16ga.com ~ View topic - Gone for the season-part 6

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2126 Location: Hudson,Wy

My trip to Nevada was so enjoyable I found myself singing hymns of praise...then I returned to civilization. Oh my, how society was in turmoil. The whole aura of the masking obsession made me once again feel like an extra in a bad science fiction movie. I need to get away from this all, fast. I was not taking it well.

My second home beckoned: a friend's farm in North Dakota. I have a camper stationed there permanent and the forecast called for weeks of beautiful weather, the kind of weather North Dakota doesn't normally get in November. It took me a grand total of three days to tie up loose ends and get there!

Pheasant numbers were well down for the third year in a row, which was great- crowds were gone. I saw two other hunters in two weeks. Sharptail grouse numbers however, were superb! Huns, proved scarce.

Pass shooting ducks provided some excitement as did a very cold water hunt with a few decoys, in ice flows without waders. A lot of ducks got a free pass that day since I was wading in pants...I draw the line somewhere just south of the crotch.

Goose hunting was mixed. The area isn't known for it, but there were plenty around. Deer season had them field hopping though. The two days I found undisturbed birds returning to the same field they fed the prior day, I cashed in on that! It was mighty good too. The ND 8 honker limit was easily filled those two days. A few went down on the pass on a couple of other days as well.

All in all, North Dakota was sheer bliss. My buddy's son even took up bird hunting seriously after I left this time. He's hooked! Even talking about the possibility of a 16 ga. double. Without further adieu, I give you North Dakota:
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Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2126 Location: Hudson,Wy

Continuing on:

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Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2126 Location: Hudson,Wy

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Garhart,

Love the pictures!

all the best.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1844 Location: Central ND

Love it!!

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1310 Location: Western WA

Dogs, birds, and guns. What a great combination!

B.

Thanks for another great tour. Good to see Rusty and you enjoying the good life.

Good Hunting,
Mike

Wyo thank you so much for letting us share your season , our season was a weird one for sure but some of us managed a few socially distanced hunts , no Pheasants released this year but we are planning on rearing some for next season, but we had a few really memorable hunts on Woodcock and snipe this season with my long time hunting partner and his young Labrador,after he recovered from covid . Anyway I really appreciate you sharing your season on the 16ga society.
Here's hoping we all have a more normal season next time WJ.

Ow and well done for mentoring that young man my own son had his first season with his own 16ga double, I think its really important to get the young ones involved in our great sport .
Thanks again WJ.

Rusty is just the best! Look at his expressiveness in all those great photos. He's a go-getter -- obviously loves his job and his life.