Driving east from Trinidad, CO to southwestern Kansas scenery.  For this reason hunting buddy brings audio book rented from Aardvark audiobooks. Hunting pheasants in southwest kansas is somewhat like an military operation. The huntmeister decides which fields we hunt and how we hunt the field. There were nine hunters in the party. One hunter didn't make from Colorado for the reason that leaving the state would have violated his parole provisions. Some these hunters have been making this hunt for over 25 years. In all sorts of weather including snow and rain. Hunters arrive at a field in economical hunting wheels.  Then two hunters volunteer to be blockers. Blockers drive two of the three vehicles to where the hunt is to end. Blockers then station themselves at the end of the field to discourage pheasants from running out the end of the field. When the hunters arrive at the end of a field, then they BS and rest after getting all vehicles.  Hunters have totally different vocations. Bill met retired insurance broker hunter seen at far left at Delta Gamma sorority alumni parties. So after about 20 years he invited Bill to go pheasant hunting with the group. Here's a typical skirmish line.  Note a dry grass and water pivot the the background. One of the hunter reported that the town we stay in ran out of water this last summer. The town apparently had to purchase a million dollars of water from a farmer. We stay at an interesting motel that has a special room for bird cleaning! We eat breakfast and meet at McDonald's. One morning at McDonald's Bill visited the rest room. On return hunting buddy reported that no one in the resturant was speaking English. Creo que quizas el espanol lo estara la idoma nacional nueva de los ustado unidos? Here's a skirmish line going through yuccas.  If it is warm, then rattlesnakes are out! This naturally adds excitement to Kansas pheasant hunting. Here's hunters looking at harvest going between the lunch area and quonset hut ... and BSing too.  Hunter number 9 took this photo. Bill is 45 days younger than Saddam ... and hopes to outlive Saddam. Made it!  is a competition skeet shooter [b 1938]. ----- Original Message -----Here's one of two sons of former huntmeister and his new dog, Coda.  His three year old last year dog Drake developed bone cancer and was euthanized. We discussed genetically modified grains being used in pet food. Austin vets are noticing increased health problems and are recommending using non-genetically modified gain pet food, our daughter reported. Unfortunate pheasants suffer the same fate at the Russians at Tsuhima. One pheasant nearly made it away from the line but senior citizen hunter [b 1941?] harvested it.  Above hunter lives south of Colorado Springs. Above hunter reports that about 26 coal trains per day pass through Colorado Springs. Cows were located about 1/4 mile from where we ate lunch. But the cows came to visit.  Reason, one of the hunters speculated, was that one of the hunters is a cow whisperer. Retired senior citizen huntmeister is at the far left.  We hunted all day Saturday and Sunday, then a half day on Monday. Thirty-three birds harvested on Saturday, about 15 on Sunday, and about 8 on Monday. Bill even harvested one - and has a photo which won't be shown because he fears he may be perceived as insensitive. Here's driving back to Albuquerque on Monday just outside of Trinidad, CO.  Note magnificent Colorado rocky mountains. Hunting buddy made motel reservations for next year for more good senior citizen exercise. Providing we are still alive and sufficient gas is available for essential non-gas-wasting food-gathering travel. |