds. First, cranes live up to their nickname as "ribeye of the sky." That's right; believe it or not, crane meat is a dead ringer for a tasty beef ribeye. It's absolutely delicious. Second, cranes are an absolute blast and challenge to hunt. And, as one of my hunting colleagues once said; "cranes do every acrobatic move imaginable when they fall out of the sky except burst into flames."

Turkeys
I've hunted two distinctly different methods for turkeys. In Minnesota and Michigan, I've hunted in a blind over a decoy with a call. In Nebraska, I've tried to "cut them off at the pass," as flocks of turkeys moved from hillside to valley. In both scenarios, the excitement comes from the approaching turkey's call and the question inside my head, "where is he and is he going to show himself."

Deer
For me, deer hunting is about two things; meat and friendship. I love eating venison above all other meat. There's simply nothing better than a medium rare butterfly steak with a little garlic and pepper. YUM! As for friendship, who doesn't cherish their deer camp memories? If you are looking for a good Deer Camp movie, check out Escanaba in da Moonlight . . . yep, it was shot in my hometown.